Tuesday 30 April 2013

Staveley Miners Welfare 1 v Liversedge 2 - Baris NCEL Prem

Tuesday 30th April 2013, at Inkersall Road
Baris Northern Counties East League, Premier Division
Staveley Miners Welfare (0) 1
Oliver Woodhead 77
Liversedge (0) 2
Danny Toronczak 49
Ryan Wood 75
Admission £5, Programme £1, Attendance 78
Ta very much to 'our Ele' for the team sheet
Left click for enlarged image
Staveley beat bottom placed Hall Road Rangers 3-0 on Saturday, to end a shocking sequence of 15 consecutive League games without a win, since they beat Barton Town Old Boys on Saturday 15th December 2012. 
There have, of course, been mitigating circumstances that have temporarily delayed the progress this club's been making, both on and off the pitch. But even after a worrying spell of uncertainty for the Staveley faithful, that saw the vultures eagerly, but prematurely circling Inkersall Road, there is still an air of positivity around the place, as they move forward again, towards a brighter future.
The truth is, this north Derbyshire football club are far from going bust and vanishing without a trace, as many of the salacious rumour mongers in local football have been predicting.
If I may rehash a variation of a famous Mark Twain quote to make my point: the reports of Staveley Miners Welfare FC's death are greatly exaggerated.
Trust me and just watch them find their feet again next season, now they've taken their standing count squarely on the jaw and weathered the stormy seas, that were caused by the waves of people deserting what they wrongly assumed was a sinking ship.
Defiant Sabre rattling conjecture, or fact? 
Tell you what, if you're not convinced by what I've just said, come back in twelve months time and discuss the above subject matter with me, because I'll enjoy that, a lot, because I absolutely love being proved right.
Earlier this month, Liversedge had dished out an 8-1 mauling to Staveley at their Clayborn base in Cleckheaton, but a fairly lacklustre first half, suggested that this game was never likely to provide many goals,  to entertain the 78 spectators who'd turned out tonight, instead of watching the European football on TV.
But there were a few stand out moments at either end.
Lee Anthony looked as though he had given Staveley the lead, but having connected well with Ryan Damms neat delivery into his path, to lob Tony Clarke in the visitors goal, he saw the ball take a wicked bounce in the rock hard goalmouth and it flew straight over the bar instead of into the net. That moment, encapsulated the kind of luck Staveley have been having this season; i.e, none at all, except for bad luck of course.
At the other end, Gibril Bojang put a dangerous cross into the Staveley box and Matt Bugg crashed the ball against the crossbar,
Lee Anthony's right wing cross was only half cleared by the visitors defence, as far as Sean Dickinson, but Tony Clarke saved well to dent the Blues number 8.
Anthony was involved again, when he dispossessed James Rathel on the edge on the 'Sedge box and played Joe Bytheway through, but his shot went across the face of the goal and out of play narrowly wide of the far post.
HT - Staveley MW 0 v Liversedge 0
The second half was just four minutes old, when Matt Bugg's shot from 10 yards was well blocked by Martin Dewberry, but Danny Toronczak was on hand the score from the rebound, with what was possibly only Liversedge's second notable attempt on goal, of the game, thus far.
Jamie Smith saw his effort fly wide of the target, as the home side started to inject a bit of momentum into their game.
But the pressing game up front, turned into panic in defence, as Martin Dewberry and Joe Bytheway combined to make a real mess of clearing the ball and they were fortunate that Matt Bugg couldn't respond quickly enough to the unexpected chance he was gifted.
Staveley pushed forward, probing for an equaliser and Ryan Damms crashed the ball against the crossbar with Tony Clarke beaten. Michael Trench hurt himself trying to get to the loose ball as Clarke recovered and plucked it out of the air.
Toronczak put Bugg through on goal with a well weighted pass, but Dewberry made a vital stop to keep the score down to 0-1.
Dewberry was in the thick of it again before long, plucking a left wing cross from the ever lively Toronczak off of Bugg's head.
Just when it looked as though Staveley had weathered a mini storm, Ryan Wood ghosted in, took advantage of a gap in the home sides rearguard and knocked home Liversedge's second goal with fifteen minutes remaining.
Liversedge scoring again woke Staveley up a bit and within two minutes they had pulled a goal back through Oliver Woodhead who headed home a pinpoint delivery from Liam Osborne.
Osborne steeped up the ante and began to cause the Liversedge defence no end of problems as they resorted to kicking him to keep his obvious threat under wraps.
The game finished under a cloud of controversy, due to a couple of decisions that went against the home side and cost both Ryan Damms and Jamie Smith a yellow card apiece.
Several players went up in the six yard box for an in swinging cross from Liam Osborne and there was a call for a penalty as the ball was flicked over the cross bar by the hand of ... well it depends how clear a view you had of it who's hand(s) you're going to think got to the ball.
A Liversedge player definitely handled it, no doubt about that, but Ryan Damms also got a touch.
However it was difficult to ascertain whether the Staveley captain was booked for the handball or for what he said to the ref in the aftermath of the incident.
But if it was for for using his hand, then whichever Liversedge player helped the ball over the bar, should also have received a caution too.
For the record, I was in line with the goal, watching the action through a zoom lens, hoping to get a picture of a late equaliser for Staveley (not that I'm biased or 'owt!).
But that doesn't mean my first hand account is either definitive or wholly accurate.
If opinion was split about the handball decision ... and having spoken to a few people about the incident on the way out of the ground, there were several contradictory and conflicting views from eye witnesses ... then Jamie Smith's misfortune at being shown a yellow card, was agreed upon unanimously.
It was a crap decision, end of!
Smith and Tony Clarke both went for a loose ball and reached it simultaneously, with Smith actually getting a touch on the ball first, before the keeper got his hands on it.
Neither a case of foul or dangerous play, but just the act of a player making a last ditch and legitimate attempt to get to a ball that was still in play, as his team pushed forward in search of a late goal that would salvage a point from the game.
Smith was entitled to go for the ball, just like Clarke, who bravely saved the situation and possibly preserved his teams lead in the process.
I'm loathe to criticise match officials at any time, as I've said previously ... but, in this instance, Jamie Smith is going to have to pay a fine as punishment for challenging for the ball fairly.
Surely, that is exactly what he is meant to do.
Isn't it?
FT - Staveley Miners Welfare 1 v Liversedge 2
It could've gone either way in the second half. But Liversedge hung on to their slender advantage and won the day.
Both sides will finish the season just below mid table in the Baris NCEL Premier Division and will be looking for an improvement next year.

Monday 29 April 2013

Parkgate U19 1 v Basford United 7 - NMU19L Div 2

Monday 29th April 2013
at Roundwood Pavilion
North Midland U19 League Division 2
Parkgate U19 (1) 1
Curtis Wilkinson 28
Basford United U19 (4) 7
Anton Robinson 13
Dan Jackson 24, 51
Luke McKeag 36
Jack Hodson 43, 75
Kyle Keetley 67
Admission £2 inc team sheet
Congratulations to Basford United U19, who were (finally and deservedly) crowned as champions of the NMU19L Division 2 tonight.
The last time I visited Parkgate, was the unfortunate night (this one) where I ended up missing most of the game to accompany an injured Harworth Under 19's player, Tom Sowden, to Rotherham A&E.
The reasons for my visit to Roundwood tonight were two fold, 1) To seek out the guy from Parkgate's ground staff who'd helped us to get Tom to hospital, because I didn't get chance to thank him properly when things were getting a bit hectic that night & 2) the championship for the NMU19L was probably going to be decided tonight and it's only right that representatives of at least some of the other clubs in that division were present to pay there respects to Basford for their achievement.
Of course, it also got me out of attending a committee meeting at Harworth Colliery FC ... but I'll make sure I'm at the next one, paying attention, listening intently and taking my responsibilities as seriously as ever (cough).
Basford United bagged seven quality finishes tonight, to underline their credentials as worthy champions of the NMU19L Division 2, even though the eighth goal of the night, or the third in chronological order, netted by Parkgate's right back Curtis Wilkinson was probably the pick of the bunch, after he raced down the right flank, before smacking home a peach of a goal from just outside the Basford area on 28 minutes, to give his side a brief hope of getting back into the game, before the visitors turned the screw, upped the ante and vanished out of sight and over the horizon.
Anton Robinson opened the scoring after 13 minutes, getting onto the end of a multi pass move, before rounding the keeper and putting the finishing touch to some neat build up play, from ten yards out.
Dan Jackson netted Basford's second, with a calm and confident finish after he was picked out by, err ... a Basford player, out on the left flank, with a cross deep into Parkgate's area.
The home side then gave themselves a temporary respite from Basford's attacking play, through Curtis Wilkinson's aforementioned 'wunder strike' and threatened to get back into the game, until Luke McKeag headed home another goal for the visitors to restore their two goal cushion.
Dan Jackson almost made it 1-4, but his effort came back off the underside of the crossbar.
But Jack Hodson netted Basford's 4th a couple of minutes before the interval anyway.
HT - Parkgate U19 1 v Basford United U19 4
45 minutes gone and the Nottingham based champions elect already had one hand on the trophy.
Shortly after the restart, Jack Hodson put Dan Jackson through with a measured pass and the prolific Basford striker chipped Parkgate's keeper, to all but finish the game off and claim the title for the visitors.
Basford could now afford to slow the tempo down a bit and be a little blase' in their approach play. 
Kyle Keetley's goal to make it 1-6 was pure show boating as he lobbed the ball home from 25 yards after the Parkgate keeper had strayed from his line. And then Jack Hodson belted home a 25 yard free kick from almost 30 yards out to complete the rout, with 15 minutes still to go. 
Basford could, possibly, have really gone to town in the closing stages, but that would just have been showing off and they didn't need to do that. 
This victory was already just about as emphatic as it could've been.
FT - Parkgate U19 1 v Basford United 7
A real champion class performance by Basford on the night.
Well done to all concerned.

Saturday 27 April 2013

Harworth Colliery 2 v Westella Hanson 2 - CMFL North

Saturday 27th April 2013
at the Recreation Ground, Scrooby Road, Bircotes
Central Midlands League (North)
Harworth Colliery (1) 2
Tom Pick 40, 85
Westella Hanson (1) 2
Chris Spinks 21, James Atkinson 86
Admission £3, Programme £1
Harworth Colliery:
Mark Latham, Jordan Hardman, Paul Burns, David Cornthwaite, Simon Brewster, Chris Belshaw, Jonny Bownes, Gaz Sides, Billy Ball, Matt Smith, Tom Pick
Subs - Tom Padgett, Andy Webb, Brendan Wilson
Westella Hanson:
Jody Barford, Rob Dodson, Jack Walters  Andy Bagshaw, James Atkinson, Matt Fyvie, Alex Wood, Bobby Stevenson, Muke Pecora, Chris Spinks, Mike Thompson
Subs - Dave Gorden, Dave Clement, Tom Dent 
Last weekend, Harworth lost 4-3 at Easington United, after being 3-0 ahead at one point, while Westella arrived at Scrooby Road on the back of a eight game unbeaten run.
Earlier this month, Westella emphatically thrashed Harworth 1-0 at Bishop Burton.
That is to say, they played the Colliery lads off the park that afternoon and deserved far more than a single goal victory in the end, on a day when Mark Latham pulled off some top quality stops, to give the margin of defeat a respectable look, that the all round team performance probably didn't warrant.
I think it would be fair to say, that thus far, though there are obviously teams who have more strength in depth, resources and quality individuals who can turn a game single handedly, Westella are, without a doubt in my mind, the best side Harworth have faced, both technically and team work ethic wise, all season.
When the two sides met a few weeks ago, Westella moved the ball around quickly and precisely in the last third, looking to make gaps to exploit, for their danger men like Mikle Pecora and Chris Spinks to take advantage of.
So, this afternoon, Harworth were well aware of what to expect, how to contain that threat and who to look out for.
If you defend too deeply against today's East Riding based visitors, they'll try picking you to pieces around your own goalmouth, so a more advanced back-line ought to deal with that problem, while forcing them into resorting to long range pops at goal, instead of playing their usual game.
Right? Err ... no actually.
The game started well for Harworth, who were seeing plenty of the ball, but on 21 minutes, they conceded possession cheaply from a free kick in the middle of the park and a long ball over the top of their defence for Chris Spinks to run on to from out on the right flank, saw him put the ball past Mark Latham with an unstoppable, quality strike.
Harworth didn't let the set back knock them out of their stride too much and they took the game to Westella for the remainder of the first half, looking for an equaliser.
Neither side could afford to lose this afternoon as they battle it out with Clay Cross Town for third spot and thie game turned out to be a compelling contest, with no quarter being given.
Harworth deserved lot of credit for sticking to their task given that there were several notable absentees today and a couple of players drafted into the first team duty from the reserves.
Tom Pick nodded home the goal that levelled things up from a tight angle, from Jordan Hardman's right wing cross, fjust ive minutes before the break.
Maeningly the game was nicely balanced on a knife edge when half time arrived.
HT - Harworth 1 v Westella 1
Jody Barford denies Tom Pick.
Being as diplomatic as I possibly can, the final result hinged on the second half performance of three teams. Namely: the home side, the visitors and the match officials.
All three of those teams did their level best to put on a decent game of football, but all three made mistakes along the way, in the process of doing so ... and some of those errors had more of a bearing on the full time score than others.
Westella came out of the blocks like an express train after the restart, but Harworth just about contained them and worked hard to gain the initiative.
Tom Pick was putting in a busy shift around the visitors goal ... and when he went to ground having been nudged in the back in a crowded six yard box, it looked like a clear penalty from where I was standing, i.e. behind the goal that Harworth were attacking ... but the match officials can only award decisions when they get a clear view of any given incident and that one would've been hard to spot amid a scrum of players.
Tom Pick makes it 2-1 to Harworth on 85 minutes
There was another similar push in Pick's back a few minutes later, but that was probably classed as one of those 'get up and get on with it', two players coming together type collisions. Pick had the last laugh however, escaping the attentions of his marker and firing the ball home from 15 yards with just five minutes to go.
It looked as if Harworth were going to claim three hard earned points today, but this game still had a couple of stings left in its tail.
The home side were in front for less than 60 seconds, before James Atkinson knocked home an equaliser at the other end.
Colliery's keeper Mark Latham stayed down after the goal, which was a worry.
It transpired that he'd taken a stray raised boot in his face in the build up, moments before Westella scored.
I didn't see that clearly first hand, but I guess it was up to the officials at that end to decide whether a head injury warranted stopping play immediately, or calling for treatment to be given once the visitors were celebrating their goal.
In essence, it's all down to split second timing.
Paul Latham was clearly incensed by the incident ... but before anybody says that the players dad is bound to be biased, just let me state; he is actually a fairly harsh critic of his son's performances at times and would've called the incident *exactly* as he saw it, i.e. not through rose tinted glasses.
Sometimes he possibly requires bi-focals ;-) (don't we all) but Paul is never shy about giving people his side of things straight, to the point and as he honestly views them.
A 2-2 draw, as a conclusion to this end to end game, that had seen one team and then the other taking the initiative to go all out to claim the result, was probably a fair result in the cold light of day, once the dust from the firm but fair pitch settles and the finger pointing ceases.
But, that said, Harworth could and should have had an opportunity to clinch the victory right at the death.
In the last minute of the 90, the referee failed to point to the penalty spot, for an infringement that took place a good foot or so inside the area.
The referees assistant was straight in line with the blatant foul, but his sight line would've blocked due to Gaz Sides and Jonny Bownes surging into the box in tandem with the visitors full back in their slip stream, but how on earth the referee missed it ... hmm, I'll shurrup, we all make honest mistakes at work, don't we!?
Would Pick have scored the spot kick, claimed his hat trick and won the day for Harworth?
I guess we'll never know.
And the Colliery will just have to dust themselves down and accept that possibly, these twists of fate and occasional debatable decisions, balance themselves out over the course of the season.
Much as I'm having to say that through gritted teeth right now, in the direct aftermath of the game.
FT - Harworth 2 v Westella 2
Right, who's got some tweezers, to get these bloody splinters out of a certain fence sitting bloggers big bum ... any takers?
Oi! You two ... come back!

Thursday 25 April 2013

FC Sutton Foresters 3 v Retford Town 1 - AET - Notts FA Saturday Junior Cup Final

Thursday 25th April 2013
at Eagle Valley, home of Arnold Town FC
Notts FA Saturday Junior Cup Final
FC Sutton Foresters 3
Retford Town 1
Matt Young 85
After Extra Time
45 mins 0-0, 90 mins 1-1, 105 mins 3-1, FT 3-1
Bouncers! ... Albert Graves - a Notts football legend
A few pictures and a very brief overview of tonight's Notts FA Saturday Junior Cup Final.
Left click for enlarged image.
Retford Town line up courtesy of Martin 'Buster' Keeton
Match report from Retford Town website
FC Sutton Foresters had the better of the game as a whole, but didn't turn their lions share of possesion into goals and Retford equalised inside the last five minutes, through substitute Matt Young, to force the game into extra time.
But FC Sutton Foresters put the game beyond Town's reach during the first half of that extra time, with two quick fire goals.
On the balance of play the score was about right in the end and I don't think Retford will have any complaints about the final outcome.
In fact, if it hadn't have been for a couple of decent saves (and one moment of improvised good fortune) from Retford's goalkeeper and captain, Jason Holberry, the game wouldn't have needed to go into extra time.
FC Sutton Foresters are a very efficient and attack minded side, as the league table for the Midland Amateur Alliance shows
For the record Retford Town will finish as runners up to the Blues Club (Gainsborough) in this season's Lincoln League Div 1 and they did win the David Cooper Cup earlier this month by beating Fulbeck United 4-2 in the final, so their season hasn't been without its merits.

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Chesterfield 3 v Mansfield Town 0 - Central League (Regional fixture)

The Proact Stadium. View from inside the Rose & Crown
Tuesday 23rd April 2013
Central League (Regional fixture)
Chesterfield (0) 3
Danny Whitaker 53
Jacob Hazel 69, 85
Mansfield Town (0) 0
Admission free inc. team sheet
Attendance 300+
Left click picture for enlarged team line up details
"Here for the party, we're only here for the party"
Most of the Stags reserves players are away in Tenerife, where the club is celebrating winning the Blue Square Bet Premier championship at the weekend.
So it was just the Under 19s who travelled to the Proact Stadium for this end of season game.
The young Stags gave a fairly good account of themselves at times, especially in the opening half, but they were ultimately undone, by their more experienced hosts, who had a couple of first team trialists in their line up tonight and came good after the break.
Jack Waddle is currently on the Spireites books, he's a dead ringer for his dad Chris, the ex England international, who started his career at Tow Law Town.
Don't worry too much about being at Chesterfield at the moment Jack. As your dad's career path showed, it doesn't hurt in the long run to start at the bottom and aim high.
Oh well Spireites, it was nice to have turned up on your doorstop tonight, to remind you that your local rival team, who you said you would never have to play again, because we are apparently in free fall, whilst you are upwardly mobile in your swanky new ground, with your big money backing, heading up the Football League and out of our reach forever, are actually in exactly the same division as you next season.
Did you miss us?
Thought not, but that's mutual xxx
Of course, none of this brief resume' of a Central League fixture, is meant to be confrontational or antagonistic, 'tis merely tongue in cheek banter.
Bring it on and see you all again soon, you sheep, sheep, sheep sh@ggers ;-)
For the record, I sat and watched tonight's game with my mate called Barry, who is actually from Chesterfield.
Though we possibly won't be sat in the same stand when our respective first teams play each other next season.

Monday 22 April 2013

Askern Villa 0 v Albion Sports 4 - Baris NCEL Div 1

Monday 22nd April 2013
at the Welfare Ground, Askern
Baris Northern Counties East League, Division 1
Askern Villa (0) 0
Albion Sports (3) 4
Malachi Farquharson 3
Daniel Facey 23
Kayden Jackson 27
James Stansfield 75
Admission £4, Programme £1, Attendance 35
Bottom placed Askern Villa, tonight hosted league leaders and champions of the Baris NCEL Division 1 elect, Albion Sports.
The home side started on a goal difference of -104, while Sports had a slightly better return of +65.
So an away banker, if ever there was one.
Earlier this month, Askern let in 7 goals against Bottesford Town, 11 against Louth Town and 9 against Pontefract Collieries.
It is to their immense credit that they haven't just chucked the towel in and called it a day, buggering up the league table for every body else in the process, just like certain other teams have done in other local leagues recently.
When Malachi Farquharson put Albion Sports ahead in just the third minute, all 35 people present, myself included, anticipated another rout.
But a combination of rugged, determined defending and some poor finishing from the visitors, restricted Sports to just 3 more goals all night, 2 in the first half and another 1 in the last fifteen minutes, even though Askern finished the game a man light when they had a player dismissed for swearing at the linesman, or more to the point, for calling him a cheat.
Malachi Farquharson heads home the opening goal
Askern have always been a very welcoming club, who have been beset with misfortune and constant vandalism to their ground.
Doubtless, the next time I go there it will be to watch them in action in the CMFL next term, but at the moment that step down, might be just what they need as they regroup and try to get back on an even keel. And at least they'll have a few local derby games to relish next season, with Bentley, Brodsworth, Harworth and Thorne.
Hopefully Askern will get a change in fortune some time soon, because they have a good bunch of people looking after them at the Welfare Ground.
Maybe a name change, like dropping the Villa word and reverting back to being called Askern Welfar, would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
4-0, was actually a very respectable margin of defeat all told, for Askern, given all of the circumstances and background to tonight's game.
As damage limitation exercises go, you could almost call it a success.
Tonight, we got talking to a guy from Pontefract, who proudly claimed to have attended almost 100 games this season.
Wow! Your dedication to duty is commendable good sir.
I hope you achieve that impressive target.

Saturday 20 April 2013

Selston 2 v Wollaton 2 - NSL & Underwood Villa 2 v West Bridgford 2 - NSL & Mansfield Town 1 v Wrexham 0 - BSBP

Saturday 20th April 2013
Three matches in one day, starting off with a couple of early starts at the Nottinghamshire Senior League Groundhop event and climaxing with the 5.15pm, Blue Square Bet Premier title decider, at Field Mill, between Mansfield Town and Wrexham.
Notts Senior League, Senior Division
at the Parish Hall Ground
Selston (1) 2
Rich Barnes 4, Tim Moore 90+3
Wollaton (0) 2
Dane Rawson 47, Richard Ranshaw 82
Admission £3, Programme £1, Attendance 358
Selston v Wollaton - NSL -  10.10AM Kick Off
The first person I bumped into upon my arrival at Selston, was the match referee for this mornings opening game, Mr Andy Rolph, going through his usual strenuous and rigorous, pre-match fitness routine, which he cleverly disguises, to make it appear as if he is sauntering around leisurely, while puffing on on great big cigar.
A beaming smile appeared across Andy's face as our paths crossed and we shook hands.
It has been just over a week since I submitted a letter about his handling of an Under 19 League game at Harworth to the registrar, along with the team sheet from the game ... and the comments I'd made in that missive had been passed on to the no nonsense official for him to peruse.
Truth be told, the maximum mark of 100 out of 100 I had penned in on his assessment sheet, was unique and once in a lifetime rating that I will ever give to any referee, because he impressed me so much with his refreshingly firm but fair style.
Even though we lost the game and he'd had (good) reason to reach for his cards a couple of times (the little swines have to learn some manners), I'd rather have an official who'll allow players a bit of lee way and give as good as he gets in the banter stakes, whilst not leaving them in any doubt that he won't put up with any crap, any day of the week, than some overly fussy despot or wet behind the ears up and coming young ref, applying the letter of the law to the nth degree under the watchful eye and meticulous scrutiny of an assessor.
"Get up, he never touched you!", "Stop playing to the crowd!", "What are you doing down there? I picked that coin up I tossed ages ago!"... ah, music to my ears.
I've been to Selston before, when they were in the Central Midlands League, but the early kick offs, combined with the Blue Square Conference's 5.15pm start today, gave me the (irresistible) opportunity to attend some of the Notts Senior League Bonanza Groundhop Day games, organised (like clockwork) by the eminently thorough and erstwhile chatterbox that is Rob Hornby, who by now should have been given an OBE for his services to promoting local non league football in the locality.
His missus, Hazel, probably deserves an even bigger medal for her loyalty, support, understanding and persistence, that goes well beyond the call of duty too.
Mrs Hornby, you must have the patience of several very, very patient saints.
Selston FC, had thoughtfully provided a beer tent for today's event. Alas, I was driving, so I could only sample a token slurp of one of the real ales on offer... but purchased a keg for an impending celebration later this evening.
It was a fine brew going by the name of 'Game Over'... and the gob full of it I tried was very nice too.
I wouldn't be able to get around so many football matches, or do my job, without my driving licence, so I had to resist the temptation of getting stuck into the sauce today.
Besides, I was still feeling a bit rough after getting in very late (AKA just before breakfast) from a Punk Rock extravaganza in Nottingham last night, featuring Gold Blade, the Electric Shite Orchestra and some other bands I can't even remember the name of right now... let alone what they sounded like.
I made the acquaintance of the 'handsome hopper' (his words not mine) in the beer tent, who tends to the 100 Grounds Club website and its associated Facebook group. I'm usually spot on when it comes to first impressions and Shaun seems like a top bloke to me... he even shares my passion for the music of the Pixies.
Rich Barnes put Selston ahead inside the first five minutes of today's opening game, while his goal was bookmarked on either side, by both teams crashing the ball against the woodwork.
A little bit of needle started to creep into the game, Andy Rolph had a word in the ears of the instigators about the consequences of what would happen if they didn't wind their necks in a bit, but would they listen?
Inevitably, as the tempo of the game swung towards becoming ever more feisty, the enforcer had to dish out a few cautions, operating proceedings like a authoritarian Gendarme, directing rush hour traffic.
If some of the players felt the need to give it the large one to Mr Rolph, there was only ever going to be one outcome to that particular head to head.
Selston held on and took their slender lead into the break, but after the restart, Wollaton got to grips with the game and deservedly levelled things up through Dane Rawson.
Inside the last ten minutes, Richard Ranshaw belted the ball home, for what appeared to be the winning goal for the visitors.
But in stoppage type, amidst a flurry of arms and legs, Tim Moore back heeled the ball past Pat Stanhope to salvage a point for Selston.
They'd been great hosts and had pulled out all of the stops to provide a decent match day experience for 350+ visitors to their Parish Hall ground, so you couldn't begrudge them having the final say in the games proceedings.
FT - Selston FC 2 v Wollaton FC 2
Note* on various forums, blogs and social networking sites, the goal scorers for the Selston v Wollaton game are listed incorrectly. This stems from the team sheets that were handed out being ever so slightly inaccurate.
The same happened for the second game of the day too.
But feeling of a particularly anal, sad and nit picking disposition today, I left no stone left un-turned in pursuit of the truth, the whole truth and the 100% accurate, correct and undisputed truth.
Okay, I copied the details off Laurence Reade really ... because if he hasn't got his facts right, nobody else will have done.
Notts Senior League, Division One
at Bracken Park
Underwood Villa (2) 2
Ian Townsend 44, Sam Tring 45
West Bridgford (2) 2
Jamie Prince 5, Jurgen Charlesworth 9
Admission £3, Programme £1, Attendance 341
Underwood Villa v West Bridgford - NSL - 12.45pm Kick Off
Underwood's ground is, literally, just around the corner and along the road from Selston FC.
Their clubhouse and facilities are very much a 'work in progress' building site affair at the moment, but it looks as though they'll have an impressive set up once its all finished.
This was my first visit to Bracken Park, though I've probably driven past it hundreds of times without ever realising that there was even a football ground here.
The club volunteers did a great job of keeping the food queues moving swiftly along and outside, as the midday sun threatened to hang around all day for a change, the programme and badge sellers were doing a brisk trade.
The Millets Mafia
"Last few badges left if you want one" offered a kindly lady as I walked past, "Err ... no thanks!", I politely responded, without stopping to explain that I would rather eat an omelette made out of rotten eggs and my own sick, than ever own a claret and blue badge with the word 'Villa' on it. 'Nuff said!
Not that I have got anything against the Underwood club or their badge, you understand.
West Bridgford went into this game a massive 21 points ahead of their hosts and it showed during the opening exchanges, when they stormed into a two goal lead inside the opening ten minutes, with both Jamie Price and Jurgen Charlesworth, leaving the Underwood keeper, Nathan Askew, clutching at fresh air, with a brace of quality volleyed finishes.
It looked as though the visitors would then turn the screw and build on their early lead, but the home side started to find their feet a bit towards the end of the first half and Ian Townsend was the architect of their come back, unleashing an unstoppable 30 yard pile driver for his sides first goal, just a minute before the break and then charging forward and rounding the keeper, before rolling the ball across the face of the visitors goal, where Sam Tring was on hand to nudge the ball across the line for the equaliser.
Possibly it was already goal bound, before Tring got a touch, but nobody was arguing the toss.
From being in a position where they were chasing the game, in warm, strength sapping and tiring conditions, a little over a minute before the break, Underwood went in for a breather on level terms.
I briefly spotted Evertoniam Graeme at half time, who is well on course to attend 300 games this season (and you thought I was obsessive). He must live and sleep in his car to clock up that many miles ... or on his sunbed ;-)
Oh well! When you've gotta go.
The second half was nowhere near as lively as the first and the game petered out into a steady but unspectacular contest ... and to be honest, my attention span was starting to wander, as I began to ponder my third game of the day.
For while the majority of those present at Selston and Underwood, were heading to both Awsworth Villa and Kimberley Miners Welfare, for neutral games of a non partisan nature, I was heading in the opposite direction, for Mansfield Town's most important game for (too) many a long, long year.
Victory for the Stags against Wrexham today, would mean they were back in the Football League, five years after they had toppled headlong into the auspices of the non-league game. Any other result would probably see them pipped at the post by Kidderminster Harriers, who were at home today against the seemingly doomed Stockport County, who appear to be heading to the Conference North this evening. What a sad fall from grace their rapid descent has become.
There but for the grace of God n' all that.
Underwood threatened to clinch the second game of the day, when they pushed forwards in the dying moments, but a couple of free kicks from dangerous positions, amounted to nothing and the draw was just about a fair result in the end.
FT - Underwood Villa 2 v West Bridgford 2
Blue Square Bet Premier
at Field Mill, AKA the One Call Stadium
Mansfield Town (1) 1
Matt Green (pen) 40
Wrexham (0) 0
Admission £18 (West Stand Upper) the ticket for the posh seats was a birthday present to mark me having reached a significant age earlier this week.
Programme £3, Attendance 6394 (Inc. 142 from Wrexham)
Mansfield Town:
Alan Marriott, Greg Taylor, John Dempster, Lee Beevers, Luke Jones, Adam Chapman, Adam Murray, Lee Stevenson, Louis Briscoe, Lindon Meikle, Matt Green.
Subs: Colin Daniel, Ritchie Sutton, Anthony Howell, Matt Rhead, Jake Speight.
Wrexham:
Andy Coughlin, Declan Walker, Leon Clowes, David Artell, Johnny Hunt; Rob Evans, Glen Little (Jonathan Royle 84), Jay Colbeck; Dele Adebola, Adrian Cieslewicz (Mark Creighton 76), Rob Ogleby (Bradley Reid 59).
Subs: Kyle Parle, Jamie Morton.
There is this line in the Stags signature tune 'Mansfield Magic' (recorded and released for their victorious Wembley appearance v. Bristol City, in the 1987 Freight Rover Trophy Final) that goes: "You know Mansfield Town will never let you down".
Hmm, well it rhymes, if nothing else.
But there isn't a lot of historical evidence or hard facts to back up that ever so slightly ambiguous claim.
But today, cometh the hour (and a half, plus stoppage time) n' all that.
It's been a whole five years since that fatal day, when Rotherham United all but dotted the i and crossed the t in the Stags last but one Football League game on 26th April 2008, before their inevitable relegation to the Conference (that was confirmed when Chester City drew with Stockport County on 29th April 2008).
And in that time, despite a 'no show' capitulation during a papering over the cracks FA Trophy Final appearance at Wembley (which they lost against Darlington) and a play off semi-finalist runners up spot, it would be fair to say that the below the belt blows have far outweighed the (all too few) virtually insignificant highs... until today.
When all is said and done, there is far more to life, than winning regularly at fellow ex League club Luton Town ... regardless of how much fun that actually is.
For the record, because I know some picky swine is bound to ask, the Stags last Football League game of 2007-08, when they were already relegated, was a 2-0 defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge on May 3rd 2008.

In my humble opinion, the low point of the Stags last five seasons, was the utterly demoralising and embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Hayes and Yeading United, in April 2011, which included this 'comic capers' own goal from Tyrone Thompson.
While on loan keeper David Grof punched the ground and kicked the goal post (he should've battered Tyrone Thompson instead), the takings at a nearby bar suddenly increased rapidly, when a whole load of travelling supporters exited the ground en masse to drown their sorrows.
Their mood was not improved any, when some imbecile had stupidly parked his BMW where it blocked one of the supporters coaches in after the game. He'll returned in the nick of time, just as a group of big lumps were weighing up how best to move his vehicle. He'll never know how lucky he is that he still has a f***ing car, that hadn't been tipped onto it's roof and torched.
But after today, well, the Stags faithful can look back and reminisce about such bad old days and consign them to history... while hoping lessons have been learned that shall never be repeated. Because: Mansfield Town are back!
And was it ever in any doubt!?
This afternoon, the Stags performance, was below well par, tired and frustrating in equal parts.
But did anybody notice?
I mean, did anybody really care about the niceties of the game?
Because, the result was all that mattered.
Wrexham put up little in the way of any attacking prowess all afternoon and seemed content to let their goalkeeper Andy Coughlin have as many touches of the ball as possible, as time after time, he intervened and broke down a whole host of semi-potent and nearly threatening attacking moves.
The breakthrough came on 40 minutes, when Glen Little felled Louis Briscoe as he ran into the Wrexham penalty area and Matt Green tucked away the resultant spot kick in front of the 142 visiting supporters, dotted around in the North Stand.
Obviously the majority of Wrexham's fans were saving their pennies for the forthcoming play-off games and had stayed at home.
It's a shame that the powers that be couldn't have split the North Stand in half and let a few more local football fans have several hundred more tickets for this vital game, but I guess we're all wise after the event.
Goooooall!!!
You trying holding a camera still and going mental at the same time.
For the record.
Matt Green's strike from 12 yards out, which the visitors keeper very nearly got a hand to, was the goal of the season.
In fact it was the greatest and most important goal to have been scored at Field Mill at any time during the last five years.
Never mind it's simplicity and lack of build up play and ingenuity, that was the pivotal moment that finally nailed the lid shut on five years of Non League football at the Stags.
Get in!
A week after their FA Cup 3rd Round exit to Liverpool ('If you still hate Suarez clap your hands!'), the Stags slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against (ironically) Kidderminster Harriers, but then went on a remarkable 17 game run, that saw them lose only once, at Newport County, but win their remaining 16 games.
This month, prior to today 'Kiddy' had won 4 but lost 2 games, at Wrexham and Braintree Town, which brought about this 'winner takes all' final Saturday of the Blue Square Bet Premier season, which saw Kidderminster Harriers kick off just 2 points adrift of the Stags and just one goal behind on goal difference.
If Harriers won by more than one goal today and the Stags didn't beat Wrexham, then Paul Cox's side would've slipped into the play offs. 
It was that tight. 
Word came through that the Kidderminster and Stockport players had been taken from the pitch by the referee at Aggborough, after some of County's away following had invaded the pitch as emotions soared.
It was reported that players from both teams were attacked, though that was possibly only conjecture and gossip.
One thing that was 100% factual though, is that with play having been suspended at the other game while the police restored order, Kidderminster's 'do or die' contest at Aggborough would now be finishing over 30 minutes after the Stags v Wrexham and if Andy Morrell's side were to score an equaliser, or even worse, win this game, then the Harriers would know exactly what they needed to do in order to snatch that all important top spot. Gulp!
Time ticked on, agonisingly slow, seemingly at half speed and although Wrexham seldom looked like penetrating the home sides rearguard, it would only take one successful counter attack from North Wales finest, to completely ruin the majority of people present at this games day (AKA whole season).
I have no wish to elaborate, but Mansfield Town don't do play offs! They needed to win: right here and right now.
Through the years, I've heard so many stories about twists and turns on the final day of the season... folklore about police dogs biting players to hold up games where a late goal as salvaged a clubs season from disaster and legendary goalkeepers racing up to the far end of the pitch to head home 94th minute winning goals. But those amusing anecdotes all happened to other peoples teams, elsewhere.
The chances of Kidderminster benefiting from an as of yet unwritten late drama, kept everybody on the edge of their seats right up until the full time whistle.
Former Stags defender David Artell, was harshly shown a straight red card late in the game, as the visitors were reduced to ten men.
And then, finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the match referee Nicholas Kinseley blew for full time and it no longer made any difference to the Stags that Kidderminster Harriers were on their way to a 4-0 victory elsewhere, because: 'You know Mansfield Town will never let you down"... and just for once, they bloody well hadn't done.
Kidderminster Harriers, Wrexham, Newport County and Grimsby Town will now contest the play-offs to see who wins the second promotion spot.
Walking away from the triumphant scenes of jubilation, unrestrained joy and no small amount of sheer relief, my mate asked me who I'd like to see promoted to League 2, along with the Stags. I joked: "Why are you talking to me about those non-league teams and their play-offs?"
Mansfield Town are a Football League club now and no longer have to concern themselves with such trivial matters... phew!
Obviously, if there was any justice in the world, the Harriers will go on to clinch promotion having finished as runners up ... but football, like life itself, isn't always fair like that.
Good luck to all concerned.