GLASSHOUGHTON AND HALL ROAD RANGERS SHARE THE POINTS

GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE 1 V HALL ROAD RANGERS 1
NCEL 1 @ LEEDS RD
29 AUGUST 2015 3PM

MATCH ACTION WITH HALL RD RANGERS [YELLOW] ON THE ATTACK V GLASSHOUGHTON [BLUE]

 [A few pictures not used on the blog will feature on the 'we all stand together' facebook page] A share of the points was probably the correct outcome although both sides had chances to claim all three non more so than Glasshoughton who missed a penalty with five minutes of normal time remaining.  After a cagey first half the second period turned into a very open affair with the visitors taking the lead against the run of play with a cracking finish from Danny Walker before the unfortunate Andy Harrison turned a cross into his own goal to level the scores up.

STAND AT THE LEEDS RD END OF THE GROUND

Today was a difficult one to choose with bank holiday weekend and varying other restrictions on the game to select and in the end a late decision to select Glasshoughton, a ground I had wanted to visit for a while, was selected.  Friend of the blog Chirs W had visited a couple of years ago and I had also seen a few blogs from the ground hop a few years ago.  The most recent from Joe Gibbons 'Gibbos 92' and 'The Lost Boyos' were of most interest although they undertook their visit on a midweek winters night with Glasshoughton struggling.  Having read the other reviews and looked at the Leeds Rd ground in the past I'm not sure what I could bring different but on a nice afternoon I came out, hopefully, with a positive for the club.
As ever base station saw an early change at Sheffield and then again at Wakefield Kirkgate, where at last the station forecourt has been opened again, with a small 10 minute journey to Castleford.  This was easier than a journey into Leeds for a journey back out to Glasshoughton. 

OFF THE HOOK ITS ORIGINAL

Departing the single operative platform at Castleford the blogs rugby league ventures normally take it back into the town but today we would turn an immediate left through the underpass under the railway line and out onto Beancroft Rd a suburb of back to back lengthy streets of terrace housing that always provides its own facilities and shops and just as we were thinking of dinner todays 'chippy' was discovered within 100 yards of the station!
The newly opened and intriguingly named 'Hoppys- Off The Hook' beckoned us into its welcoming arms. 

YORKSHIRE FISH CAKE AND CHIPS

Its new owner Hoppy wasn't sure which name to go for so he went for both a name and a different identity for a fish and chip shop in Off The Hook.  There is a specials board which features a different fish menu today though we went for chips, Yorkshire fish cake [layer of  fish surrounded by potato in a batter-not the bread crumbed variety] along with Mick selecting the peas.  These were all nicely presented in a closable cardboard box and eaten on the walk towards the ground a gentle 15 minutes away.  So if you visit Castleford pop under the underpass at the station and give this new venture a try and see what the special is, you can even sit down inside if you would like to.
Having meandered through the back streets to Leeds Road we had a good 75 minutes to the kick off time and we set off to have a look at the one thing that connected this game with the one at Tamworth last week, a ski slope, indoor of course.  This one is a massive indoor entertainment centre also alongside Junction 32 shopping precinct, we are not sure what the difference between the Snow Dome at Tamworth and todays Xscape but they look excellent facilities.  Sadly time did not allow further inspection and we set off back to The Glasshoughton Centre home of Glasshoughton Cricket Club, who we watched for a couple of overs, Glasshoughton Bowls Club and the purpose for todays visit Glasshoughton Welfare FC.

OVERVIEW OF THE LEEDS RD GROUND

We entered through turnstile 1, I did not see number 2 or number 3 for that matter, purchasing a programmes at the same time at £1 they were a fair and functional effort, as every admission and paperwork at £5 was fantastic value for money.

TURNSTILE NUMBER 1

To the left is the barrel roofed centre which houses the changing rooms, bars, toilets and meeting rooms etc and the whole building provides a nice back drop to this ground that without it would feel very much like a pitch in a neat little park.  Todays snack bar is in a small room with table to the door and service even for the small crowd of 47 seemed to be nicely brisk, hopefully the club benefit from any takings.  It has to be said the toilets are nice and clean and its a pleasant surprise to have these at a football ground, well done.  The dug outs are large and impressive buildings.

CAN YOU FIX IT?

Moving on around the ground which is wholly railed in the far goal has a tight walkway around it and this brings is to the fare side which has hard standing with a grass banked area behind it and straddling the half way line is a nice sized covered stand.  This contains blue tip up seats with white seats in the centre for officials and to either side of this the front row also has two dark blue metal bench like seating. Behind the goal by our entrance and at the Leeds Rd end of the ground is a small little covered terrace which site immediately behind the goals.  The feel of this ground is of a tidy affair devoid of some of the bits and bobs that are left around some non league grounds.
The teams line ups were handily gained before the game along with a quick catch up with todays referees assessor Mick Knowles.  During the afternoon the blog found the Glasshoughton officials very friendly and welcoming and it was nice to catch up with webmaster and programme editor Garry Mollon for a little chat about the non league scene and of course the home side.

REFEREE PRICE HAS A QUICK CATCH UP WITH GLASSHOUGHTON MANAGER MICK NORBURY

Todays visitors Hall Rd Rangers are fresh inot their new ground at Haworth Park and the will have their flood lights operational shortly so the blog wishes them well.  Glasshoughton following last seasons relegation from the NCEL Premier have a new manager in Mick Norbury ex of Cambridge, Preston and Doncaster Rovers in the Football League.

The first half was a tentative affair with the visitors commanding the opening 20 minutes it was a while before Glasshoughton got to terms with the game but they certainly finished the first half the stronger.  The first period limited itself to two notable chances Danny Middleton for the home side on 23 minutes crashed a 25 yard free kick against a post and for the visitors Danny Clancey in a one on one with home keeper Mathew Stables saw his effort pushed away.

The second half turned into a cracker with both sides going for the victory it was though the home side who started the stronger Danny Cawley forcing Jordan Douglas in the visitors goal to save his side.

It was though Hall Road who took the lead when referee Price played a good advantage that allowed Danny Walker to romp away on 59 minutes and he fired past the out coming Stables with a confident finish.  On 64 minutes Glasshoughton were deservedly level even if it was in a slightly cruel way for visiting defender Andy Harrison when racing back he attempted to clear a Steven Palfrey cross only to fire the ball into his own goal.

The game was swinging either way with both sides pressing for the winner and with 5 minutes of normal time it looked as though the home side would secure the three points substitute Del Pollock was upended in the box and referee Price had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick.  Danny Cawley strode up but agonisingly saw his kick saved by Douglas and cleared by the Rangers defence to safety.  Almost immediately a challenge on the half way line resulted in Hall Rd being reduced to 10 men with Chris Hudson being shown a second yellow card followed by the inevitable red.

ASSISTANT REFEREE NATASHA WILSON WITH A CLEAR SIGNAL

At the final whistle the blog concluded it had been a nice little afternoon with a game of open football, especially so in the second period and overall a draw from a neutral point of view was a fair result.

As we tracked our steps back we called back into 'Off The Hook' for a couple of bottles of pop before a little wait for our train back to Sheffield, something that we wiled away with a small walk around the now emptying streets of Castleford were most of the passing comments was of todays rugby league challenge cup final at Wembley.  The blog has said before this area is a massive rugby league area and indeed enjoys its summer visits to the NCL but it makes it even more so admirable that cubs like Glasshoughton with their band of dedicated officials keep the football flag flying.
Base was arrived at just before 7.30pm following an enjoyable venture into West Yorkshire.

NON LEAGUE DOGS
 GUESS WHO WON THE RACE FOR THE LAST SAUSGAE ROLL?