Tuesday 27th April 2010. Nottinghamshire FA Intermediate Cup Final at Rainworth Miners Welfare Gedling Southbank (0) 0 Retford Town (1) 1 (Dan Law 31) Admission £2. Programme Free. Attendance 180. Gedling Southbank Notts FA Intermediate Cup 2009-10 results: 1st Rd, Headstocks (A) 3-2 2nd Rd, White Lion (H) 2-1 3rd Rd, Thoresby Colliery Welfare (A) 3-1 QF, Caribbean Cavaliers (A) 2-0 SF, Bulwell (H) 1-0
L to R, Kev Goodman, Gordon Foster (good man) , 22 players & a few match officials.
Retford Town Notts FA Intermediate Cup results 2009-10 1st Rd, Arnold Town Reserves (H) 3-0 2nd Rd, Trident (H) 5-1 3rd Rd, Awsworth Villa (H) 5-3 QF, FC Samba (H) 5-2 SF, Attenborough (A) 4-3
"They shall not pass!"
A tightly contested game, that was as close as the score line suggests. Retford went ahead on 31 minutes when Dan Law got on the end of a Joel Turner cross to slide the ball home. But then Town had to put up a real rearguard action as Gedling came at them in search of an elusive equaliser. This culminated in Kevin Metcalf having to clear a goalbound effort off the line with Retford's keeper Jason Holberry beaten, to preserve their clean sheet, shortly before half time. It wasn't the first time Metcalf had come to the rescue either. In the second half, Retford went forward on the counter attack a few times and Dan House could have put them two up but he back heeled a chance wide, when he maybe should have taken a bit more time on the ball and turned to shoot instead. Town put in a real team effort with Gedling Southbank threatening to pull their defence all over the place at times ... but they held firm and when the Notts Senior League side did get through they didn't get a lot of luck going their way in front of goal.
Woody - Man of the Match
James Woodward put in a captain's performance at the back for Retford and was presented with the man of the match trophy at the end of the game, but the Reds had defended as a unit and they all deserved credit to sticking to the job in hand. A good night for Retford Town, but take nothing away from Gedling Southbank tonight, they were gallant losers and really made a game of it.
Retford Town captain James Woodward holds the cup aloft
Congratulations Retford Town FC
Notts FA Intermediate Cup Winners 2010 That Jon Knight, he gets everywhere with his camera.
Footnote - Retford Town's away fixture at Mexborough tomorrow evening (30th April) is postponed and with the home side unable to provide an alternative date, Retford have had to forfeit the fixture, which must be doubly frustrating given that they have both a fixtures backlog and a free Saturday this coming weekend.
I bet they wish they hadn't written that Nettleham fixture on in permanent marker now
Monday 26th April 2010 North Midlands Under 19's League Division 3 Ollerton Town (0) 0 Retford United (0) 2 (Sam Foulds, James Vernon) Admission £2. Free Team sheet. Attendance 43 The last time I saw Ollerton's Under 19's they scored ten against Sutton Town AFC. But tonight they were up against much better organised and harder to break down opponents, in promotion chasing Retford United. The visitors had by far the better of the first half and had one 'goal' struck off after the linesman had flagged for offside (see below) and ought to have gone ahead right on the stroke of half time but after beating the Ollerton keeper and then colliding with him, United's number 8 managed to roll across the goal line himself, while the ball bounced back into play off the post.
With the Ollerton keeper going AWOL beyond the left hand margin of the
picture this effort for Retford United was ruled out for being 'offside'.
I was right in line with the disallowed goal and as the teams left the field at half time Retford's assistant manager Kev Staniland shouted over to me to ask if I'd seen the incident. I confirmed the linesman had applied the letter of the law correctly and Kev then asked jokingly, "And if Worksop would have scored it would it have been a goal?" ... Oh definitely, without doubt mate ;-)
On 70 minutes, according to my really awesome new watch, Retford took a corner out on the left wing, which was headed back across the box and Sam Foulds finished from close range. With Ollerton still reeling a bit from going behind, Retford then increased their lead within three minutes through James Vernon and despite the home side pushing on in an attempt to salvage something out of the game ... the young Badgers had been too strong for Ollerton tonight and in the end, it was a fairly straight forward win for them.
Retford United Under 19's remaining fixture is at Blidworth Welfare on Thursday night (29th April), tonight's result wrapped up second spot for them in the table. If they beat Blidworth, they will finish the season level on points with champions Hucknall Town Unity, but at present the league leaders have a plus 60 goal difference and Retford would have to win 33-0 to overhaul that!
Left click to enlarge
Footnote. Added 29th April. In the event Blidworth Welfare beat Retford United 3-2 in their final game. Here's to some wholesome Retford United v Worksop Town Under 19's local derbies next season.
A time for reflection - August '09 to April '10, just what went on out there?
Saturday 24th April 2010. UniBond League Premier Division. at the New Manor Ground, Ilkeston. Worksop Town (0) 0 Kendal Town (0) 1 (Darren Green 88) Admission season ticket. Programme £2. Attendance 125. Left click photographs to super-size images
While the rest of us were watching the match, there was a strange man outside happily playing with his balls.
So, just what more could Worksop do to win this match? Apart from scoring more goals than Kendal, obviously. Chance after chance went begging, right from the very first minute onwards ... and they were floored by a sucker punch (again) with just three minutes of the game remaining. Even then, there was still time for two more opportunities for Ben Tomlinson to salvage a point (at the very least) from this game, after Kendal had launched their late, late smash and grab raid. But one was saved well by Tom Newton and the other ... well, to be frank, Ben must've been putting in a late entry for miss of the season as he miscued the ball over the crossbar from all of six feet out with the goal at his mercy. Kendal Town had already qualified for the play off's ... and having avoided the drop, Worksop Town had nothing of any significance left to play for, save for a bit of pride, in their final game of a turbulent season. The visitors put out what can only be described as a weakened side. They were there for the taking. Lee Whittington missed an absolute sitter inside the first minute and shortly afterwards repeated the trick, finding the net via the wrong side of the post. I know a real football supporter would never criticise one of his own team during a game, it is counter productive and plays into the hands of the opposition. Such actions can destroy confidence in players, when they are trying their hardest, but just aren't getting the rub of the green. So maybe the supporter who was stood just feet away from the second miss, who leant towards Whittington and shouted "FFS! How the ****ing hell did you miss that Whitto!?", should have been a bit more patient and offered encouragement along the lines of "Keep going Lee, it'll come" instead. But I wasn't feeling particularly charitable at that moment in time and a whole season's worth of frustration of watching gilt edged chances go begging came to the fore. And Lee Whittington copped for most of it. Even though he hadn't actually been around for much of the season. So, it was probably uncalled for that he was the target of my angry rebuke. I decided to move out of earshot of the players for the rest of the first half, the sun on my head was obviously effecting my usually placid, polite and charming demeanour. I'm not singling Whittington out for criticism ... after all, who am I to stand in judgement of what makes a good footballer. I've seen it so often over the years, where a striker joins a new club and just can't get off the mark, then all of a sudden it all falls into place and they can't stop scoring. So fingers crossed then, eh!? Luke Shiels signed from Hucknall Town recently, around the same time that Whittington did and he's taken to his new surroundings like a duck to water. I think it would be fair to say Lee is taking a bit longer to adapt. Keep going Lee, it'll come! Inside the first twenty minutes besides Whittington's 'bad luck', Matty Thorpe fired wide, Luke Shiels headed over (he would, wouldn't he? After what I've just said in the previous paragraph) and Jamie Jackson cut in from the right wing and shot over the bar from the edge of the box. It was all highly entertaining stuff, but bloody frustrating never the less! Kendal retaliated with a few half hearted attempts that Jon Kennedy in the Tigers goal dealt with easily enough. With all the whirling dervish like activity around the visitors penalty area, the first half flew by and we could all take a break, smile and breathe a big sigh of relief that the season (for Worksop Town at least) would be over in just over an hour. Though a cynic could argue that it had actually been over for quite a while now already.
Alas, Lee Whittington's capers in the first few minutes had set the template for the remainder of the game. In the second half: Scott Lowe scored moments after the restart but was ruled offside. Ryan Mallon shot just high and wide. Kev Sanasy headed just wide. Jamie Jackson headed just wide when it seemed impossible to miss ... and it became apparent, that in spite their best efforts. And they really, really tried; the Tigers could keep this up until midnight and wouldn't get the goal their dominance merited. Gary Townsend thundered an header over the crossbar after Jackson had teed him up with a pinpoint cross and Kendal must've been wondering how and why they were still in this game. Of course, the 'sting in the tale' script writer was on hand, as per usual, to provide the inevitable end to the game ... With three minutes remaining, Ryan Mallon's goal-bound effort was cleared for a corner. Kendal cleared their lines from the flag kick and went on the counter attack. Darren Green charged forward and with everybody chasing in his wake, hit a precision shot past Jon Kennedy. Bugger! As I said above already, Worksop still had the chances to save and even win this one sided match. But today's game represented a microcosm of the whole season. A combination of bad luck, a load of wasted chances, conceding far too many late goals and a whole lot of frustration and heartache for all concerned on and off the pitch. Results elsewhere meant that Guiseley have won the UniBond Premier title today, good for them. The Tigers won at Guiseley earlier in the season, it seems a long, long time ago now.
Coming Soon (maybe) Worksop Town FC - 2009/10 highlights video. In the meanwhile here is a trailer to whet your appetite:
North Midlands Under 19's League Division One at Sandygate 'The oldest football ground in the world' TM Hallam (1) 2 (Harry Hewson, Jack Smith) Worksop Town (0) 0 Admission £2. Programme Free.
The social club bouncers were a surly looking bunch
It was very tempting to go to Staveley to watch Arnold Town v Winterton Rangers in the NCEL Presidents Cup Final tonight, because Winterton have always been good to watch on the few occasions I've seen them play this last couple of seasons. But once it was confirmed that tonight offered another chance to see the Tigers Under 19's in action, there was only one game I would be going to. It is always good to see a handful of Tigers fans at these games (home and away), along with WTFC directors, the first team manager and even the incoming new club owner. It illustrates a united front coming together at grass roots level, which can only bode well for the club in the long run. Ultimately, this defeat for Worksop meant relegation from Division one. But though results are in essence what the game of football itself revolves around (after money), the most important role these Under 19's teams fulfil is to bring players through for the first team. To that end the young Tigers have had a couple of notable successes these past couple of seasons. Elsewhere, Teversal were beaten by Handsworth tonight, which guaranteed Hallam's safety from the drop and means Tevie will join Worksop in Division 2 next season.
8pm and as the sun starts to drop, so does the temperature. Brrrrrrrrrrr!
Tonight's game was at times a bit scrappy in places, but Hallam's lumpy, bumpy and heavily sanded pitch wasn't exactly ideal for recreating the kind of skills one could have seen on the TV tonight at the Inter v Barcelona game. To be frank, it was messy, not Messi. The mild spring weather we've been having seldom hits this end of Sheffield and once the sun went down behind the cricket pavilion on the far side of the ground, it was bloody freezing.
Hallam's opener kind of illustrated the kind of luck Worksop have been having on the pitch this season (first team included). It looked as though the Tigers keeper Callum Smith had shielded the ball as it was going out for a goal kick, but it held up on the 'difficult' surface and the home side, always on alert for such assistance from the pitch no doubt, knocked the ball back across the face of goal for Harry Hewson to fire home on 33 minutes. In the second half, Hallam seemed to cope better with attacking up the slope than the visitors had done in the first and just about deserved to go further ahead when Jack Smith made it 2-0. Both teams had chances to add to that scoreline but neither did ... Hallam were worthy winners in the end The Tigers Under 19's still have one game to rearrange before the season ends, against Handsworth, who themselves are still in with a chance of the title. The game was rescheduled for this Thursday, but Handsworth can't raise a side that night having already got two Under 18's games arranged. So the date for that one still needs to be arranged. Watch this space.
Hallam FC have ambitious plans to build a new social club,spectator viewing area and football museum at 'the oldest football ground in the world'. It looks a bit like a blue and white signal box.
Saturday 17th April 2010. UniBond League Premier Division at Grange Lane North Ferriby United (0) 1 (Jamie Barnwell) Worksop Town (0) 0 Admission £8. Programme £2. Attendance 323 Today's result guarantees North Ferriby United a play off spot at the end of the season. Meanwhile elsewhere: Stocksbridge Park Steels 3 v Ossett Town 1 Which means with two games remaining apiece, the Tigers are six points ahead of Ossett. Respective goal differences at the time of writing are Worksop Town minus 21 and Ossett Town minus 45. Though I would never take anything for granted, especially with the exiled Tigers this season, that 24 goal margin all but secures Worksop Town's UniBond Premier division status with a week of the season still to go.
Following today's display, where the Tigers matched North Ferriby every inch of the way, you really have to wonder if the fates have already decided that they won't get another point again this season. The home side came close to opening the scoring on 19 minutes when Alex Davidson hit the crossbar. But Worksop were looking dangerous too from both wings, with Ryan Mallon on the left and Jamie Jackson down the right, with Danny Bacon in support. In fact Jackson had Worksop's first decent chance, but his effort was cleared off the line. On 27 minutes Ben Tomlinson went in late on Sam Denton ... Denton got to his feet and punched Tomlinson. The referee decided both players transgressions merited a straight red card. Right on the stroke of half time, Jamie Jackson hit a cross into the box from the right and Luke Shiels thundered an header against the crossbar ... if that wasn't going in, then nothing was and people started to check how Ossett were doing at Stocksbridge, they were losing at Stocksbridge, but at half time it was only 1-0.
Where's Wally? The Sequel. Or is it Compo, Clegg and err ... thingy?
After the break Worksop attacked down the flanks again and Mallon shot narrowly over the bar. The turning point of the game came when North Ferriby substitute Gary Bradshaw was introduced into the fray. He beefed up the visitors front line as both teams pushed forward to try and secure the three points that they needed for completely different reasons. On eighty minutes Jon Kennedy beat out a goal bound header from Bradshaw, but Jamie Barnwell was on hand to head home off the rebound. To compound the visitors misery, defender Scott Lowe had hurt himself trying to clear the danger and had to come off. Late in the game Kev Sanasay almost fired home an equaliser, but not for the first time this season, North Ferriby's keeper Steve Wilson thwarted the Tigers right at the end. Barring a spectacular goal avalanche against Worksop and for Ossett in the final two games, the Tigers have now all but preserved their UniBond Premier status, but the celebrations were somewhat muted by a prevailing feeling of "Thank **** that's all over" from the away support, for who the end of this season can't come quickly enough now.
Poor John, he does all the hard work on match days while
lazy gits like me loiter around doing sweet F.A.
Wednesday 14th April 2010. UniBond League Premier Division
at the New Manor Ground, Ilkeston
Worksop Town (0) 1 (Tomlison pen 90)
Boston United (2) 5 (Spencer Weir-Daley 16, 45, Mikel Suarz 50, Ryan Semple 59, Marc Newsham 88)
Admission season ticket. Programme £2. Attendance 398
Fundamental differences between teams at the top and bottom ends of the table:
Teams at the top end of the table will get the lions share (sadly not the Tigers share) of all 50/50 refereeing decisions.
Teams at the bottom end of the table are not quite as clinical as teams at the top of the table in front of goal and that is one of the main reasons both teams are in their respective positions.
When you're struggling along at the foot of the table you can't buy luck, but when you are cruising along at the top, everything and anything you try comes off for you.
Not that I'm suggesting Boston were lucky tonight.
"Harold!"
I heard said that the 5-1 margin of victory was flattering to Boston and that Worksop deserved more out of the game than a last minute penalty consolation goal.
But I also heard somebody suggest Boston had 'declared' at 4-0 and were conserving their energy for their promotion run in.
And laughingly I heard a Boston supporter bemoaning the rough housed physical nature of UniBond League teams such as Retford and Worksop, saying this was a cloggers league.
Well Boston are in this division on merit and aren't exactly shy when it comes to dishing out the physical stuff either. A twenty man 'argument' in the middle of the pitch, had ten players from each side getting involved ... I think Jon Kennedy kept out of it because his mum was sat up in the stand watching him though. Worksop had four players booked, Boston three, which kind of renders all their claims of them being a purist side inert.
I thought Boston United were good, very good in spells actually and were without doubt the better team on the night.
The referee was poor, very poor in spells actually.
Danny Sleath tested Jon Kennedy on 8 minutes, but the 'big lad' just managed to tip the effort over the bar.
Spencer Weir Daly ran through into the box on 16 minutes, there was a strong suspicion of offside, but he didn't let that bother him too much and Boston were one up.
Danny Bacon volleyed just wide for the Tigers and then at the other end Ryan Semple turned and shot on twenty seven minutes, but his neatly executed attempt deflected wide of Kennedy's goal.
Sanasay replicated Semple's shot and turn but the Boston defence blocked his effort.
And then Tom Evans in the Boston goal twice thwarted Matty Thorpe.
With half time approaching, Weir Daly was on hand again to pounce on a loose ball in the box after Kennedy had saved from Anthony Church's header.
On chances created, the teams ought to have been level, but Boston would be going in 2-0 ahead at the break and it was nearly three when Kennedy did well to save from Ryan Semple.
Gary Townsend, too fast for my camera.
On 50 minutes Mickel Suarez headed Boston even further in front and seven minutes later Ryan Semple made room for himself on the edge of the box and hammered home an unstoppable shot to make it four nil.
This was by far Boston's best spell and they gave Worksop a ruthless lesson in how to finish off a game while you are in the ascendancy.
The Tigers kept plucking away trying to claw back their goal difference a bit, but as per usual, they weren't getting any luck at all.
At four goals behind they actually played their best football of the night, alas Mark Newsham got on the end of a left wing corner and stabbed a fifth goal past Kennedy for the visitors on 87 minutes. And it was all over bar the shouting and a last minute penalty from Ben Tomlinson to blot the visitors clean sheet.
"6-5 we're gonna win 6-5!" sang the Tigers fans behind the goal after the Ben pen.
Alas the referee blew for full time and there wasn't time left to complete the 'anticipated' comeback.
at Field Mill, Mansfield Mansfield Town (0) 3 (Speight 2, Duffy pen) Rushden & Diamonds (1) 2 (O'Connor, Smith) Admission £16, Programme £2, Attendance 2031 (178 away fans)
Mansfield Town have 2747 season ticket holders, most of who took advantage of a pre season special offer and paid £195 to spend 2009-10 at Field Mill. Given recent results and the less than convincing way the Stags have been playing, one can only assume that tonight's attendance was, in the main, made up of people squeezing every last drop of 'value for money' out of their investment, rather than people (like me) who paid to get in on the night. This summer, the season tickets are back up to full price again and it will cost £18 a game to watch MTFC from the upper tier West Stand seats as they attempt to get back in the Football League, at the third attempt. It is anticipated that there won't be quite as large an uptake by eager supporters willing to part with their money now the offer hasn't been extended by another year. However seats in the Quarry Lane End are actually going down in price on a match by match basis at the turnstiles, from £16 to £15, so to those who are moaning about the prices on the Stagsnet forum, might I suggest that there is an alternative if you really are skint and don't just log on there to moan about anything and everything.
To my shame, I haven't seen the Stags play since Boxing Day at Bootham Crescent. That was a good day out, on ice, spent with some good friends of both the Mansfield Town and York City persuasion, spoilt by an inept, and rudderless performance by the visiting side. As I left the ground that afternoon I had decided that if David Holdsworth's sides played like that and weren't going to put any tangible effort in, then I was buggered if I was prepared to put in the mileage and financial outlay required to watch them again for a while either. Not an act of petulance you understand, more of a frugal decision based on the logic that I wasn't prepared to pay that much to watch such poor football on a regular basis. By all accounts some recent performances by the Stags have been woeful too, but I dragged myself along anyway. Like you do. As it turned out, it was a decent match tonight and the Stags (maybe a case of too little too late as regards the whole season) finally put in a convincing, match winning performance ... well, for the second half at least.
Over in the North Stand, 178 visiting supporters, with a drum
Rushden & Diamonds came with a game plan. They were a very strong side and well organised. Louis Jefferson and Aaron O'Connor, who've both turned out for the Stags in the past, seemed to be the two pronged battering ram set up at the front of this tight knit unit. On 15 minutes the latter former Stag, O'Connor, fired his current team ahead ... it wasn't against the run of play at this point. The visitors kept this frustrate the opposition and unleash the big men at regular intervals format up for the remainder of the first half. The man from the Chad (Mansfield Chronicle & Advertiser), a charming bloke who I bump into quite often at punk rock gigs in the area, said the first half was dull. But from my perch, it was actually an intriguing insight into a team, playing to their strengths and nullifying any threat at all Mansfield had to offer. Justin Edinburgh (R&DFC manager) had obviously run the rule over the Stags and knew exactly how to contain them for the first half. It was duly noted that Dale Roberts in the Rushden goal had been on a time wasting mission from the 15th minute onwards, which is probably why Kyle Perry kicked him instead of the ball when an unexpected chance to equalise presented itself in first half injury time. A section of the Mansfield support have evidently taken a dislike to Kyle Perry, it's not my place to say whether it is warranted or not, I haven't seen him play often enough to comment. But over the years, there was always a 'boo boy' element at Field Mill who pick out a player from their own side to target this way regardless of how he was performing. Some things never change. I was under cover during the first half, but in regular contact with another guy sat in the Quarry Lane End by text message, the author of this fine blog --> http://ontheroad2009-2010.blogspot.com/2010/04/stags-3-2-rushden-and-diamonds.html ... Hiya Malc & Kev! But I was also getting messages from a female of the species who was far too keen to find out where I was sat for my liking because she had, as her sinister message said "Something to give you for your birthday! Lucky boy ;-)" and then sent me a picture of what the pair of presents were. Eek! It isn't my birthday for another two days, if I get in my car and start driving tonight I could be a safe distance away by then. So I wrapped my stylish and understated maroon scarf around my face, pulled my cap down, put my hood up and sat fretting in the shadows about how the police don't take the crime of male rape very seriously. I got some odd looks, but maybe if Malc couldn't see me sat 15 yards away from him then the 'young lady' in question (she is neither young or ladylike btw) wouldn't spot me either.
I met Malc and Kev in the catacombs beneath the stand at half time. My distress and concern didn't seem to be worrying them too much and they were chuckling at my demeanour. So I replied to my 'stalker' "Men from Hucknall with big beards are Tigers in bed and I know where there is one at Field Mill tonight." Play your cards right Mr Storer and you never know where it might all end ;-) There were a few stifled murmurs of discontent from the Field Mill faithful as the teams left the field for the break with the visitors one goal ahead. Apparently at full time on Saturday, after the home defeat v. AFC Wimbledon where the Stags had failed twice from the penalty spot, it was a real angry mob who jeered them off the pitch at the end of the game. Five home games had now passed since their last home win and tonight's visitors looked like an hard nut to crack. What the Stags really needed right now was a dose of 'Mansfield Magic'
The Stags 1987 Freight Rover Trophy Final pop record, with totally unconnected video footage. They won at Wembley btw :-)
But, without further ado ... on with the second half. Three minutes after the restart Louis Briscoe seized on a mix up in the Diamonds defence and put Kyle Perry through in the box, Dale Roberts ran across to block Perry so he side footed the ball to Jake Speight who fired home from close range. 1-1. Perry himself should have scored a few minutes later but headed his chance onto the bar when he really ought to have done better. David Holdsworth obviously though so too and he replaced him with Rob Duffy on the hour mark ... at least Kyle Perry had created a goal on a night when he was out of sorts, so his shift wasn't entirely a bad day at the office. The fans roared their approval of Duffy's introduction, though I have no doubt that many of them were cheering because Perry was leaving the field too ... that's going to do wonders for his confidence then. I wonder if 'fans' like that ever wonder how counter productive their vocal 'support' and 'constructive criticism' is some times. Of course they don't! On 61 minutes Cliff Akurang of Rushden went down in the box and was booked for diving. I must've been slightly unsighted at the far end of the pitch because it looked to me as if Alan Marriott, the Stags keeper, had taken him out with his outstretched arm. A friend of mine who was sat up in the West Stand had a perfect view of the incident and agreed with me. The referee called this one wrong it would seem. The action switched back to the other end and Speight almost scored a second but lobbed the ball over the bar from three yards out. On 71 minutes Sam Smith charged towards the Stags goal and restored Rushden's lead with an unstoppable shot. At this point what impressed me about the Stags play, was they didn't resort to hoofing the ball and they didn't panic because they were losing, but kept plugging away in a patient manner. So it was ironic that the equaliser on 78 minutes came from a long ball up the field ... the Stags had a corner, which they messed up with so badly, that after just two passes the ball had found it's way back in their own half. Out of frustration Marriott raced out and hoisted the ball deep into the visitors half. The well drilled Rushden defence were all still moving out assuming the danger had been cleared, but Jake Speight followed the trajectory of the ball and chased it into the box, he got their before Dale Roberts and neatly lobbed it over the keepers head into the back of the net. On 80 minutes 'big bad' Jefferson Louis was dismissed for a second bookable offence and half of the Rushden & Diamonds battering ram double whammy was removed from the equation. With two minutes to go Speight came close to scoring his hat trick but narrowly failed to get on the end of a cross. It looked as if a draw was on the cards. I moved down near the exit to get a quick getaway at the end. By coincidence, it meant I would be in the right place with my camera when a late twist in the action unfolded, but also blew my cover as a horny woman with vulgar intentions spotted me hanging around the exit. Kyle Nix was bought down in the box in the very last minute and Rob Duffy was given the responsibility of snatching all three points from the spot. The visiting team did all they could to put Duffy off, delaying the kick being taken for as long as possible. Roberts came out of his goal and stood shouting in Duffy's face trying to psyche him out. So after Jez Simpson (the referee) ordered Roberts back to his goal line it was time to see if Duffy had kept his nerve. He had. And Mansfield won the day.
With ninety minutes on the the clock, Rob Duffy steps up to score
a last gasp wining goal from the penalty spot
Alas the action had distracted me and I'd dropped my guard ... out of a throng of celebrating fans bounced somebody I thought I had managed to avoid all night. I'm still too distressed to recount what happened next, but the scarf that was around my chin is now covered in the drool of a woman who's hormones seem to have gone mad with the onset of spring and I feel more than a little violated. It must be rutting season in Stagshire. SHUDDER!!!
I never thought I'd be calling a David Holdsworth team entertaining, but credit where it's due after tonight.
Monday 12th April 2010. North Midlands Under 19's League Division One at Olivers Mount, Handsworth, Sheffield Handsworth (2) 3 (Nshandano pen, Leesely, Reid) Worksop Town (0) 1 (Capewell) Attendance 60ish
A semi-reformed skinhead football hooligan penning his memoirs
Tucked away in a corner where the Sheffield to Lincoln railway line and main Sheffield Parkway road out of the city cross each other, the facilities at Olivers Mount boast several pitches, full size and five aside size ... and the actual enclosure that Handsworth FC use, is a tidy enough little football ground, with a small stand and floodlights. It's worth a visit if you haven't been here before. There's a good selection of hot food available from a serving hatch in the same building where the changing rooms are and they even go to the trouble of producing a programme with a proper cover for Under 19's games.
Phil Hall conducts the pre match fence pushing competition
Owing to fixture congestion caused by all the postponements this winter, the North Midlands League had decided that tonight's fixture would be a double header over ninety minutes - meaning the winner would take six points and double whatever their winning margin was would be added to their goal difference total (or vice versa, double the deficit taken from the figure for the losing side). But Hallam FC lodged an objection and the league overturned their original decision, meaning the clubs now have to fit in a re-arranged date sometime soon. As it is, by virtue of only losing just 3 points tonight, instead of 6, Worksop now have the chance to recoup another 3 that they wouldn't have had after tonight if the original ruling had stood ... and they also have another outstanding fixture to complete too, against Hallam.
Service with a smile. The nice young ladies selling programmes at Handsworth FC
The Under 19's captain Steve Wankiewicz put the Tigers ahead (or so we thought) when he slotted the ball home on 15 minutes, but the linesman raised his flag and the effort was ruled out for offside. I'm not sure who was adjudged to have been the offending player, but the goalscorer was onside, both when he got the ball and when he scored. It isn't just the first team who are having this kind of luck then. Incidentally, this blog doesn't use the same swear word filter as the Tigers forum where Steve's surname is outlawed!
It was a good, evenly matched first half, but on 35 minutes Worksop's #%£!&@#icz conceded a penalty. And Chishanga Nshandano made no mistake from the spot. Five minutes later James Leesely hit home a snap shot from outside a crowded penalty area that found the back of the net via the post to put the home side 2-0 ahead at the interval.
Tigers number 3 Perry Cawthorne covered every blade of grass tonight, here he
lines up a free kick in the Handsworth half of the pitch as Worksop push forward
On fifty five minutes Lewis Capewell got the Tigers back into the game when he fired home from inside the box. At which point the young Tigers had their best spell of the game and an equaliser looked to be on the cards. The best chance to draw level fell to Capewell six yards out, but he narrowly cleared the cross bar with his effort. Handsworth realised that Worksop had started to come good and pushed forward to try to make the points safe. A chance fell to Lanzel Reid and he finished it well. Game, set and match to Handsworth. A decent game, a few strange calls from the referee and his assistants (something I'm sure people present with a vested interest in both clubs would testify too) and a relatively short drive back home compared with most Tigers games this season ... and Worksop Town Under 19's have a chance to claim three of the points they would have lost to Handsworth tonight if the game would still have been a double header.
Tuesday 27th April 2010.
Gedling Southbank Notts FA Intermediate Cup 2009-10 results:
L to R, Kev Goodman, Gordon Foster (good man) , 22 players & a few match officials.
"They shall not pass!"
In the second half, Retford went forward on the counter attack a few times and Dan House could have put them two up but he back heeled a chance wide, when he maybe should have taken a bit more time on the ball and turned to shoot instead.
Woody - Man of the Match
Retford Town captain James Woodward holds the cup aloft
That Jon Knight, he gets everywhere with his camera.
