ALLENTON CRUISE INTO THE SEMI'S

Midlands Regional Alliance

League Cup

Quarter Final

BURTON TOWN FC 1 ALLENTON UNITED FC 4

Admission Free

Att: 24

With having to travel to my mums as it was her 80th birthday during the week, the family had put together a surprise birthday party for her, so I was looking for a match somewhere between Mansfield and Lichfield, but found the majority of clubs around the Lichfield area to be away from home. After scouring the internet, I found Burton Town v Allenton United with a 1pm kick off which suited the bill, but on Friday evening and Saturday Morning, I couldnt get a answer from the home club secretary, so altered my plan and before I left home decided on Cannock United FC with a 2pm kick off. As we drove down the A38 through Derby, I said to Hazel, we could find Burton Town;s ground and if its off then we have a hour spare to get to the back up match at Cannock if needed. As we were just approaching Burton Albion;s ground, my mobile rang and it was Kumar, the Secretary of Burton Town who apologised to me and kindly guided us to the ground.

On arrival, I was greeted by the clubs Assistant Secretary and the Manager of Burton Town, then as the visitors were heading back to the changing rooms, a voice said, bloody hell Rob, what you doing here..it was old friend and Allenton United Captain Danny Briscoe, who Ive not seen since his South Normanton Athletic FC days many years ago.

I strolled to the far side of the pitch and had a chat with a group of lads who were from Willington FC, who didnt have a match.

Burton Town are in Division Two of the MRA and are sitting top at the moment, whilst visitors Allenton United sit second in the top Division, so a good close game was on the cards, so I thought..famous last words!

Allenton kicked off and was straight on the attack, they looked a taller side and seemed to be able to fairly push Burton off the ball quite easily to begin with, so it came as no surprise that after only 4 minutes, DANNY BRISCOE hammered home the opening goal of the tie. 

Burton seemed a bit shell shocked and though they pumped balls forward, Allenton seemed to be first to the ball or pickin up the second ball and straight back on the attack. After 25 minutes, Allenton were awarded a penalty, but they couldnt increase their lead, as the ball was fired well over the crossbar.

However they did double their lead on 31 minutes, when the Allenton NUMBER 7 fired a low free kick through the wall from 25 yards out to make it 0-2.

The Second Half kicked off and the half time talk must have been stern as the homesters came out firing and after 47 minutes, got a penalty of their own, to which their NUMBER 5 dispatched to halve the arrears. The home Chairman came and had a chat with me and we agreed the next goal was vital either way for this tie.

We didnt have to wait that long for that next goal as in the 54th minutes, the visiting NUMBER 9 lobbed the home keeper to restore their two goal advantage. Within 3 minutes, the tie was over, when a cross seemed to hit the head of the visiting NUMBER 6 and end up in the net to make it 1-4.

Allenton seemed to then take their foot off the gaas and in this time, it allowed the home side to show some of the football that has taken them to the top of their division, but no more goals came in the game.

Must mention the young referee who I felt had a very good match

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

FLOWSERVE FIRE THROUGH TO THE SEMIS

Wednesday 22nd February 2017

Notts Senior League Cup

Quarter Final

RAVENSHEAD FC 0 NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC 2

Admission Free

Programme £1

Att: 119

If I was to write a report on this match, then I would be guessing, as I hardly saw any of the game to be fair, as I produced the First EVER Ravenshead FC programme and with pre orders and the large crowd turning up, I stood at a table at the enterance to the pitch selling them and chatting away most of the game to those that had travelled far and near.

The First half saw Ravenshead have a few chances but soon after the break it was mainly Flowserve who applied the pressure and scored straight away, this seemed to knock the home clubs confidence in the pouring rain that had joined us for the second half. Flowserve quickly double their advantage and sealed the tie to face the winners of Nottingham Trent University or FC Cavaliers in the semi finals.

Hoppers kindly donated £10 and Ravenshead FC donated £10 to the Blogs Charity where the running total has now gone up to £651.50p, so a big thank you to all who attended and also those that made donations.

AFC SHOCK TO GO THROUGH TO SEMI;S

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Junior Cup

Quarter Final

WEST BRIDGFORD AFC 3 WOLLATON RESERVES 1

Admission Free

Att: 12

Before the tie, hosts and second division newcomers were laying 7th in their division, whilst their visitors in a division above were in fifth place, so Wollaton Reserves were the favourites to progress in the tie.

Wollaton began the game on the front foot and could well have been a goal to the good, when Russell found himself one on one with the home keeper, only to have his shot blocked. The home club then fought and the game was very even with chances at both ends until the 23rd minute, when LIAM PORTER fired AFC in front after referee Steve Cook played a very good advantage.

Wollaton came back in to action but found the home keeper in good form and the home back four solid, until after 39 minutes JASON RUSSELL found the back of thhe net to level things up.

The Second Half began and it was AFC who looked a pace quicker, winning the second ball and getting to the vital challanges. On 52 minutes, AFC broke down the left side and the ball was cut back for FRANK CORBETT to stroke home.

Wollaton then had their best spell of the game and with them on the attack and the home club playing on the counter, it made a very exciting game that could have gone either way, but on 77 minutes, a mix up in the away defence saw JOSS CARTER nip in between two defenders and slip the ball home.

So West Bridgford AFC now go on to face Awsworth Villa Reserves of Division One in the Semi Final at a neutral venue to be annouced soon.

Must also give credit to Referee Steve Cook who had a superb game

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

COLLIERY POWER TOWARDS TOP

Central Midlands South Division

SHERWOOD COLLIERY FC 3 PINXTON FC 0

Admission £3

Programme £1

Att: 138

Sherwood maintained their push for promotion with a 3-0 victory over Pinxton FC in front of a healthy crowd with many groundhoppers who had travelled from London To Manchester, Leeds to Milton Keynes.

The game kicked off and Sherwood were straight on top creating chances and after 27 minutes they took the lead through LIAM THEAKSTONE. On the half hour, ref Stu Richardson pulled up and looked to be in pain but after treatment was able to carry on with the match.

On 36 minutes, a shot sprung round the Pinxton penalty area and landed at the feet of EWAN ROBSON who slotted home to make it 2-0.

The Second Half again saw Sherwood on the attack and they missed several golden opportunities to increase their advantage until 80 minutes when JAMIE YORK made it 3-0.

Pinxton then had the best part of the game in the final ten minutes but created very little in front of goal apart from a couple of free kicks that were blocked or went wide.

Must say all three of the officials, Ref Stuart Richardson and his assistants Lee Clarke and Dan Seward all had a good match.

Finally I would like to give a BIG thankyou to groundhopper CHRIS GARNHAM for is kind £20 donation towards the blogs charity which now has a running total of £630.25p

BERRIDGES DUO SECURE POINTS FOR BOATMEN

Notts Senior League

Premier Division

FC CAVALIERS 0 AFC DUNKIRK 2

Programme £1

Att:80

My first choice match between Aston United v Nottingham Trent University fell wayside due to the poor weather, so as a backup, I played the safe card and went to FC Cavaliers on the 3g pitch at the famous Goose Fair site in the centre of Nottingham. A easy place to get to, as Hazel dropped me off at Hucknall tram station and within 20 minutes, I was walking across the Recreation to the pitch. I was met by the FC Cavs Manager Martin and soon got myself a cuppa out of a machine, which was wet but tasted awful to be honest!

Got both line ups and there were a few hoppers in attendance ready for the game. The match kicked off and it was Dunkirk who were pressing forward from the start and it came as no surprise when TIM BERRIDGE opened the scoring after only 5 minutes. Dunkirk kept pressing forward with the home side not really offering too much toards the visitors net.

Dunkirk began the Second Half as they started the first and on 46 minutes TIM BERRIDGE doubled his and his clubs tally to 2-0. The game really failed to light up in footballing terms, not many chances or those that came, went well over the bar or well wide.

On 70 minutes, the visitors were reduced to 9 men as they had 2 players receiving their second yellow cards, but FC Cavs ddint really press them too much.

I felt all three officials had a decent game.

Photos from the match can bee seen on this LINK

DUFFY'S DOUBLE SECURES POINTS

FRIDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2017

Notts Senior League Premier Division

BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY 2 BINGHAM TOWN 0

Att: 68

Basford United Community continued their fine home form with a 2-0 victory over Bingham Town through 2 goals, 1 in each half by JACK DUFFY.

The First Half saw Basford mainly on the attack but for the first 30 minutes, the Bingham defence played the offside trap well, so there was little to show in the game.

The Second Half saw Bingham battle more and the hme keeper was called in to action a couple of times, but the home club were worthy of all 3 points.

All three officials had a very game match, after the match Lewis Quayle kindly donated £5 to the Charity Blog, so a big thank you to Lewis.

Basford United Community;s next match is this coming Friday 17th February, where they face a home semi final Notts Intermediate Cup tie v Hucknall Town Reserves

16 YEAR OLD HALLAM HEADS ASLOCKTON TO THE FINAL

Nottinghamshire FA Minor County Cup

Semi Final

ASLOCKTON CRANMERS FC 4 WOLLATON IV FC 2

After Extra Time

Programme £1.50

Att: 45

A proper blood thirsty Semi Final tie in which both teams didnt hold back and wanted that place in the Final. Aslockton Cranmers were favourites to win the tie and did their First and last ever programme, as they are altering their name for next season.

There was a healthy crowd of 45 attending the match including hoppers Les from Halifax who kindly donated £5 to the Charity Blog and Dave and Terry from down South, along with Pete from Mansfield, plus a large group of Wollaton Wags who cheered their side all through the game.

Aslockton are having a brand new pavillion built and although at present it is in a shell shape with roof on, it was the ideal place for them to serve refreshments from and the cakes looked lovely but I stuck to my diet and had a sausage roll.

The game kicked off and a few tasty challenges started to go in from both sides, but Referee Lee Clarke tried to play the advantage as much as he could to keep the game flowing. After 6 minutes, it was the homesters who took a early lead when a corner from the right hand sode was headed home by 16 year old PIERCE HALLAM. 

Aslockton could well have doubled their lead on 20 minutes, when a long range shot hit the post and rolled along the goal line for Slater to gather. This missed chance seemed to spur Wollaton on and on 25 minutes, a free kick from the right side was met by the head of their captain SIMON CASSIDY to head in the equaliser.

Half time came and the Second Half saw Aslockton on the attack and again in the 70th minute, another shot hit the post and rolled along the line, very similar to the one in the first half.

The game was starting to get a bit scrappy and the referee had to deal out some yellow cards, as some players were beginning to lose their discipline.

Wollaton could say they were unlucky in the final minutes of normal time, when Morgan Young was clear through and shot straight at Joe Fryer to save, but on the next attack, they had claims for a penalty turned down as the ball looked to strike the Aslockton;s defenders arm in the area.

In to Extra Time the tie went and within 3 minutes, Aslockton took the lead through a beautiful worked goal, when the ball was laid back out the penalty area for MAX SHENTON to turn and volley home. The final piece of play of extra time first half saw Aslockton increase their lead to 3-1 when a corner from the left side was headed back across the box for PIERCE HALLAM to head in.

In the First minute of Second Half of Extra Time, Aslockton must have thought they had put this game to bed as DOM WILLIAMS made it 4-1, but in the next minute Wollaton reduced the arrears through MARCUS YOUNG to 4-2.

Again as Wollaton chased the game, their discipline erupted with a late tackle and they were down to 10 men, but the tie was far from over as after 115 minutes, they were awarded a penalty and Aslockton were reduced to the same number of players. Joe Fryer was equal to the spot kick to keep his sides two goal advantage. Before the end of the game, another Wollaton player was sent off, so they finished the game with nine men.

The 3 officials had a very difficult game but under the circumstances did very well, even though some of the players may disagree.

After the match, Aslockton Cranmers FC kindly donated £10 to the Charity Blog, which now takes the running total to over £600.

Aslockton Cranmers FC will have to wait to see who they face in the Final, as the oter Semi Final was called off, as there had been a police car chase and made the pitch at Carlton Hill unplayable.

Photos from the Tie can be seen on this LINK