ELEVEN STRAIGHT WINS TAKES AFC TO THE TOP

 Euro Soccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

WEST BRIDGFORD AFC 8 GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC 0

The clubs came in to the match in 2nd v 3rd places but the home side knew with top spot Radcliffe Olympic in cup action with a 11th straight win, they would go to the top of the table.

Gedling Southbank came in to the match with a patched up eleven and the manager acting a assistant referee as well as their only sub.

The match began quite even, with action going from end to end, but on 13 minutes, AFC were awarded a penalty to which CHRISTOPHER RICHARDS slotted home. Gedling Southbank were trying to play but looked second to the ball and the Bridgford side pushed forward with several chances going awaste.

On 24 minutes, CHRISTOPHER RICHARDS got the ball on the edge of the area, turned and tucked the ball lowly into the bottom of the net to make it 2-0.

Things began to from bad to worse for the visitors on 31 minutes, when the referee awarded the home side another penalty, to which the visitors werent happy arguing that last man offence was outside the box. The penalty stood but the referee then produce a red card(I think for foul & abusive). The player was leaving the field, when the Bridgford player took the penalty and missed, the visiting keeper fetch the ball from behind the goal, when referee re-ordered the penalty to be retaken,must to Gedlings displeasure, to which this time CHRISTOPHER RICHARDS completed his hat trick. As the ball was on its way back to the halfway centre circle, the referee produced another red card to another visiting player taking his side down to nine players.

To Southbanks credit, they decided to still try and play football against a now hungry West Bridgford team who had a two man advantage, but they couldnt do much in the 38th minute, when LEWIS HERON made it 4-0.

During half time a airplane with a banner flew across the ground with a message on it, but no idea what it said.

West Bridgford kicked off the second half and in the 47th minute, that man CHRISTOPHER RICHARDS scored his fourth of the game to give his side a 5-0 lead. On 53 minutes LEWIS HERON made it 6-0 and in the 56th minute, it became 7-0 when sub BRANDON CURRAN hit a shot from the left in to the top corner of the net, you just feared for Southbank, but they battled and threw men behind the ball, as the homesters hit shot after shot.

In the 73rd minute, the biggest cheer of the game came mainly from both sets of players as a goalbound shot by the Southbank forward forced the home keeper in to a very good save.

In the 85th minute, came the end of the goals, when SAM McGRATH shot through a crowded area to make it 8-0.

To see 162 photos from todays match, please click this LINK

KIMBERLEY TOO STRONG FOR CALVERTON

 Euro Soccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE FC 0 KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES FC 6

On a day of storms, sleet, snow and floods, it was a matter of changing what I went to every 30 minutes, as soon as I saw that Calverton had passed a pitch inspection and with it being local, I didnt fancy Hazel driving too far with trees down all over the North of Nottinghamshire.

On arrival, the visitors looks shocked to see me, as i didnt usually watch the same club 2 weeks on the trot, whilst Calverton manager Rob Musson met me and got me and Hazel a cuppa, before I got both team line ups for the match .

I had a good chat with experianced Referee of todays match Adrian Ford and wished him all the best.

As I headed to pitchside on the halfway line, I was soon joined by Jim Bethall and Grandad and soon joined by Arnold legend Roger Rann, I must say we all agreed on a official headcount of the crowd of 21.

The game kicked off  and both sides looked to battle on a superb looking pitch, all credit to the homesters on getting this match, but after just 8 minutes, JAKE BROOKS returning back from a injury fired the visitors ahead. 

This seemed to push Kimberley forward but the home side were battling for each ball but were undone in the 29th minute, when MATTHEW DICKENSON made it 2-0.

At Half Time, Roger and the Arnold Ultras headed to the tea bar and Roger returned with a nice hot cuppa for me.

The Second Half kicked off and there was soon action as there was a trip and the referee had no choice but to point to the penalty spot, to which in the 48th minute JAKE BROOKS dispatched in to the corner of the net to make it 3-0.

Calverton to their credit then had their best spell of the game, but could only force a few corners that came to nothing, they were made to pay for this in the 61st minute when ARCHIE BROWN extended Kimberley's lead to 4-0.

Calverton then could call it bad luck which sometimes happens in the game, they had a shot that rolled along the goal line before Ian Shepherd cleared it off the line, it was sent up the pitch for sub JOSH CAREY to finish the move with his first touch of the game.

Calverton then had a chance that summed up their day when a shot smashed against the post before the chance had gone.

On 77 minutes, Kimberley broke and their other sub JAMES REAY cut in and slot the ball across the home keeper in to the corner of the net to make it 6-0.

The conduct on and off the pitch by both sets of tams were a superb advert not only to themselves but to the Nottinghamshire Senior League.

The Referee Adrian Ford had a outstanding match allowing the game to flow, the odd chat with a player but not harshly, no cards shown, it was also good to see 2 club assistant referees who did a fantastic job.

I must thank the following for donations to the Aroundthegrounds Charity Blog in aid this season of Family Fund, a charity that supports and aids families with children with special needs and disabilities, by raising £35 after the match, Calverton Miners Welfare FC, Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves FC, Ian Shepherd and Adam Swietlinski which takes the running total to a amazing £1,337.80p

To see the 124 matchday photos, please click this LINK

MINERS STAGE LATE FIGHTBACK TO TAKE THE WIN

 Euro Soccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC 3 KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES FC 4

With Hazel having been rushed up to hospital late monday evening with a severe chest pains, on arrval at a and e she was rushed straight through as the Triade nurse thought she may be having a heart attack, thankfullly due to the doctors etc they ruled this out and put it down to a viral infection and gave her tablets and she came home at 3.30am and was told bedrest. On Friday she got up and did a bit of pottering about but felt very tired but Saturday morning, her brother rang and asked if I wanted taking to a match and his wife would sit with hazel for a few hours but Hazel insisted that Kirton was only down the road and would drop me off.

On arrival at the Station Road ground, I was greeted by Kirton Chairman Tony March and club Sec Jamie Birch and a cuppa was soon greeted on the table for me. The referee Gareth Tye arrived and we had a natter as always and soon both teamsheets were in.

As Always with my visits to Kirton whether it be in July or February, it began it rain, it always rains in Kirton! 

Kirton Brickworks FC do a very unique shaped badge at £3 for collectors and can be obtained on matchdays or through their twitter page.

The game kicked off and the Brickworks nearly took he lead after just 8 seconds when Jack March saw his cross shot go narrowly wide with the visiting keeper beaten.

The game then went end to end, but after 5 minutes, it was the Miners who went in front as a cross from the left found out MATTHEW DICKENSON who tap home from close range. Things were to get better for the visitors after 7 minutes as the doubled their lead when RIO HUTTON knocked the ball home to make it 2-0.

Kirton then woke up and began to press and on 9 minutes got a goal back when Miners captain Ian Shepherd guided the ball in to his own net. Was the fight back on?

In fact it was as after 12 minutes, KIERAN JOHNSON fired home to make it 2-2, but then after 13 minutes we had a fifth goal as kirton took the lead for the only time in the game, when JACK MARCH  took the ball round the keeper to slot in to a empty net so after just 13 minutes it was 3-2.

The rest of the half saw both teams have chances and both keepers making good saves.

The Second Half saw the visitors doing more of the attacking, but the home defence were holding tight, but after 81 minutes they were level when ARCHIE BROWN was first to react to a loose ball and fire home. A draw seemed to be a fair result for both clubs, but their was still one dent in the game to come for the homesters, when Kimberley had a corner from the right hand side and Kirton Veteran Scott Ricketts slid in to clear but the ball ended up in the back of his own net to give the Miners a late winner.

I thought both teams played a great open playing match in the correct spirit, no groans or grumbles from either sets of players or officials and felt Referee Gareth Tye had a very good match.

I must thank the following for donations for the Charity |Blog which is for Family Fund, a charity that helps and supports families with children with special needs and disabilities

Kirton Brickworks FC £10, Adge on behalf of Ollerton Town FC £10 and Scott Ricketts £5, with the goals scored today, it takes the total to over £1300 so a BIG thankyou to all.

88 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

TOWN HOLD ON FOR FIRST WIN ON THE ROAD

 Northern Counties East League: Division One

RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE FC 2 SHIREBROOK TOWN FC 3

Att: 140

Les Lee the Secretary of Rainworth Miners Welfare FC every time I see him he tells me to pop down to the Welfare Ground and I will be most welcomed which I always am. On arrival is a free pass to get in, but when clubs do this and admission was £5, I put £5 into the charity from the club, so thankyou for the kind donation from Rainworth Miners Welfare FC.

As I get in to the ground, I bump in to Rainworth Gary, who I used to see quite often up at the hospital but he told me he had retired 2 years ago and bought my programme(£1) which was very good read and my golden goal ticket(wasnt very golden for me, as I was only about 35 minutes out lol).

Les then came over to greet me and showed me to the hospitality room where the kind lady June made me a cuppa as I relaxed for 30 minutes.

As kickoff was getting closer, I headed to the gate again but they had run out of teamsheets but the gateman let me take a photo of his, so Id got the line ups and in walked old friend who Id not seen for about 12 years Chris Marsh from Chesterfield, this man is the person to blame for my camera, as it was him I went to many years ago for advice and I got the same camera as him and its still going strong.

I then spotted a chap taking a photo of a meat pie, so I assumed he was a groundhopper and we had a quick chat, before hading round the side to join Malc Storer who also does a fantastic blog with fixtures and results on for his chosen charity, so chuck him a £5 in for his great cause, already this guy has attended well over 200 matches this season around the Notts & Derbyshire area. We soon joined by the Pie Hopper and AFC Mansfield's Ansy Saunders for a chat.

The game kicked off and could well have been 2-2 in the first 10 minutes as chances were going from one end to the other.

In the 26th minute, a trip in the Shirebrook box sees a penalty given to Rainworth, up steps Curtis Williamson but his shot sails over the crossbar, they often say games have turning points and this looked like the case here as 6 minutes later, the visitors took the lead when a corner from the right found out ASHLEY GRAYSON who slotted the ball home.

On 38 minutes, Town doubled their lead, when KENAN McKENZIE-GRAY broke down the left hand side and hit a shot from the corner of the area across to the far side of the corner of the net. 

On 43 minutes, it looked like game over, as it became 3-0 to Shirebrook when a corner from the left side scrambled round the area before DANIEL RAMSEY knocked the ball home.

Rainworth hadnt given up and on the stroke of half time, infact the last move of the half, NATHAN BENGER turned and fired home to reduce the arrears.

Well a nice cuppa back in the hospitality lounge was most welcomed with my glasses steamed up from the heat of the cabin and the kind lady June then carried my cuppa out to pitchside, as I cant carry it with me being on crutches.

Wrens Manager Craig Weston must have had strong words with his players during the break as they came out looking more eager to push forward. Chances are aplenty at both ends but in the 67th minute KANE HEMPSHALL lashes a ball forward from some 45 yards out and hits the back of the net to make it 3-2 to Shirebrook.

This really puts the homesters on the front foot and the visiting keeper is called in to action a few times to keep his side in the lead for them to gain their first away victory of the season.

I felt the referee Gary Thomas had a very good match.

One person missed was my old friend Gordon Foster who over the years is Rainworth through and through, who sadly his wife isnt too well at present so he has had to put his good lady first but I know he will read this blog and every match will look out for the score. Rest assured Gordon, Paul Fryer as stepped in to your shoes to do a excellent programme

Many thanks again to Rainworth Miners Welfare FC for the kind donation from the admission which now takes the running total to £1,274.30p for Family Fund, a charity that helps and aids families with children with special needs and disabilities