THE66POW

Wednesday 30th March 2016

HKL North Midland U19 League (North) Mini Shield
at the Jones & Co. Recreation Ground, Bircotes
Harworth Colliery (0) 3
Louis Maquire 49, Marley Alder 58,
Bailey Armstrong 66
Swallownest (1) 2
Steve Nettleship 16, Connor Gregg 72
Admission £2. Programme 50p. Attendance 68

Harworth Colliery:
Josh Court, Alex Hawkridge, Tom Hawkridge, George Agnew, Marley Alder (C), Louis Maguire, Callum Hudson, Josh Dickinson, Ross Taylor, Bailey Armstrong, Brett Garrett
Subs - Danny Fitzackery, Kelvin Playfair, Josh Bacon
Swallownest:
Jack Hood, William Hague, Callum Davison, Luke Kocura, Jack Leitch, Steve Nettleship, Joe Parkin, Josh Lill, Connor Gregg, Brandon Ashnore, Dale Featherstone,
Subs - Patrick Menye, Freddy Rosscamp, Dylan Chapman

Last week's performance at Espial, was probably the best that I have seen Swallownest U19s play collectively as a team all season, as they recorded a 2-0 win.
But tonight probably wasn't!
And Harworth deserved this win at their rapidly developing home ground, though of course, it needs to be said, yet again, that results and league tables don't actually matter as much at this level of football (or so they reckon), because they are of secondary importance to player development, but the Colliery lads obviously enjoyed their win of tonight.

The game game set off at a frantic pace, as both teams weighed each other up and looked to get a good start.
Joe Parkin and Brandon Ashmore exchanged passes as they worked their way into the Harworth area, but Matty Alder, the home side's captain, made a timely interception and cleared his lines. Alder put in an impressive shift tonight, showing why he wears the captain's armband for the Colliery youngsters.
Alas, Harworth were the architects of their own downfall after 16 minutes, when they messed about in their own six yard box instead of adopting a safety first approach and Steve Nettleship pounced and bulged the back of the net with a thumping shot.

You can't faff about on the ball with a box to box, versatile and quality player of Nettleship's undoubted ability breathing ominously down your neck.
Brett Garrett launched a left wing cross in towards Bailey Armstrong, but the colossus Nettleship proved his worth at both ends of the pitch and headed the ball away to safety.
Callum Hudson and Ross Dickinson pushed forward for Harworth on the right, but when the cross came, it dropped behind the two Colliery players who were jostling for position and 'Swall' nipped the move in the bud.

Josh Court in the Colliery goal was tested twice within a minute, when he saved at Connor Gregg's feet after Parkin had played him through on goal and as the visitors attacked again from the Colliery keeper's clearance, he plucked Josh Lill's dipping cross out of the air and clutched it to his chest.

Armstrong and Ross Taylor tried finding a way into Swallownest's box through the left channel, but as the latter weighed up his options, Jack Leitch nicked the ball away and the moment had gone.

But Taylor slipped his marker moments later and nudged a measured pass into the path of Brett Garrett, but Jack Hood had spotted the danger early and advanced from his line early to smother the ball before the Harworth number 10 could shoot.

Armstrong drilled a right wing cross into the visitors goalmouth that only needed the slightest of touches, but Nettleship authoritatively played the ball out of harms way.

Connor Green broke into the home side's area with a burst of pace, but Alder intervened yet again.

Luke Kocura launched a dangerous angled cross towards Parkin, but Court got up well and took the ball virtually off of the 'Swall' number 7's head.

Right on the stroke of half time, Garrett smashed a long range shot just over Hood's crossbar.

HT: Harworth Colliery 0 v Swallownest 1

Swallownest attacked down the left flank through Callum Davison, but within four minutes of the restart, the Colliery were on level terms when Bailey Armstrong played a great ball down the right for Garrett whose cross was turned past Hood from close range by Louis Maguire. One can only assume that the usually reliable Nettleship was AWOL and still goal-hanging at the other end of the pitch when Harworth finally found the goal that their efforts thus far had deserved.
Gregg almost put the visitors back in front straight away, but Court twisted and tipped the ball over the bar with a good one handed save. From the resulting corner, Parkin headed Lill's delivery narrowly over.
Court just about got the better of Gregg again as the 'Swall' captain chased down a sloppy back pass, but the Harworth keeper got a vital touch and got the ball away.

Garrett raced forward, riding one challenge and Nettleship had to turn the ball away at the expense of a corner. Laitch cleared the flag kick out of the area, but it fell to Alder who smashed it straight back where it had come from and past the unsighted 'Swall' keeper Hood, to give Harworth the lead.
It was the visitors turn to go in search of an equaliser now. Lill's free kick bounced back towards him off of Harworth's defensive wall and he hooked it across the face of goal at the second attempt, to where Court reached the ball a fraction before it reached Patrick Menye who was poised to head the ball into the back of the net.

Garrett nudged a pass to Dickinson, but his shot on the run from an awkward angle was blocked by Hood.
The visitors plight got no better for them as centre half Leitch, limped out of the game and was replaced with an outfield player, Freddy Rosscamp from the bench.
Taylor tried to release Callum Hudson with a forward pass from the middle of the park, but Hood sprinted from his box and launched the ball down the pitch.

Harworth attacked down both flanks and were pounding the visitors area with crosses and Armstrong arrived fifteen yards out at just the right time to zip and unstoppable first time curling shot through the crowded goalmouth and into the top corner of the net. A sublime strike.
Blimey! An hour on the clock and Harworth Under 19s were 3-1 up! That is the first chance I've had to write that this season.
On 72 minutes, the visitors got a goal back to set up a grandstand finish, when Kocura's free kick was cleared off the line and scrambled away as far as Gregg who crashed the ball past Court from the edge of the area. Game on?
Menye switched passes with Nettleship who fed the ball through to Dale Featherstone but Aelx Hawkridge (or his twion brother) blocked the shot and conceded a corner. Lill delivered the ball into the area and Alder headed it away but only as far as Featherstone whose volley from 12 yards was deflected over the bar.
Lill played the ball in again but Court punched it away.

Rosscamp almost made Harworth pay for a lack of concentration as two of their players left the ball for each other allowing the visitors substitute a clear run on goal, but Court was alive to the situation and adopted a sweeper's role as he put his foot through the ball.
Kocura chipped the ball over the Harworth backline for Menye to run on too, but the ball went out of play for a goal kick, before the 'Swall' number 12 could reach it.
In the final minute, Garrett ran on to a long clearance and with the visitors pushing forward in search of a third goal, he plenty of space to work himself a great shooting opportunity, but Hood narrowed his angle with a run forward and saved as the Colliery number 10 tried to place the ball instead of belting it full bore.
FT: Harworth Colliery 3 v Swallownest 2
Truth be told, I actually enjoyed this match far more than the one I had travelled a bit further to watch last night... and as the end of season rearranged fixtures start racking up, there is a very good chance that I will be watching both of these sides play again any time soon.

Saturday 2nd April 2016
Football League Youth Alliance
at Kirklington Road, Rainworth MW FC
Mansfield Town (1) 1
Zayn Hakeem 23
Notts County (0) 1
Sam Osborne 82
Latest FLYA Fixtures/Results/Tables click here.

Mansfield Town:
Adam Bishop, Teddy Bloor, Louis Danquah, Cain Smith, Morgan Ratcliffe, Kieran Harrison, Tyler Johal (Charlie Shaw 42), Cameron Healey (C), Tyler Blake, Jason Law (Devante Reittie 67), Zayn Hakeem (Nyle Blake 86)
Notts County:
Joe Searson-Smithard, Jordan Richards (Remaye Campbell 42), Kenan Leyton, Dominic Brownhill, Jordan Ashantie, Harry Bugg (George McCartney 73), Alex Howes, Luther Wildin (C), Montel Gibson, Jack McMillan (Nathan Cobain 78), Sam Osborne

The point picked up from this entertaining draw, means that the young Stags stay in second place in the table, two points behind leaders Scunthorpe United, but with a game in hand.
Only three points now separate the teams in 3rd and 9th place in the table, in what has been a very competitive season in the North East division of the Football League Youth Alliance.
County had beaten their local rivals 4-0 the last time the two sides met, on a very wet and windy day back in November at Arnold Town's Eagle Valley ground.
Mansfield made the early running, as Zayn Hakeem powered his way into the Magpies area, but Joe Searson-Smithard was quickly off his line and cut out the danger.
Hakeem's running created another opening moments later, when he advanced down the left flank and delivered the ball to Tyler Blake who flicked it into the path of Jason Law, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner, from which Jordan Ashantie tidied things up for the visitors and cleared the ball away from danger.
Harry Bugg, Ashantie's central defensive partner, headed away a cross from Law, as the Stags continued to knock loudly on County's back doors.

On 23 minutes minutes Louis Danquah showed some good touches out on the left wing and found Cain Smith with his cross but Bugg charged his shot down, but Tyler Blake pounced and unsettled the Notts defender, winning the ball with a crunching tackle before slipping a short pass to Hakeem who opened the scoring from eight yards out, with a well struck shot that gave Searson-Smithard no chance of pulling off a close range save.
But County were almost on level terms immediately, when they pushed forward from the restart, with a quick passing move, that finished with Montel Gibson hitting the crossbar.
Hakeem used his pace to bamboozle the visitors defence again and Bugg clipped the Stags dangerman with a mistimed tackle as he homed in on goal. The referee blew up and pointed to the penalty spot, but less than five minutes after he'd found the net with such aplomb, Hakeem drilled the ball wide of the right hand upright.
The penalty miss was a a real let off for County who now forged ahead and went on the offensive themselves.
Alex Howes run through the left channel was blocked by Morgan Ratcliffe's challenge, but Howes scurried after the loose ball, regained possession and shot narrowly wide of the left hand upright.

Ashantie cleared Hakkem's cross behind at the expense of a corner, but Searson-Smithard held onto Teddy Bloor's corner kick and the Magpies pushed forward once again. Having cleared the danger at one end, Ashantie motored forward to get on the end of Howes' cross, but Adam Bishop calmly plucked the ball off of the powerful centre halves head.
Ratcliffe directed the ball goal bound with his bandaged head, from Bloor's long free kick, but the County keeper was well placed to safely make a catch.
Tyler Johal and Jordan Richards both went for the ball as it dropped towards them and they met each other head on, literally... and there was a lengthy stoppage as both players received treatment for head injuries and were subsequently replaced from the subs bench.
When play resumed, County forced a corner kick out on the left flank. Bishop dealt with the in swinging flag kick and the ball was cleared, but only as far as Jack McMillan who struck a first time shot that hit Cameron Healey full on in his face.
The Stags physio Matt Salmon was having a very busy first half and once the referee had added time on for stoppages, half time finally arrived almost sixty minutes after the game had kicked off.
HT: Stags youth 1 v Magpies Youth 0

As play recommenced in the second half, Mansfield won a corner from their first forward move and County could count themselves lucky, that Kieran Harrison's thumping header from Danquah's flag kick went a few inches wide of the post.
Tyler Blake was like a terrier, chasing the ball down every time a County defender tried clearing their lines.
Cain Smith kinked up with Harrison and fed the ball to Hakeem on the edge of the area, but he was met by a crowd of striped shirts and the move was snuffed out.
Law put a good cross in to Healey who laid the ball back to Shaw whose first time shot was held by Searson-Smithard. The visitors launched the ball up the field to Montel Gibson, who surged past Harrison with a burst of pace, but with Bishop advancing from his line to meet the County attacker, Gibson tried to curl the ball round him, but his effort went wide.

Dominic Brownhill fouled Tyler Blake on the left hand edge of the penalty area. Danquah's free kick was knocked out of the asrea by Wildin, but fell at the feet of Cain Smith, who shot over the bar from 15 yards.
Gibson drilled a low cross into the Stags six yard box, that Bishop did well to claim, amid the scrum of approaching players.
McMillan delivered a free kick into the Stags area, that was half cleared as far as Brownhill out on the right, who chipped a cross in towards Gibson, but Bishop came to the rescue again.
The game had become a real end to end affair, with both teams going for goal. It was an highly enjoyable spectacle for the crowd, but agony for the managers and coaches as shots rained in on the goals at either end.
On 82 minutes, County pulled level when Sam Osborne hit a close range shot straight at Bishop from Remaye Campbell's cross and forced the ball over the line from the rebound.

Neither side wanted to settle for a draw and Bloor attacked Notts down the right flank, but Kenan Layton and Ashantie were on hand to clear two telling crosses away.

County had another chance when Brownhill popped up on the edge of the Stags box and forced another save out of Bishop, who'd had as great game today.
Devante Reittie and Nyle Blake were introduced late in the game and Searson-Smith was called in to action, saving close range efforts from both players, before Nyle Blake almost nicked the win for Mansfield right at the end, when he rode a challenge by George McCartney, spotted the keeper was off his line and stabbed the ball towards the bottom left hand corner of the goal, here it rolled narrowly wide.
FT: Mansfield Town 1 v Notts County 1
I think that most people present would've agreed that the draw was a fair result, but with several chances going begging and a missed penalty, the Stags will know they could have won this competitive and lively game, that was a credit to both club's academy set ups.

Saturday 2nd April 2016

Toolstation NCEL Premier Division

at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium

Clipstone (0) 0

Staveley Miners Welfare (1) 3

Admission £5. Programme £1.50.

Attendance 141

Referee: Darren Russell

Clipstone:
Steve Hernandez, Liam Royles, Luke Randle, Liam Kay (Josh Dacre 45), Luke Stevens, Chris Fawcus, Ellis Wall, Andrew Fox, George Milner (Callum Littlejohn 28 (Matt Langley 68)), James Ashmore, Michael Trench
Unused subs - Joe Hodgkinson, Andy Francis
Staveley MW:
Chris Butt, Chris Baugh, Steve Carty, Ash Rawson, Matt Varley (C), Chaerlie Oglesby, Adam Scott (Jame Brown 57), Kurtis Morley, Dan Fletcher (Adam Lee 54), Kieran Watson, George Johnson
Unused subs - Courtney Hastings, Richard Mintoft, Alex Pugh

Over the course of this season there has been so much human trafficking going on between these two clubs, on all levels, that it must be difficult for some people to remember which changing room they are supposed to be using these days.
Players, backroom staff, managers and even a rogue chairman have been part of the to-ing and fro-ing.
One can only imagine that they all must be related, one way or another, by now, after such a sustained period of perpetual interaction.
Thankfully all of the animosity that had crept in between these two clubs at the end of last season, seems to have subsided, as people come to terms with some quite significant wholesale change; plus a few awkward adjustments that seemed to tip things over the edge for a while, and today was just all about the football, without even a whiff of politics in the air. Pretty much as it should be anywhere and everywhere at 3pm on any given Saturday afternoon.
Football is an all absorbing passion that borders on obsession for those who are involved in it, but when all is said and done, it really is only a game.

Jason Truscott took charge of the Clipstone team today, in Billy Fox's absence against his old club, who he had led to both promotion and an FA Vase semi final, in the days when Staveley had a decent sized budget to throw at chasing glory, before they changed tact and put the emphasis on more sensible housekeeping and a programme of sustained growth.
Both of today's teams are just about guaranteed a top half finish to the current season, without actually having kept in touch with the leading pack, but the foundations are in place for a tilt at bigger things next season.
The Cobras ambitious plans for ground development at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium are certainly a genuine cause for excitement.

I wouldn't have thought that even the most dyed in the wool and ardent of Clipstone supporters, would dispute that an away win was on the cards for the majority of this game.
Calling it a one sided affair would be something of an exaggeration, but Staveley definitely had the majority of the play and were good value for their win, with Matt Varley putting in an outstanding performance alongside young Charlie Oglesby in the middle of defence.
Luke Stevens put in a very accomplished display at the back for the home side, that earned him the vote as their man of the match, but Varley's virtually flawless afternoon alongside his teenage protege, was something of a masterclass.

The Trojans mounted the first real attack of the game, when the lively Adam Scott broke free down the right flank and delivered a telling cross, that Dan Fletcher couldn't make a meaningful contact with as he diverted his header wide of the left hand upright.
Scott took up the initiative again with another surging run forward, but Stevens put in a firm blocking tackle and Clipstone cleared their lines.
Ash Rawson picked up a loose ball a few yards from the Cobras area and shot on sight, but his effort crashed into the back of the stand.
Stevens was alert to the danger posed by Scott once again, when Chris Baugh tried to set the tricky winger in motion again, with a quickly taken throw in down the right touchline.
Kurt Morley and Kieren Watson exchanged passes as they homed in on Steve Hernandez's goal, but Luke Randle deflected Morley's shot over the bar.
Scott's initial corner kick was headed away to safety by Stevens, but his second one found Varley who was a lick of paint away from opening the scoring as his towering header narrowly cleared the bar.

Having sustained so much pressure, it was the home side who ironically came closest to breaking the deadlock, when Andrew Fox knocked the ball sideways to Michael Trench who sprinted in behind the left hand side of the Trojans defence, but rolled the ball just inches wide of the right hand upright, out of the reach of Chris Butt who had advanced from his line.
Butt was involved again when he had to deal with an angled shot from George Milner and moments later had to go down to save bravely at the feet of the same player, after a quick passing move between Randle and Trench had unlocked the Trojans defence again.
The referee's assistant kept his flag down, much to the dismay of the home crowd, as Fletcher ran forward into the Cobras goalmouth, but Hernandez saved the former Mansfield Town youth player's tame shot with ease.
Clipstone were dealt a blow, when their centre forward Milner had to leave the pitch with concussion having taken a hefty knock to his head.

Varley and Milner were challenging for the same bouncing ball and as the Trojans centre half tried to hook the ball away, Milner stooped in an attempt to head the ball down, it was all purely accidental and the visitors captain's foot wasn't unnecessarily high, as the ball crashed into the unfortunate Clipstone strikers face with the full impact of Varley's boot behind it.
Milner was clearly dazed and unable to carry on as he finally got back up onto his feet, to be led rather groggily back to the home changing room by Jason Truscott.
James Ashmore, trying to get Clipstone going from his engine room role in the middle of the park, stroked a pass wide to Randle whose deep cross almost found Ellis Wall, but Oglesby got a touch just in the nick of time and thwarted the Cobras number 7.

Randle, Fox and Callum Littlejohn, who had come on in place of Milner, combined well down the left wing but Chris Baugh got the ball away.
George Johnson teamed up with Baugh down the left wing and Liam Royles had little option but to bring the Trojans right back down to prevent a goalscoring opportunity. Steve Carty's free kick had plenty of power behind it, but the ball flew straight at Hernandez, who held onto it well.
Watson appeared to knock the ball forward with his arm as Staveley attacked once more, which wrong footed Chris Fawcus and forced him into a clumsy challenge.
The referee was unsighted and unmoved by the subsequent Clipstone protests, as Scott planted a free kick into the six yard box that Morley nudged towards the goal but Watson tapped over the line to give Staveley the lead.
Ashmore, Wall, Trench, Randle, Liam Kay, Fox and Wall again, moved through Staveley's half with a well worked string of passes, but when it came to the final ball, Wall scuffed his shot at his former team mate Butt.

The second half was only three minutes old when Johnson picked out Morley on the right hand edge of the goal area and he advanced forward a few steps before placing the ball past Hernandez to give the Derbyshire side a two goal cushion.
The very slight incline on the Lido Ground pitch had just become a very steep hill for the Cobras to climb.
From the restart Clipstone worked the ball back to Hernandez, who launched it into the Staveley half for Ellis Wall to flick on to Littlejohn, who was knocked off the ball inside the D on the edge of the area. Trench took the resulting free kick, but the cannoned off of the defensive wall and fell into Butt's waiting arms.
Play switched back the other way and Watson misplaced a header embarrassingly wide from Scott's cross.
Staveley's new signing from Retford United, Adam Lee entered the fray in place of Fletcher, who hadn't had the best of games if truth be told, in the 54th minute and was almost immediately on the score sheet, but the ball sat up in front of him from Scott's through ball and he could only knock it straight at Hernandez, who had an easy of save to make.

Lee, eager to make an impression, was presented with a half chance by Randle, who made a mess of clearing his lines and scuffed the ball towards the former Retford United fan's favourite, but the overworked Stevens made a saving tackle before Lee could get his shot away.
Scott advanced forward thirty yards from midfield, but came to an abrupt halt, when Fawcus unceremoniously dumped him on the ground, whilst not showing even a glimmer of fondness or sentiment towards his former club.
Scott brushed himself down and took the free kick himself, but he put too much power into his shot and over hit it.
The next goal would be vital and Staveley already have a bit of form for squandering leads this season, but as Ashmore swung a cross towards Stevens, Varley bossed the situation and nipped any hopes of a Cobras revival in the bud.
Littlejohn Crossed to Fox, who slipped the ball to Randle who had made a run on the overlap, but Ash Rawson was on hand to thwart Clipstone's attacking intentions this time.
Lee played the ball out wide to Scott and made a run into the box, Scott picked out Morley with a cross to the near post who laid the ball back into the path of Lee, who inexplicably scuffed the ball over the tree line behind the goal from just a few feet out.

Staveley's new signing was taking time to fit in with his recently acquired team mates, but he was making all the correct runs and getting into the right positions, he'll soon adapt.
Spurred on by their fortunate escape, Clipstone set about trying to get back into the game and as they broke from Hernandez's goal kick, Trench powered forward and made himself some space and shot just a fraction wide of Butt's goal from 18 yards. Sometimes the margins between victory and defeat can be so narrow, and Trench had now been literally only inches away from scoring twice now.
The Cobras picked up some momentum in the middle of the park again and Ashmore tested Butt from long distance, but the young Staveley keeper held the ball well.
With the clock ticking down, Lee's persistence paid off, when he closed Fawcus down and blocked his attempted clearance, before nicking the ball and advancing forward six yards before slotting the ball into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Hernandez.

Johnson picked out Lee inside a crowded goal mouth with a pin point pass and the 'new kid on the block' flicked the ball into the air to the right, then the left, before drilling a dipping shot narrowly over the bar. The earlier misses obviously hadn't affected his confidence.

With a three goal lead in the bag, Staveley were happy enough just to run the clock down now.

Clipstone could perhaps point to one or two key moments when crucial decisions hadn't gone their way, and count themselves unlucky that both Milner and subsequently Millington had to leave the pitch carrying accidental knocks that they picked up in the line of duty, but in the final analysis they wouldn't want to make excuses, so you'd just have to say in all honesty, nothing really fell into place for them for anything like a sustained period of time all afternoon, while Staveley were in the ascendancy on the day and they gelled better than their hosts under the leadership of Matt Varley, he exuded class today.

Steady girls! There's plenty to go round ;-)

I hear told, that apparently a current Premier League player who represents England, used to play around these parts, but I didn't spot even the most bijou of clues as to what his identity might be, anywhere within the Bracken Moor ground upon my arrival.

Tuesday 5th April 2016

HKL NMU19L - Mini Shield

at Stocksbridge Park Steels FC

Sheffield United (0) 0

Handsworth Parramore (1) 2

Oliver Beaumont 26, 69

Admission £2 Free team sheet

"I am breathing in already!" Steve Abbott with his flag

Sheffield United:

Josh Perryman, Jake Dunn (Nat Crofts 59), Stephen Mallon, Will Wraith (Jake Whelan HT), Manny Adebowale, William Portman, Spencer Maw, David Parkhouse, Brodie Litchfield, Jorome Slew, Danny Ramsey (C)

Unused subs - Joe Dunn, Chris Samuels

Handsworth Parramore:

Jake Lancini, James Hastings, Ellis Moore, Harry Bamforth, Oliver Beaumont, Jed Phillips (C), Jack Mason (Charlie Myers 64), Juninho Blake, Danny Bent (Ben Booth 76), Ash Cooper, Danny Beighton (Tiago Bravo 55)

For several months now, the fixtures of a couple of the teams I've been aligned to this season, in one capacity or another, have unfortunately clashed with Handsworth Parramore's Under 19 team games... and as a consequence, I haven't seen them in action half as much as I usually would have.
So, in spite of an outbreak of traffic problems on the M18, M1 and A616, compounded with the road into Stocksbridge being closed altogether from the east, I made an extra special effort to get to this match at Bracken Moor, with a 'lightweight' companion who was ticking off the milestone of visiting (only) his 250th football ground.
The 'slightly' annoying detour and extensive circumnavigation of most of south Yorkshire, was worth all of the aggro, because we witnessed a very impressive display by this young Ambers side tonight, as they confidently and comfortably saw off the Blades, with a convincing win that, if truth be told, probably merited more than a two goal margin of victory, to round of their mini shield group games with a 100% win record.

I was impressed to see that the visiting side were being supported by their Chairman (and his charming wife), along with the coaches and mangers from several of the 'Parras' sides at variety of age groups and that THE66POW player of the season Kieran Wells had braved the traffic from Clipstone to get up here to support Wayne Plant and Dean Bamforth's side, while modestly confessing "All of these lads are better players than me"
Oliver Beaumont scored twice, with both goals coming from Harry Bamforth corner kicks.
I suspect that when they study the video for this game, United will be discussing defending set pieces any time soon, because the Beaumont and Bamforth combination, made the home side's two towering centre halves look as though they were just in the goalmouth for ornamental purposes.
The Ambers attacked first, when Danny Beighton outstripped the home side's defence for pace down the right flank and drilled a cross into the six yard box that Josh Perryman had to save down by his left hand post.

Jake Dunn, United's right back, clattered into Jake Mason with a late, heavy challenge, but the match referee, David Maran, decided that a quick word would suffice rather than showing a Dunn a yellow card.

I heard a shout from the stand of: "Are those long sleeves to cover up your Blades tattoo ref!?" Everyone is entitled to their own opinion at this juncture, but even as a complete neutral I'd have to say, that the foul on Mason and the leniency shown towards Dunn, was the first installment in a pattern of events that emerged over the course of the night... just saying.
Ellis Moore played the resulting free kick into the Blades area and the ball skimmed off the top of Manny Adebowale's head as he tried to clear his lines, but fortunately for the home side it fell harmlessly into the waiting arms of Perryman.
The Blades pushed forward when Adebowale threaded a pass through to Jorome Slew from midfield, who in turn played the ball wide to his strike partner Brody Litchfield, but the Ambers captain Jed Phillips had anticipated the situation well and moved in quickly to steal possession.

United put six passes together, but they were restricted to playing sideways instead of being able to move forward and when Spencer Maw saw half a chance to go for glory, he knocked a rather tame shot well wide of the 'Parras' left hand upright from outside the area.
Steven Mallon pushed forward down the left flank, but over ran the ball and ran too wide and with no room left to manoeuvre, he collided with a Handsworth defender and the moment was seemingly gone. But the referee awarded Mallon a free kick anyway... however justice was done when Danny Ramsey put too much purchase behind his free kick and the ball flew well wide of Jake Lancini's goal.
Ramsey drilled a low free kick into the Ambers goalmouth, James Hastings managed to get between the Blades incoming attacking duo of Litchfield and Slew and turned the ball just wide of his own right hand post. It looked like a clumsy interception to some onlookers in the stands, but it was actually a very timely and vital one.
From the resulting flag kick, Ramsey's dipping cross ended up on the roof of the net.
Adebowale made a last ditch clearance as Beighton and Mason attacked in tandem as Handsworth began to get to grips with the game and started to look more threatening in the final third.
The impressive looking Beighton was causing problems for the home defence and when Juninho Blake dug the ball out of a crowded midfield and picked out the lively winger with a pinpoint cross, he slipped a pass to Ash Cooper whose first time angled shot was well saved by Perryman.

Handsworth forced a corner out on the left. Bamforth curled the ball towards the back post, to where Beaumont had timed his run to perfection and he netted from close range, to give the visitors the lead after 26 minutes.
Note to the Sheffield United defence: Remember that routine and take notes, it might come in useful later.
David Parkhouse slipped the ball into the path of Ramsey as he picked up pace towards the Parramore goal, but Beaumont blocked his shot and took the sting out of it for Lancini, who collected it with ease.
Bamforth played a long pass into the Blades area, which their defence hooked away, but only as far as Hastings, who rolled the ball back to the Ambers play-maker, but Bamforth curled a 12 yard shot wide of the post.

United tried to attack again, but Phillips didn't give Ramsey any time to settle on the ball and snubbed out the potential danger with an uncompromising block tackle. It was a moment that typified the focus and application employed by the Handsworth side tonight, as they grew in both confidence and stature as the game went on.
Once more, Bamforth was the architect of the visitors attacking designs, as he picked up the ball in the middle of the park and played it to Blake, who with his back to goal, turned Portman who was all over his back like a rash and rolled the ball sideways to Beighton. The Blades managed to crowd out the move but could only clear the danger as far as Hastings and he picked out Mason with a first time cross, who directed the ball towards the goal only to see it cleared off the line.
Blake having got the better of his marker, who must've have been over a foot taller than him, looked visibly lifted to be getting the better of his formidable opponent and he was playing with a spring in his step as a consequence.

Against the run of play, Stephen Mallon knocked a long ball into the Ambers goalmouth on the stroke of half time, but Litchfield couldn't kkep his shot on target.
HT: Blades U19 0 v Ambers U19 1

Among the discussions at half time, the subject was raised as to how well this young Ambers side compares with those from previous seasons. And it was universally agreed that together, as a unit, this crop are up there with the best... and when all is said and done football is a team game. There are several stand out players, but it would be wrong to single them out, when the key to overcoming United tonight was the collective effort that each and every player in an Amber shirt had put in.

Litchfield and Slew were quick off the mark after the restart, but Hastings was quicker and he stole the ball before rolling it back for Lacini to clear. The Blades picked up the loose ball in midfield and went route one in an effort to get back in the game, but Lewis Moore had positioned himself well and made a goal line clearance.

Blimey! Look, a clue... it was Jamie Vardy that played here. How
come I haven't seen anything about that every time I turn the telly
on or read a newspaper? You'd have thought that was newsworthy.

A combination of Handsworth's work ethic, seemingly bottomless reserves of stamina and hard graft was keeping the football league hopefuls from Bramall Lane in check and with the Blades having to commit players forward, there was always the risk that the visitors creative midfield, armed with a range of quick and accurate ball distribution and pace up front to exploit, especially Danny Bent who could probably even beat Forrest Gump in a race, would undo United again.

Handsworth were absorbing their opposition's effort to breach their defence and building from the back.

Ash Cooper broke on the counter attack and only a last ditch tackle from Dunn prevented him from going one v. one with Perryman.

Litchfield was restricted to shooting from long range as the Ambers defence formed an impregnable line across their area, but he struck the ball well and Lacini needed to get down smartly to turn the ball away.
The Blades tried to turn the screw on their local rivals and put Handsworth under the cosh for a short while, peppering Lacini's goal from three corner kicks in quick succession, but the visitors kept their composure and shape and were equal to anything a busy United side could throw at them, in their desperate but vainglorious efforts to puncture a hole in the Ambers rearguard.
Parramore's back line were in fine form and during a five minute segment of the game that resembled a forwards against defence training session, they emerged victorious. Although Lacini did have to be on his guard when Slew tested him from 20 yards out.
But while United couldn't blow the Ambers house down regardless of how much they huffed and puffed, they were nearly undone by Blake who broke forward at speed before crashing the ball against Perryman's crossbar and Tiago Bravo was unlucky that the Blades keeper got his hand to the ball as he went for goal from the rebound.
Blake picked up the ball and set off towards the Blades goal again, but Ramsey flattened him with a crude challenge.
It is very easy to be judgmental of match officials from up in the stand, do let's give the referee a break... maybe he had simply forgotten his notebook and pencil tonight.
Blake playeed the ball out to Bravo on the wing, but his attempted cross was deflected behind for a corner. Bamforth's probing delivery was half cleared as far as Charlie Myers, who had just come on in place of Mason... and with his first touch he played a sideways pass back to the corner taker who rushed his shot when he probably had more time than he realised and United were spared.

Handsworth were in the ascendancy now, looking to put this game to bed and in the 69th minute Blake dribbled into the penalty area and Portman had to clear the ball for another corner.

Lightning struck again, as Bamforth picked out Beaumont at the back post and he netted a virtually identical second goal. I'm quite sure that if Perryman's centre halves weren't such a big and scary looking pair he would have been giving them a real bollocking this time.

Sadly Danny Bent turned awkwardly just in front of the Blades dug out and fell to the ground, obviously distressed and crying out in pain. Hopefully he isn't injured as badly as first thought and he recovers quickly. Credit where it is due, the United coaches were on the scene quickly with the Handsworth bench to help with giving the player the quick attention and diagnosis he needed.

When play resumed Moore threw the ball to Cooper who exchanged passes with Blake, but shot a fraction wide of the left hand upright from 25 yards.

The Blades tried to open the Handsworth defence with a long punt forward to Nat Crofts, but Lacini had a clean sheet to preserve and he dashed from his area to reach the ball first and launch it back into the far end of the pitch.

Amber sunset over Stocksbridge

Ben Booth, on in the place of the injured Dent, looked lively and keen to impress and his running was giving the home sides defence even more problems to deal with. He combined with Moore and Cooper down the left flank, as Parramore still looked hungry for another goal instead of sitting back and defending their two goal cushion. Good for them.

Cooper had put in a lung bursting effort tonight and he was unlucky not to get a goal for his efforts in the final minute of the game, when he stabbed Moore's left wing cross wide with Perryman beaten.

In stoppage time Ramsey came close to netting a consolation goal for the home side, but Lacini held on to the ball and cleared it up the field as the referees whistle hailed full time.

FT: Sheffield United U19 0 v Handsworth Parramore U19 2

The Blades had a good number of very impressive players who could knock the ball about well and were committed to playing the game on the deck. But the Ambers youngsters had all of the above, with an added extra portion of togetherness, teamwork and camaraderie, they really are all in it together: collective effort, shared responsibility, joint rewards. And the way that their coaches encouraged their lads, rather than shouting at them when a pass went astray, a shot flew over the bar, or they had left themselves exposed, was refreshing to hear.

Some teams in the development leagues pay lip service to this sort of thing, but only a handful of coaches actually put these philosophies into practice. Credit where it's due

Wednesday 6th April 2016
Toolstation NCEL Division One
at the Forest Town Arena
AFC Mansfield (1) 3
Grant Allott 32
Craig Mitchell 49, 83
Yorkshire Amateur (0) 1
Dan Sherriffe 85 pen
Admission £4. Programme £1.50. Attendance 64

AFC Mansfield:
Jason White, Jordan Annable (Adon Spencer HT), Luke Jeffs, Grant Allott (Dean Rick 84), Chris Timons (C), Danny Naylor (Sam O'Malley 69), Ryan Williams, Phil Buxton, Danny Patterson, Craig Mitchell, Jimmy Chaichem
Unused subs - Danny Williams, Kurtis Chadburn

Yorkshire Amateur:

Ben Hunter, Dave Thompson (Joel Hughes and Dan Sherriffe 18, see explanation below), Jason Stapleton, Aiden Lewis, Harrison Blakey, Rob Wadsworth, Luke Hammond, Matt Thompson, Adam Saw, Ferdinand Moke

@Bullybully20 from his best side

A vital, must win game for Rudy Funk's side, saw them take the points to reclaim the second promotion spot (for now at least) as they clawed their way back up out of the play off places, to where they now sit two points ahead of Bottesford Town, who have played a game more than the Bulls, and three above AFC Emley, who have played the same number of games as the Forest Town based club, but who already have a goal difference of +90 to fall back on, should they finish the season in joint second place.
Tonight's performance was (much) less than convincing as both teams struggled to come to terms with some quite hideous weather conditions, that saw a biting cold strong wind blowing across the pitch and some April showers of Biblical proportions.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare had secured their promotion place at the top of the table last night, where they have a massive 14 point advantage over Funk's side, who still have five games left and fifteen points to play for. One would expect 'the Wells' to clinch the title on Saturday when they visit the bottom placed club: Lincoln Moorlands Railway, who are already relegated and have a quite staggering goal differential total of -125.

