On The Road 2008-2009

No more updates

2009-06-05T11:39:00.011+01:00

Just one more post -- the best of / worst of list.... then this blog will not be updated ---

OK – here goes : and I am prepared to be shot at !!!

BEST:

Game : Sutton Tn AFC 4-3 Yorkshire Main – good old fashioned finger-biter……although Worksop 3-1 Frickley was not far behind.

Food : Not too many occasions we had to buy food, but Gedling MW’s cheeseburger and chips were superb – fresh burgers, not the usual frozen ones. Alternative ? Any Pukka pie outlet!!

Coffee/tea : Forest Town / Greenwood Meadows / my flask !

Goal : 364 to choose from !! Cup : Ben Newman -- overhead kick for Pinxton v Sutton Tn AFC at Sth Normanton. League : has to be between Ben Greenhalgh’s great run, dribble and fierce drive for Sutton V Nettleham in April and Julian Topliss’ run and shot for Ollerton Tn at Bliworth in May.

Raffle win: Bottle of Pinot Grigio at Carlton Tn

Programme : Not an avid programme collector, but there are a few grounds where buying one is a must.

1) Rainworth MW – editor Gordon Foster
2) Gedling MW – editor Tony Hay

The overall best programme must be Eastwood Town’s Andy Cope’s publication for the Notts F.A. Senior Cup final - £2 but superb.

Best programme

Referee : Rob Rees / David Sullivan

WORST :

Game :

Mansfield Town v York City or Worksop Tn v Eastwood – take your pick!

Coffee/tea : Rainworth MW and Gedling Town for quality, Calverton for quantity.

Referee : Colin Barraclough

Food : probably Mansfield’s pies – not too good, let me tell you.

Programme : For value it has to be the Pinxton cup final effort at £1.50 for 4 pages

Worst value programme

MISCELLANEOUS :

Good feeling moments:

1) Going back to Field Mill
2) Seeing Tony Hay at Gedling MW after his recovery from a vicious knife attack.
3) Blidworth W v Ollerton Town – great game in great company

Funny moments :

1) Rob Hornby getting his hat knocked off his head at Kimberley.
2) Also at Kimberley – Brian Dennett struggling with his OXO after putting as little too much salt in it!!!

Strange moments:

1) Looking up from a game at Radcliffe to see a dark hooded figure looming close by – we thought the grim reaper had come for us….weird!!!
2) Ilkeston v Eastwood – why that police helicopter at half-time????

Statistics –

Games 100
Goals 364
Average 3.64
Grounds visited 29

Most visits:

Kirlington Road, Rainworth - 9 times
Stoke Lane, Carlton - 9 times
Watnall road, Hucknall - 9 times

Most goals in a game:

Not counting the pre-season friendly, Gedling Tn 1-11 Eastwood Town, the highest aggregate was 10 : Rolls Royce Leisure 6-4 Sutton Tn AFC and Kimberley Tn 2-8 Forest Town.

Click here to be directed to the all new ON THE ROAD 2009 - 2010 blog !!!!!

Season 2009-2010

2009-05-28T19:26:00.007+01:00

Well... just been to Field Mill and bought me and Kev's season tickets.

I walked towards the ticket office and was beckoned into the foyer where I was greeted by MTFC chairman Andrew Perry. He lent me his pen to fill out a cheque! I haven't paid for anything by cheque for years.....as it was, I had had a bit of a struggle remembering where my cheque book was!!!

Cheque is the preferred method of payment - debit and credit cards attracted a 5% card charge - so a saving of £19.50 just like that!

Asked for Quarry Lane End tickets but we will have no idea of where the seats will be. Fear not : Mr. Perry assured me that if the seats designated to us are not to our liking, we can very easily be re-located.

So, season 2009-10 should pan out like this:

Stags home games every two weeks or so, with another local non-league game on alternative Saturday's. Tuesday will still see us out and about locally- if the Stags aren't at home. Still hope to get 100 games in, but with 23 games at Field Mill I can see our this season goal average of 3.64 dipping a little. We are not expecting goal feasts in the Conference.

I can't begin to explain how good it is to be going "home" again.

New blog for next season

Review of season 2008-2009

2009-05-26T22:10:00.006+01:00

DAMN!

I was planning on writing a review of the season just passed, but I have changed my mind....how the hell can I hope to get anywhere near the66pow review.. I'll tell you what, Rob Waite is the master!

All I had planned was a best of /worst of effort, but now I feel like just calling it a day and spending my summer reading other blogs to see if I can learn how to write correctly and get somewhere near the quality that has been on show this season from various bliddy bloggers........

Ah well.... I might still spend five minutes on mine and Kev's best/worst bits, but my HEARTS not in it.....

Saturday 23rd May 2009 pt 111

2009-05-23T19:04:00.017+01:00

Carlton Town Reserves 2-0 Yorkshire Main Reserves -- CML Presidents Cup

A recently added fixture to the CML season gave us the chance to notch up our 100th game of the season.

Played at the Stag Ground, home of Kimberley Town FC, CML Supreme Reserve Division champions Carlton Town took on CML Premier Reserve Division champions Yorkshire Main.

The only seat available and Brian Dennett nabbs it!!

Nice day out in the sunshine, decent turn out - and another chance to meet up with Rob Waite aka "Ian Midloth" - he had brought along his friend Adam, a Lincoln City fan... well, we're none of us perfect...!!!!

The football was of a decent standard, but nothing that made you want to take copious notes.

One moment to report was a shot from a Carlton player that flew over the bar and dipped under the stand and took Rob Hornby's cap off his head!! H-T 0-0

More of the same for the first 15 minutes of the second period, then Carlton were awarded a penalty after one of their players was bundled over in the area. STEVE COX stepped up and calmly slotted home the spot-kick.

Steve Cox sends the keeper the wrong way

A few minutes later, Carlton doubled their lead when an 18 yard shot from MATT PEBERDAY flew past the Yorkshire Main keeper. F-T 2-0

There was a bit of nonsense after the game -- with the cups and trophies all lined up ready to be presented, Yorkshire Main were kept waiting by Carlton who had decided to have a team talk .... Some unpleasant language and abuse was directed at League officials by the Yorkshire Main contingent, and that was not really in keeping with the day.

Also, being from Nottingham it has always baffled me why, after all the intervening years since 1984, we are still called "scabs" by Yorkshire people - anyway this was turned on it's head at this game with one of the YM management complaining that it's always the same, "as soon as we cross from Yorkshire into Nottingham, they get reminded of the miners strike".... come on people - this was 25 years ago --

Carlton Tn Res collect their 4th trophy of the season

More images from the game

Admission £3 inc programme

Attendance -- approx 100 ?

Next? Working on a "best of /worst of" list, other than that we'll be back mid July when pre-season games begin new ontheroad site

Saturday 23rd May 2009 pt 11

2009-05-23T18:51:00.005+01:00

Carlton Tn Res v Yorkshire Main Res - CML Presidents Cup

CML's Rob Hornby asked me to photograph the pre-match handshakes.....

Saturday 23rd May 2009 pt 1

2009-05-23T18:19:00.010+01:00

Carlton Town Res 2-0 Yorkshire Main Res -- CML Presidents cup

A few images of the pitch -- promised young "Kimberley" Danny I'd highlight the fact that he has spent a lot of time this past week ensuring the teams had the best playing surface that Kimberley Town could offer. I think you will agree, not bad for this time of the season!!!

Wednesday 20th May 2009

2009-05-20T21:39:00.011+01:00

Nottm Forest Ladies 9-0 Clifton All Whites Ladies and Girls - Notts F.A. Women's County Cup Final

How refreshing! No abuse, no spitting ( well, not much) no tantrums - and a shedload of goals to boot........

Not been to a women's game for years and years, but this encounter certainly made us think that maybe next season we should try and get a couple of the Forest Ladies home games in....we'll see.
Decent crowd in at Watnall Road, maybe 200 - but the majority were female -- not been in so much female company for a long, long time. Made my glasses steam up a few times, let me tell you!

The first 10 miuntes or so were fairly awful, but there must have been a few nerves out there. Forest took the lead on 11, a simple near post corner met well six yards from goal by the Reds no. 3 Beth Bailey. Annabel McKechnie added Forest's second four minutes later. After a great run into the box by Lyndsey Cunningham, her shot cannoned off the foot of the post and McKechnie was on hand to tap home from close range. Blatantly off-side when the ball came back to her, but neither the Referee nor his Assistant seemed to know the offside rule!

On 19, it was 3-0. This time Levi Penny looked offside when she received the ball, but she ran on and fired past Clifton keeper Collette Wong. Wong made a complete mess of a clearance on 41 - completely missing the ball as she ran from goal to clear a Forest attack. The error left an empty net for Catherine Stainthorpe, and she took full advantage.

Another Forest attack just before the half-time whistle saw Andi Bell receive the ball 25 yards from goal. She ran into the area and put the ball to one side of the keeper and ran the other side before firing home. H-T 5-0

Forest keeper Claire Wallhead only touched the ball twice in the first period - indeed her first touch was not until the 30th minute! She was a bit more active as the second half began and Clifton had decided to make a game of it.

After weathering the early Clifton storm, the Reds made it clear fought back and made it clear that they were not going to settle for 5-0 and went further ahead on 56. A trip by the Clifton no.8 on the Forest no. 14 saw Referee Lee Chappell award a spot kick that Levi Penny fired home with consumate ease.

Clifton to their credit kept going, and held out until the 81st minute when Leanne Woodford beat the offside trap and cooly lobbed the ball over Wong. 90 seconds later Andi Bell was unselfishly played in by Penny and again Wong found herself looking over her head as the ball was lobbed into the net.

This lead to the quip of the night -- 8-0 down and Clifton's no. 9 called out "come on Whites, 6 minutes left to score 9 goals!!!!"

As it transpired, it was Forest no. 14 who rounded off the scoring in stoppage time - a fierce drive that Wong got a hand to, but couldn't keep out. F-T 9-0

Admission + team sheet £2

Attendance - guess at 200?

Final game of the season on Saturday - game no. 100 !!!! Carlton Town Reserves looking for trophy no. 4 of the season, having already won their CML Supreme Reserve division title, the League Cup and the Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup. Opponents Yorkshire Main ressies won the CML Premier Reserve Division title, so this ought to be a good game to end the season.

Wednesdy 20th May 2009

2009-05-20T11:27:00.004+01:00

Nottm Forest Ladies v Cliftom All Whites Girls and Ladies -- Notts F.A. County Cup final

To be palyed at the Watnall Road home of Hucknall Town FC. Kick off 7:30pm.

Not been to a women's game for years, so I have no idea what to expect........

Forest Town receive their shields

2009-05-16T20:18:00.004+01:00

After their 2-8 win at Kimberley Town, the Forest Town players are presented with their CML Supreme Division runner-s up shields.

Saturday 16th May 2009

2009-05-16T18:20:00.012+01:00

Kimberley Town 2-8 Forest Town -- CML Supreme Division

Forest Town knew victory in this game would see them claim runners-up spot in the Division. However, Kimberley are a bit of an enigma this season -- and if they stopped their high-flying visitors from gaining all three points, a win at Yorkshire Main for Calverton would see them finish in second spot.

We arrived at the Stag Ground just as the teams were taking to the pitch - unusual for us to cut it so fine, but we'd been watching the Man U v Arsenal game. We only live 10 minutes from the ground, so we weren't worried about missing the kick off!! The carpark was full, but there was a plum space right next to the entrance - for some reason this had been left vacant, and left us with a two yard walk into the ground !!

Once inside, we met up with Steve Davies - he had his grandson in tow. He is two years old and already kicks the ball like a good 'un!

After complimenting "Kimberley" Danny on the condition of the pitch, we caught up with Brian Dennett - then had a chat to old friend Fred Kirk. Fred was physio at Eastwood Town for a few years, but spent last season at Hucknall Town - he has now left the Watnall Road club and has set up his own sports injury clinic.

Kimberley began the game brightly enough, more than competing with their illustrious visitors - until the 9th minute that is, when they conceded a penalty. CRAIG JACKSON converted the kick although keeper Mike Oxborrow did get a hand to the ball, but not enought to divert it from goal.

Craig Jackson scores from the spot

Three minutes later LEWIS CROUCHER was left unmarked on the far post and he slid the ball home from close range.

We had to wait until the 28th minute for the third Forest Town goal - and keeper Oxborrow has to hold up his hands for this one. The youngster failed to hold onto a drive from the edge of the box, and CROUCHER was on hand to stroke home the loose ball.

The fourth goal was a beaut - a fine solo run from JACKSON that was topped off with a delightful chip over Oxborrow. H-T 0-4

Didn't bother with a beverage at the break - just nipped into the hut to check out the half-times on the telly, then back out into the very changeable weather. Blazing sunshine, then howling winds, then showers. Not very good weather for mid-May.

Forest Town were stunned when NATHAN RYAN fired a speculative shot over Johnson and into the net just after the restart.

Nathan Ryan's effort stunned everyone into silence!!

They were even more stunned when RYAN's shot across Johnson hit the far post and ended up in the back of the net. 2-4 .. game on? Not really, because another penalty converted by JACKSON on 53 calmed the Foggo nerves a little. That strike was our 350th goal of the season....

Craig Jackson on the spot again

Forest Town had two efforts crash off the woodwork and Oxborrow made one outstanding save, but another goal looked inevitable and when CROUCHER tapped in on 78 you had to wonder how many more the visitors would get. As it was, they scored twice more - one was another penalty, this time ADEY HALL converting, the other another close range effort from MARK CARTER. F-T 2-8

Adie Hall sends Oxborrow the wrong way

Hat-trick duo Craig Jackson (9) and Lewis Croucher (11)

The Forest Town players received their Runners-up shields after the final whistle had blown, and after gaffer Gary Castledine had finished his after match team talk on the pitch.

More images from the game

Admission - £3
Attendance - 81
Programme - £1

Wednesday -- Nottm Forest Ladies v Clifton All Whites Ladies ( Notts F.A. Womens Senior Cup Final).

Fixture added

2009-05-16T09:07:00.004+01:00

Carlton Town Res v Yorkshire Main Res -- CML Presidents Cup Final

Saturday 23rd May 2009 at the Stag Ground, home of Kimberley Town FC.

It isn't that we were really bothered overmuch about hitting 100 games, but this game will see us notch up a century of games this season.........

I have to say that this season has been thoroughly enjoyable so far..... we have made new friends, visited new places and generally had a great time.

I must take time to do an end of season "best of" list, but with so many highlights where do you start?

Nottm Forest Ladies v Clifton All Whites Ladies

2009-05-15T14:19:00.003+01:00

Nottinghamshire F.A. Womens Senior Cup Final

Link to Evening Post confirming ko time and venue.

Thursday 14th May 2009

2009-05-14T22:17:00.006+01:00

Wollaton 2-1 Boots Athletic -- NSL Cup Final

Played at Watnall Road, the home of Hucknall Town. The pitch has seen better days and didn't help the players at all. Admittedly some of the players are a bit rough around the edges, but the pitch was awful and I think that even players with a bit more talent would have struggled to shine on that surface.

Third game in three days - TOO MUCH !! We have never done this before and I will admit that I personally will never do it again.......

It didn't help much that the game was uninspring and it was a cold, damp miserable evening...

My mood was lightened a little when Wollaton keeper Ian Barker said hello and that he enjoyed reading this blog... cheers Ian!!

Barker was called into action as early as the third minute - collecting well from a cross. A few seconds later he was called on again blocking well with his legs as the Boots' no. 9 ran in on goal.

Wollaton's no.7 was Michael Banister - Mike used to play for me at youth level - and he was arguably the best Wollaton player on the night. On 27 after great work by 8 & 10 shirts, Banister fired at goal and saw his effort well claimed by Boots keeper Richard Povey. In the 38th minute, Banister fed the 10 and although his delicate lob beat the keeper, it crept just over the bar.

Wollaton went ahead just before the break. A rash challenge some 40 yards from goal was punished fully when the free-kick was fired to the far post - the 8 shirt rose well to head back across goal to no. 5 who headed powerfully home. H-T 1-0

Had a wander around the ground during the break - grabbed a minute with Hucknall's gaffer Bryan Chambers - he seemed happy enough, and we had a chat about the old days at his previous team Eastwood Town.

Boots powered forward from the restart, and Barker had to be alert and push away a decent effort. From the resultant corner, Matt Hogg headed off the line. Banister almost doubled Wollaton's lead on 54 - his free-kick crashing against the angle of post and bar with the keeper well beaten.

We had a bizarre moment with 10 to go -- the 4th official had run out of balls! His ball sack was empty!!! Mind you, they had been flying over the roof of the stand with alarming regularity, and play could only restart when someone went into the carpark to retreive one!

As the game entered it's death throes, we had to thank Barker for punching away well when Boots piled on the pressure searching for an equaliser that would have taken us into extra-time... God forbid!!

Anyway, as the ball was played back down the pitch, a Boots defender fired past his own keeper much to our relief....but then - Boots pulled one back - a great header by their no. 12 from a corner. Barker no chance on this occasion. After Referee Mr. Kirk had played 7 minutes of added time, he blew the final whistle... phew..... F-T 2-1

Footnote : the Referee was awful - one of the worst we have seen this season. His manner, decision making, fitness all left a lot to be desired, but he must have had some sort of a decent season to be awarded a final........

Admission £3 ( inc programme)

Attendance - estimate 200 ?

Saturday - Kimbo v Forest Town

Wednesday 13th May 2009

2009-05-13T22:11:00.017+01:00

Blidworth Welfare 1-3 Ollerton Town -- CML Supreme Division

This was like an old pals reunion -- met up with Rob Waite, Steve Davies, Steve R, Rob Townsend, Brian Dennett - I don't have many friends (ahhh!!), but a seemingly disproportionate number of them decided that Blidworth was the place to be on a damp Wednesday evening in May.

Rob Waite, writer of the superb blog the 66pow, had been in Blidworth since just before 6:30pm - someone had informed him that he kick off was scheduled for then - Rob spent a lovely time wandering about in the rain sightseeing!! The Co-op is quite nice apparently!!

Both me and Kev like going to Blidworth -- not a special ground, but has that great non-league feel to it....and we usually see a goal or two as well. No exception tonight, but we had to wait 15 minutes before the first was scored - a superb header by Blidworth's LUKE BEST from a right wing corner.

The visitors were level on 26 though. JULIAN TOPLISS carried the ball from just inside the Blidworth half and with the defenders trying desperately to halt his progress, he found enough time and space to rifle the ball past the Blidworth keeper from 18 yards.

4 minutes later it was TOPLISS again on the scoresheet after he was presented with a tap in after an earlier effort had been blocked. H-T 1-2

Nice cup of coffee at half-time - nothing special, but very welcome. Decided to have a sit down for the second period, and found myself sandwiched between Steve Davis and Rob Waite..... nothing wrong with that in itself - as long as you know someting about Scottish football. I have to admit I am a complete ignoramous when it comes to the Scottish game - I've never been to Scotland, and to be honest I've never had ambitions to go to Scotland. Kev fancies a few pre-season games in the land of the Jocks, but I don't travel too well so that may never happen.

Sat in the old corrugated stand, wooden benches, but not uncomfortable. The football was very entertaining and several times we gave a few of the old "oohhs" and "ahhhs" - as shots flew in at both ends.

The final goal of the game was scored by Ollerton's DEAN HANKEY - and was a real "he's behind you" effort. Blidworth's keeper managed to block the initial effort only for the ball to squeeze under his body and bounce off the post. With the keeper on the floor trying to work out where the ball had gone, he failed to see Hankey behind him - and when it fell invitingly at the striker's feet he couldn't believe his luck, and he gleefully tapped home from very close range! The whole incident left most of those present laughing - and capped a great evening!! F-T 1-3

Ollerton's two goal hero Julian Topliss

A few random pictures from the game

Admission £2

Attendance - well over 50 h/c

Programme £1

Tea/coffee £0.60

Company - priceless

Next up - NSL Cup final -- Wollaton v Boots at Watnall Road.

Tuesday 12th May 2009

2009-05-12T22:27:00.018+01:00

Radcliffe Olympic 1-1 Sutton Town -- CML Supreme Division

After paying our first visit to Wharfe Lane on Saturday, we were there again to see Champions Olympic entertain Sutton Town AFC. The game was a rematch after the first encounter was abandoned earlier in the season.

For this game it was a case of "Malc & Kev & Brian" on the road - Mr. Dennett had arranged to travel with us - no point in taking 2 cars when there was room in mine........

Parked in the Legion carpark again, and after a quick double-check to see where a few of the local "hoodies" were going we walked to the ground. No fence this time, but everyone seemed happy enough to pay their £3 even though you could have watched the game for nothing...not what it's about though is it - getting in for nowt...

Had a chat to Steve Davies and the Steve R during the 1st half, we had a right old laugh .... but they went for a coffee at half-time and we never saw them again! I wonder if they were still queuing all through the second half? Or did the mysterious hooded man get them? Blimey, there was a strange hooded figure walking the pitch perimeter all through the game - looked like the grim reaper - frightened Kev to death!!!!

Carl Westcarr scored in the 18th minute with a delighful side-foot flick to give Radcliffe the lead, a lead they held onto quite easily until the break. H-T 1-0

Brian got the drinks in - he was actually digging into the hospitality chicken pieces, and he managed to blag us a cuppa - saved us having to queue!

Had a few words with one of my Facebook friends, Sutton's Kev Rowles before he was introduced into the game from the bench. To be fair, the game changed significantly when Rowles went on, and after he was foiled by a great challenge as he looked good to score, it was his deft flick that set up Ben Greenhalgh to level the scores with just 4 minutes to play. Strange goal - Ben had a couple of goes at the ball, and when it eventually flew into the net, Radcliffe keeper James Mountain was as surprised as anyone! F-T 1-1

A chilly night, but some good company and some light-hearted banter that elevated what was a typical end of season affair into a decent evening out........

Another bonus was watching our friend Rob Townsend referee the game. When the teams entered the pitch, there were the officials, resplendent in a fetching little blue/green number !!

On a less flippant note, early doors Rob had a stern word or three with Radcliffe's Wayne Halcro - loud enough for all to hear - and the players all left him alone for the duration -- excellent officiating!!

Admission £3

Programme - never saw one

Tea/coffee - freebies

Attendance - about 100 ?

Weds - more CMLS -- Blidworth v Ollerton

Rolls R Leisure v Yorkshire Main

2009-05-11T21:24:00.004+01:00

Was scheduled for Tusday 12th May. Now to be played on Thursday 14th May due to cricket taking precedence at the Rolls sports venue.

This clashes with the NSL Cup final at Watnall Road, and means that if football is to be on the agenda on Tuesday, it's another trip to Radcliffe Olympic to see them play Sutton Tn AFC .....

Saturday 9th May 2009

2009-05-09T17:35:00.015+01:00

Radcliffe Olympic 1-0 Forest Town -- CML Supreme Division

Radcliffe clinched the Central Midlands Football League Supreme Division title thanks to a 44th minute Craig Anderson penalty.

Craig Anderson sends Jason Johnson the wrong way from the spot

Sorry about the picture quality - we had just moved from that end of the pitch to get a coffee, and I took this from about 100 yards away. With my camera it was asking a bit much to hope for a clear picture from that range!!

A game that would see Radcliffe crowned champions if they won - but if Forest Town won, the title would not be decided until next weekend.

Kev has been doing the majority of the driving recently, but this was a great opportunity to try out my "new" second-hand car. Entertainment provided via the DAB radio station "Planet Rock" -- now that the local league footie has finished, what a nice change to hear a bit of Rush and Cinderella instead of Colin Bloody Slater!

Not been to Wharfe Lane before, so out came the Garmin. Our friendly Evening Post correspondent Brian Dennett had pre-warned us to park in the British Legion car-park - so we took his advice and at leaving time we were glad we did -- getting out of Wharfe Lane must have been a nightmare patience buster -- there were 290 present, and it seemed like everyone had a car!!!

Walked from the Legion to the ground - and what a setting greeted us. Very picturesque. Trees all around - a grassy bank ( named "cheapskate hill" for apparent reasons ) and horses grazing in pastures....and with the church in the background -- it's all so very "England".......Nice it may be, but we were pleased it wasn't raining - no cover, no hard standing and no seats...

A very well observed minutes silence was held before the game - in memory of Clipstone's Mr. Rick Morris who passed away last weekend.

Both teams began with the usual early sparring - after 25 minutes or so this left us reflecting on the lack of serious attemps on goal ..... then the game really took off. Radcliffe put together the games first decent attack, but Danny Tighe was on hand to block the eventual shot. Soon after an Aaron Korol free-kick was well met by AlexHaughton, but the Radcliffe striker was stretching and could only manage to deflect the ball over the bar. The same player the forced a great save from Forest Town keeper Jason Johnson with a well placed header.

Tighe fired a free-kick at goal on 34 that brought out a terrific diving save from James Mountain - the Radcliffe stopper diving to his right to palm away.

Forest Town provided the next chance as well - a break down the right by Craig Jackson - his ball into the box well met by James McCann but his drive was acrobatically kept out by Mountain.

As the ball went back into the Forest Town area, Referee Mr. Booker penalised Lee Bowler for holding onto Carl Westcarr - and Olympic skipper CRAIG ANDERSON stepped up and calmly slotted home, sending Johnson the wrong way. H-T 1-0

Local favourite Nick Kennerdale poses for the camera!!

We had changed ends with 10 minutes of the 1st half remaining, hoping to be at the head of the half-time beverage queue. Kev, bless him, volunteered to get the drinks and emerged some 15 minutes later, prompting the old " ya bin ta Brazil for me coffee then" from yours truly.... if looks could kill!!!! As it was the coffee and tea were well worth wating for - my coffee was strong and hot and although served in a syrofoam cup, it was a big 'un and was great value at £0.50 .....8/10 for the coffee and same from Kev for the tea.

Now -- you would think that the 2nd half would be a passionate, blood tingling affair bearing in mind the importance of the result of this game, but it wasn't. Forest Town tried hard to break down the resolute Olympic defence, but Wayne Halcro and James Spence were determined that they kept a clean sheet.

I took no notes at all during the second half - there were plenty of "scribes" present, and more than a few snappers -- some of the cameras on show gave me a bit of a complex!!! How much do those things cost? Lenses about 2 foot long - blimey I felt like hiding my little Fuji. I'm sure a full match report will be on the clubs' respective websites soon.

And this was not the biggest

Full time - the air ringing with ",Campiones, Campiones" we headed down the road to the car and got straight out onto the main drag. With Deep Purple giving it large with "Woman From Tokyo" and "Pictures Of Home" we entered the A52 - then no hassle, apart from one silly woman not knowing which lane she wanted at the bottom of the A611 bypass - home by 5:20pm ....

Images from the game

Admission £3
Attendance -- someone mentioned 290
Programme -- £1
Tea/coffee £0.50 - excellent

Tuesday - Blidworth v Ollerton Town

Wednesday 6th May 2009

2009-05-06T22:13:00.012+01:00

Eastwood Badgers 1-2 Retford Badgers -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup Final

Notts F.A's flagship final was played yet again at the Meadow Lane home of Notts County - not the best playing surface you will see locally, but the teams overcame the poor pitch and played out a really entertaining final.

Eastwood fielded a very strong line-up, while Retford were missing marksman Mick Godber and regular keeper Ross Turner.

Eastwood's keeper Ian Deakin made four of five superb stops as Retford showed their opponents how to play football. If this is what the Retford fans watch every week, they must be among some of the happiest fans in the non-league scene. Marvelous stuff, and one save in particular from a Paul Grimes header was well worth the £5 entry fee. H-T 0-0

Eastwood took the lead on 53 - Lindon Meikle's drive was fumbled by Retford stopper Chris Kingston and IAN HOLMES was on hand at the far post to tap in.

Both teams continued to provide entertaining football, and Retford were rewarded for their attacking play on 84 when BEN CHAMBERS tapped in after Deakin had pulled off yet another superb save.

With 3 of the 4 minutes of added time played we were settling for extra time - but it was not to be. A ball played to the right wing, a neat bit of control, a great cross and a fantastic drive from the edge of the box from STUART LUDLAM that flew past Deakin.........great goal, but with the Eastwood players appealing for an offside that never came, the old saying "play to the whistle" came to mind. As soon as Eastwood restarted the game, Referee Mick Leslie blew for full time. F-T 1-2

Man of the match ( voted for by the match officials) : Eastwood keeper Ian Deakin

Link to Evening Post article

Admission £5

Programme - not the usual ten-bob effort - this was proper even though it was £2

Attendance - n/k

Tea/coffee - didn't bother.

Chips -- I like Notts County's chips, but they were not available today!!!!!!!

Saturday -- CMLS top of the table clash - Radcliffe Oly v Forest Town.

Monday 4th May 2009

2009-05-04T17:52:00.011+01:00

Westella & Willerby 0-2 Sutton Town AFC -- CML League Challenge Cup final

Sutton boss Danny Bryant

Played at the Impact Arena, home of Alfreton Town FC. Looks a bit tatty nowadays - could really do with a bit of TLC, but the pitch was not too bad to say there had been a match on it just 24 hours previously.

Not too many present, but other Bank Holiday attractions included the Womens FA cup final at Pride Park, and the NCEL cup final at Staveley.

We stood behind the goal again! Although this time it was by choice - you get a great view from the terracing behind the far goal. And there was plenty of room!!

Kev looking for someone to talk to!!

The National Anthem was played as the teams lined up to be presented to League and sponsor officials - and I had to admit that out of all the "music" served up pre-match, this was the only song I knew!!!

A well observed minutes silence was held in memory of Clipstone Welfare Secretary Mr. Rick Morris who sadly passed away on Saturday.

Westella were an unknown quantity to both myself and Kev, but the East Riding outfit are striving for a top three finish in the CML Premier Division having lost only three out of 26 league games played so far this season.

'Ella created the games first real chance in the 10th minute - a shot from left winger Andy Coverdale taking a deflection onto the far post with Sutton keeper Mark Frost well beaten.

Sutton replied two minutes later when Richard Guest nodded a Gaz Davey free-kick onto the bar. A series of corners were won halfway through the first period as the Snipes tried to impose themselves on the game, but some of their tackles were a bit strong for Referee Andy Wood and he booked Sutton's Pete Stubley and Richard Guest for poor challenges.

Stubley played Daniel O'Donnell on 43, but 'Ella keeper Liam Taylor blocked well. Taylor also made a great stop seconds later after Steve Bayliss met Kyle Ludlow's corner at the far post. H-T 0-0

Had a walk around to the tea bar during the break, but after queuing for a cuppa for 5 minutes with the line not moving at all, we gave up and made our way back to the terracing.

Westella started the second half well enough, forcing a couple of saves from Frost, but they went behind in the 64th minute. O'Donnell made a super run through the midfield before laying the ball into the path of PETER STUBLEY who made no mistake slotting past Taylor - he was then mobbed by his team-mates.....

Ouch!!!!!

'Ella skipper Lee Jackson was booked soon after for a reckless challenge on Stubley, probably the last thing the striker needed after being squished!! Stubley almost doubled the Snipes' lead on 74, turning well before firing just wide.

Sutton made the game safe with three minutes to go. Stubley jinked his way into the box and when three Westella defenders appeared to bring him down, Mr. Wood awarded Sutton a spot-kick. A bit soft really, but LUKE SHIELS wasn't bothered - and he stepped up and fired wide of Taylor's despairing dive.

Luke Shiels wheels away after netting from the spot

Cue another crushing, but this time Manager Danny Bryant was on the receiving end!!

Squish!!

After three minutes of added time, Mr. Wood brought proceedings to an end - F-T 0-2

Not bad entertainment, and although Westella gave a good performance, Sutton had just that little bit extra and ended up deserving winners.

More images from the game

Admission £4

Attendance -- no idea... could have been 150 ish?

Programme - £1

Wednesday -- Badgers v Badgers at Meadow Lane

Saturday 2nd May 2009

2009-05-02T17:59:00.009+01:00

Belper Town 0-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels -- UniBond Div 1 South play-off final

We set off to Christchurch Meadow with thoughts of a delicious pork and stuffing cob on our minds.....we got there and had a look over the fence to see the queue for the snack bar was horrendous - so that was that!

Mind you, we never anticipated such a large crowd.... and it took us a while to actually get into the ground - queuing at Belper??? Turns out there were 801 in attendance - my guess at 650 was not far out!! Anyway, no snap, no programme, no tea....but a great game!!

A solitary 18th minute goal from Steels' no. 9 ANDY RING settled the game, but plenty of chances were created by both sides. On reflection, you have to say the best team on the day were Stockbridge - Belper tried to raise their game after the break but a combination of great defending and pure bad luck meant that the Sheffield outfit are now proudly in the UniBond Premier Division. How long they'll stay there is another matter altogether.....

We stood, unusually for us, behind a goal. No seats were free, and the best available space was directly behind the goal that the home team were to defend in the first half. Not bad - we had a great view of the goal - and watched the ball all the way into the net after Ring had slotted calmly under Belper keeper Leigh Walker. We also had a terrific view of what was a stonewall penalty - but the mistimed slide by Walker went unpunished by the Referee.

Things went downhill for us after the break when we were joined behing the goal by a bunch of Belper "fans". If calling the Stocksbridge players "fat", and shouting "look at his man-boobs" represents Belper's finest, then lord help the club! Not a lot of support for their team, they were more interested in taking the p**s out of the opposition. Well, the opposition had the last laugh - and were fully deserving of the win.

We raced for the car at the final whistle having changed ends with 10 to go - and thanks to some skillful driving and pedestrian avoidance by Kev, we had left the ground by 10 to five!! Back home by 20 past.....

Link to Tim Harrison's images from the game

Attendance 801
Admission £7
Programme - never saw one!
Snap ....

Monday afternoon we are off to Derbyshire again... this time to the Impact Arena to see Sutton Tn AFC take on Westella & Willerby in the CMFL cup final.

Wednesday 29th April 2009

2009-04-29T22:07:00.011+01:00

Sutton Town AFC 0-4 Pinxton FC --- CML Floodlit Cup final

Played at the Lees Lane home of former NCEL club South Normanton.

We saw Sutton lose 4-0 last week, and what do you know, they did it again at Lees Lane - and it has to be said, the Snipes never looked like winning after Pinxton netted on 39. A superb effort it was - well worth the £4 admission fee.

A crowd of 311 saw a fairly lack-lustre performance from Sutton, but Pinxton had netted 20 goals in their previous four outings and looked the far more motivated team.

The only goal of the 1st half was a real cracker. After Sutton keeper Mark Frost had made a terrific save, the ball was played back into the area to BEN NEWMAN whose acrobatic overhead volley gave Frost in the Snipes' goal no chance. Wonderful strike - although Ben's brother Martin wasn't too pleased, he was playing for Sutton! H-T 0-1

It took just 11 minutes for Pinxton to increase their lead, a superb shot across Frost into the far corner. Not too sure who scored, we were, as usual at the wrong end of the pitch. We lost interest and focus then, because Sutton were never going to get back into the game, and with Kev's "this could end up 4-0 " in my brain, I switched off...... failing to see JAY COOPER'S apparent belter flash past Frost on 82, then just catching the Pinxton right-winger run into the box and fire across Frost and into the net. Left straight after the final whistle F-T 0-4

Sorry about the lack of detail, but this was a game that had you trying to count the crowd, or see who you could recognise....

It was a cold evening - and I bet a few people were wishing they have taken along a big coat.... I did!!

Had a nice chat with Pete Craggs from Forest Town - if all goes to plan, their game on 9th May at Radcliffe will be a title decider...results this coming Saturday will be interesting, as Forest Town face a tough trip to Ollerton with Radcliffe having a seemingly easier game at Blidworth.

CML Supreme Division table

Rob Hornby's images from the game

Admission £4

Attendance 311

Refereshments - gave them a miss

Programme a bit expensive @ £1.50 for 4 pages, but Sutton Town AFC manager Danny Bryant made a prophetic statement in the Q & A item...

Question -- "Are you brave enough to predict tonight's score?"

Answer from Danny - "No way, never! I feel this is a match between two very good sides and that we are in for a good final. It wil be the ones that want it most...."

He got it half right, I suppose. It wasn't a very good match, but Pinxton certainly wanted it more, and ended up deserving winners.

Saturday -- Belper Tn v Stocksbridge in the UniBond Div 1 South Play-off final - should be a cracker!

Saturday 25th April 2009

2009-04-25T18:08:00.019+01:00

"We are going up, said we are going up!!"

Wasted champers? No way!!

Dying fly, but who pushed Rudy Funk over??

Rainworth MW 4-1 Teversal -- NCEL Division 1

After agonising over which game to go to, we opted to go to and see our good friends at Rainworth.

This was not just another local derby - Wrens manager Rudy Funk used to manage at Teversal, and his team also dearly wanted to finish their season unbeaten at home. Teversal would have liked to have rained on the Wrens' parade, but in the end the home team won convincingly enough after coming back from a goal behind.

We had a chat to Rudy before the game. We were actually invited into his office, and he was beaming. He said he had arrived an hour before everyone else to grab a "moment" on his own -- and as he took a walk around the ground he was thinking " I've had other offers, but where else would you want to be?" Looking out of his office at the superb facilities and the incredibly well manicured pitch, it has to be said that you would have to agree. At this level, the Kirklington Road set up is as good as any, and better than a lot!

Rainworth gained promotion to the NCEL Premier Division last week and they left Division One on a high, and gave us a game to savour to boot. Fair play to Teversal, they played their part in a really entertaining game, and although they ended up on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline, in all fairness they took the game to their hosts early on and could have easily been ahead at the break.

We manged to grab a chat with Wrens' Chairman Brian Reece again -- although our conversation was ended abrubtly when he realised he had to go and sort out the music...... err...mmm ... we were then the tannoy treated us to a version of "Amarillo", and then we had to suffer a version of "You'll never walk alone", by some band or other - the musical delights ended with the teams entering the field to the "Match of the Day" theme!!

The game itself took a while to get going, but the visitors were more than matching Rainworth, and should have gone ahead on 25 agter Craig Charlesworth misjudged the flight of the ball leaving Tevvie striker Andy Woodcock with jusy Mark Hales to beat. The striker struck the ball well enough but Hales is a big unit and he managed to block the effort.

On 35, Julian McDonald was put through one-on-one with Teversal keeper Danny Herring, but the home no. 9 fluffed his shot allowing the keeper to save with some ease. Seconds later it was one-on-one again - this time Danny Naylor went head to head with Herring, but he was too casual and althought he fired wide of the keeper, his side foot shot hit the post. The rebound fell to Ant Lynam but his shot was well blocked. H-T 0-0

We went for a cuppa during the break, and it has to be said, the quality has improved shed-loads.... We have been critical in the past of the Rainworth tea and coffee, but the ladies appear to have sorted out the problem with the water, and a very nice cuppa it was -- and although the brew was in a styrofoam cup, it was a big 'un ....and it was lava hot !!

Teversal looked determined to spoil the Rainworth promotion party, storming forward straight from the restart, forcing a series of corners. They took a well deserved lead on 55 when DEAN SHORT met Dave Cockerill's corner from the right with a powerful header at the far post.

Dean Short ( no.5) heads into the top corner to give Tevvie the lead

This seemed to wake the home team up, and all of a sudden they started passing the ball about - and when Brendon Sweeney played the ball into McDonald, he chested it down to RICHARD SMITH who hammered the ball past Herring from 20 yards.

Richard Smith ( image courtesy Kev Goodman)

A couple of minutes later, Herring was at fault as Rainworth were gifted the lead. A poor goal-kick went straight to McDonald who played in ANT LYNAM - the striker controlled the ball well and raced into the box before firing past Herring.

In the 74th minute, DANNY NAYLOR found the ball at his feet with half the pitch to run into.... these chances are not easy, because there is so much time to think about what you are going to do - but the midfielder made his mind up early and one-on-one this time made no mistake. Matt Draper almost added the Wrens fourth, heading Naylor's corner powerfully against the bar. It was JULIAN McDONALD who did add the fourth on 42 - a great ball from Sweeney playing in the striker - again a one-on-one with Herring .. again a calm finish. F-T 4-1

Julian McDonald slots past Danny Herring

The runners up trophy and medals were presented after the final whistle, and it was great to see all the Teversal players and officials applauding along with the Rainworth faithful......

A visit to hospitality followed -- a nice glass of Chardonnay for me, a cup of tea for Kev, a chat with Sue Funk and Brian Reece, and because this treatment is not a weekly event, most surprising and most enjoyable.

Grabbed a minute with Rudy Funk before we left Kirklington Road - he is really looking forward to the challenge next season, and he said he was already planning and working towards improving the squad to ensure that the Wrens can compete in the NCEL Premier Division.

All in all, a great day - good game, cracking goals, nice weather, some great photographs - and add to this the fact that Eastwood secured the UniBond Premier Division championship and Carlton did enough to secure their play-off place in UniBond Div 1 South.....it doesn't get much better than this!!

Images from the game

Admission £4

Programme ( inc team sheet) £1

Attendance 144

Tea/coffee - excellent

Special mention for the match officials. Referee David Sullivan of Retford was superb - and his Assistants, Barry Goodley and Chris Stevens also performed admirably.....

Not bothering with the Stags v Stevenage game, looking to go to Belper on Tuesday to see the Nailers take on Rushall in a UniBond Div 1 South play-off semi.....

Then it's off to Lees Lane on Weds - Sutton v Pinxton in the CML floodlit cup final.

Thursday 23rd April 2009

2009-04-23T21:56:00.006+01:00

Kimberley Town 4-0 Sutton Town AFC -- CML Supreme Division

No, the scoreline is not, repeat not, a misprint. We have just witnessed third from bottom Kimberley Town take apart high flying Sutton Town - and trust me, it could have been 7 or 8 nil......and it wasn't as if the Snipes put a weak side out either, they were just not "at the races" as they say.

The home team were in front as early as the 7th minute. After striker Tom Reville forced Sutton keeper Mark Frost to give away a corner, the ball in was cleared out to the corner of the box - and AARON RUSSELL just pinged it back into the danger area - it by-passed everyone, including Frost, and ended up in the back of the net.

Bad start for the visitors, and it could have been worse in the 11th minute when Russell somehow managed to hit the ball wide when he was just two yards out and in smack in front of goal..!! H-T 1-0

The second half was only 7 minutes old when Kimberley doubled their lead. This time it was a superb effort NATHAN RYAN, firing past Frost from an acute angle after working his way into the box.

It was 3-0 on the hour mark - after Sutton's Kyle Ludlow lost the ball in midfield, the ball was played forward and eventually found TOM REVILLE who made no mistake from 12 yards or so.

Another break from midfield lead to the fourth Kimberley goal. This time the ball was headed against the bar, and when the Sutton defence failed to react, NATHAN RYAN was presented with the simplest of tap ins at the far post. F-T 4-0

This result was totally out of the blue. I'm not a betting man, but I wonder what the odds were of this game finishing 4-0 to "Kimbo"?

Attendance h/c well over 50

Programme -

Admission £1.50

Saturday - not too sure where to head off to ....Carlton need a point at home to Spalding to secure a play-off place - Rainworth are celebrating their promotion at home to Teversal... tasty one at Mickleover - they take on Long Eaton in the NCEL top of the table clash - Gedling Town entertain champions elect Kirby Muxloe in the EMCL... choices, choices, choices....

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

2009-04-22T21:35:00.007+01:00

Carlton Town Reserves 2-0 Linby Colliery Welfare -- Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup Final

Played at the Watnall Road home of Hucknall Town, and it has to be said that the pitch has seen better days - but with Worksop Town ground sharing with Hucknall Town it's hardly surprising to see the pitch in less than perfect condition. Having said that, both teams seemed to cope well enough and produced a half decent game.

Got to the ground around 7:20pm and had a chat with a couple of former F.A. Council colleagues and then caught up with Dave Scott who used to manage my son at Under 14 & 15 level. Had a chat with former Carlton Res manager Ian Spencer and Carlton 1st team physio Stuart Scott - then spent time in the Company of one of my favourite non-league Managers, Greenwood Meadows' Mark Connor. Then toddled off for a cuppa .. £1 a cup - and although Kev said the tea was ok, my coffee was crap.....yeukk.

The game was goal-less up to the break, but Linby had to thank their keeper Craig Lear for two outstanding tip overs and superb double save as Carlton's second string put some decent passing moves together. H-T 0-0

Just 10 minutes into the second period, Linby's no. 8 Simon Martin kicked out at Ash Winfield and was shown a straight red. This changed the game big time - just 5 minutes later, Ricky Gardner found room at the far stick, and slotted home from an acute angle to give Carlton the lead.

90 seconds later, Linby conceded a penalty and Ricky Gardner stepped up and powered the spot kick past Lear. Nothing much else to mention -- apart from the fact that it was quite a warm,pleasant evening.... about bloody time... F-T 2-0

Admission £2 ( included team sheet)

Attendance -- well over 100 counted...

Tea £1 - ok

Coffee £1 - awful... and semi-skilled milk again - just who did invent that rubbish...give me full fat milk every time please!!!!

Thurdsay - Kimberley Tn v Sutton Tn AFC - the reverse game at Sutton surprisingly ended 0-0 ......revenge time for Mr. Bryant's outfit?

Tuesday 21st April 2009

2009-04-21T21:44:00.007+01:00

Eastwood Town 3-1 Carlton Town -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/2 final

Carlton still have hopes of promotion to the UniBond Premier Division, albeit via the Div One South play-offs. Eastwood showed them the sort of strength in depth of squad that is needed to do well in the higher division - the majority of the Badgers' first team squad sat in the main stand watching the game., their starting eleven included Sturdy, Rhead, Smith, Asher and Garner who were all on the bench at Ashton on Saturday! Carlton were without Grant Brindley who damaged his arm on Saturday.

The home team went ahead in the 5th minute, Alistair Asher's superb cross from the right headed home by MATT RHEAD after Michael Martin failed to intercept. On 36, TRISTRAN WHITMAN beat the offside trap and ran into the box - moving the ball onto his left foot before firing past Goddard in the Eastwood net. DEAN GENT reduced the visitors' arrears three minutes later, hitting a long range effort into the far corner of the net. H-T 2-1

From a corner soon after the restart, SIMON STURDY was left unmarked at the far post and his simple volley restored the Badgers' two goal lead. Carlton tried to make a game of it, but Danny Blair and Darryl Thomas showed little and in the end the Badgers eased into the final at Meadow Lane on May 6th. F-T 3-1

Teams: Eastwood : Goddard, Asher, Flynn, Sturdy, Swinscoe, Breach, Gardner, Cooper, Thomason, Rhead, Whitman. Subs Palin, Bailey, Marc Smith.

Carlton: Barcherini, Henshaw, Cane, Martin, Fenton, Robertson, Ball, Gent, Marquin Smith, Blair, Thomas. Subs F Smith, Fletcher, Chaplin, Francis.

Admission £5
Attendance 270

Saturday 18th April 2009

2009-04-18T19:56:00.014+01:00

Gedling MW 0-1 Gedling Town -- EMCL

This was our final visit of the season to Plains Road, and although the game only had the one goal, it was a very well played out local derby between two sides that know each other so well.

We always get a warm welcome at Plains Road from Tony Hay and Co - even though we have yet to see Welfare win this season.

Tony Hay (snapped by Kev)

Our three visits -- three defeats -- but has to be said though, that the defeats have been against the sides in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places in the league. Lost to Holbrook 0-3 and Borrowash 1-4 and now Gedling Town 0-1. Welfare will finish in a respectable mid-table place, and will have learned a lot from their foray into step 6 fooball.

Lance Walker, Rob Gill and a three legged dog.....!!

Town goal scorer Graeme Epps

The first half saw Town create the better chances, with Rob Gill guilty of firing way off target on a couple of occasions - Welfare's Matt Richards did manage to test keeper James Mason after half-an-hour, but the former Welfare keeper saved well. The visitors scored the only goal of the game on 33, GRAEME EPPS getting the slightest touch to divert the ball home after it had been played in to him at the near post. H-T 0-1

Didn't go for a beverage during the break - the last time we were at Plains Road I wrote a comment about the styrofoam cup size,,, my instincts told me to keep out of the snap shed!!!

Town lost centre-back Gary Wright through injury during the first half, and when his defensive partner Tom Hannigan failed to re-appear after the break, the visitors ended up with their back four made up of players all playing out of position. This gave the home team heart, and they powered at Town - but lacked any real striking power and despite having most of the play they failed to take advantage of the visitors' make-shift defence.

Skipper Hesham Ramadam went straight through Aaron Large right at the end of the game and received a deserved straight red card from Referee Mr. M. Johnson, who I thought had a really good game.

Images from the game

Admission £3

Programme - usual excellent publication £1

Tea/coffee --

Attendance - creditable 115

Best players:

Welfare : Matt Richards

Town : Joe McShane

Tuesday : Eastwood Town v Carlton Town ( Notts F.A. Senior Cup semi-final)

Wednesday : Linby CW v Carlton Town Res ( Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup final)

Tuesday 14th April 2009

2009-04-14T22:08:00.007+01:00

Greenwood Meadows 2-1 Dunkirk --- EMCL

Me, being me, said "I'm not stopping in to watch Chelsea v Liverpool - it will be crap" lets go to Lenton Lane and see the local derby...

We arrived at the gorund with 10 minutes to go, and although there were quite a few cars in the car park, there weren't many bodies about -- every player must have a car !!! At kick off I counted 25 present, the actual official figure was 27. A local derby? 27? Must be soul destroying for the people that work so hard to ensure these games actually take place - they must sometimes ask themselves why they bother....

Greenwood's CRAIG MEAKIN opened the scoring for after three minutes, a great driving run took him to the egde of the box and from there he curled a beauty past the Dunkirk keeper.

The visitors had a chance to level on 9 after Phil Massingham was tripped in the box. The striker got up and took the spot kick - but a great diving save from the home keeper kept the ball out.

DANNY WALSH doubled the home teams lead in the 23rd minute, latching onto a neat through ball before running on and slotting past the keeper.

When Dunkirk won a corner 4 minutes later, the ball in seemed to be over-cooked a little, but JARROD WESTCARR was waiting at the far post to gather and fire across the keeper and into the net. H-T 2-1

Went into the clubhouse for a beverage during the interval - caught up with the Chelsea game -- 0-2 to Liverpool .... tea and coffee were magic -- I thought my coffee had been heated up using a thermo-nuclear device - blimey it was hot!! Mind you, we needed a hot drink - it was bloody cold again!!!!!!!!

Dunkirk created a dozen chances in the second half, but a combination of poor finishing, good defending and decent keeping meant the chances all went begging leaving us with a 2-1 final score.

Admission £4

Programme --

Tea £0.60 excellent

Coffee £0.70 excellent

Attendance 27

Saturday EMCL again -- going to see if we can upset Tony Hay again at Gedling MW as they take on Gedling Town

Monday 13th April 2009 Pt II

2009-04-13T22:37:00.007+01:00

Calverton MW 6-0 Kimberley Town -- CML Supreme Division

Second part of a CMLS double header -- not too much to report - the home team were 3-0 up at half time thanks to strikes from Baz Paine on 13, Craig Boulton on 17 and Warren Hatfield on 33. Kimberley keeper Oxborrow made some great saves to keep the score respectable for the visitors.

11 minutes into the second half, there was a bit of a tussle on the halfway line between Calverton's no. 5 Corey Nightingale and the Kimberley no. 8 - it was all a bit of handbags really until Nightingale kicked the Kimberley player while he was on the ground.

Referee Mr. D. Styles was five yards away from the incident and showed both players a yellow. Now I'm not one for wanting players to get their marching orders, but the action by Nightingale was foolish, stupid and needless - and a sending off might have taught him a bit of a lesson......

As it was, the home team netted three more times, Hatfield again in the 65th minute, Lewis Cauldwell three minutes later and Boulton with a tap in on 77 after great work by Hatfield.

Admission £3 inc programme

Attendance - h/c about 80

Tuesday - Greenwood v Dunkirk ( maybe)

Monday 13th April 2009 Pt I

2009-04-13T17:34:00.018+01:00

Sutton Town AFC 5-1 Nettleham -- CML Supreme Division

Snipes' manager Danny Bryant and mascots

A game of many chances -mostly from the home team - they scored 5 but it could have easily have been double figures. Nettleham never gave up, but the difference in class was so obvious.

Matt Lane powers home the fifth Snipes goal

Ben Greenhalgh - candidate for goal of the season

More pictures from the game

Sutton went in front in the first minute. James Senior took a quick free-kick, playing the ball straight into the path of RICHARD GUEST, who just had to run with it and give it a little more momentum to help it past the on-rushing Nettleham keeper.

The lead lasted barely 5 minutes though due to an uncharacteristic error by Snipes keeper Mark Frost. He failed to hold onto a tame shot allowing the ball to fall straight at the feet of the visiting no. 10 shirt who gleefully tapped home. Despite a dozen decent chances ( most of which are captured on camera), it was not until the 38th minute that Sutton regained the lead.

This time a Senior corner was deflected goalwards but blocked - then the loose ball was nodded home by LUKE SHIELS. H-T 2-1

We'd had a cuppa before the game, and very nice t was too, so we opted to stay out in the SUNSHINE (!) during the interval and soak up a few rays!!!

Sutton began the second half as they ended the first, creating chance after chance, but they failed to take advantage of their superiority until the Manager introduced Ben Greenhalgh and Ryan Ludlow with 15 to go.

It was GREENHALGH who added the Snipes third on 78, and what a goal it was too... A run down the left, cut into the box, beat the defenders, cut in again, beat them again before unleashing a terrific right foot shot past the keeper. What a goal from the youngster!!

LUDLOW added the fourth seconds later, running into the box and smashing home from 16 yards.

Matt Lane looked to have headed home the fifth from a corner, but it seems that MARTIN NEWMAN has claimed it -- if you look at the pic above, you will see Newman standing in front of the keeper as the ball arrows towards goal ,,, it was going in anyway, so Newman's claim is a bit harsh on Laney!! F-T 5-0

Admisson £3

Attendance h/c about 60

Programme -

Tea/coffee £0.60

Calvo v Kimbo to follow

Saturday 11th April 2009

2009-04-11T17:51:00.020+01:00

Rainworth MW 2-1 Staveley MW -- NCEL Division 1

No apologies for going to Rainworth again -- we just like going to Kirlington Road ..... and when the afternoon is as good as it was today, who cares if we've been there 8 times this season? Not us!!

Brendan Sweeney gets airborne

Matt Draper heads over from close range

Kev spent the morning and early aftrnoon helping a friend move house, so we met up at the ground - Kev's brother-in-law John came along, and I think he was quietly impressed with the set up at Rainworth....

Although it appears that Askern Villa (!) have failed to meet the necessary ground grading requirements, and even if they were to finish second behind champions Scarborough, they will not be promoted. However this does not mean that the team finishing 3rd will be guaranteed promotion, so Rainworth are desperate to finish in that vital second spot. With Staveley sitting in fourth place this was a crucial game for the home team and a win would go a long way to securing that 2nd place, and would also effectively take Staveley out of the promotion race.

Rainworth got the early lead they so desperately craved after just 10 minutes - a Simon Wright corner was well headed towards the goal, but the ball was hooked off the line - unfortunately for Staveley it fell at the feet of BARRY ALBERRY who slammed it home from close range.

If the Wrens no. 9 Julian McDonald had have showed a little more composure the home team could have benn home and dry in the first half - but two fairly simple chances missed meant the half ended 1-0.

Kev and John decided to try the beverages during the interval, and were more than complimentary! Last time we tried then they were undrinkable - this time they got a "very nice".

Staveley came out for the second half firing on all six - forcing home keeper Mark Hales into making two terrific saves in the first two minutes. Two minutes later though, Hales blotted his copy book by tripping Staveley full back Scotty Wharton - LEE GREGORY stepped up and slotted the resultant spot kick wide of Hales' desparing dive.

Lee Gregory (no.10) wheels away after beating Hales from the spot

Rainworth almost grabbed the lead on 65, a blistering 25 yarder from Danny Naylor clattered the frame of the goal before rebounding straight into keeper Martin Keirney's arms.

The home team were awarded something of a soft penalty with 10 to go. Striker Phil Bignall ran into the box and with central defender Andy Brownrigg hot on his heels. A bit of a challenge, a tangle of legs and a penalty! A bit untidy, but the decision looked very harsh on Brownrigg - we thought he won the ball and it was going out for a goal-kick....

Phil Bignall nets the winner from the spot

Still, it was Mr. Walsh's decision not ours, and PHIL BIGNALL took full advantage from the spot, sending Kearney the wrong way.

The Wrens held on for the final 10 minutes and when Manager Rudy Funk and Chairman Brian Reece shared a hug after the final whistle, you just had to smile -- a lot of hard work has been undertaken at Kirklington Road, and promotion now looks certain -- well done to all at Rainworth....

Images

Admission £4.00
Programme ( inc team sheet) £1.00
Attendance 134

Monday -- looks like another double header !! Sutton Tn AFC v Nettleham in the afternoon with Calverton MW v Kimberley Town in the evening.

It's been a long season....

2009-04-11T10:15:00.004+01:00

We started our second season of local hopping on July 19th 2008, and so far we have taken in 80 games with probably another 15 to go!

This season has been terrific -- visited 24 venues, seen 80 games with 289 goals at an average of about 3.66 per game. The last three games though, have yielded only three goals !!! I know compared to some of the "serial hoppers" we are just playing at it, but what the hell -- it's been quite a ride so far!!

With the Cup finals coming up and seasons ending late due to the poor winter (!), we will be watching games right up until the 16th May....it's been a long season so far, and to be quite honest I feel ready for a break....but I'm sure I can manage another 4 weeks or so!! We've seen tight games, real classic games, right 'ammerings, high scoring games, a few 0-0's, sendings off galore and more than our share of on and off the field incidents.

But up until the Ilkeston / Eastwood game on Good Friday, we have never felt uneasy at a game...we weren't scared or fearful, just uneasy. We were standing in the bottom corner of the ground, just away from all the goings on, but it was a night for watching your back and hoping the gates would be open in case we needed to make a quick exit.

The crowd figure of 2288 is fantastic for a non-league game and, as was obvious from the lack of organisation at the NMG, totally unexpected. With a police helicopter, police dog teams, dozens of squad cars, police vans, police motorcycles and countless officers eventually on hand - just how much did this cost the Derbyshire Constabulary?

Putting this behind us, it should be a bit more sedate over the next couple of days. We are planning to visit Rainworth, Sutton and Calverton... and not only will the atmosphere be different at these games, but we are hoping to rack up a few goals as well........

So onwards and upwards, as they say -- Kirlington Road here we come.

Oh, and this is just for my friend Gordon Foster at Rainworth :-

7 visits to Kirlington Road this season

Record in league games P5 W3 D2 L0

v Scarbro 1-0

v Appleby Frod 1-0

v Brighouse 1-1

v Ponte Colls 1-1

v Bottesford 3-0

Record in other games P2 W0 D0 L2

v Stourbridge 1-3 FA Cup

v Dunkirk 1-3 FA Vase

Friday 10th April 2009 Pt II

2009-04-10T21:53:00.009+01:00

Ilkeston Town 1-0 Eastwood Town -- UniBond Premier Division

A crowd of about 1000 was expected, but when we arrived at the NMG the traffic was aalready at a standstill and we knew that the1000 estimate was going to be well short of the actual attendance.. .

I think that 2288 surprised everyone, especially the Derbyshire Constabulary who had just a small presence initially. After a bit of bother with smoke bombs and rowdy behaviour, that presence turned into dozens of squad cars, hundreds of officers and a heccyclopter - that shone it's light in my eyes and gave me a headache with it's constant buzzing at half-time...!

Obviously there will be match reports on other sites, and I took no notes anyway...needless to say, Ilkeston won the game thanks to a Marc Newsham goal on 27. The goal came after a fierce drive had cannoned of the post - Newsham reacted quickest and fired home...

Having parked the car in the "back field" and aware of the problems that might be faced getting out of the ground, we exited 6 or 7 minutes early and were one of the first cars to leave. Back in Hucknall for 9:45pm......

Highlight of the night for Kev was his favourite ex-Badger Chris Shaw coming up and saying hello.... and after chatting to James Whitehead earlier, we were then joined by my favourite ex-Badger Danny Bryant who stayed with us throughout the game. Bryant, Whitehead, Shaw....three great players from Eastwoods recent past ... really made Kev's night let me tell you!!!

Is it really 4 years since they played together?

Friday 10th April 2009 Pt I

2009-04-10T17:33:00.006+01:00

Who is this sporting a shirt and tie?

Carlton Town 0-0 Loughborough Dynamo -- UniBond Div 1 South

Good Friday? Not at Stoke Lane it wasn't !! This was a poor 0-0, and unless you knew beforehand, you would struggle to tell who was 5th in the league and who was 13th. Both team created chances, but both lacked that cutting edge. The tea and coffee were decent enough though........

It all went downhill after this

The game started brighly enough, with the visitors Ryan Collis looking dangerous - he forced a good save from Carlton keeper Ali Barcherini early in the half. Dean Gent headed over for Carlton soon after, but the best chances fell as the first half drew to a close - first Kris Nurse failed to connect at the far post for Dynamo, then a Danny Blair header was tipped over the bar by visiting keeper Matt Nurse. Just before the whistle brought the half to an end, Town's Marquin Smith headed over from 4 yards out when he should have scored. H-T 0-0

There were a couple of early chances early in the second period - Ryan Collis again the danger man as he raced into the box forcing Barcherini to block at the near post - then Carlton sub Steve Chaplin saw his powerful goal-bound header hit Dynamo's Karl Noble in the face and go out for a corner.

On the subject of corners, Carlton's were awful - no matter who took them, they struggled to get the ball anywhere near the goal .....mind you, their free-kicks weren't much better - seems that a bit of set-piece practice is required!!

Dynamo keeper Matt Nurse tipped a long range effort from Darryl Thomas wide, but his opposite number Barcherini made the save of the game right on full time. A cross from the right was met by the head of Karl Noble, but the keeper stayed big and managed an instinctive block. F-T 0-0

Carlton stopper Ali Barcherini

Att 101

Adm £6

Tea/coffee 8/10 £0.60 -- decent size styrofoam cup...

Programme £1.50 -- lots of ads

Tuesday 7th April 2009

2009-04-07T22:14:00.008+01:00

Forest Town 1-1 Newark Town --- CML Supreme Division

A top of the table clash that didn't quite live up to expectations, and if Forest Town miss out on a trophy by a couple of points then their keeper Jason Johnson will feel even worse than I imagine he felt after this game was over. His glaring error of judgement halfway throught the second half gifted Newark an equalising goal.

Mind you, it has to be said that 1-1 was probably a fair result -- neither team managed to play any decent football and for one team to have walked away with all three points would have been something of an injustice.

The home team went ahead on 33 - the Newark defence failed to clear a corner, and allowing the home team three chances to score. After two goal-line blocks, the ball eventually fell to MARK CARTER ( I think) and he had he simple task of tapping in from close range. H-T 1-0

Newark have a few big lads - and when no. 15 LUKE PARSONS went on, he added even more height to the team. It was the tall striker who levelled after 67 minutes, when Johnson called for the ball when it was never his - and the covering defender left it for Parsons who was left an open goal to tap into from an acute angle. F-T 1-1

Not much more to say apart from IT WAS BLOODY COLD AGAIN!!!!!!! arrrgghhhhh damn weather.....!!

Admission £3

Programme -- none left, but Mr. Peter Craggs donated his -- many thanks, Peter

Tea - £0.50 Kev gave it a 9/10

Coffee - also a 9/10 -- missed the mugs - much better than the styrofoam cups.

Attendance - not too many for a top of the table clash, but a few from Newark made it up to about 40 I would estimate..

Decent Referee again - Rob Rees take a bow.

Friday - dependant on the weather really -- either Belper v Glapwell or Carlton v Loughbro in the afternoon - then off to the New Manor Ground to see ilkeston v Eastwood.

Tuesday 7th April -- Paul Holland's new book

2009-04-07T18:13:00.006+01:00

One of my favourite players during my early years as a Mansfield Town supporter was Paul Holland.

Just received my signed copy of his new book " Talking Double Dutch" - look forward to reading it whenever time allows.

Paul was part of a great Mansfield team .. Jason Pearcey: Paul Fleming, Greg Fee, George Foster, Cliff Carr: Gary Ford, Paul Holland, Steve Spooner, Steve Charles: Phil Stant, Steve Wilkinson -- I think this was probably my favourite ever Stags line-up...

I have read Phil Stant's book "Ooh, Aah, Stantona" and a blinding read it is too... I hope Dutch's effort is up to that standard!!

Saturday 4th April 2009

2009-04-04T17:46:00.017+01:00

Teversal 4-3 Appleby Frodingham -- NCEL Division 1

Looking a bit cool or what!!.

We have been meaning to get a game in at Teversal for a while, and we picked a corker!! Not a lot of elegance on show on the pitch, but endeavour and passion were plentyful.

And this was another great trip out! I know when the day has been ok when I walk away from the ground with a smile on my face - and at Tevvie I was grinning from ear to ear...

Images from the game

I need to apologise to Kev – my inane ramblings about how I have created a family tree and some of the surprises found therein made him miss his turn off….. sorry, buddy…

Still, his sense of direction was soon back in evidence after I had shut up and we arrived at Teversal Grange with plenty of time to spare. We had to wait to pay – the turnstile box was temporarily unmanned due to someones need for a cup of tea!!

Nice touch having the team sheet stuck on a window for all to see, although the P.A. guy was very good, and very clear.

Respect!!

It was good to see young Mr. Hristo Karaivanov taking the middle – the last time we saw him he was lining at a Carlton Town game. The weather was pleasant at times, although the sun did keep going back in whenever Kev put his sunglasses on !!!

Teversal opened the scoring in just the 6th minute after a great header forward from Dave Cockerill found GARY ATKINS who ran on to drill the ball past Collison in the Frod net. From the restart, visitors striker Ryan Hibbard was put through, but his shot flew over the bar. Five minutes later the same player found himself one-on-one with Tevvie keeper Jonathan Wilson, but he had too much time to think about what to do and consequently gave Wilson the opportunity to save the eventual shot.

RYAN HIBBARD it was though, who levelled the scores on 26 – he latched onto another over the top ball but this time he slotted the ball early under the body of Wilson. After Hibbard had seen a shot saved by Wilson in stoppage time at the end of the first half, the resultant corner from James Hare was flicked in neatly at the near post by CAINE MAWER to give Frod the lead. Great goal, great set-piece, but where was the marking?? H-T 1-2

We were a bit too far away from the tea shed and settled for a sit down behind the dugouts….trying not to be too critical but they look like they could do with a bit of a scrub, but nothing that some CIF and a scratter pad wouldn’t cure!!

Although Tevvie must have been a bit deflated conceding with the last kick of the first half, they stormed forward straight from the whistle, winnig four corners in quick succession. They came to nothing, but the home team did level on 54. The highest ball of the day put real pressure on keeper Collison and although he should have been favourite to collect, DAVE COCKERILL managed to get to the ball first and nod home.

Frod were back in front in the 72st minute when careless, sloppy defending allowed the ball to cross in front of the goal where RYAN HIBBARD was waiting to stretch out a long leg and steer the ball into the back of the net.

60 seconds later though it was all square again – GARY ATKINS lashing home his second of the afternoon from a Dave Cockerill cross.

Teversal scored what proved to be the winning goal on 85. That man Dave Cockerill again the architect. He sold his marker a dummy and charged off down the left touchline, then fired the ball to the far post where man on the spot GARY ATKINS was wating to calmly smash the ball past Collison….great finish to complete the hat-trick…. F-T 4-3

Hat-trick hero Gary Atkins

No problems on the way home – Kev called “Evening Post” Brian who was at Grantham watching Carlton Town win 3-0. He mentioned he was not happy about my remarks about his flatulence at the Blidworth v Forest Town game – and reported that there were no such incidents at Grantham !!!
Admission £4
Programme £1
Attendance 42 – what a shame that only 42 were present to watch this seven goal thriller….

Tuesday – EITHER : Rainworth v Grimsby Borough (Rainworth need to keep up their promotion push), OR Forest Town v Newark Town ( 1st v 2nd in the CML Supreme Division)

Tuesday 31st March 2009

2009-03-31T22:10:00.013+01:00

Blidworth Welfare 0-5 Forest Town -- CML Supreme Division

Can a Tuesday night out watching non-league football be any better than this? Although the difference in class between the two teams was obvious, the home team fought on right to the final whistle. Although that final whistle was blown just after Forest Town had added their 5th.....

Blidworth are 5th from the foot of the table, while this victory for "Foggy" sees them take over top spot - they are now two points clear of Newark with two games in hand. Their impressive run of 9 straight league wins began after we saw them lose 1-3 at home to Sutton in late December.

Decided to give the Rainworth v Eastwood senior cup tie a miss on the advice of Brian "Evening Post" Dennett - good call as it happens ... mind you, I could have done without the assault on the nostrils that seemed to eminate from somewhere in the reporters nether regions !! Sorry, but that was a bit anti-social Brian!!

Apart from that it was a nice evening - Kev even went coat-less for a while, and it was noticable that noses and eyes were dry AT LAST!!!

Decent temperature and no wind or rain.. made the evening very pleasant. Spent a while in the company of Peter Craggs, who is Forest Town through and through, and with the CML's Rob Hornby. Nice company, nice weather, good tea, very good Referee, a bit of banter with one of the linesman,,,, great stuff.

The football was decent as well, and although, as I mentioned earlier, there was a large difference in class, Blidworth gave all they had and the scoreline is a bit harsh.

MARK CARTER opened the scoring in the 10th minute, a sublime side foot volley from 20 yards that looped over Blidworth keeper Jamie Davies. Nothing Davies could do about this goal, but when MARK HURST tried his luck from about 25 yards out five minutes later, Davies inexplicably let the ball slip through his arms, and legs, and it rolled into the net. Blidworth went forward to try and cut the defecit, but their strikers were no real match for the Town defence. H-T 0-2

Kev had a tea during the interval, and rated it very highly - big styrofoam cup for £0.60p. I had an orange lucozade - I tell you what, that is a good drink ....going to get some of them in!!!

Just 4 minutes into the second half, the move of the game brought the third goal - great control in the centre of the park from Craig Jackson, the he fired an inch perfect pass to Mark Robinson on the right. The full-back played in a superb ball across the goal where MARK HURST was waiting to slam home from about 6 yards out. Great goal, great play - well worth the £3 admission.

Welfare had a strong case for a penalty on the hour after a defender appeared to handle in the box, but this wasn't the home teams night, and the Referee gave a corner instead.

CRAIG JACKSON had played well all through the game, and he got his reward in the 83rd minute. After feinting to shoot with his left, he hit a right foot curler from the corner of the area right into the top corner of the net. May have took a slight deflection, but what a strike!

LEWIS CROUCHER fired home the fifth with the final kick of the game - we were somewhat pleased for the young substitute who had squandered two decent chances earlier in the half.

Admission £3

Programme £1

Tea £0.60

Lucozade £0.75

Attendance - h/c 30

Hucknall Rolls Leisure v Linby CW on Wednesday - or I might stop in and watch England...

Saturday 28th March 2009

2009-03-28T17:33:00.016Z

Dunkirk 0-0 Gedling Town -- EMCL

I know it was cold, but ......

We haven't been to many goal-less games this season, but I suppose when the team in 3rd place plays the team in 4th it could have been forecast - and added to this the conditions were awful. Still, not the worst 0-0 we have seen.......

Pulling the bar down is one way to ensure it stays 0-0

We stood with Gedling Town Chairman Roland Ash for the first half-hour of the game - what pleasant company to be in. Genuine nice person, and his knowledge the game and of the players in the local non-league scene is nothing short of amazing. What he doesn't know probably isn't worth knowing.

Not too much to write about - the only decent chances coming late on. First, home keeper Wheater-Lowe made an error, and after making amends by blocking the resultant shot, watched with some relief as Gedling striker Eugene Francis fired the loose ball over the bar from about 8 yards out.

Then, as the ball was played up the field, Dunkirk's Theo Smith saw his effort cannon off the foot of the post. Finally, Neil Thompson tried his luck from long range, forcing James Mason in the visitors' goal to tip over. H-T 0-0

Into the second half, and Gedling looked dangerous early doors, winning a series of free-kicks. However, nothing came of any of the set pieces. They did have an effort cleared off the line in the 52nd minute, but with Dwaine Soar in superb form marshalling the home defence, keeper Wheater-Lowe was rarely troubled. It has to be said that Mason in the other goal was also not over-worked!!

Gedling's Aaron Ryan and Dunkirk's Theo Smith, Andy Frawley and Dwaine Soar all saw yellow as the half wore on.

Rob Gill was superbly played in by Ryan Johnson on 67, but the visiting striker fired just over. As the game drew to a close, Dunkrik had the best chance of the game - but Jarrod Westcarr (I think) fluffed his effort in front of goal, bringing a groan from the home supporters.

During a challenge, one of the home defenders took an accidental blow to the mouth, bringing blood. The Referee, quite rightly, asked him to leave the pitch. This prompted one of the substitutes, who was behind the perimeter rail, to berate him very loudly. Something along the lines of " he only has to leave the field if he's got blood on his shirt" and "the fans are here to watch the game, not you !" The Referee sent him off - straight red, and well deserved... respect, my a**e !! F-T 0-0

Weather-wise, it was a bad afternoon - cold, wet and windy. Well done to the players for providing a good game in the testing conditions. 90 minutes spent with a runny nose and watering eyes AGAIN, and the warm spell that has been forecast will be more than welcome!!

Images from the game

Admission £4

Programme £1

Tea/coffee -- to far to walk !!

Attendance at the start was head-count at 36 - must have been a few late-comers as the official attendance was 74...

Off to the last Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final on Tusday -- Rainworth MW v Eastwood Town. With Rainworth seeking promotion from NCEL1 and Eastwood struggling to keep their place at the top of the UniBond Premier division, you wonder what the line-ups will be....probably not their strongest...

A home semi-final against Carlton Town awaits the winners.

Notts F.A. Senior Cup Semi-final line-up

2009-03-26T16:52:00.002Z

I appear to have missed this - but better late than never...

Semi-finals of the Notts F.A. Senior Cup :-

1) Retford Town v Arnold Town
2) Rainworth MW or Eastwood Town v Carlton Town

Dates have not been decided yet......

Tuesday 24th March 2009

2009-03-24T21:56:00.014Z

Eastwood Town 1-3 Guiseley -- UniBond Premier Division

First a word of praise to Mrs. Kev..... 25th wedding anniversary - hubby's off to footie... no problem!! ... I think I'll start my own "ontheroad" hall of fame - first person in there will be Mrs. Kev.

With Kev having just driven back from taking a well earned break in Yorkshire, I drove to the gorund, and when we arrived, much to our surprise the car park still had spaces available....on previous visits we have had to park on the road.

We took up a position at the top of the Main stand - a great view, but a bit cold and draughty to say the least! The spring-like weather didn't stay around long and what we were served up on the pitch did nothing to warming the cockles either. Admittedly, Eastwood missed three glorious chances, Sturdy, Hume and Holmes all guilty, but Guiseley were undoubtedly the better team on the night and it took a couple of decent saves from Badgers' keeper Redmond to ensure the teams went in at the break on even terms. H-T 0-0

On the hour mark, Guiseley took a well deserved lead, a ball across the box tapped in by ADAM MULLER.

Marc Smith was booked for a nothing foul - a trip, a shout and "in the book you go" .. Refs are conned so easily nowadays.... anyway,it was a booking, fair or not - so as a player you take it easy for a while, don't you? Not Smith obviously - a minute or so later, another rash tackle and a second yellow and a red.......not a smart piece of football from the big front man.

Down to 10 men and soon two goals down as well ... this time it was RYAN CROSSLEY who netted for the visitors on 73.

2-0 became 3-0 with three minutes to go, when the Badgers defence failed to clear allowing JAMES HANSON to prod home.

ANDY TODD did manage to pull one back in the second minute of added time, running down the right before slotting under the body of the Guiseley keeper. F-T 1-3

I could talk about Eastwood's tactics and lambast their desire to launch the ball over the top, the old "direct football", but what's the point...? As Liverpool prove against Villa, route one works occasionally so it has a place in the game, but to use this as plan A with no plan B seems to me a little bit naive.

Anyway, it was great to see over 500 at Coronation Park on a miserable Tuesday evening. It was cold again -- as well as wet and windy. Spring-time in England - lovely...

Straight out at the final whistle, straight out of the car-park, back into Hucknall by 9:50pm ---- safe in the knowledge that our goals per game average was still intact - well over 3.75 now.

Admission £7.00

Programme -

Tea/coffee -

Att 577

Thursday - Kimberley v Forest Town ( if it stops raining!) - UPDATE --- this game is off due to floodlight failure...

Saturday 21st March 2009

2009-03-21T17:35:00.016Z

Rainworth MW 3-0 Bottesford Town -- NCEL Division One

What a change in the weather - Thursday night we were cold and damp at Kimberley, today bright sunshine and blue skies and not a runny nose in sight!!!!

Welcome

This was the 1st penalty incident

Phil Bignall fires the spot kick past Steve Jordan

The first of two penalty misses by Bottesford - Jamie Smith hits the post

Off the defender to Craig Charlesworth (no. 5) waiting to nod home

Mark Hales saves the Bottesford second penalty

Matt Draper sees red

Ant Lynam on his way to netting the Wrens third

Images from the game

Where to start? Well, let's start with the,as usual, excellent programme supplemented with a copy of the team sheet -- 40 pages and well worth the £1.00.

Into the ground and managed to grab a few minutes with Rainworth's Richard Smith - "Smig" is a friend from our Eastwood Town days - and he was lamenting the fact that the Wrens are to play the Badgers on 31st March and he is suspended. We had a word with James "Topps" Whitehead as well. The Rainworth right-back is currently on the road to recovery after suffering a serious injury a few weeks ago. He thinks he is still a couple of weeks away from playing. I wonder if HE will be fit to play against former club Eastwood Town?

Rainworth currently lie third in the table, and look likely candidates for promotion along with Scarborough - although Askern Welfare are in second spot, apparently their ground grading is not sufficient to warrant promotion. With this in mind, it is important for the Wrens to keep winning and hold onto that third spot. Bottesford are in 7th place so we thought this would be a close game - and it was - a lot closer that the final score suggests!!

After the usual early sparring, the home team were awarded a contoversial penalty in the eighth minute. Raised eyebrows from both me and Kev - but PHIL BIGNALL didn't care - he stepped up to fire his spot-kick past Steven Jordan to give the Wrens the lead.

Rainworth looked fairly comfortable at the back with the Town strikers offering little or nothing - and in the 23rd minute, when Jermaine Hollis tripped Luke Clifford who was heading away from the goal, his fellow defenders couldn't believe it....there was absolutely no danger. Hollis got out of jail though - Bottesford's Jamie Smith hammered the penalty againt the post and lashed at the rebound - only to realise too late that he can't kick the ball again - result? A free-kick to Rainworth.

Wrens hit-man Ant Lynam was foiled by a great block by Jordan on 38, after being played in on goal by Brendon Sweeney. The home team did go further ahead soon after though - a corner played in from the right cannoned off the leg of a defender and CRAIG CHARLESWORTH was on hand to jump and loop a delicate header into the top corner. H-T 2-0

Decided against tea / coffee ... remembered what it was like on our last visit - this was actually mentioned to me at pitchside later by Sue Funk, wife of the Wrens Manager ....she assured me that the drinks are now ok. We'll try one at the Eastwood game, Sue!

The visitors strated the second half well enough and asked a few more questions of the home defence - culminating in yet another penalty. A long shot by Jamie Smith was well saved by Hales and then he tipped the subsequent corner over the bar .... another corner, this time the Referee saw something and awarded the penalty.

Up stepped Town skipper Daniel Hope to take the kick, but Hales dived to his right to save. As Hope ran in to look for any scraps, he appeared to catch Hales and a 20 man melee ensued. As things calmed down, Rainworth defender Matt Draper was shown a straight red for something or other.... He went ballistic and only a few words from Chariman Brian Reece calmed him down.

Sweeney received a yellow, followed quickly by Danny Naylor as the 10 man home team tried to reorganise. As it turned out, the game was effectively over in the 66th minute. A ball through the middle picked out ANT LYNAM who raced into the box and slotted past Jordan. Rainworth tired a little towards the end of the game, but Bottesford never looked likely to stage a miracle comeback. F-T 3-0

Regular readers of this blog will know that we have not been too critical of referees this season. But Mr. Colin Barraclough was in a class of his own. More free-kicks than you could shake a stick at, 3 penalties that left everyone scratching their heads, a red card, several yellows -- and this was by no means a dirty game! This was an entertaining game and you have to wonder how good it would have been if not for such over-zealous Refereeing.

Admission £4

Programme £1 inc team sheet

Attendance 82

Tuesday - on my own - Eastwood Town v Guiseley

Thursday 19th March 2009

2009-03-19T22:08:00.010Z

Kimberley Town 2-4 Hatfield Main -- CML Supreme Division

Thursday night at Kimberley again. Guess what -- it was freezing cold again !!!

Kev had been "on the road" to St. James' Park, Newcastle - well, very near.. unfortunately it wasn't a trip he wanted to make - his meeting was to discuss his his being made redundant. He received the news on Tuesday night, his wife's birthday....how do you break that to the missus on her birthday???

25th wedding anniversary next week as well. Anyone reading this who needs a genuine, hard working employee who can turn his hand to just about anything, please get in touch. You won't regret it.

On to the game : a very entertaining affair, with plenty of action, plenty of goals and plenty of controversy - not least the speculation that Hatfield no 9 was allegedly Sam Agar who played for Yorkshire Main on Saturday and scored for them. The fact that he scored tonight as well didn't go down too well with Kimberley, as it was the goal that brought the visitors level on 30 - Aaron Russell had put Town ahead in the 12th minute, rounding the keeper before slotting home. The goal that put Hatfield in front was a spectacular overhead effort from 16 yards out. H-T 1-2

Met Cityslicker at half-time... he complimented me on the blog, and wondered how I manage to update it so soon after a game -- I told him that it was done straight away simply to get it out of the way...that and the fact that we only travel fairly locally helps!!

Kimberley should have levelled just six minutes into the second period, but their no. 7 shirt fluffed his kick when presented with a golden chance just 6 yards from the goal.

Hatfield went further ahead on 58, poor defensive work that allowed the ball to travel the length of the goal line leaving a simple tap in at the far post. However, the home team roared back and within 90 seconds Aaron Russell's drive eluded the visitng keeper to make it 2-3.

Hatfield still looked dangerous, especially raiding down their left flank - and when the ball was crossed from this flank in the 70th minute, a neat flick at the near post flew past home keeper Oxborrow who had no chance of saving.

Kimberley had been struggling to keep their discipline throughout the game and picked up a few yellows - but when an apparently good "goal" was not given, the players went apoplectic!! It was one of those " did it cross the line" issues - we were near to the goal, but our view was obscured by a piece of temporary fencing. The lino waved play on and to be fair to him, he was in line and made the decision based on what he saw.

Anyway, after a right old ear-bashing from the Kimberley players, play resumed and what started out as a half decent game ended a little bit of a scrappy affair, with accusations flying everywhere .. some at the lino, some at the referee, but most at the alleged "ringer" ....F-T 2-4

Had a look on the Yorkshire Main website to check out Sam Agar, but the player's profile does not have a picture on it..... tried to check on Hatfield Main player profiles, but they don't have a website.

Poor turn out of about 25

Admission £3 inc programme

Tea / coffee -- decided against

Saturday - unsure... Kev's is hoping to go away for a "second honeymoon" so I will be "Billy No-mates" again...

Tuesday 17th March 2009

2009-03-17T22:08:00.008Z

Calverton MW 4-0 Southwell City -- CML Supreme Division

Re-arranged from November when it was abandoned due to a bit of fog......the win sees Calverton climb above Harworth into top spot in the table.

The fisrt 15 minutes were fairly even stevens, with both teams creating decent chances. Southwell's keeper Daz Sharpe had to make a couple of saves to keep out the dangerous Warren (Wizz) Hatfield, but he couldn't stop CRAIG BOULTON from slotting past him to open the scoring on 16. A great ball through the middle lead to the goal, a tactic that Welfare used quite a lot with not a lot of effect.

Calverton keeper did make one excellent save just before the break - diving to tip a close range effort onto his post before his defence cleared to safety. H-T 1-0

Into the bar for a beverage - blimey... the little tiddy, toddy cups were back !! And at £0.80 both tea and coffee were a bit expensive - still, it was lava hot and nice enough. Quality 7/10 quantity 3/10..

Back into the cold for the second half, and although Southwell tried to get back on terms, they were not really up to the job, and the only surprise was that it took until the 71st minute for the home team to score again.

Kev was just saying that Calvo ought to be using the width instead of trying to play through the middle all the time and - lo and behold they play the ball out to the left flank, it gets crossed over, a little deflection, onto the head of BAZ PAINE at the near post.

When Hatfield ran in from the right he was upended by the Southwell left back, giving referee Mr. Harvey no option but to award a spot kick. CRAIG BOULTON stepped up to lash the ball past Sharpe to make it 3-0.

Just seconds later the home team netted again. Great work from Hatfield in the box initially saw the ball cannon off a defender straight to right back CHRIS HALL who for some strange reason was on hand at the far post to tap in. F-T 4-0

By the time we had walked back to the car, the back was stiff, the legs had siezed, the nose was running, the eyes were watering -- please someone tell me -- WHEN IS IS GOING TO GET WARMER??????

Kev off on his travels!!

The pitch in excellent nick even after the poor weather recently

Attendance h/c 45

Admission £3.00 inc programme

Thursday - off to see if Kimberley can keep up their recent revival as the entertain Hatfield Main

CML Bonanza

2009-03-14T22:14:00.002Z

Real eye-opener ....

Remember CML Supreme is step 7 and CML Premier is step 8 in the non-league pyramid.

I only made the first two games, but the attandances are outstanding!!

Rolls Royce Leisure 3-4 Ollerton Town CMLS -- att 236
Bulwell Town 1-1 Thoresby CW CMLP -- att 298
Kirkby Town 5-1 Newark Flowserve CMLP -- att 264
Forest Town 3-1 Harrowby United CMLS -- att 237
Clipston W 1-2 Kimberley Town CMLS -- att 306

Amazing, truly amazing!!

Saturday 14th March 2009 Pt II

2009-03-14T18:31:00.009Z

Gedling Town 1-2 Borrowash Victoria -- EMCL

Gedling 4th in the table v Vics 1st in the table......looked like it should have been a tight game, and it was.

Early doors, the teams cancelled each other out to a degree, and with the gusting wind, poor finishing and good defending this was never going to be a high scoring game. James Mason in the Town goal tipped over effots from Sean Gummer and Michael Lyons, while Vics' keeper Wayne Smith had little to trouble him.

The only goal of the 1st half came in the 21st minute from a corner taken from the right. Lyons' kick found Gummer on the edge of the box - his shot was intercepted by CHANNON NORTH who turned on a sixpence before firing wide of Mason from 10 yards. H-T 0-1

Rob Gill almost levelled for the home team on 52, a neat run and shot -- the ball cannoning off the crossbar with Smith well beaten. Jack Davies hammered a shot at Smith from almost 30 yards and the Vics' keeper did well to smother the ball.

Town thought they had levelled in the 65th minute when Ryan Johnson lifted the ball over Smith - but team-mate Eugine Francis decided to make sure the ball went into the net even thought he was well offside. If Francis had have left the ball alone, the goal would have stood ... as it was the lino, quite rightly, flagged for the offside much to the dismay of the Gedling faithful.

Gedling did pull level on 71, a Jack Davies free-kick eluding everyone, including Smith, before nestling in the back of the net.

This Jack Davies free-kick went straight into the net!!

The home team were level for only 6 minutes though. Gedling central defender Gary Smith gave away a needless corner, and was made to pay dearly as the ball in from the corner was headed powerfully home by MARC STRZYEWSKI some 12 yards out.

Right on full time, Francis had a simple chance to make amends for his earlier error, but when the ball reached him 4 yards from goal, he somehow contrived to fire way over the bar!! Town had a good shout for a penalty in stoppage time, but the ref waved play on. Not a classic - but given the conditions and the pressure, not bad at all !! Vics stay top of the table and look a good prospect for promotion.

Images from the game

Attendance 45

Admission £4

Programme £1

Best Boatman : Rob Gill

Best Vic : Sean Gummer

Tuesday -- Calverton MW v Southwell - initially fogged off early in the season.

Saturday 14th March 2009 Pt I

2009-03-14T12:34:00.006Z

Bulwell Town 1-1 Thoresby CW -- CML Premier Division

The second of this season's hopper bonanza - and after the Rolls v Ollerton game this was the proverbial "Lord Mayor's Show" - but to be fair to the teams they were honest and played as well as could be expected at this level. The blustery conditions did no-one any favours either. I spent all the irst half holding onto my hat -- WRONG HEADGEAR !!! -- should have been the woolie hat, but chose the baseball cap instead....d'oh!!

A lot in attenadance again. Programme stalls and all sorts going off outside the ground - not my cup of tea, so wnet straight in....No idea yet of the official figure but I head counted over 200 - excellent. Last time I went to watch Bulwell there were about a dozen of us there!!! Although Bulwell won that game 4-3, the result was expunged after Bolsover withdrew from the league. So far Bulwell have won only one game this season and sit firmly rooted to the foot of the table.

The first half saw Bulwell create a couple of decent chances with Thoresby offering very little. H-T 0-0

Went to the car during the interval - I had to park miles away from the ground initially, and paid £1 for the privelage - decided to move a bit closer to the ground and found a space overlooking the pitch ....

With Kev working, I was standing on my own - and this gives you a chance to listen to conversations going on around you. Blimey - some of these people are very serious, serial hoppers...way out of mine and Kev's league -- talking about "needing" grounds and "been there, done that" and looking up notes to see how long it takes to get from X to Y..... this is taking the "hobby" to the max!!!

Anyway, after tightening up the strap on my baseball cap I went back out into the wind. Had to wait unitl half way through the second period for the opening goal - a throw from the left flicked on to the Thorseby no. 8 who fired home from close range. Bulwell levelled on 79, a neat through ball latched onto by their skipper in the 10 shirt - he controlled well before slotting home. Bulwell had the ball in the net right on full time, but there had been an infringement earlier in the move and effort was ruled out. F-T 1-1

Off to the Riverside to see Gedling Town entertain Borrowash Vics in the EMCL.

Friday 13th March 2009

2009-03-13T21:53:00.008Z

Rolls Royce Leisure 3-4 Ollerton Town -- CMLS Division

The first of five CML games in this years hopper bonanza -- and even though this game was played on Friday 13th, it seems organiser Rob Hornby kicked the bad luck notion into touch. He really must be in seventh heaven after both teams put on a terrific display of football in from of a crowd of 238 !!

Thre Rolls team was barely recognisable from the one that was hammered 8-0 by Forest Town the last time we visited the Leisure Complex.

The game was fairly even for the first 25 minutes or so, but when the Ollerton no. 7 raced clear and slotted past the Rolls keeper on 28, we thought the floodgates would open. But Rolls stayed calm and held out right until the 44th minute when the 9 shirt saw his tame drive creep through the keepers legs and into the net. H-T 0-2

Coffee and tea at half-time was decent enough - strong and hot... needed to be because it was another cold night.......

The home team came out for the second half really fired up, and took the game to their high-flying visitors. They halved their defecit on 67, their no. 6 powering home a far post header from a corner. Ollerton though went straight up the pitch from the restart and added their third when no. 11's speculative shot from 20 yards out deflected past the Rolls keeper.

In the 79th minute Rolls scored again, another speculative shot that was flying well wide of the goal took a wicked deflection and flew into the net. This was our 250th goal of the season.

The Ollerton sub no.15 looked to be offside when played through seconds later, but there was no whistle and he went on to slot the ball wide of the keeper to make it 2-4.

Rolls were not done yet though and brought it back to 3-4 with a couple of minutes to go, the no. 6 again heading home after some poor defending. F-T 3-4

Admission £3.00

Programme £1.00

Tea/coffee £0.50 - styrofoam cup but nice enough -- 7/10

Attendance 238 !!

Great game, great to see a crowd at Rolls - usually about only 20 turn out...and credit to the teams for a terrific display of football that did the CML proud.

Well done to all !!

Saturday AM -- bonanza game no.2 -- Bulwell Town v Thoresby Colliery.....Sat PM Gedling town v Borrowash Vics -- Sat evening - going to try for the final bonanza game at Clipston - 7pm kick off.

Thursday 12th March 2009

2009-03-12T22:00:00.005Z

Kimberley Town 1-3 Radcliffe Olympic --- CMLS Division

Nice to get out to a game on a Thursday evening again. It looks like being the next two Thursday's as well -- Kimberley play their mid-week home games on a Thursday and next week they entertain Hatfield Main with Forest Town the visitors the week after.

A few hoppers present in the ground tonight - a few unwelcome louts were present outside the ground. Two police cars turned up but didn't stay long - I hope no cars were damaged...

Radcliffe had their first chance after just 30 seconds, a shot cannoning off the upright. They had their first goal after 90 seconds - AARON KOROL firing home.

BEN RICHARDSON netted the vistors second on 17, a simple tap in after the home defence failed to clear their lines.

Kimberley fought back well from going two down and Mountain in the Radcliffe goal can be thankful that the home strikers were guilty of some really wayward shooting.

It was a defensive lapse that let in JASON RUSSELL to halve the Kimberley defecit on 37, a poor effort to fire the ball up field - the ball hit Russell and he ran on at Mountain before slotting home. H-T 1-2

Kimberley tried hard to force the pace, but went 1-3 down in the 63rd minute - CARL WESTCARR saw his initial header well saved, but he volleyed home well after the ball fell kindly to him 6 yards from goal.

Radcliffe skipper Craig Anderson was dismissed on 81 for apparently raising a hand - but even against the 10 men, Kimberley struggled to get many attemps on goal. F-T 1-3

Stood with Sutton Town boss Danny Bryant for a while -- they play Radcliffe on Saturday and he was having a "bit of a look" at them..

Admission £2.50

Programme £0.50

Attendance -- h/c about 35?

Friday night - Rolls v Ollerton -- the 1st part of Rob Honby's CML football bonanza...

Tuesday 10th March 2009

2009-03-10T22:04:00.012Z

Carlton Town 3-0 Forest Town -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final

Carlton Town made it through to the semi-final stage of the Notts F.A. Senior Cup, but were made to fight for the victory by a very spirited Forest Town team.

A brace from Martin Ball and a gem from Dean Gent enough for the Millers.

First thing I need to do is apologise to the gateman at Carlton - I had a bit of a moan about being charged £6 to get in ....I am aware this is not his fault, but come on Carlton - charging the UniBond entrance fee for a game against a step 7 club is a bit out of order. Can you imagine if Notts County charged League 2 prices for the final? It is usually only £5 for the final. As it was only 44 bothered to turn out - strong competition from other local games plus Champs League on t'telly.

Still, we can thank the players for making it worth the entrance fee. The teams looked to have put their best 11's on from the start and both teams played very well -- plenty of skill on show from both sets of players.

Carlton almost had the dream start. The game was only 30 seconds old when a last ditch block by Forest Town keeper Jason Johnson kept the ball out. Straight after, Akers fed Chaplin who could only muster a weak effort that Johnson saved easily. On 15, Forest Town striker Craig Jackson saw his fierce drive saved well by Ali Bercherini in the Carlton net. The next passable chance fell to Carlton's Dean Gent - he was one-on-one with Johnson and decided to try and blast the ball past the keeper. Wrong decision, the ball smashed into the big frame of Johnson and went out for a corner.

The Millers went ahead in the 38th minute. A foul on Marquin Smith just outide the area gave the home team a free kick that MARTIN BALL fired through the wall and past Johnson. H-T 1-0

The visitors almost drew level 7 minutes into the second period - a great ball in from right back Mark Robinson headed just wide by Craig Jackson.

Carlton should have increased their lead on the hour, but Ball, unmarked, inexpicably fired over from 6 yards out. It was a superb far post cross from Aiden Brady that caught out the Forest Town defence, and Ball should have done better.

On 67, Gent saw his drive cannon off the backside of Bower, the deflection bringing out a neat diving save from Johnson. DEAN GENT did increase the Millers' lead on 73 though - a long ball out of defence found the midfield player in acres of space and as Johnson advanced 25 yards out to intercept, Gent calmly nipped around him and fired into the empty net from a tight angle.

4 minutes later it was all over. Anthony Robinson had replaced Brady on the left and his mazy run dazzled the visitors defenders, who could do nothing to stop the ball being played across the goal . Johnson made an effort to parry the cross, but the ball dropped to the feet of MARTIN BALL, giving him the easiest of tap ins at the far post. F-T 3-0

3-0 was a bit harsh on Forest Town, but they fought well and never gave up.

There was a bit of nonsense after the final whistle - someone receive a straight red card from Ref Mr. Plowright, but I have no idea who, or what for.

Admission £6 !!

Att 44

Tea/coffee £0.60 -- not bad at all 7/10

Programme - there was a programme, but didn't buy one.

Thursday, weather permitting - Kimberley Tn v Radcliffe Olympic

Saturday 7th March 2009

2009-03-07T17:25:00.012Z

Gedling MW 1-4 Borrowash Victoria --- EMCL

Nice to get down to Plains Road again - always a warm welcome waiting - and in Tony Hay, the club has a real gem. The programme is always superb and this edition even included a welcome for me and Kev.... makes me wonder how upset Tony would have been if we had have changed our minds and gone elsewhere!!

Borrowash needed to win to keep up the pressure at the top of the league - Gedling Town, Dunkirk and Kirby Muxloe are all in with a chance of the title. Welfare look to be safe in mid-table on 35 points.

Injuries meant that Gedling were without regular keeper Lance Walker and influential midfield player Matt Richards. Along with the departure of striker Antwon Bonnick to Hucknall Town, Welfare could have done without meeting one of the form teams in the EMCL.

The players on the Borrowash bench would walk into most teams at this level. With the likes of Sean Gummer, Tom Berridge, Jamie Pawley and Karl Payne to call on if needed, Vics look to have put a decent squad together.

Gedling held out for just 11 minutes - Vics left-winger John Guy tormenting the home defence before crossing into the box where PHIL SUMMERFIELD was on hand to lift the ball over Holmes in the Welfare goal.

Summerfield fires home the 1st goal for Vics

Gedling tried to fight back, but look a little lightweight up top, with Rennicks and Middleton offering little threat. The visitors almost went further ahead on 38, Summerfield rattling the upright with a firece drive. Although the half was occasionally a bit fiesty, nothing untoward happened until right on half-time when Guy and Gedling's Terry Hawkridge decided to put their heads together - not exactly head-butting, but seen by the lino and he drew Referee Mr. Hume's attention to the scuffle.

Unfortunately the lino advised Mr. Hume incorrectly, telling him that he needed to talk to red 11 and yellow 7 - a quick retraction followed -- it was red 11 and yellow 11... Both players were eventually booked, but could so easily have walked... H-T 0-1

The second half was just 30 seconds old when the Vics doubled their lead, Rob Spencer playing the ball into the box and after a clever leave by Channon North, PHIL SUMMERFIELD slammed the ball home from 12 yards.

4 minutes later the game was effectively over as a contest. A free-kick from the left saw Welfare centre-half Hesham Ramadam inexplicably direct his headed "clearance" straight to ROB SPENCER who said thank you and volleyed home with some ease.

Although the home team never gave up, Borrowash were far too powerful for them and really were good value for their three goal lead. This was a four goal lead on 86, RORY MAXWELL firing a 20+ yard free-kick past Holmes.

Maxwell's free-kick for the Vics' 4th

The one thing that the home team can take from the game is the fact that they scored the best goal of the day. Right on full time, BEN MIDDLETON latched onto a ball played into the corner of the Vics penalty area and crashed the ball into the net across their disbelieving keeper Wayne Smith -- great goal.

Enjoyable game, and a result that sees the Derbyshire outfit go top of the table.

Images from the game

Admission £3

Programme £1 -- one of the best around at this level

Tea/coffee £0.50 -- both excellent, but not big enough... tiddy, tiny styrofoam cup - 7/10

Attendance 94 -- second highest of the day in the EMCL

Tuesday, weather permitting, we are off to see Carlton Town take on Forest Town in a Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final.

Busy week ahead!!

2009-03-07T10:35:00.004Z

If all goes to plan then the coming week will be a bit of a busy one, with 6 games scheduled in between Tuesday and Saturday.

Not too sure if I'll make the Saturday morning game - bit too early for me....

Tuesday 10th March -- ko 7:45pm -- Carlton Town v Forest Town ( Notts FA Senior Cup 1/4 final)
Thursday 12th March -- ko 7:45pm -- Kimberley Town v Radcliffe Olympic ( CMLS)
Friday 13th March -- ko 7:45pm -- Rolls Royce Leisure v Ollerton Town ( CMLS)
Saturday 14th March -- ko 10:15am -- Bulwell Town v Thoresby Colliery ( CMLP)
Saturday 14th March -- ko 3:00pm -- Gedling Town v Borrowash Victoria ( EMCL)
Saturday 14th March -- ko 7:00pm -- Clipstone Welfare v Kimberley Town ( CMLS)

The following Tuesday we will take in the Calverton Welfare v Southwell game. We went to the original game on 4th November last year, but it was abandoned after 20 odd minutes due to fog.

I wonder if we'll have to pay again???

Wednesday 4th March 2009

2009-03-05T05:27:00.022Z

Worksop Town 3-1 Frickley Athletic -- UniBond Premier Division

This has got to be one of the best games we have been to this season - it had almost everything - great goals, some superb football, fights, penalty, penalty save, poor officials, crowd banter -- what a feast all for just £8........

Missed our regular Tuesday night game - I wasn't feeling too well, but the planned game, Ilson v Marine was postponed anyway..

As luck would have it, Worksop were scheduled to play Frickley on Wednesday at the Watnall Road home of Hucknall Town - and as this is only 2 minutes from where we live decided to give it a go. And are we glad we did!! This was brillliant - a real feast of all that is good, and not so good, about the beautiful game.

Andy White, a former Mansfield Town favourite of mine, started up top for Worksop, while Peter Knox, on loan from Eastwood Town lead the attack for Frickley. The first 5 minutes saw 5 or six decent chances created, and only last ditch blocks and good keeping kept the scoresheet blank. Knox was looking very lively and his touch superb, causing all sorts of problems for the Worksop defence.

Midway through the 1st half, Worksop took the lead completely against the run of play. A super through ball by Tomlinson found ANDY WHITE who took it in his stride, shrugged off his marker before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper. Cool finish, great through ball.....

From the restart, Frickley poured forward and produced several decent chances, but the home defence was working overtime and looking solid.. UNTIL ....Frickley winger Danny Clarke ran the ball to the goal-line and appeared to have over-run the ball for a goal-kick - but the linesman never flagged, the Referee never whistled and when keeper Ogden palmed the ball half-heartedly to the ground, PETER KNOX was on hand to tap in from about 6 inches. Well - bedlam ensued - the respect campaign went down the toilet, as the Worksop players went ape, and the linesman was verbally assaulted from all sides.

The ball did look like it had gone out for a goal-kick, but come on lads, play to the whistle..and remember - respect the officials...

As it transpired, the goal spurred the home team on - their pent up anger and frustration clearly visible - and they were in front again straight from the off - Galloway finding Tomlinson on the right and his cross tucked away neatly by ALEX CALLERY. H-T 2-1 Phew!!!!!!

More attacking play from both teams in the second period, but it was the home team who went further ahaed on the hour mark - again a slightly controversial goal according to the Frickley faithful, but it looked ok to us. A strong challenge in midfield saw the ball deflect into the path of CHRIS ADAM who calmly ran on to the edge of the box before firing wide of Adam Nicklin and into the far corner.

Would have been 4-1 if Callery had converted a penalty on 80 - he hit it just at the right hight for Nicklin to dive to his left and push away. The spot-kick was won by Andy White who ran into the box and was unceremoniously dumped on his backside by Walsh.

How the game finished with all 22 players on the pitch is something of a mystery. Frickley's Jonathan Groome was a bit reckless on more than one occasion, and when Chris Adam threw a punch at Steve Robinson, everyone assumed it would be a straight red for the Worksop winger - amazingly he received only a yellow --- lucky sod....

Anyway, overall a great game of football and about time we saw a really good 'un.....F-T 3-1

Report from Worksop website

Admission £8

Programme -didn't bother

Tea/coffee -- didn't bother

Attendance 174

Weather - freezing

Saturday, hoping to go and see Gedling MW take on Borrowash Vics

Well - would you believe it?

2009-03-02T18:17:00.005Z

The Nottinghamshire FA's premier competition is the Saturday Senior Cup. This has now reached the 1/4 final stage and to me, this means only 4 games to sort out.

Two of the games are to be played on the 31st March and one game is yet to be scheduled, so you would think that Notts F.A. would be able to remember to appoint match officials for the ONE game that could go ahead.

Well, they failed to do so, and now our scheduled midweek game, Carlton Town v Forest Town has been postponed. It will now take place on the 10th March with a 7:45pm kick off apparently.

We were due to go to watch Eastwood v Marine on the 10th, so that is now in the bin.

This weeks replacement midweek "fix" will more than likely be Ilkeston v Marine.

Revised Senior Cup draw:

10th March Carlton Tn v Forest Tn 7:45pm

31st March Rainworth MW v Eastwood Tn 7:30pm

31st March Retford United v Dunkirk (reinstated after Hucknall were booted out) 7:30pm

No date Gedling Town v Arnold Tn

Saturday 28th February 2009

2009-02-28T18:13:00.015Z

Forest Town 3-0 Clipstone Welfare -- CML Supreme Division

Should have gone to Ilkeston v Leigh, but the lure of the local derby called - and as it tuned out it wasn't a bad choice of game. With Kev working, I was on my own and decided that having seen both these teams win during the week it might be interesting to see them in action against each other.

As it transpired, watching the two losing teams would have been the better option for our goals per game average, the Kimberley v Rolls game ending 5-2 to the home team.

No idea of the attendance, but it was a good one ....looked to be about 100 or so. Plenty of vocals from the Clippo fans - but some of it no doubt fuelled by the large amounts of beer being consumed!!

Talked to CML official Rob Hornby as the game kicked off - he was enthusing about the forthcoming CML "hopper bonanza" that takes place in a couple of weeks - so far 104 tickets have been sold..

Rob Hornby

Also bumped into Carlton Town's Daryll Claypole - he was taking notes on Forest Town who travel to Stoke Lane on Tuesday to play Carlton in a Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final.

As noted previously, I watched Clipstone last week and it seems they had kept the same boots on - their early shots flying everywhere but at Johnson in the Town goal...!!

The home team began with 3 up front, Jackson, Elliott and McCann - all decent players and after Clipstone's early chances, the home team began to assert themselves and went in front on 13. A neat through ball from Tighe collected by JAMES McCANN who ran on, rounded Sheppard in the Clippo goal and slotted home.

Clipstone rallied and began to rattle their high-flying neighbours bringing a series of poor challenges - Jackson, Tighe and Holmes all collected yellows for their cynical challenges.....

Carl Russo had the chance to level for the visitors just before the break, but he fired straight at Johnson from close range. H-T 1-0

After a Clipstone 58th minute corner was cleared, McCann made a great surging run down the left before cutting in and firing over. This seemed to prompt Welfare into dropping players back and they were sometimes defending with a back six !!

This invited Town on and only a couple of decent saves from keeper Sheppard kept them in the game. Holmes saw a header cleared off the line and then Carter watched in agony as Sheppard collected his well struck effort.

The home team increased their lead on 75. A Jackson ball into the box found McCann who was tripped - Referee had no doubt, and it looked a stonewaller from where I sat. CRAIG JACKSON fired the spot kick past Sheppard - although the young keeper made a valiant effort to save.

Craig Jackson (4) fires past Sheppard from the spot

It was 3-0 in the 79th minute - a superb free-kick from Hurst nodded back across goal to SAM HOLMES who was waiting unmarked on the line to nod home. F-T 3-0

Admission £3

Programme - £1 -- excellent

Coffee - £0.50 and probably the best ever... big, full mug, steaming hot, very strong --- could have been out of my flask it was that good!!! 10/10

Attendance - my best guess 100 ... seemed to be a well supported local derby...

Images from the game

Tuesday - we are taking in the afore mentioned Notts F.A. Senior cup game at Carlton.

Hucknall Town out of Senior Cup !

2009-02-27T20:10:00.001Z

From Hucknall website

Town Removed from Senior Cup

It has been confirmed this morning that Hucknall Town have been expelled from the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup for playing a player who should have been suspended.
The 1-0 win at Dunkirk saw Gary Ricketts take the field for Town, but he should have been serving a one game ban. However, the club received notification of the ban three days after the Dunkirk game, from the FA, but following a meeting with the County it has been confirmed that Town are out of this season`s Senior Cup.
It`s disappointing news obviously but it`s a decision that we have to accept.

From Retford website

Notts FA hearing for opponents cancels Cup clash

The Notts Senior Cup Quarter Final match versus Hucknall Town scheduled for Tuesday 3rd March 2009 has been postponed due to the Watnall Road side being involved in a Notts FA hearing regarding their last match against Dunkirk in Round 3.It is understood that the club played a suspended player in the game and this matter is being looked at by the County Association.It is not yet known what the outcome and implications of this will be, but we will keep supporters informed as soon as information is made available.It has since transpired that Hucknall Town have been removed from the competition as the Badgers now wait to see if they will face Dunkirk in the next round, or if they get a bye to the Semi Finals.

Thursday 26th February 2009

2009-02-26T21:56:00.008Z

Kimberley Town 1-2 Clipstone Welfare --- CML SupremeDivision

Bonus mid-week game and not a bad one, it has to be said. Thoroughly enjoyable, although some of the players from both sides had left their shooting boots at home. The phrase containing the words, "barn door, with a banjo, couldn't hit a" applied...!

The first half was a bit of a non-event really – oh, the teams performed well enough, and Kimberley again showed some good defensive fortitude, but apart from a fluffed header by Clipstone’s Dominic Jones and a great diving save from home keeper Mick Oxborrow, there was not a lot to write about. Several shots were tried by both teams, but most were so far off target that they ought not be classed as shots. H-T 0-0

Went for a beverage at half-time – proper mug but Kev’s verdict only 5/10. I didn’t bother – it wasn’t cold enough for me to need a hot drink. "Young" Brian Dennett was sat sitting at a table with a mug of OXO … but he put a little to much pepper in it and it ended up making his eyes water!!

With just five minutes of the second half played, the Kimberley right back decided he would try and dribble the ball out of his area – I’m afraid he is not quite good enough to attempt this and was almost made to pay dearly when Carl Russo dispossessed him and forced another good save out of Oxborrow.

Welfare took the lead on 55, a great through ball collected well by Mike Hewitt – he found CARL RUSSO who side-stepped Oxborrow before firing home from close range.

Oxborrow pulled off a superb flying tip over on the hour - this young keeper doesn’t half look a prospect. Seconds later his opposite number, Dale Sheppard, was sent off for clattering into a Kimberley attacker as he ran in on goal. Seemed to be a just bit of a collision, and a red card looked a bit harsh. Still, it was a foul, and was deemed to be a goal-scoring chance so “letter of the law” says red card.

The home team drew level on 63 – a neat shot across the stand-in Clippo keeper from an acute angle from new signing AARON RUSSELL. The lead only lasted 10 minutes though… Clipstone back in front after a deflected shot from GARY BUCHANAN from almost 25 yards out just beat the outstretched dive of Oxborrow and went in off the inside of the post. Tough on the keeper, but the deflection moved the ball just enough ….

Kimberley failed to take full advantage of Clippo being a man down, with an outfield player in goal – and it was the visitors who had most of the play until the final whistle. F-T 1-2

Admission £3

Programme £1 ( nice one Danny!)

Tea – never asked how much it was

Attendance – head count -- about 35?

Saturday – Kev’s working so I will be “Billy No-mates” again… supposed to be at Ilkeston v Leigh but may opt for Belper v Lincoln Utd...

Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final line-up

2009-02-26T07:08:00.004Z

Tuesday 3rd March
Carlton Tn v Forest Tn
Retford Tn v Hucknall Tn
Gedling Tn v Arnold (after Gedling Tn beat Gedling MW 3-1 on Weds 25th Feb)

Tuesday 31st March
Rainworth MW v Eastwood Town FC

Tuesday 24th February 2009

2009-02-24T22:00:00.009Z

Rolls Royce Leisure 0-8 Forest Town -- CML Supreme Division

Scoreline just about says it all,,,

It was 0-4 at half-time.

Then Rolls lost the plot a little, had one of their management team sent from the dugout, had their goalkeeper and an outfield player sent off as well...

Forest Town's biggest ever win sees them leap above Sutton into third place in the league... spent the game in the company of Gordon Foster aka rainworthgord and a very pretty 18 year old girl....made our night!!

Err.. oh yes - the match ...

It took just 5 minutes for Forest Town to open their account, SAM HOLMES heading home sweetly at the far stick.

Rolls then had a brief spell of possession, but all too soon their high flying visitors netted again -- well, it was an OG really, a cracking diving header from the the Rolls 4 shirt after Robinson had headed back across goal. On the half-hour it was 0-3, JAMES McCANN volleying home after Jackson had twice headed against the bar!! HOLMES grabbed his second in the 33rd minute, tapping in from close range. H-T 0-4

Straight from the re-start, McCANN curled a beauty past the Rolls keeper to make it 0-5. The Rolls keeper was dismissed for headbutting an opponent. An out-field player and one of the Management team soon followed, leaving Rolls five-none down and with 9 players. CRAIG JACKSON rounded the stand-in keeper on 62 to score the Forest Town 6th, then McCANN completed his hat-trick on 75. The 8th and record breaking goal was netted by JACKSON seconds later.

Strange but true : "Foggy" had not played all that well up to this point, then after the eighth goal had gone in, they started passing it about like they were Brazil !! Mind you, Gary Castledine's appearance off the bench had a lot to do with this....

We were informed that Rolls are not entering a team in the CML next season. If they lose at Kimberley on Saturday, they will be bottom of the league. A bit of a sorry state for Hucknall's second highest placed team to be in..but I believe Hucknall Rolls Leisure will still be alive and kicking.

Attendance h/c 21

Admission - no-one on the gate to take our money

Programme - none

The young lady? Girlfriend of the Rolls no. 5 jacket.......

Thursday we are off to see if Kimberley can carry on where they left off on Saturday when they entertain in-form Clipstone at the Stag Ground.

Saturday 21st February 2009

2009-02-21T17:16:00.007Z

Sutton Town AFC 0-0 Kimberley Town -- CMLS

Went for a pre-match cuppa - it appeared that the caterers had not turned up - but the coffee and tea were, as usual, superb -- big cup, hot and very welcome.

Great defensive performance from bottom of the table Kimberley Town, although to be fair they had little to fear from a very tame and ineffective Sutton front line.

Sutton only began to play with half an hour gone, then when they did manage to break through the solid Kimberley back-line, they found young keeper Micky Oxborough in fine form. H-T 0-0

Sent the score by text to "Kimberley" Danny during the break - he replied "have Sutton turned up?"

Sutton began to assert a bit more pressure in the second half, but again fired blanks. Oxborough was tested again as the game entered it's death throes - but when Sutton's Lee Clay was given a second yellow and then red, we new the game would finish scoreless. F-T 0-0

This was down as a game that would at least keep up our goals per game average, but credit where credit is due - Kimberley deserved their point and we endured our second 0-0 in 5 days.....

The afternoon started out very spring-like, but by the end of the game I was frozen -- a bit too early to put the gloves and scarf away !!

Images from the Fieldings

Admission £3

Programme - not available

Attendance h/c 35

Tea /coffee £0.50 for a large cup.. great value.

Tuesday - Rolls Royce Leisure v Forest Town

Wednesday - Gedling Town v Gedling MW

Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 finals

2009-02-21T11:09:00.008Z

Rainworth MW v Eastwood Town -- Rudy Funk is over the moon.

Rainworth Manager Rudy Funk has said this draw is a dream come true - he and Eastwood boss Paul Cox are great friends and this was the match he wanted. Rainworth website has more.

The ties are to be played 3rd March with a 7:30pm kick off, but this is usually flexible.

Draw in full

Rainworth MW v Eastwood Town
Carlton Town v Forest Town
Calverton MW / Retford Utd v Hucknall Town
Gedling Town / Gedling MW v Arnold Town

The Rainworth v Eastwood game is one that both myself and Kev are looking forward to. We have seen a lot of both teams over tha past few seasons, and although on paper it should be an Eastwood win, I reckon this could be a close game.

Rainworth MW play in the NCEL Div 1(step 6), while Eastwood are flying high in the UniBond Premier Division (step 3). Eastwood have just added prolific Danny Holland to their strike force and look formidable up top. Danny Holland, Ian Holmes, Peter Knox, Marc Smith, Matt Rhead, Lindon Meikle are all top players. However, Rainworth have a few proven goalscorers of their own in Malc Brown, Ant Lynam, Phil Bignall, Robbie Clarke and Alan Jeffries -- I know they can't all play, but both have decent attacking line-ups to choose from.

Former Badgers James Whitehead, Richard Smith and Danny Bainbridge would love to put one over their former team, as would Rainworth physio Dave Nicholls who "carried the bucket" for Eastwood for many years. For Paul Cox it will be a chance for him to take a look at his former academy star Jermaine Hollis. Big things were predicted for this young player after he went to Kidderminster Harriers from the Eastwood Academy, but obviously things didn't quite go to plan ...

This one is in the diary - no matter when it's played!! Should be 3rd March -- Eastwood do not have a league fixture that day, and the fixture is already on the NCEL website, albeit with the incorrect ko time...should be 7:30pm NOT 7:45pm

Wednesday 18th February 2009

2009-02-18T21:37:00.008Z

Hucknall Rolls Leisure 0-4 Carlton Town --- Notts F.A. Senior Cup

Bonus game this week - although Kev had to give it a miss because of work commitments. Met Brian "Evening Post" Dennett at the ground - he kindly let me crib the team line-ups. Carlton put out a fairly strong team, determined not to take the opposition too lightly. I don't know a lot about Hucknall Rolls Leisure, but looking at their previous match reports they put out a strong team as well.

Rolls : Waters, Hulme S, Potter, Lee, Harrison, Hulme P, Patterson I, Wass, Hodgson, Niblett, Betteridge. Subs: Ashrust, Lancaster, Patterson D, Marshall, Poole.

Carlton: Bercherini, Smith F, Fletcher, Henshaw, Cane, Smith M, Robinson, Gent, Chaplin, Akers, Fenton. Subs: Brindley, Francis, Ball, Thomas, Marshall.

The pitch has suffered a great deal recently, and was not looking it's best. The goalmouths were very muddy, but the outfield seemed to play ok and didn't seem to cause the players too many problems.

Rolls play in the Notts Senior League - equivalent to step 9 in the non-league pyramid. Carlton ply their trade in the UniBond Division One South - step 4 - so were clear favourites to progress to the 1/4 finals of the competition.

It took a while for the visitors to get into their stride, and Rolls did well to match them for the first 20 minutes or so - then after an intense spell of pressure the ball fell kindly to STEVE CHAPLIN 10 yards from goal, and his accurate drive went just past the outstretched hands of Waters to nestle in the back of the net. Chaplin went close again soon after, but Carlton were finding it difficult to break down the home defence and it was something of a relief to hear the half-time whistle. H-T 0-1

Coffee from my flask - 10/10 ... wonderful stuff - will keep me awake all night!!!

Carlton started the second half well enough, but they were not having things all their own way, with Rolls' sub Danny Poole in particular asking one or two questions of their defence.

It was soon game over though - CHAPLIN netting his second in the 73rd minute, a curling right-foot shot beating Waters. TERRY HENSHAW made it 3-0 on 84 with a close range tap-in, then CHAPLIN tapped in to complete his hat-trick with just 2 to go. Finished 0-4, but to be honest, Carlton never got out of second gear and were never in any danger of losing this tie.

Had a chat to Michael Banister who was fresh from scoring for Wollaton against Arnold on Tuesday night, also met Gedling MW centre-back Brett Peel - their game at Gedling Town was called off because of a power cut down by the Riverside.

One or two hoppers were present, and I spent a pleasant half-hour with a couple of them, discussing all things football and mutual aquaintances...( sorry, I failed to get your names, but I am sure we will meet again soon enough!!).

Admission £2.50 inc programme

Att 50 h/c

Coffee - unusually for Rolls there was tea and coffee on offer, but I had my marvelous flask of Nescafe..

Saturday : Sutton Town AFC v KImberley Town --- if the Fieldings pitch is fit to play on....

Tuesday 17th February 2009

2009-02-17T22:21:00.007Z

Mansfield Town 0-0 Kettering Town --- BSP

After a first 45 minutes of decent football, we were hoping that the second 45 would be as good - unfortunately both teams cancelled each other out and the game ended goal-less. Mansfield were denied a chance of taking all three points after the myopic Referee missed a stone-wall penalty after Gary Silk was upended in added time.

We were somewhat amused by Stags Manager David Holdsworth views on the game on Radio Nottingham. He thought the Stags played with flair (?), Rob Duffy won all his headers (?) and Lewis Briscoe was great at breaking on the counter (?)..... which Field Mill did we go to? Not the same one Mr. Holdsworth did, obviously.

Basically, the Stags offered little. Kettering were solid at the back, with giant Exodus Geohaghon mopping up everything alongside Guy Branston. ..

Not been to many 0-0 this season, but I suppose we have to take them in our stride and hope that the next game is a little better...

Report from Stagsnet.net

Admission £16

Attendance 2355 (175 from Kettering)

Coffee -- Kev's flask --- a bit weak again, but very nice anyway... 7/10

Wednesday -- off to see NSL outfit Hucknall Rolls take on UniBond Div 1 team Carlton Town in the Notts F.A. Senior Cup -- kick off 7:30pm

Saturday 14th February 2009

2009-02-14T19:50:00.034Z

Gedling Town 6-1 Heanor Town -- EMCL

Hey !! --- we're back on the road after a two-week mid-winter break.....damn weather! It's good to see the snow disappearing, but blimey isn't it time it warmed up a little? Getting a bit fed up with runny nose and watering eyes - roll on Spring!

Not been to the Riverside for a while and it was a bit worrying watch the various websites and seeing non-league games being postponed left, right and centre. However our scheduled game was never in doubt according to Gedling Chairman Roland Ash - apparently Notts County trained there yesterday.

Took the obligatory wild-life pics before going into the ground -- there were avian creatures by the hundred......

Gedling's pitch is usually in a pristine condition, but even the Riverside has suffered with the severe weather we have had recently - still there is plenty of grass on the pitch and it played well enough.

Gedling's line-up was relatively unchanged since the last time we saw the. Heanor had four ex-Eastwood Town U19 Academy players in their squad - Anthony Bedward, Callum Mason and Lee Stevenson were on the bench, with Liam Garner starting at no. 9. Mason looked a real prospect when he was with Eastwood, but failure to gain a first team place meant he felt he had to move to pastures new, and this is the first time I have seen him for a while.

The visitors began really well, forcing their high flying opponents onto the back foot and causing home keeper James Mason a few problems. They made the pressure pay on 12, a deflected shot from the edge of the box beating Mason at his left hand post. Maybe you could say the keeper should have done better, but the EMCL Mitoo website recorded this as an OG, so the deflection must have been more wicked than we thought.

Gedling striker Epps brought out a great save from Heanor keeper Sam Ogrizovic as Gedling looked to restore parity, but Heanor should have doubled their lead in the 28th minute - good wing play by Bobby Mawer saw him find Timmons on the penalty spot, but the striker fluffed his kick and Gedling cleared. Five minutes later the home team levelled the scores - making the missed Timmons chance even m ore painful! The goal was created by Heanor's no. 4 Ady Hawes - he tried to switch the play from left to right, but his wayward 40 yard crossfield pass fell kindly to Rob Gill who ran on and fired the ball in for strike partner GRAHAM EPPS to lash home at the far post.

Ogrizovic saved well from Jimmy Spiers as Gedling took control of the game, and I happened to mention to Kev that Heanor may crumble if Gedling get another - prophetic words indeed... H-T1-1

Probably because of my incessant criticism of Kev's coffee making skills, there was no flask today - decided to get our beverages from the snack bar - tea for Kev, coffee for me.

Kev's tea was lukewarm and he only gave it 1/10 because it at least did taste like tea! My coffee was hot enough, but I can't stand skimmed milk, and that was all that was on offer - just 4/10 from me. To be brutally honest, the snack bar was a bit of a shambles - only one lady serving and quite a large queue. I can only put this down to the fact that 78 is quite a large attendance at Gedling and the staff were not prepared ....

Three minutes into the second half, Gedling took the lead through AARON RYAN. With Ogrizovic off his line, Ryan looked up and launched the ball from 40+ yards straight over the keeper's head and into the back of the net. Great goal, and this was followed second later by another. Jack Davies played the ball into Rob Gill who flicked it over his shoulder straight onto the head of AARON LARGE - the winger made no mistake, looping his header over the keeper from 10 yards.

To their credit, Heanor did manage a couple of attacks, one effort by Garner forcing Mason into a diving save. They went further behind though on 64. Again Rob Gill involved, playing the ball into Luke Jennings. The sub mis-timed his shot, but the ball fell straight to the feet of GRAHAM EPPS who finished well.

Just five minutes later it was 5-1, LARGE curling the ball right-footed past Ogrizovic after more great midfield play by Jennings. LARGE completed his hat-trick on 71, again fine midfield play, again the right-foot curler. You had to feel a bit sorry for Orgisovic in the Heanor net .. but I think dad Steve would have struggled to keep any of the efforts out. The striking from Gedling was so clinical - a real joy to watch.

Heanor keeper Sam Ogrizovic

It finished 6-1, but up until the ill-fated cross-field ball from Hawes, Heanor looked the better team and if Timmons had have took his chance, who knows?

Best Boatman was Aaron Large --- this lad never stops running. Great engine and what an eye for goal! Maybe a struggle for Gedling to keep him - he looks a really decent player.

Best Red - Bobbie Mawer

Attendance - 78
Admission £4
Programme £1
Tea/coffee £0.50
Entertainment - priceless

Footnote : floodlights were not used -- still enough natural daylight at 4:50pm....

Tuesday - bullet biting and wallet busting trip to Field Mill --- I still think that £16 is too much for non-league footie, but I have to answer to the call of the Mill occasionally!!

Images from the Riverside

Tuesday 10th February 2009

2009-02-10T18:07:00.006Z

Ok... so the Ilkeston game has gone-- they are at Mickleover in the Derbyshire Senior Cup -- now the Hucknall Rolls game is off, Calverton is off.....

Dunkirk v Hucknall Town is on -- but it's too late to catch this one, and Kev is a bit under the weather anyway.

Not going out - Brazil v Italy on the box looks good....

Hucknall Rolls v Carlton is scheduled for Weds night - but Spain/England may take precidence..

Saturday -- should be Gedling Town v Heanor Town ( weather permitting)

Blank Saturday - 7th February 2009

2009-02-07T11:24:00.004Z

The only game available is Mansfield Town v York City - but at £16.00 this is a little too expensive at the moment.

Spent most of Saturday AM looking at the various forums and league websites - games were being called off left, right and centre...the last to fall was the CMLS Blidworth v Forest Town game. So it looks like another afternoon with manic Jeff Stelling...

What chance for Tuesday??? Hucknall Rolls v Carlton Tn??

Saturday 31st January 2009

2009-01-31T14:08:00.020Z

Pinxton FC 3-0 Rolls Royce Leisure -- CML Supreme Division

Probably the poorest second half we have seen this season so far. The first half was ok, but football was noticable by it's absence after the break.

Our first visit to the Welfare Ground at Pinxton, and we were made very welcome - even though the gateman did ask politely if I was a Senior Citizen -- Kev said I was and that he was my Son!! I'll get my own back soon ....

The Welfare Ground is quite easy to locate - after all there is only one road in and out of Pinxton and once you catch sight of the floodlights you can't go wrong. Bit of a trek up a grassy hill to the entrance, but the view facing you on entering the ground is marvelous - a 700 year old church built on the site of a Norman castle -- pretty as a picture.....

Rob Hornby of the CML had given us details of where the tea-bar was located, so we headed straight there - just as the players were coming out of the changing rooms. Referee Mr. Storer ( good name!) held the players up while he explained the respect campaign handshake routine - the routine in which the players all shake hands before the kick-off. This is becoming more and more popular now, and if this is going to be the norm at step 7, well done to whoever implemented it.

Very passable beverages - tea /coffee at £0.50 - 8/10 for my coffee and Kev gave his tea the same rating. We located ourselves in the bottom corner of the ground and marvelled at the amount of young girls that were in attendance. Usually we are treated to one or two, but at this game there were the five pictured below, plus a few more to grab our attention when the football failed to!!

Pinxton were 3-0 up at half-time and the lead was well deserved - Rolls showed hardly anything in attack and their defending left a lot to be desired. On 19, the no. 11 shirt, Kieren Debrouwer, headed home a right wing cross, then three minutes later another right wing cross was nodded home by the Pinxton no. 9 Daniel Marriott. The third goal came in the added minute of stoppage time, a great through ball latched onto by the no. 7 jacket Jay Cooper, who calmly fired across the Rolls keeper and into the net.

Another cuppa at the break - same passable quality. Also a chance to collect the raffle prize - nice bottle of Hock that I'm sure Mrs. Kev will enjoy. Nice chat with fellow hopper Chrisb - he had made copious notes, but to be brutally honest there was not a deal to write home about - and the next 45 minutes were even worse. I made no notes at all during the second half - Rolls tried but had no firepower, while Pinxton seemed content with their 3 goal lead. F-T 3-0.

Attendance 40 ( head count)

Admission £2.50

Programme £1

Tea/coffee £0.50

Not many players stood out on either side, the Pinxton left-back (who I believe is Adam Robinson) looked a good player, but as I didn't take down the line-ups before the game I may have his name wrong.

Images from the Welfare Ground

Tuesday -- hopefully Hucknall Rolls Leisure v Carlton Town in the Notts F.A. Senior Cup.

Tuesday 27th January 2009

2009-01-27T22:52:00.013Z

Nottingham Forest 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday -- Coca Cola Championship

C'mon you Reds!!!!

err,... sorry - got a bit carried away there!!

Hope you get chance to see Nathan Tyson's goal on t'telly... what a pass from Gareth McLeary!! Tyson never broke stride before hammering the ball past Lee Grant in the Owls net... what a goal to bring up our 200th of the season!!

Report from Forest website

Our first visit of the season to the City Ground - I had managed to secure our Company Season Tickets for the game. We set off from our Hucknall base at 6:45pm, safe in the knowledge that even on match days we can get to the ground in 45 minutes.....WRONG! We were not prepared for the traffic we encountered - blimey, what a mess the streets of Nottingham can be at times..

Kev is a brilliant town driver, and knows the route by heart and is superb at taking every opportunity to dodge and weave offered by others - but even his skills were not enough on this occasion. We were still sat on Trent Bridge when the game kicked off, but at least we had Radio Nottingham to keep us informed. I can only remember clearly one occasion when I missed a kick off - Stockport v Mansfield in August 2002 - supporters coach was late !! Anyway, we eventually parked up in the Rushcliffe Civic Centre ( corporate!) and rushed to the Legends Bar (corporate) - the staff were all having their tea!! But we were warmly welcomed and handed a programme and team sheet ( nice!!) before making our way to our seats.

Our block of 4 seats is directly behing the Directors' Box and at 7:55pm they were the only ones still unoccupied....still - we were there and apparently hadn't missed too much action.

Bad defending from a corner cost Forest dearly when Jermaine Johnson tapped in from a Richard Wood knock down to the delight of the massed hoards of Wednesday fans in the Bridgford End lower tier. Francis Jeffers then hacked Joe Heath down and got a richly desreved straight red - the challenge was made in front of the East Stand, but we, on the opposite side of the ground, all cringed as the player connected with the Forest left back. Then came the Tyson goal from the sublime pass from McLeary H-T 1-1

Down to the Legends Bar for a coffee and biscuits ( corporate!) --coffee as black as yer hat -- lovely 9/10 !!

Back out for the second half with the Reds kicking towards the Trent End. When Luke Chambers nodded home Loius McGugan's corner to give the home team the lead, the home fans went absolutely crackers. The Owls fans were stunned into silence, but Forest did give them some hope by failing to consolidate their lead and ended up hanging on against the 10 men..... Finished 2-1 to the Reds.

A race to the car, and Kev's driving skills once again came to the fore, nudging in, cajoling and bullying our way out of the carpark back onto London Road - only to get stuck in the "DANCING ON ICE" traffic. The NIA had just unloaded 14 million people onto the streets of Nottingham - 10 million of whom were picked up by waiting cars , cars that blocked a complete lane! Where are the traffic cops when you need them?

Arrived back home at 10:45pm. One hour & 10 minutes to travel the 7 miles to the CG, and a good hour to get back...thank God we can't have the Company season tickets again this season....!!

Enjoyed the experience though - and the atmosphere was superb -- I've never heard so much bloody noise - both sets of fans were in full cry throughout the game...

Attendance 22618

Admission -- corporate!

Coffee - free 9/10

Programme - free

Best Red - Gareth McLeary

Saturday - new ground for us - we're off up the M1 to see Pinxton at home to Rolls Royce Leisure.

Saturday 24th January 2009

2009-01-24T17:58:00.031Z

Carlton Town 2-1 Kidsgrove Athletic -- UniBond Div 1 South

Our scheduled game at Gedling MW was off due to an unfit pitch, so I decided to let Kev make the choice of replacement fixture. Not a bad choice as it transpired - decent game, decent officiating and three great goals.

Uneventful drive to the ground ,except for one incident where a fool in a Ka decided he had made the wrong choice of lane at the lights near the Netherfield retail park, and promptly decided to do a 3-point turn in the middle of the road!!

Arrived at the ground and a half-empty car-park -- very unusual, but given Kidsgrove's league position they are hardly going to have many travelling fans, although it has to be said, the ones that did travel had some great flags and a very loud drum!! Also not helped by Arnold who attracted over 200 to their opening fixture at their new Eagle Valley ground

Noticing that Athletic had scored 22 and conceded 40, Kev reckoned the game would end 2-1 to Carlton - he was correct but only thanks to some inspired goalkeeping from Carlton's Ali Barcherini late on.

Carlton's Ali Barcherini

Carlton welcomed back midfield maestro Marquin Smith who had returned to Stoke Lane after a short spelll with Blue Square North outfit Alfreton Town. Apparently since signing for the Reds, "Quinny" hadn't kicked a ball in anger. Alfreton's loss, Carlton's gain - this lad is a player....

Missing from the Carlton ranks was winger Terry Hawkridge, who after earning rave reviews recently, has apprently been in breach of contract and has been released.

The pitch was a bit squishy - the recent rain, freeze, rain, freeze cycle of weather is really playing havoc with playing surfaces - even Old Trafford looks a bit rough at the moment.

All present observed a minutes silence prior to the kick-off in memory of local lad Liam Munn who lost his life so tragically last weekend. Liam played for local team Rolls Royce Leisure and was only 19 years old. A real tragedy. RIP Liam.

Tribute

Carlton took the lead against the run of play on 16, a superb Dean Gent free-kick nodded home by striker STEVE CHAPLIN.

Chaplin ( no. 9) gets ready to make it 1-0 from Gent's free-kick

Five minutes later Kidsgrove's right back Danny Smith made his only error of the game - playing the ball back into his own box where Carlton's no. 11 Aiden Brady collected and controlled well enough, but was too slow to react and this allowed the visitor's defence to clear.

It was cold again, and the flask was soon in evidence again...although on this occasion, Kev's coffee certainly wouldn't produce a caffiene overdose. It was so weak it struggled to climb out of the flask!! Kev does not like strong coffee, but I like it so it takes the enamel off your teeth -- it may be a case of a different flask next week, one that is worn on the hip...( hic!) Still had 2 cups though. H-T 1-0

Got a couple of images of Brian "Evening Post" Dennett - Carlton's resident reporter -- it seems he didn't mind being seen with the opposition flags...

The home team doubled their lead with just 11 minutes of the second period played, a corner from the right headed powerfully home at the far post by skipper MICHAEL MARTIN.

Martin nods home Carlton's second goal

'Grove's no. 11 Danny Shelton forced a great save from Barcherini seconds after the restart, then when Grant Brindley misjudged the bounce of a long through ball, Barcherini dived superbly to divert Tom Moss' controlled lob away for a corner. Kidsgrove did halve their defecit on 72, a cracking free-kick from sub TIM SANDERS curling past the wall and the despairing dive of keeper Barcherini.

'Grove keeper Steve Intihar dived well to save from Willis Francis late on, but it was his opposite number Barcherini who took the plaudits with two out of this world stops in added time.

Maybe a draw would have been a fairer result, but credit goes to both teams for their efforts on a sticky pitch and in freezing temparatures....

Not usually one to single out individual players, I think there should be a special mention for Carlton's no.10 shirt, Darryl Thomas - never stopped working and chasing throughout the whole game - forward play at it's best -- well played Darryl.

Images from the game

Admission £6

Attendance 93

Coffee ...

Programme £1.50

Best Miller - Ali Barcherini

Best visitor - Danny Smith

Tuesday -- off to the City Ground to see the Florists take on Sheffield Weddlesday - courtesy of A.N. Wallis & Co Ltd -- the first and only visit to the CG this season, thank the Lord...

Tuesday 20th January 2009

2009-01-20T21:59:00.015Z

Eastwood Town 1-0 Boston United -- UniBond Premier Division

We were hoping to go to see Arnold play at their new Eagle Valley ground, but the League Cup fixture against Pickering was called off due to the pitch being waterlogged.

The only other option available to us locally was the game at Coronation Park - high flying Eastwood hosting former Football League outfit Boston United. Last Tuesday Boston beat Eastwood 4-0 in the League Cup, but the Eastwood team that started that game was nothing remotely similar to the team that lined up for this League game.

We took up places in the main stand, and had a great overall view of the game - and it has to be said that the football we were treated to was way above the standard of our usual twice weekly helpings of the beautiful game.....both teams looked like footballers and both teams could play........

Sat with " Kimberley Town" Danny - his team are really struggling at the bottom of CML Supreme Division, but he is always a cheerful chap and his commitment to his team cannot be faulted.

It is hard to see why Boston are struggling in the league, they are well a well organised, talented team - but this is a very strong Division and you may need more than organisation and talent to do well in the company of Hednesford, Bradford, Ilkeston, FCUM etc. Eastwood certainly have that extra something, you only had to take a look at their bench - Lindon Meikle, Peter Knox, Craig Swinscoe, Marc Smith and keeper Ian Deakin. It is safe to say that all these players would walk into any UniBond Premier Division team, but at Eastwood they have to be content with bench places.

Just the one goal decided this entertaining 90 minutes, and superb it was too! After trying to pass their way throught the Boston defence, on 42 minutes they tried the old "over the top" ball, and it worked a treat. Matt Rhead with back to goal, nodded Eastwood keeper Shane Redmond's long ball down to strike partner IAN HOLMES, who volleyed home left-footed from the edge of the box. Great strike, but Holmes did miss couple of sitters later on.

Boston, to their credit, never gave up, and Eastwood had to hang on desperately towards the end as United piled on the pressure. It has to be said that the Badgers' back line looks superb. The line up of Alistair Asher, Simon Sturdy, Paul Robinson and Russell Cooke has to be the best we have seen this season.

Great game, reports will be elswhere on the Eastwood and Boston websites, so I don't need to go into too much detail on here...

Admission £7

Programme - £2 inc raffle

Coffee - Kev's flask -- had two cups!! 8/10

Attendance 485

Saturday - Gedling MW v Graham Street Prims

Goals per game -- 18th January 2009

2009-01-18T13:35:00.006Z

Something has gone wrong with our game selection recently.

Up to 20th December 2008, we were averaging 4.2 goals per game....now that average is down to 3.8 goals per game!

Since the 20th December, we have been to 6 games and have seen only 11 goals! Average of only 1.83 goals per game.

The last 6 games we have seen four 1-1 draws, a 0-2 and a 0-1. Might have to scour the fixtures and go "goal-whoring" for a while to get the average back up.....

Total games so far 51, total goals 194 ( 105 home, 89 away).

Saturday 17th January 2009

2009-01-17T18:28:00.022Z

Glapwell FC 0-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels -- UniBond South

Tape, tape and even more tape!!

Should have been going to watch Kirkby Town take on Church Warsop, but due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to make the 2pm kick off. Apologies to Fred at Kirkby - we will be visiting you before the end of the season.

There were plenty of 3pm kick offs to chose from, and we opted to go to a ground we have not been to this season. Hall Corner is a tight little ground, with probably the narrowest pitch you will ever see at this level. Since our last visit, a new snack bar has been added - specialising in Pukka pies, a favourite of mine...although with my flat stomach and svelte figure you would never guess!!!

The Glapwell faithful

Is Steel's Ian Richards looking for that certain something?

Pie and peas were Kev's treat - very nice, but the luke warm, slightly watery peas could be improved upon.

Prior to the game, Stocksbridge were lying second in the table with Glapwell 5th. Steels had netted 50 times and Glapwell 39 times, so we didn't really expect the game to be a 0-0 bore draw, but the first half was poor, leaving us wondering whether we should have gone elsewhere.... I only made two entries in my notepad during the first 45 minutes :-

On 30, the Steels' no. 11, Alvin Riley was clear through one-on-one with Glapwell keeper Matthewson, but all he was able to do was gently lob the ball into the grateful keeper's arms.

Carnage - though both players were able to carry on

On 40, a real two footed lunging cruncher by Glapwell's Justin Burdett saw him receive a well deserved straight red card from Referee Mr. Thornhill. The home no. 8 can have no complaints, even though the player he flew in at was able to carry on without treatment, and to his credit not a lot of protestation. He was limping for a while though!! H-T 0-0

Steel's keeper collecting well

Kev's flask provided a very welcome, warming coffee at the break, but I might have to treat him to a bigger jar of Nescafe so he can use a few more granules in future. Sorry buddy, only a 7/10 this time!!

We had a different second half though - plenty of commitment and more attacking ideas right from the off. Steels took the lead on 52, a MARK WARD penalty despatched clinically past Matthewson after the Glapwell no. 14 had been adjudged to have handled in the box. From the restart Glapwell forced the ball into the Steels area and were themselves awarded a penalty after another handling offence. Veteran journeyman Neil Grayson took the kick and to the dismay of the home fans launched the ball over the bar and over the fence at the back of the goal...a very poor effort from the 44 year old.

Steels decide to sit back a little allowing the home team lots of possession and seeming to think that 10 man Glapwell will wear themselves out!! These tactics seemed to work, as late on in the game, the visitors took advantage of Glapwell tiring legs to lay siege on Matthewson's goal. Glapwell did hadve a couple of chances to level, but as the game entered it's final stages they did well to keep the final score to 0-1.

Strange to be standing in a football ground on a freezing cold January day with the summer scent of a barbecue wafting in the air!! The burger bar did a roaring trade as did the pie shop - there was a decent turn out, bolstered by a good away following.

Met some Eastwood Town fans during the interval -- the first thing said was " I don't know how you can put up with this week in - week out!!". Met them again at the final whistle and they had mellowed slightly, admitting that the game was much better in the second half. Mind you, the news that Eastwood had won away at Leigh Genesis 4-0 might have helped soften their opinion...

More images

Admission £6
Programme £1.50
Pie/peas £2.25
Coffee - Kev's flask
Attendance 132

Tuesday - we were due to go to Radford v Greenwood Meadows, but the chance of being at the first competitive game at Arnold's new Eagle Valley ground is too good to miss - so Arnold Town v Pickering Town in the NCE League cup it is..

Tuesday 13th January 2009

2009-01-13T22:06:00.048Z

Hucknall Town 1-1 Alfreton Town -- Blue Square North

Yippee -- first game for 10 days!! Thought the recent heavy rain might have put this game in some doubt, but the pitch looked ok. The main worry as the night wore on was that the pitch might freeze again - it was really bloody cold - and here's me thinking the cold snap was over!!

We arrived at the ground at 7:40pm and were surprised to see the Alfreton players still on the pitch warming up. The Referee was in the players entrance waiting to lead the teams out!! He politely reminded them that ko was supposed to be 7:45pm not 8:00pm....

Hucknall only named three subs, and one of them was a sub keeper Michael Chapman... bottom of the league and struggling for players - it's going to be hard for Hucknall to attract any half decent players, I think.

Carlton Town had just foiled Hucknall Manager Bryan Chambers' attempt to lure away their utility player Fabian Smith - it seems Carlton offered a better deal financially and also offered him a contract. Carlton may well be playing Hucknall next season anyway - although the "Yellows" did show some glimpses of how well they can play - and with just a few additions to the squad, who knows?

I'll tell you what, Alfreton could do with a new kit ! The red one they have now looks really tatty and on the whole the team looked like a bunch of urchins in rags - at least tuck your shirts in lads, make a bit of an effort!!

I used to Manage lads teams, and would NEVER have sent my players out in that kit.. sorry, Alfreton, but at this level, surely getting a new kit is not a problem?

Before kick off there was a very well observed minutes silence in memory of Hucknall defender Jay Smedley's partner, who so tragically lost her life at Christmas.

Hucknall went ahead in the 4th minute. A probing ball from Deon Meikle lead to a corner, and Laurie Wilson fired the ball in at the far post, where an unmarked Gary Ricketts rose majestically to head powerfully home. Poor defending from the Alfreton players, and their slack defending cost them dear. Joe Ward had a great chance to double Hucknall's lead on 15, but he could only lift the ball into the arms of Reds keeper Sutcliffe when he should have done better.

On 23, Ricketts, Ward and Bacon all challenged for the same ball, and in the confusion, between them they managed to steer the ball wide of the near post.

Alfreton were showing very little up front, but had got their act together at the back - apart from the odd scare they were not unduly worried. Laurie Wilson lined up a 22 yard free-kick on 35, and looped it way over the wall and the bar, prompting one old wag sitting hear me to say "he mightus well've let me tek it !!" Come on, it wasn't that bad!!

The Referee indicated that there would be one extra minute added, and it was in this minute that the Reds levelled the score.... Marples' corner from the right was flicked on by Curtis and Liam Hearn managed to bundle the ball home at the far post. H-T 1-1

Had the option of food and drink from the mobile burger bar, but past experience with dicky tums meant it was a couple of choc bars and coffee courtesy of Kev's flask. Very nice and very welcome!!

Kev rang Brian "Evening Post" Dennett thinking he was at Eastwood - he had been, but decided that it was so poor he left and went to watch Belper v Brigg. Mind you the Badgers XI were 3-0 down at the break - and even their Management team of Paul Cox and John Ramshaw weren't at Coronation Park - they were spotted among the 365 present at Watnall Road.

Alfreton should have taken the lead three minutes from the re-start - Sucharewycz bringing down Reds no. 9 Clayton in the box - but Josh Law's penalty was well saved by Hucknall keeper Lindley. Josh is the Manager's son -- ouch! I never used to let my lad take penalties when I was Managing ..... it's a bit more painful if the kick is missed and it's your lad who missed it, trust me!!

Alfreton dominated the rest of the game, but some decent defending and a couple of fine saves by Lindley meant that the game ended all square. A point each was probably fair - and credit to both sets of players for some giving us some decent football on a tricky pitch in freezing conditions. F-T 1-1

As we were leaving, Carole Smith, widow of ex-Eastwood Chairman Keith said "hi" ... loves football does Carole - and is a keen reader of this blog... hope to see her again this season, sooner rather than later.

Admission £9.00

Programme - didn't bother

Coffee - Kev's flask 8/10 again

Attendance 365 ( poor for a local derby)

The Eastwood game finished Eastwood 0-4 Boston .. prompting Chairman Rob Yong to offer 3 free drinks ( worth £7.50 ) at next weeks league game against Boston on production of a match ticket. Great if you drink!! I remember a few seasons ago Eastwood played Leek in the League Cup with just Adam Kerley and Peter Knox from the first team ( Eastwood lost 6-0). UniBond rules used to state that for League Cup games teams should include at least 8 first team regulars - apparently last nights team contained just three...hence the result and the "refund"? Guaranteed to get people into the bar next week anyway!!

Saturday -- all being well, we are going to see Kirkby Town take on Church Warsop in the CML Premier division .. new ground for us and a 2:00pm kick off.

Freeze still affecting games...

2009-01-10T11:47:00.004Z

Saturday 10th January 2009 -- keeping a wary eye on fixtures sites.. matches are being called off left, right and centre!!

As of 11:50 AM our scheduled game Carlton v Willenhall is still on... fingers crossed...

No.. 12:15pm -- it's gone.

Ah well... I've got plenty of Bombay Sapphire left over from Xmas..

Tuesday -- Hucknall Town v Alfreton Town - BSN

Freeze continues - 6th January 2009

2009-01-06T12:40:00.002Z

The New Year cold spell continues -

Long Eaton v Mickleover Sports is off

Eastwood Tn v Boston United is off

Saturday 3rd January 2009

2009-01-03T19:59:00.013Z

Sutton Town AFC 1-1 Ollerton Town -- CML Supreme Division

On one of the coldest days of the winter, Kev decided to CHILL out down by the river - yep, maggott drowning again -- meant it was off to the Fieldings on my own to see 3rd placed Sutton host 4th placed Ollerton..

Looked a tight game on paper, and so it proved. Although if Referee Mr. Tinsley had been a little less whistle and card happy the game may have been even better.

Disappointed that no programme was available yet again - made all the worse because no team sheet was pinned up anywhere, and there were no PA announcements. How is a casual visitor supposed to know who is who on the pitch?? Room for improvement in this area, Sutton.

The home team had a couple of early chances, Newman's drive flying just wide of the post and after a neat turn in the box, Stubley's shot was collected easily by Ollerton keeper McLafferty.

In the 10th minute, Ollerton striker Lee Wilson was through one-on-one with Sutton keeper Frost, but the keeper managed to block well. Ollerton almost scored on 16 after a Sutton short corner routine failed miserably - again Wilson was one-on-one with Frost, but on this occasion he fired just wide.

On 22, Alberry headed off the line from an Ollerton corner, then raced off the line to successfully block the shot from the loose ball.

The visitors took the lead three minutes before the break, the no.2 shirt hitting a fierce drive from the edge of the box that flew through a crowd of players and past Frost. One piece of slack marking fully punished, leaving Manager Danny Bryant fuming - and not the best time for me to try and cheer him up by telling him Forest were 2 up at Man City....d'oh!!

A half of petty fouls and more interuptions than I could count - the Ollerton no. 7, 8 and 9 were all booked along with Snipes' Guest, but I can't really recall one seriously reckless challenge..... H-T 0-1

The second half was totally one way traffic as Sutton tried to get back on level terms. McLafferty in the Ollerton goal though, was relatively untroubled, despite all the Snipes' pressure. More bookings for Ollerton players - this time no. 2 and no. 12 - as well as Suttons no.3 Gaz Davey. So seven bookings - and as the game entered it's final knockings, a sending off. This was a particularly nasty challenge by the Ollerton no. 5 jacket -- could have almost been classed as a kung-fu kick -- to the chest of Sutton player Martin Newman.

As it happened it was a double whammy for the visitors, because the Snipes grabbed a well deserved equaliser from the resultant free-kick - Steve Bayliss volleying home at the far post. F-T 1-1 ... Suttons first draw of the League campaign.

In the end I suppose 1-1 was overall a fair result, but you have to wonder what the game COULD have been like if the Referee had have let the game flow a little..he must like filling in forms!! It would be interesting to hear what the assessor Mr. Whitehead had to say about Mr. Tinsley's performance.

Admission £3

Tea/coffee -- queue was too long for me to bother

Programme - no....

Attendance -- my head count 60

Sorry - I didn't take any pictures.. it was far too cold to get the camera out!!

Tuesday - off to Grange Park to see Long Eaton United take on NCEL Premier Division leaders Mickleover Sports.

Freeze hits New Years Day fixtures

2009-01-01T11:25:00.002Z

Hucknall Town v Alfreton -- off

Carlton v Loughborough -- off

Glapwell v Grantham Tn -- off

Quorn v Rushall Olympic -- off

These were the only real options for us on New Years Day...

Looks like an afternoon spent watching the telly.......

Monday 29th December 2008

2008-12-29T22:06:00.005Z

Mansfield Town 0-2 Burton Albion -- Blue Square Premier

Two first half goals were enough to secure the points for league leaders Burton Albion at Field Mill.

A volley under Stags keeper Gamble from Greg Pearson on 26 opened the scoring, followed by a really cracking drive in to the roof of the net by Mark Goodfellow 12 minutes later.

Report from Mansfield Town Official website

1st surprise of the evening? Having to get in a rather long queue at the only open turnstile. Only one turnstile? Surely a big gate was expected and other turnstiles could have been manned....

2nd surprise? Sutton Town manager Danny Bryant coming to sit with us...although we have seen Danny several times this season, it was the first time we have had to have a decent chat..

Kev loves it at Field Mill and is already speculating about season tickets for next season.

Mansfield were outplayed in every department by the Brewers, and new boss David Holdsworth has some serious hard work ahead .....

Admission - a whacking £16.00

Programme - no idea

Coffee -- Kev's flask - a creditable 7/10

Attendance 3612 ( 800 + from Burton)

Saturday 27th December 2008

2008-12-27T17:24:00.008Z

Rainworth MW FC 1-1 Pontefract Collieries -- NCEL Div 1

We have been to Kirklington Road on several occasions, and always get a warm welcome. Handshakes from the Chairman and team Manager and a chat to Press Officer Gordon Foster - great that these people can take time out to say hello when they are at their busiest....and they had ground grading assessors to look after as well..

The Rainworth line-up seems to be fairly stable now - as far as I could tell the only "regular" missing was striker Malc Brown who is apparently on a ski-ing holiday.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, and we really could have done with some cracking football to warm us up - as it was, the game turned out to be similar to the Boxing day game at Borrowash - some half-decent play but both teams lacking that certain "something"...

The home team had a couple of decent chances in the half - a 20th minute Clarke header from a Bainbridge left-wing cross that went just wide, and a powerful drive from Naylor that beat Ponte keeper Ward, but was also just off target. H-T 0-0

Kev queued for the beverages at the break - usually at Rainworth the drinks are a bit weak, but drinkable. On this occasion they were just undrinkable. We both took sips and decided that it may be best to not drink anymore. Maybe a water filter would help - but next time we go to Rainworth it will be with a flask...sorry, but only marked with a "must do better" ...

The Wrens took the lead just 3 minutes into the second period. JAMES WHITEHEAD flicking home at the near post from Bignall's right wing cross.

Wrens' Richard Smith and goal-scorer James Whitehead

On 52, Robbie Clarke had a great chance to double the home teams lead, but fired way over the bar after the ball had dropped invitingly at his feet just 12 yards out. A bad miss made even worse in the 64th minute when Ponte's CRAIG ROUSE saw his 18 yard speculative shot fly between the outstretched hand of keeper Hales and the post.

Now it is time to mention the Referee... Mr James Douglas -- not seen too many really bad performances lately, but this Referee we have seen on numerous occasions and he really does like himself. He gets a lot of decisions wrong and even over-rules his assistants - his "I'm in charge" attitude is not really suitable in these days of "Respect".

Still, he did give the home team a late Christmas present - a blatant trip in the area by a Rainworth defender that was deemed to be a fair tackle !! Blimey - the term "stone-wall" may be over-used, but this was a real "should have gone to Specsavers" moment.

Apparently Rainworth Manager Rudy Funk had a few harsh words to say to his players after the game -- see Gordon Fosters report from the Wrens website

A few more images

Admission £4

Programme £1 (with team sheet -- I wish this idea would be taken up at other clubs - especially those without a PA system)

Tea/coffee £0.60 - least said, soonest mended - but at least Kev paid !!

Attendance 74

Treated myself to a Highway DAB radio gizmo -- you can pick up DAB radio in car .. great for us because we usually struggle to get 5 live and talksport on our normal car radios ... however, with no football on I stuck Planet Rock on -- and we were treated to a Motorhead double bill - Ace Of Spades and Eat the Rich --- followed by Def Leppards' Hysteria -- great stuff! I can see this newest addition to my gadgets being well used......

Monday we are going to Field Mill to see the Stags entertain Conference leaders Burton Albion.

Friday 26th December 2008

2008-12-26T14:27:00.009Z

Borrowash Victoria AFC 1-1 Holbrook MW FC -- EMCL

Not the best game we've seen this season so far by a long way, but it was nice to be stood standing in glorious sunshine on at the end of December -- and it's always nice to get out in the fresh air after the Christmas Day excesses....

Not a lot of matches to choose from - so we opted 1st v 8th in the EMCL with a noon kick off. We visited the Robinson Construction Bowl a couple of months ago, and saw Borrowash take apart Bardon Hill Sports in the first 45 minutes then do nothing in the second 45. We spent a while before kick off trying to get a "silly" photograph with Kev and a pair of fake boobs that were at pitchside --- failed miserably to achieve any sort of comedic image, but it passed 5 minutes or so!!

Holbrook have only lost 2 games all season and never looked like they were going to lose a third - they attacked straight from the start and only the woodwork and some last ditch defending kept the scoresheet blank. Borrowash offered very little in attack - the pairing of Channon North and Sean Gummer failing to cause much concern to the visitors defence.

Holbrook took the lead in the 31st minute, thanks to some poor goalkeeping from Wayne Smith.

When Dave Moon fired a free-kick into the box, Smith shouted that the ball was his - only it wasn't. It sailed over him and JOE ASHDOWN made no mistake with his close range header.

Holbrook could have gone in 3 up, Ashdown missing with a header and Finlay failing when sent through one-on-one with Smith. H-T 0-1

It was no great surprise to see Vics top marksman Rob Spencer appear after the break - the only surprise was that he hadn't started the game in the first place..

Gummer was moved to right back with Tom Bettridge switching to the left. North was replaced with just four minutes of the second half gone- and three minutes later the Vics were level.

Another goalkeeping slip, another goal. A free-kick into the box was well met by ROB SPENCER who slid home after Holbrook 'keeper Damien Clark failed to hold onto his initial effort.

Not a lot more to say about the game, not a lot of passion on show, nor indeed was there a great deal of football to savour --

Admission £4

Programme £1

Tea/coffee - didn't bother

Attendance - very creditable 170 ( Kev's head count 100 !!)

Holbrook MW website has a more detailed report...

More images -- click here

Got back home at 2:15pm and toyed with the idea of taking in the Ilkeston v Matlock or Worksop v Hednesford games. Decided to watch the "Jeff Stelling Show" on Sky Sports.. not seen Soccer Special for a while - Stelling has changed a lot. He has turned a bit manic - shouting and becoming almost hysterical at times... what's that all about?

Saturday - we are off the see Rainworth take on Ponte Colls in the NCEL 1st Division. Kev mentioned that Notts C***ty are at home to Rothe***m on Sunday and it's only a fiver to get in. What a waste of a fiver that would be!

Field Mill beckons on Monday night and that is going to be £16 - at least that will go to a good cause...my beloved Stags!!

Tuesday 23rd December 2008

2008-12-23T18:57:00.004Z

Decide to give the Heanor v Ilkeston game a miss..

Settled down with The Glenlivet single malt...

Back on the road on Boxing Day...

Saturday 20th December 2008

2008-12-20T18:26:00.014Z

Forest Town 1-3 Sutton Town AFC --- CML Supreme Division

Having been at the Sutton v Forest Town reverse fixture in October, we felt we just had to be at this match, and with just three points seperating the teams this certainly had the makings of a good game.

This wasn't our first visit to Forest Town, but it was our first sight of the new, recently erected floodlight pylons. Impressive they cetainly are - blimey are they tall !!

These will be, apparently, among the best lights in the County when they are up and running - for this game though we had to endure the low level eye-boggling temporary ones -- not ideal but adequate I suppose.

Headed straight for the tea-bar ... rewarded with a smashing cup of coffee that certainly was as good as you can hope to get -- styrofoam cups have replaced the proper mugs we had last visit -- but at £0.50 this was well worth an 8/10.

Regular Forest Town keeper and skipper, Jason Johnson, was not present, so Steve Boot was between the sticks -- Sutton welcomed back striker Peter Stubley, with Ben Greenhalgh having to settle for a bench spot even though he netted twice last time out.

The first incident of the game involved Stubley and Boot -- the no. 10 sliding in on the keeper - not a nice challenge, but Boot did no more than get up and push Stubley over - this altercation ended with them both in the Refs notebook... Boot could have easily seen red for the retaliation.

It was the home team who opened the scoring after 15 minutes. A 40 yard cross-field pass from Jamie Batty found Mark Robinson who also hit a 40 yard pass - this went straight to MARK CARTER who delicately lobbed Snipes keeper Frost from the corner of the box. Not a lot Frost could do, the ball was so well placed.

The visitors seemed to be struggling and failed to put much creative football together, but they were level on 34. James Senior's free-kick picked out BARRY ALBERRY who rose like a salmon at the far post to head powerfully home. It has to be said that the keeper made a bit of a mess with his positioning and was one of many players who stood and watched the ball go into the net....

It was all a blur as Baz Alberry rose well to level the scores

There were a few tasty challenges going in, prompting Kev to predict that the game would end with 22 players on the pitch - prophetic words indeed as it transpired. Sutton should have gone in at half-time in the lead - a great ball in by Martin Newman found Stubley on his own at the far post, but from 6 yards out the striker managed to crash the ball onto the bar when it looked easier to score. H-T 1-1

Stubley almost made amends just three minutes into the second period - a neat header from Newman's cross saved well by Boot. The Snipes did take the lead in the 65th minute though - a great through ball from substitute Richard Guest put PETER STUBLEY through and he calmly rounded the keeper before slotting home. It was to prove Stubley's last contribution to the game - he was hacked down by Ryan Gregory as he scored, and suffered an injury that meant he couldn't carry on. It appears that the officials both missed the challenge so no punishment was handed out to Gregory - again this could easily have been a red card.

The home team were unlucky on several occasions as they pressed for the equaliser .. they hit the post, had shots blocked on the line and caused mayhem in the Sutton back-line for a while. With 10 to go it was game over after Sutton netted their third goal. Dale Crowder, a recent recruit from Blidworth, won the ball well in midfield and played in Matt Lane who saw his goalbound effort handled by Lee Bowler - he had to walk, fulfilling Kev's prophesy - JAMES SENIOR smashed home the penalty with consumate ease. F-T 1-3

Great game of football between two committed teams - we will be watching both teams again very soon..... a few more pics here

One sour note :

As we climbed the steps to exit the ground, the following comment was overheard "they f***ing cheated us!" -- bloke to bloke this wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but this was a young woman talking to a girl who must have been something around 6 or 7 years old !! Now I've been known to utter a curse or two, but I really was gob-smacked - Peter Stubley's dad was also a little shocked " did she really just say that?" he said ....yes, Mr. Stubley, she did.

Admission £3.00

Programme £1.00 ( excellent work again from Pete Craggs)

Tea/coffee £0.50

Head count 45

Not much on offer this coming Tuesday. We are hoping to go to Heanor Town to see them take on neighbours Ilkeston Town in the Derbys F.A. Senior Cup......

Tuesday 16th December 2008

2008-12-16T22:10:00.009Z

Arnold Town 5-2 Dinnington Town -- NCEL Premier Division

Never expected a 5-2 result !! These teams were in 4th and 5th places in the league table and I thought this would be a little bit cagey...

Then I saw who was in goal for Dinnington and I had an idea that we might be in for a few -- Rob Poulter was probably the worst keeper to ever wear the Eastwood Town shirt while I was a regular at Coronation Park, and he ain't not got no better!!!

Kev's working in Peterborough at the moment and wasn't able to get home in time for him to attend.

I grabbed a minute with local Referee Rob Townsend before the game I had mentioned that in last weeks game the Referee wore black while Market Drayon were in dark blue, making it hard to pick out the Ref -- Rob advised me that it is an F.A rule that the officials must wear black for F.A. competitions. This rule is Referees rule 11 - it seems a bit of a silly rule to me - should the Referee have asked Drayton to change their kit because it clashed with the Ref?

Also met up with the Evening Post man again - I think he may be stalking me!!

The game kicked off and it started peeing it down. I spent the first 10 minutes huddled under the overhanging roof of the changing room block - but the view was a bit restricted so I moved to the "sit-downs" behind the right hand goal. Consequently I was over 100 yards away from the other goal - and of course that's where the first of the games goals went in! Arnold striker Martin Carruthers capitalised on a mix up between Poulter and Elam to fire home from close range on 14, then 5 minutes later Poulter and Axcell gifted the ball to the Arnold striker and he fired home from 12 yards.

Despite the driving rain, both teams were playing some decent football with Dinnington giant striker Gavin Allott looking particularly dangerous. They had a sustained period of pressure as the game - and were rewarded on 36 with a penalty after Brookes tripped Blythen in the area. Allott fired the ball past Broster with consumate ease - this time I was only a few yards away!!

H-T 2-1

I went into the clubhouse during the break and went to sit with Evening Post man - he was devouring a tray of chips. "Do you want a chip?" he asked.... note: singular, not plural as in "do you want some chips?" I politely declined and just seconds later the tray was empty.....no chance to change my mind !!!!

Brian was at the game to interview Carlton Town Manger Tommy Brookbanks, and also to do a "profile" on Arnold's very,very talented right back Josh Thornton.

Back out into the rain as the teams came out - went straight for cover again. Carruthers completed his hat-trick on 55. A free-kick in from Brookes was headed on by Freestone and Carruthers stooped to nod home at the far post - the hapless Poulter could have made a better effort to save this, but as I said previously, he is not the best keeper in the world...

Allott hit a 25 yard stunner past Arnold keeper Broster on the hour mark, then Arnold skipper Mark Clifford replied in kind - a terrific drive that flew past Poulter... not his fault this time!! He got nowhere near the ball as it whistled into the back of the net.

Arnold keeper Broster foiled Allott from point blank range in the 75th minute as Dinnington looked to decrease their arrears.

Carruthers bagged his fourth of the game with three minutes to go - superb wing play from Freestone - and a cross that saw Poulter and Elam leave the ball for each other - Carruthers got there and bundled home from 2 yards out... F-T 5-2

Admission £5

Programme - excellent £1.50

Tea - didn't bother

Best Eagle - Martin Carruthers

Attendance 55 ( looked a few more, but there were a lot of Carlton players knocking about)...

Saturday -- Forest Town v Sutton Town AFC....