HITMAN FRANCIS SHOOTS DOWN TOWN

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

BURTON JOYCE FC 1 BILBOROUGH TOWN FC 0

Looking for a fixture and noticed that the referee on this match was Lewis Quayle, so after a quick text, the reply was to get to Sherwood and Id got a lift to and from the match. So on the bus from Mansfield to Sherwood and called in to a little cafe that did a lovely breakfast and a cuppa, before popping in to a couple of charity shops and buying a couple of bits. Met up with Lewis and soon arrived at the Poplars, the home of Burton Joyce FC with the Bilborough Town management emptying their cars.

In to the clubhouse, as the cricketers came legging it off the pitch as the rain began to lash down whilst I got the team ones and enjoyed a nice cuppa whilst chatting to a young lady who went out with one of the Bilborough Town team.

Both teams have had different starts, Burton Joyce after being promoted had a 100% record, whilst the visitors also had a 100% record but in defeats, so a home win was the favourite on the cards.

The game kicked off and not many chances were created but both sides were playing end to end football and this created a good game to watch. After 38 minutes, Ricky Law broke down the left hand side and drove the ball across just missing the far post, but then right on the stroke of half time came the turning point of the game, when Sanyo Campbell beat the offside trap with the goal in front of him and fired the ball over the crossbar, then four Town players fell to the ir knees with heads held in their hands.

The Second Half kicked off and I was stood next to Mr Faflik and I just mentioned how well the visitors had kept the Hitman Francis silent and no doubt he would make me eat my words and score in the 46th minute.

In the 46th minute, a ball was played in to the Town box which they failed to clear and the first person to pounce from 25 yards out was NATHAN FRANCIS who fired a dipping shot in to the net to give the greens of Burton Joyce in to the lead.

This seemed to spur Burton forward and good keeping by Liam Lee esp one superb one handed save from a header and superb defending kept Town in the game.

The final fifteen minutes and Town pushed and pushed but the equaliser just didnt come in a gallant performance from them.

Must mention what a great game all 3 officials, Lewis Quayle and his two Assistants Ian Wilkinson and Teo Ayodeji-Ansell had.

I would like to thank Ian Wilkinson for the £5 donation and also Lewis Quayle for the lift and he wouldnt accept any petrol money so he asked me to throw £5 in to the charity as well, so it now takes the running total for Nottingham Stroke Club to a super £414.50p

To view 115 photos, please click this LINK

REDS JUST TOO STRONG FOR THE YOUNG WHITES

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

CLIFTON ALL WHITES DEVELOPMENT FC 0 RAVENSHEAD REDS FC 5

Admission: Free

Att: 24

This match was switched to Friday evening from the Saturday afternoon and was the only Friday match on in Nottinghamshire in the evening, so I thought there would have been a bigger crowd but those who missed it, missed a very good game.

The First 25 minutes, All Whites did the more pressing forward finding the Reds Keeper Dan Hurst in fine form and came very close to taking the lead when the ball smashed the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

On 38 minutes, the Reds had got themselves in to the game and TYLER LAMBERT slotted them in to a 1-0 lead. On 41 minutes, All Whites through they were back on level terms when again they hit the crossbar and there  were strong appeals from the home team to say the ball had crossed the line, the young referee looked over at the club linesman but no flag went up and play was waved on.

After the half time cuppa, it was the club from North Nottinghamshire who were out of the blocks first and within a minute of the restart, JAMIE SIMONS doubled his teams advantage.

The Reds were soon racking up the goals with JAMIE SIMON's getting his second on 57 minutes and ADAM MARTIN making it 4-0 on 63 minutes, whilst I was chatting to local photographer Ian Burton who was letting me take some photos with his lens on my camera.

The young All Whites pressed forward again and thought they had scored when a shot was parried on to the crossbar, then the visiting keeper was forced in to making a double close up save.

The Reds now pressed forward again and it was Harry Bowles turn to shine in the homesters net with two excellent saves, but couldnt prevent TYLER LAMBERT putting the final nail in the coffin to make it 5-0 in the final minute.

I would like to thank firstly Tom Spencer who on behalf of Ravenshead Reds FC kindly donated £11.00 to the Charity Blog which this season is in aid of Nottingham Stroke Club and takes the running total to £404.25p.

