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Basford United 1-0 Hednesford Town (Southern League Central Division) On Monday night, Basford United’s under 18’s team reached the FA Youth Cup first round proper after beating Lincoln United. The wife went to watch her boy play down the A46 and came back all excited with the win, but couldn’t believe how card happy the Ref was, she also said the music coming out of the away teams dressing room after the match was terrible. I was bloody dog sitting, and even worse, had to endure watching Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in what was an awful Monday night football’s viewing on the TV. A day later, it’s payback… My turn to watch Basford United, her turn to dog sit (he’s a lockdown dog, we can’t leave him on his own), this time the men, the first team are in action against Hednesford Town in the Southern League Central Division. It’s been a big last couple of weeks for Basford (pronounced Base-ford, rather than Bass-ford, as their matchday e-programme states), they saw off Boston United over two matches and needed a penalty shoot out to reach the FA Cup fourth qualifying round for the first ever time, where they’ll play Solihull Moors of the National League on Saturday. They also beat Harborough Town on penalties at the weekend to reach the next round of the FA Trophy. In the league they’re sitting comfortably in mid-table, whilst Hednesford, I surprisingly scroll down to on my live score app, are second bottom and are fighting relegation (badly) on just five points from ten games. I’m making a Gousto meal before I go. All plated by 6pm I’m fuelled and washing the pots within 15 minutes, but I need to leave sharpish as I’ve got to be at the ground an hour before kick-off. I race out the house with two coats and a bobble hat in hand, not sure yet, what to wear, I’m on the A52 and flying down the ring road as fast as I can. Turning left onto Nuthall Road I pop into the Esso Garage as I need some cash for paying the £10 entrance which my bosses tell me will be fully reimbursed. Out of order is the cash machine so I give it a good smack before moving onto the next one. I end up at a Londis Garage near the ground that thankfully has an ATM, which is equally thankfully, in service, grabbing a quick £20 out for good measure, I’m driving up Bagnall Road, leaping over the speed humps, before turning right onto Greenwich Avenue. The Venue I’m not sure of the costs on parking inside the ground, which does have a huge car park, so instead stick the Merc outside on the street, my thinking is I’ll getaway quicker without any queues, I needn’t had bothered, It’s certainly not Silverstone. On walking through the gates, I ask the young stewards if they do charge for parking? ‘No it’s free’ they reply, I think to myself 'I'll consider that next time' whilst marching over the gravel towards the turnstile, which has moved since my last visit? These days behind the goal instead of in the right-hand corner, the place in general has hugely evolved since I first started coming here. Back when I were a lad, playing Basford was a regular occurrence for me, I actually remember playing them at the Old Mill Street, which is now a housing estate, before moving to their bigger premises with multiple pitches on the banks of the River Leen. You can go back as recent as fifteen years ago when the club were playing in front of one man and his dog, the main pitch had nothing bar a couple of dugouts, a wide slightly sloped grass surface always in good nick… The changing rooms over the way and upstairs, the showers never working, punch marks in the doors. These days, you walk in through the turnstile and the place is unrecognisable, modern, 3g, 4g, I never know the difference? To the left a low seated stand behind the net, in the corner a tea & coffee bar frying up some chips, to the left of that, another low roofed stand, the dugouts are there, upgraded with club logo, but nothing much beyond that far side, on your right, a low roofed stand with seats, large clubhouse, club shop, bar, I’m not sure whether it feels sentimental to me, having been plenty and even played here over the years, but I feel it’s certainly got character, for what is a relatively new, purpose built, all weather, cash generating, football venue for everyone, which certainly plays a big part for the football community of Nottingham, cup finals are played here often, in fact, the pitch is very readily available for hire, at an affordable price, quoted by Chairman Mr Munroe. The Game I’ve had my coffee which helped ease slightly my struggles with the bitterly freezing Autumnal night temperatures, I’m perched up against the barriers, standing against the elements near the away team dugout, smoke coming out of the players mouths as they warm up, before action is finally underway, it’s an underwhelming crowd tonight, put off by the cold I presume? Perhaps they’re saving themselves for Saturday and Solihull? It's a feisty and gutsy start, the match goes from end to end without much quality, high tempo with the odd-neat pass out wide before an overhit cross from the away team’s point of view. Basford are more direct, up to big Gregg Smith who’s neat in possession, and awkward to mark, he looks for his strike partner Anthony Dwyer but can’t thread his pass through, it’s a frustrating night for ‘Neilo’ who’s been firing them in all season. Ben Starkie offers glimpses of pace and technique as he tries to carry the ball forward from his left-wing position. The Tanzania international is the first United player to win a call up for his country, having made his debut for the African nation as recently as March this year. I look at the away side, and am pretty impressed with how they play, they’re certainly no mugs and I wonder how they’re down there, so distant from the rest, but for their play, and their endeavour, they perhaps struggle in the final third. Leroy Lita is their player-coach. He’s 37 now and although has eight goals this season, has certainly seen better days. In fact, during what is a pretty drab, all be it competitive first half, the highlight is when Gregg Smith shouts to Lita “Shurrup you Mongol”. The Score I’m dancing around at half time to keep warm. It’s not a night for me to chat rubbish or make an effort with people, watch the match, do my job, get home, I’m relieved when the second half starts and the kid’s kicking football’s behind me finally piss off. A few minutes into the second half Starkie comes off with an injury, which leads to Mark Clifford, Basford’s manager, bringing on Luther Munakandafa, who’s on loan from Notts County. It’s my first viewing of a player I’ve heard good things about, and it’s soon evident he has some quality with pace and power, and technique, still only 19. It’s he who creates the best opportunity of the night, and the best moment of the match by far, for me. Dribbling into the area he takes a few touches to wiggle some space away from defenders before smashing the ball as hard as he possibly can for a certain goal, but goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks, who ironically is at Hednesford on loan from Notts County, and is an actual young team-mate of Munakandafa’s, well he’s not letting his mate score past him… Diving to his right with a huge right arm to punch it wide for a corner, I shout loudly in sync with the guy next to me “what a save”. Brooks has further work to do, it’s clear that he’s not the reason for Hednesford’s struggles this season, the Pics are up against it as Basford knock at the door, Gregg Smith goes close with a shot from outside the box which might have hit the bottom of the upright, it’s hard to see as I squint against the floodlights. A number of opportunities are wasted for Basford who press with successive corners, but they seem leggy late on, maybe the recent cup exploits have taken their toll? It certainly feels like it could be one of those nights. As the game wears down to the closing stages, Hednesford become more and more involved in the attacking third, getting it out to their number eleven Adam Livingstone is for me, their best chance of creating, left back Harvey Portman is constantly coached by his dugout, told to get forward, he looks a decent young player but shouldn’t be told so much what to do, it should be instinct. Livingstone has ability, but his final product is woeful. Shots off target, wrong choices, Kieran Preston in the Basford goal is rarely troubled all night. The clock thankfully ticks ninety and as folk head to the exits to beat the rush… (Or just get home to quash their boredom), a hopeless looking ball from the left is played into the box by Corey Grantham where Hednesford centre half Keith Lowe, who’s looked awkward all night, swings a leg at it, and the leather sphere changes trajectory as it cannons into the back of the net for an unlikely winner for the home side. There’s still time, as United goalkeeper Preston shouts ‘defend it for a minute’ but the away side get a final corner, which is swung in and headed towards goal, cleared off the line, shouts are for handball, the Referee promptly blows his whistle for full time as he’s surrounded by Hednesford players asking for a penalty. No VAR in the Southern League Central Division, celebrations are sparked by the Basford players who you can hear singing loudly ‘freed from desire’ in their changing rooms of a now empty ground, as I walk out and into some warmth, immediately switching on the heated seats of my car to level three. The Stars It’s certainly a night when defences were on top but not largely down to the quality of defending on show, instead perhaps the lack of quality shown by both sides in the final third. Hednesford goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks catches the eye with a couple of fine saves in particular, his opposite number Kieran Preston kicks well and starts things off quickly from an attacking perspective, he does everything he’s asked to do perfectly. Ben Starkie threatens in spells prior to injury before Munakandafa shows he has ability and power, which put together can help you forge a decent carving in the game. It’s an off night for Anthony Dwyer who you can tell, thrives off good service, his attacking partner Gregg Smith, a player who I know from my days with him at Grantham, well he’s always been a handful and is better on the ball than he’s given credit for. Whilst Hednesford can certainly knock it about, a lot of their play coming through number ten Kyle Bennett, they do seem to lack a Starkie, or a Munakandafa, which on the night, might have been the difference needed for them, to be instead going back to the West Midlands with all three points. The Verdict Basford United is really starting to become a community club, for Nottingham folk to head to when the likes of Nottingham Forest or Notts County, aren’t playing. It’s a club growing in fan base, and capturing the imagination locally, one that does its bit to help out the football community, and is a ground that although, surfaces my pet hate in Astro-technology, is still one that feels like an old non-league venue, with its mish-mash of stands and portacabins, one of which housing a very bright red lettered scoreboard, the feel is if you go there, you know it won’t be for the last time, and it’s a place certainly which will gladly have you back. Whilst it wasn’t the best game I’ve seen recently, perhaps I was due a bad one, the players on show for both clubs were at least competitive and hungry, and the current crop that the home team have, might even be enough to create some sort of history, whether it be in the league or indeed the cup, some of these lads could become even better known than they already are to us non-league nerds, as they enter a very special weekend in the clubs history. As for Hednesford, an FA Trophy winner this side of the Millennium of course, a great old club, who play at a great old ground in Keys Park, well I’m sure this won’t be the last we hear of them, a stumble on the road, it may be a season to forget, but if they can forge a decent attacking threat, and keep a lot of what they already have, it won’t be too long before we see them competitive again, and climbing up the leagues. The Teams Basford United: Kieran Preston, Owen Betts, Josh Barnes, Seth Patrick, Dom Roma, Stern Irvine, Courey Grantham, Adam Chapman (Riece Bertram 89), Gregg Smith, Anthony Dwyer (Tyreace Palmer 87), Ben Starkie (Luther Munakandafa 53). Hednesford Town: Tiernan Brooks, Lewis Ludford-Ison, Harvey Portman (Ryan Nesbitt 80), Ben Bailey, Keith Lowe, Chris Clements, Joe Cuff (James McQuilken 89), Todd Parker, Leroy Lita, Kyle Bennett, Adam Livingstone. 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 11th October 2022, Greenwich Avenue, Nottingham (att 254).

Scotland U21 0-0 Czechia U21 (UEFA U21 European Championship Qualifiers) The price of fuel is going up, but my road trips seem to be getting longer, something probably has to give, it's time perhaps to stay local for a while, but before that, I'm travelling to Scotland, to cover the national team in both U21 and full internationals this weekend. The U21's are in Dundee tonight and the only ever previous time I have been in the city was when passing through on a train to cover an Aberdeen match a couple of seasons ago. Both Scotland and Czechia are fighting in their group behind way ahead leaders Portugal who look a shoe in to qualify for next year's young European Championships in Serbia and Albania, the Czechs are currently second but level on points with Scotland whilst Bulgaria sit fourth a point below in the table, it's all very tight for that playoff spot. It's a long old trip for me, in fact one of the longest single drives I've ever taken, I must be mad you say? A 6 hour plus road trip that starts at 8:30am, by lunch I'm breaking off at the packed Annandale Services near Lockerbie, a favourite fuelling frequent of mine when up in these parts, then on the road again, towards Glasgow before hitting the M73, M80 and A9 towards Stirling, past Perth and over the River Tay towards Dundee along the A90 where I pull up at 3pm at the Landmark Hotel Spa & Leisure Club, which sounds a lot fancier than it looks. It's there I have an hour or two to chill before setting off again through town, up the Kingsway following signposts for Football Traffic, finally arriving on Moncur Crescent, where I pull up and park outside somebody's house, just a short hop from Dens Road. The Venue The home of Dundee FC, Dens Park is famously close to the home of Dundee United FC, Tannadice, and I have always wanted to come here, for the very reason that you can walk between the two venues which are literally a football pitch away from each other. I'm walking up the Provost Road where Dens Park sits proudly on a hill, before turning on to Sandeman Street where the stunning Archibald Leitch designed Main Stand runs parallel with the road. It has an apex roof and and an apex centre, curved in the middle as it bends back down the street, opened in 1921 it's the oldest stand at this ground, the oldest stand on the road, as I look further down and see the floodlights and more modern looking home of Dundee United. Tannadice is remarkably close, apparently just 200 yards away is the total distance, the floodlights nearing as I walk towards the rival venue, it's calm and tranquil as there's not many at Dens Park tonight, I take a quick couple of photos of the externals around the grounds before heading back to the gates which are beautifully taking me back in time. "The barrier is a bit temperamental" the man on the gate says in a Scottish accent. "Do you want me to jump over it" I reply? The squeak of a rusty turnstile has me push that bit harder to get through and it's a tight squeeze around the corner, and up the steps where a breeze block wall has a huge 'No Smoking' sign painted across it. It's like a maze around the concourse as I walk through several doors to find the tea bar, finally arriving at a kiosk window to get a scotch pie, cup of PG tips tea and bag of Munchies for eight Scottish pounds. Out on the deck, it's beautiful, as I look in awe up at the steel works supporting the pitched roof, the stand, racecourse like, bending in the middle, away from the pitch and back down each wing, it reeks of nostalgia, probably the most beautiful football stand I've ever been in? Archibald Leitch has given me so much pleasure from planting his DNA across football stadiums in Britain, but this has to be the best of the lot of those still standing. Opposite end is a sad looking empty terrace with pitched roof above and benches for seats, not in use today, it used to be open air terracing backed onto the bank, high above the Dens Road below, each end has more modern single tier seated stands with 'Dundee' etched in white into their blue surrounding fading seats. The Game I'm sat on my own at the top of the stand eating a scotch pie, post in view as I gulp the last bit of my now cold tea, the two teams appear with the sky darkening, the floodlights now on offering a warm glow. Czechia's anthem first, before Flower of Scotland, hummed by those inside this venue, it's a far cry from how often loudly sung when I'm at Hampden. The action is underway as Czechia in all white control most of the possession, they look a good organised side and have one or two players with decent ability. Big striker Matyas Vojta leaves one on left back Mitchell Frame early on. The long haired Yannick Eduardo is tussling with defenders in attack, the left footed Lukas Ambros looks a brilliant playmaker wearing 18, but attempts at goal are few and far between, a lot of the game is played in front of the opponent, typical sterile international level, possession based, both back fours tight and regimented, very hard to break down. I'm impressed with Scotland defensively, two good full backs (both of which play for Aberdeen), their centre halves look accomplished too, Dunfermline's Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen reads the game very well, home team hero Luke Graham with his socks rolled down has good size and composure, in midfield I really like Celtic's Kyle Ure who has tenacity, spreading passes and charging forward with aggression, but up top nothing is sticking. I want to like the spectacle wearing Andrew Tod, but other than picking up a needless booking, his effect is minimal. The Score At half time there's three Scottish changes made by Manager Scot Gemmill, Tod is one withdrawn, as are wingers Emilio Lawrence and Adedire Mebude, who both at times show pace, but neither can stay on their feet long enough to make an impact. But despite bringing a much more thick set and robust forward in Ryan One onto the pitch, Scotland create very little, and it's often Czechia controlling proceedings, without really impacting Ruairidah Adams in the Scottish goal. Albert Labik has a good game at left back getting forward well, Marek Sin comes off the bench late on to offer a forward impact with one chance blazed over, and other than a couple of similar chances skied the net never bustles, late on Scotland might have had a penalty after Mullen softly falls in the box, but it would have been an injustice on the Czechs stern defence, had they conceded, they didn't deserve to lose having controlled most of this match, and didn't, at such a beautiful venue, I'm disappointed that nothing eventful happened, but on the flip side the game seemed to fly by, and I can now get back in good time, to watch the second half of England v Uruguay, back at my hotel. The Stars These games do offer a brilliant insight into who could be the future stars, the next generation, and it's always a thrill to watch them live, despite the result, as so many new players open my eyes, the best of their age in their countries. I had seen Sigma Olomouc goalkeeper Jan Koutny before and he's a player I really like the look of, perhaps he'll be Czechs best since Cech? Gornik Zabrze forward Lukas Ambros was easily my eye candy of the match, he flowed in possession and possessed a neat left foot, gliding on the ball and probing passes around the final third, a talented boy who was well marshalled on the night but I believe there is better to come. Other good efforts included a skippers performance by big Ondrej Kricfalusi at the back, he picked up a yellow card when turned for speed by James Wilson in the second half but sprayed some lovely balls around and never shifted himself out of third gear. Left back Albert Labick was in high thrust all night, he put in some hard yards and got forward very well indeed, high tempo and high work rate, thick sized with a lot of energy. In Scotland's armour, I was mostly impressed with their defenders, Mullen and Graham looking comfortable at the heart together, either side, both Dylan Lobban at right back, and Mitchel Frame at left back, both of Aberdeen, both showing aggression, pace, persistence, playing the Andy Robertson way, of offering no mercy to their opponent and looking to go forward at all cost. Also, providing no mercy was midfielder Kyle Ure, he grafted his socks off and looks to be a cert to keep an eye on whilst next to him, Kilmarnock's David Watson with the armband on played some lovely balls forward, but little in attack, for moments, Emilio Lawrence shown technique, Ryan One came on and looked a proper threat, reminding me a little of Che Adams, he's of good size and has pace and power having done well on loan at Lincoln City this season. The Verdict A lovely ground, a must visit is Dens Park, what I love about Scottish football is that it feels untouched, unmodernised unlike down south of the border, it still feels like it did for me in the 80's when watching Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest play in short shorts, on the open terraces at cigarette smoke filled stadiums, Dens Park has that nostalgic feel of when football was better way back when, how it felt when I was growing up, that feeling of visiting a new but old stadium for the first time and being in awe of its dirty surroundings. It's just a shame the football didn't match up to the backdrop, but you never know, I might come back soon? After all, I now have Tannadice to tick off my bucket list. The Teams Scotland: Ruairidh Adams, Dylan Lobban, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Luke Graham, Mitchel Frame, Emilio Lawrence (Ryan One 46), Kyle Ure, David Watson, Adedire Mebude (Connor Allan 46), Barney Stewart (James Wilson 60), Andrew Tod (Ryan Carr 46). Czechia: Jan Koutny, Filip Lissah, Ondrej Coudek, Ondrej Kricfalusi, Albert Labik, Jan Chytry, Tomas Jelinek, David Planka (Matej Sin 65), Lukas Ambros (Pavel Kacor 86), Matyas Vojta, Yannick Eduardo (Matej Mikulenka 75). 7:00pm Kick Off. Friday 27th March 2026, Dens Park, Dundee (att 1,000).

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Burnley (Women's Super League 2) I'm back at the City Ground for the third time this season, Forest are going well in WSL 2 unbeaten in their opening four games so far but with three draws including last time out on the road at Southampton. Burnley I last watched here a couple of seasons ago, promoted from the National League North in the summer they are still looking for a first league win in the second tier after two draws and two defeats so far. I was supposed to be overseas today. I booked a Ryanair flight and three nights at a non refundable hotel near Dublin so laid out over £400 to cover a couple of games with the main focus being Ireland v Israel in the UEFA Nations League. I wasn't previously savvy to the political shenanigans between the two until realising last week that Israel's home leg was being played on neutral territory, after quickly checking with nerves I found out the game which I thought was in Dublin, was in fact being played near Belgrade in Serbia, so plan B, I spent yesterday in Harrogate and today will be in blighty instead, a shame because I was looking forward to my trip to the Emerald. So £400 down but a lesson learned, I'll a) remember to check venues next time I request a match coverage and b) will always pay the extra to take a refundable hotel in future. The crazy thing is, it would have been cheaper to get to and stay in Belgrade, but having lost out due to my own carelessness, I wasn't prepared to take that trip and extra financial burden, the bosses understanding, kindly arranged my contingency but wouldn't take any other responsibility for my stupidity. So, after a walk into West Bridgford with the wife in the morning (which at least pleased her), I'm out early afternoon back towards my earlier route but this time in the car. I've pulled up about as close as I can get without paying to park, on the corner of Musters Road, walking past Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, and into the City Ground car park through the main stand turnstiles and up the steps of the Peter Taylor Stand before sitting down with a cup of tea and a snickers, the only other chocolate bar on offer at the kiosk was a Tony's and I didn't fancy that. The Venue The players are out warming up as I spot a friend on comms duty, I have a chat with him before seeing another fella I know who's scouting sat down in the press area, I've not seen him for a while as he says he's trimming down on Sunday's because he doesn't need the money. Lucky him. It's well covered under here, central, very red inside the arena, the seat I often pick at the back of the Main Stand is on half way and has a great view centrally positioned, the roof above blocks the panorama slightly so you can only see the bottom tier of the stand opposite whilst both ends can be viewed up to the top tier, the stand on my right, the Bridgford End, has been having some new safe standing seats installed, and it seems a few have been added since I was last here a week ago last Wednesday. The Game Forest are starting with their tall Norwegian striker Tuva Espas today, she's yet to score her first goal since signing from Valeranga, and it's the Reds who dictate the early openings with pressure persistently played in the Burnley half, the pitch blessed in Sunday sunlight. There's plenty of the football passed between red but they don't really carve any early openings, the best chances look like they'll come from Burnley goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns who lives dangerously with her own possession game. Some oohs and aahs every time she makes a pass. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah is Forest's most inventive player, she finds herself one v one and inside the area but angles her shot well wide, before Leticia McKenna has an effort also off target, as the pressure builds Burnley finally cave, on the stroke of half time Tuva bundles one home, her first goal in Garibaldi. The Score Burnley bring on a Forest legend in Charlie Wellings who gets a good reception as she makes her way onto the pitch for the start of the second half, but Wellings is isolated with Forest again dominating with the ball, the back three have time on their hands to stroke it around, the full backs pushing on into advanced areas, the midfield dominates, the only thing they don't have is that killer edge to take the game away from the Clarets. And the later it goes the away side start to gain momentum, a series of corners are suddenly won during their best spell of the match, but at the other end a shot from nothing is spilled, Tuva Espas is there again, prodding home predatory from close range, the goal that seals the deal? She's rewarded by immediately being substituted soon after she finishes celebrating. The goal gives Forest confidence that the game is won and late on they probably should crown things off to a more glossy verdict, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah has done everything but score today, she deserves a goal, she has one shot saved at the near post by the keeper before trying to curl one in to no avail, but missed chances aside it's a routine victory for Forest who are dominant from minute one, certainly the best performance I've seen from Tom Mallinson's Reds this season. The Stars Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah has some real swagger and is the star who starts on the left, cuts in on her right, and makes things happen with subtle touches and a swivel of her hips, if only she would score more goals, but then if she did, she might be playing higher than WSL 2. She has of course previously played for Everton, Aston Villa and London City Lionesses now into her thirties, she has 10 goals in 27 league games for Forest over the last season and more but creates so many chances for herself. Forest this season have a solid spine and are improving year on year, Katie Cox is a young England youth international on loan from Chelsea, she has recently come in for Emily Batty who isn't a bad goalkeeper herself, but Cox looks to be another level and is very competent with a bright future aged just 20. Defensively I really like the tall leggy ball spraying Hannah Coan who they signed from Portsmouth whilst Georgia Brougham captains the side with real quality and leadership, calm and efficient, anything Coan or Brougham misses Mustaki mops up in the organised back three, whilst young Cerys Brown at right wing back and Abbie Lafayette on the left provides good quality, Lafayette in particular is very good on the ball offering experience in that position. In midfield Alana Murphy is one that makes it all tick, like Sam Tierney at Leicester, underrated, unassuming, but one I think who does exceptionally well for the team, breaking down opponents moves and ticking along her own teams style from that deep lying central position with simple passing and movement. As for Burnley, nothing much from an attacking sense, I really like their left back Alethea Paul who I remember playing for Sheffield United previously, she's solid and gets forward well, protecting the ball with good strength, whilst the creative spark is the mini number ten Christie Harrison-Murray. The experienced Scottish international of 81 caps had a reasonably good game, but alone, she couldn't help her side forge a way into the match. The Verdict Forest are now up to fourth in the table and are still unbeaten, other than a 2-0 loss in the League Cup to Aston Villa, where there wasn't a huge gulf between the two sides (Villa simply had more quality in depth) they have had a good start to the season so far. I do think they are beginning to become a force to be reckoned with at the level, and whilst I think they'll come close this season, they might not have enough when it comes to the promotion race, but within two or three years I expect to see them in the top division, a team with real ambition who are starting to sign really good footballers for the level. As for Burnley, second bottom with two points I think they'll be ok as it's a long season ahead and the team are organised and still awaiting to find themselves at the level, it will be tough, but if they survive the drop, they'll build again, and they'll be even better equipped after a year of WSL 2 football, to go on to bigger and better things to come. The Teams Nottingham Forest: Katie Cox, Georgia Brougham, Hannah Coan, Chloe Mustaki, Cerys Brown (Codie Thomas 90), Alana Murphy, Freya Thomas, Abbie Lafayette (Ebba Hed 90), Leticia McKenna (Rachel Rowe 78), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Tuva Espas (Lois Shooter 73). Burnley: Jacqueline Burns, Maddi Wilde (Jessica Hennessy 68), Emma Siddall, Deanna Cooper, Naomi Hartley, Alethea Paul, Brenna McPartlan (Leah Galton 68), Tyler Toland, Jamie Finn, Charley Docherty (Charlie Wellings 46), Christie Harrison-Murray. 2:00pm Kick Off. Sunday 4th October 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 1,221).

Harrogate Town 3-0 Hornchurch (National League) A spa town famed for its water, the home of Bettys Tea Rooms, the heart of Yorkshire, it’s one I’ve passed through on occasion, I may have even stopped off here once, but other than a quick passing by of the Marcy Fitness Stadium on Wetherby Road, it’s a ground I’ve not yet been to, so I’m excited to chalk this one off my list. Last year I watched Harrogate Town in an FA Cup defeat at Mansfield, by then already they looked a sorrow sight, low down in League Two with relegation on the cards. This season, reboot and refresh, Simon Weaver has been in charge since 2009 and has seen promotion from the National North in 2018 and National League in 2020 to sit six years in the Football League, he’s trusted to get the Sulphurites back into the 92 again and his boys have been going well, second at the start of the day, having won seven and drawn one of their eleven league games so far. Hornchurch are a club that have came up the other way, promoted from the National League South they have former Leyton Orient & Stevenage midfielder Darryl McMahon in charge and have being doing ok thus far, tenth in the division with six wins and five defeats which has them on 18 points in their first ever campaign at the level. Formed in 1881, the club has had a few reincarnations over past years, most notably in 2005 after dropping out of the National League South halfway through the season in 2004. AFC Hornchurch initially joined the Essex Senior League and played mostly in the Isthmian League until promotion in 2024, they spent just two seasons in the National League South ahead of playoff success last season where they beat Torquay United after extra time in a thrilling contest to secure a second promotion in three years. It’s sunny, warm, the weather unusual for this time of year as I set off for 11am a two hour journey north, up the M1, M18 and A1 coming off at Wetherby and through Spofforth up the A661. The Venue It’s a busy old thoroughfare is Wetherby Road, as I slowly pass the grounds for the Great Yorkshire Show, the stadium is on the right but I pull up a couple of streets ahead to park and walk the remainder, a quaint and leafy five minute jaunt past Willow Tree Primary School where the Hornchurch AFC bus is parked, my final few yards pass some nice detached houses before the ground appears, backing on to the busy single carriageway which trudges along itself at walking pace. The metal stands back on to the lane behind bushes, I think to myself ‘if you’re cheeky enough you can probably jump over and get in for free’ but luckily I’m in for free anyway today, as I walk through a door marked ‘VIP Collections & Matchday Tickets’. The greeting is friendly as not only am I presented with a lanyard and ticket I’m pointed in the direction of my seat, right in the centre of the Marcy Fitness Stand which hogs half way, roofed and yellow seated, the ground looks spectacular in the sunshine, sloping wing to wing, cosy and quaint with a mixture of terracing and seating under various roofs for fans to choose. Everybody is friendly, as I grab myself a cup of tea and a Boost chocolate bar, ahead of sitting myself in the press seats, radio comms and PA announcers all behind, Opta style statisticians either side, one from Oz who I may have seen before, is friendly as we chat about venues we’ve been to previously, he lives in Leeds, a Spurs fan, who frequently covers Huddersfield and Bradford, it’s his first match at Harrogate this season. The view is good, cosy and a bit tight but mod cons with flip down tables and power points, I’m even using the clubs free wi-fi which is much better than most, as the fans start to circle in, there’s a lot of flat caps and grey hair, I suspect most won’t be needing to use any of the internet provided today. The Game The sun is scorching down and I’m facing southwest which means it’s going to be in my face anytime soon, as Harrogate get the game underway and race straight towards goal and immediately win a corner. Their inventive early set play however nearly backfires as Sandat for Hornchurch somehow breaks away with the ball, he’s like a big Locomotive steam train running forward at full pelt without any real speed as two intercity mark 4’s come hearing past to take the ball away. It’s about as far forward as Hornchurch get in a first half dominated by the diminutive midfield of Harrogate, it’s all tippy tappy nicely nicely as Morgan Williams and his mini midfield partner Will McGowan get on the ball and dictate, very inventive as they patiently start moves getting the ball from their back three into the engine, and on to the likes of Bailey Hobson and Josh Hmami who really likes to run at defenders. It’s all the home team as Hmami is shoved to the ground off the ball by frustrated Hornchurch full back Aaron Rowe, there’s anger in the crowd as Hmami lies on the floor hands on face with play still going on, “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “rubbish lino, did you not see that” are shouted from those sat in front of me, as the game continues, Williams pokes a ball into Dolaghan who’s tripped, a penalty is awarded and Rowe is booked for his earlier misdemeanour. It looks soft, my thoughts are that it was given based on fans being already irate, had the Ref not blew for that, I suspect we would have had uproar. But sort of justice is done. Arthur Nasta has been getting ironic jeers from the crowd after kicking three successive goal kicks out of play, but he guesses right with Dolaghan’s spot kick, perhaps he’s not in the side for his kicking, after all. Hornchurch are 5-3-2 and have came north with a game plan, it seems to be working as I hear one fan begin to mumble “this is the sort of game we’ll dominate and they’ll get one chance and win it” but the hosts are good, in fact too good, they look solid in all departments today and it seems to be only a matter of time, Dolaghan still running around in attack despite his penalty miss, Williams and McGowan still dictating, Hobson and Hmani still probing, the back three relatively untroubled. The Score On 36 a free kick is won, about 30 yards out but I’m right behind it, a great view, as Williams looks over right footed, I fancy him, I really do, he’s been brilliant for half an hour and he looks to have it in his locker, so as he strolls up and curls one into the top corner, I’m the least surprised person around as the fans jump in front of me to celebrate. It’s a goal they deserve into half time and although Hornchurch make a substitution at the break, it’s not the one I thought they would make, as Aaron Rowe on a booking, already having a hard time against Josh Hmami, continues, Jack Baldwin replaces Frankie Edwards at centre half, like for like, unadventurous, it seems that Darryl McMahon is happy to continue with his structured but passive game plan. And it nearly pays off early doors as Will Greenidge whips in a ball from the left wing, an awkward bounce inside the Harrogate box has it land on the head of George Alexander who can’t direct towards target, a scare, a chance, the best and only chance of note, Hornchurch will get all day. Harrogate make it two on the hour when a neat move down the left is crossed by Bristow, finished off by Will McGowan who arrives late to place home from inside the area, and five minutes later a lovely move of double digit pass completions ends from almost all involved in yellow, with Bristow again on the move forward crossing low to fellow wing-back Lewis Cass who slides home at the back post, a brilliant goal, a brilliant move, Harrogate looking like a brilliant football team. There’s plenty to go as the away side immediately make three changes, the home side then do a quadruple substitution themselves, this takes the sting out of the game, Harrogate by now dominant, in full control, but at a slow lethargic tempo, whilst Hornchurch are simply playing for the sake of playing, waiting for that whistle to be blown, before they can be put out of misery, and get back on their long journey home. The Stars It’s a brilliant performance from Harrogate who from front to back really impress me, a much changed vibe and look to what I saw last season when they were beaten at Mansfield, as they dominate, dictate, and create. Apparently this season they have had goals from all sources, Bailey Hobson brilliant in recent weeks, less so today, who’s turn instead was that of Morgan Williams who I found to be the best player on the park (and rewarding of being voted man of the match too). Short in size but stacked of quality, he looked for inventive passes in the final third and linked well with the even smaller Will McGowan who looks on the same intellectual wavelength, busy, industrious, creative, whilst Josh Hmami has that swagger wide left to float in field and combine offensively too. Defensively Harrogate look solid, they have let in just six goals in their last eight games and have Grant Horton, Sam Dreyer and Archie Baptiste (who I really like the look of) operating as a solid three, whilst getting forward from wing backs, Ethan Bristow on the left was very good on the ball, he’s better than National League level, whilst Lewis Cass gave plenty of effort out right rewarded by his work with a goal. Brad Dolaghan worked hard as the front man with plenty of determination but I enjoyed a late cameo from his replacement and crowd favourite Shawn McCoulsky who probably gave more free kicks away than he had touches, often clattering into defenders, he’s a real bulldozer of an attacker and although he probably won’t score many goals, he’ll provide plenty of food for thought for opponents and you can certainly see why the fans like him. As for Hornchurch, little for their few fans in the away end to celebrate on a day where they were second best across the park. Ryan Innis is a good signing for them at centre half and defended well offering voice and experience along with a bit of tenacity, I think the two wing backs they have, Greenidge and Rowe both offer athleticism and good size and strength, whilst Jack Powell was their go to ball sprayer, their best most promising player looks to be Henry Sandat, just 21, a big unit in midfield with some lovely elegance, whilst in attack Dominic Poleon has had better games, I thought Josh Walker came on and worked well, offering more of a threat as the game wandered into later less hostile stages when all changes had been made. The Verdict Will Harrogate go up? Is the question? My response, can they play like that, on a cold wet night in Hornchurch? For example? Will they dictate in away games as much as they might do at home? I love the way they dominate proceedings and patiently play the ball around at ease, but against bigger and stronger opposition (like Boreham Wood who beat them 4-1) can they learn to mix it enough? Let’s be clear, Hornchurch didn’t trouble them today, and didn’t look like they came to mix it either, which might have played into the hands of the home side who do play some lovely football. I do think having watched them just once, that Harrogate will certainly have enough quality to reach the playoffs, whilst I also think they'll be better from Hornchurch, who in reality, would have looked at this fixture at the start of the season, and expected nothing from the game. The Urchins ambition is very much different from Harrogate’s this season, stay in the division, is probably their remit, and I think they might be looking over their shoulders at some point, but I believe they have a good enough collection of players, they have a good enough manager, they also have a horrible enough home with a running track and not much else around that many opponents won’t enjoy going to, which they can use to advantage. Whether Harrogate will immediately return to League Two for me will depend (as it always does) on those cold nights away from home in December and January, midst a few injuries and when backs are probably going to be up against the walls, I want to then see the sort of cojones they shown recently in wins at Hartlepool and Scunthorpe, and if they do show them regularly enough, they certainly have a chance of going up. The Teams Harrogate Town: Luke Hutchinson, Ethan Bristow (Ellis Taylor 77), Archie Baptiste, Will McGowan (George Thomson 77), Morgan Williams, Bailey Hobson (Michael Craig 80), Sam Dreyer, Josh Hmani (Ciaran McGuckin 77), Brad Dolaghan (Shawn McCoulsky 77), Lewis Cass, Grant Horton. Hornchurch: Arthur Nasta, Will Greenidge (Henry Hearn 80), Ryan Innis, Jack Powell, Tom Dallison, Henry Sandat, George Alexander (Angelo Balanta 66), Dom Poleon (Josh Walker 66), Frankie Edwards (Jack Baldwin 46), Aaron Rowe (Myles Weston 66), Alfie Massey. 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 4th October 2026, Wetherby Road, Harrogate (2,512).

Ilkeston Town 0-1 Warrington Rylands (Northern Premier League) It’s been a tricky season for Ilkeston Town. A couple of lads who I have previously worked with in football, Aaron Large and Triss Whitman, got the Robins job in the summer, two young coaches who made the leap from United Counties League side Hucknall Town (in step 5) to the third tier of the non-league game, I always felt it was going to be a tough ask, but they know ball, give them time they’ll get it right, I just hope that they’ll get the time to get it right? Sadly, my sentiment isn’t shared by many Robins supporters, Ilkeston are third bottom in the division after nine games on seven points, they are off the back of five straight defeats and are without a win in nine since winning their first two league games of the season, they have recently crashed out of the FA Trophy and FA Cup at the first attempt. Things are a little better for Warrington Rylands, Neil Reynolds men are tenth in the division on thirteen points and are unbeaten in three in the league, they crashed out of the FA Cup at the second attempt, in the second qualifying round against Chorley a couple of Saturday’s ago, but at the weekend beat Stockton Town in the FA Trophy to continue their run in that competition. Formed in 1906, Rylands are in their fifth season in the Northern Premier League and are not to be confused with near neighbours Warrington Town. The two rivals separated by just 2.4 miles and four league points going into this game. I’ve set off early tonight as I need to get a Colin the Caterpillar Cake for laddo’s birthday on Sunday, there’s an M&S next to Ikea which is a short five-minute drive from the ground. I nip in for a meal deal but there are no Colin’s left, only Connie's, after a quick phone check with the wife, I’m told they all taste the same. The Venue Just a thirteen-mile drive from my house is the Microlise New Manor Ground and I’m pulled up with plenty of time ahead of kick off, parked around the back of the Main Clock Tower Stand on Awsworth Road, the ground situated on the Eastern edge of Ilkeston, opposite a coal supply depot and Ilkeston Autocentre which has a load of beat up old cars stacked on top of each other which they use for spare parts. It’s an industrial and run down location, not pretty, but the ground itself feels modern, as I walk up to the turnstile and pay my £13, inside is tarmac walkways and a raised green carpet across the middle, lads already warming up on the wide 3g pitch under low beam floodlights as I walk across the fading red carpet of the dugouts to get to my usual perch in the high seated stand all the way in the far corner. Already you can feel the tension inside the venue, media folk sat at the back of the stand saying “we need to score first tonight” as the Managers parents and partners sit close by, nervous and quiet, it all feels subdued. I’m a big believer of winning games in the warmups, it’s the manner in which you attack them you see, I want to feed off the buoyant coaching staff, see regular giggles and jokes with the players, high fives, intensity, loud talking, laughter, I see none of that tonight. Just two tired Managers, quiet, head down, hoping they can make it through the night. The form has affected the vibe around the place no doubt, just 264 in tonight, it feels bare behind each goal, empty covered stands, not normally this quiet in these parts, England are on the box, but I think more to the point is that some fans are simply fed up of what they have been watching? The Game There’s a few scouts in attendance, Jacob Butterfield and Kelvin Davies from Hednesford Town have popped over to watch all track suited up, there’s nothing more than low applause and the odd shout of ‘Cmon Ilson’ as we get under way, Warrington Rylands in all blue, the Robins in red and white stripes with annoying dark black numbers on their backs. The game tempo matches the build-up, slow, laboured, no intensity from the hosts who are happy to sit deep, attack high and stretch the game with long balls out wide. Warrington, I’m trying to work out their formation, they are happy to leave two v one at the back and all bomb forward in no particular order. Calum Costello with ten on his baggy shirt is causing early trouble, he dances into the box on the right and crosses low to George Waring who blazes over. Costello is good, very good, apparently on loan from Fleetwood Town the Irish winger has played for Waterford and Bray Wanderers back in homeland before moving to the Northwest coast, still only 20 he’s the best player on show. From a tight angle his deflected effort hits the top of the crossbar, as Warrington ramp up the corner count, the visitors are the aggressors in the first half but every now and again Ilkeston counter, spreading the ball out to either Ash Hunter or L'varn Brandy who try and find a rather isolated Anthony Dwyer in attack. Unfortunately the delivery isn’t always on point. The Score At half time it’s nil nil and it seems the Ilkeston fans are happy with that. “A much improved performance” is said by those around me who are also impressed with debutant Jesse Omoregbee who’s a young centre half on loan from Boston United. But whilst the second half endeavour continues as a little improvement on recent games, the basic requirements of keeping the ball out of the back of the net doesn’t, on 57 Costello is dancing down the right again, he’s beating players and is into the box, before crossing low to Harrison Wood who smashes home from close range. It’s the difference on the night in Warrington having that extra spark in attack, they aren’t overly better than Ilkeston, but they play on the front foot, and they have a player with confidence who can create the all important goal. In comparison, Ilkeston’s best player is debutant Omoregbee, he hasn’t put a foot wrong and is a colossus in defence before for no apparent reason, he passes the ball straight to Costello under no pressure at all, the Rylands winger running through on goal should really score and put the game to bed, but his drive is saved by Wilson and Ilkeston live to fight again. And in fairness, show fight they do, Ilkeston bring on Jeavin Seaton in attack and suddenly with the extra body forward they look so much better, as they pump balls in desperately, a late rally has a couple of corners, a couple of blocked shots, but too little, too late, as Warrington, the better team of the two, hang on to a solid but unspectacular three points on the road. The Stars By the end of the game I’ve still not worked out the Warrington formation as they seem to play without full backs but with really high wingers and it’s Costello who switches from right, to left later on who is the star, technically good, quick, positive, everything you want from a wide man on the books of a football league club. Defensively they are solid, but without having to do too much defending, a good size and stature is Paddy Gamble in the heart of the back two (or three, it certainly wasn’t four). In midfield Charlie Munro and Joe Riley provide experience and shape, sitting in when others go forward, but getting on the ball and making play themselves, I really like Ben Hardcastle who plays a central role, having seen him out wide before, a player who runs at opponents with a bit of quality, he had one effort from long range dip just ever so slightly too late. In attack, Rylands have Harrison Wood who is a lively operator, George Waring is their big number nine who missed a couple of relatively easy opportunities, whilst Jawad Jebrin had a bit of pace on the right. Whilst Ilkeston wasn’t as bad as I expected (having heard some depressing reports from people who have seen them this season) individually they do have some good players, perhaps missing a bit of experience, a bit of drive, some better shape and a good kick up their arses. Both full backs were relatively solid, at centre half you feel like both Pharrell Johnson and Jesse Omoregbee could do with some experience besides them, but I feel both with power and presence could be at this level or above for a very long time. In midfield Cherif Yaya on loan from Nottingham Forest had moments, he’s relatively physical and solid but won’t be playing Premier League football anytime soon, whilst out wide this is where Ilkeston can be so dangerous, both L'varn Brandy and Ash Hunter have ability, all be it both were frustrating on the night in end product. I felt for Anthony Dwyer who’s a forward who thrives off service, he was better helped by the late addition of Jeavin Seaton who’s a handful, awkward, but I like him and for me both must play together in attack if Ilkeston are to improve in their fortunes. The Verdict I don’t know whether this defeat is the one that tests the patience of the Robins hierarchy that little too much? Upon the Referees whistle it felt like those around me, in particular the families of the managers, were resigned to anticipating the inevitable already? It feels like only a matter of time? Whether Triss Whitman will get that time is another question? Ilkeston Town sit twentieth in the division but moving now to invite new management targets, may still rescue their season? The Robins after all are only a win from jumping out of the relegation places. Perhaps there's no panic at all? As for Warrington Rylands, a decent win, a good solid Northern Premier League team, which is what Ilkeston are long renowned as, in getting back to where they need to be, maybe taking a leaf out of the Neil Reynolds book would do no harm? Front foot football with confidence was really the only deciding factor on the night. Oh, and that of a decent football league loanee who’s quality stole the show. Warrington up to ninth in the table just a point behind their same town rivals with playoff places still a target, next up they face Emley whilst Ilkeston have a long trip to Lancaster ahead on Saturday. The Teams Ilkeston Town: Sam Wilson, Sonnie Kelvin Davis, Will Grewal-Pollard, Colin Daniel (Jeavin Seaton 66), Pharrell Johnson, Jesse Omoregbee, Ashley Hunter, Cohen Lee (Sam Newell 55), Anthony Dwyer, Cherif Yaya, L'varn Brandy (McKeal Abdullah 83). Warrington Rylands: Luke Pilling, Clive Smith (Niall Battersby 82), Patrick Gamble, Joe Riley (Stanley Holder 78), Guy Hall, Charlie Munro (Dean Furman 58), Harrison Wood (Ryan Tioffo 89), Ben Hardcastle, George Waring, Calum Costello, Jawad Jebrin (Myles La Bestide 71). 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 29th September 2026, New Manor Ground, Ilkeston (att 264).

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Aston Villa (Women’s Super League Cup Group Stages) The Subway Players Cup is a competition involving 23 Women’s Super League and WSL2 sides (Manchester City, Arsenal & Chelsea aren’t appearing this season due to their European commitments) and after ditching the four team group formats of previous campaigns, this year will see the in trend Swiss model being used, a watered down copy cat of the UEFA Champions League format, but with another twist, draws in the group stages after ninety minutes will be decided by penalty shootouts (one point for losing, two for a shootout win). It’s all a bit confusing, one division split into north and south with (most) teams playing three WSL and three WSL2 opponents, the top eight go through to the quarter finals with the highest ranked teams gaining home advantage in the knockouts. Now in its sixteenth season the funny thing is, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea have ever won it, so without the big dogs in this year’s tournament, it looks like they’ll be a new winner at last. Current holders Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0 at Ashton Gate in March to reclaim the title they had won the previous year, in all they have won the cup 4 times, the same amount as Manchester City, with first ever winners Arsenal, who won the first three competitions back-to-back-to-back in fact, have won seven titles thus far. Swatting up finished, this ones nice and easy for me tonight, as I travel the short two and half mile trek north towards the City Ground, top tier Aston Villa are in town, a side who are yet to win this season so far, having drew two and lost one of their league games, their most recent point thanks to a late Lynn Wilms goal in a draw at Brighton at the weekend. Forest, I have seen recently in WSL2 action this season, they drew v Ipswich on the opening day, drew against Watford in front of my own eyes, and beat Durham on Sunday after coming from behind in the North East, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Georgia Brougham both on the scoresheet. The Venue I’ve pulled up on Musters Road which is a short walk from the stadium, I’m passing Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and Eva’s Grill which do nice kebabs and sometimes fireworks after Forest men win their home games (which isn’t very often these days), I’ve time on my hands so have a rummage around the club shop in search of a winter woolly hat, but I’m collared by a lady who wants me to subscribe to Forest Lotto. “It’s only £2.25 a week” she tells me. “Not a lot of money”. I respond “that’s nearly £10 a month” before waving her on her way. As I head for the turnstiles, I’m wondering what these wands actually do in the stewards’ hands? I’ve never seen one stop anybody for anything, do they even work, is it just a gimmick? I’m waiting behind some kids having their bags searched before I’m finally let through with little more than a waft of my arms. Usual spot these days, back of the Peter Taylor Main Stand on the very back row, tea and Twix in hand, I’ve noticed some new flash boards have gone up around the middle section of the Brian Clough Stand opposite, quite controversial, they have replaced the honours board which read out some of Forest’s most famous cup wins across like banner, these days clubs can’t wear betting sponsors on their t-shirts, but they can blast them at every opportunity digitally across the whole stadium if they must. With three weeks off for the international break, there’s some seats been taken out of the Bridgford Lower (newly named John Robertson Stand) where often the away team fans will sit. Apparently being replaced with all new safe seating, possibly implemented after Fenerbahçe fans crushed a few rows of seats by jumping on them last season? The Game There’s little over a thousand in attendance in the Main Stand only, a few changes made by both teams as they begin proceedings with Villa in black pushing the ball between their back four. It feels like the done way in the women’s game, these teams all seem to play the same, side 'A' in possession pass between themselves, side 'B' out of possession presses in an organised manner, it’s all well drilled, over coached, I’m thinking to myself ‘what if a centre half just goes long?’ or ‘how about if a midfielder just gets it and runs forward?’. I want to see some destruction to the regime, a bit of fucking carnage instead of same old same old. The first ten minutes are crammed in the Aston Villa left hand corner, they pass from keeper to centre half back to keeper to centre half to left back who tries to kick it forward but Forest’s press blocks, and it all results in a throw in no further than eighteen yards out. It’s all a bit sad and sorry and slow, plenty of kids in audience screaming and shouting below, they need to be entertained, as I look to my left and the Forest match reporter sat in the press box hasn’t even taken the top off his Bic Biro pen yet. 20 minutes in it’s all a drag but suddenly action, said Villa passing it between the back four has goalkeeper Okuma kick a back pass against the on rushing Deanne Rose who ricochet’s the ball against the crossbar off her knees, the best chance of the game, and it’s all of Villa’s doing through coaches crap keep ball philosophy. The Score Things do improve. Eventually... Young Lily Murphy down the Villa left has some pace, she races down the wing and crosses low for Georgia Mullet who should score, her effort brilliantly stopped by the brilliant Emily Batty in the Forest goal, a huge save that keeps things at nil nil into half time. The second half is just as tough and turgid to watch, not much in the way of action as the fans start singing to Forest teen striker Lois Shooter, “If Shooter scores, we’re in the Trent” a song which the men often sing about Ryan Yates, I’m thinking to myself, “if Shooter scores, I’ll jump in the Trent myself” knowing that there’s a high probability I can walk away from this game completely dry. On 64 there’s a flurry of subs, three for Forest, two for Villa, and as the new girls settle in to proceedings one of them takes it upon herself to have a crack. Maya Hijikata has just came on, she takes aim from outside the box and blasts the hell out of the ball into the roof of the net. Football is a simple game, after all. It’s a goal the game needed and I’m quite relieved it relinquishes the possibility of it going to penalties, late on another sub, Chastity Grant, takes aim with a deflected effort to crown things off. Villa are far from great tonight, Forest to be fair to them, not that bad themselves, but as the Reds never really looked like scoring, the away side never looked like losing either. The Stars Slight differences in elite level women’s footballers and those in tier two, but that gap is decreasing and Forest certainly competed and were not overwhelmed, until perhaps Aston Villa upped the ante with a few first team internationals from off the bench. Anna Patten is a player I like, a centre half with composure, neat, next to Oceane Deslandes who also looked very calm and tidy on the ball. Out left I was impressed with how quick young Lily Murphy was, a real burst of speed in the first half she looked to carry the ball forward and get at defenders. For Forest, plenty of huff and puff, good work rate in all they did but often lacking in playmaking quality, left back Abbie Lafayette is a very solid player, Rachel Rowe worked hard in midfield, but not too many of their players would indeed trouble the Villa starting eleven, which in a way is testament to how they performed, in what was a relatively tight game, especially for the first 66 minutes of the match. The Verdict I do like coming here, a cheap £8 ticket has me sat in the rafters away from the noise, down below you can see how excited the young girls get, and there's families, young dads and their sons or daughters, coming along for an affordable night out, I just sometimes wish the football was better? Maybe they need to look at what they do in America? Have a side show during the show, to stop those toddlers from walking off from their parents during the game, because you do see boredom, and if it’s showing in the press seats, no doubt you’ll get it with the kids some of which aren't even looking at the action. Maybe litter the stands with face painters and clowns? Get the club shop open during the game, put a bouncy castle by the corner flag, make football fun again, because over coaching elite women to play the game to the letter of your coaching badge, well it just ends up making the game disciplined, safe, organised, structured, which unfortunately, doesn’t guarantee fun, mostly boring, but I want to watch the Mavericks, the Magicians, those who get your bum off your seat, all too frequently, when I watch women's football, I feel like I'm coming to watch the coaches master plan in practice, and that is not really, what I want to pay to see. The Teams Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Grace McEwan, Chloe Mustaki (Hannah Coan 46), Abbie Lafayette (Leticia McKenna 63), Ebba Hed, Ilona Walta (Mel Johnson 78), Tove Almqvist, Alana Murphy, Rachel Rowe (Freya Thomas 63), Deanne Rose (Cerys Brown 63), Lois Shooter. Aston Villa: Akane Okuma, Noelle Maritz (Katie Scott 81), Anna Patten (Mathilde Harviken 75), Oceane Deslandes, Rachel Maltby, Miriael Taylor, Justine Kielland, Mia McAulay (Chasity Grant 75), Lucia Kendall (Maya Hijikata 64), Lily Murphy, Georgia Mullet (Amalie Vansgaard 64). 7:00pm Kick Off. Wednesday 23rd September 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 1,600).

