SELSTON ACHIEVE 'MOORE' THANKS TO BEN AND CARL

SELSTON 4 V LINBY CW 1
CENTRAL MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE SOUTH @ THE PARISH GROUND
23 JANUARY 2016 --- 2PM

ACTION FROM SELSTON V LINBY AT THE PARISH GROUND

Selston stormed to a three goal lead without reply after 22 minutes thanks too Ben and Carl Moore both scoring a goal apiece and each being credited an assist.  It was Linby's turn in the second half to push Selston and they did pull a goal back early after the break through Ashley Winfield but their possession failed to add to the score line and a late goal from the home sides Tom Widdowson took the final score to 4-1 as Selston continued their march to the top.

LOCAL FILM SET FOR ANITA AND ME [2002]

It was an improvement this week to be not looking at the weather forecast from Thursday but still surprising to see games called off locally.  This weekend would be a little break for the blog on the travelling front and a local journey to nearby Selston was the order of the day.  This would be Selston's first game at home since December 12 and although the cricket outfield was squelchy it has to be said the pitch was a credit to the club after the recent bad weather.
Early kick offs always used to feel a little bit obscure but after a few years in the CMFL they became a normality and its quite nice to arrive back earlier at the end of a game.  Change of bus today at Alfreton saw us jump on board a Rainbow 1, Trent Barton bus route for the non public transport readers, for the 15 minute departure to Selston.  I had previously visited Selston for an early kick off in a Rob Hornby ground hop a few years ago when they played Wollaton in a Notts Senior League fixture so today would be a revisit.  Selston had a spell in The CMFL before reitiring to junior football before a return to The Midland Regional Alliance and then The Notts Senior League and then a switch back to The CMFL for the 2015/16 season.
After travelling through Jubilee a small 'hamlet' on a sharp bend at the top of a steep hill the departure was made a couple of stops later just into the village of Selston.  The aim was to make a visit to a film location spot but firstly the smart new war memorial was passed before heading off to Crescent Rd where a couple of old style terraced houses offer a back yard scene that was used in the 2002 film Anita and Me which was written by and starred Meera Syal. 

CHANGING ROOMS AND SNACK BAR AT THE PARISH HALL

With 1 1/2 hours to kick off we had plenty of time to spare and following a walk towards the small village centre Mick was off to the local chip shop, Wise Eater, while I kept up the Cooperative principles with a sandwich from the lime green liveried outlet.

WELL STOCKED SNACK BAR WITH PIES...............AND SOUVENIRS

A steady walk towards the Parish Grounds saw us arrive at just after 2pm for a friendly greeting from both the official taking the admission and his fellow counterpart operating the snack bar.  I have said it before on our travels these sort of pleasant welcomes mean at lot and represent their club well.  It was superb to catch up with Selston manager Craig Weston, former star man at Alfreton Town and Long Eaton which included a spell as manager.  Really good to see you Craig and thanks for the warm welcome too.

SELSTON MANAGER CRAIG WESTON CAP AND ALL!

Let me say that if you want a snack on your visit the club do have a selection of the famous 'p' companies pies one to remember next time for us.
The ground is a short walk away from the changing rooms and snack bar over the Selston cricket outfield which sides onto the near side of the pitch separated by a roped dividing line.   The entrance to the pitch is to the right via the cricket scoreboard it is a narrow high up walk way which offers a commanding view from behind the higher end goal and this sloping pitch.

MAIN SPECTATOR AREA AND GEORGE ELLIOTT STAND

The far touchline is singled slabbed and offers a 'close to the action' feel but is a little narrow for passing those already in situ.  The George Elliott Stand is smart and offers a small cover before we pass behind the two small dug outs.  The far goal is tight to the boundary but offers a good view of the penalty area and back towards the main congregation area.

HERE THEY COME LED BY THE MATCH OFFICIALS SELSTON AND LINBY [GREEN/WHITE] FOLLOW

Back to the Parish Hall and there are a few more people arriving now in what was to be a very good crowd of 106 which including Groundhop's Chris and Tony from Heanor and On The Road blog guys who cover a lot of the local clubs surrounding Selston and Nottinghamshire.  While in the snack bar area it was interesting to take a look at an old framed picture of Selston from the early 1900's and also a lovely picture of the cricket clubs old pavilion from the same period.
So to the game and a storming start by second placed Selston saw them 3-0 to the good inside 22 minutes.

BEN MOORE MOVES IN FOR NUMBER 1

The first was the Moore's goal as Carl assisted captain Moore, Ben, to march on and place past the out coming Luca Rocco to give the home side a lead after 7 minutes.

AND ITS IN BEN MOORE 1-0

It was Carls turn to get on the score sheet after 19 minutes with a superb strike from 10 yards that flew into the top left hand corner to extend the home sides lead.  The third was fast approaching as Linby were starting to look all at sea Wayne Cooke forced Rocco into a save low down before just 3 minutes after the second goal Ben Moore supplied a deep cross off the right for Joe Riley who rose to head home.

JOE RILEY MAKES IT 3-0 AT THE BACK POST

So we arrived at half time with the game looking all but over, could Linby get their game back together and could Selston avoid the relaxation that often appears in games like this?

JOE BUTLER [LINBY] IN CONTROL

Which one of these occurred you can decide but kick down the slope in the second half Linby came to the party and looked a different side pulling a goal back after 55 minutes when Winfield headed home a cross off the right from livewire sub Damian Mann.

OFFSIDE

Linby continued to enjoy the majority of the second half possession and looked a refreshed side after their half time team talk they provided some lovely build up play but just seemed to lack the confidence in front of goal.  They could not force their way through to make this game tight and as so often happens the other team often punish you.  Indeed with 3 minutes remaining Selston did Wayne Cooke fed Tom Widdowson who confidently raced on to guide the ball past Rocco in the visitors goal.

YELLOW IS PUT AWAY

There were just two bookings in a game that was well refereed by Lewis Saunders-Johnson a new referee for the blog and both within two minute Will Spray after 79 minutes and two minutes earlier for Toby Guy both of Linby.  The latter was an interesting one with a caution for a foul and then as the player moved away from referee Saunders-Johnson he clapped the decision and was called back by the official and as he went for his back pocket it looked like a second yellow followed by a long walk after seeing red, however a stern talking too saved the Linby player a frustrating suspension.
Steady little game which continued Selston's unbeaten run and secured their challenge for the top spot, but more importantly a friendly club well worth a visit to sample a game.
Return journey was all smooth running and a return back to base at just after 5pm was successfully completed thanks to a change in Alfreton.

REFEREE SAUNDERS JOHNSON IN GOOD FORM TODAY