I took in four games and Kev two, so the Danielle's Flutterbyes charity fund had another £6.00 added to its total. The season proper is still a few weeks away but we're already at £24.00. The £200 target by Xmas shouldn't be out of reach.
Saturday: Game #1
I was at Eastwood CFC (step 5) for their 12 noon PSF with South Normanton Athletic (step 5). The attendance was only 50 or so, but the teams gave us a decent enough game and although one or two hoppers were not overly happy with some aspects of the club (no programme, £5 to get in, no access to the pitchside bar), to me it's the football that counts and that wasn't half bad!
The visitors went ahead on 28, but the Red Badgers were level just three minutes later, academy product CJ Dunkley on hand to prod home at the far stick. South Normanton regained the lead in the 41st minute, just after Eastwood had been reduced to 10 men- Jared Holmes having to spend a few minutes on the naughty step, or to give it it's proper designation, the sin bin. H-T 1-2
New signing Kieran Watson had missed a couple of decent chances in the first period, but he made up for those by grabbing the equaliser on 62, before prodding home what proved to be the winning goal nine minutes before the end. F-T 3-2
Saturday: Game #2
Kev and I were at Rainworth MW (step 6) - they were playing host to Carlton Town (step 4). The visitors looked to have shipped players in by the bus-load! They must have used more than 25 players during the game! So pleased I'm only doing a few notes, as preparing a full match report on this game would be well outside my capabilities! The constant changing of players can sometimes have a detrimental effect on a game, but on this occasion, it didn't really affect the overall quality, which was, it has to be said, quite high. Over 100 were in attendance at Kirklington Road and they saw the home team take the lead just before the break - a free-kick played to Aidan Harris who fired home from 20 yards. H-T 1-0
Carlton were level on 58 - a direct free-kick hammered home by A. Trialist. That man does get a lot of games in pre-season, doesn't he? Rainworth were looking good for the draw, but their 14 man squad couldn't quite hold on against the constantly refreshed Millers, and when Tyler Blake was given too much room in the box with just four to play he finished well to secure the win for Tommy Brookbank's team. F-T 1-2
Sunday: Game #3
I was at Basford Utd watching FC Basford Utd and Kev at Hucknall Rolls watching his Grandson play for Hucknall sports U14 (they beat Attenborough 2-1).
Basford entertained Notts Sunday League outfit Sawley Spartans on the 4G. Had a chat to their gaffer Ruben Clay before the game - he said he thinks he's put a decent squad together, but he might have been having other thoughts just 12 minutes into the game, as they were 2-0 down and looking a bit ragged. A converted penalty brought the hosts back into the game on 23, then three minutes later they were level at 2-2. The home team conceded again 10 minutes later but were back on level terms a minute before the break. H-T 3-3
I have no idea what the Basford manager said to his players at half time, but they went out second half and scored 6 goals without reply, including a spectacular 25+ yarder that gave the Spartans keeper no chance! F-T 9-3
Sunday: Game #4
This was a 6:00pm ko charity game at Eastwood, with AC Wollaton Vets taking on Fanzines UK Vets for a charity for children with limited life expectancy. It turned out that the charity was some £400 better off after the game. 
Hucknall Town striker Adam Nelson netted on his AC debut but was ultimately on the wrong end of a 2-5 defeat. Decent enough game for the Vets teams in very warm conditions - such a pity that there were only half a dozen people in attendance to see their efforts.
