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