Nottinghamshire U16 4 v 5 Humberside U16
Nottinghamshire’s Under 16s played their first competitive game of the season against Humberside at Collingham FC. This was one of three games to be played in the eastern group of the Midland Counties Championship but they saw a 2-0 half time lead disappear as they slipped to a defeat by the odd goal in nine !
Notts began the game brightly against their Humberside opponents who can be relied upon to field fiercely competitive squads. They had to wait until the 27th minute however before their efforts brought a goal. A Humberside defender attempted to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick but it was retrieved by a Notts player whose cross gave Lee Beaken a fairly easy chance that was put away to give home side the lead. It was not long before they doubled their advantage when a cross from the right was only half cleared back to the same player who very cleverly chipped a quick return cross that was superbly headed in by Joe Laurie. .
Humberside used all five substitutes at the beginning of the second half and this immediately brought dividends with a goal from the penalty spot. This triggered a goal feast with Notts then going 3-1 ahead through Thomas Batterham only to be very quickly pegged back to 3-2 before Batterham struck his second goal to restore their two gaol advantage to 4-2.
From then on though it was all Humberside, who took advantage of some loose midfield play which saw Notts carelessly giving the ball away much too often. The visitors were then on target three more times without reply to give them what looked like, at half time, an improbable win .
Nottinghamshire must hope to produce a more determined display throughout each of their upcoming matches with Derbyshire and Lincolnshire in the league as well as a visit to the West Midlands in the National ESFA knock-out cup.