I would also like to thank Mitchell Travers mum for the kind lift to Newstead Abbey for me to catch a bus and be home about two hours earlier than if Id have had to have caught the trams and buses.

62 photos from tonights match can be seen on this LINK

YELLOWS DEVELOPMENT JUST EDGE HOME

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

HUCKNALL TOWN DEVELOPMENT FC 2 KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES FC 1

Att: 73

After the blistering heat, here comes two nights of rain, but Hucknall Town have a few stands to keep cover at their Watnall Road ground, where they have their Development team making their home debut in the NSL after winning their first match away at Ravenshead FC a few weeks ago, they were hosting local rivals Kimberley MW Reserves.

The game kicked off and it was the Miners who looked likely to open up the scoring with debutant Zafison Giraud spearheading their attack with quick runs, but after 9 minutes was in a one on one situation with the home keeper and came off second best, the game was stopped and he came to the sidelines dazed and said he couldnt remember anything and was subbed straight away by the visiting manager and led to the safety of the changing rooms to be checked over.

This seemed to take the pressure of the home side and on 16 minutes, whilst the away team were appealing for a foul that wasnt given, the ball fell to ISSAC ANDERSON who fired home low from 25 yards out.

The rain then began to lash down and both sets of players were giving good value to the crowd with some good football.

The Second Half saw Kimberley on the front foot forcing the home keeper Jake Pearson in to several saves, but in the 74th minute couldnt avoid STEPHEN KIRKHAM from heading home from close range to make it 1-1.

Then came the turning point of the match, when in the 79th minute, a shot from a Miners midfielder seemed to have struck the home defenders arm to which the referee waved away and from the counter attack ISSAC ANDERSON smashed home the winner.

In to injury time and Kimberley were down to 10 men as they had Issac Weathall sent to the sin bin and moments later a incident off the ball by a Development player saw the visiting keeper get involved which led to him seeing a red card.

I would like to thank Kimberley Miners Welfare's Ian Shepherd for the kind £5 donation to the blog charity of NOTTINGHAM STROKE CLUB which takes the running total to a superb £392.00

TOWN PICK UP FIRST POINT WITH GUSTY DISPLAY

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

SANDIACRE TOWN FC 1 WOLLATON FC 1

Att; 61

With Hazel not ferrying me about this season, its sometimes a matter of looking round to see who is going to certain matches and I spotted Football League official Ian Dudley was a Assistant Referee on this game, so I rang him and he kindly offered me a lift from Mansfield and back home, well for Ian, tonight its Sandiacre and at the weekend he is at Ipswich Town and then next Tuesday at Accrington Stanley(yes who are they? as the ad used to say).

On arrival at Sandiacre, I was greeted by a couple of the Sandiacre committee and also local hopper Pete Chappell and soon the teamsheets came in.

On to pitchside and there was Malc Storer and Kev Goodman as we chattered and the game kicked off and the visitors were on the front foot and could well of gone ahead after just 25 seconds., but on 4 minutes they had gone ahead when a long ball saw STEPHEN AHERN finish to make it 0-1.

Wollaton then made two early subs including that of top scorer Stevenson and that seem to affect their shape and Town came more in tot he game, but it was one of those games with little chances as each team were well matched and were equal to cancelling each other out.

Meanwhile I joined Newark Flowserve manager Steve Kirkham for a natter.

Just on half time, a corner from the right hand side saw JACK BULL rise at the back post and a mixture of him and a Wollaton sub saw the ball fly in to the back of the net to level things up at 1-1.

The Second Half saw a few more chances that went high and wide and was sure one team would just nick one to win the match but that didnt come and a point a piece was the right result to give Town their first point of the season and also dent Wollaton's 100% start to the season.

Only 19 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

COLLIERY MAINTAIN 100% RECORD

East Midlands Counties League

Premier Division

SHERWOOD COLLIERY FC 3 TEVERSAL FC 1

Admission £5/£3

Programme £1

Att: 161

Sherwood Colliery head the East Midlands Counties table after maintaining their 100% league record after their fifth straight league win.

With Sherwood;s Debdale Lane ground being the closest ground to my house, I strolled down in the blistering heat and soon met up inside the ground with Blidworth's Scott Ward after being greeted by several members of the home committee. Teveral's stand in Secretary Keith Parnill let me photo the teamsheets, as we all wish Kev Newton's wife the very best as she was taken in to hospital last night.

The game kicked off and it was the Colliery that took the lead after just 6 minutes, when a corner from the left side was headed home by GARETH CURTIS. Moving round the ground to get some shade out of the sun, I bumped in to Staveley MW FC man Brett Marshall and his wife enjoying the game before going in to a shaded area behind the far wooded area at the top end of the ground to join a chap from Tevvie and his friend Chris a groundhopper from Leicester.

Teversal tried to push forward but this left gaps at the back and Sherwood were guilty of missing quite a few chances to add to their total, plus they were finding Rio Alberry in the visiting net in fine form.

The Second Half saw Teversal giving it a right go, but it was Josh Turton's time to shine in the Sherwood net to keep the visitors from drawing level on several occasions.

On the hour though, the home side went down to nine men as Charlie Tayloe saw red and then Ethan Wiesztort was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for dissent.

Teveral kept pressing and it looked like they were sure to find a way through for a equaliser, but this wasnt to be the case as the sin bin man ETHAN WIESZTORT who had returned back on to the pitch within 6 minutes had doubled his sides lead to 2-0 in the 78th minute.

Teversal pulled themselves back in to the game with a penalty on 89 minutes that was converted by DANNY FULLWOOD to reduce the arrears and on their next attack they thought they had strong claims for another penalty but the match referee who was up close, waved the play on, to which Sherwood broke and LEWIS WEAVER rolled the ball home in to a empty net to make it 3-1.

148 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

RANGERS WIN AT ASLOCKTON

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

ASLOCKTON & ORSTON FC 1 WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS FC 3

Aslockton kicked off their league campaign  in midweek with a good point away at AFC Dunkirk, whilst Woodthorpe Park Rangers won their first ever match in the Premier Division of the Nottinghamshire Senior League with a home win over Keyworth United last weekend. I was going to go to Magdala Amateurs until I got the news that the match had been called off, so a phone call to todays match referee Lee Clarke to see if I could grab a lift off him to Aslockton.

The game kicked off and both sides seemed to be matching each other and both had early chances, but it was the visitors who took the lead, when a cross from the right side found the head of Rangers hit man MARKELL BAILEY for his fourth goal of the season on 7 minutes.

Aslockton & Orston could have been level on 21 minutes, but for a fine save by Callum Marks from a Kieran Wall penalty. Both sides battled and to be fair, Rangers looked a bit loose at the back and the home side could well have scored a couple before half time, but it wasnt to be.

As we approached the hour mark, Woodthorpe extended their lead when DANNY WALKER fired home from around 20 years.

Things got worse for Aslockton when the Orangemens sub TOBY KING made it 3-0 to the visitors and in the 86th minute, they were reduced to ten players when Nick Smith was sent to the sin bin, whilst it was Woodthorpe's time to miss a penalty through Markell Bailey.

As the clock was ticking down, Aslockton changed tactics and their man of the match SAM WINCH played a more forward role and hit the back of the net from some 30 yards out.

I just thank Lee Clarke for the lift to the match and back home

To see the 169 photos taken at the match, please click this LINK

PINXTON IN 7TH HEAVEN

Central Midlands League

South Division

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 0 PINXTON FC 7

Admission £3

Programme £1

Pie & Peas £2.50

Att: approx 220

Pinxton FC are one of the favourites for the CMFL South Division and on this display this evening at the Fieldings showed exactly why.

On arrival I was greeted at the gate by club chairman Russ Booth and soon joined by New Mils based hopper Ian Oldfield, the local hoppers began to arrive as the programmes were going like hotcakes. Me and Ian ventured in to the refreshments room and enjoyed pie and peas and a cuppa.

I strolled over to the far side of the ground as the sun was very strong as kick off took place and it was the visitors that were cutting out the early chances, so after 21 minutes, it came as no surprise when a ball came in from the right, KIERON DEBROUWER saw his over had kick fly in to the net to the delight of local hoppers, Malc Storer, Kev Goodman, CMFL Press man Richard Lane and others around us.

Within 6 minutes, the advantage was doubled to the visitors, this time by KIERON DEBROUWER's header to the roar of the away bench, which we was stood near to.

The Millers tried to push forward but just couldnt pick up the second ball or even  force the visiting keeper in to a save that was going on target. Things got worse for the Millers in the 35th minute, when a ball in their area was knocked back for ROB FRETWELL to fire home to make it 3-0.

The Second Half saw mostly what we had seen in the First, with Pinxton pressing forward from the off and on 49 minutes, it was 4-0 to them, when ROB FRETWELL got his second of the game.

Things were going horribly bad for the Millers and after 54 minutes, they conceded a penalty to which KEIRON DEBROUWER coolly despatched to complete his hat trick and make it 5-0.

On the hour, KEIRON DEBROUWER made it 6-0 when scoring his 4th of the game, to which Malc and Kev had contacted the player to let him know that exactly 8 years ago to the day, he had scored 4 in another match.

Hosiery Mills still tried to play football but on a night they were second best and after 71 minutes, ROB FRETWELL became a hat trick hero with his penalty to make it 7-0.

Time was running down and yes we had a hat trick of penalties given to Pinxton, all correctly given in my opinion, but was we going to see a hat trick of penalties scored, the answer was no, as the Millers keeper made a superb stop from Shaun Smith;s hard struck effort.

As I was leaving the ground Russ Booth kindly thanked me for attending and kindly donated £20 to the charity;s blog, which this season is for NOTTINGHAM STROKE CLUB, I would like to thank Russ for his kind donation and with the goals scored tonight takes the running total up to a amazing £385.25p

FORGET ME NOT CHARITY

MONDAY 19TH AUGUST 2019

CHARITY BLOG PRESENTATION

Each football season, me and my wife Hazel look at a different charity to support through our Charity Blog, when we first began we raised just over £500 with the idea of every goal we scored at the match we attended, we would put 25p in the bank and give it to a charity at the end of the season.

Each year it has snowballed and we have always looked at the smaller charities where there are no paid workers and the money will have most effect to help the users.

Two seasons ago, I met a old friend, ex Nottingham Forest Supporters Club Chairman Mel Hart and I was in shock and left in tears, as he wasnt anymore the bubbly chap I new, he had become a victim of dementia, but his family was very supportive of him. I must admit I knew nothing about dementia until this moment and knew I wanted to choose a charity that supported people with his condition.

I rang his wife Julie and she said there was nothing in the Beeston area where they lived, so I did a google search and up came FORGET ME NOT, so I arranged to go down one afternoon to have a look at what they did. On arrival we were made very welcome, by Secretary Joan Cannan and had a cuppa and some nice homemade cake. We saw what the charity actually did and bought people together and had a afternoon of entertainment and also organised outings but didnt charge the users, as they raised money through their raffles and donations.

During the season I was approached by a couple of groundhoppers, Herbie & Sue and Graham Moseley who would also donate 25p per goal to the charity blog from the matches they watched, this was growing as clubs were also prepared to do this like Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC with 25p per goal and Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC with £1 per goal and also their Under 16's team.

The Nottinghamshire Senior League also allow Hazel to go round every year at the League Cup Finals and run a raffle for our Charity Blog and also at the end of each season have made a big donation.

Clubs around not only Nottinghamshire but around England have also chipped in and so have players and supporters.

Last season we raised the most total we have ever raised in £1,700 and we could not have done this without everyones superb support whether it was a pound donation or alot more, as each penny soon adds up.

This afternoon we went back to FORGET ME NOT, where they had a guest speaker from Men for Sheds, who got everyone involved in a bit of woodwork and a few folk actually heard Mark Clifford on BBC Radio Nottingham news yesterday, again we had a lovely cuppa with homemade coffee cake and I won the raffle, I know I always win on a raffle!!

All the people in the group were joining in and some told us about their trip out last month on a train which the Group had organised, infact we were asked if we would like to go on the next one in a few weeks time, but sadly we are tied up with meetings that week, so sadly had to decline.

I know a lot of people follow my Blog and read it and one lady from the group has been following it since my visit last year, I posted the photo of the presentation on the groups facebook site and she responded "Thankyou so much Rob, Hazel and Shaun(thats Shawn), - lovely to meet you today, what a marvellous effort, people in the group now will benefit so much, and a great help to secure the future too for others who will need it"

I will sign off now with a BIG thankyou to everyone who has donated and if any one or club would like make a donation for this seasons Charity Blog it is in aid of Nottingham Stroke Club, for more information, you can email me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

TOWN HEAD HOME WITH THE POINTS

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

RAVENSHEAD FC 0 HUCKNALL TOWN DEVELOPMENT FC 2

Att: 24

Wasnt really sure where I was going to venture and with Nottingham Forest hosting Birmingham City, I didnt really fancy catching the bus and tram across Nottinghamshire, so a early morning decision was made to go to The Cornwater as Ravenshead were entertaining NSL newcomers Hucknall Town Development.

Ravenshead FC have had a bit of a shake up, with several players leaving to pastures new, whilst their loyal players have stayed, Town's Development team are mainly made up of players between the ages of 16 - 19 year olds.

The game kicked off and the youngsters from Hucknall settled in to the game, whilst the Ravens played on the front foot, but were struggling to create many chances apart from a couple of set plays, which were headed wide and high over. The visiting keeper then was forced in to action and made 2 very good saves, whilst the visitors looked speedy but the final ball was missing.

This all changed in the 38th minutes, when KURT HALLAM lashed home a shot from 25 yards to give the visitors the lead.

The Second Half saw both sides make substitutions and again it was the homesters who pressed forward and found the visiting keeper in fine form, along with the back line of defence who were solid.

The visitors were beginning to grow with confidence as the game went on and on 74 minutes gained a corner from the right hand side, it was swung in and in came 16 to make it 2-0.

Ravenshead thought they had a chance to get back in to the match in the 88th minute, when they were awarded a penalty, to which Dan Phillips failed to convert when it smashed against the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

I thought that referee Andy Benner had a very good match and both sides played the game in the right spirit and was a good advert for the Nottinghamshire Senior League.

I would like to thank Ravenhead FC's MARK YATES for the kind £10 donation towards the Charity Blog, which this season is for NOTTINGHAM STROKE GROUP, where the running total now is a great £363.50p

To see the 168 photos of the match, please click this LINK

RANGERS HIT FOUR ON DEBUT

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS FC 4 KEYWORTH UNITED FC 1

Admission £3

Programme £1

Att: 100 approx

Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC have powered their way through the divisions in the past couple of seasons of the Nottinghamshire Senior League to finally make their debut in the Premier Division and a home opening fixture on a wet night against Keyworth United.

Rangers having done their first ever programme with me having 24 pre ordered and sold were ready at their new home venue at Basford United for a Friday evening fixture, which paid dividends for them with a crowd of over 100 in attendance as far from Stockport and other club reps from Calverton MW, Bingham Town, Pythian FC, FC Cavlaiers and many more as well as local hoppers.

Chairman/Manager PJ Harte and his family have worked hard on building up the club and its positive profile and see above with the banners made of himself standing all proud to which he should be.

Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC also like last season have pledged to honour 25p for each goal they score this season towards my charity blog which is for Nottingham Stroke Club.

The match kicked off as the rain belted on to the 4g pitch, as everyone in the crowd ran for cover and the two sides looked very even early doors and Keyworth though creating chances wasnt testing the Rangers keeper.

In the 19th minute, the deadlock was broken when deadly hitman MARKELL BAILEY turned his man and shot home to make it 1-0 to the Orangemen.

United pressed hard and went close through Fisher and Siswick, whilst at the other end, Moss shot just wide.

The Second Half kicked off and Rangers were straight on to the attack and they were soon tow goals to the good , when CALLUM MOSS neatly slotted home.

Keyworth then had their best spell of the game and Marks in the WPR net kept them at bay with 3 very good saves, whilst Foster in the United net could do nothing on 76 minutes when Rangers extended their lead to 3-0 through JAMES LAWRENCE FORBES.

In the 78th minute, United pulled a goal back when JAKE FISHER pulled away from his defender and hit a low shot in to the net. This seemed to awaken Rangers as within a minute they had extended their three goal advantage when MARKELL BAILEY made it 4-1.

Must also add that I felt the 3 match officials had a excellent match so well done to Ref Alex Smith and his two Assistants Tom Beard and David Hague.