So how did they do?

Kept the fixtures and results flowing all throughout the season, but how did the "local teams in action" get on?

BSP : 24 teams
Mansfield Town - Champions : promoted to FL2

NPP 22 teams
Eastwood Town -  22nd out of 22 : relegated to NP1S
Ilkeston FC -  12th
Matlock Town -  17th
Worksop Town - 9th

NP1S 22 teams
Belper Town - 3rd ( lost in play offs)
Carlton Town - 12th
Hucknall Town - 22nd : relegated to NCELP
Loughborough Dynamo - 16th
Rainworth MW - 14th

MFA 22 teams
Dunkirk 10th

UCL 21 teams
Shepshed Dynamo - 9th

NCELP 22 teams
Arnold Town - 19th : relegated to EMCL ( financial problems)
Heanor Town - 11th
Long Eaton Utd - 12th
Retford Utd - 4th

NCEL1 22 teams
Clipstone Welfare - 11th
Shirebrook Town - 6th
Teversal - 10th

EMCL 19 teams
Basford Utd - Champions : promoted to NCELP
Borrowash Victoria - 4th
Gedling MW - 13th
Graham St Prims - 8th
Greenwood Meadows - 18th
Radcliffe Olympic - 10th
Radford FC - 19th

CMLN 17 teams
AFC Mansfield - 2nd
Clay Cross Town - 3rd
DFS Welbeck Welfare - 17th
Glapwell FC - 9th
Harworth CI - 5th
Ollerton Town - 6th
Sherwood Colliery - 15th
Thoresby CW - 13th

CMLS 16 teams
Blidworth - 6th
Bilborough Pelican - 5th
Calverton MW - 11th
Clifton AW - 4th
Hucknall Town AFC - 15th
Linby CW - 12th
Newark Town - 7th
Nottingham Utd - 14th
Pinxton - 2nd
Real Utd - 8th
South Normanton Athletic - 9th
Southwell City - 10th
Sutton Town AFC - Champions - promoted to EMCL

NSL
Bulwell FC - Champions - entering CMLS season 2013-14

Kimberley MW "A" 3-4 Santos FC

We haven't caught a Notts Amateur Alliance game before, and it will probably be a while before we take in another one!

Played at the Digby Street home of Kimberley MW, a ground that hasn't really changed too much since we last visited a couple or three years ago. 

The first half was hard work to watch, with both teams failing to play anything resembling the beautiful game - and most passes failing to find a team-mate. Santos took the lead with 1 minute of the first half left when their skipper SCOTT BOULTER hit a tame effort from 22 yards out that struck Danny Carter. The deflection totally wrong-footed Welfare keeper Johnny King and the ball rolled slowly into the net. H-T 0-1

We had a chat to "Mr. Kimberley" Danny Staley during the break - he'd been at the Miners' other home, the Stag Ground since 8:30am and was slightly knackered! Kimberley MW's 1st team will be playing at the former home of Kimberley Town from next season, provided all the improvements are completed by the time the season commences. 

The home team drew level on 47 through ROBBIE TONRA - a simple tap in from close range after the ball was played in from the left. TONRA put Welfare ahead from the spot 20 minutes later, after Rhys Beadman was tripped in the box. 

The scores were level with 70 minutes played, Santos no. 5 JAKE CORKHILL hitting a fierce drive from 25 yards that deflected off Tonra before flying past King.  BEADMAN had a simple tap in the restore Welfare's lead seconds later, but DEAN LONGDON restored parity with the goal of the game on 80, the big no. 10 latching onto a superb ball from midfield before running into the area and firing wide of King.

With four scheduled minutes of the game remaining, Santos won a corner on the right. Carl Wilson fired the ball to the far stick where LONDGON was waiting to rise gracefully and power home a header. The Referee announced that there were to be 7 added minutes - not ideal on such a chilly afternoon. Not ideal for Kimberley's Danny Carter either, as he received a straight red card in the 5th minute of the added time for allegedly swearing at the Referee.  F-T 3-4

Not a bad game on the whole, but what surprised us was that roll-on / roll-off subs are part of the NAA game. I personally don't agree with that concept even at youth level, but in men's football it is slightly ludicrous. Carl Wilson was subbed half way through the second half, but came back on later and actually made the winning goal for Santos. 

Admission  -free

No progamme 

Attendance : difficult to tell, but no more than 25 at any one time.

Referee - no details known, but he wasn't the best. Club linesmen ignored, long lectures - a few bad decisions .... must do better!!

One more game to go - Bulwell FC v Keyworth United on Tuesday at Eagle Valley. I'll bet you it's cold there - it always is!!!!!

Linby CW 2-5 Sutton Town AFC

Tuesday 14th My 2013 - CML South Division - kick-off 7:46pm

A "CAR PARK FULL" sign greeted me as I pulled up to the Church Lane ground at 6:10pm - a large crowd was expected according to Linby tweets - and with the car park not especially huge, this was no surprise. Parked a few yards down the road and walked to the ground with Chris Berezai who had parked just a few yards in front of me. Light rain accompanied us, and with little cover at pitch-side, umbrellas were the order of the day.

