Dinnington Town 1-3 Nostell Miners Welfare

NCEL Presidents Cup 1st Round

Tuesday 30th September

Admission £4 adults £2 kids £1 programme

A visit to one of the most progressive clubs in the area Dinnington Town.They have progressed from the Central Midlands League and won the NCEL First Division last year and are going well in the Premier this season.The ground is adequate for now but I don't know if it is up to standard for progression to the Unibond Leagues.We enter the turnstile entrance after parking in the car park.This brings you out on the halfway line.To the left is a tea hut and a small sheltered terrace.To our right the walkway to the changing rooms and another covered terrace.Behind the goal to our right is a small covered seating area.Down the far side and behind the other goal is nothing other than dug outs.

Both these teams are in the NCEL Premier Division and as the game begins the visitors begin the brightest.The match is mostly even with Dinnington struggling to put passes together whereas Nostell are running at the Dinnington backline but can't find the right ball into the box.

After half an hour the visitors take the lead and within a minute Dinnington equalise through Ant Lynam their prolific scorer.A couple of minutes before half time Nostell retake the lead with a 30 yard screamer.The second half begins with Dinnington pressing hard for an equailser for the first quarter of an hour but they can't put the ball in the net.Nostell come back as an attacking force for the next 15 minutes but can't seal the tie then with 15 minutes left Ant Lynam breaks from his own half carrying the ball into the box before inviting a challenge which the defender makes putting Lynam on the floor.The ref gives the penalty which Lynam takes but the keeper makes a fine save to put it over the bar.This is Dinningtons last chance as Nostell play out the last quarter of an hour taking the ball to the corner flags trying to win corners.With a couple of minutes left they succeeded in doing this and from the corner a free header is smacked against the bar with the rebound volleyed in to seal the tie.

Overall the best team won but the missed penalty obviously the turning point of the second half.A crowd of around 50 watched this game.A very friendly club with a great website which keeps you informed of goings on which over the winter when I attend midweek matches I need up to date information with postponements,inspections etc so I will more than likely return as the season progresses. 

Parkgate 4-1 Leeds Carnegie

Presidents Cup 1st Round

Tuesday 23rd September

Admission £5 adults £2 kids £1-20 programme attendance 21 headcount

Headed the short distance to Rawmarsh to watch this cup tie between Parkgate of the NCEL Premier Division and Leeds Carnegie of NCEL Division One.Arrived at 730 and entered the ground behind the goal.The ground consists of two sides flanked with tall thick hedging,one touchline with dugouts and a grass banking and behind the goal two covered stands one with seats one without.We stand where we enter the ground in the standing cover.The game is played in front of 21 paying spectators that I counted as they came in,nothing better to do whilst waiting for the match to begin.

The match gets underway with Leeds Carnegie attacking the goal we are stood behind.Leeds have most of the possession but cannot find the final ball.Following a Leeds corner Parkgate break out and a long ball finds their centre forward who beats the defender to the ball and calmly lobs the goalie and puts Parkgate one up after half an hour.Ten minutes later Parkgate win the ball 30 yards out on the right wing and deliver an inch perfect cross onto the head of the Parkgate centre forward who buries his header.Half time and Parkgate are two up despite not playing very well.We get teas and chocolate from the tea bar.The second half starts in much the same fashion as the first.Parkgate grab a third when their midfielder hits a screamer from 25 yards which goes in off the post.Leeds pull one back and continue to play some lovely football and in injury time Parkgate complete the scoring in injury time when their centre forward completes his hat trick holding off 4 defenders before slotting the ball home.

Overall the match was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests with some lovely movement from Leeds who played football on the deck and knocked it around well,they just lacked a killer final ball.I think they will do really well in their league this season ,they look a better team than both Askern and Scarborough that we saw earlier in the season.Parkgate on this show don't look anything special but took their chances so a mid table position for them I feel.

Selby Town 0-4 Guiseley

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round

Tuesday 16th September

Admission £5 adults £2 kids £1 programme

First visit to Selby.Arrived in light rain to find the penultimate space in the club car park.Paid through the turnstile and bought a programme.To our right behind the goal was a covered terrace with bench seats to the rear.Opposite us was an open terrace with the dugouts and changing room.Behind the other goal was again a covered terrace and the touchline we were on had the social club and other portakabins with open terracing in front of them.

This FA Cup game featured a team from the NCEL and opponents from the Unibond League.Right from the kick off the gulf in teams was clear.The first half consisted of Guiseley creating many chances but not converting any.They were even given a stonewall penalty but missed this.Selby had one good chance but did not convert it.A goalless first 45 minutes then but not an even game.As the rain became heavier we sought out the social club to buy refreshments,3 teas @ 60p each.

The second half started in exactly the same fashion.Eventually after 15 minutes of the second half the deadlock was broken by the Guiseley centre forward who scored after Guiseley had taken a short corner which was then crossed in to him.5 minutes later they doubled their advantage when a cross into the box was dropped by the upto then brilliant Selby keeper and the Guiseley substitute rolled it into the empty net.Guiseley dropped the pace now and Selby had more possession but didnot create much.Guiseley scored two late goals one from their midfielder after a defensive mix up and one from another substitute who was nippy when he came on.The game finished in heavy rain with the scoreline reflecting the superiority of Guiseley but fair play to Selby they kept trying and didnot give in.

A decent ground for an NCEL club and a good crowd with a decent turn out from Guiseley,a good night all round.

Askern Villa 1-2 Scarborough Athletic

NCEL Wilkinson Sword Trophy 1st Round

Admission £4 adults £2 kids programmes sold out

Tuesday 2nd September

First visit to this ground and maybe the last.Parked up in car park and zig-zag around big Welfare building across a stream and in through a pay hut.This brings you behind the goal.The game had started when we arrived so we just stood behind the goal where we entered.The ground consists of a thin metal fence around the ground with a tiny covered terrace behind the dugouts and very thin hardstanding around the pitch.refreshments consist of hot drinks and chocolate and to get them you go around the pavillion up some very thin steps and into a room.Whilst I was in here Scarborough took the lead after half an hour.Upto this point they had created all the chances and so this was deserved.Askern started the second half brightly but were undone by a long ball won by the Scarborough forward who poked it past the Askern keeper.Now Askern played some lovely football building from the back and creating several chances before finally pulling a goal back with 15 minutes left.they carried on creating chances and could have equalised before running out of puff and Scarborough playing out the 5 minutes of injury time even hitting the crossbar.

Don't want to dwell on it but the referee had a terrible game.He missed several foul tackles and only booked players who complained about him not giving free kicks for clear fouls,he was shocking.

Finally when the game finished the whole crowd had to go back through the pay hut and back to the car park and this route was like a swamp and with no lighting it was very tricky/difficult.Because i only attend matches on a tuesday night the lack of facilities and the likelihood of bad weather mean I will be very unlikely to revisit when I have a choice of clubs providing better facilities which is unfortunate as they are very friendly people here and the team plays really good football which at this level is a rarity.Mention must also be made to the Scarborough support which was huge for this level and for the distance travelled for a midweek cup match.

Brodsworth 1-3 Maltby

NCEL Premier Division

Admission £5 adults £2 kids no programme Attendance 50

Monday 25th August

This was my first visit to Brodsworth.I could have gone before but the place has a reputation for the floodlights failing so I have never bothered.I work on saturdays so today was the ideal chance to visit.It is a 20 minute drive for me and we arrive through the gates and park with the other dozen cars on a grass bank at the edge of a cricket pitch.The floodlights show us where the ground is but there is no sign or any turnstile.After walking around we discover that the entrance is through a door of what I would describe as a row of beach huts!I pay to go in and we enter the ground.We find ourselves next to where the players enter the pitch at the corner of the ground.Upon entry there is nowhere to buy a programme(if one is available)or anyone selling raffle tickets.This is unusual because virtually every ground I've visited has this as a means of raising extra monies.It is a beautiful sunny afternoon and I am gagging for a drink so I head to the "clubhouse."It is housed in a delapidated building with a counter behind which a man is doing burgers on a 1970s hob next to which is a cooler full of cans of beer,coke and juice.I just order tea which is fine just what is needed.We walk down the players walkway and position ourselves halfway in the half nearest the entrance.The ground consists of a stand stretching 20 yards either way of the half way line and a covered terrace behind the far goal and nothing else.Even the dugouts are falling down.The players enter the pitch and the match begins.Brodsworth begin the better team with their forwards looking quick and nimble and are easily beating the very slow Maltby defence.They miss several chances before deservedly taking the lead on the half hour.Upto this point they had been greatly encouraged by their manager which was great to hear.He was full of praise and constantly encouraging them.After they took the lead he went quiet and so did his team and just before half time Maltby equalised after Brodsworth failed to clear a cross.The Brodsworth heads visibly dropped after this.1-1 at half time.The second half begins and it is noticeable how quiet the Brodsworth manager is and his team just look flat.Maltby come more into the game without creating too many chances and with twenty minutes left they take the lead after the keeper made a great save but it came out to the Maltby big number 9 Wraggy who made a pigs ear of his shot but it just crossed the line.Maltby then looked a decent team knocking the ball around and they killed the game off in stoppage time with a long ball which was crossed into the box for Wraggy to get his second.Overall I thought Brodsworth started brightly with great encouragement from the sidelines.Maltby resorted to a long ball game but once they scored the Brodsworth heads dropped and they came away comfortable winners.Once again a word for the respect campaign which was noticable by the lack of arguing with the officials who explained all their decisions to the players,it made it an enjoyable game and great to see one not ruined by constant moaning and swearing.Will I revisit Brodsworth,yes if they get over their floodlight problems,but now I'm aware of the facilities I will come prepared.

AFC Goole 3-3 Lincoln United

Unibond League South

Tuesday 19th August 

Admission £7 adults £2 children programme £1-50

Our first competitive match of the new season sees us taking in a new ground.Goole is half an hour away for us and handily the ground is only a couple of minutes off the M62.

The entrance to the ground is behind one goal and a table is set up selling programmes and raffle tickets.Next to this is the food bar.The pitch is in front of us surrounded by a six lane running track.To our left is the main stand,covered terracing with seats in one half.This stand runs to just past the half way line due to the railway line running behind it.Down the other touchline is another covered terracing.We choose this terracing to stand and watch the match.

Lincoln United take the lead in the first minute when a cross into the box was headed in by their centre forward,They double their lead inside ten minutes again from their number 9 again from a cross only this time along the ground.Goole create several chances and pull one back on 20 minutes.Lincoln should have regained their 2 goal advantage on half an hour when the Goole goalie miskicks to Lincolns centre forward who has the whole goal to aim at but scuffs his shot horribly.The remainder of the first half sees Goole create chance after chance but a combination of great goalkeeping and bad finishing keeps the score at 1-2 at the interval.

Refreshments are taken on board at half time with the "famous"Goole pie the attraction for myself.Chip butty,pie,peas,gravy and cups of tea all round and I can confirm that the pie is the best I have tasted at the grounds I have visited so far.

The second half begins in the same style as the end of the first half.Within 15 minutes Goole have firstly equalised and then taken the lead.they then change tactics and stop pushing forward and start time wasting.With 13 minutes left Lincoln equalise again from a cross into the box.Neither team create anything in the last 15 minutes to win the game.A point each then which gives Lincoln their first point of the season and Goole their second 3-3 draw.On assessing these teams I would say that Goole will score plenty of goals judging by how easily they tore through the Lincoln defence but they need to defend crosses into the box.Lincoln must improve their defence.They could have conceded 6 or 7 here and wouldnot have complained.It could be a long season for them.I don't see too many 0-0 draws for either of these teams.

With the ease of the journey and the facilities offered plus the style of football served up I will be picking out Goole as a team to visit again later in the season.It will be interesting to compare that visit with this.