MELLORS HEADS ROVERS TO THE POINTS

Notts Senior League

Division One

STAPLEFORD TOWN 2 ASHLAND ROVERS 3

A visit to Hickling Lane has been on the cards for a while now, as last time I visited this venue was around 1989. On arrival I was greeted by the home committee and made very welcome, then told that the pitch normally used hadnt been cut by the local council due to the rain and they were using a different pitch that I must admit looked very good,, with Respect banners and dug outs at side of the pitch and also the pitch was fully roped. After a couple of cuppas and the team line ups got, it was out to start taking the photos.

The game kicked off and it was Town who attacked in the opening minutes, but after only 6 minutes, Rovers main man and striker went down and had to be replaced due to a groin problem. Ashland re shuffled and still looked well balanced.

After 20 minutes, the visitors took the lead when a cross found out ALEX ENGLAND who placed the ball home. This seemed to awaken the homesters who went on the attack but couldnt beat a stubborn defence but a poor clearance found MARK MIDDLETON some 30 yards out, who drilled in a low shot that found the corner of the net to even the game up at 1-1.

Stapleford then seemed to have their tails up and pushed forward and had the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be found to be disallowed as the ball seemed to go out of play, the next attack, saw them make the breakthrough when the ball was played across from the left wing for BEN SMEDLEY to take the loose ball past the keeper and place his side in to the lead.

In the Second Half, I strolled over to the far side of the pitch and joined local hopping brothers Michael and Andy Hartsthorne. Ashland seemed to step up their game, but both sides were knocking the ball around well, but on the hour, Rovers were awarded a free kick some 35 yards out on the left hand side, which was whipped in and ADAM MELLORS was first to respond when heading home the equaliser.

On  66 minutes, Rovers found themselves down to 10 men whilst Tom Ellis was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after showing dissent, this didnt seem to affect his side as they pushed forward and on 71 minutes, a free kick this time from the right hand side saw ADAM MELLORS rise for the ball to hit the back of his head and ended up in the net.

Staoleford at this stage pressed everyone forward to try and get back in to the game, whilst Ashland played on the break but no more goals were to be seen and Mellors double saw them return to Kirkby In Ashfield with the points.

On the Full Time whistle, Michael Hartsthorne kindly donated 50p per goal seen at the match from him and his brother so a £2.50 donation was kindly made. After the match, another donation this from Stapleford Town FC of £20.00 was kindly donated , so with all donations in for the Charity blog for MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE based at Nottingham City Hospital, it takes the running total to a amazing £1.104.50p

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

FRIDAY NIGHT FEAST FOR THE COMMUNITY

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

CALVERTON MW 1 BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY 4

Admission £2 inc Programme

Att: 50

Not often I get out to a local Friday evening match, but Calverton not too far away, Hazel said she would drop me off and fetch me after the game.

On arrival, I got a cuppa and ordered my Sausage Cob from Jo Swinscoe who was on kitchen duty and strolled over to the changing rooms to get the evenings line ups from the teams

Tony Mullen a true footballing gent kindly donated £10 towards the Blogs Charity for MAGGIES Cancer Care Centre based at Nottingham City Hospital.

I met up with Malc Storer and the referees family and then good friend Daz Wragg who kindly gave me a lift home, we were joined by Weymouth based Hopper and Notts County fan James Spring and also a hopper who had come from Hertfordshire.

The game kicked off at a even pace, with not many chances being created if honest as it seemed a midfield battle, butt on 29 minutes, the Community side broke and at the back left hand post EZRA KILUNGANO slot the ball home to give the visitors a lead.

Calverton pressed forward but found Brown in the opposition net to be standing tall, but on the stroke of half time, Basford broke clear and this time ANTHONY BEDWARD double their advantage.

After a half time cuppa and a chat with Tracie Witton, Mr Brown and Mr Cameron(not the ex pm), Basford took control of the game when after 47 minutes, JOE HARRISON made it 3-0.

Calvertons heads werent to go down and they kept trying to push forward and got their reward in the 55th minute when MATTHEW NEWTON steered the ball under Brown;s body. Could this be game on?

On the hour, Brown made a good save and from playing from the back, a cross from the right saw ANTHONY GRAHAM smash the Community;s fourth goal home to make it 4-1 after 62 minutes.

The game was then slowed in pace but still both sides had their chances to add to their tallys but it wasnt to be,

On the way home, I got a private message from Tony Mullen to say that I had won the football card, so will collect next time I see the club.

ALBION OPEN THREE POINT GAP

Notts Senior League

Division One

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 1 NETHERFIELD ALBION 5

A week back off holiday from Cornwall and a lot has happened, Shawn has begun his new school, a school for children with special needs and a week where Ive suffered 8 fits and spent a few days in bed laid up. My plan A was to go to Sandiacre Town v Sherwood Colliery in the FA Vase, but with health issues sometimes football has to take a back step or a warning for me to slow down. I weighed up the opinions of staying in and watching boring Jeff Stelling or could venture just up the road to Mansfield Hosiery Mills and if I felt unwell during the match, I could ring Hazel to come and fetch me and there was a seated stand for me to sit in.

On arrival at the Fieldings, there was a kids match being played, as Hosiery Mills have been very successful and have now joined a West Midlands League and were playing a Solihull Moors FC team.

Soon the main event was to start, with Netherfield Albion sitting top of the table level on points, whilst the hosts had three of their four matches.

The game began and the leaders were soon in front when a through ball from midfield sent MARTIN McDONAGH through to finish well to put the visitors in to a early lead after juust 2 minutes.

The Mllers almost hit back straight away, when a dipping shot was tipped over the bar by Payne in the Albion net. Both sides then probed each other, looking for that gap, but to be fair not many chances were being created, though some good football by both sides was being played.

Just on half time, MARTIN McDONAGH picked up the ball on the right of the penalty area and he danced past 3 defenders before sending a low shot past the home keeper to double his teams advantage with the final shot of the first half.

The Second Half saw The Millers playing down the famous slope and they attacked, but the Albion defence saw tall and pressed forward when they could. On 53 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free kick some 25 yards out to the right hand side of the penalty area, to which CHRIS KEMP curled in to the top right hand side of the net to make it 3-0.

Hosiery Mills werent to give up and on 56 minutes, they were awarded a penalty to which Luke Greavees stuck low to the right of Payne in the Albion net who was equal to it and pushed his effort away to safety.

This seemed to drain a bit of energy out of the homesters and subs were made for both sides at this stage of the game. In the 65th minute, a cross from the left wing saw MARTIN McDONAGH rise and head home his hat trick to make it 4-0 to the visitors.

The Mansfield side then pushed forward in a last tempted effort to get something from the game and on 68 minutes, AARON TURNER fired home to give them a bit of hope, but that was soon put out, when Albion sub RYAN FOWLER beat the offside trap before rounding the home keeper and sliding the ball home to make it 5-1 to the league leaders on 79 minutes and for his side to open up a three point gap at the top of the table.

Must give a mention to Referee Zaydn Conroy who I felt had a superb match.

During the match, Netherfield Albion FC kindly donated £20 to the Charity Blog for MAGGIES CANCER CARE at Nottingham City Hospital and with the 6 goals scored it now takes the running total to a amazing £1069.50p

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BARROWBY SHOCK SOUTHWELL IN EPIC CUP TIE

Notts Senior League

Junior Cup

First Round

BARROWBY FC 0 SOUTHWELL CITY RESERVES 0

1-1 after extra time

Barrowby FC win 3-1 after penalties

After the very long journey back from my holiday in Cornwall, we headed to Barrowby FC to watch the first round tie of the Notts Senior League Junior Cup. Barrowby are in Division Two whilst their opponents are in the Division above. Barrowby were sitting towards the bottom of the Division still searching for their first win, whilst Southwell Reserves were near the foot of Division One.

The game kicked off and the tempo was quite quick and a few tackles were to the dislike of the match referee who had cautioned 3 players in the first 13 minutes. Both sides seemed to be cancelling each other out and moves kept breaking down.

After 40 minutes, Barrowby were reduced to ten men as a player was sent to the sin bin, but the game got harder for the homesters when Leigh Radford saw his second yellow card of the game,so at half time Barrowby were down to nine players on the pitch.

The Second Half kicked off and it was now 9 v 10 as a Southwell player was sent to the sin bin and just it got back to 10 a side, the visitors were back to the full 11. On 70 minutes, it became 10 v 10, as Ed Clarke picked up 2 very quick yellow cards.

The game went in to extra time and Barrowby though they had opened the scoring but it was wiped out for offside. Barrowby began to look the better of the two sides in the First period of extra time and just before half time, they got a free kick around 35 yards out, which ROBERT LEE fired home.

No one hhad time to breathe, as straight from kick off, Southwell pushed forward and a cross from the right was turned home for the equaliser by LIAM WILKINSON to take the game to penalties.

The hero of the penalties was Chris Clarke who saved 3 of the 4 Southwell penalties to send his Barrowby side through to Round Two

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

THE FISHERMEN WIN LOCAL DERBY

SWPL

PORTHLEVEN FC 4 PENZANCE FC 2

My first visit to Porthleven FC and we arrived early so met the groundsman and left the car in the car park whilst we strolled down to the Harbour for a look about. We arrived back and had Pasty and Chips twice and Hot Dog and chips and a cuppa for just £11..what a bargain.

I soon got the team lines and the game kicked off with both sides playing some very good football along the ground on the lovely pitch.

After 15 minutes, S CAREY fired home a low shot in to the bottom corner of the net to opening up the scoring for The Fishermen of Porthleven. The homesters pushed forward in search of a second goal, but were caught out on the break when Penzance equalised through WILTON on 24 minutes.

This spurred Porthleven in to a extra gear as they peppered the visitors goal, but good keeping kept them at bay until the 32nd minute, when a cross from the right was met by the head at the far post by DRUMMOND for them to retake the lead.

Whilst stood in the stand withh local legend Dave Deacon who produces a superb magazine called CORNISH SOCCER, Porthleven made it 3-1 when JA SIMS punished the slack away defending.

The Second Half saw the home keeper keep their two goal advantage intact, when he produced a superb save from a goalbound chip.

Porthleven then seemed to be bossing the game and poured forward and made it 4-1 when H DARK slid in at the far post to extend the lead on 66 minutes.

To the credit of Penzance they didnt give up and on 74 minutes pulled back a goal through McWilliams to end the scoring of the game.

If you are interested in Cornish Soccer, please contact Dave Deacon for more details, if you contact me, I can pass on his details to you.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

MARINERS WIN BATTLE OF THE SAINTS

Trelawny League

Division Three

ST IVES MARINERS FC 3 ST ERME FC 2

A change of plan saw me divert to the sleepy village on Nangollen, where St Ives Mariners play. On arrival I was greeted by club secretary Dave Smith who presented me with a club shirt.

The game kicked off and Mariners soon took the lead after just 2 minutes when a ball played in from the wing found STUART LUGG who turned the ball home. The visitors were playing with the fierce wind behind them, but created a couple of chances whilst the homesters poured forward by squandered a few efforts, until a attack in the 23rd minute, saw them go 2-0 up when a CONNOR CLARK beat a defender first to the ball to turn the ball home.

Mariners carried on pushing forward but by half time, they still only lead by 2 goals.

The Second Half saw Mariners straight on the attack and in the 47th minute, STUART LUGG scored his second of the game and made it 3-0 and it looked like game over, but how wrong can you get.

St Erme then came back in to the game as they played their best football and pushed the Mariners defence back, so it came as no surprise when in the 56th minute, they reduced the arrears with a goal by ELLIOTT JOLLEY.

This seemed to spur the visitors on and give them confidence and on 67 minutes, they were back in the lead when ELLIOTT JOLLEY fired home his second of the game.

A frw subs made by both sides as they both went leather and hell for the next goal, but in the end, the Mariners held out for the three points.

Both clubs after the match in the pub kindly donated £27 between them towards the Blogs Charity of MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE to take the running total to a amazing £1046.00

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

ST BURYAN PAY THE PENALTY

Trelawny League

ST BURYAN FC 3 HALSETOWN FC 3

Att: 17

Five miles to the east of Lands End in Cornwall, you come across the beautiful village of St Buryan which houses the village football club. On arrival I found that this match was to be played on the second pitch, as on the main pitch, there were a few people putting up a marque for a fancy wedding at the weekend.

The game kicked off and St Buryan were first out the blocks, forcing the visiting keeper in to a superb save when he pushed the ball over the crossbar, but from the resulting corner on 3 minutes, he couldnt do much as EDDIE HOLDEN scooped low to head the homesters in to a early lead.

St Buryan kept pushing forward whilst Halsetown played on the counter attack and after 21 minutes muster their first real effort  straight at the home keeper. Halsetown then began to come more in to the game and stepped up a gear, so after 25 minutes, a low cross saw DAVE WALTON slide home the equalizer.

The game swung from end to end at a fast pace and several chances went begging for both sides, but after 42 minutes, St Buryan found themselves with a four on two attack, the ball played to the right wing and the cross was timed perfect for BILLY HOLDEN to place home in to the empty net to give his side a 2-1 half time lead.

The Second Half began with the visitors looking for a way back in to the game by pressing forward and in the 53rd minute, a trip in the area saw them awarded a penalty, to which CHRIS GOODALL dispatched to level the game up.

The visitors then continued to pepper the home area without any success and came very close to taking the lead when the home keeper pushed a shot on to the near post before gathering on 62 minutes.

On 69 minutes, St Buryan took the lead for the third time in the game, when JOSS SULLIVAN-NORCLIFFE slid the ball home to make it 3-2, but in a topsy turvey game, there was no rest, as from the kick off, Halsetown pushed forward and the Assistant club referee raised his flag for offside, whilst the referee pointed to the spot for the second time in the game for the visitors, the ref went over to the Assistant and then returned for CHRIS GOODALL to fire home his second penalty of the game and his sides third goal to make it 3-3.

The last ten minutes, the game slowed down and both sides looked as if they were happy with a share of the points in a game which was possibly the right result.

A very friendly club with a nice bar, well worth a visit

Photos from this match can be seen on this LINK

MULLION PILE PRESSURE ON POINTLESS HOLMANS

Cornwall Combination League

MULLION FC 3 HOLMANS SC FC 1

Admission £2

Teas/Coffees/Bovril £1

Att: 55 headcount

Last year whilst on holiday, we visited The Lizard area and popped in to Mullion FC on the way back to Hayle and met some the home committee, we did say if they were at home this season whilst down, we would pop back to watch a match.

We pulled up on the car park and Shawn saw a rare falcon on the far side of the pitch, so he got his bird book to confirm this, I went in to the smart clubhouse and was offered a free cuppa for me and the wife by the kind Secretary Caroline.

The clubhouse is superb for families as it houses darts board, table tennis, table football, air hockey and even tower building blocks like jenga, shawn loved it.

Just before the game, there was a minutes mark of respect by both clubs and officials for Brian Ridgeon former Treasurer and committee member of this and the Trelawney League.

The game kicked off and Holmans didnt look like a side that had lost their opening five matches as they pushed forward, but after 13 minutes, it was Mullion that had taken the lead through ARCHIE RUTTERFORD. This seemed to spur the vistors in to action as the home keeper was forced in to a couple of saves and they forced a few quick corners, so it came as no surprise that in the 26th minute, they were on level terms when REECE MONTEITH lobbed the keeper from just inside the right wing.

The Second Half saw The Seasgulls of Mullion come out with more purpose, but chances were going begging whilst Holmans kept breaking on the counter attack and looked well worthy of snatching a possible point, but their hearts were broken after 73 minutes, when a visiting corner broke down and a long ball was played to the half way line to JACK PRICE who turner three defenders before firing low past the advancing keeper to give his side a 2-1 lead.

It then became one way traffic and the Holmans keeper was in fine form saving his side on 3 occasions with some very good saves, but he couldnt do anything in the 83rd minute, when BEN FLETCHER  hit a stunning stray ball from 25 yards to secure the three points for Mullion FC.

Mullion FC is a lovely club with friendly committee and well worthy of a visit if you are in the area, with lovely views around the ground.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK