THREE GOALS IN FIVE MINUTES WINS IT FOR SELSTON

CLIFTON ALL WHITES 2 SELSTON 4
EMCL @ THE NORMAN ARCHER MEMORIAL GROUND
24 FEBRUARY 2018 --- 3PM

FIRST HALF ACTION CLIFTON ALL WHITES V SELSTON

Three goals in five second half minutes allowed Selston to continue the pressure on top of the table Teversal in their search for the league title.  Much of this quality spell of play came as a direct opposite to what had gone before it but showed the visitors ability to turn on the 'good stuff' when needed the most.
The mini tour of 'localish' grounds not visited continued this Saturday with a trip south of Nottingham again to Clifton All Whites a club who had veered around a few leagues recently from CMFL, NSL and of course now the EMCL.  This fixture had a little problem of an abandonment at The Parish Grounds when both sides decided to get a little too friendly but todays fixture was a mouth watering prospect with both sides in the top echelons of the table.

A SMALL PRE MATCH MEAL ALWAYS GOES DOWN WELL

Usual pattern of play got us to Nottingham, Comet and Red Arrow, before the Nottingham Tram whisked us away to the darkest south of the city.  Eatery wise research had found a decent chippy but travelling companion Mick opted for a sit down of which either The Ferry Boat or the Harvester at Wilford Lane came on the list of options.  Having selected the latter its a grandiose entrance with a smart interior too the added option here is of course the salad bowl and small bread cobs by the plateful!  An excellent fish and chips was complimented by a Rocky Horror Sundae and by the time I left I needed air. Anyway before this turns into a food critique here is the footy.

NORMAN ARCHER MEMORIAL GROUND HOME OF CLIFTON ALL WHITES

Back to the tram to complete the journey a short one to Clifton Centre and a departure down Green Lane to the edge of approaching Ruddington and the ground is in front of us.  With its clubhouse and changing rooms just outside the edge of the ground the players entrance to the pitch as a separate walkway and after a visit inside the bar to obtain the teams entrance fees were paid.

CORPORATE COLOURED DUGOUTS

Entrance is behind the goal to the left takes you round to the stand which consists of a mixture of bench and static white seats continuing to the far goal you meet the out of bounds grassed area.  The opposite touchline was also out of bounds today and houses the dugouts this seemed today possibly to do with the earlier goings on in the game at Selston but it does offer a nice view back to the houses of Clifton and the double electricity pylons for a back drop to the game.  The perimeter of the pitch on both sides has quite a gap taking you a little away from the action, overall a tidy ground which behind the dugouts has a mini training pitch too.
The first half well most of it was probably the must unmemorable of any game this season with both sides opting for a long ball approach the poor thing spent a long time in the air although in defence their was a sharp wind blowing down the pitch towards the bar end.

SELSTON GO CLOSE

It was though Clifton who broke the deadlock on 34 minutes when Corbi Brown fired home and now Selston would have to come to the party something they did just seven minutes later with a lovely finish from Jamie Renshaw who placed the ball superbly over the out coming Clifton keeper Alex Smith.
Half time warm drinks and how we were to need them as the second half proved to be a very cold watch weather wise.

BOSS LETS GO FOR THE 3 GOALS IN 5 MINUTE ROUTINE

Selston though did warm us up if only for the fact of three goals in five minutes that secured them victory a lovely 20 yard drive from Keenan Leyton set the ball rolling on 58 minutes and then immediately Carl Moore slotted the ball home after an initial blocked effort fell to him.  It was 4-1 shortly after when Moore produced a solo wonder strike spinning round to get the ball under control on the left hand side of the box he fired home a superb dipping shot over Smith in the home goal.  Clifton used their subs and the impressive Goran Seymour tested Jake Ball in the visitors goal who turned his long range effort away, the All Whites also saw a header crash back off the bar had any of these efforts gone in we could have seen the game come to life.  Clifton had to settle for a late second from the penalty spot on 89 minutes when Theo Smith was upended by Garren Haslam and Jeavon Seaton converted the kick.

AERIAL ATTACK FROM CLIFTON

Neither side really got going in this disappointing game but as so often when you are at the top it goes for you and on this occasion Selston cold be thankful for the sharp finishing of Renshaw, Layton and Moore as their march to the top continued.

50/50 WHOSE BALL?

Reverse journey went remarkably well, again, with tram to Nottingham a 2 minute change onto the Arrow allowing a brief interlude in the Spar, hoppers shop not some water bubble fitness place you understand, at Derby Bus Station before arriving back at base at 7pm.