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Gainsborough Trinity 3 v Handsworth Parramore 0 - PSF

July 25, 2016, 2:35 pm
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Monday 25th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Martin & Co Arena, Northolme
Gainsborough Trinity (0) 3
Jacob Hazel 56, Gavin Rothery 62, James Reid 80
Handsworth Parramore (0) 0
Admission £5
Team managers: Dom Roma and Micky Godber
Congratulations to Handsworth Parramorte who won the Toolstation Cup at the weekend, when they beat Odd Down of the Western League 4-0 in the final.
Tonight marked the first of four midweek friendly games for the visitors who host Ossett Albion tomorrow, travel to Nostell Miners Welfare on Wednesday, before welcoming the new Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and his first team, to the Windsor Foodservices Stadium on Friday.
That last fixture is quite a coup... for the Blades!
Worksop Town fans of a nervous disposition
LOOK AWAY NOW!
While I'm feeling benevolent about promoting fixtures for local clubs: Gainsborough Trinity face Grimsby Town at the Northolme on Wednesday night, Sheffield United on Saturday and Hull City next Tuesday.
All three of these games kick off at 7.30pm.
Sadly the 'Holy Blues' trip to Cleethorpes Town on Thursday night has been cancelled. Which is especially inconvenient for me because I've arranged a trip to the coast with my family that day, that facilitated me visiting the Linden Homes Club while I bribed them with bags of loose change to blitz the arcades with.
Alas, being a man of my word, theday/evening arrangement still stands and I'll be stuffing my face with candyfloss instead of watching any football that night.
Micky Godber's side were relishing the opportunity to impose themselves in this game against opposition of the calibre of Gainsborough Trinity and they were afforded the opportunity to test themselves against two virtually different sides, as Dom Roma (who is getting his team to play some aesthetically pleasing football, from what I've seen thus far) put out a very young starting eleven in the first half, that included Jake Scott and Jacob Hazel and an all but full strength first team eleven after the break, with Hazel staying on to lead the line.
Sheffield football hooligans spotted at back of terracing
These are two managers who I have a great of amount of respect for, so you'll have to excuse me for omitting several pictures that I took and for not revealing the name(s) of anybody out on the lush green turf of the Northolme, who might have been playing as a trialist.
One such player in particular would prove to be a great signing for the team he turned out for and I am eagerly awaiting an official preess announcement any time soon.
Connor Higginson and Danny Buttle both made a telling contribution out wide on for the visitors, while Kieran Wells came very close to finding the net two or three times. Recently cropped of his trademark ginger shock of hair, Wellsy needs to get it grown back ASAP, because not everybody can carry off a grade one crop as stylishly as I do and a couple of his misses tonight made me wonder if the new haircut had a Samson type effect on the usually prolific striker. He's a biblical character Kieran! Not the ex Crystal Palce, Arsenal, Newcastle United and England full back.
Jon Froggatt also had a great opportunity to score, but cleared the crossbar from a tight angle when the ball sat up unkindly for him.
The Ambers were playing in all red tonight, which caused a delay to the kick off when Trinity's keeper came out wearing exactly the same colours as the visitors and he had to nip back off the pitch to get changed.
In my humble estimation, Handsworth were the better team in the first half, an opinion borne out of the fact that a few sporting Trinity fans stood nearby were singing their praises and were unfortunate not to take at least a two goal lead into the break.
But although they kept plucking away after the break, Roma's second half side had just that bit too much quality for the visitors, who play their trade three divisions below the level that they regularly play at. 
Trinity are assembling a very useful side, they're going to be worth watching this season.
Trinity, decked out in an all green ensemble, were ruthless with their finishing in the second half and in a nutshell, that was the difference between the two sides on the night.
The former Frickley Athletc front man Jacob Hazel opened the scoring on 53 minutes, when he rounded the Parramore keeper and rolled the ball into the goal from an angle.
The visitors pushed forward but when their attack broke down on the edge of a crowded Gainsborough area, Alex Wiles latched onto the ball and sprinted forward 60 yards before knocking a slide rule pass into the path of Gav Rothery, who couldn't and didn't miss from such a great position.
With ten minutes remaining, James Reid finished off the visitors resistance, with a sublime finish from a well executed free kick from around 25 yards out.
If you really want any more information about the whos, whats, whys and wherefores of this particular game, then you should have made the trip to the Martin & Co. Arena yourself; because I have some good friends at both of these clubs and I won't betray their trust by repeating anything that was discussed in confidence with me tonight.
Certain local clubs thrive on back stabbing, gossip and spreading lies, but neither of these two are guilty on any of those charges. 
And when you're treated with respect on your travel to games, then it is only right to reciprocate those good manners accordingly.
FT: Holy Blues (in green) 3 v Ambers (in red) 0
A decent run out at the start of a busy week for both teams.
See you all again soon.
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Grantham Town 3 v Mansfield Town U21 1 - PSF

July 26, 2016, 2:27 pm
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Tuesday 26th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Meres
Grantham Town (3) 3
Dan Durkin 3, Jamie McGhee 7, Grant Ryan 35
Mansfield Town U21 (0) 1
Jordan Hammill 74
Mansfield Town played two games tonight; whereby Adam Murray took a mixed ages cum first team squad over to face Mickleover Sports, while Mike Whitlow and Simon Ward travelled to Lincolnshire where their under 21 side faced Grantham Town of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League..
Three players from the Under 18 players pool stepped up and featured in this game at the Meres, while the Under 18 team had already played at Derby County earlier today, as the busy preparations for the season ahead reach their peak.
Grantham started on the front foot and surged into a two goal lead inside the first seven minutes, before the Stags had got into any kind of cohesive rhythm.
The game was only three minutes old when the bouncing ball sat up in front of Dan Durkin some ten yards from goal, who spotted that Alex Roughton had advanced from his line and lobbed the ball over the vistors keeper and opened the scoring.
Jamie McGhee doubled the 'Gingerbreads' lead shortly afterwards, when he dispossessed  Joe Fitzpatrick with a crafty handball on the referee's blind side just inside the Stags half, before charging forward and drilling a rasping thirty five yard drive. 
It was a quality finish, in spite of McGhee's dubious actions in the build up.
Shocked into action, Mansfield began to introduce more creativity into their own game.
Fitzpatrick delivered a long free kick towards Joshua Cook from out on the left flank, but the ball sat up unkindly in front of the Stags number 11 and he struggled to get any power in his shot, but still forced a save out of Jake Turner. Fitzpatrick's presence and distribution of the ball were one of the highlights of the Stags performance tonight. The new U21 set up is a great opportunity for the player to shine, having been around the periphery of the club for a while now.
Cameron Healey, who has featured with the first team in pre-season, looked comfortable with the step up two levels from the Under 18 squad.
Cook was thwarted by Turner again, just moments later, when the Grantham keeper raced off of his line and reach Cook's through ball a fraction before Tyler Blake got to it.
Adam Porritt, getting up in support of the Stags attack from his right back berth, delivered a cross for Drew Ricketts to knock the ball into Blake's path, but the young Stags striker's shot was deflected behind for a corner. Adrial George took the resulting kick and Ricketts met the ball with a powerful header that was blocked by a Grantham defender.
Ricketts wore the captain's armband for Mansfield tonight and his leadership qualities shone through the longer the game went on.
The Stags were threatening to get back into the game after their inauspicious start, but still had to be wary of the home side's quick breaks out of defence and effective long ball and direct tactics.
Jamie McGhee seemingly had a 'right to roam' and he was popping up all over the final third for the home side and testing the Stags rearguard.
While Grant Ryan, looked strong in the tackle and difficult to knock off the ball, in the centre of attack for the home team. Just as it looked as though Mansfield were getting back into the game, it was Ryan who gave them a mountain to climb, when he made it three nil with a stunning strike from thirty five yards that bulged the top left hand corner of Roughton's net.
These are the sort of games where teams gel together and the bonding process begins.
Prior to this game a lot of the Stags squad had never played together, but as the game unfolded, especially after the break, you could see the understanding growing between this mix of Under 21 players and a few younger lads.
But Grantham were winning on merit and deserved to be three goals ahead at half time, through a combination of hard work and quality finishing, especially when they raided the Stags final third in the opening ten minutes, like an unexpected invasion of shock troops.
After the break the visitors imposed themselves on the game more with Cook and Adriel George looking sharp alongside Blake up front, but Grantham's no nonsense defending was proving to be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
Luke Shaw, Ben Saunders and Lee Shaw put a string of passes together before the latter saw his shot saved easily by Roughton.
Ollie Humphrey was 'tackled' very heavily by Michael Hollingsworth, it was a challenging that was unbecoming for a friendly that had otherwise been played in an enthusiastic, firm yet fair manner. But the response to the foul galvanised the Mansfield players and the camaraderie among Humphrey's team mates was clear to see.
Trying to bully these guys is obviously not advisable.
The Stags were getting forward more now, but George's shot from distance was a little too over ambitious, and sent the ball boys scurrying beyond all the athletic equipment behind the goal and into the outside lane of the running tack that circumnavigates the Meres pitch to retrieve the ball.
George lofted a cross to Blake but Turner showed good positional awareness and was well placed to take a catch.
Saunders and Luke Shaw both tried to beat Roughton, peppering his goal with long range shots, but the visitors keeper had shrugged off the scoring opportunity he had afforded Grantham right at the start of the game and was growing in both confidence and stature.
Both teams had made several substitutions by now, such is the nature of these pre-season run outs; Tobi Shoyoye showed some good touches and is one Stags hopeful I'm hoping to see more of this season, while Jordan Hammill pulled a goal back in the seventy fourth minute, when he rifled a shot past Turner from just inside the area.
Two players came together inside the Stags goalmouth, it was a six and two thirds collision with no malicious intent on either side. Tyler Johal most certainly didn't think it was a penalty and he remonstrated quite vociferously, but the referee awarded a penalty anyway.
Karma intervened however and saw that justice was done, as Luke Shaw's spot kick vanished over the bar and into the distance.
Hammill made himself some space to get his shot away just outside the 'Gingerbreads' eighteen yard line but the Grantham keeper thwarted him and a possible late comeback for the visitors with a good stop.
Right at the death Roughton was called into action again and showed his agility to keep out a stinging shot from Lee Shaw.
FT: Grantham Town 3 v Mansfield Town U21 1
Grantham were very welcoming and accommodating on the night and obviously have a clutch of players who are raring to go as the new season approaches rapidly over the horizon. It was a good test for the Stags U21 team, who will know a lot more about each others strengths now and there were promising signs that it is going to be an exciting season for this team as they take their place in the Football League reserve team set up.
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THE66POW updated fixtures 2016-17

July 28, 2016, 10:51 am
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Handsworth Parramore 1 v Sheffield United 5 - PSF

July 29, 2016, 2:42 pm
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Friday 29th July 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium
Handsworth Parramore (1) 1
Jon Froggatt 4
Sheffield United (1) 5
Stefan Scougall 8, 90, Che Adams 56
David Brooks 59, Leon Clarke 71
Admission £6. Programme £2. Attendance 1561
'Little old Handsworth' had prepared well for tonight's visit of Chris Wilder's League 1 side, and coped impressively with the not inconsiderable task of accommodating all of the 1561 spectators who turned up on their doorstep, for this prestigious pre-season friendly.
The big turn out represents a new club record attendance for Handsworth.
The progress made at this amalgamated club. since we used to pop across to Olivers Mount to team up with Brett Price, Mark Storey and the 'Railway Enders' at Olvers Mount for Handsworth games and watched Parramore at the Don Valley Stadium (and even at the Woodbourn Stadium, just the once) in the Central Midlands League, has been nothing short of remarkable.
There are of course some detractors and haters out there, stuffed to the brim with spitefulness towards this progressive football club.
But having witnessed some of that sentiment first hand; as a complete neutral, I've concluded that blinkered envy does, from time to time, distorts people's perceptions and a reluctance to accept facts clouds over a clear view of the truth. I'll say no more on that subject.
Handsworth Parramore FC... and both of it's predecessor clubs, have always been welcoming and accommodating on the numerous occasions that I've been to watch them over the years... so don't you go believing any other hype or bullcrap.
Thanks to Ian Robinson for the team details
Thankfully, just as the other Football League club in Sheffield have found some rather unimaginative Gainsborough Trinity cast offs from the 1980's to use as their new kit this season, the Blades have reverted back to having proper stripes on their home shirts again.
Last season's effort would've been alright as an away kit, or a third choice strip, but let's be right about this; that predominantly white number with the red pinstripes, just wasn't ever meant to be a Sheffield United top. Common sense has prevailed.
Nuff said!?
Tonight's Blades line up was a very strong one and proved, at times, to be a stern test for the Ambers, but with just a week to go before the season starts for real, it was ideal preparation for them.
There is little point in taking your foot of the gas at this point and racking up an easy win and a great big score against lesser opposition from a lower league, this is the time to hit the ground running in a bid to steal a head start on all of the other contenders in the NCEL Premier Division.
Micky Godber and Mark Ward (not forgetting the considerable effort of Steve Smith) have just one game left on Monday night, when Evo-Stik League club Ossett Town visit the Windsor Foodservice Stadium on Monday night; then the dress rehearsal is over and Armthorpe Welfare await in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round next Saturday.
Connor Smythe had to be alert from the off as he nicked the ball off Leon Clarke when he looked odds on to score in the opening exchanges, but despite their lively start, the game was just four minutes old when United met the most prolific and powerhouse striking duo in the NCEL (though a couple of lads at Cleethorpes Town will be gunning for that crown this season). Steve Warne knocked a pass through the right channel, having spotted that Connor Higginson and Keiran Wells had moved into space... and the latter smashed the ball across the face of the goal to where Jon Froggatt was on hand to place the ball past George Long.
Time stood still, as the enormity of that goal sank in for everybody connected to Handsworth Parramore.
Only a few years ago, Parramore were playing local derbies against the likes of Phoenix Sports & Social from Brinsworth, while Handsworth had been ostracised by the NCEL and ended up in the Sheffield & Hallam County Senior League.
Yet here they both were, collectively, on the threshold of a very important season (their third since the two clubs amalgamated), winning in a game of football against one of the giants of south Yorkshire football.
I hope that everybody concerned had a chance to savour the full significance of their moment, because it didn't take long for the Blades to get back on level terms.
But briefly, just very briefly, the club that turned the likes of Bill 'Fatty' Foulkes, Billy Dearden, Trevor Hockey, Alan Woodward, Tony Currie, Alex Sabella, Colin Morris, Keith Edwards, Tony Agana, Brian Deane, Eddie Colquhoun, Len Badger, Chris Morgan, Del Geary and err... Glyn Hodges, into household names, were trailing to John Ward and Peter Whitehead's visionary non-league football club: Handsworth Parramore.
Leon Clarke, on the occasion of his first outing for the Blades had two quick opportunities to level things up, but his first skimmed past the post and his second was well saved by Joe Green, but Stefan Scougall got to the rebound first and fired home the equaliser after eight minutes.
Louis Reed tried his luck and unleashed a shot, but Green was equal to it.
I'm a big fan of 'Archie' Sneath, the Parramore goalkeeper, but signing Green (along with the younger keepers at the club) will provide some healthy competition for places, which must be good for all concerned.
Incidentally, Joe Green was featured in a previously on THE66POW, when he was man of the match in a cup final; see HERE
And he's also played in two other games covered by this blog this season already. Small world, innit!?
Tom Dugdale is looking like a useful signing for the 'Ambers', he very nearly restored the home side's lead, before combining with Froggatt to force Long into action.
But despite the home side giving their illustrious visitors a few scares, Chris Wilder's team were dominating for lengthy spells and dictating the ebb and flow of the game.
Handsworth for their part, didn't so much park the bus, as circle their wagons around the goalmouth and dig themselves in for a concerted effort.
And much as the Blades tried to carve a way through, they were up against no small amount of dogged and determined defending, not least by Gareth Griffiths, who despite being kept bust by Clarke had time to pop up at the other end to try to keep up his goal scoring record from last season, but he headed wide.
Green tipped a crashing effort from Che Adams over the bar as the visitors pierced the Handsworth defence, but in spite of their relentless bombardment of the final third, the score remained at one apiece as the sides went into the break.
HT: Ambers 1 v Blades 1
Adams has been subject to two size-able bids from Championship side Birmingham City this past week, the most recent of which was reported to be in the region of £1.7 million pounds, that were both knocked back. Whether Blues manager Gary Rowett comes back with an improved offer given that protracted takeover talks at St. Andrews are taking longer than expected to complete, Adams rise from youth team football at Ilkeston has been meteoric. He's destined for bigger things, without a doubt, but evidently he features in Wilder's plans at the minute.
Indeed it was Adams who finally put United ahead, in the fifty sixth minute, when the home defence showed him a rare chink in their Armour and the highly rated striker only needed a sniff of a chance to drill the ball into the back of the net, just moments after Green had just denied him.
Sadly for the hard working NCEL side, their dreams of pulling off a 'giant-killing' were all but finished just three minutes later, when David Brooks placed a well executed shot past Green from outside the goal area.
Things might have been different if the referee had spotted that Long had missed the ball completely when he dashed off his line to punch clear, but had 'landed one' on Dugdale instead.
But as is often said, usually by someone who has just benefitted from an iffy decision that went their way; these things balance themselves out over the course of a whole season. 
Dugdale will still be feeling the effects of getting thumped in the morning no doubt.
Simon Harrison came close to pulling a goal back for Parramore, but he knocked a dipping long range effort over the bar.
Clarke had been a real handful for the Handsworth defence all night and it was almost inevitable that he would find the net eventually. His seventy first minute strike was a quality effort, that went in via the upright.
Worksop Blade (and Tiger) Taff, fulfilling his lifetime 
ambition of appearing on THE66POW ;-)  
Young Harry Bamforth, a player that Godber and his coaches have a lot of faith in, came on at the back against the team his family supports with fifteen minutes to go, in place of Tom Claisse who had run himself to a standstill, while Sneath took over from Green in goal for the last ten. He was called upon twice as the Blades kept up their relentless hunt for more goals and it was probably a bit harsh on the 'Ambers', after all of the hard graft and effort they had put in, when Scougall added a fifth for the Blades, when he swept the ball past Sneath in the very last minute.
FT: Handsworth Parramore 1 v Sheffield United 5
This was the Blades final outing before their opening league game of the season at Bolton Wanderers next Saturday, who are charging visiting United fans £30 quid for the privilege of watching the game. 
Daylight robbery!
But if anybody who attended tonight's game and held on to their ticket stub and presents it at the gate at the Windsor Food Service Stadium, it will entitle them to free admission for a Handsworth Parramore, NCEL fixture this season... not all clubs are out to milk the fans dry like Bolton. 
That's a pretty awesome gesture on the part of the 'Ambers' and a great initiative for which they deserve to be applauded.
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Peterborough United U18 3 v Mansfield Town U18 6 - PSF

July 30, 2016, 4:58 am
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Saturday 30th July 2016
at the Mick George-Nene Park Academy
Pre-Season Friendly
Peterborough United U18 (1) 3
Kasey Douglas 2, Morgan Ratcliffe OG 73, Leyton Maddison 89
Mansfield Town U18 (2) 6
Nyle Blake 7, 82, Ali Smith 20, Teddy Bloor 46, 
Cain Smith 61, Asahnti Pryce 81
Stags line up:
Sam Wilson (Jack Dickens 64), Teddy Bloor, Henri Wilder, Aiden Walker, Morgan Ratcliffe, Keiran Harrison, Cain Smith, Ali Smith, Surafel Behailu, Ashanti Pryce, Nyle Blake
A productive Saturday lunchtime excursion to Peterborough, saw two high scoring wins for both of the Mansfield Town Under 18 sides who travelled down the A1 to take on teams from the 'Posh' Academy.
John Dempster and Mark Peters oversaw the team who mainly featured players who featured in last season's championship winning side, while Simon Ward took on similar duties for the other game.
Eight of  'the old guard', who had players appearing elsewhere for the Under 21s and first team today, were joined by three other outfield players Ashanti Pryce, Henri Wilder and Aiden Walker, who all fitted in seamlessly alongside the 'established' side and impressed everyone present and Jack Dickens, who played in goal for the last 24 minutes.
The legendary Barry Fry, who was an apprentice at Manchester United when he was these lads age, before moving on to play for and manage numerous teams across a very colourful career, was stood watching the game from the touchline (and retrieving stray balls). Now in his 70's Fry is Director of Football at Peterborough United and has obviously lost none of his enthusiasm for the game.
The 'Posh' were in front after just two minutes, when Kasey Douglas took everyone else on the pitch by surprise, when he spanked an unstoppable thunderbolt of a shot from over thirty five yards out.
But despite the less than ideal start, Mansfield began to get into their rhythm and took the game to their hosts.
Ashanti Pryce went close to forcing an equaliser almost immediately, but Peterborough cleared their lines.
The powerhouse striker went close again, when Ali Smith picked him out with a slide rule pass, but his shot deflected wide for a corner.
Henri Wilder delivered a dipping cross to the near post from the resulting kick and Nyle Blake arrived right on time to force the ball over the line.
Seven minutes gone, all square.
Blake was looking hungry for goals today... and while his older brother Tyler was claiming a brace for the Under 21 side in their game, Nyle would've claimed a hat trick inside the first half a hour had it not been for an outstretched defenders leg and a great stop from the Peterborough keeper.
Surafel Behailu and Cain Smith were gelling well in midfield and linking up with the impressive Walker, while making it difficult for the home side get any real momentum going. Keiran Harrison and Morgan Ratcliffe carried on pretty much where they left off last season in the role of an ever efficient central defensive pairing and both full backs, Teddy Bloor and Wilder were patrolling their defensive duties well, while getting forward frequently in support of their forwards.
Harrison had a couple of speculative long range shots, that kind of suggested why he plays in defence and isn't a forward, but he was instrumental in the Stags second goal when he won the ball in the middle of the park ans sprayed a quick pass wide to Bloor, whose deep cross was knocked down by Blake into the path of Ali Smith, who buried his shot into the back of the net from twelve yards.
From a rare Peterborough attack, Sam Wilson was left exposed but ran from his line and made a great double save, dealing with two well hit shots, to preserve the Stags lead.
Harrison and Ratcliffe took turns to head right wing corners by Wilder off target, but the Stags were looking really comfortable by this point.
Pryce must've thought he had scored when he came close again, from Bloor's right wing cross and the visitors right back almost claimed a goal for himself just before half time, but his low free kick skimmed just past the post.
HT: Posh 1 v Stags 2
Mansfield increased their lead straight from the break, when Wilder got the ball into the Posh goal area quickly and Bloor met it with a diving header, to give the scoreline a more accurate indication of how the game had been going so far.
Pryce broke into the Peterborough area and left his marker stranded by back-heeling the ball to Wilder, who found Bloor with a first time cross, but the full back rifled his shot over the bar.
The young Stags began to turn the screw on their hosts.
Behailu won the ball and charged forward but his attempt to lob the keeper was inches away from increasing the visitors lead.
Ali Smith worked himself some space but his shot from twelve yards was turned away by the keeper.
Peterborough pushed forward in an attempt to salvage the game, but amidst a couple of goalmouth scrambles in quick succession, Wilson dealt with the danger.
Once again Pryce was a fraction away from netting Bloor's cross after Behailu had set the ball rolling in the middle of the park. But another Stags goal was inevitable and when Cain Smith latched onto a clearance from the Peterborough defence, on the hour, there was only one place that the ball was destined as the Mansfield skipper despatched it into the roof of the net.
Both Blake and Behailu tested the Peterborough keeper, before the Posh were gifted a goal back, when Ratcliffe misplaced an attempted clearance into his own goal, past Jack Dickens who had only just come on as a substitute. Welcome to Mansfield Town Under 18s Jack... you'll like it here!
Blake and Prycee continued to enjoy a great supply of the ball from all areas of the team, but concocted the last two goals themselves, when Pryce netted from inside the area after the two front men had exchanged passes and Blake claimed one for himself, within a minute, straight from the restart with a well placed finish.
Credit to Peterborough, who were still trying to attack, in spite of coming up against a very determined Stags rearguard and with just three minutes remaining, Leyton Maddison shot came back off Dickens and he found the net off the rebound with a clever finish.
FT: Peterborough United U18 3 v Mansfield Town U18 6
While the second year young Stags ran out 6-3 winners on Pitch 1 at the Mick George-Nene Park Academy; on the adjacent Pitch 2, a team made up predominantly of first year players, augmented by Tom Marriott and Devante Reittie, won their game against a similarly juxtaposed Peterborough United side by a score of 7-2 after being level (1-1) at half time. An aggregate score of 5-13 then.
Right... a quick dash and I'm en route back up the A1, to watch the Stags first team friendly at Worksop Town; while being mindful to keep a wary eye out in case that last shot Kieran Harrison launched into orbit lands on my car roof.
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Worksop Town 1 v Mansfield Town 3 - PSF

July 30, 2016, 11:02 am
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Saturday 30th October 2016
at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium
Pre-Season Friendly
Worksop Town (0) 1
Mitch Husbands 72
Mansfield Town (0) 3
Lee Collins 47
Chris Clements 62
Zayn Hakeem 87
Admission £5. Programme £1. Attendance 558
Where's Wally?
A curious post match phenomena broke out, whereby supporters from both clubs spoke openly about how happy they had been with their own teams performance; but appeared to think that the opposition hadn't played particularly well, and rubbished their neighboring teams performance and ambitions for the season ahead, in their respective leagues.
By way of an analogy, to explain why so many people from each camp suffered from a pretty severe case of tunnel vision and bias, topped off with a plague like epidemic of verbal diarrhea (I am pretty sure that there used to be a letter o in that word, though my PC spellcheck begs to differ), is that the vast majority of those present were actually genuine and loyal football supporters of a very partisan nature, who have followed their teams through some fairly thin and wafer thin times.
And as a consequence, both camps have developed a very healthy (in my humble opinion) siege mentality and 'us against the world' mindset. Hence nobody was here to coo over the relative merits of the opposition, or exchange pleasantries, each and every person present was here to check out how their own team was progressing on the eve of a new football season and the 'other lot' might as well have been invisible for all that anyone present cared.
Both teams have a good number of outspoken supporters who don't bother with any airs and graces when it comes to aiming barbed criticism at their own chosen club, but woe betide any outsider who pours scorn on those very same targets.
It isn't such a bad thing in my opinion that Mansfield and Worksop people share this same trait and don't do things by half measures.
As the saying goes: Football opinions are like eggy trumps, people can only tolerate the whiff of their own.
But for purposes of clarity, it is important to establish the facts from a point of complete neutrality, so, for the record: Mansfield Town were the better team and they won comfortably, at a canter even... and that must be true because it is on the internet now... so there! ;-)
Both mangers seemed to be pleased with their players efforts and I offer the following questions to those fans who thought that either team was crap today:
If, as it was claimed in the clubhouse after the game: "Mansfield weren't up to much, they didn't create 'owt", then why was the Tigers evergreen goalkeeper, Jon Kennedy, selected as man of the match? An accolade that does actually suggest that he must have been fairly busy all afternoon... and where did the three goals come from if they weren't creating chances?
Sun, fresh air and beer... Wad a recipe for forty winks zzzzzzzz!
A visitor from Mansfield, one of a disproportionate amount of people called Eric in the bar at the time, suggested that "Worksop had nothing in their tank, we won that in second gear and over ran them".
Well that isn't true either.
The NCEL side shut out their English Football League Division 2 visitors altogether in the first half and they only made sure of the victory when their substitute from straight out of the Under 18 ranks: Zayn Hakeem, netted his first goal for the Stags shortly before the end of the game.
Today was the best that I have seen the Tigers play this pre-season so far. Though to be fair, they were fairly average, pedestrian and if truth be told; fairly woeful the last time I watched them... not that they really needed to be anything special during their friendly games ahead of the proper stuff that commences next weekend.
All told, the 1-3 final scoreline was a fair outcome to this game, given the that balance of play overall balanced onto the Stags side of the scales and the visitors created a greater number of clear cut chances than Mark Shaw's side as the 90 minutes unfolded.
The link up play with Matt Green from Rhys Bennett, out on the right flank, looks promising... and Green was unlucky to see his attempted header go just wide of the post early on.
Mitchell Rose (twice), Mal Benning (twice) and Chris Clements (twice) all went close to breaking the first half deadlock for Mansfield.
Kevan Hurst was delivering a steady supply of ammunition into Worksop's final third and Jon Kennedy had already done enough to prevent the game being over as a contest by half time.
The Tigers best chance in the first half came via a long free kick, from the former Retford United winger Adam Scott, but his effort sailed high and wide of the target.
Right on half time Hurst saw off three challenges but having made himself the time and space to score, lifted the ball over both Kennedy and the crossbar and the Tigers captain did well to save Clements free kick from 20 yards.
HT: 0-0
The second half was less than two minutes old when Collins diverted Hurst's corner through a crowded goalmouth and into the back of the net.
Two former Stags youngsters, Adam Somes and Jack Hawkins, who must have been relishing turning out against their old team combined but as the latter crossed to the former, he turned the ball narrowly over the bar.
"He's only four feet four, he'll break your ****ing jaw!" sang the Worksop faithful, by way of a tribute to their diminutive play maker. It would have been interesting to see how Jack's dad might have reacted if his son had just scored for the opposition, because Mark Hawkins is a director at Mansfield Town.
I tried, but failed miserably to keep on top of listing all the substitutions that were being made in quick succession, moments before Bennett dribbled his way towards the Tigers goal from out on the right flank before delivering a well weighted pass to Clements, who crashed the ball past Kennedy to double the Stags lead.
Mikey Fereday went close for Worksop, when he turned well inside the Stags penalty area before forcing a save out of Scott Shearer, who up until that point hadn't exactly been overworked.
But having fired a friendly warning shot across the Stags bows, Worksop attacked again and Mitch Husbands thumped the ball past Shearer from close range after the visitors defence indulged in a game of 'after you'.
Stop trying to hide at the back Mr Eyre, this lens will always find you ;-)
"Football League? You're having a laugh!" sang the 'Tigers Barmy Army' oblivious to the fact that just moments before they had pulled a goal back, along with Jamie Maguire, the Stags manager (and for a short time a Worksop Town player) Adam Murray had unleashed his secret weapon from the bench. Ladies and gentlemen make way for a young man who is about to become a household name by virtue of his prowess in front of goal in the colours of Mansfield Town... Barry Crease!!! Err, hang on a minute, I meant... Zayn Hakeem!!!
I left my seat and moved behind the goal with Zayn's number one fan. "We can see you sneaking out!" shouted the Tigers matchday secretary and all round decent bloke Paul Stacey as we passed by. "No Paul, we're just going around there to get some pictures of Zayn scoring" I replied.
I wasn't joking pal, here they are:
The Stags won a corner kick out on the left and Pat Hoban stood over the ball waiting to take it.
Young Mr Hakeem appeared to be walking away from the goal, thus hoodwinking the Tigers right back and keeper into thinking he was just wandering around aimlessly and they didn't pick him up.
But quick as a flash as Hoban delivered a pinpoint cross to the near post, Zayn turned on a sixpence, darted into the space and forced the ball over the line. A superb piece of trickery on the part of the striker who has just progressed to the first team out of the Under 18 side, had effectively killed the game off.
Left click on the picture to enlarge it and check out the despairing actions of the full back who had just fallen for the routine hook line and sinker.
Hoban almost added a fourth just before the final whistle, but the Stags had to settle for the 3-1 win today and to be honest, Worksop didn't deserve to concede four, given how hard their defence had worked, particularly in the first half and how well man of the match Jon Kennedy had played.
FT: Worksop Town 1 v Mansfield Town 3
Cheer up Mr Tigerpants, you can't win 'em all
Two Stags wins this morning in Peterborough... and one in Worksop this afternoon. Today was being good to me so far, well at least it was until I reached my car and found that somebody had stoved one of the windows in.
Sadly, I am now minus one small (empty) camera case and a phone charger... and I won't be heading to Doncaster Belles v Birmingham City Ladies this evening any more for the 6.30pm kick off.
But even I can see the funny side, pertaining to the musical tastes of the sneak thief, who hadn't taken any of my CD's that were strewn all over the passenger seat.
I guess nobody likes David Essex, ELO, 10CC and Gilbert O'Sullivan any more, in this day and age.
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Handsworth Parramore 2 v Ossett Town 3 - PSF

August 1, 2016, 2:28 pm
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Monday August 1st 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium
Handsworth Parramore (1) 2
Colin Marrison 15
Conor Higginson 84
Ossett Town (2) 3
Jason Yates 9, 41
Tyrone Gay 56
Admission £5. Programme £1.
Half time draw winner: Mr Rob Waite of East Retford upon Idle
The two main differences between both sides tonight, as Handsworth Parramore hosted Evo-Stik League team Ossett Town, was the quality finishing of Jason Yates, who the visitors, among others, will be hoping to secure the signature of before the season starts (it wasn't hard to see why is is in such demand)... and the agility and positional awareness of Andy 'Archie' Sneath. Parramore now have five dependable keepers signed on, so this was a timely reminder to his manager of just what he is capable of.
However it was Leigh Overton in goal for the visitors who had to be alert early on, when the Ambers right back Connor White tested him with an angled shot that flew narrowly past the right hand post.
White was linking up well down the right flank with Tom Dugdale, while Connor Smythe and Danny Buttle formed a similar strike force on the opposite flank and though the 'Ingfielders' (they have three nicknames, but I like that one the best), were obviously intent of making a proper game of it and giving their NCEL hosts a competitive and high tempo run out, but Micky Godber's side seemed to be coping well and as Jason Yates approached the right channel, he was met with two determined lines of resistance and wasn't going anywhere fast any time soon. Quick as a flash, Yates spotted a solution to his problematic demeanor and unleashed a dipping shot, that dropped just underneath the crossbar and put Town in front on 9 minutes.
Smythe tried to probe the visitors defence down the left flank, but Ossett closed ranks and conceded a throw in, level with the edge of their penalty area. The ball was flicked on in the area and Colin Marrison arrived right on cue to plant a header past Overton and levelled things up.
Both teams looked solid and well organised as the first half became a battle for the middle of the park.
Yates latched onto the ball, took a couple of touches and powered forward before hitting a shot on the run, that crashed against the crossbar.
But having found his range, Yates claimed a second goal just before the break, when the unsighted Sneath could do absolute nothing to stop a worldly of a free kick, from all of thirty five yards, fizzing into the top corner of his net.
So, Handsworth went into the break a goal behind, having been unpicked by two moments of individual brilliance.
HT: Ambers 1 v Ingfielders 2
That lovely Mrs Whitehead swapped my raffle ticket for a bottle of plonk at half time, which was nice.
Brad Riley picked out Steve Ridley with a great cross, but Sneath saved a close range header from the visitors player manager.
As Ossett upped the tempo, Yates went for his hat trick with a low shot to the Handsworth keeper's left, but he got down well to turn the ball around the post.
Sneath was in action again almost immediately, punching away a free kick from Alex Peterson and when Riley was on hand to pick up the loose ball and shoot, White was well placed by the upright to make a timely interception with his outstretched right leg.
From the resulting corner, Tyrone Gay forced the ball over the line, amid a flurry of activity inside the Handsworth six yard box, to make the score 1-3 on 56 minutes.
The Ambers went on the attack and Overton had to rush from his line to clear the danger as Jon Froggatt chased down a long ball forward... it is permissible to employ such tactics when you're two goals behind and the clock is ticking down, before any smart arse jumps to conclusions about the tactics Parramore were employing.
White rolled a pass down the right wing to Dugdale who was fouled. Froggatt got on the end of his free kick and got a downward header on target, but Overton did well to claim the ball.
It is mandatory for there to be approximately three dozen substitutes per side, around this time in pre-season fixtures, but the game soon settled down again after the disruption and the Ambers claimed another goal with 6 minutes to go, when Ryan Lee ran forward forty yards with the ball, in tandem with Connor Higginson, before slipping a sideways pass to his running partner just inside the area, that the 'Parras' recent acquisition slipped past Overton.
Kieran Wells, on as a substitute late in the game, getting some minutes in before his three game suspension kicks in at the start of the season, forced a right wing corner, but the visitors shut up shop and protected their slender lead until the final whistle, which by my reckoning sounded two minutes early, but I would imagine that all three match officials were packing more accurate timepieces than me, so hey ho!
FT: Handsworth Parramore 2 v Ossett Town 3
No doubt several Evo-Stik League managers were straight on the phone to their chairmen at full time on the strength of what they had seen tonight from Jason Yates.
Ossett Town have a run of friendly matches penciled in, including the visit of a Leeds United XI to Ingfield on Tuesday night, while Handsworth Parramore travel to Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday for an FA Cup extra preliminary round game.
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Retford United 2 v Boston United U21 0 - PSF

August 2, 2016, 1:56 pm
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Tuesday 2nd August 2016
Pre-Season Friendly
At the Jones & Co. Stadium/Cannon Park
Retford United (1) 2
Chris Funnell 1, 80 (pen)
Boston United (0) 0
Admission £3
After Saturday's 7-0 reversal at home against NCEL Division 1 side Hallam FC, the Badgers management took to social media to announce that they, along with the players, would be chipping in out of their own pockets to personally refund any of their supporters who had attended the game.
The attendance at the weekend was just 65, tonight a crowd of almost 90 turned out.
Masochism is evidently alive and well in East Retford.
Me personally... well, I was destined for the Victoria Pleasure Grounds to watch Goole AFC's academy side take on Wayne Plant and Dean Bamforth's U19 team from Handsworth Parramore; a game that finished 6-4 in the Ambers favour. But a last minute deluge of jobs meant I was delayed and would be unable to get over there for 7.30pm, so I was really grateful that there was an alternative fixture right on my doorstep and very glad that United gave their long suffering band of loyal supporters a half decent performance to savour, against a lively Pilgrims U21 side.
Get well soon Jamie
Sadly the home side's keeper, Jamie Davies was unable to make it beyond half time, due to him suffering an untimely injury. Hopefully he'll be on the mend ASAP.
Though the Lincolnshire side were organised, well drilled, passed the ball around well and exhibited some great movement for each other off the ball, a home win always looked to be the most likely outcome and a Chris Funnell double saw the Badgers home comfortably, with his first strike coming inside the opening minute, when he drilled in a shot from just inside the Boston area, and he dispatched the ball into the bottom corner of the visitors goal from the penalty spot with ten minutes remaining.
Stop tugging at it Luke Walker, you'll go blind!
As my decision to visit Cannon Park was a very last minute one, I'd had no time to prepare properly to do a report, or even get hold of the team line ups, so that's all you're getting for tonight.
At least you were spared my excessive preamble and long winded mithering tonight... I'll be back!
FT: Retford United 2 v Boston United U21 0
It was clear to see after the game, that the resilient hardcore fans who'd turned out tonight, genuinely appreciated the gesture of the Badgers players when they came over to thank them for their support after the game.
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Gainsborough Trinity XI 0 v Hull City U21 4 - PSF

August 3, 2016, 2:34 pm
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Wednesday 3rd August 2015
Pre-Season Friendly
at the Martin & Co. Arena/The Northolme
Gainsborough Trinity (0) 0
Hull City U21 (1) 4
Will Annan 16
Johnny Edwards 61, 79
Dan Batty 82
Admission £8
One of the saving graces of working in Gainsborough quite often, ass I am wont to do, in fact probably the only one I can think of at all, is the positive vibe coming off of the feel good factor emanating from the local Nationwide League football club at this present time.
The chairman at the Northolme, one Richard Kane, is doing a great job of reaching out to the local community and delivering a whole range of incentives and innovative ideas to capture the imagination of Trinity supporters, the local business community and the population of the town, that was once the capital of England... go and check it out on Wikipedia yon doubters.
Trinity bootboys
While, if what I have seen in pre-season is anything to go by, then Dom Roma is proving to be a great appointment as first team manager and his squad building and the aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eye manner in which he has got them playing, seems to suggest that the Northolme faithful are in for a treat over the forthcoming season.
With only three days to go until the 'Holy Blues' opening league game v. Bradford Park Avenue at the Northolme, Roma played what was predominantly a team of youngsters and squad players, while Hull City, whose first team is currently in Austria, sent their Under 21 team, who proved to be a very entertaining, top quality side, who play the sort of passing game that cries out for a surface like the one at the Martin & Co. Arena.
At times, it looked like a very steep learning curve for some of the younger Trinity lads, as the visitors knocked the ball around with consummate ease, but they matched Hull for competitive effort and although they were given a bit of a runaround at times, Gainsborough stuck to their ominous task and didn't allow City to completely dominate the game.
Lee Betts, playing in the left back berth for the 'Holy Blues' was probably the busiest player on the pitch for long spells, trying to keep tabs on Will Annan, who put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes. Despite the close attentions of Betts, Ioan Evans and the Trinity keeper Ollie Adams, Annan picked his moment and threaded the ball through his three opponents after breaking at pace through the right channel.
Will Annan puts the Tigers 1-0 up
Stung into action by Hull's opening goal, Trinity went on the attack, with Joe Hopson heading narrowly wide from Joe Edwards left wing cross. Moments later Nathan Jarman wasn't too far away from squaring things up with a speculative long range effort.
Adams did well to keep Tyler Hamilton's shot out after he had been set free by Annan.
Adam Porritt, the home side's right back was putting in a good shift and caught the eye, but what really stood out, was that when Hull City got hold of the ball they were retaining possession really well and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they executed their high tempo, pass and move game plan, with each and every one of their players looking very comfortable on the ball.
HT: Trinity 0 v Tigers 1
Left click image to enlarge
Adam Curry miscued his shot over the bar from Dan Batty's inswinging cross as the visitors went on the attack straight from the restart.
But Trinity took up the initiative when Porrit dispossessed Johnny Edwards with a timely interception before feeding the ball forward to Ash Shannon who darted forward before threading a sideways pass through to Hopson, but the promising box to box move came to an abrupt halt when the 'Holy Blues' striker lost his footing.
Hamilton powered into the home side's area but put his shot wide of the right hand post.
Hopson went one on one with Will Mannion in the Tigers goal and though the keeper made hard work of it, he eventually held onto the ball at the second attempt.
Porrit and Shannon combined again down the right flank, but Mannion caught the former Retford United player's cross.
Will Annan should have claimed a second goal for himself, but his shot across the face of the goal went wide of the upright.
Porrit and Ryan Douglas both had a go at clearing Steve Akbas' ball into the six yard box from out on the right, before Trinity snuffed out another City attack.
Edwards rode three challenges but Adams blocked his shot.
Hull were looking increasingly threatening now and only a last ditch tackle by Charlie man kept Annan out of harms way.
Inevitably, the visitors scored again when Hamilton's cross to Edwards, left Adams woefully exposed by his AWOL defence and the Tigers number 9 doubled their lead on 61 minutes. To be fair, it had been coming.
City added a third 9 minutes later, when Mann failed to clear Annan's delivery into the box and Edwards struck again, despite a brave effort to salvage the situation by Adams.
Abkas crashed a shot into the advertising hoardings and just past the upright as Hull mounted another attack.
Betts broke free down the left and when the Hull defence only cleared the ball as far as Henry Mallett, the Trinity substitute drilled his first time shot over the crossbar.
The visitors added a fourth goal inside the final 10 minutes when Batty struck and unstoppable effort from yet another cross from Hamilton and the visited ended the game with a flurry of chances that saw Trinitry's substitute keeper Blake Caldwell thrust in at the deep end and forced to make saves from Marc Kelleday, Edwards and Batty in the closing exchanges as City had to settle for just the four goals, while in spite of loosing, some of Trinity's fringe players will have taken a lot out of trying themselves out against a team who train full time and are on the verge of moving up into the Tigers Premier League set up... some of them certainly looked the part.
FT: Gainsborough Trinity XI 0 v Hull City U21 4
Trinity are back in action on Saturday afternoon, when Bradford Park Avenue visit the Martin & Co. Arena
for the opening game of the Vanarama National League North season. Good luck to Dominic Roma and his side for the forthcoming campaign.
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THE66POW Forthcoming tour dates 2016-17

August 5, 2016, 2:51 pm
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2015-16 and all that

June 16, 2016, 10:03 am
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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, without any shadow of doubt, coincided with 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 both my life and 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 too.
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, where the lads are on the verge of first team selection, straight into the professional game, at any time, possibly at very short notice, so learning how win games and avoid defeat, is a very important part of the same learning curve too, because results do matter in the real mans game.
Striking the correct balance is the key.
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 turn out to support the youngsters, who I have spent a great deal of time with this season, have proved to be 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 United 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 at the outset of the season, along with the accompanying deeply disenchanted mindset, was probably communicating itself loud and clear from within the grim tone of the contents of this blog, but a change is actually much, much better than a rest and my spark has been 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 faith in me, to be the right sort of person to be involved in such a great set up.
Their judgement was as spot on as it was wise... of course!
And I, for my part, proved them right and didn't disappoint.
The transition was immediate and seamless too.
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 ideas 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, messed up 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 and take steps in the opposite direction, big brisk strides even, to avoid their ilk.
I did have a lot of very time consuming problems at work, that needed my full attention when I left my last football job(s) (regardless of what several people at my former club were told, by their resident hate cleric). But, all of my employment issues are resolved now, after a fashion... and with my life back on track to that end, so to speak, it's all systems go and full steam ahead again.
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah.
To be perfectly honest, I've well and truly landed on my feet whilst struggling to comprehend, what I was buggering about at before linking 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 club, sans all of politics, bitterness and scheming.
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'. The haters, critics and the 'enemy within' who must get a hard on at the thought of England failing, will be out in force again, just like they are at each and every tournament.
A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.
But that will never stop those with the most minuscule amount of nous from shouting the loudest.
I hardly need to elaborate really, do I?
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. Bottesford Town should hold their own, if they show the kind of togetherness and resilience that saw them through the play offs.
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 side week after week, against all the odds, for the duration of last season beggars belief.
Good luck to Chris and Wayne... you both 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, but I reckon that I've seen enough to suggest that won't be the case next term. In fact 'Sedge could be one of the sides who could surprise a few people, I hope so, they're a welcoming and friendly lot there.
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 watching it all pan out immensely.
Ooh look! It's Andy Saunders.
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
Honourable mention:
Leigh Herrick, Bottesford Town goalkeeper, saying farewell to his playing career, by saving the penalty kick that ultimately won his side promotion, in the NCEL Division 1 play off final shoot out.
Herrick's been the butt of a few jokes on this blog at his expense (all tongue in cheek and 'nowt nasty you understand), but he had the last laugh.
It was a really dramatic exit, a true grand finale and a great way for Leigh to bow out, I'm made up for him.
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 elsewhere.
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 are available:
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 (AKA: Notts, Derbyshire and Leicestershire)' 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 which concentrates on all aspects of his beloved Staveley Miners Welfare FC and he is 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 contributes writing/photos to are all worthy of your time and attention and Lost Boyos 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 link up to a blog that is much better than this one.
2016-17
Last season's final total of games that I went to (206) was ridiculous, but I had a lot of ground (and grounds) to cover and people to catch up with... there was a method in my madness. Mission accomplished to that end. 
It's not about number crunching and though there will always be an element of networking involved, it's predominantly about enjoyment and if that ever wasn't the case, I wouldn't do it. 
Football is a great passion of mine, but my music collection is my real jewel in my obsession, if I ever had to give up one of these pastimes it wouldn't be my record collection. 
Not that I would pay much heed to anyone silly enough to present me with such an ultimatum.
But my family are my favourite thing in the whole world and will always be my main priority and greatest pleasure in life. 
Next time around (AKA 2016-17), I am planning to get to all of Mansfield Town U18's games in the Football League Youth Alliance (North East), except for when they play Chesterfield away from home, when I will be absent and fulfilling my moral obligation of being a conscientious objector, so a lot of my Saturday afternoon jaunts will be dictated by the logistics of wherever they're playing earlier in the day. 
But, as long as I am continuing to have fun, that is a small concession to make and in any case, the league does cover quite a large geographical area, which will provide me with a springboard to leap into the great unknown, here, there and everywhere.
Besides which, the 'Stags Youth' home games are played only a few miles away from a couple of really good A roads with decent transport links and I'll have at least a whole hour, usually two, to reach a second game, which, being based in the north Midlands opens up a myriad of options.
I fully intend to attend far more football league games this season, which wasn't always logistically practical last term, but in the words of the great philosopher Baldrick: this time round "I have a cunning plan".
My 'wandering about aimlessly' habit, will also be guiding me towards the FAWSL, Northern Premier League, West Yorkshire League, the Humber League, the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League, the Northern League, Campion FC in the NCEL and the few clubs in the EMCL that I have never visited previously; while I still fully intend to carry on visiting my favourite local (ish) non league clubs, development sides and women's teams too. And I'll definitely be making the effort to get over to watch Easington United a couple of times.
Come to think of it, 206 games might not be quite enough start to cover all of that lot, but Que Sera, whatever will be, will be (preferably the Doris Day version).
I never set myself targets, as regards the number of games I will attend, but it'll probably be somewhere between 75 and 1000 during the 2016-17 season ;-) 
Right I'll shurrup (for now)... fondest regards to everyone I have just shared a very enjoyable season with, there were far too many of you to mention individually, but you'll all know who you are.
I did warn everybody at the outset that this blog post was: "about me (not you). An unashamed attempt at giving self indulgence a really bad name" and I've certainly kept my word to that end. 
Thanks for persevering with it all... if indeed anybody actually did.
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Mansfield Town 0 v Oldham Athletic 0 -EFL Youth Alliance

August 6, 2016, 6:18 am
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Saturday 6th August 2016
EFL Youth Alliance (North)
At the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone FC
Mansfield Town (0) 0
Oldham Athletic (0) 0
Click HERE for more photos from this game
Mansfield Town U18:
Sam Wilson, Teddy Bloor, Aiden Walker, Cain Smith (C), Morgan Ratcliffe, Kieran Harrison, Henri Wilder, Cameron Healey, Nyle Blake, Alistair Smith (Surafel Behailu 72), Ashanti Pryce (Devante Reittie 62)
Unused subs - Tom Marriott, Steve Johnson, Harry Bircumshaw
Oldham Athletic U18:
Callum O'Neill, Tom Hamer, Mason Fallon, Tommy Lent, Dylan King (C), Rory Middleton, Ryan Leonard, Chinedu Uche, Brendy Glackin, Brad Kay (Ronaldo Brown)
Unused subs - George Boyling, Brad Kay, Jay Sheridan
The reigning Youth Alliance (North) champions, had to settle for a draw as they began their title defence with a home game against a very well organised Oldham Athletic side.
With Tyler Blake, Louis Danquah and Zayn Hakeem all moving up through the club ranks since last season, John Dempster drafted in three newcomers to the starting eleven: Ashanti Pryce, Aiden Walker and Henri Wilder, while two other new faces: Harry Bircumshaw and Steve Johnson were among the substitutes.
Oldham started on the front foot With Rory Middleton and Tom Hamer getting the ball forward early, but Sam Wilson, Cameron Healey, Kieran Harrison and Henri Wilder dealt comfortably with the visitors initial threat and it was actually Cain Smith, the Stags captain who had the first real goal scoring opportunity when he clipped his shot just over the Latics crossbar.
Nyle Blake was looking lively in attack for  the home side, with both Ali Smith and Teddy Bloor providing a good supply of the ball to their forwards, but this was obviously going to be a very tight game with no quarter being given by either side.
Walker looked comfortable at the back and adapting to playing alongside his new team mates right away, while two more of the 'new kids on the block' created an opening at the other end with Winter releasing
Pryce with a measured through ball, before the ex Birmingham City striker forced a timely reflex save out of Callum O'Neill, when he got down well to turn the ball away for a corner.
Brendy Glackin chipped the ball over the Stags defence for Ryan Leonard to run onto, but Sam Wilson, playing with renewed vigour since the Summer break, raced from his line to deal with the danger.
Glackin threatened again as Ned Dry slipped the ball forward to him, but Morgan Ratcliffe moved quickly across into his path and forced him to rush his shot that went well wide.
HT: Stags U18 0 v Latics U18 0
Mansfield came out of the blocks quickly from the restart and some neat footwork out on the left flank by Winter, saw Healey through on goal but the Oldham skipper Dylan King launched the ball away to safety.
The Stags came straight back at their resilient visitors and Ali Smith was unlucky to see his dipping shot from twenty yards drop inches over the bar.
O'Neill saved bravely at Pryce's feet and moments later had to sprint out of his area to intercept the ball a fraction before Blake reached it from Walker's clever pass forward had left the Oldham defence flat footed.
The same two players almost unlocked the Latics defence again, but King was alert to the situation and made a last ditch challenge.
Bloor and Blake's exchange of passes on the edge of the Oldham area, gave Wilder the time to get forward on the defence's blind side, but when Bloor picked him out with a knock to the far side of the area, he couldn't quite keep his shot on target.
Wilson was having a great game and he denied the omnipresent Glackin and Chinedu Uche as Oldham picked up the ante again; but his opposite number O'Neill did well to get down to his left and keep out Ali Smith's shot at the expense of a corner.
Devante Reittie entered the fray just after the hour mark and almost made an immediate impact, but when Ali Smith turned well on the edge of the area and threaded the ball towards Reittie and Blake, Mason Fallon nicked the ball away at the last second.
O'Neill thwarted Wilder and from the corner he had conceded Bloor picked out Reittie, who turned the ball just past the post.
Surafel Behailu broke into the area through the right channel, but Oldham were back in numbers and he came up against a wall of white shirts.
Ratcliffe, up in support of his attack knocked the ball sideways to Healey, but he shot over from ten yards.
In stoppage time Wilson preserved a point for his side with two agile saves. Brad Kay unleashed a crashing shot from ten yards, that the young Stags keeper bravely blocked and turned away. From Uche's resulting corner, Middleton looked odds on to score, but Wilson twisted and turned and flicked the ball over the bar.
FT: Mansfield Town U18 0 v Oldham Athletic U18 0
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Maltby Main 0 v Squires Gate 1 - FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

August 6, 2016, 10:33 am
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Saturday 6th August 2016
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
at Muglet Lane, Maltby
Maltby Main (0) 0
Squires Gate (0) 1
Joseph Noblet 65
Admission £5. Programme £1.50
For Flickr photo group from this game click HERE
Lewis Foster, Maltby's match day mascot,
you're on the internet and really famous!
Maltby Main: 
Danny Rusling, Craig Mitchell, Gary Hibbert, Reece Wesley, Jack Greeves, Ollie Lawrence, Jordan Poole (Craig Fletcher 84), Ryan Poole (Josh Hemmingway 75), Steve Hopewell, Ryan Carroll, Jack Binney (Connor Brunt 75)
Unused subs - Paul Stancliffe, Connor Gregg, John Ballington, Adam Roberts.
Squires Gate: 
Ben Fletcher, Andrew Richards, Ben Seear, Michael Hall, Dan Penswick, Paul Carroll, Alex McKendrick (James Gibson 63), Joseph Noblet, Richard Seear, Ryan Riley, Brett Danson (Mark Buchan 84).
Unused subs - Mark Thornber, Jake Higham
Maltby management team photobombing. Get 'yersens shifted next time!
The magic of the FA Cup created the illusion of an invisible offence in the Maltby Main goal area, shortly after the hour mark, which only the match referee Andrew Smith saw, thus helping to create a disappearing trick, whereby the Miners hopes of a FA Cup run disappeared in a puff of smoke. 
Nobody connected with the visiting club, be it their players, officials, supporters or management; appealed for a penalty, nor would they have done, because when Joseph Noblet went to ground he had merely lost his footing as he turned to get s shot in, while Maltby's Jack Binney was pushed off the ball to make room for the visitors number 8 to get a clear sight of goal.
"That was harsh!", piped up a voice from the Squires Gate dug out as the referee blew and pointed to the spot... indeed it bloody well was. But it's a cup tie, the game is all square and balanced on a knife edge, so you don't look a gift horse in the mouth and (ironically) it was Noblet himself that spanked the spot kick beyond the despairing reach of Danny Rusling, to claim the only goal of the game and bag his team £1500 in prize money.
Gaz Hibbert using his head, prior to losing his head.
Several more odd decisions led to a few raised eyebrows and dissenting voices over the course of the game, but the one thing (though to be fair there was possibly more than just one thing) that Mr Smith got 100% right, was when Maltby's Gaz Hibbert was shown a straight red card on 37 minutes for blacking Richard Seear's eye with a peach of a headbutt.
That rush of blood from the experienced left back left his team a man short and having to do twice as much running on a hot and humid afternoon and though the Miners still threw everything they had at their Blackpool based visitors, there is no escaping the fact that Hibbert's moment of madness was to prove as costly for his team as the questionable penalty decision.
I don't like singling anyone out for criticism, particularly a player as hard working and committed as Hibbert, but his temperament and judgement let both himself and everyone at the the club who have worked so hard towards this opening day fixture down.
He'll be gutted about what happened, there's no doubt about that, but he'll be back soon, battling gamely for the Miners cause... it's what he does best!
With Craig Mitchell delivering some quality balls into the 'Gate' goal area, the home side made an encouraging start, with Ben Fletcher bravely going down at the feet of Steve Hopewell to deny him, while Ryan Carroll went close when he drew the visitors keeper off of his line, but his cheeky lob over Fletcher dropped just wide of the post.
Ollie Lawrence connected with Ryan Poole's left wing corner but his effort flew narrowly wide.
Having absorbed a fair amount of pressure during the opening fifteen minutes, Squires Gate began to find their feet and took over the initiative for a while; Noblet sent Richard Seear through one on one against Rusling, but the 'Main' keeper risked a kick in the head, but got down to snuff the chance out.
Brett Danson split Maltby's defence with a pass through to Ryan Riley, but Hibbert had tracked his run and put his foot through the ball before unceremoniously dispatching the ball out of harms way.
Noblet's left wing corner was cleared behind by Mitchell, while Lawrence was quickly up to deal with Danson's resulting corner from the right.
Rusling and Hibbert made a bit of a hash of an attempted clearance and Richard Seear latched onto the loose ball before rolling a sideways pass to Riley, but luckily Jack Greeves had the presence of mind to get back in a covering role and his timely interception denied the visitors an opening goal.
Danson's left wing cross dropped towards the Maltby goal but Rusling was alert to the danger and kept it out, moments before he came to Maltby's rescue again, holding onto Riley's ten yard shot from Ben Seears pinpoint delivery from out on the left flank.
Ryan Poole and Steve Hopewell collided as they both went for the same ball in the middle of the park, which allowed Richard Seear to break forward, but Mitchell got across his path as he teed up his shot and he could only direct the ball at Rusling.
Ben Seear played a long free kick into the Maltby area, Rusling rose and took his catch well, but Dan Penswick arrived late to challenge for the ball and hurt himself when he collided full on with Rusling's knee.
The referee ignored appeals for a free kick for an attempted bodycheck on the Miners keeper and was seemingly oblivious to the 'Gate' defender who was now laying on the pitch, out cold and requiring treatment.
Rusling sportingly called the official who was charging away down the field back while throwing the ball out of play so that Penswick could receive treatment.
When he came round and was given the all clear to carry on, Mr Smith told Rusling to restart the game from a goal kick. You what? After being put straight by several dozen people, he changed his mind and asked Squires Gate to take an unchallenged throw in back to Rusling.
I have masses of respect for match officials and many friends who are local referees, we're all only human and are prone to make mistakes, but under no circumstances, if you're the man in the middle, do NOT have an off day at Muglet Lane, or you will be traumatised by the consequences.
O'Neill punched the ball clear off of Lawrence's head from Binney's corner, the clearance dropped into the path of Ryan Poole whose first time effort cleared the crossbar.
With half time rapidly approaching, Hibbert turned the game on it's head with his aforementioned transgression and Maltby were forced to regroup. It was a major blow for the south Yorkshire side.
Ryan and Jordan Poole tried making good of a bad situation as they broke forward with Lawrence in tandem, Michael Hall was in quickly to salvage the situation and put the ball out for a corner. But Mr Smith awarded a goal kick, while delaying the game for a few moments by booking Hall for 'dissent. He'd certainly had plenty to say, but the timing off the card was puzzling.
Maltby held their breath as Richard Seears went shoulder to shoulder with Reece Wesley in front of Rusling. The referee blew and awarded a free kick to the Miners.
But Squires Gate didn't complain too much under the circumstances, given how they had already been gifted a goal (and ultimately a safe passage to the next round).
Carroll and Hopewell are a handful for any team in the NCEL on their day, but with the numerical disadvantage that Maltby were having to deal with now, they both had moments where they had made good runs into the final third, but found themselves isolated and waiting for support while the 'Gate' defenders ganged up on them.
Danson and Noblet were having a battle royal against the Miners defence and Rusling kept them both at bay with two more decent saves and then it happened... the referee blew up for the penalty.
It was an unfathomable decision.
And a very costly one for the home side.
Noblet scored and to all intents and purposes it was now starting to look increasingly unlikely that Maltby's name would be getting engraved on this year's trophy.
Everything at Wembley Stadium is hideously overpriced anyway and I know how 'thrifty' you Yorkies are, happen!
Jack Binney tried to hit the visitors back with an immediate response, but his long range shot didn't trouble O'Neill and the tricky winger must've wished with hindsight that he'd taken a few more paces forward before really letting fly.
Michael Hall shoulder charged Ryan Poole off of the ball in the centre circle.
The natives were getting restless as they called out for the referee to "Show some ****ing consistency!" and "Get him in the book!"
Unbeknownst to the angry mob, he was already in the book for dissent and was walking the tightrope with the referee because, although he is obviously a decent engine room and competent player for his club, in spite of his earlier yellow card he still couldn't keep his trap shut.
I admired Hall's gung-ho, up and at 'em application, but in this day and age, when a lot of trivial offences receive disproportionate punishment, it would have been wise for the visitors number 4 to behave himself from then on in.
Connor Brunt came into contact with Noblet just inside the Maltby box and the 'Gate' player, knowing the pack drill by now hit the deck. But Mr Smith had found his contact lenses by now and saw nothing wrong in the challenge. All I will say is, if it had happened at the other end, then Maltby would've screaming blue murder for a spot kick. Brunt meant no harm and didn't deliberately impede Noblet, but football is going soft in it's old age and I've seen them given.
As Maltby piled forward in search of the goal that would give them a midweek replay up in that there famous seaside town called Blackpool, that's noted for t'fresh air and fun, they were always susceptible to being hit on the counter attack and they nearly came completely undone when Noblet raced across the front of Main's goal area and spanked his shot over the bar. Straight from the goal kick, Danson attacked down the left wing but Mitchell marshaled the situation and prevented him from crossing to Richard Seear.
The home side went down with a fight, launching the ball into the 'Gate' area at every opportunity, but the visitors defence closed ranks and held on for a hard fought win.
FT: Maltby Main 0 v Squires Gate 1
There's never a dull moment at Muglet Lane. 
Good luck to Squires Gate in the next round.
And as for you Mr Referee; I was looking forward to my fish & chips in Blackpool later in the week before the replay, you can explain to my granddaughter why we're not going to the Tower Circus now :-(
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AFC Emley 2 v Athersley Recreation 1 - FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

August 7, 2016, 9:50 am
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Sunday 7th August 2016
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground
AFC Emley (0) 2
Ruben Jerome 74
Ash Flynn 87
Athersley Recreation (1) 1
Kai Hancock 42
Admission £6. Programme £1. Attendance 319
Click HERE for more photographs from this game
Left click to enlarge image
Will the real Athersley Recreation please stand up?
The 'Penquins' went in a goal to the good at the break and would've been sitting comfortably on a two-nil lead, if Gary Stevens hadn't saved Ryan Smith's penalty kick. But after the break they were on the receiving end of a virtually one sided second half, that saw the 'Pewits' swarming (flocking possibly even) all over them.
Before embarking upon a detailed overview of this enthralling FA Cup tie, I felt that this is an appropriate time to elucidate and enlighten the handful of readers that I haven't scared away yet with my continued use of profanities and shitey photo captions, by offering you a snippet of the sort of knowledge that you could possibly only ever glean elsewhere, if you were bosom pals with Bill Oddie, or maybe even Sir David Attenborough, (Bill Oddie has an OBE, not a knighthood before you try to contradict me smart arse... and he doesn't deserve that if you ask me, because of how appalling 'The Goodies' and their awful novelty 45rpm records were), but I digress... both Pewits and Penquins are ground nesting birds.
Knowledge is power kids ;-)
Ash Flynn, as to be expected, was first to show his hunger for goals, inside the first minute.
'Tis strange but true, but while I circumnavigate the NCEL regularly, a league in which Mr Flynn netted a staggering 73 goals in last season, I have never actually seen him score previously.
Aaron Joseph was fouled by Dane Hodgeson just outside the visitors penalty area. "That's Flynny territory, watch this" I was (semi) reliably informed, moments before the Emley striker stepped forward and curled an unconvincing free kick well over the bar.
At the other end, Kai Hancock received the ball wide right and cut inside the penalty area, where Tom Brennan clipped his heel and gave away a penalty.
Ryan Smith took the spot kick and followed all three rules of penalty etiquette: low, hard and on target, but Gary Stevens was down in an instant to keep the ball out and recovered quickly to save from Smith again when he got to the rebound first and tried to plant a header past the 'Pewits' keeper, who basked in the limelight by strutting his stuff in front of a nearby, very apt, advertising hoarding and milking a photo opportunity to the max... show off!
Jack Briscoe and Liam Owen were linking up well with Hancock to put the home side's back line under a lot of strain, but they were just about keeping a lively 'Rec' side at bay, albeit with a few spills and thrills along the way.
Back at the other end of the Jordan Coduri exchanged passes with his skipper, Kieran Ryan on the edge of the visitors penalty area, but Neal May saved Ryan's weak shot fairly easily.
The Penquins waddled forward again in the 42nd minute and White threaded a pass through into the path of Hancock whose well struck shot cannoned back off of Stevens, but the 'Rec' striker made no mistake from the rebound.
Right on the stroke of half time Ryan headed wide from Iwan Heeley's corner, meaning that the visitors went in at the break in front, which up to that point of the afternoon was the very least that they deserved.
HT: Pewits 0 v Penquins 1
Jack Briscoe ventured forward for Athersley as the game restarted, but having done the hard party of making himself the time and space to shoot, he lashed at the ball and put it into some nearby gardens.
Emley had come out intent on invading their visitors final third like a squadron of allied airbourne scatter bombers. I lost count of the amount of goal chances and balls into the box that Neal May had to deal with, but he was doing commendably well.
It is a well known fact in goalkeeping circles, that all of the best custodians wear a lived in pair of Puma Kings, set off with a matching £3.99 cap from Sports Direct. Joe Hart take note... During Euro 2016, Gareth Bale spotted your immaculate dandruff free locks and £200 quid multi coloured boots and knew that you were there for the taking.
Nobody would dare to try that kind of crap on with Neal May!
Having survived a bit of a pummeling, Athersley countered, but when Declan Welford launched a 60 yard ball upfield for Hancock, Stevens sprinted out of his area and headed the ball away.
Ryan White (one of my favourite NCEL players) was battling for anything and everything in the middle of Athersley's midfield, but Emley were turning the screw now and applying more and more pressure... and in spite of the tenacity the visitors were showing at the back an Emley goal seemed almost inevitable.
When it did come, boy did it ever; Ruben Jerome picked up the ball on the right hand edge of the 'Rec' area and somehow squeezed his way through a block of determined defenders and unleashed a quite ferocious shot just inside the far post. That strike was something special and i really hope somebody videoed the moment so I can watch it again and again on YouTube.
Take a bow Ruben Jerome!
Ryan broke free and crossed to Flynn, but his shot deflected wide. May dealt with a string of corners and to all intents and purposes it looked like this game was heading for a midweek replay... I began making plans because if part two of this saga was going to be anything like as good as this afternoon's entertainment, then I was already licking my lips in anticipation.
But then with three minutes remaining Jack Briscoe played a through ball in front of Flynn, his first touch almost saw the ball get away from him, but he recovered his composure quickly and buried the ball past May with his second touch, to record the first ever goal I've ever seen him score... and it proved to be a crucial one.
Athersley launched a last ditch salvage mission, but time was running out for them and as Emley defended promising balls into their area from Welford and Adam White, the referee Drew Dutton blew his whistle and it was all over, Emley had completed their second half come back, while the 'Rec' were left to wonder what could have been if they hadn't scored just the one goal prior to half time or made more of an impression on the game after it.
FT: AFC Emley 2 v Athersley Recreation 1
Well played Emley, that was a great comeback and what a goal from Ruben Jerome. And that 'Flynny' isn't always bashful about scoring when I'm around after all.
Commiserations to Athersley Rec' too, it looked like you were going to win this game for so long.
A great afternoon's entertainment in bright and breezy Emley all told.
Good luck to both clubs for the remainder of the new season.
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Handsworth Parramore 4 v Cleethorpes Town 0 - NCEL LC2

August 9, 2016, 3:05 pm
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Tuesday 9th August 2026
NCEL League Cup 2nd Round
Handsworth Parramore (2) 4
Ryan Lee 5
Daniel Buttle 43
Colin Marrison 49
Jon Froggatt 90
Cleethorpes Town (0) 0
Admission £5. Programme £1.50. Attendance 84
In a fixture that is fast becoming an annual event, once again, these two NCEL Premier Division championship rivals came face to face in the league cup.
On Saturday, both teams negotiated potentially difficult FA Cup games away from home, with Handsworth claiming a 2-0 win at Armthorpe, while Cleethorpes came back from a goal down to beat Rainworth at Kirklington Road.
Many people are already suggesting that this season's NCEL Premier Division title challenge is a two horse race between the Ambers and the Owls and they both start their league campaign's with home games at the weekend, with Staveley visiting the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, while Thackley travel due East to take on Marcus Stewart's side.
Both games are on my radar for a potential visit after the 11AM kick off between Mansfield Town U18 and Chesterfield U18 at Rainworth finishes this coming weekend, but I don't have to make that decision until after 1pm on Saturday, so Que Sera.
With fixtures coming thick and fast on a number of fronts, the two sides embraced the idea of modern day football being a squad game, though the visitors hand was forced somewhat to that end, given that some players were unavailable because they were away on holiday. Which raises two questions, namely: Where do people who already live in a coastal resort go for their holidays? And what sort of person books time away during the football season anyway?
With all due respect to my friends from the seaside, Cleethorpes approached tonight's game as though they were possibly concentrating their priorities on some of the more glamorous silverware on offer this season, but Micky Godber always sends teams out onto the field of play to win each and every game; which they did tonight, as thoroughly and comfortably as the final score suggests.
Ryan Lee, one of the Handsworth players tonight that have come through their development team ranks, opened the scoring from the Ambers first attack after just five minutes, when he cut in from the right to meet Colin Marrison's pass through the Owls midriff and buried a shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net across the young Cleethorpes keeper Darren Birch's six yard box.
The home side kept up their attacking tempo, with Danny Buttle looking to be a threat every time he advanced forward. While Sam Denton and Micky Harcourt were getting up for all of the set pieces, leaving Connor Smythe to man the barricades at the back.
On the other flank Lee was enjoying a no holds barred struggle against the visitors left back Laurence McKay, who was on Rotherham United's books as a youngster. He evidently possesses a fair amount of ability, but he's also got a lot of rattle and needs to curb his verbals towards the match officials before he gets himself a bad reputation among the referees in the NCEL... just saying!
Harry Bamforth, on the occasion of his NCEL competitions debut, paired up with Steve Warne in the centre of the park and the midfield duo were pivotal to retaining possession while disrtibuting the ball out to the flanks and bringing both Colin Marrison and new signing Danny Holland into the game, while Simon Harrison was also supplying a number of quality balls into the Cleethorpes area. From one such delivery across the face of thge visitors goal Reece Moody almost turned the ball into his own net, but Birch kept the ball out to spare his team mates blushes.
Birch was soon in action again, saving with his feet as Buttle hit a twenty yard shot on target from out of the left.
It was almost a dream debut for Bamforth as Harrison, Lee and Marrison mounted an attack on the right flank, but as Harrison crossed, Kyle Kavanagh stepped out and blocked Bamforth's attempted shot... and when the visitors only cleared the ball as far as Warne he shot over.
'Clee' were almost on level terms against the run of play when Luke Aldrich's cross found it's way through the 'Parras' defence as far as Michael Milne, but Sneath saved.
Sneath was in action again moments later, keeping the prolific Marc Cooper at bay to preserve his team's slender lead.
But from their next forward raid, Handsworth doubled their margin, when Marrison made light work of threading the ball through to Holland, who crossed first time for Danny Buttle to claim the goal from close range, that his first half efforts had warranted.
Cooper was inches away from pulling a goal back moments before the half time whistle, but the only shot to evade Sneath all night, dropped just the wrong side of the upright.
HT: 2-0
The visitors came out after the break, knowing that it was now or never, if their defence of the League Cup wasn't going to come to an abrupt end, but when Jack Steel's dipping cross was dealt with by Sneath and Handsworth stepped things up a gear again, as they went in search of a third goal that would probably kill the game off as a contest, that third strike wasn't long in coming.
In the Forty ninth minute, Marrison gratefully received the ball from an attempted headed clearance and fired past Birch via a slight deflection.
Moody, Cooper and Aldrich were still trying to get the ball forward into the final third, but Cleethorpes never really got going anywhere near as well as they are capable of tonight, while Parramore were sending out a warning to all other NCEL Premier Division sides as regards the production line of talent they've got at their disposal and the strength in depth their squad possesses, in all departments.
Connor White, who impressed during pre-season, replaced Simon Harrison who had taken a knock and slotted in seamlessly in a like for like swap. Harrison had cut a swathe down the right flank, bring his colleagues into the game and White carried on in pretty much the same vein.
Some clubs have scrapped their development sides recently... each to their own, while others only demonstrate a scant regard to home grown talent, or merely only pay lip service to this important resource at any football club; but the Handworth development stream keep on providing a steady flow of young talent, who are fortunate enough to have a management team who are willing to give them a go.
Marrison and Buttle continued to torment the young visiting side in what had by now become a fairly one way and one sided game.
Even with Kieran Wells being sat on the naughty step for the opening three games, following his red card at Brigg towards the end of the season, it demonstrated the depth of talent at Handsworth when they were able to put both Jon Froggatt and Connor Higginson on from the bench as they comfortably saw the game out.
I'm sure that the visitors will feel that they owe Handsworth (and their own travelling fans) a performance the next time the two sides come face to face (Saturday 22.11.16 at the Windsor Food Service Stadium)
Buttle and Lee could both have added to the score, but the Cleethorpes keeper was doing his level best to keep the score down.
However,  Birch soon had a different kind of difficult situation to deal with, when Wressell lobbed an under hit back pass in the general direction of his keeper, that saw the diminutive stopper running from his area and having to head the ball before he could kick it away to safety... as if he didn't have enough to deal with already tonight!
Handsworth played out the last ten minutes a man down as Denton limped off of the pitch after the Ambers had already used all three substitutes. The numerical difference wasn't noticeable however.
The ever cheerful John Stainrod dancing with joy
Higginson beat Birch from all of twenty five yards, but his shot was a fag paper's width the wrong side of the right hand upright.
In stoppage time, Lee dragged his marker all over the place before rolling the ball into the path of Froggatt, who couldn't miss from such a great position... and didn't!
FT: Handsworth Parramore 4 v Cleethorpres Town 0
Cleethorpes can play far better than they did tonight and I am sure they will be doing any time soon, but the worrying aspect for all NCEL Premier Division sides this season, is that Handsworth still have far more in their tank that they showed tonight. 
Good luck to both sides for what promises to be a memorable 2016-17 season.
Handsworth Parramore v Cleethorpes Town
Hall of fame:
 
See you all soon!
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AFC Mansfield 3 v Liversedge 2 - NCEL Prem

