SHERWOOD COLLIERY COME OUT ON TOP

EASTWOOD COMMUNITY 1 SHERWOOD COLLIERY 2
EMCL @ CORONATION PARK
14 AUGUST 2019 --- 7.45PM

RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME EASTWOOD CFC V SHERWOOD COLLIERY

The celebrations from both sides for their goals showed the importance of this much fought recent contests and today it was close with little given in a goal less first half, the second half produced the relevant action that saw the visitors take the lead before Eastwood equalised but it was to be substitute Kieran Wells who settled it nine minutes from time.
A short blog on a relatively short journey tonight and after a day of rain the 4g at Eastwood offered a tantalising fixture that had seen these two sides battle out CMFL and now, the soon to be obsolete, East Midlands Counties League fixtures.
A collection of three buses would see arrival just shy of 7pm and after some confusion of access with the gate I was used to being open being locked and trying to gain access around the front of the clubhouse also being blocked I feared a long walk back around the ground.  After moaning through a fence to a mate who was now the right side of the 'Eastwood wall' the gate by the club was manned and access gained.  Having been branded on entrance through former turnstile with a bold red 'PAID' stamp it appeared some blighters were going into the clubhouse and not paying hence the nead for the inking.

MAIN STAND REMAINS TO WELCOME VISITORS

A fair collection of hoppers in a healthy crowd were gathering and it was as ever a pleasure to catch up with a few of them during the evening with a word for Malcolm Storer who through his 'on the road blog' page has keep a timeless effort up during the close season to keep the most comprehensive local pre season list going a fantastic effort.

WARM RESPECT GREETINGS

With the, once again, days rain finally relenting there was an option of viewing places available as long as you were not to low down at this ground which now has some very restrictive viewing areas since the pitch was levelled.  A frequent visit to Eastwood necessitates no real descriptor nothing much has changed accept to say the new boundary fencing is now complete along with a new roof to the small stand and a entrance board that I had not seen before looks resplendent.
First half was a speed battle but with little in goal chances it fell to Kieran Watson to strike the bar with a 25 yard free kick and then just before half time Patrick Webb to see his effort saved by Josh Turton.  On the stroke of half time home keeper Curtis McDonald was called on to make an excellent interception to keep it level at the break.

REFEREE EXPLAINS LAST WEEKS FISHING MATCH

Just short of the hour mark Charlie Taylor broke the deadlock with a sharp back post header but it was all square in 77 minutes when Sherwood couldn't clear their lines and Watson fired home.  Both sides looked for the winner not settling for a draw but it would be three points back to Debdale Park when Wells latched onto a slip up on he edge of the and as he drew the keeper fired home.
The East Midlands Counties League has created some excellent local derbies and although this was not a classic you could see the importance to both sides lets hope its replacement league will not lose this competitiveness.