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Grimsby Town 1 v Plymouth Argyle 1 - EFL League 2

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Saturday 6th May 2017
Grimsby Town (1) 1
Shaun Pearson 1
Plymouth Argyle (0) 1
Jimmy Spencer 60
Admission £20. Programme £3
Attendance: 6,866 inc. 1,900 away
Grimsby Town:
James McKeown, Ben Davies (Andrew Boyce 51), Shaun Pearson, Danny Collins, Danny Andrew, Sean McAllister, Craig Disley (Brandon Comley 90), Chris Clements; Tom Bolarinwa (Jamie Osborne 66), Calum Dyson, 3Sam Jones.
Unused subs - Josh Gowling, Scott Vernon, Daniel Jones, Adi Yussuf
Plymouth Argyle:
Luke McCormick, Gary Miller, Yann Songo’o, Sonny Bradley, Gary Sawyer, David Fox (Connor Smith 83), Antoni Sarcevic, Jordan Slew (Nathan Blissett HT), Graham Carey, Matty Kennedy (Jimmy Spencer 60), Ryan Taylor.
Unused subs - Ryan Donaldson, Oscar Threlkeld, Vincent Dorel, Jakub Sokolik.
Today was the day, that Plymouth could've been confirmed as League 2 champions with a win at Blundell Park and a sold out visiting supporters end of the ground had come to party.
In the event, Portsmouth took the title on goal difference as the 'Green Army' saw their team held to a draw by Russel Slade's Mariners.
In the event, this evenings final whistle marked the first time that Pompey have occupied the top spot all season, in a title race that was regarded by many for a long time as a two horse race, between Argyle and Doncaster Rovers, who both claimed promotion several weeks ago, but let Paul Cook's side blind side them and slip past on the railings in the final furlong.
But after six miserable years in the basement division, I would imagine that missing out on the actual title is bearable for Plymouth's supporters, when measured against the two season's when they flirted with relegation and finished twenty first in the table.
And lets not forget, at the outset of the current season, the Pilgrims were actually in 92nd place in the whole league for a couple of weeks, until they finally got off to a delayed start.
Argyle have won thirteen of their away games this season, yet as a mark of how close the margins are in this division, where any team can get a result against any other when push comes to shove, they were turned over by three goals to nil at Fratton Park by Leyton Orient, who have been  relegated out of the Football League, along with Hartlepool United... unbelievable Jeff!
Outside the ground, on the side street leading up to the visitors turnstiles, a group of Plymouth fans stopped outside a house that was decked out in party balloons and 'Two today!' banners and sang 'Happy birthday' to the bemused family and friends of the two year old girl whose parents had put on a party for.
Which kind of illustrated the laid back tone of the atmosphere around Blundell Park at around 5pm, half a hour before kick off, although there was a big police presence patrolling the immediate area too. Not they they were actually needed.
While drinking my pre-match extra strong coffee on the upper tier balcony overlooking the teams warming up, an octogenarian Mariners supporter struck up a conversation about  Craig Disley, the evergreen thirty five year old Grimsby midfielder who used to play for Mansfield Town and Bristol Rovers: "Aye! He's an old 'un, but he's a good 'un. It can't be long 'til he retires now I reckon, but he's been a great asset to Town"... this made me feel rather old myself, given that I remember Disley as a promising young footballer, who was in the year above my daughter at school.
What a great crop of youngsters the Stags had back then, it's a shame that they all had to move on elsewhere to make their mark in the game, while that wanker of a chairman Keith f***ing Haslam, not only anchored the good ship MTFC in stormy waters, but almost sank her as well.
Look! It's mandatory to use nautical punnery, when you're stood gazing over the main stand roof, at the tankers and car transporters over yonder in the Humber Estuary.
Grimsby made the best possible start to the game, when, inside the opening minute, Shaun Pearson got onto the end of Danny Andrew's corner and bulged the roof of the net from close range, while Luke McCormick tracked the run of Sam Jones after deciding that he posed a greater threat.
McCormick did however redeem himself with a great save from Jones around the half hour mark
And Pearson, the goal scorer, almost became the creator, when he picked out Calum Dyson with a measured cross, but the Grimsby number twenty nine couldn't keep his shot on target..
At the other end, the home side obviously had a great deal of faith in their keepers ability to deal with long range free kicks as they kept breaking up Plymouth attacks with a series of fouls outside the area, but in the event James McKeown was actually very adept at defending set piece strikes and he denied Graham Carey with some top drawer saves.
Half time came and the home side had been good value for their single goal lead thus far.
HT: 1-1
After the interval, as expected, Plymouth upped their efforts as regards their attacking intentions and for the most part, kept the Mariners on the back foot.
McKeown v Carey, was getting personal by now, with the Mariners goalie's performance verging on showing off at times, one save in particular, right at the start of the second half, must've had Carey wondering if McKeown had activated some kind of force field around his goal.
With thirty minutes to go and news filtering through that Portsmouth were scoring goals for fun in their final league game, the Argyle manager Derek Adams sent on Jimmy Spencer to make up a three pronged attack, with twenty nine minutes to go, that tactical switch had paid off, when Spencer sprinted forward and spanked home the equalising goal.
Having been trailing for a hour, there only looked likely to be one winning team here today now, as Argyle set about the task of clinching the title with a renewed vigour, stretching their hosts to the limit.
Spencer played Ryan Taylor through on goal, but McKeown pulled off yet another quality save to deny him.
Carey tested the defiant keeper once again with a sweetly struck free kick but was, almost inevitably, thwarted by the Grimsby custodian.
Disley was trying to get Grimsby to find some kind of rhythm again, but his team mates weren't looking anything like as convincing as they had done before the interval now.
Antoni Sarcevic went agonisingly close to finding the winning touch, that would claim the League 2 trophy for Argyle, but his header cleared the bar and the ball ended up in the Pontoon End of the ground.
Stoppage time duly arrived and in the sixth added minute, the ball fell to Sonny Bradley and it was now or never... but that man McKeown was in a stubborn mood today and right at the death, he repelled Argyle one final time, and that was it.
FT: Grimsby Town 1 v Plymouth Argyle 1
Congratulations to Plymouth Argyle and Doncaster Rovers on their promotion to League 1 and a massive well done to Pompey for the way they kept pushing the issue right until the final day of the season to claim the title.
Blackpool, Carlisle United, Luton Town and Exeter City, will now take part in the League 2 play off lottery to determine who takes the fourth promotion spot.
Oh well, time to go and find my family, I hope they have enjoyed the day out in Cleethorpes that I have treated them too today.
Generosity is my middle name.
Man of the match Craig Disley. He played well, but I can only
assume that the people who voted didn't know the goalies name.

Nottingham Forest 3 v Ipswich Town 0 - EFL Championship

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Welcome to Nottinghamshire Bulgarian Forest Fans
Добре дошли в Нотингамшир, поддръжници на българските гори
Dobre doshli v Notingamshir, poddrŭzhnitsi na bŭlgarskite gori
Sunday 7th May 2017
EFL Championship
at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest (1) 3
Britt Assombalonga 43 pen, 69
Chris Cohen 57
Ipswich Town (0) 0
Admission £26. Programme £3.
Attendance 28,249
Flickr photo gallery: CLICK HERE
Nottingham Forest:
Jordan Smith, Matt Mills, Joe Worrall,  Michael Mancienne, Eric Lichaj, Mustapha Carayol, Chris Cohen, Ben Osborn, David Vaughan, Jamie Ward, Britt Assombalonga
Substitutes: 
Matthew Cash, Aaron Tshibola, Ben Brereton, Apostolos Vellios, Zach Clough, Dimitar Evtimov, Thomas, Lam
Ipswich Town:
Bartosz Bialkowski, Myles Kenlock, Luke Chambers, Jordan Spence, Christophe Berra, Grant Ward, Emyr Huws, Cole Skuse, Danny M. Rowe, Dominic Samuel, Freddie Sears
Substitutes: 
Adam Webster, Kieffer Moore, Brett Pitman, Joshua Emmanuel, Andre Dozell, Flynn Downes, Dean Gerken.
Everywhere you turn at the City Ground... and I do mean, quite literally everywhere, you can't help but trip over references to the club's more glorious past.
It is only right and good that the club celebrate the legacy of their greatest ever era, when the remarkable management duo of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, took over an unfashionable second tier club and turned them into the Champions of Europe (twice).
But status wise, the Forest fan base must all be painfully aware of the fact that those halcyon days will never return and that the only way that they are ever likely to get two more stars to wear on their shirt, is to get a job in McDonald's and show due diligence to performing food preparation duties to a high standard, while demonstrating excellent communication skills and an understanding of the health and safety criteria regarding hygiene in the work place.
As things stand, Forest aren't so much a sleeping giant, as a comatose dinosaur.
Today they almost slipped into the third tier of English football, but held onto their league standing by virtue of a very slender goal difference.
Forgive me for using a Rupert Murdochism at this juncture, but piss poor higher management at boardroom level, has pushed the 'Tricky Trees', along with Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers, into a corner where they needed to slug it out in a three way battle this afternoon on 'Survival Sunday', to preserve their respective places in the Football League Championship.
For the sake of the Forest faithful, fingers crossed, that their imminent takeover goes as smoothly as it is anticipated. 
By the same token, one can only hope and prey that those who recently took over at Birmingham have seen the error of their ways and having got over their teething problems this season, will get things right next term (you may say I'm a dreamer... but I'm not the only one).
And it beggars belief, that after all of this time, the infamous Venky's are still at large at Ewood Park, which after the dust settled on today's results, will now be a League 1/Division 3 ground next season.
Although Forest eventually ran out three nil winners (while a solitary Che Adams goal was enough for Birmingham to claim the three points they needed), from the outset, Mark Warburton's team made a shaky and unconvincing start to the game, where they demonstrated quite clearly why they have become embroiled in a relegation scrap; in fact, had it not been for two outstanding saves from Jordan Smith, Ipswich could quite easily have swept into a two goal lead inside the first half a hour.
"Hey Freddie! Check out my new Adidas trainers"
Eric Lichaj was at least looking as though he was personally up for it and having gone close to opening the score himself, he started the ball rolling in the forty first minute with a quick throw in, that led to Jamie Ward being fouled by the visitors keeper Bartosz Bialkowski inside his area, and Brett Assombalonga scored from the resulting penalty, with what was his first shot on target of the afternoon, to give Forest a half time lead.
HT: Nottingham Forest 1 v Ipswich Town 0
The visitors, who had started the game well, didn't look half as fired up and effective in the second half and were there for the taking as Chris Cohen added a second goal for Forest with almost an hour played, when his long range strike took a deflection and dipped over Bialkowski and into the back of the net in front of the Trent End, as the home supporters celebrated wildly.
With sixty six minutes on the clock Assombalonga had the chance to put the game beyond the visitors reach, from the penalty spot, but Bialkowski saved his kick and it was nail biting time for the home faithful again, who were definitely playing their part and raising the roof with a crescendo of noise.
However Assombalonga did find the net three minutes later when he was released through the left channel and scooped a precision angled finish into the roof of the Ipswich net!
Given that his saved penalty was only his second effort on target all afternoon, Assombalonga was now making up for lost time, forcing Bialkowski into a last ditch block, before fizzing a shot inches over the bar shortly afterwards.
There was a slight moment of slight panic in the Forest ranks when Joe Worrall lost his footing while attempting a clearance, but with the goal at his mercy, Dominic Samuel tripped over as he chased the ball down... which kind of typified Ipswich's second half performance.
The visitors misery was compounded, when Luke Chambers had time to pick his spot from twenty yards out, but drilled his shot into the upper tier of the Bridgford End.
FT: Nottingham Forest 3 v Ipswich Town 0
The home fans  flooded onto the pitch to celebrate their survival, in what was, as much as anything, a display of collective relief.
In days of old, Mr Clough would've had a field day given his stance on pitch invaders.
As I drove towards Scunthorpe United for the second leg of their play off final against Millwall, a local radio match analyst spoke of today's result being a springboard for success next season, his euphoria was evidently clouding his view of the bigger picture, in as much as Forest actually finished level on points with relegated Blackburn and beat the drop by a +2 goal difference over the Lancashire side.
Regardless of what the short term future holds, this is still a club in turmoil and the priority must be a serious tilt at avoiding the drop zone and re-establishing themselves, once again as that unfashionable second tier club they once were.
We've all heard the rumours about Qatar and Swindon Town.
But Steve Evans in Nottingham Forest's colours? Surely not!

Scunthorpe United 2 v Millwall 3 - EFL League 2 Play Off SF 2nd Leg

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Sunday 7th May 2017
EFL League 1 Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg
at Glanford Park
Scunthorpe United (1) 2
Ivan Toney 19
Stephen Dawson 81
Millwall (1) 3
Steve Morison 45, 58
Lee Gregory 52
Admission £20. Programme £3. Attendance 7,190
Scunthorpe United
Joe Anyon, Jordan Clarke, David Mirfin, Murray Wallace, Conor Townsend (Craig Davies 75), Stephen Dawson, Jamie Ness (Duane Holmes 66), Neal Bishop, Josh Morris, Paddy Madden (Kevin van Veen 59), Ivan Toney.
Unused subs - Rory Watson, Levi Sutton, Harry Toffolo, Sam Mantom.
Millwall
Jordan Archer, Mahlon Romeo, Byron Webster, Shaun Hutchinson, Tony Craig, Jed Wallace, Shaun Williams, Nadjim Abdou, Steve Morison, Aiden O’Brien (Shane Ferguson 69), Lee Gregory (Calum Butcher 80).
Unused subs - Tom King, David Worrall, Ben Thompson, Fred Onyedinma, Jake Cooper.
The journey from this afternoon's 'Survival Sunday' game at the City Ground, Nottingham to Glanford Park was stress free and the roads were uncharacteristically free of any kind of congestion or hold ups, so I was in plenty of time to enjoy my tea in the Old Farmhouse public house that stands adjacent to Scunny's ground.
The lengths I go to to bring you up to speed with what's hot and what's not, around the perimeters of Planet Football, must astound you at times and I selflessly tucked into what must have been the biggest and tastiest steak and ale pie I have ever had the pleasure to sample, just so I could recommend this gastronomic delight to any of you who should ever feel compelled to stray into this football hotbed corner of North East Lincolnshire, where, just a short drive away from the local League One football stadium, you can also visit the nearby homes of: Appleby Frodingham, Brigg Town, Bottesford Town, Scotter United and Winterton Rangers.
What more could you possibly want?
It was fairly obvious upon entering said licensed premises, that as regards the police 'ambush' of outriders and escort vehicles laying in wait on the A161 bridge that crosses over the M180, the local constabulary hadn't got their act together anything like early enough to intercept the decent sized following from Millwall, who were evidently using this very establishment as their base for this evening.
For purposes of adhering to  the relevant guidelines, as regards political correctness within the confines of this on line tome, let it be known, that I thoroughly respect any dumb animal that had been slaughtered, so that I could masticate such an enjoyable tea time treat of mouth watering succulence and excellence, just as much as any tree hugging vegetarian could and I would like it to be known, that any religion that forbids partaking in the devouring of such a wonderful evening feast, is obviously flawed to the nth degree and based on a set of ethics that are completely crap.
The first leg had finished goalless; and tonight, the second began in a nervy fashion with both teams starting at a frantic pace, with stray passes and an initial lack of clear cut chances failing to offer any clues that an actual half decent game of football was on the verge of breaking out any time soon.
A right wing corner from Josh Morris created panic in Millwall's defensive ranks and though Neal Bishop couldn't get a touch on Morris' delivery right in front of the goal, Ivan Toney was behind him and he diverted the ball into the back of the net from close range in the nineteenth minute, to put the Iron in front.
The goal settled the home sides nerves and they started to look more comfortable on the ball, while the Glanford Park faithful picked up the scent of a Wembley visit and cranked up the atmosphere accordingly.
But, right on the stroke of half time, 'Scunny' failed to clear the ball in their area and Steve Morison pounced to put the visitors on equal terms, against the run of play.
HT: 1-1
The Lions came out roaring after the interval and two goals in quick succession from Lee Gregory and a second for Morison, turned the game on it's head as the South Bermondsey based side grasped the initiative.
And although Stephen Dawson set up what promised to be a grandstand finale, when he pulled a goal back for United with nine minutes to go, when he spanked the ball past Jordan Archer from twenty five yards out.
Scunthorpe threw everything they had at clawing their way back into the tie in the closing stages, which was elongated with six added minutes of stoppage time, but although Kevin van Keen went close, Millwall held out to claim themselves a trip to Wembley, where they will now face Bradford City in the play off final on May 20th
FT: Scunthorpe United 2 v Millwall 3

Retford United 2 v Sheffield FC 1 - WVH NMU19L

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Tuesday 9th May 2017
Worksop Van  Hire North Midland U19 League
At Cannon Park
Retford United (1) 2
Zach Casburn 8, 51
Sheffield FC (0) 1
James Hastings 56
Flickr photo gallery: CLICK HERE
Tonight Sheffield travelled to Cannon Park with just ten players, which included a goalkeeper playing outfield, while United only had one substituted and his knee was heavily strapped up.
Retford's opening goal was a bit of a fluke, but they all count. Zach Casburn didn't get much power behind the ball as he nudged it towards the visitors goal, which wrong footed the 'Club' keeper, who having arrived at the edge of his box to make a clearance kicked nothing but fresh air, as Casburn's knock rolled under his foot and trickled into the back of the goal.
Liam Bennett and the Badgers captain Olly Presley both went close to adding to the Badgers score before half time, but least said soonest mended and I am glad that I parked my car to the side of the ground, instead of just over the wall behind the goal.
HT: 1-0
Declan Heath rolled a sideways pass to Casburn in the 51st minute and he had no problem connecting with the ball this time as he Smashed it past Gamble from twenty five yards out.
James Hastings was having a good game for the visitors, but Hicks was looking at ease in goal for Retford and denied the visitors number 10 with a great tip over his crossbar.
But in the 56th minute, Hastings beat the home keeper when  a clever lob from eighteen yards out, dropped just inside the left hand post.
Casburn was unlucky not to claim his hat trick as he rolled an angled shot across the face of the goal and wide of the left upright, Cam Evans saw his shot deflected past the post... and that Bennett lad who lives next door to me, missed another sitter.
Sheffield almost forced a draw near the end, but this time Hicks got the better of Hastings again and turned the ball over at full stretch.
FT: Retford United U19 2 v Sheffield FC U19 1
Footnote added Thursday 11th May 2017
News bulletin posted on the WVH NMDFL Website:
The NMDFL are advertising for a new League Registrar for next season and the seasons beyond.
The role is a vital one and requires to be filled as a matter of urgency given that the current registrar Pam CROWNSHAW is retiring at the end of this season and the person who the league had appointed to succeed her is no longer available to do so.
Please if interested could you contact any of the committee inc Secretary David Clarke, e-mail dclarke1204@yahoo.co.uk.
Please could all league members share this on there social media pages and spread the word, this is a key role in the remaining success of how the league is run and it will need to be filled well before the start of next season for obvious reasons. Thank You.
Author: Jonathan Wilson

Market Warsop Ladies 3 v Retford United Ladies 0 Notts Girls and Ladies League (Senior), League Cup Final

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Wednesday 10th May 2017
Notts Girls & Ladies League (Senior), League Cup Final
at Calverton Miners Welfare
Market Warsop Ladies (2) 3
Shelley Marriott-Smith 28
Kelly Clayton (pen) 31
Abbey Hawkins 88
Retford United Ladies (0) 0
Flickr 'point and hope' photo gallery: CLICK HERE
Market Warsop Ladies beat Retford United in tonight's final, in a convincing fashion, to add the League Cup to the League title and subsequent promotion to the East Midlands Ladies League that they have already won this season.
Shelley Marriott Smoth set the ball rolling in the twenty eighth minute, when she squeezed the ball just inside the right hand post, amidst a goalmouth scramble in the Badgers six yard box and three minutes later, Kelly Clayton, emphatically smashed the ball home from the penalty spot after she had been fouled inside the area to double the advantage.
Late in the game, Abbey Hawkins took advantage of a misplaced clearance to add a third goal for Market Warsop, who who now be relishing the prospect of competing at a higher level next term, following their successful 2016-17 season.
Good luck to them, as they look to strengthen their squad for the new challenge that lays ahead.
A predominantly young Retford United side will have picked up some invaluable experience tonight and evidently have the makings of a very good side, who won't be far off from challenging for silverware again next year.
FT: Market Warsop Ladies 3 v Retford United Ladies 0
Congratulations are also due to Market Warsop's Jodie Ellis who finished the season as the league's top goalscorer.

Forthcoming games May 2017

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May 2017:
Fri 12 May - Lincolnshire League Challenge Cup Final - Brigg Town (Res) v Horncastle Town - 7.30pm at Lincoln Moorlands FC
Sat 13 May - Wakefield City v Thornton United - West Riding league - 2.30pm
Wed 17 May - Bridlington Town v Penistone Church - NCEL League Cup Final - 7.30PM at Sheffield United FC
Fri 19 May - Sutton Rovers v Swinton Athletic - Doncaster & District FA Cup Final - at Doncaster Rovers FC
Sun 21 May - Cleethorpes Town v South Shields - FA Vase Final - 12.15pm at Wembley Stadium
Sun 21 May - Macclesfield Town v York City - FA Trophy Final - 4.15pm at Wembley Stadium
Tue 23 May - Beeston  St Anthony's v Real Moor - Leeds Senior Challenge Cup Final - at Elland Road 7.30pm

Brigg Town (Res) 1 v Horncastle Town 1 AET - HTFC won 7-6 on penalties - Lincs League Challenge Cup Final

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Friday 12th May 2017
Lincolnshire Football League Challenge Cup Final
At Lincoln Moorlands Railway FC, Newark Road, Lincoln
Brigg Town (Res) (0) 1
Ryan Thompson 81
Horncastle Town (1) 1
Nathan Rawdon 27
Horncastle won on 7-6 penalties AET
Admission £5 inc. programme
Attendance 250ish, rough and unconfirmed headcount
Flickr photo gallery: CLICK HERE
Prior to tonight, Horncastle had already recorded two wins over Brigg in the league so far this season and finished in fifth place, thirteen points ahead of the Zebras who ended their season in ninth.
Both teams finished their respective league campaigns with a four game unbeaten apiece and came into tonight's Challenge Cup Final as form teams in the Lincolnshire League, where the Wongers won 5-1 at Fulstow against CGB Humbertherm in their final game of the season, way back on April 22nd, while Brigg signed off from their campaign. with a 6-0 home win against Lincoln Moorlands Railway a week later.
It is ten years since tonight's victors last won any silverware and by way a couple of coincidences; that last final win, in the Supplementary Cup against Hykeham, was also played on the Moorlands ground and Mickey Stones, one of Horncastle's management team tonight, who have now claimed a trophy to mark their first season at the helm, was captaining the side that day.
It was Horncastle who made the better start to the game, with Ben Fidling and Jasper Caudwell, getting in amongst the Zebras defence down the left flank... while Brigg also had to be alert to the danger posed by a string of corner kicks, from both flanks, delivered by Nathan Rawdon.
The Wongers pressure paid fianlly paid off in the twenty seventh minute, when Thomas Cook saw Fidling's low cross late and could only push it away from his goal into the path of Rawdon who provided the finishing touch from close range.
Caudwell switched flanks and attacked in tandem with Rawdon, but Brigg held out and went in for half time, where they could regroup and refocus their efforts just a solitary goal behind, in spite of a lacklustre showing in the opening forty five minutes.
HT: Zebras 0 v Wongers 0
Arrgh! I thought it was a real Zebra
Brigg continued to struggle and made an inauspicious start to the second half too, as a lively crowd tried to lift both teams.
Horncastle went close twice with both full backs cutting in narrowly missing the goal with shots from the edge of the area.
Rawdon's corner found Caudwell whose snapshot flew just past the upright, while Fidling went close again.
Ryan Thompson found a way into the Wongers area but Lewis Burchnall, got down quickly to his right to tip the Brigg substitute's stinging shot round the post and Horncastle cleared the ball away from Jon Nicholls resulting corner.
With nine minutes remaining of the schedule ninety, Michael Jaksics muscled his way towards the Horncastle area and was tripped by Nadir Boulaid.
As the defence wall backed off and Burchnall guarded the left hand side of the goal, Ryan Thompson spotted his chance and crisply struck a shot that glided just inside the opposite upright out of the reach of stranded keeper.
The goal was, it must be said, against the run of play, but goals win games, not statistics and as Michael Harness couldn't get enough power behind a shot that Cook saved with ease, the game went into extra time, with the teams locked at one goal apiece.
90 minutes: Brigg 1 v Horncastle 1
For the second Friday night in a row, another Linolnshire Football League final was about to end in drama, following last week's ImminghamTown v Wyberton thriller at Sleaford Town.
With the lush pitch, that had been given a liberal soaking before kick off and again as extra time ensued, began to take it's toll on some weary legs, Horncastle took to containing the game across the middle of the park and playing direct balls forward for Harness to run onto... and the tactic almost worked, when the Wongers striker broke free with only Cook to beat, but he scuffed his shot wide of the post.
Harness attacked through the right channel and made it as far as the dead ball line, but hooked hiscross behind the Brigg goal, with his teammates piling forward to meet the ball.
ET HT: 1-1
Brigg 'ultras' utilise a stray fence panel as a shield against the rain
The game was getting bogged down in the middle third as the second period of extra time got underway, though Brigg had by now taken to using the whole width of the pitch in an effort to force the issue.
Charlie Dolling attacked down the right flank and put a great cross into the path of Michael Jaksics, but he was thwarted by a point blank save by Burchnall, while Elliott Andrews blocked Adam Gowling's effort with a header away from just in front of his own goal line from the rebound.
Burchnall launched a long kick into the Brigg area and amid a massive scramble as a scrummage of players tried to find a decisive touch, one way or another, the referee Neil Birkitt spotted an offence and dismissed Brigg's Josh Reed with two minutes remaining.
And as extra time came to a close, the score was still...
120 minutes - Brigg Town Reserves 1 v Horncastle Town 1
Horncastle's Rich Jackson got the shoot out underway, as he calmly put the first kick away, but with the shoot out standing at two-one in the Wongers favour, Burchnall saved Brigg's second kick from Gowing, but the referee ordered that the kick should be retaken because Burchnall was alleged to have stepped forward before the ball was struck... and Gowing made no mistake with his second chance.
Subsequent kicks swished into the goal netting until Jaksics was a tad fortunate that his effort spun into the goal off of Burchnall when he looked to have saved Brigg's sixth strike to keep things level and maintain a 100% success rate from the spot.
The Horncastle captain Chris Johnson stepped forward, he re-positioned the ball twice, took a short nervy looking run up and.... smashed the ball past Cook with some aplomb, with what was either a classic case of  kidology or a fortuitous example hit it and hope luck.
The Zebras skipper was next, he stepped forward autoritively and struck the ball well, but Burchnall got behind it and the cup was heading the the splendidly named Wong.
Scandanavian settlers named the pasture on which Horncastle Town play thus, check it out on Wikipedia if your curiosity is suitably pricked, this is a football blog, not a bleedin' history lesson.
FT: Horncastle Town won 7-6 on penalties.

