Saturday 2nd November - local teams in action

NOTTS F.A. Senior Cup
Attenborough FC 0-2 Radcliffe Olympic (at Radcliffe)
Hucknall Town 1-2 Southwell City *
Magdala Ams 2-4 F.C. Cavalier

NOTTS F.A. Intermediate Cup
Bilborough Town P-P AFC Bridgford
Cotgrave FC 0-8 Awsworth Villa
F.C. Samba 2-1 Wollaton FC
Netherfield Albion 4-4 Beeston AFC (Beeston win 6-5 on pens)

F.A. TROPHY 2nd QR
Matlock Town 2-0 St. Neots Town
Mickleover sports 1-2 Stourbridge FC

NPP
Frickley Athletic 0-1 Ilkeston FC
Worksop Town 4-3 Barwell FC

NP1S
Carlton Town 1-1 Belper Town
Loughborough Dynamo P-P Eastwood Town
Rainworth MW 0-2 Halesowen Town

MFA
Heath Hayes 1-4 Dunkirk FC
Shepshed Dynamo 6-2 Heather St. Johns

NCELP
Long Eaton Utd 0-2 Garforth Town
Parkgate FC 1-5 Heanor Town
Retford Utd 2-5 Brighouse Town
Staveley MW P-P Basford Utd

NCEL1
Clipstone FC 0-0 Bottesford Town
Teversal FC 0-0 Shirebrook Town

EMCL
Aylestone Park 1-1 Radford FC
Barrow Town 0-8 Gedling MW
Graham St Prims P-P Thurnby Nirvana
Holwell Sports 0-2 Arnold Town
Sutton Town AFC P-P Holbrook Sports

CMLN
Glapwell FC P-P Clay Cross Town
Ollerton Town 5-1 Askern FC
Phoenix Sports 0-1 Newark Town
Welbeck FC 1-0 Easington Utd
Westella Hanson 3-2 AFC Mansfield

CMLS
Allenton Utd 2-1 Blidworth Welfare
Belper Utd 3-3 Barrowby FC
Bulwell FC 3-1 Holbrook St. Michaels
Mickleover RBL P-P South Normanton Athletic
Pinxton FC 5-1 Real Utd

NSL SENIOR
Burton Joyce 1-3 Boots Athletic
Keyworth Utd 3-2 Ruddington Village
Sandhurst 0-9 Kimberley MW
Selston FC 4-2 Hucknall RL

Midweek games - w/c 28th October

Tuesday 29th

NPP
Barwell FC 1-1 Ilkeston FC
Matlock Town 0-0 Ashton Utd

NP1S
Belper Town 0-1 Coalville Town
Brigg Town 1-3 Rainworth MW
Lincoln Utd 0-3 Carlton Town

NCELP
Armthorpe Welfare 1-2 Long Eaton Utd
Basford Utd 2-1 Garforth Town

NCEL1
Shirebrook Town 1-2 Cleethorpes Town

EMCL
Blaby & Whetstone Ath 1-3 Arnold Town

CMLS
Pinxton FC 1-0 South Normanton Ath

Wednesday 30th

NPP
Worksop Town 3-0 Whitby Town

NCELP
Bridlington Town 5-0 Heanor Town

DERBYS SENIOR CUP
Dronfield Town P-P Glapwell FC

U19 Div 1
Basford Utd 2-0 Hallam FC

U19 Div II
Southwell City 8-0 Carlton Town Academy

U19 Div III
Blidworth Welfare 6-2 Bilborough Town

Thursday 31st

U19 Div I
Handsworth FC 0-2 Worksop Town

U19 Div III
Mickleover Sports 2-1 Manfield Town

Kirkby Town 2-1 FS Clumber

Venue:  The Summit Centre, Kirkby in Ashfield

This was thought to be probably free-scoring Kirkby's biggest test of the season, and so it proved. The team from North Notts gave their hosts a heck of a game and can consider themselves unlucky to bow out of the Notts. F.A. Sunday Senior Cup.

"Flying Scotsman" Clumber play in the Gainsborough & District Sunday League Division 1, and currently lie in 4th place having played 4, winning three and drawing the other.

The referee was Pat O' Dowd.  Enough said.

Kirkby line - up: Boot, Armstrong, Cobb, Voller, Fisher, Walters, Watson Kr, Cresswell, Watson K, Watson N, Bowen.

As usual with Sunday games, the opposition line up remains a mystery!

Kirkby usually overpower their guests, but on this occasion they were made to battle for every ball and we had to wait until the 18th minute before they opened their account. Neat approach play culminated with a fierce drive from Kieran Watson, and although the keeper did well to save the effort, KRISTIAN WATSON nipped in at the far post to slam home the loose ball. 

Kris Watson

Ryan Bowen came close to doubling the Kirkby lead on 29, but his low shot was well saved by the FS keeper, diving down at the near post. 

Clumber though, refused to lie down and let Kirkby steamroll over them - and were level on 38 when their no. 4 rifled home the loose ball after keeper Steve Boot had failed to deal with the ball as it came in from the left. H-T 1-1

KIERAN WATSON put the home team back in front in the 51st minute, drilling low past the visiting keeper after he was picked out by a superb through ball from Marc "Butch" Walters. 

Clumber were awarded a penalty on 8, but Boot was in no mood to be beaten again and save the spot kick superbly.  Kirkby were awarded their own penalty a minute later, but Nat Watson's shot was well saved by the keeper. 

                                          

                                                             Watson fails from the spot

There was a punch up soon after - Keiran Watson fouled his marker who took exception to the challenge and pushes were exchanged.  The Managers from both team entered the fray, as did the visiting keeper who actually piled in and gave Nat Watson a right old smack around the ear-hole.  No action was taken by Mr. O' Dowd - he had a chat to both skippers and re-started the game with a dropped ball !

With three to play, FS Clumber looked to have a perfectly good goal ruled out by the Kirkby club linesman, who signalled that the goal-scorer was in an offside position when the initial shot was blocked by a defender.  

We endured a three minute period of stoppage time, hoping upon hope that the home team could hold out - and dreading the spectre of extra-time and penalties that would have to be endured should Clumber equalise. Thankfully no more drama followed and Kirbky go into the hat for the draw for the next round. F-T 2-1

Blidworth Welfare 1-1 Pinxton FC

Venue: The Welfare Ground, Blidworth.

Handshakes all round!!

Scorers
Welfare: Ashley Cheetham (pen 35)
Pinxton: Darren Bettison (10)

We were unsure what to expect from this encounter. Blidworth are currently rebuilding their team after they have made a really poor start to the season, whilst Pinxton are trying to come to terms with the loss of  several  key players from last season's squad.

Kev, in his wisdom, decided to stand at the top of the very slippy, wet bank at the side of the ground so he could get better pictures. Very good idea if you have trainers with decent tread.

Me? Shoes with hardly any tread. Result? One slightly (?) overweight old man, lying flat on his face with his hands, beard , jeans and tee shirt covered in crap! Not really mud - it was a slime of some sort and it was not at all tasty let me tell you..

Yeukk!

Pinxton took control right from the kick off, and Darren Bettison almost opened their account in just the second minute, hitting a blistering shot that Welfare keeper Jason Fisher had to dive and push away.

Great save from Fisher

BETTISON fared better in the 10th minute though after he was allowed to run in the box and take his time before picking his spot - although it has to be said that kicking the ground harder than the ball rarely results in a goal. On this occasion Bettison  had placed the ball so well the shot being scuffed made little difference.

Shoot!

Up goes the divot!

One nil to Pinxton

The visitors went on to create several good chances, but were unable to add to their tally. Wayne Cooke had an effort from the corner of the box crash of an upright on 17, then Blake Vincent's cross in from the left was headed powerfully by Bettison, but Fisher saved well. 

Adam Walker was played in one-on-one with Fisher after 23 minutes had been played, but the no. 9 fired wide with just Fisher to beat. 

Pinxton almost paid for their profligacy in front of goal when it appeared that Stuart Canolin's 25th minute header was goalbound - only a decent save from Gary Briggs kept the scores level. 

Briggs was left exposed on 33, and he had little choice other than to end Craig Gould's run by upending him as he set himself to shoot. 

Gould tripped

Straight red for the keeper, and his replacement, Wayne Cooke, had little chance with ASHLEY CHEETHSAM's spot kick. 

1-1

Carl Gould was tackled by Walker soon after and although he hobbled away from the challenge, he collapsed to the ground and had to be carried from the ground, with what we were informed was a suspected fractured leg. H-T 1-1

Get well soon, Carl

The second half again saw a host of chances for both teams, but with Fisher in great form for Welfare and Jay Cooper performing admirably in the Pinxton net, there was never going to be a deluge of goals. Although both teams did try to break the deadlock, neither was successful.

Bettison was played in again one-on-one with Fisher on 53, but failed to take advantage, then Steff Cobb had a great chance one-on-one with Cooper, but was foiled by the stand-in. 

Cooper blocks from Cobb

Lewis Jackson fired a free-kick across the Blidworth goal on 61, but Jason Dawson just failed to connect at the far post. Blidworth's best chance fell to Chris Shelton five minutes later, but after turning sweetly in front of goal, the no. 10's shot flew just over the Pinxton bar. F-T 1-1

Not worth mentioning the Referee's performance - he must know he had a poor game - enough said. 

Admission: £3

Programme: £1 (very creditable effort!)

Attendance: head count 36

Saturday 26th October - local teams in action

NPP
Matlock Town 1-0 Ilkeston FC
Worksop Town 1-4 Chorley FC

NP1S
Belper Town 4-1 Romulus FC
Carlton Town 0-3 Scarborough Athletic
Chasetown FC 0-0 Loughborough Dynamo
Mickleover Sports 4-1 Market Drayton Town
Rainworth MW 3-2 Gresley FC
Sheffield FC 4-3 Eastwood Town

MFA
Dunkirk FC 0-0 Continental Star
Shepshed Dynamo 0-0 Tipton Town

NCELP
Basford Utd 0-1 Glasshoughton Welfare
Brighouse Town 3-1 Long Eaton Utd
Heanor Town 5-2 Pickering Town
Winterton Rangers P-P Retford Utd

NCEL1
Pontefract Collieries 2-0 Teversal FC
Shirebrook Town 1-1 Clipstone FC

EMCL
Arnold Town 2-2 Bardon Hill
Blaby & Whetstone Athletic 0-3 Borrowash Victoria
Gedling MW P-P Holwell Sports
Graham St Prims 10-0 Aylestone Park
Greenwood Meadows 2-2 Stapenhill FC
Radcliffe Olympic 5-2 Anstey Nomads
Sutton Town AFC 6-1 Barrow Town

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 4-3 Sherwood Colliery
Clay Cross Town 2-3 Westella Hanson
Glapwell FC 3-1 Bentley Colliery
Harworth CI 2-0 Easington Utd
Newark Town 4-2 Ollerton Town
Thoresby CW 2-2 Brodsworth Welfare
Welbeck FC 1-5 Askern FC

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

NSL SENIOR CUP
Ashfield Rovers P-P Magdala Ams
Awsworth Villa 1-4 Beeston AFC
Bilborough Town 4-1 Nottingham Utd
Burton Joyce 2-4 Attenborough FC
Cotgrave FC 1-0 Gedling SB
Keyworth Utd 1-2 Moorgreen FC
Kimberley MW 1-0 F.C. Samba
Newark Flowserve 1-4 Hucknall RL
Selston FC 4-5 Ruddington Village
Wollaton FC 2-0 F.C. Cavalier

Long Eaton Utd 1-1 Heanor Town

Venue: Grange Park, Long Eaton.

Scorers
United: Matt Savage (45)
Lions: Josh Raven (79)

Ian Duffield - thanks for the programme!

A bit of a raucous evening in the company of the Heanor faithful! All good banter though - and thoroughly enjoyable. Though it makes me long for a game where there's only me and Kev there, along with a bloke walking his dog!!!

Sorry about the quality - crap phone!

The first half wasn't very good, to be quite honest. Heanor seemed unable to control the ball and were a yard slower than their hosts.

Matt Savage ought to have opened the scoring for United in the 17th minute, but he failed to connect at the far post after Michael Armstrong had fired the ball across the face of the goal. 

Savage fired one in from the left wing on 21, and the flight seemingly confused Town keeper Mark Frost who was grateful when the ball flew just wide of the far upright.

Heanor striker Dan Williams turned his defender and fired at goal 5 minutes later - unfortunately for the Town massive, the curling effort cannoned off the post and the loose ball cleared.

Savage saw his header crash off the Heanor bar on the half hour, and as the ball came back into play it fell to a United boot 2 yards from goal. Should have been a tap in, but somehow the ball was scooped high and wide - what a miss!

In the second minute of stoppage time, Long Eaton broke the deadlock, MATT SAVAGE prodding home at the far post after the ball was fired through a ruck of players from the edge of the box.H-T 1-0

Heanor looked a little more determined and composed as the second half progressed, and on 53 it took a cracking save from keeper Tom Gutteridge to keep out Courey Grantham's header.

Town right back Josh Raven was having a great game and almost restored parity in the 56th minute, dribbling his way through the home defence before firing just wide.

United had a decent chance to double their lead on the hour when Savage crossed from the left and picked out Shaun Rickford in front of goal. With only Frost to beat, it looked a certain goal, but the striker's gentle header was easily claimed by the Lions' keeper.

Williams saw his effort cleared off the line on 64, while at the other end Rickford only just failed to reach Savage's neat ball in from the left. 

The equaliser when it eventually arrived in the 79th minute was greeted with a huge roar from the travelling fans. Man of the match was already decided before the goal, and JOSH RAVEN cemented that honour when he got to the ball in a crowded box before anyone else, and smashed it gleefully past Gutteridge. 

The Referee added four extra minutes at the end of the 90, but by now both teams appeared to have settled for a point apiece - and on reflection, the draw was probably a fair result.F-T 1-1

Admission: £5

Programme: £1.50 (kindly donated by Ian Duffield)

Attendance: TBC

Clipstone FC 3-4 AFC Emley

Venue: The Lido, Clipstone.

No programmes left, had to settle for a photogragh!!

Superb fight-back by Emley after they had conceded twice in the first 4 minutes. They were helped by some poor defending, but take nothing away from the Yorkshire outfit, they battled back well to claim the victory.

Clipstone's first goal came from left back BRANDON SHAW, his looping header from a 3rd minute free-kick clearing the visiting keeper.

JAY EDWARDS slammed home the Clipstone second goal just 60 seconds later, latching onto a superb cross from the left.

The visitors looked a little shell-shocked, but began to take command and were back in the game on 28 when ALEX HALLAM fired home from the edge of the box. 

It was all square on 42, when AFC's no. 8 DORAN JORDAN nipped into the box and took the ball around Clipstone keeper Jason Fisher before sliding the ball in from an acute angle. H-T 2-2

Steve Carty slammed a 30 yarder against the Emley bar on 56, as the home team looked to take the game to their visitors, but it was Emley who scored next, DORAN JORDAN with a diving header at the near post in the 73rd minute.

Edwards hit the bar and Carty forced the Emley keeper to tip onto the bar as the home team tried to claw their way back in to the game. 

AFC sub STEVE KENWORTHY headed past Fisher with 7 to play - then as we were headed for the exit, Clipstone were awarded a penalty after a defender handled the ball.

CARL HASLAM stepped up and lashed the spot kick past the AFC keeper, giving the home team hope as the game entered stoppage time. Despite more pressure, the home team couldn't find the equaliser and AFC Emley went home with the three points F-T 3-4

Admission £4

Programme - sold out

Attendance - 74

Midweek games - w/c 21st October

Monday 21st

NPP
Ilkeston FC 3-1 Nantwich Town

U19 Div I
Staveley MW P-P Worksop Town

U19 Div II
Arnold Town P-P Matlock Town
Ollerton Town P-P Southwell City

Tuesday 22nd

NPP
Skelmersdale Utd 1-0 Matlock Town
Stocksbridge PS 4-5 Worksop Town

NP1S
Eastwood Town P-P Mickleover Sports
Goole AFC 1-3 Carlton Town
Loughborough Dynamo 0-0 Brigg Town
Scarborough Athletic 4-0 Rainworth MW

NCELP
Retford Utd 1-1 Armthorpe Welfare

NCEL1
Clipstone FC 3-4 AFC Emley
Hemsworth MW 1-1 Shirebrook Town

Wednesday 23rd

NCELP
Long Eaton United 1-1 Heanor Town
Matlby Main 3-1 Basford Utd

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 8-3 Clay Cross Town

CMLS
Mickleover Royals P-P South Normanton Athletic

NSL Senior Cup
Boots Athletic P-P Netherfield Albion (7pm)

U19 Div II
Carlton Town Academy 0-10 Dunkirk FC

U19 Div III
Bilborough Town P-P Radford

Thursday 24th

U19 Div I

Basford Utd 4-1 Handsworth FC

Sheffield FC 2-2 Retford Utd

Kirkby Town 5-2 Sileby Athletic

Venue: The Summit Centre, Kirkby.

Kirbky Town and Silbey Sileby Athletic met in the 1st round of the Sunday F.A. Cup. Kirkby were placed in the Notts Sunday League Premier Division One after going through last season undefeated , whilst Sileby have found it difficult moving up to the Charnwood Sunday League Premier Division, winning only one of their four league games, conceding 17 times.  

Bless!!!

The Kirkby faithful turned out in their 10's for this game - that must be so disappointing for those involved with the club - these F.A. Cup games usually attract decent crowds, but obviously not on this occasion!

Any fears that Town would struggle against their Leicestershire opponents were alleviated somewhat after just 4 minutes,  KRIS WATSON nodding home at the near post after Nat Watson and Ryan Bowen combined well down the left. 

Ryan Bowen had a great chance to double Kirkby's lead on 11, but could only steer his close range header over the bar. 

Sileby asked a few questions of the home defence - and although this is a defence that usually has an easy ride, they coped admirably with all that their visitors threw at them. 

Kirby added to their lead on 36, Kieran Watson sliding the ball through to NATHAN WATSON who calmly slotted past the Sileby keeper. H-T 0-2

The teams stayed on the pitch for their half-time break, as did the three officials ..with Referee Eddie Pidduck even getting a neck massage from the Referee coach who was in attendance along with the Assessor.

It got even better for the home team just 7 minutes into the second half, KRIS WATSON reacting quickest and prodding home at the far post after Keiran Watson's free-kick had cannoned off the bar and the keeper had spilled his attempted catch.

Centre-half Russell Smith in the Kirkby defence dwelled on the ball to long on the hour mark, and was dispossessed. The ball found it's way to the far stick where the Sileby no. 11 had the simple task of tapping over the line.

Tom Cresswell had a simple chance to restore the home teams three goal lead on 64, but his tame shot was grabbed by the keeper just as it reached the line. 

Seconds later, Keiren Watson fired a penalty kick onto the bar, then the same player saw his volley also hit the bar after he had chested down a pass. 

KEIRAN WATSON finally got his name on the scoresheet on 79. His initial shot  was spilled by the Sileby keeper, and Bowen quickly nipped in to keep the play alive and give Watson time to run in and prod home the loose ball.

Sileby's no. 6 fired past Kirkby keeper Steve Boot with five to play, but the home team had the final say, KIERAN WATSON running one-on-one with the keeper and calmly firing home from 12 yards. F-T 5-2

Hucknall Town 1-3 Desborough Town

Venue: Watnall Road, Hucknall

Scorers:
Yellows - Whetton (18)
Desborough - Byrne (5, 57) Forbes (25)

Beacuse I wasn't feeling too great, a game close to home was called for, and they don't get much closer than a fixture at Watnall Road - just a two minute car ride and Bob's your mothers brother!

We didn't know too much about the team from Northampton, just that they were currently mid-table in the step 5 United Counties League Premier Division.

Well observed silence from the players pre-kick off

It was apparent from the off that Desborough played at a higher level than the Yellows - they were more composed and much quicker to the ball than their step 7 opponents, and it took only 5 minutes for the visitors to make their superiority count.  

A ball from the back was flicked into space by MICHAEL BYRNE, the striker then raced onto his own ball before running at keeper James Beddingham and chipping over him from the corner of the box. 

Michael Byrne

Much to Hucknall's credit they didn't let this early setback upset them too much, and were almost level on 14, Eugene Francis firing just wide of the far post after turning his marker on the edge of the area. 

Francis goes close!

The home team kept up their offensive and were rewarded in the 18th minute when JOHN WHETTON raced in from the right wing and curled an unstoppable effort over Desborough keeper Richard Lavin's desperate dive.  

Whetton (out of shot) fires home....

....and receives congratulations from his team-mates

The teams were level for only 7 minutes though, poor defending at a set piece undoing all the home teams previous good work. A free-kick was conceded just shy of the by-line, and the Desborough left back pinged ball low and hard to the near post where MARK FORBES beat Sam Sims to the ball and headed powerfully past Beddingham. H-T 1-2

Forbes (no.8) heads home

The second half was 12 minutes old when Desborough added to their lead, MICHAEL BYRNE firing past Beddingham from 10 yards with outside of this right boot. Clever goal from the striker, shielding the ball superbly before turning and making room for the shot.

Sims forced Lavin into a diving save on 68 as Hucknall strove to get back into the game, but three minutes later it should have been done and dusted for "Ar Tarn" when Byrne was picked out in front of goal. Unfortunately for the no.9, his header flew well wide and soon after he was subbed, spoiling any chance he may have had to make amends and claim a well deserved hat-trick. F-T 1-3 

Admission: £3

Programme: £1

Attendance: my H/C 123 

Referee: Mr. Richard Eley. Very good game. No real problems to deal with - cautioned players when they needed it, but overall, very impressive.