A tough year for Notts Senior League clubs in the Counties knockout competition ended in delight for Keyworth United Reserves who overcame fellow NSL First Division side Bestwood MW Reserves in the final of the competitions Junior section cup. A two goal victory helped by Woolwich & Hyman strikes either side of half time at Carlton Town FC's ever improving Stoke Lane Ground in front of a crowd of 222 was the only joy for the 35 NSL clubs that had joined the competition.

Of the Junior Section only two clubs made it past round two, recently formed after a season without a side Bestwood Reserves and Keyworth, who had to drop down a level in competition after a first round exit the year previous, carried on to go all the way disposing of NAA and CML sides en-route.

The Intermediate Section was thought to provide NSL clubs with their best chance of silverware, having won it last season Arnold Southbank weren't  to defend their trophy having made the step up in to the Senior Section of the competition. Bestwood MW were hoping to go one better than the year previous having finished as runners up, they received a bye in round one. In all only half the NSL sides that entered progressed to the second round of the competition. The next stage was slightly better with five of the eight teams representing the Notts Senior League through to the third round, four of which would face each other in that round ensuring at least two NSL clubs would progress to the Quarter Finals. Magdala Amateurs were beaten by Boots Athletic's Reserve side 1-0 whilst Caribbean Cavaliers in their first season representing the NSL in this competition edged out league rivals and 2005 finalists Bestwood MW in a thrilling game winning 5-4. In a game delayed to bad weather Awsworth Villa were convincingly beaten by Radford Reserves 4-1 in the new year. None of our sides were to better the Quarter Finals though, Boots Athletic Reserves, winners in 2004 and semi finalists a year a go were beaten by the competitions eventual winners Basford United 3-0. Good news for the NSL however with Basford joining the league for the 2006/07 season from the NAA, a side that are likely to contribute in competition with a strong side that demands silverware. Caribbean Cavaliers were also beaten in the last eight by Santos 1-0, an impressive run none the less.

The NSL sides ambition's in the Senior Section were a little less adventurous, with the competition including the counties finest non league sides chance of winning the trophy would be limited to say the least, but a Quarter Final finish would ensure seeding for the competition next year, something which Boots Athletic achieved a year a go.

In the First round Attenborough, Calverton and Notts Police all fell to Central Midlands opposition. Kimberley and Clifton (via penalties) progressed at the expense of CML clubs whilst drawn together were NSL Senior Division rivals Linby and Cotgrave, who played out an entertain five goal thriller at Church Lane, the away side edging through to round two, and Wollaton and Arnold Southbank, who after ninety minutes and extra time couldn't be separated, Wollaton winning the shootout after a goalless two hours. Wollaton and Cotgrave CW United were both beaten in their respective  home draws with top CML opposition, Gedling MW beating Wollaton 2-0 with Cotgrave going down 3-1 to Southwell City. In another all NSL encounter Clifton beat Kimberley 2-1 to progress to the next stage with Boots Athletic who joined the competition's third round with seven other seeded clubs.

LEAGUE CUP REVIEW - CLIFTON & BOOTS TAKE THE TROPHIES

The Nottinghamshire Senior League's Reserve Section Cup got underway in early Februarry with a preliminary match between Arnold Southbank Reserves and Cotgrave CW United Reserves. A 3-0 win for the home side saw them into the first round where they joined the fifteen other first division teams in the competition and faced a tough encounter against last seasons winners Attenborough Res. In round one, 2005 runners up Calverton MW got off to a winning start 4-2 against Siemens EWS. Fancied Boots went through at the expense of Notts Police Res and league leaders Wollaton Res convincingly overwhelmed Sandhurst Res 9-1 at their Sports Assosiation Ground. Clifton, Awsworth & Kimberley all went through at the expense of Magdala, Linby and Carribbean Cavaliers respectively, Bestwood Reserves beat Keyworth Reserves 1-0 at Platt Lane in a match delayed a week due to the weather, it wasn't until late March that holders Attenborough could kick off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Arnold Southbank Reserves.

