THE66POW

Saturday 28th May 2016
West Yorkshire League - Premier Division
At the Ings, Lodge Lane, Wetherby
Wetherby Athletic (0) 1
Matt Forster 51
Oxenhope Recreation (2) 4
James Bailey 14
Tom Marshall 29, 55
Dan Moriarty 68
Attendance 53
A few more pictures from this game, click HERE

Wetherby Athletic:
Joe Knowlson, Harry Finney, Ryan Hepinstal, Tom Hesketh (C), Matt Forster, Andy Graham, Sam Straker, Joe Whiteley, Ben Lambert, Bobby Stevenson, Tom Woolard
Subs - Josh Forster, Alistair Bowles, Mark Forster
Oxenhope Recreation:
Nick Hudson, Dayne Ward, Mark McGee, Jay Walton, Sean Quinlaw, Josh Kaine, Tom Marshall, Dan Moriarty, Joe Jalil, James Bailey, Owen Williamson
Sub - Rob Pullan

The A1 northbound had been a complete nightmare yesterday afternoon, en route to the England game at the Stadium of Light, so I gave myself an extra thirty minutes to make the drive up to Wetherby, which turned out to be a good idea in the event. The M18 junction onto and off of the A1 has become a proper bottleneck these last couple of months and today was no exception.
But Wetherby's ground which is just off of Junction 45, is dead easy to get to and when you arrive, the clubhouse facilities offer a vast array of refreshment and sustenance to revive even the most weary traveller.

There were three other games in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division this afternoon, including the potential title decider between Beeston St. Anthony's and Carlton Athletic, which attracted a crowd of 225.
Beeston fought back from 4-1 down to clinch a draw claimed the league championship as a consequence.
On Tuesday night the champions are at home against Wetherby (LS11 8DT), while Carlton entertain Leeds City (WF3 3QU).
Both games are scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm.
I know you're all very tempted!

Whenever I have dipped into the West Yorkshire League on my travels, it's been apparent that the standard of football is better than it is at a comparative level in the east & north midlands and although both of today's teams will finish the season in fifth (Wetherby) and twelfth (Oxenhope) place respectively, in a division of fifteen teams; on this showing they could hold their own against the majority of NCEL Division One and a fair few of the NCEL Premier Division clubs.
My Nottingham based pal Howard Bacon was at the game too and he agreed with that estimation, so it must be right, because he knows far more about non-league football than I ever will... and the matchday programmes he used to produce for Radford FC were pretty awesome too and far better than anything I've ever had a hand in putting together.

Talking of programmes (did you see the almost seamless link there?), Wetherby Athletic issue one for all of their home games, in an online format.
This innovative and very professionally presented idea, is ingenious and if it was to be adopted across non-league football, it would save clubs a fortune and do more for the environment and rain forest preservation, than Sting and Bono ever did put together.
Just saying.
Here is today's issue for your perusal: Wetherby Athletic v Oxenhope Recreation programme.
If you really need a paper cop to cling on too as a memento of your visit to the Ings, you can alweays print one off yourself.
The best ideas are always the most simple ones.

While some of those present seemed to be anticipating 'a typical end of season game, with nowt to play for', it was refreshing to see that neither team had adopted that mindset, as they were both evidently striving to take all three of the points on offer.

Wetherby won a corner out on the right wing from the first attack of the game, but as Andy Graham connected with the ball at the back post, the delivery was too high for him to keep it on target and he headed wide of the left hand post.

Oxenhope broke forward from the goal kick and James Bailey muscled his way into the goal area through the right channel, before dropping the ball just past the far post, with Dan Moriarty arriving right on cue to pick up any rebound... elementary goal poacher's instincts, you might say.

Oxenhope put together a great passing move, with Tom Marshall stroking the ball wide to Bailey, who picked out Moriarty with a long range cross field pass, that he laid backwards for Owen Williamson to nudge the ball inside to Joe Jalil, who cracked the ball narrowly wide on the half volley.

Having survived a bit of a scare, Wetherby hit back and when the Rec could only clear a Bobby Stevenson free kick as far as Tom Hesketh, the home sides captain wasn't too far away from opening the score from twenty five yards out.

Williamson rode two challenges as he headed towards Athletic's goal and unleashed a shot that forced a great save from Joe Knowlson.

But Knowlson was beaten on 14 minutes, when Moriarty threaded a pass through the back four into the path of Bailey, who made no mistake from ten yards.

The visitors were in the ascendancy for a spell as they forced Wetherby onto the back foot, with Joe Whiteley and Matt Forster both needing to make last ditch challenges to keep the team from 'Bronte Country' at bay.
There was a moment of apparent controversy, when Marshall knocked the ball forward from just inside his own half for Bailey, who was level with the last Wetherby defender to run onto, as Williamson, ten yards away across the pitch who wasn't interfering with play moved back towards his own half, from a position that would've been considered to be offside a few years ago.

As Bailey cued up to shoot on the edge of the area, Knowlson charged from his line and upended the Oxenhope forward, just outside his area.
The Wetherby players and a handful of their supporters on the touchline, made their feelings on the matter very clear towards the assistant referee Danielle Whitworth.
But it was very reassuring to see with so many alpha males demanding answers, that at least there was a calm and assured woman present to explain the offside rule to them all.
I'd imagine that Knowlson was quite relieved that amidst all of the shouting and posturing, he escaped unpunished for his transgression on the edge of his box, as he got down well to keep out Moriarty's thumping free kick and watched Williamson scuff the ball over the bar from the rebound.

Every time the female official raised her flag from then on in, her actions were met by ironic/sarcastic cheers, but she obviously knows her stuff. 'Nuff said!?
The visitors doubled their lead on 29 minutes, when Marshall turned home Bailey's right wing cross, from just inside the area.
Oxenhope had two more clear cut chances before half time, but didn't convert either, with Moriarty shooting straight at Knowlson and Williamson planting his header over the bar from Moriarty's cross.
HT: Wetherby Athletic 0 v Oxenhope Rec 2
The home side came out after the interval (Oxenhope didn't even go in,they stayed out on the pitch), with a renewed vigour and they were almost gifted an opportunity straight from the restart, when Nick Hudson had to charge out of his goal to whack the ball to safety, when Tom Woolard almost latched onto Josh Kaine's under hit back pass.

Dayne Ward clipped Sam Straker as he burst into the visitors area and went to ground, but from the angle that the match referee Arran Williams saw it, there was 'nothing doing' and Oxenhope got away with that one.
Bailey had the ball in the back of the net again, but his strike was ruled out by Craig Frost, the other assistant referee. He looks a 'bit handy', so he didn't get anything like the grief that his female co worker had done earlier in the game.
Stevenson picked out Woolard with a pass down the left and he rolled the ball to his right, to where Matt Forster trapped it and chipped the ball into the left hand corner of Oxenhope's goal from twenty yards.
It was a sublime finish and seemingly Wetherby were back in the game and had the bit between their teeth now.

Having netted the goal that put the home side back into the mix, Forster started another attack, with a measured pass out wide to Woolard, who wrong footed his marker by slipping a quick pass in side to Whiteley whose goal bound strike was blocked by Kaine.
Alas, all of Wetherby's hard work at the start of the second half was undone, when Moriarty crept undetected into the home side's penalty area and nicked the ball, saw off a challenge and put the ball on a plate for Marshall to side foot into the back of the net from just to the left of the penalty spot.
Pushing forward in numbers, chasing the game, had left Wetherby exposed and light handed at the back, but there weren't many other options open to them.

Straker and Stevenson were trying to probe their way into the visitors goal mouth down the right, but Mark McGee shut down the space they needed and cleared the visitors lines; Whiteley's shot from just outside the area took a wicked deflection off of Walton, but Hudson got across his goal to keep the ball out.
Whiteley rolled the ball to Hesketh who launched a dipping thirty yard shot, which unfortunately for the home side, didn't actually start to alter it's trajectory and drop until it reached the car park. But I didn't mind too much because it hit the vehicle next to mine.
At the other end, Hesketh atoned for the miss, when he put himself in between Marshall's shot and the goal and managed to divert the ball over the bar.

Bailey combined with Moriarty to give Marshall the simplest of chances to tuck away and at 1-4 Wetherby looked beaten, despite having taken the game to their visitors after the break.
The home side kept plugging away until the end, in a vainglorious attempt to give the final score a more respectable appearance, but as Hesketh crashed the ball narrowly wide of the right hand post, Woolard turned the ball a fraction wide from Forster's through ball and Hudson turned Whiteley's shot wide away with a good reflex save, it was obvious that this just wasn't going to be Wetherby's afternoon.
FT: Wetherby Athletic 1 v Oxenhope Rec 4
Both sides saw plenty of goalmouth action, but in the final analysis, the visitors were that little bit sharper with their final touch, while Wetherby were just a fraction off the mark and not quite clinical enough at times.

Tuesday 31st May 2016
West Yorkshire League Premier Division
at Carlton Cricket Club, Town Street, Carlton

Carlton Athletic (0) 1
Reece Fennel PEN 67
Leeds City (1) 3
Alex Houghton OG 35
Joe Dixon 57, 90+2
Attendance 48
West Yorkshire League, Premier Division, League Table HERE

My 206th and final game of the 2015-16 season, saw the West Yorkshire League runners up Carlton Athletic host fourth placed Leeds City at their home ground on Town Street, which is tucked away besides Carlton Cricket Club.
Carlton have won the West Yorkshire League Premier League title on seven occasions, most recently in 2007-08 (and they also finished second on goal difference in the 1998-99 season), while they won promotion back into the Premier League as Division One champions last season.

Leeds City were founded in 2006, reviving the name of the original club that ran from 1905-1919, who were also briefly relaunched for three years in 1924, when they competed in the Yorkshire League, before vanishing off of the football map altogether, until today's visiting side adopted their name.

The legendary Huddersfield Town and Arsenal manager (and former Worksop Town player) Herbert Chapman, who won two league championships and the FA Cup at both clubs, was involved with the prototype Leeds City.
But though his legacy from his time at Leeds Road and Highbury, lives on in many forms that are mainly taken for granted within the modern game; his reign at City ended under curious circumstances, when he suddenly resigned from his position around Christmas of 1918, sans any explanation, to take up employment at an oil and coke works, in the nearby Selby coalfield.
A year later, Leeds City were wound up, having fallen foul of league rules appertaining to their finances, whereby there had been a series of illegal payments made.

'The Herbert Chapman'
on Holloway Road, in North London.
We had dinner there just a few weeks ago.

The football club was dissolved, the players were auctioned off and the ground at Elland Road was taken over by a newly formed club: Leeds United, who still ply their trade there in the Football League Championship 'til this day.
Of course, United haven't always languished in the second tier of English football, but that is another story.
Herbert Chapman, along with the other Leeds City director,s was banned from football for life, before Huddersfield Town lodged a successful appeal against Chapman's ban, claiming that he was working in a factory during the wartime effort and had no knowledge of any fiscal wrongdoings.
Of course, the truth will always be shrouded in mystery and secrecy. Maybe old Herb was a bit of a crook on the quiet, but possibly he saw what other culpable parties were up to and wanted no part of the shenanigans and removed himself from the situation.

Herbert Chapman

But long term, by hook or by crook, quite literally, it is fair to say, that Huddersfield Town and Arsenal's gain, was most certainly Leeds City's loss.
Attached is a link to a far more detailed history of what happened almost a century ago, which is infinitely better written than my truncated version of events. See HERE for details.
The current Leeds City were promoted from the West Yorkshire League Second Division as champions in the 2006–07 season, and then went up as First Division as runners-up in 2007–08.
They have finished as runners up in the West Yorkshire Premier Division three times now, namely in: 2008–09, 2012–13 and 2014–15

I did quite a bit of searching on line for a few more details about the history of Carlton Athletic, but all but drew a vainglorious blank.
However, this very pleasant gentleman pictured below, seemed chuffed to bits that we had a genuine interest in the club and was a mine of information as he gave myself and Mr Bacon from Nottingham a tour of the facilities upon our arrival.
Cheers Malcolm, your insight, hospitality and tales of yore were greatly appreciated.
We thank you for taking the time out and for making the effort to make us feel so welcome.
'Malc' played for the club when they were originally formed in 1953 and he knows pretty much everything there is to know about Carlton Athletic and he is justifiably proud of his involvement and long term connections with the Town Street club.

Of course, there used to be another club called Carlton Athletic, who spent four seasons playing in the Notts Alliance during the 1990's before folding, but I've already provided enough information for at least three very competitive and lengthy pub quizzes already today. So moving back to the present day, without any further ado... back to the present day.
To add a bit of an edge to this end of season finale (and there was certainly enough needle on display tonight to suggest that there is a genuine healthy rivalry between these two teams), Carlton beat City in the Leeds & District Cup Final last month and also knocked them out of the League Cup (after a penalty shoot out), a month prior to that.

While just two weeks ago, the sides shared ten goals at City's ground, as Athletic claimed a 4-6 away win. Most recently, Leeds lost their penultimate game of the season 1-5, at home against Field, while Carlton drew 4-4 (from being 4-1 ahead) at Beeston St. Anthony's at the weekend, in a game that saw the hosts named as West Yorkshire League champions.
It would be fair to say that given the 'current form' between these two teams, I definitely wasn't expecting a goalless draw tonight; although I was expecting the wet and chilly weather, which has become the norm for most of this season and has been only slightly less irritating than all of these Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy wannabes, donning their 'only gay in the village' fluorescent Lycra and clogging up all of the A and B roads in this green and pleasant land.

Carlton Athletic:
Alex Houghton, Danny Chadwick, Joe Sykes, Andy Payne, Tom Greaves, Craig Maynard, Joe O'Neill, Matt Jackson, Eli Hey, Reece Fennell, Ethan Heseltine
Subs - Luke Oldroyd, Scott Burns, Mark Connors, Sam Graham

Leeds City:
Ben Raper, Jamie Thompson, Charlie Lumley, Ben Tasker, Steve Tierney, Adam Dutson, Joe Dixon, Mitch Cameron, Jamie Instone, Alex Miller, James Hochstrasser
Subs - Mitchell Pattison, Sean Fitzpatrick, Andy Crossland, Luke Norman, Matt Johnson,

With both teams sporting their away colours, Carlton kicked off with the rain lashing down and a stiff breeze howling across the pitch from the exposed cricket field side of the ground... and when I say stiff, I mean a full on triple Viagra strength erection, though it did stop raining after the first twenty minutes or so.
This competitive game did descend into a bit of a stop/start affair at times, punctuated by the frequency of the match referee Steve Lynch's whistle, but if I recall correctly he didn't issue a single caution tonight, though one or two of the players could probably consider themselves fortunate in that respect.
The home side almost took the lead inside the opening ten minutes, when Reece Fennell exchanged passes with Joe O'Neill before crashing the ball against the upright and when Eli Hey got to the rebound, Ben Raper thwarted the Carlton centre forward with a save from close range.

Alex Miller launched a dangerous looking cross into the Carlton area, that gave Tom Greaves no option but to put behind his own goal at the expense of a corner.
Matt Jackson took the right wing flag kick but Andy Payne headed the ball clear and Athletic attacked again.
Danny Chadwick picked out Matt Jackson whose bicycle kick was on target, but Raper saved to prevent a quite spectacular goal.
Ethan Heseltine struck a free kick straight into the Carlton defensive wall from 25 yards out and play switched quickly to the other end again and the home side spurned two more chances as Fennell launched a shot over the bar and Jackson edged the ball past the upright after muscling his way past two challenges.

Greaves teams up well with his sidekick Craig Maynard in defence and he demonstrated why he was wearing the captains armband for Carlton, as he put himself in front of two thumping shots from Jamie Instone.

Alas from the second block, Joe Dixon delivered an in swinging corner that Alex Houghton in the Carlton goal made a real mess of handling as he fumbled the ball over the line at the back stick. Houghton hadn't put a foot wrong up to that point and no doubt the elements had combined with O'Neill who had used the wind to his full advantage, but they all count and the visitors were in front after 35 minutes.

The goal added a bit of a spring to the visitors step, but there were no more goals before the interval although Greaves had to show his mettle once again, when he cleared Mitch Cameron's corner towards Miller.

HT: Carlton Athletic 0 v Leeds City 1

Carlton came out after the break looking to force an equaliser, But City were in a determined mood and on a mission to avenge their three previous defeats against the home side this season. Instone intercepted Hey's cross to Fennell and Raper gathered a flick on by Heseltine under his bar... and the Leeds keeper was soon in action again denying Ely as he looked odds on to score.
but in spite of having to absorb a spell of pressure from the home side, Leeds found their rhythm again and doubled their lead in the 58th minute, when they forced two corners in quick succession and the second one was only cleared as far as Dixon, who spanked home a crisp volley from 20 yards out.
The first goal he had played a part in was a scrappy affair, but that one was an emphatic finish.

Miller broke into the Carlton area and Houghton did well to keep his shot out.
The Carlton keeper's kick opened up another fruitless attack for his side when Fennell was crowded out on the edge of the visitors area.
Ely picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, advanced a couple of paces and seeing a crowded goalmouth ahead of him, opted to try his luck with a dipping shot, but he cleared the crossbar.
But in the 67th minute, Ely played his part in what proved to be Carlton's only goal of the night, when Adam Dutson tripped him from behind, inside the penalty area and Fennell scored from the resulting penalty, although Raper almost kept it out as he got down to his left.

Carlton piled forward, looking to salvage the game, but by committing men forward they had left Houghton exposed and he had to dash thirty yards from his line to clear a long pass into the path of Dixon, he launched the ball so far into Leeds half that Raper caught it in his six yard box.

O'Neill delivered a right wing cross that bounced up unkindly off of the wet pitch in front of a cluster of Carlton players to the left hand side of the goalmouth and another chance went begging..

Carlton were at full stretch once again, when Miller threaded a pass through to James Hochstrasser who knocked the ball sideways to Cameron, but he turned his shot over the bar.

Hey was a whisker away from pulling the home side level, when he crashed the ball just past the top right hand corner of the goal from Fennell's knock.
Football is a contact sport, but by heck there were a few crunching and feisty tackles flying in from both sides now.
O'Neill was obstructed/body checked/shoulder charged by Instone as he broke in from the right wing, prompting some fairly vociferous penalty appeals by a Carlton club official, watching the game from up on the changing room balcony (I'm quite sure that anybody present will know who I mean), who had quite a lot to say in a 'tongue in cheek banter' manner, throughout the night.

"a few crunching and feisty tackles"

Football needs it's unique and unconventional characters and there are certainly a few of them doing the rounds in this league... and I mean that with the greatest of respect.
Either way, the foul was committed just outside the area and Charles Lumley was on hand to head Chadwick's free kick away.

In the closing minutes, Raper preserved City's lead with a magnificent double save, as his defence came close to breaking point and having turned the ball round his post, he also punched the resulting corner away to set the wheels in motion for one last attack.

Dixon latched onto a long ball just beyond the half way line and as Houghton, the only Carlton player still inside his own half, ventured towards the Leeds player, Dixon lofted a long kick over the stranded keeper that bounced into the open goal to put the visitors 3-1 ahead in stoppage time.

Game over!

It was too late for Carlton to make a comeback now and the visitors could thank their keeper for some heroics in the closing stages for that.

So at the fourth time of asking, Leeds had finally put one over the league runners up.

Once again, the West Yorkshire League didn't disappoint and those who had braved the elements were treated to an intriguing contest, between two sides who evidently take great pleasure from beating each other.

FT: Carlton Athletic 1 v Leeds City 3

I will be visiting two more West Yorkshire League teams early next season, namely Shelley and Robin Hood Athletic.

Hopefully the games that I see there will be just as lively as the two I have taken in round these parts, over these last few days.

Congratulations to Darren Shaw (Retford Stag), who arrived just before the game started and ticked off his 100th senior game of the season tonight.

It would be wrong to say farewell to the season that has just finished, without first paying tribute to two very good friends, that I've shared many a happy hour in the company of, on my non league travels over the years, who have both sadly passed away since the end of the season, within the space of a week.

One was a complete shock, whilst the other, though not entirely unexpected, still shook me to the core, when the terrible news finally came through.

Janet (along with her doting husband David) was well known and well liked around local football circles and had a reputation for speaking her mind. And though they would most likely be out and about in support of Retford United or Retford FC, they would also regularly push out further afield.
If ever a couple were meant to be together, it was Janet and David, I cannot even begin to imagine what my long time good friend (we were at school together) must be going through right now, nor all of Janet's family and friends.
She started watching Retford United when Bozzy, AKA her son Wayne, started playing for them back in the clubs formative days.
The match day experience at Cannon Park just isn't going to be the same without Janet and her "forthright opinions".
I am really going to miss her massive presence and the non stop banter and laughter.

"Bury Paul", as he was known to everyone within the local football community, knew that he was on borrowed time throughout last season, but still got out and about as much as was humanly possible.
His calm demeanour, humour. upbeat spirit and humble acceptance of his condition and it's implications, were inspirational to all who knew him.
His pragmatic humility, humbleness and complete lack of bitterness about his inevitable fate, knew know bounds. He wasn't going one to go down the self pitying road, nor let anything get in his way of living every last day to the full.
Everybody liked Paul and admired his spirit.
The last time I saw him he gave me a hug and said "Just in case I don't see you again... you take care of yourself and your lovely woman" The next time I expected to see him, he wasn't there and a mutual friend said that it was only a matter of time now.

Deepest condolences to everybody affected by the passing of these two wonderful people.

There is a 2015-16 warts and all season review in the pipeline, but there is plenty of time for that kind of stuff at a later date.

Some things are far more important than football.

Janet and Paul R.I.P

My season:
It's about me (not you). An unashamed attempt at giving self indulgence a really bad name.
Remember kids, their is no ceiling to the heights that you can scale, when you rise, soar even, above any crap, lies and hatred that might be aimed your way, by people who you have no time, respect or regard for; whilst giving their vitriolic words and astringent actions precisely the correct amount of due attention that they actually warrant, i.e. none whatsoever!
On a person level, the 2015-16 season was without any shadow of doubt, one of the most enjoyable and rewarding years that I have ever experienced.
It seems to have just flown by and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next chapter to unfold.
And that is due, in the main, to the calibre of people that I shared the football season with.

I'm immensely proud of having done my bit (plus extras) with the Mansfield Town U18 team (and the first team match day programme and website) this season... and it was a massive bonus that they also won the Football League Youth Alliance (North East) championship, at the first time of asking, into the bargain.
Obviously, development is the key for football in this particular age group and it should never be just about winning, but although at some levels of the game, that ethos is the be all and end all of everything that is held dear, this is a Football League club and the lads are on the verge of first team selection, straight into the professional game, at any time, possibly at short notice, so learning how win games and avoid defeat, is a very important part of the same learning curve, because results do matter in the real mans game.

Striking the correct balance is the goal.
And to that end, every single box has well and truly been ticked.
The self discipline, well mannered personalities and good habits of the youngsters at the Stags academy are all already in place and it pleases me no end that the Stags manager, Adam Murray, believes in the club's development infrastructure enough to have taken several players under his first team wing this season.
The professionalism and laid back, easy to get on with approach of the people I work alongside regularly, means that my role(s) is (are) always a pleasure and never a chore.

And the parents, relatives and friends of the players, along with the regular clique of supporters, who I have spent a great deal of time with this season, have been great company; which makes for a lot of fun both on and off the pitch... and we've share some great experiences together. And one or two pretty crappy ones too, granted, but I won't dwell on Hartlepool away or the cold and windy morning in the pissing rain at Arnold Town, against Notts County.
It's character building stuff sometimes, innit?

For sure, there is definitely a time for both work and play, but the right ingredients and mix, make for a very tasty, desirable and culturally appropriate dish... and my appetite is insatiable.
The 2015-16 term was like taking a lung full of fresh air.
It's been a joy to work in such an ego free environment, where people share responsibilities, trust each others judgement and are all made to feel that they are an important part of an extended team, in which each and every 'player' knows their role inside out.

There are no big heads, or individuals screwing their colleagues over for a better place in the lighting; we just all turn up to work with a smile on our faces and get on with the job in hand.
It's actually a privilege to be involved.
My diminishing enthusiasm for the game, and accompanying disenchanted mindset, that was probably communicated from within the grim tone of the contents of this very blog, has been completely reignited.
I'm very grateful to those people who've known me a long time, who are aware of what I bring to the table, for having sufficient faith in me, to be the right sort of person to be involved in such a great set up.

Their judgement was as spot as it was wise, of course!
And I, for my part, proved them right and didn't disappoint. The transition was immediate and seamless.
Immodest!?
Me!?
The very thought!
But jesting aside, the invitation to join in was very timely and meant more to me than I could ever say.
While the meeting of minds and social interaction that now extends well beyond getting together once (sometimes twice) a week, with like minded people, is like nothing I have ever known within a football context before.

Besides my MTFC U18 duties, next season, will also encompass continuing to work on an ongoing media project with my long term good friends at AFC Mansfield and doing a bit of media stuff for Birmingham City Ladies (as and when work commitments allow), while that John Mills bloke at Maltby Main knows he only needs to pick up the phone, if he needs a hand every now and then.
This all fits in nicely and very easily around my family time and proper job out there in that crazy place called the real world.

You have got to be careful when the boundaries and timescales start to overlap, but that isn't a problem these days.
Time management is my forte, just as long as my good nature doesn't allow anybody to take advantage. There are a lot of piss takers in local football... but you can spot them a mile away.
I did have a lot of very time consuming problems at work, that needed my full attention when I left my last football club (regardless of what several people were told, by their resident hate cleric), but all of my employment issues are resolved now, after a fashion.
So with my life back on track, so to speak, it's green lights ahead and all systems go.

To be perfectly honest, I've well and truly landed on my feet and I'm struggling to comprehend, what I was buggering about at before I linked up with the Stags.
I guess you have to go see life on the other side, before you can fully appreciate what it's like to be involved at such a well run, politics free and friendly club.
The development team infrastructure is expanding still further at Mansfield Town this coming season, meaning that there are some really exciting times ahead.
Bring it on!

EURO 2016:
Once upon a time, the enemy within were referred to as 'traitors' and 'fifth columnists', now we just call them as 'Twitter busy twats'.
I hardly need to elaborate really.

THE66POW Non League Awards 2015-16
Intro: mostly, but not all, about the NCEL
Though it was fairly obvious who the top four teams in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division would be this season, even before it kicked off, including which side were probably favourites for the title, the league still provided a lot of great entertainment in 2015-16.
Cleethorpes Town must be kicking themselves over their delayed start to the season, which hampered their promotion aspirations in the final analysis, but Tadcaster Albion maintained their focus throughout some very testing times, when they were flooded out of their ground for a time and had to cope with the trauma of the immensely popular 23 year old Sonny Lang passing away; but they galvanised and deservedly clinched the title and only promotion spot.

But 'Clee' Town did win the NCEL League Cup, beating 'Taddy' at Garforth Town's ground in the final, just twelve months after they had been runners up in the previous years final.
Handsworth Parramore pushed Tadcaster all the way however... and enjoyed a terrific season where they went close on several fronts, while their development teams probably kept several shops in Sheffield that stock silver polish in business.
Worksop Town tailed off for a while and dropped off the pace, at a critical time, before putting a (too) late spurt on. Having steadied Worksop Town's fall from grace, which was more of a monumental plummet than a mere drop, I reckon my pal Mark Shaw will soon have the Tigers roaring again.

The 66 Parables of Wim

In my completely unbiased opinion, the three aforementioned clubs who didn't win promotion, will be among the front runners again in 2016-17 and I would be very surprised if Maltby Main don't build on the quiet revolution that they've undergone in recent times too.
Hemsworth MW will be an unknown quantity to a lot of NCEL Premier Division sides and shouldn't be underestimated; while AFC Mansfield have been making some pretty shrewd additions to their squad of late and may well surprise a few people this coming season.
From what I've seen, Ian Richards has got Penistone Church playing the right way, hopefully I'll get the opportunity to check them out more often next season. AFC Emley are probably and justifiably the favourites to clinch promotion from the NCEL's first division next season, but Penistone and Hallam won't be far off, while I'd tip Leon Sewell's Westella & Willerby to be a dark horse, coming up on the rails. I like Sewell's approach and the way his team have been developing and a realistic and sustainable pace for several seasons now.

Nothing at Retford United ever surprises me any more, but offloading a management team who have done so much behind the scenes, whilst putting out a team week after week, against all the odds, for the duration of the season beggars belief. Good luck to Chris, Wayne and Ian... you deserved better.
Liversedge and Rossington Main both spent far too much of last season toward the wrong end of the NCEL Premier and First Division... I reckon that I've seen enough to suggest that won't be the case next term.
Predictions wise... err, I've covered all bases, next season, both divisions in the NCEL are going to be fiercely competitive and I for one am looking forward to it immensely.

Anyway, finally getting to the point, those awards:
Player of the season:
Keiran Wells - Handsworth Parramore
Young player of the season (shared):
Billy Wright - Handsworth Parramore
Mitchell Radford - Liversedge
Goal of the season:
Lee Hill - for Maltby Main v Tadcaster Albion - Wed 20.4.19 NCEL Premier Division
Best team performance of the season:
Penistone Church away at Rossington Main - Sat 6.2.16 NCEL Division 1
Best game(s) of the season:
Wed 12 Aug - Worksop Town 2 v Clipstone 3 - NCEL Premier Division
Wed 28 Oct - Pontefract Collieries 2 v Retford United 5 - NCEL Premier Division
Sat 31 Oct - Handsworth Parramore 5 v Shildon 4 (AET) - FA Vase First Round
Tues 29 Dec - Radford 4 v Radcliffe Olympic 4 - EMCL
Worst game of the season (by a mile):
Shirebrook Town 0 v AFC Mansfield 0 - NCEL Division 1
Manager(s) of the season (shared):
Karl Rose - Frickley Athletic
Spencer Fearn - Maltby Main

Frickley Athletic and Maltby Main; two unfashionable clubs, some might say: punching well above their weight.
But they are both top 7 teams in their respective leagues on merit and to that end Karl Rose and Spencer Fearn, along with the people behind them at Westfield Lane and Muglet Lane have done a quite remarkable job.
But to me both clubs, their grounds and the people associated with them, epitomise to the core, everything that is right about a genuinely close knit locally representative football club.
You can't replicate this kind of backs to the wall gritty togetherness, or claim to have this magic ingredient at any given club, until you've been there, done that and got the t-shirt (probably from the clearance sale rail in Georgio de Matalan), then you've either got it or you ain't!
And it's not something you can, or ever should try to (re)create from scratch.

I'm quite chuffed that I'm welcomed with open arms and warmth, whenever I visit either South Elmsall or Maltby; two places where outsiders are treated with an healthy dose of mistrust and suspicion, 'sugar coated' with an air of malevolence and potential hostility.
Maybe it's because I'm not a pretentious serial boaster, unlike far too many people in non league football, who seem to be just that... or maybe I'm just a bit of rough myself and I swear too fucking much as well.
Elsewhere, obviously, Micky Godber and Mark Ward deserve a lot of credit, for grasping the nettle and steering Handsworth Parramore through a transitional switch after Peter Duffield had left the club.
Again, the Ambers are another club whose friendliness and hospitable welcome is always gratefully appreciated by yours truly... and to that end, the stalwarts at Clipstone FC and Rainworth Miners Welfare, deserve a special mention too.

1972 and already an anorak
Outside the Queens house with my Gran

THE66POW the future:
If you're not careful, you can spend way too much time maintaining a blog. Though the same could be said of any hobby.
But this one kind of runs in parallel to various other stuff I'm doing elsewhere, which wasn't always the case when I had to neglect your favourite self indulgent bullshit blog with added football content, to concentrate on admin and paperwork.
I don't envisage going to as many games next season as I did this one, but I'm definitely going to tick off quite a few grounds that I have never been to before, so this blog will most likely carry on in some shape or form into 2016/17 and maybe even beyond.

Quarry Lane End, MTFC, pre-modernisation

Other Blogs:
My favourite blogs this season, would have to be some the local ones: Sticky Palm's 'The Groundhopper', 'Malc & Kev's adventures in outer space' and Martin Roberts 'We All Stand Together' are the ones I look at most often, along with my pal Shaun E Smith's '100 Hundreds Grounds Club'. Steven Hall does a great job with his 'Welfare Waffle' site and he remains as one of the nicest people I've ever worked with in football.
Made in Brum/Blues Collective, The Accidental Groundhopper, Steve B Groundhopper, Pie & Mushy Peas, Fly South By South, Anders the big barmy Norwegian invades England, The Wycombe Wanderer, Damage in the Box and anything Peter Miles writes for are all good. Lost Boyos is a bit odd, but it makes me smile.
Apologies if I have missed anyone out, but click on any of the titles in the right hand side bar and you'll probably hit up on a blog that is loads better than this one.

Fondest regards to everyone I shared a very enjoyable season with, there were far too many of you to mention, but you'll all know who you are.

Saturday 2nd August 2016
Green Energy Cup

at Kirklington Road, Rainworth

Rainworth Miners Welfare (0) 0

Mansfield Town (1) 2 James Baxendale 6, Adi Yussuf 62

Admission £6. Programme £1. Attendance 629

Thanks to Gordon Foster for the line up details

Rainworth Miners Welfare:
Townsend (Davies 72), Cheeseman, Claxton (Mansell 49), Barnett, Plant, Wankiewicz, Edridge (Weir 77), Clarke (Widdowson 64), Moxon (Russell 49), Theakstone, Sykes
Mansfield Town first half:
Jensen, Bennett, Pearce, Hurst, Shires, Benning, Chapman, Hemmings, Green (Hakeem 35), Hoban, Baxendale
Mansfield Town second half:
Shearer, Wheatley (Law 74), McGuire, Shires (Healey 67), Danquah, M. Rose, Clements, Thomas, Hamilton, D. Rose, Yussuf (Wheatley 84)

Well, it's fair to say that it's been a turbulent month on many levels since last season finished, during which time we discovered that both major political parties have direct descendants of Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus among their ranks (beware the Ides of July), witnessed an obscene amount of scaremongering and barely disguised viscous hatred from both camps during the EU Referendum, while an ever widening chasm is threatening to tear the country in two, because people no longer respect the opinions, cultures and lifestyle choices of others, nor pay any heed whatsoever to the very foundation on which democracy itself is built.

What a mess!
Remember kids, political opinions are like eggy trumps, people can only stand the smell of their own.
Topical as always: Brexit was actually explained in full, inside the front cover of today's programme; it's a verb for what a big lass from Barnsley does when she sits on one of those cheap, white plastic chairs.
So nar tha' knows!

Over t'other side of that there Channel Tunnel, Roy Hodgson showed us all that he wasn't the man with a plan to work around the deficiencies of the national team after all, in fact his bodged attempt to mask their limitations and paper over the cracks was painful to behold, as the majority of his team misfired and had an off day in the so called 'round of 16'.
But surely nobody really expected England to actually win the tournament in France though... did you?

It is easy in the aftermath to dissect team selection, tempo, tactics and an insistence on employing players out of position in unfamiliar roles, because hindsight is a wonderful thing.
On the whole, EURO 2016 has been a poor tournament, which was (and still is) in effect, there for the taking.
But, alas, England fell some way short of what was required to make the quarter final stages.
Hodgson resigned/reached the end of his contract* and the search for a new England manager begins.

'Twas certainly a Summer of discontent if ever there was one.

I genuinely thought the national team were starting to turn the corner in many respects, but they evidently haven't even found a corner yet... and even if they had, they would only give a tall and prolific 'good in the air and dangerous at set pieces' centre forward the job of taking it.
It is going to take time, a whole lot of patience and time, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it right... and sort out the political and national football team mess; far longer than even the most eternal optimist ever dare envisage.
But lets not dwell on the negatives...

When I woke up this morning, the sun was shining brightly through a crack in my plush, luxurious drapes, optimism abounded and I was feeling as giddy as a (big) kid waking up on Xmas morning and discovering that Santa had been... and all because football is back.
Granted, it's only the pre-season preparation games, practice matches and friendlies, but this dog scraps and budget shopper (dare I say Iceland) end of the food chain, is the perfect antidote to a really torturous to watch at times, European Championship tournament.
That bright sunlight came and went throughout the afternoon, as did slate grey skies and heavy precipitation, which tempted some people to stay in the Welfare, just across the road from the football ground (you know who you are), but it was a perfect climate for nurturing the playing surface, even if my programme and team sheet were turned into a paper mache paste over the course of the afternoon.

Oh! Wankie, Wankie.
Wankie, Wankie, Wankie, Wankie,
WANKIEWICZ!

Hopefully Rainworth Miners Welfare made plenty of money out of today and the same applies to Clipstone, where the Stags rae playing next Saturday lunchtime too.
629 spectators paid in this afternoon, including a good number who seemed to be hungry and very thirsty too... kerching!

Both Rainworth and Clipstone were brilliant hosts for the Stags U18 team last season and this term they'll be hosting the U19 and U21 set ups too... we're all Mansfield aren't we!?

AFC Mansfield were also approached about hosting some Stags youth team games last season, but although they were well up for the idea, their landlords: Forest Town Welfare, were less than receptive to the suggestion.

Obviously, it is still only the first weekend in July, so the game was hardly going to be played in a gung-ho fashion or at a 'crash, bang, wallop' pace, but both sides could still take plenty of positives out of their respective performances today.

Despite going a goal behind as early as the sixth minute, Rainworth defended doggedly at times, particularly that Steve Wankiewicz bloke, who the swear word filter omn my old PC would never let me write about, back in the day when he was the star turn for Worksop Town Under 19s, and on today's showing they'll be hard to break down this coming term, as they look to improve on last season's 9th placed finish.

With Julian Watts and Ady Smith in command, the Wrens could well live up to the high expectations that hold sway at Kirklington Road, in the NCEL Premier Division and I would imagine that any success that comes their way would be universally popular among Mansfield Town supporters too.

That opening goal was netted by James Baxendale, via the upright, after the ball fell to him after Matt Green had forced his way into the Wrens area and challenged Ben Townsend, the Rainworth keeper, who had a decent game this afternoon, before being rested for the final twenty minutes and replaced by Jamie Davies (the perpetually shouty one, who played really well for Retford United last season) and in fairness there was very little any goalkeeper could've done about the second goal Townsend conceded just after the hour, when Adi Yussuf netted from 25 yards out, straight into the top corner.

It's always nice to start the season with a win, but the result wasn't relevant today, these games are all about building up fitness, towards peaking at the right time and it needs to be said, the visitors looked particularly sharp as they retained the ball well and knocked it around with consummate ease, after the break.

Corbin Shires looked very comfortable at the heart of the Stags defence, before he gave way for Cameron Healey, who did well, especially when you consider that he spent last season in a central midfield role for the Under 18 side.

Along with the new signings who paraded their stuff to great effect this afternoon, Louis Danquah, another one of John Dempster's championship winning youth side, caught the eye, playing at left back and getting down the flank in support of his forwards. Danquah very nearly added to the scoring during the second half, when he battled gamely with a Wrens defender and refused to give up chasing the ball down, only to see his cross cum shot from a tight angle, fall narrowly wide of the right hand upright. Closing the ball down in such optimum areas is a habit that the development coaches encourage in the youth team, evidently their work is paying off.

Jack Barnett went close for Rainworth with a free kick towards the end of the first half, but Brian Jensen had positioned himself well and held onto the ball with both hands.
Right on the stroke of half time, Rhys Bennett delivered a telling cross from the right wing that picked out Pat Hoban, whose attempted scissor kick would have made for a blinding goal if he hadn't actually nudged the ball just wide, to a cacophony of groans from the assembled masses.
Apologies at this point to my glamorous match day sidekick, who had inadvertently looked away from the action momentarily and didn't see Hoban's near miss, so we concocted a fib on the spot that her son, Zayn Hakeem, who had come on in place of Matt Green for a ten minute run out at the end of the first half, had just missed a sitter instead.
HT: Wrens 0 v Stags 1

It was all coming up Roses for Mansfield at the outset of the second half, as Mitch and Danny pinged the ball around on the edge of the Rainworth area, but Townsend and a couple of last ditch blocks denied the Stags.
Jordan Edridge couldn't keep his effort on target as Rainworth almost pulled level, but the majority of the game was being played in the home sides half by now and it was no surprise when Yussuf dispossessed Barnett and put the ball beyond Townsend's reach and into the top left hand corner of the goal.
CJ Hamilton went close for Mansfield on a couple of occasions, as the visitors threatened to turn the screw, but in spite of them having taken the second half by the scruff of the neck and creating a few more chances, including one where Yussuf missed a sitter after Davies struggled to hold onto Danny Rose's shot, the Stags didn't quite ram home their second half territorial advantage and as Danquah's deflected shot flew wide of the target in the final minute, they had to settle for a two goal margin of victor, as they retained the annually contested Green Energy Cup.
FT: Rainworth Miners Welfare 0 v Mansfield Town 2

In the final analysis, it was all about fitness and practicing tactical drills, and to that end both sides had good reason to be pleased with their efforts this afternoon.
The Stags visit Clipstone next Saturday, for a friendly game that has a noon kick off (and a barbecue if you fancy dining out and the Cobras gate man David Brunt hasn't already eaten everything) before moving on to Carlton Town for a 4pm kick off.
Adam Murray said that both games will feature a mixture of first teamers and fringe players.
Rainworth are also in action again on the same day, when they entertain Gresley AFC at Kirklington Road, in a pre-season friendly game that has a 3pm kick off.
Also in the locality, if you feel the urge to scratch a football itch in midweek; newly promoted Ollerton of the NCEL Division 1, who had a delegation present at today's match, have a home game v Worksop Town on Wednesday night, which kicks off at 7.45pm.
You know that you're sorely tempted to be there, I certainly am!

Tonight the Worksop Town squad contained seven members

of the Trialist family, including all five brothers.

Surely this must constitute some sort of a record.

Wednesday 6th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at 'The Lane', Walesby Lane, Ollerton

Ollerton Town (0) 0
Worksop Town (1) 2
Adam Somes, Mark Fereday
Admission £2

Tonight's attendance was impacted somewhat because a British team were playing in the semi final of EURO 2016, in a game that was being shown live on TV, against opposition who have beaten England in recent times, by virtue of their star player cheating, so logic would suggest that I should be rooting for them, but football allegiances and logic will never be comfortable bed mates. Nor would I ever want them to be.
But I'm sure that my many Welsh friends will understand why I chose to drive to Ollerton instead of assuming a comfy position on my sofa to watch them in action, in the biggest game in their entire footballing history, because they certainly wouldn't have been rooting for, or even watching, the national team that I support if they were just 90 minutes away from the final, regardless of how highly unlikely a scenario that is at present.

Be very clear on this; I don't begrudge Wales their moment in the spotlight, in fact I think they played very well against Belgium and that Aaron Ramsey has been one of the best players in the whole tournament so far. I've even wished some of their fans 'good luck' (and I meant genuinely meant it), but I'd rather stick drawing pins in my genitals than actually support them.
They'll understand that sentiment and would wholly reciprocate such thoughts if the shoe was on the other foot.
My stance is neither disrespectful or racist towards Wales as a nation, as those among the PC and easily offended by everything and anything ilk might suggest.
There is a mutual understanding and healthy rivalry between both camps... and long may it continue.
And for the record: Wales can't be all that good, they even lost against England!

I don't mind (or care) who won tonight's international game in France, I was only interested in what was happening on the field of play at Walesby, at a football ground that stands just a short walk away from where the Ollerton & Bevercotes Miners Welfare used to be, a place I still harbor fond memories of, because I circumnavigated a lot of my teenage rites of passage there, along with the Plough which still stands just around the corner.
Mind you the same could be said of the Marquis of Granby, Innings, Kilton flats and the Ship Inn in Worksop, so I was definitely in attendance as a neutral tonight, as Ollerton Town's first ever fixture as a fully fledged NCEL club, saw Worksop Town make the short 9 mile trip across through picturesque Budby and past the big tree that is apparently the former home of Robin Hood, to 'The Lane' for this pre-season friendly fixture.
Though I had predicted a win for Dave Winter's side prior to the game.

Gav Saxby
Mansfield Town juniors goalkeeping coach.
All round decent bloke.

Tonight's hosts won promotion, by virtue of finishing in second place in the CMFL (North) last season.
Sadly, despite winning the league, Glapwell FC have ceased to exist over the Summer, which is a real shame, because they were always such a friendly and welcoming lot over at Hall Corner.
I hope that the people involved won't be lost to the game, because they were all a credit to themselves and the club.
Though it was never a dirty game as such, several meaty challenges, from the opening minute onwards, added a competitive edge to the proceedings, which ultimately saw players from both teams taking heavy knocks and having to leave the field of play.

Nobody ever wants to see anyone get hurt, in any game, but though the results of these sort of kick about encounters don't actually amount to very much in the grand scheme of things, the fans don't turn out and pay their money just to watch non competitive, tippy, tappy niceness, sans any tackling or concerted effort.
And while we are on the subject of money, credit where it is due to Ollerton for only charging £2 to get in tonight, some of the admission tolls I've seen mentioned elsewhere for practice matches have bordered on being scandalous.

In the aftermath of the game the Tigers manager Mark Shaw didn't mention the name of the teenage 'Trialist' who suffered from a broken tibia from a mistimed (but not malicious) tackle in the opening exchanges, so I won't mention his name here either out of respect to Worksop Town FC, but his presence on the field of play tonight had attracted scouts from several clubs who player at a higher level than than NCEL and his name was being mentioned in not entirely hushed tones before the teams even lined up.

Shaw has a knack of unearthing such gems, but his club are not among the financial big hitters in local football, therefore they've had problems hanging onto a whole host of decent players who have moved on to teams who play at a higher level... in fact you could've been forgiven for assuming that Worksop Town merely existed as a feeder club for Bradford Park Avenue in recent times.

Mark Carter, now plying his trade at Ollerton, was carried from the pitch after taking a heavy knock and will probably be ruled out through injury when the football season starts for real.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to both players.

Both managers have been steadily rebuilding their sides since last season and had a number of new faces on show.

A Worksop fan I know was lamenting about there having been hardly any information or communication on the club website or forum about their incoming players.

Well, there is a very good reason for that, inasmuch as the actual date from when NCEL clubs can actually start legitimately registering players was only a matter of days ago.

Yelling from the rooftops about who you've got down for training and trials, or getting that same information out there via social media, or confiding in one of those pesky blogger types, merely risks advertising the availability of players to other managers, before they've actually signed on the dotted line.

And, believe me, even though step 5 'grass roots' clubs are supposedly all tiddling in the same pot; behind the scenes, the reality is just as competitively mercenary, dog eat dog and massively under handed, as it is at any other level of the game.

Keeping your cards close to your chest, is one way of avoiding a whole lot of complicated and oft ill tempered wrangling later on.

The original "A Few Dollars More" starred Lee van Cleef and Clint Eastwood, but it would be a pretty apt title for the closed season shenanigans that occur year after year on the non league football circuit.

Not that I'm privy to any such skulduggery, of course.

For Ollerton, Gav Saxby had a steady game between the sticks, while Josh Madin looked lean, fit, eager, willing and able in defence.

Winter has made an astute signing in plucking Josh Bowkett away from Brodsworth Welfare (who themselves have relocated and renamed themselves AFC Bentley this season) in the CMFL North.

The adjustment to the NCEL first division won't be a problem to Josh, as he showed tonight at times with a series of neat touches.

Adam Somes opens the scoring direct from a free kick.
Left click to enlarge image.

Three new signings who made an immediate impact tonight for the visitors, were Adam Scott, who revels in taking on defenders, using his pace and trickery to good effect, Richard Adams in the middle of defence and Adam Somes, the former Mansfield Town youth team centre forward who opened the scoring in the first half, directly from a free kick (see above).

The Tigers also introduced Alex Pugh in the second half, who slotted in around Adams with ease, almost as if they had been playing alongside each other for ages. Scott and Pugh will be a big loss to their former club Staveley, while Adams from Handsworth Parramore and Somes from Clipstone, are both already looking like big players who will galvanise Worksop's promotion push this coming term.

Although my Queen's shilling would actually be on Handsworth, if you asked me to single out just one contender who I think will win the NCEL Premier Division.

Ollerton weren't overawed, nor overrun by their premier division visitors and imposed themselves on the game for spells and Danny Wiltshire came close to pulling the home side level, after they had gone in a goal behind at the break, courtesy of Somes well struck free kick.

But Mark Fereday latched onto the rebound after Saxby had saved his initial shot, to all but claim the win the Worksop, as a predominantly young Tigers side picked up the tempo during the second half.
Lawrence Gorman saw his shot crash back off of Saxby's crossbar late in the game, but the home side didn't deserve to lose by a three goal margin anyway.

Injuries aside, both sides will have been happy with their respective performances as preparations begin in earnest for the opening games of the season, which are now only a month away... and tonight was a worthwhile exercise to that end.

I was impressed with many aspects of the game from both teams perspective and will definitely taking several more expeditions over the numerous speed ramps on Walesby Lane to check out Ollerton's progress over the season.

Good luck to both managers and their teams for the forthcoming campaign.

FT: Ollerton Town 0 v Worksop Town 2

Ollerton Town have two friendly matches at home next week, against next door neighbours Clipstone on Tues 12th July and Belper United on Friday 15th July.

Worksop Town's next pre-season game is on Saturday, when Lincoln City are the visitors, while they 'travel' to Sandy Lane on Tuesday night, to take on landlords and NCEL Premier Division rivals Handsworth Parramore.

*Note, some of the trialist's names and photographs have been omitted from this overview of the game on purpose. No cribbing allowed here!

Managers and scouts alike, will have to get out and about and do their own homework.

Saturday 9th July 2016

Pre-Season Friendly

at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium,

Lido Ground, Clipstone

Clipstone FC (1) 2

Martin Brissett 6

Reece Littlejohn 82

Mansfield Town (1) 2

Mitchell Rose 34

Adi Yussuf 52

Admission £5. Attendance 364

Programme/teamsheet 50p/free (thanks James)

In days of old, when knights were bold, way back in the mists of time, in 1979, I spent my first ever day working for the National Coal Board, at Clipstone Colliery, via the obligatory 'cough and drop' visit to the nurse with ice cold hands, in the medical centre on the opposite side of the road to the pit, where a Chinese Takeaway, formerly a 'chippy' now stands.

Life went full circle this week and I was back in the village salvaging scrap metal from the railway, that used to run from the pit, as one of the local lines was that used to serve coal trains heading towards the power stations was removed.

My employers figured out that we better get there first, before somebody else weighed it all in.

To be honest, I'm surprised that some of the dubious characters who frequent the local roads in the vicinity, late at night, in Transit vans with a couple of handy looking brutes sat alongside them in the passenger seat, haven't nicked the twin towers yet, a listed monument (along with the head stocks), that still stands as a reminder cum monument, of 'how we used to live'.

Clipstone Colliery, which closed in 2003, is by far the deepest coal mine that I ever went down, with a depth of over 1,000 feet in places.

So now you know; take notes, there will be a multiple choice answers quiz at the end.

Sadly, a wicked witch called Margaret Thatcher had been elected as Prime Minister the day before I left school and as the Tories managed to tear communities apart, polarising and splitting the proletariat straight down the middle, in an extreme act of divide and conquer (sound familiar to anything that's possibly happened recently?) that was never really repaired, the coal industry was soon under the axe and things would never be the same again. Even now, 37 years later, some deep set grudges that emanated from that era still fester, as a working class once divided and never reunited, still turn on each other instead of their real enemy.

Those who don't learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them and... Oh! They already are doing!

Some people reckon that things can and will only get better; but I reckon that Theresa May has the capacity to make 'Maggie' look like a benevolent and kindly school dinner lady by comparison.

We're doomed Captain Mainwaring, doomed I tell you!

But moving quickly on from the history lesson and political studies lecture, it's play time.

And I give you: Clipstone FC v a Mansfield Town XI made up of a mixture of first team players and development squad lads, that preluded the Stags were taking part in a second fixture at Carlton Town this afternoon, with a similarly juxtaposed squad.

The overnight rain that had carried on throughout the morning, saw several games postponed today, but the pitch at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, that the Stags have been training on this week, drains well and was in excellent condition, even though a vindictive person had gone to the trouble of contacting Mansfield Town FC earlier in the week, to make false allegations about the playing surface being unfit for purpose. I don't understand the mentality of the kind of bitter minded saboteurs who get off on trying to cause problems for local non league football clubs in this way. They either need professional help, or a damn good kicking.

After sampling some delicious food and imbibing in a few refreshing beverages from the Cobras fully licensed bar, we found an optimum viewing spot, pitch side... and settled down to enjoy our first football match of the day.

For the record: our second game today was originally meant to be Real United v AFC Mansfield, but the home side had to pull out of that one over a paperwork issue. However they then consented to letting the Bulls play a hastily arranged game against Matlock Town (whose scheduled friendly at Shirebrook Town today, had been postponed earlier in the week) on their ground instead, but had to call that replacement fixture off this morning, because of a waterlogged pitch.

By heck! I do not miss being on the end of the phone 24/7/365 performing the role of a matchday secretary on days like this.

I salute all of the ladies and gentlemen, who give their all to committing to such a thankless position at any given club, you have my utmost admiration... and sympathy.

By the same token, I say, in an ever so polite but firm manner, to the clubs who've approached me recently, in regards to ever taking up such a role again, err... it's definitely not for me ta very much, I live near to Rampton Mental Hospital, but not actually in it!

Had it not been for some stout and resolute defending by Rob Paling as he turned Pat Hoban's thumping shot from twelve yards around the post and a quite remarkable sequence of play in which Steve Hernandez, the Cobras goalkeeper, made three point blank saves from Adi Yussuf in quick succession, as he latched onto the ball as Hoban's shot rebounded off the woodwork, the game might have effectively been over as a contest inside the first three minutes. However such is the contrary nature of football, Clipstone went ahead from their first attack, when Martin Brissett ceased on a lapse of concentration in the Stags defence by 'Trialist' and floated a well executed lob over Scott Shearer in the sixth minute.

Brissett was close to getting onto the end of a right wing cross a few minutes later, but Louis Danquah intervened and calmly headed the ball back to Scott Shearer, as the Stags youngster, who signed first team forms this week (along with Tyler Blake) put in another assured performance at left back, while getting forward down the flank in support of the Stags attackers.

Another youngster, Corbin Shires, who made his Stags first team debut at 17 years of age in the League Cup game at Sheffield Wednesday last August, but suffered badly with both injuries and a serious illness for most of the remainder of the season, is repaying the faith shown in him by both the development and first team coaches at Field Mill and he's stood out in both pre-season games he's played in so far, after making his comeback in John Dempster's U18 side at the end of April. Corbin's had to work really hard to get his career back on track and he has been busting a gut in training by all accounts, so credit where it's due.

Billy Fox is assembling a decent looking side at Clipstone, the new faces at the Lido impressed today as they slotted in well with the players who are still at the club from last season.

I have a copy of both the programme sheet that was issued on the gate and the official team sheet, but although you will no doubt be able to peruse the line ups elsewhere, I will respect the Cobras managers polite request not to post the details, in spite of the 364 hardy souls who turned out in such foul weather, possibly having been privy to them, because all managers want to maintain a degree of candor about there pre-season preparations.

Discretion is the better part of valour.

Littlejohn in the heart of Robin Hood country

I'll probably add the teams to this long winded overview at a later date when everything is done and dusted.

But, getting back to the action and away from the protocol: Adam Chapman had a goal bound strike charged down on the edge of the home side's penalty area, but the Stags were on level terms after thirty four minutes, when Mitch Rose shot home from outside the box and netted with a textbook finish that bounced awkwardly on the sodden pitch in front of Hernandez and before going in under his elongated torso.

The visitors finished the first half strongly, with Hoban having a goal ruled out for offside and Yussuf placing a firm strike just wide of the upright after Hernandez had parried CJ Hamilton's initial effort..

HT: Cobras 1 v Stags 1

It was no surprise when Yussuf found the net from close range to put the Stags ahead in the fifty second minute, because he'd been chomping at the bit all game (pretty much the same as last week at Rainworth) and is evidently going to hit the ground running this season.

The remainder of the second half, saw a staggered succession of young Mansfield players enter the fray, some of who will be making their curtain call with the Under 18 side this season and as Adam Chapman left the field of play the responsibility of captaining the side was presented to Tyler Blake, who partnered the newly installed first team coach Karl Hawley up front.

On today's showing the Stags would do well to consider giving Hawley a player registration too, to cover for any striking emergency that might arise during future games, seeing as he will be in situ at every game anyway.

The youngsters put on a neat display of passing football and retained the ball very well, but Clipstone were still in the hunt for a result.

Josh Nodder threaded a great pass through to Reece Littlejohn, who knocked in an equalising goal from a narrow angle near the right hand post, that squeezed it's way in via a slight deflection, with eight minutes remaining on the clock.

The rain that had been torrential in the hour leading up to kick off, which put a lot of lightweight and Lilly livered fair weather supporters off of heading outdoors this lunchtime and had impacted on the attendance figure, had cleared away by the end of the game, which is typical of the kind of luck some local clubs are experiencing already this pre-season.

But the extra effort that Clipstone FC had gone to, to ensure today's friendly match passed with a hitch, was greatly appreciated by the 364 people who were unperturbed by the elements.

Although these games aren't about results, the final outcome was a pretty fair one. Mansfield had enjoyed a better ratio of chances, but the Cobras had worked hard and had never looked like they were going to be turned over by their EFL Division 2 neighbours.

All in all, a worthwhile exercise for all concerned.

FT: Clipstone 2 v Mansfield Town 2

The Stags pre-season entourage left Clipstone and headed for a 4pm kick off against Carlton Town, but, I had to be back in East Retford for 5.15pm for a 'curry night' date with my granddaughter (yes, I know it will surprise you all that I am really that old, given my youthful appearance and frequently immature behaviour) and woe betide me if I'd missed that. So we headed to Worksop Town v Lincoln City for our second game instead.

The Stags face Bolton Wanderers at home next Saturday, while Clipstone travel to Ollerton Town on Tuesday, before entertaining Hallam FC at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium next Saturday.

All the young dudes

Saturday 9th July 2016

Pre-Season Friendly

at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium

Babbage Way, Sandy Lane, Worksop

Worksop Town (0) 0

Lincoln City (1) 2

Jack Wetherall 4, Morgan Penfold 53

Admission £5. Programme £1. Attendance 319
Flickr photographs from this game, click HERE

8 Trialist family members in Tigers squad today.
The eldest one was on nights on Wednesday.

Worksop Town's first ever game at Sandy Lane, long before they went into exile and returned to the ground as tenants, via Hucknall, Ilkeston and Retford; was a friendly against Lincoln City.
In the interim, it would fill several weighty volumes of x-rated horror stories to tell the who tale of what has gone on since that fateful evening, but the club appears to be on a steady(ish) footing at present, so I won't pick over the bones of that sorry mess at this juncture.
The Imps had already played a friendly against Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club Grantham Town last night, which they won 5-1, so we figured that today's game at the Windsor Foodservices Stadium, would probably be a great excuse to run the rule over some of their younger players, who would more than likely be making up the numbers up against Worksop Town.

Lincoln City's youth team have a good number of academy lads who impressed me no end when I watched them a handful of times last season... and those same players certainly excelled and made a mixed Tigers side look decidedly average this afternoon.

In the event, the visitors fielded eleven players under the age of 18 in total and a good few under 21's as well.

Not that these kind of statistics really count for very much, or cut much ice with me. If they're good enough, they're old enough and they're big enough.

When all is said and done they are academy players, who train full time and are now only a step away from the first team at any given time... and when/if they get the call, they've got to be ready.

And a good few of these Lincoln hopefuls certainly already are.

The team sheet posted above is massively inaccurate as regards the numbers of the Lincoln players, one prime example being Jack Wetherall, who was actually wearing the number 6. We recognised him from his trademark 'big hair', but a slow to react Tigers defence evidently hadn't spotted him arriving at the back post as he nudged home a right wing corner, via a slight deflection, after just four minutes.

Testing himself against Adam Somes, proved to be a good test for Wetherall.

The Tigers new addition from Clipstone isn't reluctant to put himself about and will become a big crowd favourite at Worksop for his competitive edge and combativeness, I am sure. Particularly if he can curb some of his excesses, like the kind of unnecessary lunge he made on an Imps player out on the left hand side of the halfway line, that would have earned him a card of one colour or another, if this would've been anything other than a practice match. As it was, he got away with a bollocking from the referee.

Hopefully he will be focussed on what he's really good at and capable of this season, because with only a small amount of fine tuning, Somes is the kind of striker who will scare defences in the NCEL half to death. I'm backing him to succeed... but get your head down and let your feet do your talking Adam!

Jack Hawkins, with his diminutive stature and great knack of shielding the ball, was a great asset for Mark Shaw's side. Despite his size, he is hard to knock off the ball and a nightmare to try turning. His non stop running and distribution were the Tigers main supply line, as he stood out in a five man midfield with Worksop sticking to the 3-5-2 format that they tried out at Ollerton on Wednesday night.

I used to love it when Jack was coming through the ranks at Mansfield Town and people would make disparaging remarks about his size, saying things like "Oh, it's nice of you to give the mascot a game", before he ran rings around the opposition and tore them a new arsehole.

The three wise monkeys

Mark Shaw and the Tigers faithful are cetainly enthusiastic about his return to the club.

The home side had their moments, with the vastly under rated Mitch Husbands making all of the right runs and Richard Adams getting forward in support, but they drew a blank and by half time had goalkeeper Ryan Graves to thank for keeping the visitors lead down to a single goal lead.

HT: Tigers 0 v Imps 1

The visitors fielded a younger side in the second half than they had started with and while Worksop persevered with their 3-5-2 line up, though it curtailed some of Lincolns passing in the middle of the park, they were quick to hit the Tigers down the flanks, where James Caton down the left, ably assisted by the Imps full back Riley Thompson and in particular Elliott Hodge on the right of the visitors attack were pulling Mark Shaw's side all over the place.

I'd go so far as to say, judging him on both previous performances I've witnessed first hand, Hodge is a rising star in the making and he was by far the best footballer out on the park this afternoon, by some way.

Elliott Hodge

With his slightly more famous father, former England World Cup star Steve Hodge, watching on from the back of the stand, young Hodge put on a virtuoso second half performance, which was the highlight of a stop/start forty fives minutes that featured no small amount of Lincoln dominance and a lorra, lorra substitutions.

Graves failed to gather Andy Wright's cross and Morgan Penfold got to the loose ball and stabbed it home, with Adams making a last ditch attempt to hook the ball away.

Hodge appeared to have won a penalty, when Worksop couldn't get the ball off of him as he twisted and turned into the area, but the benevolent referee kept Worksop in the game by decreeing that the offence had taken place a fraction outside the box. Hodge dusted himself down and crashed the resulting free kick against the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the line before it was cleared.

Evidently you don't get Russian linesmen or goal line technology in Worksop! Retford United had a perfectly legit goal ruled out at the same end of the pitch last season... just saying.

Hodge created two more chances for himself, but Graves was determine to atone for his solitary error over the course of the game and was determined not to be beaten again and he saved well from the Imps danger man, before one of the Tigers young trialists took over in goal.

The home side took a break from chasing the Imps shadows and began to try mounting a comeback, but as Husband picked up a pass and sped past two flatfooted defenders, he was pulled back for being offside, which seemed a bit harsh, but even if he had got the better of Richard Walton in the Imps goal, a 1-2 final scoreline would've flattered the Tigers, because the predominantly teenage visiting side were well in control and really threatening to turn the screw now.

It was a real case of boys against men out there ;-)

Besides, Walton is as good a keeper as I've seen in the Football League Youth Alliance over the last couple of years. He's very highly rated and not without good reason... and Jack Fixter would probably have caught Husbands up and clattered him anyway.

He's strong in the tackle but never seems shy about taking one for the team or putting a foot in.

That is a compliment by the way, albeit an ever so slightly veiled one.

FT: Worksop Town 0 v Lincoln City 2

Mark Shaw will be pleased that his side now have two games in quick succession at the Windsor Foodservices Stadium to work on a few things that were highlighted today; one at home v. FC Halifax Town on Monday and an away game against an Handsworth Parramore side on Tuesday.

He'll have to write today's defeat off as an afternoon where his players merely worked on building up their match fitness, if not their sharpness.. that will come in time, once the newcomers gel together and are all available for selection.

But today the fact of the matter is... the best team won and probably not by as big a margin as their time on the ball merited.

Lincoln's youngsters impressed a lot of people today.

They're going to be there, or thereabouts in the development leagues this season.

Well played Imps!

Tuesday 12th July 2016

Pre-Season Friendly

at Oxford Street

Rossington Main (0) 0

Doncaster Rovers (2) 4

James Coppinger 15, Will Longbottom 23

Tommy Rowe 47, Andy Williams 85

Admission £6. Programme £2
Attendance 1425 a new record crowd for 'Rosso'

Rossington Main:
Musselwhite, Dorgan, Billam, Sanderson, Cook, Morris, Hatton, Johnson, Churchill, Pendleton, Doyle.
Subs: Chipamaunga, Dye, Wiffen, Lodge, Radu, Harte, Wright, Grren, Woodhall.
Doncaster Rovers first half:
Etheridge, Lund, Barker, Alcock, Garratt, Green, Coppinger, Calder, Longbottom, Mandeville, Marquis.
Doncaster Rovers second half:
Etheridge, Walker, Butler, Fielding, Evina, Middleton, Blair, James, Rowe, Pugh, Williams.

Darren Ferguson, Donny Rovers manager posing for THE66POW.

His father is quite famous too, by virtue of having played for Queens Park, St. Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United; that's an impressive pedigree... and then some.

The first of my three pre-season visits to Rossington this month, saw the Main's EFL Division 2 neighbours: Doncaster Rovers make the short trip down t'road to play their annual friendly on the lush green turf of Oxford Street.
"Is that Paul Green?" was the question on many people's lips, as the team's took to the pitch... and fairly soon afterwards a cluster of Rovers fans behind the goal soon confirmed it was, with a chant honouring their former hero, who left the Keepmoat Stadium eight years, last appearing for them in a first division play off final at Wembley in 2008, where they famously beat Leeds United.

Now aged 33, Green isn't actually fixed up with a club at present, after being released by Rotherham United, but he is currently training with Rovers, which is providing the rumour mill with a few overtime shifts.

The playing surface at 'Rosso' is an open invitation to play football on the deck and pass it around, as God had intended... and Ferguson's side, in their first pre-season outing, looked very comfortable at at ease knocking the ball around as they tried cutting a swathe through a very hard working Main midfield and defence.

Ryan Musselwhite, playing in goal for the home side, was the busiest player on the pitch tonight, keeping a respectable look to the scoreline in a game that Rovers dominated, including a great stop early on from the Football League side's new signing John Marquis.
In the event it took a special goal to beat the Main keeper and open the scoring; when James Coppinger hit a dipping free kick over the home side's defensive wall after fifteen minutes from outside the area.

James Coppinger opens the scoring.
Left click picture to enlarge.

Coppinger was involved in Doncaster's second goal eight minutes later, when he picked out Will Longbottom on the edge of the area, from a right wing corner, that he duly met with a crisp volley and bulged the back of the net.
Two goals behind, it looked as though the home side were on a hiding to nothing, but they dug in deep and repelled wave after wave of Rovers pressure, with the kind of deep set, damage limitation defending that prevailed during the recent EURO 2016 tournament.
It worked, to a point and despite their best efforts 'Donny' were restricted to just the two goals prior to the break.
HT: Rossington Main 0 v Doncaster Rovers 2

During the half time break, I had a chat with the former Mansfield Town manager (and Bradford City assistant manager) Steve Parkin, who is now at Bolton Wanderers, with who he shall be returning to Field Mill on Saturday, when the Trotters visit Field Mill for a friendly with the Stags.
Talking of Mansfield Town; they are visiting Rossington Main's ground tomorrow, for a hastily arranged friendly match against Matlock Town.
Yes! You read that right: a Nottinghamshire side are playing a team from Derbyshire, in a green and pleasant corner of South Yorkshire... Kick off is ay 7.30pm, get yourself along and spend loads of cash in that nice Mr Stokes clubhouse.

Pretty much the whole of the second half was played out in the Rossington half, as a completely different outfield side, carried on in the same vein as before the interval for the visitors... and it was looking ominous for Rossington, when Rovers added a third goal inside the opening two minutes of the second half, when Tommy Rowe ran forward in pursuit of a route one punt from midfield and picked his spot just beyond the reach of Musselwhite, who quite possibly had every right to double check if his defence had actually come back out of the dressing room yet.

Another familiar face, Matty Blair came on for Rovers in the second half (I was relying on familiar faces to recognise any of the visiting team, because they were playing in training shirts with no numbers on the back).
Blair nearly added a fourth goal, but Simon Dye, who was seeing out the game in goal for Rossington, denied him with a decent save.
'Donny' finish the game with a flurry of activity around the home side's area, with Andy Williams going close before he actually found himself in a lot of space with just five minutes to go and knocking home a fourth goal.

Doncaster Rovers played very, very well, but Rossington Main, didn't deserve to lose by any more than four goals, after all of their hard graft and some heroics from their goalkeepers.

'Rosso' are at home again on Saturday 16th July v Heanor Town, away at AFC Bentley on Saturday 23rd July and home again against Clipstone on Tuesday 26th July and Harworth Colliery on Saturday 30th July.

Final word: well done to everyone at Rossington Main for being such superb hosts tonight and for doing a great job of catering for such a large crowd. The ground improvements have not gone unnoticed either,
RESPECT!
FT: Rossington Main 0 v Doncaster Rovers 4

Wednesday 13th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at Oxford Street, Rossington Main FC
Matlock Town 0
Mansfield Town 0
Admission £6 inc. programme
Left click images to enlarge

Brian Jensen

Matlock Town:
Ryan Musslewhite, Liam Marsden, Alex Pursehouse, Laurie Wilson (Kenan Layton 60), Adam Yates (Dwayne Wiley 46), Nico de Girolamo (Ashley Bartle 72), Jamie Yates ( Ben Partridge 46), Liam Needham, Marc Newsham (Jack Siddall 60), Jake Green. Andy Todd (Niall McManus 46)
Subs - Jordan Pierrepont

Mansfield Town first half:
Scott Shearer, Ryan Bennett, Krystian Pearce, George Taft, Mal Benning, CJ Hamilton, Adam Chapman, James Baxendale, Mitchell Rose, Trialist, Adi Yussuf
Mansfield Town second half:
Scott Shearer, Ryan Bennett, Krystian Pearce, George Taft, Mal Benning, Lee Collins, Kevan Hurst, Chris Clements, Ashley Hemmings, Danny Rose, Matt Green

Not only were Matlock Town using Rossington Main's ground for this hastily arranged pre-season friendly, they also borrowed the NCEL side's goalkeeper Ryan Musselwhite, who'd had a busy night against Doncaster Rovers just twenty four hours ago, to stand in for Phil Barnes, who was unavailable tonight through illness. The stattos among you will be interested that Ryan is the son of the Scunthorpe United custodian Paul Musselwhite, while the rest of you should show a little bit more gratitude sometimes, for these extra trinkets of knowledge that I bestow upon my loyal readership.
You'll all be glad I told you when that comes in useful at the next pub quiz you go to. And watch out for the the old (horse) chestnut of a trick question, asking if an Acorn is a seed, because it's not. It's a nut! And now it says so on t'internet, it must be true.

Two ex Mansfield players: Liam Marsden and the evergreen Andy Todd, featured for the Gladiators, while Jake Green, the younger brother of the Stags main striker Matt also started for the Derbyshire side in what was their first warm up match of the new term.
I remembering bickering with Toddy's dad in the stand at Worksop Town one night about the virtues of one of Eastwood Town's players and he turned to me and said: "When you get out of the house and go to as many football matches as I do every week, you'll be entitled to an opinion... oh, it's you!"
For the record part 1: it was a good natured squabble, not an out and out argument. For the record part 2: my opinion is irrelevant, I know absolutely 'nowt. Fell free to have a quick browse through this blog to find a stack of evidence to quantify this statement.

Personally, I was a bit disappointed that at least a few of the Stags youngsters who'd travelled up for the game didn't feature at some point (and I know that I'm not alone in feeling that way), but realise that with the new season approaching rapidly over the horizon, that it is more important that players first team players, such as new signing George Taft, get the playing time under their belts that they still need and that is Adam Murray's shout and his alone.

His methods are meticulous and he's not done so bad so far by sticking to his guns
At times the Stags looked lethargic, but in the aftermath of tonight's workout, the manager said he was: "chuffed to bits"... and in a post match interview for the club website, he detailed the level of fitness the players were up to and the expectations levels for their current performances.
Link to interview here.

Matlock made the running early on, with Marsden and Green both going close, but the Evo-Stik League side were then put on the back foot and though the Stags didn't exactly put them to the sword with a rapier like precision and ram home the territorial advantage they were enjoying as CJ Hamilton, James Baxendale and Adi Yussuf all tested, but were thwarted by the Rossington/Matlock keeper, while Krystian Pearce headed wide from a Mal Benning free kick.
Nico de Girolama looked impressive for the Gladiators tonight, he'll do well for themthis coming season.
Benning, for his part, looked composed and on tonight's showing is raring to go when the action starts for real next month.
HT: MTFC 0 v MTFC 0

After the break, I think it would be fair to say, with the greatest of respect to those charming people from Matlock... that Rossington's groundsman would only have had to give one half of the pitch a quick once over after the game, because the Stags pretty much camped out around the Gladiators goal area as they stroked the ball around on the best playing surface in non league football, albeit with the loving caress of non penetrative foreplay, as opposed to an hammer and tongs (tongues) damn good seeing to. But with Musselwhite chaperoning the Blues defence, Mansfield were never going to be allowed to get too fresh, despite their persistence and fancy chat up lines.

Kevan Hurst set up Danny Rose, but although he struck the ball firmly, his shot was straight at the keeper. And Musselwhite came to the rescue again when Benning released Matt Green with a defence splitting pass.
Amidst all of Mansfield's tippy tappy stuff around the periphery of the final third, the Gladiators pushed forward on the counter attack and Jack Siddall almost broke the deadlock, as his right wing cross crashed off Scott Shearer's crossbar.
Maybe a Matlock goal would've pre-empted a switch in tempo from the Stags, but either way, results are much of a muchness at the moment, until the fat lady sings and she isn't even clearing her throat yet.

In the last ten minutes of the game Matlock were hanging on and will have been pleased with both the draw and the heroics of their 'on loan' keeper.
Ash Hemmings knocked the ball forward to Matt Green, who turned on a sixpence (probably still legal tender around these parts) to make himself some space before thumping a shot against the left hand upright, that came back for Taft who hooked the ball over the bar from the rebound.
Hurst picked out Green moments later, but Musselwhite, who to my mind was 'man of the match' tonight, pulled off a great save to keep the Stags strikers header out.

Chris Clements set up Danny Rose with a clever back heel, but once again Musselwhite was alert to the danger and denied the Stags again.
Right at the death, Scott Hemmings almost claimed a win for the Stags,but he pulled his shot narrowly wide of the far post.
FT: Gladiators 0 v Stags 0
For the second night running, I feel compelled to pour lavish praise upon Rossington Main, for the top
quality of so many aspects of their football club and it's infrastructure.

Back in December, after the Stags U18's 1-0 lunchtime win v Grimsby Town, I made the short drive up to Oxford Street, when 'Rosso' entertained AFC Mansfield and wrote:
"Respect is due to the home club's chairman Carl Stokes and his crew at Rossington Main FC. It is an expensive time of year for most people, so today the admission price at Oxford Street was slashed to just £2 and the local public responded accordingly to this timely initiative, generating a crowd of 210.
There is also a collection taking place at the ground, for foodstuff for a local food bank charity, which looking at the tables full of donations, has also been a roaring success.
A lot of non league football teams pay lip service to being a 'community club', but Rossington are one of the few who genuinely are one and actually hit the nail right on the head in this respect. I applaud their continuing efforts wholeheartedly"

I reckon that December assessment just about sums things up at tonight's host club... and supporters from both Matlock and Mansfield echoed similar sentiments.

Keep right on Stokesy!

Thursday 14th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Jones & Co. Stadium, Cannon Park
Retford United (0) 1
Nathan Adams
High Green Villa (0) 0
Admission £5

Retford United:
Bennett, Shannon, Melvin, O'Connor, Fox, Sykes, Wisdom-Lockwood, Walker, Adams, Raby, Park
Subs - James, Carter, Sutton
High Green Villa:
?

The Badgers kicked off their delayed Pre-Season campaign with a line up that contained seven trialists, on a pitch that appeared to be in need of some tender loving care.
Darren Giovannetti, the newly installed joint first team manager said that the line up for Saturday's home game against Leon Sewell's Westella & Willerby will be very different to the one that turned out tonight, with as many as six or seven different players taking part.
Note: Saturday's game kicks off at 3.30pm.

It is great news to hear that Retford United will be having an Under 19 team again next season... and it's always a pleasure to catch up with my old sidekick Phil Hall, who will be their assistant manager.

Four of that U19 team played in tonight's game.

With a bit more sharpness in front of goal, the home side could have won more comfortably tonight against their Sheffield & Hallam County senior League (Division 1) opponents, while the south Yorkshire side gave a good account of themselves and created a few decent chances but suffered from a bout of profligate finishing.

Results don't matter yet, but it has been an intriguing pre-season so far, comparing the various methods that local teams are employing as they implement their preparations for the coming season.

Bring it on!

FT: Retford United 1 v High Green Villa 0

Friday 15th July 2016

Pre-Season Friendly

at the Memorial Ground, Penistone

Penistone Church (0) 1

Joe Long 82

Handsworth Parramore (1) 3

Sam Denton 42

Kieran Wells 49, 85

Admission £1 Attendance 91

Without wanting to heap too much of a burden of expectation on anybody's shoulders, tonight's warm up game featured two championship contenders, who I fully anticipate will be in the running for the NCEL premier and first division titles this coming season.
Though obviously their are several other worthy contenders who will be vying for those honours too.

Having secured pole position in the free and spacious club car park, I handed over my 100 new pence at the gate. Yes! That's just one English pound! To watch 'Church' playing against a team from a higher division. Take note clubs who still charge full whack for practice matches against any old opposition.

I spent 20 minutes in the bar putting the world to rights with Dean Bamforth, who was here to watch his lad Harry play, before joining Graham Slesser in the seats to watch the majority of the game from the OAP section. The two of us share a sense of humour, that is possibly on a dark, dank level that nobody besides the two of us would appreciate. That is everybody else's loss!

In the aftermath of Bamforth junior's performance, Kieran Wells, Handsworth's joint top goalscorer last season tweeted: "well done to @harrybamforth on your debut mate did very well... you didn't look out of place! keep the hard work up..." high (and well warranted) praise indeed.

The straight talking octogenarians of Penistone know what they like (and what they don't like too) and aren't bashful about expressing themselves, but they were purring in response to some of the quick pass and move entertainment on offer tonight.
Obviously there were no head on collision, bone shattering, crunching tackles or players being ritually sacrificed out on the park tonight, because this was, when all is said and done, but nonetheless this was a refreshingly well contested and competitive encounter, that gave both teams a good physical workout and opportunity deal with keeping up the tempo while being marked at close quarters.

Penistone play some lovely football, in fact under the management of Ian Richards, they have a growing reputation for getting the ball down and doing things the right way.

While Handsworth get some unfair flack for being a long ball team and going direct at each and every opportunity, which stems from hearsay and bitterness, emanating from teams who they have just given a fair and square going over.

Certainly, if they are chasing a game, Micky Godber wouldn't be overly concerned to see his side hitting the ball long to the most prolific striking duo in the NCEL Premier Division; don't all NCEL clubs wish they had such a luxury? Bbut the allegation that they exclusively employ such hit and run, direct tactics, does a disservice to some of the play makers within their ranks such as Steve Warne, Luke Fletcher and Alex Rippon... and in particular their versatile winger Danny Buttle, who has been completely unplayable down both flanks on a good few occasions that I've seen him in full flight, giving numerous full backs a torrid time..

I reckon that even I could chalk up double figures over the course of a season with that sort of service.

The visitors just about shaded the first half possession wise against their very well organised and easy on the eye hosts... and it took a special goal to separate the sides at the break, when Sam Denton planted a long range, dipping free kick into the top corner of the net a few minutes before half time.

While Archie Sneath and his first half back four had dealt admirably with several spells of pressure from Penistone.

HT: 0-1

Kieran Wells had only been on the pitch four minutes, when he pounced to force the ball into the back of the net amidst a goalmouth scramble.
But Penistone weren't about to roll over and let the premier division side steam roller them and rack up a hat full of goals and they gave the Ambers second half keeper, 17 year old Jake Lancini a few testing moments, which will have given him a crash course in positional awareness that will help his development no end.
The young keeper held firm until the 82nd minute, until Joe Long pulled a goal back for the 'Church' with a well executed lob from out on the right hand side of Lancini's area.
But Wells responded almost immediately and though he struck his initial shot straight at the home side's keeper and a covering defender, the ball rebounded, hit Wells and went in.
They all count.
Even the dead jammy ones.
FT: Penistone Church 1 v Handsworth Parramore 3

A fast paced and absorbing contest, that featured two sides dedicated to attacking football, putting on a great spectacle at an absolute bargain price, for the 91 spectators who'd paid in.

I really enjoyed this game and the nature that it was played in.

I shall be seeing quite a bit more of these two sides this season... and though I had both line ups and know who the new signings parading their stuff tonight were, you'll all have to go and have a bleedin' look for yourself instead of trawling t'internet for such information.

Bamforth looked comfortable with the step up (and I'm not just saying that because his dad is six foot and thirteen inches tall), Penistone did not look overawed by their illustrious and always dangerous looking visitors and will do well this season... and the roads home were all empty and I was in my des res by 10pm, result!

*Note, due to a dodgy internet connection, this overview (you couldn't really call it a report as such) was sat waiting patiently to be published for four nights, before it could be uploaded. Isn't technology great!?

Saturday 16th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
Mansfield Town (2) 2
Danny Rose 11, Krystian Pearce 23
Bolton Wanderers (0) 1
Zach Clough 54
Admission £10
Programme £1 - Covering today's game and Tuesday night's visit of Hull City... and it also folds out into a 2016-17 fixtures poster. All good stuff, eh!?
Attendance - 1481 (216 in the away end)

Aerial panoramic view of the Stags innovative poster/programme

Mansfield Town:
Scott Shearer (Brian Jensen 66), Rhys Bennett (Adi Yussuf 80), Krystian Pearce (Corbin Shires 73), George Taft (Louis Danquah 79), Mal Benning (Adam Chapman 43), Lee Collins, Kevan Hurst (Mitch Rose 67), Chris Clements (Jamie McGuire 75), Ashley Hemmings (CJ Hamilton 57), Danny Rose (James Baxendale 59), Matt Green (Pat Hoban 59).
Bolton Wanderers:
Amos (Howard 46), Moxey (Honeyball 73), Dervite (Wheater 64), Beevers (Finney 64), Vela (Pratley 64), Taylor (Clayton 46), Clough (Woolery 64), Davies (Walker 70), Trotter (Spearing 64), Proctor (Madine 64), Wilson (Spooner 78).
Unused subs - Twardzik, Newell

As we passed through Clipstone, just by the old colliery site, mien spouse let out an urgent cry of: "Stop here, you need to pull over!"
I diligently complied and came to an abrupt halt, while asking 'er indoors 'whatever is the problem!?'
"Oh, there isn't one" she retorted and alighted from my motor conveyance brandishing her mobile phone in her hand exclaiming gleefully, "The old pit is awash with Pokemon, I need to catch them all!"
Err... no she doesn't!

There is a time and a place for her juvenile excesses, but disrupting my trip to Field Mill on a Saturday afternoon isn't one of them, so I coerced her back into the car by promising her faithfully, cross my heart and hope to die n' all that, that the Major Oak, the former home of the man of the people that was Robin Hood, was swarming with fictitious Japanese cartoon figures, including some really rare ones and that we would stop off there on the way home.

Truth be told, I'd actually no intention whatsoever of cutting back through Edwinstowe really, but my little white lie did buy me some time and offer a temporary solution to her increasingly odd behaviour.
I despair at what is happening to this country and the vicarious escapist pursuits that adults are indulging in, while turning a blind eye to potential powder keg of lies, spin, political extortion and deceit.
Maybe I am morphing into a Victor Meldrew type character and accelerating downhill quite fast in that general direction, but FFS!
What is the world coming to?
Pokemon is for kids, end of!

And though it is great that children are latching onto a new craze app called 'Pokemon Go', that gets them out and about in the fresh air, instead of vegging out in front of their game consoles and hogging the big telly in the front room... as regards the participation of so called grown ups in the children's game that is sweeping the nation: "I don't beleve it!"
Get a bleedin' life suckers!

Out on the actual field of play, where a grown up game was taking place, 'twas a performance full of promise from the Stags this afternoon, most definitely their best outing so far this pre-season by some way, going on the evidence of the games I've seen thus far.
Of course it would be unwise to get carried away by a good showing against a League 1 club in a friendly match, but Adam Murray's preparations do seem to be taking shape at the correct pace for his team to peak at just the right time.
Hope springs eternal all around. Well, at least I'm cautiously optimistic that a play off place is a realistic target this season. even if you're not.
Mansfield Town certainly have a better team/squad than they did have twelve months ago at the outset of the 2015-16 term, when I predicted (correctly for once) a mid table finish, or thereabouts, even the the Stags surpassed expectations and nuzzled in among the front runners for a while and almost had us believing that they were serious contenders.
With the current team, I would be genuinely disappointed if they don't stay the course and secure a top eight finish this time around.

After making a lively opening to the game, Mansfield went ahead on 11 minutes when Clements knocked the ball forward to Matt Green, who took the ball down on his chest, before seeing off a clumsy and mistimed challenge and nudging a sideways pass to Danny Rose, who only needed the slightest of touches to open the scoring from close range.
(D) Rose was involved again on 23 minutes, when he was fouled out on the right flank and from the resulting free kick Mal Benning picked Krystian Pearce out and he directed the ball into the back of the net and beyond the reach of Ben Amos, from the edge of the six yard box.

Mark Beevers, the Bolton skipper came off second best when he tried to lunge into Green with an unnecessary foul near the halfway line, but stayed on the ground requiring treatment himself, while the Mansfield striker rode the challenge and amused himself replacing divots in the pitch, while his would be assailant writhed and winced in pain.
Just before the break, Scott Shearer did well to keep Mark Davies at bay with a fine save, when it had looked odds on that the Trotters were about to half the deficit.

It was refreshing to hear the home crowd making a fair amount of appreciative noise as the teams left the pitch for their half time oranges and vapor rub.
HT: Stags 2 v Wanderers 0
After having by far the better of things in the first half, the Stags found the visitors to be a much more lively and dangerous proposition during the second half, but having demonstrated no small amount of attacking prowess thus far, they showed their collective defensive mettle in the second half, where the visitors, who were relegated from the Championship at the end of last term and currently rebuilding under the leadership of their new management team of Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin (the former Mansfield player and manager), only breached the home side's back line when they took advantage of
an individual error from Adam Chapman, when he gave the ball away cheaply to Max Clayton, who in a flash teed a precision ball into the path of Zach Clough who planted the ball into the very corner of the net.

It was good to see Louis Danquah and Corbin Shires getting some more first team minutes under their belts late in the game, with even more of the Under 18 side penciled in to be involved on Tuesday night v Hull City too, even though the Stags veteran keeper Brian Jensen had to save the latter players blushes, when he bravely blocked a shot but very nearly deflected the ball past the veteran keeper.
All in all, a very encouraging run out for the Stags. with several noteworthy stand out performances combining greatly to the overall team effort.
I'll pick out Rhys Bennett, Mal Benning and Krystian Pearce as the stars of the show, from what was a very pleasing afternoon's entertainment.
More of the same please.
FT: Mansfield Town 2 v Bolton Wanderers 1

Gainsborough Trinity (3) 3
Jacob Hazel 10, Liam Davis 22, 27
Lincoln City (2) 3 Johnny Margetts 5, 8, Matt Rhead 57
Amission £8. Programme £.2.50 - covering four home PSF games

If teams produce end to end action like we witnessed tonight on the Northolme, games like this are in serious danger of getting friendly matches a good name.
Resplendent in their pre-season kit, which is being sold to raise funds for 'Pancreatic Cancer UK', Trinity allowed their visitors to race into a two goal lead early on, but turned things around to such a degree that when Matt Rhead netted the Imps third goal, it was in the form of a well taken equalising strike, to pull his side level at three apiece.

Ironically it was a former Trinity loan signing, Johnny Margetts who set the ball rolling for the Imps with both early goals, his first with a neatly executed lob from just outside the goal area and three minutes later, straight after the Imps keeper Richard Walton had denied an immediate equaliser for the 'Holy Blues', Margetts netted again, when his shot came back off Johnathon Hedge and he drilled the ball into the back of the net from the rebound.

Having inadvertently grabbed an assist for a goal at one end, Hedge claimed on at the other, when his long pass forward picked out Jacob Hazel, who took the ball down well and headed straight for goal, before placing the ball past Watson on ten minutes.
Wow! If the goal scoring carried on at this rate, those lovable Retford Imps (see bottom picture), would need all of their six toes on both feet to keep count.
Hazel had another attempt from wide right, but his shot was blocked, however the loose ball fell to Liam Davis. who cracked in a great strike from just outside the box, to level things up after twenty two minutes and silence the: "Your so shit it's unbelievable!" chants, emanating from a clutch of young Imps fans congregated behind the goal that Lincoln were attacking.

Five minutes later, Davis struck again, pouncing to take advantage of some woeful defending from the visitors and the turnaround was complete, as Trinity soared from two goals behind to three-two up inside the space of just nineteen minutes.
City finished the first half pushing forward in pursuit of a third goal of their own, but Johnathon Hedge stood up well to their efforts and laughed at Matt Rhead as he tried to intimidate him, by blocking his path at set pieces, as the home side held on to their half time lead.
HT: Gainsborough Trinity 3 v Lincoln City 2

Tonight's game was originally billed as a Lincolnshire Senior Cup tie, but Gainsborough lost at Lincoln United and were eliminated from the competition, so tonight's encounter still went ahead, but as a friendly.
Jake Scott, playing out of position at right back, did very well for Trinity tonight. they've made some very astute signings and will be looking to improve on last year's final league position.
With local bragging rights at stake, City looked to get back into the game with a strong start to the second half, with Hedge being kept on his toes as Trinity threatened to buckle.

That man Margetts was involved again. when he headed a corner down into the path of Matt Rhead, who crashed an unstoppable volley through the crowded goalmouth and into the bottom corner of the net.

Despite the heat and humidity, the tempo of the game was barely letting up, but no further goals were forthcoming, despite Hazel finishing well from a great through ball from Matt Thornhill that must've been a very close call.

Of course this being a practice game, the rhythm was disrupted somewhat late on as a lengthy queue of substitutes entered the fray at sporadic intervals, but you couldn't blame anyone for wanting a breather and a sit down with a cold drink on such a muggy night.

FT: Gainsborough Trinity 3 v Lincoln City 3

Retford Imps Rouges Galley. Banjo out of shot.

Wednesday 20th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Lane, Ollerton
Ollerton Town (1) 2
Bingham 8, Munson 86
Kimberley Miners Welfare (1) 3
Grigg 29
Westcarr 57, 73
Admission £2

On the whole, probably a fair result all told, as a slightly out of sorts Ollerton side came up against Kimberley, who were obviously well up for this encounter... particularly in the second half, when they were actually the better side.

But from the outset it looked as if the home side would cruise to a comfortable win and when Lewis Bingham paced forward twenty yards before chipping the ball over the advancing visiting keeper's head and secured the opening goal via the right hand upright, the home crowd were buoyant in anticipation of a first home win of the season for the NCEL's new boys.

Bingham opened up the visitors defence again via the same route, but instead of going for goal, he unselfishly opted to knock the ball to his right for Danny Wiltshire, but Stevenson cut out the pass and Kimberley cleared their lines.
Both teams had somewhat optimistic penalty appeals waved away, while Chris Hewitt, in the process of trying to get the ball forward for the home side, was getting kicked from pillar to post in the middle of the park as receiving no small amount of close attention.

Westcarr & Grigg, Kimberley's goalscorers
get the ball rolling at the Lane

He was withdrawn at half time by the home side's management, who wisely decided the last thing he needed on the verge of the new season, was an overly physical game.
Kimberley couldn't be faulted for their effort and just before the half hour mark, Griggs hit a low angled shot towards Ollerton's goal and the bounced deceived the trialist goalkeeper Hankey as the ball evaded him and ended up in the back of the net.
The effect of the goal was that Kimberley's spirits were lifted and they raised their game another notch and were unlucky not to be in front at the break when Hankey pulled off a vital save from Slade. Not all of them you understand, just the shouty singer with the big top hat festooned in mirrors.
HT: Ollerrton Town 1 v Kimberley MW 1

8 minutes, Lewis Bingham, 1-0.
What could possibly go wrong?

Bingham threatened the visitors goal right from the off, but as he rounded Bodders with the ball, his touch was too heavy and as a consequence he had to shoot from a tight angle and Webster had got back to cover his keeper and cleared the ball off the line.
But it was the visitors who were looking like the most likely team to add goals and in the 57th minute, Westcarr ran onto a well measured long pass from Lench, took the ball down with one touch and planted it firmly past Hankey with the second. A quality strike, that even the Ollerton supporters applauded.

Kimberley were riding on the crest of a wave as Ollerton were forced to defend deeply and Westcarr claimed another goal to put the visitors three one ahead after 73 minutes, when Lewis threaded a through ball to the live-wire striker.
The game should have been over as a contest when Dockwray upended Lewis inside the penalty area. But Hankey did well to keep Lewis' firmly struck spot kick out.

It's a free country and if he chooses to
go out wearing a nappy, that's his choice

Inside the final five minutes, Munson pulled a goal back for Ollerton, when he beat Bodders from six yards, but having done the difficult bit, the visitors were in no mood to let 'Town' get back on level terms now and they held on, for what in my unbiased opinion, was a hard fought and well deserved win.
Ollerton shouldn't be overly concerned about having lost three pre-season games in a row, especially with a depleted side, because it's still only effectively dress rehearsal time, but Dave Winter will have seen a few creases that need ironing out, while on the Kimberley bench, Ian Deakin looked very pleased with his teams efforts... and so he should be.

FT: Ollerton Town 2 v KImberley MW 2
EMCL side Kimberley looked very impressive at times and quite physical too, I haven't visited the Stag Ground for a while, so we'll have to organize an expedition over that way again soon.
And it goes without saying, I'll be at the Lane fairly often over the course of the season seeing as it's only a ten minute drive from my swanky penthouse suite in the sprawling metropolis of East Retford.

Thursday 21st July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium
Worksop Town (0) 0
Gainsborough Trinity (0) 0
Admission £5. Programme (inc. a THE66POW centre spread) £1
Attendance 215

Dubious programme content herein. Mind those staples!

I would imagine that Worksop would've been happy with the draw and a clean sheet, given how they spent much of the game absorbing a lot of pressure, as Trinity dominated for long spells of the game.
And that balance of play swung even more in favour of the visitors, when they introduced the former Tigers crowd favourite Jake Scott from the bench during the second half.

Following on from a great shift filling in at right back against Lincoln City on Monday night, Scott was on top of his game again, giving the home crowd a painful reminder of the bite their midfield has been missing since he moved on last season. Mark Shaw's side recovered from a number of high profile departures from the club and adapted well, but never really got over the untimely loss of Jake to Bradford Park Avenue, who by way of the coincidences of football fates, face Gainsborough on the opening day of the 'Conference North' season.

Back in the days when Jesus was still a lad, Worksop Town took the fateful decision to move out of their three sided Central Avenue ground, that was attached to the adjacent cricket club, in a prime location right in the middle of the town centre, and they actually moved into the Northolme for a while and Gainsborough Trinity became their landlords.
I'll skip over what happened to the travelling Tigers in the interim, given that I have imposed a 55,000 per post word count limit for this season.

This fixture illustrated just how much of a rapid tumble Worksop have taken in recent times, given that Trinity, who were the Tigers local rivals when the two clubs competed against each at the upper end of the non league scale, are a forward looking and innovative National League North club these days, while the home side ply their trade in the NCEL, three levels further down the pyramid, at a ground they are currently renting, that used to be their own.
And had it not been for their goalkeeper Alan Graves, they could have been on the wrong end of a good going over tonight too.

I liked the look of Loftus at right back for Worksop, he marked out his territory and his movement on the right flank and distribution were good too.
But it was Trinity who ruled the roost for the majority of the game, compressing the game into the oppositions half, stifling any attacking intentions and effectively silencing the Tigers roar.
But alas, they couldn't turn that territorial advantage into goals and although much of that was down to the tenacity of Mark Shaw's sides no nonsense defending, with Alex Pugh sitting in front of the two centre halves to great effect, proving to be a successful aspect of the night for the home side, if the visitors had upped the ante just a notch more and shown the same kind of clinical finishing touches they had done against their county rivals Lincoln City just two nights ago, then the final outcome could've been much different.
That said, Ashley Worsfold wasn't very far away when he rose to nod Matt Thornhill's free kick wide of the mark in the opening exchanges.

Adam Scott, did however almost knock the wind out of Trinity's sails, when he received the ball from a Loftus throw in out on the right flank, turned quickly, cut inside and darted off towards the visitors goal, only to see his effort from 18 yards fizz millimetres (not even inches) wide of the right hand post with Jake Eastwood in the visitors goal, beaten all ends up.
But it was only one of very few chances that Worksop created, as James Reid and Matt Thornhill dictated the game at the other end of the pitch, while Jake Picton bombarded the right channel with a succession of quality balls in behind the Tigers back line. If Jacob Hazel and/or Laim Davis had been on from the start for Dominic Roma's side, this game would've over by half time.
Trinity were sparring with their Nottinghamshire neighbours, but stopped short of delivery a knock out punch, although just before the interval, the ever lively and very busy Graves pulled off a worldly when he tipped Thornhill's long range thumping shot over the bar.
HT: Worksop Town 0 v Gainsborough Trinity 0

The vast majority of the second half was played out in one half of the pitch, but it gave the Tigers of defence plenty of practice time together and when all is said and done, that is one area of their game that was often their undoing last season.
The next page of scribbled notes, are all about Graves, keeping the visitors at bay with a string of saves, some of them at the second attempt, but keeping them out none the less, which bodes well for the season ahead and gives 'Showie' options, when the club captain and first choice keeper isn't available.
Mark Fereday forced a save out of Eastwood with a cross cum shot, when he might have benefitted from having a team mate alongside him offering support.

Graves was withdrawn with three minutes to go, probably so the ever faithful Tigers support could show him their appreciation for the heroic shift he'd put in.
I was hoping to see Josh Dacre, Worksop's recent young signing, get a decent run out tonight, but he only made a cameo role at full back for the last few minutes. Having seen Josh in action endless times in the colours of Handsworth Parramore and Sheffield FC at development team level, I can vouch for the fact that he is more than ready to make the step up to first team football, but he needn't think that I'm the forgiving kind or that I'll ever forget the goal he netted against Mansfield Town's youngsters.
Anyway, game over, Gainsborough had by far the better of it but couldn't quite put the finishing touches to a decent performance, while Ryan Graves was probably man of the match overall, which speaks volumes about which goalmouth the ball spent the majority of it's time in.
FT: Tigers 0 v Holy Blues 0

Saturday 23rd July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at Muglet Lane, Maltby
Maltby Main (2) 2
Jack Binney 38, Jordan Poole 40
Frickley Ahletic (0) 3
Luke Hinsley 57, Nathan Curtis 67, Tom Guest 90
Admission £5
For Flickr photo group from this game click HERE

Our John

Maltby and South Elmsall (Frickley) are two of my favourite places in the whole universe.
In fact, if I ever win the lottery, I'm going to buy a luxurious retirement home in Maltby, but if I get four numbers up, I'll buy two in South Elmsall instead.
There are those who say that both these clubs were punching well above their weight to finish in the higher echelons of their respective leagues last season, but their detractors would do well to keep their guard up this time around too.

Wilf Race - Maltby chairman and ex manager

The host side originally formed as Maltby Main as long ago as 1916, but sadly the club folded for a short while during the 1950's, but reformed as Maltby Miners Welfare and played under that moniker until they reverted to the Maltby Main name again in 1996.
Current club chairman Wilf Race, has had two spells managing the team in: 2001-02 and again in 2005-06.
I'll spare you the complete league history of 'the Miners', but they having been promoted back into the NCEL Premier Division in 2004, they have maintained their status at that level ever since.

Signing on the dotted line and the
boundary for Frickley Athletic

Frickley were officially founded in 1910, though there is evidence of a club called Frickley Colliery Athletic being in existenceas long ago as 1908. Formerly known as Frickley Colliery, before settling on Frickley Athletic in 1974.
The club finished as runners up in the Alliance Premier League in 1985-86, later to be known as the Football Conference and currently called the National League. In those heady days of 1985-86 'the Blues' also reached the third round of the FA Cup, before going out of the competition against Rotherham United at Westfield Lane, who they also lost against in a replayed first round game back in the 1971-72 season.

I possibly (though not probably) shed several pounds today (not that you'd have noticed, before somebody else says it), just watching this game, on such a stifling and warm afternoon in the people's republic of south Yorkshire; so it must have been very trying and tiring for the players, even though they were afforded the luxury of water breaks midway through both halves.

The two managers very kindly took the time out prior to the game to write down their respective team line ups for me, which was greatly appreciated. Ta very much Spencer and Karl.

Chatting to Spencer Fearn before the game, he assured me that today's run out was all about preparation and building up match fitness for the season ahead and that the result was immaterial.

Phwoar! A mystery blonde Yorkshire strumpet
modelling the line ups for this afternoon's game

The heat must have been getting to the Maltby fans today, because they were so subdued that the game was nearly two minutes old, before the assistant referee in front of them started copping for some creative usage of the post watershed end of the English language.

"It's f***ing character building liner, get used to it!"

He hadn't actually got anything wrong, it was merely a friendly warning shot across the bows, just in case!

Steve Hopewell and Ryan Carroll both tried to force a couple of early openings for the home side, but Frickley's Under 19 keeper Josh Diggles was out quickly to clear the danger both times.
The visitors left back Josh Grant and Maltby's Jordan Poole seemed to be relishing getting stuck into each other out on the touchline, in one of the more competitive sub plots that was unfolding around the main event.
John Lufudu almost opened the scoring for 'the Blues' (well, the Yellows, if you must) with a low, stinging shot from around twenty yards out, but Danny Rusling got down to his left and got his body behind the ball and held onto it at the second, or possibly even third attempt.

Royale Johnson exchanged passes with Lufudu before delivering a cross towards Tyler Williams, but Reece Wesley was well placed to clear things up for Maltby with a towering header.
Sam Akeroyd took responsibility for taking a free kick from just outside the Miners goal area, but must've wished he hadn't when he scuffed his shot and Rusling gathered the ball with ease down by his left stick.
During a lively spell of pressure from the visitors, the workaholic Lufudu threaded a pass into the path of Williams, who ought to have done better as he nudged the ball wide of the target from close range.

Dan Reilly was a tower of strength for Maltby today, combining his defensive duties with a box to box eagerness to get involved in the home side's forward play too... and it was he who almost broke the deadlock when his knock down fell awkwardly for Diggles and Rhys Meynell had to clear the ball off the goal-line.
The Miners advanced into Frickley Territory again with Jack Binney motoring forward before linking up with Eagle who slipped the ball forward to Hopewell, but Bailey Gooda denied the Maltby frontman with a last ditch interception.
Spencer Fearn's side were enjoying a spell of pressure against their Evo-Stik Leagur opponents and Carroll saw his shot on the run turned behind for a corner by Meynell as the visitors closed ranks.

At the other end, Nathan Curtis failed to connect properly with Johnson's right wing cross and nodded the ball harmlessly wide.
Reilly, renowned for his prowess in the air, had a crack at goal from twelve yards, but the destination of the ball proved to be more problem-some for the linesman than the visitors goalkeeper, but the big number 5 atoned for his error a few minutes later, when Corey Eagle floated a free kick into the Frickley goalmouth from the halfway line and Reilly picked out Binney with a downward header and he gratefully thumped it past Diggles from close range on 38 minutes.
Almost from the restart Maltby scored again, when Eagle played a sideways pass to his right to Poole, who nicked the ball past Grant's attempted challenge and sprinted forward for forty yards,before planting the ball past Diggles. There was very little that the young keeper could've done to stop that one.

Williams worked himself a yard of space on the edge of Maltby's area, but when he got his shot away, he was narrowly off target and the visitors were lucky not to concede a third goal just before the break, when Reilly knocked down Eagle's right wing corner to Ryan Poole whose first shot was charged down and second attempt from the rebound ended up somewhere near the allotments on Outgang Lane.
HT: Maltby 2 v Frickley 0
Although this was only a friendly, Karl Rose's side had obviously had their pride dented towards the end of the first half and they came out after the interval, looking determined to impose themselves on the game more than they had done thus far.

Grant hit a shot from outside the area that deflected over the bar... and he took the resulting corner himself, picking out Meynell who headed the ball also cleared the crossbar.
Frickley were pushing forward with predatory intentions and a goal looked inevitable as Maltby were forced to implement an all hands to the pumps rearguard action.
Lufudu found the Miners defence to be in a determined mood as he looked to work a way through their crowded ranks and Gary Hibbert blocked his path and knocked the ball away, but unfortunately for the robust defender, his clearance fell to Luke Hinsley 25 yards from goal, who, without hesitation, shot first time and halved the deficit with a quality strike.

Hopewell was close to regaining a two goal cushion for the home side, but saw his shot turned away round the right hand post.
From their next attack, Frickley were on level terms, with the simplest of goals as Curtis arrived unnoticed on the edge of Maltby's penalty area to head home Williams' free kick.
John Ballington came to Maltby's rescue, hoofing the ball away to safety after Hartshorn had nodded a looping header over Rusling.
Hinsley charged down an attempted clearance from Hibbert but couldn't keep his shot down.

Hibbert was in action again soon afterwards, intercepting Sigworth's break down the right flank. The Frickley substitute has a more famous sister, Jess,who plays for Doncaster Belles.
Reilly does what he does best, clearing Williams' cross deep into the Maltby box.
Tom Guest delivered a pinpoint corner kick to the back post, where the unlikely figure of his manager popped up to head the ball wide.
Having had the better of the first half, Maltby were now coming under the cosh a bit and Ballington was forced into whacking the ball away to safety, when Jake Ellam carved out an opening with a measured through ball towards Sigworth from out on the right flank.

Frickley manger Karl Rose in action

Ellam was soon up in support of his attack again, but his route to goal was blocked by Jordan Poole, who along with Eagle had a great game for the Miners day, in my humble estimation.
Williams was flattened by Reilly as he tried to break into the Maltby area from the left flank and after dusting himself down and having a quick count to see if all of his limbs were still intact, he took the resulting free kick himself, but Rusling rose to collect the ball unchallenged and the danger was gone.
But in stoppage time, Williams was back and showed some neat touches, dancing through the Maltby defence on the byline, before rolling a precision pass across the face of the goal that only needed a touch and Guest provided it and snatched a late, late win for Frickley in the 90 somethingth minute.

It was too late for Maltby to go looking for a draw now, but as their manager had said, results at this time of the year aren't important.
It was a tough workout for both teams and an enjoyable spectacle for the spectators who'd turned out to bask in the un-British climate.
Neither Maltby nor Frickley ever tackle as if football is a non contact sport, even in these sort of games, so there will be a few sore legs about in the morning no doubt.
FT: Maltby Main 2 v Frickley Athletic 3

Steady girls!
Maltby club secretary John Mills in action

Sunday 24th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at Easter Road
Hibernian (0) 1
James Keatings 63
Birmingham City (0) 0
Admission £10.

A police escort and a really refreshing downpour of rain joined us, as we quietly and respectfully ventured up Leith Walk and along London Road, before milling around on Easter Road.
The game was fairly dull and uninspiring, with the visitors showing very little in the way of creativity, while Hibs, though showing the odd flash of endeavour, failed to take advantage of a lacklustre Blues performance.
I've seen some damn good pre-season games to date this year, but this wasn't one of them.
On sixty three minutes James Keatings netted the only goal of the game with a well taken shot on the turn from a difficult angle.
Blues Andy Shinnie couldn't believe it when he wasn't awarded a penalty after Alex Harris chopped him down inside the home side's area and... oh bugger it!
I'm sure you've got better things to do on a Sunday evening than read about a Hibees win.
The free wi-fi on Waverley Station is good and I'm stocked up with provisions for the journey home.
My car is parked in York, which means I'll have a hours drive home when I get there, but it slashed the cost of travel by around two thirds doing it that way.
Please feel free to come down to the railway station in York around 8.30pm and point at me and mock my lifestyle choices saying : "Look there, that sad bastard is doing a 500+ mile round trip just to watch a friendly"
For the record, I'm here because I wanted to be here... and yes, I'm beyond help! What's your excuse?
I'm not even sure that the bus spotters I just passed on Princes Street before dropping down onto the station would understand my plight.
Right, nobody text me or call until I get home, because my phone battery is virtually kaput.
Away days, it's a way of life.
THE66POW. Waverley Station, Edinburgh 17:51PM Sunday 24.7.16
FT: Hibernian 1 v Birmingham City 0

Maltby Main (0) 4
Hill 55 pen Gregg 58 69 J Poole 75
Ollerton Town (2) 5
Ludlow 11 44 Dockwray 63 Stretton 73 Bingham 90
Admission £5

I found a tight corner to squeeze my motor conveyance into, in the packed car park at this increasingly popular South Yorkshire football emporium and strode eagerly into the ground, anticipating an evening of enthralling football, commitment and endeavour, between two attack minded sides. I wasn't to be disappointed.
An elderly gentleman with a football at his feet challenged me to try and tackle him. So I humoured the old guy and even stood with my feet four feet apart so he could 'nutmeg' me. It made his night and I had a nice warm glow in my heart all night knowing that I had helped to bring some happiness into his life, while chuckling to myself about I'd only been a split second away from launching into a good old fashioned (and recently outlawed) proper slide tackle and smashing both of his shins into a tangled mess.
Enjoy your moment Wilf!

Maltby almost took the lead inside the first five minutes, when Josh Poole let fly with a speculative shot from all of forty yards, that crashed off of the left hand upright.

But it was the visitors who started the ball rolling towards a landslide of goals, when the ball broke to Kyle Ludlow on the left hand edge of the visitors goalmouth and he drilled the ball past Danny Rusling.

Maltby went in search of an equaliser straight away and Les Hill released Ollie Lawrence down the left wing and Ollerton needed to adopt a safety first policy and clear his cross at the expense of a corner.

Hill met the resulting corner with a textbook downwards header, but the visitors defence scrambled the ball away.

Craig Fletcher rolled a sideways pass into the path of Lawrence who tested Simon Smith from 20 yards, but the 'Town' keeper was well placed to take an easy catch.
Fletcher once again set an attack in motion for the home side with a well weighted ball into the path of Connor Gregg, who saw off a challenge before picking out Nicky Darker with a measured cross that the Maltby captain struck first time from the edge of the area, forcing a good save out of Smith.
In the last minute of the first half, Rob Doolan fired a low free kick across the Maltby penalty area that found it's way through to Ludlow at the back post who doubled the visitors lead with a poachers goal from close range.
There were claims that the Ollerton front man had strayed offside, but in the week when the nation celebrates the 50th anniversary of the national side winning the Jules Rimet Trophy, it is probably to respect the decisions of linesmen the world over.
HT: Malty Main 0 v Ollerton Town 2

The visitors almost gave themselves a three goal cushion, but Ben Bowring's strike from long distance skimmed past the post. Maltby advanced from the goal kick and in a frenzy of action that unfolded in the Ollerton goalmouth, the referee spotted an infringement and pointed to the penalty spot.
Hill stepped forward and halved the arrears with an emphatic finish.
Maltby regained the ball straight from the rebound and went on the attack, with Smith doing well to block Fletcher's shot, but the rebound fell to Ryan Poole who only had to keep his shot on target with an open goal begging and he... err, will want to forget that one, as a spectator carrying a drink back from the refreshments bar, needed to take evasive action to prevent the ball from knocking his tea all over him. I know it was tea because they're not posh coffee drinkers round these parts.

But Maltby won back possession straight from the goal kick and Connor Gregg soothed the nerves of the tea drinkers behind the goal, when he kept his closae range thumping shot on target and the 'Miners' were on level terms just three minutes after hill had pulled a goal back from the spot.
But in the 63rd minute, the visitors were back in front, when Sam Dockwray homed in on the Maltby goal through the right channel; Rusling came out to narrow the angle and went down bravely at the Ollerton playmaker's feet, but inexplicably missed the ball with his outstretched hands and Dockwray strode on to claim an real opportunist goal.

The home side were soon level again, as an end to end game of non-stop attacking football, broke out all over the place... you couldn't take your eyes off of this incredible game for a moment. or you ran the risk of missing a goal.
Jordan Poole crashed a thumping shot past Smith that came down off the crossbar to where Gregg provided the finishing touch.
The crowd were kept waiting a whole four minutes before they saw another goal, when Sam Stretton rose, salmon like, to connect with Josh Dodds left wing corner and head the visitors back in front.
If you are struggling to keep up with the score, that one put the visitors 4-3 ahead.
But straight from the restart Jordan Poole made in four apiece when he took the ball round Smith with a darting run and rolled the ball into the goal.

Inside the final 5 minutes of the game, Dockwray controlled the ball well on the edge of the area allowing Lewis Bingham just enough space to get his shot away in a crowded goalmouth and snatch a fifth goal for Ollerton.
As the game went into stoppage time, Rusling conceded a penalty with a clumsy challenge on the edge of his area. Thankfully the referee took the timing (90+ minutes), the nature of the infringement and the friendly status of the game into consideration, before deliberating Rusling's fate... and he stayed on the pitch to face Ludlow's spot kick and denied the Ollerton striker his hat trick, by dropping quickly to his right and and getting his body behind the ball.
But it was too late for any more goals and we all had to be content with just the nine, as an enthralling, amusing and highly entertaining game came to a close and Ollerton claimed their first pre-season win this summer after three straight defeats.
Some people give pre-season games a wide berth, but you really don't know what you're missing!
FT: Maltby Main 4 v Ollerton Town 5
Ollerton Town's friendly at Pinxton this weekend was cancelled, but they are now travelling to Swanwick Pentrich Road instead for a game that has a 1pm kick off, while Maltby Main's next game is on Saturday too, when a Sheffield United XI are visiting for a game that kicks off at 3pm.

Wetherby Athletic 1 v Oxenhope Rec 4 - West Yorkshire League Prem

Carlton Athletic 1 v Leeds City 3 - West Yorkshire League Premier Division

Janet and Paul - Forever in our hearts

Putting the 2015-16 season into some kind of context.

Rainworth Miners Welfare 0 v Mansfield Town 2 - Green Energy Cup

Ollerton Town 0 v Worksop Town 2 - PSF

Clipstone 2 v Mansfield Town XI 2 - PSF

Worksop Town 0 v Lincoln City XI 2 - PSF

Rossington Main 0 v Doncaster Rovers 4 - PSF

Matlock Town 0 v Mansfield Town 0 - PSF

Retford United 1 v High Green Villa 0 - PSF

Penistone Church 1 v Handsworth Parramore 3 - PSF

Mansfield Town 2 v Bolton Wanderers 1 - PSF

Gainsborough Trinity 3 v Lincoln City 3 - PSF

Ollerton Town 2 v Kimberley MW 3 - PSF

Worksop Town 0 v Gainsborough Trinity 0 - PSF

THE66POW updated fixtures 2016-17

Maltby Main 2 v Frickley Athletic 3 - PSF

Hibernian 1 v Birmingham City 0 - PSF

Maltby Main 4 v Ollerton Town 5 - PSF