DRAWN POINTS IN THE DENSE FOG

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

ELSTON UNITED FC 1 ASHA FC 1

Att: 22

Elston play just off London Road in Newark and can be a bit difficult to get to from Mansfield, but through Full Time I get the League emails regarding the appointments of match officials and it came as a surprise that Shirebrook based Gary Bryant was to ref his first NSL game this afternoon at Elston, having known Gary for several seasons, I rang him up and asked if I could travel with him.

The fog was already down on arrival but you could see most of the pitch, so the referee gave the go ahead to the delight of all players from both sides. Elston must have had bad thoughts when they saw me, as everytime Ive seen them, they havent gained a point.

The game began and both sides matched each other but at half time, it remained 0-0 with each goalkeeper only having to make one save a piece. During the half time break the fog began to drift low and there were concerns that the match may well not finish, but credit to the match referee who re started the Second Half.

In the 69th minute, a scramble around the Asha defence finished with ETHAN JONES firing home. The fog was getting worse but the visitors began to take risks by throwing everyone forward and in the final minute, this paid off when JAY COOPER was bought down as he went in to the penalty area and was awarded a lifeline of a penalty to which he duly stepped up and smashed in to the top corner of the net.

Ten minutes after full time whistle, you couldnt see any of the pitch.

I must thank Gary Bryant for the lift from to Shirebrook for me to get to Elston.

121 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK