Nottm Forest v Oldham Athletic

Tuesday 30th October 2007 Coca-Cola League Division One

Well -- first time at the City Ground for several years, and although not actually non-league, the Reds are only 2 divisions from it!! And the "football" on display against Oldham was below the standard that we have witnessed at some of the non-league games this season.

This was really poor - Oldham were bad, but Forest were rubbish and lucky to get a point. The visitors had the better chances and the home fans quite rightly booed their team off the field at full time.

We were due to travel in Kev's car, but it broke ! So I drove, with Kev navigating superbly...... until we got to the Civic Centre car-park -- we actually went in through the exit ... but the stewards were really good and soon put me on the right track !!

Through the turnstile - looking for the "Legends Lounge" .... could we find it? Could we flippin eck... again a steward put us right - the big TV white van was parked in front of the door !

As we entered the lounge we were handed a programme and team sheet - programmes are £3.00, so it was nice to get one included with the ticket. Grabbed a quick coffee before heading to our seats - two rows behind the Directors box - great view, and what a stadium to be playing third division football in. Even with 16400 in attendance, the place was half empty.

H-T 0-0

Coffee and buscuits at half-time then out for the second half. Only the addition of Arron Davies improved Forest's play, but the improvement didn't last........

F-T 0-0

Took a while to get home - traffic was terrible, but it gave us time to look back on the evening. All we could decide on was that we were more than happy we hadn't actually paid to get in -- our tickets were provided by my employers... thank goodness for small mercies!!

Saturday -- Kev's on about going to see the Florists again ... me? I'm off to watch Gedling Town take on Scarborough - with the promise of a 300+ attendance, parking by the riverside should be interesting !!

Rainworth MW v Gedling Town

Rainworth's new facilities

Gedling skipper James Whitehead

Kick off time

Saturday 27th October 2007 NCEL Division One

The one we were waitng for so impatiently turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, with both teams failing to master the blustery conditions and both teams playing well below par.

Rainworth were without regular keeper Mark Hales and star right winger Craig Wilson, while Gedling were missing left back Sam Saunders -- midfield dynamo Damien McGee slotting into his role. Regular starters Lee Soar and Ben Cobley had to settle for bench places after both missed last Saturday's demolition of Hall Road Rangers.

This was poor by these teams standards -- we have seen both teams quite regularly and know they can play better .... Gedling went ahead after 28 minutes, a speculative 35 yard volley from Brendan Sweeney bouncing on the 6 yard line, completely deceiving Dave McCarthy in the Rainworth goal, before flying into the top corner of the goal.

That was it really for the first half - except to say that it was a bit chilly !!!!! The real highlight of the half was having a chat to the Gedling physio -- she is lovely and would be quite welcome to treat my bad back ANYTIME! H-T 0-1

More of the same in the second half, although the home team looked a little more "up for it". Their considerable efforts were rewarded 7 minutes from the end, a corner from the right headed powerfully home by Barry Albury - why he was left unmarked at the far post only the Gedling players know...no doubt Jimmy and Lee will have a word or two to say.......

F-T 1-1

Although the crowd was sparce, we bumped into old friend ex-Eastwood Town Manager Bryan Chambers and his side-kicks Jack Fell and Dave Nicholls .. as well as Hucknall Town players Gary Sucharewycz and Ben Saunders.

Tuesday sees us enter into the world of the professional game -- we are off to see Nottingham Florists take on Oldham in a rearranged League 1 match. Not my cup of tea really -- it just happens that there is no local non-league football to go to and I have access to our company's season tickets -- trust me, I would never, ever pay to go to see the Florists....

Hucknall Town v Worcester City

Tuesday 23rd October 2007 Blue Square North

We decided to go to Watnall Road for our first visit of the season, even though the Town were bottom of the league and not playing too good ( according to the local press!!) and Champions league footy was on telly.

After paying our £9 to get in, we had a wander around the ground - a lot of improvements from the last time we were there -- grass verges near the dugouts have been concreted, and the area behind the Salterford Lane end has been terraced == all in all a very neat ground.

Had a 10 minute delay in play after the referee appeared to pull a calf muscle -- one lino took over the whistle and a "spare" linesman was found... ( we had a "spare" lino at our last game!!).

