WELBECK WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WELBECK WELFARE 3 V DINNINGTON TOWN 1
CENTRAL MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NORTH @ ELKESLEY RD
5 DECEMBER 2015 --- 2PM

WELBECK SECRETARY GRAHAM AWAITS A FEW MORE PAYING SPECTATORS

This bottom of the table clash saw a Robbie Savage[!] double set Welbeck on their way to all three points against fellow strugglers Dinnington Town.  The battle of the basement was played in gusting winds that made consistent play difficult indeed one first half free kick from just short of the half way line flew straight back over the takers head and out for a corner.  A third goal from Daniel Fisher made the home side a little more comfortable until a late penalty from Shawn Edwards created a few moments of doubt.
As is becoming the normal Saturday requirement it was weather watch time and this time the rain was not the major issue but gale force winds and with train travel already disrupted a local trip was the favoured option.  Over the last few weeks Welbeck Welfare had featured on the fixture list mainly because I like the effort the officials put in to keep this club on the rails and also to see a game on their new pitch, following the transfer from down the banking to the raised level by the new changing room block.
So a start that was not too early saw a change in Alfreton followed by Mansfield and then a stripey boys number 11 to Meden Vale the home village of Welbeck Welfare.  Indeed the village way called Welbeck Colliery Village until the 60's before a name change to the current one which takes on the relevance of the River Meden travelling through the area.

OBLIGATORY PIT TUB FLORAL DISPLAYS IN ANY FORMER MINING AREA

A 20 minute journey saw us arrive in the village which is very much out on a limb, the bus route passes through a superb little main road side village called Spion Kop, great for a football fan but named after a Boar War battle and the Market Warsop which is a small little town with a small selection of shops.  Having turned off the main road 3/4 of a mile later and you are in Meden Vale a former mining village for Welbeck Colliery which was opened in 1912 but sadly closed in 2010 and there in lies a difficulty as with all villages around the area so much of what went on at the pit supported the village and surrounding businesses. 

ENTRANCE TO THE FORMER WELBECK COLLIERY

The most noticeable new addition is  the Welbeck Solar Farm on the pit hillside that overlooks the village and to the side of our ultimate destination.  I'm reliably informed there are 40,000 solar panels in situ and it is one heck of sight they really have taken over the view as you enter Meden Vale. 
We departed early for a little walk around the streets something that we kept to a brief amble due to the ever increasing gusts of wind.  A small walk down to the pit gates led to a nostalgic memory jerker about the pits that provided prosperity for Nottinghamshire and indeed Derbyshire and Yorkshire the nearby mining areas.  The site is still under some sort of reclamation with concrete waggons and pumping cranes in action all afternoon.  By the old pit entrance is the pitch that Welbeck were gracing on my previous visits here and with a fresh cut received to the grass I guess still very much in use for some of their selection of sides.

FORMER WELBECK PITCH LOOKING TOWARDS THE OLD COLLIERY SITE

Back up to the entrance to the new pitch and the one thing Welbeck miss is an obvious entrance to the site but we managed to navigate some serious road works and enter at a level negating the normal climb up a grass back from the Welfare, something that we noticed had disappeared completely.  Sadly it would appear that it was no longer viable and had been demolished around 6 months ago, the former village hall still remains though minus its roof as has been the case for the last few years.

NOW THE WELFARE AS GONE TOO

Having arrived at the ground the whole of the perimeter is protected with spiked grey metal fencing similar to school boundaries.  Once inside by the pitch is the 'new' changing room blocks which have been in use for a while now even when the bottom ground was in use. 

The building also houses a small snack bar well run today by Elaine who was doing bacon/sausage cobs and drinks with a supply of chocolate bars.  Having secured the teams before kick off and purchased a couple of programmes, the latter is a steady effort and something that must be credited to the club and secretary Graham Hall when so many clubs with a better support than Welbeck don't seem to bother.  There was time before the game to have a quick chat with Dinnington secretary Wendy and discuss their fortunes and the hard working their few officials put in to keep the club going.  Along side Wendy I also got the chance to catch up with Graham, both of who I became acquainted with while at Clay Cross, for a little chat as he took up his position in the pay booth just before kick off and as with the Dinnington officials it has to be said these people are the salt of the earth working their tripe out to keep their clubs going for very little reward.

MICK CAPTURES FELLOW HOPPER PETE FOR A PHOTO OP

Both clubs have poor records with some heavy defeats and indeed Welbeck are the perennial bottom club, but although I will mention this in the game build up I also want to develop my earlier point.  However Graham and Wendy continue with the enthusiasm and motivation to keep their respective clubs going I do not know not only regular defeats but sometimes lack of cooperation from players and the league must put their continued commitment in jeopardy.  It really would do the Premier League prima doners and FA officials the power of good to spend a few months with these guys.  Following the game I did manage to get a few words with both Wendy and Graham to say 'well done', I salute them!
To the game and it would be remise of the blog not to mention the form of the two clubs Welbeck go into the game with a draw but following a called off game and a points deduction they sit on -1 points and the visitors from Dinnington have amassed 1 point from a draw too.  The goal difference before todays game for both sides amassed -130.  So with both teams well secured into the bottom two spots the immediate challenge was to see if either side could get their first victory.

The ground has, at present, no cover and also is just grass surround standing although a nice sturdy metal railing barrier is in place all around the pitch.  There is a slope down from the changing rooms and the wind is blowing strongly away from here towards the old pitch.  The club have two nicely raised dugouts on the far side of the pitch and a nice little pay booth for Graham to shelter in.  A steady little crowd of 20 with probably 14 or so paying attendees was encouraging on a rough day.
The first half saw Dinnington with the wind at their backs and but for a start performance from home keeper Andrew Sipson they would have been well ahead, Sipson pulled off 5 cracking saves to deny visitors.  But it was Welbeck who took advantage with the famously named Robbie Savage taking advantage of some Dinnington defensive apprehension and pick up a loose ball before firing past keeper Gary Hudson from 8 yards into the roof of the net.

ROBBIE SAVAGE GIVES WELBECK THE LEAD

After a retreat for soup to the snack bar it was time to brave the winds and ever darkening day at Elkesley Rd for the second half.
With the wind now at their backs Welbeck started out strongly looking to extend their lead and on 61 minutes that's what happened with Savage getting his second as h broke through he rounded the out coming Hudson and slotted home from a tight angle as a visiting defender tried to manoeuvre him further wide.

CRAIG TAYLOR, WELBECK, ON THE BALL

Welbeck had a head of steam up and some of the passing had been badly affected by the wind with shots going well adrift but this was not the case on 67 minutes when they made it 3-0.   A partially cleared attack fell to Daniel fisher who from 25 yards lashed the ball home well under control and past Hudson in the Dinnington goal.

REFEREE SEWARD TRIES HIS STAN LAUREL IMPRESSION OUT ON THE NON TO AMUSED PLAYERS

The lead was very nearly increased when a left hand sided corner from Josh Fletcher was wind assisted over the keeper and back to safety of the inside of the far post.
The visitors did pull a goal back with 7 minutes remaining a shirt pull in the box was an easy penalty decision for referee Seward and Edwards converted for Dinnington to finally beat home custodian Sipson.  Another quick goal now would have lead to a few jitters I'm sure for Welbeck but it did not come and the home side recorded their first win of the season, overall since February, a victory that was enough to take Welbeck off the bottom of the table, there is something that you haven't heard much in recent years in the CMFL.

SIPSON SAVES ANOTHER FOR WELBECK WELFARE FC

The final whistle arrived on an ever darkening evening and with the wind still gathering pace it was time to reverse our journey through Meden Vale and back to Mansfield after an enjoyable afternoon.  A bottom of the table clash it may have been but it had been a good effort from both sides in very trying conditions. The only shame ever at Welbeck is that the locals do not get behind their football team and for £3 and £1 its a good afternoon out that with a little more encouragement may just see the team rise to new heights.

Following a quick change in Mansfield there was just a little time to waste half an hour as the bus driver at my next connection completely ignored the passengers at the diversionary bus stop, cheers! Something which meant us catching the opposite direction bus on the same route to catch the following up bus back to where we had tried to catch the last one in service, confused sometimes you need a degree to use public transport!

THE LONELY LIFE OF A GOALKEEPER