DALES DOUBLE MAKES TOWN PAY

Midlands Regional Alliance

Premier Division

RIPLEY TOWN FC 0 MAYFIELD FC 2

Attendace: 55(Headcount)

Programme £2(included admission)

Last week I thought I had finished the 2018-2019 season with a trip to Non League Finals Day at Wembley Stadium, but then on twitter in early week, I spotted this fixture to be played at Ripley Town FC. As many of you will know at the beginning of 2002-2003, I was the Ripley Town Programme Editor and also set up a Club Shop, but due to the club having to move location from the Brickworks ground, the club folded out of the Central Midlands League.

A new and current Ripley Town FC was set up and play up on Nottingham Road and having not seen a fixture there, felt this was the time, the club also advertised they were issuing a programme, those who know me, I dont collect programmes anymore but if one is issued I will support the club in buying a couple.

Sad news came through on Thursday morning that the council had taken down the goal posts, so they couldnt play there, so a search for a new location for the match to go ahead was on and a appeal went out, later the club tweeted that the game was to go ahead at Kilburn MW, another ground I had been to but never seen a match. On Friday, came the third change of venue to say the game was moved due to lack of grass cutting at Kilburn and the game would be at Eastwood Community FC.

It was a shame really as a few hoppers decided to give this match a miss after all the effort that Ripley Town had put in to get this game played, other clubs could have taken the attitude of oh well nothing to play for in a dead rubber match and we will call it off and settle for a point a piece, so a lot of respect must go to Ripley Town FC.

I found the buses only ran one a hour from Mansfield to Eastwood , so gave myself plenty of time and was greeted at the ground on arrival by the Ripley Town manager and a couple of the players, I got my 3 programmes at £2 each which included the admission price and had a chat. The hoppers soon began to arrive from far and local and it was good to meet up with them, just before kick off, the Assistant Referee got the line ups for hoppers to write down and photo.

The game kicked off and a young Ripley team pushed forward but Mayfield from the Ashbourne area started to come in to the game, in the first half there were very few on target chances, but tackles were going in fair and hard from both sides.

At Half Time, I asked Pete Watmough if he was returning back to Mansfield after the match and he offered to give me a lift home, which I was very thankful for, we had a quick drink(mine was a shandy, as I havent drunk now for about 9 months).

The Second Half had begin when we got outside and the visitors had the first chance but the Town keeper was equal to the visiting attackers effort.

As the game went on, it was Mayfield FC that was playing the better football and looked the most likely to score and after 63 minutes JOSH DALES struck a low shot in to the corner of the net from 25 yards.

Town were in shock and in the next visitors move, JOSH DALES added his brace and doubled his sides lead to 2-0 with a side footed placed shot.

Ripley then pressed forward and in the 78th minute felt they had a chance to get back in to the match, when a player went down in the area in my view, the referee pointed to the spot, but then went over to the Assistant Referee and then gave a free kick just outside of the area. The free kick was blocked and cleared.

142 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

CITY HIT TOWN FOR SIX

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Senior Cup Final

SOUTHWELL CITY FC 6 STAPLEFORD TOWN FC 1

Stapleford Town won the Premier Division title and for a long time in the season it was a fight between them and Southwell City at the top, but Southwell dropped a few points and ended up in third place, but in the 2 league meetings, it was the Minister Boys that had the edge, winning 1-0 at home and a 1-1 draw in the other meeting, so a close Final was expected.

The game began in front of a large crowd despite the FA Cup Final being held at the same time and the game was quite even with both sides going close until in the 25th minute, JONATHAN NUSSEY released a volley n to the corner of the net to give City the lead.

Straight from kick off, Town pushed forward and were caught out and a long ball found JONATHAN NUSSEY who punished them to make it 2-0.

The Second Half began in  dramatic style when on 47 minutes, a City player was upended and James Hunter saw red as his Town side were reduced to ten players. Up stepped JONATHAN NUSSEY to place the spot kick in to the net to complete his hat trick.

In the 54th minute, things got worse for Stapleford Town when they were reduced to nine players when Luke Guadagni bought down a opposition player on the edge of his penalty area.

In the 68th minute, Stapleford had a corner, but a long ball out found City sub GEORGE CAUDWELL who drove forward and placed the ball past the outcoming Turner in the Town goal to make it 4-0.

It soon became 5-0 as on the next attack, GEORGE CAUDWELL chipped the ball in to the net. By now a few of the Town;s heads had gone down, but they still soildered on and got a slight reward when ADAM HASSELL neatly chipped the keeper with 13 minutes to go.

In injury time, CALUM LAW finished off the job to make it 6-1.

My self and my wife Hazel would like to thank everyone for donating at this matches Charity Raffle that raised £149 in aid of Nottingham Stroke Support Group.

149 photos can be seen on this LINK

ROBIN HAD MORE IN RESERVE

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Junior Cup Final

ROBIN HOOD COLTS 3 COTGRAVE RESERVES 0

Mansfield based Robin Hood Colts in their debut season in the Nottinghamshire Senior League finished it off in fine manner winning 3-0 in the Junior League Cup Final against Cotgrave Reserves.

The game kicked off and Cotgrave started the game the brighter and the Hoods keeper was called in to action from a threatening move with Waddell.

Robin Hood came back in to the game but the First Half was a very even period.

The Second Half began with Cotgrave on the front foot, but Robin Hood weathered the storm and in the 58th minute, a cross from the right hand side saw the Division Two's Top Scorer GEORGE CAMPS slot home from close range.

Cotgrave pushed forward but on 67 minutes they were reduced to ten men as Tommy Bacon saw red.

With the clock ticking down, The Colts pushed forward and DANIEL TYSON got his head on to the ball at the far post to extend the lead to 2-0.

Cotgrave had one final push forward but left gaps at the back and a good advantage played saw GEORGE CAMPS make it 3-0.

The 4 officials all had superb games.

The Charity Raffle raised £109 and we would like to thank everyone for their support.

198 photos can be seen on this LINK

ABOUT THE CHARITY BLOG

Some years ago, I was inspired by Nottingham Based Groundhopper Malc Storer and his idea to put a bit out of Non League Football in to local charities, so I set up my Charity Blog named AroundtheGrounds and the idea of sponsoring myself 25p each goal I saw scored throughout the season, with a aim of raising around £100.

Roll on the years and now I have many clubs, officials and players handing me money towards the chosen causes and even members of my facebook group named Non League Grounds of England Wales & Scotland to which in the photo above memeber Graham Moseley handed over a cheque for £75 recently.

The totals over the years have snowballed and never in my wildest dreams when first setting up the Charity Blog did I ever think that I and my wife Hazel would ever see over £1000 in a season raised, but this has happened now for the past 2 seasons.

We tend to chose the small charities with people that dont get paid, so the money goes directly to the people that need it for support, such as this past season aiding a small charity named FORGET ME NOT, a charity that gets no support and has to rely on donations for its members who have dementia and other special needs.

The Nottinghamshire Senior League is very supportive each season allowing my wife Hazel to do the raffle at their League Cup Finals Day which starts our next seasons Charity Blog which the 2019-20 season will be for a small Stroke Support Group n Nottingham.

A few clubs now have also begun to sponsor a goal for their teams that have scored throughout the season for my charity and I just cant say thankyou enough to everyone that makes a donation.