Doncaster Rovers Belles 2 v Aston Villa Ladies 1 - FAWSL Spring Series

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Saturday 13th May 2017
FAWSL Spring Series
at the Keepmoat Stadium
Donny Belles (2) 2
Kirsty Hanson 21
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk 40
Aston Villa Ladies (0) 1
Maddy Cusack 78 mins
Admission - Spring  Season Series Season Ticket £10
Attendance 457
Doncaster Rovers Belles:
Davies, Barker, Little, Tierney, Pacheco, Rayner (Newborough 76), Walton, Simpkins, Murray, Hanson, Sweetman-Kirk. Unused subs: Davies, Mosby, Bakowska-Mathews
Aston Villa Ladies:
Beattie, Hassall, Richards, Porter (Hurley 46), George (West 46), Jones, Shepherd, Cusack, Rouse, George, Welsh (Crackle 82), Baptiste
The Belles beat their visitors, who used to be called Solihill Ladies, until Aston Villa took them under their wing, courtesy of two first half strikes from Kirsty Hanson and Courtney Sweetnam-Kirk, the first of which Chloe Beattie almost kept out and the second of which was set up by a well measured pass from the scorer of the first, after Nicki Davies had thwarted Kerri Welsh with a great save earlier in the game.
Maddy Cusack pulled a goal back for the visitors with twelve minutes remaining, after the Belles keeper Davies had kept out efforts from Welsh and Mollie Rouse.
Both goalkeepers had good games or this could have been a higher scoring game all round.
Apologies to the people I was supposed to be meeting at Wakefield City v Thornton United, West Riding League Division One game today, I didn't manage to leave Retford until around 2.20PM this afternoon, so the 2.30pm kick off wasn't logistically feasible, but I did reach the Keepmoat Stadium for 2,54pm so my trip wasn't entirely wasted.

Peterborough ICA Sports 0 v Pinchbeck United 0 - ICA Sports won 9-8 on penalties - Peterborough FA Cup Final

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Monday 15th May 2017
Peterborough FA Senior Cup Fianl
at the Abax Stadium, London Road, Peterborough United FC
Peterborough ICA Sports (0) 0
Pinchbeck United (0) 0
ICA Sports won 9-8 on penalties

Peterborough ICA Sports:
Mills, Bennett, Curtis, Farrow, Gilbert, L Glover, N Glover Macianskis. Smith, Wayte, Williams
Subs -  Elvestad, Kilby, Pridmore, Nooteboom, Pjetra, Wells
Pinchbeck United:
Martin, Murrell, Gardner, Gordan ( Smith (, Brooks, Edwards, Bishop, Maltby, Wright, Ogden.
Subs - Sergeant, Dunn, Lawe, Eyes, Ramos.
It's official, I have now spent more time in the company of the A1 this season than I have with my missus.
But, I promise faithfully, with the inexplicably rapidly increasing THE66POW readership as my witnesses, that it won't happen again next year... because I will be utilising the the back roads more often instead.
League runners up Pinchbeck, who had finished the season four places and twenty eight points ahead of ICA Sports, had already won the President Premier Shield on Friday night, by virtue of a solitary goal, scored by Ian Ogden in the closing stages of the final against Netherton United.
So it would be safe to say that Ian Dunn's side were favourites to win tonight too and claim a double into the bargain, but it wasn't to be and Peterborough ICA Sports (who for the benefit of the uninitiated are a completely different club altogether to Peterborough Sports, who actually won the league this season), deserved their moment in the spotlight tonight and were the more creative of the two sides overall, especially in the first half.
John Smith, out on the right flank for 'ICA' appeared to be the main outlet for their numerous forays forward into the Knight's last third and he came close to scoring twice but was denied by a fine save by Ben Martin in the first instance and crashed a shot against the woodwork a few minutes later.
Andrew Wayte, Ollie Maltby and Tyler Wright all had half chances for United, but struggled to find the incisive final touch and when Tony Edwards found his range with a dipping shot Adam Mills twisted and turned the ball over at full stretch.
Simon Farrow's cross/shot was turned around the post by Martin at the last moment.
In added time at the end of the first half, Harley Williams got onto the end of a looping cross from Tom Curtis, but headed over the Pinchback bar from close range.
HT - Nil each
There was no disputing that Pinchbeck had been up against it in the first half, but they rallied after the break and gave a far better account of themselves while still absorbing a fair bit of pressure from 'ICA' with the (ever so) lively Smith still catching the eye as he mapped out his influence and input all over this intriguing final.
That said he really ought to have open the scoring just before the hour mark, but having made a clever off the ball, blind side run to meet Williams cross at the back post, his contact let him down and... err, his shot troubled the pigeons sheltering under the stand roof more than it did United's goalkeeper.
Meanwhile at the other end only a last ditch block by Farrow denied Maltby from scoring.
Wright’s was unlucky not to beat Mills with a sweetly struck volley, but the Sports keeper was possibly left feeling even less fortunate as the ball hit him full on in the face. That is going to smart in the morning.
Maltby had two headed chances, Mills saved the first before Maltby nodded the second one wide of the upright.
Right at the death, Mills was well placed to repel another thumping shot from Wright... and that was that, the game would now go straight to penalties to decide who would be lifting the cup.
90 minutes - Still nil each
After both sides had successfully converted eight spot kicks apiece, Pinchbeck's Luke Gardner stepped up and missed with his effort. Mills who had already acquired hero status, with some great saves late in the game and having survived copping Wright's well struck shot straight in his face, stepped up and put his side's ninth kick past Martin to settle the game.
ICA Sports won 9-8 on penalties.
....................................................................................................................
Amnesty offer:
Dear Granddaughter, if you return my camera before I head to Bramall Lane on Wednesday night to watch the NCEL League Cup Final between Bridlington Town and Penistone Church, then I might remember the directions that I'll need to drive you to that place where you like to go horse riding... if not, you're screwed kid!!!
People will start to realise just how mundane this blog is without photographs to break all of the boring text up. So give it back ASAP.
And make sure that the battery is charged too!

Bridlington Town 1 v Penistone Church 4 - NCEL LC Final

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Wednesday 17th May 2017
Toolstation NCEL League Cup Final
ar Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United FC
Bridlington Town  (0) 1
Jake Day 85
Penistone Church (2) 4
Scott Whittington 28
Brett Lovell 41
Andrew Ring 56
Daniel Barlow 68
Admission £5. Programme £1.50. Attendance 485
Brid had picked up half a dozen of their cup final team up outside the Queens in Maltby en route to Bramall Lane. 
Given their lack of sharpness at times tonight, a cynical onlooker might have questioned whether they had partaken in a few pre-match beverages while they were there, to steady their nerves.
Newly promoted Church, who stepped up the the NCEL Premier Division despite finishing sixth in the table, courtesy of  two against the odds away wins in the play offs at AFC Emley and Grimsby Borough, made a mockery of their underdogs tag tonight as they swept to victory against a Seasiders side who didn't really demonstrate anything like the kind of form that saw them finish the season in third place, behind Pickering Town and the promoted champions Cleethorpes Town. 
Curtis Woodhouse's side initially started the game in a lively fashion, but their defeat wasn't down to the fact that they faded and were off the pace as the game went on, because Penistone stuck doggedly to their task and thoroughly deserved this win,  as they swept into a four nil win, orchestrated by their manager Ian Richards.
Brett Agnew almost put Bridlington ahead, when his shot cannoned back off of the upright, while Joel Sutton was also showing his teeth too the Church defence, but having absorbed some early pressure, Penistone quickly adapted to a shape that would both snub out Brid's threat, while putting the clear favourites on the back foot and set about taking the game to them.
Nick Baxter got nowhere near Danny Barlow's free kick, as the former Shaw Lane player hit the post.
Scott Whittington opened the scoring, having outpaced Alex Knaggs before placing the ball past Baxter and Brett Lovell planted a firm header underneath the Brid crossbar to double the Church's lead before half time, from a Penistone corner.
I would tell you who took the corner, if I could have made out his shirt number. Because although Bramall Lane is a fine stadium and a very prestigious venue for the NCEL to stage their league cup final at, from my perch right at the back of the South Stand, the view was akin to watching a Subbuteo match through your next door neighbours net curtains at time.
HT: Brid 0 v Church 2
Brid picked up slightly straight from the restart, but Adam Rhodes denied Sutton and the Seasiders saw the game slipping further away from them, when Whittington muscled his way into the right hand side of their area, before laying the ball sideways to Andy Ring, whose shot on the turn mad it three nil.
In the sixty eighth minute, Barlow squeezed the ball in from a tight angle and Brid were on the canvas.
Out for the count.
Penistone had already done the required amount of damage to win the cup now and the late goal by Jake Day was never likely to spark any kind of revival or comeback back as his team were well beaten on the night, by a side whose form has peaked at exactly the right time, with three famous victories in a row, that even the most ardent and optimistic members of their noisy band of supporters would've even dared to have dream of.
FT: Bridlington Town 1 v Penistone Church 4
Congratulations to Penistone Church on their achievements this season, they'll make a great addition to the NCEL Premier Division next year.

Sutton Rovers 1 v Swinton Athletic 5 - Doncaster & District FA Cup Final

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Friday 19th May 2017
The Dawson & Burgess Doncaster & District FA,
Challenge Cup Final
at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Rovers FC
Sutton Rovers (1) 1
Adam Baskerville 14
Swinton Athletic (2) 5
Andy Whitehead 7 pen
Jake Ford 21, 79
Jon Billups 69
Joe Dungworth 87
Sutton Rovers:
Ellis Pattison, Danny bell, Tom Chambers, Adi Parker, Karl Bray, Konor Slack, Ryan Walker, Toran Adams, Danny Palmer, Adam Baskervillw, Tom Doherty
Subs - Mitch Wain, Nate Callus, Luke Williams, Josh Walker
Swinton Athletic:
Jordan Watson, Jamie Deakin, Alex Wilkinson, Andy Whitehead, Jon Billups, Owen Fieldsend, Enzo Guarini, Curtis Wilkinson, Jake Ford, Tommy Needham, Justin Greenwood
Subs - Joe Dungworth, Ryan Doxey, Darren Walker, Dan Morton, Shawn Mitchell
Prior to kick off an immaculately observed minutes silence was held in honour of Mr David Ambler, the President and former secretary of the Doncaster Senior League (for fifty years standing) and life member of the County FA, who very sadly passed away recently.
Swinton comfortably held onto the Challenge Cup, that they won in last season's final against Houghton Main courtesy of a 1-0 win; with a convincing 5-1 win over the league champions Sutton Rovers, at the home of the recently promoted Doncaster Rovers.
Andy Whitehead opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the seventh minute. In the programme notes, the Sutton captain Adi Parker was described as 'strong in the tackle' and the match referee, Mr Pat Hagan, ruled that his tackle had been a bit too strong when he upended Enzo Guarini inside Rovers penalty area and made no hesitation about pointing to the spot, despite several protests from the Askern based side.
The Rovers goalkeeper Ellis Pattison was kept busy as Swinton made an 'athletic' start, when he was needed to turn Justin Greenwood's shot from Tommy Needham's lay off around the upright at full stretch, before claiming Greenwood's knock back across the face of his goal, after Alex Wilkinson had delivered the ball into Sutton's six yard box from out on the right wing, after picking up the loose ball  the resulting corner was only half cleared.
Having been on the back foot during most of the opening exchanges, Sutton were on level terms after fourteen minutes when Ryan Walker attacked the Swinton goal from the right hand side of the area and evaded two challenges before rolling the ball across the face of Jordan Watson's goal to where Adam Baskerville swept the ball inside the right hand upright with a cleverly executed finish off of the heel of his right foot.
Guarini, who was man marked for most of the night by Danny Bell in a manner that suggested the Sutton right back was a paid hit man with a contract out on the live wire left sided attacking midfielder, launched a long distance pass towards Greenwood, whose downward header was well saved by Pattison.
Watson was tested by Toran Adams who let fly with a speculative long range effort, before play switched quickly to the other end of the pitch and Konor Slack had little choice but to foul Greenwood to break up a Swinton attack as they got forward quickly and outnumbered the Rovers defence.
Alex Wilkinson tried his luck from all of thirty five yards with the free kick and though Pattison got behind the ball, he could only parry it into the path of Jake Ford, who gratefully accepted the invitation to plant the ball into an unguarded net from ten yards out.
Watson rose above a crowd of players in his area, to pluck Bell's free kick out of the air as Sutton tried to restore parity once again, but it was Swinton who were looking most likely to add to their goal Tally, when Needham laid the ball off sideways to Greenwood who fizzed a shot narrowly over the bar, before Guarini escaped the attentions of Bell before sprinting forwards forty yards and forcing another good stop out of Pattison, who pushed 'Quadzilla's' firmly struck shot past his right hand post.
Mitch Wain came on late in the first half for Rovers and added some extra impetus on the left for his side, but they couldn't find the finishing touch to level things up before the break, even though Adi Parker went very close to scoring with a looping shot that dipped just over the bar.
HT: Sutton Rovers 1 v Swinton Athletic 2
Swinton went on the attack straight from the restart and Pattison had to be alert to thwart Ford inside the opening minute of the second half.
Adam Baskerville went to ground as he went shoulder to shoulder with Jon Billups just inside the Swinton penalty area, but neither the referee or his assistant saw anything wrong in the challenge and Andy Billups defending cup holders cleared the ball away to safety.
Rovers were trying their level best to stay in the game as Swinton picked up the ante and began to look the more dominant side.
Ryan Walker whipped a cross towards Baskerville but Owen Fieldsend headed clear and as Sutton picked up the ball half way inside the Swinton half, Adams hooked a long range shot over Watson's goal.
Guarini and Parker raced neck and neck towards the Sutton area from the left flank and although Guarini was toppled with a firm but fair nudge of the shoulder, he still managed to regain his balance and play an angled pass into the path of Greenwood who was only denied by another first class save by Pattison.
Once again Guarini flew at the Sutton defence from out on the left, but his run was cut short by another thundering challenge from Bell and Pattison was well placed to deal with Andy Whitehead's attempt to catch him out with a quickly taken free kick aimed towards the bottom left hand corner of the goal while everyone was expecting a cross into the scrum of players who were jockeying for position.
Sutton pushed forward but when Karl Bray had the chance to equalise, against the run of play, from a short corner routine, he planted a header narrowly wide of the left hand upright.
Swinton were perhaps a bit fortunate when Ford tangled with Danny Palmer inside their area, leaving him grounded with a clear sight of goal, but the referee was well placed and waved play on.
In the sixty ninth minute,Whitehead picked out Billups who rose like a salmon before crashing a header into the roof of Sutton's goal.
Within two minutes, Swinton almost had a fourth when a poor clearance freed Guarini, but as his shot was deflected and bounced up awkwardly into the path of Darren Walker he couldn't get his foot over the ball and keep it on target.
Ford sprinted forward from midfield through the right channel into Sutton's area, but as Pattison advanced from his line, Swinton's number nine shot across the face of goal and saw his effort skim past the wrong side of the left hand post.
But Ford had found his range now and with Sutton committing men forward to chase the game, he was able to burst forward once again, this time straight through the middle and curled his shot round Pattison as he came off of his line in a vainglorious attempt to narrow down Ford's options.
With just three minutes remaining, Sutton struggled to clear the ball amid a scramble in their area which presented Joe Dungworth with the opportunity to tap the ball past Pattison from close range to claim Swinton's fifth and final goal of the night.
Dungworth almost added a sixth in stoppage time when Guarini picked him out with a pass along the edge of Sutton's area, but he drilled his shot over the bar,
FT: Sutton Rovers 1 v Swinton Athletic 5

Swinton Athletic celebration photos by Tim @dribblingcode

THE66POW on tour: Forthcoming games May 2017

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May 2017:
Sun 21 May - Cleethorpes Town v South Shields - FA Vase Final - 12.15pm at Wembley Stadium
Sun 21 May - Macclesfield Town v York City - FA Trophy Final - 4.15pm at Wembley Stadium
Tue 23 May - Beeston  St Anthony's v Real Moor - Leeds Senior Challenge Cup Final - at Elland Road 7.30pm
Wed 24 May -Radcliffe Borough v South Normanton Athletic - EMCL - 7.45pm
Two more games to be added (possibly) as and when some final details/logistics are confirmed.
Good luck at Wembley tomorrow Cleethorpes Town

Cleethorpes Town 0 v South Shields 4 - FA Vase Final & Macclesfield Town 2 v York City 3 - FA Trophy Final

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Rogues gallery
Sunday 21st May 2017
Non League Finals Day
at Wembley Stadium
Admission £25: combined ticket for both Wembley Finals.
'Club Wembley' freebies were available, but that wasn't we wanted to sit.
Programme £5: covered both games, if you flipped it over there were two front covers that coordinated with which way up the content was 'til the middle pages.
Half and half scarves are a no, no, but half and half programmes will never hurt anybody.
Attendance: 38,224
FA Vase 2017 Photo Gallery Links: Page 1 & Page 2
You can read the Macc Town and York line ups while you're doing
your yoga exercises. Failing that, turn your monitor screen upside
down, FFS I'm doing my level best here to accommodate you all. 
It's early AM on Sunday morning and I'm up at the crack of dawn (but she doesn't seem to mind too much), melting a man sized slab of Red Leicester onto my toasted doorstep slices, before sliding into a deep filled hot tub, to soak away all of the aches and pains, that act as warning signs of my rapidly declining health, the deterioration of my arthritic limbs and muscle tissue, and the imminent onset of decrepitude and old age. 
I shaved off my beard, because I've finally come to realise that my facial hair has an uncanny resemblance to your grandmother's unkempt lady garden... you'll have to trust me on this one, photographic evidence is available, but I fear that it would be rather disturbing for some of you more delicate souls to peruse the evidence and that would also possibly violate my blog hosting company rules... and I was raring to go, ready to take on the world, the sun has got his hat on, hip, hip, hip, hoofunkingray. It's cup final day!
And today, I won't be sitting in front of the TV all day, switching between ITV and BBC1, absorbing every minute of the build up, right through from Noel Edmond's Multi Coloured Swap Shop's cup final special edition, with Keith Chegwin visiting the teams at their respective hotels, before Dickie Davis and Bob Wilson vye for my attention with wall to wall coverage on World of Sport and Grandstand, because this very morning, que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be. I'm going to Wembley. 
And I'm as giddy as a big kid making his first ever trip to the national stadium, even though I've been there zillions of times before, over the 42 years since my first visit.
The rest of the 'Maltby Massive' are boarding the train at Doncaster and I'm joining up with them at 8.51 on Retford station. 
There's hardly a soul out and about enjoying the bright start to the day as I park up near the station and walk onto the platform, at just after half past eight, which is just as well, because when I put my hand in my pocket in search of my train ticket to check which coach I'm travelling in and... 
Arrgh! 
Shite! 
A screech of tyres preempts a mad dash home to salvage my travel documents and Wembley ticket, which are still in the safe place that I put them last night, so that I wouldn't forget them. 
Old age and reduced mental faculties is fair galloping over yonder hill in my direction, I'll tell thee! But I got back to the station, with a whole 186 seconds left to spare, before the train pulled in, so all's well.
Platform 1 was awash with football supporters in blue shirts; probably Macclesfield Town fans making an early start, or so I assumed, but couldn't understand why they would have taken such a circuitous route. Yet on closer inspection, I discovered that they're all wearing Chelsea favours. 
WTF!? Chelsea!? There were always a few of them around town (hey oop! Chris, Johnno and Robin), but since when had East Retford upon Idle suddenly become an effing Chelsea stronghold!?
I boarded the train and received a text message from Maltby Main FC's head honcho 'Wild Wilf Race'"We're in coach G pal, sat opposite Judas Escariot", so I located my 'gang' and informed Mr Race that: "It's spelt Iscariot, note Escariot', but he was having none of it, so I looked it up on that there Google speller thing on my phone and typed in: 'Correct spelling of Judas Iscariot' and was amazed when the answer came back as: The correct spelling you require is... S-P-E-N-C-E-R F-E-A-R-N. 
Wow! What a bleedin' coincidence that was, that's exactly the same name as that treacherous manager who left Maltby in the lurch last week, when he legged it to Frickley Athletic. And blow me down, when I turned around to check out what Mr Iscariot looked like, there he was: the shameless traitor who recently took on the role of manager at everyone's favourite South Elmsall based football club himself. 
Only joking pal!
Elementary
Jesting aside, it was good to catch up with Spen, the timing of any manager leaving a club is never going to be perfect, but I genuinely wish him and his back up team well in there new role and think it needs putting on record, that all of the negative stuff a few uninformed people have been posting about him on forums and social media of late, is a right load of bollocks. 
I'd say to all Frickley fans... give the guy a chance, talk to him if needs be, I'd wager that you'd find fewer people in football who are more approachable.
The guy has done only good for Maltby Main, during his tenure there. Ask anyone there.
As an aside, a subsequent committee meeting following his departure, was a clarion call to arms for those who still work for 'the Miners', who needed to think quickly and on their feet, galvanise and clearly focus on solutions, to work through the impending short term future disruption at the club
A strategy was quickly implemented to minimise the impact and some very positive news about a very exciting appointment, will be made through the correct channels very soon. 
Maltby Main is a small club, but it's big, big heart is pumping like the clappers right now.
The banter flowed and we were soon in London and decided to visit Madame Tussauds and the Sherlock Holmes Museum en route to the national stadium, so we alighted at Baker Street tube station, like what the free tourist map we picked up and Kings Cross said we should do for these tourist attractions, but we got lost and ended up in a public house called the Globe instead.
It was only good manners to partake in some refreshment there and by way of a massive coincidence, we managed to board a train that dropped us off right at the end of Wembley Way ten minutes before our first game kicked off.
I've lost count of the amount of times that I have got lost on the way to cup finals and international matches and ended up in the Globe, or the Metropolitan on the opposite side of the road, but I would imagine that my missus, who quite often accompanies me, could provide you with an answer as to exactly how many times we have visited her two favourite drinking establishments over the years.
Inevitably ,the first person we bumped into outside the stadium was a fellow Retfordian, who asked me to pose for a photo with him, while he was brandishing some novelty shaped sex aid in his right hand. 
I was happy to oblige, because Paul Mayfield, the recently crowned EFL League 2 Supporter of the Year, is a genuinely nice bloke... but by heck! I know some bloomin' strange people.
The teams were just shaking hands as part of the pre-match formalities when we took our seats in the section of the ground that was put aside for the supporters of our very good friends Cleethorpes Town. 
To be honest, we thought, unanimously, that South Shields would probably be the favourites to win this game, but you can seldom predict the outcome of these one off games and big occasions.
Besides which, the Owls had arrived at Wembley off the back of ten straight wins in row and had already clinched the NCEL Premier Division title and the Lincolnshire FA Cup this season and were unbeaten since they lost to a mighty fine Maltby Main side, back on Wednesday 29th March at Muglet Lane.
South Shields, backed by around 13,000 fans today, have only lost three games all season and haven't tasted defeat since North Shield beat them 1-0 in a local derby fixture at Mariners Park, way back on 5th November.
The Mariners had already won three trophies this season prior to today, as they picked up the Northern League Cup and Durham Charity Cup while also winning the Northern League Division 1 title and the promotion to the Northern League Premier division that goes with it.
Cleethorpes had already beaten a Northern League team on their way to Wembley, when they won 2-1 away against Billingham Town, in the fourth round, while South Shields had already put paid to another NCEL clubs Vase aspirations, when they saw of Staveley Miners Welfare 3-0 when the Derbyshire club travelled up to the north east in the third round.
Northern League clubs have a very healthy history of success in  the FA Vase, while only two NCEL clubs have ever won it before, namely Guiseley in 1991, who won a replay at Bramall Lane after drawing their initial game with Gresley Rovers at Wembley Stadium, and Brigg Town, who've won it twice, in both 1996 when they beat Clitheroe at Wembley and 2003 when they beat AFC Sudbury in a tight game at Upton Park.
So now you know!
FA Vase Final
Kick off 12.15pm
Cleethorpes Town (0) 0
South Shields (1) 4
Carl Finnigan 43 pen
Dillon Morse 80
David Foley 86, 89
Cleethorpes Town:
Liam Higton, Tim Lowe, Matt Bloomer, Matty Coleman (Luke Mascall 70), Peter Winn, Liam Davis (Jack Richardson 73), Liam Dickens, Alex Flett (C), Jon Oglesby, Marc Cooper (Andy Taylor 61), Brody Robertson
Unused subs - Gary King, Kieran Wressel
South Shields:
Liam Connell, Alex Nicholson, Dillon Morse, Jon Shaw, Darren Lough; Andrew Stephenson (Robert Briggs 55), Julio Arca (C), Wayne Phillips (Barry Smith 83)  Gavin Cogdon, Carl Finnigan (Michael Richardson 70), David Foley
Unused subs - Louis Storey, Darren Holden
Carl Finnegan, who is referred to as 'Mr Poser' in  the matchday programme, got the game underway, sporting his new Wembley haircut, that gave him more of a look of Kenneth DuBeke (the hairdresser out of the comedy series Benidorm, in case you were wondering) than he'd probably intended, and it became fairly obvious early in the game, just how ominous a task it was going to be to keep South Shields at bay, as they looked to pick holes in the Clee defence down both flanks right from the off. But Tim Lowe and Peter Winn, the Clee full backs got straight into their stride from the off and calmly, but efficiently set about keeping David Foley and Gavin Cogden in check.
And if early impressions were to prove anything to go by, the lines had already been drawn for what were shaping up to be some of the key battles of the afternoon.
Liam Higton the Cleethorpes keeper, was called upon to act as an emergency sweeper a couple of times, while his teammates tweaked their strategy to deal with South Shields player rotation and diagonal runs across the Owls back third.
But having weathered an early storm and fended off the threat posed from a string of corner kicks the NCEL champions belatedly began to ask questions of the South Shields defence.
Brody Robertson, the prolific Owls striker put on a burst of pace that put him within shooting distance of the South Shields goal, but Liam Connell managed to get across to his left and push the ball away at the expense of a corner.
Liam Davis, forty yards from the Mariners goal threaded a defence splitting pass into the feet of Marc Cooper, but just when he needed the ball to fall a foot in front of him, or bobble up in the manner that he has become accustomed to on any number of non league pitches on a weekly basis, it got caught up between his feet and in spite of having made such a great blind side run to meet Davis' slide rule delivery, the Clee number nine was unable to get his shot away.
Wayne Phillips attempted to catch Higton out with a speculative long range effort that cleared the cross bar and DuBeke, whoops! Sorry, I meant to say Finnigan (easy mistake to make) had a close range shot blocked by Matt Coleman.
Winn put a firm but fair tackle in on Finnigan just inside the Owls penalty area, but the referee, Mr Darren England was well placed to make a decision and ignored the Northern League side's claims for a spot kick.
But within a minute, Cogdon tried to some space between him and Lowe and the Cleethorpes right back clipped his heel with his trailing leg and this time Mr England had no option but to award a penalty, which Finnigan calmly slotted past Higton as he sent the Owls keeper the wrong way.
Right on the stroke of half time, Cogden broke free and cut in towards Higton's goal from the left hand side of the area, but the diminutive keeper contorted his frame in mid air and pulled off a remarkable save as he turned the ball against his right hand post.
HT: Owls 0 v Mariners 1
Cleethorpes probably had their keeper to thank for only going into the break a goal behind, but they came out in the second half looking eager to get back into the game, but Connell got his bearings right and was well placed to gather Cooper's long range effort.
David Foley, a veteran of over 100 first team appearances for Hartlepool United, before he ended up at South Shields via a brief spell at Barrow and stints in both Puerto Rico and the USA, had seemingly put his side two goals ahead as he launched a rasping shot towards the top left hand corner, but Higton, who must surely be a relation of Stretch Armstrong managed to tip the ball against his bar and against the odds too.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Seconds later, Higton proved that he didn't only make spectacular saves, when he made a routine stop as he blocked Cogdon's close range effort after the lively Shields number 9 had forced a channel through the Owls defence.
Clee forced a corner out on the right that Winn delivered into the mix, where the previously infallible Connell failed to take a claen catch, but he was surrounded by teammates who collectively got the ball away.
Winn was soon back in his defensive role and did well to stop Foley from getting a clear view of Higton's goal with a timely interception.
With ten minutes left to go, Marcus Newell had used all three of his substitute options from the bench and went for a more attacking formation, which left the Owls more vulnerable in defence... and to be fair, with time running out there was very little else he could do.
But his Clee side were dealt a hammer blow from the Mariners next attack, when Dillon Morse met Rob Briggs left wing free kick at the back stick and nodded the ball just inside the right hand upright despite Higton's frantic efforts to keep the ball out.
With four minutes remaining and the Owls having to commit men forward, Foley ran towards Higton's goal and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, to put the final outcome of the game beyond doubt.
Winn was suffering badly with cramp and seemed to tweaked a muscle in his leg, which restricted his mobility has he bravely struggled to finish the game, while Foley smashed the ball past Higton inside the final minute to make it four nil to South Shields.
I don't think that anybody could dispute that South Shield warranted their win, which took their trophy count for their all conquering season to a most impressive four pieces of silverware. But by the same token, you'd have to ask; did Cleethorpes Town... and in particular their goalkeeper Liam Higton... really deserve to be on the end of a four goal trouncing?
I may be biased here, but I genuinely don't reckon so.
FT: Cleethorpes Town 0 v South Shields 4
Commiserations to the Owls, but hey you guys! Two trophies and a promotion is an excellent haul of honours to end the season with... and good luck to their matchday secretary Matt Jones in his new role on the NCEL committee next season, a body of men whose collective Intelligence Quota just rose by a considerable percentage in one fell swoop.
And congratulations to South shields on their phenomenally successful four trophy 2016-17 campaign.
After the FA Vase had been presented to South Shields, there was a a two hour gap until the next game: the FA Trophy Final between Macclesfield Town and York City.
Understandably, some time had to be factored in to accommodate for the possibility of extra time and penalties at the end of the first half and a quick once over of the pitch by the Wembley ground staff, but was there really any need for the Stadium authorities and FA to implement a no re-entry ruling to the days event?
Obviously, if they could hold all of those who had chosen to watch both games captive for two hours, their food and beer takings would go through the roof, but it could also deter people from attending next years two game event having suffered the off putting experience of having to kill time between the two finals by either hanging around aimlessly in the foyer under whichever section of the Stadium you happened to be seated in, or sitting in an almost empty ground watching the groundsmen in action. I would imagine the situation would've been even more of a ball ache if the weather hadn't been so nice.
The synchronised lawn-mower team display got boring after a while,
Though I am not a smoker myself, Wembley offers the following options to nicotine addicts: 1) No smoking in the Stadium, & 2) You can go outside for a cigarette at any time, but you can't come back in again.
The FA emails surveys to everyone who purchased tickets on line, where they can comment on their experience, if enough people express their concerns about the 120 minute lock in, they might have to take notice and alter this policy. Though I doubt it, given that it is a ruse to maximise their bar takings and fleece a captive crowd with their overpriced wares.
But thankfully, I was in good company which made the time pass less painfully and there were a good number of people around who we knew from  around the local(ish) football circuit
Anyway, finally, the moment arrived and it was time for game number two to get under way.
Macclesfield Town finished the season in a respectably steady yet unspectacular ninth place in the Nationwide League, some thirty one points between champions Lincoln City and eighteen points ahead of the highest placed of the relegated sides, namely today's opponents York City, who dropped down a division for the second year in a row.
It is difficult for me to watch any football match, anyway, ever, as a complete neutral and there is usually some tenuous reason that I will clutch too like a straw, to favour either one side or the other.
So even though I thought that the Silkmen would win the Trophy Final, by quite a comfortable margin. I was actually rooting for Gary Mills York side.
After all, it's in our national sporting psyche to get behind the underdogs.
The captain's and match officials shake hands, while a stray
Millwall fan who was still on the pitch from yesterday looks on
Macclesfield Town (2) 2
Nathan Browne 13
Ollie Norburn 45
York City (2) 3
Jon Parkin 8
Vadaine Oliver 22
Aidan Connolly 86
FA Trophy 2017 Photo Gallery Link: Here

