MILKMANS BOTTLE WINS IT FOR PILSLEY

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 2 CALVER 2   [PILSLEY COMM WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIES]

HOPE VALLEY LGE CLIFF ELLIS TROPHY 1/4 FINAL AT TIBSHELF COMMUNITY

29 MAY 2021 --- 2PM

GROUND WITH A VIEW 

Pilsley Community goalkeeper Thomas Mourbey pulled off the only save in a tense penalty shoot out when he dove to his left to claw away the fifth spot kick for Calver allowing Pilsley to fire home theirs for the narrowest of victories, the milkman by trade certainly kept his bottle to pull of a crate save [I know there are more puns in there].

EARLY MATCH ACTION

A day that started off overcast and a touch cool guided me into a coat although of course ten minutes into what would be a 12.5 miles round walk the sun was out blazing away and an attire error had clearly been made, something I would suffer for on the return journey.  Forty five minutes in just shy of half way the sports ground at Pilsley was passed today though the ground is used by the cricket club and the football side have moved three miles up the road to Tibshelf.  Since finishing last summer at some of the red ball matches here the adjoining fields are being developed for more 5 bedroom executive houses I guess, where the people purchasing these are coming from I know not.  The last time the extension was undertaken to 'tibby' it was an afternoon of torrential rain but today it was fine and the aim was for the top end of the village for the old school site which has no school buildings left accept for the pitches and changing rooms.  

NO PROBLEM WITH TIME KEEPING 

The delights of Tibshelf were covered in the blog of the villages MRA team so I wont go into detail again accept to say it was the site of the first inland oil well in the country and of course had runner Tom Hulatt who finished just behind Roger Bannister in his sub four minute mile race and today it was observed the changing rooms are named in his memory.  The village is like many in the former mining areas one of new and old including some sites needing renovation but there is an very interesting collection of historical buildings all around.  The King Edward V11 is offering rooms at £20 for a single although there is a concern about the sloping and stained net curtains that steer me back towards a same day return.

LEWIS OWEN OPENS THE SCORING 

On arrival referee Dr Mike Douglass is just exiting his car for the walk to pitch side today he will see his head adorned with a swung round baseball cap I thought to 'keep down with the young uns', but it could have had something to do with the sun and appeared wise as by the time I returned home my face had gone into semi burn mode.  The site consists of some former school pitches, old concrete based cricket training pitches and a couple of Astroturf caged MUGA's one of which has most of the plastic bottles from the village and who knows what rubbish left within it.  Its not a good look and with the pitch probably needing a little attention its not showing the facility off in a great light.  It would have to be a fear that again very shortly this will become prime '5 bedroom executive housing' in the very near future.

CALVER BREAK AWAY FROM THE ATTENTIONS OF THE HOME SIDE

As the Hope Valley League season continues apace with their cup competition this one stood out with Pilsley bottom and visitors Calver sat mid table but not many points ahead it should be competitive but you would have assumed with an upper hand for Calver in the favourite stakes.  It was though Pilsley who started with some determination and had Calver on the back foot however the visitors took the lead on 27 minutes when hesitancy in the home defence allowed Lewis Owen to nip in and slot past the approaching Mourbey.   The home side would deservedly equalised on the stroke of half time when Chris Bluff fired home from the penalty spot after a Pilsley player was upended on the right hand side of the box.

CAPATAIN SHANE MARRIOTT TAKES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS GOAL

Within ten minutes of the second half restarting Pilsley would be in the lead when tremendous work chasing down the visiting defence and keeper saw the ball find its way back to their man of the match captain Shane Marriot who promptly fired the ball back into the net from 25 yards out.  The question was could Community hang on now against a Calver side who were wounded and searching for an equaliser and but gradually they forced their way out as the encounter became an end to end affair.  

SOON TO BE PILSLEY HERO THOMAS MOURBEY IN GOAL KICKING ACTION

With just over ten minutes to go home keeper Mourbey rushed out to clear an attack the ball cruelly struck a back tracking defender and fell into the path of Owen who swept home for his second of the game.  Pilsley would have to find resolve to get to the final whistle now and this they did and when referee Douglass signaled full time we were onto the lottery of penalty kicks for a place in the semi-finals.

LEWIS OWEN MAKES IT 2-2

A successful shoot out had seem both teams opening four penalties converted but then it was the time for Mourbey to turn to hero with the saving of the fifth Calver penalty and when moments later Pilsley converted their penalty for a 100% return and the celebrations could begin.

REFEREE MIKE DOUGLASS DIRECTS A CAR INTO THE LAST PARKING SPOT

A fantastic effort from both sides it was nice to see the home side who have not had a great season on the pitch taste some success from this afternoons game and they can now look forward to a home 'semi' versus Tideswell who will visit what is probably the most easterly ground the league has utilised.

