RAFFS HEADS THE TITLE TO ALL WHITES

Precision Notts Senior League

Premier Division

FC CAVALIERS 0 CLIFTON ALL WHITES 1

Att 90

What a day it turned out to be, not Groundhopping but Tram Hopping. Hazel dropped me off at Hucknall Tram Station and I caught the tram as far as Basford and changed to the clifton bound tram as I headed to Wilford Lane, as I was going to Unity FC v Aston United, as I arrived in front of the Roko Centre, I was greeted by one of the Assistant Referees Jevon Swinscoe who informed me the referee had just rung him at 2pm to say the game was off due to Unity FC unable to field a side, I then got the phone call from Unity FC;s secretary, so it was a matter of where should I go, I knew there were two games being played at the Gresham Centre, but I also knew that if Clifton All Whites won away at FC Cavaliers then they would clinch the Premier Division Championship, so there was something on that game.

Me and Jevon caught the tram round to the Forest Recreaton Ground and walked the ten minutes across the Forest to reach the ground, I was greeted by the Cavs Founder Karl White who kindly gave me and match day programme and also donated £5 towards the Blogs Charity, which is MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at City Hospital Nottingham, so the running total now stands at £491.40p. So a BIG thankyou to Karl.

The game kicked off and Clifton started the brighter, with some attacking moves, but Cavs were tight at the back and also breaking and shooting from distance, so at the half way stage it remained goalless.

The Second Half began and in Clifton;s first attack, they took the lead, when a shot hit the bar and bounced out for NIALL O RAFFERTY to head home(as seen in above photo).

Clifton continued to push for the second goal, but whilst it didnt come, FC Cavaliers kept breaking on the counter attack and with better luck could well have snatch a goal, but though playing well, it was to be Clifton All Whites day and the Championship will be presented next Saturday at their home match against Bilborough Town.

I felt all three officials had good games and I must thank Ref Ian Smith for kindly dropping me back at the tram stop, so I could get back to Hucknall..For those of you that read my blog and enjoy Real Ale, the Station Hotel next to Hucknall Tram Station is now a real ale pub, when I arrived it was full of Portsmouth fans who had been to the Mansfield Town v Portsmouth match.

Photos can be seen on this LINK

AIREY FINISH FOR SELSTON TO RETAIN TITLE

Central Midlands League

South Division

SELSTON FC 1 PINXTON FC 0

Programme £3

Att: 522

Today was Selston FC's Chairmans Day, a annual event that the Selston FC Chairman Mark Wilson set up after I took the NSL Groundhop there some years ago and the locals came out to support the event.

Over the years, the event has not only added kids games before the main match but plenty of family fun of the pitch with side stalls like bouncing castles, ice cream van and also a real ale room, which today offered 3 barrels of different ales and 3 different ciders, to which I was sampling Lemon and Lime Cider for most of the afternoon.

Todays Chairmans Day was a bit different to the past, with the Central Midlands South Division title on the line, Eastwood Community FC had finished their games and were 2 points ahead of Selston FC before kick off, so nothing more than a win would be enough for Selston FC.

Just before kick off, I was joined by a lovely groundhopping couple from the North East, namely Lee Stewart and his partner Katie Wallace, who we chattered away during the match.

Selston began the better but Pinxton were very stubborn and proving hard to break down, but after 27 minutes, the ball fell to DOMINIC AIREY who fired home to send the home crowd in to raptures.

Selston were having the better of the half and really should have gone two up but on a one on one, a forward fired wide.

Thee Second Half saw Selston hit the post and crossbar twice and they looked very nervous, as the clock was ticking down, but they more than did enough to hold on and clinch their third step 7 championship title in the past four seasons.

With just the one goal, the Blog Charity of MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at Nottingham City Hospital, the running total moves on to £486.15p

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

MILLERS ARE NOTTS FA JUNIOR CUP WINNERS

Notts FA Junior Cup Final

AWSWORTH VILLA RESERVES 3 MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 5

Played at Basford United FC

Firstly I must thank Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC Chairman Russell Booth for the kind lift to and from the Final and would like to thank him for the £5 donation towards the Blogs Charity in Maggies Cancer Centre at City Hospital in Nottingham, along with the £2 for the goals scored in this final, it takes the running total to £485.90p

A chat on arrival with the officials of this evenings game, the Referee Richard Mills and his three Assistants Lewis Quayle, Colin White and Aidan Jackson and also a catch old friends Dave Hunt.

The game kicked off and it was the Huithwaite based side that was first on the front foot and after just minutes were ahead, when LUKE GREAVES cut down the left hand side before shooting in to the near post.

Awsworth were back in the game and on level terms on 7 minutes, when from a corner from the right hand side found the head of GEORGE COOPER to head home.

Hosiery Mills werent stunned by this and carried on playing the flowing football Ive seen them play in previous rounds of this competition and all credit to them when they retook the lead on 25 minutes, when JAKE BATTY made it 2-1.

On 32 minutes, a terrible judgement by the Villa keeper allowed a shot from AARON TURNER squeeze in to the net with a little help from the keepers hand. It got worse for Awsworth as 2 minutes later, it looked like game over, when AARON TURNER curl a superb ball in to the far side of the net from 30 yards out to make it 4-1 to the Underdogs.

Awsworth pushed forward but the Millers missed a couple of good chances to increase their lead, but right on the stroke of half time, Villa reduced the arrears when SAM McELROY pulled a goal back.

The teams came out for the Second Half and it looked like this could be a game where the next goal would be vital and it was Awsworth who came straight out on the attack and on 47 minutes, SAM McELROY made it 4-3, so most of us thought this could well be the fightback, but how wrong we was proved, when on 49 minutes JAKE BATTY burst through and lobbed the outcoming keeper to make it 5-3 to the Millers.

Awsworth;s chances in the second hhalf went high and wide, whilst Hosiery Mills chances were denied several times by the Awsworth keeper.

A very good match, won by the better team on the night.

The Celebration dance by Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC can be seen on this LINK

TEAM DNF ARE THE CHAMPS

Precision Notts Senior League

Division Two

TEAM DNF 8 SELSTON RESERVES 1

Att: 37

Looking at this match some weeks ago when planning m matches, this was top v third and this was the case as the teams went in to the fixture. On arrival it was a matter of getting a cuppa and getting the team line ups. Team DNF's Chairman is ex Aston Villa, Hull City and Notts County man Dave Norton.

The game kicked off and it was very level with both sides probing each other, with few chances but the game being played at a fast pace.

After 14 minutes, TOBY SEWELL danced through the visitors defence before firing DNF in front. Selston refused to lay down and pushed forward and after 27 minutes could well have been on level terms but saw the ball bounce back off the crossbar, they say games have turning points and on 39 minutes, selstons attack from a corner broke down and within 20 seconds CAMERON GRAY had doubled the homesters lead.

The Second Half began with Selston forcing forward and again had a shot superbly saved and pushed on to the crossbar by Mason in the DNF goal. You then knew this wasnt to be Selstons day and the champers was on ice for Team DNF and on 58 minutess, RYAN HASTIE, the home team player/manager added a third.

On the hour, a sub was made by DNF and on came SheldonTuitt and he made a impact straight away on the game when on 64 minutes rounding the visiting keeper to make it 4-0.

On 69 minutes, it became 5-0 when SHELDON TUITT broke through and superbly chipped the keeper for the ball to land in the far corner of the net.

After 74 minutes, a free kick just outside the area was taken by CAMERON GRAY who fired home and made it 6-0, by now the Selston players began to look tired on the 3g surface.

On 78 minutes, SHELDON TUITT comleted his hat trick and the championship came to the pitchside by now, ready to be awarded at the end of the match.

Selston didnt give up and kept pressing forward and after 86 minutes, JAMIE SHACKLOCK cut in from the left wing and fired home from a acute angle to make it 7-1, but DNF was to have the last say, when a minute later SHELDON TUITT fired home to make the final score 8-1.

On the final whistle, I presented Team DNF with the Division Two Championship.

I just say that referee John Beckett had a superb game and he kindly donated £10 of his match fee to the Blogs Charity(so a BIG Thankyou to John) and with the 9 goals scored, we now have a running total for Maggies Cancer Centre at Nottingham City sitting at a amazing £478.90p

The Photos from the match and presentation can be seen on this LINK

REV'S FIVE PUSHES ROVERS UP THE TABLE

Notts Senior League

Division One

ASHLAND ROVERS FC 8 BILBOROUGH UNITED FC 2

A rare Wednesday evening out for me and as always as Dean Seymour sees me, he seems to think Im a bad omen for his Bilborough United side, I think I was for this match!

Ashland were quick out the blocks as I stood with Referees dad Russ Booth and Ravenshead FC player Paul Smith as in the 4th minute, PAUL REVUELTA fired home from close range.

Bilborough fought their way back in to the match with a short corner and a superb cross by Tomlinson which was met by the head of GRAHAM STUART to level up the scores after 27 minutes.

Ashland pushed forward and their next attack on 30 minutes saw MARK SUMMERS scramble the ball home to put the Rovers ahead.  On 34 minutes PAUL REVUELTA made it 3-1 when tucking home past the oncoming keeper.

The Second Half began with Bilborough pushing forward to try and reduce the arrears but on 55 minutes they were caught out at the back, when PAUL REVUELTA chipped home his hat trick after a poor mix up in the visitors defence to make it 4-1.

Bilborough carried on pushing forward and got their reward on 72 minutes when TOM O REGAN;s shot rebounded off the crossbar for him to nod home to make it 4-2.

On 76 minutes, the visitors heads seemed to go down a bit when mistakes were showing in their game and PAUL REVUELTA made it 5-2 when capitalising on a loose ball.

On 80 minutes, PAUL REVUELTA slotted away a penalty to which Nick Day in the United goal got a hand to, but the shot just beat him to make it 6-2 and give Paul his fifth goal of the evening. 

On 85 minutes, KLARKE GREENHAM fired home after finding himself in front of goal to increase the lead to the homesters to 7-2 and in the final minute, ADAM MELLORS shot from 30 yards hit the back of the net to complete the goal scoring for the night.

Ashland played very well, possibly the best ive ever seen them play, whilst I felt sorry for Bilborough Unkited as Ive seen them play alot better in the past and if not for the defensive mistakes, the score would have been a lot closer.

With the 10 goals scored, it now takes the total for MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE to £467.15p

NON LEAGUE NOTTS TV SHOW

NON LEAGUE NOTTS TV SHOW

This charity Blog over the years has been read by lots of people from around the world who are interested in Non League Football and the matches I have attended from as far a field as Nottinghamshire to Cornwall to Lancashire to name a few areas.

I have launched where me and my wife Hazel will be raising money for in next seasons Blog a few weeks ago and decided on MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at Nottingham City Hospital.

Whilst tweeting it on Twitter, Daniel from Non League Notts TVG Show contacted me and asked if I would like to be the first studio guest on his weekly show to which I gladly accepted.

So yesterday I caught the tram in to Nottingham and met up with Daniel and had a chat in general about Non League Football in the area and  also the Charity Blog.

The show is very good and my interview is set in two parts, so please watch the show on this LINK

WORKSOP STAY UNITED

Midlands Amateur Alliance

Division One

SHIREBROOK WANDERERS FC 0 UNITED WORKSOP FC 2

att: 25

Having to be home quite early due to a family meal later in the evening, I took a look round at the local fixtures and came across the Midlands Amateur Alliance match at Coronation Drive, in Model Village, Shirebrook, just a 15 minute trip for me.

Shirebrook Wanderers have been towards the top of the table all season and a win this afternoon would have taken them back to the summit, whilst United Worksop were in mid table before the game.

On arrival, I was met and greeted by both the Wanderers Chairman and Secretary and local cameraman Pete Waby came along to meet up and watch the match. A nice little tea bar was very welcoming as I was able to get a pre match cuppa and at half time a diet coke.

One thing noticeable was the visitors shirt numbers, most of them wearing shirts numbered in the 90;s, the side were mostly eastern european.

The game kicked off and United seemed to be first to the ball and were a very tall and physical not allowing Wanderers time to settle on the ball.

The homesters tried to press forward but the visitors defence was holding out or passing from the home side was breaking down at important moments.

On 24 minutes, a break down the left side, saw the winger cut in and tap the ball across for BARTOSZ ZUDIN to fire United ahead.

Shirebrook offered very little in return in the First Half apart from a long range shot that just tipped over the crossbar.

The Second Half began and it was all one way traffic with Wanderers on the attack and creating alot more but they found the visiting keeper in very good form. With the clock ticking down, you felt that if the home side was to draw level they may just go on to win this game, but that wasnt to be, as on 82 minutes, United doubled their lead with a very well taken goal by subsitute KAMIL JUZWIN.

With the two goals seen at this game making 50p going in to the Charity Pot as I sponsor 25p each goal I see scored, this brings the running total for MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at City Hospital to £464.65p. For more information about Maggies, please click this LINK

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

PENALTY DECIDER FOR VILLA

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Junior Cup: Semi Final

AWSWORTH VILLA RESERVES 2 WEST BRIDGFORD AFC 2

Awsworth Villa Reserves win 6-5 on penalties

Att: 58

For the third time in a week, I was at Calverton MW FC, last week I was watching Calverton MW and last Saturday Gedling Southbank, but this time it was for the second semi final of the League Cup Junior Cup.

The game began at a fairly slow pace, with both sides sizing each other, Awsworth a team that had been together for a while, whilst Bridgford in their first season and the eldest player aged only 20 years old.

Only a couple of chances in the first half, saw the 2 sides go in level at 0-0.

The second half I joined local legend Malc Storer on the halfway line to watch the game, which began to pick up pace and a few chances cut out by both sides. After 82 minutes, West Bridgford went ahead through JACK GRAY and it looked to be the winner, as the clock was ticking down.

Awsworth pushed everyone forward and after a scramble in the area in the final seconds of the game, GEORGE COOPER got his foot to a ball to steer it in to the net to take the game in to extra time.

The game went from end to end, wiith players pulling up with cramp, so you thought this match may be a matter of who was going to make a mistake, but after 103 minutes, GEORGE COOPER broke through again and fired Awsworth in front for the first time of the tie.

All credit to the young lads of Bridgford as they fought back and JACK GRAY was bought down and he dusted himself down and fred home the equaliser from the spot.

The game went to penalties, with Awsworth taking the first and it being 5-5 after both sides had taken 5 good pens each, so we was to sudden death. Awsworth score and thhen their keeper saved the next Bridgford pen to send them through to the Final at Sandiacre Town FC on Saturday 6th May where they face local rivals Kimberley MW Reserves.

On behalf of Hazel and my mum who did the Charity raffle for Maggies Cancer Centre, may they thank everyone for their kind donations, where the raffle raised £37.10 and also for the kind donation of £10 from Malc Storer and Kev Goodman, which takes the running total including the four goals to £464.15p

THE MINERS CRUISE TO FINAL

Precision Notts Senior Junior League Cup

Semi Final

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES 6 SELSTON RESERVES 0

@ Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC

Att: 141

Division One and holders of the NSL Junior Cup took on a youthful Division Two side Selston Reserves in what on paper looked like it could well be a close tie, with Kimberley laying in 2nd place, whilst Selston sat in 3rd place in their divisions.

Selston began the brighter and the left winger made a few advancing runs and slotted across a few crosses but no one was able to connect to threaten. The cup holders Kimberley began to come more in to the game and began to force openings and on 27 minutes, TOM SLADE smashed the ball home in to the top corner from 25 yards out to give them the lead.

Kimberley continued to press forward and on 40 minutes, a chip beat the keeper and the defender totally missed the ball towards the line, allowed LIAM HONEYMAN to tap home goal number two. Things got worse for Selston as on 45 minutes, a ball over the top left JOSH LEWIS to side foot home to give the Miners a 3-0 half time advantage.

After 65 minutes, a mis-timed tackle saw Selston captain Jack Melbourne receive his second yellow card, thus leaving them with only 10 players to face the final 25 minutes.

On 72 minutes, Kimberley forged in to a 4-0 lead when sub JEZ BAILEY headed home from close range. By now Kimberley were pressing forward and on 80 minutes, it looked as if the ball had gone out for a corner, but the referee consulted with the Assistant Referee and awarded them a penalty to which KYLE WRENN duly dispatched to make it 5-0. With tired legs of Selston and the man advantage of Kimberley, the Miners hit their sixth goal in the 88th minute, when JOSH LEWIS slotted home his second goal of the game.

So now Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves go on to the Final on Saturday 6th May  at Sandiacre Town FC, where they face the winners of Awsworth Villa Reserves or West Bridgford AFC who play on the other semi final at Calverton MW on Wednesday 5th April.

On behalf of Hazel and my mum who did the Charity raffle for Maggies Cancer Centre, may they thank everyone for their kind donations, where the raffle raised £90, which takes the running total including the six goals to £416.05

SOUTHBANK FIGHTBANK TWICE TO GAIN POINT

Notts Senior League

Division One

GEDLING SOUTHBANK 2 KIRTON BRICKWORKS 2

Was supposed to be going to Netherfield Albion but the game was called off, so plan B was to go to Gedling Southbank. On arrival, I got the team line ups and then was asked if I would take the team photo of Gedling Southbank for their kit sponsors.

With it being REFSPECT weekend throughout the country, a weekend of referees awareness and respect, no ref no game, I felt it would be a good idea to ask both clubs if they would do a guard of hour for the referee and applaud him through before he lead them on to the field of play, to which both clubs agreed in a show of respect.

The game kicked off and it was clear from the start that this was going to be a close match, as there was only a point between both sides in the league table, the play went from one end to the other end with both sides creating and missing chances, but on 11 minutes, Kirton broke the deadlock with a half volley from KEIRON CHAMBERLAIN to make it 1-0. During the match, I stood with Kirton;s Scott Ricketts dad. The first half was a very entertaining half.

The Second Half lived up to its billings as well, as after 47 minutes, Southbank were back on level terms when REISS COY hit home from 25 yards.

Both sides pressed forward and it looked like next goal would be the winner, as defences were holding very tight and on 51 minutes, the visitors regainned the lead through MITCHELL HALL.

The referee Steve Bingham was having a excellent game with just the odd speaking to the odd player but with really no bad tackles and both sets of players were getting on with the match and both playing some attractive football.

On 65 minutes, REISS COY slid home for another equaliser to make it 2-2. With both sides wanting the points, they both pressed forward and in the final minutes, the homesters bought on Ex Stevenage Borough and their Assistant Manager 53 year old Nick Edgar who won a few headers around the box but couldnt find the final touch.

A superb game which was a credit to Division One of the Notts Senior League.

Before the match, Gedling Southbanks JAMES NEEDHAM kindly donated £5 towards next seasons blog which is for MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE and in the club house after the match ANDY CLERKE, Gedling Southbanks manager kindly donated £25 on behalf of the club, so a BIG THANKYOU.

On Thursday evening at the Notts Senior League Meeting, the Notts Senior League Committee kindly donated £200 to te Charity Blog, so this now gives a running total of £324.55p.

More about MAGGIES can be found on this LINK

Photos from the Gedling Southbank v Kirton Brickworks match can be seen on this LINK