TIBBY AND TURNER IN THE GOALS

TIBSHELF 5 CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH RES 0

MIDLAND REGIONAL ALLIANCE PREMIER AT SHETLAND ROAD

24 OCTOBER 2020 --- 2PM

TIBSHELF V CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH WITH THE OILMEN FLAG IN VIEW

After a resolute defensive showing from Cromford and Wirksworth in the first half limiting Tibshelf to just a Max Minshull goal the second half would see a hat-trick from Aaron Turner alongside a Steve Webster strike inflict further misery on the still pointless visitors.

With a trip to Shetland Way on the cards now for the last two seasons I had limited my previous viewing of the Oilmen to an away game at the delightful Little Eaton a few seasons back for one of those end of season night games.  So with the local version of this blog signaling a small amount of clubs within walking distance which has struck a boundary at two hours each way thanks to the wonderful Tansley FC.  Today would surely not be a problem with around a five mile one way trip however that was taking out of the equation the weather forecast.  The national broadcaster had been going for heavy rain and winds but by the Saturday morning the worst of it was showing as after 5pm, wrong.  By 5pm when I rowed back onto the home street it had just stopped raining.

Travelling in then by Pilsley a convenient half way stage I just needed to get to here before it started to rain and I just about did it but for the second leg it was umbrella up and everything strapped down as the wind got up.  The village had a nice selection of 'guys' in the gardens with Cowboy Clive in Lower Pilsley to a memorial to remembrance day through the villages estate.  Leaving the autumnal and peaceful Pewit Lane and approaching the village of Tibshelf the home of the countries first inland oil well, hence the clubs nickname, sadly there would not be time or inclination today to visit the site on the Hardstoft road on the edge of the village.  The centre is along a long road with the new and modern Coop at the west end slightly ajar to the main shopping area, today though the rain had turned into a torrential downpour as I went in search of the memorial to Tom Hulatt.

TOM HULATT FAMOUS SON OF TIBSHELF

The Tibshelf born runner is famous for coming in just behind Roger Bannister when he set the first sub four minute mile in 1954 at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, Hulatt is buried in St Johns The Baptist Church just a few hundred yards away but today this would not be happening as there was now very little of me not dripping.  There is a further plaque to the runner at the Pilsley end of the trail which I believe signals one mile its also said that he ran to work at Williamthorpe Colliery which is further down the walkway also, as previously blogged the trail links five pits along their former rail supply lines.

Pilsley was also famous for four railway stations at Woodend, Doe Hill, Newton and Tibshelf Town, the latter which had adorned itself the moniker 'town' something it sought but never gained.  Once again the cutting that continues the base of the former ornate station is the continuation of the five pits trail towards the former colliery area where we are now off too.

MAX MINSHULL OPENS THE SCORING FOR TIBSHELF

Although there were many small other developments around the village since and before the mines remain a prominent feature of its past of course long since disappeared as we approach the ground the former miners welfare stands derelict but is still an imposing if modern building.  Turning into Shetland Road it did dawn on me that even walking the Scottish Isles could not be any more challenging than the weather that confronted this visit today.  Just beyond the ground was one of the former collieries and its water supplies which now make up the fishing ponds, again there would be no meandering down there today.

THE RACE IS ON

The welcoming feature for today was the superb display of autumn on the trees behind the Newton Road goal which would hopefully also provide some additional protection from the elements they were a picture but had shed much of their foliage pitch side.  The home club had a nicely installed temporary canvass dug out but once proceedings started who needed that the footy was all that mattered.  It was god to say a brief 'hi' to Chesterfield and former Morton Cricketer Paul Holmes who was named in the Tibshelf starting line up.  Thanks also to Tibshelf manager Steve Clements for his help with players names with my evening enquiry, much appreciated.

Cromford arrived without a point and rooted to the foot of the table, however Tibshelf were not much further up the positional ladder.  Credit here to referee Kieran Widdowson once both sides were ready he got the game underway.

SECOND PENALTY FOR TURNER AND TIBSHELF WHO LEAD 4-0

In  a first half dominated by the home side Cromford relied on numbers behind the ball and even though the possession monitor was at near full for Tibby they only had the one goal to their credit.  It was though a superb one a strike from Minshull 25 yards out who succeeded in lifting the ball over the visitors keeper.

The second period would start convincingly for the home side when Webster advanced on goal and curled a glorious finish round the Cromford number one to double the advantage.  There was time now for Turner with his unique one step penalty kicks to fire home from the spot convincingly on two occasions after fouls on 53 minutes and 64 minutes.

THE SCENIC VIEW AT SHETLAND WAY

Tibshelf could relax now their first half dominance was matched in the second by the goals they required to put them at ease and although Cromford and Wirksworth showed more as an attacking force it did not produce a goal, however credit to the side for their continued efforts including an impressive performance by the man between the sticks.  With fourteen minutes to go the game was capped off with a wonderful deft chip from Turner who would complete a cheeky triple.

PAUL HOLMES GETS A TACKLE IN FOR THE OILMEN

Although the game was played mostly in a downpour of less ferocity it was a horrible afternoon for playing in or watching football at step 8 level but warmed by a convincing home win I was on my heels as soon as referee Widdowson blew for full time.

SECOND CARD OF THE DAY FOR REFEREE WIDDOWSON

Return would be the same way as the rains now started up to full level and there was probably not much chance to get any wetter but slowly but surely the journey took me back through Pilsley and there was even a photo opportunity from under a protective tree of 'Cowboy Clive' who due to the weather had since I passed him earlier had benefited from a tarpaulin framed cover installed by his designer, lucky old Clive.

COWBOY CLIVE DRY BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR HES GETTING ON THAT HORSE

Looking forward to making a visit in better weather and taking a look at Tibshelf during the season in the mean time I'm off to purchase a kayak.

TEN MEN TUPTON BEAT LEAGUE LEADERS

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 5 JBM SPORTS 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE B AT LANGER LANE

17 OCTOBER 2020 --- 2PM 

CHARLIE CLAYTON FOR NEW TUPTON IVANHOE V JBM SPORTS

With the game well set at 2 goals apiece New Tupton must have feared the worst when they conceded a penalty and were reduced to ten men when Jim Brown was dismissed before the spot kick could be taken.  But Ivanhoe's keeper Brady Parker pulled off the save and they gathered themselves together to see Jack Bingham, Danny Stevenson and Marc Bright add to their tally and see off the challenge of JBM Sports.

THE THEATRE OF DREAMS IN THE FOREGROUND OVERLOOKED BY THE TOWN HALL 

One of the more local blogs was planned today and with a previous pre-season visit to the clubs out of village home of Langer Lane on the edge of Chesterfield I did wonder what to cover so a trip to the loft to visit the old programmes.  Rummaging through to find some Biwater Clay Cross Works printed material and the old Sunday Ivanhoe's year books, mainly to find an interview I did with current manager Dave Martin in the eighties.  Also to convince the crop of players today that Dave was a jolly good player and as he does now loves the game but after the experience of this match and the constant giving of The Hope Valley League fixtures I have shelved that for later reading.

The blog tries to steer away from large match reports but how do you cover or more to the point not cover the details in this delicacy.  So there is an increase in pictures which hopefully add to the words sit back and enjoy these two sides putting on a classic.  Hopefully not too many 'typos' as its as exciting putting it to words as watching it first time round.

DANE HUST UP FOR AN AERIAL CHALLENGE FOR JBM

Having mainly taken the walking boots down the noisy A61 for the forty minute walk in the past I decided to add a quarter of an hour to the experience by coming through the adjacent village of Wingerworth making the whole journey more pleasant.  

I knew very little of JBM Sports but thankfully player manager Matthew Garnett was on hand for a quick phone chat after the game.  The club now play in memory of John Bateman hence the name, their touchline manager who sadly passed away in 2015 and now the club have remembered him in their title for the last few years.  Playing out of the 5g facility at Tapton School in Sheffield they originally had connections to Hope in the Peak District which is represented by the cement works chimney on their badge and were originally run under the moniker of Hope Sports.  This came about after Matt had been working out in nearby Castleton and spotted the opportunity to bring football to a ground in Hope.  Thanks to Matt for this and his help with names on Saturday evening.

New Tupton Ivanhoes as previously blogged are a club of double figure teams through all age groups with a ground development in the village coming along well this should see todays senior side return to their natural base and home.

HURST THIS TIME IN POSESSION ON THE FLOOR

The well known cob shop on the corner of Langer Lane was still doing a roaring trade and just over the road both sides were in warm up routines and I ventured across the busy junction.

Today the blog will bring an extra amount of pictures hopefully I can get them all in but this was some game and would be a shame to leave them out of the overall view of the afternoon.  Arriving at just after ten to two it was more or less a case of 'what times kick off?', 'what time can you get here' because referee Pete Selby kicked off straight away.  

BRADY PARKER CLAIMS FOR TUPTON

JBM came into the match perched at the top of the table and looking confident of their continued season progression they must have fancied three points against third bottom Tupton who in fairness have had a stilted start fixture wise to the season after a pre-season on rising confidence that they can but the strugglers tag behind them this season.

REFEREE SELBY HAS A QUIET WORD WITH CLAYTON

Underway in a light drizzle that had not been forecast by the wonders at the BBC weather office and so umbrella was up for the old camera lens.  It was Tupton who started at a pace with Oliver Swale crossing for Charlie Clayton at the back post who just couldn't get over the ball and fired over the bar at the other end Brown had to be alert as he cleared off the line from Sports attack.

CLOSE UP FROM IVANHOES V JBM SPORTS

The visitors captain John Hague tried an effort from distance but Brady Parker in the Tupton goal was alert to the danger and as the game continued in a free flowing vein the danger of the visitors front man Dane Hurst looked obvious and his opposite number former Clay Cross Town keeper Charlie Clayton also looked self evident.  It would be Ivanhoe who shocked the league leader though on 32 minutes when Swale beat the offside trap and with a confidence fired past the out coming keeper to start the goal fest.

SPRINGS IN THE STEP FOR NEW TUPTON

As the home side looked to extend their lead Clayton ran at the visitors defence and was brought down just short of the box for which Matt Hanson was booked however the resultant free kick was low and not strongly hit and created the keeper little problem.

JBM would get themselves on level terms just one minute before the break a neat cross from right winger Ali Massoumi saw the danger man Hurst rise to power home his header and it was honours even at the break.

OLIVER SWALE RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS AFTER HIS OPENING GOAL

By the oranges time the wet stuff had stopped and the shield was down and surprisingly the weather was about to turn to a lovely October afternoon as the game came even further to life with a glut of goals and incidents.  

Within seven minutes of the re start Tupton were back in the lead when Lewis Bramwell popped up with an unmarked back post header but within two minutes it was all square when Will Hale headed back the deep cross and Hurst rose higher than anybody else to rustle the Tupton net.

THE BATTLE OF THE UNDERSHIRTS

It was JBM who looked threatening now Chris Cottyn looked to have been upended in the box twice in the same move firstly by Brown and then keeper Parker flew in dislodging the visitors players balance it looked a penalty but the man that mattered Mr Selby saw nothing amiss.  Then just past the hour mark came the game changer.

ALL LINED UP FOR A FIRST HALF TUPTON FREE KICK

Brown had put in an initial challenge the ball fell to Massoumi whose shot deflected away with a goal line clearance for what looked a corner but the referee pulled the incident back and awarded a spot kick.  Tuptons central defender Brown was incensed and consulted his dictionary for a few choice words and unfortunately left the official no choice but to issue a red card.  So Ivanhoe's found themselves about to face a penalty and continue the final 28 minutes with ten men against the league leaders.  Ominous right?  Well that was without taking into account keeper Parker who flew to his right to save the spot kick from Tom Kinlin. 

PARKER SAVES THE JBM PENALTY AT 2-2

The thoughts of an upward struggle seemed to be confirmed when just five minutes after the spot kick they did make the advantage pay in their favour when Ben Woodruff forced his way around the defence with a low cross that Massoumi smashed home at the back post.  Consulting the league table and the man advantage I expected this to be a damage limitation job now.

BEN WOODRUFF GETS IN A HEADER FOR THE VISITORS

From somewhere Tupton mounted a head of steam and had a snap shot over the bar from a long throw but amazingly just two minutes after JBM had taken the lead Ivanhoe's would level.  A right wing cross was high enough to evade most people but not Jack Bingham who levelled the scores to add just a little doubt to the league leaders minds.

ONE ON ONE AS PARKER COMES OUT TO SAVE

The game became remarkably open with JBM still looking to get hold of the three points and their threat level remained high but for Tupton it was now all about counter balancing this with some pace and to that affect substitute Marc Bright was introduced to the match.

ALI MASSOUMI SEES HIS EFFORT CLEARED OFF THE LINE

The joy of the Bingham equaliser at three all was surpassed on 77 minutes when unbelievably Tupton claimed the lead when another deep cross fell to Danny Stevenson who hit the sweetest of finishes that flew into the roof of the visitors net, cue delirious scenes for the players and their touchline following.

JACK BINGHAM MAKES IT 3-3

By this stage as much as this was an unbelievably enjoyable game I was starting to extol the virtues of 1-0 or 2-1 games as constant note making alongside trying to capture some of the proceedings on the camera were proving a full time effort.

WOODRUFF PUTS IN THE CROSS THAT ALLOWS MASSOUMI AT THE BACK POST TO GIVE JBM THE LEAD AT 3-2

A slightly disturbing incident occurred somewhere in this passage when two PCSO's turned up and looked like they were about to apprehend Ivanhoe manager Martin but thankfully he managed to talk his way out of what situation he was in or probably more to the point advised them just give me a few more minutes until I get these over the line.

WILL HALE LOOKS TO DELIVER INTO A PACKED PENALTY BOX

As JBM called up all their reserves the pressure came again for Tupton to defend but it would be the pace of Bright that would confirm the result picking the ball up on the half way line he sprinted his was past the visiting defenders in his path and guided the ball through the keepers legs to make it 5-3, 85 minutes.  A remarkable score line was now coming to the fore Tupton were not quite sure what had happened and I think JBM were probably of the same thought as well. 

DANNY STEVENSON SMASHES HOME THE SHOT THAT MAKES IT 4-3

The remaining five minutes saw Tupton play the game management card by taking the ball into the corner for as long a periods as they could for they knew that JBM would remain dangerous if they played an open game and one goal back could easily produce a second to level the scores again.  In the final minute the protect the ball play saw the visitors reduced to ten men when Massoumi was dismissed for a challenge.

MARC BROGHT MAKES IT MORE COMFORTABLE AT 5-3

This league currently just keeps on providing games like this and both sides must taken enormous credit of course New Tupton Ivanhoe will capture the headline but JBM Sports although disappointed with the result must take a massive bow and credit for their contribution to this wonderful advert for The Hope Valley League.

DAVE CONVINCES THE OFFICERS TO WAIT UNTIL NINETY MINUTES BEFORE THE HELP US WITH OUR ENQUIRIES START

A spring in the footstep returning to base by an almost repeat of the outward journey but now in wondeful sunshine and the chance to reflect on the best game of the season 8 goals, 2 red cards and a saved penalty and sadly not a TV camera in sight.  Grassroots football at its best.

WHO NEEDS PAY PER VIEW GAMES

TANSLEY 4 BASLOW 4

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE PREMIER AT FETE FIELD

10 OCTOBER 2020 --- 2PM

BASLOW CLEAR FROM A TANSLEY ATTACK

The end of the week had seem some major disgust from football fans that Premier League sides, barring one Leicester, had agreed with broadcasters to show all games for an additional £14.95 a match, well let me say here was a game with a set of lads who played open and attacking football in it that would question any need to even think twice about that resistible offer.

So although for the two managers they will probably have been up all night dwelling on their defensive performances this for the neutral football loving fan had it all eight goals and two penalties, both saved, that left a good feeling about the game at its grassroots source.

OGSTON RESERVOIR LOOKING MOODY AND THREATENING RAIN

Thanks again to Tansley manager Tom who kept me up to date with a 'no problems' text before I set off on the hike, I would also like to thank Baslow manager for his evening confirmation of players names, regular readers will now its a fifteen mile round trip but an enjoyable relief to enjoy the beautiful countryside around Ashover but there is plenty of up hill and down dale and then up hill again.  The seasons  are clearly changing with autumnal tints all over the place and with a forecast of constant showers the decision to travel without an umbrella was a risky one but with a moderate breeze over the tops it would be a little redundant.  Dropping through Littlemoor into the first dale in the form of Dalebank the signs are out for Pumpkins for sale and as I move along the narrow lanes towards Ashover Hay the remoteness of the properties is supported by these being the sort of narrow lanes where there is often an increasing amount of grass growing out of the tarmac.  Passing the stand alone Primitive Methodist Church and out along the ridge of the Hay the hardest part of the journey to the summit and Butterley Hill Farm is achieved without too many clashes with speed challenged drivers on this steep and tight lane where the last thing they expect to see is somebody walking never mind a mad ground hopper.

GREAT TO WALK DOWN BUT REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO CLIMB BACK OUT OF TANSLEY

Holestone Gate Moor and the moderate breeze which wasn't too bad today although the farm half way along entitled Four Winds does rather give it away.  Descending down into Tansley the wide variety of farm animals are well on show through pigs to geese and horned black sheep to highland cattle.  As Riber castle switches and moving position upon approach it is of course me that's moving around the dominant building on the adjacent hillside.  So before this degenerates into a Claire Balding Radio 4 rambling programme again Tansley is arrived at entering in close proximity to The Gate which is doing a good trade in meals.  I have half an hour to spare so opt for a little roundabout walk around the streets at the top end of the village and further realise what a pretty little place this is, for me it just misses a shop and a chippy the latter of which I know only too well has become sadly redundant from this blog currently.

FIRST OUTING FOR ME FOR THE GREY KIT

Football then, at last I hear you cry, for the third time this season its a home game for Tansley I may have joined the supporters club by default but the walks and the clubs communication has been a big plus and I know when the dark evenings arrive soon it will probably be a distant following so I decided to grab the opportunity while I can.  

Baslow the visitors have had a challenging start with no points in the bag yet and Tanlsey although with a good start since their promotion have yet to record a home victory but on the road are more than performing with a 5-0 win at Youlgreave last weekend.

Today resplendent in their white and grey kit they set off looking to right the wrong with a lead after four minutes good work from Dale Hill saw the visiting defender get the ball stuck under his feet and the impressive Steve Wood was on hand to fire home.  But Baslow had not read the script when within a minute they equalised through Matt Megson who would be a torment for Tansley all afternoon.  It got worse for Tansley when the visitors took the lead on the quarter of an hour mark and after a long throw created doubt in the defence Tom Elliott popped the ball into the back of the net.  Moments later Matt Wilkinson had the chance to level from a good position but he miscued so Tansley would have to wait until 35 minutes and it was a role reversal of the first.  It was Wood who weaved in a cross to the back post for Hill to make no mistake.

EVERYBODY DECIDED THIS WAS NOT A PENALTY

A quiet approach to half time beckoned, no way not in this action packed affair it was double penalty time firstly on forty minutes for Tansley after the visitors Joe Pilkington fouled Wood.  But The Fete Field side saw the continuation of their failure from the penalty spot when Jake Wright saw his effort well saved by Baslow number one Chris Wood.  Woolley Moor referee Dr Mike Douglass got his second penalty right too when a foul on Megson saw Lewis Talbot given the chance to send the visitors into the break ahead but Jak Thornley made a superb save to his left to deny Baslow.

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW

After a breather were we ready to start again who knows because the notes continued to flow as did the chances.  The early stages saw Chris Wood get in a mess in the Baslow goal and the ball was scrambled away off the line but it would be time just shy of the hour mark for Tansley to retake the lead when Hill got into a good position but with the keeper looking to have the upper hand the Tansley man somehow squeezed his shot inside the keepers near post.  The topsy turvey nature of the game continued again after 69 minutes when Baslow levelled the home defence was caught flat footed and a superb strike from Adam Briggs did the job.  

By now with Tansley playing four up front the game had becoming unbelievable open and stretched.  Megson went close for Baslow who looked the most likely now to score and when substitute Chris Drabble was put through with just the keeper to beat it looked odds on the lead would change hands again but his effort was agonisingly wide.  At the other end it was Wood again who was proving a threat but his namesake in the visitors goal was equal to his effort.

CHRIS DRABBLE RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FOR WHAT BASLOW THOUGHT WAS THE WINNING GOAL

Entering the last two minutes this game still continued to give and Baslow were delirious when substitute Drabble smashed home after the visitors initial effort from Scott Austin who had weaved his way into the box and saw his shot crash back off the bar with Thornley beaten.  This although being a debut win of the 20/21 season for the visitors would have been a harsh result to take for Tansley.

But on the stroke of time Matt Wilkinson who had a quiet afternoon proved his worth when he struck home from the edge of the box and from my vantage point behind the shot you could see it going in all the way and we were back level at four apiece.  At that referee Douglass signaled he had seen enough and honours were very fairly shared in what had once again been a superb advert for Hope Valley League football and credit to both sides must be given.

STEVE WOOD FOR TANSLEY

The steep climb out of the village awaited me but after this game there was a fresh stride on my step and returning in just over two hours of foot slogging again back to base and passing the 'Tap' beverage establishment the only tap the beckoned me was the one that dispensed some clear 'council pop' after a superb afternoon of football and walking.

PILSLEY AND DARLEY DALE PRODUCE THRILLER IN DREADFUL CONDITIONS

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 3 DARLEY DALE LIONS 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT RUPERT ST

3 OCTOBER 2020 --- 2PM

PILSLEY COMMUNITY V DARLEY DALE LIONS ON A WET AFTERNOON

On a day of constant rain the afternoon would deliver the heaviest of the downpour during the game and it would have been so easy to stop in and watch the sports menu on the television, but its games like this that prove you should make the effort and accept a little inconvenience on the dampness scale.  The first forty five minutes served up half a dozen goals in a superbly entertaining game the second half was goalless but it remains a mystery how.

