OLYMPICS NORRIS LATE GOAL BREAKS RUSHCLIFFES DREAMS

 Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy: 1st Round

RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC FC 3 RUSHCLIFFE FC 2

A visit to Wharf Lane today to see unbeaten Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Division One leaders Radcliffe Olympic FC host Division two North ninth placed Rushcliffe FC.

On arrival, Iwas greeted by several folks from both sides and with about 30 minutes before kick off came down the hill was Preston based groundhoppers Joanna and Anthony, who I met for the first time and spent a nice afternoon with.

Hazel offered to help in the refreshments area for the match and this gave club member John a chance to watch a home match, as he usually serves the teas and coffees.

Before kick off, everyone respected a minutes silence in memory of Radcliffe's manager's brother Daniel Hegarty on the 5th anniversary of his sad loss as a superbike rider. The minutes silence was respected by all.

On paper this cup tie looked like it may be a bit of one way traffic, but this was the visitors cup final and they raised their game to the occasion. The first chance of the game saw the home keeper forced it to action with a simple save.

The First Half was very even but not too many chances on goal, but after 43 minutes, a ball was pushed forward to BASSEY OKON who beat the offside trap to side foot Olympic into the lead(as put photo above). Rushcliffe werent too pleased about this and went to the match official, at half time I spoke with the visiting secretary who was the linesman and he explained that he went to raise the flag but the ball didnt go to the player who would have been in a offside position so the goal stood.

After Shawn arrived down with my half time cuppa(or brew as they call it up in Preston), Radcliffe seemed to be spurred on by their breakthrough and pushed forward and on 50 minutes, the ball was sprayed out to the left wing, where ED SMYTH from a very acute angle smashed the ball across goal and in to the net to double Olympic's lead, surely the tie was now over, but never say never.

This seemed to put some fire in to Rushcliffe and they pushed more bodies forward and this paid dividends as on 54 minutes, a ball played in to the near left hand side of the six yard box saw JASON HODSON knock the ball home to bring his side back in to the game.

Within 2 minutes, the scores were level, when a ball was crossed from the left side and there was the smallest player on the pitch JASON HODSON to get his head on the ball and steer it past the home keeper to make it 2-2. The Cup Tie was alive and both sides were going for it.

Chances came and went and on 82 minutes, Joanna and Anthony said their goodbyes as they were to stroll to the other side of the pitch as with this being a 1pm kick off, it gave them a opportunity to pull in West Bridgford FC for a 3pm kick off, just as they said good bye, I said to them, I have a feeling there is still a goal in this tie and it wont go to penalties. Right on cue, the homesters broke down the right wing and LIAM NORRIS lashed a shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and there seemed to be some confusion, as the visitors felt it hadnt crossed the line, the ref checked with the visiting secretary and the referee gave the goal much to Olympic's delight.

Rushcliffe pressed forward again for the final six minutes, but the home side could well at the death added a fourth if it hadnt been for the visiting keeper who pulled off a outstanding save.

Must thank the following for kind donations for the Blogs Charity which is FAMILY FUND, a charity that helps and supports families with children with special needs and disabilities, on Thursday Steve Broughton kindly donated £20, todays match Joanna & Anthony kindly donated £10 and Radcliffe Olympic FC kindly donated £26.50p with the 5 goals scored today it takes the running total to a outstanding £980.00..I would like to thank everyone for their generosity.

To view the 106 photos from today, please click this LINK

VALLEY GUNN DOWN LATE WINNER AT THE VALE

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

MEDEN VALE COLTS 1 AFC TOP VALLEY 2

After the worrying news at the hospital on Friday and hazel and shawn heading up to Preston for Sarahs pre dress fitting, I was invited to go up with them but decided to have a weekend on my own, on Saturday morning I was really wasnt sure if I wanted to venture out the house and face anyone, but at the last minute decided to go and get some fresh air and catch the bus down to Meden Vale as it is only down the road and to get me out the house for a few hours.

On arrival, I met the Top Valley Manager Alex and his keeper who has recently had a heart attack so isnt playing at present, a lady arrived and opened up but her hubby who usually does the food wasnt well, so she set about setting up the kitchen and soon I was there with a cuppa and a couple of bacon cobs.

A chat before kick off with one of the home players, it was mentioned she hadnt got any photos of him in football kit, that was soon to be resolved today.

With Remembrace Sunday tomorrow, all matches in the Notts Senior League were to show a minutes silence for the respect of those who had lost their lives, the Chairman of Meden Vale Colts asked if a reef could be placed on the centre circle during the silence and the referee to carry it on to the pitch, to which both clubs agreed to walk out together side by side after the match official Sam Long. The minutes silence echoed round the ground with respect.

Going in to the match, both sides were in good form of recent time and from kick off both sides were putting in 100% challenges, some a bit meaty to which the referee had to talk to a few players and also this led to the visiting striker earning a yellow card halfway through the half.

 Both sides were cancelling each other out with not many chances being created, but the Vale got a break in the 41st minute, when the ball was threaded through to BRANDON CLARKE who turned and shop low in to the corner of the net from just outside the area.

The Second Half kicked off and Top Valley was producing attack after attack, but Milnes in the home net and solid defending kept them at bay, this was leading to a bit of frustration by the visitors and in the 63rd minute, the visiting striker left his side with ten men as he was shown as second yellow card.

The Colts began to show more going forward with the man advantage but didnt really test the visiting keeper and in the 83rd minute, they were punished when a breakaway in to their half, saw a long ranged shot by JOSH GARDNER badly deflect in t the net for the equaliser.

With the game deep in to injury time and both sides looking as if they were happy with a point a piece, a Valley defender played the ball forward to the right winger to JOESPH GUNN who cut inside and saw his shot squeeze in by the near post to give his side the points and move up to second place in the league table.

Not the easiest game for referee but felt Sam Long had a very good game, trying to let the game flow and using common sense on occasions

Before the match, Meden Vale Colts FC kindly donated £20 to the Charity Blog for FAMILY FUND, a charity that helps and supports families with children with special needs and disabilities, with the 3 goals score today as well, this takes the running total to a superb £922.25p

To see the 142 photos from today, please click this LINK

FERNWOOD FOXED BY TOWN

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division Two South

FERNWOOD FOXES FC 0 BINGHAM TOWN RESERVES FC 2

Having never been to the Lincoln Road playing fields on Yorke Drive in Newark and having not seen Fernwood Foxes before, it was time for a visit. With them being joint leaders with East Leake Robins before todays games and with them playing Bingham Town Reserves, I wasnt really sure what to expect, as Town lost their first team recently, but their ressies have stuck together to keep their club going along with some backroom staff.

On arrival in t the large car park in the middle of a council estate, sees a building that houses the changing rooms and toilets and I spot two pitches, one is roped off for this afternoons match. Im greeted by the Foxes match day secretary Andy and soon have both team sheets as referee Lewis Hunt arrive and just in time for kick off Andy Porter. Shawn is very eager to day as he is the ball boy.

The game kicks off as the wind is in Bingham's advantage but it is the home side that apply the early pressure, but not creating many chances, whilst Town pump the ball long for their attackers to run on to, but alot of the long balls go astray in the difficult windy conditions.

On the 25 minute mark through, it is the vistors who take the lead, through a breakaway goal goal that is a long ball played along the ground and not in the air, to which JAKE BOYES cottons on to and knocks it over the top of the advancing keeper.

The Foxes continue to press and on 32 minutes, they had a shot that was defended on the line by a visiting defender and then the keeper pushed a shot on to the post, you just seemed to begin to think, it wasnt going to be their day.

The Second Half saw Bingham playing some good football whilst the homesters were struggling with chances and on 65 minutes Town had the chance to double their lead, but a superb penalty save by the home keeper kept them at bay but with time running out, they sent their keeper up for a corner to which he had a couple of touches, but things were going to get worse for the home side, as in the 89th minute, they had their keeper shown red after handling the ball out side the area.

A free kick was taken and blocked but fell to MATT SNELGROVE who fired through a packed penalty area in to the net to give the Town the points.

Before the match, Fernwood Foxes FC kindly donated £20 to the Charity Blog in aid of Family Fund, a charity that helps and supports families with children with special needs and disabilities. A BIG thankyou to Fernwood Foxes FC. The Running Total now stands at a superb £894.50p

To see the 163 photos taken at todays match, please click this LINK