Saturday 3rd May - local teams in action

NP1S PLAY OFF FINAL
Belper Town 1-0 Mickleover Sports

EMCL
Borrowash Victoria 6-2 Sutton Town AFC
Ellistown & Ibstock Utd 3-1 Holwell Sports
Greenwood Meadows 2-2 Thurnby Nirvana
Radcliffe Olympic 2-3 Bardon Hill
St. Andrews 3-0 Holbrook Sports
Stapenhill FC 4-1 Graham St Prims

CMLN
Clay Cross Town 3-1 Thoresby CW
Glapwell FC 5-1 Easington Utd
Sherwood Colliery 0-1 Newark Town

CMLS
Allenton Utd 4-0 Calverton MW
Blidworth Welfare P-P Mickleover Royals
Real Utd 3-2 Pinxton FC
South Normanton Athletic 3-0 Bilborough Pelican
Swanwick PR 4-3 Hucknall Town

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Awsworth Villa 4-0 Ruddington Village
Boots Athletic 3-0 Nottingham Utd
Burton Joyce 3-2 Beeston AFC
F.C. Cavaliers 1-4 Selston FC
Hucknall RL 4-1 Attenborough FC
Kimberley MW 2-0 Sandhurst FC

Bilborough Town 4-6 Selston FC

Venue: Digby Street, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire. Kick off 6:48pm.

Competition: NSL Senior Division -- this win secures the league title for Selston

Scorers:
Selston - Steve Smith (6, 41), Jay Cooper (51, 57), Dominic Airey (67, 90+3)
Bilborough - Ricky Law (21, 80, 87), Tommy Street (60)

Head count: 65

When we arrived at the ground, the scuttlebutt was that Bilborough only had 7 players, so the result was a formality. They actually started the game with 8, then three more entered the game, and they even managed to replace one injured player with a sub half way through the first half!

Glad we didn't miss this one -- early kick offs are a nightmare for both me and the daftlad, but we would have been gutted to have not made it to this game. 

It took the visitors just 6 minutes to open the scoring, STEVE SMITH running in from the right before slotting past the stand-in keeper. As more Town players entered the field of play, they started to make inroads into a very shaky looking Selston defence, and were deservedly level on 21. RICKY LAW broke the off-side trap and raced in on goal and slotted neatly past Jake Simpson. Law looked a good couple of yards offside, but the goal was allowed to stand.

The home team also had two goals disallowed, one straight from a corner that Simpson palmed into his own net only for the Ref to adjudge he was fouled as he went for the ball. 

With four minutes of the first half remaining, Dominic Airey launched the ball into the Town area from midfield and SMITH collected well in front of goal before turning and smashing the ball home.  H-T 1-2

Selston had a bit of an ear-bashing during the break - although thankfully for the players the interval was cut to five minutes - I imagine fears that the fading light had something to do with that decision. 

The visitors went further ahead on 51, a cracking Rory Davis free-kick from the left met by a superb, powerful side foot effort from JAY COOPER.

COOPER grabbed his second 6 minutes later, racing into the box, keeping the ball alive at the foot of the post and rolling home. 

Bilborough never let their heads drop though, and the Selston lead was cut to two on the hour mark, tall skipper TOMMY STREET nodding home in front of goal after he was left totally unmarked. 

Selston were then awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute after their keeper appeared to raise his knee in Airey's midriff. Steve Smith stepped up to hopefully complete his hat-trick, but fired way wide of the upright. 

 

Steve Smith - oh dear!

The three goal Selston advantage was restored on 67, DOMINIC AIREY on hand to slide home Cooper's terrific cross from the left. 

2-5 became 3-5 on 80, LAW firing home from the spot,  then LAW completed his personal triple 7 minutes later, firing home through a crowded area to make it 4-5. Squeeky bum time for the Selston faithful - but those cheeks unclenched in the third minute off added time when AIREY broke the Town offside trap, and delicately chipped the home keeper from some15 yards out. F-T 4-6

Basford Utd U19 2-3 Staveley MW U19

Venue: Greenwich Avenue, Basford, Nottingham

Competition: North Midland U19 League Div 1

Scorers:
Basford - Josh Rae (20), Kamran Frost (45+3)
Staveley - Ryan Walters (43), Konna Payne (45), Cameron Lambert (90+3)

Had arranged to meet my blog mentor Rob Waite at the ground - just as I pulled into the car-park he was just entering the tearooms (bar). Rob introduced me to Staveley supremo, Terry Damms - apparently good things are going to be happening at Inkersell Road next season....

Before kick off, Basford were presented with their league championship trophy and mementos...the presentation can be seen on youtube http://youtu.be/GYGfJ9MJgOk

There were very few people present at pitch-side, admittedly the game itself meant nothing, but you would have thought there would be a few more there to see the trophy lifted. 

The game was all Staveley for the first 15 minutes or so, but the home team gradually began to lift their game and deservedly went ahead on 20 when JOSH RAE hit a stunner from 25 yards that hit the back of the net, leaving the visiting keeper waving it bye-bye. 

