EASTWOOD COMMUNITY PROGRESS IN LEAGUE CUP

EASTWOOD COMMUNITY 2 ASLOCKTON AND ORSTON 1
CMFL LEAGUE CUP @ CHEWTON ST
1 NOVEMBER 2017 --- 7.45PM

EVENING FOOTBALL RETURNS AND ITS EASTWOOD COMM FC

Eastwood Community dominated this League Cup tie but the sheer determination and hard work of the visitors made the victory a hard fought struggle and with a late goal 3 minutes from time there was even the possibility of a late leveller.
First game this season of going out in the dark with fleece under jacket has winter arrived early or has my advancing maturity [?!] just made me question why the heck we do this in the evening especially by public transport.  Still after the first charabanc was late and saw me miss two potential connections I opted to alight in Ripley and finally arrive at the former Coronation Park at just short of 7.30pm.  Having paid a warm greeting to Lennie The Lion of Heanor fame, unfrocked tonight of course and Mr Berezai of CMFL Fixture fame amongst other attributes in the non league world there was time for a circuit.  The ground has been described on previous visits but since its move to 4g the barriers have received a corporate colour pain and the set up looks fairly tidy.  The only down side is although the pitch is now flat without a slope the fire station end is not really for viewing with at 6 foot wall and fencing denying good viewing and this continues half way around the park side of the ground.  This is not massively detrimental while crowds are of course were they are currently at.

NEWLY PAINTED BARRIERS AT THE CHEWTON ST END

Upon completion of the circuit referee Melissa Burgin and her colleagues , who it must be said had a good game tonight, were just out to warm up at around 7.35 and by the time they'd departed back to the changing rooms it was clear kick off would be late.  I know its my old man moan again but with evening public transport scarce it would be great if games kicked off at 7.45 everybody seemed to be there and I.m not sure why they don't after all we don't see 3pm Saturday games kick off late when all parties are their.  Just saying because it does limit game choices in midweek and I guess most league would rather see bigger crowds than smaller ones?
Eastwood in their new Community guise have been looked at before on here so it was a good chance to familiarise with new league entrants for 2017/18 Aslockton and Orston whose Spa Lane ground is in the latter hamlet and is probably one of the most inaccessible grounds by public transport with the village station having about 2 trains a day and what looks like one commuter bus a day too.  The nearby Aslockton offers a slightly better service but a very challenge country lane walk to Orston would be the option, hopefully the blog can make a visit.  Their introduction as been a tester for the club with a position near to the bottom of the table being currently a reflector of the small amount of points gained so far and tonight's fixture against high flying Eastwood would be a real challenge and how well they made it their challenge.

PROCEEDINGS VIEWED FROM THE HOME DUG OUT

Eastwood started kick up what was the former slope to Chewton St and Jack James got in an early header that saw the visiting keeper James Elliot turn the ball round for a corner.  The developing play of the home side was featuring some lovely link up play down the left from Jamie Thomas and Patrick Webb but it was Jack Smith who would next test Elliott in the visitors goal once again he was equal to the effort.  Three minutes before the break Webb found the Aslockton number 1 still in fine form when he denied the number 9's effort.  The half had seen Aslockton defend deep with a fine display of commitment and look to hit Eastwood on the break and just as it looked like being goal less at half time Webb controlled the ball on the edge of the box before switching feet to fire home to break the deadlock.
Half time showed winter had arrived with Bovril drink, as anybody ever drunk one of these without burning their tongue?  This interval was a major success for the blog when Postman Pete popped up and kindly undertook a first class delivery of blogger back to base at the end something which resulted in my stamp of approval, I know there's too many puns in there but thanks it was a fantastic help that saved and early departure.

EASTWOODS  ENTRY FOR THE MY FLAGS HIGHER THAN YOURS COMPETITION 2017

The second half started in the same mode with Eastwood attacking and they looked to have wrapped the occasion up with a second on 68 minutes thanks to a back post header from Rory Smith.  With the final throes of the game upon us Aslockton and Orston threatened to blow and early evening departure apart when a floated free kick from James Hallam was guided in by Josh Asuman with three minutes remaining of the ninety.
It wasn't enough and made the game closer than it probably should have been on possession but it was also you felt a deserved effort for the visitors who knew they were up against it tonight but put up a sterling hard working effort against a very good Eastwood.