Hucknall Rolls 0-A-0 Kimberley MW

Venue: Hucknall Rolls Leisure Association, Watnall Road, Hucknall.

Notts Senior League, Senior Division. Kick off 3pm

With Kev still unable to join me at a game, I decided to stay local,  thinking that 1st v 2nd in the division should be a decent game.  Not so - the players were not too friendly towards each other, or the match officials, and both benches were filled people who were both very angry and very loud.  Makes the pre-match respect handshake seem somewhat hypocritical really. 

Don't get me wrong, I like to see passion in the game, but pure ranting rage has no place in the game. I was secretly pleased when the lights failed at half-time - at least the participants could take chill pills and hopefully go home in better spirits - and it had started to rain.....

Had  a minutes silence before the game began. No idea why.

Welfare were the better team, but found Rolls' keeper Jake Pearson in good form and were unlucky on several occasions.  Josh Lewis had a drive from the edge of the box well saved by Pearson in the fourth minute, while on 10,  Shaw Hutchinson fired a 20+ yard free-kick just over the bar.

Jake Fisher had a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead with 28 played, but he directed his header from a right wing corner over the bar from just a few yards out.

On 33, poor Rolls defending allowed Fisher a one-on-one chance with Pearson, but once again the keeper was down early and was able to block  the striker's shot. 

Rolls' best chance fell to Andy Start on 36 - only a superb diving save from the Welfare keeper kept out the striker's 20 yard effort.  

Referee David Hague pulled a muscle as the half neared it's close, and asked his Assistant Richard Barnes to take over.  H-T 0-0

As the teams made the long trek to the changing rooms, the floodlights went out - the common thought was that Rolls were saving electricity during the break. Only when we saw the Rolls management team begin unscrewing the panels that are located at the bases of the pylons did we get the first inkling of maybe all wasn't well.  

The teams did come back out for the second half, but were quickly ushered back into the changing rooms as the news filtered through that the game would have to be abandoned. 

Admission: £0
Programme: not available
Head count : 55

Mansfield Town U19 3-2 Ollerton Town U19

Venue: The Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone. U19 League Cup - ko 7:45pm

Wasn't going to bother with this game - it's unusual for me to take in four games in four days - but not unknown!

Cup games were the main feature of the midweek games this week, this HKL U19 cup game following the theme. 

Mansfield were soon in control of the game, scoring twice in the first seven minutes.

The first goal came with five minutes of the game played and saw DANNY FLETCHER slot the ball past the Ollerton keeper with the visiting defence strangely absent.

The Stags' came second two minutes later, the Ollerton defence failing to clear a dangerous ball into the box allowing DANNY FLETCHER time and space to clip the ball past the keeper.

Ollerton seemed to be a little wary of their hosts - even at this level playing a Mansfield town team must be not only a great challenge, but could also be slightly intimidating.

FLETCHER was on hand at the far post to slide home the Mansfield  third goal with 6 minutes of the first half remaining, completing his personal treble. H-T 3-0

Ollerton were a different proposition after the break, taking the game to their hosts and crerating several decent chances. Whether the young Stags thought they had done enough at 3-0 only they will know, but Manager John Ranshaw can't be happy that a game that should have been over, was all of a sudden a fight to survive.

LEWIS ENGLISH beat the static Stags off-side trap on the hour mark, and calmly rolled the ball past the home keeper. Ollerton continuously battered the Stags defence, and were rewarded again on 80 when LEWIS ENGLISH slotted home at the second attempt, after his initial shot was well saved by the Stags keeper. 

So, 10 minutes to go and Ollerton on the hunt for the equaliser and a chance to go into extra-time. Unfortunately for Ollerton they couldn't find the back of the net again, and Mansfield go through to the next round. F-T 3-2

Admission: £2 inc programme

Attendance: Head count - 66

Link to report on Mansfield Town website

Saturday 7th December - local teams in action

F.A. Vase Round 3
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2-0 Graham St Prims

NPP
FC Utd of Manchester 4-4 Worksop Town
Ilkeston FC 0-2 Whitby Town
Matlock Town 3-2 Trafford FC

NP1S
Bedworth Utd 2-0 Carlton Town
Market Drayton Town 4-2 Eastwood Town
Mickleover Sports 3-2 Gresley FC
Newcastle Town 2-2 Belper Town
Rainworth MW P-P Loughorough Dynamo (bomb scare)

MFA
Continental Star 4-1 Shepshed Dynamo
Dunkirk FC 0-7 Quorn FC

NCELP
Basford Utd 3-1 Armthorpe Welfare
Tadcaster Albion 2-0 Heanor Town
Worksop Parramore 3-4 Retford Utd

NCEL1
Rossington Main 2-1 Teversal FC
Shirebrook Town 2-1 Dinnington Town
Yorkshire Ams 1-2 Clipstone FC

EMCL
Arnold Town 4-0 Radford FC
Aylestone Park 0-2 Gedling MW
Bardon Hill 2-2 Greenwood Meadows
Stapenhill FC 6-4 Radcliffe Olympic
Sutton Town AFC 1-1 Thurnby Nirvana

CMLN
Kinsley Boys 0-6 AFC Mansfield

CMLS
Barrowby FC 3-0 South Normanton Athletic

CML Cup
Askern FC 1-6 Sherwood Colliery
Bilborough Pelican 4-5 Allenton Utd
Blidworth Welfare 0-1 Mickleover RBL
Brodsworth Welfare 0-5 Harworth CI
Clay Cross Town 4-0 Welbeck FC
Clifton AW 3-0 Hucknall Town
Glapwell 0-2 Belper Utd
Holbrook St. Michaels 2-3 Easington Utd
Newark Town 2-3 Linby CW
Ollerton Town 2-4 Real Utd
Pinxton FC P-P Bentley Colliery (Bentley unable to field a team)
Southwell City 2-3 Westella Hanson
Swanwick PR 1-0 Bulwell FC

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Attenborough FC 1-1 Selston FC
Awsworth Villa 0-3 Boots Athletic
Burton Joyce 4-5 Magdala Ams
Hucknall RL 0-A-0 Kimberley MW (abandoned at half time - floodlight failure)
Keyworth Utd 1-2 F.C. Cavaliers
Nottingham Utd 0-3 Wollaton FC
Ruddington Village 2-0 Bilborough Town
Sandhurst FC 0-6 Beeston AFC

Selston FC 0-1 Dunkirk FC

Venue: Coronation Park, Chewton Street, Eastwood.

Notts F.A. Senior Cup round 3

Line-ups

Selston - Simpson, Breach, Davis, Marriott, Farnsworth, Hackett, Moore, Carraher, Jeffrey, Airey, Jones. Subs: Barry, James, Wright, Smith, Renshaw

Dunkirk - Dudley, Zizaruk-Gibson, Brown, Simms, Lopez, Hastie, Westcarr, Bertram, Grinion, Walters, Coutts. Subbs: Dean, Bailey, Elliker, Guest.

This was a tough game for Midland Alliance outfit Dunkirk.  Although Selston play two steps down from their opposition, they battled well and had two glorious chances to get something from the game during second half stoppage time. Unfortunately the chances went begging and Dunkirk progress into the 1/4 finals thanks to a strike from JARROD WESTCARR on the hour mark. 

The goal came after veteran defender Gary Breach was left with two attackers to take care of, and his untimely slip allowed Will Coutts gain possession and play in Westcarr who took his time  before slotting past Jake Simpson in the Selston net from 15 yards out. F-T 0-1

Admission £3 - but I attended as a guest of Referee Eddie Pidduck. The game had little to worry the experienced official - one booking for Elliott Jones I think, and a couple of injuries to oversee. 

Programme: £1

Car park: £1

Attendance: a magnificent 159

Teams left in the competition (in no particular order)

Dunkirk FC, Carlton Town, Rainworth MW, Basford Utd, Clipstone FC, Southwell City, Retford Utd, Clifton AW/F.C. Cavaliers.

Clipstone FC 4-0 Greenwood Meadows

Venue: The Lido, Clipstone.

Notts F.A. Senior Cup Round 3

Both these teams play at step 6 in the non-league league pyramid, Clipstone in the NCEL division 1, Greenwood in the EMCL. Should have been a close game, but to be honest, the home team dominated almost the entire game. Clipstone keeper Mark Hales had to make a couple of neat saves, but apart from that it was hardly a contest.

