Lincoln United 0 - 0 Rainworth Mw

Holy Moley!!

I think there was five away grounds we didn`t get to last season Lincoln being one of them, that irked me a little given the effort we made to see as many grounds as possible; not being too far away and with the prospect of some decent weather we thought we`d give Ashby Avenue the once-over today.

Any trip via Lincoln always has a little nostalgia added for Dudsey in the form of Dunham Bridge.

Fond memories of trips to the East Coast and passing over a bridge where you had to pay to get into Lincolnshire!!. It seemed like it was hundreds of miles away in Dad`s old Vauxhall Viva, endless stops to top the oil up and the odd tiddle.    Anyway.......!!

Looking at the result you`d probably think that we would have been better off carrying on to Skegness, on this occasion that`s as far from the truth as possible on two scores; 1: What a gem the Ashby Avenue sports facility turned out to be and 2: How encouraging was Rainworth`s performance this afternoon.

Cammy`s Back!!

Three pleasant surprises awaited Dudsey on entry to the ground, `The Wrens` playing in a red strip, the sight of Tommy Hannighan and Mark Camm back on the pitch together again and lastly what a decent set up they have here, it`s a lovely setting surrounded by trees with plenty of cover.

Something I am struggling to understand is why Sean Cann is wearing the Captains armband; no disrespect to the lad but with the wealth of experience in the back four and mid-field it makes no sense to me, he`s been out for weeks and was clearly well down on match fitness.


Camm`s presence today added that little bit of something that`s been amiss recently, the link and supply route between mid-field and the strikers looked good, Danny Bacon and Sean Cann looked effective upfront although Sean`s lack of fitness was really evident in the last quarter.

Today for me was a tale of the left-backs, two players whose batteries were fully charged, Lee Briggs for Rainworth and Kallum Smith for Lincoln ("four of him in your team and you`re laughing"); they both turned in impeccable performance this afternoon; not to take anything away from the rest of the lads who collectively put together a much more robust display. Tommy`s fitted back in like a glove and went about his business as usual.

The introduction of Kyle Gee-Pemberton and Danny Simpson really added some zip to the performance, how Kyle doesn`t get the shirt in front of Mitch bemuses me!! The only thing that really kept Rainworth honest today was a well established Lincoln back four spearheaded by Pete McDaid and a couple of excellent saves by Phil McGann in goal. Joe McCormack also looks settled in goal for the Wren`s and was called upon and did the necessary. On the day a point apiece was about the right result.

A big pat on the back and hopefully the start of something better for the `Red Wrens`

I`m not going to try to drag out a story from a goal-less game so I `ll leave you to view a few pictures from this afternoon. (Double-Click on them to view the full size picture)

A lovely afternoon out, Dudsey`s funniest recollection of the the day was Referee Chris Aker`s comment to Lincoln`s Skipper about Terry Fleming, "Tell him to keep it shut, cos I`ve had up to here with him".  Quality!!

Men of the Match, Camm and Hannighan were faultless, but that`s the norm for these two but for me the sheer effort of Lee Briggs and Lincoln`s Kallum Smith shone through.

Admission - £6 (Bargain for the setting)

Attendance quoted as 82 on the Evo-Stik website but Dudsey counted well in excess of 100, "Damn Freeloaders ".

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Rainworth Mw 0 - 2 Sheffield Fc

Dudsey`s back on the trail and it`s another full day today, we start at Nabb Lane, Hucknall. Shirebrook Rangers U16`s take on the Hucknall Tigers in the Benevolent Cup, we arrive at 09:55 for a 10:30 kick off, there`s no-one here, no nets up and the changing rooms are definitely locked, have we been Cuckoo`d ?

Fortunately not, within minutes people start to arrive and the nets are soon up, the gates are opened and we`re in.

The Ref this morning is Dudsey`s old workmate`s "Onion" (Nigel Unwin). Onion has been a pillar to local youth football over many years and does a decent job of it.

