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

VILLA KICK OFF WITH THREE POINTS AT SANDHURST

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE

SENIOR DIVISION

Programme £1 including Raffle

SANDHURST FC 1 AWSWORTH VILLA FC 3

Att: 37(Headcount)

Sandhurst FC went in to this match having lost at home to Wollaton FC on the Saturday whilst this was Awsworth's first game of the season. On arrival, I had a quick chat with the ref whilst he was waiting his 2 assistants. Then it was a hello from Mr Sandhurst Bob Crawford and Graham Scutt. I then got me programmes from Graham's lovely daughter Jade. Just before kick off, local hopper Pete arrived and we stood together during the match.

A very even start to the game saw both sides carving out the odd chance and Sandhurst FC being denied a penalty but the ref who was alot closer than me waved play on. 

On 20 minutes, the visitors took the lead when a cross drive found the far corner of the net. 26 minutes on the clock and the homesters were level, when a turn and shot was fired in to the net. The scores didnt stay level for very long, as on the half hour came the goal of the game, when the Awsworth player got the ball around the half way line ran in to the Sandhurst half and let rip from 35 yards to leave the home keeper shocked as the ball floated over his head in to the net.

In to the Second Half and the first 20 minutes belonged to Sandhurst as they pushed forward and on the hour, they thought they had the equaliser but it was ruled offside. Awsworth then began to come back in to the game and they broke and made it 3-1 after 70 minutes. Both sides tried to add to their totals but the score remained the same at the final whistle.

SANDHURST FC FACEBOOK PAGE

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

AWSWORTH VILLA FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/awsworthvilla/

https://twitter.com/AwsworthVilla

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK

ROLLS SURVIVE TOWN'S LATE FIGHTBACK

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE

Senior Division

Programme £1

BILBOROUGH TOWN FC 3 HUCKNALL ROLLS LEISURE FC 4

Headcount: 38

Today the Notts Senior League kicked off for the 2013-14 season and the Senior Division have to produce a programme for each home match. New clubman Jevon Swinscoe has joined up along with Wayne Morrison to help Bilborough Town out with Steve Lee and his dad with other members make this a friendly club.

Hoppers began to arrive like Brian Buck from Potters Bar and a chap with is daughter from Swadlincote, also quite a few local hoppers including Malc and Kev.

I got a programme and must say it was a very good effort, as this was the 1st one the club had ever produced.

On the pitch and Rolls made the perfect start after just 2 minutes, when a cross deceived the Town Keeper and the stranded ball landed at the feet of MARSHALL who smashed the ball home. Rolls kept pushing forward and looked strong at the back, just when they began to look comfortable on 23 minutes, a long diagonial ball from midfield found STREET who chipped the away keeper to level things up. Just as we were looking forward to our half time cuppa, Rolls had other plans when they broke away and START blasted them in to the lead again.

At half time, I walked over where Jevon was making teas and coffees and a nice queue for him was merging. The players stayed on the pitch whilst the officials went in to the changing rooms, this possibly being because there is only one changing room for both sets of players.

The Second Half kicked off and Rolls looked the better side knocking the ball about and on 61 minutes increased their lead to 3-1. After 81 minutes, the away side looked home and dusted when adding a fourth goal.

This is when Town seemed to believe in themselves and within a minute had pulled a goal back to make it 2-4. Within another minute(83), it became 3-4. The away fans were then baying for the ref to blow the final whistle and some shouting from them questioning the refs watch. To be fair the ref did stop his watch for any type of time wasting that was happening, hence so much time added on at the end of the game.

Photos from todays match can be seen on this LINK

BILBOROUGH TOWN FC WEBSITE/TWITTER/FACEBOOK

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

https://twitter.com/btfcboss

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

HUCKNALL ROLLS LEISURE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://hrlfc.intheteam.com/modules/page/Page.aspx?pc=0&mid=24723&pmid=0

https://twitter.com/HRLFC

LINBY SNATCH DRAMATIC LATE POINT

CENTRAL MIDLANDS LEAGUE

SOUTH DIVISION

LINBY COLLIERY WELFARE FC 3 PINXTON FC 3

Headcount: 66

Programme £1.50

On arrival at the lovely Church Lane Ground, I could hardly see a thing, as just over a hour before I'd been for my eye test and was still suffering from the damn stuff that they had dropped in my eyes!

A friendly hello from Groundhopper and Wolves fan Abbswolf and also a chap who had travelled from Stoke. We ventured to the tea bar where I had a cuppa and was soon joined by some of the local faces. I then bumped in to fellow blogger Malc Storer who hasnt been too well of late but is looking better.

First half I stood with Bilborough Pelican team staff and joined by old friend and Linby Secretary Adie Ward. The game kicked off and Linby looked lively with the right winger tearing the visiting left back to shreads and could well have been in front well before they took the lead in the 42nd minute when BURKE fired home. Within a minute, it could well have been two, but for poor finishing in front of goal.

The Second Half, I strolled over the other side of the pitch and joined Brian Franks & Malc Storer and before we could even settle down for the Second period of the game, Pinxton FC had turned things around with a superb free kick from BETTISON on 50 minutes and then taking the lead on 57 minutes through a deflected shot by COOKE. SMITH then seemed to have put the game out of reach and Pinxton seemed to be going home with the three points, but on 77 minutes, Simon MARLOW broke away and smacked the ball passed the advanced keeper to reduce the arrears. In to injury time and Dave MARLOW crossed and the keeper fumbled and the ball had crossed the line to level the scores.

In the clubhouse after the match, Adie Ward kindly donated £10 from Linby CW FC towards the blogs Charity and then "Keith" the Pinxton Gnome donated £10 and Lee Cook of Pinxton FC donated £5. I must thank everyone for their kind donations.

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK

LINBY CW FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/linbycwfc

PINXTON FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/pinxtonfc1

SHINNERS SPOIL SWANS DAY

CENTRAL MIDLANDS LEAGUE: SOUTH DIVISION

SWANWICK PENTRICH ROAD FC 3 SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC FC 6

Headcount: 105

Hopes were high as Swanwick Pentrich Road FC returned to the Central Midlands Football League after a absence of over 15 years. They were well organised with someone on the gate selling the matchday programme and as they were awaiting the club badges, taking names and addresses. The refreshments bar was busy selling food and drinks, soon selling out of beefburgers, hence why I had a nice bacon sandwich at half time.

A few groundhoppers were in attendance as well as a few folks that follow this blog and me on twitter including Les from Halifax, the lovely couple from Nottingham and Brian McKenna(no, not the funny man off the tele..opps thats Paul!!!)

The Shinners set out not wanting the Swans to settle on their return to the CMFL and soon went head on 14 minutes through NEWTON. The lead was soon doubled on 21 minutes when CARTER fired home. Things began to get worse for Swanwick on 39 minutes, when GARTON put Normo three up. As we was heading to half time GREENHALGH made it 4-0 to the visiting club.

At half time, I won the raffle but donated the bottle of red wine back for a future raffle for the Swans and then tucked in to my £1.50 bacon sannie which was lovely.

Out back for the second half and the visitors were still going forward and were rewarded with a fifth goal on 55 minutes through FRETWELL.

I then took a stroll round the pitch to the other side and joined former Chairman and founder of the CMFL Frank Harwood who had bought his young great grand child to the match, who loved going fetching the stray footballs. The visitors made a few subs and this gave the homesters a few more chances going forward and on 76 minutes they pulled a goal back through BOCKERFIELD. BOCKERFIELD then scored a second from the spot on 86 minutes. With time running out, Normo broke away and ROBERTS made it 2-6 and just when you thought it was all over, the final kick of the game and ninth goal went to the home side.

Footnote: Swanwick's home match v Allerton FC on August Bank Holiday Monday will be a 12.45pm kick off

PHOTOS CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

SWANWICK PENTRICH ROAD FC FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/swanwick.pentrichroadfc?fref=ts

SOUTH NORMANTON AFC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/officialshiners

Midweek Results and Fixtures

Monday 5th August
Graham St Prims 1-3 Gresley FC 
Long Eaton United 1-0 Carlton Town 

Tuesday 6th August 
Blidworth Welfare 2-1 Ashland Rovers

Eastwood Town 2-2 Ilkeston FC
Holwell Sports 3-2 Newark Town
Loughborough Dynamo 2-2 Grantham Town 
Mickleover Sports 1-2 Matlock Town
Southwell City 3-0 Sherwood Colliery
Staveley MW 2-0 Stocksbridge


Wednesday 7th August
Clipstone FC 2-4 Sutton Town AFC
Denaby United 4-1 Brodsworth Welfare
Dronfield Town 1-0 Royal Earl
Hinckley United 2-8 Aston Villa
Worksop Town 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Thursday 8th August
Harworth Colliery 1-2 Retford United
Southwell City XI 9-3 Sandhurst FC

Please check with clubs before you set out to any pre-season friendly match

MINSTER MEN PIP THE SHIRE BOYS

Pre Season Friendly

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FC 0 SOUTHWELL CITY XI 1

About twenty odd years ago, I would pop down to the old John Players FC Groundon Aspley Lane, the venue for most of the Notts Alliance League Cup Finals back then. Today, there stands a David Lloyds gym and some allotments. The next street down hidden away houses a football ground on Grassington Road, this is where Nottinghamshire FC play when their Carrington ground isnt available due to cricket. There is a bus stop right outside the enterance.

I met club secretary Tim Salmon and found there was also a fixture between the clubs being played at Southwell City as well, though Southwell City had beaten Arnold Town in the morning 3-0 at the Eagles ground.

A stroll round pitchside and I spotted that the homesters had their badge on their corner flags. It came to kick off and I was joined by Heanor Town's Tony Squires. Tim was todays Referee.

The home side began the brighter and were unlucky to see a chip cleared by the last defender on the Southwell line and then the same forward striking the crossbar, whilst at the other end, the home keeper who must deserve man of the match kept the visitors at bay.

At times there were a few crossed words between the ref and away bench through frustration of certain decisions but it is always difficult with club linesmen and a ref what is with a club, sometimes this happens.

The Second Half belonged the visitors and the Nottinghamshire keeper was the only thing stopping the visitors totalling up the goals with some outstanding saves.  After 73 minutes, a southwell corner to the far post was headed back and the back was slammed home to give the minstermen the win.

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.nottinghamshirefc.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/Nottinghamshir1

SOUTHWELL CITY FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://southwellcityfc.com/

https://twitter.com/southwellcityfc

Some Results from Saturday 3rd August

Saturday 3rd August
AFC Mansfield 6-1 Hucknall Town 
Arnold Town 0-3 Southwell City
Ashland Rovers 3-4 Beeston AFC
Awsworth Villa 2-7 Real United

Belper Town 3-2 Ilkeston FC
Belper United 5-3 Dronfield Town
Bilborough United 3-0 Netherfield Albion
Blidworth Welfare 1-9 Heanor Town
Borrowash Victoria 2-6 Gresley FC
Burton Joyce FC 1-7 Linby CW
Clay Cross Town 1-3 Rainworth MW
Clipstone FC 1-3 Matlock Town
Coalville Town 2-3 Barwell FC
Denaby United FC 3-3 Skegness United FC
Easington United 2-6 Sculcoates Amateurs
Harrowby United 7-0 Newark Town
Hinckley United 1-3 Solihull Moors 
Kimberley MW 3-3 Radcliffe Olympic
Long Eaton United 1-0 Eastwood Town
Loughborough FC 5-0 Welbeck Welfare
Lutterworth Town 0-1 Saffron Dynamo
Nottinghamshire FC 0-1 Southwell City
Pinxton Fc 2-1 Worsbrough Bridge Athletic
Radford FC 2-2 Bilborough Pelican 
Sandhurst FC 2-3 Newark Flowserve
Scarborough Athletic 2-1 Brodsworth Welfare 
Sheffield FC 3-1 Shirebrook Town
Sherwood Colliery 6-0 Calverton Welfare
Skegness Town 0-2 Clifton FC
Staveley MW 0-4 Worksop Town
Teversal FC 1-1 Arnold Town FC
Thurnby Nivana 0-1 Basford United

THE SWANS GLIDE TO WIN AT THE SHINNERS

Pre Season Friendly

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 0 STAPENHILL FC 2

Saw this friendly had been arranged and thought not been down to South Normo for quite a while. Tonight they were playing Stapenhill FC who are new boys to the East Midlands Counties League.  Before the game, I met the new Stapenhill chairman who told me a bit of the recent history and how he had just got involved and wished him and his club well. I then spoke to quite a few old friends from the home club before popping in to see the ref Rich Roberts who I've not seen for years, we had a chat and a catch up with how we are both doing.

Just before kick off, I went in to the bar area and was greeted by new normo management team member Sutts and also in attendance at tonights match was local hopper Simon Matters.

I went and sat with Grahame Critchley for the match, he was at now defunct Kimberley Town but is now the new Secretary of the Shinners, so its all change at Normo, also with a new manager and some new players.

The game kicked off and the visitors took the early advantage after just 7 minutes when they took a early lead. Infact they could well have doubled their lead before half time, when their attacker took the ball round the keeper only to see the ball dribble just wide.

The second half saw Athletic push forward for a equaliser but this left gaps at the back and they got caught again with about 10 minutes left to give Stapenhill a comfortable victory on the night.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

SOUTH NORMANTON AFC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/officialshiners

STAPENHILL FC 

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

https://twitter.com/Stapenhill_FC