Game 8

 02/11/24 - League

AFC 5 – 3 South Notts AFC

Returning to league action on the back of seven straight wins in all competitions against a side yet to get a point on the board, it seemed hard to envisage anything but a comfortable home victory, but, as is the way of football, Attenborough were handed a real chastening in the first half by a South Notts side that upped their game in pursuit of what would be a memorable victory against the league leaders.

It took just three minutes for the visitors to open the scoring, South Notts pouncing on a heavy touch by Jack Brownbill and freeing Takunda Mundirwa, who finished expertly to silence the home supporters.

Despite George Pursglove’s classy finish to equalise shortly after, Attenborough never settled at any stage in the first half and our previously solid defence was subjected to its firmest test yet by some excellent direct play by the spirited away side. Indeed, on the half hour mark a firm free kick from Felix Alexa proved too hot to handle for Fin Haywood in the Borough net and gave South Notts another deserved lead. And it soon got worse for the shocked hosts as only three minutes later a well-worked goal gave the visitors clear daylight, Zeake Dayes emphatically thumping home his one-on-one chance.

While Attenborough had performed excellently after half time in most games to date, they’d never been in a position quite like this before and a turnaround didn’t necessarily look like coming after just a sluggish beginning to the second period. It was noticeable, however, that the visitors had changed tact slightly as they attempted to nurse their two-goal lead, their change to wanting to keep possession at the back really handing AFC a way back into the game. The first half bombardment was over, and Attenborough were gradually able to exert their press and keep some sustained pressure on South Notts.

Sixty minutes in, the Blues got the lifeline they needed as Pursglove was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area leaving skipper Lewis Caine to pull a goal back and perhaps ignite the comeback. You can’t start a fire without a spark, however, and Graham Mee’s inspired decision to bring on Brad Greatorex saw the home side explode into life. Greatorex played with a composure that had been missing for most of the game and the forward struck home the leveler ten minutes later.

With parity restored it suddenly felt inevitable that Attenborough would get themselves out of jail and it wasn't long before Will Humphriss turned in a corner to finally see the home side in front. After that, partly due to the visitors change of approach and partly down to the reassuring presence of Reece Caine at the back, who had come on only after the carnage of the first half, it never looked likely that South Notts would score again. The away team’s task soon became completely impossible following a red card for a second bookable offence and a sinbinning for dissent left them down to nine men for the closing stages.

Just before the end, a George Pursglove cutback was thumped into his own net by an opposition defender to seal a 5-3 victory. The dubious goals panel somehow later deciding to award it to the Attenborough number nine. 

Ultimately though this game must serve as a notable point of reference for the title-chasing home team. Underestimate sides at your peril.

haywood; j smith, humphriss (72'), brownbill; savage, luke smith; pearson, l caine (c) (60'p), cuesta-sarris; pursglove (10', 88'), louis smith

subs; r caine, o mee, billson, greatorex (70'), riley