CITY HEAD TO QUARTERS

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FA JUNIOR CUP

Third Round

PREMIUM FC 1 SOUTHWELL CITY RESERVES 4

On County Cup weekend I always look for one of the Notts Senior League clubs playing away from home at a ground Ive never visited and though I was with Dunkirk FC in the early 1990's, I never ventured past the Pelican Ground, ti where I found out at this Grove Farm venue, there is a new changing room area and lots of pitches for Football and Rugby.

The pitch Premium FC use is quite a way from the changing rooms but is fully railed and has dug outs and a lovely flat and well looked after pitch.

After getting both line up;s it was to pitchside, where a minutes silence took place in respect of those who had lost their lives in the plane crash in Columbia.

The game kicked off and Southwell were soon in their stride and after just 94 seconds, CALUM LAW got the ball around the halfway line on the right wing and attempted to float the ball over for a cross, but the ball kept going and dropped in to the net to everyones surprise.

This seemed to spur City on and were denied three times by the Premium goalpost from going further in front, whilst the homesters played on the break, on 18 minutes, the warning signs were there for all to see, when David Oakley saw his shot bounce off the Southwell post. The next Premium attack on 21 minutes, saw the breakthrough, when a mistake by the visiting centre halves left the ball and DAVID OAKLEY made no mistake this time firing home the equaliser.

Premium had their best spell of the game now and Southwell were struggling with one of their centre backs and waiting for the sub to arrive, as soon as he did, he was put on and the visitors re-organised, but on 32 minutes, whilst Premium were on the attack, it broke down and a long ball saw City on the break and a forward was bought down and they were awarded a penalty to which LIAM WILKINSON stepped up and duly dispatched to restore the visitors lead.

Half time came and both camps gave out their instructions that the next goal would be vital to this tie and it certainly was, as Premium had replaced their first half stand in keeper and the replacement was stopping everything thrown at him until a close range effort by CALUM LAW on 69 minutes to make it 3-1.

Both sides still wanted to play football and with time running down on 85 minutes, a long ball found LIAM WILKINSON who dribbled past the oncoming keeper and slotted the ball in to the net past two defenders on the line to make it 4-1.

Overall view of the game: City deserved their win and to progress in to the Quarter Finals, both sides played the game the right way with no arguing, cross words or nasty challenges and both clubs were a credit to their leagues. The ref missed a couple of things but he had a very good game overall.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK