BASFORD UTD SECURE NOTTS SENIOR CUP DESPITE CLIPSTONE COMEBACK

BASFORD UNITED 5 V CLIPSTONE 3
NOTTS SENIOR CUP FINAL @ ONE CALL/FIELD MILL STADIUM
30 APRIL 2015 7.30PM

SEAN RICHARDSON MATCH REFEREE HEADS UP HIS TEAM ALONG SIDE BOTH CAPTAINS

Basford United were grateful to a wonder showing from Stuart Hendrie that led to him securing a quality hat trick and ultimately the Notts Senior Cup despite Clipstone's late come back who from 4-0 down pulled the game back to 4-3 before a stoppage time strike from Ruben Wiggins Thomas made it 5-3 on the final whistle to secure a league and cup double.
The trip to Mansfield was made with a little time to spare to visit the big 'M' for some eats and then on the approach a certain member of a local non league team was spotted at a distance still wearing his Evostik club jacket next season he will be changing it to a Toolstation version, can you name him? 

EVOSTIK MYSTERY MAN APPROACHES FIELD MILL LETS HOPE ITS NOT
 GOING TO 'RAIN' AND ITS 'WORTH' IT

Previous to this gentleman, ex of the press, the blog had caught up for a few minutes with Rob Hornby fresh from the successful Notts groundhop over the last weekend.  Having entered the ground there was time to catch up with a large selection of the Rainworth MW FC staff, Mr Ian Cox of the NCEL and also a wave to Jason Harrison, of Mansfield FM and the excellent NCEL website, who was way up in the top deck of the stand broadcasting live from tonight's game.

THE IMPOSING MAIN STAND

The ground at Mansfield has been described in an earlier visit this season for the FA Cup game versus Concorde however tonight the lower tier was the only part of the ground open but this commanded a good view and allowed the blog to get a bit closer to the action that was to follow.
The prospect for the game were mouth watering with both sides being champions of their leagues Basford Utd top dogs in the Midlands Football League and Clipstone top of the pile in the NCEL.

CLIPSTONE 2015 NOTTS SENIOR CUP FINALISTS

The first half was an industrious affair with Clipstone enjoying the better of the earlier exchanges but as the half wore on it was Basford who looked the more likely to score and so it proved after 35 minutes when Stuart Hendrie curled a lovely effort into the Clisptone goal from the edge of the box leaving Nick Siddons with no chance.

So we arrived at half time with little sign of the 7 goals that were to follow in the second half.
Half time saw Mansfield mascot Sammy Stag take his place in goal for a penalty shoot out and his way off the pitch the blog managed to get a quick snap of the beast.

SAMMY STAG IS HAPPY TO SEE THE BLOG

A quick call of nature was made at half time and rather weirdly all the gents urinals were close to overflowing and when I opted to pop into the Sandy Pate bars toilets the same was happening in there, very strange.  I can however sense here Spireites making up their own jokes, careful Mr Pardo!
Two goals in the same amount of minutes looked to have put the game well beyond Clipstone Dion Miekle headed in a free kick on 50 minutes before superb work from Wiggins Thomas allowed Ryan Whitehurst the chance to lay off a neat ball for Stuart Hendrie to get his second with a neat drive into the bottom left hand corner.

As Basford pushed on they made it 4-0 on 63 minutes when Stuart Hendrie completed his hat trick with another edge of the box drive that found its way through a collection of players into Siddons goal.

Clipstone gave themselves a slight chance when two minutes later Callum Mawby beat Basford keeper Saul Deeney to the ball on the edge of the box and he powered on to slot into an empty goal.
It was Mawby again whose sheer strength saw him storm through on the edge of the Basford box and he lashed an unstoppable shot to make it 4-2 after 75 minutes and the comeback was on.   Three minutes from time and Basford were in danger of losing a game that they had stormed into a 4-0 lead early in the second half when Clipstone made it 4-3.  Pressure from Jamie Brown saw substitute Josh Gibson further reduce the deficit. 
It was now Clipstone with the upper hand but then the inevitable happened as they committed players forward to make the most of the three minutes stoppage time they got caught on the break by Wiggins-Thomas who found himself charging down on goal and he coolly slotted past the out coming Siddons.
Referee Richardson called the game to a halt moments later and it was once again observed that the match official had performed superbly well in this goal fest of a final. 

HERE COMES THE CUP

There was now just time to see runners up Clipstone take their bow before Basford captain Josh Thornton lifted the Notts Senior Cup for 2015 and the champagne flowed over the observing supporters.
A good display from both sides tonight and also a well done to Mansfield Town who staged this game admirably well with a well run PA system as ever operated by the long term Stags operator.  Before the game while getting the team line ups it was good to put a face to this gentleman's voice who I have so often heard at Field Mill.  So often league clubs don't utilise the PA or any music today MTFC helped to make the occasion for both sides and the supporters in the crowd of 429 who attended this entertaining final.
MYSTREY MAN WAS OF COURSE----MR GORDON FOSTER, RAINWORTH MWFC.

WHAT A SUPERB DISPLAY OF ADVERTISING I WOULD HAVE
 BEEN PROUD OF THIS AT MY FORMER CLUB