RIPLEY TOWN BACK IN THE PREMIER WITH A WIN

RIPLEY TOWN 4 CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH TOWN 1

CMA PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH @ GREENWICH COMMUNITY SPORTS HUB

11 AUGUST 2026 --- 1830HRS

Ripley Town got off to a wining start in their return to step 7 football after an absence of around 23 years.  After falling behind to an early goal they stormed back to command most of the remainder of the game scoring four goals into the bargain in front of around 70 people on a hot and very bright August evening, the previous months of hot dry weather were visible in the brown pitch that all non league clubs are suffering at present. 

I was grateful to Ripley manager Danny Cooper to confirm the game was still going ahead and after a quick 20 minute taxi journey time allowed for a visit to the adjacent Sainsbury for some water.  The Greenwich Community Sporting Hub is a smart building and also serves as a base for Butterley Cricket Club who also use the park.  Being so the club cannot charge for admission and rely on revenue from a snack bar with the usual soft drinks, teas, coffees and confectionery to make a little extra.

There is little furniture available of course due to the park fact although the club do have two very smart canvas wheel on wheel off dug outs.  Historically this ground had a large stand on it and a careful internet search will probably pull up the impressive structure.

The last time I saw a Ripley Town game was at the end of the 2003 season was then they played a CMFL game at Butterley Brickworks ground , at the end of that season the club folded due to a lack of a ground as this one became unavailable I guess as the works wound down.  Since then the club club have tried three re gathering of which this has been the most successful with the current club entering its third season after being promoted at the second attempt frrom CMA Division 1 West under manager Cooper.

A bright evening would make photos difficult but hopefully there is a few here to match the words with two nice kits on show the two tone blue of Cromford and the classic maroon and dark blue with yellow trim of Ripley Town.

Return to the tope level of The CMA did not start to well for the home side when Cromford took the lead after five minutes.  Ripley got on caught in possession on the right and cross laid across into the path of Scott Taylor who swept the ball home with ease.

Maybe there was doubts in the Ripley side but not for long they re gathered themselves and on 34 minutes they found the equaliser.  Captain Matt Lewis put the left wing corner to the back post where Matt Hibbert powered home his header to level.

Even better news for the home side when they took the lead in the third minute of first half time added on.  The ball was parried away by visiting keeper Jay Toone into the path of Jake Gascoigne who fired his close range shot goalwards it struck the visiting defender Tom Wilmott but could not deny the ball nestling in the net.

Half time investment in the snack bar and the players were soon returning to the pitch and the thought must have been of experienced CMA side Cromford coming back into this game.

It wasn't to be though and even though the exchanges were tight and a degree of long ball was utilised, naturally so on a bobbly hard pitch it was Ripley who added a third on 63 minutes.  Again Lewis in charge of the corners looked to have scuffed a grubber from the corner to the near post it evaded a gathering of players and despite the best efforts of Toone it was Gascoigne who got his second forcing the ball home from close range.

The home aside made it comfortable with seven minutes remaining with the goal of the game a superb long ball from Harrison Mills saw substitute Jaydon Dar hold off the defenders enthusiastic challenge to run on and fire home to make it four.

With both clubs now ready fro the final whistle time was played out before Ripley could celebrate a wonderful victory on the opening day of their new challenge and campaign on this showing they should be looking to a nice comfortable season.  The are next at home in a weeks time for a night game versus Wirksworth Ivanhoe in what will be a tough challenge.  Cromford and Wirksworth are seasoned campaigners and will bounce back from this defeat.

Return journey saw a quick return to base.  It had been an entertaining evening and good to see Ripley's start to their new challenge to life at we non leaguers still call step 7 some two decades after their last appearance here.  

Once again there are a few more pictures than words hopefully you enjoy taking a look below at the additional ones.

HISTORY MAKERS

CLAY CROSS TOWN 1 MELTON TOWN 0

FA VASE 3RD ROUND AT MILL LANE

14 DECEMBER 2024 --- 3PM

FA VASE CLAY CROSS TOWN V MELTON TOWN 

Clay Cross Town progressed to round four with this 1-0 victory thanks to Ross Duggan who three minutes after half time rippled the Melton net and in the process saw them way surpass anything the club had previously achieved at this level.  A wonderful effort once again coming out on top against a side from a level above them in the non league structure something they had been making a habit of in previous rounds and now into the last 32 in a national competition, just let that sink in for a moment.

Today would be a bright but very cold day with a fast disappearing light as is normal at this stage of the season and a reason why, getting my excuses in, the pictures are not a s sharp as normal.  That though is the case with 3pm kick offs in the mid winter.  

Cards on the table I as many will know spent some time here helping out this wonderful little club with the ultimate pinnacle of floodlights but all that is history as the club have recently go above and beyond.

The new container stands with one seated and one standing as added an extra option to the lovely old stand and of course the stand of character the former Queens Park cricket stand that had stood entwined in overgrowth for many a year at Bolsover Town's former ground.  But the recent developments of new Tunnel Cafe, rebuild and re siting of changing rooms alongside 'the cross bar' bringing a tremendous new era to the Mill Lane club.

A recent change in ownership with Ryan Smith bringing in his ability to improve the side and also work on what was a previously perfect playing surface that was wrecked in last seasons winter with flooding and constant downpours that seemed to effect the East Midlands worse than other parts of the country.  

Head groundsman and now also Chairman Lee Watson was as ever busy on the gate, pitch and backrooms hardly seeing the first half and former secretary Dave 'Nobby' Clark was also in attendance alongside many of the old crew in Lee Bagshaw and Mick Goulding.  So it was good to see a continuity but this club currently looks really exciting with some nice facilities all built close to the pitch side now.

A circuit of the ground found Mr W of the Woodseats parish in attendance with a proud displaying of his Clay Cross Town scarf built somebody getting him a CXTFC hat he was still in a Spireites one.  Local photographer Bill Wheatcroft a lovely chap who travels the non league scene remembering him from his days as a contributor to the excellent Crooked Spireite fanzine in the days gone by.  Other glitterati were there Ollie, Geordie Clive et al along with hardy band of regular Millers supporters.  Overall a lovely catch up with many non league supporters. 

Referee David Constable was a change from last weeks original fixture and it was good to catch up with hIm before the game with a chat about the last time had photographed him in The CMFL cup final at Alfreton probably 7 years ago.  He certainly had a very good game today along with his assistants who looked fit and up for keeping up with the on the pitch action.

Melton visited from UCL Premier North and were just outside the play off zone so a real challenge was on the cards, also with them were a nice band of supporters with the famous 'pork pie army' banner sadly they hadn't brought any samples.  But bringing samples was Jason from Andy Man club who were offering wrist bands to the supporters.

Game wise then and the first half was very much about Clay Cross pressure with the visitors defence holding strong and limiting the Millers to shots from around the edge of the box that all flashed wide of the posts but far enough not to worry the goal, the exciting Carlton Carty was always willing to make a run down the left and most importantly take on the defence.

The visitors were proving a counter attack threat with left winger Will Norcross challenging the defence and supplying a couple of low crosses that skipped across the goal mouth just needing a touch.  

The best chance of the half did fall to the visitors Kieran Hayes got through but Charlie Dando was out quickly to block but the ball fell back to Hayes who shot was heading goal bound until Liam Vardy swept in to clear the ball off the line.

With the temperature dropping many went to the excellent Tunnel Cafe and some popped in for a colder option in the Cross Bar.

The second half could not have started better for Clay Cross when after just three minutes they scored the goal that would win the tie through Ross Duggan who turned to create space and fired across the keeper to see the ball nestle in the far corner of the visitors goal.  Scenes of joy followed as the team and supporters celebrated but wait there was still nearly a full 2nd half to play.

The Millers settled down but slowly tiredness was creeping in as the clubs fixtures appeared to catch up with them, 1/4 finals in DFA Cup, League Cup and top of the table following a tough Wednesday night game at local rivals Staveley.

Melton were going to give this a go and Norcross again got in and his effort was blocked by Ash Grayson for a corner.  Next Hayes got in and Dando pushed the ball away with the follow up shot hitting the post.

Clay Cross were increasingly looking for the breakaway and Ahmed Tahar forced the keeper into a sharp save.

It was though the visitors who were pushing the home side back with Harry Wakefield forcing Dando into another save and as the ball fell lose he smothered Damien McCrory's effort. 

With nine minutes to go Melton hit the woodwork again this time the crossbar when Kalis Gore cut in off the left and hit a sweet shot that inches lower would have caused despair for Clay Cross.

The Millers were hanging on now but hang on they did last gasp tackles and battles all over the pitch in what was a sterling effort. 

Referee Constable blew for time after five minutes of added time and the history makers were through to the fourth round with a home tie against Midland League Premier side Whitchurch Alport in the new year.

Highly entertaining game but the second half was so edgy for Clay Cross as Melton who look a good side pushed them too the limit.

As ever a few more pictures than words follow below.

PILSLEY HIT 7

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 7 SOUTHWELL CITY DEV 0

CMA DIVISION 1 EAST AT RUPERT ST

30 NOVEMBER --- 2PM

PILSLEY COMMUNITY V SOUTHWELL CITY DEV NATHAN FLINT HAT TRICK FOR PILSLEY

Pilsley Community hit seven on an afternoon were most things went right for them even with a sharp second half performance from Southwell.  There was a hat trick for Nathan Flint and a brace apiece for Kian Barlow and Rhys Wallhead in this storming victory.

RHYS WALLHEAD

So like London buses wait ages to get back to Pilsley and then two games come along in succession.  It was a dark day with I'm afraid a lack of the usual decent pictures but hopefully enough to capture the 90 minutes.

Was good beforehand to catch up with Pete and Andy Pilsley's management and their opposite numbers Julian and Pete with thanks for help with the teams.  Also a chance to have a chat with match referee Amy Fern before the start.

ANDY BIRD ENQUIRES TO KEV CARLINE WHERE IS APPLE IS

The ridge once again offered a cool afternoon and many long coats and hats were in view.  The visitors had lost a good collection of players only recently so they were very much in an experimental stage but started off at a pace and looked threatening early on.

SOUTHWELL MANAGERS JULIAN MARSHALL AND PETE SHAW

But Pilsley had taken the lead after seven minutes when Southwell failed to clear the ball at the back post and Flint notched his first strike of the afternoon.

As the home side built up a dominance they increased their lead after 25 minutes when Shane Marriott crossed a right hand side free kick and it was Flint who headed home.  It was three nine minutes later when Wallhead got through and in a one on one with the keeper slotted home.

SECOND GOAL CELEBRATIONS

A minute before the break a lovely move saw Wallhead turn supplier a patient wait to get the ball into the path of Barlow who fired low into the bottom right hand corner for four.  The first minute of stoppage time was something the visitors did not lead when Community made it five with Flint and Wallhead combining they set up Barlow who finished.

It could have been more as moments later Flint got in to put his shot past the keeper but a great goal line clearance denied him.

GOAL NUMBER THREE CELEBRATIONS RHYS WALLHEAD AND KIAN BARLOW

Southwell retreated to the changing rooms for a good old review and took the whole fifteen minutes something that seemed to put a new belief in the players as they started the second half at a pace.

GOAL FIVE CELEBRATIONS

Ethan Widdowson got in a cracking 20 yard effort but Pilsley keeper Daniel Caunt matched it with full length save.  Southwell were playing some nice passing stuff now and a lot of the good play was just failing to produce a goal their efforts deserved.

FLINT EFFORT CLEARED OFF THE LINE

With 20 minutes to go Pilsley got the half a dozen as the visitors could not clear their lines and as Pilsley remained persistent Wallhead struck for his brace.

As Pilsley now got back into a game that after the interval they seemed to take a back foot approach to but in fairness Southwell really had upped their game as well.

Barlow stretched to put a header just wide as he sought the chance to become the first to a hat trick.

HALF TIME FOR KIAN BARLOW

As the last fifteen came it was Finley Mellows-Simpson who got in a lovely free kick in that Caunt saved low at his post.

But with five minutes of the 90 it was Flint who was first to the hat trick brought down in the box he got up to fire home for the seventh.

Of course a great win for Pilsley and a harsh afternoon for the visitors who showed some good football in stages non more so than the impressive Diego Perez on the left who always looked a danger when given the ball. 

Three points that Pilsley take and it was an impressive performance that takes them to a nice mid table position while Southwell finish the weekend in eighth.

GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM REFEREE AMY FERN

JOY AND HEARTBREAK

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 3 LONG BENNINGTON 3

CMA DIVISION 1 EAST AT RUPERT ST

16 NOVEMBER 2024 --- 2PM

PILSLEY COMMUNITY V LONG BENNINGTON JAKE BROCK SHOT BLOCKED BY FIN STEWARDSON

A superb game to watch was summed up at the final whistle by the joys of Long Bennington who equalised with a superb strike with literally the last kick of the game and the disappointment of Pilsley who going for the third win in a row came back from behind to lead 3-1 before conceding so late on.

REX WHITEHURST CHALLENGES KIAN BARLOW

About time I made a visit to Pilsley and all things conspired to allow that this weekend.  In the couple of years since I had seen them last in The Hope Valley League, often a source of entertaining games, they had transferred their competition to The Central Midland Alliance competing in Division 1 East.  The change has seemed to suit them fairly well and has also brought in a new range of clubs non more so than today's visitors who have a long journey from their home between Newark and Grantham.

Bothe the clubs managers in Kev Carline and Andy Bird were away today apparently in sunnier environments so Gareth Lewin would take charge. 

The visitors were situated in a lowly position and with Pilsley going for their third consecutive win the form suggested a home win.  But of course football is a funny old game as somebody once said and the visitors contributed to this excellent encounter and in the end were well worth their point.

Quick catch up with Derbyshire FA referee Richard Thompson before the game to gain the teams was followed by a circuit of the pitch and as regular readers will know the complex sits on a ridge and yes the light wind elsewhere was a strong and cold one up here.

The club have purchased the adjacent field to the ground and have fenced it off and started to develop the surface which hopefully within the next year or so should se a new pitch for the seniors hopefully this will add to the club who have a wide collection of teams playing under their banner.

QUESTION OF SPORT SPOT THE REFEREE COMPETITION

Onwards to the game and with a healthy band of people gathered on this 'might stop in by the radiator' afternoon it was the visitors who shocked the locals with an opening goal and what an opening goal with Alfie Morley firing home from 25 yards into the top right hand corner after just 3 minutes.

JACK LEWIN COMES OUT OF THE CHALLENGE

It would take Pilsley a while to get a firm foothold back in the game but when they did they found an equaliser just past the half hour mark when Daniel Wing saw his effort parried by visiting keeper Fin Stewardson only for Jake Brock to slot home the ball.

Now Pilsley were looking in gear and Brock got in on a defensive error only to see Stewardson push away his effort.

On the stroke of half time Community did take the lead when Stewardson on the left edge of his box came out to challenge Wing only succeeding in bringing him down and Nathan Flint stepped up to despatch the penalty.

GARETH LEWIN BLOCKS OUT THE SUN

The usual quick turn round in these grassroots games was a blessing and off we set with Pilsley in the ascendancy straight away through Wing and Flint just had the ball taken away from him by visiting keeper Stewardson's intervention.

Again Wing was looking the danger as the visiting number one pushed the ball round for a corner.

JAKE BROCK LEVELS FOR PILSLEY

At the other end Pilsley were grateful to keeper James Baron for a sharp save from Christopher Foat whose sharp shot tested him and all this within the first four minutes of the second half.

Both teams were going for this game now and it was great to see non of the passing square, passing back stuff of the higher league just genuine effort from the teams out for a good game of football.

There wasn't much to keep Wing out of the game as he let fly with a cross goal shot that flew just wide of the far post.

Then Pilsley took the lead with another wonderful goal after 64 minutes when Kian Barlow weaved his way past two players on the left hand side of the box before slotting past Stewardson into the far right hand corner of the goal to give Pilsley a two goal cushion.

Two goal leads are often seen as the wobbly time so much more so than one goal leads I'm never quite sure why but here we were about to find out this old adage again.

NATHAN FLINT MAKES IT 2-1 ON THE STROKE OF HALF TIME

Long Bennington were straight back onto trying to save this game and the arrears were reduced with 18 minutes to play with another wonder strike a superb low controlled drive from 25 yards out.  Here full time has James Marshall as the scorer whereas my number had Jack Gowen [15] so I mention both it may be a team sheet number or my viewing through the lens, but one thing is it was a cracker.

GARETH LEWIN HALF TIME CALMNESS

The game was in full swing now and it could really have gone either way at this stage with eight minutes to go Baron pulled off a smart save re gathering the lose ball after captain Owen Riley fired goalwards.

STEWARDSON UP HIGH TO GATHER

As the light fell away on the winters afternoon we entered the third minute of stoppage time deemed playable by referee Thompson and with one last effort the ball fell to Morley 25 yards out and he struck his second the sweetest unstoppable shot into the Pilsley net.  A fourth goal for the wonder goals of the afternoon tally but more to the point can this lad strike a ball!  As the ball was gathered from the net and Long Bennington celebrated not only the strike but the realisation of a valuable point as the referee blew for time.

A quite remarkable game to watch as a neutral with disappointment for Pilsley being to the fore it was equally matched by the tremendous contribution of the visitors who only scored goal of the month contenders.  A draw had to be seen as a fair result and I will look out for the visitors when they are in the area again.

A wonderfully entertaining game thanks to both sides but if somebody could turn the heater on next time.

As ever there are a few more pictures than words so hopefully you can scroll through them to have a look.

CHRISTOPHER FOAT GETS A SHOT IN

STEWARDSON PUSHES OVER AT FULL STRETCH

ANOTHER GAME WONDER GOAL KIAN BARLOW

ALFIE MORLEY RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS EQUALISER