Venue: Inspire Community Stadium, Stoke Bardolph, Nottinghamshire
Competition: Notts Amatuer Alliance Premier Division
Referee: Mr. Brian Kilburn
Scorers:
Gedling -
Karl Clowery (2, 57), James Needham (61)
Santos -
Keiran Wheat (12), Dean Bussey (20), Connor Scott-Parkin (25), Jamie Foster (39), Carl Wilson (41), OG (66), Toby King (85)
Line-ups -
Not known
After visiting the Inspire Community Stadium to watch Real Utd v Eastwood CFC on Monday, we returned to the stadium to catch our first NAA Premier game of the season. Original venue as posted on the NAA full-tiome website was George Street in Arnold. I'm pleased I checked the venue with my NAA guru Justin Eastman before we set out!
We have seen NAA games before - so seeing that there were club linesmen came as no surprise - although it does make you realise the actual level of this particular league. Santos had to win this game to take the NAA Premier championship to the last game of the season - a game on the 16th May at Greenwich Avenue v Nottingham Community that we will also be covering.
It was very much against the form-book when Southbank took an 2nd minute lead through KARL CLOWERY - the striker coolly lobbing Regan in the Santos goal. Carl Wilson was given the chance to level two minutes later, but fired wide after he was gifted the ball by the Gedling keeper. The same player also fired wide on 7, after he was played though from midfield.
1-0
KIERAN WHEAT brought Santos level with 12 minutes played, his speculative lob from wide left flew over the keeper's head, and ended up nestling in the far corner. Eight minutes later Santos took the lead, DEAN BUSSEY ramming home the loose ball after a shot had been parried by the Gedling stopper.
1-1
1-2
On 25, CONNOR SCOTT-PARKER ended a well-worked corner routine with a fierce drive from 22 yards that flew into the back of the Southbank net. Jake Corkhill saw his header hit the foot of the home goal on the half-hour mark, and then Wilson had a close range effort well saved by the keeper as Santos piled on the pressure.
1-3
It was 1-4 in the 39th minute, JAMIE FOSTER hitting the ball from fully 40 yards and grinning from ear to ear after it bulged the back of the net. CARL WILSON finally bagged a goal with a couple of minutes of the first half remaining, volleying home from the edge of the box. H-T 1-5
We relocated to the far side of the ground for the second period - gave us a chance to do the head count, which was around the 30 mark. Southbank clawed their way back into the game on 57, JAMES NEEDHAM with a neat lob from 30 yards that rippled the back of the net. The home team added their 3rd a minute later, Needham's cross headed home from close range by KARL CLOWERY. Back to 3-5 and tempers frayed slightly - Bussey was booked on 65 after a bit of handbags on the halfway line.
3-5
Give over!!
The tension eased seconds later though, the Gedling no. 7 toe-poking under pressure past his own keeper after Scott-Parkin had drilled the ball into the area. The same player saw his powerful drive crash off the crossbar on 74, but we had to wait until the 85th minute for the next goal, TOBY KING firing home from close range.
Right on full-time, Wilson hammered Bussey's perfect cross over the hills and far away - from 5 yards out! What a good job that the miss meant little other than to give everyone a chuckle or two! F-T 3-7
3-6 OG - unlucky
King rounds the keeper before slotting home to make it 3-7
Over she goes!!!!
Attendance: h/c 30
Pics: courtesy Kev Goodman (use them if you wish, but credit the daftlad please)
Charity: a magnificent £7.50!
