Sunday 24th February. My morning game was at Titchfield Park in Hucknall, a Notts Sunday League Premier Division game between second placed AFC Dowhan and struggling Rempstone FC.
The park is a mere half a mile from my home and a place I have been visiting on and off for over 50+ years! A lot of people don’t get the Sunday morning game, but I love it and so do the players (mostly), despite their moans and groans!
Rory Smith put the home team ahead from the spot in just the 9th minute, then Ash Foster slotted home well at the far stick to double Dowhan’s advantage on the half-hour. H-T 2-0. Smith nodded home his second two minutes into the second half, and Johnny Bernards rounded off the scoring on 80, firing home from 6 yards. The Rempstone keeper did his best throughout proceedings, but when asked if he was ok after a Dowhan attack was repelled, his reply was: “yes, but I’m too ****ing old and too ****ing fat for doing this!” F-T 4-0
AFC Dowhan line up: Gary Hickman, Tom Coupe, Glenn Garfield, Scott Guest, Aaron Cotterill, Ashley Foster, Johnny Bernards, TK Mushambi, Aaron Potter, Jake Rodgers, Rory Smith. Substitute: Jamie Thomas
Sunday afternoon’s game was an F.A. Women's National League Northern Premier Division (can they make the league titles longer than this?) fixture at Coronation Park, Eastwood. Nottm Forest Ladies were entertaining Guiseley Ladies with a 2pm kick-off.
Forest: Thomas, Wilson, Bennett, Walters, Darby, Constantinou, Conroy, Sullivan, Hickingbotham, Brown, Middleton. Subs used: Holmes, Dicken, Edwards.
Guiseley: Davies, Stanfield, Ash, Gill, Fuller, Hunter, Walton, Casper, Griffiths, Hunt, Stube.
Subs used: Gough, Aucker
The home team had a great start to the game, a penalty awarded with barely 15 minutes played and keeper Rebecca Thomas smashed the ball home from the spot. That was as good as it got for the Reds though. Alarna Fuller levelled for the visitors on 22, then headed powerfully home from 6 yards out a minute before the break to give them the lead. H-T 1-2
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| Forest under pressure |
13 minutes into the second half, Kirstie Hunt added a third for the Yorkshire lasses, slamming the ball past Thomas to effectively end the game as a contest. F-T 1-3
No game on Monday, so the next offering was the Notts F.A. Senior Cup ¼ final tie between Northern Premier Premier Division Basford Utd and their Northern Counties East League division 1 opponents Ollerton Town on Tuesday 26th. The gulf between the clubs was evident throughout the game, with Basford netting six without reply. To be honest, it could have been even worse for the visitors if the home team’s finishing had been a little more clinical.
Jamie Reid opened the scoring in the 21st minute, curling a terrific free-kick past Ollerton keeper Phil McGann. Nat Watson met Reid’s free-kick on 35 and gave McGann no chance from close range. Liam Hearn flicked the ball past the keeper three minutes later, then Zac Goodson added a fourth with 2 minutes of the half remaining. H-T 4-0
Reid hit a fierce free-kick at goal on 55, but although McGann made a terrific parry, the ball fell to the feet of Victor Lusaka who had the simple task of rolling home from 6 yards. Goodson added the Basford sixth goal on the hour mark, and from then on it was just a case of playing out the final thirty minutes. F-T 6-0
On to Wednesday – and the short trip to Coronation Park to see Eastwood CFC U19 take on Rugby Town U19 in a National U19 Alliance League fixture, with a 2pm kick-off. The first half was a case of so near, so far for the Red Badgers – they created umpteen chances, failing to convert any. Keiran Knight had been introduced into the game after about half an hour had been played, but even he found it difficult to penetrate the visitors’ goal before the break. H-T 0-0
The second half was when Knight ensured all three points went to the home team. His first goal came in the 50th minute, although it did take two attempts for him to force the ball home. A minute later it was 2-0, Knight running through on goal before picking his spot. Ten minutes later, the striker completed his hat-trick after he was played in one-on-one with the Rugby keeper and rolled the ball comfortably past him. We had to wait until the 83rd minute for the next goal – that man Knight again on hand to tap in from close range. Talk about a game of two halves!! F-T 4-0
Wednesday evening was the big one – Hucknall Town hosting Selston FC in another of the Notts F.A. Senior Cup ¼ finals.
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| A well observed minutes silence held in memory of Eric Jackson, Mr. Hucknall Town |
A great game was expected, and that was what we were given! Hucknall ply their trade in the CMFL South division (step 7) where they currently lay in second spot. Selston are top of the EMCL (step 6), so it was a good chance for Town to show if they will be able to compete at the higher level should promotion be achieved.
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| Images courtesy DC Live Photography |
The second half was played much as the first – Selston pressing hard to find a goal, and Town defending as though their lives depended on it. Even the usually reliable Carl Moore was firing blanks, and with Ethan Greenidge, David Leak and keeper Adam Jablonski all giving superb performances, the equaliser never materialised. F-T 1-0
The Selston faithful were stunned, left wondering how they’d lost the game! Well, it was because Town worked their socks off, had a lot of luck and were fortunate that they found their visitors having a bit of an off night in front of goal.
The confirmed semi-finalists are Basford Utd (step 3), Carlton Town (step 4), Kimberley MW (step 6) and Hucknall Town (step 7). Final to be played at Field Mill.
Thursday 28th February saw me back at Basford to catch a Notts Combination League Cup semi-final between Basford Rangers and Notts Utd. Not sure what to expect initially, but some of the play was half decent, and we had eight goals to celebrate when the full-time whistle blew.
No idea of the scorer’s names. Notts went ahead on 25, but Rangers levelled from the spot 6 minutes later. They were level for only 6 minutes though, going behind to a 25-yard screamer from the United no. 2. H-T 1-2
Notts increased their lead on 50 and appeared to be cruising to victory. However, with just ten minutes to play, Rangers scored twice in as many minutes to make the scores level and bring forth thoughts of an added 30 minutes extra-time. Notts were having none of that though and regained the lead with 6 to play, then secured their cup final place with a goal scored in the second minute of added time. F-T 3-5
Thursday 28th February saw me back at Basford to catch a Notts Combination League Cup semi-final between Basford Rangers and Notts Utd. Not sure what to expect initially, but some of the play was half decent, and we had eight goals to celebrate when the full-time whistle blew.
No idea of the scorer’s names. Notts went ahead on 25, but Rangers levelled from the spot 6 minutes later. They were level for only 6 minutes though, going behind to a 25-yard screamer from the United no. 2. H-T 1-2
Notts increased their lead on 50 and appeared to be cruising to victory. However, with just ten minutes to play, Rangers scored twice in as many minutes to make the scores level and bring forth thoughts of an added 30 minutes extra-time. Notts were having none of that though and regained the lead with 6 to play, then secured their cup final place with a goal scored in the second minute of added time. F-T 3-5
Notts Utd go close
