Bentley Colliery 3 v Harworth Colliery 5 - CMFL North

Saturday 6th April 2013, at 'the Avenue', Bentley
CMFL (North)
Bentley Colliery (1) 3
Chris Scott (pen) 9, Seon Anderson 76, Kelvin Bramall 84
Harworth Colliery (3) 5
Tom Pick 6,  Lee Edmondson 35, Matt Smith 44,
Paul Burns 59, Chris Belshaw 90+
Admission £3, Programme £1, Attendance 15, plus a gang of local lads who hopped in over the wall, but who at least bought some chocolate and crisps in the ground once they had 'sneaked' in.

Bentley's gateman Nigel, puts all of those sitting around and doing 'nowt skills he's picked up working for Network Rail to good use.

Bentley Colliery

Mike Teale, Kelvin Bramall, Michael Knight, Chris Scott, Josh Copeland, Aaron Drobag, Ricky Sharp, Seon Anderson, Dan Read, Lee Winterman, Kevin Lynchy
Sub - Chris Taylor
Harworth Colliery
Mark Latham, Jordan Hardman, Paul Burns, James Woodward, David Cornthwaite, Simon Brewster, Tom Walker, Jonny Bownes. Lee Edmondson, Matt Smith, Tom Pick
Subs - Gaz Sides, Chris Belshaw. Tom Padgett

Harworth had the ball in the back of the Bentley goal inside the first three minutes, but Matt Smith's 'goal' from Jonny Bownes corner was ruled out for handball.

Another Bownes corner after 6 minutes, led to the visitors opening the scoring, when a short knock to Tom Walker, who had sneaked in on the blind side of the Bentley defence, saw versatile number 7 find Tom Pick with a precision knock into the six yard box, that Pick deftly steered past Mike Teale and into the net.

'Tomo' Pick opens the scoring

But the home side were on level terms after 9 minutes, when the referee judged that Mark Latham had caught Dan Read with an outstretched arm as he ran towards the byline ... and awarded a penalty.

I do try to write from as neutral a viewpoint as possible when covering Harworth games, but I have to say, that looked like a harsh decision to me.

Chris Scott took responsibility for the spot kick and hammered it home. 1-1.

Following a seven pass move ("It's just like watching Brazil!"), Jordan Hardman's cross was put behind for a corner by Josh Copeland. 

Bownes inswinger was headed wide by Matt Smith, who probably hadn't seen that James Woodward was in better position to score behind him.

Smith played Pick through into the six yard box, but when he was sandwiched between a covering defender and the Bentley keeper, the ball went harmlessly wide and the ref gave a goal kick.

Harworth Youth Casuals - Bircotes bestest and baddest hooligan crew

Another short corner from Bownes, saw Walker trying his look from out on the right flank, but despite beating Teale all ends up, his effort crashed back into play off of the left hand upright ... "We got away with murder there!", shouted Bentley's assistant manager from the bench.
A left wing free kick from Tom Walker, fell invitingly into the path of Tom Pick, but the home sides defence closed ranks and cleared the danger and moments later, Lee Edmondson was adjudged to have strayed offside, when Bownes had threaded the ball into his path.
Bentley pushed forward and Mark Latham found himself with no choice but to handle a back pass with the homes sides attackers bearing down on him, which cost him a booking.
But as taking one for team goes, Latham's actions actually worked out well, because with the majority of Bentley's lads pushed forward, when the ball was cleared and Harworth counter attacked, Lee Edmondson had the time and space to power the ball home from 20 yards out, to put the visitors back in front.
Maybe 'Eddy' might like to consider his keepers role in the build up to his well taken goal and consider chipping in towards his fine for the yellow card ;-)

Michael Knight (I think it was his turbo-charged car parked outside), made himself some space on the edge of the visitors goal area, but he blazed his shot over the goal and someone had the hassle of retrieving it from the perimeter of the ground.
James Woodward was booked for clattering into Seon Anderson. It was a brave thing to do, because given the dimensions of Anderson, well ... let's just say, he's not the sort of lad you'd push in front of in the taxi queue in Donny on a Saturday night.
But once more, the sight of a yellow card for the opposition had an hypnotic effect on the Bentley back four, and when Tom Pick won the ball back, he put Matt Smith through for Harworth's third goal on the stroke of half time.
HT - Bentley Colliery 1 v Harworth Colliery 3

From the restart, Harworth looked in control and there were no signs whatsoever that Bentley had any intentions of mounting a late fightback. Hmm, they kept the secret of their intentions well then.
Bownes shot narrowly wide and Pick's dangerous knock across the six yard box was smothered by Mike Teale.
Pick then had two chances at finishing off Paul Burns cross and Aaron Drobag, Bentley's seemingly perpetually laid back and unflustered centre half, timed his interception of Bownes cross to perfection.
At the other end, Kev Lynchy cued up Lee Winterman 18 yards out, but the Bentley number 10 shot wide.
Just before the hour, Lee Edmondson's cross evaded everybody in the six yard box, but Paul Burns who'd made a run into the left channel to pick up the lose ball if it came his way, stooped to head the ball past Teale, seemingly wrapping the game up at 1-4 with 30 minutes remaining.
Burns was subsequently 'rewarded' for his goal when he was substituted moments later.

Bentley were very unlucky, when their captain Josh Copeland, smashed a 35 yard free kick off the underside of the bar, alas there is no goal line technology in the CMFL North just yet, so we'll never know for sure where it came down, but the ref waved play on. However, Bentley were starting to send out a vibe that they hadn't chucked the towel in just yet.

Bownes released Chris Belshaw on the left hand side of the area, but his angled effort from the dead ball line, was blocked by Teale's feet, with Edmondson, possibly better placed to score, shouting for the ball in the six yard box.

Tom Pick broke into the right hand side of the Bentley box and instead of going for the glory he pulled the ball across to Si Brewster, who'd made a great run from the back to arrive with the goal at his mercy, but Teale intercepted the pass at the very last moment.

That one would've been game over and three points for the visitors in the bag, but spurred on by their last ditch escape, Bentley flooded forward and Seon Anderson pulled a goal back for the home side.

Harworth realised they had a game on their hands now and went looking for another goal, Tom Pick laid the ball on for Tom Padgett, but it sat up awkwardly as he was about to shoot and 'Padge' put it over from 20 yards out. 

Bentley had upped their game now and Dan Read put Seon Anderson in one against one against Mark Lathem, which the Harworth keeper did well to save.

Dan Read time his run perfectly to meet Chris Scott's pass, but fortunately for Harworth, James Woodward had read the situation well and was on hand to make a timely interception.

Lee Winterman had the opportunity to reduce the arrears moments later, but Mark Latham was equal to the effort.

With just over five minutes remaining, Bentley's persistence in the final third paid off when Kelvin Bramall scored their third goal from inside a packed goalmouth.

Jordan Hardman, played a measured pass to Tom Pick, but Bentley's keeper spread himself and used his ample frame to block Pick's goal attempt, with Tom Padgett lurking dangerously nearby.

In stoppage time, three Harworth players sprang Bentley's offside trap that they had set across the halfway line. Gaz Sides sent Tom Pick charging forward and as Teale advanced from his line, Pick slipped the ball to Chris Belshaw who, having had a quick look around to make sure that Lee Edmondson wasn't around to take the honours, buried the ball in the back of Bentley's net.

A few Bentley players protested, but as all three visiting players who'd beaten the offside trap were inside their own half when they pounced, no offence had actually been committed and the goal stood. 

Bentley Colliery's sweeper system

I can understand the Bentley players frustrations, because they had staged a real fightback for the last fifteen minutes or so and it had been to no avail. 

That said, Harworth should have been out of sight by then anyway, given the amount of goal scoring opportunities they created and they merited the win.

FT - Bentley Colliery 3 v Harworth Colliery 5.

Plenty for both management teams to tear their hair out about, but a very entertaining game never the less, on a rare as hen's teeth warm and sunny afternoon at the home of one of the most welcoming non league clubs you could ever wish to visit.