It`s a cracker of a game, Shirebrook look to be out of it at 3-1 down, a change of tactics well into the second half see`s the Ranger`s pull it back to 3-3 in the last minute of normal time. It`s extra-time, ten minutes each way and it`s end to end stuff, Onion`s letting it flow a treat and Ranger`s find the net with seconds left making it 3-4. Well done lads!!    Time for some lunch, pick up Mrs H, then it`s off to Rainworth.


Dudsey`s not sure what to make of today, Sheffield are currently top of the pile whilst Rainworth are peering up from nineteenth position, Mark Shaw`s side have rode their luck in recent weeks but came out smiling, non more-so than when we went to see them play Carlton at home, but that`s all you need "A bit of luck"

Lady Luck on the other hand has totally eluded The Wrens in the last five games, not one point in the last three league outings and two cup exits thrown in for good measure.

A mixture of unavailable players and suspensions have left Rainworth fielding make do team`s and they have paid heavily for it, prior to this a goal drought has brought the wagon to a grinding halt, "But that`s football for you".

One boost is the return of Tommy Hannighan, a short spell with Belper has proved that the grass is no greener at Christchurch Meadow and the Rainworth faithful are glad to see him back.

Tbh today`s game saw a much better Rainworth, but once again two names would grace the scoresheet for Mark Shaw`s side, Steve Woolley and Conor Higginson, don`t be misled by these two wiry framed lads, they are as good a pairing upfront as Dudsey`s seen for a season or two, despite their small frames they have pace with strength and skill to match.

Two more characters had a great bearing on today`s result, Jamie Hadfield and Dan White where immense for Sheffield today and kept the door firmly closed.

Rainworth`s first half wasn`t without chances, but the real chances where falling to the deft pairing of Sheffield`s "Dynamic Duo", and a quickly taken corner played short gives Wooley enough time to pull the trigger and squeeze the ball between the last defender and the inside edge of the left stick, 1-0 after a quarter of an hour.

Woolley`s ball heads for the back of the net.

Despite going one down Rainworth seemed to brush themselves down quickly, Ian Clarke`s battling well in the midfield, but George Zuerner seems a little lost in the middle of the park and for me he looks a lot more comfortable out wide.

Kyle Gee Pemberton is up for the game and continues to probe, eventually finding Craig Mitchell but he can only manage to force it over the bar. Chris Timons tested the Sheffield keeper from close range but Whatsize was well up to the mark

Whatsize answers the call.

Just as it`s starting to look as though The Wrens could buck the trend "That Man Again" (Conor Higginson) doubles Sheffield`s tally nodding the ball over the line from his own shot which rebounded off  Rainworth`s Joe McCormack. 2-0 just after the half-hour.

Rainworth`s best chance of the half fell to Danny Bacon (ex Worksop Town) who`s long range shot looked to have Whatsize troubled but it fizzed just wide of the top left hand angle, "top effort though". 0-2 at HT.

Rainworth haven`t given up the ghost just yet!!

Mark Shaw`s team-talk must have been along the lines of "We`ve done what we came to do lads so keep it tight", and rightly so, three points in the bag retains top spot. The flip side of this is a pretty mundane second half, not without chances but without any meaningful purpose. 

Matt Roney who had a relatively quiet first half looked to be Sheffield`s most active competitor in the second half and substitute Matt Glass looked eager to impress but that was about all that really livened up a shapeless second period.

Sheffield have one last poke at Rainworth`s goal

Another fruitless day at Kirklington Road, fortunately the results have gone in favour of Rainworth and they remain in Nineteenth spot, a better overall performance but it`s still hard to see where the goals are going to come from despite the arrival of additional strikers.


Man of the Match, The irrepressible Steve Woolley for me.

Attendance - 134



Congratulations to one of Dudsey`s local favourites Carl Haslam who scored for Retford on his debut in their 5-0 demolition of Lincoln Moorlands. Also some quality reading on the Surfing Seadogs forum (click here) after Scarborough`s 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Tadcaster Albion.

