Sunday 30 March 2014

Nottingham Forest Ladies 3-2 Leeds Utd Ladies

Venue: Hucknall Rolls Leisure Complex, Watnall Road, Hucknall, Notts

Competition: F.A. Women's Premier League North Division

Scorers:
Forest - Kelly Kennaugh (65), Meagan Howard (70), Amber Hughes (90)
Leeds - (I think) -- Zoe Roberts (20), Emma Coates (55)

Forest battled back superbly from a 2 goal deficit, but their opponents were deserving of at least a point from this game after they made their hosts look anything but title contenders during the first hour of the game .

                     

The home team looked sluggish right from the kick off, whilst Leeds began the game passing the ball neatly and created enough in the final third to deeply trouble the Forest back line. 

It looked only a matter of time before United would open the scoring, and with 20 played ZOE ROBERTS was on hand to prod home after a shot from range had cannoned off the crossbar. 

Forest showed little in attack, and if Leeds had have been a little more clinical in front of goal they could have put this game to bed before the interval. H-T 0-1


Leeds doubled their advantage just after the restart, an attempted clearance by Reds keeper Vanessa Kinnerley was blocked and EMMA COATES managed to tap the loose ball gently over the line.

Forest had a great chance to get back into the game a couple of minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for an infringement in the box.  Amber Hughes stepped up to take the spot kick, but fired the ball three yards wide of the Leeds goal. 

This miss seemed to stir Hughes into action and her performance after the penalty failure was stunning. It was her superbly flighted free-kick on 65 that was met by a powerful header from KELLY KENNAUGH 15 yards from goal that flew into the net.

Amber Hughes in action (courtesy NFLFC twitter feed)

Forest replaced Kirsty Allen and Lucy Webster with Andi Bell and Megan Howard, and were soon level when HOWARD spectacularly volleyed home from the edge of the box on 70.

The fightback was completed in the final minute when Tasha Meade carried the ball to the by-line and picked out AMBER HUGHES on the edge of the area who fired an arrow straight effort right into the far corner. Sian Binks in the visitors goal could do nothing but wave at the ball as it flew past her.  F-T 3-2

This result keeps the Reds in contention -  their next game is on Thursday 3rd April  at home to League leaders Sheffield FC Ladies.... could be the championship decider.

Saturday 29 March 2014

Clipstone FC 2-0 Shirebrook Town

Venue: The Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone, Nottinghamshire


Competition: Northern Counties East League Division One

Line-ups:
Clipstone - Ely, Paling, Leggitt, Bough, Austin, Camm, Hillier, Carty, Wisdom, Watson, Jackson

Shirebrook - Andrews, Simpson, Hanson, Hall, Henshaw, Wankiewicz, Zeuener, Getliff, Moxam, Bradley, Booth.

Scorers:
Adam Wisdom (57), Rob Paling (pen 63)

Programme donated by Heanor Town FC (thanks Scott Ward)!

Talk about a game of two halves! Shirbrook should have been home and hosed by the interval, but failed to convert any of the multitude of chances they created.



Leave it alone, Ref!!

We spent the first half in the company of Shirebrook Ambassador Dave Spencer - he was as nonplussed as we were that his team couldn't find the back of the net. 

Aaron Moxam should have opened the scoring on 11, but fired wide when it looked easier to score. Danny Booth tried his luck from 20 yards in the 23rd minute, and although Clipstone keeper Ed Ely couldn't quite get to the effort, the ball flew just past the outside of his post. 




Moxam just wide

Ely covers his post

Jason Bradley headed over on 33, then two minutes later Steve Wankiewicz emulated the striker. Mind you, these two headers were nowhere near as off target as Rob Austin's on 40 - the defender rose well enough, but still managed to send the ball way over the bar. H-T 0-0


Austin way off target

Clipstone had to thank keeper Ely early in the second half, the keeper doing really well to tip over Moxam's superb drive. From the corner, Wankiewicz had a free header at the far stick, but once again the radar was slightly off and the ball flew wide.



Ely tips over




Wankiewicz heads over

Clipstone were looking a little more dangerous as the half progressed, and went ahead through ADAM WISDOM on 57. The striker was left unmarked as the ball was played through from the midfield, and he raced towards goal before slotting calmly past Sam Andrews.

Wisdom beats Andrews

Clipstone fans celebrate

6 minutes later Andrews saw red after he blocked Keiren Watson in the box as he was played in on goal. It was a  definite case of preventing an obvious goal scoring chance, and Referee Mr. Lee Freeman had little option other than to send the keeper off.


