Saturday 19th October - local teams in action

F.A. Trophy 1st QR
Belper Town 2-3 Mickleover Sports
Gresley FC 2-1 Ilkeston FC
Ramsbottom Town 7-2 Worksop Town

F.A. Vase Round 1
Graham St Prims 3-1 Harrowby Utd
Heanor Town 4-2 Kirby Muxloe
Hucknall Town 1-3 Desborough Utd
Long Eaton Utd 2-0 Boston Town
Radcliffe Olympic 2-3 Holwell Sports
Retford Utd 0-1 Oadby Town
Sileby Rangers 2-5 AFC Mansfield

NP1S
Bedworth Utd 2-1 Loughborough Dynamo
Eastwood Town 1-1 Goole AFC
Rainworth MW 2-2 Lincoln Utd
Sutton Coldfield Town 4-2 Carlton Town

MFA
Boldmere St. Michaels 2-0 Dunkirk FC
Rocester FC 0-0 Shepshed Dynamo

NCELP
Barton Town OB 1-1 Basford Utd

NCEL1
Clipstone FC 1-3 Pontefract Colliery
Selby Town 4-2 Shirebrook Town
Teversal FC 1-2 Knaresborough Town

EMCL
Anstey Nomads 1-7 Sutton Town AFC
Borrowash Victoria 2-0 Greenwood Meadows
Gedling MW 3-4 Bardon Hill
Stapenhill FC 1-2 Arnold Town

NOTTS F.A. SENIOR CUP
Selston FC 3-0 Radford FC

CMLN
Askern FC 1-2 Glapwell FC
Bentley Colliery 4-6 Newark Town
Brodsworth Welfare 3-2 Harworth CI
Easington Utd 0-2 Thoresby CW

CMLS
Allenton Utd 1-3 South Normanton Athletic
Barrowby FC 1-4 Belper Utd
Bulwell FC 4-1 Bilborough Pelican
Clifton AW 2-6 Real Utd
Holbrook St. Michaels 1-2 Linby CW
Mickleover RBL 3-5 Swanwick Pentrich Road
Mickleover Royals 4-2 Blidworth Welfare
Pinxton FC 2-3 Southwell City

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Awsworth Villa 2-2 Sandhurst
Boots Athletic 2-1 Wollaton
Cotgrave 1-0 Bilborough Town
F.C. Cavalier 2-1 Magdala Amateurs
Keyworth Utd 1-7 Attenborough
Kimberley MW 4-3 Hucknall RL
Ruddington Village 4-3 Nottingham Utd

Heanor Town 1-0 Brighouse Town - Heanor Town FC match report

Courtesy Tony Squires:

Two of the Northern Counties Leagues in form teams met at The Town Ground on Wednesday night. A hard working, gritty performance from Heanor Town FC sent Brighouse Town back to Yorkshire feeling hard done by to not have a share of the points.

Heanor started brightest, the league’s top scorer Debrouwer swinging an effort just over the bar in the 11^th minute. Just a minute later, Brighouse’s Thornton’s effort came off the bottom of an upright.

Mark Frost made the first of his many saves in the 17^th minute, Boafo broke through and saw his low shot held well. Danny Williams nearly took the lead in unusual style in the 26^th minute, his back header 15 yards out flashed past the far post.

Within a minute the referee chose not to book Brighouse’s Jagger for a foul on Grantham when it seemed to all in the ground it was a bookable offence, Peel was booked following a foul in the visitors penalty area after the free kick was taken. Peel’s clumsy challenge on the goalkeeper deserved the booking.

Both Debrouwer and Holmes had efforts come close, Debrouwer’s free kick on 38 minutes deflected over for a corner and Holmes in the 41^st minute going out of play via the cross bar. H-T 0-0

Heanor started the second half in the same fashion, Hall shot high over the bar in the 53^rd then Debrouwer saw his shot go just over in the 58^th after a long ball from Frost landed straight to his feet.

It was in the 62^nd minute that full-back Josh Raven found himself being tripped in the penalty area. The referee pointed straight to the spot, Debrouwer despatching the spot kick out of the reach of the goalkeeper for his 18^th goal of the season.

It was that man Debrouwer who nearly scored again in the 73^rd minute, his free kick well saved by the goalkeeper. Williams should have added to his 47 goals for the club in the 80^th minute, heading over when it looked easier to score. Grantham was the latest player to see the woodwork prevent a goal, his effort in the 86^th minute smashing against the bar.

Frost made another crucial save in the 87^th, when a Brighouse forward broke free he saved low at his feet, deflecting the ball for a corner.

After that corner, a Brighouse forward hit an effort from the edge of the area, with Frost stranded after rushing to collect the ball all were relieved to see the ball crash back off the crossbar.

Heanor managed to hold on to beat a very good Brighouse side, taking The Lions to the top of the NCEL Premier Division form table.

Heanor simply are looking unbeatable on current form, with the same work rate and ethic that both sides showed during this match it is likely both sides will be in the mix at the end of the campaign.

Star Lion: Mark Frost – kept Heanor in the game against a strong Brighouse front line.

Heanor: Frost, Raven, Shaw, Moran, Peel, Blake, Grantham, Hall, Williams, Holmes, Debrouwer.

Subs not used: Wallace, Davis, Granville, Crossley, Baker

Heanor Town 1-0 Brighouse Town

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor.

Heanor's fourth NCEL Premier Divison win on the trot - although it took a tremendous defensive effort and a MOM performance from Lions keeper Mark Frost to keep out their high flying visitors.

Teams:
Lions - Frost, Raven, Shaw, Moran, Peel, Blake, Grantham, Hall N, Williams, Holmes, Debrouwer. Subs: Wallace, Davis, Granville, Crossley, Baker.

Brighouse - Giles, Field, Henry, Hurtley, Jagger, Mitchell, Thornton B, Brown, Boafo, Matthews, Hall R. Subs: Gibson, Hewitt, Thornton J, Hastings, Quinn.

No report for this game - I needed to have a night off. So we spent the game in the company of our good friends, Tony Squires, Ian Duffield, Scott Ward, and Chris Berezai - Lions' secretary Amanda Jones also joined us late on in proceedings.

The game was settled on the hour mark from the spot, the penalty kick awarded by Referee Darren Russell after Josh Raven had been tripped in the box. KIERAN DEBROUWER stepped up and fired home his 14th league goal of the season - a goal that helps keep him at the top of the NCELP goal scorer chart.

Glen Clarence seems to have a settled squad now - and four wins in four outings will have the rest of the league taking notice!!

Link to the league table

Admission: £5

Programme: £1

Attendance: 141

Midweek games - w/c 14th October

Tuesday 15th 

NPP
Blyth Spartans 3-2 Ilkeston FC

NP1S
Brigg Town 2-1 Eastwood Town
Coalville Town 4-1 Rainworth MW

NCELP
Glasshoughton Welfare 1-6 Retford Utd
Tadcaster Albion 5-0 Basford Utd

NCEL1
Clipstone FC 1-1 Dinnington Town

NCEL CUP
Shirebrook Town 1-2 Worsborough Bridge Athletic

EMCL
Arnold Town P-P Borrowash Victoria
Gedling MW 0-6 Stapenhill

CMLN
Harworth CI 2-1 Bentley Colliery

CMLS
Bulwell FC 3-2 Mickleover Royals

Wednesday 16th

NPP
Matlock Town 2-1 Barwell FC
Worksop Town 5-0 Stafford Rangers

NP1S
Belper Town 2-0 Scarborough Athletic
Kidsgrove Athletic 0-3 Loughborough Dynamo
Mickleover Sports 2-2 Carlton Town

NCELP
Heanor Town 1-0 Brighouse Town *
Staveley MW P-P Long Eaton Utd

EMCL
Greenwood Meadows P-P Holbrook Sports

CMLS
South Normanton Athletic P-P Real Utd

Notts F.A. Senior Cup
Blidworth Welfare 1-3 F.C. Cavalier

NSL SENIOR
Kimberley MW P-P Sandhurst

Under 19 League

Wednesday 16th 

Div I 
Basford Utd P-P Staveley MW

Div II 
Carlton Town Academy P-P Arnold Town
Southwell City P-P Matlock Town

Div III
AFC Mansfield P-P Bilborough Town

Thursday 17th 

Div I
Retford Utd 1-2 Worksop Town

Div III
Heanor Town 1-3 Mickleover Sports
Mansfield Town 9-0 Radford FC

Heanor Town 4-0 Barton Town Old Boys

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor.

This was not our "scheduled" game - we should have been at Attenborough v Newark, but that game was switched to Collingham so a re-think was in order. Gedling MW v Magdala Amatuers was in my thoughts - pleased we didn't go to Plains Road though, as the Welfare lost 2-3, and it would have been a defeat that the home committee would have blamed us for! 

