THRILLER AT THE PARISH HALL

SELSTON 2 NEWARK FLOWSERVE 1
EMCL @ THE PARISH HALL GROUND
5 SEPTEMBER 2018 --- 7.45

THE WHISTLER STILL IN PRODUCTIONS AND SELSTON FC

Like any local amateur dramatic production this Parish Hall witnessed a night of drama on the football pitch, goals, red card, half a dozen yellow cards, two penalties and mid-week football under floodlights what more could any fan want?
Its always a pleasure to visit Selston a club that offers a warm welcome and just keeps doing things so well in their own little way and it pays dividends with a tremendous attendance of 176 tonight witnessing this feisty top of the table encounter.  Having fully enjoyed a recent visit to Flowserve tonight was a great opportunity to take another look at this forward looking club a little bit closer to home with a cross border trip into Nottinghamshire.
With both teams sniffing out the top of the league an intriguing encounter awaited with Selston showing five straight wins in the league returning home for their first fixture of the season on a ground they of course share with the cricket club.  As for Newark they also remain unbeaten but have one drawn game in their exciting start to higher step football.
The ground has now had a toilet block added which was much needed and the club have opened this tonight and it provides another improvement to the ground alongside the opening up of the snack bar as the club look to make the most of their base.
Great to catch up with and receive warm welcomes from many at Selston tonight and some of the officials at Newark who I had spoken to on Bank Holiday Monday, thanks it makes the visit a real pleasure.

SELSTON MANAGER CRAIG WESTON PRE MATCH

I don't normally do big match reports but this was too good not to record and with poor light meaning no match pictures here's a match report!
So onto the encounter and even at this stage of the season it was eagerly anticipated I did wonder how Newark would live up to a tougher game and we found out over the following 90 minutes.  As early as the eighth minute the visitors were awarded what looked a very debatable penalty when Sam Agar went over in the box with Rory Davis close by following the discussion Rhys Dolan was cautioned probably for a pull back in the build up.  One thing I noticed the other week Agar knows where the goal is and he did from the spot tonight a fine penalty but an even finer save from Alfie Smith-Eccles who spread all his limbs on his leftward dive and deflected the ball onto the post via his leg and to safety.  There seemed to be some justice in the world at that moment for Selston supporters.
Flowserve were starting to look irresistible that was until after a free kick on the halfway line was awarded Solomon Miller got involved in a spot of alleged head jostling and was shown a straight red card by referee George Enever.  With just 21 minutes on the clock this would leave the men in tangerine a tough task and when moments later James Cullingworth followed through Dolan in front of the dug outs all singing and dancing could have begun but was softened by a second yellow card this time for the Newark player.
Not for the feint hearted had this one been and as Selston tried to break down a now determined Newark there was one ray of hope just before the break, however Yinka Adebowale pulled off a remarkable save to deny Klarke Geenham.

DAVID KOLAPO [LEFT] THOUGHT HE HAD SCORED WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH

The opening stages of the second period showed the importance to the home side of the skilful Dolan dancing around the left hand side of the pitch but they would have to be careful for any break-aways that would involve the ever threatening strike partnership of Agar and John Mustapha.  Indeed it was a header across goal from Agar that set up Mustapha who saw his header superbly saved by Smith- Eccles. 
Selston took the lead with a glorious move the pace and skill of Dolan set up Greenham who from 20 yards out dispatched the ball into the bottom corner of the Flowserve goal, 57 minutes.
It looked as though Newark would have to come out to play a little more and substitute David Kolapo had the ball in the net with his first touch but was given offside before Smith Eccles conceded a penalty with a mistimed tackle that earned him a caution and Newark a spot kick which was sweetly dispatched by Danny Meadows.  Shortly afterwards as the 'feist'ometer' rose to the next level Agar and Meadows were booked as this game could go either way.

YINKA ADEBOWALE NEWARK FLOWSERVE NUMBER 1

As the match entered the 90 minute mark the ball found Sean Gregory 25 yards out who fired goal-wards Adebowale hands were forced back standing and at full stretch the ball flopped backwards towards goal and at this moment all time went into slow motion as it dribbled its way over the line the keeper could only look agonisingly as the Selston celebrations began.  Earlier on in the game the visitors number one had pulled off an excellent save but the life of a goalkeeper is so that any misjudgement is magnified.
As we encountered what turned out to be around 8 minute stoppage time Lee Sutton was cautioned after being on the pitch a matter of seconds bringing the match total to half a dozen, a weird one as he just appeared to be tracking a Newark player as a free kick was about to be taken and walked his path too!
Referee Enever knew he had been in a game tonight, as did both sides, dugouts and a noisy enthusiastic crowd too. 
Before the game I guess both clubs would have settled for the draw that was unfolding at 89 minutes but that late winner for Selston was readily accepted by the home side in a game that could have had so many other different outcomes.