August 10, 2016, 2:16 pm
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Wednesday 10th August 2016
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
at the Forest Town Arena
AFC Mansfield (2) 3
Ryan Williams 20
Oliver Fearon 25
Gary Bradshaw 69
Liversedge (1) 2
Joe Walton 30
Rhys Davies 52
Admission £5. Programme £1.50. Attendance 75
One of the annoying aspects of the NCEL, is the midweek traffic hold ups that invariably occur on the A1 and M62, in both directions, in midweek, that all too often prove to be problematic for players and supporters alike, who are trying to cover middle distance treks after finishing their daytime jobs.
Obviously the league has no control over the traffic flow on the Queens highways, or the weather that will inevitably cause travel problems later in the season, but if I could just make one small but significant point:
Clipstone were playing at Thackley last night and tonight's kick off was delayed because Liversedge struggled to get to Forest Town on time because of congestion on the motorways.
Thackley is 11 miles from Liversedge and AFC Mansfield play less than two miles away from Clipstone. Both of the AFC Mansfield v Clipstone and Liversedge v Thackley local derbies are being played on Saturdays. Just saying.
Jason White ended the night being awarded with the man of the match, but he almost created an opening goal for Liversedge early in the game, when he miscued a clearance straight into the path of Vaughn Redford, but the highly rated 'Sedge' youngster side footed the ball narrowly over the bar.
Lynton Karkach, who I am sure Gainsborough Trinity will regret letting go, showed good pace out on the right before delivering a cross to the feet of Ollie Fearon who air kicked as a great chance went begging for the Bulls.
Rhys Davies, who came through from Liversedge's Under 19 team with Redford, was thwarted by White and Grant Allott cleared the loose ball away.
Danny Patterson fouled Davies out on the right wing, not far from Mansfield's bench. Brandon Kane picked out Joe Walton with the resulting free kick, but the big front man headed wide... err, for a throw in on the far side of the pitch.
Young Davies tried his luck again and wasn't far away as his long range shot fizzed past the right hand upright.
But the Bulls scored their first ever NCEL Premier Division goal on twenty minutes, when 'the pocket rocket' (as he was called when he was a Mansfield Town youth player and England U18 international), Ryan Williams, fresh from scoring two goals in the Bulls 4-0 FA Cup triumph at Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, found the top corner of the net, via Christian Thewlis' outstretched fingertips, with a well executed free kick from around twenty yards.
There are those who say that 'Ryno', at 38, is too old to play at this level, but there used to be doubters who said he was too small to play in the Football League back in the day, but none of that silly talk ever bothered Ryan and he's still obviously got plenty to offer. Keep on keeping on pal!
Two minutes after Williams' opening goal 'Sedge' had the opportunity to pull things level from the penalty spot, but White turned Redford's well struck kick onto the post then caught the ball from the rebound.
Williams was involved again in the second goal when Ollie Fearon headed the diminutive play makers thirty five yard free kick past Thewlis to double the home side's advantage.
Liversedge were still proving to be a good test for the premier division newcomers however and White had to move quickly from his line to smother the ball at Redford's feet... and the visitors pulled a goal back on thirty minutes, when Walton headed a left wing corner back across the face of the Bulls goal and the ball ended up in the net, just inside the left hand post.
Jason White denied Redford twice as 'Sedge' upped the ante, initially turning acrobatically in the air to turn the lively front man's header from Davies' cross  away, then moments later managing to keep out a cheeky close range back heel from yet another quality ball from Davies.
White and Brad Wilson combined to clear the ball as both Walton and Steve Wales bore down on the Bulls goal.
The visitors went close again, when Walton made himself a yard of space and unleashed a shot from just outside the area, but the ball flew wide of the target.
Williams was still delivering quality balls into the Liversedge area, but the nearest that the Bulls came to scoring again in the first half was when Fearon shot wide fron twelve yards.
HT: Bulls 2 v Sedge 1
At half time, one of the Mansfield players parents came over to me and said "How the effing hell are we winning that!?" A good point well made.
I suspect that AFC Mansfield will need the decorators in this week to repair all of the blistered paintwork in the home team's dressing rooms caused by Rudy Funk's half time team talk. He is one of the friendliest (and funniest) football mangers I know, but he isn't renowned for holding back when he feels that some of his team haven't been putting in 100% for him.
Either way, the Bulls came out after the interval looking far more focused.
Fearon knocked the ball wide to Brad Wilson who delivered a cross to Karkach, but the ball skimmed off of his forehead as he dived to meet it.
Williams switched play from right to left and Fearon headed wide from Matty Plummer's cross.
It certainly looked like another goal was on the cards any time soon, but Liversedge surprised everybody by claiming it to quell the home supporters optimism after a lively start to the second half from their side.
Rhys Davies raced forward after a long ball, narrowly evading being flagged offside (apparently) before taking the ball wide of the advancing Bulls keeper and rolling the ball into the back of the net from an angle.
You're not going to shift that pal!
Gary Bradshaw entered the fray for the Bulls and almost scored with his first touched, but he drilled his shot just wide of the upright.
Steve Wales attacked at pace down the left flank and picked out Walton with his cross, but White had read the situation well and pulled off another agile and vital save.
Williams, yet again, put another measured cross into the mix, but Jimmy Ghaichem's close range shot was cleared away at the expense of a corner. Liversedge cleared their lines, but the home side were soon back on the attack and Ghaichem's cross was headed behind by Tom Brook and Chris Timons headed over from Williams corner kick.
Ghaichem was flattened by Walton running into him while he was trying to take a throw in and the Liversedge player was shown a yellow card for his rather curious challenge.
Davies used his pace again to leave the Bulls back four flatfooted as he charged forward in pursuit of Redford's through ball, but White sprinted thirty yards from his area and adapted well to the sweepers role as he tidied things up in a Beckenbauer-esque calm and collected manner. The long clearance was picked up by Wilson who found Bradshaw with a raking pass, in front of the 'Sedge' goal, but the Bulls sub headed wide.
This lively game could have gone either way, but Bradshaw found the winning touch on 69 minutes when he diverted Williams pinpoint cross into the right hand corne.
Wilson picked out Fearon with a deep ball into the visitors goalmouth, but Thewlis saved well.
Meanwhile, played switched to the far end and Timons was blatantly pushed off the ball by Walton has he shepherded the ball back to White... but, amazingly, the referee saw nothing in it and Walton crossed to Davies who spanked his close range effort against the post.
Liversedge probably deserved something out of this game, but not from that particular moment of action.
In the final minute, Wilson moved swiftly to cut out a final fling of the dice from the visitors down their left flank and set the wheels in motion for Danny Naylor to break free, but nobody could get a touch onto his cross into Thewlis' six yard box and the referee blew for full time.
FT: AFC Mansfield 3 v Liversedge 2
The Bulls won their first ever NCEL Premier Division game, but Liversedge slugged it out with them every inch of the way. 
Goals won't be in short supply whenever these two sides play this season, but though their attacking endeavours provided an entertaining spectacle and they'll both score a lot of goals, on the evidence of tonight's showing, they'll need to tighten things up at the back or they'll be conceding a fair few too.
The Bulls keeper Jason White was named as man of the match, for his string of great saves and that is understandable, but I'd make him share his award with Ryan Williams.
At the weekend, Liversedge will be hosting Armthorpe Welfare, while the Bulls have a tricky fixture to negotiate up in Starbeck against Harrogate Railway Athletic. 
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Mansfield Town 1 v Chesterfield 0 - EFL Youth Alliance

August 13, 2016, 6:38 am
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Saturday 13th August 2016
EFL Youth Alliance (North)
at Kirklington Road, Rainworth MWFC
Mansfield Town U18 (0) 1
Cameron Healey 77
Chesterfield (0) 0
For more photos from today's game click HERE
Mansfield Town:
Sam Wilson, Teddy Bloor, Aiden Walker, Cain Smith (C), Morgan Ratcliffe, Kieran Harrison, Henri Wilder, Cameron Healey, Nyle Blake (Surafel Behailu 85), Alistair Smith (Tom Marriott 67), Ashanti Pryce (Devante Reittie 68)
Unused subs - Steve Johnson, Harry Bircumshaw
Chesterfield:
Dylan Parkin, Iffy Offoegbu, Connor Fowler, Harry Taylor, Jay Smith, Dylan Hand, Jack Brownell (Joel Phillips 84), Mark McKenna (Josh Tipping HT), Ricky German, Joe Rowley, Charlie Wakefield (Arron Sennett-Neilson 68)
Unused subs - Brad Jones, Tom Kerry
In the build up to the game, John Dempster said that he felt his team owed Chesterfield a game after a disappointing showing the last time the two sides had met, during the young Stags championship season.
In response, today's performance was infinitely better than January's off day as Mansfield showed the kind of commitment, togetherness and teamwork that they are going to need this season, where they will be a desirable scalp for opposition sides to take as they defend their title.
Both sides had chances and looked very efficient in defence, but ultimately, as the game went on, Mansfield increasingly looked like the stronger side and were causing the Spireites no end of problems in their final third.
With the visitors seemingly struggling with the tempo of the game towards the end, they began to concede a lot of free kicks and corners and if truth be told, the Stags would have won this local derby far more comfortably and comprehensively if the Chesterfield goalkeeper Dylan Parkin hadn't pulled off a string of quality saves over the course of the game, earning himself the universally acclaimed accolade of man of the match.
Aiden Walker defended authoritatively in the opening stages, blocking Ricky German's break through the left channel and intercepting Joe Rowley's dangerous looking right wing cross. Walker's got some big shoes to fill, moving into the role occupied by the ever reliable Louis Danquah last term, but after just a couple of games the signs are there that the Stags have found a quality replacement for the number three shirt and he's slotted in seamlessly alongside Kieran Harrison and Morgan Ratcliffe, while Teddy Bloor is relishing in the freedom he's got to get forward more with the newcomer covering behind him.
Charlie Wakefield exchanged passes with Rowley on the edge of the Stags area and he released German, but Sam Wilson got down quickly to save the powerful strikers shot.
But having survived a couple of raids deep into their half, the Stags defence now had the measure of their opponents strengths and effectively shut up shop and looked like a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Wilson's heroics against Oldham last week and two clean sheets against decent opposition in the opening matches, bodes well for the season ahead and gives Dempster's side a solid base at the back to build on.
Alistair Smith played the ball forward to Nyle Blake who stripped his marker for pace before Parkin thwarted his attempt on goal, saving with his feet.
The Stags pushed forward again and Ashanti Pryce showed some good close control as he weaved his way past two defenders, but having done the hard part he shot over from ten yards out.
Chesterfield tried to pick up the momentum from midfield, but found that route forward was closed tightly shut by Cain Smith and Henri Wilder as the pair charged down passes intended for Mark McKenna and German.
Cameron Healey fed the ball to Alistair Smith, who twisted to see off the attentions of a defender, before his shot deflected wide of the upright.
Harrison and Ratcliffe were proving to be an uncompromising duo as they teamed up in the centre of defence to keep the visitors at bay whenever they got beyond the midfield..
Cain Smith's cross from the right wing, hit the post and Dylan Hand had to head the ball away for a corner. Bloor delivered the ball to Healey at the back post, he headed the ball back across the face of goal and Nyle Blake put the ball into the back of the net via Parkin's outstretched fingertips; but the linesman had his flag up and the goal was ruled out.
Wilder charged the ball down in midfield as Harry Taylor tried setting the visitors in motion with a long ball forward, before advancing twenty yards and shooting narrowly over the bar.
On the stroke of half time, Harrison delivered a free kick into the Spireites six yard box, Ratcliffe headed the ball back towards Healey whose shot was deflected wide by Jay Smith.
HT: Stags U18 0 v Spireites U18 0
Straight from the restart, Blake burst forward and rode a challenge from Hand before testing Parkin with an angled shot, which the defiant Spireites keeper kept out at full stretch down to his right.
The visitors looked to be tiring and Wilder took advantage by putting on a burst of speed and crossing toward Pryce, but Hand got to the ball first and headed it clear.
German almost unlocked the Stags defence with a through ball to the visitors half time substitute Josh Tipping, but his finish didn't match his perfectly timed run.
With tackles flying in from all directions, the visitors were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out that Jack Brownell smashed into the Stags defensive wall, where Wilder took one for the team as the ball was cleared.
Alistair Smith broke forward into the heart of Chesterfield's defence before turning the ball back to Wilder who found Blake with his cross, but the lively striker's header was saved well by Parkin.
Chesterfield gave the ball away again as the Stags were squeezing tightly in midfield, Winter got away on the left and crossed to Nyle, who was pushed as he homed in on goal, but it was on the referee's blind side and the visitors were fortunate to escape being penalised.
The Stags were looking strong going forward and increased the tempo in the second half.
Pryce lost Iffy Offoegbu in a race for the ball, so the defender halted his progress with a clumsy trip. Bloor's free kick skimmed off of the Spireites wall and over the bar. The same player delivered one of his trademark flag kicks to Cain Smith, who nudged the ball sideways to Alistair Smith, but Parkin pulled off yet another quality save to keep the scores level.
Once again, the home side came out on top in the battle for the middle of the park and Pryce broke forward with only Parkin to beat, but the visitors keeper moved quickly and denied the Stags again.
Alistair Smith was fouled twenty five yards out and almost took advantage of Bloor's resulting free kick, but Parkin blocked his shot and recovered in time to keep Pryce out off the rebound as well.
It was one way traffic towards the visitors goal now and the visitors were chasing shadows at times and conceding a lot of free kicks around their goal area.
Bloor spotted Ratcliffe and Harrison had made a blind side run and dropped his free kick towards the back post, but Parkin showed that he was good in the air too.
A rather ambitious cross/shot from out on the right from Blake was well covered by Parkin, but worth a try under the circumstances.
The Stags made a double tactical substitution, with Tom Marriott and Devante Reittie giving them different options and the visitors had two more quick, attack minded and skillful players to worry about.
Wilder, Pryce and Marriott worked their way through the left channel with a quick exchange of passes, but Lynam threw himself in the way of Marriott's thumping shot.
After absorbing so much pressure and having their keeper to thank for still being in the game, the Spireites counter attacked and Sam Wilson found himself in a one against one situation with the formidable presence of Ricky German, but the highly rated Stags stopper showed why he is earning such rave reviews by turning away what looked to be a certain, but against the run of play, opening goal.
Mansfield played the ball out of defence and Harrison swept the ball forward to Cain Smith, who in turn threaded it through to Blake, but he came up against a crowd of blue shirts, who managed to clear the ball away from danger, before Offoegbu put the ball out for a corner.
Bloor picked out Healey, arriving at the back post, with a dipping right wing corner that evaded Parkin as the hard working, midfield battler, planted a textbook downward header into the back of the visitors net after seventy seven minutes.
It had been a long time in coming, but finally Parkin's resistance had been cracked.
At the other end the Spireites tried picking out German and Tipping with a hopeful ball forward, but Wilson was quickly off of his line to gather the ball and make sure that his team weren't about to squander a greatly deserved three points.
The Stags saw the game out safely, while a very tired looking Chesterfield side could probably count their blessings (and thank their goalkeeper) that they had only lost by a single goal.
FT: Mansfield Town 1 v Chesterfield 0
Next Saturday, the young Stags face Scunthorpe United in an EFL Youth Alliance game at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, home of Clipstone FC. The game kicks off at 11AM
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Retford United 4 v Rainworth Miners Welfare 6 - NCEL Prem

August 13, 2016, 10:08 am
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Saturday 13th August 2016
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
at the Jones & Co. Arena, Cannon Park
Retford United (0) 4
Chris Funnell 51, 57
Jermaine Gordon 55
Charlie Sykes 59
Rainworth MW (2) 6
Aaron Moxam 8, 32
Matthew Sykes 63, 81, 87
Liam Morris 66
Admission £5. Programme £2. Attendance 107
How on earth am I even going to start picking the bones out of this one?
Oh well, hold on tight, here goes nothing...
Even the NCEL website has posted the Retford United goalscorers in the wrong order and added slightly inaccurate time sequence details pertaining to today's game. But I guess this kind of thing is inevitable when an hitherto perfectly manageable game of football for all of the anally retentive statisticians present (don't knock it until you've tried it), suddenly erupts into a goal fest, free for all.
Make no mistake, Jamie Davies and Ben Townsend are both competent, capable and accomplished goalkeepers, but generally speaking they probably prefer not to play when they aren't afforded any protection whatsoever by a defence that is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
It's all well and good when defenders charge off up the field to muck in with their attackers, but they need to be astute enough (or even fit enough) to track back when their own goal is under threat.
By half time, Davies must have been wondering if some of his AWOL team mates had decided that he could play against Rainworth on his own this afternoon.
Everybody likes a trier and you couldn't fault the Badgers Jack Walters for his effort and non-stop today, but even he made a clumsy start to the game, when he exchanged passes with Jermaine Gordon on the edge of the Rainworth area, but fell over as he went for the return ball.
As the Wrens found their feet, it was mostly one way traffic for the majority of the first half, all towards Davies' goal.
Declan Brewin burst through the middle of the Badgers defence and went to ground, but the referee, Martin Chester, was close enough to see that he'd merely 'fallen over' as the ball ran away from him and waved away a couple of half hearted but wholly optimistic penalty appeals.
Aaron Moxam played the ball out wide to Jordan Claxton on the left and played the ball back to the Wrens striker, who netted from close range, but the goal was ruled out for an offside offence.
But Moxam had the ball in the net again less than thirty seconds later, when Owen Heather slipped the ball through to him, as the Retford defence stepped out en masse and left their keeper exposed. 0-1
The home side attacked and Walters crossed to Gordon, who used his frame well to hold off a challenge from Matt Plant, before rolling the ball back to Ward Wisdom-Lockwood, who cracked his shot over Townsend's crossbar and into the car park.
Rob Ludlam tracked Walters as he broke down the left wing and as they brushed past each other, the Retford youngster hit the deck. Walters obviously has many attributes and has a good career in the game ahead of him, but conning referee's with theatrical falls isn't one of his talents.
He should stick to doing what he does best and count himself lucky that he wasn't booked for assimilation, in this instance.
As the Badgers started to a resemble a pub team that had been hastily assembled out of players that had never met before, but who all had one thing in common... they couldn't pass a football to anybody wearing the same coloured shirt as they were wearing; Rainworth grew in stature and were completely bossing the game, with a constant wave of attacks.
Rainworth's first goalscorer Moxam, almost turned provider as he played Matt Sykes through, but Davies did well to stay on his feet for as long as possible and blocked the ensuing shot.
Davies saved Retford again, when he beat out a shot from Moxam, while the Wrens striker couldn't keep the ball on target from the rebound.
Brewin, completely unchallenged, rolled the ball sideways to Heather who scooped his effort over the bar.
Matt Sykes found himself in yards of space, twice, but missed a sitter with the goal at his mercy, then saw Davies pull off another stop to deny him moments later.
Just after the half hour mark, Ludlam directed the ball into Moxam's pass with his head, the Retford defence resembled a table football back four again and the Welfare striker lobbed the ball over Davies as he raced from his line to do his defenders jobs for them. 0-2
Keith Melvin was heading the ball away for United and looked good in the air, but on the ground, collectively, a back four including two players who don't usually play in defence looked awful.
Brewin played the ball in behind Retford's static back line and Davies thwarted Moxam yet again.
The Retford United keeper is renowned for barking out instructions to his defence, but his verbals were proving pointless today, because they were all too far away to hear him.
Right on the stroke of half time, Walters chipped the ball towards the visitors goal from the right hand edge of the penalty area and when Townsend punched it away under pressure, Wisdom-Lockwood got to the loose ball first but the visitors keeper saved with his feet.
HT: Jamie Davies 0 v Rainworth Miners Welfare 2
And that is no exaggeration. Rainworth had run Retford ragged and only the Badgers goalkeeper had kept his side in the game.
Personally I was amazed that Rainworth hadn't already sewn this game up prior to half time and I doff my very stylish Pork Pie hat in the direct of Jamie Davies, for giving the Badgers a chance to salvage something out of this game.
Heather and Matt Sykes combined as Rainworth attacked from the restart, but Ben Wyld intercepted and cleared the ball behind at the expense of a corner.
Chris Bettney (Yes! That Chris Bettney, who must be at least 67 these days, though he looks well on it), planted the ball above the Badgers penalty spot but Melvin cleared his lines... as Davies breathed a sigh of relief because his defence had finally made an appearance.
All of a sudden out of nowhere, a jolly Retfordian bloke called Brian who was sat beside me, exclaimed to everyone within earshot that: "If we get one, we'll get four y'know!"
I smiled benevolently and nodded, just to humour him, though I suspect that in spite of my silence as I bit my lip and suppressed a fit of giggles; that my facial expression was giving away what I was really thinking, i.e: "Shut up you daft old bugger, playing like this, this bloody shower won't score four more goals all season". But bloomin' heck!
You can pick my lottery numbers later old lad, because your outlandish prediction (in front of witnesses) and what happened next left everybody in the ground completely gobsmacked.
Retford United did indeed score four times over the course of the next eight crazy minutes.
Nathan Adams nicked the ball through into the path of Chris Funnell and just as it looked as if he'd run into a blind alley full of Wrens defenders, he shot from ten yards out and as Townsend moved to get behind the ball, it struck Ludlam's foot and changed direction and ended up in the back of the net. Game on? Surely not! 1-2
For the record, Ludlam hasn't claimed the goal, so it's Funnell who gets the credit.
Within four minutes of their first goal United were level.
Gordon's shot was blocked and fell kindly for Funnell and he struck the ball first time, forcing a reflex save from Townsend, who parried the ball into the path of Gordon... he couldn't miss from that kind of range and the game was turned completely on it's head. 2-2
"There's still two more to come!" chuckled our Brian.
 
'Ha ha, yes of course there is... I'll present Match of the Day tonight in Gary Lineker's underpants if that happens!'
Thankfully he never heard me.
Young Walters, showing technique and composure beyond his years, raced forward with the ball and released it through the Wrens defence to pick out the run of Funnell who made no mistake from ten yards out. 3-2
Walters once again, proved the old adage that if you're good enough, you're big enough and old enough, when he had a hand in the Badgers fourth goal, forcing Townsend to run from his area to head the Retford wingers forward pass away, but his attempted clearance dropped for Charlie Sykes, who lobbed the ball over the stranded Wrens keeper. 4-2
"Four of 'em! You wouldn't believe me would you!?" Beamed our resident tipster.
Hands up, you're right Brian, I didn't.
And neither did anyone else.
Alas, unbeknownst to the 107 shell shocked spectators looking on, we couldn't have envisaged that there were still another four goals in the offing... and Rainworth bagged them all, to tilt the seesaw the other way again.
Matt Sykes netted the first goal of his second half hat trick, when he picked up a pass from Phil Buxton and drilled the ball across the face of Davies' goal and it nestled just inside the far post. 4-3
Dillon O'Connor sprinted away down the left flank and Funnell and Jason Carter were a fraction away from scoring a fifth goal for the home side.
But Rainworth picked up their momentum again, from Townsend's goal kick and there was a scramble to clear the ball inside Retford's goaslmouth, but it glanced off of Matt Plant's head towards Liam Morris and he crashed home the equaliser from close range. 4-4
'What's your prediction now Brian?'
"Shurrup and get writing all of this lot down you!"
O'Connor tripped Matt Sykes as he advanced on Retford's goal, but the referee must've been too busy writing down all of the goal details, because he missed the foul completely.
Moxam got goal side of Melvin, but he rushed his shot and put it over.
Morris teed up the ball for Matt Sykes, the Badgers defence stood off him for a moment and that was all he needed, as he picked his spot and put Rainworth back in front. 4-5
With just three minutes remaining Moxam was seemingly seeing time out over by the corner flag, as he shielded the ball from three Retford players, who were battling to dispossess him. But Moxam slipped free of their attentions and squared the ball into the Badgers goalmouth, where Matt Sykes struck a firm shot past Davies to claim his hat trick. 4-6
In stoppage time, Walters got away from his marker, but pulled his shot just wide of Townsend's goal and it was too late for the home side to stage another fightback now.
FT: Retford United 4 (Four) v Rainworth Miners Welfare 6 (Six)
What a completely crazy game of football.
If I was either manager, I wouldn't have any complaints about any of my front players, but some of the slapstick defending would have driven me insane.
Ten goals though... it's a good job both goalkeepers are half decent.
One small but significant point to finish, well done to Retford United for finally having shirt numbers you can actually read and see clearly this season; these sort of things really matter and are of the utmost importance.
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Bottesford Town 2 v AFC Mansfield 1 - NCEL Prem

August 17, 2016, 2:59 pm
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Wednesday 17th August 2016
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Bottesford Town (1) 2
Daniel Boulton 5
Josh Nichol 84
AFC Mansfield (1) 1
Ollie Fearon 19
Admission £5. Programme £1. Attendance 87
Left click image to enlarge
Bottesford swept Barton Town Old Boys away by a margin of 5-1, in their opening league game at Birch Park on Saturday, a week after a Martin Pembleton goal had been enough to squeak past Radford in the FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round.
The Bulls had won three from three starts so far, prior to tonight; beating Liversedge at home and Harrogate Railway Athletic away in the league and impressively seeing off Shepshed Dynamo 4-0, away from home, in their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie.
AFC Mansfield won automatic promotion to the NCEL Premier Division at the end of last season, by virtue of finishing second behind runaway Hemsworth Miners Welfare in Division One... and the Poachers joined them a week or so later via the play offs, after beating both Hallam and AFC Emley (after a dramatic penalty shoot out) in the inaugural NCEL play offs.
The Nottinghamshire side won both of the games between these two sides last season, by the same scoreline: 2-0.
Ironically, when I watched the play off final at Bottesford last season, I was sat with the AFC Mansfield stalwart Pete Craggs, while his chairman was at the other end of the ground, schmoozing up to his fellow NCEL committee men and getting himself featured on the front cover of the first issue of the Bootiful Game, (a newly established tome dedicated to this, the greatest league in the world) into the bargain.
Issue one is currently available from all NCEL with a third of the cover price going to whichever NCEL club you buy it from.
There are a couple of pages (and photos) by this humble scribe in the current edition, but other than that it's a decent publication and worth tracking down if you haven't already had the pleasure.
A win for Rudy Funk's side tonight would have seen them leapfrog over the league leaders, who ironically are Hemsworth Miners Welfare, at this current moment in time, to go two points clear at the top, but in the event, Bottesford are now in joint second place, along with Handsworth Parramore, who have also won both of their opening games.
In all honesty, the Bulls never looked liked winning tonight though, as the home side deservedly took all three points.
Danny Boulton opened the scoring after just five minutes, taking advantage of the space afforded to him when Chris Timons backed off a yard, to tuck the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net beyond the despairing reach of Jason White, having opted to go for precision as opposed to power.
"Me and...
The live-wire Boulton proved to be a handful for the visitors all night, until he was substituted late in the game, to generous and highly deserved acclaim from the home crowd.
Ollie Fearon looked to get Mansfield straight back into the game, but having run from in his own half and into the Poachers goalmouth, through the left channel, he underhit his pass to John D'Laryea and Danny Gibbons was on hand to make a clearance.
Bottesford attacked again and Reece Newell played the ball to Boulton twenty five yards out, who saw off three challenges but lost his footing before managed to shoot.
Josh Nicholl threatened to double the Poachers lead, but Matt Plummer got the ball away from White's goal at the expense of a corner. Pembleton picked out Gareth Barlow with the resulting kick, but he squandered the chance in spite of being unmarked.
... my shadoooow!
Slightly against the run of play, the Bulls were on level terms after nineteen minutes, when Ryan Williams picked up the ball out on the right from Newell's attempted clearance and crossed to Fearon, who diverted a looping header over Aaron Busby to make it 1-1
The home side, broke forward quickly from the restart and Boulton led the cavalry charge, but was denied as White saved his twenty yard effort.
Bottesford came again and while trying to clear Pembleton's through ball, Plummer inadvertently nudged the ball into the path of Boulton who saw his close range effort thwarted by White who twisted and managed to tip the ball over his bar.
Jack Cross, out on the right flank, delivered the ball to the back post, where Pembleton knocked it back across the face of White's goal to Boulton, who netted from six yards... but the flag was up and the goal was ruled out.
Brad Wilson's long free kick bounced up awkwardly in front of Craig Mitchell, who couldn't make a proper contact with the ball, but Busby still had to move quickly to keep the improvised effort out by his upright.
The Bulls were almost presented with a gift of a goal, when a miscued clearance landed in front of Fearon, but he rushed his unexpected chance and shot wide from twelve yards.
White was in action again, reacting well to keep out Pembleton's free kick from just outside the left hand side of the area.
The visitors attacked on the break but Williams cross was headed clear by Ollie Donald and Bottesford picked up the momentum again, but when Pembleton set up a half chance for Scott Matthews, he scuffed his shot.
Plummer picked up possession in the middle of the park, but instead of looking to bring his forwards into the game, he opted to shoot from all of forty five yards, but didn't get enough power behind his shot to trouble Busby.
Bottesford finished the first half with Matthews and Pembleton chipping away at the visitors down the left flank, but in spite of the the North East Lincolnshire side having the lions portion of chances thus far, it was still all square with everything to play for at the interval
HT: 1-1
"Bloody Mansfield! One shot on target, one goal!" Joked a local of my acquaintance, through gritted teeth, as the teams left the field at half time.
I decided not to correct him; but, for the record: the Bulls hadn't actually had any shots on target yet and Fearon had scored with a deftly placed header.
Pembleton had put in a great shift during the first half and he came charging out of the blocks like a Usain Bolt of lightning and almost got to the ball as Plummer under-hit a back pass to White; but the Mansfield goalkeeper wrong footed the Poachers play maker, by executing a 'Joanne' Cruyff turn to evade his opponent, before clearing the ball. 
White likes to venture from his area and join in as an outfield player from time to time... and more often than not, he frightens the live out of me whenever he does ;-)
Boulton had been causing the Bulls problems all night, as Chris Timons gamely tracked his every move... and ten minutes after the restart, as he broke forward through a crowded defence, Kieron Salmons, the match referee, must've been the only person in the ground who didn't see that he was quite blatantly scythed down.
That was definitely a penalty, but the match official thought otherwise and that was that.
The visitors goal area was under siege, but they have a solid defensive line up and they were keeping the Poachers at bay.
As if to illustrate my earlier point, White dashed off of his line and ran forward with the ball and was quite lucky that the Bottesford players were on the back foot preparing to deal with his long clearance when he stumbled and fell to the ground, before re-composing himself and launching another long ball for Terry Barwick to head aweay.
A bout of posturing, squaring up and finger wagging broke out in front of the stand. But it blew over fairly quickly and Mr Salmons booked both of the players who had scored in the first half, while the real guilty parties sneaked off and attempted to look all innocent.
But Fearon doesn't just score goals and get booked unnecessarily... and moments later he was blocking Boulton's attempted strike on goal after he'd advanced into the last third from Matthews' throw in.
Having been under the cosh for most of the first half, Mansfield actually began to retain the ball really well and knocked it around, just outside the home sides penalty area.
It was aesthetically pleasing but the final ball was lacking, as Barwick and his defence showed their collective mettle... a bit like heavy petting without actually getting it on, I suppose you could say, if you were that way inclined... or huffing and puffing without blowing the Poachers house down, if you're a bit prudish.
But as the Bulls horns drooped, that man Boulton took the initiative and mounted yet another attack. Plummer got across his path and blocked the Poachers strikers run, but as the two of them tangled for the ball, Boulton poked a shot narrowly over the bar from eight yards.
The ball sat up nicely for Jimmy Ghaichem on the edge of Busby's area, but having only just come on from the bench, he was probably a touch too keen to make an impact and force his claims for a starting place at the weekend and he spanked the ball high and wide of the target.
Matt Steeper was flagged offside as he got onto the end of Boulton's defence splitting pass. Those of us in line with the incident thought he had actually timed his run perfectly and was unfortunate to have been pulled up. Either way, the visitors defence had switched off momentarily and Boulton unlocked them again with another precision pass into the path of Josh Nicholl, who unlike Steeper had wandered several yards offside and was rightly halted in his tracks.
Have you nodded off over there John Rudkin?
Bottesford were pushing on as the clock ticked down, looking to maintain their 100% win record for the season and thwart their visitors bid to end the night at the top of the table.
Elliott Broughton, who has put in some eye catching performances when we've watched him previously, showed the Bulls defence a clean pair of heels and chipped the ball into the six yard box, but Plummer got up well and headed the ball away to safety.
But moments later, Bottesford were back and Josh Nicholl squeezed his way through the tightest of gaps and drilled the ball into the roof of White's net from 12 yards out.
Boulton took the applause from the crowd for his efforts as John Corbett reshuffled his pack to see the game out. I joined in, it was the very least he deserved, the boy done good!
Matt Steeper had the opportunity late on to bang the final nail into Mansfield's aspirations, but the ball sat up as he was about to shoot and he could only lob it straight into White's hands.
Danny Naylor almost grabbed an equaliser right at the end, but his effort from twelve yards deflected wide.
To be fair to the home side, it would have been unfair if they had lost all three points after putting in so much graft over the ninety plus minutes and they thoroughly deserved the win tonight.
Truth be told, AFC Mansfield probably got what they deserved too, given the balance of play, even though the final score doesn't really reflect the full story.
FT: Bottesford Town 2 v AFC Mansfield 1
Good luck to both teams in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday, when South Normanton Athletic travel to Forest Town to take on the Bulls, while Kirby Muxloe visit Birch Park, where they will face a lively and difficult test on tonight's evidence.
Footnote: Thanks to the guys from Mansfield and the small crowd of locals who came to my rescue before the game, when I was involved in a particularly crappy incident involving my car.
The insurance company have paid up and I will be roadworthy and on my travels again by Friday.
And I don't want to hear another effing word about it... not ever!
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Wembley 1 v Harefield United 1 - FA Cup Preliminary Round

