DODDS HAT TRICK MAKES IT FOUR WINS IN THE MONTH

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League

SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS FC 6 PHOENIX INHAM FC 0

With Hazel away with her daughter on a spa weekend, her brother offered to take me somewhere local and drop me off as he was heading in to Worksop for the afternoon, so having not visited Shirebrook Soldiers since entering the Notts Senior League, it was time for a visit, my last visit was a few years ago and a few things have altered since, as they have built covered dug outs for both teams, so on a very windy day like today, the subs could shield from the strong gusts.

On arrival I was met by Team Manager/Secretary Gary Bryant and he made me a cuppa and soon greeted by the clubs Chairman Simon and some of the players as they began to arrive from both sides. With both teamsheets got before saying hello to match referee Rob Wood, I heard a voice shout out hello to me, it was Shirebrooks most famous camera man Pete Waby, a nice chap who we always have a chat when we bump in to each other.

The game kicks off and it is the visitors who have the first decent chance, firstly with the home keeper making a save and then a header from a corner flying over the crossbar.

The Soldiers then begin to press forward and in the 11th minute, the ball is played across from the left side and KEANE DARBY is first to react and slot the ball home lowly past the diving keeper to put his side 1-0 up.

This seemed to lift Shirebrooks game as they pushed forward and gained a few corners in the swirling wind, On 21 minutes and the Soldiers had doubled their lead, when one of those corners from the left side found out JAMIE ROWBOTTOM volleyed the ball home.

Inham's manager shouted out instructions to change their tactics and had to make a early sub due to a injury, but things just got worse for them when just after the half hour mark, they went 3-0 down when WILLIAM DODDS volleyed home from inside the six yard area..

The Second Half began and in the 48th minute, Soldiers were 4-0 to the good, when WILLIAM DODDS cut in from the left and hit a bullet of a shot from 25 yards in to the net. Then on 53 minutes, CONNOR PHILLIPS got in on the act with a shot from 30 yards that ht the back of the net to make it 5-0, there was a fear now for Phoenix that this could well be any score.

Phoenix then possibly had their best part of the match for 15 minutes, as they tackled and defended well but just could get the ball to their attackers, plus they edged their luck a bit with the Soldiers number 9 missing a few chances and the visiting keeper saving them more than a few times.

On 70 minutes though, Soldiers man of the match WILLIAM DODDS got the ball in his own half and just ran through every tackle and slotted home not only his hat trick but the goal of the game to make it 6-0.

The team from Shirebrook still had chances to add to their total but didnt, but have finished January with a impressive four wins from four matches and beating the top two in the division whilst they sit narrowly behind in third place

To view the 91 photos, please click this LINK

OLD BOYS' HOLD OFF VALES SECOND HALF PRESSURE TO CLAIM THE POINTS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

BEESTON OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION FC 4 MEDEN VALE COLTS FC 1

Beeston Old Boys' Association FC joined the NottsSenior League a few years ago now, but with covid and seasons ending short, Id never got the chance to actually visit them, though have been to their ground many times in the past when the now defunct Beeston FC used to play there(not to be confused with the new Beeston FC).

We knew there was a kitchen area but when I rang up, they said they had no one yet to run it, so it had never opened, so up stepped Superwoman Hazel to offer to open it on a bitter cold day. Sadly what we didnt know was most clubs use cards and Hazel was only able to take cash.

Andy Benner the match referee arrived and was soon thankful of a hot drink before grabbing the teamsheets that Id already got from both sides.

As the teams were coming out, along came old friends who I call the Ilkeston twins(they arent but they are brothers) Michael & Roo Hartshorne, where we discussed our punk rock days when in our teens, poor Roo the younger brother looked baffled, as I think he was bought up on the Nolans, poor lad dont know what he missed.

The game kicked off and I stood on the side where the Vale Ultras were stood, every match rain or shine, this family turn out in good support with their kids and grandkids and are always polite and well behaved. I was soon joined by local hopper Pete Watmough who chattered to me for the first half.

The first 20 minutes, the game flowed from end to end but neither keeper had much to do, but after 22 minutes, a ball was played down the right wing by the home side and was whipped in, for  Old Boys captain GAVIN CARR to smash home a volley into the bottom corner of the net to give his side the lead.

This gave the homesters a lot of confidence as they pressed forward in search of a second goal and this came in the 38th minute, when KEVIN BERSCH rounded 2 defenders and the visiting keeper and tapping the ball into the empty net.

Half time came and cuppa coffee drunk and me and ballboy(my son) Shawn headed over to the other side of the ground, to stand near to the Beeston side.

The Colts came out fired up and on 53 minutes, a corner from the right side was met by the head of JORDAN SMITH who guided it home to reduce the arrears.

This time it was the North Mansfield based club pressing forward with loads of corners and several free kicks just outside the box, but the Old Boys defence held solid, but you had the feeling at this stage in the game if Vale were to equalise then they may go on to win the match.

In the 73rd minute, the Old Boys of Beeston had their first real attack of the Second Half and it resulted in veteran striker SHAUN SMITH rounding the keeper to extend his sides lead to 3-1.

Meden still wanted to play football and press forward but this left gaps at the back and in the final minute, Old Boys Sub MOHAMED ELMAGHRBI finished off the scoring for the day to make it 4-1.

I felt the Referee Andy Benner had a good match trying to let it flow as much as possible.

I must thank the following for donations at the match today, Michael & Roo £5..Beeston OB manager Steve £5..also match Referee Andy Benner £5, also Beeston OB donated the £7 taken from the Tea Bar for the sale of drinks and chocolate etc. Also my friend Herbie who visited Stamford Belvedere and told a chap by the name of Junior Cahill about the charity blog and he said he would sponsor 20p per goal during their match, it ended 5-1 and Junior kindly donated £2, with the 5 goals scored at my game, it now takes the running total to a outstanding amount of £1,286.54p. Also many thanks to Beeston Old Boys' Secretary for the presentation of the flowers to my wife Hazel

To see the 115 photos taken at todays match, please click this LINK

SISWICK'S EARLY HAT TRICK SETS UP THE MATCH FOR UNITED

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Premier Division

KEYWORTH UNITED FC 9 BILBOROUGH TOWN FC 1

A funny week having recovered back from covid and getting out of bed feeling better last Monday, the plan was to head to Beeston Old Boys v Beeston FC but their local council cancelled all matches on their venues, so plan B, I noticed Trent Vineyard were playing at West Park in Long Eaton, I rang the Vineyard secretary up at around 10.30am and he advised to wear wellies but the pitch would be ok, as we were about to leave Mansfield the rain came down badly and the roads began to flood, so I decided rather than go to Long Eaton and risk the match being called off(Shirebrook Soldiers won 2-1), I played the safe card and headed to Keyworth United who now have a 3g pitch.

On arrival, we were greeted by the Keyworth committee and I soon had both team sheets from todays match referee and his assistants.

Before kick off there was a 2 minutes tribute of applause for FC Cavaliers man and local community man Karl White, who sadly lost his life over the festive period and our thoughts go out to all his family and friends in this sad time.

With quite a lot of local matches called off, it was good to not only see a decent crowd but also a lot of players from other clubs around the Nottinghamshire area.

The game kicked off with the visitors fielding a young side and the home side having a mixture of young players and a couple of experianced players. Keyworth were on front foot from kick off and could have taken the lead in the first minute, but the chance flashed wide. Bilborough pressed forward and the home keeper pushed a shot wide.

After 6 minutes, Keyworth took the lead, when THOMAS SISWICK cut in from the left side and placed his shot in to the corner of the net. Both sides then had chances but United looked the more dangerous going forward, so it was no surprise in the 25th minute, when THOMAS SISWICK double the home sides advantage.

From the kick off, Bilborough lost the ball in midfield and Keyworth broke forward and from a cross on the right, CALLUM WOLLOCH made it 3-0.

Just after the half hour mark, THOMAS SISWICK lashed home his hat trick to make it 4-0.

At half time, Bilborough bought on 3 subs to try and change things and began to have their best spell of the game, but United were in to form and on 62 minutes, it became 5-0 when IAN MARLEY knocked the ball home from close range.

At this stage, United made their subs and Bilborough though trying seemed second best when debut man JACK SMITH drove home a shot from 20 yards to make it 6-0 on 68 minutes.

In the 77th minute, a penalty was awarded to Keyworth and after a discussion between the referee and Assistant Referee, the visitors were reduced to ten men, after the delay, up stepped the United captain JON ANDREWS to convert the spot kick, though the visiting keeper got a hand to it.

This was going to make things even harder for the visitors but they didnt stop pushing forward and in the 86th minute, CONNOR BARNES hit a 25 yard shot, but in the next minute, Keyworth hit back with a goal through ISSAC WEALTHALL.

As the clock was running down in injury time, ISSAC WEALTHWALL ran forward with the ball and hammered it home to make it 9-1.

Overall, Keyworth played very well, Bilborough never gave up.

After the match in the Clubhouse, the Keyworth United FC players and committee had a whip round for the Charity Blog in aid of FAMILY FUND, a charity that helps and supports families with children with special needs and disabilities and donated a amazing amount of £90.00 taking the running total to £1,243.54p, a massive thankyou to all.

Due to the weather, not many photos were taken but please click this LINK