SELSTON AND RAVENSHEAD IN GOAL FEST

SELSTON RES 3 RAVENSHEAD 4
NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE 1 @ PALMERSTON ST WESTWOOD
17 MAY 2018 6PM [6.33PM]
This final game of a long season for both sides served up a veritable feast of goals specifically in the final 17 minutes with four hitting the back of the net.  Selston had taken an early lead but they were never to do so again as Ravenshead constantly took the adavatage again soon after the home sides levellers.

WESTWOOD THIS WAY

As the season draws to a close an opportunity to cross the border into Nottinghamshire arose for this fixture played at Westwood Rec away from The Parish Ground in Selston who now have cricket considerations and with their postponements due to waterlogging the club had sent a nice selection of their 2nd string fixtures on the road to Westwood which appropriately remains in the Selston Parish area.
With an early start this became a viable option on public transport with a small amount of time built in it became slightly later than planned when Ravenshead only arrived on kick off time and with many coming in twenty minutes later the start went further back.  It did seem an early start time and there must be a need for leagues to be more realistic with kick offs especially for fixtures in mid May.  The down time allowed for me to follow, like the Pied Piper, the chimed bells of the local ice cream van, sod the fish and chips today it was time to welcome in summer.

FISH AND CHIPS NO MORE

Westwood is the smaller of two villages, its neighbour being Jacksdale, that I'm fairly familiar with and having not been through the area for a while it was interesting to see the changes.  Jacksdale has lost a few shops sadly like many villages but there is still a great community feel with many groups and even a community magazine produced which is of the interesting variety unlike many others it remains a local feel.  The area has a fantastic industrial history with its pits, railway and canals alongside the former Butterley Works famous for many buildings including structures at St Pancras station.  While on a history diversion there was time to learn something new tonight about the Portland Tramaway that ran from the Portland Pits near Selston through Westwood and down the incline to Jacksdale and the wharf for the canal and railways.  The horse drawn transportation had a break house situated in Westwood to hold back the coal waggons from their steep drop to their ultimate destination.  Numerous information boards have been lovingly researched and can be seen along the route of the tramway with a leaflet available for anybody interested in tracking the route.  Before I sound like the tourist information office for the area back to the footy.
Westwood Rec is just what it says a park pitch with a large green metal cabin for changing rooms and it does everything it needs to do for what is effectively step 8 football.  The ground offers on this glorious evening some nice views over rolling fields back towards Selston and behind our backs the houses of Westwood look on to proceedings.

OPENING GOAL FOR SELSTON JORDAN BLACK

Having secured the teams from referee Craig Frisk who it should be noted had a good game and despite his early arrival at 5pm he performed well.  It should be noted this is Ravenshead first game since April 21st so credit to them for fulfilling this fixture.  An early lead for Selston saw Jordan Black nip in to slot past the visiting keeper Ross Hardwick and as it looked like the home side would go on to score more the chances went begging though and Ravenshead gathered themselves from their late arrival and equalised when Adam Martin converted at the back post.  On the half hour mark the same player put the visitors in front when he fired home from a goal line clearance and that's how we went into the break.
The second half saw Selston determined to get back into the game but the goal would not come that was until 73 minutes when Klarke Greenham converted a sharp cross goal finish.  More or less immediately the visitors re-took the lead when the unmarked Tyler Lambert headed home.  The goal flurry continued with Selston equalising again a long throw created doubt in the Ravenshead defence and as the ball was cleared from the goal line it struck the in running Reagan Marriott to go over the line.
We now had a game on our hands as play swung from end to end it was winner takes all and that fell to Lambert who cut in off the left and coolly fired past Jack Mills in the Selston goal with two minutes remaining.
An entertaining final game from both sides and a convoluted return journey via a walk to the Coop for hoppers provisions and bus change in Leabrooks and Alfreton saw arrival back at base far later than anticipated.