Since my last diatribe, I’ve been to six games, watched a lot of decent football, seen 21 goals, and done a couple of hours work! I also witnessed a 45 yard goal, and a case of larceny that was a bit surreal to say the least!
The 45 yarder came in Monday’s game at Hucknall Rolls, where Notts County Pathway U19 were hosting Dunkirk U19 in a North Midlands Development Football League fixture. Notts actually went ahead in this game with a mis-hit shot in the 6th minute. That was as good as it got for the young Pies though. Dunkirk levelled with a header with 12 minutes of the second half played and went deservedly ahead on 84. In added time the home keeper was caught way out of his area, and when the Dunkirk no. 9 won the ball, he remained calm, looked up and fired it goalwards. The County keeper raced back to try and intercept, but the ball was hit with perfect weight and ended up nestling in the back of the net. F-T 1-3
Tuesday’s afternoon game saw me at Rainworth MW, to see Mansfield Tn Res take on Notts County Res in a Central League Cup tie. A couple of Alfie Potter strikes settled this game in favour of the Stags – who progress through to the next round of the competition.
Tuesday evening – Notts F.A. Senior cup game at Plains Road, where hosts Gedling MW entertained fellow EMCL team Selston FC. This was a proper cup tie, with neither side giving any quarter. It ended 3-3 after 90 mins, and on a cold night, extra-time was definitely not welcome. Jay Knight headed the home team into the next round, the goal scored with just a couple of minutes of extra-time remaining.
Wednesday saw me visit Kingsway Park in Kirkby for the first time. The fixture was a Notts Senior League Div 1 game, Ashland Rovers v Awsworth Villa Reserves. This turned out to be a gem of a game, and Mart Roberts did a very good job of recording the action on his blog, “we all stand together”. What he didn’t mention though was the ball theft, and although no-one in their right mind applauds thieving of any kind, the timing of this caper was spot on. The ball was kicked over the wooden perimeter fence, and came to rest at the side of the curbed entrance to the car park. Before it could be retrieved, a white car pulled up, the passenger door opened, the passenger door closed, the car sped off down the street – and the ball was nowhere to be seen. Not exactly the usual non-league etiquette of booting back errant footballs!! Finished two apiece – and that was just about the right result.
Thursday I was at Clipstone to catch another North Midlands Development Football League U19 game, this time Mansfield Town taking on the FBT International Academy. The Stags won 2-0, goals coming in the 11th and 73rd minutes – sorry there are no more details – it was a bit parky and no notes were taken. AFC Mansfield supremo Andy Saunders handed over a Think Children charity donation, with the rider that I take in their home game v Garforth Town on Tuesday. No problem!
Friday's game was a North Midlands Development Football League U21 fixture at Eastwood CFC - the Red Badgers entertaining Clipstone FC. Clipstone went ahead through an OG on 19 - a shot that looked to be flying past the far post deflecting in off an Eastwood defender. Clipstone defended solidly throughout the rest of the game, but Eastwood's terrific second half pressure paid off in time added on at the end of the game. A corner played into the Clipstone six yard box created all sorts of mayhem and the ball was eventually prodded home to give Eastwood a point their overall play merited.
Friday's game was a North Midlands Development Football League U21 fixture at Eastwood CFC - the Red Badgers entertaining Clipstone FC. Clipstone went ahead through an OG on 19 - a shot that looked to be flying past the far post deflecting in off an Eastwood defender. Clipstone defended solidly throughout the rest of the game, but Eastwood's terrific second half pressure paid off in time added on at the end of the game. A corner played into the Clipstone six yard box created all sorts of mayhem and the ball was eventually prodded home to give Eastwood a point their overall play merited.
