REES SEALS CLOSE ENCOUNTER VICTORY FOR BOOTS

Midland & Notts Alliance League

Premier Division

RAINWORTH SENIORS FC 1 OLD BOOTS FC 2

Att: 14

With the wet weather wiping out matches up and down the country, I looked for 3g pitches and any around the Mansfield area as I didnt fancy travelling very far on Christmas Saturday and noticed that Rainworth Seniors FC were hosting Old Boots FC just up the road at Joesph Whittaker School on the newly laid 3g pitch, it was also a venue Id never seen a match, possibly the closest ground to my house Id never been.

With a early morning phone call to Seniors Secretary Luke Whitmore just to check that the ground was open due to the holiday season, a positive reply of game on 2pm kick off was all I needed and a phone call to local hopper Herbie and Sue and they were to meet up with me at the game.

On arrival, I was greeted by both clubs and also found a coffee machine before referee Darren Reynolds let me take a photo of both sides line ups.

The game kicked off and was a very tight affair with the Seniors mainly on the attack but not working the opponents goalkeeper, whilst Boots pushed forward and in the 8th minute, a corner found the head of GREG McLEAN who glanced the visitors in to a early lead.

The action was quite frantic and end to end and on 33 minutes, Rainworth were back on level terms when ASHLEY KEAY found the back of the net.

This pushed Boots in to a quick reaction and within 2 minutes, they had retaken their advantage, when TOM REES turned inside the penalty area and slotted low in to the corner of the net.

The Second Half saw the pace slow down and there was a few niggly tackles and a sort of stop and start half as neither of the teams put their foot on the game, though both sides had chances to add to their goal tally but both keepers were forced in to some excellent saves.

Ref Darren Reynolds had a decent match and only used his card when he needed to, as it wasnt a dirty match and at the end of the game all players returned back to the pub.

99 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK