Nalgo 1, Ribs of Beef 2

Division 4B, Sunday February 26, 2006

Nalgo 1, Ribs of Beef 2

A VERITABLE media frenzy descended upon Eaton Park last Sunday.

Not only was yours truly there, fighting against the wind to try to scribble notes on Nalgo's game against Ribs of Beef, but Anglia TV was also braving the elements to film Newsman Celtic's match for a spot on Thursday's 'Soccer Night'.

Having watched 90 minutes of one and the 'highlights' of the other, I'm not sure which one of us got the best deal in terms of entertainment…

As you can never be quite certain how many teams will be promoted from the lower divisions until the end of the season, despite Nalgo lying only fourth in Division 4B, there's still a chance that they could make a swift return to 3B.

So it wasn't ideal then, when only 10 Nalgo players turned up to start the game against second-placed Ribs.

Fortunately for the home side, the game was only nine minutes old when David Dowling arrived on the pitch to take his place in the Nalgo defence.

The vocal Ribs supporters appealed for a penalty after Nalgo goalkeeper Jason Haze seemed to have made more contact with one of their players than the ball when making a clearance, but referee Ian Selwood saw nothing wrong with the challenge, instead awarding a corner.

Justin Neale then capitalised on a slip by Nalgo's Martin Smith to make a surging run down the wing followed by a cross which Pete Wright put wide of the far post.

At the other end, Gary Haze sent what can only be described as a hopeful toe punt sailing over the bar, and team-mate Steve Rodi fared slightly better when he forced a double save from Ribs 'keeper James Bradford.

It was another penalty decision that finally broke the deadlock at the beginning of the second half. This time Selwood did award the spot-kick to Ribs after Richard Flowers appeared to have handled in the area, and Richard Metcalf duly converted.

Ribs had doubled their lead within a minute through Glenn White and, after Dougal Betts had seen Jason Haze turn his header out for a corner, there was a sense that the victory could be more emphatic.

With around 15 minutes to go, however, Nalgo began to fight back, and saw a goal disallowed.

Jason Haze even came up for a couple of Nalgo corners in the dying minutes, from one of which substitute Matthew Bradley scored, but it was all too little, too late.

t Nalgo 1 (Bradley 89), Ribs of Beef 2 (Metcalf 53, pen, White 54)

t Teams:

Nalgo: 1 Jason Haze 7, 16 Richard Flowers 6, 3 Martin Smith 6, 8 David Dowling 6, 15 Andy Everett 7, 10 Gary Haze 6, 6 Damon Rudd 6 (17 Matthew Bradley 52 7), 11 Graham Fayers 6, 9 Daniel Spanton 6, 12 Kevin Tate 6, 14 Steven Rodi 7.

Ribs of Beef: 1 James Bradford 7, 2 Ross Hunter 7, 5 Rory Bradshaw 7, 4 Mike Robinson 6, 3 Glenn Blake 8, 6 Glenn White 7, 7 Justin Neale 7, 8 Richard Metcalf 7, 15 Dougal Betts 7, 10 Richard Chaplin 7, 11 Pete Wright 6 (14 Alex Lee 77). Sub unused: 9 Kieran Groom.

t Shots on: Nalgo 3, Ribs of Beef 7

t Shots off: Nalgo 4, Ribs of Beef 6

t Corners: Nalgo 6, Ribs of Beef 7

t Offsides: Nalgo 5, Ribs of Beef 4

t Fouls: Nalgo 7, Ribs of Beef 8

t Referee: Ian Selwood

t Attendance: 25

t MoM: Glenn Blake

t Entertainment value: 2 out of 5

t Weather: Blustery

t Kit of the Match: Nalgo, but only by default because Ribs of Beef's red and yellow ensemble is so lairy.

t Boss Talk:

Nalgo player-manager Jason Haze: “Oh dear. We did well first half but didn't really get out of the blocks 'til the last 20 in the second.”

Ribs of Beef manager James Kiddell: “I've already had a mug shot taken this morning…It was a fairly even game and we took the chances that came to us.”