Heanor Town 5-0 Winterton Rangers - and an apology!

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor - Sat 28th December, kick off 3pm.

Scorers:
Kieran Debrouwer (25, 50, 69)
Greg Simmons (67, 71)
Attendance: 179

Apologies for not preparing match reports/blog entries over the past few weeks.  I have decided to take a break from writing detailed reports until I get the old enthusiasm back. 

I realised recently that I was missing a lot of the actual game note taking, and then transforming those notes into a blog entry was taking too much time, making it a thing to dread rather than the labour of love it once was.  

Until I can re-ignite the fire that used to burn inside, I'm giving it a rest and after almost 7 seasons, I reckon it's a break that is way overdue....

The "On The Road" team will still be attending games, and I will still be adding basic match details on here, and the Saturday fixtures will still be compiled - but we hope that our friends around the region will understand if a detailed match report isn't prepared and published. 

I know I will be back with pen in hand eventually - but I am looking forward to actually watching games rather than reporting on them.

In the mean-time, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy, and hopefully, Prosperous New Year.

Saturday 28th December - local teams in action

NPP
AFC Fylde 1-2 Ilkeston FC
Whitby Town 1-0 Matlock Town
Worksop Town 3-2 Skelmersdale Utd

NP1S
Belper Town 2-2 Rainworth MW
Carlton Town 5-0 Romulus FC
Eastwood Town 0-1 Newcastle Town
Goole AFC 1-2 Mickleover Sports
Loughborough Dynamo 1-2 Halesowen Town

MFA
Shepshed Dynamo 2-2 Loughborough University

NCELP
Albion Sports 1-3 Basford Utd
Bridlington Town 1-2 Retford Utd
Glashoughton Welfare 0-3 Long Eaton Utd
Heanor Town 5-0 Winterton Rangers

NCEL1
Clipstone FC 2-0 Selby Town
Knaresborough Town 1-2 Shirebrook Town
Teversal FC 0-4 Shaw Lane Aquaforce

EMCL
Blaby & Whetstone Athletic 3-2 Radcliffe Olympic
Holwell Sports 3-2 Borrowash Victoria
St. Andrews 4-0 Gedling MW
Stapenhill FC P-P Graham St Prims
Sutton Town AFC 3-1 Greenwood Meadows
Thurnby Nirvana 7-4 Radford FC

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 1-0 Thorne Colliery
Brodsworth Welfare 2-0 Glapwell FC
Clay Cross Town 4-1 Sherwood Colliery
Kinsley Boys 2-0 Welbeck FC
Newark Town 2-3 Harworth CI
Thoresby CW 1-4 Westella Hanson

CMLS
Blidworth Welfare P-P Clifton AW
Bilborough Pelican 5-1 Holbrook St. Michaels
Bulwell FC 0-0 Swanwick PR
Calverton MW 0-4 Mickleover RBL
Hucknall Town 3-6 Belper Utd
Linby CW 0-3 Allenton Utd
Mickleover Royals 2-3 South Normanton Athletic
Southwell City 2-2 Pinxton

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Boots Athletic P-P Ruddington Village
Burton Joyce 1-0 Sandhurst FC
F.C. Cavliers 1-6 Wollaton FC
Magdala Ams 5-1 Bilborough Town
Nottingham Utd P-P Cotgrave FC
Selston FC 4-0 Beeston AFC

Boxing day results

NPP
Buxton FC A-A Matlock Town (abandoned at HT - floodlight failure)
Worksop Town 5-2 Ilkeston FC

NP1S
Belper Town 2-0 Sheffield FC
Carlton Town 1-1 Rainworth MW
Eastwood Town 0-2 Halesowen Town
Loughborough Dynamo 2-4 Mickleover Sports

MFA
Dunkirk FC 3-5 Shepshed Dynamo

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 5-0 Welbeck FC

CMLS
Bulwell FC 1-1 Hucknall Town
Holbrook St. Michaels 3-0 Belper Utd
South Normanton Athletic 1-2 Pinxton FC

Bulwell FC 1-1 Hucknall Town

Venue: Greenwich Avenue, Basford. Kick off 1:00pm

Scorers:
Bulwell:  Emmanuel Kashila-Kanyinda (pen 70 )
Hucknall: Adam Gillott (64)

Admission: £4 (inc programme)

Attendance: tbc

Bulwell match report

Carlton Town 0-1 Kidsgrove Athletic

Venue: Stoke Lane, Nottingham.

