Northern Premier League | Midland Division | Tuesday 8 October 2024
After some of the crashing, bashing, toe punting, header tennis stuff we’ve seen in recent weeks, this game was a pleasure to watch, as torrential rain failed to stop two teams playing intelligent football throughout, as fourth in the table entertained fifth. Our opponents zipped the ball around with some aplomb on our wonderful surface, and the Mikes responded in like manner. A decent number of people had come down from Nottingham to support their team, which was as well: the antediluvian conditions meant many home supporters stayed indoors, and the official attendance was less than three figures.
Both teams had periods on the front foot, but somehow, neither team could convert dominance into goals. Even your notoriously penaltyphobic correspondent thinks the Mikes should have been given a penalty, eleven minutes in, after Alfie Taylor was barged down from behind, having pierced the Blues’ back line, with an open goal beckoning; but our referee waved play on. Eaton keeper Lewis King needed two bites at the cherry to keep out the final product of a seven-man Mikes move, narrowly thwarting a shot at his left-hand post.
We nearly had a goal with three minutes to the break, the evening’s biggest “Oooh” coming when Connor Pace hit the post from full thirty-five yards. We were just looking forward to a warming cup of Bovril (or similar) when the first goal arrived, right on half time. Attacking full back Ryan Campbell-Morgan (who evidently relished the role) made a powerful mazy run from the half way line to the edge of the box, crossed accurately – and there was James Shaw to fire home. Half time: 0-1.
As is their custom nowadays, the second half saw Boldmere reshuffle their ranks (three substitutions this time). Interestingly, our visitors used only one – a battered Danny Campbell limping off at the end of standard time. The hour gone, the visitors (instructed from afar, in stentorian tones, by Captain Lewis) went close three times in three minutes, a diving Brown save and the post keeping the Mikes in touch, and the equaliser was not long in coming. Theo Rowe followed in Campbell-Morgan’s steps, feinting past a first challenge, riding a second, his cross met by Jake Collins’ head to equaliser.
Now employing the long ball more, could the Mikes press on to victory? Alas, no. Only four minutes later, the Blues were back in front, an unmarked Pace firing a centre home from ten yards out. Yellow cards were distributed liberally, as our official kept the lid on a tense encounter, both teams going for it. Boldmere were now making mistakes in the slippery conditions, their last equalising chance being a corner, right on time. The flag kick was headed over, and that was that; but we’d enjoyed an excellent, talent-packed game.
Men of the match? The Bowls Section, who kept stolidly trundling across their soaking grass throughout the continuing deluge!
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Lewis Allison; Corey Cooper (Harry Sweeney, 83); George Cleet (Hisham Chiha, 63); Joe Hull; Kyle Burke; Theo Rowe; Oliver West; Jake Collins; Daniel Gyasi; Alfie Taylor (Liam Murphy, 63). Subs. not used: Sean Devlin; Callum North.
Long Eaton United: Lewis King; Owen Betts; Ryan Campbell-Morgan; Callum Cocks; Jayden Cotterill; Gianluca Bucci; Connor Pace; Jamie Hanson (Danny Gordon, 90); James Shaw; Alans Voskresenskis; James Taylor. Subs. not used: Ryley D’Sena; Ethan Hurley; Andrew Wright; Aaron Cole.