The return journey would take in an hour and a boundary walk at Pilsley for some cricket they were not having a great afternoon against Heanor though.  The last few miles were a struggle in the weather and the 28 tog duvet had proven to be a little to warm for the conditions.  But once again a fixture under the Hope Valley League's guidance had proved a good afternoons entertainment.

HOW MANY PLAYERS CAN YOU CAPTURE IN ONE PICTURE

MILLER SECURES END OF SEASON CRACKER

ASHOVER 4 DOVE HOLES 2

HOPE VALLEY PREMIER LEAGUE @ MILKEN LANE

22 MAY 2021 --- 2PM

DES MILLER SCORER OF THE FOURTH GOAL THAT SECURED VICTORY FOR ASHOVER

Select an end of season game carefully we all know they can be dour encounters well thankfully this one turned out to be a little star with both sides putting on an attacking show full of commitment which belied the 'nothing to play for' title.  Ashover from a runaway express train 3-0 to the good Dove Holes forced their way back into the game and at the break trailed by the odd goal.  Home manager Don Carline must thank Des Miller for his determination that led to the fourth goal to settle the nerves as the visitors had gained an upper hand in the second half possession stakes. 

EARLY ACTION WITH THE DOVE HOLES KEEPER GAINING THE ADVANTAGE

After the lengthy break, it was the first Sunday in November, since a 'live' game had been witnessed it was time to get out and about again and still try to fit in some of the free to air and pay per view action from the likes of The Welsh Premier League and The League of Ireland that had sustained the last few months.  Suitably attired the local Hulleys bus service would undertake for me the twenty minute meander through the beautiful rolling countryside around the picturesque village of Ashover.  The village has been covered a few times before so I will not venture their again save to say its worth a trip to just amble around something I had previously checked all was okay with Ashover manager Don Carline.

SERENITY AND CALMNESS PERSONIFY MR CARLINE TODAY

Having admired the surrounds around the ground situated on Milken Lane behind the village centre with its well noted slope was looking well manicured and with cricket on an away day the overlap to the red balls outfield probably assisted the look.  With the wicket covers removed to the extreme edges of the football pitch and the sight screens dropped it was very much football in the ascendancy but it would be for the last time this season with Ashover about to start their last home game.  Todays visitors Dove Holes a small village on the high lands above Buxton always used to be a dust bowl when I have been through it before mainly due to the limestone quarry which expands from the village edge.  But as ever the village has a well respected football club who have been strong and competitive opposition for Ashover in the past.

AIDAN ORDIDGE HOLDING OFF THE VISITORS CHALLENGE

With the summer months fast approaching the umbrella was lofted for kick off with a small amount of rain drops trying to deposit themselves on the camera lens but the encouraging side was the loud bird song and sheep giving the feeling of contentment in the village with the added chimes from the parish church punctuating the afternoon the game was started by referee Jason Glanville.  It would be Ashover that stormed to a convincing start that even had long serving manager Carline looking a picture of serenity for a change.

TRICKY WING PLAY FROM ASHOVER

Three goals to the good thanks to Kieran Ordidge, Sam Hewitt and an edge of the box effort from Aidan Ordidge sent the home side into a confusing relaxation mode because by half time they were only a goal to the good and their early efforts were now at risk from a Dove Holes side whose faith had been restored by their resilience to keep on playing.  The comeback was started by Adam Sircar and then Ben Higgins really put the visitors right back in the equation for and exciting second half.

FORMR CLAY CROSS TOWN PLAYER AIDAN ORDIDGE

After a brief break often the 'norm' at this level after all there is little need for the obligatory fifteen minutes plus at higher levels these lads just get on with it.  Get on with it was certainly Dove Holes mantra they sensed a remarkable comeback from the re-start they were at Ashover from the start of the second half and Ashover were now the side having to be resolute in the defending department.  The possession advantage couldn't be converted into goals and as so often happens the opposition will break away and score.

DES MILLER RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS FOR HIS GOAL

It would be commanding striker Des Miller who would settle the game twenty minutes from the final whistle with a determined run into the left edge of the box rounding the defender and firing past the visitors number one.  The relief was palpable and Mr Carline could sense the relaxation descend over his managerial requirements again.  This was the goal Ashover needed to settle the game and for Dove Holes their second half efforts would not produce the goals they desired.

SECOND HALF ATTACK FOR ASHOVER LEAD BY DES MILLER

Both sides deserve the credit for supplying a superb afternoon of football it would surprisingly be the first team I had seen Ashover gain victory in a competitive match and would also prove the friendly nature of The Hope Valley League something that many 'hoppers' have started to discover over this re-started disjointed season.

The decision to tackle the one hour walk back to base something that had been regularly done in the last cricket season was question as I get half way up the steep and steeper Milken lane to climb out of the village and able to benefit from the superb views from at the summit.  I was soon to the top and at the half way stage joined by a selection of the local milk producers at their fence who were probably questioning this aged hoppers walking ability. 

MOOOOOOVE ON THERE IS NOTHING TO LOOK AT HERE FELLA