Green Dragon 2-1 Kirkby Town

Venue: Titchfield Park, Hucknall.

Green Dragon play in the Notts Sunday league Premier Premier Division, but were without a win so far this season.  Kirkby are members of NSL Premier One, and were still unbeaten prior to kick off. Was supposed to have been an away banker, but as we all know, "it's a funny old game"!

The teams entered the pitch a little after the 11am scheduled kick off time, then stood in silence for two minutes in honour of the fallen.

Empire / Farndon Utd pay their respects...

...as do Green Dragon and Kirkby Town

Kev accompanied me for this game, he very rarely does Sunday games. He managed to catch Kirkby at their least effective and after I had been waxing lyrical about the Kirkby team, must have left the game wondering what all the fuss was about. 

Looking at the Kirkby line-up, you can perhaps understand why they were favourites to go forward to the next round of the Notts F.A. Sunday Senior Cup : 

Steve Boot, Stefan Cobb, Gary Armstrong, Dan Fisher, Dave Voller, Gary Castledine, Kris Watson, Marc Walters, Keiran Watson, Fraser Campbell, Russel Smith. Bench: Tony Law, Ricky Law, Alton Rennals.

Great to see Cas on the Park

Even without regular starters Ryan Bowen, Nathan Watson and Tom Cresswell, the town side should have had enough to see off struggling Dragon.

KIERAN WATSON grabbed the games first goal in the 12th minute, dancing into the box before sending a low shot into the far corner of the goal.

Keiran Watson fires home

The visitors wasted several decent opportunities as the half drew to it's conclusion, but stout defending saw the home team go into the break with just the one goal defecit. H-T 0-1

Kane Matthews in first half action

The scores were level with two minutes of the restart, the Dragon no. 16 (name not known) glancing a header past Boot into the goal at the far stick.  KANE MATTHEWS added the home teams second soon after, racing into the box and firing across Boot.

Town Manager Andy Cruddace rang the changes soon after, replacing Smith with Tony Law and Campbell with brother Ricky. Ricky didn't last long though, he was replaced by Rennals after turning an ankle on the bumpy pitch.

Kirkby threw everything at the home defence as they  tried  desperately  to level the scores, but the players in the green and black stripes were having none of it and held on to their lead until Referee John Dolbear called a final halt to proceedings after 4 minutes of added time had been played. F-T 2-1

Pinxton FC 2-2 Linby CW

Venue: The Welfare Ground, Wharf Road, Pinxton.

First time we've been to Pinxton this season, although we have seen them on the road a couple of times, including the 3-3 draw at Linby. 

This return match was always going to be on the calender for us, and once again the teams gave us a decent game. Referee Mark Curwood certainly earned his fee - booking no fewer than eight players, five of them from Pinxton! He also had to ask Wayne Cooke to leave the field early on in proceedings to remove an ear piercing - the break giving Kev the opportunity to snap Joe Riley, who was once again suspended, this time for the accumulation of five yellow cards...

Ear we go again....

Joe Riley

The game certainly wasn't dirty, and it has to be said that some of the cautions were a tad harsh. There was a bit of a scuffle on the hour that saw Jimmy Adcock and Tom Coupe booked, but niggly challenges and bad language were not given any truck by Mr. Curwood. Having said that, he did control the game well and we somehow managed to finish the game with 11 v 11.

We knew most of the players in the starting elevens, and both management teams. Linby Secretary Ash Ward was kind enough to let us photogragh the team sheets.

Benjamin Newman and Kenny Shinfield, Dave Marlow and Jonathan Dakers

Met former Eastwood town vice Chairman Steve Peat just inside the ground, then made our way to the other side where we were joined by Paul McFarland. Why Paul is still without a team is beyond me.

Paul's been out of the game for a few seasons and now feels the time is right for him to get involved with a team once again. 

Kick off

On paper this was a home banker, with Pinxton 5th top and Linby 5th bottom before kick off, but it was the visitors who took the game to the hosts early doors, forcing keeper Jack Ward to first clear away a Matt Murphy effort with his feet, then block a terrific effort from Joe Butler. 

Ward blocks well from Murphy

After that attack had broken down, Pinxton went up the other end and Jay Cooper saw his volley at the near post fly just over the Linby bar. 

Cooper had another effort well saved by Watkinson, this time after Darren Bettison had picked him out at the far stick. 

With 21 minutes played, the visitors' pressure finally paid dividends - JOE BUTLER finding space in the box before firing low and hard past Ward. 

Joe Butler

On the half hour mark, Watkinson and Matt Peberday combined well to keep out a corner from the left - Pinxton centre-back Danny Henshaw should have buried the loose ball, but could only manage to lift the ball way over the bar from barely 6 yards out. 

Henshaw fires over

Pinxton were fighting desperately for the equaliser, and but for the face of Linby right-back Chaz Niblett they would have been level. Wayne Cooke made a great run down the right and rolled the ball into the path of Adcock who connected well, but  unfortunately for the Pinxton no. 8, Niblett was in the way and the ball cannoned off his face and away to safety. H-T 0-1

Niblett in the way!

Linby came out looking to add to their lead, and Matt Murphy had a terrific drive block by Josh Parker with just two minutes of the second half played. 

Two minutes later though, the home team were level, albeit somewhat fortuitously. JASON DAWSON saw his shot blocked on the line, but as the ball was cleared it hit Dawson on the knee and flew into the back of the net. 

Lucky strike!!

On 51, the home team were ahead for the first time in the game, a  fairly tame free-kick from JAY COOPER by-passing a poorly constructed wall, leaving keeper Watkinson stranded mid-goal.

                                 

Cooke fired a long range shot just wide of the post on the hour mark, but it was the travellers who were next on the scoresheet, again in somewhat fortuitous  circumstances! 

A Linby free-kick was played into the Pinxton box in the 65th minute, and as keeper Ward attempted to clear his lines, JOE BUTLER raced in to apply pressure. This made the keeper panic and his clearance went straight to the striker, who calmly rolled the ball into the empty net. 

Dawson brought out another great save from Watkinson on 88, then Cooke was also thwarted by the young Linby stopper as we entered the fifth minute of added time. F-T 2-2

Admission: £2

Programme: £1

Attendance: not too sure - but it must have been well over 60.

Almost forgot to mention the smashing bird we saw at the game...nice !!!

Heanor Town U19 0-3 Blidworth Welfare U19

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor.

Scorers: Grant Tobin (18), Ki Smith (55), Louis Roberts (70)

Very pleasant, if somewhat chilly evening, spent in the company of Blidworth's Dave Voller,  along with Heanor's Scott Ward and Tony Squires. 

Prior to kick off, Heanor had played six, losing five - their solitary victory against bottom club Bilborough Town. The visitors had also played six, winning five - with just the one defeat at the hands of league leaders Mansfield Town. 

Blidworth were ahead on 18, after GRANT TOBINS' close range shot was deflected over the Heanor keeper.  

The lead should have been doubled on 35, but Kurtis Bamford crashed his spot kick against the post. H-T 0-1

KI SMITH did add to the Welfare total on 55, his powerful volley from the edge of the box giving the Town keeper no chance.

In the 70th minute, Tobin played a magnificent ball from midfield straight into the path of LOUIS ROBERTS, and the no. 11 picked his spot superbly, sending a left foot shot flying past the keeper and into the back of the net. F-T 0-3

Admission: £2

Programme: £0.50 - cracking effort - many thanks Tony!

Attendance: 59

Saturday 9th November - local teams in action

NPP
Matlock Town 1-1 AFC Fylde
Witton Albion 2-1 Ilkeston FC
Worksop Town 6-1 Stamford FC

NP1S
Eastwood Town 1-3 Belper Utd
Gresley FC 1-1 Carlton Town
Leek Town 0-1 Rainworth MW
Loughborough Dynamo 1-2 Sutton Coldfield Town
Romulus FC 4-3 Mickleover Sports

MFA
Dunkirk FC 1-3 Westfield FC
Heath Hayes 1-4 Shepshed Dynamo

NCELP
Basford Utd 0-2 Barton Town OB
Garforth Town 2-2 Retford Utd
Heanor Town 3-1 Armthorpe Welfare
Maltby Main 0-2 Long Eaton Utd

NCEL1
Bottesford Town 2-2 Teversal FC
Cleethorpes Town 2-1 Clipstone FC
Shirebrook Town (twelve)12-0 Appleby Frodingham

EMCL
Anstey Nomads 2-2 Gedling MW
Arnold Town 8-2 Barrow Town
Graham St Prims P-P Radcliffe Olympic
Holbrook Sports 3-2 Borrowash Victoria
Holwell Sports 3-1 Greenwood Meadows
Sutton Town AFC 4-1 Ellistown & Ibstock Utd

NOTTS F.A. Senior Cup
AFC Mansfield 0-2 Selston FC

NOTTS F.A. Intermediate Cup
Teversal Res 2-4 Boots Athletic
Bilborough Town 1-2 AFC Bridgford

CMLN
Bentley Colliery 4-0 Welbeck FC
Brodsworth Welfare 2-3 Ollerton Town
Glapwell FC P-P Sherwood Colliery
Kinsley Boys 0-3 Harworth CI
Newark Town 0-2 Westella Hanson
Thoresby CW 2-3 Thorne Colliery

CMLS
Belper Utd 3-1 Hucknall Town
Blidworth Welfare 1-2 South Normanton Athletic
Holbrook St. Michaels 3-2 Mickleover RBL
Mickleover Royals 0-4 Bilborough Pelican
Pinxton FC 2-2 Linby CW
Southwell City 2-1 Allenton Utd

