RAVENS HIT FOUR

 Pre Season Friendly

RAVENSHEAD FC 4 ARNOLD TOWN FC 1

The second of  the matches played at Ravenshead Leisure Centre, both matches being played on the top pitch, as they dont use the main pitch for friendlies saw top division side of the Notts Senior League host Central Midlands League club Arnold Town.

Those that know me well will know I was involved with Arnold Town in the 1990's as Programme Editor and Club Shop manager, so still have a few friends at the club. As folks arrived, a few folks came hello from both sides, Ash and Roy the management of Arnold and Ross and Mark from Ravenshead.

The game kicked off and the strangest goal, Ive ever seen happened after just 59 seconds, Ravenshead kicked off and pumped a long ball to the right wing but it went out of play opposite the Arnold penalty  area, out runs the Arnold keeper to take a quick throw in across his own 6 yard box, but the defenders werent ready for a qiuck throw in and in whipped a Ravenshead's JACK WAGSTAFF to tap the ball in to a empty net.

The Eagles began to get more in to the game and forced the Ravens keeper in to a couple of saves, but on 25 minutes, a throughball was played and the homesters made it 2-0 through OLIVER HIGGINS, the Arnold defence werent happy as the complained to the referee for offside, I couldnt judge from where I was sat and we dont have VAR, so the goal stood.

Arnold then began to play their best football in the game and pulled a goal, when a long range shot was parried by the home keeper and TYLER COBB was first to the ball to knock it in.

Arnold continued to press forward and had lots of corners but each one went to the far post with no man on the front post, so each went astray or as cleared by the home defence.

The teams were out for the Second Half and on 48 minutes, a long ball from the Ravenshead defence saw PERRIS THOMAS sprint clear before chipping the keeper to make it 3-1, the Arnold defence wasnt happy with their own linesman at this stage and both of the Arnold management both said it wasnt offside and Ash ended up taking the flag to quieten his team down.

Some tackles were getting strong and the ref had to blow quite a lot for fouls to which some players didnt agree with. 

Ravenshead kept playing and on 66 minutes JACK WAGSTAFF made it 4-1. More nasty looking tackles were beginning to creep in to the game and the poor referee was getting a lot of stick, so on 79 minutes, he did the right thing in my own opinion and ended the match before someone got hurt.

To see 93 photos of the match, pls click this LINK