KAI RESCUES DRAMATIC POINT IN FINAL SECONDS

Precision Notts Senior League

UNDERWOOD VILLA FC 2 ASTON UNITED FC 2

A trip to Bracken Park was venture for the Bank Holiday Christmas Tuesday fixture, not too far from home so Hazel could drop me off whilst she went shopping with her daughter down from Preston.

The team sheets were got very early and soon the hoppers gathered round and took the photos and wrote them down.

A more than eventful match was to proceed and it was the visitors who were soon in front after 4 minutes, when JORDAN SANDERS hot a low range shot that seemed to strike the post, hit the home keeper before ending up in the net.

On 10 minutes, the hosts should have been level, when they were awarded a penalty, but Jamie Hudson;s poor kick was saved by Chris Camm.

Aston continued to threaten and with better finishing could have gone in at half time at least three goals to the good.

The Second Half began and it was the hosts who were playing better football, but ten they were reduced down to ten men after a remark made by Joshua Hunt to the referee. The referee quite rightly explained to the home bench his decision.

On the hour, Underwood made a triple substitution and almost immediately a home midfielder went down injured and there was a long delay, but the lad continued to play on.

Underwood plugged on and Aston played on the break as the game began to fizzle out, but on 80 minutes, ALEXANDER MANN got the deserved equaliser.

As we headed to the 90th minute, Bradley Scald, already on a yellow card, kicked the ball away at a free kick to see another yellow card and Aston were also down to 10 men.

With 91 minutes on my watch, Aston must have thought they had scored the winner when SHAY WIGGINS nodded in to the clubhouse net.

People were looking at their watches as the game went on and there were a few more chances, in the 12th minute of injury time came a last gasp equaliser by KAI WILSON to give the hosts a share of the points.

I asked the Referee after the game about the added time and he explained that both sides were aware of the delays due to the explaining of the sending offs and the injury and the ball being out of play for long periods, so all credit to the referee Ian Smith for playing the full amount of time

Photos from the match can be seen HERE

BERTRAM HEADS HOME THREE POINTS FOR UNITED

Evostick South Division

BASFORD UNITED FC 2 CARLTON TOWN FC 1

Att: 221

Not seen Basford United First team at their home ground since they were in the CMFL days, infact it was the Groundhop match v the defunct Notts Police FC, though I have visited te ground several times for NSL matches etc.

Hazel dropped me off at Hucknall Tram Station and I traveled 4 stops and got off at Highbury Vale, crossed the line and then strolled by the 2 outside pitches before getting to the turnsitiles. I was greeted by 2 lovely ladies on the gate, Mrs and Miss Munroe and then got me programme and raffle tickets from Santa near the club shop before bumping in to local hopper Michael Pridgeon. We had a chat and discussed how good the Basford programme was and how improved it has become over the season. Went to the tea hut and had a bit of a laugh with the young lady who looked after us on our last visit in the bar.

The game commenced and Basford were soon on the attack and on 7 minutes, the visiting defence dished out a Boxing Day present as they left the ball for BEN HUTCHINSON to run on to and fire Basford in to a early lead.

The rest of the half was quite uneventful with very few chances with both sides cancelling each others play.

The Second Half, I strolled round the dug out side of the ground and stood with Malc Storer and Kev Goodman and Big Mac and on 48 minutes Carlton Town were level when WILLIAM MELLORS-BLAIR fired home.

Basford pushed forward whilst Carlton played on the break and this looked like Carlton could just sneak a winner at this rate as the clock ticked on, but on 78 minutes, a ball floated in from the right was headed home by REECE BERTRAM to give the homesters the three points.

I stayed for a few pints after the match as £1.50 a pint of lager was too good a offer to refuse and as I was leaving the ground, I was asked my choice of Man of the Matchh, to which I gaave it to Ben Hutchinson as he chased the ball down all afternoon, he put in a few dangerous crosses and also opened the scoring.

SUMMERS HEADS IN THE WINTER

Precision Notts Senior League

Division One

ASHLAND ROVERS FC 2 SOUTHWELL CITY RESERVES 1

With Hazel meeting up with her daughter Sarah at Chatsworth House, I looked for a local match and this fitted the bill, just 2 buses away, but the second bus went round every housing estate I never knew existed. A quick breakfast in a little cob shop saw me bump in to Bill the Calverton MW FC joint Manager.

On arrival I was greeted by John Dawn the Chair and Secretary of Ashland Rovers FC and sat and drunk my cuppa and then had a chat with local referee Colin White,  whilst waiting for the team lines, Southwell City Secretary Gerard Law greeted me and wished me a merry christmas and bought me some mince pies.

The game kicked off and play flowed both ends of the pitch and how it was 0-0 at half time was a credit to both goalkeepers keeping their sides a clean sheet.

The Second Half kicked off and a back pass made its way to the home keeper who kicked the ball and it struck CALUM LAW who slotted the ball home after 46 minutes. On the hour, the game was level when a Southwell defender handled the ball to which ADAM MELLORS converted.

On 70 minutes, Ashland gained a corner which was swung in and the visiting keeper remained on the floor, after treatment he had to be rushed to the hospital, as his finger was the opposite way to all his others, I wish him a speedy recovery, five minutes earlier I had been chatting to the sub who I know is a keeper and I dont think he expected he was going to be called on.

This seemed to spur the visitors forward and at this stage their looked like there was only to be one side that was going to snatch a winner, how wrong was I to be, as after 88 minutes, Ashland Rovers were awarded a free kick on the right hand side and it was floated in and seemed to hit 3 players at least before dropping in to the net, half the team were patting AdamMellors and the other half MARK SUMMERS for the header, there is still doubt who got the last touch but Summers has claimed it and it turned out to be the winner in what was a very entertaining game.

Thought Ref Colin White had a good game, as there could well have been some flashpoints but he Stepped in and defused them straight away and spoke to the players on why decisions were being made, his experiance showed, even though some players may well disagree.

At the pub after the game, Ashland Rovers FC kindly donated £20 to the Charitys Blog which Id like to thank them for.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

VILLA DROP VITAL HOME POINTS

Precision Notts Senior League

Premier Division

AWSWORTH VILLA FC 1 AFC DUNKIRK 1

Arrived early in Awsworth as Shawn was doing tramplining with the scouts and Hazel needed to get back at 1.30pm to collect him, so a nice cuppa and a chat with both clubs officials and teams got well before kick off.

I like going to Awsworth as it is a lovely view up on top of the bank to seat and over look the pitch and was soon joined by Awsworths oldest fan Mal who is 80 today.

The game kicked off and the young visitors had quite a few attacks whilst Villa were struggling to put any passes together, infact the young boatmen gave Villa a scare after 28 minutes, where their winger cut in from the left side and curled the ball on to the inside of the post.

After 34 minutes, a back pass was made and the ref gave the decision of a free kick inside the 6 yard box, the visiting keeper gave the ball to the attacker, who passed it sideways and LUKE HODGMAN tapped in to give Villa a 1-0 lead.

The Second Half was a lot more lively with Villa pressing for a second goal but being kept out by the young visiting keeper on at least 5 occasions. Dunkirk were having chances themselves and playing some very good football and on 70 minutes they were level, when a corner from rigt hand side was headed home by CHRIS BONNINGTON.

Just before the end of the game, Villa centre back Lee Stevenson saw red after receiving his second yellow card of the game.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

NOTTS FA COUNTY CUP DRAWS

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FA COUNTY CUP DRAWS

SENIOR CUP

Quarter Finals

Carlton Town FC v Sherwood Colliery FC

Basford United FC v Kimberley Miners Welfare FC

Rainworth Miners Welfare FC v Real United FC

West Bridgford FC v Teversal FC

INTERMEDIATE CUP

Quarter Finals

AFC Dunkirk v Newark Flowserve FC

Hucknall Town Reserves v Attenborough FC

Nottingham Trent University/Gedling Southbank FC v Basford United Community FC

Sherwood Colliery Reserves v Southwell City FC

JUNIOR CUP

Quarter Finals

MAFC v Bilborough United FC

Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC v Beeston Old Boys Association FC

Awsworth Villa Reserves v Nottinghamshire FC

Southwell City Reserves v Rainworth Archers FC

MINOR CUP

Semi Finals

Aslockton Cranmers FC v Wollaton IV XI

Gedling Southbank Colts v AC Wollaton

CITY HEAD TO QUARTERS

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FA JUNIOR CUP

Third Round

PREMIUM FC 1 SOUTHWELL CITY RESERVES 4

On County Cup weekend I always look for one of the Notts Senior League clubs playing away from home at a ground Ive never visited and though I was with Dunkirk FC in the early 1990's, I never ventured past the Pelican Ground, ti where I found out at this Grove Farm venue, there is a new changing room area and lots of pitches for Football and Rugby.

The pitch Premium FC use is quite a way from the changing rooms but is fully railed and has dug outs and a lovely flat and well looked after pitch.

After getting both line up;s it was to pitchside, where a minutes silence took place in respect of those who had lost their lives in the plane crash in Columbia.

The game kicked off and Southwell were soon in their stride and after just 94 seconds, CALUM LAW got the ball around the halfway line on the right wing and attempted to float the ball over for a cross, but the ball kept going and dropped in to the net to everyones surprise.

This seemed to spur City on and were denied three times by the Premium goalpost from going further in front, whilst the homesters played on the break, on 18 minutes, the warning signs were there for all to see, when David Oakley saw his shot bounce off the Southwell post. The next Premium attack on 21 minutes, saw the breakthrough, when a mistake by the visiting centre halves left the ball and DAVID OAKLEY made no mistake this time firing home the equaliser.

Premium had their best spell of the game now and Southwell were struggling with one of their centre backs and waiting for the sub to arrive, as soon as he did, he was put on and the visitors re-organised, but on 32 minutes, whilst Premium were on the attack, it broke down and a long ball saw City on the break and a forward was bought down and they were awarded a penalty to which LIAM WILKINSON stepped up and duly dispatched to restore the visitors lead.

Half time came and both camps gave out their instructions that the next goal would be vital to this tie and it certainly was, as Premium had replaced their first half stand in keeper and the replacement was stopping everything thrown at him until a close range effort by CALUM LAW on 69 minutes to make it 3-1.

Both sides still wanted to play football and with time running down on 85 minutes, a long ball found LIAM WILKINSON who dribbled past the oncoming keeper and slotted the ball in to the net past two defenders on the line to make it 4-1.

Overall view of the game: City deserved their win and to progress in to the Quarter Finals, both sides played the game the right way with no arguing, cross words or nasty challenges and both clubs were a credit to their leagues. The ref missed a couple of things but he had a very good game overall.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK