Holbrook St. Michaels 1 v Sutton Town AFC 3 - CMFL South

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
Central Midlands League (South)
Holbrook St. Michaels (0) 1
Chris Saunders 90+3
Sutton Town AFC (1) 3
Gary Atkins 10, Andy White 54, Dale Gilliatt 84
Attendance 147: a record crowd for Holbrook St. Michaels.
Sutton Town AFC are confirmed as CMFL South Champions.

Thanks, thanks and thrice thanks, to the Lord Provost of Scotter, who picked me up en route to Holbrook from his fiefdom this evening, because the medication I've been enjoying and necking in copious amounts today, had rendered me unfit and unsafe to drive. Ok, nothing new there several of my crash test dummy-esque regular automobile passengers might think.
But seriously, without the kind offer of a lift from Mr Picken, I would not have been able to get to Holbrook Park tonight, to reach a personal milestone.

Neil Young - A personal favourite of mine

I've finally visited all 33 current CMFL North and South grounds. Of course, there will be new teams coming into the league next year, who I'll no doubt get around to visiting eventually, if not necessarily immediately, or especially urgently. But as of now, for one night only, I am no longer a keen football supporter, but a fully fledged, time served, Central Midlands Football League completist ground hopper.
And rather fittingly for the occasion, Colin even provided a most agreeable soundtrack to accompany our journey.
Oh yes! Crazy Horse! No, not Emlyn 'is it Princess Anne?' Hughes, or that screechy Osmonds song, but Neil Young, you bloody music philistines.

Upon arrival at the ground, which is tucked into the corner of a country estate, a herd of inquisitive cows were watching on as the Millets Mafia arrived en masse, we were joined by the charming, amusing and knowledgeable, Mr Sheff Geoff ... lock up your daughters Holbrook!
Programmes were a quid a go tonight, while admission was free.
However, raffle tickets, hot drinks from the tea bar and cans of beer (on sale from a table behind the managers dug outs) were all available, but had no fixed price and were selling for a voluntary donation of your own choice. Obviously this was a chance for the freeloader fraternity to fill their boots, but I don't think anybody took advantage of the situation and everyone seemed to reciprocate the clubs generosity at the gate, by chipping in over the odds for their purchases.
A damn smart marketing idea by the club, if you ask me.

The star of the show, was without a doubt, the Saints club official who went around selling the raffle tickets and did a couple of circuits of the pitch to count and double count the 'official' attendance.
He had time for a friendly chat with just about everybody present as he happily and obviously very proudly answered a multitude of questions about his football club.
"Oh please take a picture of our tiny stand and mock it on the internet later" he joked, "There's no such thing as bad publicity".
Tell you what though, there was nothing bad to say anyway and I won't be alone tonight, in putting compliment strewn blurb about a first time visit to this smashing little ground, on the t'interweb.

The world's smallest stand?
Or the world's largest football fans?

So where was I again?
Oh yes, (legally) drugged up, blissed out, Neil Young tune-age and the first time that I've seen the sun since 2007 (or thereabouts) and ... Oh yes! A title deciding football match and a new ground to add to my lengthy ground visit tick spreadsheet*
So this must be Utopia then.
Holbrook were an attacking force to be reckoned with at Clifton a few days ago, whilst as for Sutton Town AFC; well, one could be forgiven, for assuming they're a bit on the physical side, not adverse to a bit of argy-bargy and rough n' tumble, or basically, in a nutshell, a mardy-arsed bunch of moaning fecks, going by the evidence of the previous three times I've watched them play earlier this month.
But tonight, well, what a transformation.
The Saints played what can only be described as polite football, almost as though their strict parents were watching on and they knew that they would have their ball confiscated and get sent to bed early, if they played rough, or made too much noise in their nice neighbourhood of an evening.
Whilst the Snipes, suddenly turned into an efficient and not half bad football team, who had simultaneously forgotten how to shout profanities at the match officials and remembered how to adopt a neat passing style of play at the same time.

Either this brilliant game, known as association football, always throws up a plethora of twists, turns and sub plots, that never fail to amaze me, time after time, or these bloody happy trippy pills are the bestest medication ever invented.
I suspect a combination of both composite elements were at work this evening.
Anyway, a bit of background to tonight's game:
It transpired, after Monday nights game at Bilsthorpe, which Sutton lost to set up tonight's nail biting finale to the season... the victors, Clifton All Whites, have been accused of playing somebody, or some bodies, who they shouldn't have done.
And as a consequence, if Holbrook St. Michaels won tonight, Pinxton might not win the league after all, because the Snipes v Clifton game could possibly have to be replayed.

I must say at this point, that those allegations against Clifton are only hearsay and may well be unfounded and talk of a possible replay, might have merely been far fetched speculation too.
By my understanding of the rules (which is only tenuous, at best), any that replay scenario, would never have actually gone ahead, regardless of tonight's result..
If it is proven that Clifton had used an ineligible player, or players, then they will be docked the three points they won at Bilsthorpe on Monday, but, I don't think those points will be awarded to Sutton and, especially with a league title at stake, the league would then have had to arbitrate between Pinxton and Sutton, which could open a whole can of worms.
And such a scenario, would've put the CMFL committee in a most unenviable position.
It's not a decision that I would want to have to make, that's for sure, because either way, somebody was going to be unhappy with the outcome.
They must be very relieved that the CMFL South title outcome was decided tonight, at this quaint pasture on a sunny evening in Derbyshire.

A very serious looking contingent from Pinxton were in attendance tonight, ready to discuss the situation with any CMFL official within earshot... in a calm and constructive manner no doubt.
Well, in their position, wouldn't you be wanting to ask a few pertinent questions?
But, in the event, Sutton won comfortably and deciding the league title by political means, or a best of three game of paper, scissors, stone, was thankfully avoided.
Gary Atkins put the visitors ahead, from the epicentre of a goalmouth scramble in the tenth minute and though Holbrook saw a lot of the ball in and around the Snipes goalmouth, it was all pretty much up in the air and easily dealt with.
But as half time came and there was still only one goal in it, so both the game and the two horse race for the title, were still very much alive.
In the 54th minute, Andy White, Sutton's experienced striker, made it 0-2 and Dean Short's side now had one hand on the championship trophy.

A Nathan Hollingworth free kick was headed home by Craig Mitchell, but the effort was disallowed.
You couldn't see Sutton chucking the game away now, but ... I saw Holbrook score two goals in as many minutes at the weekend and as the game approached the final five minutes, the Snipes could really have done with another goal, just to make sure.
Almost as though it had been scripted, Dale Gilliatt arrived unmarked inside the Holbrook six yard box and latched onto a hopeful punt across the face of the goal, helping it into the net from virtually under the cross bar and the title was heading to the Fieldings now and no mistake.
Several minutes into stoppage time, the Saints did score a consolation goal when Chris Saunders scored off the rebound after Gav Saxby had blocked his initial shot.
And that was that.
Congratulations to Sutton Town AFC on winning the CMFL title.
FT - Holbrook St. Michaels 1 v Sutton Town AFC 3

And so ends another season for THE66POW.

Of course, behind the scenes at the two clubs I'm going to be on board with next year (one predominantly more than the other), during this closed season for spectators, it is a busy, busy, busy time for us soldier ants, so lets get cracking without further ado, while these tablets are still kicking in and I'm in an agreeable mood.

God bless 2012-13 and all that sailed in her, I've really enjoyed my season.
*Footnote, I don't really have a 'lengthy ground visit tick spreadsheet', what kind of a sad, anorak, football obsessive twat do you actually think I am!?

Bulwell 4 v Keyworth United 0 - NSL Senior Cup Final

Tuesday 21st May 2013
At Eagle Valley (Arnold Town FC)
Notts Senior League, Senior Cup Final
Bulwell (1) 4
Alan Jeffries 37, Jamie Walker 51
Mark Vipond 55, Ryan Perkins 87
Keyworth United (0) 0
Admission £3 inc. free 20 page colour programme
Attendance 252
The Notts Senior League groundhop co-ordinator, Rob Hornby, was present tonight, obstructing other peoples photograph opportunities and indulging in all of his usual 'pesting' antics ... while his good lady wife was sent off out in the pouring rain to sell raffle tickets.
Joking aside, Rob & Hazel do a great job for local charities and tonight they raised £126 towards their impressive total this season of £800 towards the Kings Mill Hospital, Cancer Unit, in Mansfield.
Great work Mrs & Mr Hornby and good luck with next seasons fundraising effort.

Bulwell are moving up into the CMFL South next season, having just recorded a quite remarkable achievement, of winning every single Nottingham Senior League and Cup game they've played in all season.
I've heard a lot about this team and it's all been good, so my expectations were high tonight. And I can categorically confirm, that none of the hype was exaggerated and they impressed me no end.
The half time score of 1-0, gives the impression that there wasn't very much in it, but it was mostly one way traffic, almost to the point where all the groundsman had to do at half time was move Bulwell's tents to the other end of the pitch so they could camp out in Keyworth's area for another 45 minutes.

Keyworth finished last but one in the NSL Senior Division, some 64 points behind Bulwell, so it was fairly obvious which team were odds on favourites to win.
But ignoring the form, United almost gifted the Bulls a goal start, when Lee Collison lobbed his own keeper Ryan Jennings and had to scramble frantically to clear the ball from off the line.
Having been given a scare by his own number 4, Jennings then had to deal with the oppositions, when Jay Knight forced a great save out of the Keyworth keeper.
Josh Niblett and Jamie Walker stood out as Bulwell passed the ball about neatly and kept the pressure on Keyworth's very busy defence and crowded midfield.
Jack Vipond had only been on as a sub for a few minutes, when Ryan Perkins picked him out with an accurate cross, but Vipond put his header just wide of the post.
On 37 minutes, Bulwell finally made the break through, that was almost as inevitable as the fact that it would start raining the moment we got out of the car tonight, when Ryan Perkins picked out Alan Jeffries with a right wing cross and the Bulls centre forwards goalbound shot, took a deflection on its way into the back of the net.
HT - Bulwell 1 v Keyworth United 0

Cup holders Bulwell came out after the break, intent on turning their dominance into goals.
Straight from the restart, Ryan Perkins and Scott Litchfield combined well on the edge of the Keyworth box, but Ryan Jenkins turned the ball away at the expense of a corner.
Jamie Walker headed wide from Mark Vipond's corner as the Bulls turned the screw and turned the heat up on United's already overworked defence.
But then six minutes into the second half, all of Keyworth's defensive graft and last ditch rearguard effort, cam crashing down around their ears and Bulwell went in for the kill.
Jamie Walker took two touches of the ball inside the United area, picked his spot and drilled the ball past Ryan Jennings.
At two nil down, Keyworth had no choice but to commit more men forward, so Jamie Moore passed the ball from his own half into the space that Mark Vipond was attacking and moments later, it was three-nil.
Pat Jennings, never mind Ryan Jennings, couldn't have kept Bulwell at bay tonight, though in his defence, the big Irishman could've used his age as an excuse.

The rest of the game, was all about damage limitation for Keyworth, as both sides chopped and changed and  made a couple of substitutions apiece.

Ryan Jennings miserable night was compounded, when he mistimed a tackle 30 yards from his goal line to present Ryan Perkins with a simple tap in goal, three minutes from time. Perkins deserved a cup final goal to his name, after what was to my mind a man of the match performance tonight. But Jennings really shouldn't have been left so exposed that he was defending the last third on his own.

So Bulwell signed off from the Notts Senior League in style and they now move on to a new chapter. 

I'm sure nobody will be underestimating the new kids on the block in the CMFL South next season, while Bulwell will be relishing the prospect of making an impact at a higher level.

Their combination of hard graft, quality team work and passing, combined with the fact they've got a decent core of good footballers who can actually play a bit ,whilst harnessing their ability, flicks and tricks, for the good of the team, rather than being solo performers, bodes well ... and they've got a lot to offer the CMFL next season. 

It will be interesting to see, in return, what kind of challenge the CMFL can offer them in return.

I'm not sure which cup it is on the programme cover,
but this is the silverware that Bulwell won tonight.

Sutton Town AFC 0 v Clifton All Whites 1 - CMFL South

Monday 20th May 2013
at Bilsthorpe Sports Ground, Eakring Road, Bilsthorpe
Central Midlands League (South)
Sutton Town AFC (0) 0
Clifton All Whites (0) 1
Craig Charlesworth OG 76
Admission £3, programme, there weren't any when I arrived, but Sutton gave out team sheets to anybody who wanted one.

Sutton Town:
Gav Saxby, Richard Guest, Nathan Hollingworth, Craig Charlesworth, Michael Hewitt, Jamie Batty, Richard Giles, Chris Rhodes,Craig Mitchell, Andy White, Gary Atkin
Subs -Dean Sweeney, Dave Gilliatt, Chris Hewitt, James Whitehead, Gary Webster
Clifton All Whites:
Jake Want, Ashley Way, Andy Davies, Lee Torr, Tony Murray, Connor Hardy, Sam Leggitt, Craig Anderson, Rob Gill, Carl WEst Carr, Alex Haughton
Subs - Chris Langham, Levi Ramsey

A victory for Sutton tonight would've seen them crowned as champions, but they now have to win at Holbrook St. Michaels on Wednesday night, or Pinxton will win the title instead.
I never really went too deeply into finding out why the CMFL had ruled that Sutton would give up home advantage and play at Bilsthorpe tonight instead, but it seemed like a strange decision to me given that the CMFL South title was up for grabs tonight.
But the rationale and logic behind the change of venue comes under the heading of 'other peoples business' and that is one place I never dip my oar.

The first half was very uneventful and was in stark contrast to the Clifton game I saw just a couple of days ago. But there were a few heavy tackles and a fair bit of posturing going on, so at least I could put a few more ticks in my I-Spy book of lenient refereeing.
Sometimes, it must be difficult for match officials, when they tread that very narrow dividing line, between trying to keep the game flowing and accepting that some contact is bound to occur, and letting things get out of hand by not taking a firm stand and setting a precedent of a fair firm but fair application of the rules. early in the game, to remind the players who the boss is.
Hmm, so that just about summed up the opening 45 minutes.

Early in the second half, Craig Charlesworth and Andy White respectively hit the cross bar and right hand upright between them, from a right wing corner, to squander Sutton's two joint best goal-scoring opportunities of the night.
The near miss(es) woke Clifton up and they soon created a chance of their own, but Gav Saxby saved well from Sam Leggitt.
In the 59th minute, Tony Murray crashed the ball past Saxby and charged 40 yards back down the pitch celebrating, until he realised that everybody else on the pitch was stood with their hands on their hips staring at him in a bemused fashion and that his effort had been disallowed.
Whoops!

On 76 minutes, Craig Charelesworth unchallenged and unwittingly, put a simple clearance into his own net. Gav Saxby didn't stand a chance of saving it. At least Tony Murray, with his imaginary goal celebration wasn't the most embarrassed man on the pitch any more.
As the game wound down to it's conclusion, not that it had ever really been wound up, Gary Webster delivered a great cross to Craig Mitchell, but he headed the ball straight into the arms of Jake Want.
FT - Sutton Town AFC 0 v Clifton All Whites 1
The result of Wednesday night's game at Holbrook St. Michaels, will now determined where the southern division title will go.
Woo hoo! There's going to be a last day drama at my final game of the season.

Bottesford Town U18 0 v Gainsborough Trinity U18 1 - Andrew Bandelow Memorial Cup Final

Sunday 19th May 2013
at Sincil Bank (Lincoln City FC)
Andrew Bandelow Memorial Cup Final
Lincs Intermediate League, League Cup
Bottesford Town U18 (0) 0
Gainsborough Trinity (1) 1
Josh Batty 28
Admission £3 inc. programme

Above and below. The two best Lincolnshire teams to have played on the Sincil Bank pitch all season.

