The Greens used the high press to excellent effect early on and led the contest through Ben Robson’s well-taken finish at half-time, but despite plenty more determined play in the second period, quality ultimately told with star man Terry Hawkridge’s brace sandwiching a Tyler Blake effort as the Greens slipped to a second consecutive defeat to promotion chasing opposition.

Manager Matt Evans was forced into two changes from the side that lost 2-1 at AFC Mansfield a week ago with Ryan Flitton (injured) and Ollie Fields (suspended) both dropping out of the side. That saw Harry Gibbons and Ben Ashall return to the starting eleven while there was also a welcome spot on the bench for Sam Greenwood who returned to action following six weeks out with a broken hand. Visitors Eastwood Community meanwhile were defeated 3-1 by Bourne Town last weekend and they made three changes from their side as Oliver Robinson and Alex Troke dropped out of the side while Jermaine Hollis dropped to the substitutes bench. Their places were taken by Craig Westcarr, Lavell White and Danny Elliot.

In swirling conditions at the MKM Ground, the Greens set their stall out early, hassling and harrying their favoured opponents from the outset and they generated the first opportunity of an otherwise quiet opening quarter of an hour – Harry Gibbons breaking into the area before sliding a tame effort into the hands of Sam Wilson in the visiting net. It was, overall a game of little clear cut chances, Craig Westcarr’s tame header into Harrison Leech’s hands a summary of that before Finlay Armond stole in on Phil Watt, setting up Harry Gibbons to crash an effort over the crossbar.

Both sides continued to battle across an electric midfield, Jake Henderson’s tasty corner going without the touch it begged midway through the half before the Greens did force the opener with five minutes of the half remaining. It was fine work from Andy Whalen that saw him poke through under pressure for Ben Robson who rounded his man neatly before smashing into the far right-hand corner beyond the helpless hand of Wilson. The visitors quickly set about restoring parity after what was an underwhelming first half, Ben Ashall heading Aaron O’Conner’s cross off the line the closest they came to any breakthrough of their own though..

The visitors began the second period with intent, shown within the first two minutes when Phil Watt fired over the crossbar from range. That warning was not heeded and within a minute, the visitors were level, and it was star man Terry Hawkridge whose cross strayed over the hand of Harrison Leech – likely aided by the howling MKM Ground wind. That wind was a factor again 10 minutes later when Declan Dunn’s corner crashed the base of the post before Sam Wilson was alive to collect from Finlay Armond’s long-range drive.

The visitors stepped things up somewhat beyond the hour, Harrison Leech forced to punch bravely from Dunn’s freekick before the sucker-punch arrived 15 minutes out from the 90, Tyler Blake making the most of a slack clearance to bring the ball down and slot into the bottom corner beyond Harrison Leech to complete the turnaround. Leech was quickly back in action, foiling the lively Blake just two minutes later, before the Greens thought they had a penalty when Andy Whalen was felled in the box, only for the referee – after long discussions with his linesman – decided the ball had already left the field of play and gave a goal-kick instead.

Proceedings were not at an end though and in stoppage time the visitors were reduced to 10-men when Lyndan Joyce received his second yellow card – not that it was any benefit to the Greens with the visitors breaking from the resulting freekick to earn a set-piece of their own – one subsequently crashed into the top right-hand corner of the net to put gloss on the scoreline.

Words: Oliver Atkin