Danny Bacon opened the scoring for Hucknall early on, then Danny Mayman's speculative shot from 25 yards slipped through the Worcester keepers hands to make it 2-0 -- crisis ? what crisis?

Mayman fired home a 20 yard free kick halfway through the second period to make it 3-0, then big Ben Saunders headed a couple as the game drew to a close -- 5-0 !! again - what crisis .... nice to see defender Gary Sucharewycz back at his best for Town, but Ben Saunders and Danny Bacon looked the business up top.... we will have to pay another visit to Watnall Road very soon.......

Saturday -- Rainworth v Gedling Town ... can't wait !!

Gedling Town v Hall Road Rangers

A view of one side of the ground

A view of the goal at the River Trent end

A view of the other goal

A view of the turnstile and hospitality

Another great view

Sam Saunders ready for action

Saturday 20th October 2007 NCEL Division One

If you are wondering why we keep going back to Stoke Bardolph, all I can say is that you should get down there and join us sometime -- Gedling are playing some of the best football you will ever see at this level and the only worry is that only 50 or so people seem to know this!!

We watched visitors Hall Road Rangers destroy Rainworth on Tuesday, and thought we may be in for a close game. Gedling are unbeaten in the league while Hall Road have lost just the once.

Kick off was delayed once again, this time a linesman failed to appear and a "spare" had to be found !! Finally kicked off at 3:10pm and by 3:20pm it was 1-0 to Gedling.

A Tim Wilks shot from the left flying into the net off the far post. The lead lasted barely a minute. As Rangers broke into the area, Luke Humphries made a superb challenge, winning the ball cleanly, only for the Referee to award a penalty... a bit harsh on Humphries, but the Rangers centre forward Paul Palmer didn't care - he hammered the ball past Spriggs in the Town goal. Gedling were soon back in front, a great James Whitehead cross from the right on 16 headed powerfully home by Phil Massingham. The same player made it 3-1 in the 34th minute, converting a ball in from the left.

H-T 3-1

On 58 it was 4-1 ... just as we were sampling cheese sandwiches brought round by Gedling Chairman Roland Ash, Alan Jefferies hit a 25 yard screamer that was past Wilson in the visitors goal before he could react. It was 5-1 in the 72nd minute, Tim Wilks tapping home after fantastic approach play by Jefferies. 5 minutes from time Whitehead crossed from the right and Wilks was on hand to nod home to make it 6-1. The same combination made it 7-1 seconds later -- four for Tim Wilks .. superb......

This was great stuff -- Hall Road were at full strength, while Gedling were missing Lee Soar and Ben Cobley from their usual starting eleven. Worrying to see Sam Saunders limp off just before the end - this left back is something special and will not be easily replaced.

So -- people of Nottingham, try to get to Stoke Lane on Saturday 3rd November --- Gedling Town v Scarborough ..... they reckon they will bring 2-300 fans......

Tuesday 23rd October...... not sure whether to watch Champions League on TV or pay our first visit to Watnall Road to see our struggling home town club ( Hucknall Town ) take on Worcester City....

Saturday27th -- Rainworth v Gedling Town -- really looking forward to this !!

Rainworth MW v Hall Road Rangers

Tuesday 16th October 2007 NCEL Wilkinson Sword Trophy 1/4 final

Well - it's better than staying in watching telly... !!

Visited Kirklington Road again - Rainworth were hoping to avoid being dumped out of three cup competitions inside a week...the lost to Southwell City last Tuesday in the Notts FA Senior Cup and then to Chasetown on Saturday in the FA Cup.
A very unfamiliar Wrens team took to the pitch in pouring rain -- it rained all through the game - nice...After a fairly even 30 minutes, Rainworth's Richard Smith went in for a challenge with Hall Road's Adam Walker - the scream eminating from Walker lead you to believe he was seriously injured ..the ref thought so too -- he sent Smith off -- but after treatment from the rather nice Hall Road physio lady, Walker was up and runnning like a lamb in Springtime !! Anyway, seconds after Smith was dismissed, Rangers took the lead - poor defending on the left setting up a tap in for Paul Palmer to give the visitors the lead.

H-T 0-1

James Barnwell saw his 55th minute free-kick deflect past Hales to double Rangers' lead and right on full time, as we were heading up the ramp and out of the ground Rangers added a third.
So Rainworth out of three cups, but having played only 4 league matches maybe Rudi and his lads shouldn't be that bothered.