Kick off was delayed until 8pm because the visitors were stuck in traffic and arrived late.
Eventually they started with ten men including one of their management team, who was substituted in the 18th minute, when the referee allowed the last two 'Ammers' players to finally arrive at the ground to make up the full compliment of 11 players, with no more substitutes available.
The straggling pair also had the visitors kit bag with them and Phil Harding's side turned out in the Bulls change strip of yellow and blue.
Combine all of the above factors with the stormy weather, that made even trying to play the game the game in any kind of coordinated fashion very difficult to say the least, meant that though I have seen far better spectacles this season, I don't recall seeing any worse ones. Not even the Bulls 0-0 draw at Shirebrook Town was a dire as tonight's 'entertainment'.
If it wasn't for the fact that I was keeping several absentees up to date with the score, I would have been tempted to commit the cardinal sin of buggering off home (very) early and leaving these two lacklustre sides to it.
Whatever 'it' was meant to be tonight.

AFC Mansfield made hard work of overcoming their mid table opponents and the elements... and though they created a string of half chances, the Bulls were less than convincing in and around the visitors goalmouth.

Luke Jeffs hit the crossbar with a wind assisted corner and Ben Hunter did well to keep a thumping shot from Ryan Williams out, before the deadlock was broken when Grant Allott forced the ball over the line from another Jeffs corner after 32 minutes.

I have no more to add about the first half, other than to say: it has reached that time of the season where performances and entertainment are no longer any sort of priority, while three points are three points, however you happen to come by them.

HT: Bulls 1 v Ammers 0

A Craig Mitchell double strike lit up the second half, with his first goal coming just 4 minutes after half time, as he went it alone and surged through the visitors defence before smashing an unstoppable shot past Hunter.

The visitors were back down to ten men just after the hour mark, when Fernando Moke received his second yellow card in what had become a very niggly game.

Hunter did well to keep out Allott's header from Williams free kick as the Bulls briefly stirred into action.

Adam Shaw almost caught Jason White out with a long speculative shot, from all of 40 yards, but the ball bounced narrowly wide of the upright.

Hunter denied Williams again, before Mitchell missed an absolute sitter of a chance to finish the game off, before Harrison Blakey struck a long free kick straight to Jason White at the other end.

For a short while, there were faint traces of a possibility of a game of football breaking out, but the wind picked up and the heavens opened again as both teams reverted back to squaring up, sulking and finger pointing across the middle of the park, in an unseemly manner.

Mitchell finally found a third goal for the home side, that had surely by now, cemented a home win, but a clumsy Challenge by Adon Spencer on Dan Sherriffe left the referee with no choice but to award a penalty, from which Sherriffe scored himself, before getting sent off a couple of minutes later for making an unnecessary lunge while the visitors were shaping up to take a free kick on the edge of the home side's penalty area.

The game petered out and vanished into the night in an unspectacular fashion... and apart from Williams hitting a close range shot high and wide in stoppage time that was that... and the final whistle put the crowd out of their misery.

FT: AFC Mansfield 3 v Yorkshire Amateur 1

A win, three points and a return second place, were the most important statistics for the Bulls tonight, but this was an ugly runt of a win that they ground out, while providing 'nowt in the way of thrills and spills for the crowd who had braved the elements.
AFC Mansfield can and must do better than this during the run in now.

Friday 8th April 2015
Football League Youth Association (North East)
at Roundwood Pavilion, Parkgate FC
Rotherham United (1) 2
Muskwe Kudakwashe 34, 85
Bradford City (0) 2
Tom Windle 57, Danny Devine 60
Admission free. Attendance 70+
Spent £2 on raffle and as a consequence 'our lass' has got a big box of Marks & Spencer Swiss chocolates waiting for her when she finishes work tonight. I'm so damn generous!

Rotherham United:

Laurence Bilboe, Fabian Bailey (C), Dan Smalley, Brandon Potts (Lewis Murr 79), Bradley Peace-McDonald, Thomas Rose, Darnelle Bailey-King, Trae Adeyemi (James Reuarnelle 29), Muskwe Kudakwashe, Ben Wiles, Alaster Redmayne

Bradford City:

George Kenworthy, Luca Mellor (C), Jack Waters, Kwame Boateng, Kesi Omolokun, Oran Thompson (Omed Gardezi 73), Ellis Hudson, Danny Devine, Neil Patience (Tom Windle HT), Reece Powell (Christian Farrar 76), Niall Payne

Friday afternoon football in the scenic and aesthetically wonderful south Yorkshire province of Rawmarsh, or Roamish as the locals call it.
A lively contest ensued, with input from all three teams, namely Rotherham United, Bradford City and the match officials (Justin Carpenter, Alan Hull & Mehdi Najefi), who were all dedicated to putting on an open and entertaining game, played in the right spirit, that could have gone either way, with goal scoring opportunities in abundance at both ends, continuing unabated deep into stoppage time.
Over 70 spectators had made their way to the Roundwood Pavilion for this 2pm kick off, which kind of begs the question... doesn't anyone in this country actually work anymore?
But those who had 'skived off' were treated to a decent and evenly balanced game of football.

Laurence Bilboe got a couple of early touches as the Bantams went on the offensive from kick off, but it was the Millers who came close to opening the scoring inside the opening ten minutes, when Brad Peace-McDonald picked out Muskwe Kudakwashe with a long ball from deep in his own half, that found it's way through to Darnelle Bailey-King at the back post via an ambitious cross cum shot, but the Rotherham number 7 knocked the ball wide by the right hand upright.
Trae Adeyemi was buzzing around the perimeter of Bradford's area, but the visitors were defending well, with Kesi Omolokun looking like a tower of strength, as per usual.
Brandon Potts was working well as a go between, linking up the home sides defence and attack, with his willingness to run unselfishly off the ball and an impressive range of passing when he was in possession. At times Rotherham tend to bypass the midfield with their eagerness to get the ball forward to their two main attackers... it's effective, as their two goals today showed, but the likes of Potts and Thomas Rose and Darnelle Bailey-King still managed to stand out and catch the eye.

In Dan Smalley, Rotherham have a great prospect at left back, who works his flank well, knows when to time his runs well and seldom fails to complete his passes or find his intended target with through balls.
It is that time of year when the people running academy sides are having to be unsentimental about culling their numbers, with some make or break decisions about which players they are keeping on and who to release, which will spell heartache for some lads at the end of their time, but there were a good few scouts from other clubs secreted discreetly around the ground to day, who will know which lads will be coming available soon and reporting back to their own clubs.
Kwame Boateng and Reece Powell, attacked through the left channel but the Millers captain Fabain Bailey, took no risks and put the ball out for a corner.
Ellis Hudson planted the flag kick at the feet of Danny Devine, whose first shot was blocked by Rose and his second, from the rebound was saved by Laurence Bilboe.

With just under half a hour gone Trae Adeyemi broke forward away from his marker but as he cued up his shot from 12 yards out, his ankle twisted under him and though he managed to direct the ball towards George Kenworthy, he stayed down and needed to come off.
Bradford showed traces of the sort of form that had seen them leading the table for a while earlier in the season and they threaded together 14 (fourteen) passes before Hudson shot straight at Bilboe.
On 34 minutes, Kudakwashe, who recently signed first team forms with Rotherham, got onto the end of a cross from the left wing and scored at the second attempt, after Kenworthy had blocked his original effort.
The Millers attacked down the right as they looked to build on their lead, but Fabian Bailey was stopped in full flight by a well timed tackle from Jack Waters.

Muskwe Kudakwashe

Neither team was here to merely go through the motions as the end of the season approaches over the horizon, which was good to see... and the Millers had just about warranted their single goal lead as the half time whistle sounded.

HT: Millers Youth 1 v Bantams Youth 1

Kudakwashe almost doubled his sides lead straight from the restart as Rotherham broke forward quickly and Kenworthy saved from the big Millers striker from close range and he cleared the crossbar with his second stab at the ball.

Tom Windle had come on from the bench at half time and his strong running and battling attributes, gave the Bradford attack several new options as he began to create problems for the Millers defence.

The visitors captain Luca Mellor aimed a cross to the far post that was cleared back towards him by his opposite number Bailey, having continued his run towards goal, Mellor opted to shoot with his second bite of the apple and Peace-McDonald did well to divert the ball away for a corner.

The Millers cleared up at the back, but City were soon on the attack again again, with Hudson crossing to Powell whose first time shot was blocked, but the ball fell straight into the path of Windle who smashed it past Bilboe from ten yards to level the scores.

Kenworthy raced from his box to clear as Bailey-King homed in on his area, his long kick reached Hudson and Bailey had no option but to steer the ball away for another corner.
Rotherham made hard work of clearing the ball and Danny Devine knocked it into the back of the net through a crowded goal area.
The Bantams upped the ante and went in search of another goal to kill the game off and it very nearly came when Hudson combined with Niall Payne to find Devine ten yards from goal, and Rotherham had Bilboe to thank for keeping them in the game, as he made a great reflex stop with his outstretched leg.
With just seven minutes remaining Kudakwashe put the ball over from just a few feet out, but he didn't let it get inside his head or affect his self belief and inside the final five minutes he latched onto a great cross from Smalley who was up on the left flank helping out his attack again, made a yard for himself and buried the ball past Kenworthy to make it 2-2 right at the death.
In stoppage time, Devine played the ball forward to Windle who picked out Payne with a neat chip, but his last gasp 'goal' was ruled out because he had strayed offside.
FT: Rotherham United U18 2 v Bradford City U18 2

Saturday 9th April 2016
Football League Youth Alliance (NE)
at Blackhall Colliery Welfare Park
Hartlepool United (0) 3
Josh Hawkes 54, 56
Jordan Jewson 68
Mansfield Town (1) 0
Cain Smith 24

Hartlepool United:
Ryan Catterick, Jason Owen, Jack Turnbull (C), Ethan Wood, Jordan Fielding, Nathaniel Skidmore, Jack Blackfield, Josh Hawkes, Jordan Jewson, Dylan Elliott, Liam Travers
Unused subs - John Neirs, Jacob Bramley, Cameron Halliday, Lewis Orrell
Mansfield Town:
Adam Bishop, Teddy Bloor, Louis Danquah, Cain Smith, Kane Baldwin, Kieran Harrison, Charlie Shaw (Tom Marriott 66), Cameron Healey (C), Devante Reittie (Nyle Blake 60), Jason Law (Surafel Behailu 58), Zayn Hakeem
Unused subs - Sam Wilson, Alistair Smith

The Stags youth team could've gone top of the table today, but having lost their game in hand over Scunthorpe United by three goals to one at the Blackhall Colliery Welfare Park, they are now in second place having played the same amount of games as the Iron, with three games apiece left to play.
John Dempster's side now face Lincoln City away from home at Ashby Avenue, the home of Lincoln United and Oldham Athletic at Clipstone FC, before rounding off the season against Grimsby Town at the Mariners training complex at Waltham.
Scunthorpe still have home games against Doncaster Rovers and Hartlepool United to play, before they travel to take on Burton Albion on the final day of the season.
Mathematically Burton Albion, Rotherham United, Notts County and Lincoln City could still make a late bid to come up on the rails and pinch the title, while if Doncaster Rovers or Hartlepool United win all of their remaining four games, they too could still make the cut as wild card entries to the title race and to that end next weekend's results will be vital.

Mansfield were without Morgan Ratcliffe (multiple injuries), Tyler Blake after he'd picked up an injury during training this week and Tyler Johal who was being rested as a precaution after he was concussed during last weekend's game v. Notts County.
In the opening exchanges the Stags had slightly the better of things, but the 'Pools' lads, playing without any of the pressures and burdens of either expectation or needing a result on their shoulders, were knocking the ball around well too and causing the visitors back line a few problems.
Kieran Harrison chipped the ball over United's back four to Zayn Hakeem, but Ryan Catterick collected the ball as the Stags front man flicked it on, while at the other end, the home side's captain Jack Turnbull, who is related to Morgan Ratcliffe, delivered a left wing cross that was headed wide of Adam Bishop's goal by Nathaniel Skidmore.

Both sides were probing for an opening but Catterick was being kept busy and he came to his sides aid twice, when Cain Smith released Devante Reittie, who's first time shot deflected off Jordan Fielding to the keeper and he rose to take the ball off of Hakeem's head from Charlie Shaw's long pass.
Hartlepool seemed to be employing two rows of defenders at this point, but they were unlocked when Josh Law exchanged passes with Reittie before rolling the ball into the path of Smith, who saw off a challenge and curled a shot past Catterick from just inside the goal area.
The home side responded immediately to the opening goal and within moments of the restart, Kane Baldwin thwarted Liam Travers with a saving tackle inside Mansfield's goalmouth.
Shaw linked up with Reittie as the Stags pushed forward again, but he shot over from the return pass.
The versatile Louis Danquah soared past Jacob Owen and hooked the ball into the six yard box to where Jason Law connected with the ball but couldn't keep his effort on target.

Josh Hawkes tried unlocking the Mansfield defence with a diagonal pass, but Harrison had the situation covered and cleared his lines.
Jordan Jewson held of the attentions of two visiting defenders and got a shot in on the turn, but Bishop got down to his left and smothered the ball by the upright.
Jewson then popped up on the left wing and found Travers with a dipping cross, but Danquah got the ball away with a firm but fair challenge, which acted as payback after the Pools winger had caught him late and off the ball a few minutes earlier.
Once again Shaw providing the ammunition for Reittie with a measured pass deep inside the home side's half, Fielding got a touch on the ball and nudged it away to the edge of the area where it fell nicely for Smith, who crashed the ball against the cross bar. Such are the fine lines between winning and losing.

Owen crossed to Jewson from the right flank and United's centre forward directed the ball past Bishop, but he was ruled to have strayed offside.
A Hartlepool player shouted "Aw! Referee! He can't be offside because he headed it!" and probably wished he'd just spoken quietly to the referee, as laughter echoed around the ground from most people present.
Jewson missed the target from Josh Hawkes pass, before the Stags finished the first half with another quick passing move involving Danquah, Shaw and Law, which culminated in the latter knocking the ball into the box to Hakeem who rolled it back for Smith who drilled an 18 yard shot straight at Catterick.
On another day, Smith could've claimed a hat trick in the first half, but as the whistle sounded for the interval, Mansfield took a slender one goal lead in with them, in what had so far been a fairly even game, with the away side just about shading things percentage wise.
HT: Pools Youth 0 v Stags Youth 1

Hartlepool attacked straight from the off after the break and Bishop was called on to make a stop from Travers inside the opening minute of the second half, as the referee played the advantage rule and let play go on after the home side had appealed for a penalty in the build up. A bit of a let off for the Stags, all told, but an indicator of how the balance of play was going to weigh heavily in the Pools favour for 45 minutes.
Catterick thwarted Hakeem once again, claiming a cross before the first team fringe player could get his head to it from Bloor's cross.
Baldwin rolled a pass down the wing to Hakeem, who was halted by a lunging tackle by Fielding. Cameron Healey timed his run to meet Danquah's free kick, but he diverted his header past the outside of the upright.
Danquah cleared Jack Blackfield's corner kick and aimed the ball out wide for Reittie to chase through the right hand side of midfield, but Turnbull got across and cut out his run and for whatever reason, from that moment on, the host side picked up the pace and suddenly started playing like world beaters, while Mansfield effectively caved in before them and were swept away for a while.

Travers and Blackfield combined on the right flank and the former crossed into the Stags six yard box to where Josh Hawkes nudged it past Bishop from close range. Within two minutes the game was turned completely on it's head when Hawkes scored again. Once more the goal came from a low cross from out on the right wing, whipped in by Travers.
From the restart, Hartlepool nicked the ball and attacked down the right yet again and Travers was allowed the time and space to deliver a testing ball into Mansfield's goalmouth, but Bishop went to ground and held on to it this time, while pondering where his defence had disappeared to.
Surafel Behailu and Nyle Blake, came on from the bench and offered the Stags more options going forward, but any thoughts of a come back were very short lived, when Turnbull took a long throw in down the Pools left flank to Jordan Jewson, who knocked the ball past Harrison and ran on to finish well.
From a position of strength and a one goal lead at the break, Mansfield's afternoon was now in tatters.

Jewson had the ball in the net again with a thundering volley, but he had wandered marginally offside.
So far the Stags had had two offside decisions and a penalty appeal refusal go in their favour, yet still they were trailing by a two goal margin because of their second half collapse.
Hakeem was forced to run across the home side's 18 yard line, looking for an opening in defence to exploit, but having kept possession well, he saw their were no chinks in their armour and flicked the ball to Blake whose shot nestled in the side netting.
Travers hooked a long pass out wide to Blackfield on the left, who used his pace to show his marker a clean pair of heels, but rattled a stinging shot against the bar, with only Bishop to beat.
Tom Marriott was trying to inject some pace down the visitors left flank, but Hartlepool were comfortable and almost over the finishing line now and they could afford to sit back and absorb any pressure Mansfield applied, knowing that they could hit them on the counter attack with the Stags having to commit men forward.
FT: Hartlepool United U18 3 v Mansfield Town U18 1
The wheels came off after the break as Mansfield allowed a very well organised and attack minded Pools side far too much time and space on the ball... and by the time they got to grips with how the second half was unfolding, the damage had already been done.
Today was a very steep learning curve for this young Stags side, hopefully they'll take the lessons they received on board.

Saturday 9th April 2016
Ebac Northern League Division Two
at 'the Evolution Arena', Bedford Terrace, Billingham

Billingham Town (0) 1
Craig Hutchinson 89
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (0) 0
Admission £5. Programme £1
Attendance: 167 all very noisy, biased and partisan, but extremely good humoured nonetheless.
It was difficult to ascertain an accurate figure, due to some of them making frequent trips to and from the bar, but my headcount and the officially announced figure were close enough not to split hairs over.

Wherever ye may wander, there is always one phlippng foto-bomber!

With the greatest respect to all concerned, a good number of Northern League clubs I have had the pleasure of visiting over the years, seem to be preserved in some kind of 1970's time capsule and they don't appear to have altered very much, if at all, since a time when I started stepping out to watch football at all levels during my formative years, except for the odd bit of vandalism and storm damage here and there.
That is meant by way of a massive compliment by the way, because in my humble opinion, there are far too many cases (with some notable exceptions) where clubs are guilty of losing a lot of character and charm, where tradition has been ruthlessly sacrificed, as they replace their old stands, with ready assembled new versions, that arrive on the back of lorries and all look the same. I will offer you Consett AFC as a prime example of this.
To illustrate this time capsule effect still further, we were 'treated' to the whole 9 minutes of Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird' during the ten minutes leading up to the teams coming out onto the pitch.

