With only three minutes on the clock Aidan Sheppard drove a free-kick from outside the area into the bottom corner of the Keyworth goal. Five minutes later Sheppard was again at the centre of a good move, playing a one-two with Lewis Hopkinson before his shot was saved only for James Staples to tuck away the rebound. Cotgrave continued to attack with the wingers, David Young and Hopkinson, finding plenty of space to drive forward and deliver a series of crosses. However, Cotgrave could not find a finish to any of their good approach play and, as often happens, went into the interval with only a one goal lead after a Keyworth forward pounced on a loose ball in Cotgrave’s defence.

Cotgrave continued attacking in the second-half, although this time gaining more reward for their good play. After five minutes Kit Weir crossed from the left and Luke Black shot home from inside the area. Weir had a chance of his own within three minutes but the ball went just wide of the post. Then Matthew Hodgett also saw a shot go wide before Thomas Staples smacked in a long rage effort from fully thirty yards. On forty-seven minutes Weir finished well when put through and four minutes later a cross from the right was converted from close range by Jordan Cumberland to make it six-one.

Ben Halcro and Harry Normington were sweeping up the Keyworth attacks efficiently which meant that keeper Nathan Burgin was rarely called upon, and that full backs Elliott Coulthard-Gaunt and Thomas Staples were able to concentrate on supporting Cotgrave’s attacks. With five minutes left another left-wing cross by Weir was finished by Kris McCann, then in the final minute a good move, again down the left, saw the ball worked inside to Sheppard who finished expertly from just inside the area.

Man of the Match - Aidan Sheppard