Sandiacre Town 1, Awsworth Villa 2 (22/10/16 15:00)

This afternoon saw myself and my father travel east, towards the Nottinghamshire border, to see a tier 11 match. Sandiacre Town, a Derbyshire team in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, were entertaining Awsworth Villa in a league game at their St Giles Park ground.

Sandiacre are, at the time of writing, sitting mid-table; a respectable start to the season for the newly promoted club. Awsworth, however, had made an excellent start to the season, being unbeaten in their first 10 league games.

We were impressed with Aston United of the same league, when we saw them a few weeks before, and we were keen to see how these representatives of the league compared.

Arriving at the ground we were struck by the excellent standard of the facilities, which included floodlights and a covered standing area behind one goal, the latter being handy as it sheltered us from the drizzle which unexpectedly fell during the first 20 minutes of the game. The £2 entry fee was good value and included a simple match day progamme.

Awsworth started the game attacking the goal in front of the covered area under which stood. And in the first-half they looked much the better team with their classy looking numbers 7 and 10 causing problems for the Sandiacre defence down the right hand side. Awsworth, although troubled at times by the Sandiacre set pieces, went into the break two goals to the good.

The first goal came from a poor clearance by the Sandiacre 'keeper who could only find an opponent on the left angle of the 18 yard box. A simple ball back across goal left the stocky number 9 a simple tap in from 5 yards.

The second goal came by way of some nice play which resulted in the captain, number 10, getting into the box, left of goal, and firing a shot past the 'keeper's left hand from 8 yards.

Awsworth didn't look as threatening in the second-half and Sandiacre got a deserved goal back. A throw in from the right wing, by the corner flag, found the Sandiacre number 9 on the angle of the six yard box. A spinning shot crashed off 'keeper and post before crossing the line.

Late pressure by Sandiacre could have brought an equaliser but the substitute, number 20, fired over from close range late on.

The 30 spectators were entertained by the game and myself and my father have been left impressed by the standard of football that this league has to offer.

Hilton Harriers Seniors 2, Ashbourne FC 3 (08/10/16 14:30)

As a community club Hilton Harriers must be one of the finest in Derbyshire. It has all the age groups represented, all the way up to a veterans team. Arriving at the Mease Pavilion this afternoon I was heartened to see an overflowing car park, meaning that sporting facilities were in full use, and as I made my way to the Senior's pitch I passed the secondary pitch full of youngsters training and playing small competitive matches.

The game I wanted to see was the Senior's match. This, today, was an unusual one. It was a Derbyshire derby in the Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division. Hilton were hosting Ashbourne FC in this tier eleven match up. Ashbourne are new to this level and they have real ambitions as a club. They currently play their home games at Rocester's ground as a new home is developed for them. It was Ashbourne that I particularly wanted to see as they are a team which I had not yet seen.

This game was never going to be a classic. Both teams started the day in the bottom six of the league, which, for Hilton especially, is a disappointing start to the season.

The match kicked off five minutes late as the Hilton team were a little late coming out of the pavilion, some 130 metres from  pitch itself, and because some fox poo had to be removed from the playing surface.

Hilton started brightly and won of free kick 19 yards from goal after the goalkeeper brought down the onrushing striker. Number 9 struck a fierce dead ball shot at the wall. A deflection took the ball passed the 'keeper.

Ashbourne went into the break 1:2 to the good however. Both goals came about from good play on the right hand side and poor Hilton defending. Both goals were scrambled affairs from close range.

Ashbourne soon extended their advantage in the second half through a disputed penalty. Number 11 was brought down in the box but their were lots of complaints that the defender had taken the ball first. Number 11 himself took the penalty but struck his effort straight at the 'keeper. The 'keeper could only parry the ball straight out into the feet of number 9 who calmly found the net.

Hilton pulled a goal back with the best goal of the game. Number 8, out left, took the ball into the Ashbourne box with great control, and with a great shot, across the 'keeper, found the bottom corner of the net.

30, reasonably well entertained, spectators witnessed an away win. And this now leaves me with 5 tier 10 or 11 Derbyshire teams left to see.

Holbrook St Michaels 3, Aston United 8 (01/10/16 15:00)

This afternoon saw myself and my father head north to watch Holbrook of the Central Midlands Football League (tier 11) entertain Aston United of the Nottinghamshire Senior League (tier 11), in the grounds of Holbrook Hall, in the first round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

The two teams have been having quite different 12 months. Aston were promoted into tier 11 and are, at the time of writing doing well, and sitting fourth in their league. Holbrook however are struggling, having been easily beaten in their six leagues game. This match up would therefore allow a good comparison in the standards of the two respective leagues to be made.

This game, for myself and my father, had additional interest. My father had played against both these teams in the 1960's for Sinfin Utd.

Arriving at the ground we were met by a girl taking the admission money. She struggled with the mathematics of admitting my father and myself, the cost of a raffle ticket (which I didn't check to see if I had won anything) and subtracting these costs from a £10 note. We parked behind the goal close to a classic, mint, sky blue Ford Escort mk1 and wandered around the pitch before choosing to sit close to the half-way line, undercover, in a tiny 'stand' of 10 seats, between the dug-outs, which sheltered us from the autumnal rain.

The game started as expected with Aston quickly racing into a two goal lead and we expected this to be an embarrassing walkover, but as Aston took their foot off the gas Holbrook came back to level the scoreline. Aston picked up the tempo again and, as Holbrok tired and chased the game, ran away with it.

Holbrook looked a poor team with only a powerful number 10 and a flame haired number 7 being standout players. Aston looked an all-round better team but it was their number 9, McCormack, who was man of the match, The 'Saints' could not cope with his runs, crosses and shooting ability. His team mates called him 'Bale'. I guess he is the 'Gareth Bale' of the Nottingham Senior League.

Based on what we saw today, Aston thrashing Holbrook, just as The Saints had been thrashed by the teams in the Central Midlands League, I think it is fair to say that the CMFL is of a comparable standard  to the NSL.

A summary of the goals is summarised:

0:1 - 'Bale', with a jinking run into the box, puts a right foot shot to the 'keepers left
0:2 - A cross from the left (after a corner from the right) finds the centre-half unmarked for a header from 6 yard
1:2 - The number 10 shoots past the 'keepers right hand from 20 yards
2:2 - 'Keeper parries a shot, with the number 8 stabbing in from the left hand side of the goal
2:3 - Number 8 is brought down in the box after a nice bit of control. Number 7 puts a left footed penalty to the 'keepers right
2:4 - An in swinging free kick finds the striker unmarked from 5 yards to convert his free header
2:5 - Number 10 whips in a cross to find 'Bale's' head in front of the 'keeper
3:5 - A great freekick from Holbrook's number 7, from 25 yards, finds the top left hand corner of the goal
3:6 - Good work from 'Bale' on the right provides a chance for number 4 to tap in from 6 yards
3:7 - A whipped in freekick causes the 'keeper to parry the ball straight out to 'Bale' only for 'Bale' to put the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal
3:8 - Defender needlessly throws an elbow at the ball in the box. Number 10 places his penalty kick to the 'keepers left