Kettering Town 0 v Mansfield Town 3 - BSBP

Saturday 7th April 2012,
at Nene Park
Blue Square Bet Premier
Kettering Town (0) 0
Mansfield Town (1) 3
Meikle 14, Green 63, Rhead 86
Admission £18, Programme £2
Attendance: 1,818 (877 Stags fans)

The Stags pre match hokey-cokey works wonders for team morale

Kettering Town:
Jack, Sangare (Gray 45), Kelly, Westwood, Ralph, Mills, Bridges, Noubissie, Wyke (van Engle 77), Joyce, York.
Subs not used - Ford, Petranyuk.
Mansfield Town:
Marriott, O’Neill, Riley Geohaghon, Sutton, Briscoe (Rhead 61), Roberts (Worthington 78), Howell, Meikle; Green (Hutchinson 75), Dyer.
Subs not used - Redmond, Andrew.

Kettering Town were relegated from the Blue Square Bet Premier today.
Mansfield Town, with six wins and a draw in their last seven games, are still third in the table, seven points points ahead of York City, Kidderminster Harriers & Southport, and ten in front of Luton Town and Gateshead, as the race for play-off places intensifies.

Ceramic owls on top of the stands at Nene Park, scare
pigeons off and stop them crapping on the seats.

Kettering were very poor today.
And they went down, without any kind of fight at all, in front of less than a thousand of their own fans. Evidently they're going downhill fast, with a whimper instead of a bang.
Mansfield barely had to break into a sweat this afternoon, as they easily beat the Poppies.
If this is typical of how the home side have been playing this season, it's no wonder their fans are all roaming around garden centres or watching re-runs of black and white western movies on Channel 4, instead of dragging themselves across to Nene Park.

Kelvin Jack was excellent in goal for Kettering... he deserved a bit more effort from some of his team mates, who were going through the motions and  masquerading as footballers in front of him.
Besides Jacks heroics, with a bit more application and sharpness in front of goal, this win could've been far more emphatic for the Stags.
Ross Dyer and Matt Green both ought to have scored a couple apiece in the first half.
But hey ho!
A three-nil away win, coupled with other results going the Stags way, equates to no harm done, at a time of the season where results are infinitely more important that a public exhibition of finesse.
Three points is three points... and any which way will do.

The Stags celebrate Lindon Meikle's opening goal

Whenever the Poppies did have possession of the ball, Mansfield barely had to put a tackle in, because the home side were wont to give the ball as they sprayed hopelessly stray passes all over the pitch for the duration of the ninety minutes.

Some people feel sorry for Kettering's plight, but when a club charge £18 to watch Non League football from behind a goal, have a crap attitude towards early arrivals at the door to their bar, charge £3.20 for a pint of cheap n' nasty Fosters lager in a plastic pint pot inside the ground and offer their captive audience ropey looking sustenance called a 'Poppy Burger' (it's cheeseburger with a small slither of bacon in it) for a princely sum of £4.10, it's hard to feel any sympathy for them.
I had spaghetti and meatballs simmering in the slow cooker for when I got home, drinking and driving is a no no, so screw 'em, eh!?
At those prices, arrests for drunkenness must be zero at Nene Park this season.

Matt Green's goal... two-nil

Though I have no truck with Luton Town fans, it is scandalous that these prices were hiked up even higher when the Hatters visited Nene Park.
Surely, when you are playing in exile, at an out of town stadium, miles away from any other place where supporters can eat and drink and you're struggling to make ends meet, you want to be encouraging visitors to turn up in good numbers and spend... because pricing them out and making them think twice about ever coming back again is a ridiculous business plan in anybody's book.

(Above)
Luke O'Neill cues up a corner,

The very talented James Williamson waits eagerly with his camera
(Below)
Matt Rhead heads O'Neill's corner over Kelvin Jack and into the back of the net,
3-0 game over!

Not that any BSBP teams fans who's team aren't going down with Kettering will have to worry about this sort of excessive outlay next season.
I quite like Nene Park as a venue as it happens, but I'm not made of money, so goodbye and good riddance to this kind of caper.
I know football is expensive everywhere now and food and drink in all grounds is invariably overpriced, but being frank ... Kettering Town, you take this piss!

Now where was I?
Oh yes... there was a football match that I ought to mention too.
The Stags were without captain Adam Murray, but the home side didn't put out much of a team either and only had four inexperienced subs on the bench.
But I don't want to take anything away from Paul Cox's side, after all, they can only play what's put in front of them.
The Stags did a professional job on hapless Kettering and won at a canter.
Right at the death, it would've been 4-0 as Danny Rhead surged forward into the box, leaving his marker for dead, but the referee blew for time as he was about to shoot.
Kettering weren't the only poor side out on the pitch today, by any stretch of the imagination, the match officials were just as bad too.I suspect that this pre match photograph, shows the three of them looking for their contact lens' which they had all lost on the pitch during the warm up and deciding to try blagging it, when they realised they couldn't be found.
One of the linesman seemed so desperate to help Kettering stay up, by giving every single decision their way, that the referee had to keep over-ruling him to stop it looking too blatant.
Granted, I'm biased too. But anybody else who saw what I did today will know exactly what I mean.
I'm usually sympathetic towards the plight of match officials, unless they're especially bad. It's not a job I envy and there wouldn't be a game with out them, but FFS!
Today's men in black gave ineptitude a really bad name.
So anyway, the goal details:
Poppies 0 v Stags 1, 14 minutes.
Lindon Meikle, in the starting line up today, justified his place with a great performance and headed home the opening goal. Nathan Ralph gave the ball away to Gary Roberts, who's deep right wing cross was nodded home at the back stick by the stooping Meikle, who was the Stags man of the match today.
However, overall best performance by any player out on the park award goes to Kelvin Jack, the Kettering keeper, who had a blinder of a game and kept the score down to a respectable looking 0-3, when it could have been much worse for the Poppies.
Poppies 0 v Stags 2, 63 minutes.
Anthony Howell knocked the ball forward from inside his own half into the path of Matt Green, who collected it in his stride, dropped a shoulder to wrong foot the defence, feigned a shot to commit Kelvin Jack and ten drilled the ball home under the Kettering keeper.
Poppies 0 v Stags 3, 86 minutes.
With the Stags fans already embarking on a conga behind the goal to celebrate their victory, Luke O'Neill floated a right wing corner into the box that Matt Rhead powerfully headed home.

0-3 - Game over... no contest!

And the details of all the other goals that should have been scored:
Give over, I'd be here 'til midnight.
Final indignity:
In stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes, Kettering's caretaker player manager Ashley Westwood was sent off when he got a second yellow card for a foul on one of Mansfield's second half substitutes, Ben Hutchinson.
Have you ever had one of those days!?
We were straight off at the final whistle to my car, parked in pole position on the starting grid.
The stewards and police tried making it awkward for visiting supporters to get out of the car park, but we were too happy with the result to take issue with them, and a quick u-turn and smell of rubber on country tar and we were off... all the way round the back of the ground and out of the designated home fans exit instead.
One good thing about the ground being right on the outskirts of Irthlingborough, is the quick access to the northbound A roads.
There was hardly any other traffic in our way, especially on the virtually deserted A1 and getting a head start on the other 875 Stags fans at Nene Park, meant the two of us were home in the people's republic of Retford by 6.20pm, even though I observed the speed-limit(ish) all of the way home.

Thought for the day:
You can still see the outline of the old Rushden & Diamonds crest behind the Poppies badge outside the stadium.
I wonder, what ever happened to all the Rushden Town, Irthlingborough Diamonds and the amalgamated R&;DFC's supporters?
They sure as hell weren't watching Kettering Town this season.
Goodbye Nene Park, you were a good idea, once upon a time.

Good Friday - Baris NCEL Premier Division - Liversedge 0 v Arnold Town 1 & Brighouse Town 5 v Barton Town OB 1

'Hot cross buns, hot cross buns. one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns'
I've already visited the first two grounds that featured in today's NCEL Easter Groundhop schedule, but not the third or fourth.
So when I missed the deadline to travel on the organised coach transport (all my own fault), I made the 'executive decision', by proxy, on behalf of the Retford chapter of 'Sad Lad Football Travels inc.', that we would be leaving it until the afternoon to join in the fun and games, which meant just taking in the games at Liversedge and Brighouse Town, while missing the two earlier games at Eccleshill United and Thackley.
The powers that be in this green and pleasant land are currently holding us all to ransom with a fuel price swindle, that scam also had a major say in my decision.
Come on people!
Nobody voted for the coalition arrangement who are running this country (into the ground), so why are you all just sat their, in an apathetic stupor, tolerating having your very last breath taxed out of you, by this faux government?
(That's enough of that Trotsky - Keep politics off of football blogs Departmental Editor).
Just to add a bit of spice to the journey, the A1 northbound was closed a few miles to the north of Retford.
So with a hastily assembled 'suck it and see' plan B in place (so to speak) and a car stereo full of of the Studio 1 labels finest Rocksteady tunes (be careful what you ask for in future young Barlow!), we tentatively set off for them there Yorkshire hills and by some complete fluke ended up at Liversedge much sooner than originally anticipated.
Truth be told, we were far too early.
Note, my definition of the word tentatively and yours might differ somewhat.
The people at Liversedge were really welcoming and we made the 'Half Timers' bar our base camp.
Fairly soon a good few Arnold Town fans turned up, some of them were familiar faces it was good to see again, the others amongst their ranks were just as friendly too.
And an hour or so later the 'Millets Mafia' who were doing all 4 games today started arriving too.
From what I saw and heard, the event was running like clockwork, so big up n' nuff reeeespect, to Chris Berezai, the Groundhop organiser and co-ordinator.
I sometimes see some unkind things being said about Chris elsewhere on the internet, but I've always found him to be a good humoured, affable and easy to get on with kind of guy.

Some people with good taste and discerning on-line reading habits ;-)

Friday 6th April 2012
4.45pm, at Clayborn, Quaker Lane, Cleckheaton
Baris NCEL Premier Division
Liversedge (0) 0
Arnold Town (1) 1
Tyrone Burton 44
Note* The NCEL website incorrectly credited James Leggitt with the Arnold goal
Admission £3.50 Programme £1.50 Attendance 318

The Caborn ground is tucked away at the bottom of Quaker Lane (a narrow, bumpy track) and affords visitors unspoilt views of the surrounding countryside, a public footpath (where a railway line used to live), some sheep statues and, err ... Dewsbury.
It's actually a smashing little ground, open and exposed to the elements on two sides, but with an elevated terrace behind one goal ... Arnold's 'firm' took that over today ;-) ... and a decent sized seated stand along one touchline.
There are also bench type seats at the top of the grass banking where you enter the ground.
I'd definitely visit here again, but going by today's experience, that is probably more to do with the ambience of the place and the friendliness of the locals, than the actual standard of the football we witnessed this afternoon.

This one had 'nil - nil' written all over it

It was a bit chilly at 4.45 this afternoon, but not actually cold.
There was some intermittent light drizzle about, but no actual proper rain.
And even the half hearted breeze, with an exposed hillside to aim at, couldn't muster up enough enthusiasm and puff to pass itself off, convincingly, as real wind.
The game itself matched the mood of the weather too, very laid back, AKA a bit grim and it never really got going either.
I was going to make a few notes, but after scribbling down '30 minutes gone and neither side's created a chance on goal yet' I put my pen away.
The rest is from memory.
With just over five minutes of a lacklustre first half remaining, Luke Smithson of Arnold, finally broke the efforts on goal duck, but fired almost wide enough for it not to count as one.
Just before the break, Martin Carruthers was fouled just outside the box and Arnold got a free kick.
James Leggitt hit the dead ball on target but Danny Knight got down well to save it, unfortunately for the Liversedge keeper, the ball spun off of him and Tyrone Burton managed to twist and turn and slot the ball home from an awkward angle.
Half time 0-1

Left click image to enlarge

After the break, the game continued to be a no frills and no thrills affair.
I took the opportunity to compos a version a Blue Moon to fit the occasion; "Teeth pulled, it's just like having teeth pulled" and had a caffeine shot to see me through until full time.
Liversedge stepped things up very slightly (emphasise on the very) towards the end, but most of their efforts were restricted by the Arnold defence, to long range, ineffective, off target pops at goal.
Liversedge had a corner in the last ten minutes, the initial kick was cleared, but a second cross found James Hurtley, who headed over from virtually under the bar.
A mix up between Arnold's keeper Danny Gordon and their captain Joe Wood, almost provided a comedic finale to the game, but they managed to clear the ball and spare their blushes, while preserving a slim lead and ensuring they took all 3 points home into the bargain.
I really liked Liversedge's ground and it was good to catch up with Dennis & Co. from Arnold again, but I was quite relieved when the final whistle got ever closer and we could move round to the exit for a quick getaway.

They don't call this the 'little boys room' for nothing

The toilets at Liversedge FC are a 'quaint' feature of the Caborn Ground.
Note* I don't actually take photographs inside public toilets and post them on the internet, the fact that I haven't posted on the Worksop Town FC fans forum for a while either, may or may not be a coincidence to that end.
The lavatorial facilities are 'limited' to say the least.
If you're over five feet tall or weigh more than 8 stone (I qualify then) and you're planning to visit Liversedge FC, make sure you go before you set off.
The consequence of trying to fit more than two people into such a restricted space don't bear thinking about.
7 miles or so over the other side of the M62, or under it if you're going by road, or via the M62 and back off of it again (ahem) if you follow a certain navigator's directions :-O, live Brighouse Town FC, that's where we went next.
Friday 6th April 2012
7.45pm at the Dual Seal Stadium, Hove Edge, Brighouse
Baris NCEL Premier Division
Brighouse Town (2) 5
Tony Matthews 25 pen, 27
Danny Nadiole 49, 54, 59
Barton Town Old Boys (0) 1
Richard Medcalf 68
Admission £5 Programme £1 Attendance 288

So let's look at what the Dual Seal Stadium's got going for it.
Well, there's a strip of higgledy piggledy concrete hard standing, that runs all around the perimeter of the pitch, which provides a few interesting obstacle course challenges, at regular intervals, for the more gung ho, outdoor challenge inclined type of visitor.
There weren't many takers today though.
A main stand, which is in fact the only stand, fills the middle third of one touch line and offers covered standing in one half and seats in the other. If you look at it through squinted eyes, which I'm sure you all will do now, it's not dissimilar to the one at Clipstone Welfare's Lido Ground.
Behind one goal there are WC facilities that people can actually fit into and use, and two portakabin style rooms.
One is the bar cum clubhouse, for use by the general public and the other, is for dignitaries and VIP's who don't want to mix with the riff raff, or queue their food.

And for some reason, Brighouse Town FC, have three dug outs.
And that's about your lot.
To be honest, although I enjoyed the game and the camaraderie of the occasion, Brighouse's ground won't be going onto my list of '100 favourite ground's I've visited' any time soon.
But it's adequate enough for their purpose and I've certainly seen worse, so I shouldn't be too disparaging about it.
After all, we were here, primarily, to watch a football match and Brighouse Town put on a thoroughly entertaining display, that had a good few of their new audience 'cooing' with appreciation.
Our second game of the day, was a vast improvement on the first.
With three sides open to the increasing threat of a downpour, it got quite crowded and cosy under the roof.

Barton started the liveliest.
They were obviously in high spirits following their midweek win over the high flying FA Vase semi finalists Staveley Miners Welfare, but as the first half went on without them making any in roads, they lost a bit of momentum and the home side took up the challenge of putting on a show for this larger than average crowd instead.
They passed with flying, bright dazzling orange, colours.

Argentina v Holland

Tony Matthews put Brighouse ahead from the penalty spot and within two minutes had scored again.
The visitors were now chasing the game, but didn't look to have the heart or legs for any kind of pursuit this evening. And they would've been grateful to hear the half time whistle, to give themselves a chance to regroup and come out afresh after the break.
Whoops!

Don't left click to enlarge, no really!

While we waited for the teams to come back out, a nice man from the Scunthorpe area, won the ever so entertaining half time 'Gurning Contest'.

Left click to enlarge

I thought Barton would make a game of it in the second half.
But you know what thought did, don't you!?
Cometh the (45 minutes to) the hour, cometh the man; Brighouse's Danny Nadiole stepped up to the mark and stole the show, with three high class finishes inside 10 second half minutes, to claim a quite outstanding hat trick.
Barton had beaten Brighouse by five goals to nil earlier in the season, tonight's result must have been sweet to savour for Paul Quinn's team.
By their own admission, the home side then adopted a 'feet up, job done' attitude, and who could blame them?
But it gave Barton the chance to pull a goal back through Richard Medcalf on 68 minutes, not that this was ever likely to signal a Barton resurgence or anything.

At times during the last twenty minutes, things got a bit feisty, with some heavy tackles flying in.
Tom Lee of Barton, was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Danny Hull, reducing his side to ten men.
In the closing stages, Richard Medcalf and Nick Jagger fronted up to each other.
Barton's goal scorer Medcalf, didn't have the 'm-m-m-moves like Jagger' and got pushed onto his bum in the exchange.
It looked as though this pulsating game would now finish 10 aside, but the referee just booked both players for aggressive behaviour instead.
The Barton manager Dave Anderson remonstrated with the referee, shouting "I can't get no satisfaction", or similar, but Mr Nield just told him to get off of his cloud and carried on with game.
You don't always get what you want Dave ;-)

To be honest, I was a bit taken aback that some people were getting so heated when the game was effectively over as a contest anyway and one side were clearly the deserving victors by quite some way.
A special mention must go to Brighouse,s Leon Henry, who twisted and turned, pulling Barton to bits down the left flank all night.
I know a good few Frickley Athletic fans who wish he'd never left them earlier this season.
Had it not been for the high calibre of Danny Nadiole's three excellently taken goals (all greeted by an enthusiastic and prolonged pronunciation of his name over the stadium PA system), Leon, for me, would've been man of the match.
Obviously though, that excellent number 11 with an hat trick to his name was.
The close proximity of the M62 meant we were soon on the way home after the final whistle and in spite of the 50MPH average speed cameras it didn't take us long to get back.

No day out with fellow anoraks and misfits would be complete
without a couple of essential purchases

Next up - tomorrow I'm heading to Nene Park, formerly the home of Rushden & Diamonds (R.I.P.), to see Kettering Town v. Mansfield Town. May the best team win, unless the Poppies play well of course, in which case "Come on you Stags!"

Newark Town 3 v Clifton FC 4 (AET) - Notts FA Senior Cup Semi Final

"Did I ever mention that I used to play for Grantham?"

Wednesday 4th April 2012,
at Station Road, Collingham
Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup Semi Final
Newark Town 3
Sam Wilford 75, Joe Parlatt OG 90(+5), Ben Ginnelly 108
Clifton FC 4
Michael Evans 10, 44, 102, Michael Bannister 119
45 mins 0-2
90+5 mins 2-2
105 mins 2-3
120 mins 3-4
Admission £3 Programme £1,
Dunham Toll Bridge 36p (post Budget VAT increase)
Attendance 116

A sorcerer and his apprentice

I live with a White (goods) Witch.
Due to the static her constant state of inertia creates, she causes every electrical appliance in my house she ever touches, to blow up or malfunction.
Last night, it was my almost brand new, swanky ceramic hob cooker, that she almost managed to wipe out.
So, I was laid on my kitchen floor, contorted into a tight corner, in between the fitted units, up to my eyes in a rewiring job, when I should've been whizzing up the A1 to South Elmsall, for the Sheffield Senior Cup semi final between Frickley Athletic and Sheffield FC.
A tradesman's estimate for labour, parts and a call out charge came well over £200 (almost the price of a new cooker), but I successfully completed the repairs for a total outlay of £16.08.
I'm obviously in the wrong line of work.
By the time I'd messed about with all the fiddly little bits (there were only four, origin unknown, small screws left over when I'd finished), I couldn't even have got to the game at Westfield Lane in time on her broomstick, so I had a night in instead.
I'll never reach my current target of 150 games this season if this carries on!
Congratulations are due, to Peter Rinkcavage and his Frickley team, who will now play in the Final at Hillsborough, by virtue of Danny South's 89th minute goal in a tight 1-0 win over 'the oldest football club in the world'.
They will face the winners of the Penistone Church or Worksop Town semi, in the final.
Obviously, 'Team Rinky' must be odds on favourites to win that competition now.

Newark mascot Theo Stevens keeps a watchful eye on the pre kick off formalities

But enough preamble about my blissful domestic arrangements and games I haven't even seen :-( because of 'Sabrina's' accident proneness ... and on with tonight's main event:
Newark Town1 Garry Atwood, 2 George Pailing, 3 Mark Ellison, 4 Ryan Stafford, 5 Ricky Brewer, 6 Jamie Brooks, 7 Ian Hillier, 8 Tom Mallinson, 9 Callum Fraser, 10 Dominic Swingler, 11 Sam Wilford
Subs - 12 Craig Roche, 14 Ben Ginnelly, 15 JC McDonald, 16 Luke Parsons
Clifton FC
1 Joe Parlatt , 2 Michael Bannister, 3 Lee Torr, 4 Stuart Robinson, 5 Tony Murray, 6 Jake Richardson, 7 Ben Richardson, 8 Craig Anderson, 9 Alex Haughton, 10 Michael Evans, 11 Dorian Miller
Subs - 12 Ryan Stark, 14 Will Heath, 15 Michael Holtham, 16 Chris Atkins
Thanks once again to 'top bloke' David Hurstfield of Newark Town for the team line ups and to Richard Lane for 'undisclosed favours' ;-)

At Station Road tonight, I witnessed a whole load of intrigue, some late drama (twice), numerous sub plots and 120 incident packed, freezing bloody cold minutes, of non stop action. All overseen by the super fit, ever efficient match referee, Hristo Karaivanov, still looking very fresh after his game at Armthorpe Welfare last night.
It was a really enjoyable game, despite the horrendous wind chill factor.
Newark must've been gutted to have lost in the very last minute of extra time, after battling their way back into the game.
But if truth be told, Clifton had enough chances in the first 45 minutes to have wrapped the game up long before then.
Garry Attwood, in the Newark gaol, was called into action early on (and at frequent intervals throughout the first half), when Alex Haughton broke down the left flank and unleashed a low shot that the 'Blues' (in yellow and green, again) keeper did well to get down to and turn around the post.
On 10 minutes, Michael Evans charged into the box and Attwood dived at his feet to block the angle, but the ball spun off his hand as Evans continued his run and slotted the ball home from an angle.
I saw Newark lose a pre season friendly at Harworth CI a few months ago (always a difficult place for anybody to get a result), but this was the first time I've ever seen them concede a goal in a competitive league or cup fixture.
Every other time I've watched them previously, they've always kept a clean sheet and won.
I guess I'm not their lucky talisman any more after tonight.

Ian Hillier, at the heart of Newark's midfield, tried sending both Callum Fraser and Dom Swingler through on goal with searching forward passes, but Clifton's keeper Joe Parlatt was quickly off his line and combined well with his defence both times to clear the danger.
Hillier again, breached Clifton down the left wing and found Sam Wilford unmarked at the back stick, but the Newark winger couldn't get a good contact on it and the ball went harmlessly wide.
The rest of the first half action involved Clifton's forwards and Newark's goalkeeper.
The visitors got forward quickly after nullifying the few moments when Newark looked dangerous and passed the ball round neatly.
It only looked like a matter of time until they scored again, as Michael Evans (several times), Jake Richardson and Dorian Miller all went close, with Garry Attwood some how, just about, keeping them at bay.
But right on half time, Newark's rearguard was finally breached again, when Evans slipped past a challenge, cut inside the box and drilled the ball into the back of the net.
As the teams went in for half time, it was difficult to imagine there being any other outcome to this game than a straight forward away win.
And the way the 'All Whites' were playing at that point, it seemed as though all Newark had left to look forward too was a second half full of damage limitation.
But the home side changed things around at the break, regrouped, and came out fired up.
They went for a more direct approach to get back into the game, a crude back to basics running onto passes knocked over Clifton's back line from deep.
It was a horses for courses situation. Tactics borne out of necessity.
And although the visitors look capable of coming out on top in any game of football where passing and keeping the ball on the deck are order of the day, Newark's up and at 'em approach was effective and had the visitors on the back foot for long spells of the second half.
However, Evans continued to pose a threat at the other end as the goal hungry striker went in search of his hat trick, but Newark were really giving it a go now.
Hillier switched play from out on the left all the way across the pitch to George Pailing, making an overlapping run from his right back berth, Pailing's hanging cross was headed squarely on target by Callum Fraser, but rather unorthodoxly and fortunately, Joe Parlatt managed to bundle it away.
Newark's approach paid off on 75 minutes, when Swingler thumped a low hard cross from the left hand byline and Sam Wilford knocked it home from close range.Newark sub, Ben Ginnelly, then broke through on his own, but fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Shaken but not stirred, Clifton stepped up their game again and went looking for another goal to kill the game off.
Ben Richardson's close range strike was parried by Attwood and the ball sat up invitingly for Dorian Miller, but he air-kicked with the goal at his mercy.
Will Heath and Jake Richardson combined well and put an inch perfect cross in for Evans, he beat the Newark keeper, but saw his effort cleared off the line.
It was all hands to the pumps in the Newark defence now and deep into injury time, so I got into my car which was parked behind the goal and edged towards the exit, waiting for Hristo's whistle to signal that I could head home and see what magic potions 'Grotbags' had cooked me up for my supper in that recently (expertly) repaired oven.
But as I dithered by the gate, enjoying the warmth, Newark lumped the ball forward one last time, there was a scramble in the Clifton box and with 95 minutes on the clock, Joe Parlatt, agonisingly put the ball into his own net.
Oh well, at least I was parked by the gate, in pole position, for when the half hour of extra time (and possibly penalties) finished now.
Both teams had put in a lot of effort and were visibly tired now.
Michael Evans (who else!?) scored inside the first period of extra time to complete his hat trick, it was a great shot from the right hand side of the area that curled into the bottom left hand corner, giving Joe Parlatt no chance.
I watched the extra 30 minutes from near the dug outs.
Jeez, these two managers and their assistants could shout, rant, swear and moan for England.
They made me blush!
Midway through the second period of extra time, Ben Ginnelly took possession of the ball just inside the Clifton box, took aim ... and it was all square again.
Those who had already left just before the 90 minutes (plus stoppages) were up, are going to be in for a shock when they see tonight's result.
With one minute to go, Newark's captain Ricky Brewer was sent off when he received a second yellow card for a heavy challenge.

Not entirely sure why I took this picture. Possibly a brain freeze moment!

The free kick, punted up the pitch, amounted to nothing, but the clearance went straight to Michael Bannister ... and with just seconds remaining he dipped his head and hoisted a long ball into the six yard box hoping a team mate could get on the end of it, but nobody got near it ... the ball ended up in the back of the net instead.
A couple of Newark players dropped to their knees stunned, knowing it was all over now.
And the Clifton players mobbed Bannister who looked even more stunned.
He might even claim he meant to do it.
And who am I to deny him his moment of glory by suggesting otherwise, eh!? ;-)
Newark had shown a lot of resilience, but over the 120 minutes, the visitors had created enough chances to have already won the game twice over.
Well played both sides.
And good luck to Clifton in the final against Eastwood Town, which I believe will now be played at Hucknall Town's ground, after Nottingham Forest wanted the CMFL to pay silly money to stage the game at the City Ground.
To think, some people stayed at home and watched Chelsea v Benfica on TV instead, because it was chilly outdoors.
That's their loss!

Staveley Miners Welfare U19 1 v Buxton (Bluestar) U19 0 - NMU19L Mini Shield

Monday 2nd April, at Inkersall Road
North Midlands U19 League, Mini Shield Group D
Staveley Miners Welfare U19 (0) 1
Ashden Morley 76
Buxton (Bluestar) U19 (0) 0
Admission £2, Programme 50p, Attendance 60+
Staveley MW U19
1. Adam Ledger, 2. David Anthony, 3. Brad Jones, 4. Lee Anthony, 5. Nathan Linacre, 6. Ashden Morley, 7. Matt Langley, 8. Sam Finlaw, 9. Adam Houghton, 10. Ross Goodwin 11. Michael Cuckson.
Subs 12. Callum Davison, GK Danny Whetton, 14. Karl Hallam,
15. Ryan Watters 16. Greg Ward
Buxton (Bluestar) U19
12. John Stanway, 2. Josh Bennett, 3. Charlie Johnson, 4. Ben Clarke, 5. Leon Owen, 6. Zac Haywood, 7. Dave Taylor, 8. Charlie Vize, 9. Jack Bradbury, 10. John Ballington, 11. Danny Hopkins.
Subs - 14. Cameron Higginbottom, 15. Josh Hall
Slightly fewer people (approx. 1000, give or take) than had been here just 48 hours ago, flocked to Inkersall Road on a very mild Monday evening, for tonight's NMU19L Mini Shield group game, between the current 1st Division leaders Staveley Miners Welfare and Buxton of the 3rd Division.
It was good to see former Mansfield Town and Rotherham United defender Martin McIntosh again tonight and have a brief and amusing chat with him.
Martin is the current Buxton first team manager and he's obviously taking an interest in the youngsters at his club. By the look of it, they've got a good crop coming through the ranks.
Buxton acquitted themselves well and didn't look at all overawed by the respective differences in League status between the two sides.
In fact, it was the visitors who should have taken the lead, when Jack Bradbury played John Ballington in, on the right hand side of the Staveley 6 yard box, but he shot wide.
A neat pass from Staveley's Matt Langley, sent Lee Anthony on a run down the right hand channel, his inviting cross found Ross Goodwin, but he turned the ball narrowly wide.
Late in the first half Michael Cuckson and Buxton's keeper John Stanway, chased a ball over the Buxton defence as it bounced in the area, it spun up awkwardly evading Cuckson and Stanway was able to repel the danger by kicking the ball back to where it had originated from.
Half time 0-0

Right at the start of the second half, Jack Bradbury, the Buxton centre forward went down under a challenge, inside the penalty area.
All eyes were turned to the referee, but he waved play on.
"I've seen them given" and "Bloody hell, that was lucky!" type sentiments were muttered by the Staveley supporters sat nearby.
Staveley finally started to impose themselves, though let it be said, the visitors were well organised, keeping things tight and generally getting nods of approval from all present, for their efforts.
Sam Finlaw went on a mazy run into the box, showing some neat tricks and close control. He beat 4 players before Buxton's defence managed to crowd him out.

Ray Marsh - legend! And he brings sweets with him ;-)

Nathan Linacre sprayed a pass out to Lee Anthony, who looked very impressive down the right hand side tonight, but the lively Staveley number 4's shot flew wide of the mark.
It was almost inevitable that if Staveley were going to break Buxton down tonight, Lee Anthony would be involved and so it proved to be. His in-swinging corner on 76 minutes, found the head of former Sheffield FC player Ashden Morley and he netted the only goal of the game.

Hopefully Michael Cuckson isn't as seriously hurt as it looked, when he went down following a genuine attempt to win the ball late in the game.
I won't name the Buxton player who caught him, because I'm 100% sure he didn't mean to do it and he looks suitably concerned on the picture above.
The two sides meet again on Thursday night at Tideswell.