COTGRAVE POTT THE NSL LEAGUE CUP

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup Final

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY 2 COTGRAVE FC 3

@ Dunkirk FC

Att: 272

A very exciting Cup Final ended with Cotgrave FC lifting the Notts Senior League Cup Trophy. The game played in bright sunshine in front of a crowd of 272 at the Ron Steel Sports Ground, the home of Dunkirk FC.

Nottingham Trent University had the first chance after only 14 seconds, when the Cotgrave keeper was called in to early action. After 5 minutes, Cotgrave took the lead, when a cross was whipped in and Uni defender CONNOR BARTLE turned the ball past Jake Cox in the Uni net.

Cotgrave continued to press forward, but finding Cox in great form. On the half hour, the Uni side began to come more in to the game, with a free kick that just dipped over the bar.

After 42 minutes, the men in pink, gained their first corner of the game, to which the Cotgrave backmen tried to clear, just outside the penalty area, where DAN BUSCH hit a 35 yard volley to pull his side level.

On 53 minutes, Cotgrave retook the lead, when ADAM GRAY chipped Cox from just outside the penalty area.

The Uni pushed forward and in the 64th minute, they were awarded a penalty after a trip, up stepped sub AKIM AKIMBINU to smash the ball down the centre of the net to make it 2-2.

In the 76th minute, NTU went close to taking the lead for the first time in the tie, when a Jon Coates shot went close. 

With the clock ticking down and looking likely that the game may go in to extra time as the 2 well matched sides both went in search of a winner, on 78 minutes, Cotgrave;s top striker broke away from his defender and run towards Cox and though Cox got a hand to LEE POTTS effort, it was too good a chance for him to miss the follow up to take the League Cup home to Cotgrave FC.

League Guest of honour Andy Rolfe named Cotgrave FC;s JOE HEGGERTY as man of the match but presenting the 4 officials who had a superb game and both sides their medals, before handing the Cup to Cotgrave captain LEE POTTS

Me and Hazel would like to thank all that supported the Charity Raffle at the Final and she raised a whooping £151, after the match the Referee James Tewson and 4th Official Lewis Quayle both donated £5 each to take the running total for MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at Nottingham City Hospital to a amazing £847.90p.

All the photos taken from the Final, you will find on this LINK

Well that is the 2016-17 season over apart from Wembley for Non League Day but pre season starts again very soon and if your clubs have any pre season friendlies in the Midlands area, please let me know and I will gladly advertise them on my Charity Blog.

The NEW CHARITY BLOG 2017-18 is already up and running, here is the LINK

FOOTBALL AID

FOOTBALL AID MATCH

held at City Ground, Nottingham

RED KIT FC 6 BLACK KIT FC 6

A couple of weeks back, Notts Senior League Referee Gregg Stuart contacted me via private message n facebook and offered me and my wife Hazel a couple of guest tickets for the Football Aid match being held at the home of Nottingham Forest, with a 10am kick off.

We went along and really didnt know much about the event or how skilled the players were, so I looked it up on the internet.

Football Aid is held over and held in parks of the UK and gives players a chance to play on professional grounds, whilst raising money for charity along the way.

On to the pitch the teams were lead out by a little girl called Ellie May and the 4 officials, 3 of whom I know from the Notts Senior League, namely Gregg Stuart, James Tewson and George Dibbs, plus a young female official Phoebe Cross.

The game kicked off and it was soon noticed that the standard of football was going to be quite good, as many of the players only played each week in five side games. Each team had a Ex professional player in their line ups, the Red team, it was Craig Armstrong and the Black shirted team Paul McGregor.

The game was tight in the First Half with the Reds leading 3-2 at the break, the Second Half, The Reds took control and went in to a 6-3 lead, but the Black shirted team pulled it back to 6-6 in a very competitive match.

A game played in the right spirit, in front of families and friends.

After the match, I did hear that a few players were going up to Sunderland to play in Monday morning at the Stadium of Light.

With 12 goals scored, the £3 iis now in the pot and takes the running total up to £685.65p

VILLA LIFT NSL JUNIOR CUP

Precision Notts Senior League

Junior Cup Final

KIMBERLEY MW RESERVES 0 AWSWORTH VILLA RESERVES 4

@ Sandiacre Town FC

Att: 147

Kimberley went in to the game as favourites having done the double in the league over Awsworth, but with the clubs hardly a mile apart and in a Cup Final, League form goes out the window.

The First Half saw a very even contest and it was vital who was going to opening the scoring and just as I thought the half would end goal less I popped in to the clubhouse to fetch the tickets for the half time charity raffle, when I got back to pitchside, I was told it was still 0-0 and there was a break in play as all 5 footballs suppied by the league had gone missing, a few were tracked down and play resume. What had happened unknown to me, was that Awsworth had taken the lead on 44 minutes through JAKE BROOKES.

The Second Half begin and it was Awsworth on the front foot and in the 48th minute, doubled their lead when a long free kick was headed in, though the last touch seemed to come off a Kimberley player, GEORGE COPPER went on to claim the goal.

It then turned in to a real derby game, with both sides putting in some meaty challenges and keeping the referee on his toes.

Kimberley pushed forward but the Awsworth defence was staying strong at the back.

After 77 minutes, KURT SAVAGE slid the ball home from close range to make it 3-0.  After 84 minutes, Awsworth wrapped up the game when JUAN VICKERS completed the scoring.

On the Final whistle, Ex Notts Senior League Official Andy Rolfe who was guest of honour did the presentation

We would like to thank Sandiacre Town FC for the kind donations of prizes for the raffle, The Notts Senior League for allowing Hazel to do the raffle and also both clubs, supporters etc for buying raffle tickets in aid of this seasons blogs charity MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE based at Nottingham City Hospital, to which Hazel raised a whopping £117.00, which takes the running total a amazing £682.65p.

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BOATMEN LIFT NOTTS FA INTERMEDIATE CUP

Notts FA Intermediate Cup Final

AFC DUNKIRK 4 BASFORD UNITED COMMUNITY FC 3

played at Eastwood Community FC

A gripping end to end Cup Final saw AFC Dunkirk run out victors 4-3. The game began with Community looking the better side and went ahead after just 3 minutes, when a ZAIRE BIRCHALL-JACKSON bullet shot hit the back of the net.

Basford pushed forward and a cross from the left saw a forward narrowly connect with the goal gaping on 18 minutes and this seemed to be the turning point of the match, as the next Dunkirk attack on 20 minutes saw TIM BERRIDGE knock home the equaliser.

This seemed to throw Dunkirk the confidence they needed and within a minute, they took the lead, when TIM BERRIDGE;s looping shot ducked over the Basford keeper to put his side in to the lead.

On 22 minutes, Dunkirk extended their lead to 3-1 when GEORGE HARRISION netted to the delight of the Boatmen crowd. After 38 minutes, Basford thought they were back in the game, but the referee spotted a push in the Dunkirk defender and ruled out a Basford goal.

On the hour, Basford were in fact back in the game, when a long range thunderbolt shot by BETTISON PAIXAO was rifled in to the net to reduce his sides arrears.

On 78 minutes, the Community side pushed forward and were on level terms when MALCOLM PODIER;s low show nestled in to the net to even things up at 3-3 and it was game on.

Both sides continued to press forward to avoid extra time and after 84 minutes, Harry Wakefield broke through and was bought down for a penalty by the Community keeper and SAMUEL HARBOTTLE stepped up and dispatched the penalty to win the cup for the Boatmen.

A superb match which was a credit for both clubs that ply their trace in the Precision Nottinghamshire Senior Football League.

The Charity Blog had some excellent news this morning, when a groundhopper Graham Moseley kindly sent a donation of £71.00 for MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at Nottingham City Hospital, so with the 7 goals as well at this evenings final, it takes the running total to a massive £564.65p

TUREK BROTHERS SECURE RANGERS VICTORY

Midland Regional Alliance

Premier Division

SHIREBROOK RANGERS FC 2 CROMFORD FC 0

Attendance: 23

Many a time, I have visited relations in Shirebrook and also each Wednesday, my son Shawn has swimming lessons at Stubbin Wood, which is only about 800 yards from Warren Terrace, the home of Shirebrook Rangers FC.

A couple of times, Ive gone to go to this venue this season but for some reason never made it, so when I saw this Wednesday Evening fixture wit a 6.30pm kick off, only 30 minutes after Shawn had finished his lesson, so this chance was too good to miss.

I texted the Rangers Manager and got a reply straight away to say that the game was on and he even sent me details of how to get to the ground and the colours that his team play in.

On arrival, I met a hopper who had travelled from Birmingham and then Veteran arrived, as the sides entered the pitch, the visiting Cromford FC keeper Adam Gratton came over to chat to me, as Ive known his dad for a long time through the non league game, but sadly he couldnt be there this evening.

The game kicked off and after just 2 minutes, the visitors nearly went in front after the keeper fumbled a routine catch and the attacker hit the post from close range. This scare seemed to settle the homesters nerves and they began to put a few passes together and after 7 minutes, they went in front from a JORDAN TUREK effort.

Cromford werent going to lay down and were very stubbon and defended well, as Rangers went forward to try and double their slender lead. 

At half time, I was offered a free cuppa, which I think it was the managers wife made , so a thankyou to her, as it wasnt expected.

The Second Half saw Shirebrook pour forward and it only looked a matter of time before the goals were going to flow, but Cromford werent giving up and were a threat on a couple of occasions and Rangers had to thank their keeper in the 57th minute, when he produced a superb one handed save that he pushed over the crossbar.

Just after the hour, Rangers got their just deserts, when a quick break down the right side, saw Jordan draw the oncoming keeper and square the ball for his brother MARK TUREK to tap home.

The last half hour seemed a bit scappy and end of season football, with the man in the middle having to stop and start the game for niggling tackles.

With the 2 goals scored at the match, this adds 50p to the charity running total for MAGGIES CANCER CENTRE at City Hospital in Nottingham at £491.90p

The photos from the match can be seen on this LINK