Tales of Omar and the tyre.......................

Wednesday 17th November -- Blidworth Welfare 5-0 Nottingham United. CML Floodlit Cup South R2.

As we were walking from the car-park to the ground, we bumped into Richard "Wanderer" Lane, then we encountered Steve "the Bank Manager" Reading. Always a pleasure to be in Richard and Steve's company, especially when the game isn't too sparkling. Steve handed me a tenner -- a gift from our friend Steve Davies. I got him a couple of programmes earlier in the season and asked me to put the change into the APTCOO charity fund. Well, Steve: thank you very much - I am adding the whole tenner to the APTCOO fund.....

Richard recounted his woes as his beloved Newark were beaten at FC Brimington on Saturday and at Arnold on Tuesday. Steve is a real serial hopper. He and Neil Laughlin, AKA Bob L Hatt, were supposed to head off to Westella and Willerby on Tuesday, but ended up watching a team called Three Bridges in Crawley, Sussex!

On the way to Crawley they watched in amazement as a car wheel rolled at some speed down the road they were travelling on, and then they passed a car with only three wheels driven by a little old lady.......! Makes you wonder how a wheel can come off..... not just the tyre, the whole wheel! It also transpired that Steve had been to watch tonight's visitors Nottingham United on Saturday - and found a new hero in their 5ft 5" keeper Omar Murtaza.

The Man City fan praised the diminutive keeper all through the game......mentioning that he actually went up for a corner on Saturday towards the end of the game - United were 1-0 down to Phoenix. Needless to say there was not a height problem for the Phoenix defence and Omar Murtaza did not feature in the goals scored column!

Rob Hornby was present with a representative of League sponsors Abacus Lighting - Blidworth had picked up the team of the month award. He was hoping Kev would have his camera, but it does not go with us midweek.....

The game itself was nothing to write home about. Welfare may have won 5-0, but they struggled to put three passes together all through the game. They went in at the break two-nil up. SIMON ELLISON ran the ball over the line on 6, after Jonny Upson had crossed from the right. ELLISON then added his second after a defensive gaffe gifted the ball to Mark Ellison who had the simple task of rolling the ball to his brother who couldn't miss from 4 yards. H-T 2-0

Steve had been on JONNY UPSON's case all night, but had to dish out some praise when the youngster rifled home from 15 yards on 63 after great approach play by Tom Mallinson. Substitute KIERON WELLS added the Welfare fourth after 83 minutes, smashing the ball past Murtaza from the corner of the box.


SIMON ELLISON completed his hat-trick right on full time. Steve's hero Murtaza decided he was a full back and went racing out of his area to clear the ball. Unfortunately he missed the tackle and the ball was crossed into he area where Ellison was on hand to bundle home. F-T 5-0

Referee Mr. Peter Craggs had a good game - we hardly never noticed him!! (Some sort of back-handed compliment, I think!!!). We have seen Peter run the line a few times, but I can't recall seeing him take a middle before. Handled the game well and showed no nerves despite being watched by quite a few of his peers..........

Admission £3

H/C 30

Great night out despite the atrocious weather and poor football.