Review of the 2010/11 season

As always I like to give a brief review of the season and this year is no different:


Number of games seen: 53
Number of new grounds / venues visited: 48
Number of new clubs seen: 44
Number of different leagues seen games in: 23 (including 2 in Germany)
Number of new leagues seen games in: 8 (as above)


A breakdown of the new teams that I have seen in league order:


Cambridgeshire County League (2) Longstanton; Over Sports
Central Midlands League (6) Church Warsop S & S; Kinsley Boys, Nettelham, Nottingham United, Phoenix, Thorne Colliery
East Lincolnshire Combination (1) Chapel Swifts
FA Premier League (2) Everton; Liverpool
German Bundesliga (1) VfL Bochum 1848
Germany Niederrheinliga (1) Turu 1880 Dusseldorf
Hellenic League (1) Winterbourne United
Leicester & District League (5) Allexton & New Parks, Aylestone Lounge*, GNG, Queniborough, Thurlaston Magpies
Liverpool County Premier League (1) Waterloo Dock
Midland Combination (3) Clements '83, Future Legends, Stretton Eagles
Midland Football Alliance (1) Tipton Town
North Leicestershire League (4) Butler Court, Marlborough Rovers, Measham Imperial, Sutton Bonington Academicals
North West Counties League (2) Ashton Town, Glossop North End
Northamptonshire Combination (2) Weldon United; Welford Victoria
Northern Counties East League (1) Winterton Rangers
Notts Senior League (1) Kimberley Miners Welfare
Scottish Football League (1) Stranraer
Southern League (2) Bideford; Chippenham Town
Spartan South Midlands League (1) Leverstock Green
United Counties League (3) Boston Town, Harborough Town, King's Lynn Town
West Midlands (Regional) League (2) Goodrich; Tividale
Western League (1) Roman Glass St. George


* - play at a venue previously seen another team at


There were also four grounds that were visited either used as a neutral venue or a case of clubs moving into new grounds:


Ermine Street, Ancaster; Eagle Valley, Arnold, Hunts Post Community Stadium, St. Neots and Evans Park, Stafford


Best Game: saw some cracking games this season but winner is Leverstock Green v Enfield 1893 (FA Vase) – a nine goal thriller with a goal in both the 1st and last minute 

Worst Game: Phoenix v Kiveton Park (CML) – simply awful. 

Best Team (in relation to level): Allexton & New Parks (Leicester & District League) – won their division with 100% record and if they have the same players, should do it again next season. 

Worst Team (in relation to level): Raunds Town (UCL) – totally outclassed at King’s Lynn on New Years Day 

Favourite Ground (professional): Anfield 

Favourite Ground (non-league): The Walks, King’s Lynn 

Ground liked the least (non-league): Eagle Valley, Arnold – boring and soulless etc 

Most picturesque setting: Thurlaston Magpies (Leicester & District League) 

Best programme: VfL Bochum - 60 A4 pages for only €1. St. Helens Town was the best non-league one I picked up. 

Worst programme: King’s Lynn Town (UCL) – shocking A4 effort they issued on New Year’s Day. 

Most difficult ground to find: Did not have any trouble finding any grounds this season. A sat-nav and good maps always help! 

Friendliest club: Tipton Town (MFA) – very friendly club and they even allowed me pitch side(instead of being behind the athletics’ track) to take photographs. 

Most arrogant / unwelcoming club: King’s Lynn Town -Came across as arrogant and had a Billy big time attitude. 

Best goal: The third goal for Mablethorpe Athletic @ Chapel Swifts (21-05-2011). A superb side foot volley that flew past the keeper. 

Scores seen for the 1st time: 5-4, 7-2, 7-3, 2-7 and 0-8
Average goals per game: 4.83 (256 goals in 53 games)


Back in July for the football when I will be attending day 1 of the 2011 Emirates Cup. There might be some new posts during the summer as I hopefully will be attending at least one cricket match and / or going to Mallory Park to watch some motor sport.


