The MKM Ground Opens With Greens Victory

On a day when many local games fell foul of the wet weather, the Greens started brightly in front of a 158-strong crowd at Eslaforde Park and deservedly led through a brace from a lively Ryan Lennon. The bubble burst somewhat on the stroke of half-time when Taylor Jaine headed the Yellows back into the contest – but the Greens managed to see through a nervy second period to make a swift return to winning ways.

Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold shuffled their pack after four games unchanged, making three changes in all from the disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Boston Town last weekend. Max Ward, Akeel Francis and Ryan Flitton dropped out of the starting XI with new signing Jake Henderson coming in for his full debut alongside defender Latrell Patterson and Captain Charlie Ward who made a full return from suspension. Visitors Hucknall Town meanwhile made just one change from the side that fought their way to a 1-1 draw with Eastwood Community last weekend, that change seeing James Barnett drop to the bench in the place of Samuel Smith.

The Greens made an impressive start at the MKM Ground and took a deserving early lead in the 4th minute when Ryan Lennon capitalised upon a dithering Alfie Smith-Eccles to steal in and finish calmly from an acute angle. That lead was very nearly doubled a minute or so later when Gregg Smith swept inches wide of the far post, before Sebastian Robbemond crashed the crossbar a minute later after making the most of another Smith-Eccles mistake.

That became the trend in the early stages of the game and it was the lively Lennon who went close again, brushing the post after dispossessing Smith-Eccles again. The Greens were fired warning shots though shortly after when the impressive Taylor Jaine headed Joe Ashurst’s freekick just wide of Liam Flitton’s far post. Back at the other end and Lennon was causing problems again, scuffing wide after being sent through by a fine Sebastian Robbemond set-up. That duo were back in action again a few moments later, this time Lennon setting Robbemond up to force a fine close range save out of Smith-Eccles before Lennon swept inches wide after dispossessing Mason Rowley on the edge of the box.

Lennon did soon have his joy though and doubled the Greens lead when he seized upon another Rowley mistake to round keeper Smith-Eccles and slot home into an empty net. At this point, it looked as though the Greens may well run away with things and they could well have done had Smith-Eccles not produced a stunning hand to tip aside Gregg Smith’s goal-bound header. That profligacy in front of goal was soon to bite the Greens though when, on the stroke of half-time, Hucknall forced their way back into the contest when Taylor Jaine was on hand to power home another delicious Ashurst freekick.

That goal rather took the wind from the Greens sails in the second half, Kyle Watkins heading wide from Jake Henderson’s corner was the closest any side really came to adding to the scoreline in the early minutes of the second period. Hucknall were far improved during the second half and were throwing what they could in the Greens direction, Niall Towle heading over another Ashurst cross just beyond the hour.

At the other end, the Greens themselves were trying to force a clincher and Jake Henderson’s corners were causing problems the most notable of which saw Akeel Francis stab into Smith-Eccles hands at close range. That was the last real goalmouth action of note though during the second half, with neither side threatening a clincher or an equaliser in the remaining 20 minutes as the Greens returned to winning ways on home soil.

The Greens are quickly back to action on Wednesday evening at the MKM Ground as Lincoln United visit for a hotly-anticipated Lincolnshire Senior Trophy semi-final. Kick-off at Eslaforde Park is set for 7.45PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin