Venue: The Stag Ground, Nottingham Road, Kimberley, Notts
Competition: East Midlands counties League
Referee: Mr. Marc Curwood
Scorers:
Welfare - Nathan Kelly (13)
Park - Jordan Small (62), Ben David (80)
Line-ups:
Kimberley MW - Andrew Dell, Roberto Labbate, James Leggitt, Steve Kirkham, Jacob Webster, Josh Stevenson, Lee Stevenson, Mark Smith, Nathan Kelly, Liam Honeyman, Elliott King. Subs: Antonio Wedderburn, Marlon Catwell, Cashel Walters, Orlando Grindley.
Aylestone Park - Nathan Saunt, Denis Darkwah, Kieron Henfrey, Josh Groves, Sam Gent, Ryan Calver, Lavin Camara, Joe Quailey, Lamar Parkes, Jordan Small, Josh Verity. Subs: Mark Preston, Jheryl Lawrence, Ben David.
Not been to the Stag Ground recently, and they have made a few changes to the place since our last visit. Hard standing, new seats, turnstiles, revamped club house. Work is still on-going and will culminate in a couple of years with the building of a brand new £300K facility.
I hope this actually become a reality
The team line-ups were provided by long-time friend Danny Staley - who also made a nice donation to the "maggie's" fund. Thank you very much, buddy.
Here we go...
Shake....
The third team
Aylestone Park were thrashed 5-0 by Kimberley in the reverse fixture last week, so I was hoping for a few more Kimberley goals to keep the charity ball rolling along. It was the visitors though who almost took the lead in the second minute of the game - Jordan Small's shot bringing a neat save from Andrew Dell, the ball pushed over the bar for a corner. Nothing came from the set-piece though, and the home team gradually began to take control of the game.
Nathan Kelly
Kimberley had a real chance to open the scoring on 9, a well rehearsed free-kick routine between James Leggitt and Nathan Kelly culminating with a cross that Elliott King headed just over.
Four minutes later the home team did go ahead when Liam Honeyman lifted the ball into the box from the right and NATHAN KELLY tapped home at the far post. The well travelled striker looked suspiciously off-side, but there was no flag and the goal stood.
On 20, the roles were reversed when Kelly picked out Honeyman at the far stick - unfortunately the ball was driven in a little too
hard and despite a great effort to get there, the Kimberley no. 10 couldn't quite finish off the move.
Aylestone never let their heads drop and were almost level two minutes later when Ryan Calver fired in a free-kick, and Josh Groves just failed to get to the ball as it flew just past him.
Kelly played a neat ball through to Josh Stevenson on the half hour, but Nathan Saunt came out well to block. From the resultant corner Mark Smith headed just wide after it looked easier to score. H-T 1-0
Martin Lench starred for Kimberley last season, and at half-time he reminded me that I had given his goal against Magdala my goal of the season vote. Sadly Lenchy is injured and reckons his playing career may be over. Great goal though, Martin!
Kimberley began the second half on the front foot, and in the 58th minute when Kelly was played in on goal, Saunt did well to tip the effort over the bar for a corner.
Four minutes later, the visitors levelled the scores through JORDAN SMALL - he was given too much room on the left side of the penalty area, and fired the ball across Dell and into the far corner of the goal from a very tight angle.
The already agitated Park bench(!)now became really vocal and Mr. Curwood had occasion to have words. Small had another decent chance on 65, but Dell saved well to keep the scores level.
Mark Smith was played in by Elliott King on 68, as Kimberley tried to regain control of the game, but the Welfare skipper saw his shot fly just wide.
Small was again proving a menace to the home defence and when he picked out Ben David in the 75th minute, Dell did well to smother the substitutes effort. DAVID wasn't to be denied though, and was on hand to fire home five minutes later, after great wing play and a great cross by left-back Kieron Henfry, presented him with a relatively easy tap in.
Kimberley had a corner as the clock ticked into added time, but even though keeper Dell made a nuisance of himself in the Aylestone area, the visitors defended well and hung on to claim what is only their fourth win of the season - leaving Mr. Staley to bemoan the fact that his team have now lost 31 points from winning positions this season. F-T 1-2
Aylestone's keeper looking out for crosses?
Attempt at humour.....
Programme: £0.50
Attendance: 48
Charity: £2.25
MOM: Jordan Small
James Leggitt in action