Take care


The Rambler

Anniversary @ the Chapel

CHAPEL SWIFTS 0-5 MABLETHORPE ATHLETIC
Saturday 21st May 2011
East Lincolnshire Combination Division 2
Sea Road, Chapel St. Leonards

Six years ago today, the last time May 21st fell on a Saturday yours truly was getting married to one Angela Sidwell at the County Hall Registry Office in Glenfield, Leicestershire. A day that I keep getting reminded about in the sense that it was the only Saturday in May that year in which it rained!!!

In Havana on our honeymoon

We had been invited to a 30th birthday bbq up in Hucknall but due to having trouble getting a dog sitter we decided to go out for the day. The Lincolnshire coast between Skegness and Mablethorpe is an area I know very well, having had a lot of holidays at the family caravan in Anderby Creek. With me being me and my obession for football I checked if there were any fixtures in the East Lincolnshire Combination and hey presto! Three fixtures in the top two divisions caught my attention due to the location of the home teams involved:

Alford Town v A&G Auto Repairs

Sutton Rovers (from Sutton-on-Sea) v North Somercotes United

Chapel Swifts (from Chapel St. Leonards) v Mablethorpe Athletic

With us more than likely heading first to Chapel it would be a case of where we would be in time for the 2.30pm kick-offs. The journey to this part of Lincolnshire from south west Leicester takes around 2 1/2 hours and is approximately 95 - 100 miles away depending on the resort. We left Leicester in glorious sunshine and it stayed that way all day. I decided to head first to the small seaside hamlet of Anderby Creek which is located between Chapel St Leonards and Sutton-on-Sea. The reason being is that I knew it would be fairly quiet and we would be able to let Millie (the dog) off her lead and allow her to have a run round. More information on Anderby Creek can be found on the official website by clicking here. After getting back to the car we had a coffee at the beach cafe before making the two mile drive south to Chapel. This is where we had a lunch which consisted of what else...chips followed by again what else...ice-cream, before making the (very) short drive to the village hall in time for the 2.30pm kick-off.

Millie on Anderby beach

Chapel St. Leonards

The East Lincolnshire Combination is a league that will be new to me in terms of watching a game, and it was only about a year ago that I had even heard of the league itself. In the end I decided to take in the division 2 encounter between mid-table Chapel Swifts and division champions Mablethorpe Athletic in what will be both clubs final game of the season. There is only one other game today and that is between North Thoresby and Barnoldby. 

League table (upto & including May 14th 2011)

Pos Team                   Pl W. D. L. For Aga Pts

1   MABLETHORPE ATHLETIC   15 11  2  3 63  23  35

2   Tetney Rovers          16  9  4  3 51  34  31

3   Burgh Town             16  7  6  3 47  28  27

4   Barnoldby              15  8  2  5 46  37  26

5   CHAPEL SWIFTS          15  7  1  7 53  37  22

6   North Thoresby         15  6  3  6 26  37  21

7   Donington              16  5  2  9 33  55  17

8   Theddlethorpe Village  16  4  4  8 30  52  16

9   Scamblesby             16  0  2 14 25  71   2

    Tetford United         Withdrew during the season

Chapel St. Leonards is a small seaside village in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire. In 2001 it had a population of 3,405 (source: Statistics of Chapel St. Leonards) and is located 6 miles north of Skegness, 11 miles south of Mablethorpe and 44 miles east of Lincoln. There are numerous caravan parks which are located to the south of the village centre along South Road and Trunch Lane. The football club play behind the village hall on Sea Road which is approximately a five minute walk from the beach. The pitch was not roped or railed, no dugouts or anything else for that matter, though there are various items of children's play equipment which including a swing and climbing frame.

Club Logo

This was a typical end of season game played on a rock hard pitch. There was nothing on the game and despite this it was fairly competitive and entertaining to watch. The first half was a fairly even affair and predominantly a midfield battle. Chapel settled quicker but were hit on the counter attack on 10 minutes when the Athletic #4 slotted the ball past the Swifts keeper following a run that took him past several defenders. A couple of minutes later and it should have been all square but after being put through and with only the goalie to beat the ball was put wide. Just before the half hour mark and Mablethorpe doubled their lead when the ball was scrambled home from a few yards out following a free kick. The closest the home side came to scoring came on the 38th minute when the ball was lobbed over the Athletic keeper, only for it to hit the bar and bounce kindly back into the grateful keepers hands. The second half was more one sided and Athletic could, and should have scored more than the three goals. It did feel like that if they wanted to, they could step it up by another couple of gears. Their third goal of the afternoon was the best of the lot when a diagonal ball found the #9 unmarked in the penalty area and he volleyed it side footed past the keeper. The Swifts best chance of the half came with around 20 minutes left but the ball was dragged wide of the left hand post. A fourth for Mablethorpe was added a couple of minutes later before the scoring was completed with four minutes from time.

   
Admission / programme: none
Attendance: peaked at 20
Match rating: 2 1/2 out of 5


A slideshow of photos taken can be viewed below:



Sources / Links:
Chapel Swifts FC
East Lincolnshire Combination website

For the record the result of the other game in division 2 today ended in a 2-2 draw, while the results of the other two games I was considering ended in two comprehensive away wins. Alford lost 6-2 while Sutton were on the wrong end of an 8-2 scoreline.

The good, the bad and the ugly?

WELDON UNITED 2-1 WELFORD VICTORIA

Saturday 14th May 2011

Northants Combination Premier Division

Oundle Road

Today was a rare chance to meet up with good friend Kevin Zupp with this being only the second time this calender year. Our original plan was to go across to Oundle for a Peterborough & District League encounter between Oundle Town and newly crowned league champions Ramsey Town. With it being FA Cup Final I had e-mailed the secretaries of both teams but had no reply. Also this morning the kick off time on the Peterborough League website was still showing as 3pm. With this in mind we arrived at Oundle at 2pm only to be told that the game had just ended. Thanks a lot :-((((((((((((((( An hours drive for nothing. Surely it is not too much to ask for kick off times to be correct on league websites? Luckily I knew that Weldon United were at home in the Northants Combination, and as we had to go through Weldon on the way home we stopped at their ground on the edge of the village. The kick off time had not changed and we stayed and watched, thankful to get a game in. Also another bonus was that neither of us had been here before so a new ground tick as well.

Weldon is a small village on the eastern edge of Corby that had a population in 2001 of 1,644. Weldon United's ground is on the eastern edge of the village on Oundle Road itself. As you turn off the road the changing rooms and bar are on the right hand side with the pitch on the other side of the slip road. Immediately behind the ground is a caravan park. The pitch is railed off on the near side while there is no rope or rail on the other three. There is also no hard standing, dugouts or cover. 

The game was one that Welford should have won at a canter with the amount of chances created. Fortunately for the hosts most of them were off target or tame efforts that did not test the keeper. In truth the first half was pretty forgetable in terms of a spectacle for the neutral. The second half was only a few minutes old when an altercation occurred which resulted in the Weldon #7 being sent off for throwing a punch. During the ensuing melee Weldon sub Steve Brydon came onto the pitch but was hauled off by his team mates. Brydon then made threatening gestures to the Welford official running the line on this side. Thankfully there were no more incidents during the rest of the game and it went off without further incident. Weldon then carried on where they left off at the end of the 1st half and created numerous chances that were wasted. They took the lead with around twenty minutes remaining with a drilled shot from Ollie Watts. This seemed to inspire the home side rather than deflate them and they created a few chances of their own. Weldon equalised with ten minutes through the previously mentioned Brydon who drilled a shot past the Welford keeper. The winner came with five minutes on the clock when the ball found its way to Gareth Robb who hit a first time shot past the stranded keeper - cue mass celebrations from the home side. 

At the end of the game the Weldon player who was sent off wanted to "go for a walk" with the Welford player he had the altercation with but the offer was declined. He was then ushered away by his teammates and (I believe) the issue was sorted out with a handshake.

Admission / programme: none

Attendance: 15 (Kev Zupp head count)

Match rating: 2 out of 5 

A slideshow of photos taken can be viewed below:

Cambs League Double

Saturday 7th May 2011


"The bloody weather forecast"

A term that has been used frequently this season by myself, and no doubt many other football fans throughout the country. After the glorious weather we have had of late which included yesterday (Friday 6th May) here in Leicester, it   should have turned overnight with the forecast of showers and / or prolonged heavy periods of rain during today.  The sold called forecast left me with the case of trying to find where it would be driest during the lunchtime / early afternoon period within a ninety minute drive of home, and in the end Cambridge seemed the best bet. In the end this (the rain) did not materialise apart from a heavy spell between 10am and 10.30am, and this happend while I was driving eastwards on the A14. Due to the forecast I put to bed my original plan of Milton v Welford Victoria in the Northants Combination and I set about looking at fixtures in the Cambridgeshire Senior League - a league that will be virgin territory for me. St Neots based club Eaton Socon jumped out at me as a possible but then I came across an 11.30am kick off in the leagues third tier (Senior Division B) between Longstanton and West Row Gunners. An email to their secretary Edward James confirmed this and now it was a case of what game I could "double" it up with. 

Game 1

Longstanton 3-5 West Row Gunners

Cambridgeshire County League Senior Division B

Longstanton Recreation Ground

Longstanton is a village (population 1,700 in 2001), located six miles north west of Cambridge. For the majority of its history Longstanton was split into two parishes - Long Stanton All Saints and Long Stanton St. Michaels. The two did not official merge until 1953. The village is home to two mediaeval churches: 

All Saints Church 

1) All Saints which was built in the mid 14th century and is a grade 1 listed building
2) St Michaels is smaller of the two and was built around 1230. It is a rare example of a church with a thatched roof and is a grade 2 listed building.

St. Michaels Church

The village will also border the proposed new town of Northstowe which will become the UK's first eco-town. More information on this can be found on the wikipedia page: Northstowe.


The journey to Longstanton is around 75 miles and takes approximately an hour and a half with the majority of it being on the A14 dual carriageway. It was straightforward with the traffic being light and having stopped for petrol and food I arrived at the recreation ground ten minutes before kick-off. Just before kick off I made acquaintance with two fellow groundhoppers Bob Davies  who is from Stevenage and Newmarket based Martin Wray (who was with his wife Fran and dog Lucky) and has his own website: Football Grounds In Focus. This is a site that I been contributing to for a couple of years now, whether it be photos and / or match reports. The football club share the facilities with the local cricket club and it was due to cricket that the game today was brought forward by a few hours and as such the game attracted a number of groundhoppers who took advantage of this like myself to attend two games . The pitch was in pretty good condition and roped off on the two sidelines. Also on the site are tennis courts and the village bowls club. 

The game itself was a cracker with the two teams prior to kick off seperated by two points and one place in favour of the home side. West Row started the better but the best chance in the opening spell came to Longstanton but the effort was saved by the keeper. The opening goal came on 18 minutes when a corner was hit first time into the net by Austen Diaper to give the home side the lead. This lasted just nine minutes when a misplaced back pass allowed Nick Agombar to score from a narrow angle. West Row then had an excellent chance to take the lead but hit the post from a yard out following a fumble by the keeper. Before half time Longstanton missed a excellent chance themselves to take the lead but their number 7 put the ball wide. We did not have to wait long for another goal following the half time interval as Longstanton re-took the lead on 51 minutes. Diaper got his second with a simple finish from 8 yards which followed a well worked move on the right. Ten minutes later and the visitors were awarded a penalty following a foul by the keeper. This was confidently dispatched and the game was level again. With twenty minutes remaining Longstanton look the lead for the third time when a through ball was hit first time by one of their substitutes. West Row equalised for the third time with 78 minutes on the clock and just two minutes later took the lead for the first time in the game. This was a simple tap that followed a cracking shot from outside the area that was parried by the Longstanton keeper. The final goal of the game came with time up when West Row hit the home side on the counter attack and the chance was finished with aplomb.


Admission / programme: none
Attendance: 45 (head count)
Match rating: 4 out of 5


The second half was spent chatting to Martin and at the end of the game bode farewell as we set off in different directions for game number 2.


A slideshow of photos taken can be viewed below:

With numerous options for game 2 I made my way to the one nearest to Longstanton for a 2pm kick-off.


Game 2
Over Sports 0-0 Chatteris Town
Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division
Over Recreation Ground


Over is just four miles from Longstanton and has a population of around 3,200 inhabitants. It is also located some ten miles from both Cambridge and Huntingdon. 

Village sign (source: Wikipedia)

The village recreation ground is similar to that of the one at Longstanton in the fact the football club share the facilities with the cricket club. Also at the side is a childrens play area and skate park. The pitch was roped off on three sides with no access behind the near goal. 


At the start of play Over needed a point to finish runners-up behind league champions Lakenheath and in the end they got what they required. In truth the game was a shocker with it being played at a high tempo throughout. It was a very niggly encounter with very few chances created and at times the referee (especially in the second half) struggled to keep control. I am struggling to remember any chances but I do recall the visitors hitting the bar in the second half and the Over keeper making a decent save. Of the chances created most either went wide or were tame efforts that did not trouble either keeper.


Admission: by donation - gave £1
Programme: none
Attendance: 74 (head count) but appeared more in the second half
Match rating: 1 out of 5


Both games were played in glorious sunshine and the rain did not appear until after dark, long after I arrived home. 


A slideshow of some photos taken during the game can be viewed below:

Warsop

CHURCH WARSOP SPORTS & SOCIAL 2-1 CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE

Saturday 30th April 2011

Central Midlands League Supreme Division

The Alley

The season is coming to a close for yours truly with after today only two or three games left. I had a short list of three, all of which were in the Central Midlands League (CML) with the others being Pinxton and Whatton United. My dad had agreed to come along today a few weeks ago, but events this week made me unsure as to whether he would be up for it as it were as my grandad died in his sleep on Tuesday morning after being ill for a long time. I was not going to mention the football but it was dad that asked if I was still going and we agreed that I would head over to his house around 12.45pm before setting off to north Nottinghamshire.

St. Peter and Paul Parish Church (source: Wikipedia)

Church Warsop is a small village in north Nottinghamshire and is located three miles west of Shirebrook and five and a half miles north of Mansfield. It was built in 1930 by the Staveley Coal and Iron Company to house workers (and their families) at the Warsop Main Colliery at nearby Warsop Vale.

There football club are surrounded by a number of other clubs that play at CML level and above, with these including Clipstone Welfare, Ollerton Town and Shirebrook Town. The club play at The Alley which is on Wood Lane in the village and like most clubs that play at CML level, they go onto my "to visit" list. The reason I chose them today was that I had heard a rumour that they are to fold in the summer and the ground is to be used by fellow CML side Nottingham United next season. Church Warsop were formed in the summer of 2008 as Church Warsop Miners Welfare and were elected into the premier division of the CML. An eight place finish in their debut season was followed by the division title last season and with it promotion to the Supreme Division. I believe the club offered their resignation in the close season after a dispute with the Miners Welfare who own the land, but after sorting out the issues they agreed to carry on and changed their name in the process to Church Warsop Sports & Social. This season they and their opponents Calverton Miners Welfare have struggled and both find themselves in the bottom four of the Supreme Division table. They have both recorded just five wins apiece and are separated by three points in the favour of Church Warsop.

I picked up my dad and we took around 1 hour 15 minutes to make the 49 mile journey. On arriving at the ground we parked in the small car park behind the Sports & Social Club and then made our way to the pitch. The ground is fully enclosed by a wall though no admission was charged or programme issued. Apparently they are a 1 man band and have not issued all season and the rumours are true - they are to fold at the end of the season. On the near side there is a small section of cover which would keep maybe ten people dry.

The game was played on a rock hard dusty pitch and wasn't the best I have seen this season. The first half was by some way the worst of the two periods of 45 minutes with very little being created. The second half was much better in terms of the quality of football and entertainment and we did not have to wait long for the opening goal. Just four minutes into the half and the home side took the lead when the ball was drilled past the Calverton keeper from 15 yards out. The lead lasted five minutes when Calverton were awarded a penalty. To be honest I have no idea what it was for as I was standing behind the other goal, but their number 9 stepped up and confidently sent the Church Warsop keeper the wrong way. On the hour mark and Church Warsop were back in front when their number 11 beautifully flicked the ball over the keeper with the outside of his boot. This proved to be the winner but both sides (especially Church Warsop) had chances to increase to number of goals and in the end the home side deservedly took all three points.

Admission / programme: none

Attendance: 21 (head count)

Match rating: 2 out of 5 (1 for the first half and 3 for the second)

There are now just two games left for Church Warsop, both of which are at home:

Monday 2nd May v Pinxton (1pm ko)

Saturday 7th May v Kirkby Town (3pm ko)

A slideshow of photos taken can be viewed below:

A different sport

EUROPEAN TRUCK GRAND PRIX

Donington Park

Sunday 24th April 2011

A first today for "All Roads Lead Somewhere" - photos and other information on a first ever visit to Donington Park for the European Truck Grand Prix. It was an advert in the Leicester Mercury newspaper about a 25% discount on tickets that caught my attention, and having asked the wife if she was interested and organised a dog sitter - thanks Mum! the tickets were booked at a cost of £25.50 including fee for both of us. Prior to leaving home we made the (excellent) decision to take our own food and chairs. We arrived at the circuit early as we had no idea what to expect in terms of, well everything. On entry we were told that there was full access to the inside of the track and paddock area and getting there early allowed us to get a good position inside @ Hollywood. The racing on offer consisted of four different categories:

1) FIA European Truck Racing Championship

2) Formula Renault BARC Championship

3) Legends Cars UK Championship

4) Pickup Truck Championship

Catering

The food and drink stalls located at the circuit are the usual fast food variety consisting of burgers, jacket potatoes, baguettes etc. An example of the prices are as follows:

Hot Drinks: £2

Jacket Potato & two fillings: £5

Potato Wedges: £3

Baguettes: between £5 and £6

Burgers: around £5

The first action on the track started around 9am with the trucks doing a 15 minute warm up and the first race itself @ 9.50am with the 14 lap Formula Renault BARC Championship. Between this and the next race (Legends Cars) at 11.20am was the qualifying for the trucks. Two more races then followed before a break for lunch. At the lunch break we decided to ditch our baggage back at the car and have a walk round looking at the trade stalls and paddock area. Opening the paddock area to the fans was a superb idea in my opinion and as well as a chance for the fans to meet the drivers there was also plenty of freebies on offer from Renault and the various teams. After lunch was the first of the two main events of the day with round 3 of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship and not surprisingly it was this that drew the most crowds track side. Three more races followed before the last race of the day @ 5pm - round 4 of truck racing. We decided to miss one of minor races to have another look round the paddock and this was excellent timing as the truck drivers were just coming into the area and signing posters etc for the fans - naturally as the saying goes "when in Rome". 

Results: (FIA European Truck Racing Championship)

Round 3

1st: 3 Jochen Hahn (Germany) 

2nd: 9 Uwe Nittel (Germany)

3rd: 4 Markus Ostreich (Germany)

Round 4

1st: 4 Markus Ostreich (Germany)

2nd: 3 Jochen Hahn (Germany)

3rd: 5 David Vrsecky (Czech Republic)

Admission: £25.50 (two adults + fee)

Programme: £5

Slideshows of the various categories of racing plus general ones of the circuit and paddock area are all below:

Legends Cars:

Formula Renault:

Pickup Trucks:

FIA European Trucks:

Junior Cup Final

CK DONS 0-3 HECKINGTON MILLERS

Saturday 23^rd April 2011

Grantham & District League Junior Cup Final

Ermine Street, Ancaster

My second game of the day sees me head across country to Lincolnshire for this tea time kick-off in the final of the Grantham & District League Junior Cup sponsored by HIT Consulatancy. The 13 teams in division 1 compete in the Junior Cup, while the Senior Cup is competed for by the teams in the premier division.

The drive took around 80 minutes and included a stop for petrol. My route was simple taking me along the A6006, then onto the A46 to the island with the A52 and then headed towards Grantham. Going through Grantham I then turned onto the B6403 towards Ancaster. The drive along the 52 was very light in terms of traffic, with the smell of the rape seed crop to my left and the impressive Belvoir Castle sitting majestically to the south.  

The Grantham & District League as the name suggests is centred around the Grantham area and includes clubs from three different counties: Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Leicestershire is represented by Bottesford (+ reserves), Buckminster United and Croxton Kerrial sides Croxton AFC and CK Dons.

Mr Bill Hannigan (tournament sponsor) with the trophies

The final this year is to be played at Ermine Street, Ancaster which is home to premier division side Ancaster Rovers. The venue is roughly equi-distance between the two teams with it being 15 miles north east of Croxton Kerrial and 13 miles west of Heckington.

This season’s competition:

Round 1

Baston             4-1 Baston Athletic

Cranmer Arms       4-8 Bottesford Reserves

Morton             5-3 Rippingale & Folkingham

Newark Flowserve       Harrowby Athletic

Home win awarded

Skillington        3-4 Heckington Millers

Round 2

Heckington Millers 2-1 Baston

Lord Harrowby      4-6 Caythorpe

Morton             3-2 Newark Flowserve

Quarter Final

CK Dons            5-2 Bottesford Reserves

Semi Finals

Caythorpe          1-8 Heckington Millers

Morton             2-3 CK Dons

Recent finals:

2008: RHP Newark     3-0 Balderton Old Boys

2009: Bottesford Res 5-3 Caythorpe

2010: Beehive United 5-1 Grantham United

The following information on the two sides is taken from the programme:

CK Dons

Based in Croxton Kerrial, CK Dons were established in 2009 and managed a respectable sixth position finish in their maiden season. This season saw a slow start in the league but a recent upturn in results should see a similar top six finish, the same as last season. Having failed to make any semi-finals last season, a cup final and at least another cup semi-final represents a successful season of development at The Dons.

Top (L to R): Martyn Hallam, Kevin Hibbins, John Sheppard, Neil Bukavs, Rob Walters, Michael Hallam, Aaron Samways, Kiel Stewart, Steve Kirkham, James Frost
Bot (L to R): Jez Hill, Lee Waters, Kieran Hand, Dave Scott, Matt Keightley, Euan Burrows, Mark Cadman 

Heckington Millers

Heckington Millers Football Club, more commonly known as ‘Millers’, started in 2006 and in their first season won the League Cup. Since the teams inception three players have represented the club every season: Jay Carrington, Chris Doherty and Sean Jenkinson. Sean is also the clubs oldest player at 44 years old and the clubs youngest is Luke Townsend at 19.

On arriving at the ground around 45 minutes I made acquaintance with the CK Dons secretary Jeremy Hill who I had exchanged e-mails with prior to the game. The ground is a basic affair with the facilities shared with Ancaster Cricket Club. The pitch was roped off along the two touchlines and there is (along with changing rooms) a clubhouse / social club.

The game was very competitive and in the end the score line was harsh on the Dons. It was they who started better creating several chances in the opening couple of minutes and generally had the better of things in the opening ten minutes or so. The opening goal for the Millers came from a corner when the ball was bundled home on 14 minutes. This inability to defend at corners ultimately cost the Dons dearly. The goal knocked the Dons back a bit as for the next five or ten minutes Heckington had their best spell of the half. The Dons then got back in control and dominated the proceedings for the remainder of the half putting pressure on the Millers defence. Several good chances  came in the last five minutes of the half: 1) a good move on the left saw the ball struck the side netting, 2) a header from a corner was headed over and 3) the ball being cleared from underside of the bar from another corner. At this moment in time the last thing that the Dons wanted was the half to end. Two goals in the space of three minutes around the hour mark ended the game as a contest. Both came from set pieces with the second of the two coming from the Millers number 14 who headed home unmarked from three yards out. Both sides continued to go forward with the Dons trying to salvage some pride but alas to no avail.

Overall a good game of football and I was impressed with the standard on offer with this being my first ever Grantham League game. Like previously stated it was the Dons inability to defend at corners along with them not taking the numerous chances that came their way that was their undoing. This is not meant to take anything away from Heckington and congratulations go out to them.

Admission: £1 including 4 page programme

Raffle tickets: £1

Attendance: 110 (official) - seemed nearer 150

Match rating: 3 out of 5

A slideshow of photos taken during the game can be viewed in the slideshow below:

Five minutes after getting in my car the rain came to this part of Lincolnshire – good timing eh!!!

After a 75 minute journey I was back home at around 9pm seven and a half hours after leaving home.

Another busy today tomorrow (Easter Sunday) with a first visit to Donington Park for the British Truck Grand Prix.