LEAKES ARE IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

FC GEORDIE 2 EAST LEAKE ROBINS FC 7

Att: 31(Headcount)

Our son Shawn leaves his special needs college next July, so today there was a event on in Mansfield that was about young adults with special needs with stalls regards to apprenticeships or carrying in education and with it being on from 10am till 2pm, we wasnt sure if I would be able to make it to a match today, if we didnt get away till around 1.30pm then I would have headed very local up to AC Bull Farm v Phoenix Inham which ended up 5-1 to AFC, but with getting out at 12.45pm I checked that FC Geordie was on after all the rain we have had over recent days, I do know that it does drain very well, so wasnt really in any doubt, also Ive not seen FC Geordie or East Leake Robins this season.

Had a quick chat with a couple of the home club officials, before referee Andy Benner arrived and soon got the team line ups.

The game started really well and both sides wanted to play football on a slightly heavy leafed pitch and on 9 minutes, the Geordie lads got a free kick to the left hand side of the halfway line, that was pumped in towards to front post and DOM LYNAS unmarked headed them in to the lead.

After 15 minutes, the visitors were reduced to 10 players when veteran Ricky Benwell was sent to the sidelines for 10 minutes as he went in to the sin bin, much to him laugh and blame me for, as I always laugh and say Ive come to se you gt your annual yellow card. Well whilst he was on the side lines, his side pushed forward and the home keeper bought down one of his players inside the penalty area and Andy had no choice but to point to the penalty spot and up stepped visiting captain NATHAN BALL to convert.

The game went from end to end with both teams going close, but they say games have turning points and this one certainly did, as on 42 minutes FC Geordie had a massive chance to retake the lead but from close range, a header flew over the bar. 2 minutes later, a long ball from the left saw CONOR BENNETT take a 2-1 advantage in to the halftime break.

On 48 minutes, it became 3-1 to the Robins, when a cross from the right side found its way to MASON BALL who planted the ball over the line.

FC Geordie began to push more players forward but this was leaving a few gaps at the back and on 61 minutes, the visitors were awarded their second penalty of the game, to which NATHAN BALL duty dispatched.

The homesters threw on their subs but the Robins were now hungry for more goals and went 5-1 up on  73 minutes, when a cross shot from the right side slide under the keeper for MASON BALL to tap home from inside the six yard box.

A few of the home players heads went down and 3 minutes later, the Robins has gone 6-1 to the good when JACOB DODD netted.

Again this seemed to pick FC Geordie up and they pressed forward and after 82 minutes,make a breakthrough,when a cross from the left found out DOM LYNAS to pump th ball home.

On 85 minutes, a corner from the left side for the visitors broke down and was half cleared before landing at the feet of JOE PALMER to hit the goal of the game from 30 yards outto finish the scoring at 7-2 to his side.

Before the match, Referee Andy Benner who had a great match kindly donated £5 to the Blogs Charity "The Childrens Bereavement Centre", so a big thankyou to Andy. With the 9 goals scored it now takes the running total to a amazing £3,619.50p

To see the 135 photos from the match, please click this LINK

TOWN INTO THE NEXT ROUND

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Senior Cup: Round Two

STAPLEFORD TOWN FC 4 BESTWOOD COLLIERY FC 0

Last season Stapleford Town were the losing finalists of the NSL Senior League Cup and Bestwood Colliery were the losing finalists of the NSL Intermediate League Cup, so a good game was expected for this tie, I had pick out to attend.

Stapleford Town had arranged the Mayor of Stapleford and also a bugler to attend this Remembrance weekend fixture for this 1.30pm kick off. At 1.45pm there was no sign of the referee, so the bugler played and the minutes silence took place,whilst i was on the look out for the referee, who turned up after and got changed to get the game underway at 1.50pm.

The game kicked off with a good flowing midfield battle and neither team looking on top, but the deadlock was broken after 25 minutes, when a breakdown the left hand wing saw the ball land to KIERON DIVER to strike home from a acute angle on the side of the penalty area.

Bestwood pushed forward but were only playing with 1 player up front and the ball kept coming back in to their half.

After half time, Bestwood looked to play with most players behind the ball and hoped that they may catch the Premier Division on the counter attack. whilst the Saxons attacks were simply cleared or found the visiting keeper in fine form.

Around the 70th minute, Colliery altered their formation throwing three players up front and began to create a couple of chances in search of a equaliser, this of course left gaps and made the match more open, but in the 79th minute, a long clearance from the Stapleford defence saw RILEY PHILLIPS beat the offside trap to finish and double the homesters advantage to 2-0.

Town then began to knock the ball about and it looked like they were happy just to count the clock down, but after 89 minutes, the home captain MICHAEL ROBB tapped in to a empty net to make it 3-0.

Just before the final whistle, a cross from the right saw TRISTRAM ELSON net to make it 4-0 to see the Saxons to progress in to the next round.

After the match, Stapleford Town FC kindly donated £20 to the Charity Blog which is in aid of the Childrens Bereavement Centre to take the running total to a amazing £3,612.75p.

To view the 185 photos, please click this LINK

VALENTINES DOUBLE SEES AC THROUGH IN THE COUNTY TROPHY

 Notts FA County Trophy: Round Two

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES 1 AC UNITED 3

Attendance: 41 (Headcount)

Having not been to the Stag Ground for quite a while now and also the visitors, I keep promising Lance I would go and see them play was a ideal chance today, esp with the poor weather forecast. Since last visiting the Stag Ground, the home of Kimberley Miners Welfare FC, they have totally refurbished their clubhouse and the kitchen area and also done quite a lot of work around the ground, mainly a new stand along the side of the pitch which houses 150 plus seats. On arrival I was greeted by club veteran Ian Shepherd who kindly donated £5 to the Blogs Charity, which we are greatfully thankyou for The childrens Bereavement Centre and was also welcomed by club chairman Neil.

Todays referee was Keiran Shaw who Id not seen for ages, he soon had both teamsheets for me to photograph and must say he had a very good match.

AC united went in to the tie as favourites as they are top of the Division One in the Nottinghamshire Senior League whilst Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves sit in 15th place in the same division and only 7 days go met in a league fixture that AC United won 2-0.

Me and Shawn made our way to the stand and sat near to the halfway line just as the teams were to enter the pitch. The game kicked off with AC attacking down the slope towards the clubhouse end and after just 2 minutes, they took a early lead, when COURTNEY VALENTINE's low shot from 30 yards out hot the back of the net.

United continued to press forward and on 15 minutes doubled their lead, when from a free kick by BRAD EVANS dipped in over the wall and beat the home keeper from around 25 yards.

At this stage, it looked like AC were going to run away with the tie, but the homesters kept going but neither keeper was really called in to action, as most the shooting was from outside the box and was going high or wide.

The Second Half kicked off and the Miners looked a better team pushing forward but not really testing the visiting keeper, but to be far, both clubs centre halves were in fine form.

As the game was heading in to the final minute, Kimberley had a corner but was quickly cleared by the away defence and this saw a quick breakaway down the left hand side before the ball was squared across to COURTNEY VALENTINE to tap in his second of the game and AC's third.

With the clock in to injury time, Kimberley got a deserved goal, when a cross from the right wing, scrambled around the area before DAN WALKER headed the ball home at the far post from close range.

A very good match and two teams that wanted to get on with football and the referee tried to let the game flow and play the advantage when he could.

The CHARITY BLOGS RUNNING TOTAL now stands at a amazing £3,591.75p for the CHILDRENS BEREAVEMENT CENTRE

To see the 117 photos from the match, please click on this LINK

E & K GET SIX OF THE BEST FROM ROSSONERI

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division Three

EASTWOOD & KIMBERLEY FC 1 THE ROSSONERI FC 6

Well I saw Eastwood & Kimberley early in the season and though they still have no points, their results had improved with them only losing by the odd goal here and there, meanwhile Id never seen Rossoneri FC and with the heavy rain the past couple of days I really wasnt sure where I was going to end up, but Paul White, the E & K manager kept me up to date, so it was a second Saturday I would meet up with Herbie and Sue as they had never been to this Dale Club Venue and when Herbie found out their was a garden centre nearly next door, well tnat was is choice of game made.

On arrival I was greeted not by the usual committee etc, but a big person dressed up as a dinosaur, me thinking there would be a kids party inside the club, bit odd as then out came the bride and groom..who has a 8 foot dinosaur at their wedding lol

I soon got the home teamsheet and match referee Rhys Watkinson arrived and he had got Rossoneri's, whilst Shawn was playing my Make A Difference Interview about this Charity Blog from BBC Radio Nottingham on Tuesday at around 3.15pm if anyone else wishes to have a listen.

The players were led out side by side by the referee and the respect handshake took place in front of the small crowd. The game kicked off and within seconds Rossoneri appealed for a penalty, the ref waved for a corner, from where I was sat, it looked like a superb one handed save by the keeper and the ref felt the same, but Herbie's wife had a more better view and did say that the ball did hit the hand of a defender, but hey ho, the game is all about angles.

Rossoneri are a young side, but so are Eastwood & Kimberley but the homesters had a few players out as they gone away to Liverpool, I thought Liverpool were at the City Ground in Nottingham, maybe they meant they were in the Liverpool end.

Rossoneri made the early start forcing several corners but a lot of them going wide, but after 8 minutes, Eastwood & Kimberley got the biggest cheer of the afternoon as  ELLIS WHITE hot a 30 yard half volley in to the net, to give the home side the lead.

From the kick off, Rossoneri didnt seem stunned as they played the ball forward and SAINT KAKALA slotted home the equaliser within a minute to make it 1-1. The visitors kept pushing forward and it was only a matter of time before they scored and they did that in the 15th minute when ADAM AHMED slipped the ball under the home keeper.

Rossoneri then missed several chances with some of the shots ending up in the car park, whilst the homesters shots were ending up in a big wood behind the net.

On 26 minutes, a long ball out of defence saw KELAVITE MAVESO run past his defender and make it 3-1, but things were going to get even worse a minute later when the same player beat the offside trap to knock the ball in to make it 4-1.

Half time came and went and the visitors carried on from where they left off and in the 49 minute, CHRISTIAN MANTEZOZO came up from the back and headed home from a corner on the right hand side.

After 58 minutes, the game was sealed when CHRISTIAN MANTEZOZO shot from the left hand side to make it 6-1.

The drama hadnt ended there, as with 64 minutes on the clock, a high ball was played through for a Eastwood & Kimberley forward to run on to and the visiting keeper caught the ball then realised he was out side of his penalty area, so the ref had to show him the red card, there was no arguments from any of the players or management.

On 76 minutes, a Rossoneri player was upended in the home penalty area and a penalty was awarded the number 8 took the ball and put it down on the spot, but then the number 9 who was on his trick decided he was to take charge and take it, up he stepped and the goalkeeper dived low to his right to push the ball away.

This was non league football at its best, two teams that just wanted to play football regardless of the score, both respecting each other.

To see the 209 photos, please click this LINK

ALL PLAYERS ARE STARS IN AID OF CHARITY

 Charity Match

FOREVER STARS FC 5 JOHN PYE FC 0

@ WOLLATON FC

Attendance: Approx 220

As many of you will be aware of, I lost my daughter at still birth 32 years ago and my 5 day old grandson 12 years ago that never came out of Intensive care unit at Queens Medical Centre, it is a issue that affects families and this week has been Baby Loss Week.

Forever Stars is a small charity that supports those that have sadly been unfortunate to lose a child and when Wollaton FC put up the poster, I replied I would be there, very unusual that I go to a match on a Sunday as I love my Sunday Roast but sometimes there are much more than a Sunday Roast to go along and support.

