LITTLE EATON DIAMONDS MATCH REPORT (AWAY FIXTURE)
Today`s game away at Little Eaton was to be the third time these two teams had met each other this season
with Codnor winning the last two previous encounters by the same score of 3-1 , Little Eaton though have
the 3rd best defensive record in this division so it was always going to be a closely contested game .
From the kick-off Codnor were being evenly matched for the first ten minutes of the game as the boys took
a little time to settle down when they finally got into their stride they began to put Little Eaton under
some constant pressure in the final third of the field and from one move a pass back by a Little Eaton
defender, the home keeper`s clearance landed at J.Griffith`s feet who took one touch before lifting a
shot towards the goal which the keeper got a hand to but he unfortunately could not stop the ball from
hitting the back of the net putting Codnor into a 1-0 lead ,it was ten minutes later before the boys
increased their lead which came with the best move of the game when F.Kirk held the ball up before
releasing an inch perfect pass into space allowing J.Griffith`s to run onto giving him the time and
space to pick his spot which he did with a shot into the far corner of the net to take the boys into a
2-0 lead which they held to half-time .
In the second half Codnor kept pressing forward for more goals whilst Little Eaton were looking for
chances to hit Codnor on the break ,chances were few but Codnor`s J.Miles did have one excellent chance
to extend the boys lead when F.Kirk again played an intelligent pass to him but his shot went just past
the post , there was some excellent passing throughout this half and on one occasion there was a six man
move which if it had resulted in a goal being scored it would have been the best of the season a standard
you would expect at most professional sides week in week out,the next goal was crucial for both sides and
it went to Codnor after T.Richardson put an excellent cross into the area to J.Miles who couldn`t quite
get a full swing on the ball so he adjusted his body at the last minute to allow himself the chance to
side foot the ball goalwards the keeper managed to push the shot onto the post which rebounded out to
R.Burke who met the ball and struck it home after the shot hit the underside of the crossbar to make
the score 3-0 to Codnor , The boys kept creating opportunities but none were taken and with only minutes
remaining Little Eaton pulled back a consolation goal after T.Childs over ran the ball losing possession
deep in Codnor`s half which resulted in a 3on 1 opportunity which the home side capitalized on to pull
back to 3-1 ,it was the boys first real mistake of the game but fortunately Codnor were well in command
at the time and to be honest they had fully deserved their 3-0 advantage up till then whilst Little
Eaton`s keeper made some fine saves one especially which he saved by making a full length save to push
a shot round the post from Codnor`s T.Richardson .
A win next week will mean the boys will have completed the whole season without losing or drawing a
single game and winning all 22 games finishing as define champions .