DIXONS DOUBLE SEALS WIN

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

AFC BRIDGFORD 4 SELSTON RESERVES 0

Not having seen AFC Bridgford at home this season and also not having seen Selston Reserves for a couple of years, this seemed to be the ideal fixture for me today, a late change in referee saw Derek Spray in the middle, so as he lives not too far away from me and said to call him if I ever needed a lift to a match he as at, this is what I did on Thursday evening. He then mentioned that he was on the line in a morning kick off at Nottingham Forest Academy and having never seen a match there, it was a chance for me to tick this ground off for me.

Derek arranged and duly picked me up from home at 9.15am and we were soon on the way to the Academy ground gates where we were met by security who let us in. I got a cuppa and found that the match I was to watch was a 40 minute each way match between Nottingham Forest Under 16;s v Sheffield United Under 16's with a 11am kick off.

The United side looked quick and pressed forward and went ahead on 37 minutes through a penalty, but the young Forest side fought back and scored through two free kicks in the 60th and in injury time to secure a 2-1 victory.

It was only a short drive over the island on Wilford Lane to enter the grounds of Gresham, where there was 4 matches taking place, with the one I was attending being played on the main 4g pitch.

Before kick off,  AFC Bridgford;s Barry Matthews kindly handed over a collection from the club a great donation of £40 towards Forget Me Not, a small charity that supports people with dementia, so a MASSIVE THANKYOU to all at AFC Bridgford.

The game kicked off in bright sunshine shining from the Wilford end towards the City end, so the AFC keeper had the sun in his eyes for the First Half, Selston;s plan was to shoot on the sight of goal and in the first 5 minutes, they were on top with some slick passing and movement and home keeper had to be on his toes after 7 minutes to make the first save of the afternoon.

AFC front man then had to come off injured with a hamstring injury and was replaced by a young sub who was at the City;s Uni. AFC changed their shape and began to take over the game and in the 16th minute a free kick was driven in low from the left hand side and home defender KANE WILSON scrambled the ball home to give his side the lead. Within 2 minutes, it was 2-0, when a neat move ended with JOSHUA DIXON sweetly placing the ball in to the net.

It was now the turn of the visiting keeper to show what fine form he was in, with three very good saves to keep his side in the game, whilst his fellow attackers had a couple of counter breaks.

In to the Second Half and AFC pushed forward and poor finishing and good defending left the game at 2-0 until 69 minutes, when a corner from the left side saw attacker JAMES MUSK force the ball home from close range with his knee.

Just like the first half, the homesters added a quick second goal in the half, when on 72 minutes, JOSHUA DIXON made it 4-0. To Selstons credit, they battled and the comments from AFC Bridgford camp was they arent the worse side we have played this season.

I must thank Referee Derek Spray for driving me around all day.

122 Photos can be seen on this LINK

BARROWBY GAIN THE SPOILS IN DERBY MATCH JUST

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

BARROWBY FC 2 ELSTON UNITED FC 1

Barrowby FC is possibly the furthest ground in the NSL, so on a bright sunny morning, a decision was made to visit to the Low Road Ground, as the only time Ive seen Barrowby since they joined the league, was in a League Cup fixture last season, whulst visitors today were newcomers to the NSL and local rivals Elston United.

Before kick off there was a minutes silence for England legend Gordon Banks and then the norm toss up for kick off and the game was soon on its way.

The First Half there was very little between the two sides with the wind blowing down the pitch, both sides were not really playing anywhere near their best football, so we went in for the half time cuppa goalless.

The Second Half saw the Greens of Barrowby with the wind behind their backs and they began brightly pressing forward, so it came as no surprise on 51 minutes, they took the lead when a cross from the left hand side was headed straight at the visiting keeper who only push the ball away and on to the head of MORGAN TAYLOR who guided the ball in to the net.

Barrowby pushed forward and looked more likely to add to their tally, but strong defending and good goalkeeping by Elston kept them at bay, until 69 minutes, when BRANDON LEE cut in from the right hand side and placed the ball past Marr in the visiting net to make it 2-0.

Elston then seemed have some belief and began to play their best football of the game and in the 84th minute fought their way back in to the game, when a long throw in the penalty area was met by the head of SAM JOHNSON.

Elston continued to press and as time was ticking down, they forced a corner, but before the corner was taken, two players clashed from each side and the referee cautioned both players and pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Dan Brown and his spot kick to the keepers left was pushed out for Oliver Ault first to respond and put the ball in to the net to the visitors delight, but this was short lived when the referee looked over at the Club Assistant Referee who had put his flag up for offside and the Referee cancelled out the equaliser to most peoples amazement. Whilst players were asking the referee what had gone on, he blew his whistle and the game ended with in a bit of chaos with Barrowby taking home the points.

