Radford 3-1 Ibstock United EMCL

It was down as a six pointer between two of the bottom three sides in the East Midlands Counties League. Radford had lost seven players from the first team squad in the last few weeks and were down to the bare bones and Ibstock were bottom without a league win all season. The visitors started brightly as Radfords new look defence were caught on the hop twice in the first five minutes. Radford  were lucky when poor finishing let down Ibstock. It then became a scrappy game being played out in midfield. But Radford began a period of presssure on the half hour and Richard Derby set up Matt Eastwood just outside the Ibstock 18 yard area but a low drive went a foot wide of an upright.

Eastwood was foiled a minute later when the Ibstock keeper pulled off an excellent close range save and from the resulting corner Eastwood shot wide of the goal. Adam Mahl came close to scoring for Radford on 35 minutes when he was on the end of a Jarred Russell corner. Against the run of play Ibstock took the lead. Ibstock attacked wide on the left, the ball was crossed into the Radford area and a shot was fired towards goal which was saved by Martins Apenitis, the ball rebounded out to Jamie Chamberlain who made no mistake from 12 yards out.

There was not much action in the first twenty minutes of the second half until an hopeful pump upfield into the Ibstock area saw a mix-up between the keeper and a defender, Matt Eastwood took advantage to win the ball and equalise for Radford. Five minutes later Adam Mahl rose highest for a corner but saw his goalbound header tipped over the bar by the Ibstock keeper. Radford took the lead in the 75th minute when a good move involving Michael Allen & Richard Derby allowed Stuart Marshall time to run on to a through ball and beat the keeper from 15 yards. Radford nearly increased their lead in the 81st minute after Eastwood had rounded the keeper only to see his shot go wide. Martins Apenitis pulled off a great reaction save to deny Ibstock an equaliser, and when the ball was played upfield Michael Allen supplied Richard Derby with a pinpoint pass, the striker collected the ball and made no mistake from 15 yards to clinch victory for Radford  and a valuable three points.

Thoresby CW 1-2 Harworth CI CML North

Thoresby Colliery Welfare Football Club were formed in 1930, initially playing on a farmers field in Edwinstowe. The 1950’s saw success at minor level, capturing the Nottinghamshire Junior Cup, despite being drawn away from home in every round. Major success at a senior level did not arrive until the late 1970's in the form of the Notts Alliance Senior League Cup. In the 1980/81 season Welfare became the nearly men, finishing runners up in the Notts Alliance Senior League by a single point, and losing the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup Final to Rainworth by a solitary penalty. Following relegation from the Notts Alliance Senior Division, and a general downturn in the Club's fortunes, the Club's management committee decided that it was time for the club to try and move forward with a move onto the football ladder into the Central Midlands Football League, where they remain to this day.

I got the Sherwood Arrow bus from Nottingham Victoria, a day ticket is £5.50. I got off at Edwinstowe Fire Station and walked back 100 yards and turned right into Fourth Avenue. Walking along Fourth Avenue to the very end will bring you to the ground. Thoresby had a very good side last season and were the visitors at Dronfield when I saw the best game of last season. But at the start of this season the Manager and his assistant left, many players have departed and they no longer have a reserve side.

I stood with The Chairman of the Central Midlands League for most of the first half. He was cheering on his Son who was playing for Harworth CI. The visitors, wearing Orange, had the best possible start when they took the lead in the first minute. The ball was played to the edge of the Thoresby 18 yard box and Tom Pick was allowed space to turn and shoot in one movement and sweep the ball past the Thoresby keeper. Thoresby came close to being two goals down when a poor back pass was intercepted by Paul Burns but his chip over the keeper went wide of the goal. Harworth were grateful for their keeper when he made two crucial saves on 18 and 22 minutes. On 36 minutes Thoresbys keeper saved at the feet of a striker when it looked odds on he was bound to score. Harworth were marginally the better side and went 2-0 up just before halftime when Gareth Sides headed home from a corner.

Thoresby rallied for the second half and came back at Harworth playing some good passing football. Josh Bretnall Thoresbys centre forward was making some good runs but his timing was slightly off, being caught offside on several occasions. Both keepers were busy early in the half. Harworths keeper was forced to the edge of his area to block a shot in the 55th minute but a minute later Thoresby pulled a goal back. The ball was flighted into the Harworth area, the keeper and a defender both shouted for the ball but the ball fell to Thoresbys Josh Bretnall who made no mistake from 15 yards. Thoresby were now creating the better chances, Bretnall played in the substitute giving him a great opportunity but the ball was blasted wide of the goal. Although dominating the game for the final period Thoresby couldnt add to their goal and Harworth took all three points.

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Linby CW 6-3 Radford Notts Senior Cup 1st Rnd

Radford have been playing rubbish recently and a penalty awarded in the first minute for an ankle tap got them off to a bad start. Matt Murphy stepped up and blasted the ball past Martins Apenitis in the Radford goal. Linby attacked at will making light work of Radfords non existant midfield and it was no surprise the home side added to their first goal ten minutes later when Matt Murphy ran on to a ball flicked over the Radford defence and smacked the ball past the keeper. Kyle McDermott looked marginaly offside as he raced free along Radfords right wing cut inside and stroked the ball past Apenitis to give Linby a three goal advantage on fifteen minutes. McDermott made it 4-0 on 18 minutes when he headed a cross onto the crossbar before reacting quickest to head the ball into the Radford net from six yards out. Radford had to wait until 27 minutes before they had their first attempt at goal, a one-two between Lusamba and Allen led to a Lusamba shot from 18 yards out going a foot wide of the goal.

Iain McCulloch let rip with some choice words for Radford at halftime and Radfords early second half pressure paid off when Matt Ball headed past his own keeper to pull a goal back for Radford. Radfords joy was short lived when Arron Ryan put Linby 5-1 up on 65 minutes. Radford came back at Linby and were awarded a penalty two minutes later. Jarrod Russell took the kick only for the keeper to save with his legs, the ball rebounded out to a Radford forward but before he could shoot he was brought down and another penalty was awarded. This time Michael Allen took the spot kick and once again the keeper saved with his legs but this time the ball rebounded back to Allen and he smashed the ball past the keeper to make it 5-2.

Radford were on fire and Stuart Marshall scored Radfords third on 61 minutes. Although Radford had plenty of chances they couldn't add to their score and to add insult to injury Matt Murphy scored a sixth for Linby and claimed his hatrick in the final minute.

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