Double header again - report on Stags' game is on Manfield Town's website - click here
Match no. 1 info:
Venue: Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone, Notts
Competition: Football League Youth Alliance - North East
Scorers:
Stags - Jack Koczalski (33), Kyle Hempshall (39), Joe Fitzpatrick (76), Dan Fletcher (90+3)
Imps - No. 9 (64 pen)- name not known
Admission: £1.00
Attendance: 72
Charity: £3.75
Match no. 2
Venue: Church Lane, Linby, Notts
Competition: CML South Division
Scorers:
Linby - Damian Mann (60)
Pinxton - Jake Vernon 37)
Referee: Paul Buck
Line-ups:-
Linby - Rocco, Frizelle, Coupe, Winfield, Loydall, Henshaw T, Mitchell R, Fox, Murphy, Butler, Mann.
Pinxton - Fisher, Parker, Hollingworth, Bamford, Madin, Henshaw D, Rowley, Smith, Vernon, Ellis, Shelton.
Waste of time me even trying to get decent pics!
Much better - thanks Rob Campion!
With good friends in both camps, this was a bit awkward for yours truly. As it transpired, a point apiece was a fair result - both teams played some scintillating stuff at times, with Pinxton shading the first half and their hosts the second.
Kev was away at the coast, so no action pictures - no good me even trying, I know my limitations! Leicestershire hopper Rob Campion was my company for the game - he took loads of images with his whopping great camera - please click here to check them out.
Ben Newman has been rebuilding the Pinxton team - I used to know all their players, but for this game only Nathan Hollingworth, Josh Parker, Jason Fisher and Jake Vernon were known to me! Linby were still without injured midfield general Aaron Ryan, but seem to have a fairly settled side.
The home team had a chance with 11 played, but Tom Coupe's shot flew just over, then Pinxton were unlucky on 16 when Adam Fox cleared an effort off the line.
Jason Fisher made a spectacular save two minutes later, diving to push away Joe Butler's fierce drive. Luca Rocco in the Linby net was called into action on 20, first saving from Jake Vernon, before punching away the resultant spot kick whilst under severe pressure.
Josh Parker clears under pressure (Rob Campion)
Chris Shelton should have broken the deadlock a few seconds later, but headed Anthony Rowley's near perfect cross wide of the far post with the goal gaping.
Coupe was lucky to stay on the pitch after he made a reckless challenge that left Kurtis Bamford lying in a heap. Referee Mr. Buck deemed the two footed challenge to be only a bookable offence, but I think Coupe must have been relieved the card was only yellow.
Lucky boy....
Matt Murphy saw his effort on 31 fly just over the Pinxton bar and at the other end Mason Frizelle had to be alert to hack Vernon's diving header off the Linby line.
Pinxton took a well deserved lead with 8 minutes of the first half remaining, Shelton drawing Coupe out of position allowing Rowley the space to slide a perfect ball into the path of Jake Vernon, who had the relatively simple task of helping it on it's way into the net.
Vernon fires Pinxton ahead (Rob Campion)
In added time, Mann and Murphy combined well to set up a chance for Adam Fox, and only another superb save by Fisher saw the visitors go in ahead at the break. H-T 0-1
Butler glanced a header wide of the upright as Linby poured forward from the restart and the home team would have been level on 54 if not for another Fisher save, this time tipping over Mason Frizelle's close range header.
Coupe headed over the bar as well four minutes later, but Damian Mann found the target with his head on the hour mark, looping the ball over the outstretched arms of Fisher from 12 yards out. The diminutive winger had never previously scored with his head in his entire career, so was obviously delighted - and sported a grin from ear to ear as the teams lined up to restart the game!
Flying winger Damian Mann in action (Rob Campion)
Tom Ellis was booked for a poor tackle on Coupe, and Mann also received a yellow for dissent after Murphy had been upended on the edge of the box. There were plenty of attacking moves from both teams as the half went on, but the defences were in top form and there were no further additions to the score. F-T 1-1
Admission: Season ticket
Programme: £1.50 ( thanks Rob Campion!)
Attendance: 85
Charity: £1.50 + £0.25 a goal from Richard Riley, Mik Barrett and Lee Shinfield. Thank you.
