Green Finish Season With Three Points

The Greens shrugged off what had been a flat first half showing to put in a dominant second half display as Tom Waumsley’s first Greens goal proved to be the difference between the two sides at a blustery Eslaforde Park. While Eastwood Community could still catch the Greens on goal difference, three points guaranteed at least a seventh-place finish in Premier Division North, a finish that would still represent the Greens second highest league finish ever.

Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold made three changes from the side that were defeated 2-1 by Eastwood Community last weekend and that included Arnold himself dropping to the substitutes bench. The suspended Charlie Ward also missed out, while midfielder Sebastian Robbemond also took a place amongst the substitutes, their places taken by Max Ward, Tristan Drummond, and the returning Finlay Armond. Opponents Belper United meanwhile were inactive last weekend, and so arrived in Lincolnshire on the back of an impressive 3-0 victory over Melton Town last time out. They also made two changes to their side with Mason Booth-Davis and Jacob Ferdinand dropping out of the side with their places taken by Lewis Partridge and Devante Reittie.

It took both sides a while to get going at The MKM Ground – certainly not helped by a nasty collision between Max Ward and Paul Johnson that required the latter to receive lengthy treatment before returning to play. When chances finally began to arrive, they were initially in the Greens favour, Lennon swinging and missing from Latrell Patterson’s long throw before he did likewise with Tristan Drummond’s floated freekick.

The visitors began to stamp their authority though and they fired a warning shot when Devante Reittie’s long-range effort was collected by Liam Flitton. Flitton was to have a hand – quite literally – in the halves best opportunity when he helped Harry Dale’s venomous freekick onto the post before watching, albeit nervously, the same players drive from distance bounce inches wide of the far post.

Back at the other end and the Greens continued to pepper the visitors goal with a flurry of half-chances, Tom Ward first heading over Tristan Drummond’s cross before Ryan Lennon did similar, this time from Finlay Armond’s centre. It was another Drummond delivery that caused problems for the away side right on the stroke of half-time, both Tom Waumsley and Tom Ward having a swing at his freekick without troubling Alfie Roberts – the story of an otherwise quiet first half.

Another quiet start to the second half – of which Devante Reittie stabbing into Liam Flitton’s hands was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock – gave way to spell of persistent Greens pressure. Tom Waumsley was the tormentor in chief, and he headed wide from another Latrell Patterson long-throw to give Belper a jolt.

Back at the other end and Liam Flitton was back in action, producing a fine save to deny Johnson who’d broken free of the attentions of Max Ward but from there, the Greens really began to take charge of the contest and for that, they were rewarded with the breakthrough just beyond the hour. It was another Latrell Patterson long-throw that caused the initial trouble, with his effort kept alive by Tom Ward who found Ryan Lennon to cross for Tom Waumsley to tap home at close range – his long-awaited first goal in Green.

It could swiftly have been two, Akeel Francis first lobbing Alfie Roberts and the crossbar before Roberts produced a fine hand to turn away Finlay Armond’s venomous drive. He was then required to dig out a fine diving save to collect Ryan Lennon’s effort from range before AkeeL Francis powered a header inches over the bar from Nathan Arnold’s corner.

With time running out, the hosts continued to push and Ryan Lennon may have felt he could have done better after Liam Flitton’s goal-kick sent him through but he could only power high and wide of the mark. It was Lennon again five minutes later who’s speculative effort from distance landed not all that far away from the target – but that was to be the last action of both the game and the Greens season.

Words: Oliver Atkin