Scorer: Shane Reany (6)

Admission: Community ticket - thank you Brian!

Attendance: 132

Wayno Cordenio!!!

Saturday 21st December - local teams in action

NPP
Frickley Athletic 2-2 Worksop Town
Ilkeston FC 1-1 Trafford FC
Matlock Town 0-0 Marine FC

NP1S
Carlton Town 0-1 Kidsgrove Athletic
Market Drayton Town 2-2 Belper Town
Mickleover Sports 1-2 Lincoln Utd
Rainworth MW 0-0 Sutton Coldfield Town
Romulus FC 3-2 Eastwood Town
Scarborough Athletic 1-3 Loughborough Dynamo

MFA
Dunkirk FC 3-2 Gornal Athletic
Heather St. Johns 4-2 Shepshed Dynamo

NCELP
Basford Utd v4-1 Thackley FC
Lincoln MR 1-8 Heanor Town
Long Eaton Utd P-P Bridlington Town

NCEL1
Eccleshill Utd 0-2 Teversal FC
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 3-4 Clipstone FC
Shirebrook Town 3-2 Louth Town

EMCL
Anstey Nomads 0-8 Borrowash Victoria
Aylestone Park 5-1 Greenwood Meadows
Graham St Prims P-P Thurnby Nirvana
Radcliffe Olympic P-P Gedling MW
Radford FC 0-3 Blaby & Whetstone Athletic
St. Andrews FC 4-1 Arnold Town

CMLN
Brodsworth Welfare P-P AFC Mansfield
Glapwell FC P-P Newark Town
Phoenix FC 1-3 Thoresby CW
Sherwood Colliery 2-4 Bentley colliery
Welbeck FC P-P Clay Cross Town
Westella Hanson 4-1 Harworth CI

CMLS
Allenton Utd 4-3 Real Utd
Barrowby FC 4-0 Blidworth Welfare
Belper Utd P-P Mickleover Royals
Calverton MW 1-1 Swanwick PR
Clifton AW P-P South Normanton Athletic
Holbrook St. Michaels 1-1 Southwell City
Hucknall Town 1-1 Linby CW
Pinxton FC 1-3 Bulwell FC

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Attenborough FC 1-5 Beeston AFC
Bilborough Town 0-1 Awsworth Villa
Boots Athletic P-P Selston FC
Cotgrave FC 2-1 Keyworth Utd
F.C. Cavalier P-P Burton Joyce
Hucknall RL 0-0 Wollaton FC
Kimberley MW 5-1 Nottingham Utd
Magdala Ams 9-0 Sandhurst

Midweek games - w/c 16th December

Tuesday 17th

NCELP
Liversedge FC 1-4 Heanor Town

EMCL CUP
Radcliffe Olympic 4-2 Bardon Hill

EMCL
Gedling MW 0-5 Blaby & Whetstone Athletic
Graham St Prims 4-2 St.Andrews

Wednesday 18th

NCELP
Long Eaton Utd 2-0 Winterton Rangers

Heanor Town 0-3 Basford Utd

Venue: The Town Ground, Heanor, Derbys.

Always enjoy visiting the Town Ground - we have many friends there and with Kev still unable to get to games, I'm "billy no-mates" at some grounds. 

Kev is my second pair of eyes and sees a lot of things that I miss. His pics are sorely missed as well - I'm not too good with a camera - and watching the action, taking notes and taking pictures is not easy!

Basford move up from 9th to 7th in the NCEL Premier division after this result, whilst Heanor slip the other way, down from 11th to 13th. 

Town lost the reverse fixture 5-1 back in September, so knew not to take their  opposition lightly. 

Teams:

Lions - Frost, Raven, Shaw, Hall, Peel, Blake, Webster, Moran, Benger, Holmes, Debrouwer.

United - Barcherini, Boafo, Fletcher, F. Smith, Holt, Craven, Hendrie, Green, Whitehurst, Nightingale, T. Smith. 

The pitch was very wet, and the wind very strong - not the correct ingredients for a classic. Both teams struggled to play football anything like they are capable of in the first half hour or so - the best chance falling to the home team on 32.  Nick Hall fired a tame effort at goal from the edge of the box that Kieran Debrouwer looked to have deflected past Ali Barcherini, but the keeper somehow managed to dive backwards and stretch out an arm to push the ball onto the bar. 

At the other end, Lions' keeper Mark Frost wasn't as lucky on 43 - his attempted clearance was blocked by THEO SMITH and the ball flew into the net to give United the lead.

Just before the break, United went further ahead through RYAN WHITEHURST after a ball in from the left had found him unmarked in front of goal. The striker had plenty of time to control and pick his spot, firing the ball to Frost's right. H-T 0-2

The first minutes of the second half were again very scrappy, but Lee Hendrie began to show his obvious talents as the half wore on. His superb ball into the path of TJ Nightingale on 74 was so  accurate that the striker never had to break stride before unleashing a shot at goal that beat Frost all ends up. Luckily for the Heanor faithful, the effort fizzed just past the outside of the far post. 

With ten to play, Referee Thomas Harty made an bad error when he awarded a penalty to the visitors. Theo Smith had carried the ball into the box, and both Brett Peel and Josh Raven went to challenge the run, but only managed to tackle each other. Smith did go down, but the Heanor players weren't responsible. 

Anyhoo, FRANCIS GREEN stepped up to take the kick and made everyone chuckle after he muffed his shot and it trickled agonisingly slowly past Frost who had already committed to going the other way. 

                              

Josh Raven complained a little too much and received a second yellow card from Mr. Hardy, followed by the inevitable red. F-T 0-3

Attendance: £3 (concession) 

Programme: £1

Attendance: 143

Saturday 14th December - local teams in action

NPP

Stamford FC 0-2 Ilkeston FC

Stocksbridge PS 3-1 Matlock Town

Worksop Town 3-1 Grantham Town

NP1S

Carlton Town 1-2 Brigg Town

Eastwood Town 1-3 Scarborough Athletic

Goole AFC 3-2 Rainworth MW

Loughborough Dynamo 1-1 Romulus FC

Mickleover Sports 1-1 Coalville Town FC

MFA

Rocester FC 3-0 Dunkirk FC

Shepshed Dynamo 2-2 Stourport Swifts

NCELP

Heanor Town 0-3 Basford Utd

Retford Utd 0-1 Long Eaton Utd

NCEL1

Clipstone FC 2-4 Eccleshill Utd

Teversal FC 5-0 Yorkshire Ams

Worsbrorough Bridge Athletic 1-1 Shirebrook Town

EMCL

Arnold Town 4-1 Radcliffe Olympic

Blaby & Whetstone Athletic 0-1 Graham St Prims

Borrowash Victoria 4-0 Barrow Town

Gedling MW 0-2 Sutton Town AFC

Greenwood Meadows 0-5 Radford FC

CMLN

Clay Cross Town 2-0 Phoenix FC

Kinsley Boys 2-5 Glapwell FC

Ollerton Town 3-4 Newark Town

Sherwood Colliery 0-3 AFC Mansfield

Welbeck FC 2-3 Thoresby CW

CMLS

Bilborough Pelican 2-2 Pinxton FC

Blidworth Welfare 2-1 Calverton MW

Bulwell FC 2-1 Clifton AW

Linby CW 0-4 South Normanton Athletic
Real Utd 3-4 Mickleover RBL

Swanwick PR 0-1 Mickleover RBL

NSL SENIOR DIV

Beeston AFC 3-3 Hucknall RL

Burton Joyce 3-3 Selston

F.C. Cavaliers 1-6 Awsworth Villa

Kimberley MW 1-0 Bilborough Town

Magdala Ams 4-0 Cotgrave FC

Ruddington Village 5-2 Sandhurst FC

Wollaton FC 2-1 Keyworth Utd

Mansfield Town U19 1-0 Blidworth Welfare U19

Venue: The Worksop Van Hire Stadium,  Clipstone.

Billed as the title decider, so didn't want to miss this one. Unfortunately it was a bit of a disappointing game,  the quality of football from both teams leaving much to be desired. 

The result does actually mean that the Stags now need only one point form their final league game to clinch the league title - and that game is against the Division whipping boys Bilborough Town on the 18th December.  

Mansfield had beaten Blidworth at the Welfare Ground earlier in the season - a penalty scored for the young Stags after their hosts had failed to convert from the spot. They say history repeats itself and the same scenario decided the outcome of this game.  Welfare's Nathan Holmes crashed his 33rd minute penalty against the Mansfield bar, but Stags striker DAN FLETCHER made no mistake on 65, stroking the ball past the visiting keeper from 12 yards.

This was more of a social occasion really - plenty of familiar faces to keep me entertained when the football failed to!  Had a chat with Brett Marshall - mostly about the non-league radio  show on Manfield 103.2, on which he appears so regularly. He also asked me to ensure I mentioned that he bought a fiver's worth of raffle tickets and then generously donated three quids worth to me!  Didn't win though - unlike when I paid at Heanor last season and he walked away with a bottle of wine!!

Also at the game was Heanor Town General Manager Scott Ward  - he made his debut on the radio show on Wednesday and he has since had a bit of stick on social media sites apparently.. I thought he did okay for his first time. 

Joined Richard Lane and Rob Hornby under the stand to watch the game. This was Rob's first U19 game and I don't reckon he was too impressed.  Referee was local legend Mick Leslie - the players from both teams gave him a hard time - but he managed to get the game finished with 11 v 11 somehow.  

Admission: £2 (inc programme)

Attendance: didn't count, but I reckon there must have been about 50 -60 present

Teversal FC 4-3 Dronfield Town

Venue: Carnarvon Street, Teversal.

This was an NCEL Div 1 league game that pitched 14th placed Teversal against 16th placed Dronfield Town. Wasn't going to be a classic, but I've not been to Tevvie for a while so chose this game, as the other local scheduled games were mostly cup ties. I'll take in a league match over a cup match any day of the week.

Always great to get a team sheet - at Teversal they put them on the gate,  stick one on the gatehouse window and they also hang a framed one in the snap shed. 

The game itself was a strange one - even though it finished 4-3, it wasn't really an exciting affair, to say the least! 

Great to see both Management teams having a laugh and a joke throughout the game - mind you some of Referee Paul Matthewson's decisions went a long way in uniting the benches - against him! 

The first goal came in the 5th minute, scored from the spot by Dronfield's RICHIE MARPLES, after Danny Wood was tripped as he raced into the Teversal box.

The lead lasted only two minutes though, DANNY WILLIAMS powering home from close range after Dave Cockerill's 25 yard free-kick was parried by visiting keeper Nick Siddons straight to the no. 11's feet. 

On 36, Lewis Naylor had two great scoring opportunities blocked as Dronfield took control of the game, but there were no further goals in the first half and it was off to the warmth of the tea bar - it was a bit nippy! H-T 1-1  

Teversal took the lead 5 minutes into the second period when DAVE COCKERILL glanced home a header at the far post after Siddons had failed to collect Jacob Ashley's free-kick.

Danny Wilson had replaced Lewis Weaver at half time, and the sub was unlucky when he connected with a 56th minute Cockerill corner only to see his effort crash off the bar with Siddons well beaten.

Dronfield drew level on the hour mark, LEWIS NAYLOR on hand at the far stick to prod home after a shot was blocked and the ball fell kindly at his feet. 

Naylor had a shot blocked on the line on 71, then Wood had a great chance to put Dronfield ahead when he was played in one-on-one with Brooks. Unfortunately for the winger he failed to get the ball past the home keeper, who blocked well.

A burst of speed and some neat ball control by Ashley Rawson caught out the home defence seconds later, and when the skipper played the ball across the goal, Wood had the simple task of tapping home. Again the no. 11 was foiled by a great block by Brooks and the chance went begging.

Teversal went back in front after sub JOSH RADFORD fired a cross in from the goal line on 83 that looked harmless enough - but Siddons misjudged the flight of the ball and palmed it into the back of the net.  The dubious goals panel will have to decide whether the goal should be credited to Radford, or should be deemed an O.G.

Siddon also contributed to the Tevie fourth goal on 89, dropping a Cockerill free-kick, allowing OLIVER WOOD to the chance to bundle home.  

