BILBOROUGH WIN AT OLD BOYS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

BEESTON OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION FC 3 BILBOROUGH TOWN FC 5

Last night, I rang the Old Boys' Secretary Paul Lambert to check how the pitch was and if the match would be on, he was cruising along on his barge along the canal but assured me their was no problems, so having not seen them or their opponents Bilborough Town this season, this was my choice of game for todays charity blog.

Sadly I wasnt very well overnight or today, so made a announcement on Twitter/X, that I would still sponsor 25p in to the Charity Blogs Bank Account each goal scored at this match, so £2 has been added to take the running total to £212.75p.

The Blog is in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Nottingham Support Group.

If anyone would like to make a donation, the Charity Blog Bank Details are:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account Number: 70342862

WILL ANYTHING GO RIGHT FOR POOR OLLERTON TOWN

 Northern Counties East League: Division One

OLLERTON TOWN FC 1 BRIGG TOWN FC 0

Before the start of the season, Ollerton Town lost their management and the majority of their players, infact it came to a head where they were in dire difficulties, but with a determined young Chairperson Liam Kent and Volenteers digging in to steady the ship and form a strong committee, this saved the club from folding and infact progressing with more junior clubs.

On the pitch, its not been a great time, but they have soldered on when other clubs in their position could well have thrown the towel in, so all credit to them all.

Ive been saying to Liam for a while I would pop down and cheer Ollerton on when I had a chance and tonight gave a great opportunity to do this.

On arrival I was greeted by a home official who helped me in to the hut for a cuppa, made by another committee member, he then filled up my flask for pitchside.

I then went to the back of the hut to find the food cabin and bought a tasty pasty.  

I got to the enterance where the gentleman wouldnt charge me to go in, so I drove my mobility scooter down to the halfway line, where I spoke to a few of the visiting supporters. We was soon joined by a gentleman who's lad was playing for the home club.

The game kicked off and after just 5 minutes, a ball from the right wing saw a Ollerton forward have the first chance of the game, when his header flew over the Brigg crossbar.

After 12 minutes, the visitors should really have gone in front, when the winger beat the last defender, but pulled his shot narrowly wide.

On 20 minutes, Ollerton got the luck they deserved, when a mix up between the away defence saw Ollerton's JOE TUNNARD not give up and force his way through to walk the ball in to a empty net.

Both sides were cancelling each other out in a very good match but on 38 minutes, the ground went in to darkness as the floodlights failed, the visiting keeper went to look at them, but sadly couldnt do anything so the referee had no option but to abandon the game.

I felt really sorry for Ollerton Town as these things happen and no doubt a long travel again in a rearranged midweek fixture for Brigg as well.

As admission was £5 and the gentleman gave me cuppas, I have put £6 from Ollerton Town FC in to the Charity Blog, which is in aid of MND NOTTINGHAM SUPPORT GROUP, which takes the running total to £210.75p. A BIG THANKYOU to all.

If anyone would like to make a donation, then you can do a bank transfer to:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

NINE MAN AC SINK TOWN WITH LAST GASP ATTACK

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Division One

BINGHAM TOWN FC 0 AC UNITED FC 1

On Saturday 25th April 2015, groundhoppers headed to watch Bingham Town v Ruddington Village which ended up in a stalemate 0-0 draw, since that match nearly 9 years ago, Ive not seen a 0-0 draw. Today I was heading to watch Awsworth Villa v Southwell City Reserves but after a phone call, I found it was off due to a waterlogged pitch.

I saw Bingham Town were at home and in past years, Ive seen some football played on very heavy muddy pitches there, so after a quick phone call and confirmation it was on, Hazel loaded up the car and we were soon on our way.

I was soon greeted by todays referee Michael Mrozek and members of the Bingham Town FC committee and soon had a cuppa. Then with both team sheets,I headed to pitchside where it was a slight drizzle but ok for taking photos, the rain soon stopped and I was joined along the touchline.

The match kicked off but both team cancelled each other out and when the ball did beat the defences, it either rolled to the keepers or shots went wide of target or the keepers were just catching the ball easy out the air.

The Second Half kicked off and a incident occured on the far side of the pitch, to which the referee reduced the visitors down to ten men. A few minutes later a late tackle saw one of their players get a yellow card. As time ticked on, Bingham got a free kick someway outside the penalty area and the referee asked several times for the AC wall to step back, they did then stepped forward and the referee produced a yellow card followed by a red card leaving United with 9 players with several minutes to play the rest of the match.

Late in to injury time, a quick break down the right hand side saw the ball crossed and AC's ROBBIE ENGLAND tapped the ball home to send the visitors back to Nottingham with the three points.

People always have opinions but I felt referee Michael Mrozek had a very good game and controlled it well.

After the match Michael Mrozek and also Nottinghamshire Senior League referees kindly donated £5 each towards the Charity Blogs Charity The MND Nottingham Support Group, which now takes the running total to £204.75p if you would like to make a donation, then the Charity Blog Bank Details are as follows:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

To View the 103 photos from the match, please click this LINK

TODAY WAS ABOUT 4 OFFICIALS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Premier Division

BASFORD CFC 1 RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 2

A few months ago I was informed of three officials who all passed their Refs courses 25 years ago together and not only have carried on reffing but remained good friends. I said I would come to the match they were all put on and today was the 25th anniversary, so off to Basford CFC v Ruddington Village FC, I weent, but thoughts were also in mind to a fourth official Chris Hunter who began his career in the Nottinghamshire Senior League and worked his way up the ranks, who sadly passed away last weekend, so a minutes silence was requested to all clubs from the league before all matches this weekend. Our thoughts go out to all Chris's family at this very sad time.

The kick off was pushed back a little before the players and officials entered the pitch, the three officials were then joined on the pitch by Nottinghamshire Senior League Chair Darrell Parkes and members of the Nottinghamshire FA who presented todays referee Mike McGill and his two assistants Ian Wilkinson and Ian Smith with framed certificates to celebrate their acheivement.

The minutes silence took place and the crowd showed their respects to Chris and a round of applause at the end of the minute. to be fair, the closest to a opening goal was when the ball bounced round the Basford box before being cleared and then the Ruddington keeper having to knock the ball over his crossbar.

As we were limbering up to half time in the 44th minute, STUART FRANKLAND fired the ball home from some 30 yards out to send the visitors in to a half time lead.

The Second Half began and the young Basford side were knocking the ball around nicely, but it seemed that they were struggling in the final third.

In the 57th minute, a corner from the right hand side, saw a bullet of a header in the six yard box in to the net by Ruddington Village's ROSS COCHRANE-SMITH to make it 2-0 to his side.

Basford seemed to get more in to the game, but the visiting keeper was equal with punching the ball away from set pieces to clear any danger, but as we entered the 84th minute, a MYKAH SKERVIN free kick from 35 yards hit the underside of the crossbar and dropped in to the net, to reduce the arrears.

Ruddington held on to the last surge from the homesters and gained their sixth win of the season.

All three officials were clapped off the pitch as they left as they had all had a good game.

To View the 133 photos, please click this LINK

After the match, Referee Mike McGill kindly donated £5 and Ian Wilkinson £10 and Ian Smith and his partner Karen Smith £10 to take the Charity Blogs Running Total to £194.50 in aid of the MND Nottingham Support Group, so a BIG thanks to them.

If anyone would like to make a donation then you can do a bank transfer to the Charity Blogs bank account which is as follows:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

DUO PUT WOLLATON IN TO THE FINAL

 Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy Semi Final

WOLLATON FC 4 TRENT VINEYARD FC 0

Att: 65

Wollaton were given a couple of shocks before they eased to the final, Wollaton play in the Nottinghamshire League Premier Division whilst Trent Vineyard FC play 3 divisions below. Due to poor weather of late,the tie was billed as a 2pm kick off at Ilkeston Town's 3g ground.

When arriving there was very little space on the car park and coach from Huddersfield parked up, with queue buying burgers from a van near the enterance, not knowing if Derby County were at home and these were away supporters on a pre match coach stop or not.

On entering the ground, there was a match going on between Mansfield youth and Huddersfield Youth, a match that saw the Stags win 9-0. it was being played at Ilkeston as their under 17's were at home in a cup tie, so this match had kicked off at 12pm.

This meant that our match had been put back to a 3pm kick off .

The game kicked off at a frantic pace with both teams attacking, but it was the Vineyarders who were creating the better chances, with the Wollaton keeper being called in to action several times, infact the outsiders could well have been three goals to the good.

Wollaton just couldnt pick up the pace in the first 25 minutes, but on 27 minutes a ball from the right side came into the six yard area where JOSHUA STEVENSON tucked away. At this point, were Vineyard going to crumble, well no, they carried on battling, but it was now Wollaton's turn to test Trent's keeper who was pulling off save after save to keep his team in the game.

The Second Half kicked off and subs were soon made and the pace of the tie slowed down to Wollaton's favour and they began to control the midfield area and creating more chances.

In the 58th minute, JOSHUA STEVENSON hit a cross shot from left side of the area in to the far corner of the net to double his sides advantage.

Six Minutes later the tie was put to bed when LIAM TAYLOR turned on the edge of the penalty area and fired into the net, not giving the keeper any chance.

Still Vineyard carried on playing with their head held high and again forced the Wollaton keeper in to a couple of good saves.

In injury time, LIAM TAYLOR completed the scoring to make 4-0 to see his Wollaton team in to a all Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy Final where they will face Keyworth United who draw 2-2 before beating Southwell City Reserves on penalties.

All players of both sides after the match went the 5 miles back to fill Wollaton FC's clubhouse, where chip sandwiches were awaiting them.

Wollaton FC had done a bucket collection for the Charity Blog and had raised £25, which Id like to say a BIG THANKYOU for, also a Trent Vineyard player handed me £3.50 and they have said they are to have a whip round soon, so with the £1 for the goals etc, it now takes the running total to £158.75p for the Motor Neurone Nottingham Support Group.

If anyone would like to make a donation, here are the Charity Blogs details:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

If you would like to view the 167 match day photos, please click on this LINK

Next Saturday, In the Nottinghamshire Senior League, 3 Match Officials.

Michael McGill

Ian Smith

Ian Wilkinson

all celebrate 25 years since they passed their referees courses togeather and all three will be working as a team in the Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League,Premier Division  match between Basford United Community FC v Ruddington Village FC kick off 3pm