2.9.06 Linby CW 3-1 Boots Athletic (NSL Senior Division) Adi Ward.

Linby stayed top of the NSL senior division with their fourth straight win of the season. 5 mins,they got off to a perfect start ,Dave Elson's throw was helped on by Kev Macardle to Aaron Ingram, he found the unchecked run of Dale Catlow,who fired into the bottom corner of the goal from 18 yards,giving Richard Povey no chance,1-0. 14mins, a rare mistake in the Linby defence allows the dangerous Ali Parkin time and space to hit a sweet volley into the top corner,from 12yards,1-1. Boots then had a good spell, with the evergreen Gareth Rees pulling the strings,their neat brand of football was pleasing on the eye,they pegged Linby back and created a couple of good half chances, Antoine Bonnick heading over the bar from 12yards, and James Calloway firing horribly high and wide at the far post. 32mins,against the run of play Linby went in front, man of the match Dave Barrie linked up with Andy Start, who put Catlow away on another surging run,he held off Richard Antcliffe (boots centre half), and finished well over Povey to make it 2-1. 37mins,Macardle's shot was well saved by Povey.

50mins,Boots free kick,Rees curler hit the linby post,unlucky. 55mins,Catlow played in Barrie,but the midfielder lifted his chip inches wide. 58mins,linby were now enjoying their best spell of the game, Start was in 1 on 1,but was forced wide as he rounded the keeper. His shot from the acutest of angles was brilliantly cleared off the line by Ben Wallace. 70mins, Start was denied a certain penalty as he was clearly pushed to the ground by Antcliffe,but the ref waved play on, to Linby's amazement. 78mins,and Linby got the third they richly deserved, Catlow found Barrie's surging run down the right wing, with a peach of a pass, Barrie cut in and hit a rasping shot ,which Povey did well to parry. sub Paul Hayman picked up the loose ball and reversed passed to Start ,10 yards out ,who produced a good finish into the bottom corner for his 5th goal this season,in 4 games,3-1.

Linby line up (4-4-2)Tudor - Elson, Boulter, Howell,S nedden - Ingram, Catlow, Barrie, Wallis - Mcardle,Start. subs. Hayman(for Mcardle 64mins), Niblett (for Ingram 78mins),Barber,Cheeseman,not used...m.o.m. Barrie.

30.8.06 Linby CW 1-0 Keyworth United (NSL Senior Division) Adi Ward.

It may be early days, but both Linby teams are at the top of their league, something that's never happened before, and even if it doesn't last, theres no getting away from a fantastic start of the season for the locals. If Saturdays 6-1  demolition of Attenboro was an all round sparkling performance, Wednesdays 1-0 win over keyworth was a hard fought grind. against good opponents, who deserved at least a point from an impressive display. It showed another side to Dave Bradshaws "New" Linby team, resolution, good defending, and hard work. As the goalkeeping crisis deepened, with Carl Spibey on holiday, Ash Ward still in hospital, James Wheat unavailable, in came new signing from Greenwood Meadows Martin Tudor, who looked solid on his debut. It was an end to end start, on 15mins, an Anthony Wallis corner found its way to Adam Snedden, whose shot from 14 yards was blocked on the line. 17mins, brave work by Tudor, smothering the ball at the feet of Keyworth striker Mick Shaw. As the first half progressed ,the visitors began to get on top, Chris Colley flashed a far post header just wide from a free kick and John Ravenscroft hit a cracker inches wide. The only goal of the game came 4 mins into the second half, Snedden's long throw into the box was only cleared to the edge of the area, where ace predator Andy Start hit a sweet volley into the bottom corner to make it 1-0. Still Linby lived on the edge , on 58mins Shaw was in 1 on 1 with Tudor, his shot beat the keeper ,but somehow Snedden got back to clear off the line. 65mins , a Tom Aldread cross flew across the face of goal ,with Ravenscroft about an inch away from equalising. 69mins,Start pounced on a poor clearance ,but was inches wide with his shot. 82mins Wallis header saved by Alex Ball ,the Keyworth keeper. Linby saw the game out, their back four of Dave Elson, Scott Boulter, Rob Harrison and Snedden were all outstanding, and the tireless work of midfielders Dave Barrie and Dale Catlow ,in helping the defence out was superb.

Linby line up (4-4-2)Tudor - Elson, Boulter, Harrison, Snedden - Ingram, Barrie, Catlow, Wallis -Gould, Start. subs. Mcardle (for Gould 78mins),Hayman,Niblett,Cheeseman all not used.....m.o.m...Elson

26.8.06 Linby CW 6-1 Attenborough (NSL Senior Division) Adi Ward.

Attenborough had won 7-3 at Clifton (last years runners-up) on Tuesday night, they had beat Linby twice last season in the league, and they looked a stern test for Dave Bradshaw's new linby side. Indeed they started well, taking the lead in the first minute, Linby were caught on the ball, Kev Bagshaw found Richard Barlow who finished well, past keeper Ash Ward into the bottom corner,0-1. When James Birtles (son of gary) flashed a header just wide of goal, it looked as if Linby were in for a torrid afternoon. But on 8mins, good work from Andy Start on the right, winning the ball back, and racing to the byeline and crossing to the far post to Danny Edwards to finish superbly, settled linbys early nerves, 1-1. 13mins, new skipper Dave Barrie's free kick found centre foward Martin Gould,whose turn and shot went just wide.16mins, a fine linby move ended with Starts shot being well saved by Matt Worster. 27mins, Dale Catlow played Start in ,Worster beat Starts shot away only to Gould,as Gould was looking to score, Attenboro centre back Matt Boultby hacked him down from behind,PENALTY, and he should have been sent off, but was only booked. Aaron Ingram stepped up to score from the spot, 2-1. 35mins, Worster saved another start shot. 42mins, goal of the game, Wards goal kick to centre back Scott Boulter,up to Barrie, to Catlow, out to Ingram, he fed Catlowsrun up the right wing, Catlows cross to the near post, Start, with a superb instant right foot shot in off the bar, 3-1.

second half: 47mins Boulters free kick to the back post ,Ingram shot justwide. 55mins, Barrie, Catlow and Ingram combine well, Gould in and lobs the keeper with a super finish,4-1. 59mins, the ever dangerous Birtles with a half chance, superb save by Ash Ward. 60mins, Bagshaw's deflected shot hits the Linby bar. 69mins, Dave Elson and sub Jonty Bradshaw combine well into Gould, who produces a classic left foot curler into the top corner from 18 yards out,5-1. 74mins, another brilliant linby move ends with bradshaw being hacked down in the box, but to the amazment of the large crowd the ref didnt give it. 80mins, Barrie releases Start down the right, his cross from the line finds sub Paul Hayman, to head home from 8 yards, to cap a great performance from linby, 6-1.

Linby need to keep their feet on the ground and not get carried away with their two opening wins, that's managers Dave Bradshaw's job, but today without Carl Spibey, Micheal Rose, Gareth Parkin, Linby did look a good side,but only time will tell.

Linby line up (4-4-2) Ward - Elson, Harrison, Boulter, Snedden - Ingram, Barrie, Catlow, Edwards - Gould, Start. subs. Wallis (for Edwards72mins), Bradshaw(for Ingram 66mins),Hayman(for Gould 77mins), Austin, not used m.o.m. Gould, but could have been any of 5 or 6 linby players.