On arrival, I was met in the Car Park by Daniel Barrett, a trustee of the charity Forever Stars who told me a bit about the superb charity and I was soon introduced to some of their volenteers and quite quickly out came a fiver for the raffle, with me doing the photos and Hazel doing the tea bar, at first they didnt want us to pay the £1 each admission, but in charity work, every penny counts, so the £3 was on the table for me, Hazel and Shawn.

Before kick off I had a chat with top ref Phil Towers who has given his services for free of charge and I was soon outside in the lovely sunshine on the halfway line snapping away the photos.

Hazel was doing the tea bar and the bar was rammed, so a good day for all. The crowd began to build with over 200 adults, children and dogs as well in attendance, all having a great time cheering on both teams, some players told me they hadnt played for over 5 years, so all credit to them for turning out and giving their time for such a great cause.

The game was played in great spirit with both sides playing good football and all players laughing and joking with smiles on their faces, even ref Towers kidding any yellow cards then the player had to pay £5 to the charity and he would book all 22 players, but he didnt have to book anyone as all the players were on best behaviour.

The game was played at a fast pace but the Stars look the better side and broke the deadlock on 10 minutes when the number 4 chipped over the keepers head in to the empty net. The lead was increased on 25 minutes, when a long ball found number 10 who rounded the keeper and then looked u to see a defender on the line, to which he calmly placed it past him to make it 2-0.

The Second Half saw Pye's have their best chances of the game when they bought on veteran McCaulay who I know from nearly 30 years ago in his old Dunkirk days, still encouraging his team magtes but not the speed he had back then in the 1990's, also not the same hair style,,opps he hasnt got any left now!

Changes kept being made so to give everyone a game, the Stars number 11 was 54 years old and kept coming on for 10 minutes at a time and joking he needed a oxygen mask to keep up with play, but he did put in a few hopeful crosses. The linesman for the Pyes told me he'd not played for 5 years but to get some photos of him, so I said I would, I bet he wished he hadnt now as sadly he got injured and hope he recovers quickly.

67 minutes on the watch and it became 3-0 to the Stars when number 12 turned in the area and slotted home, now came the confusion as the pink shirts of the stars only had 4 extra shirts, so the number 10 who had gone off had come back on with a different numbered shirt and went on to score hat trick but Iv no idea what numbers he was wearing.

Pye were beginning to tire by now and in the 82nd minute, number 7 blasted in from a close range, then number 10 in the next minute made it 5-0 from a close acute angle to complete his hat trick to earn himself man of the match.

Sadly the game ended on 86 minutes,when the Pye linesman went down in the penalty area and was down for a good 15 minutes as the ref blew for full time, eventually he left the pitch with help on crutches, so hopefully its not too bad a injury and he is ok.

Regardless of the result, the real winner today was the superb amount raised for the charity FOREVER STARS.

Forever Stars website click HERE

To View the 301 photos from today pls click this LINK

ROWLANDS LIFTS THE BANKERS FROM THE FOOT OF THE TABLE

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

MEDEN VALE COLTS FC 3 GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC 4

A short trip today after being in Cornwall for the past 3 Saturdays, Meden Vale a well set up club with a grass pitch railed inside a cage, with a neat changing room building that houses a lovely refreshment bar that sells everything from Bacon cobs to crisps, bovril to pot noodles and loads of sweets for the kids.

The form before the match showed the Vale sitting in 3rd place whilst Gedling Southbank who play their home matches on the main pitch at Arnold Town FC sat with no points rooted at the bottom, so simple, a home win, but hey no wonder my William Hills account is rubbish predicting results before matches!

Vale's Chairman Adam got me a couple of chairs set out on the halfway line for me and my son Shawn as I sat and drank my cuppa and Shawn guzzled down his can of pop. The referee today was Evan Lordy in charge of his first Notts Senior League match and as both sets of teamsheets were in, it was out to the field of play just as Blog sponsors Herbie and Sue arrived.

The game kicked off with Meden with the wind behind their backs and they did the most of the pressing in the first half but neither goalkeeper had a serious save to make, but then after 40 minutes, JAKE SMITH latched on to a loose ball from 30 yards and hit it in to the top corner of the net to give the homesters a 1-0 lead.

During the Half Time interval, it was a bit strange,as Vale stayed out for a team talk and the visitors well half went to the changing room and half to the bench.

The Second Half began and both sides began the half evenly, but on 56 minutes, a corner was given to the visitors on the right hand side and it came across for JOSHUA HARRIS to scoop down low for head home the equaliser. Meden werent happy as they felt a previous throw in should have been given the other way and then began to argue amongst themselves.

The Vale pushed forward again and were denied when a last ditch effort was cleared off the line. On 69 minutes, Southbank went ahead for the first time in the match, when a mix up in the Vale defence saw THOMAS ROWLANDS whipped and chip the ball over the keepers head in to a empty net.

After 82 minutes, Gedling extended their lead, when a pin point pass to midfield, saw the ball neatly played through for LEWIS HARRISON to finish and make it 3-1 surely that was it, but oh no, straight from kick off, the Colts gained a corner on the right side and JAKE SMITH headed it home.

Now Vale began to play and push forward with the clock ticking down and on 88 minutes, they were back on level terms when JORDAN SMITH made it 3-3. Everyone must have thought they had rescued a point, but the visitors had other ideas when THOMAS ROWLANDS broke away and bared down on goal before hitting home the winner for the visitors, which lifted them off the bottom of the table.

To see the 251 match day photos, please click this LINK

WEST MAKE IT SIX IN A ROW

 Trelawny League: Premier Division

FROGPOOL & CUSGARNE FC 1 WEST CORNWALL FC 2

Well we should have been heading back to Mansfield on Friday but after a win on the fruit machine in Hayle and a caravan becoming available for a few extra days, we have decided to stay on till Sunday, which meant I could pull another new ground in Cornwall.

A old friend Tom Rudd who used to be manager in the Notts senior League Netherfield Albion FC moved down to Cornwall some 4 years ago and is now the joint manager of Frogpool & Cusgarne FC and I promised one day Id visit the ground, today was the ideal occassion as they played table toppers West Cornwall FC who I know from his St Erme FC days.

Frogpool entered the match sitting third in the table after being promoted last season and play on the Richad Jory Park, which is a lovely location with a bandstand that looks at the pitch, so is lovely cover if it rains, but today it wasnt needed as the game was played in lovely sunshine.

The match kicked off with both sides attacking, though not many chances being directing on target, but after just 8 minutes the visitors went in front after a long ball beat the offside trap and BEN DAWE rounded the outcoming home keeper to tap the home in.

Both sides then went close with efforts and both played some very good football, just before half time, I began chatting to a gentleman who was the treasurer of the Trelawny League and I found him very interesting as we spoke positively about local lower league football.

The Second Half began and West Cornwall pressed and it looked a matter of when they would score again, bt was being denied by some good goalkeeping and last ditch defending from the home side, but a goal had to come and in the 63rd minute, a corner from the left hand side fell to TOBY ELLIS who fired a low shot in to the net to double their advantage.

This seemed to wake up the homesters in front of a crowd of 30 people as they pressed forward and on 82 minutes must have thought they had pulled a goal back when the ball was heading n to the net a pace with the defence beaten when the visiting keeper in midair pulled off the save of the season.

In the final minute of the match, Frogpool was awarded a penalty to which MIKE CRUSE converted, but sadly it all came too late for them to attack again.

After the match at the lovely Cornish Arms, West Cornwall FC donated £25 and Tom Rudd also chipped in £10, so a massive thankyou to both teams.

In midweek, Lanner FC kindly donated £40 and Trelawny League Officer kindly donated £10.

To see the 247 photos taken at todays match can be viewed on this LINK

Any one wishng to donate to this seasons charity "THE CHILDRENS BEREAVEMENT CENTRE" the charity blog bank details are as follows:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862