ALL SQUARE AT THE BIRNAM

Notts Senior League

Division Two

MOORGREEN FC 1 ASHLAND ROVERS 1

Well the past 2 weeks I have been on holiday down in Cornwall, but we booked out of our chalet at 6.30am and got on the road..The A30 was very quiet and we soon had breakfast near Okehampton..Just after reaching Exeter and on the local news came a traffic report and a lorry had hit something on the M5 and 2 lanes were blocked, so a quick detour through Wellington and then Taunton and back on the M5 solved route. We stopped on the M42 for a cuppa and I looked at my watch and realized we would be back in Nottingham to catch a match close to home. I checked on the NSL Website and Moorgreen FC caught my eye, a new club to senior football in their first season playing NSL newcomers Ashland Rovers..Funny enough the Moors player/sec Neil Smith added me to facebook recently and invited me to see a match at Birnam Park. So I rang Neil to confirm the game was on and then tweeted I was going there, long came a reply that fellow blogger Rob Campion was to be there to.

A long time since I have been to this ground when now defunct club Priory Eastwood used to play there, it must have been 1993 when I saw them play and I do recall Nuthall FC playing a handful of games there, but there has only been junior kids teams play there for a long time, so its good to see Adult Footie back where it belongs.

At 2.30pm, the home side came out to parade their brand new kit for the first time, so a photo shoot was taken by me and Rob Campion. We was then joined by Kirkby Fred who now follows Ashland Rovers.

Kick off came and play was very even for the first 15 minutes, but then the away side began to step up their game and on 20 minutes MARK CANNON rifled home a half volley from 25 yards. The home side seem to huff and puff but it was the away side at this point that was having the possession of the play but to no avail, but on the half hour Moorgreen thought they were level when they appealed that the ball had crossed the line, but I was too far to see if it had or not and the ref was in a far better position then me.

Just before Half time, Rob Campion bought me and hazel a nice cuppa and then I had a chat with a few faces that I knew from around the local scene..football scene that is folks!

The Second Half and both teams tried to press forward but each team seem to cancel each other out and just as it looked like the away side had snatched the three points with eleven minutes to go MATTHEW CLOWES chipped the outcoming away keeper to equalise. Just before the end, a away player was shown the red card for violent conduct, but I must have missed what ever the player did, as all I saw was a tug on the shirt, but something may have happened on the blind side of me.

Photos from todays match can be view on this link

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Moorgreen%20FC%201%20Ashlands%20Rovers%201/

You can follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/robhornby

BRIDGERS DOB THE WALLS FOR FIVE

SWPL WEST DIVISION

WADEBRIDGE TOWN 5 DOBWALLS FC 1

att: 71

Admission, Programme, Badge, 2 raffle tickets £10

When planing my cornish holiday, this was one the fixtures that I saw and thought I've not been to Bodieve Park since a groundhop there many years ago. Last Sunday I picked up the Independant as it is a excellent paper and has a large section on Non League Football, perhaps the best Sunday rag in the country, where I was reading away folks columns and read the excellent Dave deacons and he mentioned me after i had bumped in to him last week at St Blazey and gave a nice review of the log here and also let folks know where I'd been and where I was going to.

On arrival at 6pm at Wadebridge FC, it had begun to rain yet again, so I headed up to see what the pitch looked like and it was perfect. The groundsman came and said hello to me and then asked if I would take the half time draw tickets over to the clubhouse when someone arrived as he had to pop out, no problem as long as i could have a go.

A lovely lady Becky turned up and club sec Andy arrived and opened up the clubhouse, I handed them the tickets and Andy a jolly fella had a good chat with me, as he was busy rushing around getting team sheets done etc, I spoke with Becky who used to play for the Clubs Ladies team. The clubs treasurer  Barry came along and went and got me my programmes and we had a little chat. I then fetched the wife and my son from the car and we had a drink before I ventured in to the rainy night.

I stood near to the corner flag as the teams came out and admired the unusual shape of the ground, on the far side and behind the top goal it is set on a bank and so are the dugouts. To the right of me was their impressive seated stand and behind the near goal was a seated stand. As I was about to go and take up my seat on the half way line, I was introduced to Damian who is the editor of the clubs excellent programme(the best I've seen in the SWPL for some time).. we had a brief chat and I had noticed that he had a page on my blog in the programme to which I thanked him,,he welcomed me over for refreshments at half time in the clubhouse.

The game kicked off and after 14 minutes, a cross from a free kick by NICK DOWLING evaded everyone and the ball nestled into the empty net to give the Bridgers the lead. Five minutes later, a corner came over and PAUL COX headed home from close to double Town's advantage. The visitors seemed to be struggling with set plays and yet again from a corner the home captain MARTIN COOK rose and head his teams 3rd after just 24 minutes. We then had to wait 10 more minutes as chance after chance went begging for the home side who could well have been eight up by now but 34 minutes and NICK DOWLING scored from the spot.

At half time,I had a quick chat with League Sec Phil Hiscox as he had gone down to Penzance v St Blazey..I went in to the clubhouse and was called over to the hospitality table and the clubs chairman offered to take me round the ground after the match..I spoke to a few of the Dobwalls Committee and despite the fact their team were 4 down they were in a pleasant mood.

The Second Half saw both sides make several changes so the speed of the game seemed to alter towards the visitors and after 58 minutes a cross shot by JACK BARTLETT in to the bottom right hand corner reduced the arrears. Whilst Wadebridge tried to play on the counter they seemed to be playing in to Dobwall's offside trap most times and infact the visitors went on to hit the post twice hit the post, but as we reached injury time and the home club could have added to their tally if not for the brave keeping of the visiting keeper, he could do nothing when sub DAN JENNINGS smashed the ball past him to make it 5-1. Then something a bit odd and the first time I have ever witnessed this, the ref blew for full time before he re-started the game..Maybe a new rule I dont know.

After the match I was taken round the building under the main stand and shown the changing rooms and the lovely facilities..I said goodbye to all the people I'd met and all of them were very friendly..def a ground I would come back and visit again. Very warm club and shame more locals dont come out and have a look at what they have on their own back door.

 For photos taken from this match(pity very few turned out)

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Wadebridge%20Town%20FC%20v%20Dobwalls%20FC/

Follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/robhornby

Wadebridge Town FC Website

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/wadebridgetown/

Dobwalls FC Website

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/dobwallsfc/

WENDRON SQUEEZE IN TO THE NEXT ROUND

WENDRON UNITED 1 MORWENSTOW AFC 0

att: approx 30.

Admission £2 inc programme

Cornwall Senior Cup

Wasn't sure where I was going to today until Wednesday evening when I spoke to good friend Anita Gittins and we decided to go Underlane, the home of Wendron United, a ground I'd been longing to go to for quite a white now and I wasnt disappointed.

I was met and greeted by the Club Official selling the programmes to which i had done a page for. A gentlemen then introduced himself to me and he was the chairman of the club and showed me around and invited Hazel and Shawn up out the cold in to the top of their impressive changing rooms block pavillion. He then invited us as guests to the refreshments room in the bar at half time. 

My friend Anita was then asked as she is a referee, if she would do the line, as the away side only had one sub and he didnt really fancy it...out came the Ref with Anita in a tango coloured Wendron shirt.

The game kicked off and the homesters had the 1st 2 chances that clipped the post and i thought this was going to be a bit of a one way traffic match, but how wrong I was too be, as it was the away team that did all the attacking from that point and Wendron had rely on man of the match keeper for at least 5 very saves in the half to keep them in the tie.

Something must have been said in the home changing rooms, as straight away they gained a free kick just outside the area that banged off the post and shot across the face of the goal. Chance after chance went begging and I was getting colder and praying for no extra time and after 65 minutes RYAN TRESIDDER beat the offside trap to slot past the away keeper and send Wendron in to a 1-0 lead.

Morwenstow battled back but again the home keeper was called in to action and preserved the lead. In the final seconds came a big moment in the match, when I didnt think the ref fancied extra time either, with a through ball played into the Wendron area and the keeper tripped the away attacker, with the ref waving play on and then blowing the final whistle, the away team surrounded the ref but he had stuck by his decision and so Wendron had scrambled through. In the clubhouse after the home keeper was very honest and admitted that it should have been a  penalty as he had not touch the ball and had tripped the player.

Nice programme issued and a lovely club to visit, so if you havent been there, then go and have a look.

To see pics from this match please click on the following link

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Wendron%20United%201%20Morwanstow%20AFC%200/

Remember you can follow me on twitter

 https://twitter.com/robhornby

Wendron FC Website

http://wendronunited.wordpress.com/

Morwenstow AFC Website

http://www.morwenstowafc.co.uk/

Blaze To Victory

SWPL Premier Division

ST BLAZEY 5 FALMOUTH TOWN 1

att: 130 approx

Admission £4

Programme £1

St Blazey is a club I'dseen away a couple of times whilst on holidays but never seen at home and it was time to put this right. After spending a lovely day in Lostwithel and Polpello, we headed for Blaize Park. On arrival we went in to the nice large clubhouse where I took in a pint of Blackthorn Cider and was greeted by a Blazey Official who was very friendly, throughout the evening nothing was too much trouble for this kind gentleman, what a credit to his club he is! He was near the gate as I entered the ground and we chattered for about 20 minutes and had a cuppa and was joined by my son Shawn who wanted a bottle of pop. Then came along Mike Odgers who I think follows Falmouth though I'm sure I've seen him at other Cornish games. Then a old friend of mine came along and said hello, it was Dave Baskwell, I know him from Plymouth Plymstock and not seen him for years, he came along with Mike Sampson and another SWPL official who'se name I always forget(sorry). 

As kick off was underway, I went and met local fan Paul and his friends and we chattered away. St Blazey were straight on the attack and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after just 7 minutes, the football was good but sometimes that final ball was missing but again after 34 minutes, they got it right to double their lead to 2-0. Falmouth then had their best part of the game and just before half time reduced the arrears. As the Half Time whilstle went, I headed to the car to see what Hazel and Shawn wanted to eat, as they were watching a DVD, they had sold out of pastys at the refreshment hut but there was food inside the clubhouse, so Hazel went in there whilst I got the cuppas, then the half time raffle was drawn and my number was the second one to be called and I'd won £12, so I took £10 and donated £2 back in to the clubs kitty.

The Second Half kicked off and I went over towards the Half Way line and stood talking to a family that had moved some years ago to Cornwall from Hampshire whilst still waiting for Hazel with me cheesy chips. I walked up a bit further along the line and in went goal number 3 for Blazey in the 46th minute. It was then I met local Cornish Football Historian David Deacon and his wife, I have had chats over the net through forums with Dave but never met him and what a nice chap he is. Just on the hour, Hazel arrived with me cheesy chips and how nice they were as well. Just as I began to tuck in to them on 65 minutes Blazey increased their lead to 4-1. By now the score could have been anything as it seemed to be one was traffic, but credit goes to Falmouth who never stopped battling, but had no reply to the young lads of Blazey and to finish the game off on 84 minutes, Blazey slotted the ball past the keeper in to a empty net.

As I walked towards the way out, I saw the chap who had made me feel so welcome and went to say goodbye and asked if he had found me a badge but he hadnt but told me to contact the club and they would send me one out..As a collector of Non League Football Mugs, I did notice at Half time a St Blazey Mug and asked if i could buy one, the true gent went and got me the 100 year Anniversary Club mug and wouldnt take anything for it. A lady then pasted and asked if I had enjoyed my cheesy chips and this was the lady who had cooked them and I told her they were first class.

If you are ever this way, pop in to St Blazey and you are sure of a friendly welcome, what a nice club.

Photos from the match..not many due to the glare of the floodlights, please click this link

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/St%20Blazey%205%20Falmouth%20Town%201/

St Blazey AFC Website

http://www.stblazey-football.co.uk/

IT'S JUST NOT HOLMANS DAY

HOLMANS SC 2 ST DAY 4

Cornwall Combination League

Admission £2 inc a good programme

Last season I was going to visit Perranwell FC where Holmans SC were the away side, but the Cornwall Senior Cup was the same day, so other games were arranged, but Holmans Sec Neil Pitt invited me anytime I was in the area to come along and attend a home match, well that day came today..I contacted Neil some weeks ago after booking my2 week yearly hols in Perranporth and asked if he would like me to produce a page for the programme.

We arrived at the ground and was welcomed by Neil and we popped up to the social club for a drink before going and having a friendly chat with the gateman. The First 30 minutes were just shaded by the visitors and they could well have been ahead but for the agile home keeper, but in the 35th minute St Day took the lead.

Holmans came out for the Second Half and upped their game and after 55 minutes were level. Holmans were having their best spell of the game by now and was taking the game to St Day and things then turned bad for the visitors when they were reduced to 10 men on the hour, but this seemed to spur the visitors on and 2 goals in a minute saw them advance in to a 3-1 lead.

With 15 minutes to go, St Day pulled a goal back to set up a exciting finish, but it was more likely that St Day would score again rather then the homesters equaliser and that was the case after 87 minutes.

To see pics from the match please click this link

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Holmans%20SC%202%20St%20Day%204/

Holmans SC Website

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/holmanafc/

St Day FC Website

http://www.stdayafc.co.uk/

Remember you can follow me on Twitter on

https://twitter.com/robhornby

NO ROOM ON THE PARK FOR KIVETON

CMFL NORTH DIVISION

AFC MANSFIELD 4 KIVETON PARK 0

att: 175

I'd seen AFC Mansfield in a Pre-Season Friendly away at Clay Cross Town , but wanted to see them in League action and tonight gave me that opportunity.

I was one of the first to arrive at the Forest Town Welfare Ground and met Andy Saunders and Pete Craggs and got my programme and had a chat. I then helped wipe down the wet seats as we had had a downpour of rain and the seating area isnt covered.

I then had a pint before Richard Lane came along and we had a chat joined by Kiveton's captains Dad Mr Longmore, then entered the ground Rob Waite who made a bee line for me, Usually when he does this, he takes some photo of me in a daft position! This time though he came up to me and gave me a £5 donation towards the blogs charity..its really grateful..Rob also has a blog which is a good read http://the66pow.blogspot.co.uk/

The match kicked off and Kiveton were on the front foot and missed from about 3 yards out and could well have been 2-0 up but if you dont take your chances then you pay sometimes and they certainly did tonight.

Carl HASLAM in the 10th minute, danced and teased the Kiveton defence before firing AFC in to the lead. It was then all AFC as Kiveton were chasing shadows, but we had to wait until 35 minutes before Ricky CHAMBERS put the homesters 2-0 up..4 minutes later and that man Carl HASLAM increased the scoreline to 3-0.

The Half Time break seemed to go on for ages, but we were soon greeted to another AFC goal as soon as the game re-started when Dean Rick fired in to the Kiveton net.

Kiveton tried and huffed and puffed to no great avail and while AFC had control of the game, certainly Kiveton were beginning to lose theres. The visiting number 8 then got booked for a late tackle, correctly so, but within a minute he decided to elbow a AFC player which left the home player on the ground, the ref ran over and everyone was surprised to see no card, but the gobby number 8 continued to swear not only at the referee but also then decided to punch his own player in the back and try and fight with others, the referee had no choice but to show him another yellow followed by a red, then he refused to leave the pitch(after the match, it is alledged that he entered the teferees dressing room and threw all his clothes in the showers..silly boy..big suspension coming up for him then!)..The game continued and Kiveton's left back then kicked a AFC Mansfield player after the ball had gone, the referee called the player over and just spoke to him, within a couple of minutes that player was on his way back to the changing rooms as well.

I dont like to have a go at a ref but I lost count of cards that he produced tonight and alot of them were uncalled for during the match. One thing I did notice was Kivetons Manager Wayne was with quiet and didnt argue with any of sendings off.

AFC Mansfield Website

http://www.afcmansfield.net/

Kiveton Park Website

Borough Hold The Key

Notts Senior League

Senior Division

ATTENBOROUGH FC 4 KEYWORTH UNITED 2

This morning I got up with the intention of going to Church Warsop to see FC05 play United FC in Division Two of the Notts Senior League, as I got no reply on the phone after several events, I looked at other games and this appealed to me, as I had never seen a match at Nottingham University before and with Attenborough FC at home on the Bonanza and Keyworth an away side it was nice to put faces to names before tomorrows meeting with the 10 clubs involved.

The ground has a nice feel to it, it has a large car park and the players changing rooms are inside a pavillion, with the pitch roped all round.

Attenborough kicked off in glorious sunshine down to my right and were soon in to their stride and were ahead after the centre forward had tapped in to the net. It was the same player who put them 2-0 up after 32 minutes(see pic above) when one on one with the keeper, the keeper spread his body wide and the ball landed over him goal side for the forward to blast in to a empty net.

Half time came and I was given a nice cuppa coffee by the Attenborough FC Secretary Terry Allen who has been with the club nearly 30 years now.

Back to pitchside and Keyworth Manager must have said some nice words to his players at half time, as they came out and attacked the homesters goal and the keeper had to be in good form to pull off 2 good saves, but was finally beaten on 51 minutes by a long shot which he must have seen late.

On 64 minutes, the Attenborough Centre Forward who was making his debut had not only increased his clubs two goal advantage but scored his hat trick.

Keyworth must have felt gutted as they had had the lions share of the second half so far and had not given up and this showed when the tricky right winger hit a long shot into the net after 81 minutes to leave us with a close and exciting 9 minutes at 3-2.

The best was yet to come when the Attenborough winger picked up the ball and was spot on when he chipped the ball over the advancing keepers head and in to the net on 84 minutes to wrap up the points for the home side.

A good match with both sides wanting to play football and credit to the referee who got on with the game with no cards shown.

Pictures from todays match can be view on this link

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Attenborough%20FC%204%20Keyworth%20United%202/

SELSTON FIRE FIVE

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE

SENIOR DIVISION

SELSTON FC 5 AWSWORTH VILLA 3

I'd not been to Selston FC for many years, infact the last time I went, the late George Elliott presented me with a Selston FC blue mug, which I still have today. I arrived at 1.30pm after a quick phone call to the home manager this morning to check the game was on and I shouldnt have worried as the pitch was like a carpet.

I was introduced to the Club's Chairman Mark Wilson and we had a good chat about the Notts Senior League Bonanza as Selston FC will be the early Saturday Morning kick off on the 20th April 2013. They already have mugs(which again I was presented with and also a t-shirt, they will also have badges by the bonanza also). I would also like to thank Mark for his clubs pledge to the Charity Blog site of £25 at the Football Bonanza in April.

The game kicked off and Selston looked fired up for this match and had 3 early chances to take the lead, but wayward shooting left it at 0-0, until after 16 minutes on the watch and a scrambled goal saw the home side ahead. Selston then doubled their lead after 32 minutes before making it 3 just before the break, but there was still more to come when Awsworth bought themselves back in to the game, deep in to injury time.

Whilst off for a coffee at half time, Awsworth remained seated on the ground in the corner of the pitch and some harsh words must have been said, as the first couple of minutes, the visitors laid siege on the homesters net, but it was infact on 49 minutes that they broke away and increased their lead to 4-1, but there was no time for air as within a minute Awsworth had cut the lead down to 4-2. Awsworth kept pressing now and safe handling by the home keeper kept them out until the 68th minute when Awsworth were awarded a penalty to which they duly scored. Both sides by now knew they were in the game and it was a matter of the next goal would be vital and that came in the 81st minute and went to Selston to increase their lead to 5-3. Still there was time for another penalty to Awsworth which would have reduced the arrears but for a superb save by the young lad in the Selston net.

Photos taken from todays match can be viewed on

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Selston%20FC%205%20Awsworth%20Villa%203/ 

Selston FC Website

http://www.selstonfc.co.uk/ 

Awsworth Villa FC Website

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/awsworthvilla/

Remember you can follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/robhornby