Greens Play-Off Hopes Dashed At The Hands Of Eastwood

The Greens had taken the lead at an extremely windy Eslaforde Park through Ryan Lennon’s close-range finish but were left to rue a quickfire Tyler Blake brace midway through the first half. Defeat, coupled with Skegness Town’s 0-0 draw with Heanor Town confirming the Greens can no longer mathematically reach the Premier Division North play-off places.

Player/Managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold were forced into a string of changes with a series of players suffering from knocks following Tuesday evening’s 2-0 victory over Pinchbeck United. The headline saw Nathan Arnold make just his second start for the Greens in the place of Jake Henderson who dropped to the bench while Tristan Drummond and Finlay Armond also dropped out of the starting eleven, the former to the bench while Armond returned to action for parent club Matlock Town. In their places – aside from the rare Nathan Arnold start – were the returning duo of Sebastian Robbemond and Kyle Watkins who both appeared from the bench on Tuesday evening at the Sir Halley Stewart Field. Opponents Eastwood Community meanwhile arrived in Lincolnshire off the back of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of in-form Boston Town and they made five changes from that side in an attempt to muster a response to a poor run of form. Terry Atem, Kamani Wilson and Jack Messom all dropped to the Red Badgers bench while Jermaine Hollis and Daniel Elliott dropped out of the matchday squad altogether. In their places came Alex Troke, Tom Hodgkinson, Lavell White, Aaron O’Connor, and Chris Robertson.

The Greens started confidently in gusty conditions at The MKM Stadium and twice had visiting keeper Sam Wilson nervous in the early moments, first Nathan Arnold and then Sebastian Robbemond lifting efforts from distance onto the roof of the net. The Red Badgers were not without a threat of their own early on though, Lynden Joyce firing wide after cutting inside his marker. Eastwood Captain Aaron O’Connor then did similar, cutting inside Ward before placing just wide of the post.

It was the Greens who found the opener after 13 minutes though when Latrell Patterson’s long throw was flicked on by Tom Waumsley into the path of Ryan Lennon who was left with the simple job of tapping home at close range to put the Greens in front. Waumsley was then involved again a few moments later, seeing his effort blocked by Bailey Wearn after being set up by Akeel Francis. From that opportunity though the visitors found themselves level with a long ball forward collected by Tyler Blake who calmly took a touch before slotting past Flitton to drag the Nottinghamshire outfit on terms.

Despite the Greens responding well – Lennon smashing wide after the ball fell to him on the edge of the box – it was the visitors who completed the turnaround on the half hour mark and it was route-one stuff yet again with Lavell White’s long ball seized upon by Blake who coolly lofted his effort over the onrushing Flitton and into an unguarded net. The Greens frustrations soon began to get the better of them and they’ll have been pleased to see the half-time whistle, particularly when Tom Hodgkinson’s wind-assisted corner smashed the upright in the final minute of stoppage time.

Both sides continued to fight tough conditions in the opening minutes of the second half, Liam Flitton required to be behind Aaron O’Connor’s drive the first real moment of concern for the Greens. The Greens responded well though and could have been level but neither Nathan Arnold nor Tom Waumsley could get their shots away before Akeel Francis blazed over on the follow up.

Flitton was back in action with 20 minutes to go, saving well with his feet to deny O’Connor before he was alive again to block Tyler Blake’s effort after he’d broken free from the Greens backline. Frustration was notably setting in at this stage and that was only compounded when Tom Waumsley crashed the crossbar from Nathan Arnold’s corner before Akeel Francis’ cross found it’s way to Kyle Simpson who could only plant an effort inches wide. Stoppage time came and went, with Ryan Lennon blazing an effort over the bar a summary of not only the Greens afternoon, but their season too and with defeat went any mathematical hopes of reaching the play-offs.

The Greens will now turn their attentions to the final game of their campaign next Saturday afternoon when Belper United are the visitors to The MKM Ground. Kick-off in a weeks’ time is at 3PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin