JOYCE ARE UNITED IN DRAW

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

BRIDGFORD UNITED FC 2 BURTON JOYCE FC 2

Played at Pelican Colts FC

Lenton Lane

Att: 17

I had marked down this match quite a while ago and then on the Friday found there was a change of venue to Pelican Colts ground, which is the first ground on Lenton Lane, this used to be the old Gas board ground back in the 1980;s and then City & Sherwood Hospital in the old Notts Alliance League played there for a season. On arrival, I found that the old pitch was now a kids pitch and a new pitch was being used but very rare for adult football though a full sized pitch with dugouts.

I sat out side in the sunny weather as there was a couple of chairs and tables near to the changing room area and soon got the team line ups, spoke to the ref who was doing his first ever adult match in the middle.

The game kicked off with Burton Joyce needing a point to secure third place, whilst Bridgford United had already secured second spot, but were after a bit of revenge as only a few weeks ago, their visitors had beaten them in the Semi Final of the League Cup.

United pushed forward and Joyce played on the break and after just 5 minutes, both sides could well have scored, with United firing high and wide, whilst the Burton forward's run and stopped by brave goalkeeping.

On 31 minutes,  a ball was laid back in to the path of CHARLIE FRASER who fired a low shot in to the bottom corner of the net to give Burton the lead. United then upped their game and pressed forward and were soon on level terms on 37 minutes through JARROD WESTCARR.

The Second Half kicked off and Burton Joyce were pressing forward and on 49 minutes retook the lead after some good play and finishing with CALLUM HOPKINS finishing the move. The pace of the game slowed down as the hot heat began to affect some players who kept taking in drinks, but after a corner by Burton Joyce broke down on 65 minutes, a long ball out of defence saw JARROD WESTCARR pounce forward and equal things up.

The Final 25 minutes saw both sides have chances to clinch the winner but a draw on the day was a fair result.

On the Full Time whistle, runners up trophies were presented by myself to the Bridgford United FC team.

Burton Joyce FC move on to next Saturday where they kick off their League Junior Cup Final against Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC with a 12pm noon kick off, followed at 4pm with the League Senior Cup between Basford Community & Newark Flowserve, both matches are being played at Basford United FC.

86 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK