REES SEALS CLOSE ENCOUNTER VICTORY FOR BOOTS

Midland & Notts Alliance League

Premier Division

RAINWORTH SENIORS FC 1 OLD BOOTS FC 2

Att: 14

With the wet weather wiping out matches up and down the country, I looked for 3g pitches and any around the Mansfield area as I didnt fancy travelling very far on Christmas Saturday and noticed that Rainworth Seniors FC were hosting Old Boots FC just up the road at Joesph Whittaker School on the newly laid 3g pitch, it was also a venue Id never seen a match, possibly the closest ground to my house Id never been.

With a early morning phone call to Seniors Secretary Luke Whitmore just to check that the ground was open due to the holiday season, a positive reply of game on 2pm kick off was all I needed and a phone call to local hopper Herbie and Sue and they were to meet up with me at the game.

On arrival, I was greeted by both clubs and also found a coffee machine before referee Darren Reynolds let me take a photo of both sides line ups.

The game kicked off and was a very tight affair with the Seniors mainly on the attack but not working the opponents goalkeeper, whilst Boots pushed forward and in the 8th minute, a corner found the head of GREG McLEAN who glanced the visitors in to a early lead.

The action was quite frantic and end to end and on 33 minutes, Rainworth were back on level terms when ASHLEY KEAY found the back of the net.

This pushed Boots in to a quick reaction and within 2 minutes, they had retaken their advantage, when TOM REES turned inside the penalty area and slotted low in to the corner of the net.

The Second Half saw the pace slow down and there was a few niggly tackles and a sort of stop and start half as neither of the teams put their foot on the game, though both sides had chances to add to their goal tally but both keepers were forced in to some excellent saves.

Ref Darren Reynolds had a decent match and only used his card when he needed to, as it wasnt a dirty match and at the end of the game all players returned back to the pub.

99 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

VILLAGE MAKE IT FOUR FROM FOUR

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 4 RAVENSHEAD FC 0

Played on Pitch 3 @ Basford United FC

Att: 11

Uncertain where to go, I decided to leave it till the last minute and whilst eating my bacon and mushroom sandwich, I got a email to say local referee Colin White was on the above match, so I rang him to see if I could grab a lift off him, which he kindly allowed me.

The game kicked off as these 2 clubs have met each other three times in the past 3 weeks, with Ruddington winning all 3 games 2-1 in different cups and a league meeting.

The First half was very even and both sides had their chances, but nothing for the keepers to save, but on 27 minutes, a break down the left side saw JACK DICKIE dance to the edge of the penalty area before placing the ball home to give the Village a 1-0 lead.

The Second Half saw Ruddington make the brighter start and apply pressure but Ravenshead were soaking it up, until the 55th minute, when Jamie Bennett caught a Village players leg and bought him down. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot, to which DAN NEARY stepped up and dispatched to double his sides lead.

Ravenshead pushed forward and nearly got a goal back when a shot went just wide of the far post, but it was Ruddington again who sealed their fourth win against their opponents when in the 78th minute their sub JAMIE NEEP fired home a lovely shot from the edge of the area to wrap up the points.

107 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS FC 3 FC CAVALIERS 0

I popped in to watch the Second Half of this match as this was a 3pm kick off and at half time the score was level at 0-0 though WPR had missed a first half penalty.

The Second Half kicked off and I stood with Karl White for a quick chat and then went over to the far stand was joined local hoppers Malc Storer and Wayne Morrison and WPR sub Tobias Richardson.

The game was being played at a fast pace with WPR cutting out the chances and Cavs spring the odd counter attack. As Id not started my stopwatch or got the team line ups at the time, Ive no idea what time the goals were scored, though their first goal was scored by CONNOR SCOTT-PARKIN, then MARKEL BAILEY made it 2-0 before club captain CORY JOHNSON completed the goals for the day.

Referee LEWIS QUAYLE kindly gave me a lift back to the pub and donated £10 to the Charity Blog which is in aid of NOTTINGHAM STROKE CLUB. One of the Assistant Officials Scott Anderson kindly gave me a lift home, so can I thank all officials for today.

EAGLES AND PINXTON SHARE THE POINTS

Central Midlands League

South Division

ARNOLD TOWN FC 1 PINXTON FC 1

Many will know I was involved some time ago with Arnold Town FC as Programme Editor and Club Shop Manager back in the 1990's, since that time they have moved from Gedling Road out to Eagle Valley just off the main A614 and they still have their loyal fans that follow them, so it is always nice to catch up with them.

As Id gone to Eagle Valley to watch the NSL match that kicked off at 2pm, this gave me a chance to watch the Second Half of this match above and catch up for a chinwag with folks Ive not seen for a while.

Steve Holland the Arnold Town FC Chairman made me welcome and gave me a cuppa and programme and I ventured out of the clubhouse to watch the Second Half, I soon bumped in to CMFL press officer and long time friend Richard Lane who kindly donated £10 to the Charity. As Steve wouldnt accept any admission off me, I said I would donated £3 to the charity from Arnold Town FC.

Arnold were 1-0 up at half time and Pinxton were pressing hard and got their equaliser and the the Eagles pressed for a winner.

After the match in the clubhouse, I sat with match referee James Tewson and his 2 Assistants Robin Bourne and John Beckett, John also kindly donated £3 to the charity blog sending the running total to a superb amount of £578.75p

VALLEY MAKE IT TEN PERFECT

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

AFC TOP VALLEY 6 KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES 1

Att: 21

AFC Top Valley went in to the game with a 100% league record of recording nine wins out of nine and faced a youthful Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves to attempt to make it ten wins out of ten on the outside pitch at Eagle Valley.

Before the match, photos were taken of the home club and a minutes silence was respectful observed by all following the sad passing of Basford United Community FC's manager Stef  Taylor.

The match kicked off and Top Valley were straight on the front foot and could have gone ahead after just 22 seconds when a ball was blasted wide, but on 93 seconds they did take the lead, when a crossed ball found BENJAMIN CUMMINGS to slide the ball home from close range.

Kimberley fought back hard and had several chances to equal the score, with a save from the Valley keeper, then a Ian Shepherd header that just cleared the crossbar and two dangerous free kicks that didnt avoid the Valley wall.

On 13 minutes, JOE GUNN slipped his defender to fire home and make it 2-0 to the homesters, but Kimberley still pressed forward but really needed a striker who could just put the ball in to the net, as they created quite a few chances.

The Second Half kicked off  and again it was the Valley who were on the front foot and 49 minutes took a 3-0 lead when captain ADAM SPRAKE converted. On the hour came the goal of the game when JOE GUNN smashed the fourth goal from a acute angle leaving the visiting keeper to just watch the ball nestle in the net.

Kimberley kept battling and on 69 minutes, ROWAN SMITH pulled a goal back, but it was then Valley who pressed forward and the visiting keeper to pull off three stunning saves, before  KANE PEARSON netted AFC's fifth of the afternoon.

Kimberley still dont give up but pressing forward this left gaps at the back and JAMIE BILBIE took advantage of this and scored his sides sixth goal and completed the days scoring.

150 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK