Jeld-Wen 1, Freemasons Arms 6

Jeld-Wen 1, Freemasons Arms 6

Division 3A, Sunday December 11, 2005

RESISTING the temptation to get into the festive spirit by watching referee Norman Christmas' game at the Hewett, I plumped for the excitement of an uncharted pitch.

Namely that of Division 3A's Jeld-Wen (window and door manufacturers for the uninitiated) who play their home games at Taverham High School.

As I later discovered that the Hewett game had ended in a 1-1 draw, having been treated to seven goals at Taverham, I felt my choice was justified. Even if the thrill of visiting a new ground had only amounted to getting mildly out of breath running around trying to find the right pitch.

There was actually another good reason for watching this game; Jeld-Wen's opponents, Freemasons Arms, started the match second in the league - just one place above them. Could promotion to Division 2A hang on the outcome? Let's hope not for Jeld-Wen's sake.

Early signs favoured Freemasons Arms as Jeld-Wen's goalkeeper, Paul Brookes, was tested by Jimmy Sayer's shot after a good run by Sean Sandell.

Minutes later, Brookes came rushing out to collect a through ball but missed it completely and this time Sayer was able to walk the ball into an empty net.

Their lead lasted all of four minutes however, as a lapse of concentration in the Freemasons Arms defence allowed Jamie

Roberts to fire home the equaliser on the half-hour mark.

The score remained level for the remainder of the half but Sean Ward's speculative 40-yard shot, which bounced back off the bar, and Frank Anderson's narrow header wide from Mori Etchells' centre alluded to what was to come after the break.

In a 13-minute spell at the beginning of the second half, Jeld-Wen managed to concede five goals.

Sandell set up Andrew Cogman who curled in a left-footed shot to put Freemasons Arms 2-1 up; Etchells scored a superb solo goal, travelling with the ball before cutting inside and striking under the diving body of Brookes; Sayer completed a hat-trick and Anderson, after seeing another shot come back off the bar, beat the offside trap before rounding Brookes and dribbling the ball over the line.

And all without their top scorer apparently.

With a third of the match left to play, Jeld- Wen tried to salvage some pride from the game but failed to pose any real threat to the away side's comfortable lead.

t Jeld-Wen 1 (Roberts 30), Freemasons Arms 6 (Sayer 26, 55, 58, Cogman 47, Etchells 53, Anderson 60)

t Teams:

Jeld-Wen: 1 Paul Brookes 7, 2 Paul Nichols 7, 3 Tim Drew 7, 5 Paul Andrews 7, 6 Alex King 7, 12 James Read 7, 10 Jamie Roberts 8, 8 Daniel Forwood 7, 9 Pete Crowley 7, 11 Dave Jones 7, 7 Ben Forwood 6.

Freemasons Arms: 1 Ian Judge 7, 2 Matthew Watson 7, 3 Sean Ward 7 (7 Darren Watson 65 7), 4 James Curtis 7, 12 Terry Hannant 7, 6 Sean Sandell 8, 11 Mori Etchells 8, 5 Frank Anderson 8, 8 Andrew Cogman 7, 10 Jimmy Sayer 8, 9 Justin Watson 7. Subs unused: 15 Hyron Watson, 14 Jason Warner.

t Shots on: Jeld-Wen 3, Freemasons 17

t Shots off: Jeld-Wen 5, Freemasons 8

t Corners: Jeld-Wen 2, Freemasons 9

t Offsides: Jeld-Wen 0, Freemasons 3

t Fouls: Jeld-Wen 10, Freemasons 12

t Bookings: Jeld-Wen - Jamie Roberts; Freemasons - Sean Ward

t Referee: Mark Smythe

t Attendance: Six

t MoM: Sean Sandell ('Well worth the £5 transfer fee.')

t Entertainment value: 4 out of 5

t Weather: Dank

t Kit of the Match: Jeld-Wen. And not just because I feel sorry for them - it looks as if a small child has drawn all over the arms of Freemasons' (no pun intended).

t Boss Talk:

Alex King, Jeld-Wen player-manager: “Disappointing how we caved in during the second half. It was a makeshift squad as we're without seven key players.”

Hyron Watson, Freemasons Arms manager: “The best side won. We outplayed them in every area bar the slight slipup early on.”