NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE
Division One
UNDERWOOD VILLA 2 BOOTS ATHLETIC 0
A phone call to General Sec of Underwood Ian told me that work at their ground would ready for the Groundhop in April but to allow the workers to continue the work at the moment, the league had allowed them to play this fixture at Hall Park in the shadows of Eastwood. A new venue for me to attend on a cold day.
Going in to the match, Underwood were 3rd from bottom, having not kept a clean sheet for 24 matches since last January, whilst Boots were 3rd from top, so surely a away win was on the cards wasnt it?
Underwood had a mixture of very young lads and a couple of the older heads on the pitch to encourage them, whilst Boot had a side that a few of the names were about when I was at Dunkirk FC in the early 90's. The game kicked off with both sides very well matched and chances at a minimum, as the soft pitch began to cut up a bit. Tackles were going in fair and sometimes solid, but both keepers seemed to not have very much to do in the first half apart from a couple of parries over the bar. The homesters very nearly took the lead after 37 minutes, when a low cross from the right avoided everyone, as it flashed along the goal line before finally being cleared to safety.
The Second Half began brightly for Underwood who pushed forward and after 54 minutes centre back TOWLSON strongly headed home the opening goal. Not long after that he had to come off with a injury and replaced by one of the young players. Boots then attacked, whilst Underwood played on the break and on 72 minutes, Boots must have thought they were level when the midfielder saw his 25 yard shot bounce off the crossbar. Boots had much of the forward play but the home defence held tight and cleared everything. Underwood then took off another experianced centre back and put another youngster on in his place on 75 minutes. On 80 minutes, Underwood broke and when the ball bounced around in the away area GARRETT stuck a fine 20 yard volley with the keeper at full stretch to increase his teams lead to 2-0.
Boots tried to pull a goal back but the Underwood defence held tight and the home side fully desreved their victory.
Referee Steve Seers had a good match and tried to let the game flow as much as he could.
After the match, it was back to Underwood Villa Social Club and it was nice to see all the Boots Players and Officials go back for a drink and some chips.
I had a good Groundhop meeting with the Underwood Sec Ian and Chairman Nigel and the club are really looking forward to greeting and looking after the hoppers on Saturday 20th April with a 12.45pm kick off.
For more info and booking form for the Notts Senior League GroundHop, please see http://www.thefootballtraveller.com/hops.htm or contact me directly on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk
Underwood Villa FC Website
Boots Athletic FC Website
Photos from this match
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