Ollerton Out of Senior Cup After Eastwood Defeat

On the day in which most of the world were left discussing the how's, what's and why's of the US Presidential Election, Ollerton Town were instead left to analyse a poor second half performance that saw Eastwood Community come out top trumps in this Notts Senior Cup Second Round tie.
In the early stages of the second half, Ollerton held a 2-1 lead and were having the better of the play but their failure to kill off Eastwood allowed the hosts to grow back in the game and they soon scored three goals that Ollerton won't want to see again, before a late consolation meant the final score ended 4-3.
Ollerton play at a higher level to Eastwood after last season's promotion from the Central Midlands League, but this was always going to be a very close affair and it was in fact the side from the Central Midlands South Division that had the best chance early on. Paddy Webb went clear on goal but saw the chance smothered by Simon Haynes.
Harry Allen wasted a good headed chance for Eastwood but soon made amends as he put them ahead on thirteen minutes. James Hallam charged through the Ollerton midfield and he teed up Allen who fired across Haynes and into the bottom corner.
Eastwood's lead lasted all of two minutes however as Ollerton fought back. Lewis Bingham waltzed past his defender before cutting inside and curling an effort past Jake Pearson.
Ollerton began to gain more of the possession but Eastwood held a threat on the counter attack and Allen was denied a second thanks to a stunning save by Haynes. That save was made even more important when Ollerton took the lead just after the half hour mark. Bingham's cross was parried to the back post by Pearson and James Munson was waiting to tap home.
The score remained 2-1 to Ollerton going into the interval and after the restart, it was Dave Winter's side who looked the brighter of the two. Josh Dodd curled a long ranged effort just over the bar before a delightful cross field pass by Mark Carter found Bingham in the area, but his volley went just wide of the upright.
Eastwood were struggling to threaten the Ollerton goal but with around twenty minutes to go, they found a way back into the game. An unfortunate slip by an Ollerton defender put Jack Smith through on goal and he unselfishly played the ball across for namesake Rory to have an easy tap-in.
Ollerton last reached the Notts Senior Cup final back in 2008 where they were defeated 2-0 by Eastwood Town. Eight years on, it was Town's Community successors who moved one step closer to an appearance in the final, thanks to two quick fire goals in the last ten minutes.
The first arrived on eighty-three minutes. Paddy Webb was allowed to race through and though he shot straight at Haynes, Harry Allen was on hand to convert the rebound for his second of the game.
Ollerton looked flat at this point with certain players picking up injuries after all three substitutes had been made, and four minutes later, Eastwood took full advantage. Webb finally got his goal, a ball over the post put him in a one-on-one and he fired past Haynes.
That looked to be game, set and match but Ollerton scored a third in the eighty-ninth minute to make things interesting, Sam Stretton slotted Bingham's cross into the net to get himself a rare goal.
Despite throwing everything at Eastwood in stoppage time, Ollerton couldn't find a fourth and were eliminated from the Notts Senior Cup with focus now solely on staying in the Northern Counties East League, starting with Saturday's trip to Rossington Main.