With a late start to the cricket season and undertaking just local fixtures this has continued into the football calendar with the highlight of the Hope Valley League being discovered on a more wide scale than the normal occasional Ashover FC visit.  So as travelling remains limited the constant wet stuff would entail a forty five minute walk with umbrella aloft to the Pilsley Sports Ground.  Regular viewers here will know that I was privileged to meet the cricket club this season and the football pitch shares the facility as was referred to a few weeks ago in 'A Pilsley sporting weekend' when the Sunday variety of todays hosts played a pre-season friendly.  

FORMER CLAY CROSS TOWN PLAYER ARRON LARGE IN GREEN AND WHITE

As ever a good response was received from both clubs and I would like to thank Andy from Pilsley for his advice that the game was all good to go and along with Mathew from Darley Dale for his late evening phone request for players names.  Today would also be not only a challenge to walk to the game and watch the proceedings under an umbrella but the added battle of trying to take pictures and make some notes under very wet conditions leads to some shots not being as clear as normal but boy was it wet.

Pilsley I have reviewed many times in the summer but a quick re visit shows it to be a mining village with the old pit being adjacent to the ground which also contained the now defunct former welfare on the edge of the ground.  Close by was Parkhouse Colliery in the land between Danesmoor and Lower Pilsley, the best reminder of this is a previously featured front garden on Rupert Street which has two coal tubs and memorials to the former pits.  Today it is a 'former' mining village as are so many around these parts and relies heavily on new industries and services that are away from the village unlike the 'old days' when bus and commercial body builders Reeve Burgess were based right in the centre.

ITS CLOSE CALL TO WHO IS IN CONTROL HERE

Darley Dale sits of the A6 between Matlock and Bakewell and the club play in Whitworth Park behind the institute and are situated in a lovely setting as are so many clubs within this league.  Like their hosts they were not setting the league alight with just one point so far but what was to follow showed they may be about to rise up the league with a little more conversion of chances.

LARGE ON THE RUN FOR PILSLEY

An enterprising start from both sides seemed to hit Pilsley harshly when they fell two down in the same amount of minutes just before the quarter of an hour mark firstly a deep cross off the right was headed home by Jack Stephenson and the advantage was doubled thanks to a cracking strike from 20 yards by Dan Ward.  Pilsley pulled a goal back from the penalty spot thanks to Gareth Lewin after 21 minutes but the game seemed to be being rather harsh on them although they did survive a penalty miss by Jonathon Cooper who fired over the bar but he made amends converting just over the half hour mark to re-establish the visitors two goal lead.

DARLEY DALE BRING THE BALL AWAY IN THE FIRST HALF

But as the game swung from end to end Dale Hegarty found a smart finish on the turn to again pull Pilsley right back into the game on 34 minutes and then with seven minutes to go to the break they levelled Darley Dale saw their keeper pull off a cracking save which pushed the ball away from the goal line but not the close in players and as they struggled to clear their penalty box Kian Barlow made no mistake and the game was all square.  Pilsley were in the ascendancy now and Aaron Large tested the visiting keeper while at the other end the home defence were clearing off their own goal line.  It had been a breathless first half besides a very wet one.

IS IT STILL RAINING OUT THERE

The second period was as frantic as the first half with Pilsley trying to force their way into the second period that was increasingly showing The Lions gain the upper hand in the chances count.  Home keeper Thomas Mourbey was proving vital with a couple of late saves one just before the ninety minutes were up resulted in appeals for a penalty from the visitors but was waved away by referee Ryan Handbury.  

In time added on keeper Mourbey came out and was injured when a visiting forward slid in and in the wet conditions was unable to stop.  Still as we entered double figures on the stoppage time clock another chance came and this time the Pilsley stand in keeper pulled off a superb stop from a close range shot after The Lions attacker had skipped past two defenders in the penalty box.

UMBRELLAS TO THE FORE BUT PILSLEY AND DARLEY DALE ARE IN FULL STRIDE

Moments later referee Handbury would blow his whistle to signal the end to proceedings but there was little care of how wet I now was and the constant camera lens cleaning as this had been one heck of a game supplied by two teams who lets remember had no use of changing rooms and facilities currently.  I think they had made the decision they were wet through after their warm ups and might as well go for it and so they did creating a great advert for the Hope Valley League.  I look forward to revisiting on a dry afternoon.

GREAT ADVERT FOR THE HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE TODAY