BEESTON SNATCH WINNER IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 3 BEESTON FC 4

Att: 35

Programme £1

Another night at the Fieldings, the home of Mansfield Hosiery Mills saw a few hoppers come from near and far to witness a topsy turvey match that swung both ways and the result was in doubt up to the final whistle.

Before the match, I had a cuppa and was joined by Stockport Len and another northern based hopper and some of the locals including Darren Clay. In the First half of the match, I stood with Richard Lane and it was really good to see him, Malc Storer, The man named Onion Bag and Jim Bethell and his dad.

Beeston thought they had scored after 10 minutes, when a shot from the left hand side hit the back of the net, but the referee disallowed the goal after a chat with the official on the far side. The Millers came forward and really should have taken the lead on 25 minutes, when a one on one saw the attacker hit the post from a close range. It was then Beeston on the attack and a long ranged effort smacked the crossbar before being cleared. It was then after 41 minutes that the visitors did take the lead, when a lovely one touch piece of football saw BRIGHT AGANA slide the ball past Gilbourne in the Millers net.

The Second Half saw The Millers playing down the famous slope and pushing forward and they got their reward of getting back on equal terms on 55 minutes, when a free kick from the right hand side was floated in to the penalty area where TYLER BARKSBY scooped low to head home.

The turnabout was on as after 58 minutes, The Millers were in front when TYLER BARKSBY sprinted through and beat the advancing keeper to tuck under him to make it 2-1. Beeston then came back in to the game and after 69 minutes, it was their turn to equalise when ADAM KEMP hooked home from the edge of the penalty area.

From the kick off, The Millers went straight on to the attack and gained a corner kick on the right hand side, from that resulting corner TYLER BARKSBY completed his hat trick when heading home at the near post.

Beeston were far from out of the game and pressed forward again and on 78 minutes, ADAM KEMP rifled home through a crowded penalty area to make it 3-3.

With 7 minutes to go, the referee sent Aaron Foster of The Millers to the Sin Bin. Beeston now with a player advantage pressed forward and in the final seconds of the match, a shot ended at the feet of visiting sub HENRY SAINSBURY who tucked home the winner. At the full time whistle, Aaron Foster was then shown a straight red card.

A real shame that there had to be a loser in this match as it was a great advert for the NSL. I felt all 3 officials had a good match.

I must thank Richard Lane for his kind £5 donation towards the Charity Blog which is for Forget Me Not, a small charity that supports people with dementia and their families/partners/carers. Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC and their under 16;s team are also supporting the Charity Blog with £1 for each goal they score this season.

The Running Total stands at present on a whopping £1,046.50p

COLTS HEAD TO QUARTERS

Notts FA Saturday Senior Trophy

Third Round

TRENT VINEYARD FC 1 ROBIN HOOD COLTS FC 6

The beauty of the Notts FA Cup Competitions is that I can go to grounds that Ive never visited before and when the third round draw was made, this tie caught my eye as a new venue. Jay from Robin Hood kindly offered to give me a lift to and from the ground from Mansfield, so I would like to thank him.

On arrival, I noticed there was 2 pitches and on the far pitch was to be played another tie in the competition where Wollaton III were hosting Sherwood Colliery Reserves. The players were soon changed and on the pitch for the match Id come to watch.

From the kick off, The Colts missed a early chance through Pearson and Vineyard matched their opponents in a evenly contested start to the tie, but the visitors were beginning to press more forward and more chances were coming.

Watching part of the other tie was Wollaton FC chairman Bill Fishwick and club Committee man Steve Smith who came over for a chat before heading to their First Team match at Radcliffe Olympic FC, Bill kindly donated £2 to the Blogs Charity, so a big thankyou to Bill for his support.

On 26 minutes, the deadlock was broken, when a cross from the left side was net by the head of DANIEL TYSON who put the Colts in front. Vineyard pushed forward but this left gaps at the back and on 35 minutes, the Colts doubled their lead when a bit of a strange goal occurred when a long ball was floated in from the right hand side, it took a odd bounce in front of the home keeper and sprung up, GEORGE CAMPS then leaped up and the ball landed over the keeper in to the net.  I was now watching the match with Leicester based groundhopper Gordon Grimes who had seen my tweet on twitter on the morning of the game.

As the game was heading to half time, a cross came from the right hand side and DANIEL TYSON slid the ball home to make it 3-0.

During the half time break, Gordon kindly donated £5 to the Blogs charity, which I must thank him for.

The Second Half kicked off and The Colts were straight on to the attack and on 46 minutes, GEORGE CAMPS was bought down just inside the penalty area and he dusted himself down before planting home to make it 4-0.

At this stage, there was danger of how many would it be, but to the Beeston clubs credit, they kept on battling and pressed forward forward creating several chances and after 52 minutes LUKE COLLEN slid in on the back post to reduce the arrears.

Vineyard pressed again and Wigglesworth in the Colts goal made a outstanding save to keep it at 4-1, but as gaps appeared the visitors began to exploit them and in the 65th minute of the game, they were awarded their second penalty of the game, to which GEORGE CAMPS chipped the keeper to complete his hat trick.

With the home sides hearts broken and a few heads down, Colts were moving the ball and attacking constantly and it came as no surprise on 69 minutes, when NICK WESTERMAN cut in from the left wing and curled his shot into the top corner of the net to make it 6-1.

A few comments about the game, I felt young Referee Grace Lowe had a superb match, the game was played by both clubs in the correct manner and both were a credit to their leagues.

With the donations given to the Charity Blog today and the goals scored this takes the running total to £1,039.75p for FORGET ME NOT, a small charity that supports people with dementia and their carers and partners.

91 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

JOACHIM PUNISHES THE BUDGIES

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

ASLOCKTON & ORSTON FC 1 MAGDALA AMATEURS FC 0

Att: 14

Not been to Spa Lane, the home of Aslockton & Orston FC for a couple of years now, infact last time I went, the new clubhouse and changing rooms were just a shell and halfway through being built.

Before the match, there was a minutes silence for Terry Annable, the former Secretary of the Notts FA who sadly passed away earlier in the week. 

I had many dealings with Terry in the early 1990's walking up that steep hill of Claredon Street in the centre of Nottingham, he was strict but very fair person with a lot of knowledge that he passed down to a lot of people and was very well respected.

The game kicked off and the visitors seemed to have the upper hand pushing forward and cutting out a very good chance in the 5th minute, when a ball from the left wing flashed across the 6 year box but the sliding in attacker just couldnt connect.

In the 17th minute, from a corner from the right hand side, a header aiming towards the top corner of the net was headed off the line to keep the home side on level terms. On 27 minutes, The Locks had to thank their keeper for a quick double save.

In injury time of the first half, Magdala;s corner broke down and a long clearance to the halfway line was met by ex Leicester City and Aston Villa striker JULIAN JOACHIM who ran forward with the ball and stuck home from 30 yards out to give his side the lead.

Magdala came out fired up for the Second Half and it looked only a matter of time before they would be on level terms as they pressed forward, but the home defence stood tall, also from each corner, the Locks keeper leaped up and caught every cross.

Aslockton came more in to the game looking for the second goal to give them that cushion, but didnt really trouble the visiting Budgies keeper too much and whilst Magdala threw everyone forward for the final ten minutes, the homesters took the points.

121 Photos can be seen on this LINK

GOOD NEWS AT HICKINGS LANE

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

STAPLEFORD TOWN FC 1 SOUTHWELL CITY FC 1

Att: 64

Stapleford Town FC played their first Notts Senior League Premier Division match at Hickins Lane of the season due to no other matches being played at Basford United FC due to their involvement in the FA Trophy, this bought good news to the club before kick off as the League's groundgrader arrived to check out the facilities of this advancing new club that has only been in existance at senior level football for just over a year. Their opponents Southwell City FC have alot of history behind them having been formed in 1893.

I have only ever seen one match at this ground and that was last season and played on the front pitch, so on arrival was delighted to find out that this match was being played on the back pitch, which will be set up for their new home, for this match it was roped off but they are looking at railing all round and getting respect barriers.

As the players were bought on to the pitch by the three officials through the respect flags, they were taken to the halfway line, where one of the Stapleford Town;s sponsors had donated a metal soldier, so the respect handshake took place around it before the minutes silence and both sides then joined in a photo with the banner "Stapleford Remembers".

The visitors went in to the match six points clear of the home side but Stapleford Town have three games in hand, so this was a clear six pointer match that at the end of the season could well decide where the championship title would be heading, though titles arent won in November.

The game began at a good pace, with Southwell carving out the early chances and on 23 minutes took the lead through a JONATHAN NUSSEY penalty. The lead only lasted for 4 minutes, as the Town pressed forward and was awarded a penalty of their own, which ADAM HASSALL duly dispatched to level up the scores.

At half  time I headed to the busy tea bar which was manned by the wife Hazel who was doing a sterling job.

The Second Half, it was Stapleford who made the most chances, but could not find away past the in-form Ryan Fletcher in the visitors net who was equal to everything thrown at him.

A very good game played by two very good teams and the three officials were very good as well.

