CAMPION SHOW TALENT IN WIN AT OLLERTON

OLLERTON TOWN 0 V CAMPION 2
NCEL 1 AT THE LANE
18 FEBRUARY 2017 --- 3PM

ACTION FROM OLLERTON V CAMPION

After a tight first half the skill of Talent Ndlovu shone through in a successful second period that saw the Bradford based visitors secure two goals without reply against an Ollerton side who had more than matched their high flying visitors before the break.
After an enforced lay off last week the blog was back on the local road and once again although not the first visit to Ollerton Town Fc it would be the first time blogged and the first afternoon match here for a game featuring the 2 league newcomers promoted from step 7 last season.  Fortunes have left both clubs in different league positions with Ollerton in good recent form struggling at the wrong end of the table and Campion with a bit more consistency challenging for a play off slot.
As with all local journeys its a case of setting up the bus connections and todays had 2 frustrating changes with just 5 minutes at each point and for once they went like clockwork from Comet departure at Alfreton onto a 'nines' to take us over the border into Mansfield and finally a 14 to Ollerton and we would were soon in deepest darkest Nottinghamshire.  The journey from Stag town took us past many other local non league grounds and the local derby at Forest Town today featured AFC Mansfield v Rainworth and we even had AFC secretary Pete Craggs gracing our bus before departing at The Arena. Onwards through Clipstone passing ground and headstocks from the once dominant industry sadly lost to my county and also of course in the end to Nottinghamshire too.  Robin Hood was not in residence at Edwinstowe today and the former Thoresby Colliery ground was nearby before we sped past the old Thoresby Colliery closed in 2015 to signal the end of mining in the county.

JUST FOR THE LOVE OF FISH AND CHIPS

Just short of 5 lane ends roundabout which is a surprisingly small and busy round about as you may imagine we depart at a point 500 yards or so short of Old Ollerton.  This area is a feast of menus with the Big 'M's', a new Public house eatery, The Big Fish and a petrol station, which probably does a mighty sausage roll, all cuddling the circular traffic controller. 
On this visit we opted for the good old fish and chips and just to keep regular blog readers happy I reckon the picture does them pretty good coverage I can tell you the top of the table area of the fish and chip league now has another addition.  Having risked all, fish and chips included, to cross the busy Newark bound road we found ourselves eating and ambling into the attractive Old Ollerton which is well worth a visit, a pre planned footpath route took us the back way into New Ollerton and onto the site of the former colliery which is now festooned with a big T's plus a business park of circular fashion, circular is clearly todays featured word.

HOME OF OLLERTON TOWN FC

Back out onto the main street Ollerton is quite unique in that its drag of shops are all on one side of the busy main A6075 walking away from the shops and down Beech Rd its just a 5 minute walk to Ollerton Town Fc.
The ground is set away from the road and adjacent is the cricket pitch although I guess looking at the lack of sight screens etc that cricket may have seen its day at this site.  The old pavilion is now the clubs changing facility were as previously it was the snack bar facility in a cost environment having paid our admission and purchased programmes we entered through a framework similar to security checking at a travel hub.  It was lovely to almost immediately catch up with Campion who had remembered us from a lovely visit we had to their ground earlier on in the season, thanks.  Snack bar and toilets were just around the meshed corner and of standard fare with to the side and behind the long standing covered terracing an area for the players to warm up away from the pitch.  I mention this early because full credit here to groundsman Neil for the excellent playing surface nice and flat all round.  While on the praise front the clubs programme is a good steady effort well set out with interesting features in an attractive presentation.

