NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FA SENIOR TROPHY ROUND THREE
AFC PARABELLUM 2 COTGRAVE RESERVES 3
Before the match, AFC Parabellum was presented with the Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Team of the Month for October 2025, they were a few players short as some were still in Holland after watching Nottingham Forest play in Europe on Thursday evening. After a video with the two managers and the team photo and a chat with todays ref Andrew Sargent, I went over to the far siiide of the pitch to take photos before being joined for the game by local hopper Martin McHale.
Botth team,s came in to the tie in good form but not played for several weeks due to the poor weather we have had and the pitch was very heavy going for the tie.
The game started off frantic with bith sides pressing forward, but after 7 minutes, a Cotgrave corner kick by JORDAN HOPKINSON from the right hand side eluded everyone and clipped the back post and bounced in to the net to give the visitors the lead.
Back pressed AFC with chances going astray and Cotgrave could well have in creased their advantage, when awarded a penalty on 10 minutes, but the penalty taker hit the ball that hard and high, Ive had as look in my back garden in Mansfield, but the ball isnrt there.
This looked like it may be costly to the visitors, when 3 minute later a mix up at the back saw the home number 9 take advanttage and shoot from the edge of the box in to the corner to level things up.
Again both teams pressed two and fro and in the 2nd minute, the visitors somehow were back in front, when HARRY ADLAM WOOD got the ball on the left side of the halfway line and just seemed to belt it one towards the home sides area, the keeper seemed to have caught it, but then did a juggling act and dropped it in to his own net, but Harry didnt mind as he claimed the goal, by doing a lap of honour around the pitch.
Half time was edging closer and Parabellum got a corner on the right side that bounced round the area before the big NUMBER 8 volleyed home the equaliser from the 6 yard box.
The Second Half saw chance after chance missed by both sides and both trainers had to enter the pitch no end of times, some players were down with cramp, others injured and trying to run them off, so there was quite a bit of injury time, so on the 90th minute at 2-2 it looked like the dreaded penalties lottery was to happen, until 3 minutes in to injury time, Cotgrave won a free kick some 35 yards out and up stepped TOM GODWIN who bent it hit and round the home wall giving the keeper no chance of reaching it.
A really fantastic tie played in the right spirit by both good teams and must give credit to the match official Andrew Sargent who let the game run where he used the advantage and pulled it back if not and had a superb match.
The Charity Blog is in aid of SAMS WORKPLACE, which helps and supports all special needs youth, helping with work experiance, D of E, Help in the community etc. The running total stands at a staggering £3,188.57p
If you would like to make a donation to the CHARITY BLOG for such a good cause, you can do via bank transfer to
MR R HORNBY
Sort Code: 111324
Account: 00269688
To view 79 photos from the tie, please click this LINK
