Greens Fight Back To Return To Winning Ways

The Greens twice took the lead and twice gave it away during a topsy-turvy encounter at Eslaforde Park with Sebastian Robbemond and Kyle Watkins goals twice cancelled out by goals from the lively Keaton August. With the game poised at 2-2 though, the decisive blow was struck when Ryan Lennon was on hand to tap home Akeel Francis’ cross at the far post and ultimately claim the Greens three important points.

Joint Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made three changes from the side that fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Loughborough Students last weekend. The injured Latrell Patterson dropped out of the side, as did duel-registered Finlay Armond while captain Charlie Ward served the first of his two match suspension for his sending off in that game at Loughborough. In came Max Ward, Sebastian Robbemond and Ryan Lennon, while there were also places on the bench for new signings Lewis Smalley who joins on loan from Football League side Harrogate Town, and Nathan Brettoner who joins from Lincoln Moorlands Railway. Visitors Heanor Town meanwhile also made three changes from a 4-2 defeat to Wisbech Town last Saturday with suspended goalkeeper Mikey Emery joining James Taylor and Taylor Conway in dropping out of the starting eleven and they were replaced by Louis Kinnerley, Lewis Weaver and Connor Deakin.

The Greens could have led inside the first five minutes when effective closing down from Ryan Lennon forced a mistake from Lions keeper Louis Kinnerley, but he was quick to recover and produced a fine save at close range to save his embarrassment. The Greens had continued to push on, Akeel Francis heading straight into Kinnerley’s hands, but by the 10th minute, the visitors had gained a foothold, Liam Flitton called into meaningful action for the first time to deny Sacha Markelic who’d sprung the Greens offside trap.

Back at the other end and Kinnerley produced a stunning diving save to tip Akeel Francis’ drive over the bar after he’d been set up by Lewis Daff – but it was from the resulting Ryan Flitton corner that the Greens grabbed the advantage – Sebastian Robbemond heading home Gregg Smith’s set-up at close range to put the Greens ahead. The Heanor response was admirable though and they were level in simple fashion in the 25th minute when Lewis Weaver headed Kinnerley’s punt forward into the path of Keaton August who was on hand to volley expertly beyond Liam Flitton. The Greens custodian was back in action just a few moments later too when he acrobatically tipped Markelic’s sweeping effort wide, though that was to be the final goalmouth action of an otherwise quiet end to the half.

It was the visitors who began the second half the livelier of the two sides and Weaver was unlucky not to bundle Markelic’s cross in at the far post with a combination of the Flitton brothers eventually seeing the ball to safety. It was the Greens though who hit the front again shortly after when Kyle Watkins was on hand to power home Tristan Drummond’s corner to put the Greens back ahead.

Five minutes later and the visitors were very nearly level when Sasha Markelic crashed the post with a well-struck freekick before he was denied again 10 minutes later, this time by the hands of Flitton. The Lions pressure did eventually pay off though and they were level again in the 72nd minute when Keaton August was again on hand to collect up Josh Craddock’s dinked pass and slot calmly beyond Flitton and level the contest.

The Greens response was instantaneous though when, from the kick-off, Akeel Francis broke free and squared for Ryan Lennon to tap home at the far post to re-establish the Greens advantage. Despite the signalling of a minimum of 12 minutes of stoppage time though, the Greens put in an admirable defensive display and the Lions were limited to very little in terms of attacking threat as the hosts saw through to a vital three point haul.

The Greens return to Eslaforde Park next weekend for a swift return to United Counties League Premier Division North action. The visitors are Ashby Ivanhoe and kick-off is scheduled for 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin