Admission: £5.00 and £3.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 46 (my H/C was 60, but that may have included club officials etc)
Referee: Callum Parke
Assistants: Scott Anderson / Miles McKinley
Arnold Town: Elliott, Winstanley, Bouwen, Knight, Whitely, Marsh, Miles, Robinson, C.Millward, Looker, Bird. Subs: Maxwell, A. Millward, Thurgood, Kemp, Collins.
Prims: Fretwell, Allen, Seale, Gwinnutt, Kelly, Ball, Aietan, Thurman, Harris, Scard, Fitzhugh. Subs: Lee, Dallison, Dawson, Wilkinson, Morrow.
With Arnold already having conceded 11 goals in their first two games, it was something of a surprise when they took the lead with 17 played. Curtis Millward received the ball just inside the penalty area, and took time to steady himself before firing across Andy Fretwell in the Prims goal. The lead lasted barely two minutes though, poor marking in front of goal allowing Bhupinder Aietan too much room, and when the corner came in from the right, the diminutive no.7 gleefully nodded the ball home.
Three minutes later the visitors went ahead when Bradley Scard headed home from close range. With half an hour played, Scard was on the mark again, this time firing past home keeper James Elliott with four defenders failing to block his path to goal.
Arnold had a couple of chances late in the half, first Dillan Bird fired straight at Fretwell when he was one-on-one, then Jordan Knight hit a sweet volley that the keeper did well to tip around the post. H-T 1-3
Prims went even further ahead on the hour mark, Brandon Gwinnutt heading home from a corner - the header had no power, but was well directed, missing all of the home defenders on its way into the back of the net.
Michael Fitzhugh forced Prim's keeper Fretwell into making a couple of saves midway through the half, he then fired over when he was picked out unmarked at the far stick. Things got worse for Arnold with 10 to play, sub Dom Wilkinson stabbed home from close range with his first touch! Kurt Dallison added the final nail in Arnold's coffin on 85, firing across Elliott from the corner of the box.
Prims were then awarded a penalty after Joss Whitely was guilty of upending a Prim's player in the box. The Arnold no. 5 received a straight red for the offence. The penalty kick was well saved by Elliott, and when the Referee blew the final whistle without adding any stoppage time, I think all the home team faithful were relieved that the torture was over! F-T 1-6
Prims were then awarded a penalty after Joss Whitely was guilty of upending a Prim's player in the box. The Arnold no. 5 received a straight red for the offence. The penalty kick was well saved by Elliott, and when the Referee blew the final whistle without adding any stoppage time, I think all the home team faithful were relieved that the torture was over! F-T 1-6
I have no idea what Town manager Wayne Looker can do to revive the sagging spirits at Eagle Valley - and don't imagine the next fixture away at Clipstone will help!