Had a chat to good friend, Greenwood midfielder Kelvin Mushambi after the game, and he told me that the Greenwood team is very young overall and still learning the game, so the result was not unexpected.

Stood with Dudsey throughout the proceedings, but also spent a little time in the company of Scott Ward and Steve Peat. Scott is currently revelling in his role as Heanor Town General Manager, while Steve is doing a bit of scouting after recently parting company with Eastwood Town, and is enjoying his time away from the daily pressures that come with running a club.

A big thanks once again to all at Clipstone for the warm welcome - this has to be one of the most friendly clubs around the non-league scene.

On the pitch, the home team missed a hat-full of chances, failing to capitalise on their dominance, and we had to wait until the 43rd minute for the first goal.

This came from a Greenwood free-kick that was cleared up field to Carl Snowden who fed KIEREN WATSON, and the prolific striker ran to the far stick before clipping the ball home with the outside of his trusty right boot.H-T 1-0

With just 60 seconds of the restart, the Cobras went further ahead, CARL SNOWDEN hitting a low drive from the corner of the box that caught the Greenwood keeper by surprise - the ball flying under his despairing dive and into the back of the net.

We had to wait until the 80th minute before the home team made the game completely safe, two goal scored within seconds of each other. Firstly, SNOWDEN flicked home a cross from the right that gave the visiting keeper no chance, then when Steve Carty (I think!) hit the post with a close range effort, the ball cannoned into the goal off a defender, effectively ending the game. F-T 4-0.

Referee Chris Hunter had a good game, although it has to be said that both sets of players were well behaved throughout the 90 minutes.

Admission: £4
Programme: None available
Attendance: TBC

Arnold Town U19 0-1 Carlton Town Academy

Venue: Eagle Valley, Arnold. U19 League Division II

There's a reason why these two clubs are struggling in the league - a severe lack of goals. Arnold had netted just twice in their previous six outings, whilst Carlton had failed to open their "goals for" account in the five games they have played.

So, between them they have scored twice in 11 games - never going to be a goal fest, was it!

The players showed plenty of enthusiasm and endeavour, and both defences were pretty solid - but in all honesty neither defence was troubled overmuch. 

The only goal of the game came in the third minute of second half stoppage time, and like the game, it wasn't a classic! ELLIOTT GODDARD had had a decent enough game in the Millers' midfield, and it was he who fought his way through the crowded six yard box to get to the ball and bundle it home at the back stick, after the home defence had failed to clear a corner from the left. Not much else to say really! F-T 0-1

Admission: £2

Programme: included

Attendance: 35

Week commencing 2nd December - local teams in action

Tuesday 3rd

DOODSON CUP
Frickley Athletic 1-0 Belper Town
Loughborough Dynamo 4-2 Stafford Rangers
Stamford FC 3-1 Worksop Town

NOTTS F.A. SENIOR CUP
Clipstone FC 4-0 Greenwood Meadows
Linby CW 1-4 Southwell City
Radcliffe Olympic 0-3 Basford Utd
Rainworth MW 2-0 Bulwell FC
Retford Utd 4-0 Eastwood Town

NCELP
Worksop Parramore 3-0 Long Eaton Utd.

NCEL1
Rossington Main 0-2 Shirebrook Town
Teversal FC 0-3 Cleethorpes Town

EMCL Cup
Radford FC 1-4 Barrow Town

Wednesday 4th

NOTTS F.A. SENIOR CUP
Carlton Town 2-1 Sutton Town AFC
Selston FC 0-1 Dunkirk FC

UNDER 19 LEAGUE

Monday 2nd
Div ll Arnold Town 0-1 Carlton Town Academy
League Cup Basford Utd 1-0 Staveley MW

Tuesday 3rd
Div ll Matlock Town 1-3 Dunkirk FC

Wednesday 4th
League Cup Blidworth Welfare 4-0 Bilborough Town

Thursday 5th
Div lll Mickleover Sports 5-4 Heanor Town
League Cup Mansfield Town 3-2 Ollerton Town
League Cup Retford Utd P-P Radford FC