Friday 30 May 2008

Saturday 17 May 2008

Saturday 17th May 2008



THE MAN IN THE HAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING US AROUND ALL SEASON....who is he? Answers on a Post card please!!!

Kimberley Town v Newark Flowserve CML Premier Division

Our last game of season 2007-2008 also turned out to be the final game of the CML season - in the other game scheduled for a 1pm kick off, Sutton's opponents Stanton were unable for field a team so Sutton were handed the three points by default!

It was mentioned in conversation on Weds that the Stanton lads had a wedding to go to, so no surprise they failed to get a team together.

One or two hoppers were not at all pleased, but at least when they diverted to the Stag ground, they got there to discover the kick off had been delayed until 12:30pm as Flowserve arrived a little late...

We arrived at 11:45am - and there were quite a few people already inside the ground. Not a lot of local football available at this stage of the season!

Noticable that the "big lad" keeper was not on the team sheet, but his replacement was soon picking the ball out of the net - Callum Martin heading home in the 6th minute. Kimberley kept up the pressure, but we had to wait until the half-hour mark for their second goal - Abdul Ahmed taking his time before firing home from 10 yards.

Four minutes later it was 3-0, Kieren Cooper surprising everyone by hitting a 20 yard left foot curler past the visiting keeper - apparently he rarely scores, and when he does they are usually right-foot tap ins!!
H-T 3-0

Kimberley seemed to lose the plot in the second half, and invited Flowserve forward - and there were a few nerves when Joe Sharpe reduced the Newark deficit. However, any nerves were settled when a free-kick was prodded home by Emanuel Brianto to restore the home teams three goal advantage. F-T 4-1



Players, officals and spectators all observed a 2 minutes silence in memory of CML Referee Secretary Andrew Bandelow who sadly passed away on Friday.

Admission £2

Programme £1 ( thanks Danny!)
Attendance -- first half head count 60 -- second half head count 80 ( a few late arrivals from the Sutton game? )....

Convinced Kev to do a walk aorund the perimeter of the pitch while we were waiting for the kick-off.....this turned out to be one of my less-inspired ideas -- we both ended up with very sodden feet -- the grass was a little bit wet behind the top goal!!

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Stag again...this will be on the list for a visit or two next season.

THE END

Wednesday 14 May 2008

Wednesday 14th May 2008

Stanton Ilkeston v Kimberley Town CML Premier Division



Arrrggghhh....fourth game in 5 days .......................and it was bloody cold again!!

Apparently Stanton have been a bit of an easy touch lately, but a makeshift Kimberley side found them much too hot to handle. This had been billed as the last game ever on this ground, but it would be a waste, because with a few bob spent on it this could be a decent set-up.













Only about 20 people in attendance - UEFA cup final / Hull v Watford looked more attractive to me as well, but Kev's former colleague is still in Town and he needed to get out of his hotel room... any excuse!!!!!


Stanton were not expected to win this encounter, but Kimberley were poor - I know it was a team scratched together, but even they will admit they were below par..


Stanton took the lead on 17, a defence splitting pass finding no. 11 who calmly slotted home. In the 21st minute the home team doubled their advantage - a header from no. 9 after the keeper had pushed a shot onto the bar. H-T 2-0


It was 3-0 on 67, the no. 10 jacket strolling through a static Kimberley defence before rounding the keeper and firing home. 2 minutes later no. 6 made it 4-0 and it was 5-0 when no. 11 crashed the ball home in the 85th minute. With the final kick of the game no.10 added his second, Stanton's 6th... F-T 6-0


Sorry about being so vague ref the scorers... I have no idea who was who on the pitch !!


This was far from being a classic, with both teams seemingly happy just to get the fixture out of the way... still, another night out, another 6 goals...that is 23 goals in the last 4 games - can't be bad!!


£2 to get in, £1 for a programme - this was stapled all over the place -- with sheets added after final assembly I think....


FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON -- Saturday we get to see Kimberley again - this time at home to Newark Flowserve. We saw Flowserve get hammered 7-0 at Sutton last week - we have just seen Kimberley lose 6-0 -- what's the odds on a goal-less draw on Saturday!!!!

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Tuesday 13th May 2008





Blidworth Welfare v Calverton MW CML Premier Division

Paid our first visit to Blidworth to see them take on Calverton - Calverton needing the win to ensure runners spot would be theirs. Not been to Blidworth for many years, we used to play YEFL rep squad games there - back in the dim and distant past....pleasant enough set-up... very nice view, but needs the odd lick of paint. Last time we saw Calvo, they destroyed Thorne Colliery 9-0 - we didn't think this game was going that easy, but when they missed a sitter in the first minute, we did begin to wonder.

As it happened, it took just 5 minutes for BEN MIDDLETON to open the scoring - a tap in after the ball was played across goal from the right. Blidworth settled down and made a game of it - both teams were displaying some good touches, and it was not until four minutes from the break that Calverton increased their lead -- this time WARREN HATFIELD firing past Frost in the home net. Blidworth pulled one back in the minute of added time, VINCENT'S shot from the edge of the box beating the despairing dive of the Calverton stopper. H-T 1-2


Normally a goal near the break gives a team a boost - it did this time, but it was the visitors who upped their game, netting twice in the first four minutes of the second period. After a great save from Frost, BAZ PAINE was left with a loose ball tap in to make it 1-3, then MIDDLETON netted his second, yet another close range tap in. It stayed at 1-4 until the 85th minute when HATFIELD rounded Frost to score the visitors fifth. F-T 1-5


£2 to get in - no programmes left when we got to the ground -- flippin hoppers took em all !!

Kev's mate Rob was in town on business from Scotland - staunch Dunfermline fan... He was a little surprised with the quality of football the teams turned out - well impressed. Looks like he may be hooked - he is planning on taking in the Stanton Ilkeston game with Kimberley....
Weds -- Stanton Ilson v Kimberley Tn

Monday 12 May 2008

Monday 12th May 2008









Wollaton Res v Basford Utd Res -- NSL Junior Cup final

Bit of a treat is Monday night football....but I'll tell you what, by the end of extra-time and penalties it was bloody freezing...I have never left a ground so quickly to get home!!!!


Anyway this was a chance to see Notts Senior League teams in action for the first time this season, and I have to say the 90 minutes regulation were okay.... nothing brilliant, but seen worse....last Wednesday comes to mind...


Having never seen either team, your first thought is who is who - then you see the crest on the blue shirt is Wollaton Hall -- kind of gave it away really!!


Basford took the lead on 18, their no. 9 drew the defenders to him then whipped the ball across the goal where his strike partner J. Manders was waiting to stroke home. It was level after 36, a corner fired in - a glancing header from Wolly skipper Dean Hind, with the 6' 6" keeper shouting that the ball was his!! Oh no, it wasn't....H-T 1-1


Wollaton took the lead on 65, Peach winning a race against his marker and slotting past Palethorpe in the Basford goal. 90 seconds later it was all level.

This you had to see to believe -- a
shot from the Wollaton no.10 ended up spinning back towards his own half -- the Basford right winger raced onto the ball and crossed into the box where Manders was waiting to loop a header over Wollaton keeper Elliott....!! F-T 2-2
Extra-time and freezing.. 2-2

Penalties --
WOLLATON won 3-2 on penalties - apparently

Tuesday - CMLP Blidworth v Calverton....

Sunday 11 May 2008

Extra game -- Kimberley Tn v Newark Flowserve

Saturday 17th May...

This was going to be missed because it clashed with the F.A. Cup final -- now, thanks to Newark Flowserve agreeing to a 12 noon kick off, we can watch this and get home in plenty of time to catch the Cup Final !!


Will be match number 78 of the season....

Saturday 10 May 2008

Saturday 10th May 2008

Sutton Town AFC 7-0 Newark Flowserve -- CML Premier Division















The "bearded wonder" and Sutton Manager Danny Bryant
( which one is concentrating on the game? )

Big lad !!
Very big!!

As a contest, this was over after 15 minutes... that's how long it took Sutton to hit three goals past one of the widest goalkeepers we have ever seen!!
Apparently the Newark regular keeper has been out injured for a while - and Sutton took full advantage of the fact that the replacement struggled to deal with anything they hit at him.

We had to wait until the 11th minute for Town to open the scoring, James Senior crashing a right foot shot past the hapless keeper.
4 minutes later, the same player had a try from 22 yards with his left foot - same result.

On 16, Lane netted after the keeper ( surprise, surprise ) failed to hold on to a long range effort.
It was 4-0 after 36, a header looping slowly over the keeper -- he tried to get to it, bless him, but jumping was never going to be an option for him!! A 30 yard free-kick ended the first half scoring. H-T 5-0
More evenly contested start to the second period, but the heat was telling on everyone -- blimey, it was hot!!

It took 20 minutes for the Snipes to add to their total Luke Shiels belting one past the "big lad" from the edge of the box. The same player added the 7th with 5 minutes to go - a lovely move ended with a superb right wing cross and a classy diving header. F-T 7-0

Great day out in the sunshine... Danny Bryant has high hopes for his young team - they will finish fourth in the League at worst - should be enough to earn them promotion to the Supreme Division.


Tuesday night -- we were supposed to go to watch Blidworth v Calverton, but Sutton made such an impression on us both, that we may end up at the Fieldings again to see them take on League Champions Ollerton Town.. we'll see.....

Friday 9 May 2008

Just a few more games to go.....

A few matches to go to....

Saturday 10th May
CMLP -- Sutton Town AFC v Newark Flowserve

Monday 12th May
NSL -- Junior Cup final -- Wollaton Res v Basford Utd Res ( at Hucknall Town)

Tuesday 13th May
CMLP -- Blidworth Welfare v Calverton MW

End of our travels, but not the end of the football !!!

Wednesday 14th May
UEFA Cup Final -- Rangers v Zenit St. Petersburg at Manchester City

Saturday 17th May
F.A Cup Final ---Portsmouth v Cardiff City

Wednesday 21st May
Manchester Utd v Chelsea

Saturday 24th May
Championship play-off

Sunday 25th May
League 1 play-off

Monday 26th May
League 2 play-off

Wednesday 7 May 2008

Wednesday 7th May 2008

Ollerton Town v Eastwood Town -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup final






zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...... oops... fell asleep again -- thought I was still at Meadow Lane!!!

Notts F.A.'s showpiece final turned out to be probably the worst game of the 74 we have seen this season...


Two goals from Eastwood's Matt Rhead (18th and 24th minutes) effectively killed this game dead.

The first goal came after Shaw won the ball, Hanson crossed for Rhead to tap in from 2 yards..scuffed it a bit, but they all count. The other goal was a shot from just outside the box, that MOM, Ollerton keeper Morris let slip under his body. Ollerton had nothing to offer and Eastwood had nothing else to do but play out the remaining time before collecting their trophy.

Chips were cold - programme was just a £0.50p colour team sheet. The bloke on the PA struggled all evening with a dodgy mike -- coming across like Norman Collier every time he made an announcement . Mind you, he was a bit daft - he said on TWO occasions that it had been a great game!! Just what have they been watching at Meadow Lane this season?????

This is the first time I have heard Kev say he had had enough and wanted to go home before the end of the game --- he was unlucky though -- I was driving tonight and I won't pay £5 and not watch the whole 90 minutes!!

Fantastic navigation job by Kev on the way home - I am hopeless driving in Nottingham but Kev knows the city centre roads well -- a lot of driving to and from the City Ground in his past.....

Sorry about the lack of detail about the match....but it really it was rubbish. But, well done to the Badgers anyway -- UniBond League Cup winners, Notts FA senior Cup winners and 4th place in the league -- great season.....

Had a chat to former F.A. Secretary Mick Kilbee, not seen him for a couple of years.

Saturday -- CML Premier

Sutton Town AFC v Newark Flowserve ( match 75)

Tuesday 6 May 2008

Tuesday 6th May 2008






Forest Town v Gedling MW CML Supreme Division

6:30pm kick off made this a bit of a rush after finishing work, but traffic was fairly light and arrived at the ground in plenty of time. Kev was back from his weekend jolly's and met me at the ground. Forest Town have apparently got hold of Scarborough's old floodlights, but I can only assume they are still in Scarborough - hence the early ko.

Forest Town needed a point from this, their final game of the season to ensure finishing in second spot behind Askern. For a while, Gedling looked to have spoiled the party, Stefan Dalmedo's superb 23rd minute free-kick giving the visitors a deserved lead. H-T 0-1

Town Manager Gary Castledine came on at half time, and his players seemed a little more motivated. It still took until the 81st minute for the home team to level - visiting keeper Mason watched the ball fly over him and as it was played back across his goal the ball was fired home from close range. Nasty incident towards the end of added time -- Dalmedo appearing to strike a Forest Town player earning a straight red from referee Mr. Ward - and probably a three match ban to start off with next season. F-T 1-1


Had a nice chat with Rob Hornby again - he explained how the League hopes the new re-structuring will work next term...


Admission £3.00 , excellent programme £1 -- me, being me, had a £20 note - and was rewarded with 16 x £1 coins for change......damn it - I'll never learn !!
On the whole a very pleasant evening - nice surroundings, a couple of decent views ( until it got too cold and coats were put on!! ) .......

Sunday 4 May 2008

Sunday 4th May 2008

CML Cup Final -- Bildworth Welfare (Premier Division) v Dunkirk (Supreme Division)

Rare treat - going out to football on a Sunday!

The last time I went to the grandly named " Impact Arena", was a few years ago when they played Eastwood... the pitch was not too clever then either if memory serves....
A lot a lot of bare patches and a very uneven surface .... but apparently using this venue is custom and practice for this Cup final.

Always difficult to park on North Street -- but managed a spot down the bottom of the hill. On entering the ground I was greeted by Mr. Rob Hornby - an avid reader of this blog, and CML Official ... thanks for the kind words, Rob -- much appreciated.

The teams emerged from the tunnel and lined up for the introductions...



Then we were treated to the National Anthem !! A very nice choral version...great stuff!

The first half was not too good, but nerves and the occasion could account for that.. chances few and far between. H-T 0-0


The second half started off much better, and it was difficult to see which team was from the higher division -- and Dunkirk keeper Darren Wheater-Lowe made one superb tip-over save that kept the Supreme Division team in the game. However, the teams failed to score in the regulation 90 minutes, so the game went into extra-time.


Just three minutes into the first period of extra-time, Blidworth conceded a corner. They seemed to lose concentration as the kick was taken, and as the ball was fired into the 6-yard box, they failed to clear their lines, leaving Scott Pratt unmarked to lash home. That proved to be the only goal of the game, and Dunkirk collected the trophy - Blidworth had probably the better chances, and were arguably the better team, but we all know that football can be a cruel mistress ...

Looking forward to seeing Blidworth again next week .. they are at home to Calverton on the 13th May....


Before that we have the Forest Town v Gedling MW game this Tuesday (save me a programme please Peter)...and a trip to either Sutton or Kimberley on the 10th.


Apparently the Sutton v Stanton game is to be played on FA cup final day with a 1pm kick off... probably have to give that a miss...

Saturday 3 May 2008

Saturday 3rd May 2008

Gedling MW v Heanor Town -- CML Supreme Division

Our first visit to Plains Road was to take in their 1st game of the season, a game that saw them beat Graham St Prims 4-1. With the season effectively over, and Gedling already accepted into the new EMCL for next season, their results and displays have been a little "ordinary" recently.
However, I always enjoy visiting Plains Road, so thought I'd be there for their last home game which was also their last CML game.

Heanor we saw 1st game of the season at Forest Town - they were Managed by Danny Bryant and looked a decent outfit.
Most of that squad has now gone, but ex-Eastwood players Liam Garner and Lee Stevenson were included in the starting 11, and on the bench was Jody Cauldwell, a player my son used to share striking duties with at Under 10 level!


With Kev away at the coast for the weekend, I was on my own and arrived to find the ground bathed in glorious sunshine -- that's more like it !! Much better than being frozen.......


Heanor
went 1-0 up after 16 minutes, striker Marvin Hudson cooly firing past keeper James Mason from the corner of the box. The visitors were only ahead for 5 minutes though, James Needham firing home after good work by strike partner Chris Henson. H-T 1-1

Had a nice chat with Eastwood Town's Lindon Meikle at the break - he had trained earlier in the day and was at this game to check our former colleagues Garner and Stevenson. Lindon was really delighted at how the season had worked out for the Badgers, and is now looking for Eastwood to top the season off with a win at Meadow Lane on Wednesday in the Notts F.A. Senior Cup final.

Back to the game -- the home team took the lead on the hour mark, Henson's shot from the corner of the box flying across Belshaw and into the back of the net. Heanor were worth a point, and they got their just rewards four minutes from the end - a free-kick headed powerfully home by Aled Biggs. F-T 2-2

Enjoyable game - not always been the case at Plains Road this season.....


