AWAYDAY WIN FOR THE MAGDALA

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

GEDLING SOUTHBANK 2 MAGDALA AMATEURS 4

Programme: Very Good

Well with the poor weather between Christmas and New Year it looked a matter of what was left on, I had 2 games that I had pinpointed, the first was postponed at 9.30am and it was a matter of ringing round to check that this game, my plan B was on, to which I got conformation.

On arrival was greeted by both teams and the referee Mick Leslie and soon joined by local hopper Michael who reads my blog.

I noticed over on a pitch Id not seen a match on before, a game taking place, to which I discovered Gedling Southbank Reserves were hosting AFC Clifton, so I strolled over just before half time of that match and saw AFC Clifton take a 4-2 lead, a game that resulted 5-4 to the visitors.

Headed down to the main game ready for kick off and a minutes silence took place for local police officer and referee David Fields who sadly lost his life whilst on duty and also for a young lad aged 6 years old who plays at Newark Flowserve FC named Daniel Harris.

The game kicked off and both sides were quite even but 14 minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty for a push in the back, up stepped BEN SOAR who placed the ball to the keepers right hand side of the net to give Southbank the lead.

Southbank had chances to extend their lead, but quite a few of their shots were high over the bar and then they were dealt a cruel blow when their formation had to change due to their young centre forward having to be replaced after pulling up injured.

Magdala(the Budgies) began to come more in to the game creating chances themselves and they deserved to draw level on 41 minutes, when a free kick floated in from the right hand side was met by the head of their captain NEIL MORGAN.

At half time, there was another forced sub due to injury, Matt Picker the senior Assistant referee who was returning after being out the game for a matter of 5 weeks had re-tore his muscle and on hand was Chris Sheavills to take over.

The Second Half saw Magdala step up the pace and made it count on 55 minutes when taking the lead through STEVE AHEARN.

Gedling fought back and on 65 minutes, their captain scored the goal of the game when hitting the back of the net from a 30 yard shot.

Magdala though soon re-stored their lead when on 68 minutes, CHRIS HAYES dribbled round the defence before firing home, but the home keeper then went down with a elbow injury but continued to play on. From the next attack the home keeper pulled off a very good punch save, but went down holding his shoulder again. He continued to soldier on to the end of the match to his credit, but in the 80th minute, he couldnt do anything about GARETH BENTLEY;s angled shot to leave the Amateurs with a 4-2 victory.

All 4 Officials had a good game and I would like to thank Gedling Southbank Manager Andy Clerke for kindly donating £5 to the Charity Blog in aid of Maggies Cancer Care Centre, based at Nottingham City Hospital to which the running total now stands at a amazing £1,235.50p

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BARNES BRACE MAKES FLOWSERVES CHRISTMAS

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

UNDERWOOD VILLA RESERVES 3 NEWARK FLOWSERVE RESERVES 4

Its not very often I will get round to watching two reserve teams playing each other, but when I do, they usually are good matches and this one was up there as being very good and entertaining. Two teams that wanted to play open football on a heavy soft pitch.

The game kicked off with Flowserve towards the top end of the table, whilst their host were towards the bottom, so a away win on the cards perhaps. The First half Flowserve had the possesion whilst Villa created the better of the chances and went in to the break helding a 2-1 lead, as after 22 minutes ALEX MANN scooped the ball over the visiting keeper to make it 1-0 to the Villa, but the side from Newark fought back on 31 minutes when HARRY MILLS equalized. Just before the half time break SAM TAYLOR restored the hosts lead.

In to the Second Half and Villa were forced to make a sub, as a couple of their players were struggling with injuries and Flowserve stepped up the pace, In the 56th minute, a cross shot from CALLUM BARNES found the corner of the net to level up the scores yet again.

This seemed to spur Flowserve forward and on 68 minutes, CHRIS SELF fired his side in front, from the kick off, play broke down and struck the referee and dropped for CALLUM BARNES to fire home a fourth for the visitors.

There was still life in the match and after 78 minutes, a free kick was awarded to Underwood, to which visiting defender Rici O Connell was cautioned, from thee resulting free kick that was floated in to the penalty area, O Connell bought down a home attacker and was shown his second yellow card and Villa awarded a penalty to which SAM TAYLOR placed home to set up a grandstand finish.

The final 12 minutes was end to end but no more goals were added to the tally and so Flowserve returned back to Newark with the points in a entetaining match.

Must mention referee Steve Bingham who had a great game and tried to allow advantages to be played when he could and spoke to players with respect.

The photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

ROVERS WIN AGAIN

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

ASHLAND ROVERS 3 SOUTHWELL CITY RESERVES 2

A funny sort of day, as my plan was to head to Attenborough but with t being called off due to a frozen pitch, it was a matter of ringing round and I got a definate yes its on from Ashland Rovers Secretary John Dawn, so that made up my mind where I was going, though Im there again on the 30th when they host Stapleford Town.

I saw this fixture last season and it was a close fought affair with Rovers winning 2-1, so I expected the same again today, though I have seen Ashland four times this season and they have won all 4, whilst over 3 seasons, I have seen Southwell 4 times and they have lost 3, so maybe a good luck charm for Ashland but not so for Southwell.

Before the game, the referee Craig Fisk asked for a little bit just outside one of the areas to be folked and there would be no problem, John  Dawn duly did this and kick off was soon on its way.

Both sides like to attack and chances were of plenty and after 14 minutes, it was the visitors who took the lead, when ROB BROWN struck home from just inside the area.

Thee scores were soon level as four minutes later, KURTIS DUDLEY hit a volley from 30 yards out leaving the visiting keeper with no chance of keeping it out.

Southwell then had the better of the chances in the First Half but they all went begging and if gone in they could well have been three goals clear.

The Second Half though belonged to Rovers, straight away on the front foot and on 49 minutes, LEE TOWNSEND hit possibly the goal of the game to put his side in to a 2-1 lead.

Southwell tried to push forward, but Ashland played on the counter attack mainly with Bircumshaw holding the ball up front and begining the attacks, so it came as no surprise on 57 minutes, whe n DANIEL BIRCUMSHAW turned his defender and smashed Rovers in to a two goal cushion.

Southwell pushed forward and the Rovers defence stood tight, whilst they had chances of their own at the other end.

In the 89th minute, City did reduce the arrears when TOM TYLER broke down the left wing and cut in and beat the Rovers keeper at his near post.

Must say and I heard comments after the match, that Referee CRAIG FISK was one of the best that they had seen this season and he did have a very good match

I must thank John Dawn and Ashland Rovers FC for the kind £20 donation towards this Blogs Charity which is MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE based at Nottingham City Hospital, where the running total now stands at a stunning £1,227.25p

The photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

RANGERS BACK ON TOP

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS 10 NOTTINGHAM CITY FC 1

With having to stay local to Mansfield, I opted for the outside pitches of Eagle Valley to see Woodthorpe Park Rangers play against Nottingham City. Going in to the match the hosts were a point behind league toppers Bridgford United with two games in hand.

Nottingham City have been going through a bad patch at present and very nearly folded some weeks ago, but to their credit have been turning out every match, but needed to sign a emergency keeper for this game, as last week they lost a keeper with a broken hand.

Woodthorpe were on the pitch and raring to go, whilst City at kick off time didnt have enough players on the pitch and asked for a 5 minute delay to proceedings, when they did kick off,, they were under constant pressure as they only had 10 players on the pitch, so it came as no surprise when JAMAL MAZLAM opened the scoring.  City then got eleven players on to the pitch and had a couple of bursts forward and with better finishing could well have been on level terms.

After 17 minutes, Rangers top striker MARKELL BAILEY scored his first of the afternoon to open up a two goal lead when firing in to the near post. The game went through a bit of a scrappy stage with both teams having a few chances, but on 39 minutes, Rangers were awarded a free kick just outside of the area, to which MARKELL BAILEY floated in to the top corner of the net to make it 3-0. Just on half time, the visiting goalkeeper went down and didnt re-appear for the second half, so a outfield player had to take the reins.

After 47 minutes Rangers stretched their advantage when DARREN OLDHAM made it 4-0, Nottingham City didnt give up and scored the goal the game, when GLODI BANDE smashed a superb 35 yard shot in to the corner of the net.

On 66 minutes, MARKELL BAILEY converted his hat trick by firing home a penalty, then City nearly scored their second of the game, when from kick off a lob from the half way line caught the home keeper off his line and it bounced it front of him before scrapping the crossbar and going over.

After 77 minutes, Rangers scored twice in a minute, when DANIEL WALKER headed home at the back post and straight from kick off DARREN OLDHAM floated a lovely chip in to the far corner of the net to make it 7-1.

On 80 minutes, DARREN OLDHAM completed his hat trick, with five minutes later, CONNOR SCOTT PARKIN getting on the scoresheet, before the last kick of the game belonged to man of the match MARKELL BAILEY who made it 10-1.

I would like to thank to the following for the kind donations to the Charitys Blog, which is for MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE, Herbie and Sue for £10, PJ Harte for £10 on behalf of Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC and to Jim Bethall for £5, with the 11 goals scored, it nows takes the running total to a amazing £1,206.00

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

ELIZABETHIANS PUT ON SECOND HALF SHOW

Nottinghamshire FA Minor Cup

Quarter Final

OLD ELIZABETHIANS 8 GEDLING SOUTHBANK RESERVES 3

When the quarter final draw was made, I was looking for 2 things, a ground Id not visited before and a Notts Senior League Club to be away and this ticked both boxes. Having been up to Queen Elizabth school many times as Shawn has recently spent 2 years there before we won our case to send him to a school for children with special needs, Id never seen a football match there, its also possibly the second closest ground to my home.

On arrival, I was greeted by a few of the OE players, who I know through my time when I used to manage Bull Farm Social Club;s sunday team some years ago, I was then met by Southbanks player/Secretary Craig Killelay who gave me both sides line up;s and kindly donated £20 towards the Blog;s Charity which is MAGGIES Cancer Care Centre based at Nottingham;s City Hospital, so a massive thankyou to Craig and the Southbank lads.

The game kicked off and the home side were soon on the attack and from their first corner of the game floated in from the right hand side, up rose ANDREW BOULTON to head home after just 6 minutes. Both sides seemed to test each other out but not many chances were being created, until the 38th minute, when GEORGE RUDD hit 20 yard low shot that equalled things up.

The Second Half was a different kettle of fish, as OE went straight on to the attack towards the school end and after a series of corners, a carbon copy of their first goal took place on 52 minutes, when this time the corner was floated in from the left wing and ANDREW BOULTON put his side back in front.

On 59 minutes, it began to be the Sean Goodwin show, as the winger cut in and fired a shot that sprung out for ASTON MARSH to sweep home to make it 3-1. On 62 minutes, Goodwin then drew the visiting keeper before passing across for JONO ROWBOTHAM to strike home. 65 minutes and it was 5-1 when Goodwin;s cross was turned past his own keeper by Southbank man Andy Steele.

Southbank kept their heads up at this stage and pushed forward and made it 5-2 when ADAM THOMAS shot went in off the post on 72 minutes, this seemed to give the visitors a bit of confidence as they pushed players forward and on 78 minutes, BEN CRAWFORD headed home from a free kick.

This though did leave gaps at the back of the Southbank defence and on 83 minutes, CARL GOULD showed his experiance when he danced through the midfield and the defence and round the Southbank keeper to score the goal of the game to make it 6-3.

Now the Southbank heads had gone down and OE exploited the gaps and on 87 minutes, a long cross ball from midfield was midjudged by the visiting keeper, for ASTON MARSH to tap in. In the final minute, RAVI KAICUT scored close home to make it 8-3.

Must mention the referee who I felt had a very good match

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK