The two teams have been having quite different 12 months. Aston were promoted into tier 11 and are, at the time of writing doing well, and sitting fourth in their league. Holbrook however are struggling, having been easily beaten in their six leagues game. This match up would therefore allow a good comparison in the standards of the two respective leagues to be made.
This game, for myself and my father, had additional interest. My father had played against both these teams in the 1960's for Sinfin Utd.
Arriving at the ground we were met by a girl taking the admission money. She struggled with the mathematics of admitting my father and myself, the cost of a raffle ticket (which I didn't check to see if I had won anything) and subtracting these costs from a £10 note. We parked behind the goal close to a classic, mint, sky blue Ford Escort mk1 and wandered around the pitch before choosing to sit close to the half-way line, undercover, in a tiny 'stand' of 10 seats, between the dug-outs, which sheltered us from the autumnal rain.
The game started as expected with Aston quickly racing into a two goal lead and we expected this to be an embarrassing walkover, but as Aston took their foot off the gas Holbrook came back to level the scoreline. Aston picked up the tempo again and, as Holbrok tired and chased the game, ran away with it.
Holbrook looked a poor team with only a powerful number 10 and a flame haired number 7 being standout players. Aston looked an all-round better team but it was their number 9, McCormack, who was man of the match, The 'Saints' could not cope with his runs, crosses and shooting ability. His team mates called him 'Bale'. I guess he is the 'Gareth Bale' of the Nottingham Senior League.
Based on what we saw today, Aston thrashing Holbrook, just as The Saints had been thrashed by the teams in the Central Midlands League, I think it is fair to say that the CMFL is of a comparable standard to the NSL.
A summary of the goals is summarised:
0:1 - 'Bale', with a jinking run into the box, puts a right foot shot to the 'keepers left
0:2 - A cross from the left (after a corner from the right) finds the centre-half unmarked for a header from 6 yard
1:2 - The number 10 shoots past the 'keepers right hand from 20 yards
2:2 - 'Keeper parries a shot, with the number 8 stabbing in from the left hand side of the goal
2:3 - Number 8 is brought down in the box after a nice bit of control. Number 7 puts a left footed penalty to the 'keepers right
2:4 - An in swinging free kick finds the striker unmarked from 5 yards to convert his free header
2:5 - Number 10 whips in a cross to find 'Bale's' head in front of the 'keeper
3:5 - A great freekick from Holbrook's number 7, from 25 yards, finds the top left hand corner of the goal
3:6 - Good work from 'Bale' on the right provides a chance for number 4 to tap in from 6 yards
3:7 - A whipped in freekick causes the 'keeper to parry the ball straight out to 'Bale' only for 'Bale' to put the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal
3:8 - Defender needlessly throws an elbow at the ball in the box. Number 10 places his penalty kick to the 'keepers left
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