CARL Froch missed out on the top prize as Lewis Hamilton was crowned 2014 BBC Sports Personality of the Year at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

Nottingham's world super middleweight champions was one of ten shortlisted candidates for the prestigious accolade this year but was pipped by the Formula One star, who beat golfer Rory McIlroy and runner Jo Pavey into second and third respectively.

But the Post still stands by our man, who was nominated after landing one of the most famous punches in boxing history when he knocked out fierce rival George Groves in front of 80,000 at Wembley – a fight which lived up to its massive hype as the biggest post-war bout in British history.

The Cobra went on to win the Nottingham Post sportsman of the year award last month, was named a Freeman of the city and had a tram named after him.

We in Nottingham hold Froch as our hero and while it would have been incredible to cap the year with yet another award for the 37-year-old, it in no way diminishes the memorable year he experienced.

Froch, like the other nine shortlisted, still had his moment on the stage.

Before this, a video showed the Cobra hard at training out for a run and featured his partner Rachael Cordingley talking over clips of that fight in May against Groves.

She said: "The dedication and hard work he goes through is something else.

"He sacrifices his family really. We don't get to see him while he's in a training camp, that's three months of not seeing his children. But he makes that sacrifice for us.

"The motivation is winning for Carl. Carl only likes to fight the best, so every fight that's put in front of him he wants to succeed.

"The first fight (against Groves in November 2013) he didn't really take it seriously and then he really dug in and put in the effort and the hard work and made the sacrifice and he got him in the end."

An MC style 'Let's get ready to rumble' then welcomed the double world champion to the stage where he declared his love for Cordingley and spoke of why he believed he was nominated.

"That night at Wembley, my whole career was on the line on that historic night and to finish it in the manner I did was very satisfying," he said.

"I've been involved in some unbelievable fights and for that punch I landed on George Groves' chin to define my whole career is unbelievable really.

"I'm not the most talented and skillful fighter out there, I'll be the first to admit that, but there's something inside me that really does refuse to quit and that's the reason I'm stood here tonight, I think.

"You have to make enormous sacrifices being away from your family during the training camp and when that punch landed there was an enormous sense of relief, elation and satisfaction that he's not going to get up from that."

On Cordingley and getting down on one knee to ask her to marry him after the Groves fight, he added: "She's the reason I do what I do. She brings up our two babies. That moment I wanted to share with her to declare my love to her."

Adapted from the popular Broadway musical, the 1982 film version of Annie is firmly engrained in many rose-tinted childhood memories.

The uplifting story of a flame-haired orphan girl who overcomes insurmountable odds to win the heart of a billionaire businessman taps into our deep-rooted sense of belonging.

Infectious music and lyrics by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin have reverberated throughout popular culture from episodes of 30 Rock, Glee and South Park to a sample on rapper Jay-Z's 1998 single Hard Knock Life.

Will Gluck's glossy modern remake retains most of the original songbook with a couple of new soaring ballads.

Some of the updates don't quite work: changing Annie's residence from an orphanage to a foster home significantly reduces the number of children in care for one of the big song and dance numbers.

Also Carol Burnett's ferocious portrayal of Miss Hannigan has been softened so Cameron Diaz retains a glimmer of likeability, even when she's drunkenly snarling, "You think the world wants a smart-mouthed little girl?".

On the whole, Gluck's reworking possesses the same wholesome likeability including a winning title performance from Quvenzhane Wallis, who was Oscar nominated for Beasts Of The Southern Wild.

Annie (Wallis) lives in Harlem in the dubious care of embittered, alcoholic, faded pop star Colleen Hannigan (Diaz) with four other girls: Tessie (Zoe Margaret Colletti), Mia (Nicolette Pierini), Isabella (Eden Duncan-Smith) and Pepper (Amanda Troya).

Eternally cheerful and optimistic, Annie believes her real parents will return for her and every Friday, she sits outside the Italian restaurant where her folks left her aged four with a note.

During one of her regular jaunts around the city, Annie is rescued from the path of a truck by mobile phone company billionaire Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx), who is running for mayor.

The footage goes viral and boosts Will's approval ratings.

Election advisor Guy (Bobby Cannavale), who masterminded campaigns for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kim Jong-Il, suggests that Will temporarily adopts Annie.

Will agrees and welcomes Annie into his high-tech penthouse, where she befriends the mogul's trusty assistant Grace (Rose Byrne).

Over time, Annie opens Will's heart but just when he is poised to consider adopting her forever, her real parents (Tracie Thoms, Dorian Missick) reappear.

Annie lacks some of the rough charm of the 1982 film but director Gluck and his team add enough contemporary spit and polish without obscuring the story's emotional arc.

Cast lip-sync convincingly and the big numbers are slickly choreographed including a heartfelt rendition of Tomorrow from Wallis on the city streets.

An extended sequence at the premiere of a fantasy film called Moon Quake Lake - featuring wink-wink cameos from Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Rihanna - is rather cute.

"People love musicals, they're magical," observes one character.

This version of Annie has an ample sprinkling of that lustre dust.

Rating: 3/5

Parental advisory: Swearing, violence

Running time: 118 mins

Release date: Friday December 20

by Damon Smith

Jim Carrey likes to compare himself to evolution. "I move slowly, but I definitely move," says the rubber-faced funny man, on why it's taken two decades for the follow-up to 1994's Dumb And Dumber to come to fruition.

"I was never planning on doing a sequel, but people never left me alone. They just kept after me, wanting to see another one, and then I watched it 10 years ago. I'd seen bits and pieces a number of times, but this time, I sat and watched it and was laughing. I couldn't believe some of the stuff we did.

"I was like, 'Gosh, I really like these guys, maybe the world needs them'. Plus the world leaders were calling me," he quips, wafting his hand around. "They said, 'There's unrest, we need your help'."

This is as animated as the 52-year-old, casually dressed in light cargo trousers, T-shirt and bomber jacket, with his hair standing on end, gets during our time together, which is something of a surprise, given his larger-than-life performances in the likes of Ace Ventura, Liar Liar and The Mask.

He might've been papped running around the city armed with a puppet of his co-star Jeff Daniels the night before, but today he's calm, quietly spoken, and listens intently to questions before giving thoughtful answers.

Peter Farrelly, who along with his brother Bobby directed the original and the sequel, describes Carrey as "a genius".

"More than people know," says Farrelly. "We sit down with him and go through the script line by line. It's unbelievable what he adds. Then, after we've shot the movie, we ask him to come into the edit room because he's so smart. I have the highest admiration for the man."

Carrey admits he had "lots" of input on the script. "I can't keep my hands off stuff and come up with as many insane things as I can possibly think of. I just spew and they go, 'Inappropriate... Appropriate'."

His work ethic comes from "being absolutely desperate to make something interesting happen in every scene".

"I have a lot of partners in crime with me on this one, particularly Pete and Bob, who are just a different ilk of people. They're the oddest leaders you'd ever want to follow," the actor explains.

"The Family Guy writers also jumped in for a while and had some fun with it. But a movie like this is not talking about what happens, it's about setting things up and playing them out to the fullest, so the audience say, 'I can't believe they're doing that'."

Fans of the original movie will know what to expect; a lot of slapstick and toilet humour. The idiotic Lloyd Christmas (Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Daniels) might be 20 years older but they're as daft as ever, this time criss-crossing the country to find the daughter Harry never knew he had.

The journey takes them from a mental institution, where Lloyd's been languishing in a 'comatose' state for 20 years, to a summit playing host to the world's most brilliant minds. Along the way, they bump into Fraida Felcher, 'the girl from Cranston' who was merely referenced in the first film but is brought to life by Kathleen Turner in the sequel.

"For me, having her on the set was a total honour, because she's done such incredible work over the years," says Carrey, who worked with the Oscar nominee on 1986's Peggy Sue Got Married.

Their on-screen meeting involves the cringe-inducing moment Lloyd refers to her character's 'blowfish jowls'.

"Having to say that to Kathleen Turner was very confronting for me," he admits with a goofy grin. "And a lot of people have said to me about the 'Excuse me sir' when she's under the hood of a car covered in grease. It gets big laughs."

They're just two of the many gaffes the pair make during the movie, but Carrey believes it's their innocence which makes them lovable, despite their foibles.

"There's no ego with them. They're completely authentic about their lives. It's like when you watch children, and you're relieved by the fact they're selfish at times and they cry when they want to and they laugh when they want to, and it's the same with these guys. It's the same kind of animal."

Born in Canada's Ontario, Carrey, who has a 27-year-old-daughter from his first marriage (he's been married twice), began his career as a stand-up comic in his teens. He moved to LA at 19 and became a regular at The Comedy Store, where he attracted the attention of comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield, and the pair started touring together.

He then moved onto TV and film with varied success, before 1994's Ace Ventura marked him out as a comedic tour de force.

His career hasn't all been about raising laughs, though - there have been plenty of dramatic roles too, notably 1998's The Truman Show, about a man who realises his entire life is being played out as a reality TV show, which earned him his first Golden Globe.

"I felt so lucky to be a part of that. I'd actually attempted to write something like The Truman Show two years before and couldn't quite find the handle. Then the script came to me and I was like, 'Oh, thank you God'," he says, putting his palms together.

"It's just the idea that to be your authentic self, you have to go into the abyss, the unknown, and trust that you're going to find the doorway," he says of the moment his character realises all is not as it seems and attempts to uncover the truth.

He won another Golden Globe for his portrayal of the comedian Andy Kaufman in 1999's Man On The Moon, and then in 2004, appeared in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, opposite Kate Winslet.

"It was one of those very rare moments where a writer and director capture a primal, human thing, which is the idea of being erased or wanting to erase someone. It was totally original." As was the script for 2009's I Love You Phillip Morris, in which he starred alongside Ewan McGregor.

"The fact a gay man would use the device of AIDS as an escape route? It was amazing to me that someone was doing that," says Carrey, who also wrote his first children's book in 2013.

He hasn't ruled out tackling another dramatic role in the future. "I hope to, sure," he says. "Those are the types of things where I like to wait for something special."

But comedy is where his heart is... Just don't ask him to pick a favourite film from his back catalogue.

"They're tough to choose between," he says, laughing. "They're like my kids."

Dumb And Dumber To is released on Friday, December 19

NOTTINGHAM City Council will try to forcibly take control of a landmark regeneration zone which has lain empty for more than a decade.

Proposals for a £900m redevelopment of the Eastside site on London Road were first put forward in 2004.

But no deals have ever been done to build on the site – despite claims by council leaders that there is significant interest.

Now, they are set to begin legal proceedings which could ultimately see them compulsorily purchase the 26-acre site.

Nottingham City Council leader Councillor Jon Collins says deals aren't happening because the site's owners want too high a price.

The owners, an investment business called Heathcote Holdings, have been trying to sell Eastside. They have so far declined to comment on the council's proposals.

Mr Collins said: "We are deadly serious about this. It's something we don't do very often but in this case enough is enough.

"We feel we have pursued every available option to achieve progress but nothing has happened."

He added: "We have done all we can to encourage and support the site owners to progress with the site's redevelopment but after years of inaction from them, we have no confidence they have any intention of doing so.

"We are prepared to buy the site ourselves, either through the advertised sale or by exercising our statutory powers of compulsory purchase if we have to."

The proposals to begin the first stages of compulsory purchase proceedings are being discussed by the council's executive board on Tuesday.

They will see up to £75,000 spent on the professional advice required before proceedings are started.

Councillors also want enforcement action taken to improve the condition of dilapidated buildings on the site, which Mr Collins says has been "a magnet for anti-social behaviour".

The site lies behind BioCity, a nationally recognised centre of expertise in life sciences, and Mr Collins says he wants to see firms move on to the site who would work in similar fields.

"The first thing I want to see on there is an opportunity for BioCity to expand because it represents an important part of the local economy," said Mr Collins.

"But there is also an opportunity for associated businesses, and we think there is also demand for good quality office accommodation – we have shown people round the city but they can't come because the space isn't there.

"We're also looking at other uses. There could be another hotel on there and the right kind of housing."

Nigel Brunskill, who represents the site's owners, Heathcote Holdings, told the Post: "I have no comment to make at this stage because I don't know anything about this."

There's no shortage of dim-witted, foolhardy and empty-headed characters on the big screen.

Watch any horror film and at least one victim will venture into the dark to investigate a strange noise when common sense dictates you run in the opposite direction. Inspector Clouseau blundered through various investigations yet somehow always solved the case, A Clockwork Orange featured a droog called Dim and Kevin Kline won an Oscar as numbskull assassin Otto West in A Fish Called Wanda.

Forrest Gump, one of cinema's great innocents, famously remarked that "stupid is as stupid does" and using that barometer, Dumb And Dumber To takes the art of moronic tomfoolery to new depths.

From the eye-watering opening gag of a DIY catheter removal, Bobby and Peter Farrelly's mindless sequel to their hit 1994 comedy embraces every crude, lewd and inappropriate set-up imaginable in its relentless pursuit of cheap, grubby titters.

If this is the future of comedy on film then the art form has flat-lined and I would strongly recommend for a Do Not Resuscitate order.

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their roles as best pals Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, who mix up their words ("That's all water under the fridge") and are blinkered to the perils of modern life.

They merrily take a shower under the waste water pipe from a nuclear power plant.

For two decades, Lloyd (Carrey) has been consigned to Baldy View Psychiatric Hospital, where Harry (Daniels) visits and helps nurses to wash, dress and feed the comatose patient.

Thankfully, Lloyd regains the few senses he possesses and supports Harry through his own medical emergency: an urgent kidney transplant.

Since Harry is adopted, there is no familial donor and the future seems bleak.

Out of the blue, Harry learns that he fathered a child in 1991 with old flame Fraida Felcher (Kathleen Turner).

"Do you know what this means? You have a grown kid... with grown kidneys!" shrieks Lloyd.

The dim-witted duo tracks down the fruit of Harry's loins, Penny (Rachel Melvin), to her adopted parents: reclusive scientist Dr Pinchelow (Steve Tom) and his trophy wife (Laurie Holden).

Alas, Penny has already departed for a convention in El Paso to honour her father's ground-breaking work. So the simple-minded pals hit the road - and occasionally each other - in order to reunite Harry with his long-lost offspring and persuade her to give up her organ.

Dumb And Dumber To is a greater ordeal for us than it is for Harry and Lloyd, who are battered and bruised by misfortune.

The plot is nonsensical and includes pointless diversions including a brief reappearance of the Mutt Cutts dog van from the original picture.

Carrey and Daniels fling themselves into the fray with gusto, at the mercy of a script that lacks subtlety, sophistication or any discernible laughs.

Rating: 1/5

Parental advisory: Swearing, sex, violence

Running time: 109 mins

Released: Friday December 19

By Damon Smith

Ex-partner Vaidas Balandis was described by a judge as a "control freak" after he harassed and blackmailed his former girlfriend over the course of a year.

Balandis, 31, of Hill Vue Avenue, Newark, demanded money from her and threatened to break her teeth after she moved in with a male friend.

Judge John Pini QC said on Tuesday, December 15, at Nottingham Crown Court: "He is a man who drinks, becomes a control freak and makes her life a misery."

The judge passed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-year restraining order to put Balandis on a "long leash".

"You and your partner have a six-year-old son," said the judge.

"You have been together for about seven years and all would be well were it not for the fact that you drink far too much."

Balandis was fined £350 for breaching a suspended prison sentence for an offence of battery on his ex-partner in July 2012.

