League: Muller Over 50s Div 2
Nailsea Vets 50s vs Re-Union
Our games vs ReUion are so often closely fought contests and the score line might suggest it was the same again. The reality is ReUnion controlled much of the game and had a hat full of chances. Nailsea managed to keep the score at 0 – 0 until 20 minutes from the end largely thanks to an outstanding performance from our keeper Lee McGreevy. Notable saves included a superb first half tip over the bar from a close range ReUnion header and a low diving save in the second half to paw the ball away round the post.
The irony is ReUnions goal came from a miss kick from Lee to let ReUnion in for a scrappy but well deserved goal. Nailsea failed to cause ReUnion many problems in their box and their very well organised defence kept any Nailsea chances to speculative efforts from range.
Always good fun playing these guys. Looking forward to the away fixture next year when we hope to reverse the result.
Nailsea Vets 50s vs Russell Athletic 50s
Our ref cried off at short notice so thanks to our injured striker Lee Cogan for standing in to officiate.
The early Sunday morning deluge had blown away by kick off and although blustery the conditions remained dry for the match. The first half lacked much action in either penalty box although Nailsea controlled the majority of possession. Russell went closest when a short defensive header back to the keeper allowed their striker in only to see his shot hit the left post.
The second half mirrored the first but as Nailsea started chasing the game for a win, gaps started opening up at the back to give Russell more chances. A mix up in the Nailsea defense 30 minutes into the second half gifted Russell the opener with a tap in. Another mistake in midfield let Russell in for a well taken second and the result was in the bag. Nailsea scored a late conciliation goal but it was too little too late.
3 points lost but we hope to be on better form in front of goal against Russell in a couple of weeks for our cup match.
Re-Union vs St Brendan’s RFC OB
Great game , despite the lop sided scoreline. Both teams played well but we were clinical going forward and have delighted in informing our all time top scorer , Tiff, that we scored ten in his absence,
This one was 11/10 for Corinthian spirit in all honesty. This despite, St Brendan’s manager Kev telling me I’m all heart which, ironically, I am ! : )
HC Voyager 50s vs Nailsea Vets 50s
Praise to both sides for fielding teams when it was looking doubtful we’d have enough players but the game went ahead as scheduled on another bright and sunny Sunday morning. Unfortunately there wasn’t a referee available so as the home team the Voyager sub took responsibility to officiate. All players involved were incredibly respectful and largely ‘self policed’ the game which made for a very friendly encounter.
Within two minutes Nailsea were a man down with Steve pulling a muscle so one of our two subs was immediately called upon as a replacement. Both teams had plenty of possession in the first 10 minutes but Nailsea took the lead through Gary Himsworth as he received the ball wide on the right side of the penalty box and with a fine first time shot drilled in low to the keepers left from 12 yards out.
After 25 minutes Nailsea extended the lead through Alex who mirrored Gary’s goal but this time a shot on the turn low to the keepers right from the left side of the box.
Voyager had several chances of their own and were rewarded with a penalty on 35 minutes after Jonesey bundled into the back of a Voyager player. 2-1.
A late flurry of action at the end of the first half saw Nailsea go in at half time 4-1 up. Our third was a close range tap in from Buzz who followed up from a Lee Cogan shot that the keeper could only parry into his path. Lee eventually notched himself after threatening for much of the half after his first shot was blocked and the rebound fell to him to fire in from 8 yards out.
Thoughts of our last game (5-1 up at half time only to draw 5 -5) came to mind when Voyager pulled one back within 2 minutes of the restart with a bullet header from a corner kick. Not again…. surely? Fortunately not. Lee gave us a 3 goal cushion again with a 20 yard strike into the roof of the net and although Voyager pulled another one back from another headed goal from a corner, Matt Gigg heard the shout “have a go yourself” from 25 yards out, so did and made it a comfortable 6-3 lead on 80 minutes. Lee rounded off a great performance with a final goal to claim his hat-trick in the dying minutes to make the final score 7 -3.
Well done to Voyager for holding the fixture that had been in some doubt a week earlier.
Reclinosaurs vs Russell Athletic 50s
A lovely morning for footy at BAWA saw a depleted Reclinosaurs side put up a decent fight against Russell before running out of steam in the final ten minutes. Russell had the best of the first half, pressing well and pushing the Saurs on to the back foot. There were few clear cuts chances but Russell managed to convert one of the 3 or 4 they created and went in at HT a goal up. Saurs right back Tony sustained a nasty ankle injury when he stepped on the ball, leaving only 12 men standing. Despite this, the Saurs controlled much of the second half but without creating too many really clean cut opportunities and in the end the stronger Russell bench came into play as Saurs wilted in the heat and conceded a second late on. One momentary bit of unpleasantness was dealt with swiftly by the Russell management. We look forward to the return match!
St Brendan’s RFC OB vs Nailsea Vets 50s
What a weekend of sport. Emma Raducanu wins the US Open, Ronaldo scores a brace on his return to Man Utd and St Brendans vs Nailsea 50’s put on a 10 goal thriller! This was one for the neutral.
A new look Nailsea with some late replacements enabled us to kick off the season vs St Brendans on schedule although we were without our ever-dependable keeper not being available for this first fixture of the season. Striker Alex Plenty took the gloves and kept Nailsea in the game in the early stages with a wonderful finger tipped save onto the post. St Brendans were however the brighter of the two sides in the first 10 minutes and took a deserved 1-0 lead. Nailsea slowly began to find their way and levelled after 15 minutes through Buzz. Gary H received the ball wide on the right and jinked his way into the box all the way to the byline to pass back to Buzz who side footed in from 8 yards out. This seemed to give us the lift we needed and some great football followed. One of the goals of the game came from Matt G who saw the St Brendans keeper off his line and floated a beautifully lobbed shot into the far corner from just inside the box to give us the lead. 3 more followed for Nailsea as they dominated the half; an own goal as Gary H caused more panic in the St Brendans defence and two from striker Lee Cogan; a side footed effort from an in swinging cross from Dave Miles and a glancing header on the end of a superb ball in from left back Shane.
Injuries forced Nailsea to make changes at half time. Starting with 14 we were now down to a bare 11 and despite a comfortable lead it still felt as though St Brendan might edge back into the game. That’s an understatement. What a comeback! Goals on 50, 75, 77 and 85 minutes levelled the score. Nailsea gifted a couple (one in particular) but St Brendans heads never went down. Nailsea had numerous chances to put us out of reach but our finishing didn’t match the first half and the St Brendans keeper pulled off one terrific save low down to his right.
It was a tough result to swallow but it turned out to be fair on the balance of play. Great to have the season up and running again and we wish St Brendans an enjoyable season. Pleased to report the game was competitive but within the spirit we all wish for every Sunday morning.
Reclinosaurs vs HC Voyager 50s
A lovely morning at BAWA saw Reclinosaurs make their debut in the over 50’s league in their canary yellow kit, with all numbers lovingly ironed on by hand by manager Biccy Thompson. Voyager had the better of the early exchanges, but new singing Kenty put the Saurs ahead with a well taken goal. A mistake in the back line allowed an easy equaliser, before Gaffers popped in a worldy from thirty yards to restore the advantage. 2-1 HT. In the second half Kenty added a second and Saurs seemed to be cruising to victory, but a late collapse with numerous injuries and aging legs saw Voyager race into a 4-3 lead before a spectacular attempt by Saurs keeper JT to dribble the length of the field, ended with him being tackled and a final nail being inflicted. Great game played the right way throughout, see you for the return leg!