WONDER GOAL WINS IT BUT REF SHOWS THE CARDS

SHERWOOD COLLIERY 1 BOSTON TOWN 0

UCL PREMIER AT DEBDALE PARK

14 OCTOBER 2023 --- 3PM

SHERWOOD COLLIERY ATTACK VERSUS BOSTON TOWN

A superb strike from Will Norcross three minutes before half time gave table toppers Sherwood Colliery victory in this feisty and tetchy affair, so much so that referee Guy Owen became a talking point with eleven yellow cards and one red which saw the dismissal of Layton Maddison for the visitors 

EXCITMENT TIME FOR SHERWOOD MANAGER WAYNE SAVAGE

Boston travelled to Debdale Park in a below half way in the table position and at the end of this affair you have to ask why they are in that place because their determined performance here pushed the home side all the way.  From the opening minutes this had a temperamental feel to it with a fair amount of dissent, appealing to the referee and some edgy challenges.

But the first half performance was really to Sherwood's advantage and so it proved when Norcross hit what proved to be the winner just inside the left angle of the penalty box he curled a beauty round the keeper into the top right hand corner.

That was about it really apart from a caution for the visitors Daniel Worthington, who knew the yellows were about to arrive on mass after a very cautious first half display from the man in the middle.

Colliery manager Wayne Savage, always a man of full commitment, was getting frustrated with the official and many on the pitch seemed to be as well, although it had to be said the dissent and a visiting keeper who I'm sure will be taking a referees course very shortly having spent most of the game giving his opinions from penalty box on the officials performance were not helping.

Although the referee on a couple of occasions when his dug out side assistant was coming under a barrage of dissent seemed either unable or unaware to come to his assistance.

Half time arrived with Sherwood looking to hold onto the valuable lead before the break who could have seen the second half fun to follow.

EARLY FIRST HALF ACTION FOR SUB CRAIG WESTCARR

The early stages of the second half saw Boston gradually gaining an upper hand in proceedings and as they looked more threatening the home side reached for the time wasting policy something that all of a sudden sprung referee Owen into action with a fair percentage of his cards issued against this.

Nothing though could bring me to remember a period of yellow cards that came just after the hour mark with eight in a period of just over fifteen minutes, it was a crazy period with many around me in the crowd cowering behind the advertising boards if the referee got near them to save also receiving a yellow card.

FIRST HALF SHERWOOD ATTACK BEGINS

The excitement from the touchline though did not stop home manager Savage also adding a yellow card to his afternoon as the referee continued to give himself a busy Saturday night.

The cards continued to flow in a slightly less frantic pace but it had to happen and with a minute to go Maddison received his second yellow and ultimately red variety to reduce the visitors to ten men.  Amazingly the final few minutes of stoppage time ran out with no more cards and Sherwood had secured a valuable and hard fought for victory.  Was there any football in the second half?  Who knows I got lost in the cards and as the clubs photographer said if he had taken all the cards he would have run out of storage space.

FIRST AND ONLY FIRST HALF CAUTION BUT WAIT FOR IT

From past experience I love watching, as a neutral, Sherwood and their managers sides they are so determined and they must be a nightmare to play against but Boston Town apart from some of the dissent should be playing like this more often and they would be much higher in the league.

WILL NORCROSS GETS THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS SUPER STRIKE

What happened to the bits around the day?  Well a good walk to Holmewood and a Pronto to just shy of Mansfield got me to the Rufford Arms crossroads and then a mile down to Debdale Park the return at the end allowed for a visit to the Local Nisa before a reverse Pronto journey and a fifty minute walk back to base after an eventful afternoon. 

The ground itself has come on steadily and sensibly over the years and the nice addition since my last visit is you can now walk behind the goal nearest to the clubhouse making all four sides accessible, with the players coming out now behind that goal over the 4g mini pitch.

I'm still waiting for that first cracking game of the season but this one provided enough 'game' excitement to keep up hopes.

AIRBONE ACTION