The visitors had the final say though, DAN WOOD hitting a hopeful effort from the edge of the box that beat Brooks all ends up. F-T 4-3

Admission: £5

Programme: £1 (usual excellent publication)

Attendance: 51

Midweek games - w/c 9th December

Monday 9th

U19 DIV II
Ollerton Town 4-1 Southwell City

Tuesday 10th 

NPP
Kings Lynn Town 1-3 Worksop Town

NP1S
Loughborough Dynamo 4-0 Eastwood Town
Newcastle Town 2-0 Carlton Town

MFA
Shepshed Dynamo 3-2 Alvechurch FC

NCEL1
Teversal FC 4-3 Dronfield Town *

Notts F.A. Senior Cup
Clifton AW 2-5 F.C. Cavaliers (at Dunkirk FC according to FA website)

Derbys Senior Cup
Alfreton Town 0-1 Heanor Town (AET)
Belper Town 1-2 Borrowash Victoria
Glossop North End 3-2 Matlock Town
Graham St Prims 3-1 Holbrook St. Michaels
Ilkeston FC 1-0 Gresley FC
Mickleover Sports 0-2 Shirebrook Town

U19 League Cup
Hallam FC 5-0 Arnold Town

Wednesday 11th

CML CUP
Mickleover Royals 1-4 AFC Mansfield

U19 DIV III
Bilborough Town P-P Radford FC

Thursday 12th

U19 DIV I
Handsworth FC 3-2 Basford Utd
Worksop Town P-P Sheffield FC

U19 DIV III
Mansfield Town 1-0 Blidworth Welfare
Mickleover Sports 4-2 AFC Mansfield

Hucknall Rolls 0-A-0 Kimberley MW

Venue: Hucknall Rolls Leisure Association, Watnall Road, Hucknall.

Notts Senior League, Senior Division. Kick off 3pm

With Kev still unable to join me at a game, I decided to stay local,  thinking that 1st v 2nd in the division should be a decent game.  Not so - the players were not too friendly towards each other, or the match officials, and both benches were filled people who were both very angry and very loud.  Makes the pre-match respect handshake seem somewhat hypocritical really. 

Don't get me wrong, I like to see passion in the game, but pure ranting rage has no place in the game. I was secretly pleased when the lights failed at half-time - at least the participants could take chill pills and hopefully go home in better spirits - and it had started to rain.....

Had  a minutes silence before the game began. No idea why.

Welfare were the better team, but found Rolls' keeper Jake Pearson in good form and were unlucky on several occasions.  Josh Lewis had a drive from the edge of the box well saved by Pearson in the fourth minute, while on 10,  Shaw Hutchinson fired a 20+ yard free-kick just over the bar.

Jake Fisher had a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead with 28 played, but he directed his header from a right wing corner over the bar from just a few yards out.

On 33, poor Rolls defending allowed Fisher a one-on-one chance with Pearson, but once again the keeper was down early and was able to block  the striker's shot. 

Rolls' best chance fell to Andy Start on 36 - only a superb diving save from the Welfare keeper kept out the striker's 20 yard effort.  

Referee David Hague pulled a muscle as the half neared it's close, and asked his Assistant Richard Barnes to take over.  H-T 0-0

As the teams made the long trek to the changing rooms, the floodlights went out - the common thought was that Rolls were saving electricity during the break. Only when we saw the Rolls management team begin unscrewing the panels that are located at the bases of the pylons did we get the first inkling of maybe all wasn't well.  

The teams did come back out for the second half, but were quickly ushered back into the changing rooms as the news filtered through that the game would have to be abandoned. 

Admission: £0
Programme: not available
Head count : 55

Mansfield Town U19 3-2 Ollerton Town U19

Venue: The Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone. U19 League Cup - ko 7:45pm

Wasn't going to bother with this game - it's unusual for me to take in four games in four days - but not unknown!

Cup games were the main feature of the midweek games this week, this HKL U19 cup game following the theme. 

Mansfield were soon in control of the game, scoring twice in the first seven minutes.

The first goal came with five minutes of the game played and saw DANNY FLETCHER slot the ball past the Ollerton keeper with the visiting defence strangely absent.

The Stags' came second two minutes later, the Ollerton defence failing to clear a dangerous ball into the box allowing DANNY FLETCHER time and space to clip the ball past the keeper.

Ollerton seemed to be a little wary of their hosts - even at this level playing a Mansfield town team must be not only a great challenge, but could also be slightly intimidating.

FLETCHER was on hand at the far post to slide home the Mansfield  third goal with 6 minutes of the first half remaining, completing his personal treble. H-T 3-0

Ollerton were a different proposition after the break, taking the game to their hosts and crerating several decent chances. Whether the young Stags thought they had done enough at 3-0 only they will know, but Manager John Ranshaw can't be happy that a game that should have been over, was all of a sudden a fight to survive.

LEWIS ENGLISH beat the static Stags off-side trap on the hour mark, and calmly rolled the ball past the home keeper. Ollerton continuously battered the Stags defence, and were rewarded again on 80 when LEWIS ENGLISH slotted home at the second attempt, after his initial shot was well saved by the Stags keeper. 

So, 10 minutes to go and Ollerton on the hunt for the equaliser and a chance to go into extra-time. Unfortunately for Ollerton they couldn't find the back of the net again, and Mansfield go through to the next round. F-T 3-2

Admission: £2 inc programme

Attendance: Head count - 66

Link to report on Mansfield Town website

Saturday 7th December - local teams in action

F.A. Vase Round 3
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2-0 Graham St Prims

NPP
FC Utd of Manchester 4-4 Worksop Town
Ilkeston FC 0-2 Whitby Town
Matlock Town 3-2 Trafford FC

NP1S
Bedworth Utd 2-0 Carlton Town
Market Drayton Town 4-2 Eastwood Town
Mickleover Sports 3-2 Gresley FC
Newcastle Town 2-2 Belper Town
Rainworth MW P-P Loughorough Dynamo (bomb scare)

MFA
Continental Star 4-1 Shepshed Dynamo
Dunkirk FC 0-7 Quorn FC

NCELP
Basford Utd 3-1 Armthorpe Welfare
Tadcaster Albion 2-0 Heanor Town
Worksop Parramore 3-4 Retford Utd

NCEL1
Rossington Main 2-1 Teversal FC
Shirebrook Town 2-1 Dinnington Town
Yorkshire Ams 1-2 Clipstone FC

EMCL
Arnold Town 4-0 Radford FC
Aylestone Park 0-2 Gedling MW
Bardon Hill 2-2 Greenwood Meadows
Stapenhill FC 6-4 Radcliffe Olympic
Sutton Town AFC 1-1 Thurnby Nirvana

CMLN
Kinsley Boys 0-6 AFC Mansfield

CMLS
Barrowby FC 3-0 South Normanton Athletic

CML Cup
Askern FC 1-6 Sherwood Colliery
Bilborough Pelican 4-5 Allenton Utd
Blidworth Welfare 0-1 Mickleover RBL
Brodsworth Welfare 0-5 Harworth CI
Clay Cross Town 4-0 Welbeck FC
Clifton AW 3-0 Hucknall Town
Glapwell 0-2 Belper Utd
Holbrook St. Michaels 2-3 Easington Utd
Newark Town 2-3 Linby CW
Ollerton Town 2-4 Real Utd
Pinxton FC P-P Bentley Colliery (Bentley unable to field a team)
Southwell City 2-3 Westella Hanson
Swanwick PR 1-0 Bulwell FC

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Attenborough FC 1-1 Selston FC
Awsworth Villa 0-3 Boots Athletic
Burton Joyce 4-5 Magdala Ams
Hucknall RL 0-A-0 Kimberley MW (abandoned at half time - floodlight failure)
Keyworth Utd 1-2 F.C. Cavaliers
Nottingham Utd 0-3 Wollaton FC
Ruddington Village 2-0 Bilborough Town
Sandhurst FC 0-6 Beeston AFC

Selston FC 0-1 Dunkirk FC

Venue: Coronation Park, Chewton Street, Eastwood.

Notts F.A. Senior Cup round 3

Line-ups

Selston - Simpson, Breach, Davis, Marriott, Farnsworth, Hackett, Moore, Carraher, Jeffrey, Airey, Jones. Subs: Barry, James, Wright, Smith, Renshaw

Dunkirk - Dudley, Zizaruk-Gibson, Brown, Simms, Lopez, Hastie, Westcarr, Bertram, Grinion, Walters, Coutts. Subbs: Dean, Bailey, Elliker, Guest.

This was a tough game for Midland Alliance outfit Dunkirk.  Although Selston play two steps down from their opposition, they battled well and had two glorious chances to get something from the game during second half stoppage time. Unfortunately the chances went begging and Dunkirk progress into the 1/4 finals thanks to a strike from JARROD WESTCARR on the hour mark. 

The goal came after veteran defender Gary Breach was left with two attackers to take care of, and his untimely slip allowed Will Coutts gain possession and play in Westcarr who took his time  before slotting past Jake Simpson in the Selston net from 15 yards out. F-T 0-1

Admission £3 - but I attended as a guest of Referee Eddie Pidduck. The game had little to worry the experienced official - one booking for Elliott Jones I think, and a couple of injuries to oversee. 

Programme: £1

Car park: £1

Attendance: a magnificent 159

Teams left in the competition (in no particular order)

Dunkirk FC, Carlton Town, Rainworth MW, Basford Utd, Clipstone FC, Southwell City, Retford Utd, Clifton AW/F.C. Cavaliers.

Clipstone FC 4-0 Greenwood Meadows

Venue: The Lido, Clipstone.

Notts F.A. Senior Cup Round 3

Both these teams play at step 6 in the non-league league pyramid, Clipstone in the NCEL division 1, Greenwood in the EMCL. Should have been a close game, but to be honest, the home team dominated almost the entire game. Clipstone keeper Mark Hales had to make a couple of neat saves, but apart from that it was hardly a contest.

Had a chat to good friend, Greenwood midfielder Kelvin Mushambi after the game, and he told me that the Greenwood team is very young overall and still learning the game, so the result was not unexpected.

Stood with Dudsey throughout the proceedings, but also spent a little time in the company of Scott Ward and Steve Peat. Scott is currently revelling in his role as Heanor Town General Manager, while Steve is doing a bit of scouting after recently parting company with Eastwood Town, and is enjoying his time away from the daily pressures that come with running a club.

A big thanks once again to all at Clipstone for the warm welcome - this has to be one of the most friendly clubs around the non-league scene.

On the pitch, the home team missed a hat-full of chances, failing to capitalise on their dominance, and we had to wait until the 43rd minute for the first goal.

This came from a Greenwood free-kick that was cleared up field to Carl Snowden who fed KIEREN WATSON, and the prolific striker ran to the far stick before clipping the ball home with the outside of his trusty right boot.H-T 1-0

With just 60 seconds of the restart, the Cobras went further ahead, CARL SNOWDEN hitting a low drive from the corner of the box that caught the Greenwood keeper by surprise - the ball flying under his despairing dive and into the back of the net.

We had to wait until the 80th minute before the home team made the game completely safe, two goal scored within seconds of each other. Firstly, SNOWDEN flicked home a cross from the right that gave the visiting keeper no chance, then when Steve Carty (I think!) hit the post with a close range effort, the ball cannoned into the goal off a defender, effectively ending the game. F-T 4-0.

Referee Chris Hunter had a good game, although it has to be said that both sets of players were well behaved throughout the 90 minutes.

Admission: £4
Programme: None available
Attendance: TBC

Arnold Town U19 0-1 Carlton Town Academy

Venue: Eagle Valley, Arnold. U19 League Division II

There's a reason why these two clubs are struggling in the league - a severe lack of goals. Arnold had netted just twice in their previous six outings, whilst Carlton had failed to open their "goals for" account in the five games they have played.

So, between them they have scored twice in 11 games - never going to be a goal fest, was it!

The players showed plenty of enthusiasm and endeavour, and both defences were pretty solid - but in all honesty neither defence was troubled overmuch. 

The only goal of the game came in the third minute of second half stoppage time, and like the game, it wasn't a classic! ELLIOTT GODDARD had had a decent enough game in the Millers' midfield, and it was he who fought his way through the crowded six yard box to get to the ball and bundle it home at the back stick, after the home defence had failed to clear a corner from the left. Not much else to say really! F-T 0-1

Admission: £2

Programme: included

Attendance: 35

Week commencing 2nd December - local teams in action

Tuesday 3rd

DOODSON CUP
Frickley Athletic 1-0 Belper Town
Loughborough Dynamo 4-2 Stafford Rangers
Stamford FC 3-1 Worksop Town

NOTTS F.A. SENIOR CUP
Clipstone FC 4-0 Greenwood Meadows
Linby CW 1-4 Southwell City
Radcliffe Olympic 0-3 Basford Utd
Rainworth MW 2-0 Bulwell FC
Retford Utd 4-0 Eastwood Town

NCELP
Worksop Parramore 3-0 Long Eaton Utd.

NCEL1
Rossington Main 0-2 Shirebrook Town
Teversal FC 0-3 Cleethorpes Town

EMCL Cup
Radford FC 1-4 Barrow Town

Wednesday 4th

NOTTS F.A. SENIOR CUP
Carlton Town 2-1 Sutton Town AFC
Selston FC 0-1 Dunkirk FC

UNDER 19 LEAGUE

Monday 2nd
Div ll Arnold Town 0-1 Carlton Town Academy
League Cup Basford Utd 1-0 Staveley MW

Tuesday 3rd
Div ll Matlock Town 1-3 Dunkirk FC

Wednesday 4th
League Cup Blidworth Welfare 4-0 Bilborough Town

Thursday 5th
Div lll Mickleover Sports 5-4 Heanor Town
League Cup Mansfield Town 3-2 Ollerton Town
League Cup Retford Utd P-P Radford FC

Selston FC 3-0 Sandhurst FC

Venue: The Parish, Mansfield Road, Selston, ko 2:00pm

I've been to the Parish once before, when my lad played for Spot On against Selston White Lion. That was a long while ago, but made memorable as Chris grabbed a goal in the 2-1 win.

It was great to have Kev with me again - he's having a bit of tough time at the moment with one thing and another.

We have been hearing good things about Selston FC recently, so thought it was time to check for ourselves.

After watching the pre-match warm up, we were greeted by our good friend Jamie Renshaw - just one of the former Pinxton players on view.

Selston line-up:

Jake Simpson, James Barry, Jamie Renshaw, Perry Marriott, Shaun Farnsworth, Elliott Jones, Ben Moore, Dominic Airey, Richard Jeffrey, Jake Wright, Rory Davis.

There was a major distraction pitch-side....she certainly made the visit to Selston worthwhile!!

On paper this was a home banker, as league positions show. However, the visitors had a right go at their high flying hosts straight from the off.

A 5th minute Sandhurst corner was punched onto the bar by Jake Simpson, and the loose ball hacked off the goal line as Selston struggled to cope with the travellers' early pressure.

Sandhurst no. 10 Ryan Martin was released by a great through ball from midfield, but when one-on-one with Simpson, he tamely lifted the ball high over the bar when he really should have scored.

Jake Wright saw his hammer of a shot fizz just past the post on 20, then when he found space to run into the box, it took a great tackle to foil the Selston no. 10.

Rich Jeffrey saw his 37th minute free-kick fly just over the bar as the home team began to dictate the play. Selston took the lead right on the stroke of half-time, JAKE WRIGHT blasting home the loose ball after Perry Marriott's header from a Rory Davis corner had been cleared off the line. H-T 1-0

Marriott's header blocked

Selston began the second half with a little more passion and intent than they had shown in the first, and within two minutes of the restart, Wright went close with a low drive from the edge of the box.

On 56, a cracking Jimmy Barry tackle set Ben Moore free and he danced past his marker before picking out the run of JAKE WRIGHT. The striker managed to get a toe to the pass before the covering defender, leaving the visiting keeper watching in anguish as the ball crept just inside the post.

On the hour mark, Moore saw his volley from the corner of the box crash against the foot of the post as the home team piled on the pressure.

Sandhurst's Adam Towlson and Selston's Ben Moore

Moore was also involved in the third Selston goal after 72 minutes, playing in RICH JEFFREY. The keeper will have to take full responsibility though for allowing the strikers speculative 20 yard effort slip under his body. F-T 3-0

Oh no..look at the no. 2's face!!

Referee Dave Hale had a bit of a 'mare, but he probably wasn't helped by a crunching tackle on him halfway through the first period!! He was always a few yards behind the play and failed to give the players any confidence in his decision making.

The only thing that you could be sure of was that he expected every free-kick to be taken from the "exact blade of grass". This is so annoying to players, managers and spectators alike - moving the ball a few inches is not really necessary Ref!

Programme: £0.50
Attendance: 21