Lynton Karkach swung a corner into the Bottesford penalty area and Josh Batty turned it into the net from a tight angle, on 28 minutes and then ... Well, I could ramble on and on and on, as is my wont, about how Trinity's dogged display and determination, overcame a very well organised and capable Bottesford Town team, in a closely contested game.
But hey! Here's a better idea: Gainsborough Trinity are having a few financial difficulties due to some recent turmoil and circumstances that were beyond their control, so instead of reading my boring overview of the game, why don't you chip in and buy yourself a DVD of the game instead?
Every little helps.
So do it now!
Order your DVD here ... at the bargain price of just £2

It's a goal!

Lincoln Cathedral. My granddad's brother used to play the organ there.

Clifton All Whites 5 v Holbrook St. Michaels 3 - CMFL South

Saturday 18th May 2013

at the Norman Archer Memorial Ground

Central Midlands League (South)

Clifton All Whites (3) 5

Will Heath 4, Sam Leggitt 42,

Ben Moore 45+1, Rob Gill 83pen, 90

Holbrook St. Michaels (3) 3

Matt Brown 26, Luke Tozer 28,

Chris Saunders 44

Admission £3, Programme £1

Left click pictures for larger versions

Clifton All Whites:
Jake Want, Ben Moore, Andy Davies, Lee Torr, Tony Murray, Jake Richardson, Sam Leggitt, Craig Anderson, Rob Gill, Ben Richardson, Will Heath
Subs - Connor Hardy, Dorian Miller, Alex Haughton
Holbrook St. Michaels:
Ryan Cook, Nathan Cole, Craig Saville, Neil Walton, Charlie Holman, Lewis Mason, Josh Aldread, Tony Hemmings, Matt Brown, Chris Saunders, Luke Tozer
Sub - Dean Jones

A really enjoyable, free scoring, end to end game, which Clifton clinched in the very last minute, against a Holbrook St. Michaels side who gave as good as they got for long spells today, before being overcome by an All Whites side who are making a habit of winning games with last ditch goals, a case in point being their CMFL League Cup Final win against AFC Mansfield earlier this month.
The Trophy has pride of place on the bar at the Norman Archer Memorial Ground.

This was the first time I've seen Holbrook St. Michaels play since they became members of the CMFL and if first impressions are anything to go by, I was very impressed by them this afternoon.
Sure, they lost, to a side who just about deserved the result by shading the game possession wise and by virtue of creating slightly more in the way of goal scoring opportunities; but the Saints certainly gave it a go and made a game of it.
I'm looking forward to visiting their ground, for the first time ever, this coming Wednesday ... and I'll be watching Clifton All Whites in action on Monday again too.

Ominously for the Saints, Clifton were ahead after just four minutes, when Will Heath found the net. And Heath almost claimed a second a few minutes later, but the visitors keeper Ryan Cook managed to get a touch to the ball as the Clifton number 11 tried to take it round him.

But those who were now anticipating a comfortable home win after the All Whites lively start, where given a rude awakening when Holbrook scored twice in the space of just two minutes. Matt Brown shot on sight from the right hand edge of the 18 yard box to net the equaliser with a thumping effort and Luke Tozer put the visitors ahead from eight yards out as when the Clifton defence struggled to clear their lines from a Tony Hemmings corner.

Three minutes before the break, Ryan Cook had difficulty handling the ball inside his six yard box and Sam Leggitt turned the ball past the unfortunate Saints keeper from a tight angle.

I scribbled in my notes: All square at the break, HT 2-2.

Ah yes... but it wasn't quite half time just yet.

Holbrook attacked from the restart and Chris Saunders restored their lead from the left hand side of the six yard box. 

Bloomin; 'eck! You couldn't take your eyes off of this one for a single moment.