His former girlfriend had followed him to Newark from Manchester to find work and they briefly stayed together until she found her own home and then her male friend moved in.

"Unfortunately, this seemed to have triggered a degree of unhappiness in the defendant and he demanded £1,000 to leave her friend alone, and threatened to break her teeth," said prosecutor Esther Harrison.

"She felt when he was in drink, when the threats were made, he was capable of carrying out such threats.

"In August 2013 he sold a £120 mobile phone to her but she agreed, because of the threats, to pay him £500 to specifically stop him assaulting her friend."

The woman told him she had paid him enough and he should leave her alone.

But in summertime this year he began asking for money and called her abusive names.

She went to police and he was arrested.

He admitted harassing and blackmailing her when he appeared in court.

Lisa Hardy, mitigating, said Balandis misread his ex-partner's move from Newark to Manchester that there was a possibility of them resuming their relationship.

"He is desperately keen to sort his life out, his attitudes and his drinking," she said.

The judge addressed the boozing problem by ordering Balandis to get alcohol treatment over ten help sessions.

WHEN dog-lover Zara Hayes took on a 'possibly pregnant' Doberman she never imagined two months later it would give birth to a huge litter of 14 puppies.

Miss Hayes, owner of Yappy Ever After dog rescue in Arnold, bought two-year-old Keela after seeing an advert on a sales website.

Now she is trying to find loving new homes for the pets after the Doberman gave birth at a foster home in South Wales.

The 42-year-old said: "I got Keela because my thought was that someone could make a lot of money from the puppies with very little effort - and I was worried about her not being of use to anyone after giving birth.

"I am just overwhelmed with the number of puppies to be honest; there were a lot of tears. It was a bit of touch and go with the last one because she wasn't breathing, but she is fighting strong now. Keela has done fantastically well."

Miss Hayes said she hopes that some of the puppies may return to Nottingham - but is willing to travel across the country to find the right homes.

She added: "I just want to find perfect homes for them now - and I am going to be quite strict with the process. I will be doing home checks, looking at backgrounds, and finding out what experience people have with Dobermans first to make sure they are committed."

Yappy Ever After volunteer Vicky Day, 26, of Arnold, said the Doberman was only expected to give birth to five or six puppies.

She said: "We were getting regular updates throughout the night as and when the puppies were born. None of us could sleep.

"By the time the 12th one was out I thought it was madness. Fourteen is amazing - I wish I could have been there. Most of all I am pleased they are all healthy."

Zara's partner, Graham Maxwell, 44, added: "This is what Zara does and I am fully supportive of her.

"I expected maybe five or six puppies - but 14 is unbelievable. I will be glad to see them all go to good homes."

Keela is in the process of being adopted by her fosterer.

Anyone looking to take on one of the Doberman puppies should contact Miss Hayes through www.yappyeverafter.org. 

It's time to say goodbye. The third chapter of the blockbusting Night At The Museum franchise has lost two of its greatest special effects - Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams - in the past 12 months. So it's fitting that Secret Of The Tomb should be an action-packed adventure punctuated with dewy-eyed farewells and warm-hearted reminiscence.

Shawn Levy's picture is a fitting swansong, reuniting most of the protagonists from the original for a final transatlantic hurrah.

The script adds father-son bonding to the mix and a new Neanderthal called Laa (Ben Stiller), who is partial to munching on polystyrene foam.

For the most part though, familiarity with the series' larger-than-life characters breeds contentment.

The third chapter opens in 1938 Egypt, where adventurer Robert Fredericks (Brennan Elliott) and his 12-year-old son CJ (Percy Hynes-White) stumble upon a burial chamber.

"If anyone disturbs this tomb, the end will come!" proclaims one superstitious local.

Undaunted, Fredericks empties the site of its priceless artefacts, dividing the treasures between New York and London.

Fast-forwarding to the present day, the magical Tablet Of Ahkmenrah, which brings to life the exhibits of the American Museum Of Natural History, is losing its power.

Security guard Larry Daley (Stiller) recognises the repercussions for his display case chums and enlists the help of museum director Dr McPhee (Ricky Gervais) to ship the tablet to the British Museum in London, home of pharaoh Merenkahre (Sir Ben Kingsley), who fashioned the tablet in honour of his son Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek).

Larry heads for the British capital with his son Nick (Skyler Gisondo) and several stowaways: Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams), cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson), Roman general Octavius (Steve Coogan), Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), interpreter Sacagawea (Mizuo Peck), Laa and Dexter the capuchin monkey.

Aided by dashing Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens) and hindered by local security guard Mindy (Rebel Wilson), Larry races against time to restore the tablet's lustre before the magic dissipates forever.

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb milks our affection for the characters without exhausting our good will.

There's nothing innovative in the third film but good humour and sweetness prevail, and the script continues to have fun juxtaposing the modern and ancient worlds like when Sir Lancelot asks Nick, "Have you ever held a blade?" and the teenage responds, "Only in World Of Warcraft."

London looks splendid through Levy's lens, accompanied by a predictable yet rousing chorus of The Clash, and an extended cameo by a Hollywood superstar during the frenetic denouement is a treat.

Stiller seems to have tears in his eyes for most of the second half, relying predominantly on co-stars to lasso the laughs.

When Williams' waxwork President acknowledges the end is nigh and softly remarks, "You have to let us go," it's hard not to get a little lump in your throat.

Rating: 3/5

Parental Advisory: Violence

Running time: 98 mins

Released: Friday December 19

by Damon Smith

THE highlight of Southwell Racecourse's Beer Festival was the victory for local trainer Mick Appleby in the seven-furlong handicap on day one on the weekend.

Pearl Nation scooted away from the field to win by four and a half lengths in the hands of Luke Morris, who is currently clear at the top of the all-weather jockeys championship.

Also of note, on a weekend where the racing action was alongside the beer festival, live music and an appearance from darts legend Bobby George, was Connor Beasley riding his 95th winner.

Furthermore, AP McCoy had to dash off after riding Faerie Reel to victory in the 2.15 race at Southwell on Sunday to be in Glasgow for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, which began at 8pm.

From a jockey with over 4000 winners to a jockey having his first now, and what a ride 17-year-old Matthew Ennis gave Extreme Impact to take the 2.45 on Sunday.

General manager of the racecourse Mark Clayton said: "We attracted over 3,000 people to what is a very successful event, and we look forward to continuing our festive celebrations throughout our remaining December and new year fixtures."

For more information on the remaining four fixtures of 2014, visit www.southwell-racecourse.co.uk or call 01636 814481.

THE eagerly awaited derby between Midland Division 2 leaders Sikh Union (Nottingham) and North Notts had to be postponed, the victim of a frozen pitch at the Forest Recreation Ground (pictured).

This was also the case for Nottingham Players' visit to Buxton in the East Midland Premier Division.

Of the matches that were played, the most significant result occurred at the King Edward VII College where Nottingham shared six goals with East Midland Premier Division leaders Coalville Town.

The home side, who scored from three penalty corner conversions, took an early lead but Nottingham equalised when centre forward Robert Britton picked up a pass from Sven Largerburg to dribble past the Coalville goalkeeper.

Nottingham repeated the move in the second half as David Sells broke down the right and his centre was collected by Ben Morris, who put Nottingham ahead.

Town converted a penalty corner and then, with six minutes remaining, leading scorer Morris converted a penalty stroke after the home keeper's partial save from a penalty corner struck a defender's foot on the line.

Nottingham's hopes of victory were dashed by Coalville's third corner success with only three minutes left to draw 3-3.

The result, the only draw in the division after 65 matches, has thrown the promotion race wide open with five clubs in contention.

One of the beneficiaries of Nottingham's result was Boots, who moved up to fourth after winning 2-1 at Market Harborough.

The teams delayed the start for an hour to let the Welland Park Academy pitch thaw and played a goalless first half.

Market Harborough scored first in open play but James Cameron-William equalised ,converting a penalty stroke after an Adam Innocent shot was stopped by a defender's foot.

Boots completed their eighth victory when Manny Soar's penalty corner strike was deflected past the Harborough keeper by Notts cricketer Riki Wessels.

The National School Hucknall was the venue for a much improved performance from Mansfield, who defeated Warwickshire visitors Berkswell and Balsall Common 2-1.

The visitors' first half lead was cancelled out by Kyle Farquharson, who collected a huge aerial pass from Mark Greasby and scored in spite of the efforts of three defenders to stop him.

Mansfield's third win was achieved when Jason Ward converted a penalty corner late in the first half.

Newark defeated Panthers (Leicester) 4-3 in Leicester where Alex Davies (penalty corner), Nick Crouch, Howard Benjamin and Scott Robinson scored for the Greens and South Nottingham lost 2-0 to Chesterfield in Midland Division 1.

The Midland League now takes a break from action over the festive period and returns on January 17.

Warwick Printing Second Team League

Midland Premier Division: Beeston 0 Cannock 4 West Bridgford 6 Leek 1.

East Midland Division 1: Nottingham 2 Leicester Westleigh 0, Nottingham Players 5 Wellingborough 0, South Nottingham 3 Ashby 2.

East Midland Division 2: Nottingham Trent University 6 Leamington 1, Sikh Union (Coventry) 1 Mansfield 4.

Warwick Printing Third Team League

Midland Premier Division: Cannock 5 Nottingham University 2, Lichfield 6 Boots 2, Sutton Coldfield 3 West Bridgford 3.

East Midland Premier Division: Coalville Town 1 Nottingham 0, Leicester 6 South Nottingham 2.

Warwick Printing Central League

Midland Premier Division: Beeston IV 4 West Bridgford IV 2.

East Midland Premier Division: Beeston VI 1 Rugby and East Warwicks IV 2, Boots IV 6 Leek VI 0, Rugby and East Warwicks V 0 Beeston V 0, West Bridgford VI 7 Burton IV 2.

North East Division 1: Boots V 3 Burton V 3, South Nottingham IV 0 Boots VI 3.

South East Division 1: West Bridgford VII 8 Leicester Westleigh IV 4.

North East Division 2: Burton VII 7 Nottingham Players V 1, Newark IV 3 Nottingham V 0.

A MAN has been charged with calling in a bomb threat to one of Nottingham's biggest firms.

Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard that Grant Bradley allegedly made the call to Experian, in The Meadows, on February 24.

The 31-year-old, from Sherbrook Road, Daybrook, is charged with communicating false information with the intention of inducing the belief that a bomb was present.

Police officers and firefighters were called.

The case has now been sent to Nottingham Crown Court. Bradley has been bailed with no conditions.

NOTTS County were hugely unfortunate not to seal a win at Preston on the opening day of the season.

Notts deployed a one-man strikeforce that day and came very close to securing a win after Jake Cassidy's goal.

Indeed, Preston were restricted to just half chances that day until Joe Garner (pictured) smashed in with just a minute to go before full-time.

Whether Derry will replicate those tactics remains to be seen.

But his opposite number, Simon Grayson, will certainly know that against the bigger sides he has tended to play one man up front.

Derry may feel that he can go for the jugular as Preston do play 4-4-2 which Derry may want to match up man for man.

QPR winger Michael Petrasso made a lively contribution when he came on as a second half substitute as Garry Thompson went up front.

He is almost certain to start as is Stephen Mclaughlin meaning Thompson could partner on-loan Wolves forward Jake Cassidy up front in a two-pronged attack.

Key battle: Haydn Hollis v Kevin Davies

Preston striker Kevin Davies has formed a formidable reputation over the years for his aerial ability.

But centre-back Haydn Hollis, who will be marking him, has proven pretty adept at winning battles in the air.

You sense the winner of this duel could hold the key to their side's hopes of victory.