Saturday 6th August -- NCEL results

Notes reference our friends involved on the NCEL's opening day.

Great start to the season for Brett Marshall's revamped Retford United, a solitary Baz Paine goal enough for the North Notts outfit. Carl Halsam was on the mark twice for Shirebrook as  they won at Askern Villa.  Rudy Funk was at his Daughter's wedding so didn't see his Scarborough team beat Parkgate 4-2, but 515 spectators did! The only downside to the day was Teversal's 5-0 drubbing at home to Rossington Main.

NCELP

Arnold Town 1 ( Joe Wood 86) 

Long Eaton United 1 ( Shaun Rickford 5)  

Att 120

Retford Utd 1 ( Baz Paine 86) 

Barton Town OB 0  

Att 177

Scarborough Ath 4 ( Scott Phillips 36, Tony Hackworth 69, 80, Joel Hartley 90)

Parkgate 2 ( Nathan Forbes-Swindells 13, 40)

Att 515

NCEL 1

Askern Villa 0

Shirebrook Town 2 ( Carl Haslam 63, 80)

Att 65

Teversal 0 

Rossington Main 5 (Jason Stokes 33, Jordan Hatton 42, Lewis Hilton 63, Liam Charlton 81, Lee Holmes 87)

Att 78

Arnold Town 1-1 Long Eaton Utd (NCELP)

Saturday 6th August 2011

Last season we went to Eagle Valley for our first League game, and saw Arnold get hammered 8-2 by Farsley AFC. Although we weren't expecting the same result from this game, it was hoped that the game would be a decent season opener.  As it turned out the game wasn't too bad, but both teams need to learn how to put more than two passes together!!!

Struggled to hear the line-ups as the Arnold P.A. system coughed, crackled  and spluttered when the unfortunate announcer was reading them out!! 

I asked around though and finally came up with  the starting elevens:

Eagles : Martin Kearney, Richie Holmes, Ashley Branson, Liam Garner, Reece Bertram, Joe Wood, Josh Schofield, Anthony Gregory, Luke Dawkins, Mitchell Slawson, Luke Smithson.

United : Ross Whalin, Chris Murdock, Paul Gamble, Micky Allsop, Dean Whiley, Gary Breach, Michael Armstrong, Nathan Parker, Shaun Rickford, Kelvin Mushambi, Wilson Mellors-Blair.

Shake!!

As we entered the ground, I noticed we were being stared at - nothing new  but I didn't realise who was doing the staring at the time.  Bit of a shock when I had a good look. Neil and Jackie Carrington have been friends for ages, indeed Jackie and I work for the same company, but I have never known them attend non-league games - turns out daughter Louise is Ashley Branson's "WAG", and they were at the Valley to see him play.

Ashley Branson

Jackie, Louise and Neil

Arnold looked a bit suspect at the back early doors, and they were caught out in just the 5th minute when poor defending left keeper Martin Kearney hopelessly exposed and although SHAUN RICKFORD only just reached the ball with his out-stretched leg, the touch was enough to send it past Martin Kearney and into the net.

Arnold took a while to shake off the effects of going behind so early in the game, but on 23 they were almost level when Ross Whalin was forced to make a good block as Luke Smithson raced through on goal. 

United won a corner on 25 that Kearney went for and dropped - Rickford was able to get to the loose ball first, but hooked it just over the bar. 

Whalin was called into action again seconds later - foiling Mitchell Slawson after the striker was played through one-on-one. H-T 0-1

Whalin saves from Slawson

The second half began at a farily slow pace, and we had to wait for the first real attempt until the 53rd minute, Kelvin Mushambi hitting the side-netting after Gary Beach picked him out at the far post.  

Mushambi goes close

As the ball was played back upfield, a neat cross from the left was met with a sweet side-foot volley from Slawson, but once again Whalin was on hand to save well with his feet. 

Whalin blocks well

The home team got their well deserved equaliser with four minutes to play - skipper JOE WOOD finding himself leading the line, and when the ball was played to him he somehow managed to send it over Whalin, despite the keeper's desperate attempt to save.  F-T 1-1

Joe Wood wheels way in delight!!

Not the best game we'll see this season, but for the first game of the season,  we can't complain. 


Admission £5
Programme £1.20
Attendance 120

Carlton Town 2-0 Heanor Town

Wednesday 3rd August 2011  -- our 20th and final pre-season game saw Evo-Stik Div 1 Carlton entertain EMCL Heanor Town.

We arrived at the ground just as the teams were taking to the pitch. It had been a bit of a mad dash as I only realised at 6:50pm that the game kicked off at 7:30pm. Still - just made it in time and luckily not too much trouble for Kev to pick out a parking spot right near the entrance - that meant we were the first car out of the car park after the final whistle.

Starting line-ups

Millers : Marshall, Thornton, Fletcher, Goward, Kitchen, Darkin, Smith, Hall, Gill, Brown, Hawkridge. On the bench : Hollis, Large, Davies, Chaplin, Kimberley, MacDonald, Grayson N.

Lions : Frost, Stevenson, Littlewood, Gee-Pemberton, Peel, "Nico", Askham, Grayson A, Benger, Vernon (?), Wells. Bench: Cartwright, Moon + A.N. Other

The first half was goal-less, but Carlton had numerous chances to open the scoring - but some great defending and a couple of top class saves from Frost thwarted the home team.

Frost made another great save two minutes in from the restart, blocking a Nick Hall shot with his legs, but the stopper could do nothing about the goal that came two minutes later. A harsh free-kick was given against Brett Peel some 20 yards from goal - and ROB GILL curled the ball into the top corner. Frost made a gallant effort to reach the ball, but it was so well placed he did well to even get a hand to it.

Almost!!!!!

On 63, GILL doubled the lead, side footing home from close range after Ian Brown had made his way to the goal line leaving defenders and keeper in his wake. Heanor never gave up, and applied decent pressure a the game went on - the Carlton defence stood firm though and it ended 2-0 to the home team. 

Great work out for both teams - Heanor looked far better in this game than in the two previous ones we have seen them play, whilst Carlton have a great squad and could be one to watch out for during the coming season........

Admission £5

Attendance

Teversal 0-5 Hucknall Town

Tuesday 2nd August 2011  PSF

NCEL Div 1 v Evo-Stik Div 1 -- shouldn't have been a contest, and it wasn't. The gulf in class between the two teams was obvious.  Despite all the Hucknall Town doom and gloom recently, they still have a very good, strong side and put Teversal to the sword, showing no mercy along the way.

We were scheduled to go to see Linby CW v Clifton, but knew the 7pm ko would cause problems - so we opted for Tevie again, mainly because we like going there!!

Arrived at the ground as the teams were shaking hands, and although no team sheet was available ( unusual for Tevie), we knew the majority of the Yellows' line-up having seen them at the weekend. A few of the Tevie faces were new to us, and it seems that they opted to play the game using a mix of first team, youth team and reserve team players. With the NCEL season kicking off this weekend, I would have expected to see the actual first eleven starting - but what do I know!

Teversal did hold out for half an hour, but some bad misses from Carl Westcarr did help the home teams cause. They were undone on 31 though, when their defence gave Nat Watson time and space to dance across the edge of the box and pick out GRANT RYAN, who hammered the ball past Jonno Wilson in the Tevie net.



It's behind you!!



Great leap from Nat Watson

Watson was proving to be very lively down the left wing, and with seconds of the half to play, the youngster raced to the goal line and fired the ball across the goal where it struck Tevie stalwart COLIN COCKERILL before nestling in the net. H-T 0-2

Wilson left stranded after Cockerill (7) deflects the ball past him

NICK GHISLANZONI added the third on 61, firing across Wilson after being fed by Ryan. The Yellows' fourth came in the 68th minute, CARL WESTCARR diving to head home a left wing corner.

Full back DAVID BOAFO was the unlikely scorer of the final goal of the game, when his speculative strike from 20 + yards beat Wilson, who could only watch as it looped over his head and sailed into the goal. F-T 0-5

Solid performance from Town, marred only by the injury to Mathieu Isamene. If they can get their finances in order, and keep this squad together, the coming season may not be as bad as first thought......

Admission £2

Attendance 93

Basford United ( post from CML Unofficial forum)

Looks like Basford United are putting together a really big squad for their upcoming season in the CMFL South Division.

"United's 1st team managers Daz Saunders and Russ Best continue to build what looks a formidable squad with the signing of Martin Holt. A target for many a month Holty will prove a superb signing and will enhance the central midfield area. Holty showed in his appearance against Thoresby what he can bring to the team alongside Josh Niblett. Ryan Johnson - GSB, Courtney Hastings Bulwell FC, Danny Walker GSB and Joe Richardson - Dunkirk have all put pen to paper. Flanker Ryan Johnson is pedigree through and through and has long been admired by Basford for many a season so we are absolutely delighted to get him on board.

Young striker Courtney is also one that has vast talent and one that has obviously been closely monitored by us in recent season playing on our ground for Bulwell. Courtney excelled last season and played in the NSL rep team and this season has looked very lively in training and gave us a new dimension last Sat when he came on for the 1st team at home to Radcliffe Olympic, bagging a brace and creating havoc.

Danny Walker returns to Basford after two seasons away at GSB and possesses great ability and versatility. Sadly he has a big ban but no doubt he will give us a big impact when he returns in the new year. Ben Richardson is another signing that looks very assured and did well when entering the game Sat at left full back. With ex Greenwood defender Ash Harrison looking likely to move to Arnold, Russ and Daz now have good options available for the left back slot.

Basford United are delighted to welcome back former quality players in leader striker Kevin Walker and defender Gary Willows who return to Basford after an excellent double winning season for Boots. Also making the move from Boots are the excellent Ben Moore who excelled at sweeper last season but who can be just as effective in the centre of the park and top rated flanker Tommy Kemp who can give us a real goal threat from the flank.

With another favourite and big character keeper Curtis MacDonald returning to United from GSB then Curtis adds competition to last seasons keeper youngster Matt Simpson who looks likely to be sidelined with a knee problem requiring surgery. Other new signings include top rated full backs Ash Harrison who joins from EMCL Greenwood Meadows as well as Richard Hodgeson who joins from EMCL Heanor Town.

Aaron Jenkins who comes from an excellent Jenkins football family, joins from GSB and other notable signings include flanker Jason Russell who excelled under Daz Saunders during his time as manager for Pelican in previous campaigns,strikers Lee Day - Dunkirk and Jordan Blair - Greenwood and a further defender John Madden who has impressed so far this preseason.

Basford United are pleased to keep hold of most of our key players from last season, and very pleasing that have held off the advances of higher rated clubs to keep hold of our star players Josh Niblett & Tyrone Gray. We are hopeful Skipper Mark Dimech will commit for another season and also delighted that last seasons excellent performers Rusharn Bennett,Damo Rennicks,John Manders, Gary Wright, Craig Macaffrey, Mark Nixon, Robbie England, Ciaron Gibbins & the vacating Phil Bignall have all committed for the new season (?). With Josh and Richard Hodgeson away for tomorrows game and injuries to Jay Russell, Russ Best will select from a big squad and will field a couple of other quality trialists who we are hopeful of signing."

I think a few trips to Greenwich Avenue may be in the offing!!