A ORANGE DAY AT NSL FINALS DAY

Nottinghamshire Senior League Finals Day

At Basford United FC

SENIOR CUP FINAL

NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC 4 BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY FC 0 

Att: 260

JUNIOR CUP FINAL

WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS FC 3 BURTON JOYCE FC 2

Att: 154

The flagship day of the Nottinghamshire Senior League saw history being made, with the both finals being played on the same day and also the first ever on a 4g pitch to which hoppers gave back positive remarks. With the Junior Final kicking off at midday, this gave a few hoppers time to get a few double matches in around the East Midlands area and the 4pm kick off of the Senior Final saw players and officials from the league midday kick offs to attend, but what great value those had for £3 for both matches and a free programme.

On arrival at 9.30am, it gave me time to sort bits and bobs out, before at 10.15am to go to the players gate to meet and greet, at 11.15am both teams had given me their line ups and these went off to print for free teamsheets to be given out free of charge to spectators, Hazel went round the first match with the raffle for our new charity for next seasons blog, I will mention more later.

The Junior Cup Final kicked off and it was Woodthorpe who were soon on top as after only 2 minutes, their top marksman MARKELL BAILEY hit the back of the net with a bullet header

It was soon 2-0 after 15 minutes, when KEIRON WHEAT hit a 30 yard shot in to the top corner of the net, it was at this point I feared for Burton Joyce, but Burton Joyce kept playing their football and got a deserved goal on 20 minutes, when JACK HOPPER guided his header home to make it 2-1.

On 39 minutes, MARKELL BAILEY won the ball and fired home to restore his teams two goal advantage, but Burton Joyce were not finished as they hit back when just before half time RICKY GARNER turned the ball in to the net to make it 3-2.

The Second Half was just as good as the first but no further goals were scored, so the team in Orange, Woodthorpe Park Rangers collected the Junior Cup in their first season in the Nottinghamshire Senior League.

During the 2 matches, referees from Mansfield, Newark and Nottingham had a charity penalty shootout for Prostate Uk, sadly I didnt see it, as I was on players gate duty to do meet and greet for the Senior Cup Final and then on the main gate, so missed some of the Final, though could hear what was going on.

Newark Flowserve FC playing in Orange, had already won the Premier Division and went in to the Senior Cup Final as favourites and were quick out the blocks as the game was a bit one way traffic and were soon in front after 16 minutes, when ELLIOTT KING smashed home a penalty. On 37 minutes, as Hazel passed with the 2nd raffle of the day, ELLIOTT KING helped himself to his second goal of the day to double Flowserve;s advantage. On the hour, it was game over as Flowserve added a third through MICHAEL ATTARD and on 86 minutes, ELLIOTT KING completed his hat trick to make it 4-0.

On full time, I was asked to present Newark Flowserve with their trophys and the cup.

Next seasons Charity Blog is for a small self funding Charity called FORGET-ME-NOT that aids people with dementia and supports their families and carers, with the 2 raffles and private donations at the Finals, the total raised on Cup Finals day was a amazing £266.50p, a MASSIVE thankyou to everyone who donated through the raffle or donations

SHERWOOD WIN THE BATTLE OF THE COLLIERIES

Central Midlands Football League

Division One

SHERWOOD COLLIERY RESERVES 4 LINBY COLLIERY WELFARE RESERVES 1

Whilst Shawn was having his swimming lesson over in Shirebrook, I was sat in the car just floating through twitter, when I noticed that Sherwood Colliery Reserves had a home fixture, as I only live just up the road from the ground, it was a extra game I could pull in for the season.

On arrival I was greeted by the friendly Sherwood committee and I made my way up to pitchside after paying my £2 admission, with already a healthy young crowd waiting for the game to kick off. The ref came over and had a chat with me and then the game kicked off.

With only 2 teams only 2 places apart in the league table, it looked like that a close game would be on offer, the first 15 minutes was close but then the home side pressed forward as the visiting keeper was keeping his side in the game.

After 39 minutes, the offside trap was beaten and the ball crossed for LIAM CARVER to tap Sherwood in front. The chap who was talking to me, was a old time Linby supporter and he said that the floodgates would now open, but Linby were still playing some good football but not really crossing in to the Sherwood half very often.

After 56 minutes, a long ball left STEVE SOWTER on his own and he ran on and sliced the ball past the outcoming keeper to give his side a 2-0 lead. Sherwood kept pressing forward and missed chance after chance and could well have been 5 or 6 up by the time they scored their third goal on 66 minutes through STEVE SOWTER.

A few chances to each side and Linby had a couple of chances, two narrowly missing the outside of the post, but they did reduce the arrears on 86 minutes, when a home defender mis-sliced a cross that sailed over his own keepers head.

With seconds left, Sherwood made it 4-1 when STEVE SOWTER completed his hat trick.

After the match, Sherwood Colliery FC kindly donated £5 to the Charitys blog which is for MAGGIES Cancer Care Centre, based at Nottingham City Hospital and with the goals scored now takes the running total to a amazing £1,354.50p.

JOYCE ARE UNITED IN DRAW

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

BRIDGFORD UNITED FC 2 BURTON JOYCE FC 2

Played at Pelican Colts FC

Lenton Lane

Att: 17

I had marked down this match quite a while ago and then on the Friday found there was a change of venue to Pelican Colts ground, which is the first ground on Lenton Lane, this used to be the old Gas board ground back in the 1980;s and then City & Sherwood Hospital in the old Notts Alliance League played there for a season. On arrival, I found that the old pitch was now a kids pitch and a new pitch was being used but very rare for adult football though a full sized pitch with dugouts.

I sat out side in the sunny weather as there was a couple of chairs and tables near to the changing room area and soon got the team line ups, spoke to the ref who was doing his first ever adult match in the middle.

The game kicked off with Burton Joyce needing a point to secure third place, whilst Bridgford United had already secured second spot, but were after a bit of revenge as only a few weeks ago, their visitors had beaten them in the Semi Final of the League Cup.

United pushed forward and Joyce played on the break and after just 5 minutes, both sides could well have scored, with United firing high and wide, whilst the Burton forward's run and stopped by brave goalkeeping.

On 31 minutes,  a ball was laid back in to the path of CHARLIE FRASER who fired a low shot in to the bottom corner of the net to give Burton the lead. United then upped their game and pressed forward and were soon on level terms on 37 minutes through JARROD WESTCARR.

The Second Half kicked off and Burton Joyce were pressing forward and on 49 minutes retook the lead after some good play and finishing with CALLUM HOPKINS finishing the move. The pace of the game slowed down as the hot heat began to affect some players who kept taking in drinks, but after a corner by Burton Joyce broke down on 65 minutes, a long ball out of defence saw JARROD WESTCARR pounce forward and equal things up.

The Final 25 minutes saw both sides have chances to clinch the winner but a draw on the day was a fair result.

On the Full Time whistle, runners up trophies were presented by myself to the Bridgford United FC team.

Burton Joyce FC move on to next Saturday where they kick off their League Junior Cup Final against Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC with a 12pm noon kick off, followed at 4pm with the League Senior Cup between Basford Community & Newark Flowserve, both matches are being played at Basford United FC.

86 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

JEPPS AT THE DOUBLE

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

BINGHAM TOWN FC 2 UNDERWOOD VILLA FC 0

Been a while since Ive visited Butts Field, the home of Bingham Town FC, but always a nice welcome there for me, Hazel and Shawn. A set of programmes was waiting for me on arrival and with 2 matches going on, all 4 teamsheets were gaathered very quickly as my cupppa cooled down.

On the far pitch to which Ive still not seen a game, where Bingham Town Reserves as they hosted Burton Joyce FC who in the Division Two table were fighting to try and gain second place, sadly with the visitors lost, all hope of that has failed and they are to finish possibly in the third place, a good season for them in their first since their return as a new club.

The main match Id come to see, was between Bingham Town and Underwood Villa, both knocked out as beaten League Cup Semi Finalists and whilst the host were in the top four and Villa in the bottom two, it was always going to be a close game. Bingham went in to the game with top striker Tom Spencer missing through injury.

The game kicked off in rainy conditions but the pitch was like a carpet and suitable for good football to be played on, the first 15 minutes, both sides played at a frantic pace, with both carving out good chances. In the 22nd minute, the hosts should well have taken the lead when Callum Leech beat the offside trap and was in bearing down on goal, but visiting keeper Matt Gooch was fast out of the area with a block.

The Second Half belonged to Town as they pushed forward but no keeper was tested until the 74th minute, when the ball bobbled round the Underwood area and it fell to the edge of the box for MICHAEL JEPPS to fire low and hard in to the net. This seemed to spur Bingham forward and Gooch had to be in fine form to keep the score at 1-0. In the final minute, Underwood thought they were on level terms when the ball struck the bar from a acute angle. The next break saw MICHAEL JEPPS sent away with  no chance of getting to the ball, but sadly Gooch totally missed th ball and it landed at Jepps feet for him to stroll the ball home and secure the points.

Meanwhile on the other pitch, it was a good day for Bingham, as their reserves had beaten Burton Joyce 3-1.

In the clubhouse after the match, Bingham Town FC kindly donated £10 to the Charity Blog and then Nottinghamshire Senior League Referee Ian Wilkinson handed £15, to which we would lie to say a BIG THANKYOU..The Charity Blogs running total for MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE based at City Hospital, Nottingham now stands at a amazing £1,347.25p

97 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

QUICK FIRE QE;s BAG THE POINTS

Midland Amateur Alliance League

Premier Division

OLD ELIZABETHIANS FC 2 ARNOLD SAMBA FC 1

This fixture fell lucky for me, as Shawn goes to a youth club for youths with special needs from 6.30pm on a Tuesday and Thursday Evening, on Fa Full Time, I spotted this fixture just round the corner, so a football fix for a sunny Thursday Evening was in order.

Old Elizabethians FC play at Queen Elizabeth Academy just off Chesterfield Road in Mansfield, about half a mile from the Town Centre, up a long drive, where the ground is on the right hand side. The pitch runs long ways and from the sides gives a lovely backdrop of the Academy, whilst the changing rooms are in a tudor styled pavilion on the far side of the pitch.

The game kicked off and Arnold Saints were first to press forward but didnt seem to have much conviction in front of goal, whilst OE;s were playing on the break and missed a couple of  good early chances, from one of these early chances on 7 minutes, a long ball from defence avoided the midfield and the OE striker ran on to it and chipped the ball over the outcoming Saints keeper to give his side a 1-0 lead.

OE;s then continued to press forward, whilst the Saints sat back and were just happy to clear the ball, but on 21 minutes, OE;s doubled their lead, when a cross from the left wing found the head of a attacker to guide home.

Both sides then played good football and there could well have been goals at either end, with close misses, but not much to trouble each keeper.

The Second Half came and both sides made changes to their sides and formation, this seemed to let Saints play a bit more football and there was a sense that they would get back in to the game at some stage, which did happen when they pulled back a goal after 65 minutes, when a free kick was nicely placed in to the keepers left hand side of the corner of the net to make it 2-1.

This seemed to spur the home side forward and the result should well have been out of sight, if not for the visiting keeper being in such good form and a few missers that maybe would have hit the back of the net on another day.

Old Elizabethians FC play again at home on Monday 30th April 2018 v Sutton Travellers with a 6.30pm kick off, a match I will stroll down to.

EARLY GOAL SETS VILLA ON THE WAY

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 0 AWSWORTH VILLA FC 3

A change of plan saw me visit Elms Park for the first time this season on a sunny afternoon, Shawn had got his scooter and the freedom of the park, whilst the football was on. Always a lovely welcome from Ruddington Village FC, who are going through a bit of a tough season sitting at the foot of the table, whilst Awsworth are sitting in 3rd towards the top. On the back pitch, the Viillage Reserves were hosting Ashland Rovers in a Division One match.

The main match kicked off and Ruddington broke forward and Awsworth cleared their lines and the ball fell over on the right side and was crossed in and BEN WATSON slotted past the home keeper after just 62 seconds.

On 10 minutes, Ruddington had to change tactics as the player manager had to come on due to a players injury, this seemed to spur the one side forward but it did leave massive gaps at the back and the home keeper had to be on his guard a couple of times.

After 21 minutes, a short free kick was taken and a superb one two took place and JOHN WHITEHURST doubled his teams advantage to 2-0.

Awsworth now had the bot between their teeth and were running at Village, but their defence stood strong until the 38th minute, when a cross from the right was met by MATT MURPHY to make it 3-0.

With raining beginning to fall heavy, it was off to the refreshments bar for a cuppa and to get my umbrella. 

Ruddington came out for the second half and put Awsworth on the back foot, as they pressed forward but didnt create much until the final minutes, when they had several shots blocked and hit the crossbar twice.

I felt the match referee Ian Wilkinso had a very good match.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

Not a good day for Ruddington in all, as on the other pitch, Ashland Rovers had beaten their reserves 4-1

BOATENG FIRE COMMUNITY TO THE FINAL

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Senior League Cup ; Semi Final

BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY FC 1 UNDERWOOD VILLA FC 0

A closely contested League Cup semi final tie played at Selston FC saw Gideon Boateng put Basford United Community through to the Final to play League Champions Newark Flowserve on Saturday 12th May @ Basford United FC.

The game kicked off and the Community side pushed forward and created a few chances that went high and wide, Villa began to get back in to the game possession wide but not creating much for their front line.

On 20 minutes, a long ball saw GIDEON BOATENG latch on to and fire home from outside the area to give the Community side the lead. This seemed to spur Basford on and they looked the more likelier to add to their total but wasted chances and good saves by the Villa keeper kept the score to 1-0 at half time.

The Second Half began and Villa looked more fired up as they went in search of pulling the game back even and a couple of times, they could well have been level as the ball shot across the box only needing the slightest of touches to guide the ball over the line, but it wasnt to be.

Sat with League referee Mick Leslie during the match and his wife and also hoppers Pete Chappell and Mac Senior.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE CUP FINALS DAY

Saturday 12th May 2018

at Basford United FC

Junior Cup Final

Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC v Burton Joyce FC

Kick Off: 12pm

Senior Cup Final

Newark Flowserve FC v Basford United Community FC

Kick Off: 4pm

BIRK;s HAT TRICK SEALS WIN

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

ASHLAND ROVERS FC 3 RAVENSHEAD FC 0

Sometimes you find it very difficult to write a positive blog report and those who attended this match will understand why, so for this game I am just going to post the link to the photos of the match

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BRYANTS MEN HEAD TO FINAL

Midland Amateur Alliance League Cup

Semi Final

SHIREBROOK TOWN RESERVES 3 FC POLONIA 0

Att: 72

Gary Bryant;s Shirebrook Town Reserves booked their place in their League Cup Final against local rivals AFC Bull Farm after a battling victory against FC Polonia.

The game began with FC Polonia on the front foot carving out the chances and passing thee ball around the pitch very well but couldnt find a way past Town;s defence or keeper.

The turning point of the game came after 27 minutes, when Referee quite rightly dismissed a visiting player after a incident off the ball and then the player spat at another player giving the referee no option to reduce the visitors to 10 men for the final 63 minutes.

Just before half time though, the visitors could have gone in to the lead, when a drive  towards goal was cleared off the line.

Shirebrook came out for the second period alot more fired up and almost took the lead when the visiting keeper pulled off a superb save and the follow up volley just went over his crossbar. Shirebrook was more in to the game and kept pushing forward and after 52 minutes, a long ball from the midfield, saw a Shirebrook player chase after it and on the bounce, the defender lobbed it over his own keeper for the home side to take the lead.

Polonia pushed a extra man forward but this left gaps in midfield for Town to exploit and they did this well and on 72 minutes, WILL DODDS rifled home from the edge of the penalty area to double Town;s advantage.

Polonia didnt give up and kept playing neat passing football but didnt get any breaks to get back in to the game, as the clock was running down and players looking at the referee to blow for full time, a wide ball to the right wing, saw MARK STANIFORTH cut in and chip over the keeper to make it 3-0.

I thought the referee Lee Harrison had a excellent game and he kindly donated £5 after the match to the blogs charity which is for MAGGIE CANCER CARE CENTRE based at Nottingham City Hospital and the running total stands at a amazing £1,328.25p, a BIG thankyou to Lee for your donation.

57 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

MAWNAN HEAD TOWARDS THE TITLE

Trelawny League

STITHIANS FC 0 MAWNAN FC 5

Trying to find the ground proved difficult as we pulled in at the bowls club, cricket club and rugby club and some locals had no idea that their village even had a football club, eventually a local shop guided us out of the village and out in to the countryside to find the ground.

On arrival I was met by a player who felt the game would be on and then joined by the clubs chairman who had a chat, the visitors arrived and then the ref.

The game kicked off and both sides seemed to be quite equal, but on 8 minutes, a back pass took a awful bobble which left the home keeper kicking fresh air as the ball rolled in to the empty net to give the league leaders the lead.

Stithians pushed forward but the visiting backline held firm with their keeper only being forced to make one save. On 29 minutes, a cross from the right, saw the number 11 for Mawnan strike the crossbar before he laid the ball back for KEV MORRIS to rifle home from the edge of the area.

The Second Half belonged to the league leaders as they pushed from the second half whistle and increased their lead to 3-0 on 50 minutes, when TOM RICHARDS hit home from a acute angle.

Stithians defended well but tired legs in the 86th minute began to creep in and DAN KNOWLES;s long range effort made it 4-0.

As we were waiting for the final whistle to be blown and the cold biting, a long ball from midfield found LIAM DENT who ran on to a through ball and fired in to the bottom left hand corner of the net to make it 5-0 to the visitors.

To see the 73 photos from the match, please click on this LINK