KILBURN AND IVANHOE SERVE UP ANOTHER GOALLESS GAME

AFC KILBURN 0 V WIRKSWORTH IVANHOE 0
MIDLANDS REGIONAL ALLIANCE PREMIER @ CHAPEL ST
21 APRIL 2017 --- 6.30PM

CHAPEL ST HOME OF AFC KILBURN

The second goalless game on the run provided an interesting visit if not a game with many chances, there were less than on Monday at Graham St Prims!  With little resting on the game for either club there was once again lots on endeavour but on a pitch that was hard control at the vital moment seemed to become difficult as the few efforts there were flew high and wide.

SIGNS FOR BOTH ATTRACTIONS

Chapel St the home of AFC Kilburn who are in their second season at the Welfare following a change of name from Ambergate FC which still adorns some of the clubs clothing, however the signs around the entrance now all proudly display 'AFC Kilburn' and it is excellent to see a club back in the little village just off the A38.  Having seen the ground on quite a few local walks we had looked at a visit for a year or so and after walking up the hill to the village from Kilburn crossroads our first call today was to Kilburn Fish Bar.

OUR SIGNS HIGHER THAN YOURS

The food was good and the first impression was of cleanliness the whole place looked spot on plus you cant miss them the have an orange sign which is perched very high above street level.  Tracing our steps back to the Welfare car park which was filling up we opted for a Lemonade in the club which was awaiting a darts and dominos night something we were to find out later was very popular when the cars started parking behind the goals at the Welfare end.

GROUND ENTRANCE

Kilburn MW had graced the Central Midlands league from 1983 to 1993 and indeed were one of the original members, I believe they are looking at re joining the league and would be a good asset.  The ground will need some tidying up but this is not beyond the realms of achievability for CMFL standards.  The 2 entrance gates is a mini style turnstile and would easily be able to take an admission gate.  Once through to the left are the changing rooms which externally pitch side have a small cover to offer protection from the weather.  Behind the goal is grass standing and the far touchline is not accessible to spectators, the far goal is also grass standing with the near side touchline hard standing and the site for the dug outs.  This area as with a few others would needed the damaged pitch side barriers repairing and replacing plus some panels of the corrugated fencing probably need replacing around the exterior to enclose the ground.

CHANGING ROOMS AND COVERED STANDING

The views are quite pleasant and for an end of season game the scene was set for a nice evening of football  in an acceptable setting.
Having obtained the teams thanks to the referee there was also chance for a quick chat with AFC Chairman Jeff and as with other clubs striving for advancement we wish the club success in its efforts.

WIRKSWORTH [GREEN] KEEP THE BALL IN PLAY

To the game well as mentioned the pitch was hard and probably didn't help proceedings there was lots of effort but it was agricultural and industrious much of the early pressure came from Wirksworth with Liam Sheldon prominent in the action, after that Kilburn did have a chance in front of goal but time allowed this effort to be blocked by a despairing last minute tackle from an Ivanhoes defender.  Half time arrived with the football purists frustration and realisation that it was just 40 minutes each way.

AFC KILBURN TIDY UP AT THE BACK

After a break we were under way for more of the same except for the last 10 minutes which livened up a little the only talking point was an altercation between Kilburn's Sam Beadle and Wirksworth's Jack Higton who both received yellow when a less lenient referee would have produced red in the card selection machine.

SAME BEADLE [4] CAUTIONED FOR KILBURN

With the agreed 80 minutes this was to be the blogs 2nd 0-0 of the season and the first goalless draw for either of these clubs this season, typical!  After Chapel Street being used by many clubs over the proceeding years including Ripley Town its great to see a team under the name of Kilburn now plying their trade back in the village.

WIRKSWORTH NUMBER 10 JACK HIGTON RECEIVES HIS CAUTION

Back to the club for a swift lemonade before returning on the nines to Alfreton and the back to base with a quick change just before 10pm.  Game wise it was disappointing but it was an enjoyable evening with best wishes to both sides for next season.