3G MAKES ITS DEBUT FOR NEW WHITT V RENISHAW

FC NEW WHITT 3 RENISHAW MW 2
CHESTERFIELD AND DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE @ SHIREBROOK
12 APRIL 2018 --- 6.15PM

LEAGUE HISTORY JACK WILSON [NEW WHITT], RALPH MORTON AND RYAN SPINKS [L TO R]

It was one for the record books as The Chesterfield Sunday League saw its first game played on 3G thanks to the ingenuity of the home side FC New Whitt and cooperation of Renishaw MW.  On a misty, wet and unbelievably cold night for mid April these two sides served up a highly entertaining and competitive game at Shirebrook Academy with the hosts coming out narrow victors by the odd goal in five.

LIGHTS CAMERA WINDMILL AND A LOT OF MURKINESS

With the continuing bad weather these two clubs still had 14 games to play between them and with FC New Whitt's pitch unplayable their management team took the forthright decision to book the 3g at Shirebrook, a ground that had staged the early fixtures of FC Bolsover in The Central Midlands Football League last season, before their ground share with Shirebrook Town Fc.
So with an early dash via a couple of buses the latter which takes an hour from Chesterfield and circumnavigates nearly every estate on route an arrival an hour before kick off allowed a quick look at the delights of the nearby Summit estate before returning to the ground which is situated in a lofty position on the edge of the town
The poor light, my excuse for the below par pictures, also meant that a Sunday League game, playing on a Thursday [!], would also feature floodlights but I'm assured by league officials that this is not the first time a league fixture has been played under lights.

COME ON LADS WE CAN SORT THIS OUT

Both sides fielded a selection of substitutes which was superb to see for this midweek fixture involving a far bit of travelling for the clubs.  The game was also appropriately officiated by the leagues oldest referee in Ralph Morton who at 76 years of age has now seen in the first 3g fixture for the league.  There has been many achievements for Ralph who has referred ay a good standard in the non league and also at Wembley in front of over 50,000 for an England v Brazil junior international.  He still holds a season ticket at his home town club Leeds United and maybe soon he should give it up and concentrate on this refereeing lark full time.
Both sides still have a realistic shout for the top spot and if not a good effort could see a runners up berth by early May and it was New Whitt who started at a fair pace taking the lead in the first minute when Luke Mathewman raced on to slot past Mathew Chapman.  When Tom McTighe made it 2-0 with a header you would have forgiven Renishaw for looking for the warmth of the changing rooms but early on in the second half they reduced the deficit when Elliot Metcalffe turned the ball home before FC New Whitt regained the two goal advantage.

MATTHEW CHAPMAN CLAIMS THE BALL FOR RENISHAW MW

A free kick on the right for handball saw former Clay Cross Town player Grant Weston float in the set piece for McTigh to guide home his second and Whitt's third.  Not to be outdone Liam Wilde pulled a goal back for Renishaw with a sharp header which set up a grandstand finish that with a little bit more luck could easily have seen the visitors draw level.
Well done to all involved in this successful first, I believe New Whitt may be looking to stage another game here too and if you want to find out a little bit more the league is easily followed on FA Full Time or its active Facebook page featuring match reports and photo's of recent games.