Heanor Town 2-0 Crook Town

We're driving up the A42 towards Nottingham after a lovely afternoon out in Melbourne. Ms Moon is listening to Rylan Clarke's Saturday show on Radio 2 - to be fair, the guy is quite funny, particularly when he rings up his mum, Linda, for their weekly 'on air' chat.

I fancy watching the fag end of the T20 game between India and England that's being played in Chennai. Ms Moon drops me right outside the King Billy, in Sneinton. A three minute walk away is J.T. Soar's recording studios, where cult indie band Sleaford Mods made albums such as: Spare Ribs and UK Grim.

A gang of lads from Lincoln, on a pub crawl, have settled in the corner of the cosy back room, near the TV screen, where the cricket is being played out. I sit down with my pint of Kipa, from the fantastic Sheffield brewery, Neepsend. One of the lads asks how 'The Lincoln' are getting on against Peterborough United. "We're 5-1 up mate" I reply. We engage in conversation, mainly about the current state of English cricket.

Another team to concede five goals this afternoon are Nottingham Forest - at least it means the socials will be quiet this evening. I'm not sure how this drubbing will go down with all the new 'drama supporters' they've found since arriving in the Premier League. England lose a tight game by two wickets.

It's the same drill at MSR Newsagents for the next few days. I lock up the shop at five bells on Tuesday evening and jump on a 58 bus that's heading towards the city centre. I alight on Upper Parliament. I ponder on whether to go for a quick slurp at The Barrel Drop, a micropub on Hurts Yard. I'm uncomfortable watching football through beer goggles, as you miss so much. An exception will be made next Saturday when the Mighty Millers of Carlton visit NPL East League table-toppers Belper Town.

I head towards another crowd favourite on Long Row. Five Guys do the second best burger in our city centre - BOHNS, in Hockley. are streets ahead of the remaining field. I gaze out of the window watching the rush-hour traffic, along with office and shop workers jumping into taxis or hopping onto buses. I walk off my burger as I wander down Lister Gate, onto Carrington Street and into the Meadows.

Relegation-threatened Cumbrian team, Carlisle United, are in town tonight. I backed them at 3/1, up at Fleetwood Town last weekend - they duly obliged, as did most of my coupon apart from Huddersfield Town. Not one player who started their first game of the season, down in Gillingham, back in August,  makes tonight's starting XI.

I take my usual pew halfway up the Derek Pavis Stand. I'll miss seeing Dan Crowley running rings around the opposition, now he's defected to the Voldemort of football clubs that thou shalt not mention. Matty Palmer isn't on the team sheet either, due to a facial injury. It's a shame as he's such an intelligent player in and out of possession.

Notts take the lead through a Jatta header following brilliant interplay between Spurs on-loan youngster George Abbott and fans favourite Jodi Jones. The warning signs are there to see for all. Carlisle play a beautiful game of football. Joe Hugill, on loan from Manchester United, is a constant threat. On another night he could have had a brace, but it's not to be, Carlisle show enough fight and heart to suggest they can survive relegation from League Two.

It's Friday morning and I'm on the 7.53 Nottingham to London train with blog legend Matt Limon. We've bagged some day return tickets to the Smoke in the train sale at £35 each. It's a short tube ride to Farringdon. I clock my old schoolmate. Ackers sat at a table in the Sir John Oldcastle. 'Spoons. Matt orders a pint up which is accompanied by a large breakfast which will set us up perfectly for the day.

The plan is to tick off as many Good Beer Guide and CAMRA Heritage pubs as is possible in a seven hour session. The areas we concentrate on are: Hatton Garden, The Strand and Fleet Street. We're joined by 'Chopper Harris', and later Coops.

It can be a bittersweet moment(s) when visiting watering holes in London - the pubs are amongst the best on earth, sadly the beer they serve up often looks and smells like dishwater. It's why a guide is a must, to increase the chances of hunting down a good ale.

It's a cracking effort by the Regiment as we tick off 14 pubs. London is my favourite city and I can't wait to return for my birthday on Wednesday, which I will be celebrating with Our Kid. The day out ends in Brew Tavern, a cosy micropub adjacent to the railway station. Matt treats us to a craft ale called Putty from legendary Cornish brewer, Verdant.

I don't sleep particularly well (probably alcohol). I have a few friends who are in poor health at this moment in time. It preys on my mind and makes me feel sad. I'm downstairs by 8 am with a pot of tea for one and some Marmite on toast. It finally lifts my mood. I listen to Dermot O'Leary interview Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp. He explains that their hit song 'Through the Barricades' was written about a member of the band's crew who was murdered during the Troubles in Belfast during the 80s.

Ms Moon is looking forward to the trip to Heanor as it's one of her favourite grounds. Today is a last 16 FA Vase tie versus Crook Town, who are from Durham. Mark Goodier has taken a turn for the worse - well his music choices have. I have to suffer Elaine Paige, Barbara Dickson and Janet Jackson. To make matters worse Ms Moon is singing her head off - Auto Windscreens are on standby in case any small cracks appear, as we sail down the A610.

I get some cash out near the town centre. It's a good job too as card payment is taken only in the bar. Crook have brought a fair few on what is a 280 mile round trip. I bump into Marko Markelic who has managed a few teams at Step 6. His lad, Sacha, is 10 jacket for Heanor.

I had hoped Mr John Harris and wife Jackie, would make the short trip up the A610. Sadly, they are babysitting for son Sam, who has gone to watch The Nutcracker Ballet - as Dad, John says, "the game's gone."

Joe Nice is playing left back for Heanor Town. I coached him when he was a wee lad at Keyworth United. He was immense for us as a kid. We were all gutted when he left for pastures new. Sam Brown is another lad I came across when he played for Clifton as a youth. Both lads play with their hearts on their sleeves and are as hard as nails.

AC/DC and Dandy Warhols form part of the DJ pre-match set. I struggle to hear today's teams as the Norman Collier dropped microphone routine keeps breaking up the sound system.

The first half isn't for the faint-hearted. Tackles fly in as the ball bobbles on an uneven and battered playing surface. The club announced it's going 3G in the near future, so that's me done - Ms Moon can go on her own.

The game needs a goal and it's a good un when it comes. John King, ex Arnold Town youth, puts Heanor Town 1-0 up. I chat to Sam Brown's mum and dad at the break. He hasn't given the Crook number 9 a sniff. Neecey is having a disciplined game at left back - rarely venturing forward, with safety coming first.

Sleigh is on a marauding run, "where's he going?" says the bloke behind me. In a blink of an eye, including my shit one, the ball is nestling in the back of the net. The 9 jacket has had enough. He has too much to say which results in a Red card. Heanor see out the remaining minutes superbly. They are two games away playing at Wembley Stadium. 

Attendance: 615

Men of the Match: Joe Nice and Sam Brown

Beer of the week: Two Flints, Santiago, on cask.

 Song I liked on the radio: Brassneck: The Wedding Present