Harworth Colliery Institute U19 4 v Blacksmith's Arms 2 - Friendly

Wednesday 29th August 2012, at the Scrooby Road Arena
Pre Season Friendly
Harworth Colliery Institute U19 (1) 4
Lewis Elwood 2, 49,
Jordan Hardman 66,
Billy Ball 75
Blacksmiths Arms (0) 2

Ricky Tomlinson?

The final stage of Harworth Colliery Under 19's preparations, before their North Midlands U19 League season commences next week, saw them take on Blacksmiths Arms, a team of predominantly older players, several of whom have had experience of playing at a higher level and who still play a decent standard of football on Saturdays (including some of Harworth Colliery's first team).
It was an interesting work out for the U19's and provided them with a different sort of challenge to deal with than what they are usually accustomed to.
But the young Harworth side adapted well.
Lewis Elwood put the Colliery side on the way to victory, with a goal early in each half, the second of which came when he rounded the Blacksmith's keeper after some neat build up play from Callum Tiffany and Daine McGraine.
But the visitors pulled it back to 2-1 on 53 minutes.
Then Elwood and Lewis Francis combined in midfield to feed Jordan Hardman the ball out on the left wing, where he took a couple of strides and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the net, via the underside of the cross bar, from all of 30 yards out, possibly even more, given the angle.
Jordan himself said it was a fluke ... but I reckon his modesty was doing him a disservice.
The fourth goal was scored by Billy Ball, with an unstoppable direct free kick from 25 yards out. Obviously Glenn and Hasan's next generation aren't worried about shooting on sight when the opportunity arises.
Enzo Guarini was tripped inside the penalty area, but the ref waved play on and said afterwards "I thought he was going to get back up and score"
The second Blacksmiths goal, on 77 minutes, was scored by a player who started his run from a position that was 10 yards offside.
That, by the way, was an honest estimation by the visiting players themselves, not biased reportage on my part.
But honest mistakes by match officials (everybody makes them over the course of 90 minutes, including the players and managers) are part and parcel of the game.
Pre season has gone well for Harworth, with just one defeat in seven games, now they have to keep that momentum going next Wednesday night, when Ollerton Town visit Scrooby Road and it all starts for real.
On the adjacent pitch, over the wall, at Bircotes tonight, Harworth Reserves beat Scotter United 5-2, but I only caught about 10 minutes of that and managed to miss all of the goals :-/