HOLWELL MAKE IT COUNT IN EXTRA TIME

FA VASE

Second Qualifying Round

CLIFTON ALL WHITES FC 1 HOLWELL SPORTS FC 2

(After Extra Time)

Holwell Sports of the East Midlands Counties League travelled to Clifton All Whites of the Notts Senior League and snatched a late extra time winner.

The First half belonged to the visitors who really should have had the tie wrapped up and should have gone in at the interval with a three goal lead, but only went in 1-0 through a goal in the 20th minute by CHRISTOPHER HIBBITT.

The Second Half belonged to All Whites who pushed forward and chance after chance went begging along with good defending by the away defence, until STEVE O CONNELL equalised in the 71st minute. Clifton then had a penalty appeal waved away and a corner given.

The game went in to extra time and with weary legs on both sides, the tempo of the game slowed down, but it was Holwell who stepped up their game and looked the more likely team to score.

As the game entered in to the second period of extra time, the home side appealed for a foul but the ref waved play on and a long ball over the top, left KIERAN FOSTER in the clear to fire home the winner.

In the final minute, a few words were exchanged and the referee produced a second yellow card and dismissed the Holwell player to the amazement of most the people in the ground.

A cracking cup tie between two very good sides who want to play football.

A nice gesture by Dave Wigley of Clifton All Whites FC when presenting 2 hoppers who had made the journey to the match, with a shirt and a couple of badges.

PHOTOS FROM THE MATCH CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

VILLA CONTINUE UNBEATEN START

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

MAGDALA AMATEURS 3 AWSWORTH VILLA 7

Att: 38

With Hazel and her family at Chatsworth House for the day, a long day ahead for me and Shawn was in store, most buses from Mansfield to Nottingham take a hour but if you catch the 141 it goes through every village and takes double the time. Shawn was hungry and we popped in to Subway for lunch before having a stroll to the Market Square, they had a event on with all paraolympians and the kids could try out some events, Shawns favourite was being in a wheelchair and playing tennis. We got on the tram and headed for the Roko and we nearly got off at the wrong stop, but got off at Wilford Green and stolled along the road to the ground.

We was met by Matt Harrington and the rest of the Magdala side shortly followed by thee ref Dave Southern and the opponents. I managed to get the team sheets early sso I could relax for the afternoon, or thats what I thought as Shawn was having fun playing with a large tyre at pitchside.

Before kick off, a minutes silence was completed by all and the game was on its way and Awsworth nearly scored after just 40 second with a cross shot just going wide of the post but we dodnt wait very long for the first goal, when JOHN WHITEHURST cut in on the left wing and placed the ball past the advancing keeper. Magdala pushed forward but then left gaps at the back and on 10 minutes, RYAN WHITEHURST volleyed his side in to a 2-0 lead. All credit to Magdala and they forced their way back in to the game through NEIL MORGAN on 13 minutes. On 18 minutes, RYAN WHITEWHURST restored the visitors two goal advantage.

Just then Shawn went off to fetch a ball, next thing he comes back in tears covered from his waist down in thick oil, I thought of going in to the ROKO but he would have trod it all the way in, so had to take his trousers off and his trainers and at half time I took him over to the Car Wash and they sprayed him down and his clothes, the clothes he was wearing dried but not his trousers, so after the matcch, we went back tot he pub and he dried them with the hand drier in the toilets!

Back to the match and on 33 minutes, GOODWIN made it 4-1 to Villa and this game looked like a landslide. NEIL MORGAN playing a captains role for the homesters again pulled a goal back in the 38th minute. Just on the stroke of half time and the visitors were awarded a penalty, to which RYAN WHITEHURST stepped up and completed his hat trick.

Just after Shawn's hosing down and getting back towards pitch side and Villa went 6-2 up 20 seconds in to the Second Half through JOHN WHITEHURST. Magdala then began to play their best football of the game and were rewarded on 50 minutes when ETHAN LESPEARE made it 6-3. The game then went through a bit of a dull period, but on 66 minutes, a clash in the penalty area, saw the home keeper down and a second penalty awarded to the visitors, the home keeper had to be substitued and the first thing that Paul Franks(Ex Notts Cricketer) had to do was save Luke Hodmans's penalty on 66 minutes.

On 88 minutes, a long ball out of defence caught the home players out of position and LEE STEVENSON made it a 7-3 victory for Awsworth to maintain the impressive start to this seasons campaign.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

CLIFTON ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT

FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING

CLIFTON ALL WHITES FC 7 OADBY TOWN FC 0

Oadby Town have a great FA Vase history in the past but it was a pity for them tonight to see them try their best with a very young side get outplayed but on the other hand Clifton All Whites could only beat what is in front of them.

Oadby Town do have a few problems at present, as most of their squad and management walked out of the club recently and the team that was fielded tonight must have been their under 21's.

Before the game, I was greetd by all the Clifton All Whites committee, players and management and then as I was having a cuppa in walked the referee, old friend Rob Rees.

I had taken some boxes of programmes for Oadby Town;s clubshop and soon met the friendly secretary Kev Zupp and we had a chat and he was determined not to be driving the minibus back as he sunk in to a nice pint of cold guinesss.

So it was off outside and ready for kick off, and I popped in to the Ref's changing room to ask if there was to be a minutes silence in respect of Daniel Wilkinson who aged 26 last night lost his life whilst playing football for Shaw Lane Aquaforce FC, as the ref was making his final prepaarations, he asked me if I woulld go in to both changing rooms and ask both clubs, to which they agreed and when on the pitch the silent minute was observed.

The game kicked off and Clifton were on the front foot and after 22 minutes they took the lead, it soon became 2-0 when the visiting keeper fumbled the ball on 28 minutes, I felt sorry for the lad, as his dad was on the mobile at the time and had to tell his mate that his son was having a shocker.

I then went to stand behind the goal and spoke to Joe & Ann Dunstan from Ruddington Village FC, they love their local football and are always out and about, on 34 minutes, a rasping shot came in and it was 3-0.

Half time came and in the Second Half, I went and stood near the two dug outs with Draycott based Hopper Jack Warner who used to live in Ossieland and missed the hop match at All Whites as he was still over there.

All Whites started the Second Half as they left the first and that was on the front foot and on 50 minutes, it was 4-0. A good time to talk to 2 of the Clifton subs, Connor Hardy who I used to teach and had in my school football team when he was knee height and he still calls me sir, even when I tell him, its Rob, but he says its respect, gosh he must buy me a pint one day. The Trist Whitman, who I seem to have known for years when he played for Arnold Town and his mum and grandad used to come along and support him.

The game was drifting on and 68 minutes on the clock and it was 5-0 and getting very one sided and you had to feel for the visitors as they didnt give up. Infact they bought a sub on and he had 2 very close efforts from long range.

The young lads from Oadby by now were tiring and after 86 minutes they conceded again and by the 89th minute, Clifton made it 7-0.

 I do hope that Oadby Town can bounce back in the future as they have some good people involved in their club.

So Clifton All Whites FC now host Holwell Sports FC in the next round on Saturday 24th September with a 3pm kick off which Im sure will be a much tougher match,

RAVENSHEAD COMPLETE EARLY DOUBLE

Notts Senior League 

Division Two

GREYHOUNDERS FC 2 RAVENSHEAD FC 5

Well Saturday morning was a bit of a panic, with the car going in to the garage on Friday bit a phone call at midday saying it was ready to pick up, as we left the garage and we hit the road on the way to Clifton All Whites, we got the message to say that their FA Vase tie had been postponed, as the rain was lashing down all night and all morning.

A quick phone call to Gavin McAndrew of league newcomers Greyhounders FC confirmed where I was going. On arrival, Hazel said she would do the tea bar for them, as she was sitting inside with Shawn. Shawn was full of beans and wanted to help, so Adrian Curzon set him on to filling the water bottle and put out cones down the pitchside.

The game kicked off and it was the Greyhounders who was on the front foot and after 2 minutes JORDAN STINSON fired them in to a early lead. Greyhounders game plan then seemed to desert them as Ravenshead pressed forward and had several good chances but found Andy Cole in the home net keeping his sides lead in tact.

