Basford Utd 2-0 Mansfield Town XI

Date: 11/07/17

Venue:  Greenwich Avenue 3G

Kick off : 7:30pm

Me and Kev have recently purchased Basford Utd season tickets, and all pre-season home games were included in the price, so despite their being several other games of interest locally, we opted to go and take in a "freebie" at Greenwich Avenue.  With rain falling throughout the day, the 3G surface also guranteed the game would be on. As it transpired though, only two local games were lost the the weather -  with most grass pitches welcoming a good watering after the recent drought.  

Made our way over to the stand on the far side of the pitch - always a good view until thoughtless others decide to stand in front of you - this time though the offenders quickly realised they were blocking our view and decided to relocate. 

This was our first chance to see a Basford team with the recent recruits, Laurie Wilson, Dom Roma and Liam Hearn included - a trio of signings that should bolster the defence (Roma), the midfield ( Wilson) and attack (Hearn). 

A minutes silence before kick off was well observed - in memory of Mansfield Town academy physio Matt Salmon who sadly passed away in May.

Hearn had his first chance to show his attacking prowess in just the third minute, but his well placed shot was well saved by the Stags' keeper. He forced the keeper into action again on 12, but again the stopper saved his first shot and his follow up effort. 

I watched the Mansfield younsters quite a lot last season, and although half-a-dozen have recently signed first team forms, it is difficult to see them making the break through into a League 2 starting eleven. Manager Steve Evans has brought in more or less a whole new first team squad at Field Mill, and I would imagine the players on show tonight will remain on the fringe throughout the coming season. 

Saul Deeney had to palm a header over the bar with half-an-hour played, but in reality with Wilson and Reid both outstanding in the centre of the park, and the protection they offered top notch, the Basford back line was rarely troubled. H-T 0-0

Basford made several changes as the second half progressed, two trialists, Reece Bertram, Ashley Grayson, Deon Meikle, Jake Wood and Kieran Wells all getting a run out. It was Wells who opened the scoring for the home team on 68, a corner fired in from the right headed powerfully home from 6 yards, much to the delight of the Basford faithful.

Image courtesy Chris Munroe

The Stags had also made several changes, but still found it difficult to trouble the Basford back line overly much. With just a few minutes remaining, Wells made a surging run into the Stags penalty area, He picked out one of the trialists in front of goal, and although the Town keeper did well to block the trialists shot, he couldn't hold onto the ball. As a top striker should do, Wells had carried on his run into the six yard box and with lightning quick reactions, managed to stab the loose ball over the line to chalk up his and Basford's second of the night. F-T 2-0

Basford starting eleven : Saul Deeney, Fabian Smith, Jamie Walker, Laurie Wilson, Lewis Carr, Dom Roma, James Reid, Rob Doolan, Liam Hearn, Callum Smith, Gideon Asiedu Boateng. 

PSF - local teams in action w/c 10th July

It may pay to check the details of your game before travelling - please don't blame me if it all goes tits-up 

Monday 10th July

Worksop Town 2-3 Sheffield Wednesday U23 k.o. 7:00pm 

Tuesday 11th July
Alfreton Town 0-5 Sheffield Wednesday k.o. 7:30pm

Basford Utd 2-0 Mansfield Town k.o. 7:30pm
Carlton Town 5-0 Radford FC k.o. 7:45pm
Clipstone FC P-P Teversal FC k.o. 7:30pm
Dunkirk FC P-P Grantham Town k.o. 7:30pm
F.C. Bolsover 3-3 Borrowash Victoria k.o. 7:00pm
Gedling MW 4-2 Wollaton FC k.o. 7:30pm

Hucknall Town 3-3 AFC Mansfield k.o. 7:45pm
Pinxton FC 8-4 Awsworth Villa k.o. 7:45pm
Retford Utd 3-7 Ossett Albion k.o. 7:45pm
Shepshed Dynamo 3-2 Gresley FC k.o. 7:45pm
Shirebrook Town 2-1 Selston FC k.o. 7:45pm @ Shirebrook Academy

Wednesday 12th July
Eastwood CFC 2-1 Staveley MW k.o. 7:45pm
Ravenshead FC 3-5 Linby CW Res k.o. 7:00pm
South Normanton Athletic 8-1 AFC Kilburn k.o. 7:15pm @ Basford Utd
Southwell City P-P Newark Town k.o. 7:15pm

Thursday 13th July
Anstey Nomads 1-0 Bilborough Town k.o. 7:45pm

Basford Utd CFC 1-1 Keyworth Utd k.o. 7:30pm
Sherwood Colliery 1-0 Ashland Rovers k.o. 7:30pm

Teversal FC 0-6 Heanor Town k.o. 7:45pm

Underwood Villa 4-1 Linby CW k.o. 7:00pm

Friday 14th July

Brighouse Town 3-1 Worksop Town k.o. 7:45pm

Clipstone FC 1-3 Shirebrook Town k.o. 7:30pm
Kimberley MW 2-0 Awsworth Villa k.o. 7:15pm @ Basford Utd
Micklover Sports 0-4 Burton Albion k.o. 7:30pm

Ollerton Town 2-2 Rainworth MW k.o. 7:45pm

Pinxton FC 3-3 Radford FC k.o. 7:45pm
Wombwell Main 3-2 Harworth Colliery 7:15pm

Selston 3-0 Leicester Nirvana

Date: 08/07/17

Venue: Bracken Park pitch 2

Attendance: >50 

With Selston’s Parish Ground still undergoing the improvements that are needed for them to compete at step 6 in the coming season, this game was played on the back pitch at Underwood Villa – a very good playing surface in very pleasant surroundings. The visiting team comprised, (as we were told) a mix of youth players and first teamers. What I watched was a step 6 (EMCL) team give a step 5 team (UCLP) a very tough time.I was supposed to have been at Eastwood v Holbrook Sports, but a buddy from a few years back requested my presence at the Selston game as he was manager for the day, with Craig Weston AWOL. 

Richard Smith was a hell of a footballer when he was with Eastwood Town, and he has recently taken up the Assistant Managers position at Selston. Gary Breach was assisting Richard at pitchside – together they chalked up a hell of a lot of games at Coronation Park. I didn’t take many notes, and the Nirvana line-up was completely unknown to yours truly. Selston had a few defenders not available, but in all honesty the visitors didn’t look to be a threat early doors – and any worries Mr. Smith may have had must have eased in the 6th minute, when Kane Hempshall turned and fired home after he was played in on goal by Dominic Airey.

Airey went close to adding a second two minutes later, his deft chip clearing the Nirvana keeper, but unfortunately clearing the bar as well. The visitors defending at times was poor, and on 13 they gave the ball away and it fell to the feet of Carl Moore, who had the simple task of rolling it into an empty net.

Elliott King entered the game after half an hour, and five minutes later he’d added the Selston third. After making space for himself at the far post, the ball was played across the goal to him giving him the relatively simple task of firing it past the Nirvana keeper. H-T 3-0. 

The second half was relatively dull compared to the first, but the visitors did have an effort cannon of a post, as did Airey on 72 – a terrific header that deserved more. Not a lot to add. A very competent team performance – albeit against an understrength opposition. You can only beat what’s in front of you – and Selston did that with some ease. F-T 3-0  

Kimberley MW 2-3 South Normanton Athletic

Date: 07/07/17

Venue: Greenwich Avenue outside pitch no. 2

Attendance: A couple of dozen or so…..

Kick off: 7:10pm

Starting elevens:

Kimberley: Buxton, Hickey, Doyle, Dale, Wrenn, Marshall A, Lewis, Lench, Coxon, Carter, Henry.

Shiners: Mansfield, Bartley, Jellyman, Leigh, Chambers, Marshall T, Crosby, Newton, A. Trialist, A, Trialist, Stryzewski.

Referee: Mr. Tim Gregory

Not the most friendly of pre-season games – nothing overly nasty, but a few rash challenges that are slightly out of place pre-season. Having said that, the few who bothered to to turn up and watch, were treated to a very competitive affair, with the Derbyshire side just edging the result.

Dave Leigh had the first pop at goal in just the third minute, but his 20 yard effort flew well over the Kimberley bar. Kimberley’s Conor Carter tried a shot from a similar range four minutes later – with the same result.

The Shiners took the lead with 8 played - Shane Newton was picked out in the box, and controlled the ball well before turning and firing home. The lead lasted barely 60 seconds though - Alex Marshall firing home from just inside the area after he was played in on goal by Carter.

With a quarter of an hour played, Martin Lench tried his luck with a 35 yard free-kick – it looked a bit ambitious, and so it proved as the ball sailed well over the Shiners’ bar. Luke Crosby fired a shot just wide of the far post on 26, then Referee Tim Gregory had to send Alex Marshall to sit on the naughty step after he’d been a little vocal about a decision made against him.

Carter tried a curler off the outside of his boot in the 38th minute, but Charlie Mansfield wasn’t unduly troubled and collected well. Lench had another free-kick just before the break, this time his low shot from 20 yards was well held by Mansfield. H-T 1-1

Within just five minutes of the restart, South Normanton were awarded a dubious looking penalty. Kev Hemagou appeared to have tied his own legs in knots before falling over when challenged. Mr. Gregory was in a better position than me though, and his eyes probably in better condition than mine, and he gave a spot kick that Hemadou duly rolled past Buxton in the Kimberley net.

Alex Marshall was politely asked to go back to the naughty step on 61 when almost cut a Normo player in half with a challenge. Before his ten minutes in the “sin-bin” was completed, his team-mates had levelled. Kev Davis fired in a cross from the right that Stryzewski and Danny Roberts both tried to intercept – unfortunately, whoever headed the ball placed it perfectly into the top corner to bring the scores level. I heard the Kimberley dugout mention that the goal was scored by Josh Lewis, but it looked an O.G all the way to me. 

Both teams had chances to win the game as the half went on, but it took something a bit special to actually secure the victory for the Shiners. When Hemagou received the ball out wide in the 83rd minute, he decided to take on the whole Miners’ defence. His run was superb, evading every challenge before entering the penalty area and firing sweetly across the goal and into the far side of the net. What a goal – one worthy of winning any game, competitive or otherwise! F-T 2-3

Saturday 8th July - local teams in PSF action

8th July PSF results:

AFC Clifton 2-5 AFC Kilburn k.o. 3:00pm
AFC Dunkirk  0-0 Keyworth Utd k.o. 3:00pm
AFC Villa 0-3 Stapleford Town k.o. 2:00pm
Ashby Ivanhoe Res 4-5 South Normanton FC k.o. 3:00pm
Basford Utd 6-0 Tamworth FC k.o. 1:00pm
Basford Utd CFC 3-1 Arnold Town k.o. 3:00pm
Beeston Rylands 4-0 Arnold Samba k.o. 3:00pm
Bilborough Utd 0-3 F.C. Cavaliers
Blidworth Welfare 2-2 Staveley MW XI k.o. 3:00pm
Borrowash Vics 2-4 Mickleover Sports k.o. 12:30pm @ Marston's Sports, Burton
Bridgford Utd 0-5 Bilborough Town k.o. 3:00pm @ The Inspire Stadium, Stoke Bardolph
Carlton Town 1-0 Coalville Town k.o. 2:00pm
Eastwood CFC 3-1 Holbrook Sports k.o. 2:00pm
F.C. Bolsover 4-1 Welbeck Lions k.o. 2:00pm @ Palterton MW
Harrowby Utd 1-3 Dunkirk FC k.o. 3:00pm
Hucknall Town 5-1 Hucknall Town Res
Ilkeston Legends 4-1 Ilkeston Fans k.o. 5:00pm @ Eastwood CFC
Kirkby Athletic 3-3 Mansfield Hosiery Mills
Kirton Brickworks 3-3 Kimberely MW AFC k.o. 3:00pm
Linby CW 0-6 Notts County XI k.o. 3:00pm @ Rolls Royce Leisure
Retford Utd 0-0 Staveley MW k.o. 3:00pm
*Selston FC 3-0 Leicester Nirvana k.o. 2:00pm @ Underwood Villa
Shirebrook Town 7-0 Greenwood Meadows k.o. 3:00 @ Shirebrook Academy
Teversal FC 0-1 Clay Cross Town k.o. 3:00pm

Hucknall Town 2-0 Coalville Town

Date: 05/07/17

Venue: Watnall Road

Attendance: H/C 100

Teams: 

Hucknall: Randall, Maxwell, Pitt, Leak, Jenkins, Phillips, Crawford, Banister, Smith, Hodgson, Hubbard.

Coalville 1st half: 

Coton, Pegg, Bryant, Trialist, Towers, Cox, Atkinson, Hollis, Trialist, McGlinchey, Anderson.

Coalville 2nd half: Harris, Pegg, Trialist, Towers, Trialist, Cox, Trialist, Dean, Anderson, Trialist, McDonald.

CMFL Hucknall Town welcomed Northern Premier outfit Coalville Town to Watnall Road on a very warm and humid Thursday evening. Coalville boss Tommy Brookbanks is well known to the home faithful, having managed the Yellows in their Northern Premier days.

 There were a  few trialists on show for the visitors, and it was one of the hopefuls who almost put ‘Ville into the lead in the first minute – running through the Hucknall backline before unleashing a shot from 20 yards that only just cleared the bar. From a corner a few seconds later, the visitors had a header cleared off the line at the far post, and early doors, it really looked as if Hucknall were going to be in for a tough time of it. They did produce the next chance though, Shaun Smith heading just over from Town’s first corner. Blair Anderson was played through on goal in the 6th minute, and only a great save from Mike Randall kept the scores level. What a cracking start to the game!

With 12 played, McGlinchey saw his fierce drive from 15 yards clear the bar, then Hucknall almost grabbed the opener as a corner was flicked on by Smith to Hodgson at the far stick – unfortunately for the striker his diving header cannoned off the foot of the post and the loose ball cleared. Smith headed over on 18, then his terrific cross-field pass set up Crawford for a shot, but the wingers drive across the face of the goal flew just wide of the post. 

Coalville almost took the lead midway through the half – a curling 20 yard Joe Pegg free-kick looked a goal all the way, but it was not to be as the ball crashed off the post before being hacked to safety.This was real end to end stuff, and Dave Leak had a great chance to fire Hucknall into the lead on 32, but slotted just wide after a goalmouth scramble saw the ball land at his feet. Five minutes later, Leak was again unlucky as his header from a free-kick flew just over the bar. H-T 0-0

Within seconds of the restart, Smith headed Hodgson’s cross goalwards, but the visiting keeper did well to punch the effort to safety. Coalville had made seven changes to their first half line-up with four trialists given a chance to show their worth. Hucknall took full advantage of the “weakened” opposition and were deservedly ahead in the 65th minute. Mike Banister had been guilty of overhitting a few passes, but made full amends when he picked out Matt Brian on the left, and when “Cabbage” crossed the ball into the box, Adam Nelson was waiting in the 6 yard box to stab home.

Hucknall added a second on 72, but this was a bit of a gift from the ‘Ville keeper as he allowed Nelson’s tame 15 yard effort to trickle past his outstretched arms and nestle in the back of the net.

The visitors were hardly in the game as the second half progressed, and Hucknall looked the much better team, even though they too had made several changes in their personnel. The last real action of this terrific encounter came with four minutes to play, Jordan Phillips seeing his shot well saved by the Coalville keeper. F-T 2-0

 Looked a bit dodgy, weather-wise, but thankfully the clouds were all show and no go!

Check out these pics taken by Pete Lee - used with permission

1-0

2-0

Sherwood Colliery 2-2 Bilborough Town

Date: 5th July 2017

Venue: Bilsthorpe Town FC

Kick off: 7:40pm

Made the 14 mile journey to Bilsthorpe to take in a game that was previously scheduled for 28^th June. Throughout the month we’d had near record temperatures and hardly any rain – ironic then that the game had to be postponed after a torrential downpour left the whole of the county rather on the damp side! 

The game was played on an outer pitch, and although it was sunny and warm at kick off time, it was decidedly chilly as the evening progressed and the sun dipped ever closer to the horizon. Ever prepared though, I had a fleece and woolly hat to hand and trust me, they were needed. Watched the game in the company of Tony Squires and AFC Mansfield Chairman Andy Saunders, although the cold did see coat-less Andy leave a little before the final whistle.

I didn’t know the team line ups exactly, but a lot of the faces on show were familiar, Nicky Ivanov, Ryan Perkins, Julian Topliss and Ricky Starbuck to name but four.

The first goal was scored on 18 after Shaun Smith was allowed too much space in the Bilborough box and fired the ball across Nicky Ivanov and into the far corner. These step 7 sides were knocking the ball about well and as the players were looking to play the beautiful game instead of kicking lumps out of each other, the Referee was not overworked. H-T 1-0

The Ref was called into action with just over an hour played when Ivanov chopped Smith down in the box. I reckon in a league match the keeper would have had to have walked, but the official had his sensible head on and simply awarded the penalty that Topliss buried with some aplomb. Game over? Not likely! Five minutes after going two down, Town were back in it when a corner fired into the 6 yard box caused all sorts of chaos and Liam Taylor was alert enough to stab home when the ball fell kindly at his feet.

On 75, Taylor looped a header into the back of the net, but was adjudged to have been in an offside position when he connected with the ball. Taylor did create the equaliser for Town soon after, his pin-point cross headed over the Wood keeper by Jake Kane. As the temperature and visibility were dropping rapidly, the Ref sensibly called the game to an end right on 90 mins. 

Even though this was a PSF, I think both teams will be very happy with their performances, and I have to add that the fantastic spirit in which the game was played was a pleasant change from some “friendlies” where the meaning of the word is often lost! F-T 2-2