2.9.06 Awsworth Villa 1-4 Notts Police (NSL Senior Division) Steve Clifford.

Police team:  Cameron Miles, Richard Monk, Rheet Lewis, Neil Smith, Mark Corbett, Paul Nicholls, James McDonaugh, Edd Priestley, Lee Collopy, Danny Holloway, Franco Guddemi. Subs (all used); Matt Stanton, Wayne Bennett, James Walker.

Following the midweek loss to Basford the Police were forced to make several changes due to work, leave and injuries.  Amongst those missing were Beech, Broadhead, Ward, Warden, Mercer, Forster and Young.  The 'patchwork' side that had performed so admirably at Basford really should have got something out of the game and deserved at least a point but were guilty of several bad misses as chance after chance went begging.  Basford are without a doubt a good team and will be up there fighting for honours but Saturday's visit to Awsworth was a very different experience for the visitors.   I would like to thank Paul Wilkinson and his members for their hospitality and hard work in making their facilities first class.  Both sets of players gave it their all in the right spirit and in view of the conditions it was a cracking game to watch.

Both teams came into the game on the back of games that they felt they could have grabbed more from in relation to points on the board and the home side were virtualy unrecognisable to the one we last faced.  Before the start one of the officials failed to attend and Paul Wilkinson agreed to run the line.  All three officials had a great game and the ref allowed the game to flow by playing the advantage whenever he could.  The conditions were dreadful and the wind was always going to be a factor.  Police went with the wind first half and although they played some attractive football their possession was not being converted into chances.  The visitors gave a debut to former Forest Acadamy coach Rheet Lewis and it wasn't long before he was showing what a quality addition he is to the Club.  Rheet is a very gifted left sided player who linked well with players around him and encouraged everyone to keep it on the deck.  'Ronnie' Corbett returned after missing the Basford game and soon began 'pulling the strings' and allowing Edd Prielstly to link up with the forwards.  Awsworth were playing a 3-5-2 which the Police soon matched pushing Guddemi into the middle and it was in this area of the field where the battle was eventualy won.

Collopy continued his good work following his MOM performance against Basford and he worked his socks of for the team.  With the game 25 minutes old Corbett received the ball just inside his own half and made his way forward.  As the home side parted like the red sea the Police midfielder pushed forward and with Collopy and Holloway making runs which distracted the defence it wasn't long before he was advancing on the Awsworth goal.  With a drop of the shoulder he wrong footed the last man to race toward goal and smash the ball past the advancing keeper.  It was the first goal for Mark and hopefully the first of many which not only capped a fine solo run but also a fine first half display.

The Police went in one goal to the good and in control of the game.  Nicholls had been drafted in at centre half and in his own words he was a collosus.  I have to agree that together with Neil Smith he dealt with everything Awsworth had to throw at them.  Cameron Miles, our 33 year old keeper continued his good work from Basford as he commanded his box well.  At Basford he pulled off a couple of quality saves and his performance at Awsworth was just as good.  During the break much was said of the 'wind factor' and how we needed to continue playing good possesion football.  Sadly it wasn't long before a seemingly comfortable victory was looking nothing like the 3 points I had earlier anticipated.  Awsworth came out with a real  purpose and soon after a home side corner was taken the men in red believed they could win this one.  An inswinging corner from the Police left was met at the far post by an unmarked player to head into a crowded box and unfortunatley for us the quickest to respond came from the home team.  A well worked equaliser and with the wind in their faces the visitors had to pull their sleaves up and dig in.  After a mad 10 minute spell the Police wrestled back the control and began tearing the Awsworth back line.  Some good football involving Corbett, Priestley and Holloway set Collopy free and as he made his way into the area his shirt was tugged before the defender hacked at him from behind, Penalty.  Up stepped debutant Rheet Lewis and calm as you like scored his first goal for the Club.  As I asked Awsworths secretary to countersign his form I remember she said that each time she does this they score, sorry but that record has continued.  It wasn't long before the Police had a third and this time it had quality all over it as the ball was knocked about the midfield then out to the left before being cut back by Collopy for the advancing Priestly to drill home.  Collopy continued to be a nuisance in the Awsworth side and it wasn't long before he again broke free and pushed the ball goalwards for the on rushing Holloway to 'smash' the ball home, 4 - 1.  All subs were used and Matt Stanton continues to look a good signing when he replaced the unfortunate Lewis who went down with a hamstring pull.  It looks like Rheet may be out for 4 weeks.  I wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return.  A cracking performance and at last we come away with all the points.  We have already dropped too many points in what has been our pre-season season.  I hope we are now finally ready to compete and prepared for the rigours of the next 8 months.

26.8.06 Gedling Southbank 4-2 Notts Police (NSL Senior Division) Steve Clifford.

The last 48 hours for me as Manager of Notts Police give everone an idea of how difficult a task we have of compleating fixtures with anything nearing a consistent side.  I had been told Aidie Beech was struggling to get time off, Danny Holloway was away, James McDonaugh and Gary Mercer were at work but had booked time off and at least one would be there for the start with the other following closely.  On the eve of the game Edd Priestly was told he would have to start work at 3pm and would be unavailable but I then received the boost that Beech should be ok but wouldn't be there until close to kick off.  Moments before leaving for the game I then got the news that both Mercer and McDonaugh would miss the kick off.  With such an ever changing situation regarding player availability it makes decision making more difficult than doing a 'rubik cube' in boxing gloves.  That said I am not going to hide behind these difficulties in an excuse for todays poor performance against a below strength Gedling Southbank.

Notts Police gave a debut to new signing to Mark 'Ronnie' Corbett and a start for young Joe Forster.  They also welcomed the return of Kev Broadhead in the middle of a back four.  Lee Collopy started this one on the right hand side of midfield due to the cracking performance of Joe Forster in the second half at Bestwood and it wasn't long before the 17 year old Alfreton Town star justified his selection at number 9.  Paul Nicholls and Forster began linking up well and carved out several chances.  Midway through the first half the ball broke to Collopy who knocked the ball into the advancing Forster who held off the attention of the Southbank defence to drill beyond the keeper and put the visitors one up.  Further chances were to come and go and Police really should have put this one beyond Gedlings reach.  At times it seemed too easy for the Police who just about do enough when really they should roll their sleeves up, knuckle down and put teams to bed.  So with the slender advantage teams are always going to believe they can do something and so it was when a long punt upfield caught the back line square and Monks dived in, committed himself and was undone to leave a Southbank forward one on one with keeper Miles.  One each and soon after things went from bad to worse as a needless free kick was given away 10 yards inside the Police half.  On numerous occasions Police possession was given up after needlesly over playing when a more direct approach upto two forwards who had the beating of a backline.  As everyone lined up for a free kick to the back post the Southbank midfielder drilled the ball to the near post to catch Miles wrong footed and into the visitors net.  As the whistle blew for half time Mercer arrived from work and McDonaugh was still struggling to get to the game.  

For the benefit of fans and players who were not present during the team talk at the break the main points I made were the fact we were so quiet and the request for players to stand their ground, not slide in and make rash challenges.  If you get players behind the ball make the forward do something special to beat you and don't make his life easy by diving in.  As Mercer entered the fray at the expense of the injured Forster Police settled quickly and with simple football carved out more chances.  As Collopy was pushed back up front he began running the defence ragged and it wasn't long before a fast flowing move produced the equaliser for Charlie Nicholls.  At 2-2 I honestly believed we would go on and win this one but the third gift for Southbank was not far away.  I was incensed to see my team talk had been completely ignored as a Police defender went to ground on the edge of the area to foul a player who was no where near a goal scoring position.  The penalty was dispatched and the home side were now 3-2 to the good. 

As we were trailing and now giving up possession too easily, the decision was made to revert to a 3-5-2 and Neil Smith replaced Scott Warden.  James McDonaugh finally got to the ground with about ten to go and replaced the injured Broadhead who was one of three players who were either feeling the effects of knocks or were just shot.  The only other action of note was a fourth goal for the home side which followed a foul on Simon Ward.  The Police left with nothing from a game that they could and should have won.  I congratulate Southbank for the hard work and for that alone they deserve the points but it is a fact that 3 goals came from Police gifts/mistakes.  With two games gone and 6 goals leaked it is obvious what area of the pitch needs the most attention and with all due respect to the teams we have faced to date this is the third game that I have seen in a week and the best side I have seen are Clifton Reserves.

22.8.06 Bestwood MW 2-2 Notts Police (NSL Senior Division) Steve Clifford.

Notts Police: Cameron Miles, Scott Warden, Gary Mercer, Simon Ward, Richard Monk, Aidie Beech, Richard Taylor, Edd Priestley, Danny Holloway, Paul Nicholls, James McDonaugh.  Subs: Darren Barker, Neil Smith, Joe Forster, Richard Nicholls, Franco Guddemi.

Notts Police took to the field with several new signings missing and other who were expected to have signed still hedging their bets with other clubs.  Influential midfielder Mark Corbett was unable to make his debut due to work and former Gillingham and Stoke centre forward Lee Collopy was away.  Whilst Wayne Bennett and our new mystery centre half were both absent the visitors took to the field with a defence that had never played together.  With Dave Newton hanging his boot up it was always going to a problem how we fill the void and the responsibility was handed to messers Monk & Ward.  The game started with both sides keen to make a good early start but it was evident on the first half showing which side had been best prepared.  The home side appeared fitter and showed great movement.  With the hard surface and warm conditions Andrew Dawkins was a constant menace during this first period.  Bestwood adopted a 4 - 4 -1- 1 formation with Dawkins hanging on the last man and Morgan Whitehurst sitting just behind.  Dawkins was not afraid to put in some challenges on the pedestrian defence of the Police and the visitors were too dependant on refereeing decisions that didn't come theri way.  Not only were the Police having problems with Dawkins they were also struggling to decide on whether to 'stick or bust' with the young Whitehurst.  The Bestwood front man was finding too much space in front of the back four which caused problems for the Police midfield.  At times the defending was desperate and when possesion was regained the long hopeful punt up front gave Nicholls and Holloway no chance and played into the hands of the Bestwood back line.  The Police were flat and unable to get into any pattern and deserved to go behind to an early Dawkins effort.  The Bestwood number 10 collected the ball on the left side of the Police box and as McDonaugh was reluctant to put in a stern challange as he was 'wrong side' of the player Dawkins danced inside two half hearted and lame efforts to tackle before stroking the ball beyond Miles and into the far corner. 1 nil and Bestwood were cruising.  The lions share of the 1st half belonged to the home team but there were a few signs that Police may get something out of this one.  Bestwood could and should have scored more goals in the first half and it looked like we were going to go into the dressing room with just the one to drag back but further lapses in concentration allowed Bestwood players too much time in the area and Whitehurst grabbed the second of the night with an effort that looped over Miles and into the net, 2 nil.

During the interval Guddemi was restored to the side at the expense of Taylor.  To be fair to Richard he was one of ten players that could have been replaced and would have had little cause for complaint.  The formation was changed to 3-5-2 and certain orders given.  As much as the first half was about Bestwood the second period was about Notts Police.  The visitors had the majority of the possesion but with little cutting edge.  With about 25 minutes remaining young Joe Forster was sent onto the field to replace Priestley who worked tirelessley but with scant reward.  Beech led the way with some awesome challenges and others such as McDonaugh and Guddemi took note and also dug in.  Monks had now got hold of Dawkins and the 5 man midfield shut any threat from Whitehurst.  Although the change in formation enabled us to wrestle possesion and place us in the ascenency it was 17 year old Forster who 'spiced' things up and opened the doors.  Joe made an immediate impact and his spark kicked others into life.  He showed his more experiance partners that at times you have to make things happen and it wasn't long before an early taken snap shot nearly caught the keeper off guard as he hit the post.  All of a sudden there was a sense of self beliefe and it wasn't long before a slick move resulted in a chance falling to Gary Mercer who struck home to claw a goal back.  The former Sutton man was covering a lot of ground on the left flank and was finding plenty of room as Bestwood dropped deeper and deeper.  The hard working McDonaugh came off with 8 minutes to go and was replaced by another young debutant Richard Nicholls.  Nicholls got straight into the action and battled to retrieve possesion before knocking the ball to Mercer on Bestwood left.  Mercer strode into the box and the Bestwood defence were happy to push him onto his right peg.  What they didn't expect was to see him go to the line and cross a pin point ball with his right foot into the path of the on rushing Holloway.  Danny steadied himself to smash the equaliser into the Bestwood net 2 -2.  As the minutes ticked away so did the points for the home side in a game they should really have wrapped up.  Credit to the visitors though for the second half showing and the spirited fight back.   With the emergence of Forster and the returning Corbett, Collopy, Bennet and others (names hoped to be announced soon) then Saturday selection should be a headache.  However the normal demands on the lads due to shift work will probably make my job easier.