Ravenshead Leisure Centre, home of Ravenshead FC based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in the Nottinghamshire Senior League. The season is finishing and games are drying up… But there are a few more still to tick! Ravenshead vs Attenborough is on and off I go!
A short journey from Shirebrook through Mansfield and into Ravenshead sees me here at the ground with 15 minutes to spare before kick off! Free Entry for this game! Splendid! Martin is here! And it’s great to meet local football fan Malcolm here tonight as well! Attenborough are out on the pitch and here come Ravenshead.
Kick Off! “You Reds!” A few local Ravenshead fans here tonight cheering on their local side! 3 minutes in and Attenborough play it forward to number 7 who’s onside, he gets into the box and plays it across… He gets it wrong and it goes straight out for a goal kick…
1 minute later and Attenborough come forward again, number 11 comes forward down the left, he drives into the box and he shoots… And he finishes!! 0-1!! They’ve deserved that with the balance of play!!
Attenborough looking the better team in the early stages of the game! 10 minutes now and Ravenshead play a long ball forward towards number 9 who brings it down, he sets himself on his left foot and shoots… Deflected out for a corner, in it comes… Headed away by Attenborough. 1 minute later and Attenborough have a corner, in it comes… Number 8 with the header… Off the bar!! Goal kick!
As I walk around the ground to do my usual lap… A free kick is given to Attenborough in the Ravenshead half… A bit of animosity between the managers here! Ravenshead: “I’d shut up if I was you!” Attenborough: “You f***ing cabbage!” Ravenshead: “You’ve been a &@*t all your life mate!” The Referee may need to keep an eye on this…
25th minute and Attenborough have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one… Headed on… Keeper comes and catches… But he’s dropped it… And it’s turned in… But the Referee sees a foul there on the keeper and blows for a free kick to Ravenshead.
41 minutes on the clock and Ravenshead play forward, it’s played to number 17 in the box who sets it up for number 11… It’s saved! We all thought it was there especially the local Ravenshead fans next to us! It’s a corner, in it comes… Headed behind for another, in that one comes… Attenborough clear. At half time the score remains 1-0 to Attenborough.
Second half, 1 minute in and the Referee has stopped the game to speak to his assistant… The Ravenshead keeper is being booked… Must be for dissent? Ravenshead’s number 3 is not happy and he’s spotted his dad nearby to complain to him! Not seen that before at a game before… On another note, where have those local fans gone!?
55th minute and Attenborough hit it forward, it comes to number 8 in the box on the right, he goes down… Oh it’s a Penalty… That’s never a Penalty in my opinion! The Referee goes over to his assistant, surely the right call will be made here… Penalty! Shocking decision! Number 8 will step up… And score!! 0-2!!
2 minutes later and Ravenshead play down the right, in comes the cross, number 11 with the header… Straight into the keeper’s grasp. 1 minute after and Attenborough play down the left and they get into the box, played across… A push there by the Ravenshead man… That one is definitely a Penalty! I do agree with that one!! Number 9 steps up… Saved… Wait no it’s gone in… Too hot to handle! 0-3!!
62 minutes gone and Ravenshead play forward, number 17 is in… And he scores!! Good finish!! Can Ravenshead make a game of it now!? 1-3!! Ravenshead looking good for the first time in the game now! Can they fightback? The local fans have returned at last! They’ve timed that one right!
76th minute and Ravenshead have a corner, in it comes… Headed away by Attenborough but only to Ravenshead’s number 11 on the edge of the box to volley… Over! 4 minutes later and Ravenshead play it long into the box, number 17 gets to it and plays it across, number 6 is there… He’s put it wide… That was the chance right there!
The game goes on, Ravenshead looking less threatening in the closing stages… Attenborough looking more likely to add a 4th more than Ravenshead adding a 2nd… The Referee blows for full time! A great win for Attenborough!
FT: Ravenshead 1-3 Attenborough
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2.5/10 – The local fans did a good job tonight!!
- The Ground: 3.5/10 – It is railed off and I thought it was ok especially for the level! Plenty of space to make a stand if they want one! Extra half point for the floodlights.
- Expense: 10/10 – A free game means only one thing!
- Overall Experience: 6.5/10 – Great to see Martin again and to meet Malcolm tonight! A decent game in the end as well!
22.5/40