THE OLD STAND AT OLLERTON STILL LOOKING GOOD

Quick look at the ground its basic but the club of course are up from step 7 behind the near goal is the covered standing area that has stood for many a year but is smart and well maintained and drops lower than pitch level the nearer you get to goal leading to the far side which is out of bounds and the dug outs will remain peacefully un interfered with.  The bottom goal is also out of bounds and offers a vast expanse behind them, the only side you can stand on is the near touchline which offers Ollerton's new addition a stand of 2 rows in depth with a high roof, interestingly the seats have no backs to them but are smart and functional, hard standing continues to the far corner.  This area is very open to a slight cold wind which we suffered the longer todays game went on with it siding onto the cricket outfield.  Its a nice viewing ground close to the action the only down side being it is just a 2 sided, 1 touchline and 1 behind goal, ground.

THE NEW SEATED STAND AT THE LANE

The first period saw Ollerton match their high flying visitors and they would have been disappointed to not push home a slight advantage.  Chances though were at a minimum ten minutes before the break Josh Bowkett unleashed a 20 yard effort that Campion keeper Daniel Armitage pushed over well before at the other end Campion missed a great chance Eli Hey saw his shot parried by Scott Gretton into the path of Ndlovu who couldn't find the net.

SOD THE GAME THERE'S £35 RESTING ON THIS RAFFLE TICKET

First half highlight was the speed of movement of one old chap whose raffle ticket flew over the touchline onto the pitch, with a 'sod the game I'm getting my ticket back' approach he was on and nearly off  before the Campion clearance very nearly found him with a clean run up the right wing!
A nice touch at half time saw the club present a framed and signed Ollerton Town Fc shirt to long standing supporter Gordon Briggs presented by his grandson and a few of the home sides players, nice touch.

LEWIS BINGHAM OLLERTON TOWN FC

The other noteworthy pointer it was fantastic to hear a club at this level using a public address system for music and announcements it just adds to the experience.

OLLERTON ON THE ATTACK

The second half started with Campion fresh from I guess one heck of a motivational speech over the half time break they were on fire.  The undoubted skill of Ndlovu came to the fore where in the first half it had not been seen he was prominent in most moves.  Eli Hey was to go on a frustrating second period in the right place at the right time on so many occasions that he could have had 5 but always a player there to block his effort.  The first one was Ollerton keeper Armitage who denied the number 9 and then moments later his rasping 25 yard effort was alos pushed over by the home number 1.  The lead came on 56 minutes a corner off the left from Lee Bradshaw found Mathew Jones whose effort took a deflection off Bob Evans to beat home keeper Armitage.

CAMPIONS JACOB BUCHANAN

Normal proceedings resumed with Hey through on goal who fired just wide and the Ndlovu fed in the target man who saw his effort blocked on the line.  Moments later the same pairing saw the same outcome as Ollerton were struggling to get out of their own half with so much of the danger coming straight through the middle.  Substitute Jason Davis turned provider when he set up the livewire Ndlovu who fired over and as Campion created chance after chance Jacob Buchanan set up Liam Bartle who placed his effort just wide.  The second came on 72 minutes and it was nothing more than Campion deserved Davis once again found Ollerton's weak spot through the middle and Ndlovu latched on the pass to fire calmly past Armitage.
Ollerton were trying to put something together and you did feel that a goal back would make for a nervy and competitive finish to this game but it produced much of the same shortly afterwards when Hey saw his effort cleared off the line on 87 minutes!
An enjoyable visit with Campion looking good in the second half, the first half had been so close and I'm not sure what happened to Ollerton in the 2nd period although they showed enough in the opening 45 minutes to believe they will not be in danger of relegation.
The return journey had the same tight connections which started with a quick stride from the ground for the 4.55pm back to Mansfield something which we achieved with about 30 seconds to spare, it was more comfortable at Stag town with 10 minutes for the connecting service.  It was slightly worrying when at Alfreton I tried to scan off with my travel card on to realise it was a completely different coloured Tesco Clubcard that was not allowing me to do so!  Arrival back at base was achieved at 7pm and a pleasant trip to the outpost of Ollerton had been enjoyed with best wishes to both clubs for the remainder of the season.

LOYAL SUPPORTER GORDON BRIGGS RECEIVES HIS FRAMED SHIRT