Nottingham United

NOTTINGHAM UNITED 0-3 KIVETON PARK
Monday 30th August 2010
Central Midlands League Premier Division
Gresham Sports Park

I hadn’t intended to go to a game today but after going out for the morning with the better half and the dog I was given permission to bugger off this afternoon. To be fair the choices of games in the East Midlands today were poor, but in the end I opted for Central Midlands League (CML) new boys Nottingham United’s first ever home game in the league against Kiveton Park.

Nottingham United FC

The following history on the club is taken from the clubs website www.nottinghamunitedfc.co.uk:

“We were formed on the 27th of April 2008, when a group of friends from around the Midlands joined with a local 5-a-side team to play our first ever fixture at Beeston Weirfields. Although starting as Nottingham United FC, we entered our 1st season in the NSFL under our sponsors name and a respectable season saw us finish 6th. We also merged with Notts Cobras during that season which gave us a 2nd Sunday team and we also created a Saturday team.

At the end of the season, troubles in the boardroom saw the club sever its ties with the 5-a-siders and revert to its original name of Nottingham United FC. In the 2009/10 season we dominated throughout, winning 20 out of 22 games, scoring 101 goals along the way and Keeping the best defence in the league, ensuring that the league Championship was ours as we won the Senior Section of the NSFL by 4 points. Starting the 2010/11 season we currently have 2 Saturday teams entered into the Premier and 1st Divisions of the Midland Amateur Alliance after the club decided to merge with Monty Hind Old Boys FC and our 1st Team in the Premier Division of the Central Midlands Football League and we now have 4 Sunday league teams entered into the Notts Sunday Football League, East Midlands Public Authorities League and Long Eaton Sunday League.”

United’s home venue is the Gresham Sports Park in West Bridgford, and to get there (if coming from Leicester) take the A46 towards Newark and turn onto the A606 towards Nottingham. At the island with the A52 stay on the A606 following the West Bridgford signs, continue on the A606 until you reach the junction with the B679. Turn left onto Wilford Lane following signs for the M1 / East Midlands Airport. Just after the Nottingham Forest Academy signs turn right at the island and the sports park is on the left hand side. The pitch is a 3G artificial one inside a metal cage which was something I was not expecting. When I arrived, opponents Kiveton Park wanted the game to be called off due to two wires running across the pitch which are used to separate the pitch into three for five-a-side use, but the referee deemed the game playable.

This was to be my first ever game that I have seen on a 3G surface and to be honest I think they are a good idea and practical and would have no problem with watching a game on them in the future. The game though was a shocker which was contested by two poor sides and I am struggling to write a lot about it. The visitors from Yorkshire won it at a canter with a hat-trick from their centre forward Jamie Ward. The first came on ten minutes with a side footed finish past the United keeper Marcus Apentitis, the second on the hour mark was scrambled home from a corner. The third was the best of the lot as he drilled an angled shot into the bottom corner on the ninety minute mark. The afore mentioned wires were a cause of annoyance as they were struck around eight times during the game with the referee having no option other than restarting with a drop ball. A flash point occurred towards the end of the game with a player from each side was involved in a scuffle on the ground, fellow team mates got involved and a home supporting spectator went onto the pitch to get involved also. Two bookings (one for each side) were shown and the neanderthal who got involved was asked leave the compounds of the cage. United’s best spell of the game came in the last fifteen minutes in which they created a few chances with one particular being well saved by Kiveton keeper Jonathan Parker.

Overall like stated it was a poor game and the situation with the wires was annoying. Another note though is that I don’t believe that games in which an admission is charged should be played in a metal cage, and I for one will never watch a game in one ever again. Some good points now...to meet up with Mr Central Midlands League Rob Hornby for the first time this season and his wife Hazel. Thanks go out to him for allowing me on the pitch to take a team photo of the home side. Last but not least is was good to catch up again with Herbie who is a Newark based Dartford supporter. My reaction though when seeing him here was “shit, oh no!” due to the fact that the last two times we have been at the same game they were both awful. No further comment!!!

More photos of the game can be found here: FGIF

Admission: £2

Programme: £1 (first ever issue I believe)
Match rating: 1*

Ashton Town

ASHTON TOWN 0-8 RUNCORN TOWN

Saturday 28th August 2010

North West Counties League Division 1

Edge Green Street

Part of two of our North West double sees us make the seven mile journey eastwards to the town of Ashton-in-Makerfield and more specifically Edge Green Street, home of Ashton Town Football Club. Ashton is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester and in 2001 had a population of just over 28,500. The town is located half way between Liverpool and Manchester (16 miles to the west and east) while Wigan is four miles to the north and Warrington 7 miles south east. The town used to be known as Ashton-le-Willows and has long been a centre for the manufacture of locks and hinges. The town also sits on the Lancashire coal field.

Ashton Town Football Club were formed in 1953 as Makerfield Mill FC and initially joined the Wigan Sunday School League before switching to Saturday football when they joined the St Helens Combination (SHC) in 1955. Three seasons were spent in the SHC and they lifted the division two title in 1958 before switching to the Warrington & District League (WDL). The club won six WDL championships during their time in the league, and it was while in the league they changed their name to the present title of Ashton Town in 1962. In 1971 they made the step up to the Lancashire Combination and after seven seasons in the Combination they joined the Cheshire County League in 1978. Four years were spent in the Cheshire League until 1982 when the league merged with the Lancashire Combination and they became founder members of the North West Counties League (NWC). They have remained ever present in the NWC apart from the 1985/86 season when they played their football in the Manchester League. Opponents Runcorn Town are new to the NWC this season having been promoted from the West Cheshire League (WCL) in the summer. The club were previously known as Mond Rangers and they joined the WCL in 1985, changing their name to the present title five years ago. At the start of play the two sides sat next to each other in the table on six points though Runcorn had played a game less and had three points deducted.

The game was about as one sided as you will see as the visitors took the game to their hosts from the start. Runcorn opened the scoring on eleven minutes with a peach of a goal when James McShane curled the ball into the top corner from twenty yards or so out. Not to be out done teammate Marvin Molyneux scored an even better goal just six minutes later when he hit an unstoppable shot from fully thirty yards plus that flew into the top corner. If Wayne Rooney or Didier Drogba had done this Sky and the BBC would be drooling over it for weeks!!!! Runcorn continued to dominate and they added a third five minutes from time through Warren Bellew who cut inside from the right and slotted the ball under the Ashton keeper. Into the second half and it was Greg Byrne who headed home number four from a corner on the hour mark, while the fifth came just five minutes later with a simple sided footed finish from Emini Adegbenro. The final three goals came in the last five minutes with two from Jason Carey (80 and 87 minutes), the second of which was a superb low drilled shot past the keeper. Warren Bellew completed his brace with Runcorn’s seventh of the afternoon with a header past the beleaguered home keeper.

Overall I was very impressed with Runcorn and for the second consecutive Saturday I have seen a team that should win their divisional title with room to spare.

Admission: £4

Programme: £1

Badge: £2.50

Attendance: 15 (official) 34 (head count)

Match rating: 4*

links:

official Ashton Town website: http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/ashtontown/

St Helens Town

ST HELENS TOWN 1-1 GLOSSOP NORTH END
Saturday 28th August 2010

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Knowsley Road

After much deliberation and changing of plans we (myself and Gary) finally came to an agreement and opt for plan ‘C` today. Plan ‘A` was all three games on the Mid-Wales League hop, plan ‘B` was Airbus UK followed by Llanidloes Town and so we arrive at Knowsley Road, St Helens for the first part of plan ‘C` for their FA Cup preliminary round tie against fellow North West Counties League side Glossop North End. I would say the only reason for choosing this game is that the ground in which they share with their more illustrious neighbours St Helens RFC is to be shortly demolished and a new ground is being built for the use of both clubs.

St Helens is a large town with a population of around 100,000 and is located between Liverpool (11 miles to the west) and Manchester (23 miles to the east). The area became significant in the 18th and 19th centuries for coal mining and glass making. The town is still home to Pilkington glass which was founded in 1826 and they produce all the UK’s output of flat glass.

The two clubs currently share the Knowsley Road ground which currently has a capacity of 17,500. St Helens RFC moved into the ground in 1890 while ‘Town have used the ground since 2002. The record attendance for the ground was recorded on 26th December 1949 for a Saints game against their biggest rivals Wigan. The new (as yet unnamed) stadium is being built on derelict land of the former United Glass site and will have a capacity of 18,000 when completed and is due to open in Autumn 2011.