The Senior Section's two Preliminary games saw both Arnold Southbank and Cotgrave CW United go out at the first attempt. Southbank were soundly beaten 3-0 by Kimberley and Cotgrave lost at home in their local derby, 2-0 to Keyworth United. Holders Wollaton were made to work in their first round match with Notts Police, 1-1 after extra time they won 3-1 on penalties to progress to the second round. Also winning on penalties were Bestwood MW, they beat Calverton MW 4-2 in the shootout after the game ended up 1-1. Ruddington pushed confident Clifton into extra time, the all whites though too strong in the late stages with United collapsing to eventually lose 4-1. Linby & Attenborough were both 2-0 winners against Kimberley and Sandhurst respectively, Boots beat Magdala 5-2 whilst Keyworth progressed with a 3-2 win over Awsworth and Caribbean Cavaliers edged Siemens in their five goal thriller at Carrington.

The Reserve Section Quarter Finals kicked off on the 8th April and Awsworth Villa were biggest winners on the day, beating Clifton Reserves 4-0 to reach the semi finals, Kimberley reserves saw off Bestwood Reserves 2-1, Attenborough Reserves beat Calverton 3-2 at Hollinwood Lane whilst the game of the day paired up Champions Boots with laegue leaders Wollaton, Boots winning 3-1 to get into the last four.

A week later the Quarter Finals of the Senior Section Cup was played with a mirror image of the Reserve game between Boots and Wollaton taking place between the first teams, Boots Athletic again coming on top, shocking the holders and double winners Wollaton 2-1, meaning a new name would be on the trophy this year. Attenborough beat Caribbean 2-0 to enhance their chances, Clifton progressed with a 4-1 win over Bestwood to become new favourites whilst Linby more than made up the last four with a 4-1 win over Keyworth.

All Semi Finals were played at the magnificent Cotgrave and Calverton grounds, Boots Reserves the first to reach a final after beating Kimberley MW Res 1-0, The Chemist's were joined by Attenborough in the Reserve Section, hoping to hold on to the trophy they won a year a go, Boro beat Awsworth in an exciting semi 3-2. The Senior Section Cup Semi Finals were also tight affairs, Clifton reaching their maiden NSL  final with a 2-1 win over Linby CW, Attenborough joined their Reserves by reaching a League Cup final, Boro beat Boots 2-0 to face Clifton at Calverton MW on the 18th May.

DIVISION ONE REVIEW - IT'S WOLLATON'S YEAR

Wollaton Reserves emulated their first team by clinching the Division One title with an end margin of five points. Wollaton’s consistency was their strength as they held off any pressure from the likes of Arnold Southbank, Boots Athletic and Keyworth United.

The season started with favourites and 2005 Champions Boots losing their opening game against Linby Reserves 2-1. After openening their account with a convincing win, last season’s third placed side Wollaton were also in indifferent form, taking four points from their first three games. Going well were Calverton who headed the early table with three straight wins before a 4-1 defeat to Boots knocked them off the top with Arnold Southbank in sensational fashion, they won their first five games scoring 24 goals, including a 7-1 win against Cotgrave and a 7-2 win over Kimberley.

At the other end of the table, Sandhurst Reserves and Siemens Reserves were doing their worst to foot the bottom of the ladder, both losing their first ten games. Sandhurst on the end of some heavier hammerings, after an opening day 10-1 loss at Bestwood, things got much worse when free scoring Southbank put a record 17 past the helpless North Notts goalkeeper in October. ASB’s Ashley Whitt scoring a double hat-trick, he would become the Divisions top goalscorer at the end of the campaign with 31 goals.

With Bank heading the table going in to Christmas, indifferent form from Boots Athletic meant that they would already be too far to realistically challenge the chasing pack with Wollaton losing only two games in their first 22 games and Keyworth going well, despite thanks to a good county cup run having games a plenty in hand.

Three defeats in a row by Southbank over the festive period meant a new leader going in to 2006, Wollaton had surpassed the early season leaders at the half way stage, eight consecutive wins with goals from Hind, Fragola and Page etc and Wollaton began to pull away from Arnold Southbank as the spring approached.

February however, was to start badly for the leaders, in the crunch game at the top of the table a Johnny Harte goal was enough to see Southbank beat Wollaton 1-0, a week later Wollaton slipped again to single goal defeat at Bestwood. ASB however weren’t to fully capitalize and with the games and points already in the bag for Wollaton, Southbank’s chasing game fell short at the start of April when they blanked with keyworth united and lost to Notts Police Res. Keyworth, could have stopped Wollaton had they won their final nine games but a heavy task was never realistic and they stuttered home in the campaign to be overtook by Kimberley MW who’s impressive late run jumped them into third.

SENIOR DIVISION REVIEW - WOLLATON DO IT AGAIN

The second ever season of the Nottinghamshire Senior Football League started and ended as the first with the dominant team of 2004/05 Wollaton taking the honours for the second successive year. But whereas Wollaton comfortably wrapped up the first NSL campaign by Easter with an eventual winning margin of nine points, this year they were pushed all the way by the surprise package of the season Clifton, who thanks largely to an unbeaten run of eighteen games, surpassing Arnold Southbank’s record from the year previous, pushed the holders all the way until eventually Wollaton retained their title thanks to a final game point against another side that impressed in Attenborough.

The season’s surprise leaders were Magdala Amateurs who crushed Ruddington United 5-0 in their opening fixture, new boys Caribbean Cavaliers after promotion from the MAA opened up with narrow defeat to Calverton MW, a few days later though Cav’s were to win their first NSL game against a usually strong Arnold Southbank, convincingly too, as they eased past their hosts at ‘the dip’ 4-1. Wollaton however were solid starters after a narrow opening day win against Clifton, they trounced Magdala 7-1 a week later and dropped only four points from a possible 36 in their opening 12 games. Not far behind Wollaton at the pinnacle of the NSL Senior Division table by mid November, were Attenborough who after starting impressively, lost only one of their first fourteen games. Meanwhile last season’s runners-up, Linby CW were not so consistent, seven defeats and a draw from their first fourteen games left them in having a lot to do if they were to reach the expectations of the campaign before.

Consistency of another kind at the bottom of the table were the unfortunate Ruddington United, struggling for players and fighting to stay in existence, they carried on their terrible run of form from last season to lose their opening 12 league games. Totalling a record of 16 league defeats on the trot, either side of the summer break. Fortunately for Rudd that was to soon end when new Manager Andy Littlewood was appointed in November, and with three wins before the New Year, United looked to be heading once again in the right direction. That weren’t to be said for fellow strugglers Sandhurst though, who after two wins in a row early on in November, the club were to start their worst run in the short period of the league, which would see them fail to win any of their remaining 20 league games.

As the decorations started to come down from the festive period, Wollaton remained top of the pile and seemingly immortal after only one league defeat from their first 21 games, Clifton were starting to bite at the bit after last losing in October, a ten game unbeaten run was to stretch to 18 by April, before losing to rivals Attenborough 2-1 at Easter. Also on the form trail were Cotgrave CW United, starting to turn heads after a eleventh place finish a year earlier, despite having two points deducted, only two defeats in eighteen saw them in a top three place by April.

The final month of the season saw Wollaton slip their lead of eleven points to a Clifton side that just wouldn’t lie down. Only two wins for the leaders in their last eight games meant that the title went down to the wire, Wollaton needing only a point but with a depleted squad in their final game of the season at Attenborough, they  were threatened by some heart wrenching moments at the Strand, but eventually came out of the game with a goalless draw, ensuring the result of Clifton’s game with Notts Police three days later was irrelevant.

Attenborough: Worster, Boultby, Green, Kitson, Terry, Bagshaw, Kinsella, Hawkins, Constable, Towerzey, Hinks. Subs: Whatmore, Birtles, Leith, Thompson, Mains.

Clifton: Bonser, Taylor, Holtham, K Waddley, Hartshorn, Anderson, Mitchell, C Bee, C Waddley, A Bee, McCann. Subs: Smithson, Standage, McDermott, Lawrence.

Attenborough Reserves: Morris, Knight, Potter, Jerzak, Blagg, Solloway, Carnelli, Beighton, Taggart, Wylie, Barlow. Subs: Skeates, Taylor.

Boots Athletic Reserves: Edwards, Chapman, Saunders, Howard, Lodge, Hogg, Bradley, Bennett, Arsali, Baxter, Saini. Subs: Emery, Campbell, Mountford, Penhale, Harvey.