10 GOAL RUN OUT FOR CLUBS

Pre Season Friendly

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FC 6 NOTTINGHAM CITY FC 4

When I saw this friendly had been arranged, it caught my eye, as it pitched up ex NSL Club Nottinghamshire FC against NSL Newcomers Nottingham City FC at Grassington Road. It was good to see a few old faces from the Nottinghamshire camp, but nice to meet the new faces of Nottingham City.

The game kicked off and City looked in control as two goals in the ninth and tenth minute saw them sprint in to a two goal lead. The homesters looked shell shocked. On 27 minutes, City were delighted as they looked to have the game out of sight at 3-0, but funny things happen in football as we all know.

On the half hour, the referee blew and the players began to come to pitchside, so I asked him how many minutes he was playing and he replied "four thirty minutes" so me and fellow hopper Rob Campion thought we would settle in for the afternoon.

It was then I discovered that Nottingham City had no goalkeeper and the management team were asking for anyone to go in goal for the second thirty minutes.

On 35 minutes, Nottinghamshire pulled a goal back and then had a couple more chances that came off the woodwork, but it was City that was playing good flowing football, but on the stroke of the 60th minute, Nottinghamshire got the boost they needed when reducing the arrears and this seemed to spur them on.

The Nottinghamshire Manager during the short break then came over to the City management and asked if they would play a straight 45 minutes rather than another 30 minutes, just to confuse everyone, to which everyone agreed.

Nottinghamshire were soon on level terms after 64 minutes and added another two goals in the 70th and 74th minutes to advance in to a 5-3 lead.

Nottingham City werent done as they pressed forward and in the 88th minute, it became 5-4 to the home side, but with the clock ticking down and City on the attack in search of a equaliser, gaps appeared at the back for Nottinghamshire to make it 6-4 in the 103rd minute.

Regardless of the score, this was a very good friendly with both sides playing some good football but also making mistakes, which I suppose added interest to the game, but most of all it gave both teams time on the pitch for their players match fitness.

Photos from the Match can be seen on this LINK