Eight Goal Thriller at Church Lane

Competitive football was back with a bang as both teams served up a thrilling match that had virtually everything to keep the healthy crowd happy. Indeed, the visiting CML President described the game as the “Best CML match that I've ever seen.”
It took the game a while to spark into life as both teams probed in a tight opening half an hour.
The visitors, with a pacy brand of high pressing and counter attack play, stormed into a two goal lead.
Tom Eccleshalls precision free kick found the bottom corner on the 36 min to open the scoring.
Shortly after a typical pacy counter attack saw the lightening fast Surtel Tefra in one-on-one to finish with aplomb on 42 mins to make the score 0-2.
Linby got a goal back on the stroke of half time when Connor Gillan and debutant Sean Craven did well to set up Linby's newest signing Brad Newby, who found the bottom corner with a precise finish.
Half Time: Linby CWFC 1 Mickleover Res 2

The visitors restored their two-goal lead on 50 mins when Tefra scored from the penalty spot after being adjudged to have been fouled by Linbys keeper Jack Leverton.
A couple of tactical changes for Linby saw 17 year old Harley Shooter and Ben Jones come on as substitutes to make their debuts for the club.
Linby’s midfield of Kurt Harrison, Tom Hilton and the talented Newby began to dictate play. On 60 mins the Home team got a goal back when more good work from Craven found Newby who put in a pinpoint cross for James Hallam to produce an instinctive finish from 8 yards out.
Shooter and then Hallam both went close before on 65 mins Linby were level.
Jamie Thomas’s cross field pass saw Ethan Fells find Hallam on the edge of the area. His quick turn and shot beat Mickleovers keeper Tom Smith and nestled in the bottom corner.
But back came the visitors on 87 mins to lead once again and it was that man Tefra with a neat finish who made it 3-4.
However, the resilient Home team were not to be denied and in stoppage time Shooter won a free kick wide on the left. Newby’s far post delivery was excellent to find the skipper Danny Tring who’s powerful header grabbed a point for Linby and see the game finish 4-4.
As well as the League President, many of the large crowd who attended commented on the game saying it was one of the best they’ve seen at Linby for many a season. Two excellent teams who should both do well this season played the game in the right way.
Full Time: Linby CWFC 4 Mickleover Res 4