The HBW Arena, Selhurst Street, home of Radford FC based just on the outskirts of Nottingham City Centre. They play their trade in the East Midlands Counties Football League and are nicknamed the “Pheasants”. 29th December 2020 and whilst the games are available to attend, let’s go!! I really love this time of year and not just for Christmas! Radford the chosen destination who play host to Dunkirk FC.
If 2020 was a football match it would finish 0-0… If this is my last match of 2020, please don’t finish that way! £5 to get in here! DING DING DING!
Kick Off! Both teams starting off well here but no goals as of yet. 7 minutes gone and Dunkirk have the ball on the right wing, down he goes and a free kick given in a good crossing position for Dunkirk, the ball comes in and the header… Good save by the Radford keeper!! Early danger there! 1 minute later and Dunkirk have the ball on the left, the ball is played in towards Jack Jepson!! OH HE’S HIT THE BAR!!! The ball falls to Ryan Osbourne’s head… HE SCORES!!! 0-1! The shot rebounds to Ryan Osbourne who heads in to the empty net!
The game is becoming feisty with challenges flying in and the Referee being hounded by players and managers, wouldn’t like to be reffing this me. 20 minutes gone and Dunkirk have the ball outside their own penalty box, a rash challenge there but the referee not interested and Radford win a corner, Dunkirk players and managers not happy and I wouldn’t be neither, a certain foul in my eyes. The corner comes in, headed away, Radford make space for the shot… Deflected and out for another corner. In it comes again, the header at goal… Saved but Ashley Smith is there!! It’s 1-1! Game on here!
33 minutes gone and Dunkirk have a corner, whipped in, headed away by Radford and they’re on the break now, the ball is played forward to Mamoke Akaunu down the right wing, he drives into the box and squares it to Ashley Smith… But the keeper collects, a big chance wasted there by Radford.
44 minutes gone and the game is heating up still, a challenge there by Radford’s Matt Hopewell on Dunkirk’s number 7 and he’s not happy and he’s pushed him over here… The Referee’s got to stop this!! Conor McGregor himself would have been happy with that takedown! No cards shown by the Referee… At least a yellow in my book. The score at half time remained 1-1.
Second half, Radford starting to look the better team this half. 52 minutes gone and Radford play the ball to Ashley Smith who carries into the box and shoots… Good save by the keeper! Looking promising for Radford! “COME ON RADDY!” Fans behind the goal getting behind their team and one of them with a rattler! That is so 1960s and I LOVE IT!!
71 minutes on the watch now and Radford come again, the ball on the right is crossed in towards Calum Law, Big chance…… He’s put it wide… Chested down with only the keeper to beat but he’s dragged it wide. Straight from the goal kick and Dunkirk come forward now, the ball is played through and they’re in… THEY’VE HIT THE POST!!! Should have scored there, but here come Radford again now, end to end stuff here now… Oh what a terrible challenge there by Dunkirk’s number 6 on Radford’s Matt Cragg, advantage played by the Referee, Radford play forward down the right, the cross comes in, it’s Calum Law AGAIN… He’s headed it wide… He should’ve scored… But what a 2 minutes that was!!
Matt Cragg is forced off from that challenge, a certain red card in my book but advantage played. 82 minutes gone and here come Radford again, the ball is played forward and a bit of pace from Ryan Ebanks and he’s in!! He’s blown it and scuffs the shot wide… How many chances are Radford going to have here? The rattler behind the goal is still rattling the pheasants on though!!
Into stoppage time now and can Radford find the winner they deserve here? Dunkirk with the ball now, the ball is played forward to Jack Jepson who’s beaten the offside trap here, a tight angle here… OH HE’S GOT IT!!!! WHAT A FINISH!!! Dunkirk have won it here surely! The Dunkirk manager running down the touchline like Jurgen Klopp!! That would be the last kick of the game, if you don’t take your chances, you end up getting punished and Radford have fallen victim to that today sadly for them.
FT: Radford FC 1-2 Dunkirk FC
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – The rattler kept going and going in the second half especially with a few other fans behind that goal, well done to them!
- The Ground: 5.5/10 – It’s a nice ground with nice little stands and a good little clubhouse.
- Expense: 10/10 – £5 to see a close heated game with late drama! Thank you very much!
- Overall Experience: 8.5/10 – I enjoyed the game as a whole and also had the pleasure of meeting 3 other fans who I watched the second half with from Carlton Town. Always love meeting other fellow football fans!!
28/40