Staveley levelled on 43, RYAN WALTERS slotting past Basford keeper Josh Downie from 8 yards. Seconds later the visitors went ahead after a free kick fired into the 6 yard area was neatly flicked home at the near post by KONNA PAYNE.

There were five minutes added by Referee Dan Middleton, and in the fourth of those minutes, Basford's KAMRAN FROST volleyed home from 6 yards, connecting superbly with a cross in from the right, restoring parity. H-T 2-2

Rob and Terry went in search of refreshments, but the bar wasn't open and they had to settle for corporate tea and biscuits!!

The second half really had nothing going for it, with both teams  seemingly happy with a point apiece. In all honesty 2-2 would have been a fair result on the night, but Staveley managed to grab the winner in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time when CAMERON LAMBERT connected with a corner in from the left,  heading powerfully home. F-T 2-3

So the result was not as the Champions would have liked, but the job was done earlier in the season - well done lads. 

Admission: £2 inc programme

H/C - only a couple of dozen or so in attendance

Cup finals 2014 - still a few to play

Listed are a few finals still to be played - don't take my word for it though - please check out the relevant websites

Notts F.A. Saturday Senior Cup
Carlton Town 6-2 Rainworth MW
Venue: Hucknall Town FC
Date: 29th April
KO: 7:30pm F.A. website (7:45pm Evo-Stik website)

Derbys F.A. Saturday  Senior Cup
Ilkeston FC 2-0 Glossop NE
Venue: Impact Arena, Alfreton Town FC
Date: 29th April
KO: 7:45pm

CML Reserve League Cup
Sherwood Colliery Res 3-2 Dunkirk Res
Venue: The Welfare Ground, Blidworth Welfare FC
Date: 29th April
KO: 7:30pm

NSL Div 2 Cup
Ashland Rovers 0-0 Moorgreen FC (Ashland win 4-3 on pens)
Venue: The Stag Ground, Kimberley MW FC
Date: 30th April
KO: 7:30pm

NSL Junior Cup
Linby CW Reserves 4-1 Radcliffe Olympic Reserves
Venue: Platt Lane, Keyworth Utd FC
Date: 1st May
KO: 7:30pm

H-K-L North Midlands U19 League Cup
Sheffield FC 4-1 Worksop Town
Venue: Inkersall Road, Staveley MW FC
Date: 1st May
KO: 7:30pm

CML Challenge Cup
Thorne Colliery v AFC Mansfield
Venue: Impact Arena, Alfreton Town FC
Date: 4th May
KO: 3:00pm

NSL Senior Cup
Boots Athletic v Hucknall RL
Venue: Eagle Valley, Arnold Town FC
Date: 6th May
KO: 7:30pm

EMCL Cup
Sutton Town AFC v Graham St Prims
Venue: Bardon Hill Sports FC
Date: 7th May
KO:7:45pm

East Midland Veterans - Keith Radford Trophy
Rose FC v Netherfield Albion
Venue: Eagle Valley, Arnold Town FC
Date: 18th May
KO: 1:00pm

East Midlands Veterans League Cup
Gedling MW v Poets Corner
Venue: Eagle Valley, Arnold Town FC
Date: 18th May
KO: 3:00pm

Selston FC 6-0 Keyworth Utd

Venue: The Parish Hall Ground, Mansfield Road, Selston, Notts.

Competition: NSL Senior Division

Scorers:
Dominic Airey (21, 53, 85), Steve Smith (55, 60, 83)

We really are at the arse-end of the season now, but there are still one or two issues to be settled - including the battle for top spot in the NSL Senior divison. 

Selston are in pole position after this result, needing 6 points from their final 3 games to be sure of the title. The only thing that may derail the Selston challenge could be playing three away games in 5 days - Boots on Tuesday, Bilborough Town on Thursday and F.C. Cavaliers on Saturday.

Selston's Jamie Renshaw met us in the car-park - he'd been on a Stag do until 6 o'clock this morning, so was quite happy to take a place on the bench. "Jammer" did stand with us during the first half, along with Pinxton midfielder Joe Riley.

Mr Renshaw and yours truly

Jay Cooper should have put the home team ahead on 10, but United keeper John Marriott was quick off his line and managed to block the striker's shot. 

Cooper's strike partner Steve Smith tried his luck from 20 yards two minutes later - this time Marriott did really well to dive a tip the ball away for a corner. 

Cooper found himself one on one with Marriott with 15 played, on this occasion the keeper managed to dive at Cooper's feet and grab the ball.

The inevitable goal came half way through the period, a superb Cooper cross in from the right headed powerfully home by DOMINIC AIREY from 7 yards out. 

1-0

Smith tried his luck again on the half-hour, and brought yet another good save from Marriott. Soon after, Airey again forced Marriott to save, and as the half neared it's close, a corner from the left was headed back across the Keyworth goal by Dominic Carragher to Ben Moore. Unfortunately for the bearded one, his header flew just wide of the upright. H-T 1-0

Moore goes close

Selston were more or less gifted their second goal on 53 when the visiting right-back tried to play the ball back to his keeper. The pass was short and found Cooper instead, and he raced into the box before sliding the ball across the box to give AIREY a simple tap in to an empty net.

2-0

Selston no.7 Damien James created the next goal a couple of minutes later, his pin-point cross from the right finding STEVE SMITH at the far stick, and the centre-forward fired home from close range.

3-0

SMITH netted again on the hour mark, latching onto Moore's superb through ball and firing past Marriott with consummate ease.

4-0

We had to wait a while for the fifth goal, James again instigating the move on 83 that saw Carragher feed SMITH inside the area - and the no.9 drove home to complete his hat-trick.

5-0

Smith's feat was emulated by AIREY with 5 minutes to play, Carragher crossing into the six-yard area to give the unmarked Airey an easy tap-in, F-T 6-0

6-0

  Great sequence shots of Airey's hat-trick goal

Keyworth tried their best to cope with a rampant Selston, although to be honest it was a bit of a one-way game. The visitors hardly troubled Selston keeper Jake Simpson who was a virtual spectator for most of the game.

Programme: £0.50

H/C 39

MOM - for Keyworth, despite letting six in, keeper John Marriott

MOM - for Selston - probably Ben Moore, with right back Jimmy Barry a close second.

Pics: Kev Goodman

Referee: David Hague did well to keep all 22 players on the pitch - there were odd outbreaks of silliness from the players, but common-sense from the man in black ensured we finished 11 v 11.

Selston line-up:

Simpson, Barry, Davis, Farsworth, Howell, Carragher, James, Moore B, Smith, Cooper, Airey. Subs: Renshaw, Wight, Bastow, Olden, Moore T.

Thoresby CW 0-1 Old Elizabethans

Venue: Greenwich Avenue, Basford, Nottingham.

Competition:  Notts F.A. Saturday Intermediate Cup Final

Scorer: Callum Wilkinson (55)

Thoresby CW currently lie third bottom in the CML North Division, whilst Old Elizabethans are top of MAA Premier Division, needing three points from their final two games of the season to claim the title. 

Went to the game though, not knowing what to expect - little did we know we were going to get such a poor game!  The best team on the pitch were the officials! Referee Mr Pidduck had to show an Elizabethan player a red card, but he had little choice - you can't kick out at an opponent in front of the Ref and hope to get away with it. 

The game was settled ten minutes after the break - a fantastic cross field pass was collected on the left and played into the box where CALLUM WILKINSON was on hand to slot home.  That was Wilkinson's 32nd goal of the season in just 19 games (according to the MAA full-time site). Click here to access.  F-T 0-1

Saturday 26th April - local teams in action

Should be the final full week of fixtures, as the season draws to it's close.

NPP
Marine FC 3-0 Matlock Town
Trafford FC 2-5 Ilkeston FC
Worksop Town 1-3 Frickley Athletic

NP1S
Belper Town 0-2 Halesowen Town
Carlton Town 4-0 Market Drayton Town
Lincoln Utd 0-2 Mickleover Sports
Loughborough Dynamo 2-1 Scarborough Athletic
Sutton Coldfield Town 2-3 Rainworth MW

MFA
Dunkirk FC 2-2 AFC Wulfrunians
Tividale FC 3-2 Shepshed Dynamo

NCELP
Barton Town OB 4-0 Heanor Town
Long Eaton Utd 1-3 Maltby Main
Retford Town 2-1 Garforth Town

NCEL1
AFC Emley 1-1 Shirebrook Town
Clipstone FC 4-0 Hallam FC
Teversal FC 1-2 Hemsworth MW

EMCL
Arnold Town 0-1 Blaby & Whetstone Athletic
Borrowash Victoria 1-1 St. Andrews
Ellistown & Ibstock Utd 0-2 Sutton Town AFC
Graham St Prims 2-0 Barrow Town
Thurnby Nirvana 7-1 Radcliffe Olympic

CMLN
Clay Cross Town 3-7 AFC Mansfield
Harworth FC 2-0 Kinsley Boys
Newark Town 1-1 Askern FC
Ollerton Town 3-2 Easington Utd
Phoenix FC 3-4 Glapwell FC
Thorne Colliery 3-2 Thoresby MW
Welbeck FC P-P Brodsworth Welfare

CMLS
Bulwell FC 11-0 Blidworth Welfare
Clifton AW 3-2 Swanwick PR
Hucknall Town 7-1 Bilborough Town
Real Utd 1-1 Belper United
South Normanton 3-1 Mickleover RBL
Southwell City 1-0 Mickleover Royals

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Awsworth Villa P-P Attenborough FC
Bilborough Town 4-1 Nottingham Utd
Boots Athletic 1-0 Sandhurst FC
Burton Joyce 3-4 Wollaton FC
Cotgrave FC 1-3 Hucknall RL
Kimberley MW 1-0 F.C. Cavaliers
Ruddington Village 1-2 Beeston AFC
Selston FC 6-0 Keyworth Utd