BATMAN WINS THE DAY AS RADFORD AND HOLBROOK ARE GOALLESS

RADFORD 0 V HOLBROOK SPORTS 0
EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE AT THE ON CALL ARENA
25 FEBRUARY 2017 --- 3PM

A MOODY ON CALL ARENA HOME OF RADFORD FC

Always a great little club to visit Radford and 0-0 affairs can be enthralling, this one was not. Forgotten by the time we exited onto Selhurst St outside the ground 30 seconds later.  The walk away from the game covered nothing of the proceeding 90 minutes football wise barring of course discussing the ground and the love of this superb little club.  The newly titled On Call Arena is nestled into the streets of Hyson Green just minutes away from the centre of Nottingham, close up to the action with a friendly welcome and a feel of a real non league ground its always a special visit.
It had been just short of a year since the blogs original visit, so I wont describe the set up again, and today following in the wake of a stormy week and with games falling to waterlogging the Rainbow 1 was picked up at Alfreton with the fall back options of 3g at Eastwood and Basford standing by.  But as ever the pitch here was well drained and ready for some sort of football action.

NEVER LET IT BE SAID THE BLOG CHERRY PICKS ITS GAMES

Taking a few steps back we arrived just short of the ground and decided to eat at a new big 'M's at Bobbers Mill this was a smart looking former pub fast food establishment, seats were at a premium and I ended up sharing a table with superhero Batman who had a feel of familiarity about him!

DADADADADADA MICKMAN KAPOW!

After a brief meander around Hyson Green and an observation of a few of the magnificent trams in action we were ready to pop along and see John on the gate at the ground, always good to see a friendly face and a warm welcome was guaranteed.

THE NEW EXTENSION IS VISABLE TO THE RIGHT OF THE CLUBHOUSE AT SELHURST ST

A brief catch up told us of the part built extension to the club house which swings out in front of the turnstiles and will offer a lovely development for Radford who are also hoping to extend the changing rooms to the other side of the clubhouse.  The home side will also have Notts County loanee Tamar Clayton-Naute making his debut today.
In the clubhouse it was good to catch up with Neil Allsop who was down to referee today but had been replaced by Mansfield Woodhouse based official Ian Jackson, good to see you today Neil hopefully catch you again soon.  Time moved on very fast and as the players came out it dawned on me this was of course a EMCL game not my favourite of league but at least it was at Radford and there was plenty of points of interest around the ground and how I was to need them on a dark afternoon that made action pictures difficult.

REFEREE IAN JACKSON WITH CAMERA CREW AND ASSESSOR KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH

The first half brought very little of note to the proceedings with Ashley Miles for the home side putting a high ball just wide in a one on one with visiting keeper and blond bombshell Daniel Graves.  At the other end just before half time Simeon Lawrence and Lobrada Domini fired across goal and just wide and that dear reader just about summed up the opening 45 minutes.

HOLBROOK KEEPER DANIEL GRAVES KEEPS THE COLOUR SCHEME INTERESTING

The second half saw the first action on 59 minutes when Matt Henley struck the post before Kenny Reeves side footed effort in the same move fell wide.  Holbrook were given the incentive to get back into the gme following this near miss and for a period of time looked the team likely to break the deadlock until the closing stages which probably produced the most exciting, if that's the right word, part of this game.  A superb left wing run from debutant Clayton-Naute which started deep in his own half fed Radford substitute James Forbes who just couldn't find the opening in a crowd box to find the back of the net on 83 minutes.  Just two minutes later the home side were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and Joe Meakin curled on towards goal only for Graves to push over for a corner.

SOME GREAT MOVEMENT

That about sums up the encounter it was one of those games you knew would end goalless after about 25 minutes a draw was a fair result although a few goals would have been nice I'm afraid some of the finishing was......well way of the mark.  Todays attendance was 39 but with only 15 paying spectators you have to applaud the crew at Radford, its so disappointing for me to see a lovely little club in need of some tender loving care from the Nottingham football loving public lets hope they will see an increase in interest soon.

ON CALL ACTION WITH RADFORD ON THE ATTACK

Game quickly forgotten a brief walk to the bus stop for the returning Rainbow 1 to Alfreton at just short of 5.20pm saw us finally board a bus heading towards Heanor at 5.45pm after our intended services non arrival.  Having seen the service to Alfreton now behind us at Giltbrook we got off our service and ran to the back off the bus to flag down the delayed Alfreton service which unbelievably picked up enough time to allow us to board the Comet to return back to base at 7pm, the joys of public transport.  It may be time to apply to do an Open University degree course in the operations of public transport from a customer perspective.
Shame about the game but Radford is always worth a visit and today supported that theory again.

A FIRST HALF INJURY FOR CALLUM GREEN SAW AN EARLY SUBSTITUTION

CAMPION SHOW TALENT IN WIN AT OLLERTON

OLLERTON TOWN 0 V CAMPION 2
NCEL 1 AT THE LANE
18 FEBRUARY 2017 --- 3PM

ACTION FROM OLLERTON V CAMPION

After a tight first half the skill of Talent Ndlovu shone through in a successful second period that saw the Bradford based visitors secure two goals without reply against an Ollerton side who had more than matched their high flying visitors before the break.
After an enforced lay off last week the blog was back on the local road and once again although not the first visit to Ollerton Town Fc it would be the first time blogged and the first afternoon match here for a game featuring the 2 league newcomers promoted from step 7 last season.  Fortunes have left both clubs in different league positions with Ollerton in good recent form struggling at the wrong end of the table and Campion with a bit more consistency challenging for a play off slot.
As with all local journeys its a case of setting up the bus connections and todays had 2 frustrating changes with just 5 minutes at each point and for once they went like clockwork from Comet departure at Alfreton onto a 'nines' to take us over the border into Mansfield and finally a 14 to Ollerton and we would were soon in deepest darkest Nottinghamshire.  The journey from Stag town took us past many other local non league grounds and the local derby at Forest Town today featured AFC Mansfield v Rainworth and we even had AFC secretary Pete Craggs gracing our bus before departing at The Arena. Onwards through Clipstone passing ground and headstocks from the once dominant industry sadly lost to my county and also of course in the end to Nottinghamshire too.  Robin Hood was not in residence at Edwinstowe today and the former Thoresby Colliery ground was nearby before we sped past the old Thoresby Colliery closed in 2015 to signal the end of mining in the county.

JUST FOR THE LOVE OF FISH AND CHIPS

Just short of 5 lane ends roundabout which is a surprisingly small and busy round about as you may imagine we depart at a point 500 yards or so short of Old Ollerton.  This area is a feast of menus with the Big 'M's', a new Public house eatery, The Big Fish and a petrol station, which probably does a mighty sausage roll, all cuddling the circular traffic controller. 
On this visit we opted for the good old fish and chips and just to keep regular blog readers happy I reckon the picture does them pretty good coverage I can tell you the top of the table area of the fish and chip league now has another addition.  Having risked all, fish and chips included, to cross the busy Newark bound road we found ourselves eating and ambling into the attractive Old Ollerton which is well worth a visit, a pre planned footpath route took us the back way into New Ollerton and onto the site of the former colliery which is now festooned with a big T's plus a business park of circular fashion, circular is clearly todays featured word.

HOME OF OLLERTON TOWN FC

Back out onto the main street Ollerton is quite unique in that its drag of shops are all on one side of the busy main A6075 walking away from the shops and down Beech Rd its just a 5 minute walk to Ollerton Town Fc.
The ground is set away from the road and adjacent is the cricket pitch although I guess looking at the lack of sight screens etc that cricket may have seen its day at this site.  The old pavilion is now the clubs changing facility were as previously it was the snack bar facility in a cost environment having paid our admission and purchased programmes we entered through a framework similar to security checking at a travel hub.  It was lovely to almost immediately catch up with Campion who had remembered us from a lovely visit we had to their ground earlier on in the season, thanks.  Snack bar and toilets were just around the meshed corner and of standard fare with to the side and behind the long standing covered terracing an area for the players to warm up away from the pitch.  I mention this early because full credit here to groundsman Neil for the excellent playing surface nice and flat all round.  While on the praise front the clubs programme is a good steady effort well set out with interesting features in an attractive presentation.

THE OLD STAND AT OLLERTON STILL LOOKING GOOD

Quick look at the ground its basic but the club of course are up from step 7 behind the near goal is the covered standing area that has stood for many a year but is smart and well maintained and drops lower than pitch level the nearer you get to goal leading to the far side which is out of bounds and the dug outs will remain peacefully un interfered with.  The bottom goal is also out of bounds and offers a vast expanse behind them, the only side you can stand on is the near touchline which offers Ollerton's new addition a stand of 2 rows in depth with a high roof, interestingly the seats have no backs to them but are smart and functional, hard standing continues to the far corner.  This area is very open to a slight cold wind which we suffered the longer todays game went on with it siding onto the cricket outfield.  Its a nice viewing ground close to the action the only down side being it is just a 2 sided, 1 touchline and 1 behind goal, ground.

THE NEW SEATED STAND AT THE LANE

The first period saw Ollerton match their high flying visitors and they would have been disappointed to not push home a slight advantage.  Chances though were at a minimum ten minutes before the break Josh Bowkett unleashed a 20 yard effort that Campion keeper Daniel Armitage pushed over well before at the other end Campion missed a great chance Eli Hey saw his shot parried by Scott Gretton into the path of Ndlovu who couldn't find the net.

SOD THE GAME THERE'S £35 RESTING ON THIS RAFFLE TICKET

First half highlight was the speed of movement of one old chap whose raffle ticket flew over the touchline onto the pitch, with a 'sod the game I'm getting my ticket back' approach he was on and nearly off  before the Campion clearance very nearly found him with a clean run up the right wing!
A nice touch at half time saw the club present a framed and signed Ollerton Town Fc shirt to long standing supporter Gordon Briggs presented by his grandson and a few of the home sides players, nice touch.

LEWIS BINGHAM OLLERTON TOWN FC

The other noteworthy pointer it was fantastic to hear a club at this level using a public address system for music and announcements it just adds to the experience.

OLLERTON ON THE ATTACK

The second half started with Campion fresh from I guess one heck of a motivational speech over the half time break they were on fire.  The undoubted skill of Ndlovu came to the fore where in the first half it had not been seen he was prominent in most moves.  Eli Hey was to go on a frustrating second period in the right place at the right time on so many occasions that he could have had 5 but always a player there to block his effort.  The first one was Ollerton keeper Armitage who denied the number 9 and then moments later his rasping 25 yard effort was alos pushed over by the home number 1.  The lead came on 56 minutes a corner off the left from Lee Bradshaw found Mathew Jones whose effort took a deflection off Bob Evans to beat home keeper Armitage.

CAMPIONS JACOB BUCHANAN

Normal proceedings resumed with Hey through on goal who fired just wide and the Ndlovu fed in the target man who saw his effort blocked on the line.  Moments later the same pairing saw the same outcome as Ollerton were struggling to get out of their own half with so much of the danger coming straight through the middle.  Substitute Jason Davis turned provider when he set up the livewire Ndlovu who fired over and as Campion created chance after chance Jacob Buchanan set up Liam Bartle who placed his effort just wide.  The second came on 72 minutes and it was nothing more than Campion deserved Davis once again found Ollerton's weak spot through the middle and Ndlovu latched on the pass to fire calmly past Armitage.
Ollerton were trying to put something together and you did feel that a goal back would make for a nervy and competitive finish to this game but it produced much of the same shortly afterwards when Hey saw his effort cleared off the line on 87 minutes!
An enjoyable visit with Campion looking good in the second half, the first half had been so close and I'm not sure what happened to Ollerton in the 2nd period although they showed enough in the opening 45 minutes to believe they will not be in danger of relegation.
The return journey had the same tight connections which started with a quick stride from the ground for the 4.55pm back to Mansfield something which we achieved with about 30 seconds to spare, it was more comfortable at Stag town with 10 minutes for the connecting service.  It was slightly worrying when at Alfreton I tried to scan off with my travel card on to realise it was a completely different coloured Tesco Clubcard that was not allowing me to do so!  Arrival back at base was achieved at 7pm and a pleasant trip to the outpost of Ollerton had been enjoyed with best wishes to both clubs for the remainder of the season.

LOYAL SUPPORTER GORDON BRIGGS RECEIVES HIS FRAMED SHIRT

SHIREBROOK IN NARROW VICTORY

SHIREBROOK TOWN 2 V NOSTELL MW 1
NCEFL 1 @ LANGWITH RD
5 FEBRUARY 2017 --- 3PM

SHIREBROOK TOWN V NOSTELL MW

Shirebrook secured the narrowest of victories against bottom side Nostell MW in a game that had the home side finished more convincingly they probably would have won by a bigger margin but they didn't and consequently the visitors were in this game right to the end.  Indeed I had seen Nostell at Eccleshill towards the end of last year and on both occasions I believe they have belied their league position.
The blog was local again today andits  fantastic to cover my local clubs, clubs that I have visited many times but often not had the chance of putting on the blog or only for an evening game.  So after overnight heavy rain many games were falling to the wet stuff but with Shirebrook always on the cards this weekend and a pitch that drains well it was off to the former mining town.  The travel plans for some of the local games I looked at were more complicated than some of the long distance games the blog has covered this season.

THE VICTORIA ON THE MODEL

Having changed buses in Chesterfield the hourly service to Shirebrook dropped us off just short of the Market Sq to allow us a walk around The Model Village an area of the town I had not visited before.  As ever former mining towns in the north offer a warm welcome , I suppose being from one myself helps, with people all passing the time of day with one another.  Some of the 'Model' has seen a rebuild to more modern housing and with this large area formerly backing onto the pit the village had all its own facilities non more so than the massive Victoria pub, over the way the eloquently named shopping area called The Colonade which probably defies most peoples ideas of the town.

THE COLONADE FEATURRING THE MODEL CHIPPY

 Needless to say as I took a few pictures Mick had spotted The Model Chippy and was already inside, once again a warm greeting and a nice selection of food was gained.  Food in hand we walked around the far end of the area and viewed Shirebrook Wanderers warming up for their 2pm kick off.  Dropping back down into the town to our left is the massive sports warehouse that has seen the town in the news over the last few years.

SHIREBROOK MARKET SQ NO FOOTY HERE

Back in the town centre and the small market was now winding up alongside the shops which surround the square.  Shirebrook was due to have a big 'T's' but they pulled out after part preparing the site which is now surrounded by the large dark blue corporate wooden fencing.  You may well imagine this former industrial town, much like my base, was a hive of activity and the local shops busy and fully stocked just a few years ago but hard times came and stopped however the people are as friendly as ever.

THE SMART STANDS PLUS THOSE EVOCATIVE LIGHTS OF TIMES GONE BY

After a quick detour to have a look at the train station and a chance view of the 1408 to Worksop was just pulling in it was time to move along to Langwith Rd the home of Shirebrook Town.  Todays game pitted 2 mining sides together with both suffering from times of drought in their league postions.  I have described the ground before in a night time game here but it really his a special non league ground I well remember visits in the 80's when a hostile crowd was worth a goal start for the home side.  Sadly the extended covered terrace newly built a few years ago has now been condemned by Derbyshire County Council a great shame because I have seen many more dubious structures in the non league.

LANGWITH RD TERRACING

  Without describing the ground its remiss of me not to say a warm welcome on the gate at admission, the snack bar chap is one of the most pleasant and courteous in the non league plus warm drinks at 50p chip cobs £1.25 take note Football League clubs, plus today the chance to catch up with Pete Waby who keeps Shirebrook in pictures take a look at their site/twitter feed well done mate.  Then there is Ian Oxley always a pleasure to speak to you mate and thank you all for the welcome as ever at Shirebrook Town that you afforded us both today, this means a lot in non league football.

WHO SCORES YOU DECIDE

Too the game then on Shirebrook were in the lead on 14 minutes when a right wing corner was bundled over the line by Kallum O'Kane who shouted loudest to claim when it could have had a final touch from any of a group of players.  Nostell amazingly equalised on the half hour mark when a low cross found Aaron Fell unmarked at the back post who slotted the ball home.  Shirebrook went close on a few further occasions even hitting the bar but they looked slightly off the place against a side in a position you would have expected them to dominate on the goal front.

ANY CLEARER? O'KANES [10] CLAIMS IT

Within 5 minutes of the restart Shirebrook re took the lead in what proved to be the match winner with Scott Wesley heading home.  Mark Robinson went on to strike the post for the home side and O'Kane forced a good save out of visiting keeper Harrison Davidson-Hale, HDH if he gets another mention!
Gradually Nostell saw their chance to get back into this game as Shirebrook couldn't get a third and Callum Terrell broke through but fired over.  With 10 minutes remaining Mitchell Dunne forced HDH into a good save for a corner from the resulting kick Johnathan Hill saw his effort cleared off the line.  The Nostell keeper was on fine form again when he saved from Dunne for the second time in close succession.  In stoppage time Terrell nearly secured a point for the visitors but Shirebrook keeper Jack Dennison was equal to the effort.

SUNSET OVER SHIREBROOK THE BEAUTY

Overall Shirebrook didn't finish well enough to put this game to bed and Nostell so nearly secured a point towards their rescue act.
Return journey after a little while in the staff club awaiting the bus and a long route back saw arrival at base just short of 7.30pm!
Great little afternoon out if you haven't done Shirebrook pop along its a welcoming place and take a look at the town while your there too.