Attenborough FC

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 ...

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...

 

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...

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...

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...

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...

08/02/25 – Cup Linby Colliery 3 – 3 AFC The last game of the group stage of the Development Cup saw Attenborough travel to Linby needing just a draw to qualify for the semi-final, but once more they were forced to do so with a numerically depleted squad, George Pursglove’s needless red card the week before rendering him suspended and leaving us without our main producer of goals and assists. Lakshay Sharma was tasked with filling Pursglove’s boots up top and the talented pair of Simon Savage and Colm Keegan-O’Kane returned to the side to add some quality in the wide areas. The Blues started fast and some excellent wing play from Keegan-O’Kane created an early opportunity for Sharma, but the enthusiastic forward was caught out by the bounce of the ball and spurned a great chance to put us in front. It didn’t take long for him to gain redemption, though, and, after a quality cross from Riley Billson had caused havoc in the Linby backline, Sharma was once more in the right place a...

01/02/25 – League RED SEA FC 1 – 4 AFC With several injuries in the camp and a couple of others unavailable for various reasons, Attenborough begun the second half of their league campaign short on numbers and faced with a difficult trip to Vernon Park. Having needed luck on our side when beating Red Sea FC with a full squad shortly before Christmas, this tricky fixture had the potential to derail any title ambitions. In from the cold came Saul Riley at left back, while manager Graham Mee had managed to rush through the signing of Lewis Sanderson just in time for the game to ensure we had an option from the bench. A 4-4-2 formation fitted the available players best with the emphasis on a rigid shape when we didn’t have the ball, ensuring the pacey Red Sea FC forwards were unable to get space to run at our defence. While attacking responsibilities were left largely down to the wingers and Brad Greatorex to feed George Pursglove. A frantic start to the game saw Attenborough ahe...

18/01/25 – Junior Cup Quarter-Final AFC 1 – 3 TRENT VINEYARD FC After the best part of a month off over the festive period, Attenborough were thrown straight into the intensity of a quarter-final match against opposition from the league above and fell short in a frustrating afternoon at The Strand. Freezing temperatures had seen last week’s planned reappearance and preparation match for this big clash called off and it is testament to the efforts of the ground staff that the pitch was fit to play at all. However, that lack of an outing certainly caught the inexperienced home side out up against canny visitors. While Trent Vineyard had struggled in their league campaign so far this season, they proved robust opposition in a first half of few chances, the best of which undoubtedly came when Lewis Caine was felled in the penalty area after some quick feet drew a late tackle, on this occasion, however, the skipper was wide of the mark from the spot and the sides went in level at the ...