QUALITY GOALS WIN IT FOR FC CAVALIERS

FC CAVALIERS 3 GEDLING SOUTHBANK 0
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ FOREST SPORTS ZONE
9 DECEMBER 2017 --- 3PM

FC CAVALIERS V GEDLING SOUTHBANK

On a bitterly cold afternoon the quality of FC Cavaliers three goals not only warmed up the watching spectators but added three more valuable points to the home sides total as they stayed in touch with the leading group at the top of the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division.  A superb double strike from David Kolapo and a wonder finish from Bayleigh Reid did the damage that meant Gedling Soutbank were unable to raise any comeback.
As ever approaching the weekend the weather was the big factor to intervene with Saturday footy with the snow at base station nicely iced over games looked increasingly doubtful to take place and with a heavy overnight frost forecast even where there was no covering games would definitely fall foul of inspections and so it proved to be.  Thankfully FC Cavaliers home ground on Gregory Boulevard was a 3g surface and had been on the agenda for a while and as long as there was no covering of snow the game would hopefully take place.  Here thanks goes to Cavaliers manager Martin Hickey whose responses on Friday sealed this as the game to cover on Saturday.
Option for travel was by bus to Alfreton with a quick change onto a Rainbow 1 service to Bobbers Mill for a pre match meal[!?] in one of my favourite Big M's today did not disappoint and with a smart car emblazoned with Macs in the car park I did envisage Ronald being on the premises, although I have to report he was not to be seen.  As good as ever in this relatively new Macs and while there checking the games being postponed all around there were just two others on in Nottingham at Gedling MW and Dunkirk.

BEN GATES SOUND SCULPTURES

Walking along the long Gregory Boulevard and diverting off to Hyson Green Asda for a quick look around, back onto the main thoroughfare the New Art Exchange building was discovered.  Looking very busy and with a well occupied café I did consider a visit being now only just after 1.30pm.  But of interest outside was Ben Gates Sound Sculptures who had set up with a display of weird and wonderful everyday objects to play in an astonishing musical performance.

NOTTINGHAM TRAM OFFERS A CONVINENT WAY TO ARRIVE

The far end of this massive recreation area, Forest Fields, offers a park and ride system and a tram link to the city centre just a mile away and so its quite convenient to arrive by this mode of transport from the railway station if you are so travelling.  Forest Fields offers a large park area that is also the host of the Nottingham Goose fair a massive fairground that sets up over the whole site in early October each year.  The name apparently was gained after geese were driven from Lincoln to Newark for an historical trade fair a large collection of years ago.

ENTRY TO THE SPORTS ZONE

Amazingly the outlying park pitches were setting up for their 2pm kick offs interesting to see the local players just getting on with playing.  To the top end of the area towards the Mansfield Rd end is the Sports Zone with out door Astroturf pitches and then the main block a two tiered building offering changing rooms and at the higher level the main 3g pitch for todays game.

CHANGING ROOMS AND TOP DECK ENTRANCE TO THE 3G.

Firstly this does have a semi feel of a ground yes its caged in but the side by our exit from the host building is all tarmac hard standing with low fencing apart from 6 foot high fencing in front of the changing rooms to protect the glass I guess.  So for a steady little crowd its fairly comfortable to watch proceedings without the feel of not being at a football ground.  Nottingham Forrest have a large connection here through their community trust and I guess are probably owners or leasers of the site which as clearly received the usual funding from a wide selection of sources.

RESPECT HANDSHAKE

FC Cavaliers were formed in 1978 and have played under a few guises including British Caribbean's, Caribbean Cavaliers and now FC Cavaliers.  Approaching their 40 year anniversary it was a pleasure to speak to Karl White one of the original founding members and have a brief chat in the second half, great to see his enthusiasm and continued interest in the club.  Before the game manager Martin Hickey had made a few minutes for a chat and catch up on Cav's season so far, thanks to both of you it was nice to meet you.  While on the greeting front it was also good to catch up with referee Fanran Meng who had previously meet when he was assistant referee at Gedling MW earlier in the season and Andy the assessor today from Newark.  Also good to catch up again with Paul who I see on an irregular basis and is as ever a wealth of information on many grounds that I have not so far visited and some good tips followed at the end when we journeyed back to base town after the game.
Todays visitors Gedling Southbank newly promoted from division 1 were toying with the wrong end of the league but looked resplendent in their superb red and white striped kit, whereas the green kit of FC Cavaliers is a not too often seen colour in todays game.

DAVID KOLAPO CELEBRATES HIS FIRST GOAL

To the game and it started at a fair old pace with FC Cavaliers clearly on the front foot and they found themselves 2 up inside 15 minutes first on 8 minutes Kolapo curled in a lovely finish from 20 yards out before seven minutes later his one on one with visiting keeper Daniel Cockayne led to Cavaliers second.  With the keeper racing out Kolapo challenged for the waist high ball and as the ball was cleared to around 40 yards out on the inside left Reid took it under control before converting the ball from a difficult high set position into the Gedling net for an excellent finish.

BAYLEIGH REID RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS GOAL

It looked a question of how many but slowly Gedling stemmed the tide and got a foothold in the game but they were unable to create too much of note against a lively home side.

GEDLING SOUTHBANK IN POSESSION

The second period saw the visitors take some early possession but Cavaliers were holding them out and there was little to worrying the home side, as the game opened out it was Cavaliers who looked increasingly threatening with some slick fast flowing football non more so than the third goal.  A sweeping move found Kolapo on the left he cut in to the box and fired into the far bottom corner of the Gedling net for his second.
Unfortunately the front man could not find the opening for his hat trick but Cavaliers did go close with just 7 minutes remaining when Keba Drame struck a lovely effort from 20 yards only for the post to interrupt what would have been another superb goal.

FC CAVALIERS ON THE ATTACK

The cool weather had become an increasingly notably factor in the afternoon but the small crowd were warmed by three wonderful goals and some excellent football and once again this season the Nottinghamshire Senior League had provided a game of enjoyable quality.
A quick dash to Victoria bus station saw a prompt departure to connect in Derby, this time, with an arrival back at base around 7pm.