Our first visit of the season to Church Lane. Over the past few years, Welfare have been languishing in the lower reaches of the NSL Senior Division - indeed last season they finished bottom, and only survived relegation due to the fact that a host of clubs deserted the league to play in the CML.
Different tale under the management team of Dave Bradshaw and Dave Marlow - they have now won all four of their matches this season. The good folk of Hucknall and Linby are certainly taking notice, I head counted 70 persons present pitchside - a bit different from last term when the crowd compised "one man and his dog"!!!!
Villa looked a very capable outfit, with former Long Eaton defender Adam Holmes and ex-Gedling MW striker Chris Henson in their ranks, but Linby have also recruited well, and with Scott Miles, Ashley Winfield, Matt Peberday and Dave Marlowe himself in their squad, they should not struggle at this level.
They did struggle to begin with, and went behind on 22 when the Villa no. 11, JACK SMITH, was allowed to race through the back line and hammer the ball past Miles.
Linby had a chance to level two minutes later when Damian Mann was tripped in the box. Awsworth keeper Jake Watson save the initial spot kick, but the Assistant Referee adjudged that he had strayed off his line and the kick was retaken. Watson again saved the spot kick, but this time was deemed to have saved the effort legally. Looking at the pics, I can't see any difference in position when the kicks are actually saved....... H-T 0-1
Double click to super size!!
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| Watson off his line to save |
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| Watson saves again -- off his line again - apparently not?? |
Welfare were back in the game 6 minutes into the second half - which was the really the 46th minute as the game was played over 2 x 40 minute periods (?)... ASHLEY WINFIELD was on hand at the edge of the box to steer past Watson after the Villa defence failed to clear a free-kick from the right.
5 minutes later the home team took the lead - DAMIAN MANN getting the better of his marker before firing home from 18 yards. Looks like he couldn't knock the proverbial skin off a rice pudding, but he was stronger and more determined than the defender. MANN grabbed Welfare's third on 55 - again beating a defender to the ball , but this time the finish across Watson from an really tight angle was superb - the keeper never smelled it, as they say.......
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| 2 goal Damian Mann |
Not a lot to mention after that goal went in, it was getting dark and it was a question of the game finishing whilst it was still light enough to see the ball!! F-T 3-1
Better than our previous two games - but I couldn't pick three bad 'uns on the trot, could I ???
No admission or programme
H/C 70+
