If it was champagne football in Monday’s thrilling cup final at Alfreton, then it was more like flat beer for Town’s final league game on Thursday night. It really was a great pity the season couldn’t have ended on Monday, as this fixture, which had had five previous dates pencilled in was always going to be an anti climax. With Forest Town’s failure to beat Parramore the night before, Town were guaranteed 5th place in the table.

In a conpetitive opening, the visitors had the ball in the net in the first minute, Easom’s effort being ruled out for a foul on Dave Issott. Sam Wilford then had a deflected shot held by a grateful Davies, before Issott’s free kick proved marginally too long for the incoming Luke Parsons. Somewhat against the run of play, Blidworth took the lead on 18 minutes after a quick, fluid passing movement between Best and Easom allowed the latter to shoot low past Craig Lamb. Short, Martey and Easom then put together another flowing move which was broken up by Martin Wilson. Town pressed harder as the half wore on, another Issott free kick bouncing past the post, and Parsons seeing a threatening header deflect off Marsh for a corner. Lamb pulled off a good low save to deny Easom, before a mazy run by Sam Wilford ended with the midfielder going for placement rather than power, Davies holding the ball easily.

Steve Carty and Phil Turtle departed the scene at half time, with Richard Dyson and Tom Wilford replacing them. A surging run by George Pearce gave Parsons another opening, but the big striker couldn’t capitalise, but Town were inches away from an equaliser on 52 minutes as Parsons put in a cross from the left which Ben Ginnelly, just on for Issott, headed against the bar. A Dyson free kick was flicked on by Parsons to Martin Wilson, whose shot was blocked by the keeper, before a strong run and shot from Mark Ellison was cleared with difficulty by Tagg. A superb crossfield ball from James Trentini resulted in a disappointing finish from Ginnelly, which was screwed across the face of goal, before the same fate befell Ellison’s shot as time ran out. To be fair , Blidworth proved much better opposition than their league position and recent results might have suggested, but while Monday’s game will live in the memory for a long time to come, I’ve already pressed the mental delete button on this one !!

Roll on August

Man of the match  James Trentini