RUNAROUND NOW

EASTWOOD CFC DEV 0 MAGDALA AMATEURS 2
NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ CORONATION PARK
16 NOVEMBER 2019 --- 3PM

EASTWOOD CFC DEV ON THE FIRST HALF ATTACK WITH THE TOWN CENTRE IN THE BACKGROUND

The classic TV quiz of the 1970's Runaround hosted by the late great Mike Reid gave the young competitors three options for an answer and on the hosts staggered 'GGGGGGGGO' they ran to stand beneath there chosen one.  But they could change their mind as the studio lights dimmed Reid
allowed his dulcet cockney tones to shout out 'runaround now' and with that you could opt for a different answer.  Well this seasons hopping is becoming very much like a spoof of the Southern Television produced classic although in my mind Reid allows me to 'runaround now' more than once.
Again with the appalling weather and flooding for a second week the train lines were in chaos, games were being postponed all over the place and with a few late pitch inspections somehow I came down to Pinxton, Heanor and a back up on 3g at Eastwood Community.

HERE COME THE TEAMS

Boarding a departing Comet towards Alfreton found the traffic queue a mile short of the centre snarling up and gridlocking due to a very small set of road works, the normal 20 minute journey would take 45 minutes and by the time we managed to exit back onto the main road to re-join the logjam the Police had taken over the temporary traffic lights and were directing traffic so ridiculous had the situation become.  One and a quarter hours later Ripley arrived, I could almost have got to Congleton in that time, for I had now decided to visit Heanor again with the Eastwood back up being more achievable from there than Pinxton.
The lovely crew that operate BBC weather had predicted a dry day but on travelling to Heanor had changed the forecast to rain, modern technology and brewing heavy drinking sessions spring to mind.  Departure onto the Market Place and I just had that 'things are not right' feeling and decided to 'runaround now' for the second time on this journey and make the trip to Eastwood after seeing the next bus heavily delayed and being unable to obtain a taxi I looked up to see a Rainbow 1 pulling into the stand which thankfully allowed an arrival adjacent to the ground just before 2.30pm.

REFEREE MICK LESLIE CHECKS IF HIS ASSISTANT HAS ORDERED THE HALF TIME REFRESHMENTS

My first greeting on approaching was a text from Mr O of Burnley FC fashion catalogue territory to console with me with the fact that Heanor was off, postponed by the match official at 2pm after previous 2 inspections and before any afternoon showers that occurred.  For supporters this is an all too regular happening now and really needs looking into I can well understand if conditions have changed and do before kick off but they clearly hadn't an option to have just trained match officials to do inspections needs studying because this needs stopping.
Anyway a secure 3g game was achieved and a quick catch up with Mr Hornby of the NSL Parish and a gathering of team information with thanks to Magdala and Mick Leslie, the referee, allowed for a positioning behind the goal on a very dark afternoon that once again limited pictures.
Magdala came into this fixture off the back of a 10-0 drubbing at Eastwood's near neighbours Awsworth Villa but they still sat above second bottom Eastwood Development.  The first half was a tight affair and saw the teams only separated by a wonderful opportunist 30 yard strike by Tom Groves after seven minutes as the ball fell to him he saw the home keeper leaving the goal slightly ajar and he went for it.

MORE EASTWOOD BACKDROP PICTURES

The second period provided little of entertainment with Eastwood struggling to put much of note together despite a lot of possession it was Magdala who created the chances Oisin Coffey hit a 25 yard effort that the Eastwood keeper saved and with fifteen minutes remaining he did the same to a Dan Burton effort.
Magdala Amateurs put last weeks disappointment behind them when the wrapped the encounter up two minutes from time when Ethan Lespeare saw his shot deflected past the stranded keeper and the three points were safe.
Thankfully 3g is becoming the saving grace and although the game would be immediately forgettable there was a chance to catch up with a new side in the form of Magdala.  Return journey went unbelievably smoothly with a 5.05 departure and one connection later an hour saw me back at base, don't you like it when a plan comes together.  Runaround now.