OLYMPICS NORRIS LATE GOAL BREAKS RUSHCLIFFES DREAMS

 Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy: 1st Round

RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC FC 3 RUSHCLIFFE FC 2

A visit to Wharf Lane today to see unbeaten Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Division One leaders Radcliffe Olympic FC host Division two North ninth placed Rushcliffe FC.

On arrival, Iwas greeted by several folks from both sides and with about 30 minutes before kick off came down the hill was Preston based groundhoppers Joanna and Anthony, who I met for the first time and spent a nice afternoon with.

Hazel offered to help in the refreshments area for the match and this gave club member John a chance to watch a home match, as he usually serves the teas and coffees.

Before kick off, everyone respected a minutes silence in memory of Radcliffe's manager's brother Daniel Hegarty on the 5th anniversary of his sad loss as a superbike rider. The minutes silence was respected by all.

On paper this cup tie looked like it may be a bit of one way traffic, but this was the visitors cup final and they raised their game to the occasion. The first chance of the game saw the home keeper forced it to action with a simple save.

The First Half was very even but not too many chances on goal, but after 43 minutes, a ball was pushed forward to BASSEY OKON who beat the offside trap to side foot Olympic into the lead(as put photo above). Rushcliffe werent too pleased about this and went to the match official, at half time I spoke with the visiting secretary who was the linesman and he explained that he went to raise the flag but the ball didnt go to the player who would have been in a offside position so the goal stood.

After Shawn arrived down with my half time cuppa(or brew as they call it up in Preston), Radcliffe seemed to be spurred on by their breakthrough and pushed forward and on 50 minutes, the ball was sprayed out to the left wing, where ED SMYTH from a very acute angle smashed the ball across goal and in to the net to double Olympic's lead, surely the tie was now over, but never say never.

This seemed to put some fire in to Rushcliffe and they pushed more bodies forward and this paid dividends as on 54 minutes, a ball played in to the near left hand side of the six yard box saw JASON HODSON knock the ball home to bring his side back in to the game.

Within 2 minutes, the scores were level, when a ball was crossed from the left side and there was the smallest player on the pitch JASON HODSON to get his head on the ball and steer it past the home keeper to make it 2-2. The Cup Tie was alive and both sides were going for it.

Chances came and went and on 82 minutes, Joanna and Anthony said their goodbyes as they were to stroll to the other side of the pitch as with this being a 1pm kick off, it gave them a opportunity to pull in West Bridgford FC for a 3pm kick off, just as they said good bye, I said to them, I have a feeling there is still a goal in this tie and it wont go to penalties. Right on cue, the homesters broke down the right wing and LIAM NORRIS lashed a shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and there seemed to be some confusion, as the visitors felt it hadnt crossed the line, the ref checked with the visiting secretary and the referee gave the goal much to Olympic's delight.

Rushcliffe pressed forward again for the final six minutes, but the home side could well at the death added a fourth if it hadnt been for the visiting keeper who pulled off a outstanding save.

Must thank the following for kind donations for the Blogs Charity which is FAMILY FUND, a charity that helps and supports families with children with special needs and disabilities, on Thursday Steve Broughton kindly donated £20, todays match Joanna & Anthony kindly donated £10 and Radcliffe Olympic FC kindly donated £26.50p with the 5 goals scored today it takes the running total to a outstanding £980.00..I would like to thank everyone for their generosity.

To view the 106 photos from today, please click this LINK