Saturday 29th March 2008

Eastwood Tn v Buxton - UniBond Premier Division

Decided that £18 was a bit rich for Notts v Mansfield, so went to see a play-off "six-pointer" at Coronation Park........

The old place is looking a bit tatty - I reckon a good lick of paint and an application of Vim or Ajax might help a bit...

429 attendance -- very good for this level - the ladies in the snap-shed were kept busy....pie, peas and gravy seemed popular!!

The first half was fairly even stevens, Shaw almost caught out the Buxton keeper with a long-range free-kick, but Buxton went in at the break a goal up ... poor defending from a corner -- Towey unmarked to stoop and head home from close in. H-T 0-1

Buxton never seemed troubled in the second half - and when Badgers' Manager Paul Cox was sent from the dugout, quickly followed by left back Chris Shaw seeing red, the result was never in doubt. It took Buxton until the 90th minute to net again - Towey hammering home a drive from the edge of the box after Eastwood failed to clear a corner. F-T 0-2

A great season for Eastwood so far - but the last two games have shown up one or two problems -- can't score, can't defend at set pieces and as far as the player's and management's discipline (or lack of) - don't mention it!!

To put last weeks 0-4 at Ilkeston into prospective, North Ferriby were third bottom at the start of play and beat the Robins 4-2 at the NMG ..strange old game innit!

Noticed there was a cry for a gilt-edged penalty in the report on the Eastwood web-site... I can only assume the incident was Anthony Howells falling over? I was standing 20 yards from this - there were not many protests from the Badgers fans I was in the middle of -- never a foul in a million years... and I thought the referee were half decent - seen worse!!

Tuesday should see us visiting a new venue ( weather permitting). Off to see Blidworth Welfare take on Sutton Town ...

Monday 24th March 2008

Kev's wedding anniversary!! And still he gets to football!! Big thanks to Mrs. Kev !!

Belper Town v Redford United UniBond Division One South

Christchurch Meadows is one of our favourite haunts - usually...

Arrived 15 minutes before KO time and went for our pre-match snap, only to discover a queue 1/2 mile long - well, I may have exagerated a little....we managed to get served just before the teams kicked off. Opted for the pie, peas, chips and gravy rather than the pork and stuffing cob....nice enough grub, but the biting wind soon made everything go cold - and cold chips are not very nice!

Still, the match was fairly entertaining, although the Belper no. 5 was soon back in the changing room, after two reckless challenges in quick succession saw the Ref produce two yellows then the dreaded red. Belper were always going to struggle against runaway league leaders Retford, but with 10 men they had no chance at all. Mick Godber netted for United on the half hour to give the visitors the lead. H-T 0-1

Belper played with a bit more passion and effort in the second half, but I don't imagine Retford concede many goals, and they didn't look like conceding in this game - the Belper front line were all rather on the small side. Both regular Town strikers Hannah and Wilson were suspended for this game - come on lads, you can't score goals from the stands.....

Godber netted again on 75, firing a loose ball home after sustained pressure on the home goal.

F-T 0-2

Snowed again -- windy again -- watering eyes again....

Should be going to Glapwell on Tuesday 25th, but Kev has other plans so I may give it a miss and get my next fix at Sutton on Thursday.

Saturday 22nd March 2008

Gedling M W v Askern W CML Supreme Division

Visited Plains Road again to see Gedling MW take on league leaders Askern Welfare.

Gedling surprisingly lost at Rolls last weekend, and had a draining cup game on Tuesday that went to extra-time and penalties. Hardly the best preparation for taking on the table toppers, especially when this was Askern's first game of the month!

With their back four looking really solid and well disciplined, the Askern keeper Liam Copley was hardly troubled by an ineffective Gedling attack.

With usually reliable James Mason having a bit of a "mare", it was only a matter of time before the visitors took the lead. The opener came on 32, Mason failing to hang on to a shot and the loose ball fired past him ...five minutes later Mason decided it would be better to hack the ball way rather than push it away - the ball just about reached the edge of his penalty area from where it was hammered home to double the visitors advantage. H-T 0-2

The second half was a little better for the home team, but although they had the lions share of posession, they again failed to trouble Copley unduly.

Askern would have added to their tally but for some poor finishing, but on the whole were deserving victors and with their attitude and general approach to the game, you can see why they top the table. F-T 0-2

Link to 38 pics from the game

Enjoyable game that the freezing gale force wind did little to spoil - just makes your eyes water and nose run.... is it really Springtime?

Monday -- off to Belper Town v Retford United.... pork and stuffing cob --- ahhhhh..

Friday 21st March 2008

Ilkeston Town v Eastwood Town UniBond Premier Division

After failing to find the necessary get up and go to visit Matlock for the afternoon game, we made the short journey to the New Manor Ground to see if high flying Eastwood could beat local rivals Ilkeston.

Kev was not too impressed with not making the afternoon game - he ended up decorating!! ooops!!

Good Friday night turned out to be a freezing windy old night - snow fell towards the end of the game - Eastwood fans must be thinking it was a pity there wasn't 6 or 7 foot of the stuff, or at least enough to have the game abandoned, after their side suffered a 4-0 hammering.....

Plenty of cars about outside the ground - a gate of over 500, which is respectable at this level. I like the NMG, it's clean, well looked after and they have stewards by the dozen. The pitch is in really good nick for this time of year.

Not too much to say bout the game - Eatwood were outplayed, out-thought and generally out of ideas, whereas Ilkeston were up for the local derby and scored three 1st half goals thanks mainly to inept defending. A 90th minute penalty rounded off the thumping.

The Ilkeston fans were brilliant -- but somewhat mis-guided... they kept chanting " you can shove your DERBYBADGER up your a**e -- sideways" --- something to do with web-forum postings. If they had ever met DERBYBADGER they would know only too well he will not fit up anyones a**e, sideways or not!

Anyway... Saturday at Ged MW ..snow, wind, rain, sleet permitting....

Tuesday 18th March 2008

Arnold Tn v Eccleshill Utd NCEL Premier Division

Arriving at Gedling Road 7:30pm, we discovered that half the visiting players had got lost - KO delayed until 8pm... in the age of dirt cheap SAT-NAV, surely this ought to be something of the past?

The game should have been a home "banker", but the battle of the Eagles ended with 14th placed Eccleshill defeating 5th placed Arnold.....

After confidently predicting a goal-fest, we were surprised that the 1st half ended goal-less - but it has to be said - what a half! Fast flowing entertaining football, aided superbly by the three match officials who got almost every decision spot on - despite protests from the players - particularly the home defenders who were constantly shouting for offside and were constantly wrong! H-T 0-0

The visiting no. 9 netted twice in the second half, both one-on-ones with Town keeper Lee Broster, after beating the off-side trap. Arnold tried to get back in the game, but rarely troubled the United stopper.

One highlight? The no. 9 was replaced late on by a gentleman you could describe as "portly" -- but blimey, he was a bit tubby to say the least!! F-T 0-2

Cold night - but we left the ground enthusing about the match in general, and remembering the previous visit -- v Shifnal Town - arrrgggghhh!

Final visit to Gedling Road - the new Eagle Valley should be ready for next season.

Good Friday double header, I hope.. Matlock Tn v Buxton in the afternoon, with Ilkeston v Eastwood in the evening.

Saturday 15th March 2008 Pt II

Rainworth MW v Rossington Main NCEL Div One

We missed out on loads of goals at the other games available to us, but the result of this game saw Rainworth leap over Gedling Tn into 2nd place in the League... the Wrens have only 5 games left to play while Gedling have 6.. runaway leaders Dinnington have 7 to play and need only 2 more wins to secure the title.

Rainworth had a few players out injured, and they struggled to play against the team 2nd bottom of the table and although Wrens keeper Hales was barely troubled for most of the first half, Rossies 8 ft tall stopper Jonjo Griffiths was also relatively untroubled, and the half ended scoreless. H-T 0-0

Talking to the Wrens physio Dave during the break, he said if it was up to him he would take off young Sam Betts and put on Adam Lillie.....as it transpired, Manager Rudi Funk took off striker Malc Brown for Lillie on 63, but it was Betts who netted after Griffiths failed to collect a cross. Betts netted again on 75, the ball slammed into the net from 8 yards after a mad scramble in the area. F-T 2-0

With Betts netting both goals, we had to take the rise out of physio Dave, regarding his half time suggestion -- but he wasn't too bothered - he's jetting off to Jamaica for a holiday next week........

Other games

Arnold Tn 3-1 Maltby Main

Glapwell 6-3 Brodsworth W ( Glapwell stay second)

Rolls Royce Leisure 1-0 Gedling MW ( surprising win for Rolls)

Calverton MW 4-1 Louth ( Welfare stay top)

Sutton Tn AFC 1-2 Kiveton Park

Eastwood Tn 5-2 Ashton Utd ( Badgers go third in table)

Shepshed Dyn 2-0 Kidsgrove Ath

Borrowash 1-1 Teversal

Blyth Spartans 1-2 Hucknall Tn ( Peter Knox double)

Bradford 1-2 Mansfield ( drags Notts County into the relegation battle)

Of course the one we missed? Radcliffe Olympic 5-0 Radford !!

Tuesday - Arnold v Eccleshill - probably !!

Saturday 15th March 2008 Pt I

WE ARE LOSING THE PLOT!

After deciding to go to Radcliffe, we realised that the Florists were at home and we would have to go through the City Ground traffic going to, and coming from Radcliffe.

So instead of a mutually agreed game, we decide to put all the games in a hat and draw one each then decide which we would go to. I drew out Rainworth v Rossington, while Kev picked out Shepshed v Kidsgrove. Kev's wife Sue drew Calverton v Louth, but said we should go to Rainworth because she thought it might be a decent game ,, ( after last weeks game at Gedling ?)..

We then were unable to decide what time we should leave for the game!! We've been to Rainworth on several occasions already this season!! I said 2:25, Kev 2:15 -- we settled on 2:20....we are losing it .....and the madness that is Easter is just around the corner !!!!!

Results -- Tuesday 11th March 2008

Results from the local games played

Teversal 2-0 Rossington Main
Arnold Tn 3-1 Glasshoughton W
Sutton AFC 1-2 Holbrook MW
Dunkirk 2-1 Clipstone W
Long Eaton 0-3 Brodsworth W
Glapwell 1-1 Parkgate
Mansfield Tn 0-1 Hereford Utd

Also, Eastwood Town travelled to Stamford and won 3-0, Lindon Meikle with a couple and Chris Shaw the scorers.... what a season the Badgers are having ! 5th in the League after promotion last season, a place in the UniBond Challenge Cup final and they also have a place in the semi-finals of the Notts Senior Cup.

Tuesday 11th March 2008 Pt II

Decided not to brave the conditions - cold and windy with the threat of rain - we wimped out and decided to catch Liverpool at Inter on TV ...

Not too bothered really - there are games galore coming up, so missing a game now isn't the end of the world!!

Saturday we are hoping to pay a first ever visit to Radcliffe Olympic to see them take on Radford in the CML Supreme Division...

There are several games to chose from :

Arnold Tn v Maltby Main
Glapwell v Brodsworth W
Rainworth MW v Rossington Main
Rolls Royce Leisure v Gedling MW
Calverton MW v Louth
Sutton Tn AFC v Kiveton Park

Tuesday 11th March 2008

When I wrote the last entry, there were not many games available to go to.. now there are loads :

Teversal v Rossington Main
Arnold Tn v Glasshoughton W
Sutton AFC v Holbrook MW
Dunkirk v Clipstone W
Long Eaton v Brodsworth W
Glapwell v Parkgate
Mansfield Tn v Hereford Utd

Although Teversal would be my choice, Kev can make the choice !!

Saturday 8th March 2008

Gedling Tn v Rainworth MW NCEL Division 1

Two of our favourite teams went head to head - they might as well not have bothered.....

It was Jimmy Greaves who coined the phrase "it's a funny old game". Nothing funny about this game though -- this was excruciatingly painful to watch, and not a giggle was there to be heard!

2nd v 3rd in the table it may have been, but none of the 20 outfield players had any idea about how to play in the gusty conditions we encountered down by the Riverside.....you would have thought there would have been shots raining in at both goals, or plenty of "on the floor" passing and movement, but no, the players seemed unaware it was windy and kept the ball in the air where it had a mind of it's own! Corners swinging hopelessly behind the goals, even one throw-in was blown out for goal-kick!!

To be fair, Gedling should have been one down at the break, Adam Lillie firing wide in the 45th minute with just Spriggs in the home goal to beat. H-T 0-0

Rainworth started the second period looking to attack, but they soon ran out of ideas and Gedling eneded up dominating the half. They managed only a couple of chances though - one of which was a header from Ash Dyce that was cleared off the line by former Gedling player Brendan Sweeney. F-T 0-0

Disappointed to have selected another 0-0 game, but that's the beauty of football - we could have gone to Belper who drew 2-2 with Shepshed - we could have gone to Coronation Park to watch Eastwood beat Frickley 3-1 to go through to the UniBond Cup final - we could have picked half-a-dozen other games --but ended up watching a poor 0-0.

Not funny this one, but we still have about 20 more games to go to this season and one or two are sure to cheer us up!

Tuesday -- not much on offer so it's off to Teversal to see them take on Rossington Main...

Tuesday 4th March 2008

Hucknall Town v Eastwood Town Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final

Hucknall play in the Conference North ( step 2), while Eastwood play in the UniBond Premier ( step 3). The teams in reality are only 8 places apart - and with Hucknall struggling big time, Eastwood had a very good opportunity to progress in the Notts FA Senior cup - a trophy the Badgers have made their own in recent years.

Ex- Badgers Mick Galloway, Peter Knox and Gary Sucharewyc were in the Hucknall squad. Ex-Hucknall players Paul Mitchell and Anthony Howells started for Eastwood.

After early Hucknall pressure - Knox hit the post and Badgers keeper Deakin made one tremendous great save - Eastwood gradually came into the game and Howells saw efforts hit the post and bar. H-T 0-0

8 minutes into the second half, Kris Mathews rose like a salmon to head home Mitchell's cross to give Eastwood the lead, a lead they kept to the end even though the home team pressed and pressed to try and level. F-T 0-1

Two other 1/4 finals -- both saw the lower league team go through to the semi-finals :

Arnold Tn (NCEL Prem) 1-4 Gedling MW (CMLS)

Gedling Tn (NCEL1) 0-2 Ollerton Tn (CMLP)

The other tie -- Southwell City v Carlton Tn -- is scheduled for 12th March.

227 were in attendance - a small crowd for such a local derby, but it was bitterly cold and there were Champions League games on the telly.

Kev went to the City ground again to see the Forest v Carlisle game on Monday - three live games in 4 days - hard-core!! ( I watched it on TV)..

Looks like the Reds will struggle to get a play-off place unless they start scoring again....

Saturday -- Belper Tn v Shepshed Dynamo looks good, but nothing finalised as yet!! Gedling Tn v Rainworth MW -- this is 2nd v 3rd in the NCEL Div 1.

Saturday 1st March 2008

Kev's son Dale and yours truly



Windy? This thing was going crackers!

Minutes silence before KO

Gedling MW v Radford FC CML Supreme Division

Our 50th non-league game was only our third 0-0, but was an inspired choice by Kev,,, plenty of goalmouth action with both keepers pulling off superb stops. The wind made conditions tricky, but the teams managed very well and played some really neat football.

James Mason in the Gedling goal has been around the local football scene for a while now and is among the best at this level - but the Radford keeper, who I believe is Scott Flinders, has to be one of the best we have seen in the half century of non-league games we have watched this season. He made one save that was breath-taking -- a close range volley from Gedling's Aaron Ryan instinctively tipped over when a goal seemed certain. Interesting to see former Badger Scotty Huckerby start up front for Gedling with Chris Henson - the once slim-line striker has gained a few pounds since we last saw him playing!!

Over all, a very entertaining game, but it was flipping cold,,, not the freezing cold that you can wrap up against, but a chill cold that permeated the whole body...roll on Summer.....

I reckon Kev's off to watch Forest again on Monday, but I will settle for a nice warm armchair and a nice glass of scotch -- and watch it on the telly.

Tuesday : Notts Senior Cup 1/2 final Hucknall Tn v Eastwood Tn

Saturday : Hoping to go to Belper Tn v Shepshed Dynamo, but not sure yet

One for the diary : Saturday 29th March -- Notts County v Mansfield Tn. Although neither are non-league teams, one or both could well be next season!!