THE VILLAGERS REAL WIN

Precision Notts Senior League

Premier Division

RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 3 REAL UNITED FC 1

Undecided where to go on Saturday, I finally made up my mind on Saturday Morning and thought I would head to Elms Park, the home of defending League Champions Ruddington Village FC who were hosting inform Real United FC.

On arrival, we was greeted and soon made that special cuppa and had a chat with the locals as well as the management team from the opposition.

I took up my position not far from the dugouts and it wwas the Villagers who were on the attack straight away forcing a corner that was just headed over, then came a long chip that the Real keeper did well to just tip over the bar. From the resulting corner on thed right side after 4 minutes, ADAM McMULLEN rose to head the homesters in to a early lead.

Ruddington continued to press and a last ditch tackle on the line by the Real centre back saved them from going further behind. The visitors then began to carve out chances themselves but some of their shooting was a bit wayward. After 42 minutes though, the bscores were level, when a cross from the left wing saw JOURDAN BLA IR heead home at the far post.

The Second Half had that to and far action to it, with both sides having good chances and both keepers being in fine form, but it was Ruddington who re took the lead on 80 minutes, when TRISTAN RHODES beat the opposition keeper at the near post with a stunning shot.

As Real pushed forward it left gaps at the back and Ruddington on the counter attack forced another corner, this one on the left hand side, to which MICHAEL LESLIE headed home like a bullet.

A very good match played in the right spirit of the game and a credit to both sides.

Photos from the match can be seen HERE

TOWN SNATCH LAST GASP POINT

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

BINGHAM TOWN FC 3 MAGDALA AMATEURS FC 3

Programme: 50p

Att: 87

When ever I go to Butt Field, the home of Bingham Town FC, I always seem to see goals, apart from when I took the Groundhop there of course and today there were plenty including a last gasp effort from the homesters to claw back a point after being 3-1 down.

The game began slowly as I stood with Daron Ward from the now defunct Burton Joyce FC and the first 15 minutes looked like a 0-0 all over it, but on 19 minutes, GARETH BENTLEY fired home through a crowded area to give the visitors the lead. The remainer of the half was fairly level with not many chances for either side.

The Second Half was a lot more lively with Magdala stepping up their game and it came as no surprise on 51 minutes when GARETH BENTLEY doubled his sides advantage.

Bingham began to put a few chances together and were rewarded after 65 minutes when MICHAEL JEPPS swooped and blasted home to reduce the score.

On 71 minutes, on the left wing, a bingham player was pushed off the ball with both hands, with the referees view obstructed, he waved play on and from the move, Magdala gained a corner, from the resulting kick, it was headed from the back post and GARETH BENTLEY nodded home his hat trick.

On 80 minutes, there were a few handbags after a hard challenge, as of normal, a bunch of players from each side ran to the situation shouting, as this stage, a young lady entered the pitch and fell flat on her face and her boyfriend told her to get off the pitch.

This incident seemed to spur Bingham in to life for the first time in the game and began to pour players forward and on 84 minutes, MICHAEL JEPPS got his second goal of the game.

With time running out, a ball played in to the area, ping poned around and ended up in the net, as the Bingham players celebrated, the ref took his time to indicate the goal as he looked over to his assistant, there was confusion of who got the last touch but TOM SPENCER has claimed it, even though most in the crowd of 87 thought it was Harry Simpson.

To view the photos of the match, pls click HERE

YOUNG BOATMEN SO PROUD

FA YOUTH CUP

Second Record

MANSFIELD TOWN YOUTH 5 DUNKIRK FC YOUTH 2

Att: 506

Admission £3

Programme £1

On the way to the Second Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup, Dunkirk the lowest ranked team left in the competition had seen off teams from a higher level, infact in the First Round beating Coventry City to be rewarded with a trip to the One Call Stadium(Field Mill), the home of Mansfield Town FC.

It was good to see a good turn out of supporters from the riverside club, including many of the faces of players from the 1990;s period and also to see their very strong committee on hand at the game.

Many of the players that play for Dunkirk Youth team are from AFC Dunkirk who ply their trade in the Notts Senior League and it was a credit to go along and watch this tie with League Chairman Ian Kirk.

The game kicked off and it was Dunkirk who had the early opportunities as they were on the front foot forcing the home keeper in to a couple of saves, but after 13 minutes and with Mansfield's first real threat ALISTAIR SMITH fired them in to the lead.

On 16 minutes, it was 2-0 to the young Stags when ZAYN HAKEEM cut in from the left and fired home. The Stags were now on fire and on 19 minutes, ALISTAIR SMITH's lob found the back of the net to make it 3-0.

Dunkirk then showed their fighting spirit and all was not lost when on 22 minutes, Harrison;s cross from the right wing was met by the head of JOEL HOWES to reduce the arrears, but not much time for celebrating as ZAYN HAKEEM scored his second and his clubs fourth on 24 minutes to make it 4-1. 

Again Dunkirk pressed forward and again on 32 minutes, JACK WARNER netted from 30 yards out. The Boatman continued to press for a third goal, but it didnt arrive.

The Second Half both sides were a lot more solid in defence, with both sides creating chances to add to thhe scoring, including Dunkirk hitting the post, but after 81 minutes ZAKN HAKEEM secured his hat trick to fire the youngs Stags in to Round Three where they travel down to the capital to face Fulham FC.

A outstanding achievement to Dunkirk FC to get this far in this competition and some very good young players on show for both sides.good 

DNF WIN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

Notts Senior League

Division Two

ASLOCKTON CRANMERS FC 0 TEAM DNF 1

Att: 20

On a very bleak day, I headed to Bingham Leisure Centre, as Aslockton have problems with no water at the Orston Ground and are due to play at the Leisure Centre next weekend as well.

Whilst I was watching the footie, Hazel was able to treat Shawn to swimming for a treat. I got to the reception and met by both sets of players and soon got the team line ups and took a stroll out to the pitch with the Aslockton Manager, Im glad he showed me where it was as it was a good walkmg distance from the changing rooms.

Back into the Centre where I popped up to the Cafe and grabbed a cuppa and then met Gordon Grimes from Leicester. At 1.45pm I headed back towards the pitch and met local hopper Michael Pridgeon and was soon joined by Rob Campion who was taking photos of the game.

After the minutes silence, the game kicked off and it was the visitors who were cut out the early chances with the Lockton keeper in fine form and grabbing man the match with a series of saves, but after 12 minutes, he could not do anything when SHELDON TUITT fired home.

One of the DNF players dad Malc Brown kindly donated £2 to the Charity Blog, then Gordon donated £5 so a BIG thankyou to you both.

The game continued and it was the visitors who looked more likely to score with the hosts having the odd chance. After the break, the Cranmers did start to carve out the odd chance but DNF looked the better of the two sides, though you could understand why both teams had gone in to the game unbeaten.

During injury time, the host forced a couple of corners but there was to be no last gasp equaliser for them.

Just to add that I felt that referee Shaun Garner had a very good game

A POINT A PIECE AT THE AVENUE

Precision Notts Senior League

Division Two

BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY RESERVES FC 2 GREYHOUNDERS FC 2

Who really cares about watching England on the tele on a Friday evening, not me, Id rather be out watching a proper game of football and tonight took me down the motorway a couple of junctions to Greenwich Avenue, the home of Basford United FC. Whilst their main team play in the Evo Stick League, they have 2 new teams in the Notts Senior League, Basford United Community and their Reserves, so tonight it was their reserves on show against Greyhounders FC who are based near Grantham in the little village of Aslockton.

Onarrival, I was greeted by both managers and soon got the team line up;s and met the friendly Sam in the clubhouse who put the tele on and Hazel and Shawn sat in there, I was soon joined by club Secretary Tracie Witton and trying to hide was good friend Malc Storer, as I ventured out for the minutes silence, I joined Macca Senior and Malc for a chat and the first half of the game was played at a good rate with some good footie being played and on 22 minutes CHRIS STRIPLING fired the visitors ahead..That lead didnt last for long as Basford got a free kick some 30 yards out on 24 minutes and BUBBA CEESAY blasted home.

As I was venturing towards my half time cuppa, I was greeted to the ground byhome club Chairman Chris Munroe, who kindly donated £20 towards the Charity Blogs total, so a BIG thankyou to Chris, always a pleasure visiting your club.

The Second Half began with the visitors on the attack and after a break, they hot the bar, but then the half went through a bit of a lull stage, with players trying their best but of little chances going either way, but a break down the  left wing saw BUBBA CEESAY slot the ball home to give Community the lead.

On 77 minutes, the ball zipped around the Basford penalty area and landed to CHRIS STRIPLING to strike home the equaliser, much to the dismay of the home players but Im not quite sure what they were appealing for and the goal stood.

O/n reflection a point a piece was possibly the correct result for both sides.

NOTTS FA COUNTY CUP DRAWS

NOTTS FA SENIOR CUP

3rd Round

Teversal FC v Retford FC

Kimberley MW FC v Awsworth Villa FC

Radford FC v Basford United FC

Real United FC v Arnold Town FC

West Bridgford FC v AFC Mansfield

Sherwood Colliery FC v Selston FC

Clipstone FC v Rainworth MW FC

Eastwood Community FC v Carlton Town FC

NOTTS FA INTERMEDIATE CUP

3rd Round

Basford Community FC v Calverton MW FC

Attenborough FC v Linby CW Reserves

Nottingham Trent University FC v Bilborough Town FC

Ruddington Village Reserves v Southwell City FC

Magdala Amateurs FC v AFC Dunkirk

Newark Flowserve FC v Eastwood Community Reserves

Hucknall Town Reserves v Underwood Villa FC

Bestwood MW/FC Cavaliers v Sherwood Colliery Reserves

NOTTS FA JUNIOR CUP

3rd Round

Arnold Samba FC v Rainworth Archers FC

Nottinghamshire FC v Sneinton Town FC

Premium FC v Southwell City Reserves

Underwood Villa Reserves v Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC

MAFC v Selston Reserves

Bilborough United v Woodborough Park Rangers FC

Gedling Southbank A v Awsworth Villa Reserves

Beeston Old Boys v Ravenshead FC

NOTTS FA MINOR CUP 

3rd Round

Gedling Southbank Colts v Asha FC

Netherfield FC v AFC Wollaton

Aslockton Cranmers FC v Beeston Old Boys Reserves

Wollaton IV v Robin Hood Colts

YOUNG MILLERS PROGRESS TO NEXT ROUND

Notts FA Junior Cup

Second Round

THE CORNER PIN FC 2 MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 4

Firstly Id like to thank Gary Hoe of the Notts Amateur Alliance for alerting me that the venue for this cup tie had been altered from Westwood to Jacksdale MW.

Corner Pin are a new club this season having formed from some of the ex players from Netherfield Albion thirds and some local players are around the area, whilst Mansfiueld Hosiery Mills are in their first season in the Notts Senior League Division Two with the majority of the players under 18 and coming from their now defunct under 18;s team.

A very lively start to the game as the Millers took the lead after just 3 minutes after a long throw from the left wing found the head of KAMEN BROWN. Within a minute, it could well have been 2-0 when from a similar build up Jamie Bennett headed narrowly wide. The Corner Pin then settled in to the game and showed why they are league leaders of  Division One, when they pressed forward and on 7 minutes, CHRIS RILEY unleashed a 30 yard volley to even things up. This encouraged Corner Pin to up their game and press the Miller back in their half, so it came as no surprise on 34 minutes AARON RILEY put the pinners in front from close range. s my hands were freezing and thinking of than nice warm cuppa on 44 minutes, the visitors broke on the left and LUKE GREAVES evened things up at 2-2.

The Second Half and the Millers seemed to be encouraged by that late first half goal and stepped up their game and some nice moves were denied by the home keeper who replaced a keeper at half time, but on the hour, the referee adjudged that a home defender had tripped a Mills player and KAREN BROWN stepped up and dispatched the kick to give them a 3-2 lead, the home players werent happy about the decision, but in the first half a home defender did punch the ball off the line and the referee wasnt in the position to see it and even the home players laughed about it, so sometimes its swings and roundabouts.

Hosiery Mills were now on top of this tie as sadly some of the Corner Pin players seemed to lose concentration on the game and their heads went down a little and Im sure if they had kept playing their football they are capable of they could have set up a great finish, but a couple of players seemed more intent of chasing the referee around to argue with him.

In the 70th minute, the game was all done and dusted as the ball came out to the right and LUKE GREAVES cut in and fired home.

A good tie with no really bad challenges apart from the odd strong challenge, on a poor maintained pitch, but both sides did try and play football.

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK