NEW YEAR AND THE STRUGGLE GOES ON FOR SHIREBROOK

SHIREBROOK TOWN 0 CLIFTON AW 2
EMCL @ LANGWITH ROAD
4 JANUARY 2020 --- 3PM

THE DUSK SWEEPS IN ON LANGWITH ROAD

Happy New Year but whisper it quietly around Shirebrook Town for it may be a new year but the
search for the first home league win of the season goes on with the debut game of 2020 ending in a narrow loss to fellow strugglers Clifton.  It could all have been so different for the Langwith Road buys who summed up their league position by missing a collection of chances, including a penalty, in the opening fifteen minutes but when those same openings came along for the visitors they snapped them up along ultimately with the three points.

SIMON JOHNSON GETS 5.7 FOR THE SWAN DIVE

Today it needed to be local and a trip to Shirebrook is always one of my favourites and with Mr R from the officialdom Parish in town today a trip to and from the theatre of dreams was a welcome addition and I think made up the first Saturday of the season that had not been undertaken by the
public transport system of this country and the X1 would have to pine for me today.  As ever it was nice to catch up with the cracking old ground and Ian from the club who would undertake his raffle duties with the usual efficiency during first half proceedings.

REFEREE REES CHECKS HE HAS HEARD THE LANGWITH ROAD TERRACE COMMENTS CORRECTLY

Any revisit and more so if regular is always difficult to find anything new to say or photograph but hopefully there is the odd snippet within here.  With a fair amount of time to go to kick off I opted to try the snack bar and the new fad plant based diet was enacted with a chip cob and some sauce followed at half time with soup, well there was some plants in there somewhere.  The half time soup by the next morning had reignited the old conundrum 'why does cup a soup at football burn your mouth', I have never yet managed to succeed in keeping my mouth intact even if I have left it for a whole half and drunk it stone cold it still does the damage.

LIAM JEPSON SEES HIS EARLY PENALTY SAVED

With Borrowash under new orders and picking points up it was imperative for Shirebrook second from the foot of the table to pick up some points but with no money and a young side it looks
increasingly difficult without some investment.  With no home league victory all season and only two away victories including the chance to do a double over Clifton today the ominous signs of their last home outing a 10-2 defeat to Hucknall was hanging over the old place.

SHIREBROOK KEEPER PIOTR STYRCHARZ CALLED UPON TO DENY THE VISITORS

Expecting little with both sides short on form it was a heart warming start by Town who were out of the traps at a pace that shocked the visitors Simon Johnson, managers brother and new addition since my last visit, was making the old legs go and he fired just wide before Robbie Savage also fractionally missed the target.  Moving down the slope with a purpose Johnson went over with a cracking fall that would have won awards if there were any this afternoon referee Rees waving away his audacious appeal before just shy of the quarter of an hour mark they were awarded a penalty when Johnson was brought down by Tobias Richardson.  Hope sprung eternal a spot kick to give Shirebrook the lead, yes the lead, although it was slammed back in its box shortly afterwards when George Warren flung himself to his right to save from the kick from Liam Jepson.

BROTHERLY TEAM WALK AS SIMON CONSULTS MANAGER JORDAN

Straight up the other end and the first Clifton attack of intent Kyle Stovell put in a tantalising low cross that Poitr Strycharz could only palm away and Jevon Seaton was on hand to tuck the ball away.
Shirebrook's chins visibly dragged on the floor it was happening again was a regroup possible well it was a continued worry as Strycharz saved well from Kimani Wilson as he broke through.  Half time beckoned but with four minute to go to the break a wonderful finish from 20 yards as Seaton side footed the ball into the roof of the Shirebrook net with a confidence belying the visitors league position.

ACROBATIC STRYCHARZ SAVE

Shirebrook battled away in the second half all the good stuff was coming through Jepson and centrally in attack from the evergreen Johnson both who had chances that went close and the home sides luck was summed on 64 minutes when the lofty Jepson broke through his 20 yard strike
beat keeper Warren but struck the post with the rebound flying back into the stranded keepers arms.
The closing stages saw Johnson and Richardson come together with the latter going for the Guinness Book Of Records chest pushes in a short period of time referee Rees was in generous mood and gave both players a 'talking to' and then as they walked away the contretemps continued and a yellow card was awarded to both.
Clifton closed strongly but Town keeper Strycharz was alert to push over a fine header from the Clifton substitute.

THE LIGHT SPRINGS ETERNAL AT SHIREBROOK TOWN

Shirebrook have previously seen some semi glory days with a flirtation of so nearly appearing in the Northern Premier League with excitable and partisan crowds which can still be witnessed down the popular side but the amount of 'old uns' offering up some pearls of wisdom is now sadly reducing.  Overall the downfall of the town and area in industrial terms must have had an affect on the club but the long serving and hardworking committee and current managers must take credit for their continued efforts and commitment to the club and it can only be hoped the revival starts soon for Shirebrook Town.