Sunday 2nd April - Saturday
8th April
Sunday was another visit to Eagle Valley, this time to see Arnold Town
Ladies take on Mansfield Town Ladies in a EMWFL Plate fixture. Met up with
Richard Lane before kick off, but 20 minutes into the game we were both left
wondering why we were there!
Both teams seemed to be able to pick out a colleague as pass
after pass went astray - and that was despite one team wearing purple and one
yellow. I am an advocate of the ladies game and try to get to as many games as
possible, but this was poor - and I'm sure the players will agree. Androulla
Kokkinou put the Stags ladies ahead in the first half, but were pulled back by
a Mollie Rowden goal 15 minutes from time, giving us the scenario of the
dreaded extra-time. There had been quite a few stoppages during the second
period though, and as we entered into the 7th minute of time added, Mansfield's
Laura Watton slotted home to save us from a further 30 minutes of pain. F-T Arnold Town Ladies 1-2 Mansfield Town Ladies
Monday was a blank, so on to Tuesday - the CMFL Floodlit Cup
final between Sherwood Colliery of the South Division, and Retford FC of the
North. This was a game that Sherwood dominated from minute one, and they
deservedly went in at the break 3-1 up, thanks to goals from Julian Topliss,
Ewan Roberts and an og, with Retford's solitary reply coming from the spot on
44. H-T 3-1
Topliss added his second on 55, then Retford's no.5 smashed
home a free-kick to make it 4-2, but the match ball went to Topliss who grabbed
his third from the spot late on in proceedings. The Topliss goals saw him
become the highest scorer for Sherwood, with 40 from 52 appearances. F-T Sherwood Colliery 5-2 Retford FC
Wednesday afternoon game - University of Nottm v Nottm Trent
University - BUCS play-off game. A huge turn out for this Varsity game, with
plenty of beer imbibed - the huge amount of empty cans and bottles a testament
to the student fraternity who certainly don't seem to lack a few bob where
booze is concerned! Jack Duffy grabbed the only goal of the game for Trent Uni,
a cracking second half header. F-T University of Nottm 0-1 Nottm Trent Uni
Decent attendance for the Varsity game
Wednesday evening saw me at the Hollingwood Lane home of
Calverton MW to watch Awsworth Villa Res play West Bridgford AFC in a Notts
Senior League Junior Cup semi-final. Awsworth looked on paper to be the
favourites, lying mid-table in NSL Div One, with their opponents fifth in Div
Two.
The first half was goal-less, with little of note to mention, and we had
to wait right until the 82nd minute for a breakthrough goal, and then it was AFC who
were celebrating Jack Gray's strike.
They failed to hold on to the lead though, and George Cooper levelled for Villa
seconds before the final whistle. F-T 1-1
So - extra time and a trip to the car to get
my gloves - it was perishing pitch-side.
The game went to penalties after Cooper and Gray had both scored again in the
added 30 minutes. AET 2-2. Awsworth won the shoot-out 6-5 and advance to the final where they will take on
Kimberely MW Reserves at Sandiacre Town on Saturday 6th May.
Thursday was supposed to have been Dunkirk U19 v Eastwood
CFC U19, but Dunkirk had resigned from the league, so no game.
Friday was another blank, so on to Saturday afternoon and a
visit to the Town Ground to see Heanor Town entertain Loughborough University
in a Midland Football League Premier Division fixture.
Date : Saturday 8th April
Venue: The Town Ground, Mayfield Road, Heanor
Attendance : 137
Admission: £6.00/£4.00 concession
Line-ups:
Heanor : McCormack, Marriott, Layton, Craddock, Roulston
(c), Whitmore, Wilkinson, Hall, Naylor, DeBrouwer, Cooper. Subs: Benger, Brown,
Wilson. Warner, Power.
Loughborough: O'Keefe, Trotman, Callum, Rankin, Jackson,
Legg (c), Last, Read, Ward-Cochrane, Dinsmore, Crookes. Subs: Welch, Eneremadu,
Bridge, Stock.
Loughborough were quickly out of the blocks and Ben
Ward-Cochrane was soon in the thick of the action, breaking free of his marker
before steering the ball just wide of the Heanor goal. Jay Cooper tried his
luck from 25 yards on 11, but the shot struck the foot of the post and the
loose ball hacked away to safety. Ward-Cochrane had another effort sail past
the outside of the post with 24 played, and as the home team began to fade a
little as the half drew to a close, they almost conceded when Ben Last's corner
was met by Elliott Legg, the Uni
skipper's shot well blocked as it arrowed towards the goal. H-T 0-0
Luke Trotman forced a decent save from Joey McCormack within
three minutes of the restart then soon after, Cooper drew a good save from
Conor O'Keefe. O'Keefe had to be alert
again soon after, scrambling on the deck to keep out Cooper as he ran in on
goal. Last saw his long shot strike the
foot of the post on 52, then O'Keefe had to be at this best to foil Joe Naylor
after Nick Hall had headed on. The
visitors went ahead on 63, after McCormack's poor kick fell to Alex Read and
when he fed Ward-Cochrane, the striker made no mistake driving the ball home.
The goal seemed to galvanise the home team and they began to
look the stronger team as the game entered it's final stages. Hall did well down the right, fending off
numerous challenges before rolling the ball to Marriott whose cross was headed
just over by Nathan Benger. With 10 to play, Benger did find the back of the
net, his looping header clearing O'Keefe and chalking up the strikers 150th in
a Lions shirt.
Loughborough were now up against it as Heanor pressed for
the winner - a winner that duly arrived two minutes from time. Keenon Layton
fired in a cross from the left that Naylor nodded on to the far stick where
Hall was on hand to head home. On reflection,
a point each would have been fair, but how often is football fair? Good luck to
Uni in their fight to stay in the MFL Premier division, but if they continue to
apply themselves as they did in this game, they should be able to secure the
points they need to survive the drop. F-T 2-1