We’ve never dominated a match so much and come away without a point. Red Star deserves much praise for their outstanding defensive performance. Their keeper was solid throughout but Nailsea squandered chance after chance, hitting the bar 3 times but not able to find the net. Red Star went ahead early on when their striker Simon hit in a low cross only for Cookie to stab the ball into his own net. What made Red Stars performance even more memorable was the fact they only had one sub who was deployed after Simons cross for the own goal as he pulled up with a hamstring injury. They then suffered another injury half way through the second half so played the remaining 25 minutes with 10 men. Whilst they didn’t have a shot on target the entire game I think they were as surprised with the result as were were when the final whistle blew. This is one for Nailsea to forget! As ever against these guys, played in a terrific spirit.
League: Grace Over 50s Div 1
Re-Union vs Nailsea Vets 50s
Nailsea had the perfect start with a well worked opening goal on 5 minutes. Lee Cogan found Jonesy wide on the left and he didn’t delay on squaring a low cross into the box which Christian hit first time from 6 yards out. The ball ricocheted off the keeper back to Christian who bundled the ball in. After that bright start the rest of the half belonged to ReUnion and their dominance was rewarded with a goal on 40 minutes. Nailsea gifted the ball to ReUnion on the edge of the penalty area and Tif slotted home to make the half time score 1-1.
Nailsea made changes in the second half with several players carrying injuries and the re-shuffle made all the difference resulting in a much more closely contended second 45. Steve Price put Nailsea 2-1 up on 70 minutes being the first to react to a loose ball from a corner and drilled the ball into the roof of the net from close distance. 5 minutes later Nailsea gave themselves a 2 goal cushion as Tony netted a third. With seconds remaining ReUnion was awarded a penalty and Mac stepped up to calmly put the ball low into the right corner.
As is often the case against ReUnion it was a tight game but played in a terrific spirit. I’m sure they will be fired up for our forthcoming cup match when we’ll need to be at our best to progress.
Nailsea Vets 50s vs Chew Magna 50s
Nailsea got off to a flier with Christian netting in the first few minutes with a shot that took a lucky deflection to wrong foot the Chew keeper. Within 5 minutes Nailsea added a second. Nelly crossed from the left to find Frosty who found space on the edge of the 6 yard box and calmly slotted home. Nelly was involved again on 15 minutes when he intercepted a pass from Chew keeper and fired low into the right hand corner. Nailsea added one more before half time with a brilliant shot from the left corner of the box into the right side of the net.
Not much to report for the first 25 minutes of the second half until guess who … Nelly grabbed his well deserved hatrick picking up an incisive pass from Christian.
Chew were finally rewarded for their efforts with a cracking volley but Nailsea replied shortly after with the goal of the game. The ball found Alex running into the right hand channel and he squared into the box to find Jerry about 12 yards out. With all the time in the world and just the keeper to beat, and shouts of time, take a touch he deftly chipped with his first touch to float the ball over the advancing keeper.
Chew added one more to their tally with a glancing header that Darren P pushed onto the post only for the ball to rebound back onto his chest into the net.
Although Nailsea put in a great performance Chew battled throughout with a depleted squad. Played in true Corinthian spirit throughout.
Red Star 50s vs Nailsea Vets 50s
Red Star started brightly with a goal in the first 2 minutes. Nailsea lost possession in midfield and Red Star found their striker inside the box to drill home from 10 yards out. Not the best of starts but Nailsea regrouped and began to play some of the best football we’ve enjoyed for a long time. Nailsea dominance was soon rewarded. After 30 minutes Lee Cogan hit a looping cross / come shot from a narrow-angle on the left over the keepers head into the right side of the net. As Nailsea continued to dominate at least 4 golden opportunities went begging. Red Star struck against the run of play on the stroke of half time with a counterattack to make it 2-1.
Nailsea continued the second half in a similar fashion with a terrific display of neat passing to open up further chances. Red Star’s keeper was outstanding with two notable saves; one in particular that defied belief (a reminder of Jimmy Montgomery from the ’73 FA Cup final!) Once again, Nailsea’s dominance eventually paid dividends and an equalizer came on 80 minutes as Stu Kemble powered in a header from 6 yards out from a recycled corner.
In the last minute, Nailsea thought they’d nicked the win with a close-range shot from Lee Cogan that hit the post but it wasn’t to be. Final score 2-2. Nailsea were pleased to earn a point after a very good display but went away to consider what may have been had so many chances not gone begging.
Nailsea withdrew 1 player for 20 minutes to calm down following an altercation, after which the game continued to be played in a competitive but Corinthian spirit