BLIDWORTH RETURN HOME AFTER NARROW WIN

 Pre Season Friendly

ARNOLD TOWN RESERVES 2 BLIDWORTH WELFARE RESERVES 3

Well this morning I set out for Southwell City v Newark Town, thinking it was at Southwell's new ground in Brinkley, on arrival the gates were locked and no one in sight 30 minutes before the kick off time, so plan B was called in to action and I had been promising Ash Marshall the manager of Arnold Town Reserves to pop down and see him for quite a while now, so with a 2pm kick off at Eagle Valley this gave Hazel a bit of a steady drive. I then found out that the Southwell match had been played at their Memorial Ground and ended up as a 0-0 draw, phew ive not seen a 0-0 for nearly 5 years now, they do say things happen for a reason but know I will catch up with Southwell City in the season.

On arrival I was greeted by Ash and then Paula and Bill the barman who Ive not seen for a while and he always reminds me of the night when Woodthorpe Park Rangers got me steaming.

Out in to the stand with my cuppa and found a seat that was ideal for taking photos, amongst both sets of mums and dads as a lot of the players on show today were only 16 - 18 year olds. The attendance was quite good as I counted 31(yes i can count).

The match kicked off with the Young Eagles having most of the possession but very few chances in the game or testing of either goalkeepers, but against the run of play in the 28th minute, a square ball found a Welfare player who turned and shot in to the corner of the Town net to give his side the lead.

The lead didnt last long, as Arnold went on to the attack and gained a free kick on the right hand side of the penalty area, the ball was floated in and headed home for the equaliser. Arnold pressed for a second but the half time whistle came.

The Second Half began well for the homesters as they were awarded a penalty in the 48th minute, to which they dispatched and went in too a 2-1 lead. The visitors began to up their game as the match flowed end to end with lots of chances and in the 56th minute came goal of the game, when their little midfielder struck the ball from 35 yards to even up the scores(See photo above).

The game looked like next goal would win it and that is exactly what happened, Arnold had the ball in midfield but a pass was intercepted and played forward, the home keeper rushed towards the right hand side of his box and the winger took it round him before passing for his man to tap the ball in to a empty net.

Both sides played some really good football and I must say both sets of fans clapped both sides and not just their own. The referee Gerry Ward had a excellent game.

After the match, Arnold Town management came up to our table in the clubhouse and the players had had a whip round with them and kindly donated a amazing total of £60 to the charity blog which is in aid of FAMILY FUND a charity that helps and supports families with children with different disabilities and special needs. so a BIG THANKYOU to ARNOLD TOWN RESERVES .The running total now stands at a great £429.75p

To view 117 photos from the match pls click this LINK

SOLDIERS WIN AT CRESWELL

 Pre Season Friendly

AFC CRESWELL 1 SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS 5

The other day Darren Wragg asked if there was any local matches on, I spotted this friendly that caught the eye for a couple of reasons, one being Ive never been to Creswell in my life, so kept saying to them I would get there and also Shirebrook Soldiers are a new team entering the Nottinghamshire Senior League. Good time friend Darren picked me up and we soon entered the country lanes through south Derbyshire in to the village of Creswell before seeing the ground on the left hand side, to where we turned and then went down a cul de sac before turning in to the car park.

We was greeted by husband and wife, Manager and Secretary of AFC Creswell Mr and Mrs Hufton, who kindly fetched us both a couple of chairs and some umbrellas and spoke to a couple of players whilst the away side began to arrive.

The game began in showery weather conditions and in the second half though it had stopped raining the temperature dropped. The first few minutes players were just passing the ball around, but on 7 minutes saw the first real attack and a Soldiers players was bought down in the area, which gave the referee no choice but to award a penalty, to which the forward struck in to the net.

The side from Shirebrook could have doubled their lead but for good goalkeeping from the home keeper, but he could do nothing in the 37th minute, when he was beaten by a lovely finish to make it 2-0.

In the 62nd minute, Creswell were back in the game when they reduced the arrears, but in the 76th minute, Soldiers scored their third of the night through a lovely volley. This seemed to spur the visitors forward and they increased their lead to 4-1 through a well struck free kick from just outside the area in the 83rd minute. Just before the final whistle, the visitors added to their total to make the score 5-1 to them.

COLLIERY'S DEBUT MATCH ENDS IN DEFEAT IN THE HEAT

 Pre Season Friendly

BESTWOOD COLLIERY FC 1 NEWHALL UNITED FC 5

A blazing hot afternoon took me and Shawn to the Colliery Ground in Bestwood Village, where newly formed Notts Senior League team Bestwood Colliery FC who have been set up by Jake Fisher and Ryan Tinsley and others play their first ever match against Midlands Regional Alliance club Newhall United FC.

The venue has been used over the years by various clubs including City & Sherwood Hospitals in the late 1980's/early 1990's to only a few years ago Bestwood Miners Welfare FC.

The match kicked off and Colliery pushed forward trying to make that first breakthrough but found the ball scrambled off the visitors goal line three times in the first 30 minutes and also the visiting keeper being called in to action a couple of times, but after 35 minutes, a wide ball saw the visiting winger take advantage of a quick break and pot his side in to a 1-0 lead.

Straight away Colliery pushed back forward and a turn and shot saw the ball hit the inside of the post before being cleared of any danger.

With the half time break coming in time for everyone to take in some drinks as the hot heat was hitting everyone, the second half started and United looked more comfortable on the ball and in the 50th minute, doubled their lead to 2-0.

In the 61st minute, Colliery broke back in to the game,, when a break down the right hand side, saw the attacker turn and place the ball in to the top left hand side of the net to reduce the arrears to 2-1. Sadly the arrears went back to 2 goals when two minutes later, a slip up in the home defence saw a visiting striker go through and square the ball across to tap home to make it 3-1 to United.

Regular substitutes were being made by both sides, but it seemed that the visitors wanted to press more forward and after 81 minutes made it 4-1. The home side looked like they had tired legs by now and just wanted to hear that final whistle, but in the final action of the match, the visitors broke away and made it a final score of 5-1 to them.

To view the 87 photos from todays match, please click this LINK

SECOND HALF TURNROUND SEE PHOENIX FLY HOME

 PRE SEASON FRIENDLY

PHOENIX INHAM FC 5 YATESBURY UNITED FC 3

The Second Match of the day at Inham Nook saw Phoenix take on new club and new entrants in to the Nottinghamshire Senior League Yatesbury United FC. On the visitors arrival was a familiar face in Winnie, a small chap with experiance in local non league football.

The game kicked off with Phoenix taking to the pitch in Yellow and Black stripes whilst their visitors wore white tops and black shorts. The visitors made a fast start and within 2 minutes were 1-0 to the good, but they soon pulled back when the referee pointed to the penalty spot and the home number 9 converted to make it 1-1 in the tenth minute.

Yatesbury were playing fast and  passing football and looked dangerous, whilst Inham were also putting some good moves together, but United went 2-1 up in the 23rd minute.

Substitutes were made at half time and after 52 minutes, Phoenix broke from their own half and split the visiting defence and put the ball in to the net to make it 2-2.

The game in my opinion changed in the 74th minute, when the visiting keeper went down in pain and called to be taken off as he looked in distress, a young lad took his place and straight away, he dived at a players feet, who went down but the referee waved play on, but one minute later, Phoenix took the lead when the young keeper fumbled a cross and a forward prodded his side in front.

Phoenix must have still been celebrating as they took their eye off the ball and Yatebury went straight up the other end from kick off and made it 3-3

With blazing sun and the music of the fairground next door, we saw a ball played down the right hand side, to which the winger whipped inch perfect for the forward to head Phoenix back in front again in the 84th minute.

With clock ticking down, Phoenix push forward again and made it 5-3.

125 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

With the 13 goals scored today, it now brings the running total on the Charity Blog for FAMILY FUND, a charity that supports and helps families with children with disabilities and special needs to £352.50p

MANSFIELD HEAD BACK UP NORTH WITH A WIN

 Pre Season Friendly

PHOENIX INHAM RESERVES 2 FC MANSFIELD 3

Phoenix Inham joined the Notts Senior League but due to problems and covid, they were only able to complete four matches, but credit to their club, they have picked themselves up and now field two teams in the Notts Senior League. The 1pm kick off today at Inham nook was against visitors from the north of the county in FC Mansfield.

On arrival I was soon greeted by Bomber Ward and Reserves team manager Adie and introduced to their wives. The ground may seem very basic but does houses a Refreshments Room and changing rooms, one massive thing that will appeal to Groundhoppers who must visit the ground, is there is a Tram Station/Stop behind one of the goals(Eskdale Drive). On the outside of the refreshments building is a massive emblem of the club. To the right of the pitch is a little kids park, whilst over the other side of the pitch today was a Fair(which was caged off from the pitch.)

After a cuppa it was down to pitchside, but there was a problem as both teams had turned up iin blue kit, so a quick phone call by the home side soon saw the arrival of some orange bibs, so the away side played in blue, whilst the homesters were in kit and bibs. The away keeper then had to change his top, as his keepers top was orange, so out came his second choice of colour, a nice green top.

The game kicked off and though very even, very few chances, but then in the 29th minute, Inham hit the crossbar, Mansfield had upped their pace but wasnt creating anything and it looked as if we were heading to the half time cuppa goalless, but things dont always happen like they seem, as after 43 minutes, a long ball down the left side saw the visiting keeper leave the ball that was going wide as he thought it had gone out of play, the winger took the ball round the keeper and slotted it in the net, the ref looked over at the visiting linesman who didnt flag, so gave the goal, much to the delight of the home faithful.

The Second Half began and Mansfield seemed to push forward a lot more and on 62 minutes were awarded a free kick just in the Inham Half, the visiting number 4 hit it long and the home keeper left it and it dipped over his head in to the goal to square the scores up at 1-1.

On 69 minutes, Mansfield took the lead when the ball hit the underside of the crossbar before being tapped home to give them a 2-1 lead.

The homesters to their credit didnt give up and on 79 minutes were back on level terms when their attacker moved in from the left side and fired home low in to the far corner.

In a action packed second half, the scoring stopped in the 83rd minute, when FC Mansfield hit on the counter attack and secured the win.

100 photos from this match can be seen on this LINK