BUMPER HOLIDAY SPECIAL FROM WEST HULL-BATLEY-ECKINGTON

WEST HULL 16 SIDDAL 8
KINGSTONE PRESS PREMIER DIVISION @ WEST HULL COMMUNITY PARK
25 MAY 2019 --- 2.30PM
Like the good old holiday special comics of the 1970's, remember them the ones that kept you quiet for most of the holiday period never mind the journey to and from the seaside, this third bank holiday in close succession would take in a fine selection of sport.  The main feature would be a visit to Hull for the 'West' variety of the rugby league flavour and a debut appearance followed up by two old favourites in Batley Bulldogs and the T20 fixtures at Eckington for a bit of cricket.

WEST HULL IN CONTROL THROUGH BOBBY TYSON WILSON

The Saturday started with a departure from base station just after 1045 and with a comfortable change in Sheffield there was even time for a bit of 'semi' famous person spotting with the bard of Barnsley Ian McMillan platform bound.  The smart recently refurbished Bridlington bound train would see a journey of around an hour and a half deliver us into Paragon station in the former city of culture.  Most of the journey was interrupted by a fellow passengers mobile phone with an annoying text message tone at full volume going off every minute or so and a move further along the carriage was required, mind you this was surpassed by a selection of the younger generation playing pirates on the return journey to Doncaster-its not a crèche you know or maybe on second thoughts it is.
Hull has a superb bus station adjoined to the rail terminus and the Simplibus variety operated by our stripey boy friends had a number one service that would take me along the Hessle Road the couple of miles out of Hull to the west and our ultimate destination today.

RYAN WILSON CONVERTS AFTER THREE MINUTES FOR WEST

I had left this with about an hour to spare for kick off and should have allowed more time Hessle Road was very much the old business area for the adjacent docks however today it is a sadder area than its heyday.  There is a variety of shops from many countries of the world represented and a selection of pubs that look like bars but have the feel of London style establishments.  However the striking feature is the collection of murals on the side of prominent buildings that represent the cities former sea faring industry.  Featuring a fisherman at the wheel of his trawler, a net repair being undertaken and two displays to the Headscarf revolutionaries four ladies who after three trawlers were lost in three weeks in 1968 with the loss of 58 lives took on the challenge to make the job more safe including a radio man on board all vessels.  To this end the wife of one of the trawler men Lillian Billocca headed up this campaign to much ultimate success but also much sacrifice along the way she was blacklisted and never worked in the fishing industry again all for fighting for rights that ultimately became an accepted charter, a strong band of ladies who should be saluted.
Next time I need to walk along Hessle Road and pay due respect to these history makers but todays game was calling and walking along the tree lined North Road West Hull ARLFC would soon appear and a quick check out of the historical clubhouse revealed plenty of memorabilia having undertaken a look at the ground which is railed off on three parts with the far end open, the side pitch revealed floodlights I guess for training nights and the whole perimeter was fenced off giving the site some rescue from the local dog walkers.  By the side of the pitch the club have a café situated in a container and the most notable attraction seemed to be the size of the burgers coming out of the establishment you certainly didn't want to drop one on your foot.

RYAN STEEN LOOKS FOR A WAY THROUGH

Having paid in and secured the teams from the referee it was slightly disappointing to see the club follow the recent lead of match day programmes being on line in fairness that was the case and like a few other clubs it looked a nice effort too, its just a shame because for the traveller it takes a lot away from the day its always nice to a have something to save and browse on the return journey, progress eh.
West Hull are unbeaten in the season and with Wath Brow Hornets also level on points but with a game more played the early pressure is on and to that end a try after three minutes for the home side went down very well when Scott Spaven went over and Ryan Wilson converted.  Hey Arnold [Ethan Shore on team sheet so not sire of was a late change or a nickname?] went over in the corner to make it 10-0 at half time.  Siddall could count themselves unlucky but pulled four points back when Samuel Walsh took fancy to the whitewash in the right hand corner within seven minutes of the oranges.

ONLY RON SEAL STANDS IN YOUR WAY

West's took a maximum from a second from Arnold [see above re name] matched by a brace conversion from Wilson to widen the gap.  Siddal were in this game though and held some great possession that tested the resolute defence of West Hull but the game experienced very tense closing stages after the visitors Walsh also secured a brace of tries again breaking through in the much favoured right hand corner with the conversion missed the gap was eight points and proved a little too much.  Both sides had second half tries chalked off with the visitors Siddal probably feeling hardest done by with their four points denied that would have set up a roaring finish.
Both sides put on a tremendous show with Siddal making this hard going all the way for West Hull who slip to second after Wath Brow secured a 72 to nil win but with a game in hand for the Humberside team the ball is firmly in their court though.
A healthy crowd had watched this one with around 175 in attendance and a passionate following from Siddal that had expanded my vocabulary to new levels.
Comfortable connection for the 5.20pm departure allowed the train to sort of take the strain after the energetic younger generation had got off at Doncaster and with a comfortable connection at Sheffield base station was reached at a little after 7pm.
BATLEY BULLDOGS 24 HALIFAX 16
BET FRED CHAMPIONSHIP @ MOUNT PLEASANT
26 MAY 2019 --- 3PM

MOUNT PLEASANT IN ITS PRE MATCH GLORY

Cattle prodded up to get ready for a trip to what has to be one of my favourite sports venues Mount Pleasant the home of Batley Bulldogs and its famous unforgiving slope.  The town and ground has been covered in previous blogs but a quick overview of todays proceedings would only be fair to this beauty.
Off from base station at mid-day all standing on the X Country, really it should change its name to very X Country, by the time we left Wakefield the full length of the carriages were engrossed in passengers and of course no sign then of the train manager it really is appalling and a regular occurrence with this dreadful set up.  Closeness to your fellow passenger is not always welcome but today it was interesting that my travelling companion for the final fifteen minutes to Leeds was a Doctor who had been associated with many rugby league clubs as a match day doctor so the journey flew by with tales of the oval ball variety.
Connecting to a Dewsbury stopping service the option was taken for the mile or so walk to Batley rather that wait for a later train.  Not too much had changed at the ground since my last visit except for a selection of new executive boxes at the rear of the new seated stand and the electronic scoreboard had found a permanent terrace spot.  Sadly, as mentioned at West Hull, Batley now no longer issue a programme and although you can view them online its even more restrictive as you have to register first.  A sad shame that again there is nothing to take back home from your visit to this wonderful club and for the younger generation nothing to weigh down their future loft!
Battler Batleys mascot was late in appearance I guess he was in the doghouse over some issue but when he did show with the arrival of the teams the atmosphere was rising in temperature with a super following from Halifax in attendance.

WHAT A BIT OF SHIRT PULLING BETWEEN FRIENDS

Batley kicking up the slope took the lead after 9 minutes Keenan Tomlinson claiming a high ball from a collection of players went over and then Louis Jouffret took it to the maximum.  Will Sharp walked over on 24 minutes for Fax and Stephen Tyrer converted and the scores would remain level at the break.
Lewis Galbraith went over early in the second for Jouffret to add his second conversion and the down hill onslaught could begin when Tomlinson was alert to go over it was 16-6.  Halifax were not giving up and Scott Grix broke through to score and with Tryer converting the deficit was just four points.  Again Batley pulled away when Adam Gledhill forced the ball over from a seemingly impossible position and Jouffret made no mistake adding the extras.
The closing stages saw Jouffret add a penalty goal and with Sharp going over again for Fax the missed conversion made things relatively safe for the closing minutes at 24-16 but this had been one heck of a game and an enthralling second half as Halifax never gave up against a Batley side who showed some great defensive effort in the second half.
Return back from Batley station and change at Leeds, but not after one of those very reasonably priced station pasties[!], would see a direct service back to base station pull in around 7.20pm.
ECKINGTON CC V CHESTERFIELD CC V SANDIACRE TOWN CC
DCPL T20 @ STAVELEY LANE
27 MAY 2019 11AM

HARRY WILMOTT IN BIG HITTING MODE FOR CHESTERFIELD

In the words of a now defunct TV programme 'day 3' saw an early morning departure to base town with a bus connection to Eckington and refreshments from the local Coop were enough for a ten minute walk to the ground through the deserted streets.  A town that used to host the former Labour MP now bizarrely hosts the new Conservative MP in the same office a sign of the times ses many of the former businesses in the bouyant times gone to the wall in this town that probably pulls more on its nearby neighbour Sheffield even though it is firmly based in Derbyshire.
Eckington Cricket Club has featured on a few occasions so a brief overview sees the new pavilion now well developed with additional memorabilia, food hatch and bar all working well alongside a terraced barbecue all in operation for this bank holiday triple header.

CHESTERFIELDS OVERSEAS PLAYER JUSTIN DILL TAKING OFF

It was as ever good to catch up with a few players and spectators during todays games which commenced with Eckington v Chesterfield the visitors posting 186 for 6 with an opening partnership of 94 between Harry Wilmott, a magnificent 56 and Callum Hiron [40] after that it all fell away a little although Andrew Parkin Coates contributed 31.  The home side in reply were thankful to Joe Bullimore who added 47 bit the fell short on 137 for 6.
Game two turned in a war of attrition with Eckington struggling to 73 all out two over short of their 20, John Jordison taking 4 for 6 and in reply Sandiacre wobbled all over the place to make hard work of 75 for 6 admittedly with 8 overs to spare.
The final game which I had to depart before commencement looked the closest of the day Chesterfield posting 141 for 4 with Parkin Coates getting 61 and Justin Dill 39.  In reply Sandiacre fell ten runs short of victory at 132 for 8 with Wilmott taking 4 for 22.
Always good to catch up with some cricket at Eckington and it all rounded off a very interesting and sporting bank holiday weekend.

THEY THINK ITS ALL OVER IT IS NOW

MORTON CCC 243 ALL OUT TUTBURY CC 114 ALL OUT
DCL 2 @ MORTON CCC
18 MAY 2019 --- 1PM

BRAD CLARKE ON HIS WAY TO A MATCH WINNING 80

Brad Clarke and David Greaves played the main roles in this 27 point victory that should give Morton a real boost to their slow start to the 2019 season.  Clarke and Greaves shared a partnership of 114 when the home side where struggling and then the former chipped in with three wickets to add to two from Greaves that got them over the line dismissing Tutbury for 114 by coincidence the exact total of their stand.

MORTON PIT MEMORIAL WITH NEW CENTRAL ADDITION

After the mad end of season chase for football games added to the additional bank holiday games over April and May a final Sunday league game on Wednesday, I know Wednesday[!], being called off just over an hour before kick off it felt like time to call time on the season.  Summer mode of cricket, rugby league and any other obscure sport will hopefully feature but today with the weather forecast for dry but cloudy there was only one place to be the home of cricket MCCC.
Morton Colliery Cricket Club for the first visit of the season has of course been featured plenty of times before so now is not the time to go into all the history of the area save to say its a former pit village which proudly takes the claim of being the centre of England proudly portrayed by a plaque at its tree bound spot on the west side of the village.  A further addition by the Parish Council to the striking pit wheels was an additional pit shovel and pick with a plaque to mark the memory of the 'men and boys who lost their lives'  in the pit during its 100 year life which ended in 1965.

LET SUMMER COMMENCE  EXTRA SEATING CAPACITY CLOSE TO THE BAR OF COURSE

The ground was looking resplendent and tidy all in all areas thanks to the many enthusiastic club officials here and the ever youthful grounds man Charlie Wright.  With additional new picnic tables the warmer days will provide plenty of accommodation for the visiting cricket lovers, alongside the re sighting of the electronic scoreboard for its first full season in its new place is a brand new score box for Chairman John.  Moved from its old style single storey 'shed' position to sit at a very wide mid off the brick built box is a smart effort with a heater for those colder days and has a nice stone marking its build date and the cricket clubs logo.

BLAIR MATHEWS AND A CAMEO ROLE FOR THE NEW SCORE BOX

As ever its good to come home and the welcome and friendly nature of this club its officials, players and spectators alike always make it an enjoyable visit.
With the clouds with us all day there was a hesitant feeling that we could be on and off a few times, thankfully this did not happen and we got underway on time with it must be said two of the smartest umpires I've seen for a while.

ASH CAUNT ON HIS WAY TO 26

Morton would bat first and made a comfortable start with two early fours and with Ash Caunt [26] and new captain Blair Mathews [50] chipping in the total was moving along steadily but a middle order wobble took them to 110 for 7.

BRAD CLARKE TAKES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS 80

Enter Brad Clarke and David Greaves who both sensibly got their eye in saw off the troublesome Tutbury bowlers who were doing the damage and as things got more comfortable Clarke opened up with an impressive 80 including sending one over to all boundaries for 23, ably assisted by Greaves they put on 114 for the eighth wicket.  The final pickings saw Morton settle on 243 all out in the final over.

DAVID GREAVES STEAMING IN FOR HIS TWO WICKETS

The home side were desperate for a win to get their season out of the traps and they couldn't have wished for a better start with a sharp run out completed by Caunt in the first over and with Clarke dismissing two with the ball by the end of the second over Tutbury had lost three wickets without troubling the scorers.  The uphill struggle became an impossibility by the time they had fallen to 35 for 6 and at 114 all out just over half way through the visitors overs Clarke had added three wickets to his 80 runs, Greaves had notched a brace, David Vardy three and there was a debut senior wicket for Tom Keenan.

IT IS ALL OVER NOW A MORTON WIN BRINGS ON PITCH CELEBRATIONS

The pressure valve was relieved at the end and Morton had secured a much desired victory that was self evident in their celebrations at the fall of the final wicket.
They think its all over it is now or is it?  Next week sees a couple of football fixtures on what will be the last weekend of catch up games but after starting the cricket today who knows if there will be a one week revival or whether summer is here to stay.

POYNTON GET THE POINTS TO FINISH FIFTH

POYNTON 2 FC ST HELENS 0
CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER @ LONDON RD NORTH
11 MAY 2019 --- 3PM

ACTION FROM POYNTON FC AT LONDON ROAD NORTH

Two second half goals from Jason Leach and Luke Jones would be enough to secure Poynton a fifth placed berth while leaving their Merseyside visitors in third bottom spot in The Cheshire Football League Premier Division.
As silly season continues and a plethora of games are coming thick and fast in both finals and bank holiday fixtures I quite looked forward to a debut at a Cheshire Premier League game although Whaley Bridge have previously been covered in a county cup fixture.  Poynton came to the fore after a look around the fixtures and seemed a steady option with no big games to worry about re train travel over the peak district.

NEW AND NOSTALGIC AT POYNTON STATION

It all started well, for a change, but by the time base station was arrived the train was late and had received a full unit change at Nottingham so deciding to hop along to Sheffield and increase my options I still boarded the delayed train at steel city and was arriving in Stockport just ten minutes down with plenty on hand for the connection to the leafy suburbs of Poynton.

ITS ALL VERY AGREEABLE VIEWING BY THE GREEN SHOOTS

Poynton station is a little gem with memorabilia dating back to the fifties from signage to gentleman's a first class waiting room, now a store room it would appear there are even a few milk churns awaiting collection on the platform.  Walking into this affluent area south of Stockport I spotted a collectors item in the form of a Labour election garden board I guess there aren't many others in the posh houses along Chester Rd.  The town as you would expect has a Waitrose, a beauty bar by the moniker of Bethany Jessica, had apparently fought against a Aldi coming to town I think I've got your number Poynton.

EARLY MATCH ACTION WITH FC ST HELENS IN CONTROL

I lowered the town substantially by visiting Poynton Fish Bar for the best chips sampled on the road for a while and wandered the streets eating them, much like my faux pas of eating a Coop cheese sandwich on the cobbles of Knutsford.  While discovering the make up of the town centre The Strawberry Pig came to notice a fish and chip shop the name I have no idea about I couldn't really ask while eating the rivals chips could I.

POYNTON NOW IN CLOSELY CONTESTED POSSESSION

Poynton is also famous for being a shared space were everybody gives way to everybody else in a pedestrianized type of central road system I did try waking out in front of the traffic, cautiously and it appeared to work with the upmost courtesy from all.
Moving along to Poynton Sports which is a small run up along London Road North the site contains cricket where North East Jets, a merger of Poynton and Disley, had a home fixture today, bowls, tennis and the football ground which had seen a noon kick off between the reserve sides of Poynton and Pilkington.  The far end has a club/bar area which was in need of refurbishment, call of nature found the toilets so small that walking in set the hand dryer off and the cat swinging competition had been changed to bring your own mouse.

SECOND HALF POYNTON ATTACK

Pre match communication re the safety of this fixture happening had taken place with secretary Mark Warburton and it was good to meet him and his assistance in obtaining the teams and excellent communication was much appreciated.

LUKE JONES [RIGHT] IS CONGRATULATED ON THE SECOND GOAL FOR POYNTON

The ground then sides onto the cricket which could be a little dangerous I guess if the big hitting had commenced at any stage during play, today it didn't.  It is a railed pitch in corporate colours with two tired dug outs, the side nearest the cricket had a paved terrace and there is no cover save for a small tree which wold have struggled to cope with the forty or so at the game had the wet stuff commenced.
End of season affairs can be dour well this one struggled to get near that level with in fairness the defence of a bobbling pitch and no shortage of endeavour it didn't live up to much for the neutral.
The first half was a shocker with just a late effort from a Leach 25 yard free kick striking the woodwork and that was you lot.

POYNTON DEFEND A ST HELENS CORNER WITH THE DOMINANCE OF THEIR KEEPER

The second period did move up half a notch and during the game the referee had to be on his mettle with the game approaching feisty on a few occasions during the ninety.  Like the proverbial London bus two goals came along in relatively quick succession first on 53 minutes Leach fired home before on 59 minutes Jones forced home the ball from close range after a close range scramble.
Overall it had been poor fayre as a game that would not remain in the memory for too long but the visit was a pleasant one making for an interesting afternoon in Poynton.
Departure back to Stockport at 5.30pm saw a comfortable connection, I know what is going on, and a return to base station just short of 7pm.

THE X47 TO DEJA VU

DAVENTRY TOWN 3 HOLBEACH UNITED 1
UCL KNOCK OUT CUP  KILN PARK RAUNDS TOWN
6 MAY 2019 --- 3PM

UP FOR THE CUP DAVENTRY TOWN CAPTAIN ROSS HARRIS

Daventry completed the double with the Knock Out Cup added to their UCL league title thanks to a comfortable victory over Holbeach United who created very little mind you that's not saying much in a final that was a complete contrast to yesterdays CMFL encounter.
Last seasons final was played in sweltering conditions but today was if anything slightly chilly certainly away from the covered enclosures.  Having visited Raunds last year for the final on the same date and seen Leicester Nirvana create an upset by beating Yaxley I opted to take up the engineering challenge that is Bank Holiday rail travel.
Whisper this quietly but on the two trains down connecting at Leicester seats were secured, amazingly as was the return journeys too!  The only hard work was the fourteen minute connection from Wellingborough station walking to the town centre for the X47 to Raunds.  Thankfully completed we were soon upon the bottle neck that is Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre but our driver was well versed in getting around this and via Rushden centre we were in Raunds about 50 minutes later.

THE BUSINESS END AT KILN PARK

Once again I wont go into the village and the ground if you take a look back at May 2018's blog its available there, needless to say its an interesting village with a good reference to early workers struggle on this of all days, May Day.
Departing on the north of the extending village by the A45 the equalling expanding retail area of Asda, McDonald's, M and S and now a new KFC.  The latter I ended up in after the yellow arches was packed.  Soon over the way at the ground of Raunds Town Fc and its a strange set up with both touchlines, especially the far side, an unnecessary distance from the pitch.  Other than that its a standard ground for a club who this season have struggled in League 1 of The UCL.  The set up has a 70's feel too it and as probably mentioned last time here its strange how they would have been out on a limb when the ground was built but now they are of course being built around.

THE PURPLES OF DAVENTRY IN FULLY COMMITTED ACTION

Holbeach came into the final with a fifth placed league finish signalling a closely contested encounter but it went wrong as early as five minutes when Kieran Fitzgerald gave the champions the lead.  Holbeach found a way back into the game on 35 minutes awarded a penalty for a trip Josh Ford put away the spot kick and the neutrals in what looked a disappointing crowd of around 150 hoped for the underdog.  That was soon put to bed two minutes before the break with the ball pin balling around close in to the Holbeach goal line Adam Confue pounced to restore Daventry's lead.

HOLBEACH SCORER JOSH FORD ON THE BALL

If the first half had been a slow burner the second half, without denying the effort ratio, was a complete bore from an unattached spectators point of view.  I'm not sure Holbeach would have scored in the second half if they had stopped out their all afternoon and the amount of long ball did have one advantage when it drew the crowds eye to the sky to spot a Red Kite majestically taking the thermals for a flight in a neighbouring field, it was probably the highlight of the second period.
Daventry extended their lead with a harsh penalty away on 83 minutes and Adam Creaney got himself on the score sheet for the purples.
It was all very forgettable as a match but as a visit very enjoyable, short walk back for the X47 to Wellingborough and upon boarding and showing the stripey boys day ticket to the driver I realised it was exactly the same driver as this time last year, day ticket to deja vu anyone?

TEN MEN PINXTON WIN CUP IN A THRILLER

PINXTON 4 HUCKNALL TOWN 4 [AET] [FT 3-3-PENS 5-4]
CMFL LEAGUE CUP FINAL AT THE IMAPCT ARENA ALFRETON
5 MAY 2019 --- 3PM
Pinxton lifted the silverware in an outstanding cup tie leading 3-0 after 28 minutes it looked as though the cup was on its way back to Wharf Rd ably assisted by a Kieran Debrouwer hat-trick.  However Hucknall had other ideas reducing the arrears to just one goal before Pinxton had Liam Green shown a straight red card and a late leveller sent the game into extra time. With a goal for either side in the extra thirty minutes the spot kicks saw Lee Stevenson send the Pinxton supporters wild with joy at the end of an engrossing game.

KIERAN DEBROUWER CELEBRATES THE FIRST OF HIS HAT TRICK

Short journey to Alfreton, blogged many times before so no ground descriptor here, for the regular bank holiday Sunday CMFL final and some finals are dour tentative affairs but this one was as good as you could wish for backed up by a partisan crowd of 601 who created an electric atmosphere.
Pinxton had the best of starts when constant danger man Debrouwer swept Hucknall away with 2  goals in two minutes firstly with nine on the clock a header and then a low curler and it looked like damage limitation just before the half hour when yellows keeper Adam Jablonski came for a cross and David Leak lent over to allow the ball a passage to his keeper only for it to hit him and divert overt the goal line to make it 3-0.

JAMIE CRAWFORD PULLS THE FIRST GOAL BACK FOR HUCKNALL

Before this Hucknall had hit the bar through Shane Newton but you had to now question what affect this would have on the side however they got a bit of luck they deserved before the break when Jamie Crawford saw his 20 yard free kick take a deflection that wrong footed the Pinxton keeper Liam Power to reduce the deficit.
The second half could not have started better for the Watnall Rd side when they pulled another goal back within two minutes when Oliver Brown turned the ball home.  With 22 minutes remaining Pinxton were reduced to ten men with Green dismissed by referee David Constable, I so wanted to say laid down the law, for a heavy challenge and it was game on.

REFEREE CONSTABLE SHOCKS LIAM GREEN WITH A RED CARD

Both sides went all out for the next goal and with three minutes remaining Jay Cooper could have won it for Pinxton but he fired over from a great position and so the inevitable happened just a minute later Ethan Greenridge put in a low cross and Adam Nelson converted to make it 3-3 to complete a remarkable comeback.  Hucknall could have secured victory in time added on but this time Nelson fired wide.
Extra time brought about no let up in pace eight minutes into the first period Debrouwer was left with to much space and he converted for his hat-trick.  Hucknall would have to do it the hard way and again they came up with the goods with five minutes remaining amid penalty claims to further wild scenes of celebrations Greenridge forced the ball home to send us to penalties.

LATE SUBSTITUTION WITH AN ACTIVE ROLE FOR FOURTH OFFICIAL SCOTT MASON AND ASSISTANT ANDY WOOD

Nine out of the ten penalties were scored but Hucknall had seen their first saved and it left Lee Stevenson to strike home the final spot kick to set off the wild scenes again this time within the Pinxton contingent.
If only every game, never mind final, could be this exciting it had been a great spectacle alongside abide with me, the national anthem and a raffle that raised just short of £200 for charity this had been a tremendous credit to The CMFL and the Hucknall and Pinxton sides who had set out to entertain something that doesn't always happen in todays game.

ABANDONMENT FARCE BUT SIR LEN HUTTON SAVES THE DAY

FIELD 1 HEADINGLEY 1
WEST YORKSHIRE LEAGUE PREMIER @HOLLINGWOOD LANE
4 MAY 2019 --- 3PM

A UNIQUE BACKDROP A FIELD FC

A wholly unacceptable abandonment from a spectator point of view occurred in the Lidget Green area of Bradford with approximately 30 spectators watching, a fair few from way down south and some West Yorkshire travellers too the referee called off what had been an entertaining game after the assessor left the ground at half time feeling threatened after being approached by a spectator.  Luckily the sanity of cricket was on hand to save the day at nearby Pudsey St Lawrence the home of Sir Leonard Hutton and Herbert Sutcliffe former Yorkshire and England greats.
The day commenced in its usual public transport format, you know the drill by now, rammed to the rafters but thankfully a sharp connection in Leeds saw arrival in 'Bratford' in time to catch a bus through the streets to the west of the city to depart on Thronton Road a twenty minute walk away from todays destination.  Of course the method in all this was West Park Fisheries who had an excellent rating on review sites, well as per Wednesday night in the words of yoda 'worst I have sampled', but I have had better.

PRE MATCH TOUR

Just short of Hollingwood Lane I found my back up sport just in case with Clayton Amateurs Rugby League ground awakening for todays game.  Onward to the corner of our destination and Clayton Road the new mini retail Park was in full swing on the site of the former Field's packaging and printing factory the history of todays named side and over the road way Chelsea Road the, I believe former modern warehouse site which also hosts the base for todays game.
With Fields now gone the factory by the ground is now run by a bathroom distribution company and the adjoining football pitch and social club remains under whose ownership I don't know but lets hope its secure.  There are a few ways of entering but I selected the longest way, I found out later, by the car park route and then when in the ground spotted a footpath by the factory.

MATCH ACTION WHILE WE HAD CHANCE WITH HEADINGLEY ON THE ATTACK

A 1970's style clubhouse was smart and very well manned by a friendly member of staff the ground on two sides is bordered by large poplar trees with hard standing on the clubhouse side its grass along the other three although you can access them and all are railed off.  Uniquely for the league there also floodlights in situ but the factory is the major backdrop of this ground overall its a pleasant setting for a game.
It was good to catch up with quite a few of the hopper crew and a few locals too and all was set for a good game with Headingley needing a point for Premier League survival and Field back to league action after winning the Saturday Senior Cup.
To the events then WYL a step 7 set up as normally provided some excellent games to watch in the silly season at the end of footy action and today was no different for forty five minutes.  I need to make clear firstly that anybody who knows this blog, I believe, is nearly always fair to referees and I have to label todays events from both sides and did not speak to any parties involved so I'm sure they would offer a different take on proceedings. 
Referee observers or assessor in old money always seem to have an influence on referees performances especially in relation to the use of cards and I draw that from being involved with a club and as a spectator but I believe the referee should not be alerted and they should attend but not introduce themselves before the game going forward.  I understand that this is dismissed with needing to know the referees pre match instructions but there is an increasing controversy around this form of monitoring and the referees use of cards.

HEADS YOU WIN

It looked to go wrong for the visitors as early as 5 minutes when Steve Bargh scored from the penalty spot.  Headingley came straight back and stuck the post through Merlyn Andrews and as the ball bounced back Mark Freeman missed the target from close in.  However Headingley got level on 32 minutes Freeman made amends by racing through to fire home.
During the half referee Taylor had issued a regular distribution of yellow cards and seemed to pull in the captain from afar on most occasions he deemed a 'chat' necessary, assessor influenced I don't know the official but it often is.

MILNER SENT OFF FOR HIS SECOND YELLOW JUST BEFORE HALF TIME

We arrived at the 43rd minute and after a sharp halfway line challenge Josh Milner was shown a second yellow and the inevitable red.  As he walked off a spectator walked towards the assessor on the terrace and play was stopped while the referee sought to settle the situation which he did by asking the Field manager to go over to the opposite side of the pitch to speak to the person involved.
What was said I cant tell you but I do know the game continued to half time, there was no melee on the pitch or between the dugouts.  As the referee came off at half time the assessor spoke to him and immediately walked out of the ground to which the three officials went into their changing rooms closed the door with the two managers called and within two minutes it was abandoned.
From a spectator point of view there was little explanation and while not knowing the nature of the pitch side conversation it was called off as I guess the officials didn't feel safe?  There appeared little attempt to remove anybody from pitch side and for the referee it was a very quick call off and it felt very unacceptable while of course not condoning any threatening misconduct.
You can imagine £20 and two hours of travelling did not leave my mood in a good place!
Bradford City were at home but after toying with the idea I decided against it, thankfully 0-0, and set off back from Interchange to return to base when I had a quick look at the phone map and a bit of social media research found Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club at home against Bradford and Bingley.
During last seasons cricket coverage this was a ground I had looked at a few times and although today would only be a two hour visit it has whet my appetite for a full days visit on a warmer[!] day.
Departing at New Pudsey station and veering through a few select footpaths, retail parks and a steep uphill climb I would within 25 minutes come out on Tofts Road adjacent to the ground, mind you half way up the hill sheltering from a hail shower in a bus shelter I did realise I'm getting to old for this malarkey.

ENTRY GATES FOR PUDSEY ST LAWRENCE IN MEMORY OF SIR LEONARD HUTTON

 The two names synonymous with the club are Herbert Sutcliffe and Sir Leonard Hutton the latter has a nice set of gates dedicated to him and the superb modern clubhouse, packed for the whole afternoon, was also awash with memorabilia plus a fantastic calligraphic wall quote from Hutton "many of the most blissful hours of my life were spent with Pudsey St Lawrence".  England's highest test score by an individual was set by Hutton at 364 against Australia in 1938 at The Oval and obviously something the club are very proud of in the Fulneck, Pudsey born man.

WOOLLY HAT BLANKET IT MUST BE THE CRICKET SEASON WHAT A NICE SETTING THOUGH

The ground is a smart affair and hopefully I will get chance to cover it during the season but needless to say on a nice afternoon it would be a very agreeable setting however today ladies on the boundary were fully covered in warm woolly blankets it may not quite be weather for cricket yet!

WHITEWASHED WALLS AND CRICKETS BACK

The pitch action had seen Pudsey amass 178 in 50 before I arrived and Bradford and Bingley were making steady progress but by 7.15pm I had to depart it was going to be a late finish which I doubted they would get to.  However they did and it went down to the penultimate ball with the visitors dismissed three runs short.
Mad dash to New Pudsey station and I only just made it for the train and a quick change at Leeds and we were back over the Yorkshire border in Peak land just before 8.30pm.  A strange day that I'm still not quite sure what happened or if it was all a dream thankfully saved by a Yorkshire and England legend.

UNICORNS AND THE MAIN ATTRACTION

WOMBWELL MAIN 0 HIGH GREEN VILLA 2
SHEFFIELD AND HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY SENIOR PREMIER @ HOUGHTON LANE
1 MAY 2019 --- 6.15PM

TANGERINE ARMY OF WOMBWELL MAIN

A goal in each half was enough to settle this County Senior League fixture for visitors High Green Villa as football continues to run amok in the silly season.  In a game full of endeavour the visitors were grateful to captain Tom Burns and Tyrone Gunter for the three points indeed the latter became a constant threat in the second half.  Having made one brief visit to Wombwell after an early finish at a cricket match in Hoylandswaine a few years ago to find the red ball game taking place at Houghton Lane in the same perilous state as the one I had just seen finish early I set off with a little time spare on the watch to have a look around today, of course, former mining town.

GATEWAY TO WOMBWELL OR OUT OF

After a late bus saw me connect onto a Sheffield bound service from base station a one minute change over saw Leeds bound train boarded with a fraction of time to spare and 25 minutes hence departure at Wombwell station which is about 3/4 of a mile from the small town centre. 
Wombwell is around three miles south east of Barnsley and I opted to catch the stripey boys bus into town which goes via the council estates around Copeland Road before departing on the High St ten minutes later.

BURTONS A FORMER MAIN STAY IN MANY A TOWN

The town as former pit towns do shows its scars of the industrial destruction of the 80's with boarded up shops and distant signs of former glory days a classic example being the former Burtons menswear store in a style reminiscent of their establishments country wide but of course sadly fallen by the wayside.  The Wombwell Main pit and nearby Cortonwood pit have of course long gone the latter to be replaced by a retail park were most employees probably find themselves on minimum wage and zero hours contracts oh for the days of stable employment for these proud former mining communities.
A steel gateway marker to the High Street just a short walk from the 'Spoons', yes there is one although a chippy had been sourced, was made ornate with sporting symbols, pit memorabilia and the much to be viewed Unicorn in central position.
Off to Summer Lane and the fish bar which if reviews are to be believed is a cracker and with a queue to the door my criteria has been passed to sample the goods.  A good take away it was just bubbling under on the edge of the play offs in football parlance with time moving on there was not enough left on the clock to pay a visit to the cemetery where Wombwell's footballing son Mark Jones is remembered.  One of the eight Manchester United players to die in the Munich air crash in 1958 Jones, the just 24 years old centre half, was from Wombwell indeed I believe his son is still in the area to this day.

AN IMPRESSIVE TANGERINE UNICORN

The Wombwell Sports grounds were entered by a small gate which was attracting Slimming World attendees, I managed to avoid this even after my fish and chips and set off for a walk to the football pitch which is too the far end of the site passing the cricket ground.  As ever even though this is now step seven football admission and programmes are not a requirement but you can purchase some raffle to help out.  The pitch sits on a raised level with the far side having work on with flagstones laid and two dug outs in the process of being build behind is a small grass bank which offers a good view of proceedings the far goal is flush to security fencing so out of bounds.  The opposite touchline has reclaimed land behind the top half where the club are developing junior pitches and the narrow touchline takes us back to the near goal.

GROUNDWORKS UNDERWAY

On the boundary of the cricket pitch is a very smart new changing room block finished in 2017 and displaying, yet again, a unicorn on the club and associations badge.  It was great to learn of the story of the development of the building and the efforts to develop their community ground no big over inflated plans just a sensible cautious approach as material becomes available.

TWO MANAGERS IN ONE DUGOUT FOR THE EARLY PART OF THIS GAME

Team sheets secured, raffle purchased the spitting rain and darkening night would make an annoying first half for photographs.  The visitors would start strongest with Ryan Ruddiforth hitting the bar and shortly after Matt Jacobs seeing his effort well saved by Kai O'Loughlin in the Main goal.
The breakthrough came for the visitors though seven minutes before half time when captain Burns headed in Jack Jones corner.

WOMBWELL MAIN SHINE OUT IN A WONDERFUL KIT

The second half started like the first for Ruddiforth who crashed a great strike off the bar before the home side showed a sharp moved saw a Billy Smith effort pushed round for a corner by visiting number one Ben Palmer.
Much as Wombwell Main were trying to get a head of steam up it wasn't really happening and the threat of Gunter was becoming more prominent and with three minutes to go he broke through to fire past O'Loughlin and the three points were sealed.

AND A BIT MORE TANGERINE

The short walk back to the station revealed another fish shop in the car park of the club, temptation city, departing train just after 8pm saw an arrival back at base station at 9pm a short brief enjoyable visit to the town and Wombwell Main Fc, annoyingly I still couldn't find out the Unicorn connection by research but I'm sure the colourful creatures were frolicking slightly less in some Wombwell wood tonight after their sides narrow loss.