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

BOVEY BAG THE POINTS

SWPL

East Division

ALPHINGTON 0 BOVEY TRACEY 4

First day of our annual holiday sees us stay in Exeter for a couple of days and after ringing Phil Hiscox arranged to meet him at this match. I emailed the kind home secretary Alan the day before.

On arrival the car park was quite full as there was a quite a healthy crowd turn out for the match.

Alphington kicked off and looked the brighter of the two sides, going close a couple of times, but Bovey began to get in to the game and went in to a deserved lead after 27 minutes, when RYAN BATLEY beat the home keeper at his near post with a low drive.

The Second Half belonged to the visitors as they were camped in the homesters half for the majority of it and they took control after just 48 minutes, when CALLUM LEACH doubled their lead.

On 56 minutes, a long range effort by CALLUM LIVINGSTONE looked like it was going wide and crept in to the corner of the net to make it 3-0 and this looked like a long evening for the home club.

On 88 minutes, a long shot smashed the underside of the Alphington bar and GAVIN COLLINS was forst to follow up and put the rebound in to a empty net to make it 4-0

Both clubs very friendly and I enjoyed my visit and stayed for a couple of pints in the nice clubhouse after the match

SECOND HALF FIGHTBACK SEES SHARE OF POINTS

Notts Senior League 

Division Two

WELBECK LIONS RESERVES 3 NEWARK FLOWSERVE RESERVES 3

I needed a local game as I travel to Devon at 2am for a couple of night before going on to Cornwall for our annual family holiday, so this match fitted the bill with both sides laying second and third in the league table.

The game began at a frantic pace with Lee Clarke the referee playing the advantage and keeping the game flowing but the home side seemed a bit unnerved by this and seemed to want to argue to begin with and Flowserve took advantage of this after 29 minutes when JOE HURST took advantage and put the visitors in front. After 33 minutes, a Newark Flowserve free kick by CHRIS SELF from 20 odd yards found the top corner of the net to double their lead.

On 39 minutes, JOE HURST found himself at the back post to slide the ball home to make it 3-0 to Flowserve..Flowserve then had a couple to add to their tally but didnt capitalize on them.

The Half Time talk must have been good for the Lions as straight away they pressed forward and in the 47th minute JAKE LEIVERS reduced the arrears and within a minute the homesters had a penalty taken and converted by ARRON DARCH.

After 54 minutes, Welbeck were back on level terms when a looping header by veteran JORDAN JOHNSON found the back of the net. The game was then wide open with both sides missing chances to get the vital winner, a fair result in the end and you can see why these two teams are at the top end of the table

Photos of the match can be seen on this LINK

MEIKLE HEADS BASFORD TO THE TOP

Evostick South Division

BASFORD UNITED 1 LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO 0

Att; 196

Bank Holiday Monday and nowhere to go and nothing on the tele as usual, so headed to Greenwich Avenue and to Basford United FC who before the game were top of the table.

Arrived and had a pint in the clubhouse and a quick chat at pitchside to old friend and Basford;s striker Kieran Wells.

Saw a few hoppers around the ground before the game kicked off in beautiful sunshine, a few things have been happening at Basford over the summer months with new press offices being built and a new ground outside that is floodlit.

The game kicked off at a lively pace with Basford on the attack and after 10 minutes, a corner found the head of DEON MEIKLE who found the net.

Loughborough then pushed forward whilst Basford looked forward on the counter but found Taylor in the visiting net in fine form.

Just before half time, Dynamo must have thought they were on level terms when a superb double block by home keeper kept his sides lead in tact.

The Second Half both sides seem to cancel each other out with chances few and far between but Wells had a superb effort which smashed against the crossbar.

Loughborough pressed forward in the last five minutes of the game, but when you are at the top, you sometimes have to dig in deep and just grind results out.

I would like to thank Keiran Wells who kindly pledged some time ago that he would make a donation to the Charity Blog and today after the match kept his promise with a £10 donation which took the total to over £1000, club chairman Chris Munroe then also kindly donated £10 which now takes the running total to a amazing £1,013.00 for MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE at City Hospital Nottingham.

Photos of the match can be seen on this LINK

JAYS LAST DITCH SHOT GRABS THE POINTS

Notts Senior League

Division Two

KIRTON BRICKWORKS RESERVES 3 GEDLING SOUTHBANK RESERVES 2

A change of plan and needing to stay close to home saw me not go out to Burton Joyce v Barrowby, a game that ended up 10-0 to the hosts,but with 2 new sides to the NSL, I went out to Walesby Sports Ground, the home of ex club Sandhurst FC to watch Kirton Brickworks Reserves and Gedling Southbank Reserves. A lot of people wont watch reserve teams, but this doesnt bother me and like this match I saw a very good game.

Before the match I got a cuppa from the clubhouse whilst chatting to Mr and Mrs Timmins, who;s young lad played for the Brickies and also had a chat with Daz Milne, who has a view to sign for the homesters. With the team lines, it was to pitchside, but before then, Southbank wanted their team photo taken.

The game kicked off with Kirton kicking down the slope and looked the better of the two sides and after 13 minutes, a cross from the left found the head of SCOTT RICKETTS who not only gave them the lead, but it was also the 100th goal Ive seen this season.

More efforts came in from the home side, whilst the visitors were finding their feet and as the half progressed, the visitors became more dangerous and it looked like Kirton needed to add to their tally, but they didnt put their chances away and like in most games, it came back to bite them right on the stroke of half time, when ROSS PRITCHARD scored with a header to even things up.

The Second Half kicked off and Gedling were more fired up but couldnt find the net, whilst Kirton played on the counter attack, but after 66 minutes, a corner from the right hand side found its way to the back post, where ex Stevenage Borough legend NICK EDGAR smashed the ball home to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. This looked like game over for the home side, but football is a funny game, as after 78 minutes, things got worse for them as they were reduced to 10 men when Kirton;s centre half Regan Bartholomew was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes. 

On 80 minutes, a through ball saw Kirton on their way to equalise but the away club linesman had his flag raised and the referee pulled play back for offside, a few players did question this decision, but the next attack saw the visiting defence standing still and the flag went up again, but the referee waved play on this time and CODEY DOWNING took his chance well to make it 2-2.

This seemed to gee the Brickies up and they pushed forward but it looked like they would have to settle for a draw, which I feel would have left both sides happy with a point, but then a breakdown in the Southbank midfield, saw Kirton veteran JAY FULLER race clear and shoot across the keeper in to the corner of the net for the winner.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK