PEARSON;s BRACE CONTINUES AFC;S UNBEATEN RUN

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

AFC TOP VALLEY 3 STAPLEFORD TOWN RESERVES 0

On the morning of this game, it was second versus third, so a tight encounter was expected. After heavy overnight rain, the far pitch at Calverton MW FC was in excellent condition. On arrival, I was greeted by Calverton Secretary Jo Swinscoe who made me a cuppa and I was soon joined by Stapleford Manager Sefton and their club secretary Jason Cockerham, who kindly bought me my raffle prize that I had won from their club raffle last weekend. I was then greeted by AFC;s Secretary Alec who is always friendly and welcoming.

With meeting the match referee Tris Churcher and the team line ups in, it was up to the pitchside and photos taken of Top Valley;s new tracksuits and shirts in their team photos.

The match kicked off and was very even with possibly the visitors in the first 15 minutes on top, with them winning that second ball, but not really pressing goalbound with it. Top Valley began to grow in confidence as their fast forward line sprang the offside trap a couple of times and the visiting keeper was struggling with a injury.

On 31 minutes, a ball sent home forward KANE PEARSON through on goal, to which he side stepped the keeper and slotted the ball past the visiting defender on the line to put his AFC side in to the lead.

On 38 minutes, it could and should have been 2-0 to the homesters, but a superb double save by Gomes in the visitors net kept them out.

The Second Half and Top Valley came out pressing forward and on 50 minutes, a free kick from the right hand side was pushed by Gomes on to the crossbar and KANE PEARSON was first to react to tap the ball home.

On 54 minutes, Ben Cummings broke down the left hand side and beat his defender before shooting, his shot hit the inside of the post and landed at the feet of JACOB GUNN who fired home to make it 3-0.

Stapleford didnt give up but found the home defence in fine form and the home side today deserved their victory and extended their unbeaten record in league matches to seven games.

Must add I felt that referee Tris Churcher had a superb match.

With 25p per goal making 75p today going to the blogs charity FORGET ME NOT, it now takes the running total to £1,126, 95p

100 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

NSL REFEREES TRAINING WORKSOP

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League Referees Evening

held at Nottingham Forest FC Academy

On Thursday 20th December 2018, a very special evening took place, as Notts Senior League Referees were invited to Nottingham Forest FC;s Academy for a training evening for the first ever time and well organised by League Referees Secerary Darrell Parkes, Notts FA and Nottingham Forest FC.

The evening consisted of several activities including Warm Up exercises, Multi Stage Bleep tests and Fitness advise, the officials were split up in to 3 groups and this included some players from Ravenshead FC who attended.

All enjoyed the evening and officials also donated towards Prostate Cancer and also this Blogs Charity FORGET ME NOT and a HUGE kind donation of £51.70p was presented, taking the Blogs charitys running total up to a staggering £1,126.20p

To read more about the blogs charity please click HERE

QUICK FIRE DOUBLE SEES POINTS HEAD TO NEWARK

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

ROBIN HOOD COLTS FC 0 NEWARK FLOWSERVES RESERVES 2

Att: 19

Robin Hood Colts are a new club in to the Nottinghamshire Senior League and play just off Sixth Avenue on the famous village of Edwinstowe in the heart of Sherwood Forest and just down the road from the world famous Robin Hood's Major Oak tree. Ive not been to this ground since Thoresby CW folded some years ago and having to stay very local, this fixture caught my eye with both teams playing very well of late.

The forecast was for snow, but on arrival it was very cold with the temperature in the car showing at minus 1, the pitch looked perfect for football and after my cuppa and a chat with referee Gareth Tye, it was to pitchside under the stand, which I was grateful for as the freezing rain began to lash down.

A minutes silence took place for a young player who sadly lost his life on a pitch playing football during the week.

The game kicked off and both sides matched each other with very few chances but the Colts possibly just shading the possession in the first thirty minutes, but Flowserve began to raise their game and quite quickly had the ball cleared off the line twice.

In the 40th minute, the deadlock was broken, when a shot from the right hand side of the box was turned in by the Division top marksman LEIGHTON NICHOLSON on 40 minutes to give the Orangemen from Newark the lead.

As we were heading towards half time, a break this time down the left hand side saw TYLER MARTIN chip the home keeper who got his fingers to the ball, but to no avail as the ball dropped behind him in to the net to double Flowserve;s lead.

The Second Half saw The Colts press forward in search of getting back in to the game with a goal, but this was made harder when Wigglesworth in the 56th minute was dismissed for a second cautionable offence.

Flowserve played the remained of the match on the break, whilst Colts pressed but in the end to no avail. The result lifts Flowserve in to 4th in the table with games in hand on those above them.

I felt referee Gareth Tye had a good match in difficult conditions.

I would also like to thank Robin Hood Colts FC for their kind donation of £10 to the Blogs Charity FORGET ME NOT which is a small charity that supports people with Dementia and their partners/carers. The running total now stands at £1074.50p.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

CAPTAIN MUSK;S WINNER ON RETURN

Notts Senior League

Division One

BRIDGFORD UNITED FC 1 AFC BRIDGFORD 2

Looked at this match some time ago, as Bridgford United FC have moved around this season trying find a home venue, but now they hope they have now settled down at Highfields, just off University Boulevard, Nottingham. 

