PILSLEY STILL SEARCHING FOR FIRST POINTS AS LIONS ROAR TO WIN

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 2 WINSTER DARLEY LIONS 4

HVL DIVISION B AT RUPERT ST

25 SEPTEMBER 2021 --- 2PM

SHANE MARRIOTT SCORES FOR PILSLEY COMM V WINSTER DARLEY LIONS

Winster Darley Lions bagged their first points of the season with this determined win and left their hosts Pilsley still searching for theirs.  Both sides had been on a challenging early season run but leading by three goals without reply just after the break the visitors looked set for a comfortable win but Pilsley had other ideas as they fought back with a goal apiece from Shane Marriott and Steven Rogers.  But it would be a brace from Scott Parker alongside Lee Bowden and Ryan Parsley who would secure the three points for the Derbyshire Dales side. 

WINSTER ABOUT TO TAKE CONTROL

Most of my trips to Pilsley have been for the cricket and I nearly always need an umbrella with this ground sitting on a ridge and as described before with some commanding views towards Chesterfield, Crich and South Normanton there is always a threat of a weather front.  Today was no exception it was a rain threatening afternoon along the forty five minute walk from base to the ground.  The area in relation to its history has been covered in many of the cricket and previous football blogs so I wont re visit this time.  

The strange season that was 2020/21 saw The Hope Valley League complete their fixtures and thanks to Pilsley having a run all the way to the league cup final it provided the blog with a few warm early summer games, in quarter and semi final, of which both were played at nearby Tibshelf with cricket taking precedence at Rupert Street.  Strangely enough the last home game featured at Communities home base was also last season against today's opponents and it was a day that saw a constant downpour.  Since then Darley Dale have merged with nearby Winster to form the newly named outfit and would join Pilsley in the B Division after both sides were relegated together.

RHYS WALLHEAD SEES HIS SHOT CLEARD OFF THE LINE

The current back story finds Pilsley entering their third game without any points on the board in what will be their first home game while for the visitors they have played a fixture more and also needed to trouble the points updater at the league.  A steady little crowd of relatives and friends gathered on the 'top side' of the pitch as both sides set off in search of a confidence boosting win.

CAPTAIN WALLHEAD IN THE THICK OF THE ACTION

[Thanks to Pilsey manager Andy for help with his team and the visitors side helping me with their goal scorers for my enquiries in breaks in play].

It was Pilsley who showed first when Bradley Saint fired just wide but straight away the Lions went up the other end and took the lead when the ever dangerous Lee Bowden found himself with a run through on goal and he made no mistake in firing home after 14 minutes.  

The home side came straight back on the attack and a free kick off the left created chaos in the visitors defence with the ball falling to Rhys Wallhead who got his shot away only for it to be cleared off the line and from the re delivery of the ball Rogers got in a powerful header that flew just wide of the Lions upright. 

The game entered a tetchy spell with players on the edge and although their was a caution for the visitors captain Ryan Parsley it still needed referee Josh Townsend to bring the two captains together shortly afterwards to try to avoid a rash of cards that looked likely.  The desired effect seemed to be achieved and we were back to the football with ten minutes to the break Parsley fired home from the edge of the box through a group of Pilsley defenders and under keeper Thomas Mourbey who appear unsighted till late.

The home side came back into the game with a snap cross goal effort from Rogers but his effort fell agonisingly wide of the far post.

REF JOSH TOWNSEND CALLS BOTH CAPTAINS TOGETHER FOR A CALMING SESSION

Half time would bring some words of encouragement from the Pilsley management to try to gather the side together to get a foothold back in this game goal wise because on chances they were far from out of the game.  The handy thing about HVL and MRA games is they don't mess about with fifteen minute intervals when they are ready we just get on with it again.

The umbrella was now firmly placed out of action as the sun came out and a warm afternoon it had become I think more so than any cricket I had covered here.

PISLSEY LOOKING TO PRESS ON

Do team talks work well Pilsley would have an interesting view on theirs as within seven minutes of the restart they fell three behind when a determined run down the right by the visitors 7 saw his low cross find the back post and the famous named Scott Parker made no mistake with his finish.  

Again though Pilsley re gathered and Saint went on a superb run beating two defenders as he moved through from the halfway line unleashing a shot that the visiting keeper pushed into the air and agonisingly for the home side the ball fell back onto the post to deny a superb moment of football.

SHANE MARRIOTT LOOKING TO SET UP PILSLEY

The head of steam was built up now and Pilsley deservedly pulled a goal back and it was with their man of the match Marriott who showed tremendous determination holding onto possession in the visitors penalty box and as he weaved his way  back to the edge took one turn back towards goal, saw the chance and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the visitors net.  The bit was between the home sides teeth now and Wallhead and Blake Aldgate had shots turned away in the same move.  

THE TWO SIDES MEN OF THE MATCH IN MARRIOTT AND BOWDEN

The game had opened up now with at times little controlled football in the build up on a bobbly pitch there was a resorting to the 'big ball' and getting it away as quickly as possible but Winster Darley would test Mourbey with a 25 yard free kick from their number 10 and a cross goal shot from 11 just missed the target.  

A grandstand finish looked on the cards when Pilsley reduced the deficit to one goal when Rogers raced through beating the visiting keeper to the ball and lofting it over him unto the unguarded goal.  With seven minutes remaining could we witness the ultimate comeback?

WINSTER CAPTAIN RYAN PARSLEY WINS THE CHASE

Sadly it was not to be this time as a mix up in the home defence with just three minutes of the ninety allowed Parker to grab his second and allow the visitors to start their season with three points now on the board.  

For Pilsley the search for the opening points goes on and with chances coming their way a bit more of a run of the ball in front of goal and a tightening up at the back may not be far away from securing them.

2-3 AS STEVEN ROGERS LIFTS THE BALL OVER THE KEEPER