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.