Another visit to the grandly named Eagle Valley - and another evening spent in the company of Steve "retired bank manager" Reading...of course the first topic of conversation was his beloved Manchester City's trouncing of their city neighbours ...
Staveley were the only team in the NCEL Premier division still unbeaten, but a couple of dodgy penalty awards and an OG by keeper Ian Deakin cost them dearly.
A few familiar faces were on show tonight -- Staveley keeper Ian Deakin, Arnold's Callum Mason and Liam Garner from our Eastwood days, and Tris Whitman who we used to enjoy watching at Carlton.
The three officials were all local and all familiar to us as well - Referee Andy Wood, along with Assistants Peter Craggs and Harry Hawkins. The officials took a bit of stick from the Arnold faithful when the home team were struggling to cope with the Staveley attack, but two dubious penalty awards later and Andy was the best thing since powdered milk!
The three officials were all local and all familiar to us as well - Referee Andy Wood, along with Assistants Peter Craggs and Harry Hawkins. The officials took a bit of stick from the Arnold faithful when the home team were struggling to cope with the Staveley attack, but two dubious penalty awards later and Andy was the best thing since powdered milk!
Staveley took the lead on 20, prolific scorer SIMON BARRACLOUGH latching onto a through ball before calmly slotting past Martin Kearney. That was the only goal of a mostly uneventful half, but the second period more than made up for it. H-T 0-1
With 68 minutes on the clock, Arnold were given the chance to level when a defender was adjudged to have handled in the box. Looked a very harsh decision , as the ball hit the hand as the defender was trying his best to get the offending appendage out of the way. No problem for JOSH SCHOFIELD from the spot, the sub sending Deakin the wrong way.
The home team went in front in the 76th minute and talk about lucky! Liam Garner saw his powerful header brilliantly saved by Deakin, but the ball fell to Tris Whitman on the line at the near post and he hammered it goalwards. The ball ricocheted off the unlucky Deakin and ended up in the back of the net.
It was 3-1 to the Eagles just 5 minutes later, another penalty converted by JOSH SCHOFIELD after Garner had "deceived" the officials by kicking his markers leg and going down in a heap. Sorry Liam, but that was simulation to the max. Still, Mr. Wood saw it as a foul and had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
KYLE FORBES-CHAMBERS ran through the Arnold defence to slot home on 92, ensuring a squeaky bum finish as Mr. Wood added a further four minutes to the game. Arnold held out to record a fine win over their classy opponents. F-T 3-2
Admission £5
Programme £1.20
Attendance - not many!
