VEYS PAVES WAY FOR ELSTON's FIGHTBACK

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division Three

ELSTON UNITED FC 3 GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC 2

A bright afternoon but we did get the odd shower of rain towards the end of the game, saw Division Three leaders Gedling Southbank on the road to Coronation Street, no not where Bettys famous hot pot is served, but in Balderton on the edge of Newark.

I was greeted by the manager and Chair of the home club and everytime I see Elston, their secretary always supplies me with a pork pie and with him being absent today, the pork pie wasnt as it was sent. The visiting players arrived and then experianced referee Gavin Rice and both teamsheets were in well before the 30 minute deadline.

I took up my stroller on the halfway line and joined by Carl and his son who is currently injured and a couple of his mates.

The match kicked off and Elston are a very young side whilst Southbank some of their players have played for a few clubs here and there. The youngsters of United started brightly and could well have been ahead after the Southbank keeper was tested after just 4 minutes.

Around the 10 minute mark, the visitors began to play themselves more in to the game and push forward a lot more.

In the 20th minute LEON SPALDING beat the home defender and then side footed past the keeper to knock his side in to the lead. After 23 minutes, Southbank were 2-0 up and looked strong, when JORDAN COLEMAN bustled his way into the area before finishing.

Things seemed to be going the visitors way but they always say a two goal lead is a dangerous cushion.

On the half hour, a poor defensive mistake saw EDWARD FURMAN take advantage of the error and reduce the arrears to give Elston some hope.

Things got worse for the visitors as the clock was ticking down towards half time,when a slip up in the defence again was latched on to run through and equalise, as the half time blew, there seemed to be a few choice words between a couple of the visiting team.

The Second Half kicked off and both sides were committed in pressing forward and both keepers and defences were being kept busy in this tight game.

In the 72nd minute, Southbank felt they should have had a penalty which was turned away and they switched off whilst appealing, whilst a long ball out of the United defence saw WILLIAM VEYS on the counter attack and score to complete the turn around.

The visitors pushed everyone forward but it wasnt to be their day.

May I thank Referee Gavin Rice for the kind donation of £10 towards the blogs charity BUTTERFLY which supports men, women and children that have suffered violent and mental abuse. The running total now stands at £2693.75p

If anyone would like to make a donation, the charity blogs details are

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UNITED IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

 Velocity Wessex Cup - 2nd Round

PORTLAND UNITED FC 7 ROMSEY TOWN FC 0

Admission - oap £5

Excellent Programme £1

Badge £3

Att: 92

Portland United sitting 12th in the Wessex League Premier Division, though only played 7 matches and the only game they had lost, they missed a last minute penalty hosted Wessex League Division One club Romsey Town who were sitting n 3rd place, so maybe a close cup tie was in store.

I was greeted a lovely lady at the gate and she told me she would pop a programme to me when they had arrived, which she duly did and what a great programme it is, one of the best that I have seen for a long time, she then popped back with a team sheet for me. I then met the club chairman who kindly invited me for hospitality at half time.

The First Half I sat in the stand on the half way line and spoke with a lady with her young grandson and he was interested in me tweeting or what ever its called now days as the goals went in.

We didnt have to wait long for the first goal when JOE WICKHAM hit a 30 yard bullet in to the top corner of the net from a acute angle on the left hand side after just 5 minutes. On 22 minutes, it was 2-0 to the hosts, when JOE WICKHAM planted the ball in to the net from a left sided corner.

On 25 minutes, a corner from the right hand side found out SAM GADSBY who guided the ball home to make it 3-0. Things were to get worse for the visitors when a penalty was awarded against them after 29 minutes, where JOE WICKHAM stepped up to complete his hat trick.

On 39 minutes, a through ball saw LUKE SHEEHY run on to and finish and put his side in to a 5-0 lead. Right on half time, a corner was played in to the visitors penalty area which was not cleared and SAM GADSBY forced over the line.

The Second Half saw subs made by both clubs and the game slowed down and I stood with local James Spring who I have known for years and 2 of his friends behind the goal chatting away. After 83 minutes, a breakaway goal saw GREG BORTHWICK sprint through and place home his sides 7th goal.

I felt the 3 officials all had a superb match 

Id like to thank Portland United FC for their kind hospitality and welcome to me and my wife.

The Charity Blog this season is in aid of the Charity BUTTERFLY and the running total has increased this evening after a kind donation from Dorset Premier League Club Sturminister Newton United of £30 which takes the total to a amazing £2,637.50p

To view a few photos from the match, please click this LINK

If anyone would like to make a donation, the charity blog bsnk details are as follows:

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THE MARSHALLS JUST COULDNT HOLT UNITED IN THE CUP

 Dorset Premier League Cup

STURMINSTER MARSHALL FC 0 HOLT UNITED FC 16

At the end of last season, Marshall's manager left the club along with all the players leaving the club to scrape about to keep the team going, they have to their credit fielded a team in each league game and after 9 games sit bottom with a goal difference of -75 including last week losing 19-1 away from home. A cup tie what good news a home tie, the sad news was against 2nd in the league Holt United FC.

A phonecall on the Friday evening to the home secretary Dave to confirm the match was on and he joked the tie would not go in to extra time. On arrival, I was met by a lush village green pitch, with 3 gentlemen walking round clipping on the advertising boards on to the respect barriers around the pitch, then a van appeared towing the dugouts to be put in place.

Both sides handed me their teamsheets for me to photo, so I could tweet or X or whatever its called now days as the goals sent in.

The game kicked off and in the first 5 minutes, it looked like there may just be a shock as the homesters had got a few of the old boys to turn out for them, a ball bounced off the post and then a one on one saw the ball just go wide of the post. This seemed to awaken the visitors and really end any hopes of a cupupset, as after 12 minutes, a cross from the right side saw SCOTT BUNGAY turn and shoot his side in to the lead. The visitors pressed forward but was finding the home keeper in fine form with 3 or 4 fine saves.

After 23 minutes, ALI GARARD doubled his sides advantage through his penalty kick. 3 minutes later, ALI GARARD picked up a ball from 30 yards and bent it into the top corner of the net to make it 3-0 to Holt.

Holt carried on pressing forward but were not making many chances at this stage of the game, the visiting crowd were grumbling they should be 10 up by now, I think they knew what was to possibly come later in the game. With quite a bit of injury time to play, on the 44th minute, a low ball from the right, was met by ALI GARARD inside the 6 yard box to tap in for his hat trick.

From the kick off on 45 minutes, the visitors won the ball and it was played forward for SONNY WILKINSON to fire home from a acute angle of 30 yards out. Just before the half time whistle, it became 6-0 to United when CHRIS MANNERS fired home.

With the half time talks out the way, the second half began and Holt were soon on the front foot and straight away increased their lead when ALI GARARD beat the offside trap and fired in to the far corner of the net. On 48 minutes KYLE CLEMENT-JOHN made it 8-0.

After 58 minutes, Holt were awarded a penalty after a trip, just was I was strolling past the penalty area, in my view a little bit harsh on the home side, but still the ref must have had a clearer view than myself,as they say, the game is all about angles. Up stepped SCOTT BUNGAY to convert the penalty, but the keeper very nearly stopped it.

Double figures wre reached on 62 minutes, when Holt got their 3rd spot kick of the tie and this time ALI GARARD stepped up and placed it in to the corner of the net.

The home side you could see the players beginning to tire and on 68 minutes, SCOTT BUNGAY completed his hat trick when rounding the keeper to tap home to make it 11-0 to his side. The following minute, it became 12 when SCOTT BUNGAY netted again. The goals were coming like buses now as in the next minute, a ball played across from the right wing found its way to the far post of the 6 yard box for ALI GARARD to scoop to head in.

After 72 minutes SAM BENNETT surged forward to hit a low shot past the keeper and the following minute SCOTT BUNGAY ran straight through the home defence to finish.

The Marshalls then seemed to have their best spell of the match and played some good passing football and had a couple of shots on target, but in the 85th minute, a free kick from the right was fumbled by the home keeper(possibly the only mistake he had made in the whole match) and that man ALI GARARD forced the ball over the line to make it 16-0 to Holt United.

Both sides a credit to the Dorset Premier League, its good to hear no bad langague on the pitch from both sets of players, both teams wanting to just play with smiles on their faces, I must also mention the 3rd team, the set of 3 officials who I thought had a outstanding game.

To view the 239 photos from the match and please use if you wish, click on this LINK

The Charity Blog this season is in aid of BUTTERFLY, a small charity that supports victims/men women and children that have survived domestic violence, I myself ran away from home at the age of 15 and lived on the streets after too many beatings from my stepdad.

If anyone would like to make a donation, the charity blog bsnk details are as follows:

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CHERRIES PROCEED AFTER CUP VICTORY AT BALTI

 Dorset Premier League Cup

BALTI SPORTS FC 1 STURMINSTER NEWTON UNITED FC 5

Admission £4

Programme and badge £3

Tea £1.20

Attendance: 41(Headcount)

Balti Sports were formed and their named after a bunch lads used to go to the local Balti after the matches, whilst their visitors are nicknamed the Cherries.

Today the two sides met the Dorset Premier League Cup, with the visitors in fine form sitting second in the league table, whilst the homesters have lost a couple of games recently.

The game began and the visitors were being matched by Sports and it was the home side who created the first two corners of the match, but on 16 minutes with the visitors first chance of the game,  a csroos from the left wing to the far post  was tapped back for BUDDY OSHEA to net to put the Cherries in front.

Balti possibly had their best period of the game but wasnt really crating too many clear cut chances, until the 26th minute, when DEREK WALL turned his defender and fired home from 25 yards to equalise.

This seemed to awaken the visitors as they began to pass the ball around the pitch and in the 37th minute, a nice move dwn the left hand side saw the ball played across for ELLIOTT BEVIS to fire home.

Just before half time, the home keeper went down injured but was able to carry on.

The Second Half kicked off and the visitors looked more dangerous and on 48 minutes exended their lead to 3-1 when JAMIE DANORIS cut in and fire in.

Balti made changes and pressed forward but this left gaps to which the visitors exploited and after 57 minutes extended their lead, when a corner from the right hand side was volleyed home by NEIL SWEATMAN.

Balti had a few chances but they went high and wide but they didnt give up trying, but on 68 minute, a Cherriesball was played from the left for JAMIE DANORIS to complete the scoring.

After 73 minutes, the home keeper had to be replaced and the sub keeper did very well to block and throw his body at anything that came his way.

The tie was a good one played in the right respectable manner between two teams that wanted to play football and a credit to the Dorset Premier League.

To view the 251 photos, please click this LINK

I must thank Sturminster Newton United FC for their pledge to the Charity BUTTERFLY of £5 per goal scored in the tie, so a BIG THANKYOU to them

If anyone would like to make a donate, they can do no matter how small

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OLYMPICS BIG DAY DOESNT QUITE END UP IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division Two

NOTTS OLYMPIC FC 3 BUYGLASS.CO REINDEER 7

Programmes £1

Badges £3

Att: 71

Refreshments available

History was made at the Gallows Playing fields in Ilkeston, as Notts Olympic FC played their first home match in over 100 years as they made their home debut v Buyglass.co Reindeer of Mansfield.

Programmes had been pre ordered by post and also to be ordered for the day, the agreement being that the programme I edited, any one that I got via post, the money would go to the charity Butterfly and any ordered or sold on the day would go to the club to cover the referee and other club costs.

Notts Olympic were well set up off the pitch with the selling of tea, coffee, crisps etc and on my stall I put the club badges as the hoppers from as far as Edinburgh to Lowestoft to Sittingbourne and beyond could buy them at the same time as picking up their programme.

The game kicked off and the visitors were soon on the attack and could well have been ahead after just 15 seconds, but they werent to worry as after just 5 minutes, they were when a JACK SELLARS shot flew into the net. Reindeer pushed forward but the home keeper went down and a sub keeper came on. On 12 minutes with Olympic's first effort KIAN NORTH struck home a 30 yard shot from the left hand side.

The game was going from end to end with lots of chances going begging, but on 25 minutes, a ball from the left wing, split the home defence for KEIRON WOOD to tap in from inside the 6 yard box, it was noticeable at this stage that the sub keeper was limping.

Half Time came and changers were made and another keeper took charge inside the Olympic net, but he couldnt do anything after 55 minutes when JACK SELLARS tapped ome to make it 3-1 to his side.

Olympic pressed forward but this left gaps and on the hour, SAM MURPHY hit a low cross shot in to the bottom corner to put Reindeer 4-1 up.

Olympic in the 67th minute made 2 more subs and it was the following minute that one of them JULIAN COATES with his first touch reduced the arrears. What a goal does to a teams confidence as in the next minute KIAN NORTH reduced it to 4-3, was the fightback on?

Sadly not for Olympic as in the 71st and 72nd minutes, SAM MURPHY hit a brace, the second one chipping over the keeper to complete his hat trick to make it 6-3.

Just in to injury time, SAM MURPHY scored his 4th and his sides 7th of the match for Reindeer to return to Mansfield with the points.

All comments from all the hoppers towards Notts Olympic FC were very good and I think all enjoyed their day out.

On to the Charity Blog..Raised from the posted programmes was £60, so a MASSIVE thankyou to Notts Olympic FC, A Notts Olympic fan KEIR ROBINSON kindly donated £10 and Hull based groundhopper Dave Phillipson kindly donated £5, which now takes the running total to a amazing £2,600.25p

To view the 146 photos from todays match, please click this LINK

SECOND HALF BEESTON SEES THEM BLAZE PAST YOUNG COLTS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Premier Division

BEESTON FC 3 - 1 WEST BRIDGFORD COLTS II

With having booked tickets for the Wrestling in Beeston, this match caught my eye straight away, as Beeston FC were promoted last season and West Bridgford had rebuilt their team, infact the visitors in this match played with 7 16 year olds and a 17 year old, so all looking well for them for the future if they can keep the players together.

With both teamsheets in after a good catch up with all 3 officials, I took my place on the halfway line in time for kick off.

The Colts started strongly and were ahead after just 96 seconds, when a ball was played in from the right wing and JOSHUA WRIGHT found himself alone in the 6 yard box to clip past the home keeper.

The First half saw Beeston only play with one man up front whilst the youngsters of the Colts were pressing forward and the Beeston keeper was forced in to 3 fine saves to keep the score down. A lot of players in the heat of the hottest day of the year seemed to just want to run with the ball rather than save energy and pass it about.

Something must have been said in the Beeston camp at half time, as 47 seconds in to the second half, the ball was half cleared out of the Colts defence only for AARON RIGLEY to fire home to level things up.

Beeston began to play with more attacking play but Colts were also pressing at the opposite end of the well looked after pitch, but it was noticable that the young legs were beginning to tire.

Subs were made by both teams and this seemed to aid the homesters, when a ball from midfield found out MORGAN BELL who turned his man and fired low into the far corner of the net after 64 minutes.

Colts werent to give up and pressed again on the right side and a cross shot beat the keeper but 2 defenders cleared the ball off the line, whilst Beeston pressed forward and a 25 yard shot was turned over the bar.

After 82 minutes, sub and Beeston man through and through, saw a ball cleared out to the right wing some 40 yards out, where he took it on the volley that flew in the net to make it 3-1..I recall him scoring a free kick some years ago from the same distance v Ravenshead FC at Beeston's old ground of Layton Crescent.

I feel that all match officials, Referee Ian Wilkinson and his team of the Assistants Steve Hines & Michael Evans were very impressive today.

To see the 211 match photos, please click this LINK

SECOND HALF TURN ROUND EARNS APPLES THE POINTS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division Two

AFC COLSTERWORTH S & S 3 SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS 2 

 

A last gasp winner by the home side nicknamed the apples saw a hard fought game secure the points.

Before the match, all at the ground respectfully observed a minutes silence for Graham Saville who sadly lost his life whilst on duty att work, Graham was a coach at Ravenshead Reds FC Youth 

The First Half saw end to end action with both keeper in good form, but it was the visitors who took the lead on 25 minutes, when a Charlesworth saw the home keeper parry the ball out only for KIERAN DARBY to scoop home with his head close in.

Half time came and Colsterworth were straight on the attack and after 47 minutes, CONOR McGREGOR converted a penalty to even up the score.

This seemed to push the confidance in the homesters and they took the lead on 54 minutes when a long throw was touched and LIAM JAQUES volleyed home.

Just after the hour mark, the visitors saw red  as they were reduced to ten men, but they carried on pressing forward. On 75 minutes, they were level when BEN CHARLESWORTH drew them level through the spot.

The game began to get niggly as both sides were going for the win, but in to injury time, a ball played in to the visiting box found out LIAM JAQUES to squeeze home the winner.

To view the 194 photos, please click this LINK