Real United are one of the new members of the CMFL - they were playing in the NAA Premier division last term and neither of us knew much about them. Their first game of the new season looked a bit of a toughie, Pinxton finished third in the CML Supreme Div last season and are one of the favourites for the title, and are usually very hard to beat at the Welfare Ground.
Pinxton were without Ben Bacon, Aaron Brady and Joe Riley, but their strength in depth meant they still started with a very strong eleven, with Jamie Renshaw, Ben Moore and Jay Cooper on the bench.
We didn't recognise too many of the United players, in fact only Mark Clifford and Nev Silcock were known to us!! Clifford lead the United back line well enough, and Pinxton only got hold of this game after he was forced off with an injury midway through the second period.
James Senior tried his luck from 30 yards in the fifth minute - the effort though flew just wide. Wayne Cooke played in Keiran Debrouwer a couple of minutes later, but after beating two defenders, "Keano" fired just wide of the upright.
Chances were being created all the time by the home team, Cooke saw his flick header from a Senior free-kick fly wide, then the same player headed over from a Debrouwer free-kick. All the Pinxton pressure paid off in the 13th minute - another Debrouwer free-kick from the right headed powerfully home by CRAIG MERRETT.
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| Merrett heads home |
Cooke headed wide again on 20, again from a Senior free-kick, but the Pinxton no.7 was to blame for the visitors' equaliser in the 23rd minute, his attempt at a pass back to Dave O'Hare was intercepted by AARON " Scratchy" JAMES, and the striker had the simple task of guiding the ball into the net from 15 yards out.
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| James levels |
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| Spriggs fires United ahead |
The home team looked slightly stunned as they trooped off the field at half-time, but having created ten really decent chances in the half, they must have felt they had enough in their locker to get back into the game.
It took just two minutes for Pinxton to draw level, Senior's cross met by JOSH PARKER, the full back stooping low to head home. Marcus Buck had a chance on 52 to bring United level, but he poked the ball wide after finding himself one-on-one with O'Hare.
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| Parker levels for Pinxton |
Senior had the ball in the net soon after, but was adjudged to have been offside. At the other end James had a go from 20 yards after 57 minutes and was unlucky as his shot ricocheted off the post with O'Hare well beaten.
Pinxton then made three changes - and this proved too much for the visitors. Obviously not used to the pace of the CML, the last thing they needed was three pairs of fresh legs coming on! Under siege, United managed to hold the now rampaging home team at bay for 15 minutes or so. Shots from Debrouwer and Cooper were wide of the target, but when BEN MOORE tried his luck from 20 yards the unfortunate keeper, having got to the ball, allowed it to roll out of his hands and trickle into the net.
Senior picked out Parker from a corner on 80, and the no. 2 fired the ball to the far post where ELLIOTT JONES rose like a salmon to power home a superb header. ELLIOTT JONES added the fifth for Pinxton straight after, a cracking ball into the 6 yard box by Debrouwer finished well by the left-back. It was six with two to play, again Debrouwer the creator - his ball across the goal prodded home by the sliding JAY COOPER. F-T 6-2
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| Jones heads powerfully home |
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| Cooper adds the sixth |
A bit of a scare initially for Pinxton, but they created enough chances to have won by a greater margin. Real United didn't need this as their first game at this higher level, but they will learn from this defeat and take heart that they gave one of the divisions top teams a good test.
Admission £2
Programme £1
Attendance H/C 40