St Helens Town Football Club were formed in 1946 and joined division two of the Lancashire Combination in 1949. Two years later and they won the division two title and with it secured promotion to division one. Just one season was spent in the Combination’s top division before relegation back to division two. Thirteen years were spent back in the second division when in 1965 they achieved promotion back to division one and they had to wait until 1972 for their one and only Lancashire Combination title. In 1975 they switched to the Cheshire County League and remained in the league until 1982 when it merged with the Lancashire Combination to become the North West Counties Football League (NWC). St. Helens Town have remained ever present in the NWC and have recorded a best ever finish of 3rd place on three occasions. The club have entered the FA Cup since 1946 and the furthest they have gone in the competition was in the 1985/86 season when they knocked out Colwyn Bay, Eastwood Hanley and Leek Town before succumbing to Morecambe in the 4th qualifying round after a replay. Both teams today needed a replay to secure victories in the extra-preliminary round – St Helens beating Yorkshire side Nostell Miners Welfare 5-4 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw and Glossop 1-0 over Wigan Robin Park.

A fair result in the end at Knowsley Road which started well for the home side. Dave Garnell scrambled the ball home from a corner after sixteen minutes, and for the first quarter of the game were in control against a Glossop side devoid of ideas and skill. The game then appeared to turn in the visitors favour when the home side were down to ten men as their number three took out Glossop’s number ten with a two footed lunge. The visitors did not have time to make their numerical advantage count as they themselves were down to ten men on thirty-seven minutes when their number seven was very harshly given a second booking for a foul on St Helens captain Luke Faulkner. My own opinion was that it was not deserved and Faulkner made a meal of the challenge and thus contrived to get the player sent off. The remainder of the half petered out and ended 1-0. The second half was a turgid affair and of very poor quality. Daley Woods missed a couple of good chances for the home side before Glossop deservedly got an equaliser with around fifteen minutes from the penalty spot through David Morris. The best effort of the half came ten minutes from time when a Glossop shot from fully thirty yards was tipped over the by St Helens goalkeeper.

Game over and when then made the twenty minute drive to Ashton Town Football Club for their North West Counties League encounter with Runcorn Town.

Admission: £5

Programme: £1.20 – excellent effort

Attendance: 113 (official)

Match rating: 2*

Links:

Wikipedia (St Helens): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Helens,_Merseyside

Saints New Stadium: http://www.saintsnewstadium.com/main

Wikipedia (New Stadium): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_St_Helens_Stadium

FA Cup round-up

Eight ties involving Leicestershire clubs were played yesterday in the preliminary round and only three secured victories with one all-county tie ending in a draw.

Results:

Bottesford Town 2-1 BARROW TOWN
COALVILLE TOWN 5-1 Heath Hayes
Gedling Miners Welfare 0-1 BARWELL
Gresley 4-0 QUORN
HEATHER ST JOHNS 2-3 Coleshill Town
KIRBY MUXLOE 1-3 Norton United
LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO 1-1 SHEPSHED DYNAMO
OADBY TOWN 2-0 Malvern Town

Shepshed and Loughborough will replay on Tuesday night with the 1st qualifying round ties to be played on Saturday 11th September.

BARWELL v Hucknall Town
COALVILLE TOWN v Eccleshall
Holbrook Sports v LOUGHBOROUGH D / SHEPSHED DYNAMO
OADBY TOWN v Stourport Swifts / Dosthill Colts

Thorne

THORNE COLLIERY 2-7 AFC HUCKNALL

Saturday 21st August 2010

Central Midlands League Premier Division

Moorends Welfare Ground

The only reason I chose today’s game is that it kicked off at 1pm which, with Mrs Rambler working in the morning allowed me to be home by 4.15pm. I have watched at least one “new” club play a home game each season in the Central Midlands League (CML) since 1998 when I saw Long Eaton United play an FA Vase tie. For the record Thorne are the 44th team on this list.

Thorne itself is an historic market town in South Yorkshire 11 miles north east of Doncaster with a population of around 16,000. The town became a permanent settlement around AD700 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The football club don’t actually play in Thorne itself but in the neighbouring village of Moorends which lies to the north of the town. The ground is the Moorends Colliery Welfare Ground which is also home to the local cricket club. The two pitches do not overlap with a service road running between them. The football ground is fully enclosed with metal fencing separating it from the rest of the complex, a large stand runs along the near side of the pitch with is the only form of cover at the ground, but on a day like today with glorious weather in South Yorkshire it was more of a case of sheltering from the sun and heat.

Thorne Colliery were formed in 1929 and joined the now defunct Yorkshire League in 1932. The competition was split into two competitions with Thorne finishing in 8th and 7th place respectively. The two years immediately after the Second World War saw the club at its peak with a runners-up finish in 1946 followed by their only Yorkshire League title in 1947. Thorne remained in the Yorkshire League until the merger with the Midland Counties League in 1982 when they became founder members of the Northern Counties East League (NCEL). Just four years were spent in the NCEL before they finished bottom of division 2 in 1986 and they joined the more local Doncaster & District Senior League. Seven years were spent in the Doncaster League before joining the Central Midlands League in 1993 which is where they continued to play their football to this day. Last season they finished in 12th place in the sixteen team premier division. Opponents today are Central Midlands League new boys AFC Hucknall. The following information on them is taken from http://www.nottinghamshirefootball.com/

“When is a football club not a football club? When it's the controversial local football newcomers, AFC Hucknall.

AFC were formed in 2004 under their original name of Seven Stars Football Club. They started out in the Mansfield & District Sunday League, before a change of name to AFC Hucknall and moving onto the Nottingham Combination in 2006. As well as a new name, the club expanded and also appeared to have found some stability at this point with what looked like a permanent move to the Goosedale Sports Ground in Bestwood Village. However, in the summer of 2010, some strange things began to happen.

A club known as AFC Hucknall were entered in the Central Midlands League Premier Division. This club were to play at the home ground of Hucknall Town Football Club, wear the same colours as Hucknall Town Football Club and have been quoted in the local press and unofficially by Hucknall Town Football Club as being their reserve team. CML rules do not permit reserve sides entering their league, and there have been widespread claims that Hucknall Town Football Club have simply pulled the wool over the CML's eyes by adding the prefix of 'AFC', issuing a new badge (which plagiarises a quarter of Hucknall Town's badge) and claiming a similar named clubs entire history. However, with AFC having a separate committee and the rightful claim that they do have a history as the offspring of Seven Stars FC, it appears that this rather unusual club are here to stay.”

My own opinion is that they are the reserve side of Hucknall Town but I don’t believe it is my place to go into the politics of this one.

The game...well it all started so well for the home side who took the lead on five minutes when Aiden Marshall beat the visitors’ offside trap and hit a powerful shot past the keeper. The next fifteen minutes saw the game develop into a midfield battle though to be fair both sides kept the ball on the ground and it was fairly entertaining. Hucknall turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes. The first came on 21 when Danny Chaplin latched onto a pass and drilled a superb shot past the home keeper into the bottom corner of the goal, and just two minutes later Thorne were caught napping as Chaplin found Cashell Walters unmarked in the area who turned a defender and coolly finished. The remainder of the half saw no further addition to the scoring but both sides created chances with Thorne coming close on a couple of occasions with long range efforts. The second half was a different matter altogether as Hucknall ran rampant from the start and it a nutshell did a demolition job on their hosts. They made it 1-3 on the hour mark through substitute Danwell Francis and just two minutes later he made it 1-4, when they hit Thorne on the counter attack and he rounded the keeper for a simple finish. Cashell Walters got his second on 70 minutes to make it 1-5 when following a cross field pass from Francis, held off a couple of challenges to lob the ball back over the keepers head. The visitors had to wait just a further four minutes for their sixth from Tom Hannigan before Thorne got a consolation goal with seven minutes remaining. The scoring was completed on 85 minutes when Felix Hogg rounded the keeper and finished from a narrow angle.

To sum up I feel that AFC Hucknall will take some stopping this season as they looked a very good side playing football the right way and had an excellent level of fitness. Thorne themselves were not a bad side but in the second half was like trying to stop a runaway train with bale of hay. I found them to be a very friendly club and I wish them all the best for the remainder of the season.

Admission: £2

Programme: £1

Attendance: don't know - did not do a count!

Match rating: 4*

Can of coke: 50p

Google maps driving time & distance: 1hr 37 minutes - 88.1 miles

Additional photos of the game can be found here: FGIF

Non-League Football Day

http://www.nonleagueday.co.uk/

The "non-league football day" is the brainchild of James Doe, a lifelong football fan and supporter of Harrow Borough FC. Its aim is to promote the semi professional game in this country by virtue of a fortuitous break in the football calendar. In James' own words:


"WITH ENGLAND PLAYING THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP TAKING A WEEK OFF, I URGE ALL FANS OF THE BIG CLUBS TO GET OUT AND WATCH THEIR LOCAL NON-LEAGUE TEAM INSTEAD ON SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER. GIVEN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, CLUBS OUTSIDE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT THEY CAN GET, SO YOUR PRESENCE AT A GAME WILL BE GENUINELY APPRECIATED. WITH TICKETS AND REFRESHMENTS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST, WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?"
 
Fixtures involving Leicestershire & Rutland clubs down to the 8th level of the non-league pyramid:
 
(Blue Square) Conference North
Harrogate Town v HINCKLEY UNITED
 
(Evo-Stick) Northern Premier League Division 1 South
BARWELL v Grantham Town
Belper Town v LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO
Kidsgrove Athletic v QUORN
SHEPSHED DYNAMO v Carlton Town
 
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
HINCKLEY v Walsall Wood
Boldmere St Michaels v LUTTERWORTH ATHLETIC
Pelsall Villa v BARDON HILL SPORTS
Rocester v LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Alvechurch v IBSTOCK UNITED
BARROW TOWN v HEATHER ST JOHNS
ELLISTOWN v Highgate United
Castle Vale JKS v ANSTEY NOMADS
Ellesmere Rangers v KIRBY MUXLOE
Tividale v OADBY TOWN
Racing Club Warwick v THURNBY NIRVANA
Dudley Sports v ASHBY IVANHOE
 
United Counties League - League Cup 1st Round
St. Ives Town v HARBOROUGH TOWN
 
Midland Football Alliance
COALVILLE TOWN v Willenhall Town
Stratford Town v FRIAR LANE & EPWORTH
 
East Midlands Counties League
Gedling Miners Welfare v HOLWELL SPORTS
 
 
Peterborough & District League Premier Division
RUTLAND RANGERS v UPPINGHAM TOWN
 
Northants Combination Premier Division
MEDBOURNE v Weldon United
 
Leicestershire Senior League - Premier Division
ASFORDBY AMATEURS v SAFFRON DYMAMO
FC DYNAMO v THURMASTON TOWN
HIGHFIELD RANGERS v COTTESMORE AMATEURS
KIRBY MUXLOE RESERVES v BLABY & WHETSTONE ATHLETIC
RATBY SPORTS v AYLESTONE PARK
ROTHLEY IMPERIAL v BIRSTALL UNITED
SILEBY TOWN v Stapenhill
 
Leicestershire Senior League - Division 1
BARLESTONE ST GILES v COALVILLE TOWN RESERVES
BELGRAVE v CATERPILLAR
DESFORD v SHEPSHED DYNAMO RESERVES
LUTTERWORTH TOWN v FRIAR LANE & EPWORTH RESERVES
NARBOROUGH & LITTLETHORPE v EARL SHILTON ALBION
Newhall United v DUNTON & BROUGHTON RANGERS

FA Cup round-up

There were mixed fortunes for the eleven Leicestershire sides in FA Cup action on Saturday with only three sides recording victories and another three having midweek replays.

The results are as follows:

Norton United (North West Counties League) 3-0 HINCKLEY (East Midlands Counties League)
COALVILLE TOWN (Midland Alliance) 1-1 Stone Dominoes (North West Counties League)
replay: Stone Dominoes 0-3 COALVILLE TOWN
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Midland Alliance) 1-4 Stratford Town (Midland Alliance)
Pegasus Juniors (Hellenic League) 1-1 HEATHER ST JOHNS (Midland Combination)
replay: HEATHER ST JOHNS 5-1 Pegasus Juniors
KIRBY MUXLOE (Midland Alliance) 4-2 Walsall Wood (Midland Combination)
BARDON HILL SPORTS (East Midlands Counties League) 2-5 Bewdley Town (West Midlands Regional League)
Tividale (West Midlands Regional League) 1-2 OADBY TOWN (Midland Alliance)
BARROW TOWN (East Midlands Counties League) 2-1 Arnold Town (Northern Counties East League)
Wisbech Town (Eastern Counties League) 5-0 ST ANDREWS (East Midlands Counties League)
Gedling Miners Welfare (East Midlands Counties League) 2-2 HOLWELL SPORTS (East Midlands Counties League)
replay: HOLWELL SPORTS 3-4 Gedling Miners Welfare
Lincoln Moorlands Railway (Northern Counties East League) 3-1 FRIAR LANE & EPWORTH (Midland Alliance)

Now that all the replays have taken place the draw for Leicestershire clubs in the preliminary round (28th August) is as follows:

HEATHER ST JOHNS v Coleshill Town
OADBY TOWN v Malvern Town
KIRBY MUXLOE v Norton United
COALVILLE TOWN v Heath Hayes
Bottesford Town v BARROW TOWN
LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO v SHEPSHED DYNAMO
Gresley v QUORN
Gedling Miners Welfare v BARWELL

The road to Wembley

TIVIDALE 1-2 OADBY TOWN
Saturday 14th August 2010
FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round
The Beeches

The second week of the English domestic season and it is FA Cup time already. The draw was made in early July and (despite not watching them very much now days) the fixture I always look out for first is that of Oadby Town’s, and this year they have got drawn at West Midlands (Regional) League side Tividale.

Sam Young (Oadby Town)

Tividale first played in the FA Cup in the 1975/76 season beating Midland League side Heanor Town 6-2 in their opening tie. They ended up getting to the 4th qualifying round before losing 3-2 @ Southern League AP Leamington which is the furthest they have gone in the competition. Oadby meanwhile first entered in the 1999/00 season and won 4-2 @ Southern League side Bilston Town in the preliminary round. Like Tividale their best run came in their opening campaign reaching the 3rd qualifying round before losing 3-0 @ Northern Premier League side Eastwood Town.

The club were founded as the senior branch of Tividale Hall Youth Club FC playing in the Handsworth & District League from 1953 to 1968. Tividale FC competed in the league between 1956 and 1960. Two years without any league football followed before joining the Warwickshire & West Midlands Alliance in 1962. Four years were spent in the Alliance before they joined the West Midlands (Regional) League (WML) in 1966. The 1972/73 season saw them win the division 1 title and promotion to the premier division. Eighteen seasons were spent in the top division before relegation to division 1 in 1991. Just three seasons were spent back in division 1 before a 3rd place finish in 1994 secured promotion to the premier division again and they have remained there to this day. A best finish of 2nd place was achieved in 2001/02, while last season saw them secure 7th place in the twenty-one team division.

Tividale have started their campaign with a win and a defeat. The defeat came last Saturday @ Goodrich when they went down 2-1, but they bounced back with a 3-1 victory at home to Dudley Sports midweek. Oadby meanwhile have suffered two straight defeats, firstly 3-2 at home to Bridgnorth Town last Saturday and 3-0 @ Loughborough University on Tuesday.

Tividale’s ground is called “The Beeches” and is around two miles from junction 2 of the M5. To get there come off the motorway and take the fourth exit onto the A4123 following signs for Dudley. Turn left onto Trafalgar Road, then right onto Birch Crescent and then finally right onto Packwood Road – the ground is at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Michael Osbourne (Oadby Town)

Going into the game despite Oadby playing at one level higher than their hosts I predicted that Tividale would win the game 2-1 or 3-1. Sometimes you are glad to be proven wrong!!!! The early exchanges looked like I was to be correct as ‘Dale scored after only six minutes when Chris Russell got behind the Oadby defence to round keeper Wayne Connolly and finished comfortably. Tividale continued to dominate and could have been further ahead with Connolly pulling off a good save on thirteen minutes when Anthony Cox tried to chip him. The visitors gradually got into the game and played some pretty decent football but it lacked a cutting edge. Their best chance of the half came around the thirty minute mark when a shot was blocked by Tividale keeper James Trevalen. Just six minutes into the second half and Oadby stunned their hosts with the equaliser from Ben Laxton, who latched onto a through ball, held off a challenge and slotted the ball past Trevalen. Tividale nearly caught Oadby napping and went straight up the other end but was scrambled away for a corner. The next twenty minutes Oadby probably had the better of the exchanges and deservedly took the lead on seventy three minutes. Sam Taylor put a low cross into the box to Michael Osbourne who turned and put the ball into the top corner. The final fifteen minutes saw Tividale throw everything at Oadby but the visitors held out for a morale boosting victory. The sides go at it again in three weeks time as they have been paired together in the 1st qualifying round of the FA Vase. Oadby now play fellow Midland Alliance side Malvern Town in the preliminary round following their 3-2 victory at Cradley Town.

Man of the match: Ben Laxton (Oadby Town)

Admission: £5
Programme: £1
Attendance: 40 (official) 53 (head count)
Match rating: 3*

Teams:

Tividale: 1) James Trevalen; 2) Mark Turton; 3) Jason Chilton; 4) Andy Parsons; 5) Derek Cole; 6) Adam Hill; 7) Todd Warner; 8) Rich Taylor; 9) Chris Russell; 10) Anthony Cox; 11) Matt Salmon
Subs: 12) Nick Turton; 14) Brett Clarke; 15) Ben Hughes; 16) Kyle Hill; 17) Kieran Gadd; 18) Luke Stevens; 19) Matt Hearsey

Oadby Town: 1) Wayne Connolly; 2) Adam Smith; 3) Sam Young; 4) Adam Parry; 5) Thomas Hodson; 6) Jamie March; 7) Ben Laxton; 8) Andy Tiday; 9) San Taylor; 10) Michael Osbourne; 11) Andy Gunderlach
Subs: 12) Andy Cayless; 14) Rueben Joseph Walker; 15) Elliot Pacy; 16) Leon Cole: 17) J Tishibangu; 18) Hayden Loach

Additional photos of the game can be found here: FGIF
Links:
Tividale FC: http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/tividalefootballclub/

Goody

GOODRICH 2-1 TIVIDALE

Saturday 7th August 2010

West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division

Goodrich Sports Ground

We (Gary and myself) had a choice of three games today in the West Midlands, two on the edge of Solihull and one in Wolverhampton. We chose the latter and made our way to the Goodrich Sports Ground on the northern edge of the city in the district of Fordhouses. The ground is located a few hundred yards south of junction 2 of the M54 and took around an hour to make the journey.

The following information on the company is taken from www.goodrich.com.

“Goodrich Corporation is a global supplier of systems and services to aircraft and engine manufacturers, airlines and defense forces around the world. From aerostructures and actuation systems to landing gear, engine control systems, sensors and safety systems, Goodrich products are on almost every aircraft.

Key Markets

Large commercial, regional and business aircraft, helicopters, defense and space, original equipment and aftermarket.

Key Products

Flight control and missile actuation; landing gear; wheels and brakes; engine control systems; cargo systems; engine nacelles and pylon systems; surveillance and reconnaissance systems, electrical power systems; evacuation systems; seating products; fuel measurement and management systems; satellite and launch vehicle control systems; sensor systems; de-icing systems and heating products; lighting systems; maintenance, repair and overhaul service.”

The company’s headquarters are in Charlotte, North Carolina and they employ more than 21,000 people across sixteen countries.

The sports ground is a tidy affair located at the back of the factories and houses two pitches. The main pitch is fully railed off with hard standing all the way round. A stand which seats 132 spectators is located on the far touchline with further cover being provided by the pavilion located behind the near goal. The current Goodrich Football Club were formed from the remnants of Aero Lucas who competed in the West Midlands (Regional) League (WML) between 1983 and 1989. The second team, who played in the Wolverhampton Works League reformed as Lucas Flight Controls when the first team dropped out of the WML, changing their name to Lucas Sports and again to Goodrich in 2003. The first season as Goodrich FC saw them win the WML division 1 north title obtaining seventy two points from their thirty league matches. Due to the sports ground not being up to premier division standard they groundshared at Wednesfield FC for one season until the improvements were made. The six seasons spent in the top tier of the WML have seen them finish a top half finish only twice – 7th in 2005/06 and 6th a year later. Last season the club finished in 18th place in the twenty one team division. Opponents Tividale who come from the Oldbury area of the West Midlands finished in seventh place last season with seventy one points. The two teams prior to today have met on twelve occasions in league encounters with Tividale recording seven victories to Goodrich’s two with three draws.

The game itself is not one of the better ones I will see this season with the first half particularly hard going. Tividale had the majority of possession and created more chances though most of those were tame shots at the home keeper or put wide of the uprights and over the bar. The home sides best chance came in the latter stages when, following an error from the home defence allowed a one on one with the visiting keeper coming out on top. We did not have to wait long in the second half for the breakthrough as Goodrich scored with a tap in from a couple of yards out on forty eight minutes. This with a Tividale player lying face down in the penalty area. A minute later and it should have been 2-0 but a shot was drilled wide from the left hand side of the penalty area. Tividale then continued to have the majority of possession (like the first half) and paid the penalty with around fifteen minutes from the end when the home number nine turned his marker on a sixpence and finished well with only the keeper to beat. The pattern continued as normal for the final quarter of an hour with the visitors having the possession but failing to take any chances that came their way. Their consolation goal came right on full time from the penalty spot.