Note the signal headto the rear of the covered terrace, depicting just
how close Billy Town's ground stands to the adjacent railway line.

They're functional enough, all of the new build identikit arenas, but they say nothing to any first time visitor about the uniqueness or history of any given club... and I doubt if anyone could ever develop an affinity to such a ground regardless of how regularly they attended games there.

That said, there are newer stadiums... and indeed several redeveloped ones, where the host club has made the effort to create something a bit different and original.
Today's visitors have a ground that should be on everyone and anyone's 'must visit' bucket list.
If you only ever take any notice of one recommendation made on a self indulgent bullshit blog with added football content this lifetime, get y'selves along to the Kingsley Park Stadium, ASAP!

They must've packed them in during the good olde days when this terracing
down the length of one touchline was still under cover. I was going to take
these pictures with trains whistling past, but even I'm not quite that sad.

Billy Town's home is in need of a bit of TLC round the edges, but to my way of thinking, it just looks and feels like a real football ground should do.
Though it doesn't always smell especially good, when a whiff blows across from the industrial plant that stands behind Billingham Synthonia's home, which is just a couple of stray long passes away (I'm already thinking back to this lunchtime's game), from Town's ground, over t'other side of Cowpen Lane, off Central Avenue, which connects directly from the A19, approximately 15 minutes drive away (going by the times of text messages I sent at either end of my journey) from the Blackhall Colliery ground that I had just visited, for a Football League Youth Alliance game, which I wish to erase from my memory as quickly as possible.

Some people would think such a round trip from East Retford upon Idle would be a proper ball-ache, but the calibre of people I know who read this self indulgent rambling, will understand, that it can be considered as a mere hop, skip and a jump, to take in the bonus of two old grounds on the same mild and pleasant afternoon.
I am still insisting however, that I'm a football enthusiast and romantic... and not a ground hopper, but even I've taken to giving myself an incredulous look, whenever I make that rather dubious claim these days.
An interesting fact that I acquired from Ryton's matchday secretary David Broadhead, was that prior to this afternoon, his club had gone 154 consecutive games since they last recorded a goalless draw.
It must have been a bitter sweet moment, when that record was extended in the last minute of this game, as Craig Hutchinson scored a close range winning goal for Billingham, via at least one possible deflection, from Stewart Bath's right wing free kick, after the visitors captain Leigh Shickle had fouled Hutchinson just outside the right hand side of the Albion goal area. So 155 not out it is then.
Former England player Gary Pallister started out on his footballing path at Billingham, as did Notts County's Neal Bishop, but I won't hold that against them. I can't find any record of anyone famous ever playing for Ryron, but then my research isn't up to much these days... so I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

"Hey liner! Where's the 15:38 number 36 bus from Greatham got to!?"

Both sides will probably feel that they created enough chances to actually win today's game, but it was Billingham Town (who started life in 1967 as 'Billingham Social') who looked like the side most likely to snatch all three points, as they applied a lot of pressure, particularly towards the end of the game, whereas, in my humble opinion the visitors (who were called plain old 'Ryton FC' back in the day, after they came into being in 1970) were possibly, just about nearly on an even footing with their hosts during the opening 45 minutes, but not beyond that point..
The first goal scoring opportunity fell to Billingham's Brad Staunch, at the wrong end of the pitch, as he nudged a back pass beyond Shaun Scotter in the Blues goal, who had to make an Herculean effort to get back and clear up the mess made by his centre half.
Shaken into life by their near miss, Town pushed forward but Jamie Davis headed wide from Bath's long free kick from out on the right flank, while Hutchinson headed straight at Frazer Nairn moments later after John Maddison picked him out with an in-swinging ball from out on the left.
Josh Holland and Callam Turnbull were knocking the ball round at will in the final third Staunch launched a 'no effing about' clearance into the Ryton half that Steve Bagshaw ran onto, before shooting tamely at Nairn.
Jack Connor switched passes with Davies and he slipped the ball through to Bagshaw, who powered his shot on target and Nairn did well to turn it over his crossbar.
Craig Hutchinson headed Callum Croker's flag kick past Nairn, but the goal was ruled out because Jack Stoddart had been fouled inside the six yard box as the players jostled for the best position.
HT: Billingham Town 0 v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0

During the first half I'd sat in the Ryton half of the main stand, as they exchanged pleasantries with the home supporters. There wasn't any real segregation, it was merely a case of the visiting supporters taking up the seating that was still available after they had arrived 'fashionably late' from inside the clubhouse.

I moved around to the far side of the pitch for the second half, to get pictures of the main stand with the cooling towers in the background and wave at the passengers on the passing trains, I'm like that!

Ryton picked up a bit just after the break, without actually worrying Scotter too much, but their attacking intentions seemed to be short lived..

Shickle's free kick was headed behind for a corner by Staunch, but Croker cleared the ball from Keenan Edwards' flag kick.

Holland nearly caught Scotter out with a long range shot, but his effort lacked the power to cause the Town keeper too many problems.

Billingham pushed forward again and Hutchinson was thwarted twice by Ryton's hard working defence, before the ball fell to Gary Redman to the right hand side of the area, who crashed the ball against the visitors bar.

Croker rolled a corner kick to Maddison and he in turn crossed the ball to Staunch at the near post, but to Ryton's relief he crashed a bullet header narrowly wide of the upright.

Hutchinson tangled with Adam Chrostowski as he ran into Ryton's penalty area and went to ground, but the referee Sam Ross saw right through his ruse and waved any appeals away. It wasn't an actual dive, but if you're going down in the box anyway, you may as well try to make it look good.

Davies crossed from the left and Chrostowski conceded another corner, that Maddison scythed in towards Stephen Oakley who headed straight at Nairn, who must have been wondering if he was involved in some kind of bizarre target practice game this afternoon, in view of how many Billingham players had aimed the ball directly at him over the course of the game.

Hutchinson shot wide amongst a crowd of bodies in front of the Ryton goal, but the referee mistakenly awarded a corner, but a disgruntled visiting defence made light work of clearing the ball and as the clock ticked down, it looked as if they had absorbed enough pressure to claim a share of the points.

However, as I said towards the start of this long winded epistle... "Craig Hutchinson scored a close range winning goal for Billingham, via at least one deflection, from Stewart Bath's right wing free kick, after the visitors captain Leigh Shickle had fouled Hutchinson just outside the right hand side of the Albion goal area".

FT: Billingham Town 1 v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0

The saga of the 0-0 draw record is to be continued.

I really enjoyed this game, the banter was good, as was the company and the lady in the tea room even gave me a couple of chocolate digestive biscuits to dunk in my frothy coffee, it wasn't exactly Starbucks but it was a strong and warm brew and it hit the spot.
If your ears were burning, that would have been one of the Ryton committee and myself bitching about you and putting the world to rights. We shared some very similar views and I reckon I will have to promote him to my cabinet as the Minsister of Sport when (not if) I get elected as Prime Minister.
Be afraid, you have been warned!
Thankfully the A19 and A1 were both bereft of traffic and I got past Middlesbrough before the capacity crowd from the Riverside Stadium hit the roads. It's been far too long since I dipped my hook into the Northern League's waters, I feel that several overdue road trips are in the offing any time soon.

Tuesday 12th April 2016

Toolstation NCEL Premier Division

at Muglet Lane, Maltby

Maltby Main (1) 1
Lewis Bemrose 15 (pen)

Handsworth Parramore (0) 2
John Froggatt 74, 89
(I might've given Danny Buttle the first one)

Admission £5. Programme £1.50.
Attendance 160

Maltby Main:

Gary Hibbert, Connor White, Jordan Poole, Liam Flint, Joe Austin, Danny Swales, Lewis Bemrose (Ryan Poole 65), Nicky Darker, Ryan Carroll (Josh Hemmingway 89), Josh Nodder (Steve Hopewell 77), Cameron Rigby
Unused sub - John Ballington
Handsworth Parramore:
Andrew Sneath, Simon Harrison (Ryan Lee 87), Connor Smythe, Luke Fletcher, Tyler Bates, Gareth Griffiths, Colin Marrison (Danny Buttle 62), Steve Warne, Jon Froggatt, Kieran Wells, Ash Burbeary
Unused subs - Will Eades, Billy Wright

With Tadcaster Albion's game against Armthorpe Welfare having been rained off tonight, this was Handsworth Parramore's chance to climb back to the top of the table, against Maltby Main, a top eight side who have been enjoying a decent season under Spencer Fearne and his assistant Mark Askwith.
Apologies in advance to my 'Ambers' pals, but I am afraid that I've got to mention the weekend's results in this 'setting the scene' intro, where the Miners overturned a two nil deficit to take a point off of Staveley at Inkersall Road, while Micky Godber's side were on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline at Tadcaster.
Least said soonest mended methinks.

Following this hard fought win against Spencer Fearn's extremely resilient Maltby side, Parramore are now two points ahead of 'Taddy', but the north Yorkshire side, who also visit Muglet Lane next Wednesday, have two games in hand.
Mathematically Cleethorpes Town, Bridlington Town and Worksop Town still have a (wafer) slim chance of pinching the top spot, but barring a monumental capitulation by the pace setters, the title race is effectively a two horse one.

Micky Godber, ably assisted by Mark Ward, is keeping his players feet on the ground by taking it one game at a time and staying focused on their own fixtures, as the 'do or die' climax to the season comes into view, with his side still in the running for silverware on three fronts.
Tadcaster are favourites to win the league and take the one solitary promotion spot, so the pressure is on them to maintain their form into the final run in and not slip up right at the end like they did last season. As Handsworth showed tonight, yet again, they will keep up the fight and chase down any cause right until the bitter end.

The signature tune to tonight's no holds barred contest, could have been Billy Ocean's "When the goung gets tough" (but not Boyzone's feeble cover version).
Nobody should ever turn up at Maltby expecting an easy passage or any favours, and their all action approach to each and every game, combined with a pitch that would be a daunting challenge for even the most experienced of polar expedition orienteering teams, makes life 'difficult' for any visiting team... not to mention the 'blunt' talking local crowd breathing down your neck (they're actually top lads when you get to know them), whose bite is no doubt even worse than their fairly ferocious bark.
Fortess Muglet Lane is no place for tippy tappy football, posers or the faint hearted.
But, I actually love coming here, especially in midweek.

I wouldn't have been overly surprised to see Maltby's stalwart secretary playing out on the wing for the home side tonight, he'd already covered several miles doing everything else that wanted doing in the build up to the game.
Crash, bang, wallop... the game commenced at a break neck pace, as both teams went in search of an opening goal in a game that the visitors really needed to win.
Kieran Wells got in behind Maltby's defence twice early on, but struggled to get a shot in on goal, due to the number of Miners players who seemed keen to get back and surround him, (body)checking his every move, whenever he got anywhere near the ball.
The end to end goalmouth action wasn't letting up for a moment and amid a goalsmouth scramble in front of Andrew Sneath, the referee Chris Ward spotted a handball and blew up for a penalty.

Sneath dived to his right but Lewis Bemrose struck his spot kick low and straight down the middle and the ball nestled in the back of the net via the Ambers keepers outstretched leg.

The home side weren't content to sit back and defend their one goal cushion and within minutes, Cameron Rigby cut inside from the left flank and Sneath had to get down to keep the ball out at the foot of the near post.

Rigby found his way in round the side of Handsworth's defence again and only a timely interception by Luke Fletcher, prevented the ball finding it's way through to Ryan Carroll who had timed his run perfectly to arrive unmarked straight in front of Sneath's goal.

Handsworth definitely seemed to have that bit more in reserve than their south Yorkshire neighbours and even class to see them through over the 90 minutes, but the Main were definitely shading the first half.

Simon Harrison and Connor Smythe were trying to get the visitors going from down the flanks, but Maltby were strong at the back.

Just before half time, Wells threatened to break free from the halfway line towards the Maltby goal, but Nicky Darker intercepted the ball with a firm challenge... so firm in fact, that the ball spun away so fast and far that nobody could retrieve it and Darker conceded a corner.

Ash Burbeary's kick was cleared, but only as far as Gareth Griffiths, who chipped it towards Wells, but Gary Hibbert climbed above him and plucked the ball off of his ginger bonce.

HT: Maltby Main 1 v Handsworth Parramore 0

And Tadcaster started inflating their party balloons.

Griffiths fouled Bemrose around 35 yards from the Ambers goal, but Smythe was on hand to head the free kick away.

Wells cleared Rigby's corner but Handsworth's attempted counter attack broke down in the middle of the park. Where the 'tackle' were now flying in from all angles. Mr Ward sensibly decided to nip things in the bud by issuing Danny Swales with a yellow card. It seemed to do the trick, for at least three minutes as an unsightly wrestling match broke out over a throw in near the halfway line, followed shortly afterwards by another 'coming together' of 17 players as Handsworth took offence to a foul in front of Maltby's most vociferous supporters.

The game still finished 11 aside, so well done to the referee for restoring order.

Wells ghosted in on goal behind the Miners defence, but Burbeary couldn't quite pick him out with a long range pass from out on the left.
As a hour ticked by with Handsworth still chasing the game, Godber made a couple of changes and tweaked his game plan accordingly, it was the turning point of the game. It's got to be a nassive plus point for any side, to have both Danny Buttle and Alex Rippon to throw into the mix when you've got to up the ante.
Froggatt picked up the ball and sprayed a wide pass to Buttle, who surged down the left touchline, but Connor White got under him with a 'proper tackle', but conceded a corner into the bargain.
In their desperation to get back into the game, three players went for the same ball from Buttle at the back stick and got in each others way as Maltby cleared their lines.
The home side sacrificed Bemrose, taking him out of his attacking midfield role and beefing things up at the back in anticipation of Handsworth's late charge and sent on Danny Poole as part of their reorganisation.
Buttle got forward again and he dropped a cross into the path of Griffiths, but the centre half cum prolific goalscorer headed the chance over from just a few feet.

Handsworth won a corner out on the left flank, but Maltby putting up and all hands to the pumps rearguard action cleared the ball away past the back stick. Buttle's right swing corner swung in just under the Maltby bar as a scrum of bodies piled in towards it... and the visitors were on level terms.
I personally thought that Buttle had scored directly from the flag kick, but eye witnesses who were closer to the goal line than me, including the ref, said that Froggatt had got the final touch. He definitely had, that was clear to see, but I wasn't sure it had already crossed the line until the matter was clarified later.
Buttle took a free kick out towards the left wing in line with the penalty spot and unleashed a thumping and curling shot towards the top right hand corner of the goal, that left Hibbert with no absolutely no chance of making a save... I hereby declare that Maltby's Liam Flint is completely certifiable... because without any thought for himself he dived and met Buttle's pile driver full on with his forehead to keep the ball out. Taking one for the team doesn't even come close... Flint deserved a medal and a least a point for his bravery.
The Ambers pressed again and Wells unlocked the Maltby defence for Rippon who hit the bar from close range, Steve Warne pounced to get to the rebound first but Connor White cleared his effort off the line... everything was getting a bit of frantic inside the Miners goalmouth.

There was no mistaking who scored Handsworth's winning goal right at the death, as Froggatt latched onto a bouncing clearance almost thirty yards from goal and hooked a sublime finish into the back of Maltby's net, inside tha last minute of the ninety.
Froggatt disappeared under a pile of celebrating team mates as the Ambers supporters were up and celebrating a HUGE result.
Wells came very close to adding a third for Handsworth in stoppage time and there was still time for another goalmouth scramble at both ends, but Froggatt's late strike had won the day for Micky Godber's side who simply don't know when they're beaten.
FT: Maltby Main 1 v Handsworth Parramore 2
Both sides were generously applauded from the pitch and rightly so.
That was a massive grandstand finish by the Ambers, that keeps them well and truly in the mix at the business end of the table. And Maltby are growing into a really good side this season too.

Wednesday 13th April 2016

Northern U19 Allaince - Pat Rice Trophy Semi Final

at Crofton Community Centre

Liversedge (1) 1

Vaughan Redford 15, Cody Cromack 102

Niall Coulthard 104, Rob Thomas 115

Nostell Miners Welfare (0) 1

Billy Mole 83 (pen), 112 (pen)

Liversedge won 4-2 AET

Admission £2 inc. programme

Liversedge home game but venue switched to Nostell MW's ground

Thank you to Kevin Allsop the Nostell MW manger for the team line up details

Liversedge:

Liam Scott-Bell, Tom Coyle, Tom Elliott, Cody Cromack, Brad Patefield, Niall Coulthard, Aaron Rogers, Callum Barron, Kenny Tafireyi, Vaughan Redford, Rob Thomas

Subs - Oliver Rimmington, Jack Jones, Jordan Emery, Corban Pankhurst

Nostell Miners Welfare:

Jake Almond, Tom Booth, Ty Bell, Connor Bailey, Dillon Connelly, Harry Jones, Galeu Makamut, Luke Blackburn, Ben Austin, Steven Smith, Billy Mole

Subs - Jack Rogers, Aiden White, Jamie Allsop, John Moran, Josh Craig

It was the recent form of both of these teams that drew me to Crofton tonight, for what turned out to be an excellent game that could've gone either way, until Liversedge grabbed the spoils deep into extra time.

'Sedge' have been having problems with the climate and above average rainfall this season and as a consequence both the first team and Under 19 sides are playing around the clock to fit their outstanding fixtures in, as the season reaches its climax.

In qualifying for the Pat Rice Trophy final tonight, John Redford's youngsters now still have nine games left to play... and a good few of their players are also featuring regularly in Liversedge's NCEL side too.

Liam Scott-Bell got an early feel of the ball, as he collected Dillon Connelly's long free kick into his area towards Steven Smith.
But it was Liversedge who created the better chances during the opening exchanges, with Kenny Tafireyi in particular showing some good touches out wide on the right for the 'away home' team, keeping Harry Jones busy in the 'home away' team's defence.
Vaughan Redford netted the only goal of a lively first half, when he held off and made his run late to give Callum Barron the time and space to lay the ball on a plate for him from the left wing and he stroked the ball home from ten yards out.
Galeu Makamut broke forward for Nostell, but Tom Elliott dealt with his speed and trickery in a time honoured fashion and Steven Smith dropped the resulting free kick wide of the right hand post.
Ben Austin ventured towards the Liversedge area, and having run out of passing options he opted to shoot from 25 yards, which almost caught Scott-Bell out as the ball fizzed narrowly past the upright.

Connelly bulged the visitors net as he met Smith's left wing cross head on... that is to say, Nostell's centre half literally bulged the net as he ended up caught up in the back of it as the ball skimmed narrowly over the bar.

I was sat in the furthest seat from the entrance, being all incognito and as anonymous as possible, but I had to move and go to the opposite end of the ground, because a very supportive mum in the stand was roaring her support of her son and giving me a headache.

Fair play, she wants the best for her lad and was backing him admirably, but I could barely hear myself think. I do know whose mother she is, but wonder if naming the lad would be the right thing to do at this juncture, because I wouldn't want to embarrass him, so I tossed a dice and decided to reveal his identity if it landed with an odd number facing upwards.

Three!

Vaughan! Have a bleedin' word son ;-)

Nostell showed what a quality passing side they are when Jones fed the ball forward to Smith on the left flank, who flicked the ball into Austin's path for him to thread the ball through to Makamut, whose shot was turned round the post by Scott-Bell.

Tafireyi threatened again for 'Sedge', but Connelly intervened and sent Makamut racing forward with a quick pass, but Tom Coyle stopped him in full flight with a well timed tackle.

Makamut twisted and turned and held off the attentions of two markers but he he couldn't quite get his shot way as Coyle kept close tabs on him, after Luke Blackburn had created a half chance.

Meanwhile as played switched quickly from one end to the other again, Callum Barron threaded the ball through the narrowest of gaps to Aaron Rogers who drilled the ball just wide.

Smith came close to providing an equaliser shortly before half time, when he headed Makamut's cross over from almost under the bar and then saw his deflected long shot drop into the waiting arms of Scott-Bell.

HT: Liversedge 1 v Nostell MW 0

Blackburn tested Scott-Bell with a thumping long range shot right at the beginning of the second half, but 'Sedge' keeper got down to his left to make a great one handed save.
Nostell pushed and probed and all but owned the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but Liversedge were defending well.
Redford sprinted towards the Nostell goal and went to ground as Almond reached the ball first and cleared it, but the referee ruled that he had fallen rather than taken a dive, like some people on the sidelines were suggesting, quite loudly, as both centre halves raced to keep up with the Sedge number 10, but were still several feet away when he 'slipped'.
A few minutes later the same player went down under a firm but fair challenge in the area... I've seen them given, but the referee was nearer than me and these things even themselves out over the course of a game.
Connelly was doing a great job, most of the time, of sweeping up at the back for Nostell, Redford escaped his attentions and stabbed the ball towards the goal from a Rob Thomas cross and forced a save from Almond.

Makamut's pace saw him clear through on goal again, but with Scott-Bell advancing from his line, he rushed his shot and punted the ball wide of the goal.
Connelly, for once, missed a clearance and let Redford slip by him, but the usually prolific front man put his chance wide.
The clock was ticking down, when Tom Booth was toppled off of the ball as he advanced into the right hand side of the area and Nick Denton pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Billy Mole stepped up and crashed his spot kick past Scott-Bell.
In the very last minute of normal time, Rob Thomas saw off three challenges and saw his angled shot dip towards the goal off of Almond's gloves, but Harry Jones was covering his keeper and put his foot through the ball to hook it to safety.
90 minutes: Liversedge 1 v Nostell Miners Welfare 1

If anything, extra time was even more gung-ho and entertaining than the original 90 minutes had been.
Blackburn released a goal bound shot from just inside the Liversedge area, that cannoned back off of Makamut who couldn't get out of the way.
The Welfare number 7 almost made amends for his inadvertent block within a minute, but Scott-Bell did well to turn the ball over his bar.
Mole and Smith both had chances that came to nothing, before Liversedge's Brad Patefield, up from his defensive role, fired across the face of Almond's goal from Cody Cromack's long pass, only to see the ball roll inches wide of the post.
In the 102nd minute, Cody Cromack took responsibility for a free kick some thirty yards out and looped the ball over the defence wall, bypassing the scrum of players waiting to make their runs into the goalmouth and bulged the roof of the net with a quality strike.
In the final minute of the first half of extra time, Niall Coulthard scored a more run of the mill goal, when he got onto the end of a left wing free kick and nudged the ball over the line from a couple of yards out.
ET HT: Liversedge 3 v Nostell MW 1

As Nostell broke forward, valiantly looking to salvage this game, an over hit cross from the right appeared to be going nowhere and two players collided just inside the left hand side of Liversedge's 18 yard box... I thought unavoidable collision, but the ref decided otherwise and pointed to the spot once again. Billy Mole was unconcerned over whether it was a soft decision or not and he placed the ball past Scott-Bell from the spot once more and it was 'game on' again with eight minutes remaining.
In the 115th minute, Rob Thomas struck the hammer blow that put Nostell on the canvas, when Coyle's through ball to Redford was only cleared as far as the Sedge number 11 who gleefully crashed the ball into the roof of the net.
With just a minute left on the clock Smith saw Scott-Bell pluck his curling free kick out of the air and it was too late for the Crofton based side to get back in the game now.
FT: Liversedge U19 4 v Nostell MW U19 2

A great spectacle for everyone present and a real shame that only one side could go through from this end to end, high tempo semi final tie.
Good luck to Liversedge in the final.
And best wishes to Roy and Malc for their great hospitality at Nostell MW FC as always, I don't think the stories about the 'she devil' are repeatable on a family orientated blog.
If you get the chance to watch either of these teams in action before the end of the season, get along and treat yourself.

Thursday 14th April 2016

Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Semi Final

at Shaw Lane, Barnsley

Shaw Lane Aquaforce (2) 2

Adam Priestly 19 (pen), Peter Davidson 43

Handsworth Parramore (0) 1

Kieran Wells 87

Admission £5. Programme 50p. Attendance 147

Shaw Lane Aquaforce:

Tom Morgan, Gary Stohrer, Luke O'Brien, Steve Istead (C), Oscar Radford, Matt Dempsey, Jonathan Wafula, Reece Hands, Marcus Edwards, Alex Davidson, Adam Priestley

Subs 12) Matt Thornhill 14) Rhys Meynell

Handsworth Parramore:

Andrew Sneath, Billy Wright, Richard Tootle, Colin Marrison, Will Eades, Gareth Griffiths, Ryan Lee,

Stephen Warne (Simon Harrison 54), Jon Froggatt (Harry Groombridge 73), Alex Rippon, Danny Buttle

Unused subs - 15) Luke Fletcher 16) Tyler Bates

Shaw Lane Aquaforce will probably be called Barnsley Town FC next season, unless they decide upon something else in the mean time, due to a Northern Premier League ruling about teams not having benefactor company names in their official club title.
Which makes me wonder if the team who were originally called Parramore Sports; who merged with Handsworth JFC to great effect a couple of years ago, will have to change the last part of their name when/if they reach the promised land too.
I'd hope not, but these kind of things seem to be set in stone, even if the FA and Football League can sanction names like the Budweiser FA Cup, the Barclays Premier League, the SkyBet Football League, the Carling Cup... and even the Evo-Stik League, among others, for their own competitions #JustSaying

In their infinite wisdom the powers that be had also insisted that title chasing 'Aquaforce' had to fit this game in the night after they had played Goole AFC on the same pitch, in a league fixture that finished 3-3, after the Ducks had been leading 3-1.
However, they still managed to field a fairly strong looking side, while the visitors included a good mix of first team players and lads from their all conquering Under 19 set up, who coped admirably against a side who are currently sitting in second place in the Evo-Stik First Division South.

The Ambers are smack bang in the middle of a fixtures backlog too, playing four games over six days, including a League Cup tie v Cleethorpes Town this coming Monday, a repeat of last season's epic final, which will be the Owls third visit to the Windsor Food Service Stadium this season, having already made the journey in both the NCEL Premier League and FA Vase.

Handsworth have a well won reputation for never giving up on even the most well hidden of lost causes... late comebacks and overturning the odds have become something of a specialty for this never say die team.
Alas as they went into the break two goals down to another go ahead and progressive side, they had left themselves just that fraction too much to do after the interval, to get back into the game and claim a place in the Bramall Lane showpiece final, against the Evo-Stik Premier League form club: Frickley Athletic, who had several interested parties in attendance tonight running the rule over both of their potential opponents.
The opening ten minutes saw both sides battling to make an opening, without creating any actual clear cut chances, with defences looking solid, including the youngsters from Handsworth who have been repaying the faith that Michael Godber and Mark Ward have been showing in them of late.

Matt Dempsey clattered into the back of Alex Rippon as he strode towards the Shaw Lane goal. The audible 'twock!' of the home side's centre defenders studs against the back of Rippon's boot and the fact that he went to ground when he was in a good position to open the scoring, sort of suggest that the referee had missed a stonewall penalty offence as the Ducks cleared their lines and the game went on, while Rippon picked himself up and visibly struggled for the next twenty minutes ort so as he tried to run his knock off. Well, he hadn't kicked himself, had he Mr Akers?
But sometimes one just has to accept that the match officials can be unsighted and don't see everything in and around crowded goalmouths. **it happens!
Ryan Lee pumped a free kick towards the Aquaforce area, but Craig Elliott's side cleared their lines and tried to mount a counter attack, which was nipped in the bud by a timely interception by Will Eades.
Billy Wright broke down the right wing and crossed towards Rippon and Jon Froggatt, but Tom Morgan charged off his line and caught the ball before either of them could do any damage.

That's a lovely smile you've got there 'our John'

Within moments Wright was back again and this time he delivered a perfect cross for Froggatt who nodded the ball past the post from close range.

"He's not good enough for this level" growled somebody with a thick Barnsley accent; "Aye lad, dem der thotty five t'goals he's gorrin so far, t'back up yon words of t'wisdom... tha knows!" At which point Jud Casper stomped off home to murder their Billy's pet Kestrel, happen.

Reece Hands slipped a great measured through ball into the Ambers area for Marcus Edwards to run onto, but in spite of three Parramore defenders playing him onside, the assistants flag went up and the visitors could breathe a sigh of relief.

Y'see when all is said and done, these kind of things really do balance each other out after all.

Jonathan Wafula delivered a dangerous ball into the mix from out on the right and as the Parras tried clearing the danger, the referee spotted and infringement and blew up for a penalty... and Adam Priestly put Shaw Lane ahead with their first shot on target.

Handsworth were nearly back on level terms straight away, when Eades got them moving with a lengthy pass to Froggatt, who laid it off to Buttle and continued his run for the pacey winger to pick him out with a precision cross, which he rolled into the path of Rippon who was unlucky to see his first time shot fly inches over the bar.
Steve Warne was making a real fist of linking up play between the Ambers defence and forwards, in his pivotal role, that often gets overlooked while he seldom gets the credit he deserves.
The home side knew that they needed at least another goal and the visitors defence were on the back foot and soaking up a sustained spell of pressure for a while... and in the middle of it all, 'Archie' Sneath tipped the ball away from under his bar and was then forced to run from his line and claim the ball at the feet of Edwards as Shaw Lane knocked the loose ball back into the danger zone.
Having survived a scare or two, the Ambers (Reds) countered and as Rippon, Froggatt and Buttle caused chaos in the home sides defence, there was another loud call for a penalty, but once again, Aquaforce were lucky that the 'alleged' perpetration had occurred in the referee's apparent blind spot again.
"Bloody hell! I hope this referee isn't driving home", called out somebody who has no official attachment to either team whatsoever.
Buttle delivered another pinpoint corner, from which Froggatt looked odds on to score but his header was cleared off the line, in a 'Maltbyesque' fashion.

Wafula broke forward at pace, but Eades kept up with him (no mean feat) and intercepted the ball, before rolling a pass back for Sneath to launch a clearance high into the chilly Barnsley night sky.
With half time fast approaching, the Ducks claimed a second goal when their penalty taker Priestley, nudged an excellent pass into the path of Peter Davidson who had time his sprinted run to perfection and wasn't going to miss from there.
Traditionally, just before half time is cited as a psychologically perfect time to go two goals in front, but I actually prefer going two up just before the final whistle... but either way, it was a blow for the visitors, who had spurned several good chances, while Shaw Lane, although having created a good few chances themselves, had scored with the only two efforts they had got on target in the opening half.
HT: Home 2 v Away 0

It was good to see Richard 'Toots' Tootle back in a Parramore shirt tonight and he made a big contribution to the game out on the left wing from his full back berth tonight.
The referee punished 'Aquaforce' when he ruled that Morgan had handled the ball from a back pass.
Never let it be said that I'm biased with my match coverage, because even though I wanted to see the Ambers get through to the final against one of my favourite teams in the whole world, if they had scored from this free kick it would've been a travesty for justice as whatever the debating points of several other tenuous decisions made by the officials tonight, the awarding of a free kick was completely wrong with this one.
Buttle rolled the free kick to Tootle who crashed the ball over the bar from close range. Maybe he was merely concerned that he was about to benefit from an unfair advantage and his fair play ethics got the better of him.

Handsworth had to switch things round if they were going to get back into this game and all three substitutes had obviously been briefed to keep the tempo high in the Saw Lane half.
While the home side packed their defence out to keep Parramore at bay, Godber's side were always going to be vulnerable to counter attacks, so he had to get the balance right.
And sure enough, Wafula used his pace to good effect and the Ambers had a massive let off, when he lobbed a shot against the upright.
You could tell it just wasn't going to be Handsworth's night, when Simon Harrison picked out Froggatt inside a crowded goalmouth with a deft free kick, but he headed over.
Priestley tried to put the game to bed, but saw his stinging shot deflected wide, before Sneath was tested by Hands, but held on well to his shot.
Kieran Wells and Harry Groombridge were both frustrated as Shaw Lane closed ranks and blocked shots from both of them and Morgan did well to change his footing as a shot from Groombridge hit Rippon and changed direction.

With three minutes of the ninety remaining, Handsworth were chucking everything they had at their Evo-Stik League opponents and Rippon flicked the ball on to Wells in the area and he set up a grandstand finish by firmly planting the ball past Morgan to make it 2-1.

Sadly for the 'comeback kings' tonight's late, late show, didn't have a final twist to it, where they could force the game into extra time... and 'Barnsley Town' held on for a narrow win.

In the final analysis, Aquaforce had been clinical in front of goal when it mattered, whereas Handsworth hadn't put several gilt edged chances away... and despite finishing the game in the ascendancy, the Shaw Lane defence had shown why they are competiting at a higher level of football these days.

FT: Shaw Lane Aquaforce 2 v Handsworth Parramore 1

Friday 15th April 2016
HKL North Midland U19 League (North)
Jones & Co. Recreation Ground, Scrooby Road, Bircotes
Harworth Colliery (1) 1
Callum Hudson 39, Marley Alder 74, 79
Worksop Town (1) 3
Mason Gee 43,
Admission £2 Programme 50p Attendance 46

Lee Danysz and Bren Wilson, HCFC first team management
team checking out the available talent in the Under 19 team

Harworth Colliery

Josh Court, Ross Taylor, Tom Hawkridge, George Agnew, Chad Jacobs, Marley Alder (C), Brett Garrett, Callum Hudson, Jordan Camm, Morgan Rubie, Bailey Armstrong

Subs - Louis McGuire, Alex Hawkridge, Dec Jacobs, Ross Wicks, Daniel Fitzackerley

Worksop Town:

Brandon Pritchard, Jack Roper, Cameron Mitchell, Beau Nicholson, Aaron Pickersgill, Max Sykes, Josh Allerton, Scott Wesley, Mason Gee, Sam Stevenson, Declan Stevens

No subs

This was first ever game to be played at Scrooby Road, minus the backdrop of the Harworth Colliery tower, that was demolished earlier this week.
Obviously, being from Harworth, the construction was as 'ard as nails and withstood the first hammering of explosives it received on Tuesday, when it merely swayed briefly, stood defiantly against the world and metaphorically growled "Is that all you've got!?"
It was another 24 hours before it finally hit the deck and another landmark was lost to the village skyline, gone the same way as the Institute that was raised to the ground in a blaze of fire several years ago.
The weather tonight was disgusting.
I haven't seen rain as bad, or as prolonged as this in years.
The lads (and match officials) who battled it out through the deluge that never let up once throughout the entire game, have nothing but my complete admiration.

Even though Worksop Town were staging a fundraising event tonight, a Gary Barlow tribute act no less that would've accounted for all of the Take That fans at the club chickening out of a short trip across the A1 tonight, and no doubt the precipitation was responsible for decimating the attendance for this local derby fixture.
There was a significant 'prize' at stake tonight, that went beyond mere local bragging rights (a lot of the players know each other well away from football circles too), because as a consequence of tonight's result, the losers would finish bottom of the North Midlands U19 League, as the two bottom clubs went head to head.
Of course, this is development league football, where the results aren't of paramount importance and lag someway behind the aims of nurturing young talent, but even though both of these sides embrace that philosophy and have achieved their main aim of producing players who have linked up with their respective first team squads this season, nobody ever really wants to come last, regardless of the pros and cons of it all.

Worksop should've been in front inside the opening five minutes, but Beau Nicholson headed wide from a corner, meanwhile at the opposite end Marley Alder repeated the same trick moments later and nodded the ball over the bar from close range.
Mason Gee saw off the attentions of Ross Taylor, who was battling for the ball as is his wont, but shot wide from thirty yards when he got a sight of goal.
The Tigers survived a couple of scares, when George Agnew drilled the ball across the face of the Worksop goal but nobody could get a touch on it and from the Colliery's Brandon Pritchard had to turn Bailey Armstrong's inswinging cross over his bar as it threatened to sneak in to the roof of his goal.
Dec Stevens pounced on a defensive slip on the edge of Harworth's area, but Josh Court ran out to save bravely at his feet.
In the 39th minute, Harworth swept forward in numbers and Callum Hudson calmly planted the ball past Pritchard from twenty yards out. The Worksop keeper got a touch but not enough of one.
The Colliery lead was only short lived however, because four minutes later Mason Gee broke free on the left hand edge of Court's area and curled a great shot into the top corner of the net.
HT: Harworth Colliery U19 1 v Worksop Town U19 1

Harworth upped their tempo after half time and with Worksop tiring in the strength sapping conditions, weith no substitutes to call on, they were there for the taking, especially when they went down to ten men after 56 minutes with Cameron Mitchell limping back to the changing room early after suffering from a knock.
But all of that aside, Harworth were good value for this win that lifted them off of the bottom of the table, especially in the second half.
Pritchard did well to keep Agnew's free kick out, just after the interval, as Harworth began to turn the screw. Jordan Camm slashed a shot across the face of the visitors goal that went narrowly wide of the right hand post.
And when Worksop did get forward and Court denied Dec Stevens, the home side broke away immediately and Agnew fired into the side netting. The Harworth number four was unlucky not to get on the score sheet today.

The Tigers defence was under siege for a while and they rode their luck when Morgan Rubie and Camm almost squeezed the ball across the line by the left hand post amid a goalmouth scramble.
The visitors finally buckled on 74 minutes, leaving Marley Alder free to pick his spot and put the Colliery back in front. Once again, Pritchard got a despairing touch to the ball on it's way in.
Five minutes later, the Harworth skipper all but put the game beyond Worksop's reach, when he turned home Bailey Armstrong's cross from eight yards out.
The home side finished with a flourish and Ross Taylor almost added a fourth from Alder's through ball but Pritchard did well to keep the score down and was called into action again in the closing stages as he kept out Rubie's angled shot.
Right at the death Bailey Armstrong attempted a scissor kick as the Harworth lads grew in confidence and stature, but though he made contact with the ball, he couldn't get enough power into his effort.
FT: Harworth Colliery U19 3 v Worksop Town U19 1
Massive kudos to everyone who braved the elements tonight.
Call me weird if you want to, but I really enjoyed my birthday night out in Bircotes on this wet and windy night.

Saturday 16th April 2016
Football League Youth Alliance (NE)
at Priory Academy, Lincoln
Lincoln City U18 (0) 1
Jack McMenemy 84
Mansfield Town U18 (2) 3
Tyler Blake 14, 36
Louis Danquah 54
For Flickr photo group click HERE

Lincoln City:

Michael Antkowiak, Jack Fixter, Ryley Thompson, Archie Moyses, Jack Weatherell, Luke Anderson, Keilen Gretton, Liam Harris, Jack McMenemy, Leon Loftus, Camm Stewart

Subs - Danny Horton, Sam Fewkes, James Hugo, Luke White, Ritchie Burdett

Mansfield Town:

Adam Bishop, Teddy Bloor, Louis Danquah, Cain Smith (Tom Marriott 81), Morgan Ratcliffe (C), Kieran Harrison, Tyler Johal, Cameron Healey, Tyler Blake, Alistair Smith (Devante Reittie), Zayn Hakeem (Nyle Blake)

Unused subs - Sam Wilson, Kane Baldwin

John Dempster's young Stags got back to winning ways on the Priory Academy 3G pitch, after an early hours snow flurry over Lincoln had rendered the original venue for this game, half a mile away at Ashby Avenue, unplayable.
The three points saw Mansfield climb back to the top of the table, putting the onus on Scunthorpe United to win their game in hand now, after their derby match v. Doncaster Rovers was postponed today.
On a bright but chilly morning, the Stags looked lively from the off, with Tyler Johal, Ali Smith, Zayn Hakeem and Kieran Harrison all asking questions of the Imps defence, before Tyler Blake charged down an attempted clearance from a back pass by City's keeper Michael Antkowiak, stole the ball away and rolled it into the now open goal, to give the visitors the lead after 14 minutes.

Morgan Ratcliffe did a great job as team captain on his comeback from injury today, it would be fair to say that his booming voice and non stop encouragement could be heard clearly all over the Academy campus. He has a reputation for being a bit of a joker in the pack and a rum lad, but as Captain Morgan took his role very seriously and showed a lot of maturity.

Louis Danquah and Teddy Bloor were causing no end of problems for Lincoln's back four with their link up play and deliveries from dead ball situations.

Tyler Blake was relishing leading the line, with Zayn Hakeem playing ff of him and he was coming out on top more often than not with his marker, Jack Weatherell.
The Imps tried responding to Blake's opening goal and Harrison had to head Archie Moyses in-swinging corner away from the six yard box, to where Jack Harris latched on to it, but his hopeful long range shot flew high and wide.

Tyler Johal was fouled as he ventured forward by Moyses. Teddy Bloor's free kick was cleared by Ryley Thompson at the expense of a corner, which Bloor also took, picking out Hakeem who shot on the turn but fired narrowly over the bar.
Cain Smith dropped a shoulder and broke past Jack Fixter, who recovered in time to put in a slide tackle as Smith was about to cross.
Bloor tried to take advantage of the biting wind that was howling across the pitch, but his left wing corner dropped narrowly wide of the right hand post.
Blake saw off the attentions of Weatherell again but placed his shot narrowly wide of the upright.
But the live-wire front man was back moments later, cutting out an attempted clearance by Luke Anderson, before cracking the ball past Antkowiak, to claim his and Mansfield's second goal.

Laim Harris and Camm Stewart, both crossed the ball into the Stags penalty area in quick succession from their respective flanks, but there was nobody up in the box to connect with the ball in the first instance and Thompson nudged the ball wide of the right hand upright from the other.
Just before half time, Mansfield swept forward in search of a third goal before the break and when Ali Smith, Hakeem, Blake and Johal's pace and precision saw them advance deep into Lincoln's territory, Wetherell had to make a last ditch clearance, which fell to Cameron Healey on the edge of the box who shot on sight and was unlucky to see the ball skim wide with Antkowiak well beaten.
HT: Imps Youth 0 v Stags Youth 2

Mansfield's undoing at Hartlepool last week, was a lacklustre showing after the break, when they had taken a single goal lead in at the interval.
There was to be no repeat this weekend as the Stags completed a comfortable win against decent opposition, by a scoreline that only had a tinge of respectability about it for the host side, because they scored a breakaway consolation goal inside the closing five minutes.
Cain Smith won the ball in midfield and fed a pass forward to Ali Smith, who in turn switched the ball wide to Johal and when he crossed the ball into the path of Smith (C), who had continued his run, Antkowiak did well to pull off a close range save.
Hakeem and Blake were still chasing everything and anything in the final third, but it was Louis Danquah who finally claimed the third goal that had been on the cards for a while, when he took a return pass from Ali Smith just inside the box and calmly slotted the ball past Antkowiak.

Antkowiak was called into action twice, plucking Cain Smith's searching ball to his namesake Ali out of the air, before pulling off a great fingertip save at full stretch from a long range Cain Smith effort.
From a rare Lincoln attack, Jack McMenemy blazed a shot well off target from 12 yards out, as the wind picked up and was making life difficult.
Blake kept a stray pass in play by the dead ball line and rolled it back to Bloor, who picked out Ali Smith, but as he turned to get his shot away Antkowiak manged to get down and make another block.
By the time Mansfield made their three substitutions to give Nyle Blake, Tom Marriott and Devante Reittie the opportunity to get some match time in, the game was effectively all but over as a contest already, but they fitted straight in to the pattern of play and still played their part.

Inside the final five minutes, Jack McMenemy side footed a right wing cross past Bishop from ten yards. It was a shame that Bishop hadn't kept a clean sheet, because he had kept his focus well during the long periods of inactivity, with the wind blowing directly towards and had looked assured and calm whenever he had been called on.
With the clock ticking down, Bloor swung a right wing free kick into the side netting, Nyle Blake copied his brother's party piece when he chased down Anderson on the edge of the box, nicked the ball away and rolled it inches wide of the upright.
As the referee sounded his whistle, Weatherell was heading Danquah's cross away, as Healey arrived in the box in search of a late goal.
FT: Lincoln City 1 v Mansfield Town U18 3
The Stags Youth team face Oldham Athletic next Saturday, at Clipstone FC, in a game that has a noon kick off.

Monday 18th April 2016
at the Windsor Food Service Stadium
Toolstation NCEL League Cup 5th Round
Handsworth Parramore (2) 3
Kieran Wells 15
Ash Burbeary 45
Danny Buttle 58 pen
Cleethorpes Town (2) 3
Jack Richardson 35
Brody Robertson 45, 118
Marc Cooper 62
Caine Winfarah 93
Cleethorpes won 5-3 after extra time
Admission £5,. Programme £1.50. Attendance 99

Marcus Newell's side knocked Staveley out of the League Cup last week, to set up tonight's repeat of last year's NCEL League Cup final, against a Parras side who had beaten Selby Town away from home, in the fourth round, after coming back from 1-0 down to clinch a 2-1 win.
This is the third time that Cleethorpes Town have faced Handsworth Parramore at the Windsor Food Service Stadium this season, on their previous visits they defeated their hosts in the FA Vase when they visited Sandy Lane back in December, before the two teams picked up a point apiece in a rather feisty league encounter last month.

Sandwiched in between those two games, the Ambers and the Owls played out another 1-1 draw in the league at the Bradley Community Centre.
At the weekend, both of these sides had home games, with Handsworth seeing off Armthopre Welfare by five goals to nil, while Cleethorpes beat Worksop Town three nil.
By a twist of fate, both of those beaten sides (Worksop & Armthorpe) face each other on this very ground on Wednesday night this week, on the same night that Cleethorpes are back on home turf against Thackley and 24 hours later Parramore are in action on their own pitch when Clipstone are the visitors.
Parramore are at Brigg Town on Saturday, while 'Clee' travel up the east coast to Bridlington Town.
It's all go, eh!?

My other half insisted on attending tonight's cup game with me, based on the friendly welcome she had received from the club officials of the home side, the last time she had attended one of their games.
Some clubs, like Handsworth have that extra touch of class and good manners... and you can't help but warm to them as a consequence.
I did a double take when I first saw Handsworth's team sheet tonight, wondering if I had accidentally turned up at the wrong ground, and an Under 19 fixture was about to take place. I may have lost count over the course of the night, but I reckon that 7 of the Ambers all conquering youngsters took part in this game, which they kicked off with four teenagers (two aged 17 and two 19 year olds), lining up in defence in front of 'Archie' Sneath, who by comparison is almost a veteran at 23 years old.

When Micky Godber said he was going to use his entire squad during his teams top heavy fixtures schedule and give the youngsters a chance, he certainly wasn't joking.
The home side came out of the starting dates quickest and by the time that Keiran Wells had fired them in front on 15 minutes, they had already peppered the Owls goal with a string of chances and only moments before Wells found the net, he had taken a long pass from Colin Marrison down on his chest and volleyed the ball just inches over the bar on the turn.
Cleethorpes got more to grips with the game in the second half after Marcus Newell's interval team talk, but despite lagging way behind in the percentages stakes, chances wise, during the first half, they were on level terms after 35 minutes, when Jonathan Oglesby's right wing corner was only cleared as far as Jack Richardson who drilled the ball through a scrum of players to claim an equalizer for the Owls.

Parramore's youthful defence were coping admirably well against one of the better sides in the NCEL Premier Division, but although their forwards were dominating play in the last third, they were guilty of being wasteful at times and in the final analysis, that was to prove costly.
One such example being late in the first half, when Danny Buttle took on Tim Lowe, took the ball off of him and delivered an in perfect ball to Marrison, who nudged his shot wide of the post from close range.
The Ambers were back in front on the stroke of half time, when Ash Burbeary opened his goalscoring account for his new club, with an emphatic finish. But more drama was to come in stoppage time, when Pete Winn hooked a left wing cross into the path of Brody Robertson six yards out... and the Owls were level again.
HT: Hansdworth Parramore 2 v Cleethorpes Town 2

Without a shadow of doubt, the Ambers were the better team throughout the first half, but Cleethorpes showed a lot of resilience to keep things in the balance and they turned things round after the interval.
Nobody ever scored five goals away from home against a team of Handsworth's standing, without working hard for it and having enough quality to pull of such a result.
At half time, I won a stonking great big tin of Quality Street in the half time draw, which I shared among everybody in the main stand, including a guy sat the back in a Sheffield Wednesday hat, with massive hands who I think may have been called Arthur Tinn, before returning to my seat with the Blonde Beelzebub and that nice Mr and Mrs Bates who we used to work (and socialise) with at another NCEL club, which I had to leave during the closed season because of work commitments.

Winn combined with Liam Dickens to thread the ball through Robertson, whose immediate path to goal was blocked by Tyler Bates, so he knocked it sideways to Caine Winfarrah who shot over from an angle.

Alex Rippon, who was covering a lot of ground tonight all over the midfield, linking up with the attack, played the ball wide to Wells, who left two defenders in his wake with a burst of pace, but was denied by Liam Higton, who gathered the ball to his chest, with the kind of text book stop that coaches drill into kids from a very early age. He's obviously been taught well.

Billy Wright did enough to unsettle Robertdon as he cut inside the Ambers area from the left flank and he scuffed his shot into the side netting.

Marc Cooper picked up a long pass, turned well but directed his shot wide of the left hand upright.

The Owls were enjoying a good spell, but as so often happens when you don't take your chances... Tom Claisse chested the ball down into Burbeary's path but as he took aim, the Ambers front man was upended and the referee Ian Dudley was presented with the easiest call he'd had to make all night.

Buttle stepped forward and as Higton went to his right, the Handsworth winger struck the ball straight down the middle to put the home side ahead for the third, but final time.

Handsworth breathed a sigh of relief as Robertson cracked a shot just past the post of of Winfarrah's neat pass. The tide was turning and the Humber Estuary was on it's way in waves as the Ambers were beeched at Sandy Lane..

Hey look! I left out all of the donkeys, ice cream and fish & chips puns, so cut me some slack here.

Just after the hour, the visitors equalised yet again, through Marc Cooper, who poked the ball towards the goal inside a crowded goalmouth. I was sat in line with his shot and it was destined for inside the right hand side netting anyway, when Tyler Bates got a despairing touch the ball on the line in a last ditch and desperate attempt to prevent Cooper scoring.

I have seen several versions of events... and some credit Cooper, others gave it as an own goal and another third party awarded it to a none existent player called Brody Cooper!

But, to settle this debate once and for all, it was Cooper who scored, because... I SAID SO!

While we were discussing the merits of the Cooper or Bates OG saga and a greedy 'pig' from the back of the stand was poncing more chocolates's from us... "They're not for me, I'm taking them home for the kids", he must live with feckin' Old Mother Hubbard! 'Clee' broke forwarde from the restart and Richardson zipped a shot inches wide of Sneath's goal.

Play switched and Higton saved from Wells again as he attacked the Owls goal in tandem with Buttle.

Rippon headed the ball into the roof of the net as Handsworth went for broke and through Jon Froggatt into the mix, as Higton saved brilliantly from Wells, tipping a close range header over bar. Games turn on moments like that. Well done Liam!

Robertson picked out Richardson as this end to end, do or die, 100 mph game turned towards the Glassworks End again, but he shot straight at Sneath.

Micky Godber and Mark Ward, sent on Ryan Lee and Mitch Dunne, in place of Burbeary and Wells.

A bit of a baptism of fire for the young duo, but they weren't found wanting.

Richardson released Oglesby in the Ambers area and he sprinted past Sneath, but when he tried to nudge the ball into the unguarded goal, Billy Wright had burst a lung to get in the way and he cleared Oglesby's 'must score' effort off the line.

With five minutes of normal time to go, Cleethorpes were piling on the pressure, but Sneath saved from Cooper after Robertson had fed the ball in to him.

In stoppage time, Sneath saved twice from Robertson and Wright did his last ditch party piece again to thwart the Owls right at the deat.

90 minutes: 3-3

Extra time to be played.

Extra time was just 3 minutes old when Winfarrah put a lot of back spin on a right wing corner kick and Sneath could only get his fingers to it as the ball went in directly... 3-4.

Another 'Whodunnit?' debate required. No! Bugger off! Winfarrah scored it, now shurrup!

Rippon almost replied immediately, but the Cleethorpes fans cheered loudly as he curled his shot wide of the target.

Cooper shot from 30 yards... it was worth a go, but he missed his intended target by a few feet.

Sadly, there was a lengthy stoppage to the game, when Cooper and Sneath raced to challenge for a loose ball on the edge of the box and the latter didn't get up from the ensuing collision.

Thankfully, after having been to hospital it was reported that although the Ambers keeper had suffered concussion and had a back injury, nothing was broken or fractured. Get well soon Archie.

ET HT: 1-1

The second half of extra time was understandably a bit one sided, but the youthful Ambers side were battling to keep one of the most lethal strike forces in local non league football at bay, while briefly they almost had hopes of taking the game to penalties, when Ryan Lee's thumping shot was well blocked by Higton and Marrison went close from the rebound.

Tyler Bates pulled off a worldly save from Cooper, while Robertson shot wide. But with two minutes remaining, Robertson went through one against one, with the young 'outfield' keeper and the Owls were through to the final for sure now.

FT: Handsworth Parramore 3 v Cleethorpes Town 5

Tuesday 19th April 2016

HKL NMU19L Mini Shield

at Station Road, Collingham

Collingham (1) 3

Marlon Grundy 20, Jake Newton 62, Keiron Helsdown 82

Harworth Colliery (1) 1

Brett Garrett 27

Harworth chairman joins in with the warm up

Collingham:

Ben Tonks, Sam Biggs, Roy Bescoby (Adam Stone 83), Sid Costa, Simon Biggs, Jackson Buckthorp (C), Callum Godden (Charlie Warrington 63), Jake Newton, Jack Wilkinson, Marlon Grundy, Kieron Helsdown

Both subs used

Harworth Colliery:

Josh Court, Ross Taylor (12 Alex Hawkridge 25), Tom Hawkridge, George Agnew, Chad Jacobs, Ross Wicks (Bailey Armstrong 54), Brett Garrett (Callum Hudson 79), Josh Dickinson, Jordan Camm, Marley Alder (C), Louis Mcquire

Unused sub - Danny Fitzackerley,

Harworth were hoping to take the momentum from their morale boosting win over neighbours Worksop Town into tonight's mini shield encounter against the NMU19L (South) champions Collingham FC, but they would have been disappointed as the young Colliery side took around twenty minutes to come out of hiding tonight, before they started to get up to speed, by which time they were already a goal behind and had Josh Court to thank for keeping the score down with two excellent saves, while Ross Wicks had denied Marlon Grundy with a last ditch saving tackle when he had looked odds on to open the scoring.
The home side took the lead on twenty minutes, when Grundy took the ball around Court ten yards from goal and his goal bound shot hit Wicks on the arm.
"Ball to hand" some people might say and it wasn't intentional, but it had denied a goal scoring opportunity and Grundy opened the scoring from the spot kick.

The goal finally sparked some life into the Colliery lads and Sam Biggs was called on to block Brett Garrett as he homed in on the Collingham goal.
Tom Hawkridge, Louis Mcquire, Jordan Camm and Josh Dickinson threaded together a string of passes to create a chance for the Harworth captain Matty Alder, but Ben Tonks came off his line and gathered the ball.
The visitors were dealt a blow on 25 minutes when Ross Taylor had to leave the field of play, but Alex Hawkridge was chomping at the bit to be involved and he replaced the diminutive play maker.
George Agnew launched a long ball towards Brett Garrett who met it on the run on the edge of the Collingham area, flicked a header over the advancing Tonks and ran on to drill the ball into the open goal.
For a while Harworth looked very lively attacking through Mcquire, Camm and Dickinson, but Sam Biggs cleared his lines again.
Agnew almost put the visitors in front, bvut his shot deflected wide of the right hand post after Chad Jacobs had picked him out inside the right channel, where he had made a run around the back of the host sides defence.
Right on the stroke of half time, Jake Newton held the ball up well inside the Harworth penalty area, before laying a sideways pass into the path of Mundy, who spanked his shot wide.
HT: Collingham 1 v Harworth Colliery1

Keiron Helsdown shot from 12 yards, but Ross Wicks got in the way and played the ball away to safety. Harworth broke quickly and Jackson Buckthorp blocked Alder's shot and it deflected into the arms of Tonks.
Wicks was having a good game, marshalling the home sides front pair well, so it was bad news for the Colliery when he had to be withdrawn on 54 minutes, having taken a hefty knock in the middle of the park.
Bailey Armstrong entered the fray and Matty Alder dropped back into defence as a consequence.
Agnew was holding his own in midfield while Garrett was making all the right runs into the home sides last third but needed more service than he was getting.
Josh Dickinson found himself in space 15 yards from the home side's goal and tried his luck with a long range shot. Oi! Mind my bleedin' car son! It, err, wasn't on target.
Jake Newton nudged a toe punt into the Harworth goal from an improbably tight angle on the dead ball line
after some good work in the build up from Sam Costa.

The game became a bit of a stop/start affair with Collingham running the clock down at every available opportunity, which seemed to distract the Harworth team who started to loose their shape and focus.

Jack Wilkinson, who was breaking free down the right flank from midfield more and more, delivered measured ball to Newton in the six yard box, whose close range header was turned over by Court.

Dickinson and Armstrong attacked the home side's area, but when the ball fell to Camm, ne was crowded out by three opposition players and couldn't get his shot away.

Armstrong broke free on the left flank and sprinted towards the Collingham goal, Tonks was left stranded and as he charged out of his box he stopped the Harworth winger's goalbound effort by handling the ball outside the area. His was his last touch of the night and Sid Costa went in goal in place of the red carded keeper.

Brett Garrett, HCFC goal scorer

Against ten men, with the oppositions midfield creator now playing in goal, Harworth must have fancied themselves for a point, but Collingham defended deeply to keep the visitors at bay, leaving only Keiron Helsdown up front, who they picked out with a long clearance from midfield and he netted his sides third goal in the 82nd minute.

The champions of the South division shut up shop and Harworth looked resigned to their fate as the game petered out.

FT: Collingham U19 3 v Harworth Colliery U19 1

Sadly, my usually reliable bridge camera died tonight and I lost all of the match photos I had taken on it.

Oh well, back to Argos in the morning then.

Wednesday 20th April 2016

Toolstation NCEL Premier Division

at Muglet Lane, Maltby

Maltby Main (3) 4

Lee Hill 8, 33

Ryan Carroll 17, 88

Tadcaster Albion (1) 2

Jimmy Beadle 31

Carl Stewart 80

Admission £5. Programme £1.50. Attendance 117

Maltby Main:

Rusling, Flint, Hibbert, Hill, Austin, Darker (Poole 60), Bemrose (Ballington 82), Rigby, Nodder, Hopewell, Carroll, Rigby (White 72)

Unused Subs - Poole, Stancliffe (GK)

Tadcaster Albion:

Stevens, Barrett, Clayton, Milne, Anderson, Mycoe, Stewart, Beadle (c), Greening, Greening, Baker (Black 58)

Unused subs - Corner, Armstrong, Sellars, Conway

Well I have to take my hat off to whoever was doing the Twitter feed for Tadcaster tonight.
Not only did I enjoy tonight's entertainment on (and off) the pitch, the Albion tweets had me in stitches at times too.
I sincerely hope they were being posted in a tongue in cheek fashion, because if they were meant to be taken in the slightest bit seriously; then they were even funnier.
Regardless of what you may have read elsewhere on the internet over the course of the game, that may have been a 'tad' biased, Maltby won this game fairly and squarely. They defended well when they had to, scored four times against a side at the top of the league, which kind of suggests they merited tonight's win and worked damn hard for each other all night.

As I said when I visted Muglet Lane last week...
"Nobody should ever turn up at Maltby expecting an easy passage or any favours, and their all action approach to each and every game, combined with a pitch that would be a daunting challenge for even the most experienced of polar expedition orienteering teams, makes life 'difficult' for any visiting team... not to mention the 'blunt' talking local crowd breathing down your neck (they're actually top lads when you get to know them), whose bite is no doubt even worse than their fairly ferocious bark.
Fortess Muglet Lane is no place for tippy tappy football, posers or the faint hearted.
But, I actually love coming here, especially in midweek"

... apparently, even I'm right sometimes!

Tadcaster's fate this season is still in their own hands after this defeat on the grassy knoll of Muglet Lane and with their two games in hand (Handsworth Parramore play again tomorrow), they are still favourites to win the NCEL Premier Division title, but tonight's result was very well received elsewhere tonight, as Les Hill put in a match of the match performance for both his current and his previous club.
The visiting fans had turned up in full voice and were in party mode, given what a win tonight would mean to the league table, but their celebrations were curtailed when Les Hill powered a header past Gary Stevens from Nicky Darker's long throw after just 8 minutes and for a while (but only a while) they fell completely silent, when the unmarked Ryan Carroll latched onto the ball on the edge of Taddy's penalty area and side footed the ball past Stevens to double the Main's lead.
"Wow! We'll probably loose 5-2 or summat, but this is good while it lasts" exclaimed and excited but not entirely convinced local in our midst.

The visitors went on the offensive looking for a way back into the game, but they were thwarted when Rusling saved well from Gregg Anderson who smashed a thumping goal bound shot from Jimmy Beadle's left wing corner, while Hill headed Josh Barrett's cross away with Josh Greening well placed to receive the ball.
Meanwhile the visitors had another scare, when Stevens dropped Josh Nodder's shot and only managed to retrieve the ball at the second attempt after a struggle.
On the half hour Tadcaster were thrown a lifeline, when Hill tried nudging the ball away with an outstretched leg and Beadle went to ground over his boot. It was unintentional but the referee Sean Richardson had no option but to blow up and point to the spot.
Beadle's resulting penalty kick was touched onto the bar by Rusling, but the visitors captain netted at the second time of asking from the rebound.

Two minutes later, Hill had the last laugh, when he picked the ball up just past the centre circle advanced forward and spanked a quite amazing strike into the top corner of the net from all of 35 yards. Scribble all other goal of the season contenders off the list, Hill's just bagged that award for himself. And that one was 100% intentional!
For the remainder of the first half, Tadcaster got out their tents and set up a camp around the Maltby goal area and Rusling was kept busy as Carl Stewart, Beadle and Josh Greening (having controlled the ball with his hand on the ref's blind side) all took turns at trying to get a second goal before the break.
Moments before the break, Nodder released Carroll on a run towards goal and Stevens had to race out of his area to kick the ball to safety. Tad would do well to remember this moment and avoid letting it happen at the end of the second half too!
HT: Maltby Main 3 v Tadcaster Albion 1
Meanwhile on Twitter, Maltby had apparently spent the first half heading the ball away.
Or even more hilariously, kicking it out of touch into the field on the far side of the ground from the stands... err, that's a cricket pitch!

Maltby started the second half on the front foot, but as the clock ticked down, it was a case of all hands to the pumps for Spencer Fearn and Mark Askwith's battling Miners side.
Initially Nodder's right wing cross was headed away as far as Cameron Rigby who drilled his ball just wide of the post, much to the relief of the unsighted Stevens.
Rigby broke down the right flank and saw off two challenges, before Josh Barrett put the ball out of play with a firm but fair challenge. Darker picked out Lewis Bemrose with his throw, but Jason Mycoe charged his shot down.
Andy Milne launched a long ball up the field, that travelled all of sixty yards before Rusling plucked it out of the air. Yet a Twitter busy soul claimed that it was the home side who were direct in style tonight. Pot, kettle and black springs to mind.
Not that I am knocking Taddy for adopting such a horses for courses strategy at the business end of the season, on a pitch that the ever busy John Mills at Maltby Main FC hasn't had time to run either a mower or roller over this week... and possibly last week too!

Rusling was having a great game... and the way the second half was unfolding he needed to.
Liam Flint headed the kitchen sink away as Tadcaster threw all they had got into the mix... that's an exaggeration by the way, but only a slight one.
But having survived a sustained rearguard action, Maltby broke forward and Stevens was at full stretch to turn Nodder's shot around the right hand post.
And Stevens was in action again shortly afterwards, kicking for touch after winning a race for the ball with Carroll. The visitors keeper didn't look at all comfortable in these situations... I really hope he thumped one or two of his defenders later on for leaving him so exposed, time after time.
Maltby's Michael Caine sounded a bugle call and got his depleted troops to form a circle around Rusling, as a swarm of Tadcaster players arrived chucking spears and taking it in turns to try breaking the Miners resolve with a leather sphere. One of the Greening brothers (the less famous one I think) penetrated the home sides defence with a thumping shot, that was nearly on target... if he was aiming at the passing bus, that frequently circumnavigated the estate that backs on to the Muglet Lane ground throughout the game.

Mrs THE66POW wearing her swearword proof coat

But eventually, the visitors all out bombardment reaped dividends, when the ball fell to Stewart, amidst a frantic amphetamine paced flurry of action inside Rusling's goalmouth and he side footed the ball into the back of the Maltby net to set up a grandstand finale.

Tadcaster have a reputation for playing until the final whistle and bagging late goals this season and at this point it really did look as though a draw was on the cards.

But Maltby were having none of it and for several minutes it appeared as though their defenders were having a competition to see who could make the best goal line clearance, the ball was pinging about inside the Maltby area like nobodies business, but the resilient home defence had no intention of letting up, they were steadfast, determined, united for the cause and perhaps a bit fortunate once or twice, but try as they might, the Brewers were not going to get the late strike they required tonight.

But Maltby got one.
Carroll chased a long clearance down the right flank, directly in front of the terrace where the locals had gathered to shout abuse at the referee's assistant Scott Mason all night (and did they ever!?), but Tadcaster had neglected their keeper yet again and he had to sprint across to the touchline to deal with the situation. Had he opted to smash the ball into the stand it would be returned immediately for the home side to take a quick throw in, so Stevens tried to hook the ball away back down the wing and kicked it straight at Carroll, who controlled it and cut inside before planting the ball into the empty goal, to seal the win for the south Yorkshire side.
Tadcaster were finished, the home supporters and several people with Handsworth Parramore connections who'd made the short journey across were elated and we all headed home to a backdrop of noise from the Tadcaster fans who were still in the stand singing long after everybody else had gone home.
It had been a battle, for both sides and the ball was probably covered in bruises when the final whistle sounded... but nobody could deny Maltby Main their victory, courtesy of a wonder goal and a sting in the tail right at the end.
FT: Maltby Main 4 v Tadcaster Albion 2

Maltby Youth Casuals defending their terrace.

The title is still Tadcaster's to lose.

All the other challengers can do is keep trying to win all of their remaining games and hope that the Brewers droop again before the end of the season (they have four games left to go)

and go AWOL in front of their keeper again like they did far too often tonight.

On Saturday, Maltby will be riding on the crest of a wave to Athersley Recreation, while Tadcaster Albion have a vital home game against their neighbours Garforth Town.

Second placed Handsworth Parramore are at home to Clipstone tomorrow (see you there) and away at Brigg Town on Saturday.

And third placed Cleethorpes Town are away at Bridlington Town at the weekend in the 'Seaside Classico'.

I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm H.A.P.P.Y!

Thursday 21st April 2015
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium
Handsworth Parramore (3) 6
Gareth Griffiths 8, 48
Kieran Wells 38, 42
Jon Froggatt 83
Alex Rippon 88
Clipstone (0) 0
Admission £5. Programme £1.50. Attendance 123

A text message I received during the game read:
"There doesn't look to be many there mate, same as last night again?"
Six more actually! But not everybody has got the time, spare cash and inclination to watch football every single night of the week, now the weather is playing ball and allowing clubs to catch up with their fixture backlogs.... just sad, dandruff flecked, lonely and severely unfashionable anorak wearing cheese rangers like me.
Besides, I could've countered that message, by saying that at least Handsworth Parramore and Maltby Main announce 100% genuine and honest attendance figures, unlike some, who quite blatantly don't.
There is only one team in this division, that is guaranteed to get a size-able following both home and away and they play the majority of their games, as tenants, at this very ground.

After last night's turn of events at Maltby, the onus is on Handsworth (and Cleethorpes) to focus on winning their remaining games and they fulfilled that remit tonight, to keep the pressure on Tadcaster, against an opposition side from whom you never quite know what you are going to get.
In the words of the host club, this was a potential banana skin.
As it turned out, the margin of victory was a very comfortable one, even though the visitors could perhaps have pointed to a couple of mistakes that the referee made at pivotal moments of the game. Not that the Cobras would have scored half a dozen goals themselves as a consequence of Chris Akers, the match referee, visiting Spec-Savers en route to the ground tonight, so the Ambers would've won anyway.

The home side sounded their intentions early on, when Ash Burbeary went close with a shot from outside the area.
Clipstone were then forced onto the back foot when Danny Buttle crossed for Kieran Wells to knock the ball to Steve Warne who in turn laid it sideways to Tom Claisse and when the visitors defence blocked his shot the ball rebounded to Simon Harrison who strucjk a first time shot over the crossbar.
Buttle played another teasing cross into the six yard box and Ellis Wall needed to put the ball behind because two Parramore players had got between Steve Hernandez and the cross at the near post.
But the home side opened the scoring from the resulting corner, when Gareth Griffiths rose to nod Buttle's corner into the back of the net.

Alec Denton came close to equalising almost immediately, but David Ratcliffe who is deputising for 'Archie' Sneath in his absence, made light work of collecting the ball, with an assured catch from what was his first touch.
Burbeary was well placed to get in between Richard Patterson's cross and Alec Denton and he was involved again shortly afterwards when he turned Liam Royles cross away at the expense of another corner. 'Burbs' is proving to be a great signing for the Parras.
James Ashmore planted a trademark dead ball delivery in to Nicky Walker, but his shot was charged down by Connor Smythe.
The home side were absorbing a lot of pressure for a while and on the balance of play around the midway point of the first half, you wouldn't have predicted a 6-0 drubbing was on the cards for Billy Fox's side.

Denton shot over from Walker's knock back after Royles had put in a great cross from out on the right and Ellis Wall came even closer, when a Cobras corner was cleared and the ball fell to him 20 yards out, but Ratcliffe tipped his spanking shot over.
Amid no small amount of controversy, the visitors had a goal disallowed that would have levelled things up, when Ashmore's long range shot was parried by Ratcliffe and Salt who was following the flight of the ball knocked it over the line. The goal was scored when the ball came off of an opposition player and to compound matters Salt wasn't offside when Ratcliffe touched it. It was a bad call by the referee in my humble opinion.
Handsworth decided that Clipstone had been having far too much fun for their liking and somewhat against the run of play, the man of the moment Keiran Wells knocked the stuffing out of a very useful looking 'Clipo' side, with a two goal salvo inside four minutes.

Ratcliffe's long clearance bounced in front of Hernandez on the edge of his area, Wells went up with him and nodded the ball over the visitors keeper, before running on and knocking the ball into the open goal.
Some of the Clipstone fans seemed to think Wells had fouled their goalie, but the ball was there to go for and much as I regard 'Nando' as a good mate, Wells did nothing wrong.
the 'Ginger Assassin' bagged a second goal shortly afterwards, when Chris Salt blocked two of his shots on the line, but couldn't do anything about the third one.
Just before half time Salt did enough to restrict Froggatt to a tame header from Buttles left wing cross and Hernandez took the catch easily.
HT: Handsworth Parramore 3 v Clipstone 0

In spite of their very good showing in the first half, the game was as good as over for Clipstone, just three minutes after the interval.

Wells collected the ball from a throw in and Patterson had to intervene to prevent him from shooting and in doing so, he knocked the ball out of play.

Clipstone allowed Buttle's corner to travel all the way through to Griffiths at the back post, who put the ball just inside the upright to all but sew up the game for the home side.

Michael Trench was having a full on one versus one personal duel with Burbeary from his left back berth and 'chatting' non stop to the linesman out on that side, but it was amusing enough stuff for the most part.

Froggatt headed yet another Buttle delivery over the bar, with Wells possibly standing close by, unmarked and better placed. But a strikers instincts are to go for goal and be selfish, so you can't knock him for that.

Ashmore picked out Salt with a decent ball from out on the right flank, but when the rangy centre half got his header on target and Ratcliffe stretched his fingertips to help it over the bar, the referee awarded a goal kick.

It wasn't going to make any difference with the score already being 4-0, but I would suspect that Mr C Akers will not be getting a Xmas card from the Clipstone FC committee this year.

Hernandez saved Burbeary's free kick down by his right hand post, after the Handsworth number 7 had been nudged by Patterson as they both chased the ball shoulder to shoulder.

Will Eades blocked an attempted shot by Walker and when the rebound dropped to Ashmore he shot over the bar and onto the roof of the stand.

Burbeary set the ball in motion when he passed the ball forward to Luke Fletcher who knocked a defence splitting ball through to Simon Harrison whose ball across the face of goal was met by Froggatt as he dived to head in Handsworth's fifth goal.

Trench was shown a straight red card when he went in on Warne with his studs showing. He was clearly frustrated and agitated by some of the match officials decisions earlier in the game, but with the Notts Senior Cup Final at the home of football (Mansfield Town) less than two weeks away, the timing of his suspension couldn't be any worse... especially for an unnecessary challenge so late in a game where the score is already 5-0

To rub salt into Clipstone's wounds, from the resulting free kick, Burbeary aimed the ball to the far post where Alex Rippon forced it over the line to make it 6-0 with just two minutes to go.

FT: Handsworth Parramore 6 v Clipstone 0

Ellis, ask your mate to stop playing with his bits

Although there is no doubt that the match officials made several wrong calls, Handsworth demonstrated tonight how to rise above all of the shouting and finger pointing and just get on with the game.

So credit where it is due.

They're using a very canny rota of squad rotation to get them through the backlog of games and resting players once they've made a telling contribution.

The Ambers are unmoved by any other team's plight or results and Micky Godber, Mark Ward and the unsung hero Steve Smith are doing a grand job of keeping their players focusing solely on their own destiny.

Saturday 23rd April 2016
Football League Youth Alliance (North East)
at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone FC
Mansfield Town (2) 4
Tyler Blake 8, 24, 60 (pen)
Morgan Ratcliffe 54
Oldham Athletic (0) 0
FLYA (NE) Table and fixtures, click HERE
Flickr picture gallery from this game HERE

Mansfield Town:

Adam Bishop, Teddy Bloor, Louis Danquah, Cain Smith, Morgan Ratcliffe (C), Kieran Harrison, Tyler Johal, Cameron Healey, Tyler Blake (Nyle Blake 63), Ali Smith (Tom Marriott 69), Zayn Hakeem (Devante Reittie 63)

Unused subs - Kane Baldwin, Charlie Shaw

Oldham Athletic:

Callum O'Neill, Tom Hamer, Rory Middleton, Dylan King, Tom Lent, Ryan Leonard (C) (Harry Norris 73), Ronaldo Brown, Francois Antoine,Bailey Whaley, Brendy Glackin (Max Norman 70), Ned Dry (Festus Arthur 64)

A convincing win for John Dempster's young Stags on the same day that second placed Scunthorpe United lost to Hartlepool United, means that the Stags destiny is in their own hands now and even if the Iron win their two remaining games, a Mansfield win at Grimsby Town next Saturday will see them crowned as champions.

Although development football is all about nurturing talent while results of of secondary importance, a league title, in a very strong division, would illustrate just how far the revamped Stags youth set up has come in such a short space of time, for that matter so would a runners up spot, but fingers crossed that this team of very exciting prospects won't fall at the final fence.

Mansfield looked comfortable from the off and the final score reflects their dominance as they knocked the ball around well on what is a remarkably well kept playing surface for a non league club, all credit to Clipstone for their efforts on that front.

Both Tyler Blake and Tyler Johal put the Latics on the back foot in the opening exchanges as they worked the ball deep into Oldham territory, ably assisted by Ali Smith and Zayn Hakeem.

Tom Hamer hooked a cross into the Stags area, but Johal, back helping his defence, intercepted the ball and knocked it square to his captain Morgan Ratcliffe, who is excelling in his new responsible role, to get the Stags momentum going again.

Mansfield launched a quick attack from Ratcliffe's clearance and Tyler Blake did well to bring a bouncing ball under control just outside the visitors goal area and he found the bottom corner of Callum O'Neill's goal with a crisp half volley.

When I grow up I want to be just like 'Captain Morgan'

The champions elect were proving to be a real handful for the visitors, as the forwards were joined by Teddy Bloor and Louis Danquah on the flanks, with Cain Smith and Cameron Healey pushing up behind them, while Ratcliffe and Keiran Harrison stayed back to sweep up any traces of attacking intentions from Oldham. Another Stags goal was almost inevitable and italmost arrived after 19 minutes when Hakeem glanced the ball narrowly wide from Bloor's left wing corner.

Cain Smith saw his long range shot clear the bar after another searching cross into the goalmouth had been half cleared.

The Stags next attack broke down and the Latics keeper stood bouncing the ball on the edge of his area, waiting for his teammates to find some space for him to pick out with his clearance, but he'd taken his eye off of Tyler Blake who was on him in a instant, stealing the ball as it hit the ground and steering it into the unguarded goal to make it two nil.

As the first half reached it's conclusion, Ali Smith rolled the ball into the path of Hakeem, but he leaned backwards as he connected with ball and put his intended effort out of the ground.

Louis Danquah, who had been pacing up and down the left wing all of the first half, knocked a pass inside to Ali Smith, who switched play to the right flank with one touch, but Bloor's delivery was put behind for a corner, which Oldham cleared, before mounting an attack of their own and when Bailey Whaley threaded a pass through to Brendy Glackin, Adam Bishop was forced to save a close range shot with his legs.

HT: Stags Youth 2 v Latics Youth 0

Tony Philliskirk's half time team talk seemed to pick Oldham up, for a while and they broke forward straight from the restart with Ned Dry sprinting 30 yards, before he met Harrison head on and came second in that particular contest... as most people do.

Ten minutes into the second half, Mansfield were carrying on in the same manner as they were prior to the break, but with just a two goal cushion, the next strike would be vital.

Rory Middleton conceded a free kick just outside the visitors area, earning himself a yellow card into the bargain and as Johal knocked the resulting free kick in towards a crowded six yard box, full of enthusiastic young men jostling for position, Ratcliffe wrestle free of his marker and got his head to the ball and flicked it just inside the left hand upright.

The Stags had a real spring in their step now and came close to increasing their lead when Hakeem nodded the ball to Tyler Blake, but his hooked shot fizzed into the side netting.

Cain Smith pushed forward from his holding roll and rolled a pass to Tyler Blake who flicked it on to Hakeem, who drilled the ball on target, but O'Neill had positioned himself well and gathered the ball to his chest.

Tyler Blake's close range thumping shot was deflected wide as the Stags threatened to run riot, but Bloor's corner kick was punched away.

Cain Smith charged right through the middle of the visitors defence, but as he steadied himself to

place the ball past O'Neill he was tripped from behind. Tyler Blake stepped up and made no mistake as he claimed his hat trick from the penalty spot.

The rhythm of the game was broken up for a short while, as both managers tweaked their systems and introduced their substitutes. But before long Devante Reittie, Tom Marriott and Nyle Blake were giving the visitors a whole new set of problems to solve.

Harrison ghosted in on the blind side of Oldham's defence, but could only direct Danquah's right wing corner wide of the back post as he met the Stags left back's in-swinging flag kick.

Nyle Blake drew a defendere towards him and slipped the ball into the space he'd left for Marriott to run on to, but his first touch knock rolled wide of the right hand post.

FT: Mansfield Town U18 4 v Oldham Athletic U18 0

A very convincing win all told, that sets up a grandstand finish to the season next weekend at Waltham against Grimsby Town, who currently are destined to finish in 12th place in tis 13 team league, but if their is one thing this Stags side will have learned over this highly enjoyable season, you can't underestimate anyone.

Saturday 23rd April 2016
Toolstation NCEL Division 1
at Forest Town Stadium
AFC Mansfield (0) 0
Hallam FC (0) 0
Admission £4. Programme £1.50

AFC Mansfield:
Jason White, Rob Paling, Danny Williams, Grant Allott (C), Luke Jeffs, Danny Naylor, Ryan Williams, Phil Buxton, Danny Patterson, Craig Mitchell, Jimmy Ghaichem
Subs - Steve Sowter, Adon Spencer, Jordan Annable, Fhad Mohammed Saleh, Sam O'Malley

Hallam FC

Dave Darwent, Tom Nolan, Max Pemberton, Simon Mirfin, Harry Bamforth, Tim Whittaker, Jake Mason, Connor Chappell, Michael Blythen, Janni Lipka, Micah Bishop
Subs - Steve Brammer, Scott Lowe, James Reid, Elliott Simpson, Jed Phillips

The scene is set, both teams have already reached this season's NCEL Division 1 play offs, but AFC Mansfield needed another point today to clinch automatic promotion as runners up, though if truth be told, they effectively already had, unless they lost today and third placed Bottesford Town won their remaining games by a zillion goals to nil (or something getting on that way).

I had predicted a 1-1 draw this afternoon at the Forest Town Stadium, with whoever scored first standing back and allowing the opposition the freedom of the pitch to score an unchallenged equaliser. As it panned out, the level of detente on display wasn't actually that blatant... well not quite!

So an edgy game ensued. Whereby the Bulls didn't want to give anything away, but, that said, they could probably point to their keeper Jason White and credit him for keeping a clean sheet, as he made four good saves... and there was one goal line clearance to thrill the assembled crowd, while the referee missed a stonewall penalty decision, when Tom Whittaker pushed Craig Mitchell over inside the visitors goal area with both hands. But possibly the referee had this one down for a draw on his coupon too.

It would be an exaggeration to say that both teams had already shaken hands on a draw prior to kick off, but as the game petered out towards the end, it was fairly obvious that there was a mutual feeling on contentment as the pair of them happily settled for one, as such a result did neither of them any harm.

The two teams had done all they really had to do already over the course of the whole season, so when all is said and done, they deserve all of the plaudits on offer for that.

Other than that... hmm, I've not really got anything to add about the actual game, played out between one of the newest clubs in local non league football and the second oldest team in the entire world.

The respective managers Rudy Funk and Ryan Hindley have done a great job this season, so hats off to them.

I'm really pleased that these two like-able characters have both had a successful campaign.

Left click for enlarged image

AFC Mansfield ground out the result they needed and Hallam have got more important matters to attend to, when they face Bottesford Town away in a NCEL Division 1 play off semi final on Wednesday night... a game that will hopefully have more to write about then than today, should I happen to head due east in midweek.

Fingers crossed that the Hallam striker Michael Blythen (I work with his dad), was only taken off midway through the first half as a precautionary measure, so he didn't aggravate his injury, with the big game at Birch Park only a few days away now.

Man of the match: Harry Bamforth (Hallam), good luck to his dad's team in their U19 cup final this coming week.

Congratulations to AFC Mansfield on winning automatic promotion, finishing the season on the back of an 11 game unbeaten run... and bestest wishes to all the sides who must now slug it out against each other in the play off lottery, to see who grabs the remaining promotion spot.

Monday 25th April 2016
Toolstation NCEL Division 1
at Birch Park
Bottesford Town (0) 3
Craig Bridge 74
Paul Goodhand 83 pen
Jonathan O'Callaghan 89
Dronfield Town (0) 1
Callum Mawbey 60
Admission £5. Prtogramme £1. Attendance 47

Bottesford Town:
Aaron Busby, Ollie Donald, Steve Ridley, Andy Smith, Tom Johnson, Paul Goodhand, Jack Harrison, Luke Robinson, Craig Bridge, Jon O'Callaghan, Luke Boden
Subs - Danny Gibbons, Josh Nichol, Jack Cross, Leigh Herrick (GK)
Dronfield Town:
Steven Booth, Ash Morley, Sam Fisher, Alex Mosley, Jack Hague, Matt Darlow, Sam Bebbington, Tom Fairweather, Nick Mulgrew, Callum Mawbey, Danny Hoyalnd
Subs - Jack Willis, Ferdi Celic

Tonight's 3-1 win meant that the third placed Poachers finished the season on 82 points, as they squeezed in this rearranged final league game of the season, prior to Wednesday night's play off game against Hallam FC at Birch Park.

Sadly, everyone's favourite Tourettes inflicted goalkeeper Leigh Herrick wasn't playing for Bottesford tonight, but Aaron Busby put in a decent shift between the sticks for John Corbett's side and at times he really had to be on his toes against Dronfield, who didn't look like a bottom half of the table team tonight.

Luke Robinson created the first chance of the night when he threaded a pass in front of Jack Harrison's blind side run into the Dronfield area, but the Poachers number 7 side footed the ball wide of the right hand post.

Callum Mawbey overhit a cross from out on the left, but Tom Fairweather scampered after the loose ball and played it across the face of Bottesford's goal to where Ollie Donald hooked the ball away.
Donald's clearance was chased down by Mawbey who delivered a great ball to the back stick and Sam Bebbington bundled the ball into the back of the net, as well as Busby, who stayed down and required some treatment before he could carry on.
That kind of thing might've been allowed pre World War 2, but tonight the referee Neil Mundy was having none of it and the straight talking match official let it be known why in booming tones that probably caused the kids who were playing a game at Appleby Frodingham tonight, stand bolt upright and pay attention.
Thankfully Busby was okay to carry on once he'd had a cold sponge slapped in his face, a whiff of the smelling salts... or similar, and the game restarted with the sides still level pegging at 0-0

Having seen Mawbey break free twice in the build up to the disallowed goal, Tom Johnson attached himself to the Dronfield front man like an ultra possessive Siamese twin for the remainder of the first half.
Eventually Mawbey did lose his new shadow's attention by dropping out wide onto the right, from where he put in a burst of pace and swung the ball across the face of Busby's goal, where it ran through as far as Sam Bebbington whose sideways knock back into the six yardbox was nudged wide of the left hand post by Danny Hoyland.
HT: Bottesford 0 v Dronfield Town 0

Both teams made changes during the interval and after a slight delay while Johnson was being surgically removed from Mawbey, the second half got under way.
Jack Hague, the visitors captain planted a long free kick into the Bottesford area but Busby was quick to react to Ash Morley's flick on and the first attack after the restart came to nothing.
Morley was involved again shortly afterwards, when Jon O'Callaghan reacted too slowly to Craig Bridge's right wing cross and the visitors right back hooked the ball away before it reached Luke Boden at the back stick.
Just after the hour, Boden saw off the attentions of Morley with a (Johan) Cruyff turn, but then gave the ball away with a (Jodi) Cruyff pass and from their quick counter attack, Dronfield took the lead when Mawbey, sans the presence of Johnson, who was being rested for Wednesday night's game after a sterling forty five minutes worth of effort, crashed an angled shot past Busby from 15 yards.

Dronfield almost doubled their lead two minutes later when Sam Bebbington was fouled out on the wing by Ridley, but Morley, who was popping up all over the pitch, shot narrowly wide from Boden's free kick.
Substitute Craig Willis picked out Bebbington with a well weighted cross and Busby did well to get down to his right and turn the ball round the post. Ridley cleared Boden's corner kick to earn the home side some respite and they began to build up a head of steam of their own.
Bottesford forced a corner as they pushed forward, but Steven Booth got up above everyone and punched the ball away, but the home side regained possession and Boden threaded a defence splitting ball to Craig Bridge, whose close range shot was well stopped by Booth, as the Poachers number 9 appeared to tweak his hamstring as he shot.

Moments later the Boden/Bridge combination worked well again for John Corbett's side and when the former picked out the latter with a precision pass into a crowded goalmouth, Bridge turned one way, then the other, got a sight of goal and placed the ball past Booth into the back of the net.
With seven minutes to go, Bottesford were pushing for a winning goal and it came from the penalty spot after a frantic moment of action in front of the Dronfield goal. Bridge rolled a sideways pass to Robinson whose shot crashed back off the upright and when O'Callaghan aimed the ball just inside the left hand post from the rebound, Matt Darlow had no option but to 'make himself big' and he pulled off a great goal line save with his outstretched arm.

Unfortunately for Darlow, centre halves aren't allowed to do that and he received a red card, while Paul Goodhand stepped forward and made no mistake from the penalty spot, to put the Poachers ahead, once a pitch invading fox had vanished into the night.
Craig Bridge was substituted before Dronfield restarted the game, to spare his tired legs any more exertion in advance of the forthcoming big match.
The visitors nearly drew level almost immediately, but Bebbington was denied by another quality save from Busby.

In the final minute, the home side made sure of the three points, when Boden swept a cross cum shot across the face of Booth's goal and O'Callaghan nipped in and got a touch before Dronfield could clear their lines and turned the ball into the net.
The first half had, at times, threatened to become an end of season, half hearted affair, but the tempo of the game picked up no end after the game. And both teams played their part in an entertaining game.
We'll be back at Birch Park on Wednesday, for the Poachers NCEL Division 1 Play Off Semi Final v. Hallam. I suspect their will be a bigger crowd present for that one.
FT: Bottesford Town 3 v Dronfield Town 1

Harworth Colliery 3 v Swallownest 2 - HKL NMU19L (North) Mini Shield

Mansfield Town 1 v Notts County 1 - FLYA (NE)

Clipstone 0 v Staveley MW 3 - NCEL Prem

Sheffield United 0 v Handsworth Parramore 2 - HKL NMU19L Mini Shield

AFC Mansfield 3 v Yorkshire Amateur 1 - NCEL Div 1

Rotherham United 2 v Bradford City 2 - FLYA (NE)

Hartlepool United 3 v Mansfield Town 1 - FLYA (NE)

Billingham Town 1 v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0 - Ebac Northern League Div 2

Maltby Main 1 v Handsworth Parramore 2 - NCEL Prem

Liversedge 4 v Nostell MW 2 AET - Pat Rice Trophy

Shaw Lane Aquaforce 2 v Handsworth Parramore 1 - Sheff & Hallam Senior Cup Semi Final

Harworth Colliery 3 v Worksop Town 1 - HKL NMU19L North

Lincoln City 1 v Mansfield Town 3 - FLYA (NE)

Handsworth Parramore 3 v Cleethorpes Town 5 AET - NCEL LC5

Collingham 3 v Harworth Colliery 1 - HKL NMU19L Mini Shield

Maltby Main 4 v Tadcaster Albion 2 - NCEL Prem

Handsworth Parramore 6 v Clipstone 0 - NCEL Prem

Mansfield Town 4 v Oldham Athletic 0 - FLYA (NE)

AFC Mansfield 0 v Hallam FC 0 - NCEL Div 1

Bottesford Town 3 v Dronfield Town 1 - NCEL Div 1