Other results from Tuesday -- Barton Town Old Boys 3-4 Gedling Town --- Bartons third defeat in 7 days, but the win sends Gedling to the top of NCEL Division One.

Arnold have been playing well apparently - but they lost 6-1 at home to Liversedge in NCEL Premier Division.

Eastwood have been flying, but suffered their second defeat in 4 days, going down 2-3 at home to Matlock...

Rolls lost 3-1 at home to Gedling Miners Welfare in the Notts FA Senior Cup. - no surprise - Gedling are second in CML Supreme, while Rolls languish at the foot of the table.

Next game will be Gedling Town v Hall Road Rangers in a league game on Saturday - it will be interesting to see if the Rangers line-up resembles the one that played Rainworth ...

Gedling Town v Bottesford Town

Saturday 13th October 2007 NCEL Division One fixture.

Went to Stoke Bardolph again -- no apologies, we like to watch decent football and Gedling Town seldom disappoint. Mid-October already, but this was only Town's fifth league game !!! We had some idea of how many would be in attendance -- the Ferryboat car park had loads of empty parking spaces !! It turned out that 50 or so bothered, but those 50 saw a game to remember, with two special goals from James Whitehead.

At this point, let me introduce the Gedling team.... ( in player/fan speak) .. Spriggsy ( Lewis Spriggs), Topper ( James Whitehead), Sam ( Sam Saunders), Millsy ( Matt Milns), Soary ( Lee Soar), Shaggy ( Tim Wilks), Will ( Will Heath), Damo ( Damien McGee), Mass ( Phil Massingham), Westy ( Karl Westcarr), Cobs ( Ben Cobley). Subs : Ash ( Ashley Dice) , Luke ( Luke Humphries) and young Lavel ( sorry, surname not known).

Gedling were 1-0 down after just 90 seconds - a corner nodded down and tapped home by Jackman. Not the best start, but loads of time to recover - but with Bottesford playing the better football and "out-stronging" the Gedling midfield, it looked like the home team would have to produce something special to win his game. The first "special" moment came right on half-time. Gedling levelled from a well rehearsed corner. Will fired the ball in low towards the edge of the box -- Shaggy stepped over it allowing Topper space to fire a bullet sidefoot shot that made the back of the net bulge...apparently that set-piece had never worked before, but this time ..wow!!!

H-T1-1

On the hour, Westy's overhead kick after a right old scramble gave Gedling the lead, then the second "special" goal put the game beyond Bottesford. Sub Luke Humphries' super cross from the right met at the far post with the sweetest flying volley - Topper strikes again, and this lad is a full back.....!!

Not been too much on referees backs this season, but I have to mention this one.....what a dip !!

I am not associated with any club, but out of decency I will not call him the names he deserves,,,, but ........ Mr. J. Douglas --- go and watch some football !!!!! -- you may then begin to understand what constitutes a good tackle or a bad one. Poor decision making, poor man mangement.

Poor everything really.....If I had to give him marks ( not physical marks!!), he would get 1/10 --- at least he was wearing black.....

Future games - and again no apology for going to Kirklington Road again -- as well as Stoke Bardolph again.....

Tuesday 16th October -- Rainworth v Hall Road Rangers ( Wilkinson Sword Trophy 1/4 final) -- worth noting that Rainworth have only played FOUR league matches.......

Saturday 20th October -- Gedling Town v Hall Road Rangers ( NCEL Div 1).

Tuesday 23rd October -- Hucknall Town v Worcester City (Blue Square North ).... short road trip.

Saturday 27th October -- the big one -- who to shout for? Rainworth v Gedling Town.......

Tuesday 30th -- at the moment a day off -- the only fixture Belper v Gresley ( UniBond Presidents Cup) - probably won't bother!!

Also looking forward to Long Eaton v Glapwell (NCEL Prem)on Tuesday 6th November........

Gedling Town v Barton Town Old Boys

Tuesday 9th October NCEL Wilkinson Sword Trophy 1/4 final

When we entered the ground at 7:40pm, we congratulated ourselves on our excellent timing --- only to be told that the ko had been put back to 8:15pm. The majority of the Barton Town players had been held up on the M1 - next Tuesday Gedling travel to Barton for a league match.....not a long trip from Nottingham to Hull, but nowadays any journey utilising motorways at peak times can result in delays -- ok, Cup matches need to be midweek, but surely there are enough local league games that can be played midweek ????