A disappointing result for the visitors who I will be seeing next Saturday for their FA Cup tie at home to Midland Football Alliance side Oadby Town. Oadby themselves started off their season with a defeat also, losing 3-2 at home to Bridgnorth Town.

Admission: £3

Programme: £1

Attendance: 56 (head count)

Match rating: 2*

Bandstand battering

STRANRAER 1-7 GREENOCK MORTON
Saturday 31st July 2010
Co-operative Insurance Cup 1st Round
Stair Park

My first competitive game of the season also sees me take in a first ever game in Scotland thanks to an offer of a lift with Gary. We along with a friend of his Ian Crompton left Leicester around 7.30am to make the 318 mile journey north which primarily took us along the M6 to the border and across the A75 to Stranraer itself. All three of us did approximately one third each of the driving each way with myself doing the third leg. To be honest the stretch west from the M6 via Dumfries and Newton Stewart was a bugger of a journey having to deal with road works, farm traffic and “sunday” drivers.

The town itself has a population of around 11,000 inhabitants and located in the county of Wigtownshire which in turn is part of the Dumfries and Galloway region. Stranraer lies on the banks of the southern shore of Loch Ryan, with Stena Line operating a ferry service to Belfast. Stena are at present the football club’s main sponsors. The town is also home to Wigtownshire Rugby Football Club who are located opposite Stair Park on the London Road Playing Fields.

The Bandstand on Stair Park

Stranraer Football Club were formed in 1870 and are currently plying their trade in the third division of the Scottish Football League (SFL). They joined the SFL in 1949 after previously competing in the Southern Counties League, Scottish Combination, Scottish Alliance and South of Scotland League. Honours have been few and far between since entry to the SFL with just two second division titles (1993/94 & 1997/98), one third division title (2003/04) and the SFL Challenge Cup which was won in 1996/97 to their name. Their home is Stair Park which has a capacity of 5,600 and is located on London Road in the town. It is set back from the road with a public park of the same name between the road and the ground. The dominating feature is the main stand which houses 1,500 spectators and is located on the far touchline. Behind the near goal is a section of covered standing while opposite the main stand is the Coo Shed stand which straddles the half way line.

The Main Stand

The game today sees Stranraer up against Greenock Morton who play two divisions higher in the Co-operative Insurance Cup – which is also known in its unsponsored title as the Scottish League Cup. The hosts come into the game on the back of 2-1 defeat at home to East Stirlingshire in the Alba Challenge Cup while visitors Morton beat Dumbarton 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw in the same competition and lost by the same result midweek to St Mirren in the Renfrewshire Cup Final. The game was one to forget for the home side as they were generally outclassed and outplayed from the word go. The only surprise was that it took until 27 minutes for the visitors to open the scoring, as prior to this they came close on several occasions. The goal was scored by Stewart Keane who held off the challenge of a defender to coolly slot the ball past keeper Ryan Marshall. Just four minutes later and it was 0-2 after Graeme Holmes smashed the ball home from ten yards out following a cross from Carlo Monti. The half time came without further incident and addition to the scoreline. Ten minutes into the second half and the game was over as a contest as Greenock added to more goals in the space of four minutes from Stewart Keane. This double salvo resulted in some of the home fans heading for the exit. The ones that did leave missed a cracking goal from the home side as Stuart McColm drilled a shot from the edge of the penalty area which flew past Colin Stewart in the Morton goal. The let up from Morton didn’t abate as Peter Weatherson helped himself to a double inside five minutes, the second being a lovely chip over Ryan Marshall on 77 minutes. The scoring was completed seven minutes from time when substitute Kevin Kelbie headed home a cross from the right.

My final note is to thank Commercial Manager and co-programme editor Iain Dougan who took the time to show the three of us behind the scenes at the club before the game. Much appreciated Iain.

Admission: £12

Programme: £2 – A5 size and one of the best I have had in a long time. Top marks.

Team sheet: free from club shop

Pin Badge: £1.50

Burger: £2

Attendance: 470

Match rating: 4*