Also on the short list were Sherwood Colliery v Brodsworth Welfare and Blidworth v F.C. Cavaliers. As it happens, both those games were called off. Beeston AFC v Burton Joyce looked attractive, but the roadworks scuppered that. So we settled for the Heanor game, and we both agree that we would have been sorely pee'd off if we'd have missed this one!

Heanor have made tremendous strides both on and off the pitch. The squad that Glen Clarence has put together looks very strong, and with a cracking committee and the ground improvements, the future is looking very good for the Lions. Special thanks go to Ian Duffield and Tony Squires for making us so welcome - much appreciated.

Kirsty Holmes / Glen Clarence   

The Town Ground

Lions: Frost, Raven (Stevenson), Shaw, Moran, Peel, Blake, Grantham, Hall, Benger, Holmes (Williams), DeBrouwer (Wallace).

Old Boys: White, Sherwood, Gill, Barlow, Dexter, Cooper, Taylor, Kirk, Benson, Thompson, Lattimore. Subs: Crane, Blendell, Slater, Dawson, Burrt.

Steady rain throughout kept the Town Ground pitch slick - and Heanor took full advantage, playing their passing game almost faultlessly. 

The first Lions goal came in the 22th minute. Gerry Moran's pin-point ball into the box from midfield picked out KIERAN DEBROUWER who controlled superbly before rifling the ball past Ben White from an acute angle.

League top scorer Kieran Debrouwer

The home team doubled their lead five minutes later when COUREY GRANTHAM lashed the loose ball home after White had blocked Nathan Benger's  initial  header from a Jared Holmes corner. 

Grantham (no. 7) being congratulated after scoring Town's second

Derrouwer had a shot well saved by White on 24, but it was the visitors who almost grabbed the next goal on the half-hour mark, Ryan Cooper directing the ball past Heanor keeper Mark Frost only to see Chris Shaw calmly run in and clear the danger. 

Brett Peel in action

Benger was cautioned in the final minute of the half - but the challenge was nothing untoward - just a coming together of players that the Ref didn't like. Worth mentioning this because  it put thoughts into our heads that the striker may be subbed, robbing us of any chance of seeing his 100th Lions goal. H-T 2-0

Nathan Benger

We were invited for coffee and sandwiches in the Boardroom during the break - thanks again, Tony!

Heanor went further ahead five minutes into the second period, this time COUREY GRANTHAM smashing a cracking left foot shot past White from the edge of the box, after Benger had rolled a controlled ball into his path.

Holmes fizzed a ball in from the right on 58 that just needed a touch from anyone - unfortunately it evaded everyone and a great chance was wasted. 

Heanor keeper Frost had to make a diving save in the 62nd minute to prevent Luke Thompson adding to his season's tally. 

Mark Frost

We were almost celebrating Benger's 100th goal for the Lions soon after, but his effort rolled agonisingly towards the goal before being cleared off the line with the crowd already cheering!

As we were wending our way to the exit, Dan Williams carried the ball into the Old Boys box and was tripped. The Ref duly awarded the spot kick and the cry immediately went up that Benger should take this chance to grab his milestone goal. 

Kev whipped out the camera hoping to record a moment of Heanor Town history and was rewarded with 11 seconds of video that recorded the strikers shot saved by White, the follow up belted into the net, and the cracking swallow dive. You can also hear the Ref's whistle that signalled the end of a memorable and most enjoyable game. F-T 4-0

Admission: £5

Programme: £1

Attendance: 151

Saturday 11th October - local teams in action

F.A. Cup 3rd QR
Carlton Town 1-3 Vauxhall Motors
Solihull Moors 4-0 Worksop Town

NPP
Ilkeston FC 1-0 Frickley Athletic
Stafford Rangers 1-3 Matlock Town

NP1S
Chasetown 0-2 Mickleover Sports
Eastwood Town 2-5 Coalville Town
Gresley FC 0-0 Belper Town
Loughborough Dynamo 3-1 Lincoln Utd
Rainworth MW 1-0 Bedworth Utd

MFA
Causeway Utd 3-1 Shepshed Dynamo
Tipton Town 3-2 Dunkirk FC

NCELP
Basford Utd 2-2 Retford Utd
Heanor Town 4-0 Barton Town Old Boys *
Lincoln Moorlands Railway 0-2 Long Eaton Utd

NCEL1
Knaresborough Town 1-4 Clipstone FC
Louth Town 2-11 (eleven) Teversal FC
Shirebrook Town 1-2 Shaw Lane Aquaforce

EMCL
Borrowash Victoria 0-1 Ellistown & Ibstock Utd
Greenwood Meadows 1-3 Holwell Sports
Radcliffe Olympic 2-2 Graham St Prims
Sutton Town AFC 3-2 Bardon Hill

CMLN
Harworth CI 2-3 Westella Hanson
Sherwood Colliery P-P Brodsworth Welfare
Thoresby CW P-P Thorne Colliery

CMLS
Linby CW 1-4 Clifton AW

Notts F.A. Senior Cup
2.   Southwell City 7-0 Ollerton Town
4.   Gedling MW 2-3 Magdala Ams
6.   Blidworth Welfare P-P F.C. Cavalier
7.   Radford FC 2-A-2 Selston FC (in extra time)
8.   Welbeck Welfare 0-2 Hucknall Town
10. Newark Town 0-2 Attenborough FC
11. Arnold Town 2-3 Bilborough Pelican
12. Hucknall RL 0-4 AFC Mansfield

Derbys F.A. Senior Cup
1. South Normanton Athletic 1-0 Swanwick Pentrich Road
4. Belper Utd 4-1 Clay Cross Town
5. Holbrook St. Michaels 1-0 Holbrook Sports
7. Pinxton FC 4-1 Allenton Utd
8. Mickleover Royals 0-3 Mickleover RBL

NSL SENIOR DIV
Awsworth Villa 0-0 Nottingham Utd
Beeston AFC 3-0 Burton Joyce
Cotgrave FC 3-2 Wollaton FC
Keyworth Utd 2-3 Boots Athletic
Sandhurst FC 2-1 Bilborough Town

Clipstone FC 4-1 Kimberley Miners Welfare

Venue: The Lido, Clipstone - Notts F.A.Senior Cup R1

Clipstone - Keiren Watson (36), Rob Paling (pen 60), Carl Snowden   83, 86.

Kimberley - Martin Lench (32)

First round tie between NCEL1 outfit Clipstone FC and NSL Senior Division Kimberley MW - step 5 v step 7a. The scoreline  slightly flatters the home team, but the introduction of the mercurial Carl Haslam with 10 minutes of the second half played, added that little bit extra to the Clipstone team, and the Welfare defence had no answer to the problems he posed them. 

The Hucknall Town connection from last season is massively evident when you look at the Clipstone line-up....

....and the former Town Secretary also made an appearance! Great to see Tony Knowles looking so well after his season horribilis at Watnall Road. Doing a bit of committee work for Matlock Town now - the Gladiators don't know how lucky they are to have secured his services.

Kimberley more than held their own as the first half progressed, and surprised most people in the ground by actually taking the lead on 32.

There appeared to be little danger when Welfare's MARTIN LENCH received the ball 22 yards from goal, but the former Basford United player thought differently and hit a terrific curling effort into the far top corner.  

The lead lasted only four minutes though, Clipstone drawing level thanks to a sweetly timed KEIRAN WATSON volley from the corner of the box that gave Welfare keeper Walsh no chance. H-T 1-1

Invited into the Barry Clarke suite for coffee and a chip butty during the break - thanks everyone, much appreciated!

The game changed completely when Haslam entered the fray. His solo raids down the right causing immediate panic in the Kimberley defensive ranks. On the hour mark, Haslam's ball eventually found Stubley in the box, and as the striker made a move towards goal he was tripped, giving Referee Mr. Jordan Bancroft no option other than to award a penalty kick. ROB PALING converted easily enough from the spot to put the home team in front for the first time in the game.

Although they had a couple of reasonable chances as the second half wore on, the visitors were really struggling to contain Haslam, whose pace and skill troubled their defence time and time again.

The third Clipstone goal was simplicity itself - a Haslam run down the right, and an inch perfect cross that gave CARL SNOWDEN the easiest of tap in from inside the six yard box.

Three minutes later, it was that man Haslam again, this time his cross picking out KEIRAN WATSON unmarked at the far post, and the prolific hit-man is never going to waste such a simple chance. F-T 4-1

Fair play to Kimberley, they gave their hosts a good game and seem to have a decent set of players. Referee Mr. Bancroft thought so as well, writing at least four of their names in his book for future reference! 

Lench was one of those players booked, and when he made an awful challenge on a Clipstone player in the second half, we were amazed when wasn't given a second yellow, just a talking to. Mr. Bancroft also dismissed a couple of people from the Welfare dug-out towards the end of the game. 

Admission: £4

Programme: £1

Attendance: TBC