£3 to get in -- the
£1 programme was superb as usual - the editor's last edition - his input will be sorely missed...

Sunday -- CML Cup final
Blidworth v Dunkirk at Alfreton Town ko 3pm

Wednesday 30 April 2008

Disaster Tuesday

Tuesday 29th April 2008 - what a bad, bad day for yours truly !

Always delighted when my son comes to visit, and with Kev nipping round from next door we sat and thoroughly enjoyed the Man U v Barca game -- but with me being a big Barca fan I despaired when ginger fired past Valdes.....what the hell was Zambrotta doing??? Barca lost 1-0 to start my misery.

Then we turn to Sky Sports to see if Stockport had beaten Chester and given my beloved Stags a lifeline -- finished 0-0 and the Stags are now Non-League !!

Then we looked at the Eastwood Town forum to find they had been stuffed 4-0 in their UniBond play-off game at Gateshead.

NOT a nice hat-trick --

Any consolations?

Eastwood get to play Hucknall (my home town club, relegated from BSN) next season!
Mansfield's Filed Mill can become another non-league ground we get to visit!
Barca will get rid of Rijkaard and win everything next season!

Monday 28 April 2008

Kimberley v Newark Flowserve is off

According to CML forum

http://cmlunofficial.proboards104.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=004&thread=227&page=1

Maybe Stanton Ilson v Calverton ( if Stanton can get a team together)

May be Chelsea / Liverpool

Sunday 27 April 2008

CML Cup final

TO BE PLAYED ON MAY 4TH AT ALFRETON TOWN FC ..

Dunkirk ( Supreme Division) take on Blidworth Welfare ( Premier Division) kick off 3pm.

With it being a bank holiday weekend, this looks attractive......

Saturday 26 April 2008

Saturday 26th April 2008 Pt II

Nice floor !!




Rainworth MW v Hall Road Rangers NCEL Div One

Final chance of the season to visit Kirklington Road ...for the first time for ages NO BIG COAT was required...!!!

Rainworth was a surprise to us when we made our first visit earlier in the season and since that visit the place has changed no end -- all for the better I hasten to add! They have even built a nice shelter for the bloke who fetches the ball behind the far goal... nice touch!

All new netting above the perimeter fencing, and around the reserve pitch - a new working turnstile -- very pleasant place to visit. Rainworth have finished fourth in the table -- very creditable after promotion from the CML last season.
They failed to win their final home game of the season - going down 1-2 to the Division runners up Hall Road Rangers. Football still has the power to amaze me after all my years watching the game - Rainworth had chance after chance to score, but close range shots were cleared off the line, pushed away by a decent keeper or just fluffed...

After Wrens skipper Lee Wilkinson had a penalty well saved by Adam Nicklin, we were saying how typical it would be to end the NCEL season with a 0-0 draw. But as the game entered the last 10 minutes, Wrens keeper Mark Hales decided to dive and tip the ball out for a corner when it was missing his near post by yards. Of course Rangers netted from the corner!! A neat near post header to break the deadlock. It was 1-1 a minute later, Andy Jones powering a far post header from a Wrens corner. A minute later it was 1-2 -- a Rangers striker beating the offside trap to run at Hales and slot past him. F-T 1-2

Rangers received their runners up trophy at the end of the game.

With Dagenham coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Darlington and Mansfield losing to Rotherham, it may well be that we will have to add Blue Square Premier to our list of Leagues next season.....

Eastwood won 3-1 at Leek, relegating the Staffordshire club, but setting up an away trip to Gateshead for the Badgers in the play off semis. We saw Eastwood play Gateshead earlier in the
season, and this game will be very tricky indeed.


Results
Leek 1-3 Eastwood Tn
Carlton Tn 4-1 Belper Tn
Shepshed 1-3 Retford Utd
Gedling Tn 1-1 AFC Emley
Long Eaton Utd 0-3 Nostell MW
Greenwood Meadows 3-3 Nettleham
Forest Tn 0-1 Dunkirk
Gedling MW 1-2 Hatfield Main
Hartlepool Utd 0-1 Florists
Notts County 1-0 Wycombe
Mansfield Tn 0-1 Rotherham

Friday 25 April 2008

Saturday 26th April 2008 Pt I

Last regular games of the season for UniBond Clubs..
I would like to wish Eastwood Town good luck - they take on Leek at Harrison Park knowing that a win will secure them a play-off semi-final place.