A new block houses the changing rooms and to the side of the pitch is a cricket pavillion, to where I went on to the top floor to take a couple of photos of both sides warming up.

I was chatting to AFC;s Secretary Rob and United;s Chairman Ash and soon joined by Neil Laughlin from Belper, who I last saw whilst we were all on our hols down in Cornwall at Helston AFC on Good Friday morning in the pouring rain..Well Neil didnt bring any better weather, as it was raining yet again, but the pitch looked good for this local derby.

The game kicked off and it was AFC who pushed forward for the first few chances, whilst United settled in to the game. The sun at this stage was very bright, so I walked over to the far side of the roped off pitch.

On 14 minutes, AFC;s corner kick broke down and a ball to the edge of the area, saw a long pass to KYLE PEMBLETON who beat his defender and slot the ball past the outcoming keeper to give his side the lead.

The lead didnt last long, as AFC pushed forward and a long free kick beat the offside trap and SAM GASKIN skipped the last defender before placing the ball in to the net for the equaliser.

The Second Half saw United have to re shuffle their side as their keeper had to be replaced due to injury and a outfield player went inbetween the sticks, with a sub coming on infield.

United pressed forward but AFC defended well, with getting players on the line 3 times to keep their goal line in tact. United in Second place in the table pushed and changed tactics with subs being made, whilst AFC soaked up the pressure and on 70 minutes, their captain JAMES MUSK who returned for this match after missing for the past six weeks, turned up at the far post to slide home the winner.

Both sides felt that the young Referee JACK LAYZELL had a very good game, to which I agree.

I must thank both sides for their kind donations, AFC donated £10 and United £3 towards the Charity Blog, which is for FORGET ME NOT, a small charity that supports people with dementia and their carers. With all money in, the running total now stands at a amazing £1,064.00

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE REFEREE FITNESS WORKSHOP

The NSL have kindly been offered the training facilities and staff of Nottingham Forest Academy to conduct some fitness training and conditioning to which you are all invited. Can you please confirm attendance with your name via text to 07794036388, as numbers are limited and we may also provide food and refreshments.

Nott's TV will also hopefully be covering this event.

This is the FIRST time anything like this has been done and we the NSL are extremely grateful to Nottingham Forest Football club and its staff for this unique opportunity.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE REFEREE FITNESS WORKSHOP

THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER

	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3
1900	W/Up Practical	HI Exercise / Plyo Workshop	Speed / Aerobic Training Workshop
1930	Bleep Test	W/up Practical	HI Exercise / Plyo Workshop
2000	Speed / Aerobic Training Workshop	Bleep Test	W/Up Practical
2030	HI Exercise / Plyo Workshop	Speed / Aerobic Training Workshop	Bleep Test

Warm up practical (Dome): This will cover a wide-ranging warm up suitable for matchdays but also will act as a precursor for the bleep test.

The Bleep Test (Dome): The multi-stage fitness test to be completed all fit participants

Training Workshop (Analysis Room): This will cover how to use the score from there fitness to help create individualised aerobic workout and speed/agility sessions.

HI Exercise and Plyometric Workshop (Gym): This will cover High Intensity and plyometric exercises that can be used to supplement there training.  

BURTON LEAPFROG THE RAVENS

Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

BURTON JOYCE FC 2 RAVENSHEAD FC 1

Att: 13

Burton Joyce went in to this match sitting in 4th place, one position behind their visitors Ravenshead, but with games in hand on the top two in the table. As Shawn wanted to put up the christmas tree, I was offered a lift by Ravenshead manager Ross Hardwick. On arrival I spotted a new pitch to the right side of the ground as you walk in, it was fully roped off and had two dugouts in the far side, this is the new home for Burton Joyce.

The game kicked off and it was the Greens that was forcing the early pace and after just 5 minutes, a long distance shot struck the crossbar and dropped at the feet of Nathan Francis who tucked the ball in to the net, but the referee Jason Hayes spotted the assistant referees flag raised.

As the half went on, The Ravens came more in to the match and could well have taken the lead themselves, but right on the stroke of half time, the homesters hit the crosbar for a second time but no one was following the ball up to plant home.

The Second Half kicked off and again it was very even between these two teams playing some good football, but it was the Greens who took the lead after 69 minutes, when NATHAN FRANCIS fired home a penalty to score in his 7th successive match.

Ravenshead pushed forward but this left gaps at the back and with the clock ticking down on 78 minutes they made a double substitution, Burton Joyce made a quick throw in and the ball was crossed from the left hand side for JAKE GLOVER to volley home on the far post.

The Ravens pushed everyone forward and after 84 minutes gained a corner on the right hand side which PERRIS THOMAS swung in and eluded everyone which planted itself in to the back of the net.

The final six minutes saw the action flow from end to end and the Ravens keeper had to made a point blank save, from the resulting break, the visitors gained a free kick to the right hand side of the area, Thomas took a low free kick that the home keeper pushed out just over the head of a oncoming attacker.

A very good match played by two very good teams, I felt the referee had a decent match. After the game Ravenshead;s FC kindly donated £3 to the Charity Blog for Forget me Not, a small charity that supports people with dementia

53 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK