Saturday 31st January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

The New Year cold spell continues -

Long Eaton v Mickleover Sports is off

Eastwood Tn v Boston United is off

Saturday 3rd January 2009

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

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.......