The semi-finals and finals are all live on the excellent NPLTV.. I
watched Eastwood beat Skelmersdale in the UniBond Cup final on Monday 21st April on NPLTV, and then watched Fleetwood win away at Leek on Tuesday. Sitting with laptop on the coffee table, and Liverpool v Chelsea on the telly made up for not going to a live game.

It is also the final full Saturday for the NCEL, although there are a few odds and ends games to be played next week.


The CML goes on forever... final week is 3rd May, but still some games to be played on the 10th and one on the 13th !!

Saturday's choices are:

Leek v Eastwood ( too far)
Carlton v Belper
Shepshed v Retford
Forest Tn v Dunkirk
Gedling MW v Hatfield Main
Sutton v Stanton
Rainworth v Hall Road Rangers
Greenwood Meadows v Nettleham

Timetable for the end of season :-

Saturday 26th April - Rainworth v Hall Road Rangers

Tuesday 29th - stay in to watch Man U v Barca pt II

Weds 30th - Kimberley Tn v Newark Flowserve

Sat 3rd May - Gedling MW v Heanor Town

Sunday 4th - Dunkirk v Blidworth CML cup final - (if venue is near)

Monday 5th - Sutton v Ollerton

Tuesday 6th - Forest Tn v Gedling MW

Weds 7th - Eastwood Tn v Ollerton Tn ( Notts FA senior Cup final)

Saturday 10th - Sutton Tn v Newark Flowserve

Tuesday 13th - Blidworth v Calverton

Saturday 19 April 2008

Saturday 19th April 2008





Eastwood Town v Lincoln Utd UniBond Premier Division

Final visit of the season to Coronation Park - Eastwood looking to secure a play-off place - Lincoln already relegated. We thought this would be a decent game, one team really needing the points and the other team under no pressure after their relegation fate has been sealed. BUT -- as usual this season, the Badgers failed to deliver, well for the first hour anyway....as it happened, it turned out to be a GOOD SATURDAY, with smiles all the way home!

The local results came though - Mansfield beat Shrewsbury 3-1, Florists beat Luton 1-0, Carlisle lost at home to Southend, Doncaster drew at Orient, Dag Red lost at Rotherham, Notts lost at Wrexham -- leaving the Stags just one point behind the Daggers, and two behind Chester and Notts... the final game of the season for Mansfield? Away at the Daggers!! Florist moved three points away from auto promotion after their win - two to play......

Back to Coro Park... decided to stand behind the goal despite bad legs and a bad back...great view of Smith and Howells first half misses - but also a great view of the ball arrowing out of the sky as the Badgers played John Ramshaw's "direct" football. Despite a couple of decent chances for the home team, the half ended goal-less. H-T 0-0

As we changed ends, I confidently predicted that Eastwood would win 3-0 -- honest !!

Marc Smith was taken off on 50, his replacement Matt Rhead a favourite of Kev's (not) -- he is big and clumsy but he does know where the goal is. His introduction allowed Anthony Howells to move to the left wing and after making the opposition right back look rubbish on a couple of occasions, you could see him grow in confidence. The Badgers opened the scoring on 67 minutes, a Shaw's cracking free-kick from 18 yards flying past the visitors' keeper.
Five minutes later Rhead volleyed home Brookes' superb cross from 8 yards to double the lead. Howells bagged the third Eastwood goal. Shaw fired the ball to the back post where Howells was waiting - the striker brought the ball down and fired a controlled shot past the keeper. F-T (as predicted) 3-0.

The result move the Badgers into 4th place and a win at Leek next Saturday will secure a play-off place, it is in their own hands....

Eastwood travel to Curzon Ashton on Monday to take on Skelmersdale Utd in ther Unibond League Cup final ...good luck Badgers!!

Coming up are the CML cup semi-finals... Tuesday -- Blidworth W v Holbrook MW at Heanor Town, with Chelsea v Liverpool on TV.
Wednesday -- Dunkirk v Gedling MW at Greenwood Meadows, but maybe BARCELONA v MAN UTD on TV may take preference!!

Tuesday 15 April 2008

Tuesday 15th April 2008


Calverton MW v Thorne Colliery -- CML Premier Division

First ever visit to the Hollingwood Lane home of Calverton MW FC. When we arrived just after 7:30pm, we thought the game must have been called off -- there was absolutely no-one about! We were pleased when a Calverton official came out of the clubhouse to open the spectators entry gate. £2.00 each and £1.00 for a programme - we actually got a programme each, courtesy of the gate man...

Newish set-up with no cover ... not too bad in the 1st half as it was dry -- but all through the second half it absolutely poured down - we got drenched, despite searching for the limited cover under the trees at the back of the far goal....

Thorne are from Scunthorpe and we had seen them previously at Sutton Tn where they were well beaten 5-1 -- they were 6-0 down at half-time in this game!
Although the visitors started well enough, even striking the post early doors, an own goal opened the scoring for Calverton in the 12th minute, and 4 minutes later it was 2-0, a neat shot from the edge of the box.
On 22, it was 3-0, a header from close range from the no. 10 jacket - then it was 4-0 on 28, another header from the no.10. A 20 yard free-kick conversion in the 33rd minute made it 5-0, and with 5 minutes of the half remaining the home no. 6 fired home a screamer from 25 yards. H-T 6-0
Into the clubhouse for a half-time Lucozade - then out to pouring rain. First time all season we have got soaked, but I guess we have just been lucky!

Credit to the visitors, they came out with their heads up and took the game to the league leaders, although the home defence was rarely troubled. It took until the 65th minute for the 7th goal, a deflected shot flying past the keeper, then another deflected effort made it 8-0 ten minutes later. With 5 to go, the home team added their 9th and final goal, leaving us soaked but well happy with the choice of game....F-T 9-0

Saturday sees us make our final visit of the season to Coronation Park Eastwood v Lincoln Utd.

Saturday 12 April 2008

Saturday 12th April 2008

Hucknall Town v Nuneaton Borough -- Blue Square North

Thought we would pay a final visit of the season to Watnall Road to see our hometown club fight for the three points in their desperate struggle for survival .... well strangely, for 75 minutes there was no fight at all..


Borough had former Mansfield Town player Tom Curtis in their ranks ( I never did like him - too much of a Spirite if you ask me !), but he was a different class to anything on the pitch...

It took 37 minutes for the away team to open the scoring, a mix up between the Town centre-halves allowing Danny Williams a simple tap in from close range. H-T 0-1

The home team levelled on 58, left back Danny MacPherson bundling the ball over the line after the keeper was blatantly fouled - he was so convinced he was fouled, his lengthy protests earned him a place in the Ref's book. 99 out of 100 would be called a foul, on this occasion Hucknall got away with it.

Town were only level for 9 minutes though - they allowed Williams to run all the way across the box before his peach of a ball picked out Curtis who hammered the ball home. Ben Saunders earned Hucknall a point on 38, a ball into the box hitting him on the knee before dropping over the keepers head into the net. F-T 2-2

If Hucknall are relegated, it will be because they are not good enough to be at this level - no other reason ....

We were treated to an elderly gentleman's inane whistling all the way through the first half - aaarrghh, it almost drove me crackers -- no tune - he just kept on whistling !!!!

We were also treated to a fancy dress parade by the away fans ... It's not every game you go to that you get to see : a nurse, a doctor, Chewbacca, a Panda, D'Artagnon, Pirates and a priest!!! Great stuff..


Tuesday should see us visiting Calverton MW for the first time this season.

Friday 11 April 2008

Revised trips -- 11th April 2008

Subject to alteration at a minutes notice!!

66 down and another dozen available --- how many of these will we be able to get to? Who knows?

Saturday 12th April
Hucknall Tn v Nuneaton Borough ( Blue Square North -- Town's final home game of the season).

Tuesday 15th April
Calverton MW v Thorne ( CML Premier).

Saturday 19th April
Eastwood Town v Lincoln United ( UniBond Premier Div -- Town's final home game of the season).

Wednesday 23rd April
Dunkirk v Gedling MW ( League Cup 1/2 final at Greenwood Meadows).

Saturday 26th April
Rainworth MW v Hall Rd Rangers ( NCEL Div One -- Rainworth's final home game of the season).

Tuesday 29th April
Clipstone Welfare v Radcliffe Olympic ( CML Supreme Divison ).

Saturday May 3rd
Gedling MW v Heanor town ( CML Supreme Division).

Sunday May 4th
CML Cup final -- Blidworth / Holbrook v Dunkirk / Gedling MW (depends on venue).

Monday 5th May
Sutton Town AFC v Ollerton Town ( CML Premier Division).

Tuesday 6th May
Forest Town v Gedling MW ( CML Supreme Division).

Wednesday 7th May
Eastwood Town v Ollerton Town ( Notts Senior Cup Final - at Meadow Lane).

Saturday 10th May
Kimberley Town v Thorne or Sutton Town v Newark Flowserve ( CML Premier Division)


Wednesday 9 April 2008

Wednesday 9th April 2008





Carlton Tn v Eastwood Tn -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/2 final

Carlton fans and players must be wondering why they are not in the Notts F.A. Senior Cup final - they dominated the game from start to finish, despite being down to 10 men for the second half. Striker Phill Bignall was dismissed for an incident as the players went in for their cups of tea.
As it was, Eastwood go through to the final. After 120 minutes the game finished 1-1 and it took penalties to decide the outcome.... unlucky Steve Chaplin the only player to fail with his kick, leaving Eastwood 5-4 winners.

We've been to Carlton a few times this season - since our last visit, they have laid tar-mac in the area between the club-house and snap-shed... much better than the muddy feet we were used to...


The game? Eastwood were battered in the first half - Carlton were really up for it. Bignall looked dangerous, and Marquin Smith was excellent ....

Jay Smedley saved Eastwood twice with clearances off the line, and although the home team should have been 4-0 up at the break, they went in 1-0 down -- a defensive slip-up allowing Rhead the time to slot home for the Badgers. H-T 0-1
I managed to trap my beard in my coat zip... much to the amusement of one or two "friends" -- that hurt did that!!
Bignall failed to emerge after the half time break - dismissed for an incident in the tunnel apparently.......
Second half was still all Carlton - Eastwood managed a few attempts at goal, but their kick and rush tactics were plan A, and they didn't seem to have a plan B.

10 man Carlton levelled after Eastwood failed to clear a free-kick - Jay Smedley unfortunately bundling the ball into his own net. F-T 1-1
Bear in mind that the night was one of the coldest for ages -- and we had to endure the agony of 30 more minutes extra time!!

The 30 minutes extra time produced nothing noteworthy....so penalties had to settle it.....and would you believe it - we were stood at one end of the ground, and the penalties were taken at the other end!

Anyway -- Eastwood netted all their 5 spot-kicks - Chaplin fired his off the bar and over - Eastwood win 5-4...

One point worth noting - although Eastwood were outplayed and lucky to progress to the final, they have been drawn away in all the preceding rounds -- at Retford Utd -- top of Unibond Div One South, at Hucknall (Blue Square North) and at Carlton ( second highest scorers UniBond Div One South). So well done Badgers!.

Wednesday May 7th at 7:30pm Notts Senior Cup final --- Eastwood Tn v Ollerton Tn


Saturday - Hucknall Tn v Nuneaton maybe ... I fancy going to Ollerton v Calverton but that is quite a hike -- not really too bothered as long as we take in a game !!

Tuesday 8 April 2008

Tuesday 8th April 2008

Gedling MW v Ollerton Tn -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/2 final

A place in the final at Meadow Lane should be enough to motivate players, but it was Ollerton who wanted it most, beating Welfare 3-2, although the scoreline is somewhat flattering to Gedling, their goals both coming in added time at the end of the game. Ollerton are top of their division, CML Premier, while Gedling are in the league above, CML Supreme.

An expected attendance of 350 in the local press was a bit optimistic, Florists at home, Champs League on telly - but still a decent turnout.
The visitors took the lead on 25, a toe-poke from the 18 yard line flying past Mason in the Welfare goal. H-T 0-1

Highlight of the game was the second Ollerton goal --- after a Gedling attack broke down, the Town no. 11 picked the loose ball up well inside his own half and just ran and ran before slotting past Mason ... superb goal, well worth the £4 entrance fee.

With 3 to go, Town added a third and the game seemed all over. But Gedling managed to score twice right at the death to give the scoreline some respectability. F-T 2-3
Ollerton's back four were seldom troubled over the whole 90 minutes, just a case of relaxing too much as the game drew to a close.

Very cold night again, we spent all the half time break with our backsides planted firmly on a radiator in the clubhouse!!


Carlton v Eastwood coming up... can't wait.....