WOLLATON III 6 NUTHALL 3: NOTTS JUNIOR CUP, ROUND 1

Beeston Weirfields, Notts. Sat Sept 27th, 2008

Team: Dale Webster, Sheldon Miller, Andy Creswell, Steve Burton, Jo e Lewis, Micky Evans, Rocky Bennett-Bull, Jo sh Slade, Mark Middleton, Nick Evans, Chris Fish. Sub: Dave Grantham (used).

Wollo Goals: Nick Evans (4), Rocky Bennett-Bull, Mark Middleton,

This was the third Saturday in a row we played under clear blue skies and a warm, late summer sun and we basked in the conditions with one of our best performances for a while. We had to shuffle the pack a little bit with Andy Creswell filling in at left back and a full debut given to young Jo sh Slade at right mid.

It took us ten minutes to find feet all round with satisfactory passes but when we did we put down an early marker of intent. Josh showed some silky skills down the right to skip past a couple of challenges and hit the by-line before crossing low into the six yard box for Nick to stab the ball home. It was a typical five-a-side goal.

Nuthall almost got an equaliser five minutes later through a headed effort which looped over Dale but was cleared almost off the line by Muller. Nuthall were quick and lively up front and posed a threat from set pieces with a few big lads from midfield and defence. They got an equaliser when we appeared to have cleared our lines after they broke but the loose ball ran to one of their lads who struck the ball over Dale and our defence into an empty net; a very good finish.

They got their momentum going but we kept true to our passing game and stretched their defence by using the full width of the pitch. Nick put us 2-1 up with a well taken goal and that's how it stayed until half time. The second half was even more pleasing as for the last two games we've dropped our guard straight from the restart for 10 minutes but this time we kept our focus and stepped up another gear and increased the pressure and they struggled to live with it.

We scored the team goal of the game 20 minutes in when we broke from defence to attack, from one wing to another with Chris Fish then carving open their defence with a superb cross field ball to Nick, who held off a challenge to sweep the ball past their keeper. We could have had another when the ball broke loose from an attack and Muller (it reads better when you refer t yourself in the third person) picked up a loose ball from 30 yards out and hit an effort on the half volley which crashed against the bar.

Rocky put us 4-2 minutes later when he headed home a superb Chris Fish cross and Mark Middleton followed up with the solo goal of the game, cutting in from the left before unleashing a superb shot over their keeper into the far corner of the net.

That was the action at their end but back at our end, credit where it's due to the whole defence for keeping such sound shape and, in particular, Burts and Joe who were rock solid at the back and won everything in the air. Bouncing balls in our final third have caused us so many problems down the years but this defensive partnership could put an end to all that.

Nuthall got a consolation goal on the break but we wrapped up the game when Nick got his fourth and the game was over as a contest. We got we deserved by playing passing football, competing for every tackle and header, staying focus and by putting in a good shift.

Man of the Match: Everyone. Everyone was at the top of their game, a superb team performance.