SUBS ALLEN & MATHEWS WIN LEAGUE CUP FOR HUCKNALL ROLLS

BLIDWORTH 1 V HUCKNALL ROLLS LEISURE 2
CMFL BUCKINGHAM INSURANCE LEAGUE CUP FINAL @ THE IMPACT ARENA
1 MAY 2016 --- 3PM

HUCKNALL ROLLS LEISURE CMFL LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 2016

The proverbial game of two halves saw Hucknall Rolls come out on top with a storming second half come back against ten man Blidworth.  With this all Nottinghamshire final settled by two goals from Rolls subs in Harry Allen and then the big blow a stoppage time goal from Kane Mathews sealing victory and the silverware for the Hucknall based side.
A close game for the blog on a Sunday was a blessing especially after the morning coverage of the Alma Cup Semi Final in The Chesterfield Sunday League between Hasland Dev and Tibshelf Town the former securing a 3-1 victory.
Arrival in Alfreton on a Sunday afternoon was a little surreal with quiet streets belying the fact of a big game on at The Impact Arena of course the CMFL League Cup Final.

WELCOME TO THE IMPACT ARENA HOME OF ALFRETON TOWN FC

Upon arrival at 2pm there was already a small gathering of people in attendance and as ever it was great to catch up with many friends at Alfreton plus today many non league fans and of course a few of the CMFL officials including Mark Senior, league secretary, who the blog had not seen for a while.

CMFL SECRETARY MARK SENIOR

The Impact Arena has been covered on the blog many times so I wont go over a ground descriptor again needless to say for this final the pitch was looking fantastic and if you couldn't play football on it then you were probably in the wrong game.

TODAYS OFFICIALS HEADED UP BY JAMES SHIPLEY

The league and its officials made a good job of the pre match entry with todays referee, James Shipley, collecting the ball from a stand as he entered the pitch with both teams and then the sides being presented to the Leagues sponsors Buckingham Insurance Services.  There was even time for the National Anthem to be played over the well operated, as ever, pa system at the Impact.

It was Blidworth who were out of the blocks at a fair old pace and they had the lead after just 9 minutes when Jordan Harris smashed home a loose ball after an initial shot had rebounded back off the bar.

EARLY CELEBRATIONS AS BLIDWORTH OPEN THE SCORING THROUGH JORDAN HARRIS

It was all Blidworth with Hucknall struggling to get a grip on the game and the latter were grateful to a flying goal line clearance from Jamie Thomas after an initial shot had this time hit the post and the follow up from Gareth Curtis brought out the best in acrobatics from Thomas.  Just over the half an hour mark Brendan Williams saw his shot well saved before the follow up from Tim Gregory was deflected away. The half time break must have been a good one from the Rolls management team because they looked a different side in the second period.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON JUGGLING

Blidworth were gradually losing their grip on the game and the strong Harry Allen, lucky not to have been booked for a challenge on the keeper earlier drove down the right before cutting in and curling a glorious strike inside the far post to level the game on 69 minutes.
It was becoming a game that Hucknall were now looking the stronger in but still beckoning extra time.  A clash in front of the Blidworth dug outs 10 minutes before the end involving Leeds Keenan of Blidworth and Kyle McDermott of Rolls ended with the two chasing each other but the coming together remarkably only resulted in the Blidworth player being dismissed.

The man advantage would now be important especially if we were to witness extra time but just as that was looking likely a further moment of controversy provided the winner a through ball to Mathews, who looked 2 yards offside, saw the substitute race through to fire past the out coming Steven Smith in the visitors goal.  It was enough to win the cup for Hucknall Rolls Leisure who moments later were celebrating lifting the League Cup with captain Aaron Short lifting the trophy but not before puckering up to the silverware first.

AARON SHORT ABOUT TO LIFT THE CUP

A tight final with a definite feel of a game of two halves which in the end just fell to the Hucknall side of the boundary but Blidworth were more than value in the first half and will probably rue a few missed chances in a dominant first half.
Trip back to base today was thanks to non league snapper Bill Wheatcroft, with many thanks mate much appreciated.