The delay gave us a chance to chat with the Barton centre-half. He was willing to kick off with just the eight players they had, and so what if they lost 4-0.. no big deal.......

Strange game eventually followed :

Barton went 1-0 up on 15 minutes, a 40 yard ( and I mean 40 YARD) free kick slamming into the top corner with everyone stood watching !!! 10 minutes later it was 2-0 --- some really neat football from the visitors ending with a firece drive that came back off the bar leaving the Barton sub no. 15 a simple header, a header which crept in the net with his manager shouting " HE's MISSED THE C**T !!!!"

H-T 0-2

Now the old saying " a game of two halves" really comes into it's own.......... Kev was berating Gedling striker Phil Massingham for his lack of team play and work rate, while I was saying " I don't remember ever seeing Mass score" when he hammered home a 25 yard free-kick to halve the deficit. He levelled the score soon after with a powerful header. What do we know eh?

Cries of "oh no.... not extra-effin time" went up ..... bear in mind that would have meant playing until well after 10:30pm. Well, thanks to good friend and former Eastwood favourite James Whitehead it was not to be. After coming on as sub, James found himself with his back to the Barton goal, six yards out when the ball came to him ... without a seconds thought he volleyed the ball overhead to make it 3-2 to Gedling in the 89th minute. PHEW !!!

Next game -- Saturday 13th October -- we will be at Gedling Town again to see a league match..... vs Bottesford

Dunkirk v Gedling Miners Welfare

Saturday 6th October 2007

F.A. Vase 1st round proper

Looked like being a close game on paper, with Gedling lying 3rd in the CML Supreme Div and Dunkirk 7th.

Close it was... close to being the most boring game of the season so far !! Blimey, it was hard work watching this....

F-T 0-0

THEN !!!!!!!

37 seconds into the first period of extra time, up popped Ben Moore at the far post to head home and give the home team the lead. 10 minutes later Chris Maddison pulled the away team level with a neat header.

Extra-time half time 1-1

Just when the teams were settling for a replay on Tuesday, Brett Peel was adjudged to have tripped the Dunkirk no. 12 some 20 yards from goal --- a poor decison from an otherwise excellent Referee --- Peel did nothing wrong - the no. 12 got his legs caught up with the big defender and went over in a heap. Neil Thompson's free kick flew past the despairing dive of James Mason in the Gedling goal to give Dunkirk the win and the £700 prize money.

Poor game, and the extra-time meant we left the ground just in time to catch the City Ground traffic !!! GREAT !!! I do so love sitting in traffic! NOT !!!!!!

Tuesday -- Gedling Town v Barton Town Old Boys -- NCEL Wilkinson Sword Trophy 1/4 final

Rainworth MW v Kidsgrove Athletic

Tuesday 2nd October 2007

F.A. Cup 2nd Qualifying round

NCEL Div One v UniBond Div One..... another cup upset on the cards? You bet!!

Arrived at Kirklington Road to find the kick off was delayed to 8pm, but the game was well worth the wait. A more or less full-strength Rainworth against a make-shift Kidsgrove side ... even so, there should have been a class gap - but neutrals would have had a hard time telling which team was higher in the pyramid. Rainworth started well, and although prolific Kidsgrove striker Michael Lennon caused one or two early scares, the home team took the lead just 6 minutes in. Malc Brown received the ball some 25 yards out, and with me shouting " hit it Brownie!!! " he did -- and the ball fizzed past a bamboozled keeper to bulge the back of the net. With Raj Wilson ripping the Kidsgrove defence apart it was surprising that the score was not added to before the break.
H-T 1-0

Kidsgrove pressed straight from the restart, but skipper Lee Wilkinson kept his defence steady and when Rainworth's Danny Naylor tapped in with 15 minutes to go, there was a huge sigh of relief around the ground -- but the ref kept the celebrations on hold, playing 6 minutes of added time. Rainworth 2-0 winners -- another upset in the record books and £3750 into Rainworth's bank book !!

This coming Saturday ?

Dunkirk v Gedling MW looks most likely ....FA Vase