North Ferriby 1-1 Carlton Town

It's 5pm, and I'm sitting in the Millers clubhouse celebrating a 3-1 win over Ossett United with club sponsor and good friend Jon Gilbert. We're both quaffing 'Day Tripper', a Liquid Light craft beer. It's a brewery that's based in the Sneinton and St Anns area of Nottingham.We're packed in like sardines; there's standing room only. The exhausted players file in one by one; they have given their all during a sublime second half performance, where a cricket score would have been posted, had it not been for the Ossett stopper.

A very special presentation is about to be made to one of the club's all-time greats. In a day and age of Non League players drifting from club to club, not caring two hoots, just for an extra tenner, here or there, the Carlton Town captain, Niall Davie, has racked up an incredible 300 first team appearances, at the age of 27 years old. He also, in the club's hour of need, scored one of the greatest goals in the history of the club. I had the privilege of witnessing that event, up in Hebburn, on a chilly March evening, back in 2023.

There's a heart-warming and emotional speech from Tommy Brookbanks, followed up with an acknowledgement and thank you from Niall, who is looked up to and respected by all at the club. His mum and dad look on, glowing with pride.

Ten of this squad have made over 100 Club appearances. Lawrence Gorman is on 184 and Dan Brown on 203. I leave the ground with DJ Murph entertaining the crowd with an alternative set. I finish up the evening with Ms Moon celebrating a 60th birthday party at the Cosy Club on Victoria Street. It's an iconic building that dates back to 1870 - I wish the beer did too, as the Brixton Pale ale is akin to dishwater, and gin measures are measly, unlike the Reef where they are full to the brim. Supper is a mini kebab from Vegas on Carlton Hill. Google reviews are spot on. Support your local businesses. 

I'm back down Stoke Lane on Tuesday evening. 'The Keyworth Georgie Best' 'Sizzers' and 'You've Been Framed' are also in attendance. It's another six pointer. The visitors, Emley, have had a dip in form, but will prove to be a tough nut to crack. They once knocked my team, Lincoln City, out of the FA Cup, before narrowly losing to West Ham 2-1 in the 3rd round back in 1998.

Liam Moran is firing on all cylinders. A quick word on this lad. He pitched up from a lower level of the game in the pre-season, before suffering an ankle injury. He's had to battle to win game time and you could see his confidence and self-esteem was low. A Tommy Brookbanks masterstroke saw him loaned out briefly over the Christmas period. He returned to the first team, knuckled down and won over the doubting Thomas's. He opens the scoring after pouncing on to a scuffed clearance.

It's nip and tuck in the second half as I wander over to meet Faggsy, who is across the way in the Malc Brown Stand - Malc, ironically, is AWOL in Lanzarote. We celebrate a hard-earned three points with a couple of Magpie real ales in the Old Volunteer.

Ms Moon is down in Brighton on business for three days. It's pretty clear that Virgin Media are unaware of her whereabouts as they called today (Thursday) to ask why the TV set hasn't been switched on for the last 72 hours. Normal service will be resumed at the weekend with Catch Up TV and Four in a Bed.

There have been some very flustered and worried pensioners popping into the newsagent's this week for their 82p issue of What's On TV. The breaking news is that The Farm's number one heartthrob, Caleb, is missing. "Do you think he's dead?" asks Maureen. "No love, he's gone on holiday to Scarborough for a couple of weeks", I reply.

It's Friday morning, and once again I'm loitering around Nottingham train station, minus my 'right arm' (Tony Mac) who is off to watch Spiritualize in Bristol. It's another Keyworth Jolly Boys Outing, to that there London. It's on days like these that you need a hearty 'Spoons breakfast, and less so the pint of Alpha Female from Roosters Brewery that accompanies it.

Ex Conservative Party supporter, Matt Limon, maps out a phenomenal trip. The beer isn't all that down Sarf, but the historical pubs more than make up for it. 16x Good Pub Guide tick offs are completed. We concentrate on the Soho and Covent Garden areas before finishing up at the Parcel Yard in King's Cross. The best beer of the day is back at Brew Tavern, in Notts, where Wallsend Brewery, Two by Two, have a 6% abv ale on. It's a beauty folks. Wallsend, in Tyne and Wear, has a conveyor belt of football talent from the area including: Michael Carrick, Lee Clark and Brian Laws. 

Ms Moon's sister has stopped overnight as she is playing for an orchestra who are performing the soundtrack from the 1982 film E.T. at the Royal Concert Hall. They are having lunch together in town prior to the show. There are already a few people milling around the Estadio El Stokio as I walk through the gates of Carlton Town for the third time in 8 days.

Support is a little thinner on the ground today for the visit up to the East Riding of Yorkshire. A few of the Millers are down on the south coast where the Tricky Trees take on the Seagulls in an FA Cup quarter final tie. The roll call for the coach includes: Club Shop Ken, Murph, Disco Dave, Justin, Aggro Nige, Sonya, Elliot, Unders, Edward and James.

Most of the squad board the coach at Millers Barn, with a few more joining us at Junction 29. Former Millers legend, Grant Brindley, has donated his £50 '200 Club' winnings to buying some beer for the supporters and players for the return coach journey home - nice touch that Grant.

'Disco Dave' has got the toons on. Pet Shop Boys and ELO are the pick of the bunch as we pull in at Scunthorpe Services, so the players can get some food. 'Aggro Nige' hijacks the decks as we head nearer to Yorkshire. Mark E Smith, of The Fall, belts out 'Hit the North', Sparta FC' and a belter of a cover version of Sister Sledge's 'Lost in Music' - What's On TV subscriber and Daily Mail reader, Edward, is mightily impressed.

The coach drops us off at the Duke of Cumberland, a pub in the village, that's a short walk from North Ferriby's ground, We're joined by 'Split Ticket Sam' who has travelled over from Stockport. Justin very kindly buys me a pint of Wainwright's, although I'm still feeling a tad fragile. It's a lovely stroll up to the ground, past the village hall and War Memorial. It's £8 on the gate. The ground is magnificent. I've been a few times when my mate's lad (Ross Durrant) played in the nets for Ferriby. I also came to a sold out pre-season friendly versus Hull City, when we had to pick up tickets from the local post office.

I take advantage of the empty, padded seats in the 'Visiting Directors' Box.' The Millers play with a stiff breeze at their backs. It's a scrappy opening, with nothing doing, until an in-form Moran gets round the back before falling to the ground, the referee points to the spot. The locals around me are incandescent with rage. I remain unmoved and keep my head down as "10 more years, 10 more years Niall Davie" blasts home the spot kick. The Carlton Cattermole should have doubled their lead, but his effort is blocked by the alert 'keeper.

Lewis Durow spurns a golden chance, early in the second half, to put the game to bed from close range, just before the hour. Ferriby have rarely threatened, but are back in the game when they score direct from a corner. They get their pecker up and begin to dominate the middle of the park; slicing through it like a knife through butter. A flurry of substitutions steadies the ship for the Millers. Watson nearly wins it for them after weaving his way through. only to see his blistering strike cannon off the bar.

The long, unbeaten run continues, with only one loss in the last 18 outings. You'd take a point before the game, but they might end up ruing those missed opportunities.

Man of the Match: Dean Freeman (back four, to a man, were magnificent)

Attendance: 339

Beer of the Week: Two By Two - Citra Simcoe Ekuanot IPA 6% abv

Best Record I've Heard This Week: Ian Brown, 'Golden Gaze.' 2000

Credit photos: Steve McKeown and Lou Lardi