PENISTONE CHURCH SEE OFF 10 MAN ECCLESHILL

PENISTONE CHURCH 3 V ECCLESHILL UTD 0
NCEL 1 @ THE MEMORIAL GROUND
23 SEPTEMBER 2015---7.45PM

THE MEMORIAL GROUND PENISTONE CHURCH FC

Ten man Eccleshill were lost out to Penistone after being reduced in numbers just before half time but a dominant second half from the home side should have resulted in more than one goal.  Thanks to some super saves from Utd's keeper Joe Stead and some poor finishing the score line was kept to respectable levels when on another night 7 or 8 could have been the end result.
The chance to catch up with the 'esteemed' Mr W and make a joint trip to the lovely Penistone which is not the first time but the first blog feature.  As we drove past the edge of Stocksbridge towards our ultimate destination the feel of Yorkshire was all around with old pubs signs displaying 'Wards Bitter' and shops showing of 'Ben Shaws soft drinks' adverts.  As we drove towards the centre of the town the impressive Paramount independent cinema was in fully display readying in to welcome tonight's cinema goers.  The town is a different proposition for an evening game after a previous visit in the day time when Church were still in the Sheffield County Senior League and the took on Rossington Main in am FA Vase encounter.

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST PENISTONE

We arrived with enough time to park up and take a look around the small town which has an impressive high wooden roofed covered market, a small selection of shops and of course for the railway enthusiast the part were the former electrified line split to take on the Woodhead and Dunford Bridge to Manchester section.  We tracked the line and I guess sidings in the town by a mini roundabout that now forms the entrance to a 'T's' store.
With a little time to spare and Mr W not having visited Penistone station we popped along to view the former station building and the now overgrown platform for the Manchester section of the route still slightly visible and further on the former line becomes a cycle and walking route.
At this point Mr W requested a picture on the station platform and he jostled around in front of the station sign as though getting into position for a defensive wall I struggled to understand but if you look at the picture you may guess the bounder had other ideas.

THE ESTEEMED MR W AT PENISTONE STATION!

Believe this or the other story may be the one that provides the revealing tale, the photographer was the one working himself into position for the best shot.  Which is it?  You decide.
Men never grow up we wont be the first and we wont be the last!

EXCELLENT CLUB HOUSE AT PENISTONE CHURCH FC

Anyway on to the game and on arrival we found ourselves decamped into the excellent club house nice comfortable facility with excellent toilets that were clean too.  Alongside two TV's, a bar and the snack bar there was a nicely labelled vip area with a pop up advert display.  The snack bar produced an excellent chip cob which once again threw the young ladies into trying to interpret the foreign language and I quickly realised I was in Yorkshire and corrected myself to 'butty' to receive the super fayre.
Having secured a table the blog then spotted Neil Laughlin of the Belper parish and of course it was a pleasure to catch up with his travels especially his journeys to Wales something we both have a passion for.

MR LAUGHLIN SAMPLES THE SNACK BAR FAYRE

The ground then from the entry pay point to the left is a lovely stand that journeys to the half way line with seats and terracing under cover this leads to the dug outs and then  beyond and behind the top goal there is no spectator access.  The far side is quite tight but has hard standing and behind the goal to were we entered the ground were we have the changing rooms, grounds mans building and the clubhouse.
Having visited the ground previously in the daylight I can say its a lovely setting, especially in the warmer weather, with views if the towns church and Emley Moor TV mast.  Evening games offer a different perspective but if you come here for a first time you may wish to take in the area in the lighter conditions to enjoy the beauty.
So to the game and first out of the traps were Penistone who took a 17th minute lead when Andy Ring slotted past the out coming Stead with confidence.  The lead doubled on 35 minutes Mario Battaglia deflected a close range effort into the back of the visitors goal.
Controversy came on 43 minutes a penalty box challenge by Jermaine Springer saw referee Tiernay signal the player had taken the ball as at the same time the linesman started to flag for a penalty before quickly putting his flag down.  The referee picked up on the signal and changed his mind to award a penalty and then to add harshness to the decision showed Springer his second yellow card and he had the long walk to the changing rooms to undertake.  A little bit of fortune fell Eccleshill's way when Ollie Fealon missed the penalty kick.
It would be a difficult second half and but for Stead's saves and some very poor finishing it could have been a large score line for Penistone against the 10 men of Eccleshill.  As it was the home supporters had to make do with a second for Ring after 67 minutes when he beat the out running Stead to steer the ball home from 25 yards.
An enjoyable visit to, I think, a club that is on many hoppers favourites list and a nice little trip out to a pretty little town.