Wednesday 18th February 2009

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....