Match Report: Trent defeated in Varsity football

Fans’ violence outshines bleak performance at Meadow Lane.

Trent suffered yet more heartache at the hands of rivals Nottingham University after losing the Varsity football match 4 – 3 on penalties.

The highly anticipated fixture – which was marred by violence between the fans and stewards – saw both teams net two-goals-each before the Beeston squad won the spot-kick shootout.

The result narrowed the Varsity scores to just 6 – 5 in Trent’s favour.

As the crowd took their seats in the packed Meadow Lane stadium, the game took a while to settle into rhythm, with both lacklustre-looking teams struggling to keep hold of possession.

Yet it was Trent – playing in black and white – who had the first attempt on goal after left-sided winger, Adam Brown, curled a sweeping cross onto the head of the unmarked number ten, Levi Ramsey, and only a sublime save from the Nottingham Uni keeper kept the score goalless.

With fans on both sides motivationally cheering on their team, the match tempo began to quicken.

But just minutes later the Beeston-based squad – playing in all green – opened the scoring after some sloppy defending from their opponents allowed forward, Ryan Birch, a free header from a looping throw-in, which ended up in the back of the Trent net.

With 30-minutes gone, the Nottingham Uni team found themselves one – nil up.

Following the goal, Trent did little to prove that they could get back into the game as defender, Neal Wheatley, mistimed an awful back-pass to his goalkeeper that almost let in the opposition.

As the half-time whistle approached, the boys in black and white looked eager to finish what had so far been a rather miserable match.

The atmosphere was echoed within the Trent supporter’s stand who became unruly after heavy-handed stewards threw noisy fans out of the stadium.

When the brawl had finally been disrupted, both teams returned to the field of play and the match restarted for the second half.

This time it was the Trent team who made the brighter start and within minutes they had pulled the game level.

As central midfielder Scott Donoghue countered quickly from a Nottingham Uni corner, he passed a precise ball to winger Jamie Sharpe, who put a swinging cross into their rival’s box where it was met with a leaping header from Trent number ten, Levi Ramsey, who put it past the goalkeeper into the top-right corner of the net.

With the scores now tied at one-a-piece, both teams appeared to pick up the pace, with players making energetic runs and well-timed passes.

But after 55 minutes on the clock, Trent winger Dave Barnett was written into the referee’s book after a studs-up challenge on Nottingham Uni defender, Yousif Oudjidane, earning him a yellow card in the process.

Seconds after the clumsy tackle, Beeston were ahead once again after careless play by their opponents let in number 11, Sam Sherwood, who slotted home from just ten-yards-out.

The complacent Trent team paid the price for poor organisation at the back and Nottingham Uni were gifted a 2 – 1 lead.

Just as the city-based University began to get themselves back into play, the match was halted after another outbreak of violence from the Trent supporters in the Jimmy Sirrel stand was meet with strong resistance from the Meadow Lane stewards.

After five minutes, play finally resumed.

This time Trent got their head into the game and were able to pull the score line level once again to 2 – 2 with only ten minutes to go.

As forward Levi Ramsey latched onto a long throw from the goalkeeper, he made a quick a deceive pass out to Nathan Freeman on the right-wing, who placed an accurate cross into number nine, Rich Atkins, rattling the posts with a blistering header.

Fortunately the ball rolled kindly to Trent substitute, number 16 Mark Okak, who precisely and skilfully placed the ball into the bottom left of the net.

Finally, after heavy pressure from the Beeston squad, the referee blew his whistle for the end of open play and the match entered penalties, with Trent opting to take first.

After the initial three spot-kicks from both teams were scored effortlessly, it was down to Trent substitute, Declan Clark to keep his team in the lead.

However, his woeful kick was well saved by the Nottingham Uni keeper, and the ensuing Beeston kick was easily placed into the back of the net.

With Trent now losing 4 – 3, number 14 Jamie Sharpe stepped up, only to blast it high and wide over the goal.

Game well and truly over.

There were tears on the terraces as the Beeston squad ran off to claim their trophy.

Nottingham University football squad beat Trent 4 – 3 on penalties after a high scoring two-all draw at Meadow Lane stadium.

By James Haigh

Tags: football, match report, varsity