Notts Senior League - Senior Cup Final
At Greenwich Avenue (Basford United FC)
AFC Dunkirk (2) 5
Liam Honeyman 11, Noah Edmunds 25, 55
Robbie Manners 46. 61
Clifton All Whites (10 1
Jamie Williamson 18
Attendance: 217
Rob Hornby's blog report: CLICK HERE
Prior to kick off a respectful minutes silence was held in memory of: 13 year old FC Cavaliers player Samuel Akwasi and Luke Davies of Wollaton FC.
Clifton started the game on the front foot and pressed the Boatmen from the start, demonstrating the kind of high tempo pass and move strategy that you'd readily associate with all of the teams that operate under the club's all encompassing umbrella. It was suggested that I could pad out my overview of this showpiece final, by including a list of the impressive array of players who started off at with the All Whites and went on to bigger and better things. However such an undertaking would require a whole book to cover that particular subject and a fairly weighty tome at that, so for the purposes of brevity, I'll just say that there have been a bloomin' lot of them.
After a such a dynamic introduction, the inevitable was bound to happen and in the eleventh minute, the Clifton keeper Jack Craidge was beaten by a well struck effort from just outside his area by Liam Honeyman, as Dunkirk took the lead.
I chuckled to myself as an inquisitive old soul, dressed in attire more suitable for a Polar expedition than a pleasantly warm afternoon in Nottinghamshire approached me and asked if I knew which team were which. I kept a straight face and informed him that it was my understanding that it was Clifton playing in all white and the other team had Dunkirk badges on their shirts.
As this harmless exchange was taking place Jamie Williamson netted with a shot on the turn to equalise for the team playing in all white. But, just to confuse matters, the matchday announcer informed everybody present that Williamson had scored for Dunkirk.
The perplexed traveller came back to tell me that I'd mistakenly been under the impression that Clifton were in white but they were actually playing in red and black, because... In the nick of time the announcement was amended and the ire of a misinformed groundhopper was thankfully quelled.
Noah Edmunds nodded in a free header from a left wing corner to restore Dunkirk's lead, and we all waited with bated breath to see which of the four teams playing in today's double-header of cup finals (Bestwood Colliery played against Shirebrook Soldeiers earlier today) the tannoy bloke was going to award that one to.
Sadly, the Dunkirk number nine took a knock and had to leave the field of play ten minutes before the break and while his teammates reshuffled their shape Clifton stole the momentum, but were unable to make good of several decent chances.
HT: AFC Dunkirk 2 v Clifton All Whites 1
The half time whistle came at just the right time for the Boatmen, inasmuch as it cooled down the head of steam that Clifton had been building and gave them the chance to regroup themselves. And right on cue, just a minute after the restart Robbie Manners spotted that Craidge had ventured slightly off of his line and 'dinked' the ball over him and into the top corner of the net from all of thirty yards out.
Dunkirk advanced deep into the Clifton half with a slick passing move that led Edmunds making himself a yard of space before finishing with a plomb, to give his side a fairly commanding lead with fifty five minutes gone.
With the sun still beating down, Clifton were by now probably regretting having started the afternoon in such a gung-ho fashion and a more leisurely pace ensued, but not until Ben Wallis bulged the back of the net from just to the right of the D on the edge of the area. Wallis had played well, getting forward in support of his attackers and fully warranted his reward.
In spite of the understandable deceleration of the game throughout it's closing stages, due to the visibly tiring cast of players, there was still plenty of goalmouth action to enjoy at both ends of the pitch, but we were going to have to settle for having seen six goals from this thoroughly entertaining game.
For what it's worth, I thought that Craidge, the Clifton goalie had a really good game, despite what the final score line might suggest and he didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of such a result.
FT: AFC Dunkirk 5 v Clifton All Whites
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| Notts Non League fixtures guru, Malc Storer. Smashing to see you again today pal. |
It was great to be able to catch up with so many good friends from around the local non league circuit today, the camaraderie, good humour and banter between myself and these very agreeable old souls is always to the fore in an instant, regardless of whether I've spent time in their company several times in the same week or if I haven't seen them for bleedin' ages. My heartfelt fondest regards to each and every one of you. I'd do a rogues gallery of namechecks, but that would probably be an even longer list than than the famous ex Clifton players one. Travel well goodly gentlemen.
Right, let's get up that A60 and see what is about to unfold at the Wonk Hall Stadium as the Stags and Cobblers lock horns (antlers maybe?) in this evenings highly anticipated play off semi final first leg. Don't wait up Mrs W, it going to be a late one.