You may recall at the start of the season, Stapleford Town FC were due to host Attenborough FC and they produced their first ever programme, the proceeds they kindly donated to my charity Blog for FORGET ME NOT, a small charity that supports people with Dementia and their families and carers to the sum of £46, this has now been added to the running total and its takes the blog to over a thousand pounds, the running total now stands at a amazing £1.010.75p. 

From programme sales at this match, all money was going to the local British Legion and £48 was taken, the Nottinghamshire Senior League have made it up to £100 for such a good cause.

Photos from this match can be seen on this LINK

MILLERS EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 2 BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY 0

Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC did their first ever programme for a league match and with a print of 50, I had pre orders of 21 sold, on arrival I was greeted by 3 hoppers who had travelled to the match from the Wakefield area and the match officials.

A minutes silence was taken in the pouring rain as I stood behind the goal in the stand with Malc Storer and Kev Goodman and was soon joined by Teveral FC's Kev Newton and his family.

The game kicked off in difficult weather conditions and both teams were equal to each other with very few chances being made in the First Half.

The Second Half began with Mansfield Hosiery Mills on the front foot and after 50 minutes, a screwed shot by Aspinall that was heading just wide was turned in by KIAN BREWIN to open the scoring.

The Millers pressed forward and the Community keeper was forced in to action a few times in a better footballing second period, as the game was closing out a poor clearence out of the Basford defence landed at the feet of CRAIG NEWTON who on the edge of the box struck his shot that hit the inside of the post before crossing the line to double his teams advantage in the 90th minute. Mansfield, Hosiery Mills now go to 5 matches unbeaten.

I felt all 3 officials had a very good match.

Would just like to add that Mansfield Hosiery Mills are donating £1 per goal they score this season towards the Charity Blog which is for FORGET ME NOT, a small charity that supports people with dementia and their carers and partners. Also The Millers Under 16's team are also sponsoring the Charity Blog as well this season. So a BIG thank you to them

FRANCIS MAKES REDS PAY THE PENALTY

Nottinghamshire County Saturday Senior Trophy

Round Two

BLIDWORTH WELFARE RED FC 2 BURTON JOYCE FC 3

I chose this Cup tie as it was close to home and with it being a ground Id never been to before, it appealed to me. On arrival I was greeted by the Reds Sec/Manager John and made very welcome.

Blidworth Reds dont actually play in Blidworth, but on the outskirts of Sutton In Ashfield on Unwin Road. The team had been set up as a kids team and all been friends as they grew up and didnt wish to be split up when they became adults, so moved away from Blidworth to set up their own Saturday adult side and ply their trade in the newly formed Midlands & Notts Alliance League.

With teamsheets written down it was to pitchside and a minutes silence of respect to those who sadly lost their lives last weekend at Leicester City FC.

The match kicked off and it was the visitors Burton Joyce who looked the stronger going forward and the club from the Nottinghamshire Senior League looked like they had opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes, but the referee called play back for a offside decision.

The Greens kept pressing forward and on 15 minutes, a trip just inside the area saw them gain a penalty decision, to which DEAN GENT duly dispatched to open up the scoring. After 19 minutes, Burton Joyce opened up a two goal advantage, when DEAN GENT beat the offside trap and rounded the home keeper to slot home.

The Reds then sprang in to action and began to play some good football and on 24 minutes reduced the arrears when a mistake at the heart of the defence and the visiting keeper let in RHYS EDMONDS to capitalise on.

The Reds confidence grew and in the 31st minute, they were on level terms when a corner from the left hand side, was partly cleared to the edge of the penalty area, where MICHAEL BIGGS placed a low shot in to the corner of the net.

Just before half time, Reds had a blow, when their keeper was struggling and went down to the ground, it looked as if he would make the half time whistle, but after treatment, he went down again and had to be replaced, with the homesters having to change their formation.

The Second Half was end to end in a blood and guts Cup Tie, with both teams going close, but as they say, every game has a turning point and this came in 57th minute, when Blidworth were awarded a penalty, the Reds player hit it sweetly towards the corner of the net, but Blyth in the Joyce net was equal to it and pushed it away. This proved to be critical as the visitors were ahead within 3 minutes, when NATHAN FRANCIS cut in from the left wing and drew the keeper before slotting it past him.

The Reds pushed everyone forward and in the final 3 minutes had 4 corners to which all 11 players were in the visiting penalty area but in the end the Greens defence stood tall and took a narrow win to face United Grays FC at home in Round Three of the competition.

Must add that both clubs represented their Leagues well and are a credit to themselves.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK