NORTH GAWBER COLLIERY STAGE CUP FIGHTBACK

NORTH GAWBER COLLIERY 6 RENISHAW RANGERS 2
SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY FA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP @ WOOLLEY COLLIERY RD 11 NOVEMBER --- 2PM

MAIN STAND AT WOOLLEY COLLIERY RD

A remarkable comeback from North Gawber in which Carey Welford hit 4, sent them through to round 3 of the Senior Challenge Cup, from 2 down they finally came to life after half an hour to go in one goal behind.  The second half produced a game changing moment when it looked certain the home side would be reduced to 10 men after keeper Louis Butcher hauled down Brandon Ashmore who was through on an open goal, referee Taylor interestingly produced only yellow.  Three goals in the last five minutes exaggerated any difference between the two sides in what had been an exciting and close tie.
Never a fan of county cups this one though would be the third one in a row!  Following a couple of Derbyshire Senior Cup ties this fixture looked mouth watering with the visitors from The Central Midlands League South on a roll after a disastrous start to their debut season now having secured a five games unbeaten record taking on Sheffield County Senior side North Gawber Colliery.  Made more interesting by the fact that Renishaw are a Derbyshire side based in South Yorkshire playing at Kiveton Park and North Gawber Colliery playing at Woolley Collieries former ground are as close to West Yorkshire as you can get football wise.  There is the added twist that last season Renishaw were competing in the second division of the County Senior League.

SPARK LANE FORMER HOME OF NORTH GAWBER COLLIERY FC

In the early days of this season a fellow ground hopper, Paul, had suggested North Gawber Colliery Fc as a good visit and so being on the radar a look at the transportation to Woolley showed that Darton station would be the aim today, also of interest having passed the station and remembered the row of terrace houses, Fountain Sq, that sit prouldy looking over the platforms.  Arrival today was via a change at Sheffield and at around 1140 the first point of call was a quick look at Darton via a viewing of the tightest of bridges that run back under the railway line and up to Woolley Colliery Road.  Firstly though there was time in the schedule for a roundabout trip to the ground via Mapplewell and the site of the former North Gawber Colliery of course demolished and now awaiting more houses.  A top of the bank is the former ground of todays home club on Spark Lane with a stand still in situ now graffiti strewn, the ridge also offers an excellent view back to Barnsley.  With the waft of Fosters Bakery filling the nostrils it was time to seek out the chip ole which would be Aqua Fish Bar in the village.

THE COSY AQUA FISH BAR WITH SCRAPS THOUGH

As ever research was undertaken and for the first time for a while there were even scraps, for the uninitiated batter bits, walking back through the shopping precinct a strange spot.  The butchers was run by the Birkinshaw's, the bakers by the Birkinshaw's however I do have to report though that I could not find the candle stick makers.

NORTH GAWBER COLLIERY MEMORIAL ADJACENT TO THE FORMER COLLIERY

Delicacy completed it was time to walk towards the ground and down Bloomhouse Lane I failed with the camera!  Let me take you back to a few years ago Arriva Train Wales toy dog dressed as a dinosaur by doting owner and I couldn't bring myself to take the picture.  Fast forward today mobile scooter full pelt up the hill with owner encouraging in training greyhound on a lead by his side, again I just couldn't do it and guess what a few minutes later he went back down the hill and I still couldn't do it!  Walking down Bloomhouse Lane the old friend that is Emley Moor TV tower came into site something that I spent most of the cricket watching summer viewing but it was a shock today I didn't expect it, hello old friend.

STONE PLINTH AT THE APPROACH TO LONG ROW AND TOP ROW

With the ground at the junction of Woolley Colliery Rd it was time for a quick right to visit Woolley Colliery Village and its rows of terrace houses that would have served the pit just over the road, now a new modern housing settlement taking the name Woolley Grange.  At the approach to Low Row and Top Row is a memorial, a mini set of headstocks with a plaque to all the former miners of Woolley Colliery, a similar reminder is also situated in the Coop at Mapplewell for the miners of North Gawber Colliery.  Woolley Colliery though had two famous employees from leaving school in 1953 a 15 year old Arthur Scargill started working at the pit and for the next 20 years he advanced within the NUM before becoming President.  There is also a big sporting connection with Dorothy Hyman the Olympic runner from the 60's working as a tracer within the offices.  She retired at 24 but after releasing her autobiography 'sprint to fame' gave up her amateur status and when she decided to comeback could only compete at national level, a strange status when you look at todays athletes who seem to be sponsored to the hilt.

GAWBER KEEPER BUTCHER PUNCHES CLEAR

Back to the ground passing the former colliery site to our right and apart from the new settlement much of the land still lies in ruin after the pit closed n 1987, desolation to the mining communities still awaiting new employment or development on a large scale makes a sad show after 30 years the political decisions were made but the future was bleak.
As with most pits the sports ground was by the colliery and here Woolley Miners Welfare Cricket Club offer us a smart white building with changing rooms and atop these a bar offering a superb view of the cricket pitch.  The cricket club merge with Barnsley last season and now only the thirds and fourths play here plus the Sunday side.  The football pitch to the far end of the cricket was the former home of Woolley Colliery FC who up until 1990 were competing in the NCEL before folding an all too big a coincidence I guess that just after the pit was lost so too was the football club.

RENISHAW BENCH OVERVIEWED BY THE NORTH GAWBER CREW

Today though is a new era with North Gawber Colliery Fc moving to the ground which is fully railed off the near side has small paving to stand on but the grass is taking a hold around these.  The whole pitch is railed off although with some areas needing a trim people chose to stand within, on the near side is a small stand/shelter which I'm still not sure if its a the dug outs or for the watching supporters.  The best till last is a large stand with unseated concrete terrace steps with too the rear a bench seat across the back row, it's a typical NCB stand from the time of the pits with similar at Bentley and of course todays visitors Renishaw Rangers Kiveton Park ground.
The game today sees little information on the home side who seem to have no social media output at all which is a shame because they have a steady little set up and today produced a very entertaining game for the 32 spectators.

RENISHAW ATTACK THROUGH COLLEY

Renishaw took the lead after 5 minutes good work from Ryan Owen saw Ashmore fire home.  Karl Colley had two excellent chances to extend the lead first a save by Butcher and then the wrong side of the post kept the score line static.  North Gawber went as close as you can on 21 minutes when Liam Marsden struck a 25 yard free kick that flew back off the left upright.  Renishaw extended their lead on 25 minutes when Matt Morton set up Daniel Talbot to fire home.  By this stage Renishaw were comfortable and it looked as though North Gawber had still not come out of the changing rooms but slowly the home side got a foot hold into the game and pulled a valuable goal back before half time through Carey Welford.

NORTH GAWBER COLLIERY CLEARING THEIR DEFENCE

Renishaw started strongly with Chad Lake putting in a good cross that Butcher punched away well in the home goal.  The controversy followed shortly and it would be a game changer the home side keeper raced out to meet the advancing Ashmore 25 yards out firstly looked to have fouled him in the initial challenge and as the striker tapped the ball past the keeper to fire into an open net the Colliery number one tugged at his shoulder and the visiting player fell to the floor. Referee Taylor consulted with his assistant who was further away and after sorting out the free kick beckoned the keeper and rather leniently showed a yellow card.  The scores were level on 57 minutes a Matt Blakey corner off the left was inch perfect for Nicky Baxter to rise and power his header home.  The flow of the game seemed to be going towards the home side when referee Taylors assistant flagged for an innocuous looking challenge from Renishaw's Jason Markell on Callum Mackie protests aside it was still a penalty.  Up stepped Marsden with a delay midway in his run up but as the ball looked to be going goal bound visiting keeper Steven Booth guessed right and pulled off a smart save.  Back came Renishaw Jake Longley saw his effort cleared off the line by Jake Bedford, their was a feeling of two heavy weight boxers slugging it out now as the action moved from en to end. 
The home side took the lead for the first time on 77 minutes when Welford took the ball down and charged on to fire home for a lovely display of control.  With the visitors going to 3 up top Jack Farrow crashed a 25 yard effort off the underside of the bar and onto the line as the ball fell away Morton saw his effort saved by the home keepers leg.

BOOTH WATCHES ON AS RENISHAW CLEAR THEIR LINES

The simplest of goals on 88 minutes extended the home sides lead keeper Butcher cleared Welford headed on and Baxter drove home to make it 4-2.  Booth pulled off an excellent one handed save onto the bar from Marsden before tow goals in stoppage time.  First Mackie crossed for Welford to finish in front of goal for his hat trick and then the same partnership proved the further undoing of Renishaw Mackie stormed though looking a few yards off side but Welford kept his cool to fire home for his fourth.
A harsh score line on the visitors but this had been a tremendous battle with both sides contributing to a very entertaining game.  The time was right to leave back down Woolley Colliery Rd towards Darton station a few minutes away and for the first time in ages the blog was the only passenger to board.
Once again a County Cup game had produced a very entertaining afternoon, I really must change my views, and overall this had been an interesting visit spent north of Barnsley, pop along and take a look it comes recommended.