NEWHALL 2 LUFFS 3 (5/2/05) CREDIT the two sides with this, a tremendously competitive and entertaining game in very difficult conditions, but what a strange start to the game. Was this the fastest goal scored in the history of the Game? Newhall kicked off Matt Lee played the ball to Paul Grant who hoisted it into the Loughborough net from the half way line. A matter of seconds surely as the Loughborough keeper Ben Hall was still getting his bearings, slipped in the mud and watched helplessly as the ball nestled in the back of the net. Stunned silence descended on the Hawfield ground, half the spectators were still finding their places, the other half couldn't believe it, was it legal, did the referee give the customary acknowledgement to the 'keepers. Yes it was a goal the home side were in the lead within seconds of the start and before a single Loughborough player had touched the ball. The Luffs were left a bit stunned but knuckled down to work their way up what is left of the famous Newhall slope, most of which has been removed during last summer. Newhall are the team at the bottom of the division but with more than enough games in hand to get of trouble and proved to be a stubborn side and Loughborough definitely had their hands full. But The Luffs set about the task with determination and skipper Jason Lane laid one off for Nathan Dale who forced keeper Ken Greenfield to save with his feet. Dale turned provider and Modou Darbou headed just wide, but Newhall had an unusual strike force with one "big un" and one "little un" and the "big un" Matt Lee headed one just past the post. A long shot from Mark Lewis went just wide and with the goal at his mercy Dale headed wide. Ben Hall was out quickly to clear a short backpass but Matt Kearns should have scored but Greenfield saved with his feet. It was beginning to look as if Newhall could go ninety minutes without scoring and still win this game until the Loughborough leading marksman made his mark. Matt Kearns provided the cross and Nathan Dale found the bottom corner to level the scores and the game began in ernest. Paco Box had a shot saved for Loughborough and defender Rob Matthews had a shot blocked. Shane Potter had the Loughborough keeper Ben Hall at full stretch to save but half time saw the score at 1-1. In the second half Loughborough were for winning this one and used the lesser slope to good advantage. Man of the match Paco Box showed remarkable skill in these conditions, time and again junking past his marker and it was no suprise when Loughborough took the lead. Jason Lane picked up the ball at the end of a flowing move and whacked the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area. No surprise then when The Luffs took the lead but a bit of a surprise when Newhall had the temerity to level the scores. The Loughborough defence got stuck in the mud and a goalmouth scramble saw Matt Burton stick the ball in the net from close range. Loughborough picked up the initiative again but it was hard going, the conditions were tough and the opposition were tougher and it took some time to get the winner. Mark Lewis was the marksman his shot took a deflection through a crowd of players and nestled nicely in the bottom corner. Newhall threatened to do it again and keeper Ben Hall made a remarkable save from a close range effort from Matt Lee and at the other end Modou Darboe should have made it four but saw his chip go over the top. In the end The Luffs were well pleased with three points away from home after the afternoons events, Newhall had proved to be no mugs and the conditions and the afternoon rain had made the going pretty tough. The Luffs stay in tenth position as the teams above both won but the points are stacking up and that makes it just one defeat in the last nine games. Saturday sees the Loughborough side at home to Wilmcote with a 2.45 PM kick off and a side now well worth watching. TEAM:  Ben HALL, Matt WATKISS, Rob MATTHEWS, Martin KEARNS, Simon WALKER, Paco Jose BOX, Mark LEWIS, Matt KEARNS, Modou DARBOE, Nathan DALE, Jason LANE (c)  SUBS:  Kyle BRYANT, Craig HAYNES, Chris WARD SCORERS:  Nathan DALE, Jason LANE, Mark LEWIS ATT: N/A HT: 1-1