What was somewhat surprising was that their were no programmes left - surprising that with a large crowd expected only 40 copies were printed.

Kev couldn't make the 6:30pm kick off, so I spent the first half in the company of Sam Hodkin and Rob Waite - until that is that Mr "the66pow" decided to go and take some pictures from around the ground. The pics are most welcome Mr. Waite.

Left to right - Sam Hodkin, yours truly, Michael Banister,  Craig Mitchell

Definite brolly time!!

For the second half I was with Linby defender Michael Banister's dad Dave and Mr. Blidworth Welfare Scott Ward.

Mr. Langton leading out the teams

Sutton were hoping that a three point haul would take them one step closer to the CMLS title. Needing 7 points from their remaining four games, victory was not imperative, but after just 5 minutes they powered ahead, GARY ATKINS sending a delightful lob over Linby keeper Scott Miles. 

Linby fought back and had efforts that struck both posts before Sutton increased their lead on 33. JAMES WHITEHEAD, running through the midfield, controlled the ball well before sending a powerful volley past Miles and into the roof of the net. 

In the 43rd minute, Andy White won a free-kick some 22 yards from goal - Aaron Ryan adjudged  to have fouled the big striker.  Aaron had a chip at Referee Craig Langton and was shown a yellow. He then allegedly called Mr. Langton a c*** and earned a straight red.  NATHAN HOLDSWORTH fired the free-kick low and hard into the back of the Linby net despite Miles getting a hand to the ball.  H-T 0-3

The rain was pouring down by now, and shelter was sought under the eaves of the clubhouse - when is this weather going to improve? 

Linby midfielder ASHLEY WINFIELD hit a stunning 30+ yard piledriver past Sutton keeper Gav Saxby on 53, and Linby, although down to 10 men were looking the better team.  Unfortunately they were undone again on 63 when WHITEHEAD prodded home after Miles had saved the initial shot. 

WHITEHEAD completed an unlikely treble in the 77th minute, slotting home at the far stick. James used to score quite regularly when he played for Eastwood a few years ago - but I can't remember him scoring twice in a game, never mind three times! 

Linby had the last word as far as the scoring goes, BAZ PAYNE tapping in from close range, although the ball hit both posts before crossing the line. F-T 2-5

Admission - complimentary ( thanks Ade!) 

Attendance - rough count 100

Referee Craig Langton.  I'll mark Craig down for not saying hello - apart from that he was his usual competent self....the booking of Linby's Mike Banister was a tad harsh - it was the whole of the Linby back line offering the ironic cheers after a decision went their way - Banno singled out probably as he was the most vocal !!

Calverton MW 0-4 Belper Utd

Not a lot of games to choose from, but we wanted to stay relatively close to home so we could get back in time for the F.A. Cup Final kick off.

What are you doing?

Kick off!

The weather was a bit changeable to say the least! Sunshine and showers, but it was the chill in the breeze that made the afternoon rather uncomfortable - I hate the English summer !!!! 

We have seen Belper Utd a few times this season and know what a decent footballing side they are - but Calverton more than matched them for the first 30 minutes. Then unfortunately, Calverton's right back was dismissed for blocking a certain goal with his hands. Skipper KYLE WADSWORTH put the penalty to Mike Randall's left to give the Derbyshire outfit the lead. 

SHAUN SMITH doubled the visitors lead within 4 minutes of the restart, a superb solo run down the right culminating with the striker firing the ball across Randall and into the far corner. H-T 0-1

Calverton so close!

DANNY RILEY added the United third after 65 minutes play, a simple tap in from close range after the ball was played into the 6 yard box from the right.

Mike Randall dives well to keep out a Belper shot

With the rain starting again, and injury time being played, we were just heading out of the ground to get back to the car when MATT PHILLIPS rifled in Belper's fourth.  

We were warned to get the car out of the car park across the road from the Welfare before 5pm as the gates were to be locked. Apparently the car park is now the property of Taylor Wilson, or whoever is building new homes nearby. Be careful the next time you visit Calverton!! F-T 0-4

Admission £3

Programme £1

Attendance 13½ 

Referee'd by James Shipley - very good performance. Actually the three officials all had good games. James had no option other than to send off the Calvo full back - you could see he didn't want to, but rules is rules, as they say.

Saturday 11th May - local teams still in action!

CMLN
AFC Mansfield 5-0 Ollerton Town
DFS Welbeck Welfare 2-9 Westella Hanson
Glapwell 8-0 Yorkshire Main

CMLS
Calverton MW 0-4 Belper Utd
Real Utd 2-0 Hucknall Town AFC

NSL SENIOR DIVISION
Bilborough Town 2-4 Bulwell FC
Burton Joyce 2-4 Attenborough FC
Keyworth Utd 0-3 Kimberley MW