August 20, 2016, 11:19 am
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A POSSE AD ESSE, which translates, as near as damn it, into: FROM POSSIBILITY TO REALITY; is the club motto of  Wembley FC, AKA the Lions, who were formed in 1946, as the result of a post-war amalgamation between Sudbury Rangers and Sudbury Ratepayers, two local junior clubs, who felt that the borough that housed the national stadium should have a football team of it's own.
Back in those days, Wembley was still a borough in it's own right and the lion that made its way onto the club's badge, featured on the municipal coat of arms.
As the 50th anniversary of England's only ever international tournament trophy win is taking place this year, I really also ought to mention, that during the 1966 World Cup, Sir Alf Ramsey used Wembley FC's home ground as a base for England's training sessions.
In 1980-81, the Lions reached the first round proper of the FA Cup (a competition that will always maintain a certain amount of prestige and magic in my eyes, until the greedy clubs join in after the New Year), for the first and only time in their entire history; yet the mere mention of the name of the club in the same sentence as the most famous cup competition in the known universe, is alluring enough to attract hordes of sad anoraks, non-league obsessives, football travelers, ground hoppers, hopeless football romantics and people like me, AKA those few who are beyond all help and far more absorbed in football than any of the aforementioned outsiders from the human race (I am well aware of what I have become and I'm unselfconsciously comfortable with it), from all four corners of planet football, to the 2,450 capacity 'Vale Farm' ground.
Well, there were slightly more than seventy of us there today, if the quick headcount I did is anything to go by, but bear in mind that Jesus only had twelve disciples and look how popular he became.
Either way, today was something of a pilgrimage for me.
Some of you will understand that rationale, but those of you who don't, are probably reading this blog by accident and you really need to fu... go away elsewhere and read about the Olympics, or Curling, or Rugby Union, or some other minor and unimportant sporting event.
Today was one for the holy order of seekers of the ultimate football holy grail and if you need that explaining, then it actually says more about you than me.
Mansfield Town 1987 inc. Keith Cassells (second left).
The self indulgent bit:
Prior to moving into the Football League with Watford (and several other clubs), before he reached the zenith of his career at Mansfield town, for who he scored 52 goals in 165 appearances between 1985-1989, the Stags legend Keith Cassells started out at Wembley FC.
He was a part of Ian Greaves team, that won the Freight Rover Trophy in 1987, on penalties, against Bristol City, at that slightly bigger ground just up the road from 'Vale Farm'... and he scored in the final too!
I felt that you needed to know that and you can thank me later for enriching your knowledge of this really important achievement.
For the record, Richard Caddette was also at Wembley during the formative stages of his career.
He wasn't ever good enough to play for Mansfield Town, but Sheffield United once paid a transfer tribunal decided fee of £90,000 for him, which equated to approximately £12,870 per goal that he scored for them, during his one and only season at Bramall Lane (1987-88).
Who wears short, shorts!?
Richard Caddette (right) alongside Tony Agana
"You'll do yourself a favour, when you shop at Arnold Laver"
Harefield United, in common with their hosts today, ply their trade in the Spartan South Midlands League.
The club have reached the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on no less than five occasions between 1980-81 and 2009-10.
The visitors can trace the timeline of their origins back as far as 1868 and have had several different names along the way, including  Harefield Victoria and Breakspear Institute, before settling for Harefield United when they merged with Harefield FC in 1934.
The Hares are justifiably proud of their claim to being the oldest football club in Middlesex... and why not!?
Purveyor of culinary delights at 'Vale Farm'
The Spartan South Midland League was formed in 1997 when the London Spartan League and South Midlands League merged.
Last season Wembley finished mid table in the Premier Division while Harefield United were relegated to the First Division, along with Bedford FC, with Wembley winning both league encounters between the two clubs, 3-0 at 'Vale Farm' in April and 2-1 at the Hares 'Preston Park' ground, at the turn of the new year.
Also in April, Wembley's 42 year old player manager, who joined the club in 1993, chalked up his 1,000th first team appearance for the club, a phenomenal achievement by anyone's standards. And when he's not creating records, direction operations from the touchline and pointing with amazed awe and admiration at his assistant Owen Clayton's genitals... he's also the club's groundsman.
In the Extra-Prelimnary Round, Harefield United beat Northampton ON Chenecks 9-8 on penalties, after their initial game at 'Preston Park' had finished 1-1, as did the replay at the 'Old Northamptonians', Billing Road Sports Ground.
Wembley had a more straight forward passage over their first hurdle, when they saw off Daventry Town 4-0 at 'Vale Farm'.
Prior to today, both clubs are unbeaten so far this season, but that will change when a replay at 'Preston Park' on Tuesday night, will decide who progresses through to the next round, after both sides played out a goalless 85 minutes before netting a late goal apiece, with Calvin Kasiyre putting Wembley in front after 85 minutes and Perry Price grabbing an equaliser as the game approached stoppage time.
The Geography:
There are other ways of reaching 'Vale Farm', but the easiest one I found, is by using London Underground's Piccadilly Line sevice (westbound) to either Rayners Lane or Uxbridge and alighting at Sudbury Town. Leave the station via the main entrance (above) and walk straight to the bottom of the road and turn left, following the copious number of signs that appear along the route of what is only a short walk, which only took an unfit and bone idle old codger like me around 7 minutes, up a very slight incline, which of course becomes a pleasant downhill stroll on the way back.
A cautionary word. 89% of westbound underground trains on the Piccadilly Line go to Heathrow, so make sure you're on the right service.
Halfway along the route you pass Sudbury & Harrow overground station. North Wembley station on the Bakerloo line is slightly further away as you approach the ground from the opposite direction, but the number 245 bus service that encompasses the route between the two underground outposts, passes 'Vale Farm' and there is a bus stop on Watford Road about 30 yards away from the sign depicted below, it is only the second stop from Sudbury Town, so I don't know why anybody wouldn't walk instead, but each to their own.
If you choose to drive, there is ample free parking around the ground and in the nearby side streets or a pay and display car park (£1.50 all day) approximately half a mile away from the ground.
Saturday 20th August 2016
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
at Vale Farm, Watford Road
Wembley FC (0) 1
Calvin Casirye 85
Harefield United (0) 1
Perry Price 88
Admission £6. Programme £1.
For more 'Vale Farm' images and match action click HERE
There are 158 FA Cup Preliminary ties being played this weekend, my personal Saturday game of choice, was this Middlesex derby match, played at 'Vale Farm, a ground that has shelter on three sides, a very tidy stand along the length of the far touchline from the entrance and clubhouse and an array of smaller structures and several different examples of seating arrangements dotted around at various locations.
For those of you who don't like 'new builds' or big (and expensive) all seater stadiums, this one is well worth a visit if you're ever in the area. Or if you just happen to be in the vicinity, because you're treating the family to a trip to London that includes shopping, a show and tourist attractions tickets, while you nip off for a couple of hours because "Madam Tussaud's isn't really my kind of thing, but enjoy yourselves and I'll find something else to do for a bit". A mutually agreeable compromise and everyone's happy.
Who says I never make compromises for my nearest and dearest when family and football time overlap!?
Left click to enlarge image
Wembley had more than enough chances to finish this game off at the first attempt without the need of a replay on Tuesday night; but Harefield, driven on by an impressive range of long passing and free kicks from Adam Willis, definitely hadn't approached this game in a manner that suggested they were in no mood to sit back and slip into the 'plucky underdog' role against their Premier Division opponents.
Christian Barrett looked strong in the middle of United's defence while the Wembley left back, Charlie Weir, was getting forward down his flank in support of the Lions attackers and causing the Hares a few problems.
Sadly both of these players had to leave the field of play during the opening half a hour when they picked up injuries in separate incidents.
This was a competitive, yet never dirty game, well officiated by referee Matt Ball and his assistants. Alas, it was, ironically, the competitiveness of the two injured parties that proved to be their downfall today.
Calvin Kasirye, the home side's tricky wide player was tripped as he advanced towards the Hares goal area.
Jabir Laraba played the resulting free kick out wide to Carl Pearce on the right, but Toby Webb couldn't quite direct the right back's cross towards United's goal and the ball went out of play.
Joe Wright attempted to play the ball into the visitors goalmouth, but it hit Barrett on the top of the arm and though there was very little the Harefield captain could've done to get out of the way, a free kick was awarded just outside the penalty area.
Zaied Sabti beat Jacob Ballheimer with the resulting kick, but his effort dropped narrowly over the crossbar.
Willis picked up the pace for the visitors and when his run forward was checked by Kasirye, the referee blew up for a foul. Willis took the free kick himself, but with Josh Collis and George O'Malley homing in on goal Craig McCreech took control of the situation and punched the ball away.
Weir picked out Adam Humphries from a throw in level with the edge of the Harefield area and the Lions number 6 rode two challenges before his angled shot was saved by Ballheimer.
Sabti received the ball wide right, shimmied past two defenders and crossed into the Hares six yard box, but Barrett was on hand to clear the ball away and United counter attacked, but when Darrel Harris had the time and space to have a crack at McCreeth's goal, he sliced the ball wide of the mark.
Another long clearance from Barrett found Collis twenty yards out from Wembley's goal and with the wind whipping across the pitch, he took advantage with an audacious dipping lob, that cannoned off the crossbar.
Unfortunately Barrett appeared to tweak his hamstring when he launched the ball towards Collis and after giving it a few more minutes he had to be substituted.
Paul Underwood carried the ball forward through the right channel but Wayne Walters blocked his cross/shot at the expense of a corner.
Weir made two interceptions as Harefield upped the ante, but he took a knock getting a tackle in near the halfway line a few minutes later and had to limp out of the game.
The Lions had a great chance to break the deadlock, but when Laraba played Joe Wright in with a well aimed cross, Rob Ratcliffe put in a timely interception and the visitors cleared their lines.
But Laraba was soon back, when Sabti knocked trhe ball into his path but Sean Managan did enough to make things difficult for the live-wire attacker and Ballheimer saved with his feet.
The wind was picking up now and making things difficult as it got to grips with the ball.
Willis, Collis and O'Malley were trying to take advantage of the space vacated by Weir, but Webb who had moved back from midfield to slot into the left back berth, was doing a great job of covering that position.
Kasirye displayed some trickery as he slipped the ball through to Wright, but Hatfield's defence closed ranks and the ball was cleared out of the area, but only as far as Pearce, who tested Ballheimer with an angled shot from twenty yards that the Hares keeper did well to hold onto.
Gustavo Mota conceded a free kick when he caught O'Malley with a late challenge.
Willis, with yet another delivery into the Lions goalmouth picked out O'Malley at the back stick, whose first shot was parried by McCreeth while his second off the rebounded thumped against the upright.
The axis of the game swung the other way and Laraba released Pearce, but Ballheimer got down to keep his effort out.
The home side came close again, when Wright headed wide from Sabti's cross.
Harefield broke away again and Underwood was only denied by Webb's outstretched leg.
On the stroke of half time Ballheimer saved at Laraba's feet after Webb's long pass down the left had picked out his run.
HT: Lions 0 v Hares 0
Wembley bared their teeth straight from the restart, putting Harefield on the back foot, but the visitors defence was showing a lot of resilience.
The Hares also pushed forward, with Willis in the thick of things again. He delivered the flag kick that O'Malley had won to the near post, but the ball was cleared back towards him, so he dropped his second attempt onto the head of O'Malley who diverted the ball wide of the post with a glancing header.
But in the main it was the home side who were getting forward more as the second half ticked along.
Webb was getting forward and at the Harefield defence down the left, Wright crashed a shot narrowly over and Laraba's goal bound effort deflected off of a defender.
Wembley had a bit of a scare when Willis' cross caught up in the wind and evaded McCreeth, but dropped wide of the right hand post. If that one had gone in, 'the wind' won have got you some bonus points if you'd got it in your 'dream team'.
Joe Wright tangled with Managan on the edge of the visitors penalty area, but Mr Ball saw it as a six and two thirds honest collision and the LIons had to settle for a corner instead of a penalty kick.
Sabti swung a viscous kick into the goalmouth, but sadly for Wembley, when Walters connected with the ball, it was with the back of his head and he deflected the ball away from the goal and straight to a grateful Harefield player.
Darrel Harris tried his luck, when he dispossessed Brown and attempted a shot into the wind across McCreeth's goal from out on the left, but it was blowing so strongly now that the ball held up and fell wide of the near post.
Credit where it's due, both teams were battling against the difficult elements, but still providing the crowd with a half decent game.
Wembley's centre forward Wright almost opened the scoring, but his header from Webb's cross skimmed over the bar. And shortly afterwards Willis tested McCreeth with an inswinging free kick that took a turn in the stiff wind, but the Wembley keeper stretched backwards to hold the ball.
Wright once again, was the width of a Durex fetherlite ultra thin (for enhanced pleasure) away from heading past Ballheimer from Kasirye's long ball into the Hares six yard box.
In the 85th minute, it looked as though Wembley had cleared another hurdle on the road to Wembley (albeit a very short road), when Webb played the ball out wide to Pearce, whose inviting cross was met by Kasirye who connected well and scored with a great diving header.
As the Hares manager Jason Shaw reshuffled his pack, knowing that time was running out, he replaced Willis, who had done the work of two men this afternoon with Perry Price. "Bloomin' heck, look at him, you've got to be good to wear pink boots like those" chuckled an elderly onlooker.
Ballheimer had to move quickly off his line as Bogdan Patrianca flicked a long ball on towards Wright, but the visitors keeper held on tight.
Wembley were all for shutting up shop and seeing out the game down, but in their eagerness to keep Harefield out of harms way, they conceded a free kick just inside their own half.
With Willis now off the pitch, Underwood took over free kick duties and he whacked a long range exorcet into a scrum of players from both sides, to the right of McCreeth's goal. 
Amidst the jostling and pushing that ensued, a recently introduced player, going by the name of Price, looking resplendent in his pink boots, got across the front of Brown, picked out the trajectory of the ball to perfection and diverted it just inside the right hand upright, to grab the visitors a late lifeline... and they celebrated as though they had just scored a winner at that big ground across the other side of town. 
And that was it... neither side wanted to take any more risks so late in the day and they'll have to do it all again at 'Preston Park' on Tuesday night.
FT: Wembley FC 1 v Harefield United 1
The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in Middlesex. I enjoyed that, a lot, we should have another family day trip again soon.
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