SOUTHBANK EDGE FIVE GOAL THRILLER

Pre Season Friendly

GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC 3 PYTHIAN FC 2

played @ Forest Recreaton Ground

This match was supposed to be played at Arnold Town FC but after spotting on twitter that the game had been switched to Forest Recreaton Ground, this appealed to me, as Pythian FC are newcomers to the Nottinghamshire Senior League and the midday kick off was a good time for me to get there from my bus in Mansfield. Whilst on my way, I found out that after this match would be another friendly with FC Cavaliers hosting a team from Sudan, but on reaching the complex, I found that the team from Sudan couldnt make and they had been replaced by a Nigerian Community Team.

Well after helping Pythian with some paperwork, it was to the cuppa machine and well all I can say is the coffee is wet, but boy its not Nescafe!! Up to pitchside and the weather looked very cloudy but sunny and a chat to both sides and then came along Retford based hopper Paul Bloomer who kept me company through out this entertaining match which swung one way then the other.

The newcomers The Py;s started the brighter and were on the front foot pressing forward and forcing the Bank keeper in to the first couple of saves of the game, but on 11 minutes, they took the lead.

The game then went from box to box with wasted chances and both keepers being called in to action, but Gedling were growing more confident as the half went on and got a deserved equaliser on 34 minutes from a close ranged header.

At Half time, it was back down for the awful coffee but I was dry so had to drink it.

The Second Half began as we had a few showers whilst both clubs made subs and Gedling made the most of this and they took the lead for the first time in the game when on 55 minutes, they scored from another close range header after a well worked move.

Pythian pushed more men forward, but this left gaps and on 65 minutes, they were caught out and concede a free kick to which Southbank extended their lead to 3-1.

68 minutes on the clock and Pythian were back in the game to reduce the arrears to 3-2 and on 76 minutes really should have been level when their attacker took the ball past the outcoming keeper only to push the ball too far past him and out of play.

94 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK