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Friday, 31 March 2017

Sunday 26th - Thursday 30th March. A few notes.....

A few notes from “ontheroad” games, Sunday 26th to Thursday 30th March

Sunday’s match was at Eagle Valley, and saw Arnold Town LFC host Bedworth Utd LFC in front of a “crowd” of twenty or so. The points went back to Warwickshire, thanks to a goal either side of the break from striker Jodie McGuckin. Unfortunately I didn’t take any notes at this game, and with my memory not being what it once was, I can't think of anything further to add. F-T 0-2


Kirsty Farnsworth - nice personalised boots....(pics Mick Gretton)

Line-ups:-
Arnold: Kereng Mrwata, Charley Norman, Molly Parker, Chayley Davey, Elli Leathen, Claire Potter, Jenny Lorimer, Mollie Rowden, Alyssia Griffiths-Gray, Chrystal Smiley, Magda Bytnar. Subs: Emily Hallam, Tammie Lacey
Bedworth: Gemma Voce, Kimberley Dougherty, Alex Shilton, Sophie Wilson, Jodi Hunter, Lydia Hackney, Kirsty Farnsworth, Jodie McGuckin, Leona McCook, Kirsty Deacon, Shanice Walsh. Sub: Charlie Cowper.

No. 15  Jodie McGuckin (pic Mick Gretton)


Tuesday’s game was an NCEL Div fixture at the Carnarvon Street home of Teversal FC. The visitors were Hall Road Rangers, who needed a win to take them level on points with second placed Pontefract Colliery.



The first half wasn’t a spectacle by any means, but 10 minutes into the second period, Rangers went ahead, thanks to a neat volley from substitute striker Gareth Owen. The home team were soon back on level terms though. On the hour mark, Dave Cockerill received the ball in the right hand corner of the pitch. His control and dribbling skills enabled him to fend off all challenges and direct a pass to his strike partner at the far stick. The strikers effort was parried by Hall Road keeper Phil Dobson, but the ball cannoned off defender Sam Belcher and flew into the net. As hard as the visitors tried, they couldn’t penetrate the Teversal back line again and the game ended all square at one-apiece. Entry £5.00 / £2.50 concession. Attendance 53.


Wednesday saw me make the short trip to the Stag Ground to see Kimberley MW take on Blaby & Whetsone Athletic in an East Midlands Counties League game. 


This game ended in controversy, abandoned by Referee Kelvin Wilson with just under an hour played. The game was decent fayre throughout the first half, and it was only a momentary lapse in concentration by Josh Stevenson on 40 that handed Blaby the lead. The Kimberley defender seemed to be unaware that keeper Rikki Turner had advanced to clear a high ball, and proceeded to head the ball over him straight to Blaby's Rikki Bates who had the simple task of running the ball into the empty net.  H-T 0-1. 

Blaby added a second on 52 when the unfortunate Stevenson failed to deal with a ball fired into the six yard box, succeeding only in setting up Aaron Preston who duly smashed the ball past Turner from just inside the 6 yard box.  Alex Marshall was given a straight red on 54 when his two-footed lunge was ruled to be dangerous play by Mr. Wilson.  Seconds later, it appeared that Kimberley manager Ian Deakin had also been dismissed – although no card was shown.  I’m not sure how it works – Deakin was told to go in no uncertain terms by the Referee, but as he was also on the bench as a substitute, should he have been shown a red card if he had acted improperly? I say “if he had acted improperly” – a man is innocent until proven guilty and there will be an official inquiry involving the league and the F.A., so best leave it there, eh? Abandoned on 57 minutes with Blaby winning 2-0 and Kimberly down to 10 men. In my humble opinion the result should stand, but I doubt it will. Entry £5.00 / £3.00 concession. 

This is taken from EMCL full-time website Status: Abandoned Note: Home manager refused to leave pitch when sent off- Ref abandoned gameAttendance: 58 

Thursday night’s game was a Notts Combination League Cup semi-final between ABP FC and Eastwood CFC (Sunday) played at Basford Utd.  No team details available. Admission £2.00/ £1.00 concessionABP currently lie second in the Div One table, a win needed from their final league game to secure them the title. Eastwood are managed by Matt Hind, who had been kind enough to put me a “ticket” on the gate. It was strange seeing so many Kimberley MW faces at this game – but it seems that quite a few of the Eastwood players play for KMW ressies. With Welfare’s Neil Boyd and Danny Staley also involved pitch side, it appears that they are getting along quite nicely with their “noisy neighbours”…..



It was a fairly even first 45 in which both keepers were called into action a several occasions. I can’t recall watching a Notts Combination game before, but the standard was fine, with both teams showing plenty of quality and ability.  Eastwood were awarded a penalty early doors, but the kick was well saved by the ABP keeper. H-T 0-0

Aaron Large is a quality player, and it was his 22 yard free-kick that finally beat the Eastwood keeper in the 56th minute, the ball hit perfectly into the far corner of the net.  It was Large on the mark again four minutes later, drilling the ball home from close range after he was picked out in front of goal.  Eastwood tried to get back into the game, but with 10 to play, the ABP no. 11 hacked the ball home from after Eastwood had failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Goal of the game was scored by Eastwood though. In added time, Martin Lench unleashed a shot from 25 yards that flew across the ABP keeper before crashing into the far side of the goal. Great hit, but too little, too late for the Red Badgers. ABP will now face Beeston Hornets in the final of the Edwin Varney Senior Trophy on Thursday 20th April – venue TBC.