Competition: Notts Senior League Senior Division
Scorers:
Welfare - Martin Lench (24), Jake Fisher (65)
Ams - no. 7 (79)
Great to have another Friday night game to go to, but it was touch and go whether the game would actually go ahead after a heavy downpour left standing water on the pitch, and two of the floodlights packed up. The offending pylons were in opposite corners of the ground, and although the light was not ideal, the Referee deemed it playable - and so the game went ahead.
Met up with Richard Lane, Maurice McFarland, Rob Hornby and Paul "Bury" Earnshaw inside the ground - always good to be in such knowledgeable company.
Kimberley are currently top of the NSL Senior Division on 57 points - 9 clear of second placed Hucknall Rolls and 11 clear of Selston in third. Selston have four games in hand though, so when the teams meet at the Stag Ground next Wednesday it should be interesting!
Magdala more than matched their opponents as the first half took shape, and it was a special goal from Kimberley to crack open their visitors solid looking defence. In the 24th minute, the Ams keeper must have thought he'd cleared his area well enough when he hoofed the ball to almost the half way line. He didn't reckon on MARTIN LENCH though - the former Basford Utd player calmly collected the clearance and fired it over everyone, straight into the back of the net. Great composure from Lench, and what a strike from 40+ yards! H-T 1-0
JAKE FISHER doubled the home teams advantage on 65, skilfully rounding a defender before firing at goal. The Ams keeper managed to get a hand to the ball, but couldn't prevent it flying into the goal.
Magdala pulled one back on 79, setting up a tense final 10 minutes or so for the league leaders. The goal was scored by Ams no. 7, who was allowed time and space on the left. He took full advantage of this freedom, running into the corner of the area and curling a terrific shot past Welfare keeper Danny Walsh. Great technique, and it had to be to beat Walsh who'd previously been the Welfare saviour on more than one occasion.
The expected tense finish turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax, as the visitors failed to trouble Walsh and at the end of the ninety minutes, Welfare had secured another three points. F-T 2-1
Friday night football at the Stag again certainly proved popular with almost 70 turning out to watch - and they were treated to a very good, close game. I'm now looking forward to Wednesday with great anticipation.