Emley 0-4 Spennymoor Town (FA Cup Second Qualifying Round) It’s been fifteen years since I last visited Emley’s Welfare Ground, a then scouting mission to watch Stocksbridge Park Steels in the Sheffield Senior Cup, I remember the game because my report wasn’t needed in the end as the cold wet snap put pay to our following weekends fixture, but I recollect sitting in the old Main Stand looking out towards the Emley Moor tower underneath dark chilly skies hearing the deep thud of a football being pumped around the park, thinking to myself ‘this is bloody lovely’. Emley have FA Cup history, I remember their magical run in 1997/98 when they beat both Morecambe and Lincoln City on penalties after replays, to set up a third-round tie at Premier League West Ham United. The Pewits (as they are nicknamed) lost 2-1 at Upton Park, falling behind to a Frank Lampard goal in the first half, they levelled through Paul David who rose above Rio Ferdinand of all players to head home from a corner, but a late John Hartson winner was the difference, Emley doing themselves and the Northern Premier League incredibly proud. That’s the best they have done in the competition, and like many clubs at the level have since fallen on difficult times, a complicated past, they were forced to relocate in 2002 and join forces with Wakefield officially disbanding in 2005. A new club 'AFC' would call the Welfare Ground it's home and ever since we've seen small progress under the single Emley banner again. After winning the Northern Counties East League in 2024 the club gained promotion back to the Northern Premier League playing in the First Division East, gaining promotion again last season they have now returned for the first time in twenty years to a level Emley had previously been at throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. Spennymoor Town weren’t even established when Emley were rebranding and disbanding, formed themselves in 2005 they have since risen up the ranks to surpass todays hosts on the non-league ladder, and have been in the National League North now for ten years since gaining promotion from the Northern Premier League in 2017. The Moors have twice reached the first round of the cup, losing 3-2 to MK Dons in 2017, they were beaten by Barrow last season but have had a couple of recent tastes of Wembley winning the 2013 FA Vase (2-1 v Tunbridge Wells) and losing (3-0 v Aldershot) in the 2025 FA Trophy final. This season Spennymoor have struggled at the foot of their division, Manager Tommy Miller resigning at the start of the month has been replaced by interim Jason Ainsley, the cup a nice distraction for them having not won since the second weekend of the season (eight matches ago). Emley are doing alright in their league campaign, fifteenth, they lost 4-0 at Bury at the weekend (Bury are battering everyone) but beat Bishop Auckland in the cup to set up this tie against more North Eastern opposition, Spennymoor to Emley is about an hour forty south down the A1, whilst for me it’s around a similar drive north from Nottingham, where I’ll be mostly travelling up the M1 on this bright and clear (but windy) September Saturday afternoon. The Venue I’m off at Junction 38 past signs for Yorkshire Sculpture Park and through West Bretton before turning left down the Wakefield Road. I actually miss the turning to the village of Emley as I’m too busy casting eyes towards the famous tall tower in the background, the transmitting station is over a thousand feet in height, dominating the skyline from as south as Sheffield and as north as Leeds. A few winding roads later I finally find the village, I’ve pre-planned to park on a side street and walk the remainder, a stroll along Upper Lane which is quiet but for some dog walkers, before a sharp left turn by the community centre, and into the grounds car park which although free, I avoided for a quicker get away later. It’s about as village a football ground I have been to, right in the heart of the community it sits besides the village cricket club which uses a large part of the football pitch during the summer, a partition of temporary metal railings with cover separating the two sporting centres of this Denby Dale parish of less than 2,000. Just one turnstile open, I’m through the gates at the cost of £12 and take a couple of photos inside the humble home quiet an hour or so ahead of kick off, the sloped roof main stand is one that I remember, it looks in good nick, plenty of modern rehomed white seats which I hear were donated from Huddersfield Town, the former brick build clubhouse next to it has been painted grey, it even has solar panels on its roof installed since my last visit here all of fifteen years ago. The pitch slopes from right to left, lovely fluffy natural grass, imperfect greenery with tall breeze block walls surrounding a couple of sides, they might need to be soon replaced (or softened) under recent legislation of player protection. I park myself down back row top of the Main Stand, there’s a couple of posts in view, one right in the middle of the goal to my right, behind that a low roofed terrace area, opposite is sparse green land of the cricket pitch, partitioned, fenced off, beyond that houses, and to my left a thin strip open end which has back gardens behind some standing room, it’s a proper community hub this place, as an old boy sits besides me and introduces himself, whilst trying not to spill his Bovril. “I used to live in Emley” he tells me, “I brought up my kids here, it’s a wonderful place to bring up children”. He’s with his son today who’s got his mates around him having a laugh and joke, as other folk sit nearby, large groups chatting together with a beer or a brew, everyone seems to know each other and it feels like a popular meeting place for locals of the village and surrounding areas. The Game Emley are in sky blue, wearing a kit that apparently marks ten years of partnership with ‘Fantastic Media’ who hold bragging rights to the stadium name, Spennymoor are also in blue, navy and amber, as the match gets underway under the sunshine, in the wind, as the tempo between the two is relatively slow. In truth it’s not great, as both teams battle with the elements, both struggling in their tables of late, both a little devoid of confidence perhaps, are giving each and other far too much respect. Junior Mondal scuffs an early chance for the visitors as he races through on goal all too easily to place wide as the Emley defence opens up, Bennett then forces Bottomley into a save as Matty Dolan fires the rebound wide, whilst at the other end Gabriel Johnson’s header is saved by Matty Urwin before the linesman’s flag is waved for what looks to be a push. It wouldn't have counted had it gone in. It’s scrappy, the hosts 4-4-2 look decent out wide with pace, they get long throws into the box, their star man is Diego De Girolamo who’s a lovely forward, dropping deep and getting on the ball, whilst Gabriel Johnson next to him, is the blonde battering ram whose usual good touch doesn’t look so deft today. In midfield the duo of Haswell and Lindley graft plenty but their passing leaves a lot to be desired, the home fans are getting irate, with the odd outburst suggesting things are ‘not good enough’ and to perhaps ‘do better’ next time they are on the ball. Slightly better of the two evils, I’m not totally impressed with Spennymoor who’s 4-3-3 is unspectacularly solid, midfielder George Cantrill who signed from Alfreton in the summer is right back, the three in the middle are work horses, not particularly blessed in finesse, but up top Richie Bennett is tall and useful, he has a nice touch with Junior Mondal out left always posing a threat with pace. The Score There’s been little doing before a long throw in by Dan Jones falls somehow to Jack Young inside the Emley box, the blonde haired midfielder scuffling the ball towards the bottom corner to give the away side a lead which on evidence, they probably just about deserved. I ask the old boy at half time his thoughts on the first half, “rubbish” is the answer and I’m in agreement, saying to him “it all feels a bit too nice” as Emley are passive, allowing Spennymoor to get a foothold. I'm expecting the hosts to come out of the traps quickly but before they can even stamp their authority on the second 45, a Spennymoor attack has Jack Young grabbing a second, his late unguarded run is rewarded by a ball flicked into his path, Young taking a touch and stabbing home in front of the few away supporters behind the goal to my left, who are suddenly starting to sing Young's name. That goal on 51 is a killer blow and Emley never really look like getting back into the game, there’s a couple of bookings and a few subs, one of which is lively, Carlos Rodrigues comes on out left for Emley and as he races into the box and tumbles over it looks like the Referee has awarded a penalty, but as the roars around me lessen for nervous preparation of a spot kick the actual verdict is he’s pointing for a goal kick, in the aftermath an Emley official in the dugout is booked and there’s a few choice words aimed at the man in black, who trots away oblivious to the drama he’s caused. It all feels a little too late, but with five minutes left Emley actually start to play, as Spennymoor retreat to protect, the home side stick centre halves forward and gamble with a 2-4-4 formation, they whip crosses into the box but they risk getting undone on the counter, one pass pumped forward on ninety has Glen Taylor running through, he finds Jack Young who can round things off with a hat-trick, Young decides instead to pass to Danny Johnson who has an open goal to place into, Spennymoor are three on one, and the outcome is inevitable. By now the seats around me are emptying with locals trotting out to beat the traffic, but there’s a few minutes of injury time remaining, the Emley formation has completely evaporated and Spennymoor are through again, Glen Taylor one on one dinks home over the keeper to get himself on the scoresheet, it was never a 4-0 thumping but nobody can say the best team didn’t win. The Stars In the end it proved the gulf in class between the bottom placed team in the National League North and the fifteenth best in the Northern Premier was perhaps wider than I might have even thought? Spennymoor’s blonde haired playmaker Jack Young wasn’t anything special, he didn’t particularly catch the eye for doing the spectacular, but what he did was do things simple, do things good, he was in the right place at the right time and took his opportunity with two good goals, with one unselfish assist, he worked hard and utilised the ball well, was arguably the best player on the pitch today, he's certainly worth another look at. I did like Richie Bennett who battled well up front, tall and awkward to contain he linked well with those around him, whilst Glen Taylor does what Glen Taylor does, now 36 years old he came on for Bennett and provided just as much quality as the Moors main target man. Junior Mondal is a player who at the level is always consistent and hard to contain, he has pace and is a key asset to the Spennymoor attack, whilst defensively they were at times tested, Ben Pollock and Dan Jones doing well in their duals, but they will have bigger and tougher tests to come. The experienced Matt Urwin in goal having a relatively solid debut following a move from Chorley. As for Emley, Diego De Girolamo is a player I have long liked, he tried, but alone it was all in vain, his touch is lovely, he does things with guile, with style, but not many were on his wavelength today. I felt for him, as I did Gabriel Johnson who’s usually a menace, still bulldozing defences, I have however seen him have better days, out wide Joe Stacey shown glimpses, he is quick and can chuck a ball far, Alex Kiwomya with dad Chris watching in the stands was poor, but I did like the feet of left back Coban Bird, far from the finished article, technically very good, he got man of the match from the home sponsors which was announced over the tanoy. The Verdict Solid, unspectacular, Spennymoor beat a team that in truth they should have beat, and in the end will perhaps take confidence at doing so with more ease than expected. As for Emley, not a great performance considering they had nothing to lose, they didn’t really touch gloves with a team that looked far from confident early doors, that grew in demeanour the greater the game went on, I think a tough season ahead continues for both teams, both have more than enough capabilities for the levels they are at, to get themselves out of trouble, Spennymoor at least have something nice to look forward to with a third qualifying cup draw ahead, also boosting the clubs cash take. One little note about my visit to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, a proper little village home, it is a pipe and slippers sort of place, a real local Yorkshire, countryside kind of vibe. Friendly, they love their football here and if folk aren’t playing their part on the pitch they’ll soon tell them about it from the sidelines, but bigger and better than what goes off across that white line, is keeping this club running for the sake of the community, for the sake of the pyramid, and the sake of the great and good of the English game. A gorgeous place to watch football, a home where you get a real sense of identity, a place where community matters more than what happens on the field of play, it feels like going back in time and seeing good old England how it was way back when, when football was cheap, when the game was simple, and earthy, and the liniment oil stunk out from the changing rooms below. The Teams Emley: Ben Bottomley, Harry Shepherd, Coban Bird, Hayden Lindley, Jack Cowgill, Charlie Barks, Alex Kiwomya (Rinor Ejupi 70), Aaron Haswell (James Murray 79), Diego De Girolamo, Gabriel Johnson, Joe Stacey (Carlos Rodrigues 70). Spennymoor Town: Matt Urwin, Dan Jones, George Cantrill, Jack Jenkins (Frankie Whelan 70), Junior Mondal, Sam Murray, Ben Pollock, Cam Salkeld (Danny Johnson 70), Richie Bennett (Glen Taylor 61), Jack Young, Matty Dolan. 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 19th September 2026, Welfare Ground, Emley (att 424).

Anstey Nomads 2-2 Alvechurch (Southern League Central Division) As it goes, I know little about either team… Even though I probably should know more, neither is that far from my home in distance, Alvechurch is 64 miles from Nottingham over in the West Midlands, Anstey just a 30-minute drive south of my house, both have played in the local leagues, but both largely at steps 4 & 5 which is why I haven’t perhaps crossed paths until now. I might have even played against Anstey Nomads in my days of kicking balls at Sileby Town in Leicestershire as a kid, but I don’t recall them? Formed as long ago as 1946 they have largely been a Leicestershire Senior League side until promotion in 2010 had them transfer up to the East Midlands Counties League, where they would spend nine seasons ahead of switching to the United Counties League in 2018. The Nomads won the UCL Premier Division North in 2023 which led to promotion to the Northern Premier League Midlands Division, a couple of near misses in finishing second, then third, they at won at the third attempt in 2024/25 and are this season playing at step 3 for the first time in the club’s history. Alvechurch are even older than Anstey, formed in 1929 they spent many years in the old Midland Alliance which merged with the Midland Combination to produce the Midland League in 2014. After coming second in 2015, Alvechurch won the title in 2016 thus securing promotion to the Northern Premier League South Division, gaining immediate promotion as runners up in their only season at the level, since 2018 they have been in the Southern Premier League Central Division and have regularly finished within the middle of the pack. This season ‘The Church’ as they are known are second in the table with six wins and a defeat in their seven league games played, Kyle Storer’s side beat Racing Club Warwick in the FA Cup at the weekend to set up a tie in the next round at Cambridge City, whilst Anstey also won in the cup, they beat Newcastle Town ahead of drawing the winners of either Gainsborough Trinity or Leamington, Conrad Logan’s reds are also going well in the league, sixth with four wins, two draws and a single defeat from their seven played so far. So tonight is a tough one to call, I’m out the door for just gone 6pm, along the Melton Road and onto the A46, traffic calm as I come off towards a town on the southern edge of Charnwood Borough apparently first recalled in the Doomsday Book as ‘Hanstige’ which means narrow, or steep forest track. The Venue It’s not a place that rings my doorbells all be it not that far from my home, it’s pretty close to the lovely Bradgate Park which I frequent on occasion with the wife and dog, the idyllic Cropston Reservoir only a short distance away, but the town centre I may have passed through once or twice before without noticing? It has a rather odd roundabout to navigate, called the Nook, before I turn on to the Cropston Road and find somewhere to park in a housing estate close to the ground. It’s a nice pleasant place, big houses line the road opposite the football ground which is hidden behind large green bushes, I walk through the club gates where a steward in pink hi vis patrols with a sign by his knees saying ‘car park full’. Just under an hour until kick off I’m greeted immediately by the small unglamorous turnstile in the corner of the venue, where a pleasant lady takes £12 from my card. I’m early, it’s eerily quiet, it feels like an old step 5 or 6 ground at best, humble and aged, hardly anywhere for me to sit. I have a walk around the side of the pitch, a small covered stand with one row of seats runs half the length, the issue is the seats are so low you can hardly see over the fence when sat. Further down it’s open behind the dugouts, a grassy open end behind the goal with a bar style kiosk set back for anyone who can walk far enough to grab a pint. Opposite side is a collection of cabins, no real vantage points other than standing room only without much cover, the clubhouse has windows onto the pitch, whilst behind the goal to my left there is some seats, a couple of small covered stands with three or four rows of red plastic chairs. It’s quaint, rustic looking, the pitch doesn’t look too bad, nice and wide as the players come out to do some stretches, but my biggest issue is where to place myself tonight, as I deliberate standing with the Alvechurch fans before walking back beneath the covered row of seats and simply standing in front of them to the left of the dugouts. The Game I feel ill-prepared, no media table, no power point, no decent seated vantage that allows me to feel all comfortable and nesh, but there’s plenty of space, a sparse crowd of 311 means I’m not too crammed in. Anstey in red kick down to my right in the first half, Alvechurch in sky blue (which I believe is their changed kit) slightly up hill, the crowd behind the goal to my left are making a racket, the Anstey die-hards have a drum kit and are singing to the tune of a famous Millwall number ‘no one knows us, we don’t care’. It’s honest, brutal, fast paced as both sets go at each other with intensity from the off. The pressing is so hard that anything mistimed looks like GBH, as each foul committed is called out by each others dugouts as worthy as a booking. I count four yellows in the first half alone, three within the opening half hour, it feels feisty but not nasty, just two teams with promotion ambition, understanding the magnitude of the game. Full throttle, the only annoying thing is I can’t sit down and watch it unfold, that and the fact the floodlights are so poor it’s hard to tell who’s who on the far side, but I’m persevering as the initial beginnings of two teams lumping the ball to each other settle down, Manny Ilesanmi skins his marker before taking a dive inside the box, he’s carded for his troubles as the Anstey fans give him a boo each and every time he touches the ball. There’s chances at both ends, Jamey Osborne is a player I’ve long enjoyed, he takes aim from outside the box as I say to myself ‘this is his range’ and his whipping right footed effort is inches from the bottom corner. At the other end Grantham heads wide when he should have found the target, Bastos makes the keeper work but probably should have scored when through, then the deadlock is broken, on the stroke of half time a neat move out left has the ball crossed into Kyle Tomlin. I’m not sure what the defender is doing up there, but he heads home brilliantly inside the opposition box. The Score You feel it’s a little harsh on Alvechurch who have given as good as they have got, two teams testing each other tenaciously but both playing similar in style, defenders who lump it, midfielders who try and play, forwards powerful and aggressive who look to hurt their opponents. I’m expecting the second half to slow down a tad but the pace continues at a frantic rate, its hustle, bustle, bish, bash, bosh, if you take a touch, make sure it’s good, because you only have time (at the most) for two. There’s an hour gone and Anstey are holding their own, defensively they look to have seen off the best of Alvechurch forward Miracle Okafor who is now struggling to bring it under, but a free kick won in opposition territory gives chance from a set play. Jamey Osborne is behind it, he couldn’t, could he? I don’t even consider it to be a shooting position, but as Osborne runs towards the ball, I’m the least surprised person in the ground as it curls beautifully home, all of 35 yards as the former Solihull star runs away in scoring celebration. That gives new found hope to the visiting army who now feel they can win it, and they rally again, this time a long pumped ball forward towards Okafor is cut out by the keeper, his sliding challenge takes out the opposition striker who's on the floor in agony but the ball lands to the feet of Callum Sullivan who's only just in enemy territory, like Osborne he’s a brilliant midfielder and he has the ability to loft back the ball from range into the empty net, and give the away side the lead. That you feel should be it, but late on Anstey use their subs wisely, as big Luis Rose comes on for tiring debutant Kevin Bastos in attack, Alvechurch Manager Kyle Storer immediately shouting ‘set plays’ telling his left full back Jack Kelly ‘you know who you’ve got’… But with five minutes left, a late corner is crossed to Rose, who heads home a leveller.... An obvious danger from said set plays which will no doubt be reminded in the changing rooms to Kelly after. The Stars Both teams gave their all and there wasn’t a player on the pitch who didn’t do themselves some Tuesday night justice on their calorie burning regime, but standing out in quality there were some just a cut above the rest, Jamey Osborne is now 34, has played hundreds of games at much higher levels than this, he looks like he could play hundreds more, even if I did notice late on his hands on his knees whilst slumped down in taking a well-deserved breather following a frantic football fest. Osborne is a lovely footballer with a decent dig from outside the box, he combines well with Callum Sullivan who’s another lovely midfielder, smaller, nimbler, but equally as productive on the ball. Further stand outs in attack, both Miracle Okafor and Manny Ilesanmi will no doubt cause plenty more opponent’s problems this season, pacey and powerful, whilst Jessy Bavanganga was decent at the back, a big solid defender, he made one important block which looked destined for the goal, and paired with Archie Crowther well in the heart of the back four. Meanwhile, Anstey had plenty about them too, all game and all gritty I liked the look in particular of left sider Oscar Tonge who had a good battle with Alvechurch right back Harry Reilly, whilst both Courey Grantham and Tendai Chitiza worked hard in attack, Brad Clarkson doing well for them in goal, it was certainly a battler’s track, not much quality on show, but plenty of aggression from them, against lesser opposition I assume they have players like Jordan Annable and Harry Bestwick, who are much neater on the ball then they got to show tonight. The Verdict In all it was a fair result, and the way both approached the game from the outset, it would have been tough had anyone lost. The point slips Alvechurch down to fourth in the table, whilst ‘big spending’ Real Bedford are top, I don’t see them troubling a team backed by Facebook founders who have ambition to one day reach the Premier League, but I do fancy the Church to be playoff contenders, as I do Anstey who have every bit the chance of going up again. As for coming back here? Well if they sort the lights out, and provide some better side on seating arrangements, I may pop over in the future, but it’s not one of my favourite places to watch football, had it been busier, I might have struggled myself to get a good spot, which is a shame, as there's some decent players to come see here and if the club wants to be playing higher (which it does), it still has a lot to do in improving the fan experience that many other teams in step 3 currently do much better. The Teams Ansey Nomads: Brad Clarkson, Kyle Tomlin, Darien Wauchope (Tristen Thomas 75), Jordan Annable, Lewis Gibbens, Tobias Liversidge (Rubyn Gill 57), Kevin Bastos (Luis Rose 70), Henry Bestwick, Courey Grantham (Harvey Kirby-Moore 65), Tendai Chitiza, Oscar Tonge. Alvechurch: Redman Evans, Harry Reilly, Jack Kelly, Jamey Osborne, Archie Crowther, Sam Perry, Miracle Okafor, Callum Sullivan (Jonny Ngandu 77), Kieran Wakefield, Jessy Bavanganga, Manny Ilesanmi (Nick Clayton-Phillips 46). 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 22nd September 2026, Cropston Roads, Anstey (att 311).