CML CUP
Real Utd 5-1 Calverton MW

NSL SENIOR
Attenborough FC 1-2 Nottingham Utd
Burton Joyce 3-10 Awsworth Villa
F.C. Cavalier 1-2 Beeston AFC
Hucknall RL 3-1 Cotgrave FC
Keyworth Utd 2-4 Kimberley MW
Wollaton FC 3-0 Magdala Ams

Notts F.A. Saturday Senior Trophy 3rd Round

19. 03/12/13 19:45 AFC Mansfield/Selston -v- Dunkirk (First)

20. 03/12/13 19:45 Retford United FC (First) -v- Eastwood Town FC (First)

21. 03/12/13 19:45 Bilb'h Pelican/Clipstone -v- Greenwood Meadows (First)

22. 03/12/13 19:45 Linby Colliery Welfare (First) -v- Southwell City (First)

23. 03/12/13 19:45 Rainworth Miners Welfare (First) -v- Bulwell (First)

24. 03/12/13 19:45 Clifton All Whites (First) -v- F.C. Cavaliers (First)

25. 03/12/13 19:45 Carlton Town (First) -v- Sutton Town A.F.C. (First)

26. 03/12/13 19:45 Radcliffe Olympic (First) -v- Basford United (First)

Midweek games - w/c 4th November

A list of fixtures taken from various league sites: not a lot going on this week....

Monday 4th

NPP
Ilkeston FC 0-1 Rushall Olympic

Tuesday 5th 

NPP
Chorley FC 3-1 Matlock Town

MFA
Dunkirk FC 3-1 Heather St. Johns

NOTTS F.A, Senior Cup
Teversal FC 0-3 Basford Utd

Wednesday 6th

DERBYS F.A. Senior Cup
Dronfield Town P-P Glapwell FC

NOTTS F.A. Senior Cup
Bilborough Pelican P-P Clipstone Welfare

EMCL
Borrowash Victoria 1-1 Radcliffe Olympic

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 6-1 Askern FC
Harworth CI 4-1 Brodsworth Welfare

CMLS
Mickleover Royals P-P Calverton MW

U19 Div I
Basford Utd P-P Worksop Town

U19 Div II
Carlton Town Academy P-P Ollerton Town
Southwell City P-P Arnold Town

U19 Div III
Bilborough Town P-P Mansfield Town

Thursday 7th

U19 Div I
Retford Utd P-P Hallam FC

U19 Div III
Heanor Town 0-3 Blidworth Welfare
Mickleover Sports 4-0 Radford FC

Hucknall Town 1-2 Southwell City

Venue: Watnall Road, Hucknall.

Scorers:
Town - Leon Aikman (78)
City - Tyrone Gray (21), Taz Nadif (77)

We were going to Selston v Hucknall Rolls in the NSL, but there is not much cover at that venue, so opted for a game where we would at least be dry if the heavens opened. 

Had a chat to Paul McFarland before the game - seems he is now actively looking for a position in the non-league game after being out of the picture for a while. 

Paul managed Eastwood's very successful reserve team a few years ago and has had spells with Glapwell, South Normanton, Pinxton, Sutton and Blackwell. Plenty of experience - should be snapped up soon I reckon.

We knew this wasn't going to be a classic cup tie, but we never imagined it would be so poor. The first quarter of the game was dire, although the Hucknall strikers did manage to keep the linesman on the far side busy - forcing him to raise his flag for offside on numerous occasions.

The Minstermen took a well deserved lead in the 21st minute, but the Town keeper has to shoulder the blame. He looked to be well set to gather a free kick in from the left, but allowed the ball to bounce off him, and it fell straight to the feet of City skipper TYRONE GRAY who had no problem forcing the ball over the line.

Southwell's skipper capitalises on keeper error

When Hucknall finally beat the Southwell offside trap on 28, they found keeper Alex Smith a formidable barrier, and Town's no. 9 never looked like levelling the scores. F-T 0-1

Jeremy Moran had a great chance to restore parity within 8 minutes of the restart, but his goal-bound effort was well blocked.

Half way through the second period, Referee Jacob Shapiro booked four players in a five minute spell - three for tapping the ball away, and one I think, for giving him a bit of lip. Mr. Shapiro had been having a quiet game until then....

City went further ahead in the 77th minute, left back TAZ NADIF drilling an arrow straight shot in at the near post after the home defence allowed him time and space 15 yards from goal. 

Hucknall pulled one back straight from the restart, LEON AIKMAN slotting past Smith from the edge of the box. Hucknall's stopper had to make a fine diving save to keep out the Southwell no. 9 soon after, but the final ten minutes or so were all Town as they went for the leveller that would have sent the tie into extra time. 

Unfortunately for the Yellows, Smith and his defenders managed to repel the attacks and it was Southwell that go into the hat for the third round of the competition. F-T 1-2

Admission: £3

Programme: £1

Attendance: Head count 93