Greens Crash to Disappointing Defeat

Previously having won five in seven United Counties League Premier Division North matches since the New Year, the Greens were optimistic of moving to within six points of the play-off positions but served up a lackluster performance on home soil – falling to goals from Dan Tuck, Sam Brown and Kole Lambert as the Stags extended their own run of good form with a dominant away display.

Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made just two changes from the side that defeated Hucknall Town 2-0 last weekend in league action – with the injured duo of Jake Henderson and Kyle Watkins dropping out the side. They were replaced by the returning Sebastian Robbemond who appeared from the bench last weekend in Nottinghamshire, while Jake Henderson was replaced by Tristan Drummond, himself absent last weekend at Hucknall – the first game he’d missed all season. Opponents Kimberley Miners Welfare meanwhile had been out of action for three weeks due to a string of weather-related postponements and they made just one change from that 3-1 victory over title-chasing Sherwood Colliery, Sam Brown coming back into the side in the place of Daniel Davy.

In lovely spring conditions, the Greens were slow to get going on home turf and as time progressed, Kimberley sensed an opportunity to gain an advantage and after a spell of persistent possession, found an opener when a recycled corner found Dan Tuck out wide and he took a touch before lashing beyond Liam Flitton into the bottom corner of the net. The Stags had Flitton in action again five minutes later when Tom Eccleshall forced a fine diving save from the Greens custodian before Jordan Wheatley skewed wide on the rebound at the back-post.

The warning signs of a second Kimberley goal were there, particularly when Flitton was called into action again just beyond the half-hour when he was required to divert Henry Swann’s effort away with his feet. Five minutes later though and the visitors did grab a deserved second goal and it was a simple enough task for Stags captain Sam Brown, heading directly home from a corner to double the Nottinghamshire sides advantage going into half-time.

The Greens rallied at half-time, but still lacked an attacking threat, Gregg Smith tamely heading Sebastian Robbemond’s cross into the hands of visiting keeper James Fogg being the closest the Greens came to finding a response. Just short of the hour though and it was game over from a Greens perspective when Kimberley bagged their third with Kole Lambert the man on hand to slot comfortably past Liam Flitton to put the visitors out of sight.

There was little response from the hosts to the Stags third goal either, Charlie Ward causing little trouble in heading Tristan Drummond’s corner wide before Fogg was on hand to collect another Gregg Smith header again the closest the Greens came to any response.

Things could have got worse for the Greens with Dan Tuck finding the in-form Lambert who could only power into the side netting when well placed. There was to be a fourth goal in the contest but it did come from a Greens boot in what was probably the hosts best action of the entire contest – Latrell Patterson’s long throw being flicked on for Gregg Smith to smash home at close range to claim the Greens a consolation.

The Greens will now look ahead to the second installment of a home triple-header on Wednesday evening when Ashby Ivanhoe visit The MKM Ground in United Counties League Premier Division North action. Kick-off at Eslaforde Park is at 7.45PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin