LICHFIELD UNLUCKY NOT TO CLAIM ALL THE POINTS

St Mary's Hospice Midland Combination Lge

Premier Division

LICHFIELD CITY FC 1 BROCTON FC 1

Brocton FC went in to this match with a 100% record out of their six game league start but with be more than happy to return home with a point after a good home performance by Lichfield City. The homesters began the brighter and pushed forward for the early goal which didnt come to some good defending or the final ball just being the right option at the right time.

After 19 minutes, it was the Badgers who took the lead, when PAUL MCMAHON lifted the ball over the City keeper. City kept to their game plan in closing the vistors down quickly and not allowing them anytime on the ball to settle and became more confident and in the 42nd minute felt they had levelled things up, but the Brocton Keeper had other ideas with a superb triple save to keep this side in front at the interval.

With Lichfield playing down the Brownlow slope and towards the club house end this gave them a great lift and began to play some nice football down both wings, but man of the match Woodhouse in the Brocton net was as equal to anything the home side could throw at him.

On 74 minutes,  the home pressure finally paid off when DANNY WORRAL steered home a loose ball from inside the area. Lichfield pressed forward for a winner but it wasnt to be their day to take all the points.

LICHFIELD CITY FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
http://lichfieldcityfc.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/lichfieldcityfc

BROCTON FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/broctonfc/
https://twitter.com/broctonfc

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

For information or to read about the upcoming NOTTS Senior League Groundhop, please read this LINK as Advanced tickets are now on sale. Thre is a coach running from Nottingham on the Saturday to all 4 Saturday matches.

THE LILLYWHITES FIGHT BACK TO WIN

SWPL PREMIER DIVISION

AFC ST AUSTELL FC 4 CAMELFORD FC 1

Att: 141

For some years now, Ive always wanted to visit Poltair Park, the home of AFC St Austell..tonight was the night that finally arrived and the place didn’t disappoint. On arrival, I spoke to 2 of the home players in the car park and then to the home secretary the polite Peter Beard. With around 45 minutes before kick off arrived SWPL Sec and groundhop master Phil Hiscox and 2 of his friends from Buckland Athletic FC. After a pint in the bar, in walks Martin from Ashford, Kent who was attending the match.

Off up in to the stand to watch the match and the Lillywhites(nickname for St Austell) were on the attack and in the first 15 minutes could well have been two goals to the good being denied twice by the left hand goalpost. But like most the case that happens, the Camels first attack on 28 miinutes saw ANDY BOXALL chip Jason Chapman to put the visitors ahead. Within a minute, the scores were level when home player-manager DAN NANCARROW’s low shot crept in.

It was the Lillywhites that continued to force the pace and press forward and it came as no surprise on 42 minutes when a long low shot from 25 yards by CHRISTIAN POPLE found the back of the net to give the homesters a half time lead.

At half time, my wife Hazel bought me and Martyn a hot drink and I then joined Phil at pitchside for a natter, the early stages of the Second Half saw Camelford’s best spell in the game as they pushed forward to get themselves back into the game, but the homesters defence stood tall.

After 75 minutes, CHRIS RESKI fired in number three for St Austell and 3 minutes later a long shot by CHRISTIAN POPLE was spilled by the keeper before rolling over the line to give the home side the three points.

In the clubhouse after the match, a St Austell committee man thanked my family for attending the game and gave us all a lovely pasty. A lovely club well worth visiting.

AFC ST AUSTELL WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/afcstaustell

https://twitter.com/AFCSTAUSTELL

CAMELFORD FC WEBSITE

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/camelfordfc/

A few pics from around the ground can be seen on this link

ATLANTIC SEE THROUGH THE TOWN MIST

DUCHY LEAGUE

Division One

LOOE TOWN FC 1 GODOLPHIN ATLANTIC FC 4

I had planned to go to Nanpean Rovers today but altered my plans and headed to the Barbican, the home of Looe Town FC. It had been very misty from the sea all morning and on arrival it was even worse. I was greeted by the Looe Chairman and the manager. At kick off time, the ref began looking down the pitch at kick off time, I thought he was going to order everyone back to the changing rooms, but he gave the game a chance to go ahead.

Looe began on the front foot and after 10 minutes, a shot from the left wing was heading goal bound before the Athletic keeper kept it abay at full stretch.(see pic above)

The visitors began to come move in to the game and it seemed we had 2 even teams here on display, but after 25 minutes, there was a little scuffle between a few players and this seemed to effect Looe as they lost concentration and from the resulting free kick a ball was played deep in to the area and Godolphin had taken the lead. 

Looe pressed forward but couldnt find away through the away defence or test the visiting keeper at this stage and just before half time, the visitors doubled their lead.

The homesters came out more brighter in the Second Half and the weather also became brighter with the sun breaking through. Again in the 63rd minute, the away keeper was called in to action with a shot turned round the post, but Looe did get a goal back after 72 minutes.

Maybe a fight back was on for Looe, but Godolphin didnt agree as they re-gained their 2 goal advantage on 75 minutes. A few subs were now made and the points looked in the bag for the visitors at this stage and they were when the visitors made it 4-1 on 90 minutes.

Looe Town FC are a lovely club run by friendly people and well worthy of a visit if you are in the area.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

For information on the NOTTS Senior League Groundhop, please read this LINK as Advanced tickets are now on sale

ATHLETIC TAKE THE POINTS

SWPL LEAGUE

TORPOINT ATHLETIC FC 1 ELBURTON ALBION FC 0

Admission £4

Programme £1

Badge £2.50

Club Mug: Free

After the disappointment of not getting to a match on Saturday due the ref not being available for the Pelynt match, it was service at normal at The Mill, the home of Torpoint Athletic FC. As we pulled on to the Car Park, we parked next to groundhopper Lee Vaughan and his wife who had also come to attend this match.

In to the club house I ventured to meet Club Sec & Programme Editor Rob Morris and had a chat with him. He got mea programme to which he can be very proud of, it was 56 pages and excellent value at just £1. I then had a chat with Elburton Villa's Trev Higgins.

Towards kick off time, it was time to get a cuppa, when I bumped in to Torpoint's Chairman who invited me for hospitality at half time in the club house, a big thankyou for the cuppa.

The game kicked off and both sides seemed very much matched, but chances were kept to a minimum and both goalkeepers were hardly called in to action with neigher of them making a save in the First half.

After 30 minutes, a free kick was drilled in to the Elburton penalty area which was met by the head of DAVE SMITH wich flashed in to the net to give the homesters the lead.

The Second Half was played in the same vein and both teams tried to play the ball along the ground and not hoof it up the pitch and both should take credit from this. The visitors should have been on equal terms just past the hour when they split the home defence bit the Athletic keeper was equal to the forwards attempt with a excellent stop. 

Both teams tried to press forward and create chances but the score remained the same.

TORPOINT ATHLETIC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.torpointathletic.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/torpointafc

ELBURTON ALBION FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/elburtonvillafootballclub/

https://twitter.com/ElburtonVilla

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

PELICAN EASE TO THE POINTS

CMFL SOUTH DIVISION

CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE FC 1 BILBOROUGH PELICAN FC 4

Admission £3

Programme £1

Attendance: 24 Headcount

I wasnt going out tonight as I was catching up with having been to the hospital yesterday for a meeting with my eplipsy consultant and then the Notts Senior League Groundhop meeting last night, but a text from Blidworth Committee man Scott Ward asking if I would like a lift to this match changed everything. So I escaped having to sit at home and watch the rubbish England Match on the box.

On arrival at the ground, I met Stan who I know from the old Arnold Town days who seems to go and watch Calverton & Gedling MW these days. Whilst on my mobile, in came Malc Storer & Kev Goodman, Then a chat with Ian Dudley and another mentor for the referee and then came along Jevon Swinscoe. Scott & Stan were joined by Mr Clippo Barry Clarke. If it wasnt for us locals, no one would have been there apart from the gateman.

The game kicked off and it was all Pelican on the attack and after just 9 minutes, JOE ASHURST put the visitors in front. Pelican then  should have been out of sight, as their own men cleared the ball off the Calverton line twice and poor finishing in front of goal with chances and also good saves by the home keeper kept them at bay when it could easily been 6 or 7. Calverton held on somehow until 33 minutes when COREY KNIGHT tapped in the second goal of the game. At half time, I was thinking how on earth are Calverton going to get back in to this game, as they must have been the poorest side I'd seen for some time.

After a cuppa at half time, Calverton looked a lot stronger and had Pelican on the back foot for some time, but after 52 minute, a ball was kicked out of play and the poor 18 year old Assistant Referee collared it straight on the head, knocking the poor lass back a little and sending her red in embaressment as the crowd laughed. At this stage, the lovely Emma Swift came across with the lines up for Malc and also a groundhopper from Leicester who was at the match..Thankyou Emma.

On 55 minutes, a trip in the visitors penalty area, saw JORDAN WHITEHEAD step up and reduce the arrears. The home side were back in it and playing some nice football and you had the feeling that all the chances that the visitors had missed in the first half may come back to bite them, but that wasnt the case when in the 80th minute, a free kick was given for a trip on the right hand side of the box and from the resulting free kick, it was headed home by TIM CULLINAN. The home keeper wasnt happy and made his voice heard to the referee. Two minutes later, he was even more unhappy when DAVE UDOH slotted Pelican in to a 4-1 lead, as the ball went up to the halfway line to kick the game off again, the keeper decided to come over to 3 spectators to the left of his goal and decided he wanted to swear and have a go at them for nothing, before heading back to his nets.

CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE WEBSITE

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/calvertonminerswelfarefc/

BILBOROUGH PELICAN WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bilboroughpelican/

https://twitter.com/PELICANFC

Information for the Notts Senior League Groundhop can be read about HERE

MOORGREEN FC HIT THE TOP

Notts Senior League

Division Two

GREYFRIARS FC 0 MOORGREEN FC 3

On arrival at the Burton Road Ground, the home of Greyfriars FC, I was unsure which pitch the game was being played on, so had a chat with a few of the Moorgreen FC players , then arrived Visiting Joint Managers Kieran Edwards and Luke Slaney who then handed me a donation of £25.70 which had been collected by the players for my charity blog..so a BIG THANKYOU to ALL at Moorgreen FC for your support towards this years charity THE OAKLANDS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ADULTS where the total moves on to a amazing £188.80.

I begin to watch a bit of a match on the nearest pitch where a team called Santos FC were playing, this club I know well from their time in the Central Midlands League and where Grimsby Striker Liam Hearn started his career.

Just before kick off and the game I'd come to watch, along came Leicester based Rob Campion who donated some programmes for the charity stall which Hazel runs. We had a chat as the game kicked off and it was Moorgreen who were on the front foot, with the home keeper soon called in to action making a couple of good saves, before the turn of the visiting keeper to smother a loose ball from a rare home attack.

On 17 minutes, the ball was played to the right hand side of the pitch where MATT CLOWES side-footed home the opening goal of the game. Rob Campion had moved downthe pitch and was talking to Matt's dad at the time of the goal. A stroll round the pitch and a few photos taken from the far side, but it was turning more in to a midfield battle with it ending fairly even, but not much attacking happening.

During the Half Time break, I strolled over to the Santos match where it was 7-4 to Santos at the time and had a chat with Santos Chairman Ken and his good lady before walking back to pitch side, but as I was walking back the Moorgreen FC had doubled their tally to 2-0 through ADAM WALSH on 47 minutes.

Some of the home players heads seemed to drop a little and the visitors got chance after chance, but came up against a very good keeper in the Greyfriars net to keep the Moorgreen players at bay.

Both sides made subs and it looked like the game was going to fizzle out but the visitors had other ideas and a ball out to the left wing and to CHANNON DAVIES saw him cut in and slice the ball home to make it a comfortable victory to take them to the top of the table and also 450 minutes without conceding a goal.

GREYFRIARS FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/greyfriarscelticfc/

https://twitter.com/GreyfriarsFC

MOORGREEN TWITTER

https://twitter.com/MoorgreenFC2013

Photo's from this match can be seen on this LINK

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP 2014 UPDATE

The Advanced Tickets for the 2013-14 Notts Senior League Groundhop will go on sale from Tuesday 10th September 2014. I will be posting a lot more details then on my blog about how to obtain your ticket and also how to book yourself a seat on the coach for the Saturday Matches.

As in the past, there will be a match on the Friday Evening and four matches at four different venues on the Saturday at different kick off times.

Last season saw record crowds ranging from the Friday Night fixture at Magdala Amateurs FCwhere a crowd of 245 attended to the final Saturday night match at Kimberley Miners Welfare FC saw a crowd of 369.

If you would like me to send you a booking form or for more information, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

STEVENSONS ROCKET SEALS THE POINTS FOR THE MINERS

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE

SENIOR DIVISION

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE FC 3 RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 2

My first visit to the Stag Ground since Kimberley Miners Welfare FC have moved there. On arrival was greeted with a nice cuppa. Shawn enjoyed fetching the stray balls during the pre match kick about. Hazel sat in the clubhouse and was joined for a chat by League Secretary John Beeston.

The match kicked off and Kimberley looked to be first off the blocks and the visiting keeper had to made a good double save to prevent the homesters taking a early lead. Village came more in to the game and after 18 minutes were ahead through LEIGH SISSONS. 

The Miners pressed forward but the away defence held steady to hold on to their lead. In the 38th minute, a ball from the right wing was played in to the Village area and the slighest touches by MARTIN LENCH saw the scores level. This seemed to spur the Miners on and after 42 minutes,  JOSH STEVENSON was in the right place to put them ahead.

The Second Half, Ruddington bought on Michael Leslie, the former Carlton Town player and son of legend Referee Mick Leslie. This seemed to bolt the defence together, as he seemed to win everything at the back giving players around him a lot more confidence. On 65 minutes, RAYMOND WRIGHT hit home the equaliser.

As the game was closing in for a well deserved point for both sides, a tug of a shirt was well spotted by the ref and a free kick was given in the final minute, up stepped JOSH STEVENSON who hit it from 25 yards in to the left corner of the net to send The Miners home with all the points.

After the match, I must thank Danny Staley of Kimberley Miners Welfare FC for the kind donation for this Blog's Charity The Oaklands for Adults with Special Needs which takes the running total to over £160.

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE FC TWITTER

https://twitter.com/KimberleyMWFC

RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ruddingtonvillagefc/

https://twitter.com/RuddFc

PHOTOS TAKEN FROM THE MATCH CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

NINE GOAL THRILLER AT UNITED

Notts Senior League

Senior Division

NOTTINGHAM UNITED FC 5 SANDHURST FC 4

att: 38

Programme £1

On arrival I was met by the lovely lady Carla who runs the tea bar at Nottingham United. After a while the players began to arrive and I grabbed a quick cuppa and a nice Bacon Cob. Got me programme and Martin handed me my matchday programme.

Before kick off we was waiting around but one of the Assistant Refs didnt show up so Martin ended up rnnning the line. The Sandhurst locals were in fine voice and support for their side.

The game kicked off and it was a very even start for both sides, but after 14 minutes it was the Greens of United that took the lead through RICHARDS.This seemed to urge United forward and they had another couple of chances that went wayward. On 25 minutes, a lovely cross from the left was met by BRADFORD who neatly headed Sandhurst the equaliser. On 34 minutes, it was that man RICHARDS again who undid the Sandhurst defence to tap the homesters in front.

Just before half time, came the talking point and possibly the turning point of the game, when a lob towards the home net was palmed away by the home keeper who was outside the area and stopped a goal scoring opportunity, after the keeper gained himself a yellow card, to add insult to injury to the visitors, he pulled off a top class save from the resulting free kick.

During my half time cuppa, everyone around the ground seemed to come to one conclusion about the incident including the home officials who felt it should have been a red card.

The Second Half began brightly for Nottingham United as they raced in to a 3-1 lead on 48 minutes through BEADMAN. The game was a very pacey game with chances flowing at each end and on 65 minutes, Sandhurst were back in it when ABBOTT reduced the arrears, but the next minute Nottingham United had re-extended their lead to 4-2 through BEADMAN. It was then beginning to get a bit darker as the sun went down and after 74 minutes SILVERTON made it 5-2. On 76 minutes, Sandhurst felt they should have had a goal when the ball was cleared off the line by the United skipper, but it looked over which the skipper admitted after the game, but the ref and assistant waved play on.

Sandhurst threw everyone forward and pulled a goal back through SMITH on 77 minutes, but after 80 minutes Sandhurst got a free kick just outside the box, where CLARKE stepped up and curled it round the wall in to the top corner of the net to give a tense and exciting final ten minutes.

NOTTINGHAM UNITED FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://nottinghamunitedfc.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/NottinghamUtd

SANDHURST FC FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/groups/131126450289306/?fref=ts

PHOTOS FROM THE MATCH CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

BOTH BULLS WIN

CMFL SOUTH DIVISION

BLIDWORTH WELFARE FC 0 BULWELL FC 2

Att: 58

Programme £1

A Noon kick off gave me chance to get to a early match at Blidworth Welfare who hosted newcomers to the CMFL Bulwell FC. I arrived fairly early to get my programme and had a lovely cuppa made by Trish who runs the refreshment building inside the ground and super clubman Scott Ward gave me a load of programmes for the Charity Stall.

 The ground soon began to fill with players and along with hoppers from far and wide.

Before kick off, I was approached by Jimmy Jazz and Wavedonaian and donated by Jimmy a envelope which contained £10 towards the blogs charity, which now takes the total for disabled adults to over £150..so a big thankyou to all that have made donations so far.

For the first ten minutes, I joined old friend and part time hopper and I say part time, as you will know him reporting for TalkSport Radio Tony Incenzo, where we had a good natter. I then strolled round to around the half way line just as the Bulls took the lead through VIPOND. Bulwell began to look dangerous but Welfare held their defensive back line well and caught Bulwell offside most times they broke forward.

I joined up with the local hoppers then, with Malc "the bearded wonder" Storer, Derek Clowes, Richard Lane and his daughter Jade, Pete Chappell and Big Mac.

The Second Half kicked off with this being Kris the ref's last game in the cmfl for a while whilst he moves up to the North West to go to Uni and ref in the West Cheshire League amongst other Leagues up that way.

Blidworth tried to get back in to the game but their chances were either straight at the keeper or strayed wide, whilst Bulwell played on the break and could well have added to their total but for poor finishing.

The Bulls finally wrapped up the three points in the 3rd minute of injury time when ENGLISH smashed home his clubs second goal of the game.

BLIDWORTH WELFARE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/blidworthwelfarefc/

https://twitter.com/BlidworthFC

BULWELL FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bulwellfootballclub/

https://twitter.com/BulwellFC

MATCH PICS CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

CMFL NORTH DIVISION

AFC MANSFIELD 4 OLLERTON TOWN FC 0

Att: 205

Programme £1.50

After the kind offer from several folks at Blidworth Welfare FC, I took a lift from Pete Chappell who was going to the Forest Welfare Ground the home of AFC Mansfield. On arrival, I got my programme and darted towards the Welfare for a quick pre-match pint, where I was met by Ref Eddie Pidduck.

At kick off, this is the second time I have noticed this season, the away side shook hands with the home side on the respect handshake, usually I've seen it being the home side that shakes the away sides hands.

The game set off at a blistering pace, with some good one touch football being played by the Bulls, but it was the home keeper who had to deal with the first save of the game on 8 minutes. After 16 minutes, Rick and Naylor both closed down the ollerton keeper and the ball landed for NAYLOR to slot in to a empty net.

Ref Pidduck had to keep a eye on things as a few strong challenges were going in, but he did excellent on keeping a lid on things and things began to calm down when they could well of easily boiled over, but the ref bought both captains to talk to him a couple of times.On 44 minutes, Bulls Hitman RICK got his sides second goal and the half time whistle went at the right time for the visitors as a couple of heads went down, but Winter & Bodie must have had words to pick up their players for the second half.

At Half time, I had burger and chips, I just say the burger wasnt the best I've ever had and managed about half of it. The chips and Twix was ok though!

The second half saw both sides create a few chances and Ollerton thought they were back in it with 5 minutes remaining when a 30 yard shot from Bunce hit the bar. As people began to leave and hence why I never leave till the end, RICK broke through and smashed home his second and the Bulls third of the game. The very next minute and next break it was NAYLOR who got his second of the game and made it 4-0 to AFC Mansfield.

AFC MANSFIELD WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.afcmansfield.net/

https://twitter.com/AFCMansfield

OLLERTON TOWN FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ollertontownfc/

https://twitter.com/Ollertontown_fc

MATCH PICS CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK