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Game 24 - The Cup Final

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03/05/25 – NSL Development Cup Final AFC 3 – 2 AFC Warriors A fantastic morning at Hucknall Town Football Club saw Attenborough top off a promising season in the best way possible, Cup Final success against old rivals AFC Warriors. Having suffered a harsh reality check away to Warriors in the final league game, Attenborough bounced back with a comprehensive victory that showcased all their talent and growing maturity. Some big players were back in the squad, all with plenty to prove, Fin Haywood, Simon Savage, Colm Keegan O’Kane and the suspended Ollie Mee all having been missing from the final league encounter and they all stepped up to the plate and added that extra bit of quality to deservedly secure a notable trophy. Manager Graham Mee was in charge for the fourth final of his long managerial career, all three previously having resulted in defeat at youth level, but he prepared his troops perfectly to peak at the right time following a three-week break since the last game...
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Game 23

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12/04/25 – League AFC Warriors 4 – 1 AFC In complete contrast to last week, Attenborough capitulated in tame fashion faced with a trip to AFC Warriors and now may ultimately finish third for the second season running, despite looking to be in a two-horse race for the most of this campaign, which has to go down as disappointing given in so many areas the Blues appeared have improved this time around. Both away defeats this season have come on long trips to Newark and there’s no avoiding the fact that availability for these games he been poor compared to other matches, something which certainly doesn’t help, but, while our depleted squad gave their all in a narrow loss on the road to Newark and Sherwood a few weeks ago, this simply wasn’t the case this time around, some well-below par displays matched with half-hearted effort proving a recipe for disaster. A couple of well-worked goals from Warriors saw them two-up within the first quarter of the game and Attenborough did show so...
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Game 22

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05/04/25 – League Cotgrave 0 – 7 AFC Attenborough shrugged off the disappointment of last week’s title decider with a superb performance away at Cotgrave. Despite missing star man Luke Smith and the suspended Ollie Mee, the Blues turned in an attacking display to excite the travelling fans. Having enjoyed little luck of late, two goals having been ruled out in the last couple of weeks, George Pursglove was back on the goal trail with a fantastic opener after ten minutes, volleying across the goalkeeper from just inside the area. And Pursglove soon added another assist for the season when his corner was powered home via Will Humphriss’ head. Attenborough were already three up before the half hour mark, Louis Smith’s shot falling to the feet of Lewis Caine to tap home. Louis produced a thrilling cameo from the left-hand side, ably replacing Luke and he topped of his first-half display with a stunning solo goal to make it four, skipping past several challenges before firing into t...
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Game 21

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29/03/25 – League AFC 1 – 3 Newark and Sherwood After a season-long duel, Attenborough finally gave way in the league title race on a frustrating morning at the Strand. Missing a couple of regular players, including goalkeeper Fin Haywood and the influential Simon Savage, the hosts had their hands full against a well-stocked Newark and Sherwood squad. Graham Mee was, however, able to call upon Lewie Pearson for the first time since January and Morgan Jones bolstered the substitutes bench. Having come out marginally the worst over the two previous clashes with a well-organised Newark and Sherwood side, Attenborough set out to ensure this was a tight match with the intention to sit back, stop shots and crosses on our goal and counterattack with our talented forwards. Things started ideally for the hosts with Harry Morgan, making his first start for the Boro, immediately in the thick of things, his chest down providing George Pursglove with a chance he eventually converted on the ...
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Game 20

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22/03/25 – League AFC 4 – 0 Red Sea FC With title rivals Newark and Sherwood recording a comprehensive win the week before, Attenborough were once more tasked with not just winning a game but also ideally doing so by as many goals as possible. Something which is easier said than done against a talented and physical Red Sea team that had already given the Blues difficult matches earlier in the season. A fast start was just what was required for the home side and an excellent pass from Lewis Caine saw Luke Smith set clean through within two minutes and he produced a confident one-touch finish to put Attenborough a goal up. This early opener rather lit the blue touch paper and set up a frantic end-to-end game that resembled more of a basketball match. Boro’s wing backs remained high and the mid-fields for both sides were extremely stretched, while the number of times early on that Attenborough were able to get themselves into attacks with spare men available really should have see...
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Upcoming fixtures

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Game 19

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08/03/25 – Dev Cup Semi-Final Cotgrave 1 – 2 AFC Attenborough had seen off Cotgrave with something to spare at home in the league just seven days earlier, but things are never straightforward when it comes to knock-out football and, with a prize of a spot in the final up for grabs, it resulted in a nervy affair at the Cotgrave Welfare Club. Graham Mee switched back to the 4-4-2 formation that had served the team well at times this year, with the returning George Cuesta-Sarris adding another string to his bow by undertaking the holding mid-field role. However, the visitors were slow to get going and within the first ten minutes Cotgrave were ahead after Fin Haywood was caught in no man’s land and Shaun Tunaly expertly lobbed in. Just seconds later Attenborough had the chance to level, but George Pursglove missed the target from twelve yards with the goalkeeper out of position. It soon developed into a frustrating half of football for the Blues, with the hosts managing their lead...
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Game 18

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01/03/05 – League AFC 5 – 1 Cotgrave Attenborough were quickly back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Cotgrave on a sunny morning at The Strand. Following last week’s narrow defeat to the league leaders, the home side were boosted by the return of Simon Savage and Louis Smith to the squad and the manager elected to revert to three at the back, with Reece Caine stepping into the holding mid-fielder position. After a scrappy first few minutes, Attenborough found their feet and it always felt like they were in command of this game once Brad Greatorex had broken the deadlock with a good finish from the edge of the box, the hosts then doubling their advantage only two minutes later with a well-worked goal expertly finished off by Luke Smith after a clever ball through by George Pursglove. It felt like the game had been wrapped up shortly before half time when Pursglove’s corner crept over the line to make it 3-nil. However, just seconds later Reece Cyrek skewed a cro...
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Game 17

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22/02/25 - League Newark and Sherwood 2 – 1 AFC Attenborough’s availability issues finally caught up with them in Saturday’s top of the table clash away at Newark and Sherwood, but only after a game effort from the squad of twelve that made the long trip to Lincolnshire. Three of the squad from the previous week’s excellent victory were missing this time, including the important Simon Savage which left a huge void to fill in defence. Graham Mee was able to make a last-minute signing of forward Harry Morgan to ensure we had an option off the bench, while the versatile Lakshay Sharma was tasked with filling in at right back. Like us, the hosts hadn’t dropped a point since the opening day 3-3 draw between the sides and these remaining two head-to-head clashes had the feel of title deciders. It was clear Attenborough were up against it given the lack of options to manager Mee, not necessarily in terms of ability, but certainly numerically, the home side having a fully stocked ben...
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Game 16

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15/02/25 – League AFC 3 – 1 AFC Warriors Attenborough returned to league action at The Strand up against one of the three main title challengers and came out on top in a fiercely competitive clash. Once more the home side had a whole host of injury issues but were blessed with the return of George Pursglove up front, while Alex Lawrence filled in for Fin Haywood in goal. On a muddy pitch it was clear right from the off that this was going to be a severe test of character for both sides and Attenborough started strongly with some excellent link up play down the right-hand side, Simon Savage and Lakshay Sharma both using their pace to good effect. The opening goal set the tone for the rest of the match, Lewis Caine thundering in a near-post header from a corner after 17 minutes to give the home side the lead. The Blues kept up the pressure and could have doubled their advantage shortly after, some good work between Luke Smith and Pursglove laying a golden chance on a plate for Sh...
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