After 19 minutes though came the equaliser through TYLER LAMBERT and soon the visitors were in control of the game, with the home side only having the odd push forward. In the 32nd minute, Ravenshead went in to the lead when SEAN CREER-THORNTON struck home. After 36 minutes, the home defence seemed to go to sleep, as from a visitors throw in, they stood still and allowed TYLER LAMBERT to increase the lead to 3-1.

Right on the stroke of half time, DANIEL PHILLIPS made it 4-1 from 30 yards out.

After half time cuppa, Greyhounders must have had a good chat as they seemed to cone out a different side, pressing straight away and got a goal back on 46 minutes through RICCARDO LEIGHTON through a deflected shot. This gave the homesters a welcome boost and they pressed for the third goal which sadly didnt come from them, in the final minute of the game, the ref gave Ravenshead a penalty, to which their goalkeeper CALLUM MARKS sprinted up the pitch to take and duly dispatch.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

THE STUDENTS WIN ON THEIR AWAY DEBUT

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC 1 NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY FC 4

Nottingham Trent University began life last week with a narrow 3-2 home loss in first ever match at Step 7 and went on the road to Newark Flowserve FC who themselves where in fine fettle having won their last 11 home matches and riding high towards the top of the league.

On arrival I was met and greeted by Flowserve;s Secretary Zoe Murr who is always running round like a bumble bee, she is non stop, apart from when she has a fag of course!

The game kicked off and it was Flowserve makng the early running, forcing the visiting keeper in to making quite a few vital saves, but against the run of play after DYLAN OFSHUDY opened the scoring for the students.

Within a minute, the Hawtonville based club were level, when ELLIOTT KING made it 1-1. Flowserve kept pressing forward, with shouts from the management of, its only time before we get a second, but this wasnt to be, as chance after chance went begging in to the half time interval.

Straight from kick off in the Second Half, the homesters should have taken the lead but the visiting keeper smothered the ball at the last minute, as I watched the game with old friend Herbie.

This seemed to lift the visitors in to action and on 56 minutes, they were awarded a penalty to which JACK MORDECAI duly converted. This seeemed to knock the stuffing out of Flowserve and put the Uni side on the front foot, as their passing  and found space on the pitch was plain to see.

On 64 minutes, The Trent Uni side increased their lead when a shot found its was to JACK MORDECAI who slotted in to a empty net to make it 3-1.

With 5 minutes to go, JOSHUA BARR-ROSTRON wrapped up the points for the visitors.

In the clubhouse after the game, Zoe had served up Pulled Pork and Chips, whilst at the bar, Referee Gavin Rice kindly donated £5 to the Blogs Charity, so a BIG thankyou Gavin. The 3 officials all had good games, esp the 2 Assistants who were very young but made some very wise decisions.

PHOTOS from the game can be seen on this LINK

MILLS AND BILSTHORPE SHARE THE POINTS

Notts Senor League 

Division Two

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 1 BILSTHORPE FC RESERVES 1

Att: 69

With both sides being towards the top end of the table, this game was always going to be tight, on arrival I was greeted by both clubs and officials and in the crowd this evening was Premiership referee Kev Friend.

The game kicked off and Bilsthorpe soon had the ball in the back of the net, but the young Assistant Referee had his flag up for offside after just 3 minutes. Two minutes later and the home club took the lead through a drive by THOMAS HUNT.

Bilsthorpe upped their game and pressed forward and on 12 minutes were on level terms when their captain STUART GRAINGER fired home.

As I walked round the ground I then bumped in to Heanor Town;s Tony Squires and had a chat with him during the 1st half, the midfield on the pitch was winning the battles as chances were few and far between.

The Second Half I sat with the Selston three who had come to watch the match and play swung from end to end with Hosiery Mills just shading the first 25 minutes of it, but seeming to tire with Bilsthorpe looking as they could well nick it, but in the final minute, the Millers drove a ball just wide, so both clubs ended up with a well deserved point.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK