Ellistown FC v Cottesmore FC

Thursday 5pm, Ellistown had 5 committed players for this game. Player work commitments, injuries and late music festival ticket purchases had put the football club in a difficult position. Do we forfeit the game, take the £75 and 3pt deduction fine or keep to the integrity of the league by putting together a scratch team and risk a heavy defeat? We decided to take the latter option when it would have been easier to take the fine.

So, Friday and Saturday were spent trying to get a team together and to the credit of our management team and players who answered the call, we done it.

Therefore, it was no surprise we ended up on the wrong end of 5-1 defeat against league favourites, Cottesmore.

In fact, we took the lead on 16 mins through another class finish from Haydn Brown and had Cottesmore rattled.

16 mins EFC 1 CFC 0

As all good sides do, Cottesmore regrouped and charged into a 4-1 half-time, through goals on 26 mins (Tom Caldicott), 29 mins (Harry Stannard), 34 mins (Mark Tinsley), 41 mins (Harry Stannard).

HT EFC 1 CFC 4

Harry Stannard completed his hat-trick with the final goal of the game on 65 mins.

65 mins EFC 1 CFC 5

Ellistown never gave up and deserved based on effort a 2nd or 3rd goal but ended with 10 men when Arron Windram went for an early bath.

FT EFC 1 CFC 5

Summary

Cottesmore are a class side and our last minute 11 should be proud that they went toe to toe with them. Life should return to normal when we will have a full squad available for Tuesday's game away to Northfield.