ALL LEVEL AT THE BRICKWORKS

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Divisiion One

KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC 1 RAVENSHEAD FC 1

Att 14

Now back on my feet after not being too well and with Hazel still not 100%, it was a matter of finding a match somewhere very local and after looking at several fixtures, I thought Id not been to Station Road this season nor had I seen Ravenshead either, so this match fitted the bill.

Before the match, match referee Gareth Tye kindly agreed to sponsor 50p  for every goal scored in the match. The game began in a rapid style in a very windy conditions, with both teams having chances. Ravenshead had to alter their formation after a player was helped off the pitch after just 20 minutes.

The visitors had the first real big chance of the game, when their forward headed wide when in the six yard box with the goal in front of him. Kirton then pressed forward and the visiting keeper was forced in to a number of very saves.

The Second Half began and in Kirtons first move on 46 minutes, they broke down the left side and the ball was stroked home by JAMIE BIRCH at the far post to give his side the lead.

This seemed to spur Kirton forward and could have had a second goal but it wasnt to come. After 65 minutes, Ravenshead gained a corner on the right hand side that was swung in and found the head of DAN PHILLIPS who found the back of the net.

Both sides pressed for the winner, with both sides coming close, but to no avail, in a game where the draw was the correct result.

Back at the pub after the match, true to his word, match referee Gareth Tye kindly donated £1 and then  Kirton player Wes O Rourke kindly donated £2 towards the Blogs charity of Maggies Cancer Care Centre based at Nottingham City Hospital..May I thank both Gareth and Wes.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BIRC's BRACE BREAKS MILLERS HEARTS

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 1 ASHLAND ROVERS FC 2

Att: 46

Wit having been ill and on bedrest for nearly two weeks, it was a pleasure to get out to some footie and went just up the road for this Derby game.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills began on the front foot and from a corner on the left, LUKE GREAVES headed them in to a early lead after just 4 minutes. I was then joined by AFC Mansfield;s Chairman Andy Saunders for most of the match.

Ashland were playing on the break, with the Millers trying to add to their tally but to no avail. On 41 minutes, a long ball by the visitors out of the defence saw DANIEL BIRCUMSHAW 30 yards out on the wing, cut in and the home keeper came dashing out wiith 2 defenders behind him for the visiting attacker to slot home from the edge of the area on 41 minutes.

The Second Half was the visitors go straight in to attack and in their first attack of the half after 46 minutes, saw them turn the game around and score through DANIEL BIRCUMSHAW for them to take the lead.

The Millers pressed forward and the visiting keeper had to be in fine form, preserving their advantage on several efforts and also the Mansfield side not being able to find the target as the ball was cleared off the ball several times.

After 86 minutes, a player from each side was shown straight red, after a tackle from a Ashland player was deemed to be wreckless, whilst the Millers player jumped up and squared up to his opponant.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills must be wondering how they didnt get a point out of the game, but sometimes sides have to scrape wins and get the luck which Ashland did in this game to claim the three points.

A good performance by the referee Phil Towers and his 2 assistants

COMMUNITY BOUNCE BACK FROM SLOW START

Notts Amateur Alliance League

Premier Division

NOTTINGHAM COMMUNITY FC 8 ARNOLD SAINTS FC 1

A few weeks ago I was going to head today for a double up of fixtures at Greenwood Meadows FC and what attracted me to the venue was that Nottingham Community FC were to be doing a programme for their 2.30pm kick off and with NSL fixture Bridgford United kicking off at noon, but how things pan out, Bridgford Uniteds fixture was altered, so I still opted to go and watch Nottingham Community FC v Arnold Saints FC.

A grand welcome by club chairman Naeem Rashid but he had left he programmes at home, but he has promised to post them to me so I can get them out to the people who have ordered one.

The game kicked off and it was the Saints who had the first bunch of chances in a very tight opening period, where the game was being played at a rapid pace.

After just 10 minutes, Arnold Saints who play their home matches at Calverton MW, broke away and were left in a 2 against 1 situation where the ball was squared across for LEWIS to fire them in front. The Saints then went looking to extend their lead but found the home keeper in good form, as the Community side seemed to be stuck in midfield, but all that was to change in a mad frantic 9 minute spell in a amazing turn around of events for the homesters.

After 18 minutes, a long ball was played down the middle and seemed to catch the Saints defence who were playing quite high on the back foot and this left YANNICK JULLITI clear through for him to chip the ball over the outcoming keeper to bring the scores level. There was no time to celebrate as straight from the kick off, Arnold Saints lost the ball in midfield, where the ball was played to the Community right winger whose ball was pinch perfect for MATTHEW GRANT  to just tap his side in to a 2-1 lead.

On 21 minutes, YANNICK JULLITI  joined in on the act by adding his name to the scoresheet, when knockiing home from close range and in the 24th minute, DJOUK AKPESSI;s weak shot slid under the visiting keeper to make it 4-1.  On 27 minutes, the home side gained a corner from the left side which found the head of DJOUK AKPESSI to take Community in to a 5-1 lead.

The Second Half began and Saints began to play some good football and had a couple of decent close chances, but Community looked dangerous every time they ventured forward and on 51 minutes a short back pass by a Saint defender saw SCOTT whip in and make it 6-1.

By now a few of the Saints heads were down but they were still trying to press forward, but this left their defence open and on 63 minutes YANNICK JULLITI ran through and completed his hat trick.

In the 84th minute, CONOR SCOTT smashed home from close range to give a final score of 8-1, shortly before the final whistle, things went worse for Saints when one of their players was sent to the sin bin for the reminder of the match.

Brian Kilburn had a very good match in the middle

Before leaving to come home,  Nottingam Community FC Club Chairman Naeem Rashid kindly donated £10 to the Charity Blog which is in aid of MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE based at Nottingham City Hospital, the running total is now up to a amazing £1,143.00

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

CLASSIC CUP TIE

Notts FA Junior Cup

First Round

WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS 3 BURTON JOYCE 2 aet

2-2 after 90 mins

Att: 29

For Non League Football Day, I made my choice to go to two new Notts Senior League teams who Id only seen in pre season in the Notts FA Junior Cup. Woodthorpe Park Rangers play on pitch 5 of Eagle Valley, a pitch Id not seen a match played on before and have started their league campaign well, winning their first eight matches, Burton Joyce have also had some very good results, but when both sides met in the league recently, Woodthorpe won 6-3 and so went in to this tie as favourites.

The game began and it was Burton on the front foot forcing the home keeper to deal with a high cross after only 15 seconds, the game then had a few chances for both sides but became more of a entertaining midfield battle. Both sides being very well matched against each other and you could see why both sides are doing very well.

After 30  minutes, the deadlock was broken, when a cross was met by CONNOR PARKIN who headed in to the far corner of the net. Woodthorpe pressed forward for a second, whilst Burton Joyce broke on the counter attack and were nearly level when the home keeper was forced to make a save in mid air and push the ball over the bar.

On 43 minutes, the scores were level when Burton Joyce were awarded a penalty after a home defender had handled the ball, up stepped CHARLIE FRASER who stroked the ball low in to the net.

The Second Half was very even with both teams playing good football and after 61 minutes, Burton Joyce was awarded a second penalty when a defender pushed a attacker in the back, up stepped CHARLIE FRASER and placed the ball past the home keeper to give his side the lead.

Woodthorpe pressed forward whilst the rain hammered down and chances were still going begging. After 81 minutes, Rangers were back on level terms, when a corner from the right found the head of DANNY WALKER.

So in to extra time the game went, last season I attended 13 Cup matches and 11 went to extra time, this was my 2nd Cup game this season and now both had gone to extra time.

Both sides were struggling now with cramp after the 90 minutes had been played at a frantic pace, so the extra time period the pace slowed down. After 93 minutes, a handball in the Burton Box and MARKELL BAILEY hit home the 3rd penalty of the game. In the 111th minute, Markell had the chance to put th game safe awarded another penalty, but his effort crashed against the crossbar.

A game where their deserved to be no losers and both sides can come out of the game with a lot of respect, but it is Woodthorpe Park Rangers who go forward to play away at Ravenshead FC in Round Two.

Before the match, Woodthorpe Chairman/Manager PJ kindly donated £20 and then after in the pub 2 Gedling Southbank players  Oggy & Spiz donated £5 between them, so I would like to thank all of them, it now takes the massive total for MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE based at Nottingham City Hospital to £1,130.75p

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK