SHIREBROOK HEROICS

SHIREBROOK TOWN 2 RADFORD 0
EMCFL @ LANGWITH ROAD
22 FEBRUARY 2020 --- 3PM

2-0 TO THE SHIREBROOK AS OWEN RYAN RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS

Frantically looking for something new to use for yet another blog on Shirebrook the word 'hideous'
came to mind, steady, you see the famous writer D H Lawrence used the 'h' word to describe the town in a postcard in 1911.  But today I prefer another 'h' word heroes as the recently added crop of players and new management team battle to save this proud club from the threat of relegation to what effectively will be a county league next season.  Today with a goal in each half they not only battled a side Radford in seventh place in The EMCFL but an onslaught of a constant gale that whistled around Langwith Road and gave the club its second home league win of the season.

THE THEATRE OF DREAMS IN THE DISTANCE

My enjoyment of visits to Shirebrook astounds many but I like the place and more over the club who now have a fighting chance under its new chairman, management team and expanding crop of
players after their previous victory a few weeks ago versus Rainworth the loyal regulars could see the
improvements and after two narrow single goal away defeats the victory today further reiterated the terrace comments of how things are improving on the pitch.

ALL SHINY AND NEW PRONTO AS STAGECOACH TAKE OVERALL CONTROL

Travel was via the convoluted route a fifty minute march to Holmewood to pick up a Pronto operated by a brand new version since Stagecoach have taken over the whole route from their partnership with Trent Barton with a brief connection at Pleasley on the Shirebrook bound 23 I decided to depart at the Summit estate to try to gain a panoramic view of the ground.  Thankfully I achieved this from a highly placed footpath although the lack of bright paint around the Langwith Road ground makes it hard to spot.  Moving in to town via Carter Lane and past The Summit Go Local shop and former pub which still has its signs adjoined to its exterior I dropped across to Main Street passing The Old Barn venue where a collection of young ladies of the district were all gathered enjoying the comfort of a cigarette outside the celebration.  A lot of Main Street has a frightening amount of business closures along with Bolsover Council offices permanently closed and shuttered up with the strap line 'Bolsover a beautiful place to grow' clearly they may not have thought so.  Onwards to the Market Place and the obligatory visit to the Coop for pre match provisions and a slightly different walk along Thickley Close and the climb through the OAP bungalows to come out onto Langwith Road opposite the ground.

THERE IS NO TRUTH THAT SHIREBROOK HAS GONE TO THE DOGS

One of the attractions of an early arrival is the chance to witness The Shirebrook Staff Whippet racing Club in full training with the four legged speedsters appearing from all over as one trial ends more dogs turn up.  All this taking place outside the ground and I learned more about their big meets during the year and hopefully can get along to maybe even blog one.

A STUDIOUS SHIREBROOK MANAGER STEVE BATES

To the football then and having covered the ground on numerous occasions this season lets just say its still mightily impressive as a venue and after constant downpours the surface looked nearly dry the current problem would be the wind.  As ever it was good to catch up with the regulars around the club and meet up with the new Chairman today who looked further resplendent in his purchased Shirebrook Town hat.  The managers wife and previous 50/50 winner was in attendance as was the international man of mystery which was excellent to see.

CORPORATE HEADGEAR FOR MR CHAIRMAN

Seventh placed Radford arrived as a real threat to the current improvement in form of Shirebrook after their victory over Rainworth a couple of weeks ago narrow one goal losses at Belper United and champions elect Sherwood Colliery were excellent returns but points are the main requirement now.

EARLY ATTACK FROM LUKE MANLOVE

The early chances fell to Josh Turner who found himself in two one on one situations with visiting keeper Warren Squires who came off the better.  Visiting forward Akim Akimbinu met the wrath of the home supporters when he seemed to crumble in the penalty box although Radford viewed this a penalty but referee Ian Jenkins waived away the claim.  The half hour mark settled home sides nerves as Radford had come back into the game after a storming early start from Shirebrook it was Luke Manlove who raced up the left hand side before unleashing a lovely strike into the visitors goal.

THE STAND SWAYED  AS GEORGE SIMPSON STORMED FORWARD

The second period saw a newly purposed Radford with the winds at their backs but slowly 'Brook' took the wind out of their sails with Turner forcing Squires into a sharp save and then winger Luke Manlove cut in to dink the ball over the visiting number one only to see his effort fall just wide of the goal.  If anything now the wind was increasing in strength and the chances of quality football non existent but the work rate and effort of both sides was to the fore.  With that in mind Shirebrook were gaining the upper hand and doubled their lead on 64 minutes when a first touch for substitute Montelle Kamara saw his shot strike the post and Owen Ryan was on hand to fire home the loose ball to double the home sides lead.

SECOND HALF SHIREBROOK ATTACK

With twenty minutes to go captain Will Dodds received a harsh second yellow card and Shirebrook were down to ten men.  To this end there had been half a dozen cautions and a red on shown which made it look a naughty game something it wasn't and I suspect without an assessor, observer, in attendance would probably have contained just two yellows, their influence continues.

SQUIRES MAKES A SHARP SAVE TO DENY SHIREBROOK

The home side would now have to work even harder as Radford sensed their opportunity and on 88 minutes an attack that seemed certain to produce a goal was repelled, Conor Moore whipped in a swirling cross off the left that caught the wind and struck the bar the ball fell into the box and two shots were repelled one by a defenders chest and after five minutes stoppage time Shirebrook had seen a hard working victory secured.
Three points were and will continue to be valuable and a requirement for the remainder of the season if Shirebrook Town are to survive at this level for next season but do you know there is now tremendous hope around Langwith Road on a Saturday afternoon as a crowd of just over 100 appreciatively applauded their side off after a tremendous effort in trying conditions.

BLANKETY BLANK

HORSE RACING, INDOOR ATHLETICS, BALA 1 TNS 1
ALL OVER THE PLACE @ INDOORS
15 FEBRUARY 2020 --- 1PM

MAES TEGID HOME OF BALA TOWN ANY EXCUSE TO SHOW THIS GORGEOUS SETTING

By 1pm I was frantically flicking through the TV channels with dire cries of where is 'World of Sport come on Dickie Davies' if I don't find you in a minute I'm off to watch Grandstand on the BBC.  You see it had been that long since a Saturday for me had not featured some live sport and after last weeks rescue act by Tupton RUFC in the imminent threat of an arriving storm today it would be storm
Dennis just seven days later that would scupper all efforts.  This week had even seen a few train pictures taken in the calm couple of hours and that is the excuse for dropping them in here because there certainly isn't any sports ones.

THE GORGEOUS NORTHERN BELLE ON FRIDAY NAVIGATING DERBYSHIRE

So the strong winds and rain would make any chances of a game a lottery and if I had been going in a car I would have risked 3g games at Pleasley for the switched Sherwood v Shirebrook game where there is little protection and only limited spectator access.  You could have added Wollaton Ressies game moved to Basford to that list but with both games requiring double decker travel I thought
50mph plus winds may not be conducive to a relaxing day on the top deck and the likelihood of the service being suspended was high, bearing in mind many rail lines and roads were blocked last weekend.

THE BADGE OF THE CHAMPIONS TNS FC

Reality finally struck home I was not going anywhere, surely it wasn't that bad from a comfy chair behind a double glazed window and with a radiator in close proximity it seemed almost balmy outside.  Pre match meal was tomato soup just to get into the ground hopper swing of things.
Horse racing from Ascot and Haydock Park passed a little while with some great fortitude showed by jockey and beast alike in the conditions and if like me and Mr R from the Buxton Parish we still haven't got a clue to where the heck Kempton actually is.
Indoor athletics from Glasgow passed a few more minutes and with the rain appearing to abate and no sign of Kent Walton introducing the wrestling the option of a pie and confectionary selection from the local shop came to the fore.  Downhill saw a bemoaning of the fact that I had been a northern softy it wasn't bad out here at all but by the time I had remerged with a fantastic Jones of Huddersfield pie, something I had discovered in the Huddersfield Cricket League a few years ago, plus additions it was blowing a gale and the rain was striking my face with the threat of serious damage to ones good looks.  So 'half time' over and suitably re stocked I still had last nights Welsh Premier league game to watch featuring Bala and reigning champions TNS it all ended relatively tamely in a one all draw but it did allow Connahs Quay who secured a 4-0 victory to go top of the table by one point with the two protagonists meeting next week.
End conclusion sees me thinking I could do this every week.........alright no I definitely could not, now what time is Blankety Blank on.

A FORMER EMR NOW EMT MERIDIAN HEADING SOUTH

IS THERE A BAR

TUPTON RUFC 17 NORTH HYKEHAM 12
MIDLANDS 4 EAST NORTH DIVISION @ THE RECREATION GROUND
8 FEBRUARY 2020 --- 2.15PM

TUPTON RUFC V NORTH HYKEHAM

The regular gravitation towards the bar seems a contant occurrence in both codes of this game and I guess all around the sporting scene but the answer here today was yes a mini beer festival, VP and sponsors day and the England International RUFC to follow on the big screen.  It was probably summed up by an associated post I saw from somebody connected to the club that read 'Weekend forecast rugby with a chance of drinking'.

TOP OF THE TABLE NEW TUPTON FISH BAR

About three years ago I paid the club a visit for a game versus Skegness when their new clubhouse was in the final stages of being built so it was time to revisit but I have to be honest it came about by default.  Waiting for an Alfreton bound bus, any of three would have done, non showed and it appeared their start point of Chesterfield was gridlocked and as time drifted away I was left with just a couple of options and I grabbed the bull by the horns and decided to do the return trip to rugby union.  The other code I cover in the summer but I have to say I struggle with union but its all about educating yourself and I probably need to do some intensive studying of the fine game.

A CROSS COUNTRY SERVICE SPEEDS NORTHBOUND

So a brief walk through Tupton a village around 4 miles south of Chesterfield shows up a functional community with a couple of shops, café, church and pubs but undoubtedly its star attraction is New Tupton Fish Bar.  The blog nearly always features pre/post match food and I don't think its introduced this eatery which is always right at the top of the fish and chips league and remains so today after a mini fish special for just over £4 it would be rude not to try one.  The village was the birthplace of darts player John Lowe, former MP Dennis Skinner went to school here and ex England cricketer Cliff Gladwin resided here in his retirement.  The former roman road Ryknield Street runs through the village adjacent to the A61, the village now stages a regular carnival, Christmas celebration and is the hosts of a collection of community groups as it expands in size.

SOME EARLY LINE OUT ACTION

Walking down to the 'rec' you notice that Tupton RUFC now have their own brown tourist directional sign for motor travellers but for foot passengers a walkway between St Johns Church and the 'club' will take you over North Side to the theatre of dreams.  The clubhouse is a wonderful asset to the club and hospitality for its VP and sponsors was in full swing with a well stocked bar and snack hatch area they cater for most things on a match day and the whole area was very busy pre match today.

SAM CURRY ONE CONVERSION TODAY

A quick tour of the pitch showed lots of sand and soil trying to cover the muddy experience this was going to be for the players most football clubs probably would not be playing for another year on this but rugby lads are made of harder stuff of course.  A cricket square, additional rugby pitch and football pitch are all overseen by The Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve and the nearby running mainline train line into Chesterfield alongside this the village of Grassmoor sits on the hill to the east and the encroaching new builds of Adlingtons estate approach the recreation ground.  The club have also added some additional floodlights for training down one side of the pitch as they look to drive their facilities forward.  Slightly to the west of the site is a field which has been reclaimed by New Tupton Ivanhoe who are looking to bring their Hope Valley League side back into the village as soon as possible.

JAMES BLAKEY SECURES THE FIRST OF HIS TWO TRIES

The game then and before the forecast stormy weather we had a nice bright afternoon which saw the home side going down the slight slope.  Sam Curry saw his penalty kick float just wide in the strong breeze and then on nine minutes Cain Holmes got through down the left to open the scoring.
Three minutes before the half hour mark James Blakey just short of the line spun and forced the ball over the whitewash to make it 10-0.  Tupton went in 17-0 to the good when eight minutes before the break Blakey got his second try forcing the ball over after a close in scrum had got the home side close to the line this time Curry did convert in the testing conditions.

OBLIGATORY SCRUM PICTURE

A more than fair reflection on the proceedings but the proverbial football 'game of two halves' came to the fore when North Hykeham pulled back a try on 68 minutes and right on time a further try and conversion reduced the arrears to just five points leaving for a nervous couple of minutes.  The referees whistle came as a fair reflection for Tupton but both sides deserve tremendous credit for a full hearted game of rugby in very heavy conditions, free flowing it wasn't but determination with these lads you can never doubt.

GO ON THEN ANOTHER LINE OUT PICTURE

Everybody was off to the bar, being teetotal, I made my way back to base there was a moments thought of a chippy re visit but I opted for the obligatory hoppers pop and chocolate bar for the short walk.  Not the afternoon I had expected but thankfully Tupton RUFC saved this Saturday from being devoid of any live sport, maybe I should do this more often.

BATES FAMILY DAY OUT AS SHIREBROOK BREAK HOME LEAGUE DUCK

SHIREBROOK TOWN 2 RAINWORTH MW 1
EMCL @ LANGWITH ROAD
1 FEBRUARY 2020 --- 3PM

A FIRST HOME LEAGUE WIN FOR SHIREBROOK

Something just told you this was going to be Shirebrook's day when Liz Bates the wife of joint manager Steve had the winning 50/50 half time draw ticket and it was all backed up by son Ryan opening the scoring from the penalty spot and husband and dad saw his management partnership with Simon Dixon secure Town their first home league victory of the season, which saw the irony not lost on the PA operator at the end of the game who blasted out 'another one bites the dust'.

LOOKING LOVELY BUT IT WAS A BITTERLY COLD DAY

So another visit to one of my favourites as regular readers will know this time via a more convoluted route from base to Holmewood then taking the Pronto to Pleasley and finally a 23 to Shirebrook Market Place where the stalls were just winding up, there was plenty of time to visit the Coop for a few provisions before ambling up to Langwith Road in the gusting wind, two steps forward one step back.
Arriving over an hour before kick off and there was time to watch a few greyhound practice races which take place outside the ground if you are lucky enough to see them on a visit.  So having covered the ground and the club enough this season lets get straight into the business end and the difficulties Shirebrook are in second bottom of the league and with Borrowash approaching fast the side continue to suffer heavy defeats despite the sterling efforts of previous manager Jordan Johnson and his hardworking players it just wasn't happening.  Out of the blue this week a change in the hierarchy of the club allowed for the bringing in of the new management team of Bates and Dixon and with it a whole raft of players from Renishaw Rangers with the hope of stabilising the club and pulling away from the bottom two because make no mistake if Shirebrook go down it could spell a very serious doubt about their future.  As the new managers have had one training session the chance to merge the players was taken for todays game and I would guess others will be given a chance in the next few games however there will undoubtedly need to be a use of a small budget to bring in a few players to strengthen the side.

MORE THAN FAST NEW JOINT MANAGER STEVE BATES

Before the game there was a chance to meet and greet the good of Rainworth who I had not seen for ages Les, Paul and of course Gordon Foster well known from his reporting days for The Chad and the excellent organ playing 47 years and counting for Rainworth Parish Church.  As ever Ian Oxley was on hand to warmly greet me and he looked well attired in his corporate Shirebrook Town clothing.
An excellent crowd approaching 120 had gathered to see what was going to be served up after a week of speculation some of it surprising in its tone especially after the heavy losses the side had suffered this season and the worry about where the club would go in the coming months, but as ever at Shirebrook put out a side that battles and ultimately wins and the people of the town will come along a wonderful credit to the area.

EARLY DEFENDING FOR SHIREBROOK

Rainworth had recently signed goal scorer Nathan Benger who assisted their 2-0 win at Ingles last week whereas it was all change for Shirebrook to much to mention following last weekends heavy home loss to Barrow Town.

RYAN BATES GIVES SHIREBROOK THE LEAD FROM THE PENALTY SPOT

The encounter started encouragingly for Shirebrook but the best chance fell to Lewis Weaver for the visitors but Daniel Hartshorn was on hand to save well.  Thankfully Town put that behind them and were awarded a penalty when Alex Sennett took down George Simpson and Ryan Bates fired home a low spot kick that sent keeper Josh Hollis the wrong way after 17 minutes.  Confidence rose for the boys in red and Nathan Jessop broke through down the inside left and fired just wide with only Hollis to beat.  However on 22 minutes there was bordering on, alright there was delirium as Shirebrook went two up Craig Purcell saw his edge of the box shot hit a defender and Kyle Lilley was able to gather the ball and fire home past the Rainworth keeper.  Within five minutes though caution was thrown into the mix when Aiden Harris held the ball up close in for the visitors and turned to bundle the it over the line to reduce the arrears.

2-0 CELEBRATIONS

The second period started with Jessop clearly the danger man on the left for Shirebrook and with the hard work and holding up of frontman Lilley the threat was always there however the home side drifted into a defensive roll as they struggled to clear their own half for a good fifteen minutes and were grateful to a wonderful full length save by Hartshorn to keep them ahead after 68 minutes.  As the final quarter of an hour came upon us Jessop weaved is way into a good position to put in an excellent cross that just missed the head of captain William Dodds at the far post.  It was now the turn of Shirebrook to get back into the ascendancy and they looked a threat however in the closing moments Kieran Darby found himself in an excellent position but could not get his shot away quickly enough and Shirebrook blocked his effort.

HAT TRICK FOR THE BATES FAMILY AS LIZ PICKS UP HER 50/50 WINNINGS FROM
DRAW MASTER IAN OXLEY

Cue the leaving the pitch music and Shirebrook had done it a home victory in front of a appreciative crowd many of whom stopped behind to applaud the players off for their efforts. One swallow doesn't make a summer but over the last week the clubs social media presence has become more prominent, the public address system was used at the ground and overall there may well be dancing in the streets of Shirebrook tonight.

NO REFEREE PICTURE OH GO ON THEN HERE IS KARL BAINBRIDGE ADMINISTERING A CARD TO RAINWORTH SUB CAMERON DAVIDSON

One word of caution though todays success will not be as easily achievable against many of the stronger teams in the league and the management will need to look out for some late signings to strengthen the squad for the battle ahead but for now enjoy a superb victory and the smile it brought to the face of the long suffering Shirebrook supporters who left Langwith Road with an extra skip in their step, a new dawn you can but hope.