Linby CW 4-0 Hucknall Town

Saturday 29th August 2014 - kick off 3:02pm

Venue: Church Lane, Linby, Nottinghamshire

Competition: CML South Division

Scorers: Matt Murphy (18, 28, 89), Ruban Mitchell (24)

Referee: Jack Forder

Line-ups:

Linby - Luca Rocco, Mason Frizelle, Tom Coupe, Ashley Winfield, Callum Loydall, Terry Henshaw, Ruban Mitchell,  Adam Fox, Matt Murphy, Joe Butler, Damian Mann. Subs used: Kaylum Mitchell, Ben Saunders, Kyle McDermott.

Town - Jimmy Beddingham, Cayne Maxwell, Joe Atkinson, Dwayne Ngandi, Alex Arnold, David Leak, Cameron Davidson, Nathan Robinson, Aaron Evans, Matt Clowes, Elliott Pitt. Subs used: Jack Sanders, Niall Williams, Abbis Ayokulne

So endeth our August round Robin - all three of the local rivals finish with three points! Town beat Rolls, Rolls beat Linby, Linby beat Town. I know the title of this blog is "on the road" , and it seems we are spending less and less time in the car - but I love these local derbies. 

I think Linby were expecting a huge crowd - they had marked out a  neat car-park just inside the ground, and although it was well populated, my head count was only 121. Mind you, my head counts are sometimes well wide of the mark!!  

The teams cancelled each other out early on in the first half, but it was noticeable that Linby had returned to their passing game they had forsaken on Bank Holiday Monday, and looked a far more accomplished team than they had at Rolls.

With 17 played, Mason Frizelle headed a Damian Mann free-kick just wide, then Hucknall were guilty of some careless defending, allowing Joe Butler time and space to reverse the ball back to MATT MURPHY, who calmly curled it past the despairing dive of Jim Beddingham in the Town goal.

1-0

Butler was also the provider of the second Linby goal six minutes later, this time rolling the ball across the goal to where RUBAN MITCHELL was on hand to tap in.

Bulter crosses to...

Ruban Mitchell 2-0

Hucknall seemed a little shell-shocked and they almost went further behind 2 minutes later when they allowed Mann to run into the box from the left and fire across Beddingham - luckily for the visitors, the ball crept just wide of the far stick. 

MATT MURPHY scored again for Linby on 28, and this was different class - his shot from the corner of the box screaming into the top corner with Beddingham left waving it bye-bye. Kyle McDermott replaced Mann on 43, after the winger had been injured in an earlier challenge. H-T 3-0

Murphy's just added the third for Linby!

Town's Elliott Pitt saw his 25 yard free-kick tipped over the bar by Luca Rocco within just 2 minutes of the restart, then Nathan Robinson fired well wide after he had made a great run at goal from inside his own half. 

Great save from Rocco

Ashley Winfield was lucky to stay on the pitch on 63, after he made a nasty looking two-footed, studs showing challenge on Matty Clowes. Referee Forder did show the Linby midfielder a yellow, and seconds later we thought Winfield was definitely on his way after he appeared to make another rash challenge on the edge of the Linby box. It seems that me, Kev and the Hucknall Town bench all need to pay a visit to Specsavers, because Mr. Forder, much to our surprise, booked Callum Loydall! From the free-kick, Rocco once again denied Pitt, diving to his right to palm away. 

Clowes down

Winfield booked

Loydall booked

Rocco saves

Town's Niall Williams and Aaron Evans were both booked in quick succession midway though the half, both players guilty of late challenges as Linby kept up the pressure.  

With the game entering it's final few minutes, Ben Samuels and Kaylum Mitchell combined well in the middle of the park - eventually finding MURPHY on the left. The Linby no. 9 stroked the ball across Beddingham from the edge of the box, and despite the keeper getting a hand to it, it had enough legs to cross the line and complete a well deserved hat-trick. F-T 4-0

Admission: Season ticket

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: h/c 121

MOM: Adam Fox - unsung hero in the middle of the park for Linby

Charity: £3.00

Saturday 30th August - local teams in action

F.A. Cup Preliminary Round
Basford Utd 3-3 Sheffield FC
Carlton Town 2-1 Handsworth Parramore
Clipstone FC 2-1 Loughborough University
Loughborough Dynamo 0-2 Coalville Town
Rainworth MW 0-3 Staveley MW
Retford Utd 1-3 Holwell Sports
Shepshed Dynamo 2-0 Quorn FC
Spalding Utd 1-0 Heanor Town

NPP
Grantham Town 1-0 Belper Town
Ilkeston FC 1-1 Curzon Ashton

MFL
Heath Hayes 0-3 Long Eaton Utd

NCELP
Worksop Town 5-0 Pickering Town

NCEL1
Eccleshill Utd 4-0 Shirebrook Town
Teversal FC 3-2 AFC Mansfield

EMCL
Ashby Ivanhoe 5-1 Arnold Town
Bardon Hill 6-0 Graham St Prims
Borrowash Victoria 2-1 Anstey Nomads
Greenwood Meadows 0-3 Holbrook Sports
Kimberley MW 1-1 South Normanton Athletic
Radcliffe Olympic 1-0 Gedling MW

CMLN
Askern FC 0-5 Glapwell FC
Bentley Colliery 0-2 Thoresby CW
Brodsworth Welfare 0-1 Bilsthorpe FC
Clay Cross Town 7-1 Thorne Colliery
Newark Town 8-0 Dinnington Town
Ollerton Town 1-1 Harworth CI
Sherwood Colliery 1-4 Appleby Frodingham
Welbeck FC 2-1 Easington Utd

CMLS
Belper Utd v2-2 Hucknall Rolls Leisure
Blidworth Welfare 5-2 Bilborough Pelican
Eastwood CFC 0-9 Pinxton FC
Holbrook St. Michaels 1-4 Clifton AW
LInby CW 4-0 Hucknall Town
Real Utd 2-1 Mickleover RBL
Southwell City 0-2 Mickleover Royals
Swanwick PR 5-0 Harrowby Saints

NSL Senior Division
Awsworth Villa 0-0 Beeston AFC
Burton Joyce 3-3 Bingham Town
Kirton BW 2-3 Cotgrave FC
Ruddington Village 4-2 Bilborough Town
Sandhurst FC 4-2 Selston FC

AFC Mansfield U21 1-1 Newark Town U21

Wednesday 27th August 2014 - kick off 7:47pm

Venue: Forest Town Arena, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Competition: North Midlands U21 Development League

Referee: Mr. Mark Thomas

Scorers: 
AFC - Fenn Radford (90 +3)
Town - Brandon Byers-Wilkes (4)

Going to this game was a last minute decision - I had no intention of following the U21 league as I fail to see it's raison d'etre. However, I am trying to get in as many games this season as possible as each game adds a few bob to the charity pot.

Newark have not registered any of their U21 squad with their first team, whilst AFC have only a smattering of players with first team experience. Declan Brewer actually played the whole 90 minutes for the AFC first team on Tuesday at Worsborough Bridge.

Brandon Wilkes opened the scoring in the fourth minute, racing onto a neat through ball from Josh Martin and managing to steer the ball home from 12 yards after he reached it before onrushing keeper Liam Bacon could intercept.

Newark had only the bare eleven players, and after defending solidly throughout the rest of the game, fatigue began to show as AFC pressed and pressed to try and get something out of the game.  Last ditch challenges and a couple of decent saves from keeper Ajaz Jafad had the visitors believing they had done enough to hold on as the game entered stoppage time. 

Not to be though. In the third minute of added time they failed to clear a corner from the right, and when the ball fell kindly to FENN RADFORD, he reacted quickly and volleyed sweetly home through a crowd of players from 10 yards. F-T 1-1

On reflection this was a fair result, but you have to feel for the Newark eleven - they had defended so well throughout - one lapse of concentration right at the end cost them dearly.

Admission £3 (!)

Programme £0.50 (!)

Attendance - estimated 60 -65

Charity: £1.50

Bilborough Town 3-2 Beeston AFC (H-T 1-2)

Tuesday 26th August 2014 - kick off 6:32pm

Venue: Greenwich Avenue #1

Competition: NSL Senior Division (thank you Ian Smith for the pin badge)

Referee: Adam Coupe

Scorers: 
Bilborough: Ricky Cross (32, 90), Mo Tatar (76)
Beeston: James McHale (4), Jack Wilkinson (18 pen)

Great fightback from the home team - they trailed by two goals to nil after 18 minutes had been played, but never let their heads drop and fought back to claim all three points.

There were so many chances in this game - the score could have been 9-9! Credit to both sets of players for the entertainment.

Beeston went ahead on 4, JAMES McCALE volleying acrobatically over his head sending the ball flying past Nick Ivanov in the home goal. They went further ahead from the spot with 18 played, a well taken JACK WILKINSON penalty awarded after Ivanov had been adjudged to have impeded a Beeston player as he raced across the penalty area.

Wilkinson fires home from the spot

Ricky Cross halved the home teams deficit on 32, his hopeful shot from 20 yards creeping in at the foot of the post - the keeper dived to try and save, but couldn't quite reach the ball and could only watch in despair as it rolled into the net.  H-T 1-2

Bilborough were solidly on the front foot as the second half progressed, and were deservedly level on 76 when MO TATAR dived to head home, after a free kick from the left had been headed back across the goal.

Beeston were looking tired, but still had enough to worry Town as the game entered it's final throes. They hit the bar, hit the post and two players got in each others way on the far post as the ball reached them from the right wing - subsequently both failed to connect just a few inches from the goal-line!

The killer blow for Beeston came right on 90, RICKY CROSS given far too much time just inside the box, and the no. 11 took full advantage, picking his spot and firing a sweet shot into the top right corner of the goal.  F-T 3-2

Attendance: when the game started I head counted 15, but after half time there were well over 30 pitchside.

Charity: £3.75 

Hucknall Rolls Leisure 3-0 Linby CW

Monday 25th August 2014 - kick off 3:02pm

Venue: Hucknall RL Sports ground, Watnall Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

Competition: CML South Division

Referee: Jon Dolbear

Scorers: Jack Allen (20), Kane Matthews (75), Rory Smith (90)

Line-ups:-

Rolls - Jack Walker, Greg Conn, Rory Smith, Jack Matthews, Aaron Short, James Duncan, Billy Brooks, Jack James, Jack Allen, Jack Smith, Chay Betteridge. Subs used: Jonathan Buckley, Kane Matthews, Ash Marshall. 

Linby - Luca Rocco, Adam Fox, Tom Coupe, Matt Peberday, Ash Winfield, Terry Henshaw, Ben Samuels, Aaron Ryan, Matt Murphy, Joe Butler, Damian Mann. Subs used: Mason Frizelle, Kaylum Mitchell, Ruban Mitchell.

After seeing Rolls demolished by Hucknall Town on Saturday, we wondered what their reaction would be as they took on another local rival in Linby CW.

Linby were unbeaten prior to kick off, but the home team were really up for this game and never gave their visitors any time or space. Rolls had the first decent chance on 11, but Jack Smith fired wide from the edge of the box with all of the goal to aim at.

Playing aimless balls up from the back frustrated the Linby attackers somewhat, and one or two players made it clear that that tactic didn't suit their style of play.

Their attitudes weren't improved any when Rolls took the lead after on 20 minutes. Linby keeper Luca Rocco did well to save a shot from Jack Allen - the visiting defenders tried to clear, but Jack James blocked well and the ball fell straight to the feet of ALLEN who smashed it gleefully home.

Rocco saves well, but Allen (no.9) will fire home the loose ball

Jack Smith fired just wide again after half an hour, but Linby  gradually got their act together Matt Murphy was just only just eased out by a defender as he tried to connect with Damian Manns' cross on 35. Mann was unlucky 5 minutes later when his near post low drive deflected out for a corner off the underside of home keeper Jack Walker, as he dived to save.

Rolls should have been further ahead at the break, but with four left to play, Allen skied a Jack Smith cross over the bar from just a couple of yards out. H-T 1-0.

Over she goes!!

Matt Peberday was booked for dissent by Referee Jon Dolbear early in the second half, and after a poor decision was made by Mr. Dolbear, the Linby defender voiced his opinion again and was shown a second yellow followed by the inevitable red.

The irony is that had the Referee made the correct decision when Walker had blocked with his hand after racing out of his area to block Butler's run, the home team would be down to ten, and Peberday would not have needed to call Mr. Dolbears integrity into question. As it happened Walker did eventually receive a yellow card, but only after Mr. Dolbear undertook a lengthy consultation with his Assistant, Steve Sears.

On 75, KANE MATTHEWS struck a magnificent drive into the top corner from 22 yards - the sub had received the ball from the right and ran unchallenged into yards of space, before unleashing the unstoppable effort. Poor defending, but a stunning goal.

Matthews was given more room to run into with seven minutes to play, and fired across the face of the goal - only a diving save from Rocco kept the ball out of the net. 

Rolls did manage a third goal through RORY SMITH on 90, and this was just as good as the Matthews effort. The full back cut in from the left and let fly from the corner of the box, the ball curling over the despairing dive of Rocco. F-T 3-0

So Linby's unbeaten start to the season ends - next up Hucknall Town at home on Saturday. 

Admission: £3 (inc programme)

Attendance: h/c 87

Charity: £2.25

Bank Holiday Monday 25th August - local teams in action

NPP (3)
Belper Town 3-3 Matlock Town
Buxton FC 1-1 Ilkeston FC

NP1S (4)
Carlton Town 1-1 Spalding Utd
Coalville Town 3-2 Loughborough Dynamo
Sheffield FC 5-0 Rainworth MW

MFL (5)
Basford Utd 1-1 Long Eaton Utd
Dunkirk FC 3-1 Loughborough University
Shepshed Dynamo 0-1 Quorn FC

EMCL (6)
Arnold Town 2-0 Gedling MW
Graham St Prims 1-2 Borrowash Victoria
Holbrook Sports 0-2 South Normanton Athletic
Kimberley MW 3-1 Radford FC
Radcliffe Olympic 8-0 Greenwood Meadows

CMLN (7)
Clay Cross Town P-P Welbeck FC
Dinnington Town 3-2 Sherwood Colliery
Glapwell FC 2-3 Bilsthorpe FC
Thorne Colliery 4-2 Harworth CI

CMLS (7)
Blidworth Welfare 1-3 Bulwell FC
Clifton AW 4-1 Bilborough Pelican
Hucknall RL 3-0 Linby CW
Hucknall Town 2-2 Belper Utd
Pinxton FC 5-0 Harrowby Saints
Swanwick PR 6-1 Eastwood CFC

Hucknall RL 1-5 Hucknall Town

Saturday 23rd August 2014 - kick off 3:03pm

Venue: Hucknall RL Sports ground, Watnall Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

Competition: CML South Division

Referee: Colin Brooks

Scorers: 
Rolls - Chay Betteridge ( 56)
Town - Aaron Evans (10, 30), James Duncan OG (42), Elliott Pitt (47), Nick Morgan (74)

Starting line-ups:
Rolls - Jack Walker, Greg Conn, Rory Smith, Jack Matthews, Aaron Short, James Duncan, Jonathan Buckley, Josh Askey, Jack Allen, Jack Smith, Chay Betteridge

Town - James Beddingham, Cayne Maxwell, Elliott Pitt, Joe Atkinson, Alex Arnold, David Leak, Dwayne Ngandi, Nathan Robinson, Aaron Evans, Toby Birch, Matthew Clowes

This most local of derbies (both teams have their grounds on Watnall Road) was one that we had been looking forward to since the fixtures were released.

Hucknall Rolls moved into the CML from the NSL for season 2014-15, whilst Town were already established in the division. Rolls appear to have kept faith with most of last season's squad - but the Hucknall Town team is made up mostly of recent signings. They have 47 players signed on according to the CML website!

The home team looked dangerous from set-pieces, but failed to take full advantage of their height advantage early doors. The early promise was stifled slightly though in the 10th minute when Town striker AARON EVANS saw his acrobatic overhead kick loop over Jack Walker and into the back of the net. 

Three minutes later, James Duncan managed to beat James Beddingham in the visitors' goal, only for his powerful header to cannon off the bar and fly out for a goal-kick.

Chay Betteridge saw his header on 29 fly just over the bar, but it was Town who scored the next goal, AARON EVANS given a simple close range tap-in after superb wing play from Nathan Robinson.

Betteridge forced a fingertip save out of Beddingham on 35 when he fired in a 25 yard free-kick - and when Rolls had two chances cleared off the line soon after it appeared that the writing was on the wall for the home team.

It got even worse with half-time looming - a corner from the right deflected into his own goal by centre-half James Duncan. H-T 0-3

0-3 became 0-4 within just two minutes of the restart, Cayne Maxwell overlapping down the right and firing in a cross that ELLIOTT PITT met with a looping volley that left Walker grasping at thin air.

Pitt had a chance to add his second straight away after he hit  Walker's poor clearance towards goal - luckily for Rolls the shot didn't quite have enough pace, and the keeper had time to run back and collect the ball before it crossed the line.

Rolls began to dictate play as Town dropped back, and they did pull one back on 57, CHAY BETTERIDGE driving home from close range after the visitors failed to cut out a Rory Smith cross from the right.

Betteridge went close again seconds later, but was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the angle of post and bar, and then Jack Matthews had two efforts deflected for corners in quick succession.

Town made a couple of changes on 72, Niall Williams and Nick Morgan entering the fray. No doubt manager Andy Graves will be chuffed that the fifth yellow's goal was created by one, and converted by the other. To start with it looked like Williams's through ball had caught Toby Birch offside - the assistant actually flagged for this, but play was waved on as it was NICK MORGAN who ran through the Rolls backline and collected the pass before firing home sweetly from the edge of the box. F-T 1-5

We had a bit of a downpour halfway through the second half!

Natures umbrella!!

Admission: £3 (inc programme)

Attendance: h/c 95

Charity: £4.50