Notts County 1-2 Walsall

It's 3pm on Christmas Eve and I'm packing up the stall outside MSR News, on Front Street, in Arnold, after ten consecutive days of selling chocolate in wintry conditions. Today has been a bumper sales day as panicking husbands, sons and boyfriends look to buy a last minute gift for their loved ones. Panic on the streets of Arnold. The 1 kg Toblerone bar, that's going for £10, is a steal and the star of the show - even I manage to bag one to gnaw on during the festive period.

Jim Royle has moved out of his armchair more than Sticky Palms over the next few days. I make the occasional journey to the garage to pluck another craft ale can from out of the festive box that was supplied by House of Trembling Madness in York.

I meet 'Our Joe' and Sticky jnr in enemy territory, at Portello Lounge Cafe Bar, on The Avenue, in West Bridgford, early on Friday afternoon. We enjoy some late lunch with soft refreshments as the lads are driving. I hook up with blog legend Tony Mac as I swing through town on my way back to Chez Palms. We enjoy a few ales at the Cock and Hoop (the artist formerly known as County Tavern) having previously dropped down Hockley, where we found a bustling and lively Six Barrels on top form. It's the time of year for plum porters and cinnamon stouts, that can warm up the beer coat in these cold and biting conditions.

Ms Moon drops me off down Stoke Lane on Saturday afternoon. The visitors today are Garforth Town AFC, a town which is in the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds. You may remember the pioneer and founder of Brazilian Samba Soccer Schools, Simon Clifford, was involved at the club back in the early noughties. He even persuaded, in 2004, the legendary chain-smoking Brazilian international Socrates to turn out for Garforth at the ripe old age of 50 years old. Clifford was later to join Clive Woodward at Southampton FC as Head of Sports Science.

There is another player who I've an interest in, who plays for Garforth. Matty Antcliffe lived at the top of my road and was an exciting young prospect for Keyworth United. He played elsewhere at 18 years old as he would have never developed under the senior regime at KUFC at the time. I recommended him for a two month trial at Notts County when he was 16 years old. The academy director was former Wimbledon and Millwall centre forward Jon Goodman. He was impressed with Matty but was unable to offer him a scholarship.

Carlton's form has been patchy to say the least. They did show signs of improvement seven days ago when beating East Riding of Yorkshire's Bridlington Town 3-2. They lost in their latest outing 1-0 to Sherwood Colliery on Boxing Day - once again being reduced to ten men, a recurring theme.

I stand with Faggsy on the far side of the ground. We are joined, shortly after kick off, by Matt Dring. The Millers take the lead following a superb long distance strike by Khyle Sargent. Garforth looks dangerous with Antcliffe impressive. Lawrence Gorman doubles the lead for Carlton from close range. The visitors deservedly reduce arrears shortly before the break.

DJ Murph is spinning the tunes at the break. There was a stinging attack on social media from some Herbert associated with Brid, the previous week. He took exception to Casually Dan's playlist. Sorry mate we don't play the Kaiser Chiefs, McFly and Mel B 'down the lane.'

The game ebbs and flows. Carlton look to have secured victory with a magnificent solo goal by crowd favourite Lamin Manneh. But it takes two breathtaking saves from 'Felix the Cat' to get the Millers over the line. Some goon of a visiting supporter thought it would be funny to pinch the Ghanaian flag that is unfurled each game behind Felix's goal. It's a country he has represented at football. Thankfully the flag was chased down and returned to the clubhouse, to the delight of cheery, beery supporters.

It's the supporters' Christmas piss up this evening. I manage a couple in the clubhouse and a few in the Partizan Tavern and King Billy before jumping aboard the 9 pm bus to Carlton. Shop duties await in the early hours of the morning.

I volunteered to work the early (4am) shift on New Year's Day at the shop. It has an impact on any celebratory drinks, but I've never been a big fan to be honest. I've clocked that there's an early showing at Just the Tonic Comedy Club, up at Metronome, a venue that I'm fond of. We enjoy all three comedians and the compere Jon Pearson who is dead funny too. Don't sit on the front row, he'll savage you.

It's a nightmare shift at the shop in the morning because, for some unknown reason, the newspapers are late arriving from London. I'm still stressed out when Ms Moon very kindly picks me up just after midday. I have a quick nap before the good lady drops me off in Lady Bay Retail Park.

It's a League Two top of the table clash that's not to be missed. I bagged a ticket a few days ago from a very efficient and friendly member of staff in the ticket office. I take my pew in a busy Derek Pavis Stand. Walsall are unbeaten in their last 16 games. Notts have been inconsistent. The message board keyboard warriors want the manager to be removed. The Pies' Danish owners are more measured, considered and patient.

After a bright opening for the Saddlers, the Pies begin to get on top. Dan Crowley is running rings around them. Their Gambian striker, Alassana Jatta, somehow manages to miss a sitter after rounding the 'keeper - credit to the visiting defender for an incredible clearance off the line. Jatta doesn't have to wait long, as Notts get their noses in front.

The Walsall manager is seething and doesn't muck about during the break. Two of his players are hooked. They are a different force in the second 45 minutes. Notts are pinned back in their own half. Everything comes down the Walsall left hand side. The equaliser is fortuitous, but the winner comes from a breathtaking passage of play. This stunning game of football reaches its crescendo with a McGoldrick header marginally chalked off for offside, in the dying moments of the match.

It's Friday morning, and as per usual I'm waiting for a train. Ms Moon and I are away for the weekend in the Cathedral city of Chester, which lies on the River Dee, on the edge of the England/Wales border. 'It's all change at Crewe' as we hop on a Transport for Wales train.

We check-in at Hotel Indigo before walking into town. I always like to support independent restaurants if I can. We have tapas at a lovely place called Blue Bell. Never one to miss an opportunity, I notice on the Good Beer Guide app that Chester has 9x pub entries. The Cavern of the Curious Gnome is a Belgium-themed bar, that's perched upon one of the city's famous rows. I dash around a few more pubs whilst Ms Moon gets ready for the evening out.

Chester's pub scene is thriving in the Canal Quarter. We see a few more off in the evening, finishing it off in a stunning waterside bar called Telford's Warehouse.

Breakfast is spent at the delightful Zugers. We walk it off down the River Dee before climbing up the steps to do the Grade 1 listed City Walls tour, which takes you past Chester Racecourse and the Castle. We rest up back at the hotel, whilst listening to the football scorers coming in. We dine at an Italian restaurant in the city centre called La Fattoria, which has impressive google reviews. The food is fabulous and the ambience is charming. I can't half pick 'em. Where's all this snow they forecast? More on that next week.

Attendance: 12,610 (1,894 from Walsall)

Man of the Match: Liam Gordon