Hucknall Tn 1-2 Grantham Tn (NP1S)

Wednesday 30th November 2011 - kick off 7:45pm

Carlton won 6-0 at Shepshed to take them to the top on the Northern Premier League Division One South - after this victory at Watnall Road,  Grantham move into second place behind the Millers, just two points behind with two games in hand.

Link to table

To say this was the last day of November, it wasn't as cold as expected, although the wind was a bit on the chilly side.  After spending the first 10 minutes or so in the open, we soon relocated to a spot behind the Watnall Road goal - this afforded some respite from the chill, and gave us a chance to catch up with good friend Fred Kirk who was also seeking shelter there.

The Gingerbreads 'keeper Rob Murray made a cracking save in the first minute of the game, and Hucknall looked the better team early doors.  Grantham are one of the form teams in the division, but Hucknall more than matched them for half an hour - then a cross in from the right was met with a fine header from battering ram TONY BATTERSBY. Yellows custodian James Lindley maybe could have made a better effort cutting out the cross, but take nothing away from Battersby, he was given the chance and took it well.  Murray made a cracking fingertip save from a Grant Brindley header - the centre-backs blushes saved and an OG averted. H-T 0-1

Relocated again during the break - decided to have a sit down.  Positioned in front of the press box we had a great view of the proceedings, despite the 6' 12" linesman's occasional efforts at blocking it.  Blimey, he was tall!

A poor challenge on the edge of the box gave Hucknall a free-kick on 75, and ANTHONY GREGORY took full advantage, curling a superb shot past Murray. So well placed was the effort that the keeper never moved as the ball flew into his net.

The home team were on terms for only 6 minutes though, JAMIE McGHEE on hand to tap in from close range after Lindley had superbly saved Paul Grimes' fierce drive. Great save, but no defenders reacted to clear the loose ball, giving the winger the simple chance.  F-T 1-2

Admission £7

Attendance 210

Arnold Tn U19 1-3 Handsworth U19 (NM U19)

Monday 28th November 2011 -- kick off 7:45pm

Decided to go to this game even though the weather was a little inclement to say the least!  Eagle Valley was swept by a bitingly cold wind and occasional driving rain! Well done to all the lads for entertaining us so well, despite the conditions.

Spent the game in the company of Keith Parnill and Danny Staley, Kev having decided this game wasn't for him....

PAT LINDLEY put Handsworth ahead in the 10th minute, jumping well to head home a Jack Williams free-kick.   Arnold battled against the wind and  rain in an attempt to pull level, but the visitors defended well and the teams went in for a well deserved cuppa without any change to the score. H-T 0-1

CARTER MPWAYA doubled Handsworth's lead on the hour mark, finishing well after latching onto a ball in from the right. On 75, LUKE BROADBENT made it 0-3 with his first kick of the game after coming off the bench, then 5 minutes later DANNY GORDON hammered a 25 yard free-kick home to give the home team a little reward for their efforts. The young Eagles also hit the post soon after, but the visitors held on and took the points back to Sheffield with them. F-T 1-3

Heanor Tn 2-3 Anstey Nomads (EMCL)

Saturday 26th November 2011 -- kick off 3:04pm

No programme again - the attendance was officially 137, so no surprise the programmes were sold out before we arrived at the Town Ground, even though we were there for 2:45pm.

Blustery conditions were never going to allow the teams to produce good, flowing football, but Nomads coped far better with the wind and looked the far more comfortable team as the game progressed.

Heanor went into the game on top of the league, having gone 14 unbeaten. Nomads were on the back of a 9 game unbeaten run and to be fair, looked the better team. They were very well organised at the back and snuffed out the usually dangerous Heanor attack with some ease.

We decided to position ourselves in the stand behind the top goal, this afforded decent shelter from the biting wind, although my old rheumy eyes do struggle to see the bottom goal.  This becomes even worse when the floodlights are on - the glare adding to the problem!!!

Anstey had the ball in the net on 23 after Lions'  keeper Mark Frost had made a cracking save and the loose ball was tapped home, but the Assistant ref had already flagged for offside.   The visitors did deservedly take the lead 12 minutes later,  Brett Peel's attempted clearance apparently striking the stomach of SIMON ALEXANDER and ending up in the net.  

Nathan Benger had a trademark looping header cleared off the line just before the break, but in reality, Nomads' keeper Stefan Joyce had a relatively quiet first half.  H-T 0-1

The second half began with Anstey seeming to have decided to hold on to their advantage, allowing Heanor to drive at them. As mentioned previously though, the visiting defenders gave little away.  On 58, and against the run of play, Anstey actually went further ahead.  Heanor keeper Frost advanced to the edge of his area to clear a hopeful through ball, but right back Jason Foster had the same idea. Unfortunately the players left the ball for each other leaving DARREN TAYLOR the simple task of collecting the ball and walking it into the empty net.

JASON FOSTER redeemed himself somewhat seconds later, looping a 25 yard free-kick past Joyce.  Was the comeback on? Heanor thought so, going four up top, throwing Josh Royce and Stef Frost on to partner Benger and Vernon.  Unfortunately for the Lions, Anstey were up to the challenge and with 5 minutes  to go made the victory theirs. A fierce drive from the left was parried superbly at his near post by Frost - but CHRIS RUSKIN was sniffing three feet from goal and gleefully stabbed home the loose ball.

Heanor striker JAKE VERNON prodded home in stoppage time to give the scoreline some respectability, but in all fairness, the visitors were by far the better team on the day, and were fully deserving of the three points.  Heanor remain at the top of the table, but there are several teams ready and willing to topple them if they can't put this defeat behind them and get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.  F-T 2-3

Admission £5

Programme - sold out

Attendance 137

Saturday 26th November - local teams in action

BSP
Bath City 1-1 Mansfield Tn

F.A. Trophy
Guiseley FC 7-0 Eastwood Tn
Northwich Victoria 1-1 Ilkeston FC
Matlock Tn 0-1 Hyde Utd
Worksop Tn 3-2 Curzon Ashton

NP1S
Belper Tn 0-2 Carlton Tn
Hucknall Tn 1-0 Kidsgrove Athletic
Rainworth MW 1-0 Lincoln Utd
Shepshed Dynamo 2-2 Sutton Coldfield Tn

NCELP
Barton Tn OB 4-2 Arnold Tn
Long Eaton Utd 1-1 Winterton Rngs
Nostell MW 3-4 Retford Utd

NCEL1
Bottesford Tn 2-3 Teversal
Shirebrook Tn 3-0 Appleby Frodingham

EMCL
Borrowash Victoria 4-3 Radcliffe Olympic
Gedling MW 0-2 Holbrook Sports
Heanor Tn 2-3 Anstey Nomads
Holwell Sports 3-4 Graham St Prims
Radford FC 0-3 Thurnby Nirvana
St. Andrews 1-1 Blackwell MW

CMLN
Clipstone Welfare 2-2 Kinsley Boys (3pm)
Ollerton Tn  4-3 Phoenix S & S (3pm)

CMLS
Belper Utd 2-2 Southwell City (3pm)
Blidworth Welfare 1-3 AFC Hucknall (3pm)
Clifton FC 1-3 Pinxton FC (2pm)
Newark Tn 4-3 Bilborough Pelican (3pm)
Notts Police 2-4 Nottingham Utd (3pm)
Real Utd 4-4 Sutton Tn AFC (3pm)

CML Cup
Parkhouse FC 2-1 Basford Utd (2pm)
South Normanton Ath 2-1 Kimberley Tn (3pm)

NSL Senior
F.C. Cavaliers 3-0 Selston
Gedling SB 1-2 Cotgrave Welfare
Hucknall Rolls Leisure 2-2 Attenborough
Keyworth Utd 1-2 Magdala Ams
Ruddington Village 2-5 Awsworth Villa
Sandhurst 0-3 Bulwell FC
Vernon Villa 0-2 Kimberley MW
Wollaton 4-2 Linby CW

Notts FA / Derbys FA Senior Cup

Local F.A. competitions round 3

Notts F.A.
Arnold Tn v Carlton Tn
Greenwood Meadows v Dunkirk
Sutton Tn AFC v Eastwood Tn
Hucknall Tn v Gedling MW
Basford Utd v Rainworth MW
Retford Utd v Wollaton
Newark Tn v Bilborough Pelican
Clifton FC v Thoresby CW

Due to be played 7th February 2012

Derbys F.A.
Chesterfield v Heanor Town
Mickelover Sports v Graham St Prims
Blackwell MW v Pinxton
Ilkeston v Dronfield Town
Belper Town v Derby County
Buxton v Long Eaton United
Gresley v Alfreton Town
New Mills v Matlock Town

Due to be played 13th or 14th dec, 7.30 or 7.45 pm