IVANHOES IN CONFIDENT START

GRASSMOOR SPORTS 1 NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 6

PSF AT BARNES PARK

6 AUGUST 2020 --- 6.30PM    

A CONFIDENT START FOR THE TUPTON MANAGEMENT 

An encouraging start for Hope Valley League side New Tupton Ivanhoe with a comfortable victory over Chesterfield Sunday League neighbours Grassmoor Sports at Barnes Park on a sultry evening.

Almost exactly a year ago the local pre-season derby saw Iavnhoe travel to Clay Cross for a fixture against the 'United' of that town a game that the latter surprisingly won tonight though Tupton kicked off with confident start.  As per most of my recent sport it would appear that the order of the time would be more grassroots variety and the small walk to Grassmoor via the double incline of Hagg Hill was undertaken.. Approaching Barnes Park via the site of the former, in days of old, local cinema and the still current Boot and Shoe the park showed up looking fairly busy with footballers, practicing cricketers and skate park attendees.  

Grassmoor is a smaller village than Tupton but as of course many of the villages in these parts was built up around its pit and then when that close the adjacent carbonisation plant was the source of employment until that closed.  It is also the start of the previously blog mentioned Five Pits Trail and was the former home of Paul Burrell the butler to Diana Princess of Wales.

Barnes Park tonight's venue was now in sight and looking fairly busy with footballers, cricketers and skate park attendees.

Grassmoor is smaller than Tupton but as per many of the villages around these parts was built up around its pit when that closed subsequent employment was found at the adjacent carbonsiation plant until its also shut.  The village is the start of the previously mentioned Five Pits Trail and its famous former resident is Paul Burrell the butler to Diana Princess of Wales.

GRASSMOOR TEST OUT THE TUPTON WALL

Just for the record most bloggers seem to be recording how many days since their last football match well here goes its 152 for me and a journey back to the early days of March when departure from Langwith Road Shirebrook would see the end of the curtailed 19/20 season.  With some caution about re entering the football arena and with limitations my early decision was to go to proper 'grassroots' football and having taken in the Ivanhoe's pre season game last year tonight seemed as good an option as any.

Ivanhoe started strongly and had the upper hand for most of the opening 45 minutes something backed up by their two nil half time lead courtesy of a Lewis Bramwell brace.  An opening close range effort after just ten minutes was met by a sweet lofted strike from the edge of the box seven minutes later that drifted over the Grassmoor keeper.

With the copious amount of subs as in all pre-season friendlies there was a rest for the impressive Bramwell at the start of the second half but more than catching the eye now was the speedy Marc Bright who also seemed to be able to deliver a nice cross from out wide too.  It was Bright who added the third after the Grassmoor keeper had superbly pushed a Tupton effort onto the bar he fired home the lose ball within two minutes of the restart.  Five minutes later former Clay Cross Town keeper Charlie Clayton playing in a outfield role all keepers seem to desire fired home to make it four without reply, the celebration towards his touchline teammates may need a bit of practice though.  It was five when Joe Holmes nestled the ball in the back of the net before Clayton popped up again with a clinical cross goal strike that flew past the Grassmoor keeper with twenty minutes remaining.  

Grassmoor had the better of the closing stages a left hand corner form the 15 was played back in by the number 4 and a sharp finish from the red shirted number 7 provided a consolation goal.  In the final minutes Clayton found himself back between the sticks as the Ivanhoe's keeper retired injured from proceedings and he was grateful for the cross bar as the home side rattled it with an edge of the box shot.

IVANHOES CLAYTON WHEELS AWAY AFTER CELEBRATING HIS FIRST GOAL

First ninety minutes of the season and how was it.  Well I cannot say I was comfortable I made the assessment that park football would be best with plenty of movement allowed and of course the restrictions of steps 1-7 of no spectators currently would probably push hoppers into watching at venues similar to this.  Having made the decision to walk to sporting fixtures currently it would limit the options in footballing and cricket terms and I guess going forward many of these sides will have but a handful of spectators in attendance.   

Tonight I stood a good few yards behind one goal away from most of those attending and with both teams sensibly taking up opposite sides of the pitch it did limit gatherings well.  The park though was busy with the skate park well populated, dog walkers meandering around and the cricket club training added to this a warm evening bringing people out that will I guess not be walking through similar venues on a wet November afternoon.

Cricket seemed to be ready to start although I guess they were more or less in season and eager to get going and although there are many of the ECB guidelines that need re-reading it appears as with anything some clubs proceed well.  In relation to football I guess many including players will not have looked at the FA instructions which is a shame because like cricket some clubs some will follow them and others wont,  I would urge all clubs and players to read them.  From a conversation with an official at the local senior non league side I know they are looking at all possibilities to take on board a full raft of safety measures on match day and this is very encouraging because if this season is to start or even finish clubs must take on board the guidelines.

Here tonight I let the ball roll past me without retrieving it on a few occasions, as in cricket, I did mention to one passing spectator who gave me a strange look at my non retrieval the FA regulations to protect all parties involved, but who knows how many have read them.

Tight non league grounds I believe will possibly be uncomfortable whereas grounds with space around them and with officials who are well versed and organised will feel more comfortable added to this step 8 and below plus Sunday league will get probably more comfortable when the colder weather returns and it will be just the hardy characters frequenting the local park pitches. 

So a good start for New Tupton Ivanhoes with Grassmoor showing some encouraging signs in the second half too lets hope football will come good and see an entertaining 20/21 season for both of these sides who put on an entertaining encounter tonight.