PINXTON FLARE TO DERBY WIN

CMFL South Division

PINXTON FC 1 SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC FC 0

Att: about 300

 

On a rainy Tuesday Night, Pinxton FC took the points in the First local derby between them and rivals South Normanton Athletic FC with blue flares smoking in to the evening sky when Pinxton took the lead.

 

Both sides had their chances early on with both sides clearing efforts off the line, but the away goalkeeper was the more busier, pulling off at least 4 excellent saves.

 

The Second Half saw Pinxton do more of the attacking and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead, which had a little bit of luck about it. After 70 minutes, Jay Cooper's run and cross was turned in to his own net by a outstretched leg of a Normo defender.

 

Most the game I was sat in the stand with Shrewbury based Hopper Lee Vaughan who I seem to keep bumping in to recently, so far in the past few weeks at Torpoint Athletic, AFC Mansfield, but I'm not going to Harworth next week as he is.

 

The three officials of the game Ref Tim Walker and his two assistants, his dad Stuart Walker  and Andy Richardson all had excellent games and didn't miss a thing and didn't allow anything to bubble over.

 

Must thank the games assessor Mr Grahame Mitchell for the kind lift home.

 

PINXTON FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/pinxtonfc1

 

SOUTH NORMANTON AFC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/officialshiners

 

The NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE..Only £15 for 5 matches at 5 grounds with 5 programmes. There is a coach to all Saturday games from Nottingham Train Station though only 18 seats left. For more information, please e-mail me on  hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk why not reward a unsung hero at your club with a ticket!!

THE BLADES JUST TOO SHARP FOR THE GRIFFS

Coventry Telegraph Challenge Cup

First Round

NUNEATON GRIFF FC 0 JET BLADES FC 2

Att: 63 (headcount)

After staying overnight in Lichfield at my mums, as we had been to a British Wrestling Evening on the Friday Night, I decided to have a look about for a match on the way home, when I spotted this fixture. Having had done programme swops with Nuneaton Griff Legend Programme Editor & Press Officer Rod Grubb for many years, I felt it was time to pay him and his club a visit.

Hazel drove down the A5 and we was soon outside The Pringles Stadium. As we approached the gate, we was met by a kind smilng face of the club Sec Suzanne Phillips, who made me a offer I couldn't refuse. Could I take the team photo and I wouldn't be charged the two quid entrance, well no problems with the photos, but the two pounds has been added to the Blog's charity total and put by kind donation of Nuneaton Griff FC.

After a nice cuppa by the lovely canteen/refreshments bar staff, I was chatting away to the Jets Sec and also a couple of other folks from the home club.

As the teams entered the pitch, I was asked if I wouldn mind to take pics of the heads and shoulders of the Griff;s players and then a team photo to which I just squeezed in before my camera battery went, so to pitch side and in to the large stand to change my battery over as the game was about to kick off.

Well, Nuneaton Griffs FC are going well in the Midland Combination League Premier Division lying in fourth position, whilst I had to do a bit of searching for Jet Blades FC from the Bedworth area who ply their trade in the Coventry Alliance League and also when Griffs were founded as Nuneaton Amateurs, their first  match was away at Jet Blades and they returned home after a 2-1 victory. So simple after that history lesson, a home victory on the cards..Surely????  Maybe not, as the Blades hadn't read the script!

The First Half not a great deal to note, as the strong wind tended to control the ball a lot better than the players and in fact neither goalkeeper had a save to make, whilst the referee seemed to be the sort who felt everyone should be there just to watch him with his constant blowing of his whistle and the odd flash of a card.

After a lovely cuppa in the Hospitality Suite at half time, it was back out for the Second Half action, The visitors seemed to have upped their game and began to advance forward a few more times, with the home side seeming a bit dis-orientated today and possibly in a mood thought of oh well we only need to turn up to win this tie, but this seemed to back fire on 63 minutes when a cross found Blades sub LUKE WORWOOD at the back post to slot home.

This seemed to awaken the Griffs as they threw players forward, but this left gaps at the back and on a counter attack STU PAGET's back header loped in to the net to give the visitors a 2-0 lead on 74 minutes.

Griffs continued to push and press, but could not get a shot away on target. A sad ending to the game was when the home attacker Danny Harris was stretched off with a suspected broken leg, lets hope that it is not that serious and he has a very speedy recovery.

So in the end it was The Blades that deserved their place in to the Second Round, but if you have never been to The Pingles Stadium, then it is well worthy of a visit.

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

Nuneaton Griff FC Website/Twitter

http://beta.clubwebsite.co.uk/nuneatongrifffc/Home

https://twitter.com/NuneatonGriff

Jet Blades FC Website

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/jetbladesfc/s/team-latest-66544.html

The NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE..Only £15 for 5 matches at 5 grounds with 5 programmes. There is a coach to all Saturday games from Nottingham Train Station though only 18 seats left. For more information, please e-mail me on  hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

REF LEAVES THE MILLERS CROSS

Central Midlands Football League

North Division

AFC MANSFIELD 8 CLAY CROSS TOWN FC 3

League Pass

Progrramme £1.50 very good programme

Attendance 104

 

With The Bulls of Mansfield involved in the FA Vase, other clubs had gone above them in the League table, hence them beginning this evenings match in 3rd place but with games in hand, whilst The Millers of Clay Cross Town in 5th place had won 5 of their last 6 away games. So a close gme was in store for us all.

 

The game kicked off with Clay Cross pushing forward and with just over a minute on the clock, they had taken a early lead through BEN GOODMAN. The visitors continued to play the more attacking football and moved in a 2 goal lead after 15 minutes through RICHARD MATHEWS.

 

AFC pulled a goal back from the penalty spot through prolific goal machine DEAN RICK on 25 minutes and it looked as if the Bulls would move up a gear but this wasn't to be as after 40 minutes, Clay Cross Town re-extended their 2 goal lead through ANT LYNAM.

 

After a quick pint in the bar at half time and chat with the Selston FC crew, the players were back on to the pitch and the turning point of the game occurred, when the home keeper swung a punch at a Millers forward but didn't connect..The Assistant over on the far side of the pitch was flagging like mad, but with his flag in his left hand, the ref took this to mean that it was a foul from the Clay Cross player and waved play on. From the play on, AFC Mansfield scored, to which a couple of refs watching from the side felt was quite a way off side, but that's just the way the game goes some times, so on 60 minutes, AFC had reduced the arrears through a goal by ROCKIE WHITE. This seemed to unease the visitors and homesters stepped up their game now and was well on top and after 68 minutes were on level terms with  DEAN RICK converting hos second penalty of the game after a defensive handball.

 

AFC Mansfield were now rampant and running forward at every chance, whilst the visitors heads went down and on 74 minutes The Bulls took the lead for the first time in the game when DEAN RICK completed his hat trick. It was soon 5-3 through ROCKIE WHITE's lovely chipped goal on 81 minutes. With 87 minutes on the clock, that man again DEAN RICK made it 6-3 and I was wondering could I see my 1st 10 goal feast game of the season. I didn't have to wait too long when MATT DRAPER made it 7-3 after 89 minutes.well now surely nothing else could happen in this match, but yes there was, whilst the ref blew his whilst, he called Millers man Sam Bartram over and sent him for a early bath. As some of the 104 attendance was leaving, DICK RICK went nap hand with a lovely goal to show why he is the best goal finisher in this Division if not league.

 

Dont get me wrong, AFC Mansfield deserved their win, but it makes you wonder if the Ref had consulted his Assistant or seen what most had seen in the ground, would he have sent the home keeper off to leave them with 10 men and awarded a penalty, if it had been scored, would they have come back from 4-1 down, but football is all about ifs and opinions.

 

The NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE..Only £15 for 5 matches at 5 grounds with 5 programmes. There is a coach to all Saturday games from Nottingham Train Station though only 18 seats left. For more information, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

 

AFC Mansfield Website/Twitter

http://www.afcmansfield.net/

https://twitter.com/AFCMansfield

 

Clay Cross Town FC

http://www.claycrosstownfc.co.uk/club/80477/Home

VILLAGE EDGE OUT THE UNITED

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE

Senior Division

RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 4  NOTTINGHAM UNITED FC 3

 

This match was on a knife edge until ref Steve Seers blew the whistle for the final time and Ruddington Village had taken the points in a excellent game of football.

On arrival, we spotted Nottingham United's Chairman Mark who had started Movember a month early and had grown a bushy beard, he looked like a werewolf, but took the joke in good faith. A quick hello to their sec Martin and then to the 3 officials for the game, ref Steve Seers and his 2 Assistants Mick Leslie and Georgia Richardson who all had a good game.

 

Went in to the clubhouse and met Steve Wilson's daughter who was in charge of the Refreshments Bar, as Ann was away in sunny Turkey, whilst we donned our coats in cold Ruddington, though the sun did come out for the second half. A nice cuppa here and a chat with Steve's daughter revealed that she does the programme that is a very good effort and also does the club website.

 

I'd chosen todays match as one of this seasons Groundhop matches is to be at Elms Park and the hoppers will flood to the dugouts to take photos here as they have the Clubs badge on them.

 

On to the game and it was the visitors that took the early advantage pushing forward and they certainly had some unusual numbers on their shirts with the number 99 opening the scoring after just 12 minutes.

 

Village pushed forward and thought they were on level terms after just 15 minutes when a long range shot saw the visiting keeper dive backwards to crawl the ball back in to play with no forward following up.

 

On 22 minutes after sustained pressure, the homesters were on level terms when LESLIE(the assistant ref's son) fired home from about 20 yards out. This sparked Ruddington forward and on 29 minutes, the left winger hit a rasper of a shot to beat the opposition keeper and put his side in front. Bith sides then had chances but it was still 2-1 at half time.

 

The first period of the Seccond Half saw Ruddington on the front foot and could well have increased their lead before they did in the 52nd minute. The visitors pressed forward and Richards was unlucky when he saw his 25 yard shot bounce back off the post with the home keeper beaten. It all looked over on the hour when Ruddington Village pushed forward and made it 4-1.

 

Nottingham United then decided to play their best football of the game and on 63 minutes pulled a goal back to make it 4-2, but the best goal of the game was to come in the 69th minute, which came from a overhead kick from on the edge of the area to set up a exciting last 20 minutes. Both sides had chances to add to their tallys but it wasn't to be. A good game played in the right spirit by 2 friendly clubs.

Photos from todays match can be seen on this link
http://s413.photobucket.com/user/hornby62/library/?sort=2&page=1

Ruddington Village FC Website/Twitter

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

https://twitter.com/RuddFc

Nottingham United FC Website/Twitter

http://nottinghamunitedfc.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/NottinghamUtd

To join the NEW Notts Senior League Un-Official Forum, please click the LINK and join

If anyone is interested or wants more information about this seasons NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk there is a coach running for the Saturday matches but only 20 seats left available, so please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

CAVS ON THE WAY TO MAGDALA

Notts FA Senior Cup

1st Round

BLIDWORTH WELFARE FC 1 FC CAVALIERS 3

Admission £2 concession

Programme £1

Att: Headcount 38

 

Only found out that this tie that was postponed from Saturday was to be played tonight last night via Dave Voller on Twitter. I rang up mate Daz Wragg and arrangements were made to pick me up.

Heavy rain fell this afternoon and as I watched twitter, some games began to fall as well, but around 4.30pm news came through the game was to go ahead.

 

On arrival, there was a new gateman and we was greeted by Dave Voller who asked me if I'd read his programme yet, still havent got round to it yet Dave, but it looks ok.

 

The teams lined up and I went to the stand behind the goal to join fellow hoppers Shaun and his partner Anna and we had a good catch up on different games where we had been recently.

 

On the pitch, the sides were poor with passes from both sides going astray far too many times, but it was the visitors who looked the more sharper in front of goal in a even half having the home keeper pull off 2 very good saves and a blidworth defender knocking the ball off the line.

 

As I was drinking my half time cuppa,, the sides were already on the pitch as I chattered away with a local named Charlie who watches Retford United FC. After only 47 minutes and Cavs had taken the lead from a low shot that crept under the Welfare's keepers body. Five minutes later on 52 minutes and the Cavs were delighted when from a cross from the right was headed home to double their advantage.

 

Blidworth made a couple of subs and pushed forward and got back in to the game when reducing the arrears to 1-2 after 67 minutes to give themselves hope in the tie. A injury then to a home player left them with all subs used and just 10 players for the last 20 minutes and Cavs wrapped up the tie in the 79 minutes to set up a away tie at Magdala Amateurs FC in the Second Round.

 

BLIDWORTH WELFARE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/BlidworthFC

 

To join the NEW Notts Senior League Un-Official Forum please click on the link below

http://nsfl.freeforums.net/

 

If anyone is interested or wants more information about this seasons NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk  there is a coach running for the Saturday matches.

LETS HOP INTO BEDS

Bedfordshire County Football League Groundhop

 

MARSTON SHELTON ROVERS FC 3 SHEFFORD TOWN & CAMPTON FC 1

 

This was my First venture in to the Bedford County League, so the alarm clock was set for 5am, a look out the bedroom window saw the rain spitting down on the car on the driveway. All washed and dressed, me, hazel and shawn was on the road for 5.45am and heading out of Mansfield on the A38 hitting every damn red light on route to the M1. Joining the M1 at Junction 28,  only 99 miles to go to the first ground just off Junction 13 towards Bedford. As we headed south bound, the rain got heavier and I had thoughts of a flooded pitch somewhere along the day, but there was no need to worry, as we came off the M1 and the sun came out. Joining a new road, the sat nav went crackers as the new road wasn't on it, but we came off at Marston and then the sat nav sent us up to a cul de sac, we came out the cul de sac on to a long road and we stopped to ask a bloke who pointed us in the right direction...about 50 yards away!

On arrival, we drove in to the Car Park where we were the first of the hoppers to arrive. Shawn took to the lady setting up the Food Stall and was first in the queue once the Bacon Cobs were ready..later he even gained himself a freebee sausage!

 

We set up the Charity Stall inside the large room where the hosts were serving hot drinks and was soon joined by Terry's Badges and then followed by a stream of hoppers both old faces and a new. Sales were going brisk and sales for the Notts Senior League Advanced Tickets and Coach Tickets were selling well.

 

Outside I strolled for the game and the League Record was announced as 162 which the League Committee was buzzing about and organiser Craig Dabbs was very proud of, he was even counting without a clicker ass well! The game was of a good standard with the hosts winning 3-1.

 

PAVENHAM FC 7 CALDECOTE FC 1

 

So it was round the country roads to Pavenham FC, a lovely village setting which Shawn loved as there was a big Park at the side of the pitch for him to play on, The home side played very well in front of a crowd of 136 and went on to win 7-1 with their leading striker scoring all 7 for the homesters. Caldecote missed a penalty as well. The food here that I had was mini roll things with cheese and egg inside them with salad, it was different and quite nice.

 

AFC OAKLEY SPORTS M & DH FC 1 WILSTEAD FC 1

 

We doubled back on ourselves to the lovely village of Oakley and found this gem of a ground down a narrow road, in front of you and at the side of the car park lies a beautiful clubhouse, to which I had to sample a pint of cider before tucking in to a nice Burger with bacon on it and Shawn had a Bacon Cob. Again Shawn found a park, whilst Hazel had a kip in the car, this game was very tight but the crowd attendance record for the league rose to a new 172. This was also the only club to do a raffle on the day and had at least 30 prizes. The match finished level at 1-1 and Craig must have been delighted with the way things went at this hop, the forecast of rain only appeared in the second half of this match and everything ran like clockwork.

A BIG THANKYOU TO CRAIG For arranging this hop

 

I must thank all those who donated to the Charity Stall, we raised just under £48 towards the OAKLANDS CENTRE, which is for Adults with Special Needs.

 

If anyone is interested or wants more information about this seasons NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk there is a coach running for the Saturday matches.

CLIPSTONE FC IN TO ROUND TWO

NOTTS SENIOR CUP: First Round

CLIPSTONE FC 4 KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE FC 1

 

Clipstone FC will feel mighty relieved that they are through to the Second Round of the Notts Senior Cup after defeating a battling Kimberley Miners Welfare side in the first round.

On arrival, I was greeted by Clipstone Chairman Brett Marshall and tonight Barry Clarke was doing the tea bar and not the gate, as Les Graham was away. A quick chat with a few of the Kimberley folks and then I was joined by former Ollerton Town man Brian for the first half of the tie.

 

Clipstone were first on the front foot, but the visitors defence held firm, but on 30 minutes, a lovely diagonal through ball split the home defence and keeper Fisher was caught out of position but the 2 visiting forwards ran in to each other and the chance was gone, but this was a warning to what was to happen as on 32 minutes the Notts Senior League team took the lead through LENCH from 30 yards.

 

This seemed to wake Clipstone up and they went straight on the attack and on 34 minutes were level when WATSON blasted home from 25 yards out.

 

Half time came and I was invited in to the Barry Clarke Hospitality Suite, this is the 1st time I'd been in and it is lovely and a honour to be named after Mr Clippo himself. Inside I met up with Tony Knowles who is now at Matlock Town FC and fellow blogger Malc and his good friend Kev. Malc, kev and me had a quick chat with Brett Marshall before joining Richard Lane, Derek Clownes, Scotty Ward and a Blidworth player on the halfway line in the stand.

 

A lovely lady came round selling the raffle and as always I bought my 2 quids worth and I won, but donated it back as it was a bottle of wine. Meanwhile the game was going to and fro and Kimberley were playing some good football and Fisher in the Clipstone net was keeping everything out.

 

On the hour, a break forward saw a Clipstone forward bought down in the area and the penalty given. Up stepped PALING who fired the Cobras in front for the first time in the match.

 

Welfare pushed forward in aid of a equaliser, but Clipstone bought on Haslam on to the right wing and on 79 minutes, he received the ball on the halfway line and just ran with the ball before putting in a inch perfect ball for SNOWDEN to slot past Walsh in the visitors net.

 

With the clock ticking down, a near identicial move by Haslam saw him belt down the wing and again a inch perfect ball saw WATSON fire his side in to the Second Round of the competition.

 

A good win for Clipstone FC of the Northern Counties East League but a good performance and great credit go to Kimberley Miners Welfare from the Notts Senior League.

 

CLIPSTONE WELFARE WEBSITE/TWITTER

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

https://twitter.com/ClipstoneFC

 

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE TWITTER

https://twitter.com/KimberleyMWFC

 

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.

 

ATHLETIC BOOT FORESTERS OUT THE CUP

Notts Intermediate Cup: First Round

BOOTS ATHLETIC FC 6 FC SUTTON FORESTERS 2

Boots Athletic FC of the Notts Senior League Senior Division have had the best starts to the season results wise, whilst todays visitors to the Lenton Lane Ground Foresters had won 2 out of the three games they had played in the top Division of the MAA League, so maybe a close game was on the cards here.

Before the match, I had a quick meeting with old friend Boots Chairman Dick Durrant about this seasons Notts Senior League Groundhop of which his club are a away side at Ruddington Village FC.

Teams entered the pitch and after the team photo and the hand shakes, it was down to the action and the visitors looked good for the first 10 minutes unsettling the hosts but not forcing a save from the home  keeper.

Boots began to settle down to their game plan and after just 12 minutes, GARY WILLOWS put them ahead. This then opened up the gateway, as Boots poured forward and could well have added to their total before they did on 22 minutes, when a cross from the right wing was pushed in to his own net by the visiting keeper. Straight from kick off and the Foresters heads a bit down, the hosts won the ball and it was played through to TIAN WALTON who fired home low from 25 yards out to increase the score to 3-0. Before half time it got better for Boots when ASHLEY McPHERSON fired home to make it 4-0.

A nice cuppa at half time was needed as the sun set and it began to feel a bit cooler, so on went my jacket for the Second Half. The Visitors began the brighter of the sides and was playing their best football of the match and when the home keeper brought down the visiting forward after 52 minutes, NICK BARSBY stepped up from the spot to fire back a bit of the arrears. Boots had made a couple of substitutes by now and this seemed to disrupt the rhytham they seemed to have in the first half and Foresters had a couple of half chances, but on 69 minutes JOHN WALTON fired home from 30 yards. Boots leading 5-1 began to relax and their visitors had other idea as within a minute, they made it 5-2 with a shot from just outside the area. With the game drawing to a close, home sub JOHN McCAULEY fired home the final goal of the game to make it 6-2 to send Boots through to Round Two.

BOOTS ATHLETIC FC WEBSITE

http://bootsathletic.intheteam.com/modules/page/page.aspx?pc=profiles

Photos from the game 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.