The sun was shining; Neville Recreation ground was basking in early spring optimism as both sideswarmed up with smiles on their faces. With the team announced Lord Nelsonlooked to follow up their victory over league strugglers Horsdean with another3 points over visiting side, AFC Shelbyville. With Cappell, Ellmore and Fordreturning from absence to add quality and depth, head coach Tommy Clitheroenamed a strong squad to face the visitors. During the opening exchanges it was hard to tell who had the upper hand with bothsides finding it hard to get into any rhythm. With around 20 minutes gone and AFCShelbyville adopting a 3 man central midfield system they began to find space infront of the Nelson back line. However, the visiting team were not withouttheir own problems; the strength and dynamism of centre forward Darren Martinruffling defensive feathers. The game’s first goal came around the half an hourmark when the Shelbyville number 8, who had looked dangerous on his left footin the early stages, hit a venomous, curling free kick from 20 yards beyond thedive of Cappell. 1-0 AFC Shelbyville.This goal seemed to draw a response from the home team as Lord Nelson began to pressand move the ball better. The midfield looked more cohesive as the impressiveJones asserted more authority in the central areas. The long throw of ChrisScott-Smith looked a continuous threat and as the first half moved into itsfinal minutes a scoring chance looked likely. Moments after a long throw wasmet by the head of Martin, only to be cleared off the line in what appeared tobe a hand ball offence, the Nelson were level. Another well delivered longthrow was attacked at the near post by Martin once again. This time thevisitors had no answer. 1-1. As half time came to a close the momentum was with those in red and black.
Half Time 1-1
At the break recent signing Chris Fields, who had worked tirelessly in the middleof the park, made way for the energetic Luke. The Lord Nelson started thesecond half well, and with Norfolk-born chatterbox Andrew Barnes moved from theleft side of midfield into the centre alongside Jones, the home side seemed tohave more balance in the side. It wouldn’t be long before Clitheroe’s changespaid dividends. On the 50th minute mark a chance for the Nelson; followinga mix up in the Shelbyville rear guard the ball looped kindly towardsnonchalant playmaker Chris Scott-Smith who struck a volley with flawlesstechnique from 25 yards, only to see his effort arc agonisingly wide. Anotherchance came and went when substitute Luke found himself one on one with theright full back running towards goal but when the struggling Shelbyvilledefender’s attempt at a tackle appeared to bring down the energetic wingerthere were huge cries of “PENALTY” from the home side…corner given. Perhaps itwould be one of those days.
However, the home crowd’s thirst for a second goal would be quenched just 5 minuteslater when Simon Jones made a positive run into the heart of AFC Shelbyville’sdefensive spine. The roaming enforcer carried the ball well before releasingthe ever-ready Martin into the right channel who composed himself to fire theball home from 15 yards. 2-1 Lord Nelson. Playing some of the best football they had played all season Lord Nelson looked like going on to secure all 3 points.
AFC Shelbyville were quiet, and looked unlikely to salvage anything from the gameuntil a momentary lapse in concentration, from the otherwise impressive, SamuelCraig allowed the attacker to steal in smash the ball in at the near post from6 yards. It was an unfortunate incident given the competency shown in the matchby the entire Lord Nelson back line throughout the match. 2-2 with 65 minutes on the clock.
In the 72nd minute Tommy Clitheroe called on substitute Grant Ford tostoke the fires of the Lord Nelson attack, with the evergreen Arlo Pearsonmaking way for the enigmatic winger. Ford looked lively on his return from acrippling seafood related stomach bug. His first contribution; a languid rundown the right beating three players but was unable to smuggle in a cross.
With ten minutes remaining the Lord Nelson head coach through on yet more attackingfire power, with new signing Matt Rose replacing the fatigued Barnes inmidfield.
The home side pushed hard in the closing stages and thought they’d earned a penaltylate on when Jones found half a yard in a crowded box to shoot at goal; hiseffort striking the arm of a Shelbyville player, but no penalty given onceagain. The away goalkeeper was in fine form also, saving well from a DarrenMartin header on 85 minutes to deny the striker a hat-trick.
The final moments passed with neither side able to create a telling opportunity butNelson boss Tommy Clitheroe seemed satisfied with the performance of his side. 2-2 Final Score.