138 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

HORTON'S HAT TRICK SEES RAVENSHEAD HOME

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

RAVENSHEAD FC 5 MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 1

Att: 64

Friday Night football is proving popular with supporters of the Nottinghamshire Senior League with increased attendances and this match gave the hosts possibly their highest gate of the season.

The visitors have had a change in management and lay in 7th place, whilst the hosts were sitting second, so on paper a win should go to Ravenshead, but this isnt always the case.

The game began with Ravenshead pushing forward and Gilbourne on the visitors net had to equal to a few early chances, but on 21 minutes, he could do nothing when a cross from the left wing was slotted home by BRENT HORTON.

4 minutes later and it was 2-0 to the reds of Ravenhead, when a carbon copy move, saw another cross from the left was pulled to the edge of the area, where BRENT HORTON struck to double his sides advantage.

The Millers started to put in a few good moves and on 37 minutes thought that they pulled themselves back in to the game, when they had the ball in the back of the net, but the club assistant had ruled it offside.

The Second Half began and the Ravens increased their lead when MARTIN McDONAGH pounced and placed the ball home to make it 3-0 on 50 minutes.

Ravenshead kept pressing forward and on 65 minutes, a ball played in from the left wing, saw BRENT HORTON on his own to headed past Gilbourne for his hat trick and his sides fourth goal.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills tried to press forward but in the 76th minute were caught out with a through ball to MARTIN McDONAGH who went round one defender before hitting a swerving shot from outside the area to make it 5-0.

The Millers finally got on the scoresheet deep in to injury time, when GEORGE SIMPSON pounced on to a loose ball to strike home.

I felt that referee Kingsley Godwin had a very good match.

KYLE'S BRACE IN MEMORY OF DAVE

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Junior Cup - Quarter Final

COTGRAVE RESERVES 2 NOTTINGHAM COMMUNITY 1

att: 35

In the week leading up to this Quarter Final tie, the sad news that former club chair Dave Collis had passed away in his sleep, this was a big loss for Cotgrave FC, Ive known Dave for a matter of years and always was first to greet everyone at the gate and always rushed off to make a cuppa for myself and other match officials. 

When I took the groundhop there some years ago, he manned the gate, he sold stuff on the Cotgrave stall, he was more than a volunteer. So it seemed very strange arriving today and his smiling face not greeting us, but his memory will live around the Cotgrave FC people and beyond.

A minutes silence took place before kick off and his family came along and were presented with some flowers from the club

As the game kicked off, there was only one thing in the Collierymens mind and that was to progress to the Semi Final for Dave. They went straight on the attack with Lucas Cotterill going close a couple of times and the Community back line standing tall, whilst their front men played on the counter attack.

It was though only a matter of time when Cotgrave were to burst the Community net and that came after 24 minutes, when a pinpoint cross from the right side was met by the head of KYLE WADDELL to the relief of the home supporters.

After me half time cuppa, it was back to pitchside and within 37 seconds of the kick off, it was 2-0 to the Colliery side when KYLE WADDELL rifle in as you can see from the top photo.

This seemed to bring Community to life as they pressed forward but were finding Cotgrave too strong at the back, but on 58 minutes, a long free kick from the left side was floated in for RHEL BRAMWELL to reduce the home sides advantage.

Community pressed forward again but this left gaps at the back and with 80 minutes on the clock should really have wrapped up the tie, when 3 failed efforts were cleared by the visiting defence.

I felt the referee Alan Goode had a good match

121 photos can be seen on this LINK

HASSALLS BRACE SINKS COMMUNITY

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

STAPLEFORD TOWN FC 2 EASTWOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPEMENT FC 0

played @ Eastwood Community FC

Admission £2

Programme £1

Att: 130 approx

With the winter weather during the tail end of the week, Premier Division leaders Stapleford Town gave up home advantage to play on the 4g pitch at the home of Eastwood Community.

Stapleford were on a mission to get back on track after suffering a home defeat last weekend to the hands of Bingham Town and with second placed Southwell City FC's fixture falling foul of the weather, they could increase their advantage at the top of the table.

The game kicked off and was fairly even, with both clubs going very close to opening the account as I first sat in the stand, but the strong sun was making it difficult to see the pitch, so I strolled over to the other side of the ground and met up with Ilkeston based hoppers the Hartshorne brothers Michael and Andy.

Stapleford were forced into a early change as Michael Robb went down injured and had to be carried from the pitch. It was later revealed that he has broken his fibia, so we wish him a speedy recovery.

Just on half time, Stabbo were awarded a penalty to which ADAM HASSALL placed to the keepers left to give his side the lead.

The Second Half saw Stapleford push forward but they could find no way passed the Developement keeper who was in fine fettle.

In the final minute of the match, ADAM HASSAll received the ball to which he placed in to the net to make it 2-0.

90 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK