RENISHAW CHALLENGE COMES OFF THE RAIL AGAINST LINCOLN

RENISHAW RANGERS 0 LINCOLN MOORLANDS RAILWAY 5
CMFL NORTH AT STONE CLOSE KIVETON PARK
20 JANUARY 2018 --- 2PM

RENISHAW RANGERS FC STONE CLOSE GROUND

It doesn't take too long to know it's going to be one of those days and it wont happen for you and Renishaw must have felt this way during this defeat to Lincoln Moorlands Railway.  Pitch survives the inclement weather for game on signs upon arrival, in the morning club officials find last nights strong wind has blown the roof off the dug out, player shown a red card after just 10 minutes and then the loss of your keeper to a head injury on half time resulting in an outfield player taking up the jersey and Lincoln take 5 goals without reply with Sean Cann picking up the plaudits for his hat trick and the club to fourth spot in the CMFL North.
It all started so well for the second week running for the home side a presentation following last weeks 'Team of the Month' today saw league representative John Cornthwaite present the award for the 'Respect' team. The club were also able to welcome new physio Mark Grayling to the fold or more appropriately the technical area.

DEBUT FOR MARK GRAYLING

From a blog angle this would be the third visit of the season but there was still an overdue appointment with The Fat Fish much rated and a visit had been missed on previous visits.  So the area and ground have been described previously this season but there was a little time today to take in the site of the former pit and now Kiveton Woodlands which offers a view all around including a panoramic view of Kiveton and the grounds at Stone Close, including the cricket club.  Also at the top of the viewing point is a hollowed out artwork of pit pony and tub reminding visitors of this areas previous prowess.

PIT PONIES PUT OUT TO GRASS

Fish and chip shop calling and the small Fat Fish premises supplied a lovely fresh fish although the chips did let the show down, maybe its a try again chippy on a future visit.
Stone Close was awaking to visitors by now and having paid the admission the teams were obtained from both clubs and also a quick greeting to the officials including Stuart Walker was made, good to catch up again.

ALAN IS RECORDING ALL FOR POSTERITY

Todays visitors Lincoln Moorlands Railway has been covered on a few occasions home and away when they graced the NCEFL but now in this new era it would be the first time for the team in its CMFL days.  There would be a few ground hoppers here today to take in Renishaw's developing ground and it was good to also catch up with Alan from the Ilkeston parish again.

CMFL RESPECT AWARD BY JOHN CORNTHWAITE TO RENISHAW CHAIRMAN MARTIN BAXTER

The game would pit fourth bottom Renishaw against high flying Lincoln and the home side I guess expected their work to be cut out but it got incredibly difficult on 10 minutes when home defender Alex Philpott handled a shot on the line and referee Booth of course produced a red card.  From the spot kick Josh Martin converted to the bottom left hand corner.

CANN GETS A SHOT IN FOR LINCOLN

Within a few minutes the referee was again pointing to the spot when Cann was upended and this time Martin went for the opposite corner with Booth pulling off an initial block he got his body in the way to divert the follow up over the bar.
This seemed to invigorate the home side Owen Ryan firing wide from a good position before the same player forced the visiting keeper Blake Caldwell into a good save for a corner.  From the resulting kick Theo Wilson saw his header saved by the Lincoln keeper and again the ten men were gaining confidence Brandon Ashmore trying an effort from long range that flew just over the crossbar.

RENISHAW KEEPER FEELS THE PAIN AS HIS NAMESAKE REFEREE EXPLAINS ITS A GOAL

As so often happens the sucker punch came in the fourth minute of stoppage time a corner off the right saw Booth unusually not claim the kick and Jordan Curtis headed home.  With Booth flat out on the floor there were appeals to the referee he had been fouled but the official was having non of it but after a lengthy stoppage for treatment the keeper saw the remaining 30 seconds out but did not appear for the second half still feeling groggy.

ASSISTANT REFEREE STUART WALKER CONSIDERS IF THE TRAIN IS ACTIVE

The second goal had made the task difficult but now the home side had to place an outfield player in goal and thankfully Chris Gill stepped up to the mark.  Cann should have added to the visitors score early on but he soon made it 3-0 with a low shot from 14 yards.  It was 4-0 on 69 minutes when Robbie Smith set up Cann for a shot across goal into the bottom right hand corner.

RENISHAW ON THE ATTACK

By the end Cann was celebrating his second half hat trick with Lincolns fifth following an assist from Zak Johnson.

BREAKAWAY FOR RENISHAW

A harsh day for Renishaw but an in the end comfortable victory for Lincoln who secured three points when you of course still have to beat what is put in front of you and they did just that today although this would have been a much closer game if it had remained 11 v 11 with a first choice keeper.
With a little bit of time built in there was chance to pop over to the cricket clubs pavilion for an after match social and as per most cricket clubs there was a wonderful selection of memorabilia attached to the walls including a wonderful shot of a cricket match in full flow with the former pit dwarfing proceedings through the cover.
A standard return on the trains with seats gained and indeed this had been a steady local saunter to a club and village that is becoming an ever interesting journey to follow.