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Watford (Women’s Super League 2) I’ve got an agreement with the wife. If I work Sundays, a proportion of the money I make goes to her and is (I’m told) put towards our weeks shopping. So with that in mind, and with the City Ground just a couple of miles away from my house, I see covering Nottingham Forest’s first home match of the season against Watford, as a bit of easy, extra shopping money for our household. I was here for the Forest women’s last match of last season, a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Southampton which left the Reds seventh in the WSL2 table, their first campaign at the level for some years, that underwhelming outcome however left Manager Carly Davies leaving, replaced by one of the clubs own, Tom Mallinson, the man to replace Davies as Head Coach, is one slightly left field, with no previous experience in women’s football, he has been at Forest for over 20 years though and most recently was in charge of the men’s under eighteens. Watford gained promotion to the WSL2 in the summer after winning the third-tier National League South, they opened up their campaign with a scoreless draw against Burnley, whilst Forest drew at Ipswich 1-1, both teams are looking for their first win of the campaign. It’s 1pm, kick off is 2pm, I live five minutes down the road so hop in the car and trot down the Melton Road before pulling up on Musters Road which has just about enough parking available, it’s a ten minute or so walk as I pass Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and cross over the Radcliffe Road, sun out, partially cloudy, it’s twenty degrees today but I’m in a hoody and jeans, as I know it can get pretty chilly in the low roofed shaded Peter Taylor Main Stand where I’ll be sat. The Venue It’s relatively quiet until I turn into the Pavilion Road and walk into the club shop where there's a few fans in red, I have not been inside for a while and they are always changing things about here, more floor space than ever it’s full of home shirts, away shirts, third shirts, training shirts, retro shirts, a few scarves and hats, and not much else. Nothing for me (I refuse to pay modern football prices) after a short browse, I’m outside and walking towards the turnstiles passing the dwellers with backpacks who haven’t yet got their phone tickets ready. I’m hoping to make it without distraction but am stopped for a quick scan by a steward ahead of entrance, then it’s up to my seat, right on half way, next to the press benches where there’s a couple of people sat already, two independent analysts, a girl who tweets for Forest next to the fella who writes the match report, a couple of commentators, but not much else, no hierarchy from TalkSport or the BBC in attendance. Inside the whole ground in fact is quiet today, maybe not enough people know the game is even on, the first of the season of course, a thousand or so filling the Main Stand (which probably holds 5,000 plus alone) with all other stands empty, Trent End on the left, Brian Clough Stand straight ahead, the recently named John Robertson Stand (Bridgford End) to my right, it’s all very red, although the low roof on this 60 year old stand means I can’t see above the first tiers (which I presume are empty), luckily however I get to see plenty of the flat wide green playing surface down below. The Game I’m joined a few seats down by the Watford analyst who’s miked up ahead of kick off instructing what he sees to the dugouts, both teams come out to a bit of Mull of Kintyre and both huddle ahead of start, Forest all red, Watford in yellow and black, the game underway feels as slow and lethargic as it did the previous day between Boston and Wealdstone, the women’s game is a much slower tempo than the men’s which makes it often much easier to follow. Forest have a lot of the ball, but Watford are the ones doing more with it, they have a corner after 13 minutes played, swung in from the left, right under the crossbar, and Zara Bailey gets a touch, the loudest shout of gooooooooooalll is heard to my right? I’m not even sure where it’s from? Some fella in a Forest shirt is sat with his little girl with not much else around, surely it’s not him? Is it? Forest continue to press and Watford sit in, a relatively high line is sometimes exposed down the right but they look more than capable of containing the Reds threat, and as they push forward themselves, Perry whips a wonderful ball in, Saoirse Noonan is left unmarked inside the area, she flicks her head and the ball nestles home, the Brazilian commentator is at it again… Gooooooooaaaaalllll is the shout! I’ve looked to my right and noticed that it’s the Watford analyst who’s beside himself punching the air. I’ve never heard anything like it! Everyone is looking around as he puts his hands up in the air and apologises for his excitable outburst. 2-0 to the away side who have had two shots, the Forest players go in for another huddle ahead of kicking off for a third time already in just 20 minutes, I’m thinking of the new Reds manager, who stands alone in a rather quirky grey hoody, baggy chinos, white trainers vibe, he looks like a feminine Oliver Glasner, which I suppose is the look that he probably wanted to go for? Different, yes, stylish? Whatever... Not a great home debut for him? The Score Having watched the girls shooting in the warmup I’m not convinced that Forest have the firepower to get back into this game but in cruise control, on the stroke of half time, the Watford goalkeeper plays a goal kick straight to a defender on the edge of her own box, Reds midfielder Alana Murphy nips in to steal the ball and fires low, a hugely significant goal to give Forest hope. The Reds rally in the second half uplifted from that moment of fortune before the break and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah who I think is Forest’s best forward player, is suddenly free inside the area, it’s a tight angle cutting in from the left but she’s one on one, nobody near her, she takes aim, shoots low, scores, and Forest are level after 54 minutes played. There looks to only be one winner, Watford have probably had 10% ball possession all game, their only two shots seem a long time ago, Forest have had all the ball and territorial advantage, and now they keep piling on the pressure with shot after shot. Boye-Hlorkah tries again from the angle, this time it’s saved, Rachel Rowe spots Middleton-Patel off her line and tries her luck from range, agonisingly wide, a goal mouth scramble has Lucy Lion heroically block two goal bound shots from inside the area, Watford are feeling the pressure, are using every stoppage to their advantage which slows the game down, they’ve used all five subs but their players keep falling injured, each time hindered by a minute on the side line following treatment, there’s seven added and Forest are still at it, they have been brilliant since letting in two soft goals, suddenly a foul on the edge of the area gives one last big chance, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah stands over the free kick, right footed, she steps up, curls over the wall, over the desperate diving keeper, but crashing the ball against the bar, Watford survive, it’s a point they’ll be happy with, despite at one point having somehow had two goal advantage. The Stars ‘Chaney’ as she’s known was Forest’s best attacking outlet, cutting in off the left wearing number eight, Boye-Hlorkah is a technical footballer who operates well in the final third. Alana Murphy is another in midfield who I rate highly, the twenty year old Australian international always puts a shift in but does so with quality in possession, nothing beyond her capabilities, simple progressive football and a good attitude to win the ball back. I think Forest do lack creative spark, perhaps a goalscorer short of being a top team in the division but I do like them from a defensive perspective which is alarming as they conceded two goals from Watford’s only chances today, Emily Batty usually solid in goal, Cerys Brown is very good going forward from right back and in particular had a good first half, Abbie Lafayette is a decent technical operator at left back, whilst I’m liking the size and stature of the leggy Reds new centre half signing Hannah Coan who is previously of Blackburn and Portsmouth. Coan partnered Swede Ebba Hed and skipper Georgia Brougham who is very neat and composed on the football often starting plays from the back. For Watford, they attacked sparsely but in Irish duo Saoirse Noonan and Aoibheann Clancy they had two good players in the final third, in defence Lucy Lyon and Hannah Greenwood in particular gave their all. The Verdict Both sides are unbeaten, but both await their first wins, I don’t see many differences in the Forest from last season, and I doubt without investment that they’ll finish any higher than middle of the pack again, whilst Watford will be plucky, hard to beat as proven, middle to lower end is where I have them held, the twelve team table is currently topped by Sunderland, Leicester and Newcastle, who are all probably a level above, I doubt either Forest or Watford will trouble those at the top, their own eyes should be more focussed on staying above those below. The Teams Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Cerys Brown (Codie Thomas 89), Georgia Brougham, Hannah Coan, Ebba Hed (Ilona Walta 79), Abbie Lafayette, Aimee Claypole (Tove Almqvist 79), Alana Murphy, Freya Thomas, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Tuva Espas (Rachel Rowe 61). Watford: Safia Middleton-Patel, Hannah Greenwood, Lucy Lyon, Zara Bailey (Tianna Teisar 60), Karin Muya (Eva Gray 65), Anna Filbey (Megan Chandler 60), Aoibheann Clancy (Eden Skyers 40), Ellie Noble, Madison Perry, Saoirse Noonan (Phoebe Pool 66), Poppy Wilson. 2:00pm Kick Off. Sunday 13th September 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 1,178).

Boston United 1-3 Wealdstone (National League) It’s been a while, the last day of last season saw Boston beat Hartlepool United 3-1 and I was at the Jakemans Stadium that spring afternoon in April but haven’t been back since, a ground I have frequented no less than 34 times in the last four or five years (according to my Futbology app) is one that I’m returning to after almost five months away, all of six games into this latest National League campaign. It’s been a tricky testing time for both teams of late, losing my favourite former Pilgrim Frankie Maguire in the summer has left Boston short in creative quality but they still have the goal threat of Lenell John-Lewis, Tom Cursons and Ken Aboh, just five in the league between them so far has Boston dangling disappointingly in fifteenth, eight scored in total, eight conceded, their last league match a commendable 2-2 draw at Tamworth (although they did play West Brom U21’s in the National League Cup in midweek which they lost 1-0) they are without a win in four and have won two, drew one and lost three in their six league matches so far. A little worse off are Wealdstone, two points behind Boston and below in twentieth place, they have seen star asset Micah Obiero leave for Carlisle in midweek and like Boston are lacking in forward quality, seven scored, eleven conceded in their six games so far, they were thumped 4-1 at home to ten men Kidderminster on Saturday which is about as embarrassing as it can get, although they did beat Stoke under 21’s in the following match 6-0 (National League Cup), a good reaction to perhaps having a kick up the backside from their Manager Gary Waddock. It’s a sunny morning, but as I leave the house at midday the rain has started, so I grab my waterproof anorak and run to the car with a flask of tea, I’ve chosen to bypass Grantham and its usual Saturday town centre traffic today by nipping on the A1 and back across the A52 where the roads are calm towards the Lincolnshire eastern coast. The Venue It’s supposed to be the grand opening of the clubs south stand today. For all the years I’ve been watching Boston play at the modern built Jakemans Stadium there’s been just three sides to the ground, but last season work started on completing the fourth and last and as I walk towards the venue through the clubs car park my eyes are drawn towards a huge unfinished end, a rather large two or three story club office building with gym and all sorts is still being built. Inside the arena perched from my seat in the press box in my usual spot side on to the action, the actual stand to my right itself is now finished, a small section of seating with primarily standing room the terraced area is roofed and encloses the venue to a completely intimate bowl like surround which accommodates just over 5,000 total, behind and above that new stand is the unfinished build high above, a scoreboard is flashing modern and impressively up on its wall, apparently that got its grand reveal a couple of weeks back in a low key National League Cup game. Everything is going well, bar the Wealdstone players turning up a little late due to an accident on the A1, they are in the building for 2pm, the fans are starting to congregate in the stand below, but suddenly smoke is appearing from behind the new South Stand. It turns out one of the catering girls has burnt some chips, alarms are going off which are drowned out by music played over the tanoy, the guilty catering girl in tears, the Wealdstone fans are vacating the premises, “the fire brigade have been called” says Christian the PA man “it’s ok though, it’s not life threatening”. The stand of 86 visiting supporters is quickly emptied, and the contingency plan has them back stood in their old spots where they would have been last season, maybe the grand opening will have to wait another week or two? The Game It feels very low key today, Wealdstone don’t bring the biggest away support with them so even on arrival this afternoon I easily found my usual parking space with not too many cars around, the stadium is under half full, lack of decent form and underwhelming opposition perhaps not helping with numbers? And the game starts in the same sombre mood, slow tempo, almost walking pace, Boston make a couple of passes before going long and losing possession, Wealdstone twat around with it in their eighteen yard box before struggling to get the ball over half way, it’s poor from both sides, and you can see why they have both struggled in recent weeks, but boy would some intensity at least, not go amiss. From a Boston perspective you feel Wealdstone are their for the taking, the scout next to me doesn’t rate their goalkeeper, almost famous last words, something like Brian Clough would say when watching 1970's Poland, “He’s a clown” or similar is relayed, his poor pass out from defence is capitalised on in the Botson midfield, Holohan floats up and defender Grimes still up from a corner is inside the opposition box, he leaps up and beats the keeper Baptiste to the ball which bobbles across the line, a soft one to start, entirely in keeping with the proceedings beginnings. Without being brilliant, Boston are better than Wealdstone, Ken Aboh is looking dangerous down the right, he has the ball in the back of the net but it’s rightly called offside, Lennon Wheeldon is looking to get on the ball in the number ten position whilst on the left, Ollie Bostock looks a tidy loan signing from West Bromwich Albion, he’s already played seven Championship games for the Baggies. The tempo however never rises from the hosts and that lets the opposition back in, they have a spell of pressure and go close with a couple of near misses, before a cross from the right finds Dylan Kadji, the midfielder who has been one of the Stones shining lights, sticks out a boot, and the ball bounces home. The Score Boston bounce back with more pressure towards the end of the first half, some heroic defending keeps out Lenell John-Lewis, some heroic keeping by Baptiste keeps out Ken Aboh, his brilliant looping header tipped athletically over the bar. A single change is made by Gary Waddock at half time as Boston keep faith in their 3-4-3 but the game lies still as flat as a pancake can lie, that is until a hopeful ball pumped in by George Gent is handled in the area by Kyle Smith, it looked harsh with Smith’s hands by his side, apparently flicking his elbow, as Lenell John-Lewis steps up, the scout next to me who doesn’t rate the Wealdstone keeper, suddenly changes his tune, “he’ll probably save this” he says, and I agree, not one for fancying John-Lewis from the spot, the striker steps up, aims left, the keeper guesses right and that moment is one that changes the dynamic of the game. Just a couple of minutes tick before Sai Sachdev is dispossessed inside the Boston half, two passes later, the ball is in the back of the net, Olufema Olomola having an easy tap in on 65, and as the home side go marching forward desperately for a leveller, less than a minute from falling behind they are picked off again, Harris doing brilliantly to carry forward under pressure, he crosses to Wells-Morrison who slides in Mundle-Smith on the overlap and his deflected effort finds Louis Chadwick’s top corner and a yelp of Cockney support turns to cheers of arms aloft as Wealdstone all but wrap up, somehow, all three much needed points. There’s still a bit to go, and credit Boston who don’t give up, they actually begin to have their best spell of the game as John-Lewis hits a post and Tyrell Agyemang crashes the crossbar but once the storm is over, the last ten has much calmer waters ahead, Wealdstone eventually cruising to an away win, the game ending as flat and as dampened as it started under the drizzle and chip fat smoke in the skies. The Stars For long periods I thought Boston were the better team and had they attempted to get out of first gear for more than ten minutes after conceding the third goal it might have been a different story? On first watch I liked the efforts of Gavan Holohan and Terrell Agyemang (a former Wealdstone player) in the Pilgrims midfield, they have both signed this summer, Agyemang in particular very quick footed, whilst left sider Oliver Bostock, just nineteen years old and on loan from West Bromwich Albion, he grew in the game and improved on a quiet start before being taken off. Positive down the flank. On loan from Sheffield United I thought Sai Sachdev looked athletic at right wing back, rumour is he's better going forward than he is at defending, whilst on the left side of defence, Barnsley loanee Georgie Gent possessed a bit of a wand of a left boot, he looked decent on debut. Best player though? Ken Aboh, he drives the ball forward and always looks a goal threat, we came to the conclusion that he needs more of a challenge, on loan from Norwich City, he needs to be now tested in League One, at worst League Two. As for Wealdstone, let's not forget they won the game and it was deserved in the end for simply taking their chances, they defensively still concern me but in Aidan Francis-Clarke they have a 22-year-old centre half who was at Braintree last year, who I think will have a long career at this level, strong and quick, he had a good battle with Lenell John-Lewis. In midfield I really liked the leggy looking Dylan Kadji, whilst next to him Jack Wells-Morrison was solid, strong, sensible in possession, in attack despite the sale of Micah Obiero Wealdstone do have some awkward forward threat, Jayden Harris is another leggy player with ability whilst Olufela Olomola will always occupy defenders, late on Wilson Waweru offered some more awkward looking large legged presence, the 6ft1in Kenyan striker having signed from Cobh Ramblers in Ireland this summer. Man of the match, well that goes to my scout friend's favourite goalkeeper Dante Baptiste, who we debated before, during, and after the match was played, yes, he possibly isn't the most intimidating, looks vulnerable from crosses and perhaps a liability due to the way he plays out from the back, we ended up calling him a frustrated midfielder, often wanting to get involved when perhaps he doesn't need to, but on a couple of occasions he made fabulous stops, one from a header in particular, and one decent (if not brilliant) penalty save, his big moments in the end the difference, in helping Wealdstone win on the road. The Verdict My immediate concern before the game was that having watched clips of Wealdstone well beaten at home by ten men Kidderminster last week, is this a side that could be going down this season? Three points and an away win later, I should be feeling that perhaps not, but am I convinced? I didn't think Boston were great, they missed plenty of chances, Wealdstone were just as average, but the difference, they scored all three. I still think the Stones will struggle and whilst I think that Boston might too, the differences in budget, in recruitment, in perhaps how much time their existing Managers get, will be deciding factors in who survives against who does not? Having let a few decent players go I think this season will be a struggle for the Pilgrims, who I predict won't be troubling the top ten, but they should have enough in the tank to survive the dogfight, whilst Wealdstone will need every point they can get, a side with less resources than most, might find things to be a continued struggle, even despite this three points. The Teams Boston United: Louis Chadwick, Sai Sachdev, Jake Rooney, Jamie Grimes, Georgie Gent, Ken Aboh (Connor McBride 87), Terrell Agyemang, Gavan Holohan, Ollie Bostock (Jack Holmes 77), Lennon Wheeldon (Tom Cursons 70), Lenell John-Lewis. Wealdstone: Dante Baptiste, Aidan Francis-Clarke, Connor McAvoy, Jaydn Mundle-Smith, Kyle Smith, Jack Wells-Morrison, Aaron Henry, Joe Newton (Jack Cook 46), Jayden Harris, Dylan Kadji (Dan Chesters 73), Olufela Olomola (Wilson Waweru 73). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 12th September 2026, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 1,612).

Newark Town 2-4 Sherwood Colliery (United Counties Premier Division North) Following Tom Hayes MP’s letter to Andy Burnham I’ve been mumbling about the 3pm TV blackout on my socials and as an avid shouter of lower level and non-league football you might think I’m dead against it, but I’m all for it. Dated, it has been manipulated around for too long and fans are suffering having to watch games on Friday nights and Saturday mornings all because the TV companies can’t cash in at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon when football is supposed to be played. I was at Leek Town last night, a seventh division regional game of football played in front of nearly 500 fans, a few didn’t go to Leek because they were instead watching Stoke City at home to Norwich in the Championship, that game might even have been available on Sky’s red button to watch on the box, or perhaps illegitimately, if one would care to look hard enough, but the point is, still, 481 people went to watch a non-league football match (with other things going off at the same time and no blackout) and I find that alone incredible. People will always attend these games, because not everyone wants to live life watching TV. Tonight, I’m at Newark Town, members of the United Counties Football League which represents the ninth tier of the football pyramid. Quite a way down for my scouting skills? You ask? but tonight I’m watching my stepson hopefully get game time for Sherwood Colliery who he joined in the summer. The Wood only formed in 2008 and have been around the same level, gaining promotion from this very division which they won in 2024 before immediate relegation from the Northern Premier League Division One East. Last season they finished second but missed out on instantly bouncing back to step 4 so went for a new manager in the summer, former Oxford United defender Jake Wright taking reigns before being shown the door just seven games in, remarkably after an FA Cup win at Boston Town which sets up a first qualifying round home tie with Gainsborough Trinity this weekend. So, it’s an old familiar face in Wayne Savage who’s back in charge, he never really went away I’m told, perhaps a reason why Wright’s tenure never lasted too long? As for Newark, founded in 1868 the modern version is much younger, Town have had teams playing under the Newark banner since the seventies following the original outfit dissolving after World War II but it wasn’t until 1994 when the club reformed properly and since, it has been a slow climb to respectable levels for a community of over 30,000 inhabitants. The Venue Newark Town only moved into their new plush modern new home at the YMCA Sports Village in 2020, winning the 2021/22 Central Midlands Premier Division North and gaining promotion from the UCL First Division in 2024, it has already seen success but last season the club failed in their bid for promotion after suffering playoff heartbreak at the hands of Grantham Town. It’s just an half hour commute from my home along the A46 where a new roundabout has been put in. The new Middlebeck Way also provides a short cut to the YMCA, a place which I have never previously been to before. I’m through a rather large council estate before turning into Lord Hawke Way where everything feels modern and fresh, I could be in Amsterdam or Copenhagen, it's very North European with flat roofs and balconies, I enter what feels like an elite purpose built sports centre in somewhere sophisticated like Dubai, the YMCA has a gym, a climbing centre, a dance studio, it has a squash club, an athletics track with actual people running around it, a couple of 4g football pitches, one of which I cannot find the entrance for. I’m parked up and walk aimlessly towards the caged walls of a pitch where some lads are playing five a side before noticing a couple get out of a small hatchback, the young fella is wearing a pale blue Newark Town scarf, so I follow them, a few steps back, as they walk towards signposts of ‘Main Entrance’ before getting to a turnstile in a hidden corner between rather large buildings with YMCA written on ones side, call it a turnstile? More a gated entrance with woman in hi vis taking card payments at £9 a pop. “Want a go on golden goal” she says with a smile on her face? “Do I f*ck”. Inside I’m impressed that it has a couple of stands, one on the far side is where I’m basing myself tonight, five seats high, opposite the dugouts which sit in front of the gym, squash, social hub complex, it’s modern, sleek, stunning really, but soulless, give me dirt and filth and unsafe trip hazards over this clean immaculate 4g cage any day of the week. The Game It’s my first look of the level for a really long time so I’m not entirely sure what to expect, but after the two teams come out to little or any applause, the action is underway as the drizzling sky sprays water on Newark in sky blue, Sherwood in red and white stripes, and it’s the hosts that impress more, controlling the tempo, getting it up to their big bald number nine Ryan Rushen who glides in possession, he looks to have neat feat and is easy on the eye, head back chest out as he runs whilst rolling the ball beneath his studs. Newark are nice, neat, they aren’t bad down the sides, are combative in midfield, defensively they take risks with the offside trap and although Sherwood haven’t yet really started, one mazy dribble by their exciting number eight Kokkinos finds Nathaniel Crofts with defenders arms stood aloft and anyone who knows the former Sheffield, Guiseley, Matlock, Belper, Eastwood and more, forward, will know what happens next. Crofts is a player at the level who knows how to get goals, quick and hungry he comes alive when inside the box and finishes well to put Wood one up within seven minutes. It’s not really a goal that Sherwood deserve as they are second best in most areas during the first half which ends with them (despite less possession and territory) having the better chances to double advantage. I’m really impressed with young Newark Town goalkeeper Haydon McCarthy who’s a big, tall lad, kicks well, is commanding, and I think he has a chance (if he wants it) to play a couple of levels up. The Score As I check the scores from around the leagues at half time I can’t help noticing that the crowd isn’t bad here at all, over 150 officially, remember this is the ninth tier of football in the UK, it’s pissing down with rain, Emmerdale is on, no blackout, and yet still, people want to be here, many alone, sitting near me, happy to sit, watch, and say nothing to anyone. I’m expecting a response by Newark in the second half and we soon get one as Brad McGregor who’s a lively right winger with a bit of technique, gets his shot away, he attempts luck from outside the box and via a deflection gets Newark level, and within ten minutes it looks like Sherwood’s wheels have fallen off completely when Harvey Grice is found in space to finish off a neat move to put the hosts ahead. It’s about right for the night as a fan of Newark shouts at Sherwood’s Jamie York, the midfielder is the quintessential step 5 Jordan Henderson, armband on, shirt tucked in, shorts up high, he shouts and mouths at others before tackling someone and giving the ball away, he’s getting it from the sidelines.. “That’s your fault number seven” the fan thinks he’s had the last laugh. It’s a test of what Sherwood are made of. They look like a decent pub team to me, big strong lads at the back, a couple of tubby fellas in the middle, one who’s tekky but doesn’t want to move up top, a bit of pace in Nat Crofts who feels to me the real difference. Newark are growing in the game, they have a chance to make it three but fluff their lines, but they make a few changes which evidently weakens their shape somewhat, Sherwood are holding tight with their subs, keeping belief in what they have, suddenly the ball breaks kindly for Ethan Wiesztort on 79, he does the rest and the game is back level, out of nothing, but you could say it was coming as the visitors step up their gas. New found belief in the Wood armour as their tradesman like centre half Carter Widdowson shouts ‘ten minutes for another one’ before clattering a forward in an aerial challenge. Sherwood have their pekkers up and Preston crashes a bar from close range, the ball not yet clear falls to Wiesztort inside the area, his shot is handled on the line, penalty is called, Jordan Preston is asked to step up and he sends the keeper the wrong way. I’m clock watching as the brilliant website football web pages tell me there’s 92 minutes played so I start to make a move for the exit to beat the traffic as across the far end late substitute David Olatomide crowns things off, he’s still celebrating his goal as I’m walking out the gates along with a couple of Newark supporters who have already seen enough. The Stars The level is decent and the players on show were certainly all competent, but I wonder if any could do a job in steps 2 or 3? Maybe Newark goalkeeper McCarthy is best bet, a big lad with confidence who knows how to work his box, I’m no expert on keepers but I like what I saw and he kicked confidently which is a big plus if he’s to have any chance at playing higher. I also liked Charles Opoku, a busy midfielder in the centre of the park, whilst Brad McGregor shown some nice touches out right, Harvey Grice in midfield wearing eight is a player that has played higher and is one who looks to get forward adding goals to his name, not scoring enough is their striker Ryan Rushen who has neat feet and awkward guile in his movement, his link up play commendable, but only one goal this season (and three yellow cards) I’ll reserve judgement until stats are more favourable. As for Sherwood, they have a few of those nasty tattoo type gym body footballers who probably prefer it when their backs are up against the wall, Carter Widdowson impressed at centre half, not the biggest, but he won’t be far off being the bravest, Nick Hood next to him taller and leaner but doing equally basic in defensive duty. I wasn’t so impressed with the full backs (of either team) but Ferdinand Bartley, who’s usually a centre half, did ok in his ungainly ways, certainly offers athleticism in the role and prone to an error at centre half, might be best played a little further away from trouble? He did well at right back after joining the game as a first half sub on the half hour. Going forward, whilst Jamie York and Harry Bircumshaw offer midfield protection, Ronnie Kokkinos who they recently signed from Mansfield provides the explosion, forward running from midfield he has great feet and can certainly beat a man, just lacking that bit of end product but if he can find it, could be a footballer not to be ruled out for bigger and better things of levels above. In attack, Sherwood have the brother of Gainsborough Trinity striker Fraser Preston, very similar in stature (and (lack of) mobility) Jordan will play against his sibling on Saturday in the FA Cup to provide yet another great story-line for this wonderful timeless competition, he’ll have to do better than he did tonight though if he wants to out do his bro who's a very good player himself. Nathaniel Crofts was the one I really liked in the attacking third, coming alive inside the box, predatory, he could have had three, now 29 he’s past his prime but for the level, he’ll always get you goals. One to watch? David Olatomide is a big unit who came off the bench, a young lad who they signed from Stapleford Town, who scored a lot of goals for his previous club, stay posted to see how he progresses. The Verdict 155 football thoroughbreds stood and sat watching in the rain a game between two local teams who weren’t even around when I was playing across the local levels in the mid 90s. Would the 3pm blackout really stop mums and dads watching their sons? Stop scouts and groundhoppers going to games? Stop die hard locals who love their local clubs? Will it eck. Football is here for life, and we all want to enjoy it live, up close to the action where we can hear every word. The United Counties League is a relatively new one on me, in my day, they played this level in the Central Midlands League, it’s all a bit confusing as the pyramid flattens down but one thing for sure, the clubs at this level are still serious entities, still with focus on bigger and better things, and for these two clubs, bigger and better will certainly one day come. Sherwood like Newark have the facilities and drive to progress, so don’t be surprised if at least one of these clubs next season, might even be playing a level higher? The Teams Newark Town: Haydon McCarthy, Sam Greenwood (Pierce Hudson 86), Ryley Thompson, Charles Opoku, Luke Anderson, Lewis Smalley, Brad McGregor, Harvey Grice (Alex Hales 75), Ryan Rushen, Harry Alcock (Josh Barrett 66), Luke White (Harry Molice 83). Sherwood Colliery: Harrison Leech, Jacob Barrass (Ferdinand Bartley 30), Joshua Egginton, Harry Bircumshaw, Carter Widdowson, Nicholas Hood, Jamie York, Ronnie Kokkinos (Kyle Coke 90), Jordan Preston (David Olatomide 90), Ethan Wiesztort (Oliver Lobley 90), Nathaniel Crofts (Destiny Wognin 90). 7:4pm Kick Off. Wednesday 2nd September 2026, YMCA Sports Village, Newark (att 155).

Swindon Supermarine 3-1 Winslow United (FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay) I’ve always been fascinated by the name the Swindon Supermarine. The club originates from a merger between Swindon Athletic and Supermarine FC in 1992, before that the Marine founded their football arm in 1946 as Vickers Armstrong which was a social club associated with the Supermarine Aircraft company which made planes during the second world war, in 1983 the club decided to adopt the name Supermarine and I suppose the rest is history. These days of the Southern League South Division, they spent five seasons between 2007 and 2012 and seven years between 2018 and 2025 at step three and are top of the table this season so far in step 4 (English football’s eighth tier) with four wins from four in the league. Winslow United are from Buckinghamshire, nicknamed the Ploughmen they are 135 years old and play in the Southern League Central Division One, their highest ever run on the ladder, having earned promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League last season. Cup history has been sparse from Winslow who entered the FA Cup for the first time in 2018 this is the furthest they have ever got having beaten Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Longlevens on penalties after a replay. On Saturday they drew 0-0 with Swindon who have had plenty of cup success since the start of the Millennium, their best efforts in 2010/11 reaching the second round before being beaten narrowly at Colchester United, they have seen off Tuffley Rovers and Didcot Town so far ahead of their weekend draw with Winslow. Winner gets to host Weymouth in the second qualifying round, a good two-and-a-half-hour drive is Swindon from my home in Nottingham, so I set off at 3pm as to not get caught in the Monday evening traffic, although I’m not entirely expecting a huge gate at the Imagine Cruising Stadium tonight. The Venue I’m down the M1, A43, M40 back on the A43 past Oxford and then the A420 before bouncing along some country roads ahead of final destination. The Hunts Copse ground is in the Northern part of town next to South Marston Industrial Estate which used to be an old airfield, South Marston Masters, Stirling Bombers and Spitfires all at one time made near here. These days it’s home to Amazon and DHL and the adjacent sports club is a sports hub of sorts, rugby, bowling, indoor shooting, outdoor model car racing, and of course football, it’s leafy, rural, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere as I park up in the resort like complex around 6:30pm at the same time as a lot of the home teams players arrive. The Imagine Cruising Stadium (known by its current sponsor) is back lined by huge fir trees, I’m looking for the entrance as I’m directed by the steward towards the hidden turnstiles which are behind the club house and at the side of the model racing track which has a couple of cars buzzing around. It’s £10 to get in as I enter at the side of the pitch, a wide and fluffy looking aged surface the venue is small in the fact it only has a couple of roofed areas, to my right two separate seated stands no more than four or five rows high some with damaged seats off their hinges, opposite is an open end with changing facilities and two concrete dugouts, behind that to the left a small standing platform with roof, to the left and right ends which are pretty open, but I can’t help noticing a huge inflatable marquee type building behind the goal, apparently it has an all-weather pitch inside and gym. It’s a venue that has seen better days, and it’s a venue annoying me as my EE signalled mobile phone has hardly no signal at all, I’m walking around the perimeter trying to get some service and find two spots, behind the dugout in the cold, or by the corner flag, in the cold, I won’t be sitting down tonight. The Game I’m in a bad mood, the game has kicked off and I’m still trying to find a suitable spot to watch it as I head towards the corner flag and perch myself over the barrier which seems a distance from the action as all the early play is over the far end. The pitch is set back from the perimeter, plenty of space around it, most of the fans prefer to be stood up in the open end than sat down where the view is even further back. It’s a full throttle start and suddenly Winslow in pink are in their opponent’s box, a ball bouncing around the area falls to Abu Khan who volleys home and gives the away side the lead. There’s a few travelling fans who celebrate, no more than 30 but their joy is cut short as Swindon Supermarine in their white and blue Reading Royal hoops go up the other end and win a corner. Smart play by the taker Cheldon Valere who drives a short low cross to the front post where Brad Hooper is on hand to smash home and level. A training ground goal that any set-piece coach would be proud of. The slight framed Valere is a highly talented young teenager on the right wing, tricky and game he causes plenty of problems for the visitors but it's a bulkier blonde midfielder Zach Rugman making more of the difference, he puts a foot in and looks to deliver balls into the box, one of which finds centre forward Dan Warre who emphatically volleys home a second, some goal, you wait all weekend for some net bulging action, suddenly three come at once. The Score It’s a deserved lead for Supermarine at half time, they have most of the play and impress with solid no frills defending, some tenacious midfield ball winning and some speedy wide play, Winslow on the break look dangerous but don’t really get the rub of the green, Ty Deacon is isolated up front, Lynton Cross looks to be an outlet, wearing number ten with pace and physique, but every time he carries the ball forward, he’s often isolated, and eventually dispossessed. One player who impresses me in the first half with his defending, impresses in the second with his delivery, left back Tawana Changa is an English Colleges FA International, he is physical and no nonsense, he swings in a lovely left footed cross which is met by the late running Brad Hooper again, the number eight heads home downwards and grabs a second of the game, a goal which is a killer blow for Winslow and is one scored on 53 which looks to have already put the tie to bed. There’s plenty to go and the visitors don’t give up, but their attacking threat is limited, in fact their best player in possession is arguably their goalkeeper Jake Strong who has one of the best right foots I’ve ever seen. His kicking is ridiculously long and straight, he reaches the opposition box from his own area with nothing more than a soft punch, I can’t help watching his simple looking technique, the Swindon secretary mentions that Winslow’s two strengths on Saturday came from corners and goal kicks, I think everyone around me is impressed with how clean and how far this keeper can kick the ball. There’s banter from the side line as Strong tries on a couple of occasions to chip balls across to his full backs, he’s not so good at those intricate passes and a couple go out of play, to one fans delight, Strong is now in full conversation with a Swindon supporter on the side who's having a go about his kicking, whilst the game continues at the other end Strong is chirping back, as he gets the ball played to him, he then pumps a 70 yard cross field pass perfectly to his winger. “How about that one fella” says Strong. “you cahnt” he follows, in a southern accent. Despite Winslow’s late rally the game stales towards inevitable ending, it’s been a decent performance by Swindon who are top of their league for a reason, they have some good bloody players, and I’m sure they’ll give Weymouth a tough time in the next round too. One bonus for me? I’m stood by the corner flag which is nearest exit to the car park behind the goal, there’s only 280 in tonight but I’m first out through the doors, straight into the car and out before the players have finished shaking hands, on my way back towards Oxford and my home in the north. The Stars Brad Hooper impressed with two well taken goals the midfielder got forward and was allowed to do so because Zach Rugman next to him played the destroyer, tackling, heading, scrapping, doing the ugly stuff and breaking things up as an enforcer. Out wide their young winger Cheldon Valere had a really good game and looks to have a promising career ahead of him whilst in attack Dan Warre took his goal brilliantly, and worked very hard for the team. I really like Miles Ferguson at centre half a good sized figure with his dyed blonde hair who was calm and collected both on and off the ball, whilst left back Tawana Changa didn’t always get his delivery spot on, he had one shot taken that want out for a throw-in, but one-v-one defending was a particular forte he enjoyed. As for Winslow, Lynton Cross perhaps the best of an average bunch wearing ten, Abu Khan worked hard wide in midfield, I expected more from lone front man Ty Deacon who I had previously watched at Stratford Town, he picked up a booking and was subbed before big defender Ethan Ferguson ended the match in attack, the star of United’s show, no question the goalkeeper Jake Strong, who I might be tempted by if I was an NFL team and looking for a kicker. The Verdict Signal struggles aside it’s a ground that has a bit of old charm and character but it’s not one that instantly warms the heart and I doubt I’ll be back anytime soon (note to myself to perhaps give this a miss if I ever do read this back). A little isolated is the Supermarine Sports Club (from anywhere including Swindonites) and with the pitch set back and seating limited, you don’t get that intimate homely feeling of being on top of the action, everything feels so far away. As for the team itself, they are a good outfit, well organised with players who I feel are better than step four, and I highly believe upon first watch, that they should finish the season with some silverware that leads to promotion. They won’t win the FA Cup, but why not a little run that will put some more money into the Marine bank? Winslow will head home heads held high, after taking on a top team over two legs and doing very well against them, in the end that little bit of quality that Swindon have, is what was needed to edge them through. The Teams Swindon Supermarine: Joel Halliday, Sam Turl, Tawana Changa, Ollie Case, Miles Ferguson, Zach Rugman, Cheldon Valere (Lucas Wilkinson 85), Brad Hooper (Dayo Sonoiki 87), Dan Warre (Jordan Annear 83), Joe Shepherd, Gabe Reivers (Jamie Edge 81). Winslow United: Jake Strong, Jack Smith, Jack Rowe (Levi Nicholson 54), Ethan Flannagan, Ryan Freshwater, Harry Stratton (Ed Odley 85), Scott Valentine (Toby Herdman-Smith 74), George Kerr (Alex Munroe 59), Ty Deacon, Lynton Cross, Abu Khan. 7:4pm Kick Off. Monday 7th September 2026, Hunts Copse, South Marston (att 284).