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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Thurnby Nirvana 3-0 Radford EMCL

Radford have played Thurnby Nirvana twice in five days and on both occasions they were outplayed for large periods of the games. Nice ground at Thurnby and good hospitality for their visitors. £4 to get in but the programme was a poor effort.

In the first minute Thurnby's Will Gonga had an eighteen yard effort fly just over the crossbar and three minutes later Radford's Beardsley set up Jordan Alls but his shot was saved at the near post. On seven minutes Radford thought they had took the lead, A Beardsley free kick found Jarrod Russell free at the far post and he volleyed home from six yards out but the linesman had his flag up for offside. On 18 minutes Thurnby's Smyles had a chip from inside the area beat the Radford keeper and go narrowly over the bar. Radford came back at Thurnby and a Krasniqi shot from 25 yards fizzed over the Thurnby bar.

Thurnby took control of the game in the second half and five minutes in Adam Mahl saved Radford wth a last ditch tackle as a striker was about to score. Martins Apenitis in the Radford goal made two great reaction saves on 54 minutes but a minute later Louis Neckles gave Thurnby the breakthrough after good work from Reece Morris had set him up. It was 2-0 in the 63rd minute when Phabian Smyles recieved a flick-on in the area and cooly finished. Two substitutions for Radford made little difference to the constant Thurnby pressure and ten minutes from time it was 3-0 when Matt Melbourne finished off a move created on the right wing.

Radford 0-2 Long Eaton Utd (FA Vase)

It was a thoroughly entertaining game on Saturday and despite the gap in leagues it was an even contest. Radford in Sky Blue shirts were the first side to have a shot on goal when Bernado Alves jinked and weaved and sent in a shot from 18 yards, but there was no power in his effort and the keeper saved easily. Martins Apenitis in the Radford goal did well when he finger tipped the ball out for a corner when a dangerous free kick was heading for goal. Minutes later Apenitis pulled off a great save after Matt Savage had been put through. When a Radford corner had been cleared Richard Dean sent in a rasping drive that hit the Long Eaton crossbar before going out for a goalkick.

Matt Savage broke the deadlock on 33 minutes for Long Eaton, the ball was played wide to the left winger Danny Gordon and he sent over a superb low cross into the box and Savage finished from close range. Radford fought back and a Adam Mahl header was just wide of an upright. A Kevin Lusamba cross found Michael Allen free in the visitors box but his header was saved by Scott Miles.The game continued at a fast pace in the second half and after a period of Radford pressure Long Eaton broke forward and nearly got a second goal but a shot from 20 yards hit the Radford post. The visitors went close to scoring on 72 minutes when Savage was on the end of a cross but he shot well over from close range. Good work between Radford strikers Alves and Derby led to Richard Derby running free into the Long Eaton area but the striker put in a weak shot that was easily saved.

Eight minutes from full time Long Eaton went 2-0 up after a free kick was floated over and Shaun Rickford raced in to score from close range. Radford fought to pull a goal back in the remaining minutes but it was not to be and Long Eaton United progress into the First Round proper of the FA Vase.

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Radford 0-2 St Andrews (EMCL)

Not a lot happened in the early part of the game. Kevin Lusamba sent in a 25 yard rocket of a shot that went a yard over the St Andrews goal on 6 minutes and a dithering Radford defence were nearly caught out a couple of minutes later but were saved by an offside flag. St Andrews went 1-0 up on 19 minutes from the penalty spot. A ball over the Radford defence found Kieran Linnett in the penalty area where he was adjudged to have been fouled by Danny Beardsley. Beardsley was shown the red card as he was the last defender, Linnett stepped up and converted the spot kick. Linnett was to score St Andrews second goal 6 minutes later. Again the visitors went route one, Linnett beat Jahred Russell and the onrushing keeper to the ball before slotting the ball into the goal.

St Andrews were using their numerical advantage well spreading the ball around the pitch and they nearly went three up on 35 minutes as a cross found Linnett unmarked at the far post but his header was wide of the goal. Radford had a golden opportunity to equalise as half time approached. Bernado Alves beat the offside and raced free, from just inside the area he beat the keeper but his shot rebounded off the post to safety.

Radford attacked straight from the restart with Krasniqi dribbling into the area but his shot went straight at the keeper. Krasniqi went close again a minute later when Lusamba played him through but the keeper saved his goalbound effort. The Radford goal came under pressure midway into the second half, Apenitis was forced to make several important saves. The first being a great reaction save after a cross found a striker free in the box. St Andrews were shooting from all angles but Radfords defence held firm for the rest of the game to keep the score at 0-2.

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Glapwell 0-1 Radford (FA Vase 1st Qlfy Rnd)

The visitors began brightly with an 18 yard effort from Krasniqi flying a foot over the goal after Lusamba had set him up. Although Radford were having better possession it was a scrappy game with both teams making too many errors. Alves had two half chances for Radford. The first when Kevin Lusamba put him through but he shot wide of goal, and the second when Danny Beardsley played him in, and he scuffed his shot.

Beardsley himself came close on two occasions. The first chance came after a good interchange on the wing between Lusamba and Alves. the ball was crossed into the area but Beardsley was challenged before he could get his shot away. And secondly from a Lusamba corner he shot wide of the upright.

Danny Beardsley was excellent in centre midfield and Kevin Lusamba was a constant threat along the left wing. Glapwell were reduced to long range efforts as Richard Dean and Adam Mahl were winning everything at the back.Ten minutes into the second half Radford were awarded a penalty. Kevin Lusamba went on one of his mazy runs, dribbled into the penalty area and crashed to the ground while surrounded by Glapwell defenders. Jarrod Russell chipped the ball over the diving keeper. Substitute Michael Allen flicked on a Russell free kick a minute later that the keeper did well to save.

Glapwell had their first real goalscoring opportunity on 80 minutes when a free kick was headed a foot over the bar. With just four minutes of normal time remaining the Radford keeper misjudged the bounce of the ball on a return pass resulting in a corner. The corner was sent over and a shot was cleared off the line, the ball was played back into the area where it struck a Radford player and the referee awarded a hotly disputed penalty. Gareth Vardy took the penaly for Glapwell, but Apenitis pulled off a great save to give Radford only their second ever win in the FA Vase and a home tie against Long Eaton United in the next round.

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