NINE MEN PARK FRUSTRATE BILTHORPES TITLE DREAMS

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

ASPLEY PARK RESERVES 2 BILSTHORPE RESERVES 2

Lookng for a match where something was to play for, lead me to Harvey Hadden Stadium in Bilborough, where the situation before play was Keyworth United Reserves had finished their fixtures and a win for Bilsthorpe Reserves would have given them the title, whilst any slip up and if Awsworth Villa Reserves won their fixture then they would spring two places in to top position and clinch the title.

The game began at a even pace on a pitch full of yellow flowers, which look good on the photos, but the pitch looked good to play football on. After 15 minutes, a challenge in the home penalty area saw the forward go down and  the ref award Bilsthorpe a penalty and he produced a red card to Dion Johnson, up stepped Bilsthorpes Captain STUART GRAINGER to put his side in to a lead, within 5 minutes, Aspley Park were on level terms when they were awarded a penalty of their own to which JAMES OWEN duly dispatched.

Bilsthorpe pushed forward but they were denied on several occassions by the young home keeper, whilst they had chances of their own. After 32 minutes, JACK WARMAN latched on to a long ball and lopped it over the oncoming keeper to put the visitors in to a 2-1 lead. Aspley Park from the kick off went straight back on the attack and were level within seconds when SEAN HOLMES tapped home from close range.

Just on the stroke of half time, Aspley Park broke the offside trap and Pat Hume stretched and caught the away keeper who threw thee ball directly at the home player, the ref produced a yellow card for the keeper and a red card to the Aspley player which incensed the home bench.

The half time whistle blew and both sets of players were upset and frustrated at the referee who I felt was having a good match, but i.t was going to be a uphill struggle for the nine men of Aspley Park for the second half.

Messages were coming throgh from Awsworth that their match was 1-1 and at this stage of the day, the title was heading to Keyworth and Bilsthorpe must have known it wasnt to be their day when 3 minutes from time, they saw the ball bounce off the crossbar, whilst a score flash had come through to say that Awsworth had won 3-1. The final whilstle went and all players and officials shook hands.

Photos from the Aspley Park Res v Bilsthorpe Match can bee seen HERE 

From the car park here, it was a dash along the A610 to Awsworth to see League Fixture Secretary Chris Cliff present the Division Two Championship to Awsworth Villa Reserves

Here are the Photos of the presentation HERE