NTU HIT 5 IN PACKED FIXTURE LIST

NTU 5 ATTENBOROUGH 1
NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ CLIFTON LANE
4 MAY 2017 --- 6.30PM

HOME OF NTU FC

Nottingham Trent University Fc [NTU] hit five to maintain their climb up the Notts Senior Premier league table in a sequence of games that sees them play 5 games in 11 days, mind you they do get 3 days off before the league cup final on a week a Saturday!  Attenborough did pull back a late consolation goal but the game was over by then as a contest.
The early kick off allowed this midweek journey to a new ground that would have been denied by the joys of public transport negating a return journey if the scheduled 7.30pm kick off had applied.  Base station start allowed a 35 minute journey to Robin Hood City and an adjoining connection to the Nottingham Express Transit system or tram to you and me.  The trams destination of Clifton South allowed an early departure at Clifton Central for hoppers delight superstore sandwich and a bottle of the fizzy stuff.  A pleasant walk to Clifton Lane and the NTU Campus revealed a delightful array of sporting facilities from outdoor pitches to the super NTU Tennis Centre.

CORRECT PLACE LOCATED

Having located The Clubhouse, thanks to the reception staff, there was time to climb to the balcony changing rooms and obtain the teams from both sides and after a brief chat with the Attenborough officials make my way back down the pathway to the enclosed 3g facility that is home to NTU Fc.
As with all these facilities on leisure centre style sites its all basic but the weird aspect here is that some of the meshed fencing pitch side is 6ft high, for when the pitches are split, so to obtain a viewing spot when there is a bigger crowd than tonight you may have a bit of a struggle.  Standing is all uncovered and on one side only with 3/4's of the pitch side covered by trees and tonight strong breeze it was, and did, make for a cold spectating affair.

WALK FROM THE CLUBHOUSE TO THE PITCH

For Attenborough this would be their final game and I'm not sure how the early kick off affected them getting into a busy part of Nottingham but with an early goal for the home side after 2 minutes things did not start well when James Toju broke through on the inside right to slot past the out coming Lewis Soal in the boro' goal.

ENTRANCE TO THE TERRACES AT CLIFTON

Proceedings were moved along pretty well tonight by referee Towers and as usual we had a slightly late kick off and then a small delay on the quarter an hour mark while a gaping net was fixed, it always amazes me how this was not spotted before kick off.  But overall with a quick half time turnaround we were able to finish at 8.15pm, always important for the public transport user.

ATTENBOROUGH IN POSSESSION AGAINST THE NTU

NTU were to make it 2-0 soon after when Luke Southby fed an excellent ball through to Dan Mearon who after an initial block from Soal converted the rebound.  Just before the break, 41 minutes, the home side really put the game out of Attenborough's reach when Akighbe Unigbe converted.
Any hopes of a comeback were ended just 4 minutes into the second period when NTU made it 4-0 in a sweet move James Fletcher applied the finishing touch when he was put through on goal.  As NTU threatened to run riot it was 5-0 Toju broke through and fed Akin Akinbinu who was blocked out but managed to re supply Toju to blast the ball home.

SHINY PITCH ACTION BETWEEN NTU AND ATTENBOROUGH

The game entered a quiet period with much of the home sides efforts going well off target but there was time for an consolation goal in the final 10 minutes for the visitors when Aiden Blewitt hit a low drive from 20 yards out that beat Jake Cox in the NTU goal.

CORPORATE DUG OUT

Leaving the campus to the sight of American Football training, plus earlier lacrosse, made you realise the wide range of sporting options available and then one for me crossing the busy 4 lanes of Clifton lane an Olympic sport in itself mind you at after 8pm in the evening it was at least possible.  Soon back at the NET tram stop we were whisked away in comfort to the train station in good time for the 9.14 back to base station.
An enjoyable evening out if somewhat cold for May where is summer?  On this showing NTU will put up a good show in the NSL League Cup Final in just over a week for Attenborough it was probably a game they didn't need to finish their season with.