F.A. Cup day. I selected this game when the draw was made, little knowing then that Gedling would lose the majority of last season's squad and would start this game with a team having an average age of about 12 !! Mind you, Louth's starting eleven didn't look much older!!!
Must add a quick "get well soon" to gateman Alan Jennings who appeared to have suffered a minor stroke as the game kicked off. Full marks to the Notts ambulance service - arrived within10 minutes of being called.
With both the teams being on the young side, it was expected that the game wouldn't be played at a sedate pace, and it certainly wasn't, although at times it reminded me of days gone by when I was involved in youth football - all chase and little skill or tactical awareness.
Louth's skipper Carl Martin had arguably the best chance of the first half, heading wide from a corner when it looked easier to score. Kieran Wells had a half chance at the other end, but scuffed his shot from close range. H-T 0-0
The first half wasn't good, but the right from the restart, the home team went knocking on the Town door. In the 50th minute, Wells steered the ball past Craig Wherry, only to see it come back off the post and bounce to safety, when it looked a goal all the way. On 65, when Wells headed against the other post from a well taken free-kick, the visitors seemed to wake up and took the game to their hosts. Jamie Coulson met Danny Warvill's neat cross with an acrobatic overhead effort after 68 minutes, then seconds later Miners' keeper Rhys Watkinson did well to tip Andy Willoughby's header onto the bar.
Then the game died a death - and they have to do it all again on Tuesday night. Glad I'm not going!!!!
Admission £4
Programme £1
Attendance 52
Free team sheet, tea and sandwiches -- many thanks to all at Plains Road for making us so welcome again.
