SAM'S LATE BRACE BRAKES AFC'S AFTERNOON

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League: Premier Division

AFC DUNKIRK 2 ASLOCKTON & ORSTON FC 3

Having not been to AFC Dunkirk for a while and also not seeing Aslockton & Orston, I felt it was time to have a look at both sides.

On arrival I was greeted by both teams and soon had both teamsheets along with my flask filled with coffee, before I drove my scooter to the far side of the ground just before the players emerged on to the pitch.

On Friday evening Marbles on Twitter, often put programme covers on and he put Bingham Town v Ruddington Village in 2015 in a Groundhop match that I had organised, it was infact as I remarked the last game I saw a 0-0 draw.

After 30 minutes of this match, I felt I'd jinxed myself with the reply tweet, as some good passing football had been played by both teams but not really any efforts on goal, but all was to alter that in the 38th minute, when just inside the Dunkirk field of play, a slip by a home defender saw Aslockton's TYRELL GORDON sprint clear and slot the ball past the keeper to open the scoring.

Dunkirk pressed forward but it was the visitors who went in at half time with the slender lead. At this point a couple of the Aslockton parents asked if I wanted a drink fetching, but I still had my flask to drink, but it was very nice of them to ask. Meanwhile a gentleman named Mark Hill began to chat to me about how many games he had seen this season, so I guessed he was a groundhopper and I introduced myself to him and he is a member of my Facebook page cqalled Non League Grounds of England Wales and Scotland that has over 21,000 members and it turns out I had tweeted his tweets on twitter from midweek games he had visited other NSL games at Cotgrave and Radcliffe Olympic, we talked throughout the second half.

The players came back on to the pitch for the Second Half and Dunkirk looked more committed and pressed forward and were soon on level terms after 52 minutes when WILL MUSSON squared things up.

This game then turned in to AFCF's favour on 54 minutes, when a loose ball fell to SCOTT ABBEY who drilled a low powerful  shot from 35 yards out that just bulleted the back of the net to everyone surprise to turn the match round and give AFC a 2-1 lead.

Chance went begging at both ends in a flowing entertaining game, but on 80 minutes, the homesters felt upset as a player was on the right wing andthe visiting keeper came out and took him down with the ball going away from the attacker and a covering defender, to which in my eyes was a yellow card, but several Dunkirk folks disagreed, this decison seemed to effect AFC as they seemed to loose concentration and after 88 minutes Aslockton broke down the right wing and SAM BRAKEWELL tapped in the equaliser.

With the clock running down, I felt a draw was a fair result, but Aslockton felt differently, as again in the 90th minute, they broke down the right wing and a shot that looked like it was put in by a young sub, was confirmed in the clubhouse after the match,that it was SAM BRAKEWELL that actually scored it to seal the three points for the visitors.

Personally I felt referee Lewis Quayle and his 2 young Assistant Referees all had a good match.

I would like to thank Lewis for his kind donation of £5 to the Charity's Blog which is in aid of the MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE NOTTINGHAM SUPPORT GROUP, which now takes the running total up to £294.75p.

If anyone would like to make a donation no matter how small, the charity blog details are as follows:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

We do have a upcoming Charity Match as seen below on Saturday 15th June 2024 between a NSL REP TEAM against AC WOLLATON, at Ilkeston Town FC so please come along and support if you can, the more the merrier

Please find the 143 photos from todays match on the LINK

FCV FINISH SEASON WITH FIVE STAR PERFORMANCE

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Division One

FCV GRACE DIEU 5 AFC SANDIACRE 0

Going in to this match, both teams had something to play for, whilst FCV gainned promotion last weekend, they sat in second place and had to win in hope that FC Cavaliers would drop points away at Meden Vale Colts, as Cavs had a two point cushion but FCV had a better goal difference. Meanwhile Town are near the foot of the table and needed something to stay up.

We was met on the car park by FCV's Shane Clarke who soon went off to fill our flasks with coffee and a chat with the Sandiacre management before meeting the referee Will Pelech.

I sat inside a goalnet at the side of the halfway line of the beautiful looking 4g pitch.

Sandiacre kicked off the match and lost the ball straight away, which led to a ball played to FCV's left wing, where the cross came in and HASSAAN FAROUQ tapped home after just 37 seconds.

Things got worse for the visitors, as in the 4th minute, ZHANI BURGESS dribbled the ball past a midfielder and shot from 30 yards to double the homesters lead.

I was a bit fearful that this may well be a very long afternoon for the visitors as Grace were knocking the ball around on the floor, with shots just going wide of the mark and Town not really troubling the keeper.

Town to their credit did try to play football and kept going but after 33 minutes, ALIS HALLALI juggled his way in to the area to make it 3-0.

The Second Half saw Town have a couple of good chances but werent able to convert any and on 54 minutes to the delight of the crowd of 52, a cross from the right saw HARRISON HOLLAND at the back post to tap in goal number 4 for FCV.

The game was very flowing with the match referee playing a lot of good advantages.

In the 85th minute, COLE CLINTON dribbled his way in to the box and turned his defender with a back heel and then fired in low to make it 5-0.

There was a wait to see what was happening at Meden Vale as all we had on twitter was that Cavs were leading at half time 1-0, back at the pub still no result was showing from this match on Full Time, so a call was made to Meden Vale who had told us that the final score was 0-1 and Cavs had won the Division, but FCV in their first season had pushed them all the way and will do well in the Premier Division.

Credit to the referee Will Pelech who I felt had a very good game and also both sides wanting to play football in a decent match.

Before the match FCV Grace Dieu's Shane Clarke kindly donated a amazing £50 donation from his club to the Charity Blog which is in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Support Group, it now brings the running total up to £288.50p.

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

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

SORT CODE: 30-98-97

ACCOUNT: 70342862

To view the 191 photos, please click this LINK

A date for your diaries is Saturday 15th June 2024 at Ilkeston Town FC, where the NSL REP TEAM will face AC WOLLATON 3pm kick off in our annual charity match.

TOP V BOTTOM PRODUCES A GOOD MATCH

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Division Three

GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC 2 PEGAGUS FC 0

On Saturday evening, Gedling Southbank received a triple boost, when reaching the final of the League Junior Cup, news coming through to hear that they had become Division Three Champs and also being awarded the sponsors Eurosoccer League Team of the Month for March.

Pegagus FC last season decided to step their Development team up to mens football but it hasnt really gone to plan for them and maybe a step too far too quickly for the young lads.

The match had nothing on it and Gedling Southbank made many chances as did Pegagus who fielded some of their Development team players, infact I was dreading the scoreline if honest.

Both sides had early chances and it took 26 minutes before Southbank broke the deadlock with a cross from the left wing which found its way at the back post to LEON SPALDING to score though it may well have had a little help from a defending player.

To the visitors credit they gave what they got and was playing some very good football and working hard and chasing down every ball.

On 55 minutes LUKE JACKSON added a second goal for the homesters, when hitting a low shot past the visiting keeper.

For the last ten minutes of the game, we had a monsoon as the rain gusted down heavy and I think everyone was happy once match referee Ray Ferguson who had a excellent game blew the final whilstle

Id like to thank the Gedling Southbank FC players for the whip round for the Charity Blog and donated £12 to the MND Nottingham Support Group which now takes the running total to £237.25p

If you would like to make a donation and dont see me at a match, you can do a bank transfer if you wish to:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

SORT CODE: 30-98-97

ACCOUNT: 70342862

KILCULLEN'S DOUBLE SEES OFF BRAVE ROBINS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Division One

BILBOROUGH TOWN FC 3 EAST LEAKE ROBINS FC 2

On a gusty day where the council passed the main stadium pitch, where yesterday the match was going to be held on the outside pitch, I was greeted on arrival by both clubs and soon had the teamsheets and had a good chat with match referee Derek Spray.

The game kicked off and Bilborough were first out the blocks and a corner from the left was met by BAILEY KILCULLEN to put them in front after 5 minutes. In the 10th minute, a mix up at the back by the Robins defence saw DAVID OLATOMIDE slot the homesters in to a two goal lead.

To the Robins credit, they raised their game with both sides playing some of the best passing on the floor football Ive seen this season and on 22 minutes, East Leake pulled a goal back through JACOB CONSTERDINE.

Both sides had chances that went begging, but in the 43rd minute, a breakdown from a Town corner, saw the Robins counter attack and saw KLAUDIO MARQESHI round the keeper for the equaliser.

The Second half saw plenty of chances come and go with the pace of the game slowing down a little, but this game was open and anybodys to win.

After 72 minutes, a long free kick caught the Robins keeper out and the ball was cleared out for a Town corner. From the resulting corner BAILEY KILCULLEN was first to the ball with his head to secure the winner.

In the final minute, East Leake got a corner and their goalkeeper hit a shot narrowly wide.

After the match, Bilborough Town FC kindly donated £10 to the Blogs Charity which is for the MND NOTTINGHAM SUPPORT GROUP to take the running total to £224.75p, so a BIG THANKYOU.

If you would like to make a donation, here is the Charity Blogs bank details

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

To view the 220 photos from the match, please click this LINK

TOMMY'S EARLY DOUBLE SEES COLLINGHAM INTO THE FINAL

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup Semi Final

COLLINGHAM FC 2 FC CAVALIERS 1

ATT: 94

A cup semi final that was a two halve affair played in a strong windy condition throughout the game. Collingham were soon on the attack and after just 118 seconds were in front when a ball played from the left wing found out TOMMY DUNNERDALE who placed the ball from just outside the box in to the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0.

On 10 minutes, with the wind behind them a cross from the right wing found out found out TOMMY DUNNERDALE again but this time, he turned and shot low to put his a side in to a 2-0 lead.

FC Cavaliers then began to fight but Collingham had more of the attacks but none of the keepers were really tested.

The Second Half began with Cav's with the wind behind them and they were playing a lot of good passing football on the ground, but the Collingham defence were coping but on 55 minutes, the visitors were unlucky not to have pulled a goal back when Zibussiso Sibanda's long range shot stuck the post and hit the back of the keeper before he was able to dive on it on the line.

Whilst the hosts were down to 10 men due to a sin bin, in the 65th minute, REGINALD UGOTI got the ball on the right wing and crossed but the ball with the wind swirled and hit the crossbar before dropping into the net.

Cavs pressed on and in the final 10 minutes, Jourdan Blair beat the offside trap to see his shot disappear over the crossbar.

As the final time whistle went, Collingham knew they had been in a game and expressed to Cavs that they had been the best team they had played this season.

So it is Collingham FC versus Beeston FC in the Final to look forward to.

The Blogs Charity for the MND Nottingham Support Group's running total now stands at £213.50p, if you would like to make a donation, the Blog details are below

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

To see the 128 photos from todays match, please click this LINK