Wankiewicz took the gloves and within seconds was picking the ball out of the net after ROB PALING beat him from the spot.


                            
Shirebrook looked leggy as they struggled with 10 men, and it was something of a surprise that Clipstone failed to add to their tally. F-T 2-0


Admission: £2 (concession)
Attendance: 145
Programme: £1 (thanks Scott)

Scott Ward and Brett Marshall -(radio stars)!

Friday 28 March 2014

Kimberley MW 2-1 Magdala Amateurs

Venue: The Stag Ground, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire

Competition: Notts Senior League Senior Division

Scorers:
Welfare - Martin Lench (24), Jake Fisher (65)
Ams -    no. 7 (79)

Great to have another Friday night game to go to, but it was touch and go whether the game would actually go ahead after a heavy downpour left standing water on the pitch, and two of the floodlights packed up. The offending pylons were in opposite corners of the ground, and although the light was not ideal, the Referee deemed it playable - and so the game went ahead.

Met up with Richard Lane, Maurice McFarland, Rob Hornby and Paul "Bury" Earnshaw inside the ground - always good to be in such  knowledgeable  company. 


Kimberley are currently top of the NSL Senior Division on 57 points - 9 clear of second placed Hucknall Rolls and 11 clear of Selston in third. Selston have four games in hand though, so when the teams meet at the Stag Ground next Wednesday it should be interesting!

Magdala more than matched their opponents as the first half took shape, and it was a special goal from Kimberley to crack open their visitors solid looking defence. In the 24th minute, the Ams keeper must have thought he'd cleared his area well enough when he hoofed the ball to almost the half way line. He didn't reckon on MARTIN LENCH though - the former Basford Utd player calmly collected the clearance and fired it over everyone, straight into the back of the net. Great composure from Lench, and what a strike from 40+ yards! H-T 1-0

JAKE FISHER doubled the home teams advantage on 65, skilfully rounding a defender before firing at goal. The Ams keeper managed to get a hand to the ball, but couldn't prevent it flying into the goal.   

Magdala pulled one back on 79, setting up a tense final 10 minutes or so for the league leaders. The goal was scored by Ams no. 7, who was allowed time and space on the left. He took full advantage of this freedom, running into the corner of the area and curling a terrific shot past Welfare keeper Danny Walsh. Great technique, and it had to be to beat Walsh who'd previously been the Welfare saviour on more than one occasion. 

The expected tense finish turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax, as the visitors failed to trouble Walsh and at the end of the ninety minutes, Welfare had secured another three points. F-T 2-1 

Friday night football at the Stag again certainly proved popular with almost 70 turning out to watch - and they were treated to a very good, close game. I'm now looking forward to Wednesday with great anticipation.





Thursday 27 March 2014

Saturday 29th March - local teams in action

NPP
Droylsden FC 3-4 Worksop Town
FC Utd of Manchester 2-1 Matlock Town
Ilkeston FC 2-3 Chorley FC

NP1S
Bedworth Utd 1-3 Belper Town
Carlton Town 2-2 Chasetown FC
Kidsgrove Athletic 4-1 Rainworth MW
Market Drayton Town 2-3 Loughborough Dynamo
Sheffield FC 1-5 Mickleover Sports

MFA
Dunkirk FC 1-1 Rocester FC
Shedshed Dynamo 2-1 Causeway Utd

NCELP
Long Eaton Utd 6-0 Lincoln Moorlands Railway
Retford Utd 1-0 Basford Utd

NCEL1
Clipstone FC 2-0 Shirebrook Town

EMCL
Arnold Town 1-2 Borrowash Victoria
Bardon Hill 2-3 Radford FC
Graham St Prims 5-1 Sutton Town AFC
Greenwood Meadows 0-1 Blaby & Whetstone Athletic
Radcliffe Olympic 3-5 Thurnby Nirvana
Stapenhill FC 1-0 Gedling MW

CMLN
Askern FC 1-1 Sherwood Colliery
Brodsworth Welfare 1-3 AFC Mansfield
Glapwell FC 2-1 Clay Cross Town
Thoresby CW 6-1 Welbeck FC
Thorne Colliery 1-0 Ollerton Town

CMLS
Allenton Utd 5-3 Bilborough Pelican
Belper Utd 1-3 South Normanton Athletic
Blidworth Welfare 0-4 Swanwick PR
Buwell FC 1-1 Linby CW
Clifton AW 6-1 Calverton MW
Mickleover Royals 2-3 Southwell City
Pinxton FC 1-0 Hucknall Town
Real Utd 5-3 Mickleover RBL

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Bilborough Town 2-4 Beeston AFC
Cotgrave FC 3-2 Attenborough FC
Ruddington Village 0-2 Awsworth Villa
Sandhurst FC A-A Keyworth Utd
Selston FC  2-1 Burton Joyce
Wollaton FC 2-2 F.C.Cavaliers

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Gedling MW 1-2 Arnold Town

Venue: Plains Road, Mapperley, Nottingham

Competition: East Midlands Counties League

Scorers:
Gedling - Tony Law (25)
Arnold - Chris Hall (78), Danny Gordon (84)


This result saw Arnold move into second place in the league, seven points behind leaders Thurnby Nirvana.  There was a good turnout at Plains Road, and they witnessed a decent game, a game where a draw would probably have been a fair result. 

We stood with Richard Lane and Derek Coope throughout the game. Richard is "Mr. Newark Town" - a club we've never visited. We hope to put that wrong to right next month with us taking in a game at Collingham, either v Easington or Askern.

Gedling opened the scoring on 25 through TONY LAW, the striker chipping Eagles' keeper Mike Randall from the corner of the box after he had been played in down the left.  Max Danby in the Gedling goal was hardly troubled during the first period, with Arnold looking nothing like championship contenders. H-T 1-0

The visitors stepped it up a little as the second half progressed, but were finding the home defence a difficult nut to crack.  It took a stroke of good fortune to get the Eagles back in the game, CHRIS HALL hitting a 25 yard speculative, tame effort through a crowd of players, and with Danby unsighted, the ball just managed to creep inside the post. 

With just 6 minutes to play, Arnold grabbed all three points, DANNY GORDON firing across Danby from the left hand corner of the box, after he was given too much space to run in to. F-T 1-2

Admission: £2 (concession)
Attendance: 136
Programme: £1

Gedling must have thought they deserved at least a share of the points. They worked hard enough but seemed to tire as the game wore on and Arnold took full advantage. 

Referee Kev Guise was largely anonymous, and it's a good sign that you know he's had a good game when the Ref doesn't get the headlines!

Sunday 23 March 2014

Kirkby Town 3-0 Wollaton Pirates

Sunday 23rd March 

Venue: The Summit Centre, Kirkby-In-Ashfield

Competition: Notts Sunday League

Scorers: Kieren Watson (16), Tony Law (26), Kristian Watson (90)


This top of the table clash looked on paper to be another tough game for the home team who suffered their first league defeat of the season in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago. 

A win for Kirkby would secure at least a second place finish, whilst Wollaton would have gone top with a win.

Watched the encounter with "Bury" Paul, Fredkirkbytown, Scott Ward and the Watson boys' Dad, John.

Rikki Turner was in goal for the Pirates - we last saw him play for Saturday side Wollaton FC against Selston three weeks ago. His buddy, Mansfield Town keeper Ian Deakin was on hand to offer support, but there was little Turner could do to keep out Town's first goal on 16, KIEREN WATSON managing to prod home at the far post at the third time of asking, after the Wollaton defence had successfully blocked two initial chances. 

TONY LAW was allowed to run in on goal with 26 played, and the striker took his time before firing past Turner - although the keeper will be slightly disappointed that he failed to palm away the effort after getting a hand to it. H-T 2-0

"Deaks" came to stand with us after the break - mind you it was raining intermittently and we were under the only cover  available at the Summit Centre!

Wollaton were apparently missing a few regular starters and hardly troubled Kirkby keeper Jason Fisher at all.  At the other end it was a tale of miss after miss, with Turner working his socks off to help keep the scoreline respectable. Both Keiren and Kris Watson were off target on several occasions, but KRIS wrapped up the points on 90, driving the ball through Turner from about 8 yards out.  F-T 3-0


Great to have a chin-wag with Deaks - mostly reminiscing about our past times with Eastwood Town. Ian was a little wild, to say the least, in his younger days, but now he is a full time professional at Mansfield, those crazy days are well and truly behind him. 

Kirkby now need just three wins from their remaining five games to secure successive league titles. Link to Notts Sunday League website

Saturday 22 March 2014

Heanor Town 1-2 Staveley MW

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor, Derbyshire

Competition: NCEL Premier Division

Scorers:
Lions - Kieran Debrouwer (88)
Welfare - Joe Flint (63), Nick Hague (64)


We were supposed to be visiting Awsworth Villa, but the downpour around 1:30pm meant a quick rethink - there is no cover at the Shio. We opted for the Heanor v Staveley game hoping to see Keiran Debrouwer create his own personal landmark by converting his 50th goal of the season. 

It's always good to see Scott Ward, Tony Squires, Ian Duffield and Chris "Tall-Lad" Dent - great banter as usual!

Shake

Coin toss

Kick-off

Staveley were in a bright orange strip, as were Athersley Rec on Tuesday. As Athersley also did on Tuesday, Staveley caused havoc in the shaky looking home defence from the start.

Mark Frost in the Heanor goal pulled of a couple of neat saves early doors to keep his team in the game, and his opposite number, Ben Townsend, had to be alert on 12, finger-tipping the ball away from goal when Nathan Benger fired the ball in from a tight angle.

Matt Blake nodded on a Brett Peel header after 15 minutes, but the Heanor defender's header flew just over the bar. A Gary Webster free-kick created a scare for the visitors in the 22nd minute. As the ball curled into the box, no-one picked up Benger on the far stick, but luckily for the Welfare the striker failed to connect with the header. 



Benger - so close!

JARROD HOLMES was dismissed on 44 for taking a kick at a Staveley player. I missed the infraction, but Kev saw it, and said straight away that he thought Holmes was going to be sent. H-T 0-0

Off you go, Jared

Heanor had the first chance of the second half soon after the restart, Lee Stevenson's terrific volley from 25 yards smashing into the side netting, when it looked for a while as though it was going in. 

Frost dived well to save at the feet of Staveley striker Joe Flint on 52, and on 62 we all cringed when Heanor right back Josh Raven got the ball smacked straight into his taters! Ouch indeed!

Painful, Josh?

As he was trying to recover, his fellow defenders were struggling to defend a corner. When James Colliver fired the ball back into the danger area after it was half cleared, Ryan Dickinson headed it on. JOE FLINT instinctively stuck out a foot and was rewarded when he connected well enough to divert the ball past Frost.






Joe Flint scores the first for Stavely

60 seconds later the lead was doubled. This time the ball was played over the Town midfield, and NICK HAGUE reacted quicker than the home defence, running into the area before calmly lifting the ball over the head of Frost from 15 yards. 


Staveley players celebrate

KEIRAN DEBROUWER grabbed his 50th goal of the season with just 7 minutes left to play, running across the goal and drilling the ball across Townsend. Another fightback on the cards? Not really, this was too little, too late for the Lions and Staveley recorded only their fourth away league win of the season. F-T 1-2

Heanor looked a little jaded from the start. This was their fourth game in 8 days, and sadly, this is to be expected when the  games lost to inclement conditions have to be crammed into the final six or seven weeks of the season. 

Admission: £3/£5
Programme: £1
Attendance: 171

Referee Andy Newbold was quite anonymous, so must have had a good game. The red card was justified - kicking out at another player is a no-no, and inevitably a go-go......

Thursday 20 March 2014

Saturday 22nd March - local teams in action

NPP
Barwell FC 0-0 Matlock Town
Ilkeston FC 0-1 Blyth Spartans
Stafford Rangers 0-2 Worksop Town

NP1S
Loughborough Dynamo 1-2 Belper Town
Mickleover Sports 2-1 Chasetown
Sheffield FC 3-1 Rainworth MW

MFA
Dunkirk FC 3-2 Heath Hayes
Shepshed Dynamo 4-5 Westfield FC

NCELP
Basford Utd 2-0 Long Eaton Utd
Heanor Town 1-2 Staveley MW
Winterton Rangers 1-1 Retford Utd

NCEL1
Knaresborough Town 4-0 Teversal FC
Pontefract Colliery 2-1 Clipstone FC
Shirebrook Town 2-0 Selby Town

EMCL
Aylestone Park 3-3 Radcliffe Olympic
Ellistown & Ibstock Utd 2-1 Arnold Town
Graham St Prims 5-1 Gedling MW
Greenwood Meadows 0-5 St. Andrews
Stapenhill FC 2-3 Borrowash Victoria
Sutton Town AFC 1-2 Radford FC

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 0-0 Bentley Colliery
Easington Utd 2-5 Newark Town
Glapwell FC 0-3 Ollerton Town
Sherwood Colliery 4-3 Thoresby CW

