Saturday 28th February 2009

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 !

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

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

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

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.