Gedling MW 4-1 Ollerton Town

Yes! It is with great pleasure that we announce Malc & Kev go to Plains Road and see Welfare not only win, but play some good stuff as well....

 
Gedling's no.8 Chris Hall in the thick of it

We were unsure what kind of reception we would get at Plains Road - we seem to struggle to see Welfare win a game there! Any worries instantly evaporated when we received our usual friendly greeting by the Gedling Committee members..

A few of the Gedling players were known to us, as were one or two of the Ollerton starting eleven, but as usual with PSF, it was a nightmare trying to find out who is who. Ollerton play in the CMFL Supreme Division and for the first 20 minutes or so they were all over their EMCL hosts. Ross Cherry in the home goal was called upon time after time to keep the visiting attackers at bay. One particular block from a Dean Hankey close range effort was outstanding.

Jamie Brown wins the ball for Gedling

Despite all their pressure, Ollerton failed to score and as often happens, their opponents went ahead against the run of play. Chris Hall played a cracking ball into the path of BEN GREENHALGH and the striker calmly lifted it over the advancing keeper from the edge of the box. Right on half-time, Craig Boulton fired a free-kick just past the Ollerton post. H-T 1-0

Welfare came out with their defence slightly restructured, Chris Muldoon replaced with Hesham Ramadan, with Mark Williams slotting in at right back. Greenhalgh almost gave Welfare the perfect start straight from the restart, flicking a well placed cross just over the bar. The home team didn't have to wait too long to increase their lead though. On 51, Greenhalgh played the ball wide right to Jamie Brown, who in turn eased it into the path of CHRIS HALL - the midfielder made no mistake, side-footing home from close range.

Chris Hall buries his second of the afternoon

It was 3-0 seven minutes later when a free kick into the box was headed down into the path of CHRIS HALL by Ramadam - again the midfielder converted with ease. Seconds later RAMADAN was also on the scoresheet, another free-kick headed down by the big central defender - but this time he latched onto the loose ball and whacked it into the back of the net.

Ramadan heads the ball down, before sending it crashing into the net

So with 30 minutes still to play, the game was effectively over, but watching Gedling pass the ball about with such ease and style meant we were kept entertained right until the end. Ollerton did have the last laugh though when Lance Walker's attempted clearance in the 86th minute hit the Ollerton no. 9 on the head and bounced into the empty net. F-T 4-1

Admission £2 ( great value)

Attendance 40 More pictures click here

Monday Hucknall Town v Mansfield Town

Eastwood Town 1-3 Mansfield Town

Cracker - pre-season has got going at last!!! A great game between two teams who were very good on the night......

 

Kick off at Coronation Park......

Left home early for this game in anticipation of a huge turn out (officially 665) - parking is at a premium at CP if you leave it too late. As it transpired, we managed to park on Chewton Street, just up from the ground, so no big trek to get to the turnstiles. Just a fiver to get in - well done Eastwood Town FC. We did not get to CP last season at all, and it has to be remembered we used to be regular visitors. What a change in the ground since we last went! The ground is so much more of a proper football stadium now, and where did all that spectator room come from?

The perimeter seems to have grown by a few metres, but the playing surface still looked to be regulation size. As for the playing surface - wow! The change is nothing short of miraculous .... levelled to resemble a bowling green, and seeded to perfection. The only criticism would be the with new stand next to the Main Stand - if you were to sit in there, people stood standing against the perimeter fence would block your view completely. Still - overall, very, very impressed.

Match reports are available on the Chad website, the NEP website etc. so I'll just go for the short version!!

Both keepers were called into action early doors, Eastwood's Danby blocking an effort at his near post, then Collett collecting well from a Sam Duncum shot. Ady Hawes saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Paul Connor in the 17th minute, but then he committed an infringement in the area on 24.

Ady Hawes header was cleared off the line Connor

Kiegan Parker slots home from the spot

Stags new boy KIEGAN PARKER stepped up to fire the ball past Danby from 12 yards. Seven minutes later the Badgers were given the chance to level with a spot kick of their own after Stevenson was tripped -- but Matt Rhead's kick was a bit tame to say the least, and Collett saved easily.

Matt Rhead's kick well saved by Collett

Three minutes later though , ANDY TODD showed Rhead how to take a penalty, this one awarded after Stags right back John Leanard felled Duncum. Todd's kick sent Collett the wrong way, but in all fairness the ball was struck so hard, I doubt if the keeper would have saved it if he had chosen to dive the other way....

Couldn't stop Andy Todd's netbuster though!!

Just before the break we had a bit of hand-bags - Leonard made a rash challenge, sliding in on Stevenson, but for some reason Todd decided he wanted to be involved and manhandled the Stags player, appearing to raise his arm. Todd was lucky to stay on the pitch - no doubt in a "proper" game he would have walked. H-T 1-1

Had a walk around the ground at the break - met Dan Westwell, freelance photographer and friend and had a chat about his recent terrific Baltic cruise holiday. Judging by the three million pictures on facebook, he looked to have had a cracking time!!

Back to the game : Stags almost went ahead just 3 minutes into the second half, Gary Mills' header flying just over. They did take the lead again on 57 when the Badgers' keeper made an error of judgement and the ball fell stright to Louis Briscoe. As quick as a flash he fired the ball at the goal, and looked delighted as his effort deflected in off an Eastwood defender. Can't give that to Briscoe - sorry Louis, it was not really on target!!

Eastwood had a couple of chances, but the Stags were proving a bit of a handful, especially after the classy Kyle Nix and Matt Somner entered the fray. It was Somner who set up the visitors third goal - a terrific cross into the area that LEE GREGORY dived to head home from 6 yards. Great goal and well worth the fiver entrance fee. F-T 1-3

Straight out after the final whistle, hoping to miss the mass exodus - indeed thanks to Stig Goodman we were home by 10pm.....

Eastwood: Danby (Deakin 27), Cooke, Riley, Simpson, Mat Bailey, Hawes (Haggerty 78), D’Laryea (Foster 69), Stevenson (Meikle 59), Rhead 78 (Muller), Todd (Nightingale 78), Duncum (Markel Bailey 73). Subs not used: Hollis, Handbury.

Mansfield: Collett, Leonard (Fairclough 46), Naylor (Foster 46), C. Smith (Preece 46), Sandwith, Cain (Briscoe 52), Mills (Somner 78), Thompson (Nix 69), A. Smith (Williams 73, Parker (Gregory 52), Connor (Mitchley 58).

Attendance 665

Admission - excellent at £5

Saturday : Gedling MW v Ollerton Town

Sutton Town AFC 0-3 Matlock Town

Another pre-season game that failed to inspire!!

The scoreline does not really do Sutton justice. The CML Supreme team held their illustrious visitors until the 74th minute - the introduction of Danny Wood and Ross Hannah making all the difference.

Made the short journey up the M1 to the Fieldings again - this game picked out specifically so we could meet up with good friend and Gladitor devotee Phil Mumby. Good company is Phil, and with Chris and Carole Dalglish also in attendance, a laugh or two are usually guaranteed.

Expected a good turn out for this game, but disappointingly there were only 50-60 present although the car park was full yet again. Every time we go to this venue, parking is an issue. Maybe the £5 entrance fee put people off? I didn't see any hoppers - they will not usually travel if there is no programme issued..

 

I took no notes for the first quater of the game - trust me, there was nothing to write about. The first real excitement came on 25 when the Matlock no. 9 tried his luck from 20 yards forcing a finger tip save from the Sutton keeper. Knowles should have put the Gladiators ahead seconds later, but he directed his header well wide with the goal at his mercy. H-T 0-0

Stayed goal-less until the 74th minute - a tribute to how well Sutton had defended, but when Danny Woods and Ross Hannah entered the game it was a different story. The first goal was stroked home by Woods after good pressure on the home defence from Hannah and Algar, then a few minutes later, more pressure saw a defender block the ball with his hand, giving the Referee no choice other than point to the spot. Hannah placed the ball carefully, then smacked it with venom past the keeper. I can't remember seeing a ball hit that hard for yonks......the keeper never moved ! Hannah was on the scoresheet again in the 83rd minute, this time cutting in from the left before firing the ball across the keeper and into the net. F-T 0-3

Sutton had defended really well until the introduction of Matlock's big guns, and can take a lot from this game... not too sure what Mark Atkins will gain from this outing though.

Admission £5 - a bit steep for CML Attendance 60+ ? Thursday - Eastwood Tn v Mansfield Tn

A few random pics from the game

 

Basford United 1-0 Blidworth Welfare

Something of a surprise result. Welfare were without several key 1st team players, including top strikers Dave Bramwell and Dean Rick, but you can't take anything away from Basford - they scored the games only goal in the 37th minute and then defended resolutely as Blidworth searched for the equaliser. United's skipper, Mark Dimech was a rock in the centre of the defence throughout, and their keeper was in superb form making several great saves.

 
Mark Dimech

We went to this pre-season game not really knowing what to expect from Basford, and chatting to their manager Neil Smith, he didn’t either. He said he was looking forward to the game, but didn’t expect anything other than a Blidworth win. I don’t think Neil realised at the time that Welfare were without 5 key players, including two of the CML most dangerous hitmen. Neil took over Basford’s first team at the end of last season, and has had to re-build the squad as several of last season’s departed during the closed season. Seems to have done a fair job so far, although he will probably need to strengthen his strike force.

We have been to Greenwich Avenue previously, but we haven’t seen a game on the main pitch. This is fully railed off with hard standing around more than half of the perimeter, decent sized dug-outs, a small snap-shed and a covered seating area. Very nice setting and for most of the game we were blessed with bright sunshine. When the sun went in though, it turned distinctly chilly……. When we arrived, Rolls were playing Selston on the main pitch, and Neil told us that some days during the summer months they can accommodate up to eleven games!

Rolls and Selston players leaving the pitch

Blidworth looked good from the off, but the little and large central defensive pairing of Mark Dimech and Russ Best coped admirably. The visitors went close on 23 when Fletcher’s header flew just over the bar, but after 32 minutes, the home team went ahead against the run of play. A corner from the right was met at the far stick by Mark Nixon who rose like a salmon to head home. Great header, but Blidworth must be wondering why the ball wasn’t cut out and how it was allowed to get to the far post.

Fletcher heads just over

Attendance -- 30-40- ish. No gate, so people were in and out of the ground throughout the game.

Basford goal scorer Mark Nixon (centre)

Brett Marshall came to have a chat just after the goal went in, and although he was a little frustrated at conceding, he was pleased that this was not a league game! Usually pre-season games see a lot of changes of personnel during the 90 minutes, but Brett was rotating his players in 20 minute spells – most of the players getting at least 60 minutes, rather than changing the team at half-time which gives the players only 45 minutes pitch time. Dave Issett saw his long range effort well blocked by the home keeper just before the break, and when the loose ball was hit back towards goal, a Basford foot was stuck out and the ball was cleared. H-T 1-0

Had a wander at half-time and watched a little of the game being played on the pitch next door. We could have gone to Arnold, Carlton or Mansfield today, but this was a nice change – plenty of fresh air and pleasant surroundings.

The second half was only seconds old when Blidworth were awarded a free-kick 20 yards from goal. Haslam looked favourite to take the kick, but he stepped over it and Jay Edwards fired the ball at goal and watched in agony as his fierce drive crashed off the bar with the keeper well beaten. Haslam made a great, mazy run in the 50th minute, and when he put the ball into the area, Kye Martin’s effort was gathered comfortably by the home keeper.

Haslam heads Hollingworth's cross against the bar

Haslam was the Blidworth danger man, and on 55, when Nathan Hollingworth fired in a superb cross from the left, the tall winger rose well to head at goal – but the cross bar came the Basford’s aid again. Haslam also had a terrific free-kick saved by the keeper - a well hit shot that was heading into the corner until the keeper dived to his right to palm the ball away. F-T 1-0 MORE IMAGES FROM THE GAME

Haslam's drive was going in......but the keeper saved well

Admission - no Programme - no Tuesday - Sutton Town AFC v Matlock Town

On The Road and APTCOO

Last season we decided to sponsor our good friend Rob Waite as he hopped the length and breadth of the UK - the proceeds going towards Worksop Town U19’s. The idea was that if Rob completed 75 games we would hand over £0.25 per game. We ended up donating £20.00, not a lot I suppose, but better than nothing! Rob is a good friend and his “the 66pow” blog is among the best reads in the world of hopping blogs.

Gives me that “I’ll get me coat” feeling when I read his work !! This season I thought we could maybe do something for a good cause outside of the beautiful game and the search began for a local charity that we could support, albeit in our own small way. I noticed that another football friend, Rob Hornby, was interested in a charity in Mansfield that is a “One Stop Resource For Disabled Children, Young People, Their Carers and Families”

Registered Charity no. 1102516

APTCOO “A Place To Call Our Own” Ltd, is a registered charity that was started by a group of carers in 1991. They offer a safe accessible place in the community for children and young people with a disability or additional need, their carers and families. I read the APTCOO newsletters and paid visits to their website and after talking it through with Kev we decide to ask Rob to contact the charity on our behalf to see if they would be interested in what we are planning. The very positive response made the decision to support this charity a very easy one. We are both ordinary working men, and our pockets are not bottomless – but we have decided to donate £0.15 each to APTCOO for every goal we notch up on our travels. £0.15 may not seem a lot of money, but last season we saw 393 goals at an average of 3.6 goals per game, that equates to £58.95 each over the season. Already this season we have a 23 goal tally in just 5 games!

Additionally, and to show good faith and also help dispel any thoughts of our searching out potential goal-less games, for each game that ends with a 0-0 scoreline, we will donate £0.50 each. Last season we saw only nine goal-less games and five of those were at Field Mill. We have no plans to visit the Mill this season, except on the odd occasion that Glapwell are playing there, so hopefully we can top the 400 goal mark. Whatever happens, I hope we can get somewhere the £120.00 mark ( 400 goals) - anything over this would be a real bonus.....

APTCOO is registered charity no. 1102516

Kimberley Town 1-7 Maltby Main

Pre-season game at the Stag Ground.

Kimberley Town FC are members of the CMFL Supreme Division, while Maltby Main ply their trade in the NCEL Premier Division. The South Yorkshire team was made up predominantly of first team players, but also contained a couple of under 19's. Kimberley had never played together before this game, the team having to be re-assembled after the departure of long-standing Manager Paul Rawdon and most of the previous season's squad.

Had a chat to Town Chairman Graeme Critchley before the game and he was fairly upbeat. He may need a bit of cheering up after this heavy defeat though. He told us that most of the squad are local to the area, whereas last term the majority of his players were from the Sheffield area. He may need to cast his net a bit further before the CML season begins, or this will be one long, hard season for his Kimberley Town team.

Graeme has produced a programme for Kimberley's pre-season games and it features a couple of the "On The Road" blog entries. Very flattering when your work is appreciated. The cover picture is a gem - I have no idea which ground it is mean to depict, and I know nothing about art, I just know what I like....

Anyway, many thanks to Mrs. Critchley for walking half way around the ground just to hand us complimentary ones.

When watching pre-seson games, it is mostly a game of guess the player - on this occasion, and I think this has to be a first, I knew NONE of the players on either side......so "no name" scored all eight goals !!

Kimberley went behind in the 11th minute when their young keeper failed to hold onto a fairly tame shot from Maltby's no. 10. Seven minutes later the score was doubled when the tricky, pacy no. 9 crashed home an effort from 16 yards that the keeper got a hand to, but couldn't stop entering the net.

On 21, Kimberley's no. 12 saw his 20 yard free-kick tipped over the bar by the visiting keeper, but that was about all the home team could muster. The Main's 15 shirt hammered home from 18 yards on 38 after being given far too much time by the Kimberley defence, then seconds later their no. 10 was played through on goal and calmly chipped the home keeper. H-T 0-4

Kimberley made defensive changes at half time, and they appeared to cope a little better with their visitors. They even managed a couple of shots at goal, but it wasn't to last. Maltby's 12 jacket hit the ball into the box from the left in the 58th minute, giving no.17 a simple side-foot tap in. No. 15 beat the Kimberley offside trap on 76, and despite the keeper's valiant efforts, the striker was able to slot home.

The goal of the game was, inevitably, scored by Kimberley! After showing little or nothing as an attacking force, a long ball out of defence was latched onto by their 7 shirt, and he placed his shot over the advancing keeper into the net. Great finish. The final goal of the game was scored with just two minurtes to go - a corner from the left was played to the Maltby left back who hit a superb cross to the far stick to where no. 11 was on hand to head home.

Maltby looked a decent team, and were well disciplined - and were lead well by their skipper. Kimberley can only get better, but they have only three more weeks to try and put together a squad that can be competitive in the CML Supreme. F-T 1-7


Admission ; £0.00 very reasonable

Programme : £0.00 very reasonable

Coffee : £0.75 very nice, but heated by a thermo-nuclear device - blimey it was hot !!

Attendance : counted 12

Hucknall Town 6-1 Gedling MW

Pre-season game at Watnall Road.

Anyone looking at the result will probably think "oh, that scoreline looks a bit one-sided" - and they won't be far off the mark. As well as hitting the back of the net 6 times, Evo-Stik Premier outfit Hucknall hit the bar, hit the post and saw several other decent efforts go begging. Gedling scored in the 87th minute, much to the annoyance of the home bench, but all in all a good job done by a strong looking Hucknall team.

Premier League Referee David Coote was in charge

The home team went ahead in the 17th minute through DARYL THOMAS, who hit a neat drive across keeper Lance Walker from the corner of the area. 3 minutes later Martin Ball crashed a shot off the bar as Hucknall made light work of getting through the Gedling defence. On the half-hour mark, Richie Holmes saw his powerful header from a corner thump off the post and cleared to safety. H-T 1-0

Gedling's programe editor Tony Hay walked past us just before the break, mentioning something about the "On The Road" curse -- we see quite a few games featuring the Plains Road club, but we don't seem to see them win many!

The curse - love it!! Could Plains Road be the first ground to ban "On The Road"?

Hucknall's Richie Holmes - a touch of class

The Hay family had barely settled down for the restart when DARYL THOMAS collected the ball on the edge of the area and curled it sweetly over the Welfare trialist keeper - whose name was unknown, even to the Gedling faithful! Anyway the ball flew into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. PARIS SIMMONDS was on the scoresheet soon after, hitting a drive from fully 35 yards that was past the keeper before he could react. On 71, Dan Williams found room on the left and picked out DANWELL FRANCIS 6 yards from goal, and the striker was not going to miss from there!

Four minutes later, Keiran DeBrewer ran down the left fired the ball into the box where DAN WILLIAMS was waiting to side-foot home from 10 yards out. The home teams sixth goal was a bit scrappy compared to the other 5, but DANWELL FRANCIS won't mind - he hit the loose ball home from close range after the visiting defence failed to clear.

Decided to have a potter to the gate with 3 mintes to go, and as we turned our backs, a cheer went up -- Gedling had scored and we missed it. Trialist CRISTIAN ETOND was credited with the goal. Men v Boys for most of the game, but Welfare do have some decent players, and they won't be facing such tough opposition in the EMCL.

Admission : very fair £3.00

Programme : 4 pages £0.50

Attendance -- no-one could tell me, so estimate around 120

Blidworth W 1-1 Rainworth MW

Pre-season friendly at the Welfare Ground.

Strange game this .. for the first 45 minutes it was difficult to tell which team was CMFL and which was Evo-Stik, as Blidworth totally controlled the play. Brett Marshall looks to have put together a decent squad at Blidworth, with more than a sprinkling of his former Kirkby Town players. The addition of Dean Rick means that in Haslam, Rick and Bramwell the front line looks formidable.

H/C 120+

 

The only goal of the half though was scored on 27 when JAY EDWARDS fired past Hales after he was picked out superbly by a cross-field ball from Steve McGurk. Haslam and Bramwell brought out a superb double save from the Wrens keeper a few minutes later, then on 38 he had to be alert to tip over Rick's powerful drive. H-T 1-0

Carl Haslam in full flight

As with most pre-season games, the second half brought myriad changes to both teams and the game lost some of it's interest. The visitors levelled after 75 minutes had been played, a superb curling shot from 20+ yards from BRENDON SWEENEY the gave Frost in the Blidworth goal no chance. Blidworth were given the chance to re-take the lead four minutes later after they were awarded a penalty for hand-ball in the box, but the spot kick was hit way over the goal and into the trees by "no number" Spares some blushes having no number, eh?? F-T 1-1 Nice, pleasant evening, spent with Mr. Brian Reece, Pinxton's Darrel Bailey and the irrepressible Gordon Foster.

Admission £3

Blidworth W v Mansfield Tn -- Monday 9th August

Rob Hornby is producing a programme for this game, with proceeds going to the Mansfield charity APTCOO. Taken from Rob's facebook group Non League Scores and Blogs of Non League Football

"On Monday 9th August 2010, Blidworth Welfare FC entertain Mansfield Town in a final pre season friendly before the season kicks off. A Bumper Crowd is expected at the game. I am doing a programme for the match retailing at £1 a copy with the proceeds helping a local charity called APTCOO(A place to call our own). Its a charity that supports any family with a child of any disability. If you type in APTCOO in to google you will find their website. The programme I was aiming for just a simple 16 pager but it may be a bit larger, as info is coming in. I know a lot of the Group can't make the match, but if you would like a programme, then can you please let me know and I can arrange to send you one and accept payment etc..Payment be £1 plus 50 postage".

Rob's facebook group is now over 100 strong - join at Non League Scores and Blogs of Non League Football - and if you do want a programme for the Blidworth v MTFC game, please let Rob know.

Teversal 0-2 Matlock Town

Gerroff!!! Phil Mumby getting friendly with yours truly!!!

Our 2nd pre-season game and although these games are commonly described as "typical pre-season fayre", this one really was. Matlock started with a mix of first team players and trialists, while the Tevie team looked to have a majority of their first team. It all changed at the break with the teams making umpteen changes - so many in fact that they both ran out of numbered shirts!

The gateman was up to his old tricks again, bless him. Trying to sell me a badge - luckily I was wearing the one I purchased last season. He never gave up though, and when I went out of the ground to retrieve a ball that had flown over the fence, he said he was going to charge me to come in again... great stuff!! 

Oy..!! Cover it up please!!!

Matlock pressed hard from the off and played the ball around well, but it took them until the 26th minute to crack the stubborn home defence, JAMES KNOWLES hitting a hopeful long-range shot that the Tevie keeper got to, but couldn't quite tip over the bar. Seconds later the keeper was in action again, this time saving from a team-mate who had headed a Reuben Wiggins-Thomas cross powerfully at goal. On 40, the visitors thought they had doubled their lead when Hannah's excellent free-kick was headed home by Adam Yates. However, the eagle-eyed linesman was already flagging for off-side before the ball entered the net.

 

Yates head in but was offside...
                                                                                  

Cockerill sees his effort well saved

                                                                                                                                                                         








Dave Cockerill had a shot well saved by the Matlock keeper two minutes before the break, but apart from that Tevie offered little threat. H-T 0-1

Gladiators boss Mark Atkins kept his players on the pitch for their half-time team talk - very interesting to hear the former Blackburn Rovers man's words of wisdom. He was unhappy with the Matlock performance and made it plain that he thought it was just not good enough.

Atkins in action

Danny Wood was foiled by the home keeper three times in as many minutes as Matlock looked to improve on their first half showing, then ROSS HANNAH crashed home a stunning 25 yard free-kick 6 minutes into the second half to double the visitors lead. Both teams then made changes en-bloc and interest waned slightly as the game entered a stagnant period and both camera and note-pad were put away. F-T 0-2

 

Hannah's shot beat the keeper and the cameraman!

Strange weather - wind, rain, sun - but on the whole a good afternoon out, leaving us in anticipation of Monday night's game between Blidworth and Rainworth.

Admission : very reasonable £2

Attendance : 145

No programme or team sheet, but who cares?

Failed again...

.....this time Pinxton v Heanor. We'll maybe get to Pinxton v Burton Albion on 6th August.

Saturday is Teversal v Matlock Town at the Grange - 3pm kick off, then on Monday it's a local derby between Blidworth and Rainworth. The clubs are just a couple of miles apart geographically, but leagues apart as far as football goes. Blidworth, with new boss Brett Marshall in charge, have high hopes of doing well in the CMFL Supreme Division this coming season, while Rainworth were promoted to Evo-Stik Div One South last season and are, so I'm lead to believe, the first ever Miners Welfare club to achieve step 4 status.

Tuesday should be Arnold Town v Gedling Town, then Thursday were off to CMFL Supreme outfit Kimberley Town, to see them take on NCEL Premier Matlby Main.

Failed........

..............to get to our planned second pre-season game at Teversal. Work commitments etc..... Never mind, we have a game on Friday at Pinxton, at either Hucknall Town or Teversal on Saturday, as well as games at Blidworth on Monday and Arnold on Tuesday.

2010-2011 -- 1st pre-season game

Sutton Town AFC 0-4 FC United of Manchester.

Short trip up to J28 of the M1 to see CMFL Supreme Division Sutton take on the Evo-Stik Premier outfit. A very hot afternoon and as expected the cricket team were at home. As we arrived at the Fieldings there was a board at the top of the street advising the car park was full! Kev parked up on a side street and as we had 10-15 minutes to spare we took in a few overs of the cricket.

Greeted at the gate by Sutton's Matchday Secretary Anton Lancashire, a man who seems to get more than his fair share of stick from other local clubs, but he's always been ok with me and Kev. Ended up with a few shy of 300 attending - and the copious amounts of beer being consumed added to the great atmosphere!

As per usual with pre-season games, I don't normally know which player is which, and this was no exception. Anyway, FCUM went ahead on 15, a corner met with a towering header from their 5 jacket. A few minutes later it was 2-0, this time no. 7 Carlos Roca played in the 4 shirt who hit a great shot that the Sutton keeper parried - the loose ball however went straight back to the no. 4 who crashed it home with style. Half time 0-2, and most of the break spent queuing for a can of pop. 

The snapshed was doing a roaring trade in burgers, but none were pre-prepared and everyone had to wait a while! Met up with CML's Rob Hornby as the 2nd half commenced - despite all his trials and tribulations, have you ever met a happier man? 6 minutes into the second period, Sutton gave away a penalty that FCUM's no. 9 converted, then on 76 Carlos Roca had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net as the home defence went AWOL. F-T 0-4 

Good start to the pre-season - 4 goals, decent crowd, good atmosphere and nice weather!! Tuesday - dependant of whether Kev can finish work on time, we are hoping to go to The Grange to watch NCEL Div 1 Teversal entertain NCEL Prem Div Dinnington Town.