CMLS
Belper Utd 4-1 Calverton MW
Bilborough Pelican 5-2 Southwell City
Hucknall Town 0-0 Clifton AW
Linby CW 1-2 Mickleover Royals
Mickleover RBL 1-3 Bulwell FC
Real Utd 4-0 Blidworth Welfare
South Normanton Athletic 8-1 Barrowby FC
Swanwick Pentrich Road 2-0 Pinxton FC

NSL SENIOR
Attenborough FC 1-2 Ruddington Village
Awsworth Villa 0-1 Selston FC
Beeston AFC 2-0 Cotgrave FC
Bilborough Town 0-3 F.C. Cavaliers
Burton Joyce 3-1 Kimberley MW
Nottingham Utd P-P Keyworth Utd

NSL SENIOR CUP
Hucknall RL 1-0 Wollaton FC
Magdala Ams 0-1 Boots Athletic

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Heanor Town 2-2 Athersley Recreation

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor, Derbys

Competition: NCEL Premier Division

Scorers:
Heanor - Debrouwer (16), Hall (90)
Athersley - Alcock (3), Bennett (75)


Heanor struggled from the off with the constant pressure applied by the visiting attackers. The defenders looked nervous and it seemed like they hadn't played together before. Their early jitters rubbed off on keeper Mark Frost and collectively they allowed SCOTT ALCOCK room at the far post to stab home from a right wing corner, with only 3 minutes played. 

Although the Lions were back in the game through League top scorer KEIRAN DEBROUWER on 16, Athersley were relentless going forward and only good luck and some less than perfect finishing saw the teams head off into the changing rooms level at half time. Debrouwer's goal was all his own making - the 48 goal hit-man turning a defender on the edge of the box before firing a low drive past Shaun Penn in the Rec goal. H-T 1-1

Athersley had two great chances to re-take the lead early in the second period, but they had to wait until the 75th minute before they beat Frost again. Another goal that should have been prevented, as the ball was allowed to travel right across the goalmouth to LEE BENNETT, who had the simplest of tap ins at the far stick.

Anyone who left early would have missed the Heanor equaliser. It came from NICK HALL who was first to get to Frost's huge punt upfield and fired across Penn into the far corner, much to the delight of the Heanor faithful. F-T 2-2

Admission: £3 (concession)
Programme: £1
Attendance: 140

Sunday 16 March 2014

Green Dragon 2-1 Station Hotel

Venue: Titchfield Park, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

Competition: Notts Sunday League Premier Premier

Scorers:

Dragon - Sisson (5), Haskey (40)
Station - Draycott (50)

Apologies if the scorers are incorrect - names are not guaranteed on a Sunday!!


Another trip to the local park - this time it  was to see a match  between two local hostelries. The sun was shining brightly,  but a biting wind took the edge off the temperature - and didn't half make the eyes water!!

Before kick off Station were in 6th place in the league, having played nine, winning four, losing four with the other game drawn. Dragon had played eleven, winning just three and losing the other eight.

I think the allocated referee was a no-show - a bloke in a Blue Square Bet tracksuit and a stopwatch around his neck took the middle. The Assistants had to make do with whatever piece of clothing was available to use for flags -- Sunday footie at it's best!!!

The home team were sharper from the off, and took only 5 minutes to grab the games  first  goal, MATT SISSON hitting the ball from the edge of the box through a crowd of players. The shot took a slight deflection, wrong footing the Station keeper who had no chance to save.

Station showed little going forward and it was no surprise when they went further behind on 40, JOSH HASKEY side-stepping a couple of defenders before drilling the ball home. H-T 2-0

Spent the second half in the shelter of the changing room block  - proved to be a fantastic wind break and out of the wind it was very pleasantly warm! 


Station were allowed back in the game early in the second half, DANNY DRAYCOTT firing home at the far post after the home defence failed to cut out a ball fired across the goal on 50 minutes.  

The visitors pressed forward throughout the rest of the game, but this left them vulnerable at the back, and only Dragon's profligate finishing kept them in the game. Dragon's Jonathan Bernard fired over from 6 yards, as did Kane Matthews, add these chances to a couple that Matt Lucas failed to convert and it was little wonder that there were a few squeaky bums on the Dragon bench. 

It took a spendid tip over from home keeper Jamie Taylor in the 6th minute of added time to keep the score at 2-1, and there were a few sighs of relief when the Referee blew after playing 8 minutes of added time. F-T 2-1