Battling Greens See Off Skegness

The Greens again struggled to find their fluid best in front of 265 spectators at the Longwater Stadium but displayed enough attacking endeavour and defensive nous to see off a stern challenge from the Lilywhites. The Greens did much of the first half running in driving wind and rain and finally found a breakthrough just before half-time when persistent work from Jacob Fenton saw him close down Jake Lovelace in the Skegness goal and rebound the keepers’ clearance into the net. The second half was not without trouble for the hosts who saw Skegness hit a post and miss a penalty – but the Greens wrapped the points up in stoppage time when more persistent work, this time from Tom Siddons, saw him square for Jacob Fenton to tap home from close range.

Player/Manager Tom Ward made just one change from the side that opened up the campaign with a 2-0 victory at AFC Mansfield on Saturday afternoon as Jacob Fenton dropped to the bench with his starting place taken by Ryan Lennon. The only other adjustment saw Sam Wright return to the bench in the place of the absent Marcus Pancho. The visitors meanwhile had opened up their campaign with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of title-favourites Sherwood Colliery on Saturday. They made three changes from that side as Ben Davison, Elliott Broughton and Sam Harris dropped out with their places taken by Luke Raynor-Mistry, Adam Millson and Macauley Parker.

The Greens began the stronger of the two sides at the Longwater, displaying some neat touches and slick football but struggled to find any real cutting edge in front of goal. It was in fact the visitors who generated the first real chance when the ball fell to Luke Raynor-Mistry on the edge of the box but he could only send a speculative effort well wide of the mark. At the other end, the Greens most presentable opportunity arrived just three minutes later when brilliant work from Ryan Rushen saw him cross for Shaun Harrad whose effort was well-blocked by Jake Lovelace in the Lilywhites goal.

Rushen was involved again just beyond the half hour mark when he broke through the Lilywhites defence before shooting straight into the midriff of Lovelace. Tristan Drummond was lively down the right-hand side and he was unfortunate to see his powerful effort well saved by Lovelace after being expertly fed in by Dom Kew. The Greens were to finally convert their first half dominance into a half time lead though when persistent work from Jacob Fenton saw him first close down the defender before continuing his harassment of Lovelace who could only strike his clearance against Fenton and into the net to put the Greens ahead.

Skegness were far improved after the break and could have found themselves level within two minutes of the restart when Raynor-Mistry’s effort rebounded out of play via the post. Just three minutes later though and the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to level when Liam Flitton felled Gary King in the box but again, that opportunity went begging when Jamie Potts skied the spot kick well over the bar and out of the ground.

This seemed to wake the Greens up a little and they generated a first chance of the half when Jacob Fenton cut inside his man and fired an effort straight into the hands of Lovelace. A flurry of substitutions and the continuing howling wind a rain did little to raise the games quality and it wasn’t until the 80th minute that either keeper was called into real action when Liam Flitton was required to acrobatically tip away Gary King’s header for the visitors. The Greens then fluffed a guilt edged chance of their own when Jacob Fenton nodded down for Tom Siddons in the box, but he could only skew his effort wide of the post.

Skegness’ cause for an equaliser was not aided when in the 89th minute, Elliott Broughton was given his marching orders for an alleged altercation in the box, and that advantage ultimately freed up the space which saw the Greens rubber-stamp all three points. It was fine persistent work again, this time from Tom Siddons, who hunted down his man before squaring for Jacob Fenton to tap home from close range – securing the three points for the Greens as well as a brace for Fenton personally.

Player/Manager Tom Ward was satisfied to see the Greens come away with all three points from a tough encounter against their Lincolnshire rivals;

“I thought we were pretty in spells, particularly in the first half” Ward said.

“We got our lead, which I thought we were well worth and second half was all about seeing it through but when we were on the front foot I thought we caused them problems all game. I’m delighted overall – we identified that as a really tough game early on and if we want to be at the right end of the table come the end of the season that is the sort of game we need to win.”

Ward was also pleased with the impact that Jacob Fenton had when he came on to replace the injured Finlay Armond midway through the first half;

“He wasn’t dropped to the bench for any other reason than he had a little niggle. We did say to him if we needed a goal then he would be coming on – he came on a little earlier than we thought! He was superb though, as he always is, two half chances, two goals.”

Ward is also relishing the opportunity to compete against higher ranked opposition on Saturday afternoon in the FA Cup;

“They are a good bunch. They’ll test us. But they are also beatable – I’m a big believer in that if we play well, we’ll beat anyone. If we come with a little of that mettle we’ve show tonight we’ve got a chance and that’s the beauty of the cup, isn’t it?”

That FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against Shepshed Dynamo is up next for the Greens with kick-off at the Longwater Stadium set for 3.00PM on Saturday afternoon.

Words: Oliver Atkin