12 April 2009
GFSN League
Away (Edinburgh)

This was the game originally abandoned to the wind and rain of an Edinburgh January, and it is a credit to the determination, loyalty and team spirit of the Nottingham team that they were able again to make the trip up the A1 en masse to fulfil the rearranged fixture.

This wasn't a game for lovers of footballing aesthetics - it was hard fought and gritty. The home team were strong, and against this Nottingham were unable to find their rhythm throughout the first half. This was despite a moment of individual skill by a determined Craig S on 7 minutes, who controlled, turned and put the ball in the Hotscots net to put the visitors ahead.

Hotscots soon came back, and won a penalty on 14 minutes, one which they missed. Keeper Dave S was to be a vital presence during the remainder of the first half, during which Nottingham were on the back foot, unable to capitalise on possession and allowing far too much action in their own goal-mouth.
At half-time, the manager gave a stern team talk and switched to a 4-4-2 formation as the Easter Sunday fixture continued under mercifully sunny skies.

The Easter bunny, however, proved to be an appropriate metaphor for the start of the second half. The visiting team were like rabbits startled in headlights, and three minutes in the seemingly inevitable happened and the Hotscots equalised.

At this point a Hotscots victory was looking like a distinct possibility, a long journey home was facing the visitors. Then, on 68 minutes, Nottingham turned on the tap marked 'brilliance' for a couple of all-important minutes which decided the final result of the match. James H went charging down the left, his cross found Chris who, in mid-air, somehow side-footed the ball into the net. A moment later, an almost identical build-up from James H, this time it was Damian S on the right-hand side of goal waiting to collect and find the back of the net.

With a comfortable lead re-established, Nottingham finally settled into their game, looking much more assured in possession and leaving the home team unable to get back into the game. The game finished with the same score as the truncated game from earlier in the year, 3-1. At the end of the day it is the result that counts, and this was a massive result which took Nottingham six points clear in the GFSN league table, needing one more point from two games to make the title secure.

Team: Dave S, Paul B, Kaz H, Brett L, Shaun B, Adam R, AJ, Craig S, Damian S, James H, Chris L
Subs: Jeff N, Matt H, Gareth D. Suns unused: John S, Tony L
Goals: Craig S, Chris L, Damian S

Match gallery (opens in new window, hi-res images downloadable)