GRAYS SCORE CONTROVERSIAL WINNER

Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy

First Round

QUARRYDALE UNITED FC 1 UNITED GRAYS FC 2

Att: 43

Club Mug £5

This ground is one Ive never been to and one of the closest to my house, so when the draw for the County Trophy was drawn, this came out as tie of the round, as it pitted two teams with 100% league records. 

Quarrydale United ply their trade in the Midlands and Notts Alliance, whilst United Grays are in their debut season in the Notts Senior League having joined from Quarrydale's league.

Matches between the two clubs have been close, so I was expecting a close match and thats what I got. On arrival I was greeted by Julie who runs the Refreshments Room and Bar, I was introduced to her husband Tony who is the Clubs Chair, whilst buying a cuppa, I noticed that they sell Club Mugs at £5, so had to buy one for my collection.

Round to the changing rooms area and was greeted by Dale's Secretary who provided me with both teams line ups.

The tie kicked off and it was United who took a early lead after just 5 minutes, when a cross bar found out CONNOR WARD who rifled the ball home. This seemed to awaken United as they surged forward but good defending by the home defence kept them at bay. Just before half time, the home keeper Liam Aspinell was called in to action on three occasions.

After the half time cuppa, it was back to pitchside and the visitors upped their game and again could well have been on level terms a few times with close efforts. On the hour, things were to become harder as they were reduced to ten players for ten minutes, as a player was sent to the sin bin.

Grays continued to press forward and it seemed that it was only going to be a matter of time before they equalised but could the homesters hang on, the answer was no, as in the 76th minute, the ball was played out to DAVID GRAY on the left wing, who fired home from 35 yards to the delight of his team mates.

As the clock was ticking down and extra time looming, with 86 minutes on the clock, a United player went down in the six yard box after a clash with the home keeper, the home defence cleared the ball out of player for the visiting attacker to receive treatment to his head. When play resumed from the throw in, it reached the feet of JOSH GARDNER who tapped the ball in to a empty net. The home side wasnt happy that the ball wasnt played back to them and it turned out to be the winning goal.

It left the match on a sour note to be honest, as the game had been played in good spirit up to that point, so it was a pity to see two good footballing sides at loggerheads.

191 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

JAKE'S HAT TRICK RETURNS WIN TO KEYWORTH

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

EASTWOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FC 1 KEYWORTH UNITED FC 5

Att: 45

Keyworth United moved up to 8th in the league table as they now are four games unbeaten after a convincing 5-1 win away at Eastwood Community Development.

It was the Development side that started the better of the game going close twice before the Greens had their first chance in a frantic end to end start to the game, but it was Developments ZEB KASUJJA who drew first blood by putting his side in to the lead after 16 minutes.

This sparked the visitors in to action and in a matter of 45 seconds they were on level terms when JAKE FISHERS volleyed home from a acute angle from the edge of the box to make it the scores level at 1-1.

Keyworth continued to press forward, whilst Eastwood played on the counter attack and this game looked like it had a goal to be scored at any minute, but we had to wait until the 37th minute, when a cross shot by DAN CHADWICK floated over the young Development keeper and nestled in to the top corner of the net to give the Greens a 2-1 lead.

The Second Half kicked off and it was the Development side who was pushing forward and it was time for the young United keeper to be called in to action a couple of times.

In the 57th minute, a break down the left side saw KASEY FISHER look up and spot the Development keeper off his line and drove a diagonal ball from the wing across the top in to the net to expand the visitors lead to 3-1.

Both sides bought on young subs to give them field time, but by now it was Keyworth who was in control of the game, but in the 72nd minute, the visiting keeper had to be at his best to keep his sides 2 goal advantage in tact with a excellent save, this proved vital as United broke on the counter and JAKE FISHER fired home his second and his sides fourth goal of the game.

This seemed to knock the stuffing put of the young development side and United took advance as JAKE FISHER danced his way round the area and lifted the ball over the outcoming keeper to complete his hat trick and secure the 5-1 win for his club.

I felt all three Match Officials had superb games.  I would also like to thank Keyworth United FC who are sponsoring the Blogs Charity NOTTINGHAM STROKE CLUB with 25p every goal they score this season..In the clubhouse after the match, Tony Spencer of Nottingham City FC kindly came in and donated £30, and then Match Referee Tom Beard chipped in with £2.50 so a BIG thankyou to all.

164 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BROWN'S BRACE SENDS THE POINTS TO THE VILLAGE

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

BEESTON FC 1 RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 3

Att: 18

Ruddington Village returned back home with their unbeaten record still intact after a hard fought 3-1 away victory at Beeston FC.

The game kicked off with a slight delay as the FA took the appointed Referee for a FA Vase tie late on Friday Evening, a late replacement was found but he was at a earlier match and got there when he could, so the game got on its way at around 3.20pm to everyones delight.

Beeston who are laying 2nd from bottom of Division One started brightly and were pushing forward, forcing Farnsworth the visiting keeper in to a couple of early saves, but as the half went on, the more confident Ruddington became and they began to put some moves together.

In the 29th minute, they were awarded a free kick on the right hand side, which was pumped in to the area and first to rise head the ball home was JOSEPH BROWN to give his side the lead. Beeston tried to come back in to the game, but the visitors looked strong on the break and looked  more likely to adding to their tally.

The Second Half saw the visitors pushing forward and it came as no surprise when they doubled their lead in the 57th minute, when a throughball found FRASER CANNON-BROWNLEE who slipped the ball past Matt Hyde in the home nets.

Beeston's heads seemed to have gone down at this point and after 61 minutes, the visitors took advantage of this, when JOSEPH BROWN pounced on to a loose ball and drove home to make it 3-0.

This forced the home management to make a triple change from the bench and this is when they really began to play some football, but their opponents still looked dangerous and home keeper Matt Hyde twice had to deny Cannon-Brownlee in one on one situations.

Finally after 71 minutes, Beeston did get their goal, when a free kick on the left hand side was whipped over the visitors wall and in to the top left hand side of the net by JASON JUDE. Beeston tried to fight back but it was all too late to do so.

To view the 204 photos from the match, please click this LINK

LINDSAY FIRES HOME HAT TRICK FOR PYTHIANS POINTS

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

PYTHIAN FC 4 BILBOROUGH TOWN COMMUNITY FC 1

I chose todays match for several reasons, this being Pythian FC's first ever home match in the Notts Senior League whilst their opponents, it was their first ever game in the league. Before todays match Pythian had lost their first game away at United Grays last week, whilst the Community side had been getting players together to get the season kicked off, so some of the players for them today hadnt even trained together.

Before the game, Pythian Sponsor BNS presented the Club Chair Ben Rosser with the clubs new away kit.

The game kicked off and Town had the first chance with the home keeper having to be off his line quickly to smother any danger and the game was going end to end, but after 16 minutes, the deadlock was broken when MICHAEL LINDSAY latched on to a loose ball and steered it past the on coming Filip Gajos to put the home side in front.

Pythian were more in to the game, playing some fast passing football and could have gone 2-0 up on 28 minutes, when Matt Lockley;s cross shot went just wide, in the 31st minute, he then failed to hit the target from a bullet of a header.

It didnt stay 1-0 for long as LUKE HALLAM in the 36th minute doubled Pythians advantage.

The Second Half kicked off and straight away in the 47th minute, the Community side were back in the game after JAMES SCOTT-PARKIN hreaded in on the back post.

This seemed to give the visitors some confidence as they pressed forward but this also left gaps at the back and Pythian should really of had the game out of sight before the 69th minute, when MICHAEL LINDSAY added his second and his teams third of the game.

In the 80th minute, over on the far side of the pitch was a bit of a tussle, which led to the homesters going down to 10 players when  Adam Marsden was shown the red card and the Community side player getting a yellow, but to be honest from where I was stood, I didnt get a good view of things.

In to injury time and a quick break saw MICHAEL LINDSAY pouncing down on goal and he swerved the ball past the keeper for his hat trick and the points for Pythian FC.

A lovely venue to stand upon the pavilion steps and look over the pitch, which I did with Ruben Clay who had a touchline ban and was a pleasure for his son, who wanted to know abit about cameras, to allow him to take some of the matchday photos.

I must thank Ruben Clay for donating £5 to the charity blog, which is for NOTTINGHAM STROKE CLUB and it takes the running total to a superb £420.75p

169 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

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