Saturday 27th November 2010

Nottingham United 2 South Normanton Athletic 4
Abacus Lighting Central Midlands League Black Dragon Premier Division
At Gresham Pavilion
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £1; Programme: £2 (20 pages)
Weather: dry, bitterly cold after sunset
Attendance: 66 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 45:00; second-half: 46:05

My shortlist of three possible games turned into one when Rob Hornby phoned to say Nottingham United’s game on a 3G pitch was definitely on with a 3 pm kick-off. The snow covered surface with lines cleared didn’t hinder a decent game in which visitors South Normanton Athletic went top of the Premier Division with a 4-2 win. Tall striker Andy White, who had a spell on loan at Stafford a couple or three years ago, opened the scoring for the visitors but the pick of the goals was Filip Filipov’s second.


Nottingham United (green and white stripes / white / green): 1. Jason Dalton, 2. George Clarke, 3. Jordan Stewart, 4. Aaron Cottrell, 5. Christophe Pinard, 6. Matthew Berry, 7. Ben Grounds (capt), 8. Rob Muncaster, 9. Filip Filipov, 10. Matthew Henshaw, 11. Akilu Giwa. Subs: 12. Dan Bramley, 15. Carl Brooks, 16. John Trueblood (for Clarke, 21).

South Normanton Athletic (red and white stripes / white / red): 1. Dave O’Hare, 2. Adam Taylor, 3. Chris Green, 4. Daniel Riley, 5. Daniel Henshaw, 6. Grant Hackett, 7. Adam Nicholls, 8. Jay Beecher, 9. Andy White, 10. Kyle Wadsworth, 11. Tom Leighton (capt). Subs: 14. Liam Kelly (for Beecher, 79), 15. Adam Moss (for Riley, 71), 16. Ben Summers (for Leighton, 27).

Referee: Rich Roberts
Assistants: John Hamer and David Viles

Goals:
0-1 Andy White (16)
0-2 Grant Hackett (33)
1-2 Filip Filipov (41)
1-3 Kyle Wadsworth (74)
2-3 Filip Filipov (79)
2-4 Adam Nicholls (90 pen)

Cards:
Nottingham: Rob Muncaster (YC, 38).
South Normanton: Daniel Riley (YC, 69), Daniel Henshaw (YC, 78), Adam Taylor (YC, 83).

Saturday 20th November 2010

Kiveton Park 5 FC Brimington 3
Abacus Lighting Central Midlands League Black Dragon Premier Division
At: Hard Lane
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £1
Attendance: 25 (headcount)
Weather: cold, dry
Duration: first-half: 49:41; second-half: 45:54

It was good to meet up with Rob Hornby and Hazel at Kiveton Park and watch an entertaining game on a sticky pitch that wasn’t settled in favour of the home side until a flurry of late goals including two penalties both converted by Robert Gorman who netted four times in total. FCB (who have a badge not dissimilar in design to that of Barcelona) took an early lead though Kiveton hit back to edge ahead by the interval. Brimington equalised soon after the restart, Kiveton regained the lead and extended it to 4-2 with Gorman’s first spot kick in the 87th minute. Brimington made it 4-3 before Gorman scored again from the spot in stoppage time. Subsequently, Gorman’s goal haul and Kivo’s win count for nothing FC Brimington have now resigned from the league. The 2 pm kick-off allowed plenty of time to get back home for the main event of the day, celebrating Diana’s birthday at Pizza Express!

Kiveton Park (navy blue / navy blue / navy blue): 1. Jonathan Parker, 2. Matthew Preece, 3. Jake Lee, 4. James Webster (capt), 5. Matthew Gilbert, 6. Daniel MacPherson, 7. Robert Warner, 8. Lee Brooks, 9. Carl Longmore, 10. Robert Gorman, 16. Jordan Cocks. Subs: 12. Shane White (for Lee, 70), 14. David Gribben (for Warner, 60), 15. Paul Gregory (for Cocks, 76). Manager: W. Burgin.

FC Brimington (red/red/red): 20. Adam Valente, 19. Matthew Tusinton, 30. Mark Clement, 4. Thomas Fairweather, 5. Sam Britton, 6. Craig Getliff (capt), 27. Dwayne Wiley, 8. Matthew Beavers, 24. Kirk Bradshaw, 10. Steven Ruff, 11. Mitchell Lax. Sub: 17. Matthew Smith (for Lax, 60). Manager: R. Williams.

Referee: Stephen Hall.
Assistants: Dennis Rawle and Steve Collingham.

Goals
0-1 Matthew Gilbert (5 og)
1-1 Jordan Cocks (24)
2-1 Robert Gorman (26)
2-2 Craig Getliff (47)
3-2 Robert Gorman (70)
4-2 Robert Gorman (87 pen)
4-3 Steven Ruff (89)
5-3 Robert Gorman (90+1 pen)

Cards:
Kiveton: Carl Longmore (YC, 65)
FCB: none

Saturday 13th November 2010

Burton Park Wanderers 1 AFC Kempston Rovers 0
Hereward Teamwear United Counties League Division 1
At: Latimer Park
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: £3 including programme
Attendance: 72
Weather: weak sunshine, became cold
Duration: first-half: 47:13; second-half: 48:05

To be honest this wasn’t the best of games. In the end, it was settled by a single goal scored by home side Burton Park Wanderers in the 67th minute. On a sticky pitch that couldn't have helped, there were few chances and neither keeper had to make a serious save all afternoon. Still, well worth a visit to a club back on their own ground with a lease extension after playing home games last season at Rothwell Town.

Burton Park Wanderers (blue and black stripes / black / black): 1. Liam Fox (capt), 2. Tom Judge, 3. Jake Wesby, 4. Nathan Wills, 5. Anthony Fragoza, 6. Leo Adams, 7. Jack Wisienski, 8. Russell Escritt, 9. Leigh Chapman, 10. Ben Morgan, 11. Louis Dupree. Subs: 12. Wayne Brown (for Chapman, 84), 14. Chris Davies (for Dupree, 68), 15. Tom Strand (for Morgan, 89).

AFC Kempston Rovers (red and white stripes / red / red): 1. Martin Conway, 2. Dean Sturmiano, 3. Sam Brown, 4. Nyran Vaughan, 5. Craig Grieve (capt), 6. Josh Bamford, 7. Jack Weedon, 8. Sam Macree, 9. Kofi Shultz, 10. Aaron Baldwin, 11. Jamie Hilsden. Subs: 12. Emmanuel Pondayi (for Hilsden, 70), 14. John Hunt (not used), 15. Callum Mould (for Macree, 70).

Referee: Artwell Mpofu.
Assistants: G Williams and M Germany.

Goals:
1-0 Russell Escritt (67)

Cards:
Burton PW: Anthony Fragoza (YC, 64)
AFC Kempston: Craig Grieve (YC, 63)

Saturday 6th November 2010

Southwell City 2 Parkhouse 1
Abacus Lighting Central Midlands League Buckingham Insurance Supreme Division
At: War Memorial Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £3 including 36 page programme
Attendance: 70 (headcount)
Weather: mild, dry
Duration: first-half: 45:12; second-half: 47:11

All the goals came in the second half as Southwell City took the points in this tight and entertaining contest. Tom MacDonald gave City the lead within three minutes of the restart which they held until the 65th minute. Chris Sharman hammered home a loose ball at close range after Craig Lamb did well to stop an initial free-kick from John Parsons. However, Southwell responded with the winner five minutes later. Grant Russell hit a dipping 35-yard drive which flew over Paul Coglan and just under the bar. This trip to welcoming Southwell was just what I needed and several people were genuinely interested that I’d travelled from Stafford to watch the game.

Southwell City (black and white stripes / white / white): 1. Craig Lamb, 2. Pete Campbell, 3. Kyle Croft, 4. Jamie Bennett, 5. Grant Russell, 6. Tom MacDonald, 7. Ben Smith, 8. Mark Davis, 9. Johnny Nussey, 10. Grant Blackhurst, 11. Robbie Mawer (capt). Subs: 12. Chris Peet, 14. Alex Turpin, 15. Jonathan Simpson (for Smith, 66),

Parkhouse (orange/white/orange): 1. Paul Colgan, 2. Karl Hallam, 3. Matt Shaw, 4. Chris Sharman, 5. James Goodison, 6. Steff Holland, 7. John Parsons, 8. James Dooley, 9. Kris Lowe, 10. Dave Chambers (capt), 11. Adam Smith. Subs: 12. Peter Maxey (for Lowe, 66), 14. Ash Balber (for Hallam, 78), 15. Joe Stone (for Dooley, 49).

Referee: Adie Seward (Sutton).
Assistants: Andy Dallison (Kirkby) and Graham Taylor (Mansfield).

Goals:
1-0 Tom MacDonald (48)
1-1 Chris Sharman (65)
2-1 Grant Russell (70)

Cards:
Southwell: none
Parkhouse: Steff Holland (YC, 86)