THE ABBEY LANE DRAW

Boston & District Football League

Division One

WOODALL SPA UNITED FC 1 SWINESHEAD INSTITUTE RESERVES FC 1

On the road back from our weeks holiday in Ingoldmells, I wanted to go to a match at a new ground and also a new league and Woodall Spa United FC fitted the bill perfectly as it was about a hour and a half home. I rang the Boston & District League Secretary on Friday evening to check the kick off time was 2.30pm as friend Herbie had text me her phone number.

On arrival at Abbey Lane, I was greeted by a chap who used to referee in the old Notts Alliance days and was soon made a cuppa for me and my wife by a lady who had just arrived at the ground. With the teamline ups gained by both managers, I took up my position at pitchside.

The game kicked off and United had a couple of decent chances to opening the scoring early on but good defending kept them at bay. On 35 minutes, a Institute ball was played out to the left wing, where SANDS caught the home keeper off his line and chipped him to put the visitors ahead.

On 39 minutes, the scores were level at 1-1 when ROBERTSON placed his penalty in to the net after a handball decision. 

At half time, I met the United Secretary who sold me some badges and also a nice cuppa. I decided to venture over to the far side of the pitch for the second half and it was the visitors who looked more inclined to score and take home the points, but brave goalkeeping by the home keeper and some narrow misses kept this match level.

A lovely ground and both sets of players wanted to play football and were a credit not only to their clubs but to their league as well

To see the match day photos please click HERE

ALFORD THROUGH TO NEXT ROUND

East Lincs Combination League

Tim Sales Memorial Trophy

ALFORD TOWN FC 3 MARKET RASEN DEVELOPEMENT FC 0

As I was on holiday in Ingoldmells, I looked round for a local match to go and watch and saw Alford Town fitted the bill. Alford Town play just next to the famous windmill, that I went up many years ago and looked down over the pitch. The homesters play in Division Two of the East Lincs Combination League whilst their visitors play in the division below.

On arrival, a friendly welcome was made and a cuppa was soon made in the clubhouse for me and the wife and soon both sides handed me their line up;s.

The game kicked off and the first real chance fell on 20 minutes to the developement side, when a header went wide. I strolled out the nice stand in front of the clubhouse as the sun came out and Alford began to press forward and on 30 minutes, RICK WOLSTENHOLME was first to the ball to sweep his side in to the lead.

The Second Half saw Alford mainly on the attack with the visitors counter attacking on the break, but not putting much in front of the home keeper to save.

With time running down on 80 minutes, Alford were awarded a free kick on the right hand wing, which was swung in and met by the head of TOM LEMPARD to flash home and double Alford's lead.

The best goal of the game was yet to come and that happened in the 86th minute, as home substitute JAMES COLE smashed home a 30 yard volley to make the final score 3-0.

Both sets of players played some decent football on the day and were both a credit to their league and their clubs.

Click to see match photos HERE

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE CUP QUARTER FINALS

PRECISION NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE CUP

QUARTER FINAL DRAW

Ravenshead FC v Newark Flowserve FC

Nottingham Trent University FC v FC Cavaliers

Cotgrave FC v Aston United FC

Wollaton FC v Clifton All Whites/Basford Community/Awsworth Villa

WOLLATON THROUGH TO QUARTER FINALS

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup

Third Round

WOLLATON FC 4 TEAM DNF 0

On arrival at Wollaton FC, I was greeted by the Wollaton FC committee and was kindly donated £10 from club Chairman Bill Fishwick, after getting the teams on my way out towards pitchside, I was stopped by Malc Brown who donated £2. Malc's lad plays centre back for Team DNF and he is regular reader of the Charity Blog. May I thank both Wollaton FC and Malc for their kind donations and with the 4 goals scored today tops the £500 mark.

I took up my standing point between the 2 dugouts on the half way line and we didnt have to wait very long for the first goal to be scored when after just 19 seconds Liam Towle slotted home.

Team DNF to their credit with six lads of only 16 years of age pushed forward and could well have been level, if not for a superb save by Helthrope in the homesters net, also a shot that flashed wide of his goal.

After 27 minutes, SAM ROTHWELL was left on his own in midfield some 30 yards out and his low shot found its way in to the bottom corner of the net to double Wollaton;s advantage.

The game flowed end to end and looked like it was going to finish the half at 2-0, but on 42 minutes, a defensive mix up in the DNF defence, saw SEAN CRAVEN steal the loose ball and rifle home number three.

The Second Half saw the visitors come out and play alot better and could well have reduced the deficit but captain Jay Knight cleared off his own line.

In the 87th minute, Team DNF gained a penalty to which their captain Cameron Gray skied over the bar. From the resulting goal kick Wollaton won the ball in midfield and a cross found DAN CHADWICK who back healed the ball in to the net to make it 4-0.

A good game to watch with two good sides taking part and I must say referee Phil Towers had a great game with no cards shown.

Photos of the match can be seen on this LINK

BRICKIES & WELFARE SHARE THE POINTS

Notts Senior League

Division One

KIRTON BRICKWORKS FFC 3 KIMBERLEY MW RESERVES 3

Had to stay local today as Shawn was rock climbing at Walesby with the scouts in the morning and had to be fetched at 1pm and then having to be at church for 4pm to go with the scouts to the Space Centre for a overnight sleep, so Kirton was close enough for me.

On arrival there was a bit of a scare as the Kimberley manager was running late and he had the kit, but it all turned out in the end and kick off got on the way right on time.

I stood and had a chat with the young Welfare keeper's parents and then got a cuppa from Kirton Chairman Tony Marsh and Steve before grabbing the line up's.

I went and had a chat with Danny Staley and Neil Johnson whilst the action commenced on the pitch. It was the visitors who were on the front foot for the first 20 minutes, but after 21 minutes, JAMIE BIRCH on the right wing hit a ball from some 30 yards out that found thhe back of the net to give the Brickies the lead. This seemed to give the homesters some confidence and they pushed forward in search of a second.

On 40 minutes, the scores were level at 1-1, when MATT CLOWES scored his forst goal of the afternoon. 

After 50 minutes, WES O ROURKE captain of Kirton put his side back in front, but it didnt last long as on 55minutes, a cross from left was met by the diving header of LEE JOHNSON to make it 2-2.

Both sides were then pressing forward leaving gaps at the back and chances flowed until the 66th minute, when MATT CLOWES put his side in front for the first time in the game, but had injured himself in the meantime and had to be replaced.

After 72 minutes, record scorer for The Brickies whipped in and got a equaliser to square things up at 3-3.

A point for both sides in a entertaining game that none deserved to lose.

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK

BOATMEN GIVE STUDENTS A LESSON

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

AFC DUNKIRK 5 NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY FC 1

Firstly I must thank Notts FA official Dave Plowright for the kind offer of a lift so I could attend this midweek game. He would not accept any petrol money I have chucked £5 in to the charity blog total. The Notts FA with the Notts Senior League are filming so many matches throughout the season and using them as training videos for referees throughout the Country and this was one of the games chosen.

On arrival at the ground, I was greeted by the Dunkirk committee and soon got a cuppa and the teamsheet, but then had to chase the Students team at the last minute.

Dunkirk were soon in their stride and were soon ahead on 12 minutes when GORAN SEYMOUR hot a low free kick in to the corner of the net from 30 yards. It soon became 2-0 with young TIM BERRIDGE getting his first of the night after 15 minutes. On 24 minutes, the boatmen's captain PIERCE BIRD got in on the act when he converted and made it 3-0, by now this looked like the scoreline could be anything as the students struggled with a lot of their team making their debuts, but they then began to settle down and came back in to the game with a couple of close chances.

The Second Half began like the first with AFC on the attack and the Uni keeper was kept on his toes a couple of times, a few subs took place for both sides and the tempo of the game slowed down and it was one of the subs that saw the Uni side pulled a goal back on 63 minutes through JOSHUA SMITH.

Dunkirk;s reaction was to go straight back on the attack and after 65 minutes regained their 3 goal margin when TIM BERRIDGE netted his second goal of the game.

Towards the end of the game, Dunkirk wrapped up the game through McKenna Parton to make 5-1.

TOWN REIGN AT THE TOP

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

BILBOROUGH TOWN FC 2 MAGDALA AMATEURS FC 0

Well after many years of travelling round different venues looking for a home, Bilborough Town have finally found a place in the heart of the Bilborough Community at Harvey Hadden Stadium.

I had this game on the cards fro a few weeks now and quite glad I did as the rain was torrential and I was able to sit in the massive stand to stay nice and dry, which is more than can be said about the players of both sides.

Just after arriving and getting a cuppa in a massive cup, Pete Watmouth arrived and we had a chat as Shawn ran round the pitch helping putting the corner flags out for the game. With team line ups got, it was in to the stand.

Magdala begin the game brightly and could well have been three goals in front after 15 minutes, if it wasnt for the Town keeper who was in fine form. On 20 minutes, came the closest we got to a goal in the half, when on a Bilborough attack, the ball was flicked away by the keeper and a shot was bungled off the line and dropped just in front of the goal before being cleared.

The weather got worse with thunder and heavy rain but the pitch looked perfect and both sides were giving their best, but the home side were just edging it on chances. After 71 minutes, Town were awarded a free kick just outside the area and RICKY STREET fired it home.

Magdala pushed forward and again the home keeper in the 82nd minute came to the homesters rescue by pushing the ball past his post.

In the final minute, came the best play of the day, with a slick move which ended with RICKY LAW smashing home from close range to make sure Bilborough went seven points clear at the summit of the table.

Sadly there are no photos from the game, as I seemed to have problems with my camera grrr