HAT TRICK HERO DENIES CLIPSTONE

CLIPSTONE 2 PICKERING TOWN 4
NCEFL PREMIER @ THE LIDO/WORKSOP VAN HIRE STADIUM
26 AUGUST 2017 --- 3PM

CLIPSTONE FC

Clipstone went into this game as underdogs against many peoples title favourites Pickering Town but after a first half performance that had seen them lead 2-1 at the interval they would have felt desperately unlucky to still be in search of their first point.  The visitors had Ryan Blott with a strikers hat trick to thank alongside a foul in the build up to their third goal but as time wore on it was clear that the visitors were just too strong for the Nottinghamshire side in the final quarter of this encounter.
Local travel today and with a lot of indecision a move towards Mansfield via a change in Alfreton was made and although the journey was stilted by Farmer Giles deciding to take his combine harvester with trailer 5 miles down the A61 at 10 mph a small gap was still there to connect for Stag town.  On route I had made up my mind and Clipstone it would be with a chance to re acquaint myself with the village and the club the latter I had not visited for a good few years.

COMMANDING SITE OF CLIPSTONE HEADSTOCKS

Upon arrival in Mansfield bus station an adjacent bay had a stripey boys bus ready to depart for said village and the biscuit was taken as we went on another circuitous route to enter the Garibaldi estate, I know its a bad pun but I couldn't resist it.  Ignoring the early departure for ground and village to depart at the far end of Mansfield Rd there is a need to photograph the headstocks from the former pit.  The headstocks on completion, 1953, were the largest in Europe.  Indeed on the journey I got talking to a chap from South Wales who had made his home around the area since the 1970's and he informed me of the modern pulley system in operation at the pit in its hey days.  Sadly like the whole area the NCB closed the pit before UK Coal took over for a short period only to final cease operation in 2003.  Now the village as the remnants of the pit towering over the village some locals want them gone as a derelict reminder of the past while others are eager to develop a future adventure park around them as a unique attraction.  As with all projects like this it takes time and things seem to be at a standstill but hopefully the Heras fencing can come down soon and Clipstone's heritage be put to good use.  Walking back into the village the massive welfare and houses all give away this villages past, like many of its kind a now derelict cinema that's tried bingo and night club re launches lies in ruins.  The unique street naming doesn't take too much working out from First Avenue to Second Avenue and our ultimate destination the nearby Seventh Avenue time gone by never to return but the village lives on and like all former mining villages are enhanced by the local Coop which provided hopper delight pop and Ginsters roll.

CLIPSTONE WELFARE CC

With an nearly two hours to kick off I decided to wander the streets only to realise right behind the football club is Clipstone Welfare Cricket Club who were at home today in the Bassetlaw Championship to Cuckney 2nd's.  Again days gone by showed what would have been a wonderful pavilion in the pit years and two sides coming to the end of their season, it was good to walk the boundary and enjoy some of the views and of course get into conversation.  Today it was a pleasure to speak to Cuckney's Justin Joseph who was making the transition to the seconds and by the close of play was on the winning side as the visitors bowled Clipstone out cheaply while the blog was away watching the football.
Clipstone FC is situated adjacent to the main Mansfield Rd and by the side of the former Lido another sign of the activities of old in this village but now its just cricket and football that remain so no bathing today.

RUNNING REPAIRS FOR MR CLIPSTONE BARRY CLARKE

The business end of the ground is all behind the goal were you enter the ground to the right a small stand with low former Mansfield Town seats and the hospitality cabin named after Mr Clipstone, Mr Barry Clarke a man whose life as been associated with the club and can be found performing a variety of duties for Clipstone FC.  To the left of entry are the changing rooms, toilets and snack bar/bar area.  Proceeding on down the touchline is a semi lofted covered terrace that continues into a seated area and then falls away into uncovered standing this section has the cricket at a slightly higher level behind.  The opposite touchline is uncovered hard standing with both dug outs housed in this area, the far goal is out of bounds making the ground 3 sided.

QUALITY PROGRAMME AT CLIPSTONE FC

Having purchased raffle, eats and some water[!] its time to force the needle of the record and say 'programmes' many clubs are bemoaning having to do programmes and they don't sell etc.  Years ago I used to make a final selection of a game on the quality of the programme, youth eh, good programmes are few and far between and take massive amounts of work and thankless hours of effort and they need then to be promoted on the day to spectators.  Let me say here £1.50 for this production in what is one of the best efforts I've seen around my visits for a few years deserves nothing but applause to the editors, take a bow, full colour lots to read plus quality pictures for the neutral or the regular.  So if you are wondering where to go this season get yourself down to Clipstone pick up a good programme, take a look at their social media with excellent pictures and match highlights too and if your a local and your not buying one why not?

CRAFTY LOOK AT THE CRICKET

The game then and the North Yorkshire visitors were already off too a good start and looking to add 3 more points against the hosts who were on zero and most think will be a long hard season but money talks and times last season became hard for Clipstone who thankfully to a band of dedicated helpers have seen their way through those times to commit to a community football club and more importantly a community still with a football club, well done!

A UNIQUE OPENING GOAL CELEBRATION FOR PICKERING

An more entertaining start you wont see with three goals in the first 11 minutes and although there was a slackness about them it didn't matter because the underdogs were 2-1 to the good at the end of the passage of play.  It started badly for the hosts after 3 minutes when Blott picked up on a defensive error and drove on to fire home from just inside the box.  Within in minutes it was all square Tim Gregory crossed off he right and Eddy Birch turned the ball into his own goal, but it was delirium for Clipstone when they went into the lead Jermaine Jatau broke through and put a superb lob over the stranded visitors keeper Harry Andrews.

PICKERING ON THE ATTACK GREAT KIT

Entertainment continued at a pace with Gregory supplying Jatau who probably should have finished but just missed the target then Pickering hit the post before the visitors Russell Parker was felled in the penalty box and Lewis Taylor stepped up to the mark but Liam Kerry saved the home side with a save to his right to protect the home sides lead at the interval.

HANDS UP

The second period would be hard work for Clipstone and the ball hold up facility of front man Jatau was lost when he went off injured.  Within 5 minutes of the restart it was all square with George Bissett rising well to head home Taylor's right had side corner.   Controversy came with 19 minutes to go what looked like a push on a Clisptone defender on the edge of his own box went unpunished and Blott got his second to give Pickering the advantage.  The visitors were now well in the ascendancy and Blott completed his hat trick and made it 4-2 to the visitors when he head home at the back post.  In the closing minutes Pickering could have extended their lead but for some last gasp defending but this would have been harsh on a Clipstone side who put in so much effort but in the latter stages tired after trying to keep Pickering out.

SECOND HALF PICKERING FREE KICK

Nice to do a fairly local trip and catch up with Clipstone a fully enjoyable visit much assisted by the friendly nature of the club and that quality programme long may their enthusiasm and hard work continue.
Return connections went well with time for more hoppers food to be consumed and base return fell in at around 7pm thanks to 2 smooth connections.