JOSH'S AT THE DOUBLE ARE TOO MUCH FOR CAVALIERS

FC CAVALIERS 1 WOLLATON 2
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ FOREST ZONE
2 FEBRUARY 2019 --- 3PM

FC CAVALIERS [GREEN] V WOLLATON


Second half goals from Josh Stevenson and Josh Lewis gave Wollaton a victory following a bit of quality from David Kolapo just before half time that had given Cavaliers an interval lead. 
Sticking to their task the visitors would take their second half chances to deny the home side any return from their slick first half skills.
After a week of hard frosts and towards the weekend a varying amount of snow was deposited erratically around the country all local games to the blog in The NCEFL and  CMFL were called off so the search for a 3g lead to a few far flung travels but after a text to FC Cavaliers manager Martin Hickey the decision was made for a re-visit.  Thanks go to Martin for his prompt response to confirm there was no problems with snow etc on their 3g pitch and around mid day the Comet was launched to a first change at Ripley and then onwards to Victoria terminus in Nottingham.  Along the way any lying snow soon disappeared and the outlying pitches at the Forest had a few games on them such was the change in conditions in the city compared to the rural areas.

MR CLOUGH MEMORIES OF THE FOREST GLORY DAYS

The club was covered last season, December 2017, so I will not go back into the history as nothing much has changed, with admission paid, sadly there was no programme, but as ever a friendly
welcome awaits and it was nice to have a brief chat with Mr Hickey.

CAVS MANAGER MARTIN HICKEY PREPARES FOR A COLD AFTERNOON

Wollaton are on the up at present with an excellent 7-1 win last weekend and under the guidance of new manager Jamie Chaplin the club are moving along nicely although they still sit below Cavaliers who always seem to have a collection of quality players to make good use of the 3g playing surface.  Thankfully Wollaton's Chairman Bill Fishwick was in attendance and it was excellent re-acquaint
myself with him, he along with his small band of helpers make his club well worth a visit too on the NSL circuit.

FIRST HALF CAVALIERS IN CONTROL

The entrance to the ground guides you along a staircase that takes you to pitch side and along the way the wall has been painted with Mr Clough and one of his famous quotes "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business - but I was in the top one".  The proceeding ladies game had gone to penalties so having enjoyed the shoot out excitement we kicked off around seven minutes down.
The first half was devoid of too much in the chance category with Cavaliers playing some silky stuff on the carpet but at times a little bit over elaborate something I believe the 3g lulls you into, whereas on a grass pitch the ball would be in the penalty box a lot quicker.

DAVID KOLAPO [RIGHT] CELEBRATES WITH HIS TEAM MATES THE OPENER

Just before half time as the game looked to be heading to a goal less opening 45 minutes the undoubted skill of Kolapo came to the fore, back from his Newark Flowserve adventure,
he cut in off the left and fired home a sharp low shot past the Wollaton number one Donny Brown which proved just enough when referee Lewis Quayle blew for half time shortly after.

LOOK AT THE BALANCE

Wollaton came back out from their interval with a new determination and pushed back Cavaliers who seemed now to be struggling to hold any possession like they had produced in the first period.  Two goals in a ten minute period proved the home sides un-doing on 55 minutes after Cav's keeper
Maison Riley had turned round a visitors effort for a corner the resultant quadrant kick was converted by Stevenson from close range.  This was no more than the front man deserved after leading an excellent line all afternoon he proved a constant handful for the home defence.  The winning goal had a touch of fortune to it when Leiws hit an edge of the box shot that Riley palmed up into the air only for the ball to fall agonisingly back over his head into the goal, but it would prove enough to secure three points.

JOSH STEVENSON GREAT CONTRIBUTION FOR WOLLATON THIS AFTERNOON

The temperature rose with ten minutes to go, on the pitch anyway, when Tom Slade was cautioned for a foul on Kolapo and with Cav's Andrew Danylyszya running into the mix he was also shown a yellow by referee Quayle.  The home side showed some late urgency and now proceeded to get the ball for more quickly into the box and went oh so close in the third minute of stoppage time when a low curling free kick off the right by Bayliegh Reid was a fraction away from Kolapo who just missed getting the decisive touch that would have probably forced a draw.

SECOND HALF APPEARANCE FOR ABDDY COLE

An entertaining game watched by a small gathering on an increasingly cold day as ever hopefully I can re-visit and maybe on a nice warm day today though it was thanks to both clubs for their efforts.
Ten minute walk back to Victoria terminus saw departure to Derby on The Red Arrow and the sporting weekend would continue in ram town with a aquamarine special out to The Clarence Wiggins Sports Centre for Derby Trailblazer v Essex Leopard in the National Basketball League.  First time this season catching up with the blazers and a sharp victory 102-93 only in the third quarter did they look in doubt when Essex took the lead after scoring heavily otherwise it was a home victory that looked a good call for most of the evening.
As the frost continued overnight and with a lack of Sunday round ball entertainment the opening game of The Rugby League Championship allowed for the weekend festival of sport to continue at The Olympic Legacy Park for Sheffield Eagles versus Swinton Lions a wonderful opening day victory for the home side 64-10, I reckon this is the first time I have seen the side win at their new home, this was a wonderful experience for the long suffering Eagles fans.  The only downside is the new ground, featured last season, has seen a decline in facilities with half of the temporary stand now taken away, no operational scoreboard, no cover to shield from the wet stuff and still a small selection of Portaloos only.  Its a real shame but although its a difficult cash flow problem for the club they had an offer induced crowd of well over a thousand in attendance today but some of the facilities on available need looking at urgently if they are to get the feel of rugby league as given at other Championship level clubs.
A weekend that offered up some entertaining spot thoroughly enjoyable games at all three venues and thankful for 3g at two and indoor at the other.