Normo extend lead at top of the table

South Normanton AFC 4 Clifton FC 1

Was going to go to Bilborough Pelican v Calverton MW, but not feeling too well stayed a bit closer to home, so chose this game, as I needed to pop some Non League Directorys in to South Normanton, also last visit they were playing very well.


The game kicked off with Clifton taking the game to the home side and creating the better of the chances in a hard fought scrappy First Half, but ending goal-less.


The Second Half kicked off and South Normanton were straight on the attack and Briscoe blasted over from inside the box. On 50 minutes, Briscoe was played through and went to round the keeper but his shot was blocked and fell outside the area to Connelly who slotted the ball in to open up the scoring.


Clifton then showed true grit and rolled up their sleeves and went on the attack and got just rewards when Richardson equalised on the hour and at this stage the visitors looked the better of the teams. This wasnt to last long though as Normo stepped the game up and in the 70th minute a long lopping ball came in from the left wing, which the away keeper attempted to punch clear but didnt make a clean contact, fell to Connelly who knocked the ball towards the goal and Nicholls prodded the ball in to the back of the net.


On 80 minutes, the home side extended their lead when Summers shot found its way in to the net. Clifton pushed forward and the home keeper saved a couple of good efforts before in the 87th minute, Nicholls hit a crisp 25 yard shot for the goal of the game to extend his clubs lead at the top to 10 points.


It was good to see at the match, ex Clifton player Jermaine Jenas who goes and supports them when ever he can, at present, he is on loan at Aston Villa from Tottenham Hotspur. Even the young gateman was pleased to charge him £3 admission!

After the match, both clubs paid tribute to each other saying they were the best sides they have played this season so far.

Link to pics taken at yesterdays match
http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/South%20Normanton%20AFC%204%20Clifton%20FC%201/

Stamford Keep up the Challenge

HUCKNALL TOWN 0 STAMFORD 2

Admission £7(ticket kindly left by AFC Manager Dan Pheasant)

Programme £2 (poor)

Bovril £1

Attendance: 171

About 5 weeks ago before I went on holiday, Gary Salisbury appeared on my Facebook, a name I knew from years ago, infact him and his dad used to run the Clubshop at Stamford and I've known them for getting on over 20 plus years.

When getting back from Cornwall, Gary had left me a message, as asking if I'd like to go to this evening's match and that him and his dad Dave would pick me up on route, to which I replied, I'd love to meet up with you both, as its been about 12 years since we last saw each other.

Well Gary isnt the little kid I used to know anymore, infact he is 32 years old and not long before he becomes a dad..He is now the Media Officer at Stamford, whilst his dad Dave is a director.

Dave and Gary arrived at my house and we set off the 7 miles to Watnall Road, the home of Hucknall Town FC, chatting away about what had happened in our lives since we had last all seen each other. Dan Pheasant the AFC Hucknall Manager, I'd seen at Clifton on Saturday, said he would try and get me a ticket in to the ground for tonight's match, so I asked at the gate and the gateman sent me in to the clubhouse to look for Ali, the kindly spoken bearded man confirmed my name was on the list and to go straight in, where Gary was waiting the other side.

We strolled up to the Half way line and gathered with some more Stamford supporters, then along came Malc Storer who I introduced to a few people, I noticed that Malc had jotted down the team numbers on his pad and asked if he wanted the line - up's as Gary had the Official team sheet.

At half time, it was nil nil and thats about how many shots there was in the half! was it me? was i going to see my 1st 0-0 of the season..it very much looked likely. Was going to walk over to the tea bar on the other side of the ground and saw the queue, when a Stamford supporter said, they sell drinks in the club shop, so went in and asked for a black coffee..sorry its got powdered milk in! ok have you got black tea..ermm..no! we got bovril, thats not got milk in..I bloody well hope it aint, so bovril it was.

Coming back outside, we bumped back in to Malc Storer, who seemed of the same opinion as me, he said I could have been watching sky now in the warmth of my living room..I remarked..not Man City again..he replied..no Real Madrid! and off he went in to the darkness.

The game kicked off and I started to head to the far end of the ground, when Nat Watson, who has just signed for Stamford hit a crisp 40 yarder, which somehow slid under the keeper to give the visitors the lead on 47 minutes.

As I caught up with the away supporters on 50 minutes, the ball was played from the middle to the wing and a low cross was turned past his own keeper by the Home number 2 to double the visitors lead.

Hucknall then huffed and puffed, but their shooting was a bit to be desired, with the ball going out the ground, hitting the fencing at the back of the goal and not really testing the keeper, so all in all a good three points for Stamford who keep up their challenge towards the top of the table.

Hucknall Town FC Website

http://www.hucknalltownfc.com/

Stamford Website

http://www.stamfordafc.net/


Dont forget folks for CMFL Bonanza details or booking form, please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

AFC Hucknall enjoy their away day

CLIFTON FC 0 AFC HUCKNALL 2

Well a early start to the day, with my grandson Jacon waking us up at 6am on a matchday! Well after a good healthy breakfast, it was on the road to deliver some Non League Directorys, first stop was to Martin Williams of Arnold Town FC fame and we had a good chat about the upcoming CMFL Bonanza where he is going to download his form and send for his Advanced Ticket, though he will only be attending 2 of the games, he understands the importance of the Advance ticket benefiting all 10 clubs that put themselves out to play the fixtures at different times and he gets the programme pack that he requiresas well.

Then it was off to Radford FC who have always greeted me and my family with open arms and were a tad disappointed that I wasnt stopping for the match, but I will get there in the season I promise.

 We then got on to the ring road and off to Dunkirk FC to deliver some more and met up with my ex brother in law Darren Miller and we had a good old chat.

As we went in to Clifton there was just one more cal I had to make and that was into the local supermarket, not that I wanted anything but my youngest son Brett from my 1st marriage works there, so it was a good chance to see him and buy a few bits and bobs.

Clifton FC is based on the south of the city and a place I have a lot of time for, having lived on the estate for over 15 years and where 3 of my lads were bought up, infact 2 still live there. On arrival, Jacob was fast asleep in the car, so Hazel relaxed whilst I went and had a cuppa, then came along Rob Campion, who writes the great blog "All Roads Lead Somewhere" with his dad, after a chat, it was kick off time and Clifton FC were favourites going in to this game, but having spoken to Danny Pheasant the AFC Hucknall Manager, he had quoted " we should have more points on the board, but we just cant score, though were have been playing very well but been getting beat".

The First Half was a close encounter with AFC Hucknall going close on a couple of occassions, whilst Clifton FC had chances of their own, but just as the half look asif it was going to be goal-less int he 43rd Minute, a break down the left by the Hucknall number 9 saw his shot squeeze between the post and the home keeper in to the net to give the away side the lead.

After a no doubt good half time talking to, Clifton FC came out and seemed to step up a gear, but they hit the bar then the post and then wasted several opportunities that on another day may well have hit the back of the net, but today just hit the college grounds at the back of the goal.

With just 2 minutes remaining, Hucknall's Number 7 turned his man in the box and fired in to the net to give AFC Hucknall a deserved win on the day.

More pics from the game, please click on the link below

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Clifton%20FC%200%20AFC%20Hucknall%202/

Clifton FC Website

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

Pinxton 10 beat Clifton 9

PINXTON FC 3 CLIFTON FC 2

Not sure where to go today until last night, I decided to go and watch Pinxton FC v Clifton FC. Last time I saw Pinxton they crashed and burned at South Normanton and have put together a string of impressive results, whilst CMFL newcomers Clifton FC have been doing well in their first season. On arrival at the ground, I bumped in to old friend Steve Hardy and Pinxton Chair "Bones", after a nice cuppa coffee it was up to pitchside where I met League Chair Frank Harwood who had me a bag full of current season programmes from the CMFL.

The match kicked off and I had hardly set up my camera when on the first break of the match after just 2 minutes, Pinxton FC forced their way in to the lead through Ben Moore. Clifton looked a bit shocked but "Hardy rallyed his troops and on 15 minutes they got a free kick out side the box and the ball flew in to the top corner of the net to level things up from Neil Thompson.

From this point, Clifton seemed to have bit more confidence and broke well and Pinxton had their keeper to thank on 3 occasions when saving 3 one on ones to keep them in the match and level at half time.

The Second Half was a different tale though, as it was the home side that came out more fired up, but on 60 minutes the visitors Vaughan Harvey lunged in to a 2 footed tackle and the referee was given no choice but to dismiss the away side to 10 men. From the resulting free kick, the ball was floated for Elliott Jones to nod home. After 70 minutes, Pinxton gave themselves a 2 goal cushion when Danny Williams smashed the ball in to the Clifton net.

With 10 minutes remaining, Riley and Thompson became in a tangle, with both players getting a bit upset and both striking out, with Thompson ending on the floor, the Referee consulted his Assistants before showing the red cards to both the players after a bit of a 16 to 20 man hangbags.

Clifton pushed forward with 9 players and got a goal back through Michael Evans and at the end they had 5 corners and sent the keeper up, but all to no avail.

It was good to see Malc"the Bearded Wonder" Storer  at the match and he won the raffle, as he walked past me with a tub of Roses, plus Kev Goodman and also Brian Dennett and best wishes go to him as he goes in hospital on Thursday.

Todays Pics can be found on

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Pinxton%20v%20Clifton/

Pinxton Website

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

Clifton FC Website

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

Tuffley Find Life hard at the top

TUFFLEY ROVERS 0 CRIBBS FRIENDS LIFE 3

Gloucestershire County Football League

Attendance: 53

Programme: £1

Coffee 60p

On the way back home from Cornwall, we usually stop off at a match in this lovely friendly League, so on Thursday Afternoon, I rang the League Sec Mr Ron Holpin to confirm the kick off was 3pm and also for the Tuffley Sec's Graham Moody's phone number.

On arrival we found a McDonalds down the road but though seeing the floodlights could not find a entrance to the Car Park, after driving down a main road, we found a entrance and Hazel parked next to some bungalows at the side of the ground, we was greeted by Graham, a cheerful chap who donated some programmes to me for the Bonanza Stall.

Then Ron arrived with 2 of his friends and we had a chat and laughed about the 5 subs and how no one ever puts a goalkeeper on the bench and we remarked how you never see a Keeper ever get hurt...opps..how those words came back to haunt us!

The game kicked off and Rovers went forward taking the game to their visitors who had recently knocked them out of the League Cup and this game meant a lot as Rovers were top, whilst Cribbs were laying in second place before kick off today. After just 6 minutes a pure freak accident as the away attacker and the home keeper rose for the same ball, the keeper fell to the ground and let out a scream and all knew in the crowd he was to take no further part, a stretcher came on and a ambulance had arrived by half time, where he was taken off to hospital( I hope that the lad makes a speedy recovery and things are as bad as it seems).

This unsettled the League Leaders plans and had to bring on a sub keeper who knew how to punch a ball, but Cribs stepped up their game and it came as no surprise when the 1st goal went in past him, the worry then was a matter of if the home side would fold and collapse but all credit to them, they carried on working hard but the final ball in from the wing was missing or the shots was not troubling the away keeper.

At the Half Time break came a nice surprise, in the tuck shop they sold Hot Dogs and was they nice, 2 hot dogs(Proper Sausages as well!) and a black coffee only £2.20, what a bargain.

In to the 2nd half and I'd just reached my seat and the Cribbs had doubled their advantage. Tuffley then possibly then had their best spell of the game, with a few good moves running at the Cribbs defence and firing just over and also a beautiful free kick that sprung back off the crossbar from 30 yards out.

In to injury time and Cribbs put the final nail in the coffin with a break away goal to send them to the top of the table on goal difference.

A good clean match, officials did very well, if you havent been to Tuffley Rovers FC, then I'd recommend going to pay them a visit, a friendly club.

To See Match Photos, please click

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Tuffley%20Rovers%200%20Cribbs%20Friends%20Life%203/

Tuffley Rovers FC Website

http://www.tuffleyroversfc.co.uk/

Cribbs Friends Life FC Website

http://www.cribbsflfc.co.uk/

Gloucestershire County Senior League Website
http://countyleague.co.uk/default.htm

LAUNCESTON v CULLUMPTON RANGERS

LAUNCESTON FC 3 CULLUMPTON RANGERS 1

SWPL

ADMISSION £4

PROGRAMME - YES

FOOD - PIE & CHIPS

After visiting Okehampton AFC last Easter, my wife Hazel wanted to visit Okehampton Town Centre to look round the shops, so after a nice breakfast in a nice busy café in Okehampton and a shock of finding Car Parking at only £2.20 for the whole day, we walked round this lovely town, before in the afternoon heading down the A30 to Launceston Town Centre to visit a few of their shops.

We arrived at Launceston FC Car Park at 5.50pm and sat in the car until we saw the clubhouse open up just after 6pm, on arrival inside, we was made very welcome and I soon found the lovely lady I’d spoken to the evening before in the kitchen who had sorted me some programmes out for the CMFL Bonanza Charity Stall…We then had a coffee and a couple of teas and pop for Shawn and came to a cheap amount of only £2. Whilst chatting as you do, I mentioned it must have been 12 years since I had been to the ground and that was when they held their Groundhop match and I remember a young attractive lady who was the Managers daughter being the Programme Editor, the lady then replied that was her and she was still doing the programme! Hey and what a great programme she does as well.

Then a chap popped in to the clubhouse and approached me and asked for me by name, well on the Cornwall Football Forum over the weekend some one was throwing 15 years of programmes away and wanted to know if they were any used to anyone, so I private messaged the gentleman and explained what games I would be attending whilst on holiday, little did I kn0ow until I got talking to him that he was the Referee at last week’s match I watched at Penzance FC and he lived just round the corned from Launceston FC’s Ground, so a big thank you to him for the 4 large carrier bags of programmes from him. 

As I walked back to the car, I bumped in to old friend Mike Sampson and his friend David, we all headed in to the clubhouse where I ordered 3 x Pie & Chips and 1x Chips for the cheap price of £7 and they were First Class.

Well me and my stepson headed for the stand and Launceston looked the better of the sides and it didn’t take long, infact only 6 minutes before they went in front. The homesters carried on attacking but never looked like extending their lead as the game went a bit scrappy towards half time.

Cullumpton came out on the attack in the Second Half but then took off their main striker, shortly after Launceston took control And doubled their lead on the hour. It really should have been game, set and match, but credit to the visitors as they kept pushing forward and pulled one back.

In the 84th Minute, a very high tackle with studs showing by the Cullumpton player left a Launceston player in a heap on the floor and as the referee went for his cards, players all dived in and ran from all directions, the home keeper who had run 30 yards went down, then sprung to his feet and ran back to his goal area..The Referee dismissed the Cullumpton player for the awful foul and to the dismay of the home crowd around me, booked the home goalkeeper, but the referee was correct in my opinion to caution the keeper as he had run 30 yards to get involved but I also feel that the visitors could well have had a 2nd player dismissed if the referee or assistant had seen which player had struck him to the ground.

In to injury time, Launceston were awarded a penalty to which h they converted to concrete their 4th position place in the League Table.

Well it certainly wont be another 12 years before another visit, as I found this a very and polite club.

Charlestown Saints v Tinagel

Charlestown Saints 5 Tinagel 3

Cornwall Junior Cup

Charlestown Saints caused a shockin the Cornwall Junior Cup by knocking out their opponents Tinagel FC who play in a higher Division of the Duchy League, after pulling off a amazing Second Half fightback.


The game started well for The Saints when their 4 goal hero smashed them in to the lead after just 3 minutes and in a match where the pace was fierce in blazing sunshine, they should have been out of sight if not for good keeping from the away keeper.

On the half hour, a route one kick from the Tinagel keeper found his striker who equaled the scores. This seemed to unsettle The Saints and a long ball, looked like the home keeper was going to collect, but wo defenders had ote ideas as they both went for the ball and it went up i the air and fell at a Tinagel players feet for him to poke them in front. Right on Half Time and the visitors made it 1-3.


What ever was said in the team talk at Half Time in the Saints changing Room must have had some impact, as they went straight on the attack and for the next 45 minutes, it was one way traffic towards the visitors goal with some very good football being played. The home number 10 was running the show and his finishing was superb. The fightback began after 50 minutes when the homesters reduced the arrears before going level after 62 minutes. On 74 minutes, it was 4-3 and yo wondered if Tinagel would gamble and push players forward for a equaliser to take the game in to extra time, which they tried but the Saints were far too fast for them by now and fished the final nail in the coffin with a fifth goal after 83 minutes. A special mention to my friend the referee Anita Gittins who had a great match and had to show no cards.


To see Match Pics please click the link below:
http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc460/Midlandsman/Charlestown%20Saints%20v%20Tinagel/

Charlestown Saints Website
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/charlestownsaints/


Tinagel FC Website
http://www.tintagelweb.co.uk/Tintagel%20Football%20Club.htm