FOOTYS BACK AND ITS STILL JULY

TEVERSAL 0 ARMTHORPE WELFARE 1

NCEFL 1 AT TOMLIN PERSONNEL PARK

31 JULY 2021 --- 3PM

TEVERSAL V ARMTHORPE

Armthorpe Welfare manager Lee Morris promised the South Yorkshire faithful fast free flowing football which provided an open day victory thanks to Matty Hughes first half stoppage time strike.  However Teversal were thankful to an excellent performance from the man of the match between the sticks Louis Pryce who produced a string of excellent saves to deny the goal tally column for the visitors.

Regulars to the blog will know that there normally is a look at the area and tales of transportation a plenty well however with local being the order of the day still one of my 'comfort homes' Tevie would be reached by foot today a fifteen mile round trip along some country lanes I had not trodden for a while.  As ever many discoveries that I had not made before awaited uncovering, a further footnote is that to reach Teversal just over seven miles away would now take three buses and then a half mile walk since the direct service was called off a couple of years ago.

HARSTOFT FORMER SCHOOL ROOMS 1858

The tired old walking boots were strapped up and over a familiar first hour walking arrival was made at Hardstoft were aside the busy main road between Holmewood and Pilsley sits a former Church Of England School dated from 1858 with bell tower and church style doorway now gradually being covered by foliage.  Apparently locally known as St Phillips it was under plans by Bolsover District Council to turn it into a community centre although on a busy road it has little surrounding it other than two terraced houses.

HARDWICK HALL WITH OLD HALL TO THE RIGHT

Within a hundred yards or so The Shoulder of Mutton came into vision and memories of seeing Noddy Holder lead singer of Slade in the office who were performing there after their fame years to the loyal base, all this while my dad was organising a works golf dinner.  Moving down past a lovely village green the drop took us towards Hardwick Hall which came into view with its old hall also visible.  An interesting fact is that the old hall is owned by English Heritage and the newer 'more glass than stone' variety is under the guidance of The National Trust.  Three quarters of the way along the gentle descent the motorway bridge offers some good views and the plan was to spend ten minutes capturing a few truck and coach pictures, I know another sad hobby to add to football hopping.  Just as time came up to move on Derbyshire's finest pulled up behind me as I turned around with camera you could see the look on their faces 'transport spotter' was my polite interpretation.  Anyway they'd had a call to say somebody was hanging from the other side of the fence once they ascertained it wasn't me we all moved on.

ASH COTTAGES IN OLD TEVERSAL

Turning onto the increasingly tight lane towards the hamlet of Stanley which greets you with the signage 'welcome to Stanley' so I guess its sod off if your name is Bill or anything else.  The realistation that this route was an uncomfortable to walk rat run with lots of rubbish deposited in its hedge sides and the arrival towards The Carnarvon Arms was more than welcomed.  Passing the newly expanded holiday let static home park and to the opposite side the site of the former Silverhill Colliery now a country park which features at its summit a miner with Davy Lamp, but that's for another day.

ITS ALMOST HEARTBEAT TERRITORY WITH THIS QUAINT OLD SIGN

With time in hand a look at the older part of Teversal which is a complete contrast to the Teversal football fans see took me past the old station house and into the quaint streets that featured Ash Cottages, superb old style directional road sign, The Reading Rooms Community Centre and The Manor.  The latter and the village are believed to be the base for Lady Chatterley's Lover the infamous D H Lawrence novel that pushed the boundaries of decency at the time.  Cutting back to the ground via the Teversal Trail half way along the walk back, the trail makes up a myriad of former railway lines that make up extensive walkways around the area. 

REFEREE PHILLIP MORTON GETS 21/22 UNDERWAY

Dropping back onto the main Stanton Hill road made the route a little longer but also allowed for a proper approach by Carnarvon St to The Tomlin Personnel Park for the opening game of The NCEFL season on 31 July.  The league had made a sensible decision to get the season underway to compensate for any potential suspensions and delays during the winter months.  Having watched what football that was available towards the end of last season at the imaginary step 8 level and some good stuff there was too in the likes of The Hope Valley League today would be the first game in an enclosed ground for around a year and a half.

ARMTHORPE ATTACK THE BACK POST

A pleasant welcome from the lady on the gate who I handed over my fiver too and on a fairly bright afternoon all was looking well with a healthy crowd for Teversal inside [att 133].  The football started brightly for Teversal with Jack McWilliams looking sharp and putting in a couple of tempting crosses off the left.  But Armthorpe were soon into the ascendancy with Liam Owen and Reece High getting in goal bound efforts but for the early heroics of Pryce in the home goal.

ITS A STUDIOS START TO 21/22 IN THE STRESS ZONE

The visitors were gaining the upper hand but were nearly shocked when Connor Bower crashed an effort against the woodwork but a look across at assistant referee Adam Crosser revealed an offside flag that would have denied the Teversal player.  Shortly afterwards it looked odds on a home side opener with Joe Fox through on goal he lifted the ball over visiting keeper Sebastian Tylek but as the ball landed it fell agonisingly wide.  

TEVIE CAPTAIN GEORGE SIMPSON CLAIMS THIS ONE

Sheffield referee Phillip Morton signaled two minutes added time to the first half and that was to the benefit in the final seconds when Hughes drove home a sweet strike that would prove to be the winner.  Teversal would feel flat from the goal and start the second period the stronger but with the couple of quality saves from Pryce denying Armthorpe they would claim the upper hand in chances from the opening 45 minutes.

SPONSORS BOARD PROMINENT IN BUSINESS AREA OVERVIEW

In the strong second half start from the home side Fox was again unlucky when his header struck the bar to give Armthorpe a let off that fired them into a response.  Harry Brown fed substitute James Bytheway but again Pryce was racing out to block the attackers effort with his legs and as the pressure dial was turned up goal scorer Hughes cut in off the left and did everything right bit once again Pryce rose to the challenge.

WATCH THE BALL

Armthorpe were now definitely finishing the strongest and feeling aggrieved they hadn't added to their tally thanks to Pryce who proved his worth again when Hughes drove an effort from the edge of the box that looked to be heading towards the bottom corner of the Teversal goal until the tangerine clad keeper appeared again with an excellent save.

BIT OF SECOND HALF CHASING FOR TEVERSAL

The closing stages saw a little bit of opening day controversy when Welfare thought they had at last doubled their lead Jack Wilson played through to Bytheway who made the move but was flagged for being offside but as he halted his run Wilson ran through and fired the ball into the net.  It was an incident you will not see too often but although it upset visiting manager Morris and for his comments he received the only caution of the day, it was the correct decision I believe with the attacking player making a move towards the ball.  

OWEN FIELDSEND DOES HIS BEST BRIAN BLESSED IMPRESSION AFTER A NEAR MISS

A successful start for Armthorpe and a score line that could have read more in their benefit but three points is three points, for Teversal they will be disappointed after a 4 year journey in The East Midlands Counties League to have come away with a blank.  But they will need no reminding of how hard it is in this excellently competitive NCEFL.

Return route was the same I opted out of a walk up to the statue on Silverhill Colliery and in about two hours fifteen minutes was back for a rest and the chance to review the first game of the season and a local but interesting discovery day that normally would have been in some far flung place after a two hour train journey. 

REFEREE MORTON AND ASSISTANT GREGORY DISCUSS SANCTIONS