Smith Inspires Greens To Boxing Day Win

A first league victory in three games was a welcome outcome for a Greens side rarely troubled by the lowly Knights with the 176-strong crowd inside Eslaforde Park witnessing goals from Tristan Drummond, Akeel Francis and Ryan Lennon ease the Greens back to within nine points of the United Counties League Premier Division North play-off places.

Joint Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made three changes from the side that fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Skegness Town on Saturday afternoon. New signing Gregg Smith headlined those changes coming in for Ryan Lennon who dropped to the bench while there were also starts for Tom Ward and Danny Horton who took the places of the absent Issa Gaye and Lewis Daff who, like Lennon, also dropped to the bench. Visitors Pinchbeck United meanwhile were surprise 3-1 victors over Deeping Rangers in their last outing and they made just the one change themselves from that side with the experienced Neal Spafford dropping out, being replaced by the returning Owen Sheriff.

The Greens were dominant throughout much of the first half at Eslaforde Park and found an early 10th minute breakthrough when Ryan Flitton released Akeel Francis to square for Tristan Drummond, who smartly found the top corner to put the hosts head. Chances for the Knights were few and far between, but they did sting the palms of Liam Flitton shortly before the quarter of an hour when he was required to beat aside Hugo Hunt’s half-volley out for a corner.

Back at the other end and set-pieces were becoming a prominent aspect of the Greens game-plan and Charlie Ward was unlucky when he headed Ryan Flitton’s corner just over the crossbar while Sebastian Robbemond did likewise shortly after, this time from Drummond set-piece. The Greens best opportunity to double their advantage came after fine work from Ryan Flitton saw him flash an effort across goal that was begging for a touch that never came, while Kyle Watkins will feel he should have done better with a free header than crash an effort over the bar after another fine Flitton corner right on the stroke of halftime.

The visitors did begin the second half with a little more zip and Hugo Hunt headed just over the bar from Archie Wallace’s freekick before Liam Flitton was called into action to block Taylor Jaine’s close-range effort a few moments later. The Greens switched up a gear on the hour mark though – triggered by Tristan Drummond’s drive that called Lewis Cox into action just short of 60 minutes. Within two minutes though, the Greens did double their advantage when Akeel Francis skillfully turned Wallace before breaking and coolly slotting beyond Cox to put the Greens firmly in control.

At the other end, a Liam Flitton spill saw an almighty scramble ultimately end with Flitton redeeming himself with a fine block at close-range but from here it was all the Greens and a lively Ryan Lennon caused Cox some anxiety when he rippled the side netting with a powerful effort on the angle. It was to be Lennon who was to all but wrap up the victory though when he was on the end of Charlie Ward’s knock-on following Tristan Drummond’s long-throw, and his sweet finish was a deserved prize for a sustained spell of Greens pressure – and from there, the Greens were given little cause for concern, seeing out a first clean sheet in three games and a welcome three league points.

The Greens now face another tough test with a visit to the Hayden Whitham Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face local rivals Deeping Rangers. Kick-off for the Greens final contest of 2023 will be at 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin