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