Pity anyone who'd nipped off for a pee instead of holding on until the half time whistle, because, in the blink of an eye, Clifton were on level terms again, when Ben Moore bulged the visitors net from 20 yards out.

HT: 3-3 And now, it's official... 'all square at the break'.

Holbrook came straight out of the blocks at the start of the second half... with Lewis Mason forcing a fingertip save out of Jake Want.
But then the pendulum swung and it was Ryan Cook's turn to warm his hands at the other end, blocking a shot from Alex Haughton after he'd surged into the visitors area from the right flank.
Matt Brown then had a double chance to score, but Jake Want, who's slip had presented Brown with a second attempt, recovered and held onto the ball.
Chris Saunders knocked a well weighted cross into the path of Brown, who slipped at the last moment and Want came out on top in the personal duel the two of them were having again.

Any fears that this might have been one of those 'going through the motions', end of season affairs, with nothing much at stake, were completely unfounded and then some. This was one of the best games I've seen all season and both teams were still battling it out for the points right until the very end.
Clifton won a free kick outside the box... and Sam Leggitt's blistering drive ricocheted, but Holbrook only cleared their lines as far as Connor Hardy, who was brought down by Lewis Mason as he dribbled into the box.
Rob Gill converted the spot kick and Clifton gained the initiative in the final furlong, but not until Chris Saunders had miscued a shot in front of the hosts goal that flew wide of the target with just a couple of minutes remaining.

As the game entered stoppage time, Rob Gill struck again, with an angled shot from 10 yards out, to finally break Holbrook's resistance.
FT - Clifton All Whites 5 v Holbrook St. Michaels 3
What a cracking game that turned out to be, well played both sides.

Nottingham United 0 v Sutton Town AFC 2 - CMFL South

Friday 17th May 2013
At Bilsthorpe Sports Ground, Eakring Road, Bilsthorpe
Central Midlands League (South)
Nottingham United (0) 0
Sutton Town AFC (1) 2
Craig Mitchell 16,
Craig Charlesworth 82
Admission £3, Programme £1, Attendance 99
Sutton Town AFC games are like buses. I don't see one for ages and then two turn up together, straight after one another.
Tonight saw Nottingham United bid farewell to the CMFL South, they'll be plying their trade in the Notts Senior League next season, with Bulwell moving in the opposite direction between the two leagues.
This was a feisty game, with tackles flying in all over the place and some fairly unsporting stuff going on, both on and off the ball at regular intervals.

Neither team seemed particular intimidated by the other and they both seemed more than willing to meet fire with fire.
It wasn't pretty to watch and any football purists present (I know! Football purists at a CMFL game in Bilsthorpe on a Friday night, but allow me to waffle on and indulge myself, if you please) would've been watching on squeamishly through their fingers.
But in a perverse kind of way, I really enjoyed the game.

There is a time and place, for geometrically correct, awe inspiring, tippy tappy, easy on the eye, intricate football.
But sometimes, it's quite therapeutic, to watch a game where two teams are knocking the crap out of each other instead and going all out to 'win ugly', while some of the central characters are losing their cool and making embarrassing spectacles of themselves.
I feel compelled to say at this juncture, I'm not being critical of any individual in particular, or singling anybody out for attention, because I'm sure that we've all let our emotions get the better of us and made ourselves look like complete tools at times over what is, in essence, just a game ... I know I've done it quite regularly, though the anger management counselling has helped me no end.

As long as you remember that you can't *always* blame the match officials for everything. Getting it off your chest is therapeutically healthy.
I'm a big believer in the fact, that if you don't go through the whole gambit of emotions and put far too much importance on the outcome of the games your team are playing in, even when, in reality, there is very little at stake, then you really aren't suitable to be involved in the first place.
One must uphold a modicum of decorum for the majority of the time, when things aren't going your way and all that pre-planning and practice goes up in smoke.
But occasionally, well, you need to rant and rave to let off a bit of steam, or you'd go nuts. Seriously!
Of course the powers that be can't provide rules to accommodate this theory. But that doesn't mean they don't know I'm right, or that they don't agree with me 100%, or that I haven't struck a chord with both of the regular readers of this blog, that I haven't scared away yet.
Does it!?

Anyway, my blueprint for saving the game of Association Football, if not planet earth and the entire known universe while I'm on with it, will just have to wait a little while longer.
Because I'm sure you want to know how Sutton Town AFC went on tonight and if they're still on course to win the CMFL South title.
So without further ado ...
Craig Mitchell put the visitors ahead on 16 minutes, but United were hell bent on leaving the CMFL with a bang and not a whimper and they dug in and battled, quite literally at times, to ensure that this game didn't become the one sided rout that most people had predicted.
There were no further goals before half time, but plenty of heavy clattering sounds, swear words, over the top squealing and appealing and a good few genuine cries of pain.
It was like sweet music to my ears.
HT - Nottingham United 0 v Sutton Town 1

I'm not saying the first half was rough, but even the referee went of injured at half time.
Note* that is neither a lie not a space filling fabricated 'one liner', it is the truth, the whole truth and 'nowt but the truth.
Fortunately, there was another match referee in attendance and he took over on the touchline after the break, while one of the 'liners' took over in the middle.
I hasten to add, he had aggravated an existing injury and hadn't actually been fouled by either team.
The game carried on in pretty much the same vein, but Sutton put things beyond United's reach with eight minutes to go, when Craig Charleworth headed home a right wing corner.
The game was over as a contest, but further 'fun and games' were just about to start.

The replacement linesman, signalled that he wanted a word with the replacement referee and pointed out an incident he had spotted off the ball. On the strength of what he was told, the ref showed United's centre half, Dennis Hickey, a red card and ordered him from the field of play.
The Nottingham United players were incensed, as were their staff on the touchline.
Hickey went to the bench.
And as the game recommenced he stayed there.
When the ref spotted that the red carded player hadn't actually gone outside the perimeter fencing, he insisted that  Hickey moved, as per what is supposed to happen when a player is sent off, in accordance with the rules of the game.

The official was unmoved by the United managements complaints, that Hickey wasn't interfering with anything ... and nor should he have been, because rules are rules.
But then the home team secretary, Martin Minkov, who was also on the bench, launched into a four letter word rant about the referee being a cheat.
Another consultation between the ref and the linesman took place and Minkov was also sent from the bench.
It was a messy end to the game, which possibly should've kicked off 30 minutes sooner as the night drew in and darkness started to fall.
Nottingham United didn't just say goodbye to CMFL, they slammed the door on the way out too.

Linby Colliery Welfare 2 v Sutton Town AFC 5 CMFL South

Tuesday 14th May 2013, at Church Street
Central Midlands League (South)
Linby Colliery Welfare (0) 2
Ash Winfield 53, Barry Payne 86
Aaron Ryan (Linby CW) sent off 42 mins
Sutton Town AFC (3) 5
Gary Atkins 5,
James Whitehead 33, 63, 77
Nathan Holdsworth 43
Admission £3, inc. programme and raffle
6.30pm kick off

A blustery, wet and chilly night in picturesque Linby.
But the awful weather didn't deter a decent crowd from turning out.
There were a few complaints from some of the ground hopping fraternity present, that Linby ran out of programmes before kick off.
But I do have some sympathy with the home club regarding this matter.
They printed 40, which is far more than most CMFL clubs ever produce per game and regardless of the fact that they had been told to expect a larger than average attendance tonight, the rain was hammering down and there is very little cover at the Church Street ground.
So they sensibly erred on the side of caution and offered to print more after the game and send them on to anybody who didn't get one.

I don't think people appreciate how much it costs to produce too many programmes, just to have to chuck them away, after the vast majority of games. Its not very environmentally friendly either.
I walked into the ground at the same time as 'Olly the Spireite' (though I must hasten to add that it was merely a coincidence that we arrived at the same time, because I'd never knowingly travel anywhere with a Chesterfield supporter in my car), roughly 20 minutes before kick off and there were programmes a plenty still available then.
I had my CMFL committee pass with me in my pocket tonight, which entitles me to free admission at all CMFL North & CMFL South games, but I didn't present it at the gate. I paid. I'm not after a medal or 'owt, but ... I mean, £3, for a combined admission, programme and a raffle ticket bargain package, is hardly going to break anybody's bank, is it?
Not when you consider how much clubs have to pay for match officials fees and expenses, let alone all their other outgoings. It doesn't hurt to contribute a bit.

Though Pinxton are still at the top of the CMFL South, a good finish to the season by Sutton Town AFC, will see them claim the top spot and the title, so they had everything to play for this evening.
And they were well on their way to a three points haul this evening, when Gary Atkins gave them the lead inside the first five minutes.
However, Linby hadn't turned out to just be extras as Sutton commenced their run in to what they hope will be a league winning climax to the season and the Snipes were lucky not to be 2-1 down, when Linby hit both the left and right hand uprights in quick succession.
James Whitehead powered towards the Linby goal from midfield, steadied himself and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net, to double Sutton's advantage in the 33rd minute.

Just before half time, Linby's Aaron Ryan fouled Andy White, just outside Linby's goal area and, in the referee's opinion, earned himself a booking.
He was subsequently red carded (significantly the referee appeared to give him a straight red instead of a second yellow, which will cost the player more fines wise) because of the way he protested about the decision. Whether or not Ryan feels that his yellow card was harsh or not, marching towards the referee to confront him and calling the official a C U Next Tuesday, is not going to go in your favour if you want to put in an appeal.
To compound Aaron Ryan's misery, Scott Miles in the Linby goal could only get a touch on the resulting free kick as Natahn Holdsworth put the visitors three nil in front.
HT - Linby 0 v Sutton 3

I went back to my car at half time, because I knew I had some dry clothes in the boot and I didn't want to risk going down with pneumonia, from hanging around in a drenched shirt on a chilly night.

I'm getting on a bit since my most recent birthday and one can't be too careful at my time of life.

Much to my annoyance, I found that some imbecile had backed into my car. 

OK, it had only caused a slight and virtually superficial amount of damage, but it was fairly obvious which vehicle had been in contact with mine, due to some tell tale signs on the nearside corner of his rear bumper.

If the other driver had made any attempt to put a note on my windscreen or find out who my car belonged to, I would probably just have shrugged it off. 

But they did neither. So when a shaven headed man in a bone dry hooded sweatshirt, (that he'd just got out of his car at half time), kicked the culprits nearside door and made a big dent, I didn't tell him about that either.

The 0-3 half time score, flattered Sutton a bit, well ... quite a bit if truth be told, given that Linby had hit the woodwork twice and Sutton's third had gone in while the home side's defence was in disarray. But the home side broke their duck on 53 minutes, when Ash Winfield beat Gav Saxby in the Sutton goal, all ends up, from long distance.
It was another case of a team upping their game once they had been reduced to ten men and Linby were seeing far more of the ball than their title hopeful visitors. But, as often happens, when a team seem destined to be on course for a trophy, fate plays its part and completely against the run of play, the Snipes counter attacked and James Whitehead scored their fourth goal, at the second attempt after Ashley Miles blocked the first.

After Sutton's fourth goal, despite Linby having played their part in an entertaining game, on a rain lashed and completely horrible night weatherwise, the outcome had an air of inevitability about it ... but just to make sure, Whitehead helped an hopeful cross into Linby's box over the goal line to make it 1-5 and claimed his hat trick into the bargain.
With just four minutes remaining, Barry Payne scored a consolation goal for Linby, with a simple tap in, but it was too late for them to stage a comeback now.
FT - Linby CW 2 v Sutton Town AFC 5
Were Sutton really three goals better on the night than Linby?
Probably not, but the final score says they were and that'll be all that the Snipes are concerned about as their title charge picks up momentum at just the right time.

Further details from tonight's game can also be found on my good friend Malc Storer's excellent ON THE ROAD 2012-13 blog site.
Cheers for covering my camera with your umbrella tonight Malc ;-)