Macclesfield Town:
Scott Flinders, Andy Halls (C), Neill Byrne (John McCombe 67), George Pilkington, David Fitzpatrick, Rhys Browne, Kingsley James, Ollie Norburn (Anthony Dudley 89), Danny Whitaker, Mitch Hancox (Luke Summerfield 87), Chris Holroyd
Unused subs - 13 Craig Ross, Danny Whitehead
YorkCity:
Kyle Letheren; Daniel Parslow, Yan Klukowski (Adriano Moke 45), Hamza Bencherif, Simon Heslop (C), Sean Newton, Asa Hall (Aidan Connolly 69), Danny Holmes (Shaun Rooney 75), Amari Morgan-Smith, Vadaine Oliver, Jon Parkin
Unused subs - Luke Simpson, Scott Fenwick
In the eighth minute, York gleefully open the scoring with their first chance of the game, when Jon Parkin got his head to Danny Holmes cross and flicked past Scott Flinders. The Minstermen are the third club that Parkin has visited Wembley with, having previously graced the hallowed turf with Fleetwood Town and Forest Green Rovers.
The Miners chairman, turned to me with a big beery grin on his face and asked: "Do you reckon Maltby Main could be at Wembley next season Rob, it would be great wouldn't it?", I replied "Yeah, definitely 100%!", he smiled even more, "And if you let me know early enough I could probably get all of the players seats where they could sit together!", he called me a "Yekkunt!", I think it is a Sanskrit word for a buttered pikelet (not a crumpet you understand) but he saw the funny side.
And before any of you pedantic lot say there isn't any difference between a pikelet and a crumpet, let me explain: Essentially, the main difference is that a pikelet is not cooked in a ring like a crumpet, hence it is thinner and more free form in shape.
'Macc' went close to drawing level almost immediately, when Ollie Norburn rolled a low corner into the path of Kingsley James, but although he struck his shot well, through a crowd of legs inside the York penalty area, Kyle Letheren spread himself well to make a save,
But shortly afterwards, Letheren should have heeded his mother's advice about keeping his legs shut when he's out and about in the big city as Rhys Browne latched onto a poor clearance on the right hand side of the Minstermen's area and his shot found it's way into the back of the net, between the City keepers feet.
For the record, Browne is one of three young Antigua and Barbuda international players that I know personally from my globetrotting footballing lifestyle, that has taken me to such exotic places as Waltham (near Grimsby), Arnold (up t'road from Nottingham) and Clipstone (the epicentre of the known universe).
I am only in it for the glamour... obviously!
The Macc Lads are having a party
York were ahead again in the twenty second minute, when Vadaine Oliver slid to meet Sean Newton's knock across the face of the Macclesfield goal and scored from close range.
The pace of the game was frantic at times, 'Macc' were mapping out some great passing moves towards York's defence, while the Minstermen's approach was far more rudimentary, yet evidently more effective in front of the opposition goal.
Danny Whittaker had two chances to even the score, one from thirty yards and the other from close range, both saved by Letheren.
And after Browne had done the hard part, weaving his way through the York defence to create himself a shooting opportunity from six yards out, he blazed the ball over the bar.
As York appeared to have shut up shop to protect a half time advantage, Ollie Norburn took the ball under control, five yards outside the Minstermen's area and launched an unstoppable drive into the top right hand corner of the net, that swerved all over the place and gave Letheren no chance of getting to the ball.
HT: York City 2 v Macclesfield Town 2
Three minutes after the restart, York were almost back in front in a bizarre and slightly comical fashion, though I wouldn't imagine that Vadaine Oliver saw the funny side, as Flinders put his foot through the ball to launch it towards the far end of the pitch and it hit him full on in the face and rebounded back over the Silkmen's keeper and dropped just wide of the right hand upright.
Brown forced a great save out of Letheren who did superbly to get down to his left and get his hands behind the ball at full stretch and Whitaker shot just wide when he latched onto a half cleared ball.
It would be fair to say at this point that York were weathering a storm and it looked for all the world as if the engraver could start writing Macclesfield's name on the trophy.
Mitch Hancox was denied by yet another Letheren block after Chris Holdroyd had combined with Brown to set him up and when Kingsley James beat the York keeper with a sweetly struck volley, Hamza Bencherif, who scored sixteen goals during a sixty game spell at Macclesfield, was well placed to head the ball off the line to deny his former club.
James punctured the York defence again as he slipped the ball through to Browne in Browne, but Letheren (who else!?) was on hand to block his effort.
Extra time beckoned, and Macc must've been wondering how on earth they hadn't finished the job off inside ninety minutes, given how busy they had kept Letheren for most of the afternoon.
But don't nip off for a quick slash just yet folks.
York's prop forward Parkin, with all the finesse of a uncompromising doorman barging his way through a crowded bar to break up an outbreak of fisticuffs, made himself the room to shoot and looped the ball over Flinders who was committed to coming off of his line. As the ball dropped over the line Aidan Connolly got a touch, 'just to make sure' and the Minstermen had snatched away the Trophy from their Cheshire based opponents, with a late smash and grab raid.
You really can't beat football as a form of live theatre and high drama.
Talking of smash and grab, I would've grabbed Connolly and smashed him if he'd just nicked a Wembley goal final off of me the same way as he just had Parkin, but hey ho!
FT: Macclesfield Town 2 v York City 3
Goals win games and 'Macc' had enough chances to have won this game looooong before the Parkin/Connolly combination struck.
If you ask me (and I know you won't) YorkCity's keeper Kyle Letheren was the man of the match and in my opinion he deserved two winners medals for his performance today.
A great day out, goodly companions and two cracking games of football.
What more could you want? Apart from a decent phone signal for all networks inside the stadium and a a more relaxed policy on where paying spectators could spend their time during the two hours in between both finals.

THE66POW 2016-17 FORTHCOMING GAMES

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The 2016-17 season is: not over, not over, not over yet!
Tuesday 30 May - Attenborough Cavs v Ladybrook Local - Notts FA Sunday Senior Cup Final - 7:45pm at Sherwood Colliery FC
Wed 31 May - Meltham Athletic v Real Moor - West Riding FA County Trophy Final  - 7.30pm at Fleet Lane, Woodlesford (West Riding FA Headquarters)

Attenborough Cavaliers 3 v Ladybrook Local 1 - Notts FA Sunday Senior Trophy final

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Tuesday 30th May 2017
Notts FA Sunday Senior Trophy Final
at Debdale Park, Sherwood Colliery FC
Attenborough Cavaliers (2) 3
Mark Green 44, 45 +
Nick Hawkins 70
Ladybrook Local (1) 1
Mark Carter 7
Admission & programme free. Attendance 200 ish
Deep in the heart of Sherwood Forest, on the excellent playing surface at Debdale Park, the home of Sherwood Colliery FC, neither team gave any quarter during this eagerly contested battle for the Notts Senior Sunday League final, played out between two attack minded teams.
The match referee, Mr Ian Dudley did really well to see to it that the game finished eleven aside, as certain individuals obviously had their own interpretation as to what the words 'attack' and 'minded' actually entailed.
But, if truth be told, a bit of rough and tumble and physicality added to the entertainment for the decent sized crowd who had turned out on a balmy (barmy?) night in Mansfield Woodhouse.
The 'Brook' took the game to Attenborough during the opening exchanges and went ahead through Mark Carter in the seventh minute, whose thumping angled shot took a deflection off of Ben Cheatle, that gave the 'Cavs' keeper, JakeWant no chance of reaching the ball, in spite of his best efforts.
Moments later, Carter saw his next attempt on goal narrowly clear the bar via another deflection, while Ryan Meehan had a goal disallowed because he had strayed narrowly offside.
Jack Upton was close to finding an equaliser when he hooked a twenty five yard shot just over the 'Local' goal and from the resulting goal kick, Carter broke forward again but this time his shot was blocked by Rich Dean.
Ladybrook looked as though they were taking a one-nil lead into the break, but right on the stroke of half time, a clinical double strike by Mark Green turned the game on it's head, as the 'Cavaliers drew level through a great solo strike from out on the right flank, after Cheatle had picked out Green with a long diagonal pass (that Glenn Hoddle would've been proud of) that bulged the top left hand corner of the net... and then took the lead in  stoppage time when Green was on hand to knock the ball home, after Fabio Gardella had parried the ball into his path.
HT: Attenborough 2 v Ladybrook 1
Mark Green. Two goals inside a minute.
Gardella did well to pluck Upton's in-swinging corner out from under his crossbar, while at the other end Craig Gould was unlucky to see his effort crash into the side netting after working his way through the 'Cavs' defence into a shooting position.
Jarrod Westcarr came on in the second half for Attenborough and his pace and close control were causing Ladybrook no end of problems as he pulled their defence all over the place, with Aidan Brady in support.
Westcarr delivered a right wing corner into the 'Brook' area that Jason Westwood appeared to have cleared away, but the ball fell invitingly for Nick Hawkins on the edge of the area and he crashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. 
Green played the ball out wide to Ryan Stak who knocked a defence splitting pass into the path of Beighton, but Carter had moved across quickly to get in a blocking tackle.
Marshalled by Westcarr, the 'Cavs' played the clock down by taking the ball into the corner and after two added minutes had elapsed, it was going to be Attenborough's name that would be added to the cup, in spite of Ladybrook looking for all the world like the most likely cup winners for the majority of the first half.
Ultimately though, the Cavaliers deservedly took the honours by virtue of some quality finishing.
FT: Attenborough Cavliers 3 v Ladybrook Local 1

Birmingham City 0 v Chelsea 2 - FAWSL1 - Spring Series

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Saturday 3rd June 2017
FAWSL1 - Spring Series
at the Automated Technology Group Stadium.
Solihull Moors FC
Birmingham City (0) 0
Chelsea (1) 2
Karen Carney 22, Fran Kirby 58
Admission £7 advance, £8 on the day
Programme £2.50. Attendance 1171
Click HERE for Flickr photo album from this game
Birmingham City:
Ann-Katrin Berger, Paige Williams, Meaghan Sargeant, Jess Carter (Charlie Wellings 63), Kerys Harrop (C), Sarah Mayling, Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Marisa Ewers (Freda Ayisi 70), Rachel Williams, Aoife Mannion, Ellie Brazil
Unused subs - Sophie Baggaley, Andrine Hegerberg, Chloe Peplow, Connie Schofield, Emily Westwood
Chelsea:
Carly Telford, Gilly Flaherty, Deanna Cooper, Millie Bright; Gemma Davison (Ramona Bachmann 64), Maren Mjelde, Katie Chapman (C), Crystal Dunn, Ji So-Yun (Erin Cuthbert 90), Karen Carney; Fran Kirby (Drew Spence 84)
Unused subs - Fran Kitching, Hannah Blundell, Beth England
The Spring Series is a one off competition, developed to bridge the gap as the FAWSL is in transition between switching to a winter league having previously been a summer based one.
Marc Skinner's beaten FA Cup Finalists had knocked Chelsea out of the competition at the semi final stage, but never looked likely to play the role of party poopers again this afternoon as the West London side comfortably picked up the three points that they needed to claim the Spring Series title on goal difference of +29, over Manchester City's +11, who had beaten Birmingham in the aforementioned Wembley final.
Chelsea had racked up a total of nineteen goals in their previous four outings, but having taken their semi final defeat to Blues into account today, they approached the game in a cautious fashion, employing a deep four (wo)man midfield strung across a solid looking back three, for whom the former Donny Belles player Millie Bright was outstanding on the left hand side, combining her defensive duties with the role of being Chelsea's main distribution line with a series of probing balls forward whenever the champions elect squeezed the life out Birmingham's attacking intentions before patiently working the ball forward.
A lot of the game was played at barely a trotting pace, but it's June, the sun was sat high in the afternoon sky and with the main stand acting as a windbreak for any light breeze that might offer the players some respite from the summer heat, surely that was understandable, as an intriguing if not overly entertaining game unfolded.
Never had Birmingham's traditional pre-match music of choice: ELO's 'Mr Blue Sky' been more apt.
In effect, Chelsea did what you might call a 'professional job', raising the tempo when  it was required but sensibly adapting to climate, while shutting up their shop to win the game and the Spring Series title, with a horses for courses performance.
Both sides forced corners early on, but Chelsea grew stronger and began to dominate proceedings.
Former Birmingham player Karen Carney started the ball rolling for the first goal scoring opportunity of the day, winning the ball in the middle of the park before battling past two challenges and spraying the ball out wide to Crystal Dunn on the left whose cross was only half cleared into the path of Ji So-Yun, but the South Korean opted for power over precision and volleyed over the bar.
But in the 22nd minute, the visitors made a breakthrough, when the diminutive Fran Kirby was poleaxed Ann-Katrin Berger, who collided heavily with the former Reading player as she ran onto a Gemma Davison knock and burst past the Birmingham keeper.
Berger was booked for the 'challenge' and Carney compounded her misery, by striking the penalty kick straight down the middle as the German shot stopper moved to her right.
"Hey she's called burger!" shouted an excited youngster. "Hey burger, is your mum a cheeseburger!?"
Verpiss dich you cheeky young scamp.
Blues defence did well to keep Chelsea down to a single goal lead at the interval as the Londoners began to turn the screw in an attempt to grind their hosts down.
Bright went close from Carney's dipping free kick and when Kirby swapped passes with So-Yun, Davison went even closer from the resulting cross, but planted her header wide at the back stick.
Maren Mjelde tried her luck a long-range lob that looked destined for the back of the net but Berger did well to back pedal and keep the ball out.
The Blues keeper was tested again right on the stroke of half time, when So-Yun rolled a sideways pass to Kirby ten yards out from the goal, but the keeper advanced smartly and managed to block the England international's attempted shot, before rushing to grab hold of the loose ball.
HT: Birmingham City 0 v Chelsea 1
Mjelde almost doubled the visitors lead at the start of the second half, but her header from Carney's corner kick was deflected wide.
In the fifty eighth minute, the Spring Series trophy was as good as heading to London, when Berger fumbled Davison's cross against the upright and Kirby was well placed to pounce on the keeper's error and gratefully knocked the ball into the back of the net, to claim the simplest of goals.
"We're on the pitch if we have a shot!" Sang a pragmatic gathering of Bluenoses behind the goal that Chelsea were defending steadfastly.
Gilly Flaherty combined with  Kirby and So-Yun, the latter knocked a pass back in the direction of Mjede, who spanked the ball inches wide of the upright.
Ellie Brazil pushed forward for Blues and when Flaherty slipped while trying to clear her lines, it presented Rachel Williams with an opportunity, but her first time shot from all of thirty yards flew wide of the left hand post.
Did the shot preempt the pitch invasion  that the home fans singing section had predicted ten minutes before? Well, it might have done if some of them hadn't already gone to the bar to take on some re-hydrating fluids.
Kirkby was substituted late in the game and the 'cult hero' was warmly applauded by supporters of both teams and the many neutrals present too.
The crowd was made up of around eleven hundred football fans and a scrum of around seventy one young children whose ever growing mass game of tag, was beginning to pick up momentum and numbers at a quite scary rate.
Hey ho! We were all kids once... let the children boogie as Mr David Bowie would say.
Blues finished the game well, raising their game while Chelsea were prepared to sit back on the lead that they knew had won them the seasonal title, but the visitors almost made it three nil deep into stoppage time, when Erin Cuthbert, who had just entered the fray as a late substitute was thwarted by Berger, who got a foot in to block her close range effort as the two of them went head to head.
Blues had huffed and puffed and worked hard, but ultimately Chelsea have a squad made up of quality players, who had put Emma Hayes safety first game plan into action to the letter and comfortably finished the Spring Series off, in a sensible manner that got the job done.
FT: Birmingham City Ladies 0 v Chelsea Ladies 2

THE66POW. PRE SEASON GAMES: 2017/18

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Some 'friendly' games that I am going to in the near future.
All plans are subject to change, of course... you know how it is with pre season.
Further details will be added in due course.
Tue 4 July - Campion v Bradford PA - 7.45pm
Wed 5 July - Retford United v Worksop Town - 7.45pm
Fri 7 July - Ollerton Town v Harworth Colliery - KO TBA
Sat 8 July - Retford FC v Sheffield United XI - 3pm
Tue 11 July - Rossington Main v Gainsborough Trinity - 7.45pm
Wed 12 July - Maltby Main  v Scunthorpe United - 7pm
Fri 14 July - Clipstone v Shirebrook Town - 7.30pm
Sat 15 July - Gainsborough Trinity v Lincoln City - Lincs County Cup - 3pm
Tue 18 July - Harworth Colliery v Bottesford Town - KO TBA
Wed 19 July - Eastwood CFC v Maltby Main - 7.45pm
Thu 20 July - Lincoln United v Gainsborough Trinity - 7.45pm
Fri 21 July - Handsworth Parramore v Sheffield United XI - 7.45pm
Sat 22 July - Maltby Main v Chesterfield - 3pm
Tue 25 July - Gainsborough Trinity v Mansfield Town - 7.30pm
Wed 26 July - Lincoln City U18 v Manchester United U18 - 7pm
Sat 29 July - RB Leipzig v Sevilla FC - Emirates Tournament - 2pm
Sat 29 July - Arsenal v SL Benfica - Emirates Tournament - 4:20pm 
Sun 30 July - RB Leipzig v SL Benfica - Emirates Tournament - 2pm
Sun 30 July - Arsenal v Sevilla FC - Emirates Tournament - 4:20pm 
Mon 31 July - Gainsborough Trinity v Doncaster Rovers - 7.45pm
Tue 1 Aug - Harworth Colliery v Maltby Main - 7.30pm
Sat 5 Aug - Football season commences
Tue 8 Aug - Sherwood Colliery v Mansfield Town U21 - 7.45pm

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 n' all that

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Last season, that is to say, the one before the 2016-17 campaign, I attended 206 matches... and chronicled (more or less) each and every one of them on this here long winded, self indulgent, bullshit blog, with added football content.
That is a crazy amount of games for anybody to watch, narrate and take photographs of, in such a short space of time; particularly somebody who has a family and works full time away from football.
In fact, hands up... it borders on a severe mental illness sized case of obsessiveness.
Yet, in spite of setting out not to do anything like as many games this time around, I have actually surpassed that total across the course of the season that is just coming to a close... and I think that still has at least one more fixture to squeeze out of the tube as of yet.
As long as it's my unwavering enthusiasm for the game and the culture (subculture?) surrounding it, that continues to inspire my prolific travels, and it never becomes just some sad exercise in number crunching and list ticking; then I would anticipate that the total amount of grounds I visit and games I watch next season, could well stretch beyond fifty again too.
As regards the past twelve months, for the most part I could've just cut and pasted the majority of my overview of the 2015-16 season, which appeared on THE66POW in June 2016 and recycled it under the guise of a new post, such were the similarities between the two campaigns.
The Mansfield Town Under 18 team that I was involved with for my second (and last) season, won their league title again, even though they found opposition teams raising their game to topple them as reigning champions.
But of course, success in development football isn't merely measured by the haul of silverware that any team accumulates, but the fact that six young footballers signed pro contracts this months, to join the four who progressed up through the ranks last year, is the true measure of this sides achievements; and the quality of some of the lads who have been released was quite staggering and highlighted just how brutal the game football can be, how high the bar as been set and just how narrow the lines between making the step up, or dusting yourself down to face whatever the next big decision and challenge in life might be.
The one thing that all of the lads must keep doing, whether they are staying at the club or not, is to never stop believing in themselves.
It is easy to excel when things are going well and people are blowing smoke up your arse, so to speak, but it's how you deal with the down time, when things don't seem to be going so well, that will ultimately make or break any aspiring footballer.
Self doubt is the quickest way to render yourself ineffective and will derail anybody who was on a journey towards fulfilling their ambitions.
Matt Salmon with Zayn Hakeem
Sadly, shortly before last weekend, we were informed of the tragic news that our popular young club physio, who has worked with the development squads over the past few years, and temporarily with the first team, had passed away, having lost his battle against cancer at the age of just 25 years old.
The impact of Matt's death was earth shattering to those who knew him and worked/played alongside him.
Words could never be sufficient enough to express the immense sense of loss we all felt upon realising that we will never see Matt again.
The supportive words and messages of condolences from across a wide spectrum of local football grapevine, were greatly appreciated and meant more than anybody could ever know.
Thank you all.
Away from the Stags youngsters, I also donned my 'jackass of all trades' tour jacket, over the course of the season, to help out some good pals in local football, who were in need of a helping hand, firstly: AFC Mansfield, who I liaised on with a pre-season media project and stood in as match day secretary for one early season game only, when that smashing bloke who looks like Norm out of Cheers, namely: Peter Craggs, failed his stuntman exam and was absent for what I believe was possibly the first time ever since the club's formation, from his duties with the Bulls, nursing an ankle injury.
And from October onward, I have subsequently been involved on the committee at Maltby Main, after I stood in for their club secretary John Mills for a couple of games, when old age and decrepitude dictated that he needed to take a rest.
Elsewhere, I've done peripheral bits and pieces, including Newark Town, when the club stalwart and all round good guy Richard Lane had other, more prioritous things to deal with... and he knows he only ever needs to ask should the need ever arise again.
It is always a pleasure to be asked to cover the Doncaster & District FA Senior Cup Final at the Keepmoat Stadium on an annual basis, which is fast becoming a job reporting exclusively on the triumphs of Swinton Athletic.
Next season, that is to say, the one after the 2016-17 campaign, I am remaining active on the committee at Maltby, filling in for holidays and absenteeism within the first team back up staff ranks;
but more often than not, I'll be spending time with Andy King and his coaches at Reserve team games, on the road in the Sheffield & Hallam County Senior League.
Personally I don't ever want, need or have any kind of specific job title at any club I am ever involved in, non league football is about rolling your sleeves up and getting on with whatever needs doing, wherever and whenever you roll up on any given match day.
And I am either a full on or phuck off kind of bloke.
Time allocation and prioritising are my forte, and I can turn my hand to most things after all this time.
But that is enough about me, because you all already know how spunking great yours truly is... and how thoroughly modest I am with it too ;-)
I'm very aware that there are several promising young footballers, who have been patiently waiting for the following details... so without further ado: all players aged 18 to 21, who would like to come along and find out what Maltby Main FC is all about, while trying out for our second string, who play men's football on a Saturday afternoon, should contact Andy King 07533855563 at your earliest possible convenience. 
Player recruitment roadshow.
Heading your way soon.
Failing that I will be trawling the usual circuit of South Yorks and North Notts football grounds with my player recruitment caravan in tow any time soon.
Earlier today I was asked: "What are you doing with your time now that the football season is finished?"
Finished!!??
You mean, people actually think football ever stops!?
It's actually the busiest time of the year for those of us who are involved in the admin side of the nuts and bolts mechanisms of the game. So I will answer that question in due course, during the few minutes that I'm not almost constantly using my phone, on 'football business' over the next three or four weeks. My Experia battery has been getting a proper hammering of late, but hey ho!
That obviously means that wheels are in motion and stuff is getting done... so, bring it on!
The EFL Championship was by far the most interesting division in a 'football as a form of theatre' kind of way, throughout the duration of last season.
Opinions as to managerial reign of Gianfranco Zola was polarised among supporters at Birmingham City, where approximately 34.78% of Blues fans thought he was a poor appointment and not fit for purpose, while the over riding majority just reckoned he was shit at his job and had no place being at St. Andrew's in the first place.
Rome wasn't built in a day, but if Zola had been in charge of that job, it would never have been built at all. The foundations would never have been in laid properly, nor the finish touches added.
Sure, he tried (but ultimately failed) to get the team to play attractive football.
There were a few, but far too few, glimpses of what he was trying to achieve, but he lost his way big time and was seemingly cocooned inside his own vision and worldview, blind to the fact that Blues had to get the basics right, otherwise their high speed downward spiral was heading straight down the plughole.
Y'know... the basic stuff, such as stopping the opposition scoring and getting a few goals and points on the board yourself along the way; as well as playing over elaborate, tippy tappy stuff from side to side across the middle of the park. Occasionally, but seldom aesthetically nice to watch passing football in short spells was getting City nowhere fast... apart from Division 3/League 1. It was a car crash of a season for the St. Andrew's based club, of the multiple pile up variety... fascinating yet very scary and macabre in extremes to watch at close quarters.
Maybe Zola will reemerge elsewhere and produce the finished article team of his desires. But he certainly nearly finished Birmingham off as a viable Championship side.
However, despite Zola making a complete mess of his reign at St.Andrews, by far the worst shift I saw them put in was during a 4-0 defeat at Newcastle United, which proved to be Gary Rowett's penultimate game in charge.
In League 2, Mansfield Town and (the majority) of their supporters, have been riding on the crest of a wave, known as the 'Evans effect', as the Stags began to show traces of being a far better team than their twelfth placed finish would suggest they are shaping into.
It does make a nice change to see Mansfield featuring among the favourites for promotion next season, rather than the usual predictions of impending doom.
But the Field Mill faithful are going to have to give it time for all of the new signings to gel, before finding out what next term holds, because although some of Evans many Summer signings (twelve so far to date) are of proven quality, all this actually equates to in real terms as of yet, is that the controversial Stags manager has bought a lot of players in to the club... pretty much as he has done during his previous spells in management elsewhere.
I'll stick my head on the chopping block and predict that Mansfield Town will be in contention for either a promotion or play off spot next season
Evans is passionate about the game, maybe too passionate at times... and he is a proven winner.
But I'm old enough to know that nothing in football is a formality, so although I really want the Stags to do well, having seen false dawns before, I shall only allow myself to be cautiously optimistic and open minded about what lays ahead.
While accepting that any of the many teams at Mansfield Town that operate below the Football League level are all part of a bigger strategy that is in place to feed the first team, who are the be all and end all at the club, pretty much like they are anywhere else, I am not 100% convinced that any of the home grown lads from the academy set up, who were signed on pro terms in either 2016 or 2017 will get even a sniff of first team action.
That is not a slight on any of them, far from it! It is an observation, as to how the pecking order works in football... inasmuch as, it can be a very rewarding game, on many different levels. But in reality, it can be brutally harsh too.
Of course, there are better judges than me of when (and if) any of the clubs highly rated prospects are ready to make the step up to the next level; but one needs to ask... in future years, will talented young players want to develop their game at a club where the development teams win trophies, or go somewhere else, where they have a reputation for and better record of giving youth a chance in the Football League?
Steve Evans has been given a mandate, and a budget, to get his team promoted and ultimately he will be judged on results and maintaining a healthy league position. But, alas, it won't make a blind bit of difference to the clubs expectations of him and his management team, nor his objectives, reputation and future employment prospects, whether he gives the lads who have come through the club ranks an opportunity to prove themselves on a bigger stage or not.
Moving swiftly on... Maltby Main FC, arguably overachieved when they had a good 2015-16 season and finished in the top seven in the NCEL Premier Division. At the end of that campaign I picked out Spencer Fearn at Maltby and, ironically, Karl Rose at Frickley Athletic as THE66POW's  managers of the year, given that the South Elmsall based club had also finished seventh in the Northern Premier League after several years of perpetual struggles against relegation.
Their progress certainly didn't go unnoticed elsewhere as clubs with a few more quid to chuck around, enticed a few pivotal players away and Mr Fearn subsequently had to effectively rebuild the team in the first half of the following term, which understandably saw the Miners flirting with the teams at the foot at the table for several  months while they regrouped and found their footing again, before turning things around and clawing their way up to mid table safety with a great run of form and several astute signings after the new year.
Maltby Main v Frickley Athletic. Pre season July 2016.
Frickley for their part had a hideous season, with Rose falling on his sword after an awful start results wise, before coming back to see the last couple of months out, after Lee Morris had done his level best to steady a sinking ship.
Ultimately, Frickley were relegated into Division 1 North of the NPL, before being moved to the South Division, when Ilkeston went out of business and Goole AFC were reinstated into the North section. In the interim. Fearn replaced Rose at Westfield Lane, amid a shit storm of incredulity among the more outspoken and volatile ranks of the Frickley fan base and Maltby called an EGM to discuss finding a replacement manager. Following an initial angry reaction, particularly on the FAFC fans internet forum, a string of impressive signings, things seem to have calmed down and it would seem that 'Spen' is going to be given an honeymoon period of sorts, to show he is up to the job, before he is thrown the the dogs and torn limb from limb should he not come up to required standard.
Give him a chance I say, you'll not hear anybody at Maltby badmouthing the guy, who did nothing but good for the club. Though he better stop nicking all of the Miners players any time soon, or I will smash his face in!
Steve Adams, John Styring, Jordan Hall, Mark Higginbottom...
and Don Estelle?
The EGM, in my humble opinion, represented a turning point in the history of the club.
The solidarity, optimism, camaraderie and togetherness that came out of that room. showed to me that Maltby Main weren't down and out, or even taking a standing count... in fact the heartbeat of the club was beating stronger than ever.
In the aftermath of that gathering, the enthusiasm bordered on euphoria, as anybody present would testify. Together Everybody Achieves More.
And in no time at all, a new management team were installed to great acclaim and behind the scenes the troops had been galvanised into action and are raring to go.
Welcome to Muglet Lane: Jordan Hall, John Styring and Mark Higginbottom, the new management team... and welcome back Steve Adams, who has been installed as the director of football, with Andy King remaining at the helm in the reserves set up.
Good luck to all of the players and other personnel who are moving on, both to Frickley and elsewhere.
It would have been easy to lose all of the impetus and feelgood factor that has been building at the club in recent times, but that is not going to be allowed to happen.
Once the players who are staying loyal to the club and those coming in click into place together, under the guidance of the new management structure... watch Maltby go!
It's going to be a very interesting season.
All for one and one for all n' all that!
Right, I suppose I best do one of those 'best of' things, like proper football bloggers do, some categories will have more than one winner:
THE 2016-17 THE66POW AWARDS:
Players of the year:
Reece 'Wez' Wesley - Maltby Main
Shawn Mitchell - Maltby Main
Nicky Darker - Maltby Main
Tim Lowe - Cleethorpes Town
Connor Smythe - Handsworth Parramore
Jodie Ellis - Market Warsop Ladies
Young players of the year:
Kieran Harrison - Mansfield Town U18
Kane Baldwin - Mansfield Town U18
Henri Wilder - Mansfield Town U18
Cain  Smith - Mansfield Town U18 & Romulus FC
Nyle Blake - Mansfield Town U18
Liz Harris - Mansfield Town (Dev) Ladies
Jack Weatherell - Lincoln City U18 &; Rainworth MW 
Jack Fixter - Lincoln City U18
Reece Fielding - Doncaster Rovers U18 & Frickley Athletic
Joe Pugh - Doncaster Rovers U18 & Frickley Athletic
Jack Wilkinson - Collingham, Lincoln United & Gainsborough Trinity Youth
Three for next season:
Keaton Ward, Aiden Walker, Jake Dumbleton - All Mansfield Town U18
Manager of the year:
Marcus Newell - Cleethorpes Town
Paul Marshall - Pickering Town
Curtis Woodhouse - Bridlington Town
Best games:
Immingham Town 3 v Wyberton 2 AET - Lincs League Cup Final
Best team performance(s):
Burton Albion U18 0 v Mansfield town U18 6 - EFL Youth alliance (NE)
Maltby Main 3 v Cleethorpes Town 0 - NCEL Premier Division
Market Warsop Ladies 6 v Mansfield Town (Dev) Ladies 2 - Notts Girls & Womens League Senior Division
Retford FC 0 v FC Bolsover 7 - CMFL North
Sutton Rovers 1 v Swinton Athletic 5 - Doncaster FA Senior Cup Final
Best referee:
Ian Jackson
Best programme:
Maltby Main - Obviously!
Mansfield Town - .Stands to reason.
Handsworth Parramore - Good work Mr Robinson.

Best website:
The official Toolstation NCEL website
Frickley Athletic - Highly amusing stuff Mr J!
THE66POW - But you all already knew that ;-)
And last but not least...
Team of the year:
Cleethorpes Town
Predictions for next season:
1) Handsworth Parramore will finish higher in the NCEL league table than they did this season, as will Worksop Town.
2) Top half finish for the 'little club with a big heart' Maltby Main FC
3) Campion will be promoted from the NCEL first division.
4) THE66POW will carry on, albeit in a different format.
5) I will get a photograph of John Stainrod (Handsworth Parramore) smiling.
Right I'm off for now. Enjoy the silence! 

Hemsworth Miners Welfare 4 v Willington Quay Saints 0 - PSF

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Saturday 1st July
Pre season friendly
at the Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium, Fitzwilliam (Pitch 2)
Hemsworth Miners Welfare (3) 4
Richard Collier 31
Chris Ovington 38, 39
Charlie Stewart 63
Willington Quay Saints (0) 0
Admission free
PHOTO GALLERY: CLICK HERE
Let the warm up games, that key part of the preparation for what promises to be an absorbing forthcoming season, commence.
It is no time time at all since the 2016-17 campaign was wound up.
In fact it was only just over two weeks since the France v England international friendly match was played at the Stade de France... an anti climax of a game, where video assisted refereeing provided more talking points than a prosaic performance by yet another 'transitional' and 'work in progress' English national team, who once again looked much better on paper than than they actually did on grass, as per usual... and officially bought the curtain down on last term.
But enough of that there international football stuff, until September 4th at least when I am off to Wembley, in the sprawling metropolis of London, where they make the telly n' that, to watch England take on Slovakia... and let's get this party started with something of a far more grassroots nature, than all of that overpaid and overpriced corporate stuff.
You might ask the question: is July 1st a bit too soon to be playing/watching pre-season games?
But, that would only be a rhetorical enquiry, because I'm quite sure that everybody present tonight, including the players; in actual fact, especially the players, already knows full well that it is actually far too early, never mind a bit.
As football as a metaphor for methadone goes however, these sort of games are the perfect tonic to keep a gathering of sad anorak addicts (just like me) ticking over, until they can get hold of their next proper fix any time soon.
One of he protocols of 'reporting on/blogging about' pre-season games, is being respectful to clubs (and individuals) who might be playing "trialists".
Though I feel compelled to add that I don't necessarily mean either of this afternoon's respective sides when I say that.
The minutiae and specifics are an essential facet of any proper match coverage during the season itself, when teams are doing it for real, there could be a myriad of reasons for not declaring all of their players identities and preferring them not to be photographed at this time of year. And the vast majority of that logic has no sinister overtones whatsoever, as people try to play their cards close to their chest, while preparing for another season of the greatest game in the world.
Hence, I haven't included team line ups, just the names of the goalscorers as clarified by the home side's manager Wayne Benn.
Thanks for your help, assistance and friendly co-operation Wayne.
Your input is greatly appreciated.
Wallsend based Willington Quay Saints, play in Division 2 of the the Northern Alliance, which they joined from the Tyneside Amateur League, in 2007.
Last season they finished in a respectable fifth position.
The Saints spent two seasons in Division 1 of the Northern Alliance in 2012-13 and 2013-14, but were relegated back to Division 2, having struggled to make an impact in the 'top flight'.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare were formed in 1981 and began life in the Bentley League, before becoming members of the NCEL First Division in 2008 via stints in the Doncaster & District Senior League and West Riding Amateur League.
The Wells, were promoted to the NCEL Premier Division, when they won the First Division title at the end of the 2015-16 season and achieved a top nine finish during their inaugural season at the highest level of the non league pyramid that the club has ever played at.
Some historical research pertaining to the two areas which today's teams represent, using the time honoured method of leaving no stone left unturned, that some people also call: a quick cut and paste job from Wikipedia; unearths the following information:
And they're off.Welcome to the new season.
Hemsworth is name-checked in Domesday Book, a weighty tome that was commissioned in 1085 by William the Conqueror. Back in 'yon days of olde, when knights were bold, the town was still called Hamelsworde.
Mr Robert Holgate, a native of Hemsworth, born in 1481, was consecrated as Archbishop of York in January 1545.
Fitzwilliam Main was the original name of Hemsworth Colliery which was shut down in 1969. Kinsley Drift Mine was opened on the site of the old Hemsworth Colliery in 1977 but sadly that was also closed in 1986, around the same down as the nearby Nostell and South Kirkby Collieries.
On the face of it, the area looks to finally be making some kind of recovery from the the 1980's when it suffered more than most when that evil and spiteful bitch Margaret Thatcher was the worst Prime Minister that the country has ever had, thus far anyway.
Robert Stephenson, (who is not to be confused with the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (note the different spelling of his surname. D'oh! Stupid!), who amongst other notable journals wrote: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Treasure Island, and is also credited with inventing the sleeping bag) was born in Willington Quay in 1803, as the only son of George Stephenson, AKA the 'Father of Railways'.
Eclipsing the achievements of his father. which was no small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, Robert came to be dubbed (unofficially but justifiably) 'The Greatest Engineer of the 19th century'.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel might also have had a reasonable claim to that particular title too, but that wouldn't fit this narrative, so lets bestow the honour of second best on Mr Brunel and move swiftly on.
Stephenson Junior's myriad range of accomplishments and projects across the globe, is far too lengthy and magnificent to list here, a bit like the Royal Border Bridge, AKA the Berwick viaduct, a mightily impressive structure that he oversaw the building of.
His immense contribution to the Industrial Revolution and worldwide engineering, is worthy of further reference. when you have the time.
But I wouldn't even bother with this Isambard character, if I was you.
One of his earliest collaborations, with his almost equally famous dad, saw the building of the Rocket, or Stephenson's Rocket as it became widely known, which wasn't exactly the first ever steam locomotive in the world, but is surely the most elegant and famous.
Willington got the game (and the new season) underway shortly after 2pm and there wasn't really much of a difference between the two sides for the opening half a hour as the June heat and early pre season stamina levels dictated the pace of the game.
Hemsworth set out their stall with a measured and patient approach, spraying passes across the width of the pitch in their own half at a fairly high tempo and building from the back.
It did look for all the world, for a while, as if some of the 'Wells' players were having a private competition to see who could hook the ball the highest over the 'Saints' crossbar and furthest into the surrounding gardens adjacent to the 'bottom pitch', just beyond the main ground, which is where today's game was being played, while Hemsworth's main pitch is receiving some tender, loving care, in preparation for when Barnsley FC visit the Yorkshire NuBuilds Stadium on Tuesday July 11th, for a friendly that kicks off at 7.45pm if you fancy it.
But, after taking a while to find their range, the hosts surged into a three goal lead inside the space of eight minutes, to effectively kill the game off as a contest before the interval.
Richard Collier opened the scoring when he planted the ball just inside the left hand post from the edge of the visitors area and the visitors suddenly found their goal under siege and were undone again just a few minutes later when their keeper should only parry a shot into the path of Chris Ovington who couldn't really miss from the simplest of close range chances. Straight from the restart Willington lost possession and Ovington raced forward and doubled his tally with a well weighted lob over the keeper who was rushing from his line in a vainglorious attempt to salvage the situation.
HT: Wells 3 v Saints 0
It is said, that you can always spot a good referee, when he lets the game flow and you barely notice his presence. Well, it must be said, I would hardly have noticed the man in the middle today if it wasn't for the fact that he was carrying a few extra pounds... I'm sure you'll run them off over the next few weeks Garteth!
As is the norm in these sort of games, there was a whole lot of substituting going on after the break, which broke the flow, for what it was, of the game up a bit during the second forty five minutes, but there were a few eye catching performances from the Hemsworth youngsters who came on, as they used the width of the pitch and no small amount of pace, to try breaking Willington down on the flanks.
On today's showing Hemsworth's development teams must be worth making a trip up to watch later in the season.
The visitors number ten... apologies I didn't catch his name, had a few half decent attempts on goal, but for the most part was restricted to shooting from long distance.
Charlie Stewart lashed home to only goal of the second half from ten yards out, when Willington had struggled to clear a left wing corner, just after the hour mark.
Both sides will have been grateful for the breeze that picked up across the ground later in the game, because although the pitch was in good shape, it can't be much fun running about in that sort of heat.
All in all, a half decent work out for both teams, as they look to peak fitness wise in August.
Results aren't the be all and end all of these sort of games which are all about planning to hit the ground running when the real thing kicks off, but I would imagine that a 4-0 win against a lively visiting side, will still be good for morale at Hemsworth.
FT: Hemsworth Miners Welfare 4 v Willington Quay Saints 0
It was a pleasure to catch up with the staunchly loyal members of the 'Frickley Massive' today, who I spent the afternoon watching the game with and to meet up with Pete and Ged Murden. 
Pete does the photographs for Hemsworth and he is very good at it too, as he his all things media wise when it comes to non league football.
It was highly amusing to see what Ged had adorning the front of his baseball cap... no wonder the old scalawag is always smiling.

Winterton Rangers 0 v Gainsborough Trinity 1 - PSF

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Monday 3rd July
Pre season friendly
at West Street, Winterton
Winterton Rangers (0) 0
Gainsborough Trinity (1) 1
Alex Simmons 28
Admission £4. Programme £1.50 (covering 5 games)
MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME: CLICK HERE
Not so many years ago, tonight's host club enjoyed a purple patch between the 2005/06 and 2011/12 seasons, when they never finished outside the top six clubs in the NCEL and were actually crowned champions in 2008 and runners up in 2007.
But since those halcyon days, having had a lean time of things and a run of bad luck for four seasons, during which time a dramatic turnaround in fortunes saw Rangers perpetually involved in relegation battles, from either the NCEL Premier and First Divisions, during which time they actually took the drop from one to another at the end of the 2013/14 term, Winterton steadied their ship and stabilised their decline with a mid table finish in April, when they finished their most recent campaign with three wins from their last four games.
Given the calibre of players that the West Street based club have been signing of late, with Paul Grimes and Rob Watson recruiting astutely of late, one can only assume that they will be closer to the business end of the table this coming season, than the scrap to avoid the drop to a step 7 league.
And on the evidence of this performance, they are poised to build on the foundations of their last campaign, any time soon.
Tonight was also the first opportunity for the travelling Gainsborough contingent to get a look at former Spalding United manager's Dave Frecklington's new charges, as he strengthens his Trinity squad to make a challenge in an ever more competitive (and in some cases: ever more money driven) National League North.
One of his 'newbies', Alex Simmons, who was released by Lincoln City at the end of last term, weighed in with the only goal of this well contested friendly match in the twenty eighth minute, after the home side's defence had made hard work of clearing Johno Williams free kick into their area from out on the right flank.
Alex Simmons forces the ball home from close range
despite the close attentions of Jack Weatherell
Prior to Simmons strike, Rangers had looked strong in defence as the visitors put them under the cosh from a string of corner kicks, while Luke Anderson, Lewis Bemrose and Elliott Broughton, combined well in attack for the home side to keep Trinity's back line busy, where another debutant Nathan Stainfield looked strong in defence for the visitors. 
In actual fact had, any Rangers player have managed the slightest of touches on one defence splitting ball across the face of the visitors goal around the quarter of a hour mark, then Winterton would have taken the lead instead.
It wouldn't have surprised anybody who had seen him turn out for Lincoln City's U18s and Rainworth Miners Welfare's first team last season, to hear that Jack Weatherell looked very comfortable at centre half for Rangers during his forty five minute stint before the break, not only with his assured touch, but also his positional awareness. That said, he did mistime a clumsy challenge in the middle of the park,  just before half time, that had the Trinity bench up in arms in protest. Obviously at just 18 years of age, Weatherell is still not quite the finished article, but is learning and developing quickly and will benefit in the long run from such 'awkward' moments.
Of course, last season Weatherell was plying his trade for the Imps youngsters in front of goalkeeper Richard Walton, who had the first taste of action of his twelve month loan for Gainsborough tonight.
When the anticipated half time substitutions were made, it further illustrated the strength in depth of the Rangers squad, that they had players of the likes of Bruno Holden, Reece Newell, Joel Shortland and Robbie Start to bring on from the bench. 
Oh, and Paul Grimes... of course!
Both clubs will have been pleased with tonight's work out in front of what was a decent turn out for a Monday night warm up game, a whole month before the season actually starts.
I saw plenty to suggest that it will be worth revisiting both of these teams to see how they are progressing over the forthcoming months.
That said, I think that I might have to contact Hawker Siddeley Ltd about getting some vertical take off gear attached to my car, so that I can get out of the bijou car park at West Street without having to make another nine point turn, like the one I executed like a pro tonight.
Ta very much to Mr Martin Girdham, for the obscure programmes he had set aside for my visit.
I enjoyed catching up with a lot of familiar faces from both Lincolnshire clubs... and in spite of appearances, my missus really enjoyed her night out in Winterton too.
FT: Winterton Rangers 0 v Gainsborough Trinity 1
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