Borrowash Victoria 1 - 3 Carlton Town - FA Cup Preliminary Round

This weekend has turned out to be a real headscratcher..... FA Cup weekend and there doesn`t appear to be one decent game within striking range for us, ("Dudsey`s not doing long-haul this season it cost us a bomb last year"), Rainworth`s away, Shirebrook`s away, Belper`s away and we did Hucknall last Monday.

Got one....!!  Borrowash Victoria v Carlton Town, perhaps a bit of a forgone conclusion this one, but it is the FA Cup, and if there`s one thing it does well is create upsets so I`m going to give it a whirl.

I`ve only been to The Watkinson Construction Bowl once before when it was The Robinson Contruction Bowl, and on today`s showing probably my last.......

If the Rumour Mill is running correctly Worksop Town have put in seven days for Massiah McDonald, this turned out to be news to Brian Dennett (Carlton`s Press Officer) who raised an eyebrow and replies "Aah that could be why he`s declared himself unfit", we`ll see!!

To say today was a one sided affair is a little unfair, Borrowash did create a few chances during the game only by virtue of the fact that Carlton barely had to take the handbrake off nevermind engaging first gear.Yes it was proper Beetroot Boiling........!!

Dudsey proper get`s caught out from the off, whilst tapping Brian up for some names from his make-do teamsheet the ball is already nestled in the back of Steve Smith`s goal with only one minute and twenty seconds on the clock, Theo Smith picking up off Ian Brown`s shot at goal.

The picture tells it all, defend,defend,defend!!

After such a quick goal, thoughts of a lesson in football turned out to be as wide off the mark as you can get, "The Vics" managed to bring Carlton down to their level with immediate effect. When it suited the visitors sprung forward and nonchalantly swiped it miles over the bar or as wide as possible.

Brown slips in beyond the mid-fielders and punishes them taking another easy goal, 0-2 after twenty one minutes, to the credit of a couple of the home-sides players, Chris Green and Mark Finley were trying to push on when given the chance.

Green and Brown, the only two who bought a bit of colour to a dull day....

The only route forward for Borrowash is down the left hand side usually starting with Green through to Finley and hope for the best. Carlton are spluttering towards half time, this looks nothing like the side we witnessed against Sheffield Fc only seven days ago, Ryan Goward`s putting himself about but it`s all over the place for Carlton. Half-time comes, but not quick enough!!

Browny makes it two..

Borrowash are out and playing the second half, Carlton are still in the dressing room, in mind anyway. What`s wrong this is the FA Cup, a tournament usually associated with passion and the unexpected. Another thirty five minutes of this and I`ll be as popular as Gaddafi having persuaded Mrs H and the Little Chic to make the trip.

Middle of the road rubbish.

Both teams make a few changes and the Carlton subs seem to inject some life back into the game and the game slightly gains a little momentum, the visitors are once again opening up The Vics defence,Nick Hall, Jemaine Hollis and Neil Grayson are looking to create a break, and another attack towards the "Pillocks end" see`s Brown bag his second and safely securing a few quid for Carlton`s kitty, 0-3 on the hour.

I bet he`s not as fed up as me!!

Dudsey`s switched off again and misses Borrowash`s moment of glory, mainly because there`s about half a dozen beered up home fans behind the goal "Effing and Jeffing", every second word is f**k despite an attendance of 132 these pillocks show no respect for a good number of women and kids in close proximity.

Marc Finlay has pulled one back for Borrowash with twenty to go, within minutes it`s one way traffic again but Carlton are only going through the motions. Come on Ref get this thing over with!!. A crunching tackle see`s Borrowash`s No2 take offence and raises his hands and collects his second yellow and an early bath.

One last chance.

With only ten men on the field and nothing to play for the home side are as eager for the final whistle as we are, the clock strikes quarter to five and we makes our way to the car. Thank the lord that`s over with!!

If there is anything Dudsey has learnt from today`s game it`s the appreciation of the level of football we`ve become accustomed to in recent season`s or was it just a case of a trip to Borrowash being a No-Brainer!!

Man of the Match, The Ref at 16:45

Admission - £5

Attendance - 132