BROWNE BRACE SENDS AFC INTO THE SEMIS

Nottinghamshire FA Saturday Senior Trophy

Quarter Final

BLIDWORTH WELFARE RED FC 2 WEST BRIDGFORD AFC 3

With the wife Hazel away at her daughters up in Preston for her birthday this weekend, Hazel's brother offered to have Shawn for a couple of hours whilst I went to the footie, just over the road is Unwin Road and Blidworth Welfare Reds ground and I noticed that the match had been moved forward by 30 minutes to a 1pm kick off. Since visiting last season, the Reds have moved pitches and also got a hot water urn to make refreshments which were most welcome.

The tie kicked off with the visitors creating most of the chances, whilst the Reds had to re-shuffle due to a early injury to one of their defenders who limped off. The home keeper was also keeping the scores level.

The Second Half sprung in to action and on 51 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free kick just inside their own half, which was hit long and MARCUS BROWNE rose and guided his header in to the net.

Within 3 minutes and the visitors had doubled their lead, when a ball was played in to their captain LUKE DABELL  turned and shot in to the net from the edge of the area.

Blidworth Reds then upped their game and pushed forward and on 61 minutes LIAM STRAFORD cut in from the left side and fired home to cut the arrears in half.

The Reds continued to take the tie to their visitors and on 64 minutes were on level terms, when awarded a penalty, JAMES HENRY took the penalty which was palmed out but he was first to react and knocked the ball home.

The tie went from end to end and on 83 minutes, a mistake in the Reds defence saw MARCUS BROWNE pounce and prod the ball home for the visitors to re take the lead.

Well in to injury time came a controversial and sour ending to a very good tie, when the Reds broke forward and Liam Stratford stroked the ball in to the corner of the net, Reds celebrated their equaliser, when the referee went over to the club Assistant Referee who had raised his flag to say that the ball had gone put of play before the ball had been crossed, the referee stood by the club assistant referees decision and the goal was disallowed,it was a shame for the game to end like this as both sides had played some good football in a good flowing game