Coventry Telegraph Challenge Cup
First Round
NUNEATON GRIFF FC 0 JET BLADES FC 2
Att: 63 (headcount)
After staying overnight in Lichfield at my mums, as we had been to a British Wrestling Evening on the Friday Night, I decided to have a look about for a match on the way home, when I spotted this fixture. Having had done programme swops with Nuneaton Griff Legend Programme Editor & Press Officer Rod Grubb for many years, I felt it was time to pay him and his club a visit.
Hazel drove down the A5 and we was soon outside The Pringles Stadium. As we approached the gate, we was met by a kind smilng face of the club Sec Suzanne Phillips, who made me a offer I couldn't refuse. Could I take the team photo and I wouldn't be charged the two quid entrance, well no problems with the photos, but the two pounds has been added to the Blog's charity total and put by kind donation of Nuneaton Griff FC.
After a nice cuppa by the lovely canteen/refreshments bar staff, I was chatting away to the Jets Sec and also a couple of other folks from the home club.
As the teams entered the pitch, I was asked if I wouldn mind to take pics of the heads and shoulders of the Griff;s players and then a team photo to which I just squeezed in before my camera battery went, so to pitch side and in to the large stand to change my battery over as the game was about to kick off.
Well, Nuneaton Griffs FC are going well in the Midland Combination League Premier Division lying in fourth position, whilst I had to do a bit of searching for Jet Blades FC from the Bedworth area who ply their trade in the Coventry Alliance League and also when Griffs were founded as Nuneaton Amateurs, their first match was away at Jet Blades and they returned home after a 2-1 victory. So simple after that history lesson, a home victory on the cards..Surely???? Maybe not, as the Blades hadn't read the script!
The First Half not a great deal to note, as the strong wind tended to control the ball a lot better than the players and in fact neither goalkeeper had a save to make, whilst the referee seemed to be the sort who felt everyone should be there just to watch him with his constant blowing of his whistle and the odd flash of a card.
After a lovely cuppa in the Hospitality Suite at half time, it was back out for the Second Half action, The visitors seemed to have upped their game and began to advance forward a few more times, with the home side seeming a bit dis-orientated today and possibly in a mood thought of oh well we only need to turn up to win this tie, but this seemed to back fire on 63 minutes when a cross found Blades sub LUKE WORWOOD at the back post to slot home.
This seemed to awaken the Griffs as they threw players forward, but this left gaps at the back and on a counter attack STU PAGET's back header loped in to the net to give the visitors a 2-0 lead on 74 minutes.
Griffs continued to push and press, but could not get a shot away on target. A sad ending to the game was when the home attacker Danny Harris was stretched off with a suspected broken leg, lets hope that it is not that serious and he has a very speedy recovery.
So in the end it was The Blades that deserved their place in to the Second Round, but if you have never been to The Pingles Stadium, then it is well worthy of a visit.
Photo's from this match can been seen on this LINK
Nuneaton Griff FC Website/Twitter
Jet Blades FC Website
The NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE..Only £15 for 5 matches at 5 grounds with 5 programmes. There is a coach to all Saturday games from Nottingham Train Station though only 18 seats left. For more information, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk
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