YOUNG LIONS HEAD HOME WITH THE POINTS

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Foundation Division

MANOR FC 1 CARLTON TOWN RESERVES 4

With lockdown lifted and Nottinghamshire placed in to tier three, football began again after a short break in the NSL, but then 24 hours before kick off came some rain and snow, so my plan A was to visit Manor FC's home ground which is only down the road from my bungalow, but after a phone call to the home secretary, I was in for a bonus as the fixture had been moved to a venue that Id not seen a match before on the 3g pitch at Brunts Academy School in Mansfield.

Manor FC came in to the match in midtable whilst their visitors Carlton Town Reserves who are nicknamed the Lions sat in third.

The game kicked off at a quick pace with shots coming in for both clubs, but on 10 minutes with little on Manor's JASON STRAW hit the ball from just over the halfway line that then dipped over the visiting keepers head to give his side a early lead.

This seemed to pump up Town as they pressed forward but it was again a long punt by JOSHUA BROWN from 30 yards that caught the home keeper out to level up the scoreline. The Lions continued to press forward and the home keeper made up for his early mistake with a couple of good blocks and stops, but after 32 minutes, the match ref James Green spotted a tug of the short and awarded the visitors with a spot kick to which RACHIDOU AKPO dispatched. Carlton could have gone in to the interval further in front if not for two goal line clearances.

Manor to their credit opened the second half the better and they themselves had the ball cleared off the line and seemed to be getting more in to the game, but on the hour from a broken down corner, Town broke and a long ball found RACHIDOU AKPO go clear through and take the ball past the outcoming home keeper to slot his side in to a 3-1 lead.

The game then went from end to end and both sides had chances to add to their goal tallys, but it was Town in the 84th minute who made it 4-1 when sub GERD SANDJO blasted home from close range to seal the points.

Just a quick mention to say I felt the referee James Green had a very good game, also along with both sets of club linesmen.

Must also thank Manor FC Secretary Lee Proctor for the kind donation of £25 to the Charity Blog for Nottingham Stroke Club which now takes the running total with todays goals to a outstanding amount of £1,146.75p

Just had a message from Match Referee and he has also made a donation via Bank Transfer, so a many thanks to him

156 photos from the match can be viewed on this LINK