8 games to go..........

More for me as an "aide memoire", but also for anyone who wants to say hi to the "Bearded wonder" and the Daft-Lad" before the season ends!!!

7th May
Pinxton v Blidworth Welfare 
CMFL Supreme Div
Venue Pinxton Welfare ko 3pm
 
8th May
Hasland Devonshire v White Swan (Bolsover)
Derby Sunday Senior Cup final
Venue South Normanton ko 10:45 am

8th May
Yorkshire Main v Kirkby Town
CMFL Cup final
Venue Alfreton Town ko 3pm

9th May
Bulwell Town v Welbeck Welfare
CML Premier Div
Venue Bestwood Miners Welfare Ground ko 6:30pm

10th May
Mattersley (Sat) v Rainworth Rangers
Notts F.A. Saturday Minor Cup final
Venue Clipstone Welfare ko 7:30pm

11th May
Attenborough v Dunkirk Reserves
Notts F.A. Saturday Intermediate Cup final
Venue Hucknall Town ko 7:30pm

14th May
Basford United v Wollaton FC
NSL Senior Divison
Venue Greenwich Avenue ko 3pm

17th May
Hucknall Rolls Leisure v Boots Athletic
NSL Senior Cup final
Venue Arnold Town ko 7:30pm

Saturday 7th May -- games

F.A. Trophy Final
Darlington FC 1-0 Mansfield Town FC (AET)

EMCL
Anstey Nomads 1-5 Borrowash Victoria
Barrow Town 3-3 Bardon Hill
Greenwood Meadows 2-0 Ibstock United
Gresley FC 1-0 Gedling MW -- attendance 651 !! Gresley are champions
Hinckley FC 2-2 Radford FC
Holbrook Sports 2-1 St. Andrews
Holwell Sports 0-6 Radcliffe Olympic
Thunby Nirvana 2-0 Blackwell MW

CMLS
Dronfield Town 3-2 Clipstone Welfare
Kinsley Boys P-P Ollerton Town
Pinxton FC 2-3 Blidworth Welfare
Westella & Willerby 2-3 Harworth CI

CMLP
Bulwell Town P-P Bentley Colliery
Easington United P-P Welbeck Welfare

NSL Senior Div
Awsworth Villa 0-2 F.C. Cavaliers
Basford United 1-0 Boots Athletic
Bulwell FC 1-0 Kimberley MW
Notts Police 2-9 Wollaton FC

Ilkeston FC Academy 3-2 Stafford Rangers Reserves

Wednesday 4th May 2011 – Central Conference Cup final

Played at Ilkeston – not really a very neutral venue for a final !

Kev couldn’t make it, and I was going to just go and watch and not bother with a blog entry - but I still took notes of goalscorers and times, so may as well pass them on!

Ilkeston were looking for a league and cup double, but judging by their first half performance they looked to have no chance of achieving that! They squandered a few chances and had two efforts cleared off the line, but went behind on 26 when the visiting no. 8 MARSDEN ( I think) bundled home from close range. I was with “Wheelchair” Trev Williams and his pal – we spent quite a lot of the first half looking at aircraft contrails – that’s how entertaining the first half was. H-T 0-1

The second half was much better – Ilkeston seemed to have gained a couple of gears and were a couple of yards quicker all of a sudden. They were on terms with just 6 minutes of the second half played – a cracking cross from the left met by RYAN WILSON who headed powerfully home from 8 yards.

The home team took the lead on 61, when a looping header from ANDREW OSEI-SIRIBOUR caught Rangers keeper Turner flat-footed and ended up in the back of the net. Just 60 seconds later, TYRELL WAITE chased a ball into the box, and when Turner dived over it, the big no. 9 smashed into the net from a really tight angle. Terrific finish!

Rangers threw on their subs, both big lads, and the game swung back their way as the home team decided to try and hang on to what they had. Rangers reduced their arrears on 90, when their no. 10 SMITH fired home at the far post, then Ilkeston had to thank their keeper Luke Edge in stoppage time – he pulled off a breath-taking save from a 25 yard bullet shot that looked a goal as soon as it was struck. The keeper reacted quickly to dive and tip the ball over the bar – the resultant corner was cleared, the ref blew for full time and the double was done! F-T 3-2

Admission £4

No programme

Attendance -- not known at the time of writing

Carlton Town 1-6 Eastwood Town

Tuesday 3rd May 2011 -- Notts F.A. Senior Cup final

Well, what a shambles! The first time that we have been to Field Mill for the final of the Notts F.A. Saturday Senior Cup, and the powers that be at the F.A. must be a bit red-faced as regards the actual organisation shown by their hosts.

Only one turnstile open – and when we arrived at 7:15pm, the queue was half way down the West Stand…..another door was opened with seconds to go before the kick off, but quite a few people missed the start of the game. Added to that - there were no snack bars open and on a bitterly cold night, a coffee would have gone down a treat….

Sat with good friends and fellow bloggists, Rob Waite and Adam Barlow.  We were joined at the break by facebook friend and Stags devotee Mel Furness….I suspect photographer Dan Westwell has a pic of us all that will no doubt grace the social network !!

The pitch at Field Mill is far superior to the one at Meadow Lane, but the organisation at Mansfield was poor and hopefully, bad pitch or not, we will be back in Nottingham for next season’s F.A. showcase event.

Finished 6-1 to Eastwood – a score that was achieved with the Badgers hardly shifting into third gear….not that Carlton were bad – just the gulf in class was so evident that the score could have been 9 or 10 ….

LINDON MEIKLE began the goal fest on 15, when he fired past Danny Marshall after he latched onto a ball played to him through the middle of the Carlton defence.

CURTIS SHAW levelled three minutes later, hammering home a sweet volley  from the edge of the box after he was picked out by Ricky Gardner.  Four minutes later Eastwood were back in front – a long throw from Adrian Hawes volleyed home by DAVE HAGGERTY, who somehow reached the ball through a ruck of players. H-T 2-1



The Badgers increased their lead with 8 minutes of the second half played, LEE STEVENSON prodding home at the far stick after the Millers failed to deal with a goal mouth scramble.   On 63, LINDON MEIKLE was on the mark again – finishing at the second time of asking after Marshall had done well to block the striker’s initial effort.

After 76 minutes, ADRIAN HAWES rose well to head powerfully home from corner, then right on full-time PETER KNOX found acres of space in the box and made no mistake from close range. F-T 6-1

Admission £5
Programme £1
Attendance ?

Kirkby Town 3-1 Dronfield Town

Monday 2nd May 2011 -- CMFL Supreme Division

End of season game – both teams seemed to be merely fulfilling fixture obligations – although some the Kirkby players may have had an agenda in trying to impress Manager Dave Winter, looking for a place in the squad for next Sunday’s CML Cup final.

A bitterly cold wind met us as we entered the ground – along with fellow Kempsterites Fredkirkbytown and Pontecarlo (aka Eddie)! There is a lack of fixtures Nationwide, and Eddie took this opportunity to make his first visit to the Summit Centre.

The Dronfield team was well below full strength – and no subs were named. Kirkby looked to have fielded a strong-ish team, athough their only named sub was Manager Winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Dennett was also in attendance, but  Kirkby must be a little disappointed with the turn out – Eddie head counted only 39, and this decreased steadily to just over 20, as the less than thrilling second half and the freezing cold took their toll…………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took up a position next to the stand in the hope of finding a bit of shelter, but the blinding sun and howling wind combined to make it a very uncomfortable afternoon.

Dronfield took the lead on 12, when SCOTT AUSTIN fired home from 15 yards after the home defence allowed him too much time and space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirkby were level after 28 minutes had been played, MARK CARTER hammering home at the second attempt after his original shot had rebounded off the post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With just two minutes of the half remaining the home team were ahead, this time a ball in from the right by Carter neatly flicked home by CARL RUSSO. 

 

90 seconds later Kirkby added their third, MARK “Butch” WALTERS netting at the second attempt after his first shot was blocked by Dronfield keeper Richard Henson. H-T 3-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a lot happened in the second half, and as the sun dipped lower and the temperature continued to drop, the notepad stayed firmly in my pocket. Henson did pull off a great diving save from the Kirkby no. 9 on 66, but that was it as far as noteworthy action goes.

Joined with about 20 minutes to go by facebook friend and hopper Chris Bedford – his first act was to hand me a donation to APTCOO ….. as per usual when this happens, I am lost for words – so I hope “thanks, Chris” will be sufficient.

Chris was hoping to get the Church Warsop / Pinxton game in as well as the Kirkby game, but the 1pm kick off at the Alley was changed to 2pm, meaning he could only get to the Summit Centre with three quarters of the game already played. F-T 3-1

Pontecarlo asked if we could drop him at Kirkby Station - I had to admit I had no idea where the Station was and I only live 5 miles away!!  Kev and Eddie between them explained where the station was, but I still drove straight past the entrance!  Managed to park just a few yards up the road, leaving Ponte with only a short walk...

Admission £3

Programme£1

H/C ( Pontecarlo) 39

Tuesday – Notts F.A. Senior Cup final between Carlton Town and Eastwood Town at Field Mill.

Monday 2nd May - games

NCELP
Long Eaton United 3-3 Pickering Town

CML Supreme
Church Warsop S & SC 1-0 Pinxton
Clipstone Welfare 0-6 Westella & Willerby
Kinsley Boys 1-0 Blidworth Welfare
Kirkby Town 3-1 Dronfield Town
Ollerton Town 2-2 Harworth CI

CML Premier
Thorne Colliery 2-1 Nottingham United
Welbeck Welfare v Yorkshire Main (5pm)
Whatton United 4-3 Bulwell Town

Rolls Royce Leisure Villa 2-1 Trentside

Sunday 1st May 2011 -- Notts Sunday League Premier Premier

No admission, no programmes, no Kev, no pics!!

Spent most of the game in the company of Mr. Eddie Pidduck, who was assessing Referee Mark Larvin's performance.  I have never watched an assessor in action before, and when Eddie explained what he was looking for in Mark's game - the details / minutiae that have to be noted - it's a real eye-opener.   

Eddie also mentioned that he was involved in an incident earlier in the season that saw a player suspended until December 2011. The player in question was actually at this game - Kev and I have seen him play many times - a cracking player who apparently lost his head and is now paying the penalty.

The game was, in all honesty, very poor.  Trenside were 2nd in the table before kick off, and needed to win to keep up their challenge on Clumber. RRLV sit next to bottom, but it was not easy to see which team were the high flyers and which the strugglers.

Trenside had enough chances, but some woeful finishing saw us enter the 40th minute all square.  Then the visitors no. 11 ( RORY FRANCIS?) fired home from the edge of the box, and we thought the the flood gates were about to open. That didn't happen. The half ended 0-1, and within 5 minutes of the restart, the home team were level - their no. 7 "Damo" netting after being played in from midfield.  The same player gave Villa the lead on 55, lobbing the keeper from 15 yards out. Trentside tried their hardest to get the equaliser, but frantic defending and some good keeping meant that the game ended 2-1

Monday -- Kirkby Town v Dronfield Town