NEWARK AND BRICKIES CONTINUE BUILD UP TO NEW SEASON

KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC 2 V NEWARK TOWN FC 4
PRE SEASON FRIENDLY 25 JULY 2015 3PM @ STATION RD

KIRTON BRICKWORKS, THE WOODEN DUG OUTS

Newark secured a pre season victory against their Notts Senior League neighbours in an entertaining affair which had seen the Central Midland League side storm to a 2-0 lead before being pegged back to 2-2 following a couple of wonder strikes from Kirton's Aaron Norman.  A goal before half time and a fourth in the second half saw the step 7 boys home.

KIRTON BRICKWORKS GROUND OVERVIEW

So the blog had a dilemma today of National Conference Rugby League or to continue the pre season friendly tour and following a tricky decision we were off to Kirton Brickworks FC for a first visit.  As usual the public transport route was an interesting one but with no trains it lead to bus changes at Alfreton and Mansfield before we departed short of our destination at Ollerton.  The arrival in Ollerton was achieved passing close by a cracking collection of local non league sides including AFC Mansfield, Clipstone, Thoresby CW and of course Ollerton Town.  What a nice selection of non league sides here in Nottinghamshire.  Our journey took us past the redundant headstocks at Cliptsone which stand derelict at the end of the villages main street and then we journeyed past Thoresby Colliery which had seen its final day just yesterday Friday 24 July.
The Dolphin fish bar was looking tempting and indeed we sampled their menu while walking the shopping area of Ollerton and then finally departing on a half an hour walk to the ground which is just short of Kirton and as the clubs title gives away in in the grounds of Hanson Brickworks factory.

CHRIS SELF CHECKS OUT REFEREE
GAVIN RICE'S FITNESS REGIME

We enter the site via the factory road and climbing up the grass bank reveals a smartly cut pitch which is roped off around 3/4 of its perimeter.  To the far corner is the canteen area for the works which doubles up for club use on match day for changing rooms and toilets.  Behind the far goal is a small picnic table area which gets nicely used during todays match too the rear is a car park and a nice stack of brand new bricks which during quiet moments you could have a go at counting.  The whole pitch side area is grass standing and down the main side there are a couple of smart dug outs surprisingly made out of wood when brick would have seemed more appropriate!  If your a truck fan there are also a nice selection neatly reversed into parking bays pitch side too.
So having arrived pitch side following the blogs walk from Ollerton we were offered a few nice friendly greetings from the Kirton officials and then onwards into the canteen and it was good to meet up with Richard Lane from Newark Town and of course Press Officer for the CMFL.  Thanks to Richard I also managed to obtain the visiting team, cheers kind of you to do that.  This was a friendly fixture that certainly had a little bit of bite in it at times but of the pitch I have to say the small crowd were all very friendly and chatty with a nice following form Newark.

The game itself saw Newark start at a pace and it wasn't long before they were deservedly 2 up thanks to Dom Swingler's neat 12 yard strike after 14 minutes and then a lovely edge of the box finish from Chris Self. 

CHRIS SELF CELEBRATES HIS GOAL THAT MADE IT 0-2

Newark continued to press and really should have been further away before kirton took a couple of chances superbly well to level the game.  Both goals came from the impressive Aaron Norman the first a superb curling 30 yard that flew into the top right hand corner.  Then his second on 37 minutes was a sweet low drive across the Newark keeper into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

AARON NORMAN PREPARES TO UNLEASH HIS FIRST GOAL

It was looking like Newark may rue the missed chances until 41 minutes when Chris Self smashed the third goal in off the underside of the bar for a half time lead for the visitors.

KIRTON'S HALF TIME TEAM TALK PITCHSIDE

The second half was an entertaining affair but it really featured the visitors going in search of further goals there was though just one to come eleven minutes from time when Adam Boddy headed home to make it 4-2.

We decided to talk a walk back to nearby Broughton to catch the first of the three buses journey back to base and it has to be said how impressive the relatively new Mansfield bus station is and thankfully it supplied the blog with a convenience shop for some sustenance.
Todays game had been an entertaining game with a small but appreciative crowd welcomed by this friendly little club.
Fourth pre season game and although they have been at smaller clubs so far we are yet to get hold of and pre season programme being issued by the clubs maybe by the time the season kicks off I will lose the habit of buying them.
Overall an enjoyable encounter then and afternoon the blog wishes both clubs success in their forthcoming season in the CMFL and the NSL.