Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Junior Cup 1st Round
RAVENSHEAD REDS FC 2 PASS MOVE GRIN RESERVES 2
PASS MOVE GRIN WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES
On the opening day of the season, Ravenshead Reds brushed aside PMG reserves 5-0 and going in to todays Cup Tie, PMG sat bottom of the table with just 3 points, whilst Reds having played a game less were sitting around in midtable, so surely a home win for the Reds?
After getting the teamsheet from the visitors changing room, with some odd numbering on shirts but 1-11 on teamsheet, it was a matter of asking politely to re-number their teamshirt, whilst on the pitch, there was a few players with no numbers on their shirts and some were written on with a black ink marker. I then got the homesters teamsheet that was correct. I then met the young referee George Leivers and his dad, before the assessor Alan Plowright arrived, who Ive not seen for years, so it was nice to see him in the non league football world, helping the young refs.
I went over to the far side of the far side of the pitch and the Reds nearly took the lead after just 12 seconds when the visiting keeper managed to smother the ball in a one on one situation with the home attacker.
It didnt take long for Ravenshead Reds to take the lead, when a free kick from the left side of the halfway line, was floated into the area to be headed towards goal, where it hit the crossbar before dropping to WILLIAM NORTON-LANE to smash home from inside the six yard area.
The homesters kept pouring forward and had quite a few more chances but they didnt put any away to leave them with just a 1 goal lead at half time.
The Second Half started in similar fashion with the Reds on the front foot, but on 53 minutes and PMG Reserves first real attack, the scores were level, when a quick break do/wn the left side saw KEVIN CARRASCO hit a low shot, that somehow squeezed under the home keepers body.
This seemed to awaken the visitors who began to believe move in themselves and put the Reds on to the back foot, but just hree minutes later, MATTHEW YOUNG hit a long low show past a diving visiting keeper to restore their lead.
PMG though looked a different side to that in the first half and the young side looked hungry to get to the ball first and create more chances and on 63 minutes, a corner from the left side found the head of captain TYRONE JASI to plant in to the net at the far edge of the 6 yard box to make it 2-2.
The game then went one way and then back the other with both teams having chances and both keepers making very good saves, but it was to remain at 2-2 after 90 minutes, so it went straight to the spot kicks.
PMG scored their first, whuilst the Reds missed theres and after that it was PMG that held the aces and ran out 3-2 winners and in to the next round.
A really enjoyable tie played in the correct and respectable manner by both sets of players and I must say young referee George Leivers had a excellent game.
With the 9 goals scored today, it takes the charity blogs running total to £3,079.82p, if anhyone would like to make a donation, no matter how small, you can do via bank transfer to
MR R HORNBY
Sort Code: 111324
Account: 00269688
To see the 196 photos from todays game, plick click this LINK