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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.