NORMAN SECURES THE THREE POINTS

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 1 V HATHERSAGE 0

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT STATION NEW ROAD

16 OCTOBER 2021 --- 2PM

TUPTON LINE UP AGAINST HATHERSAGE

A tough challenge from visitors Hathersage, who just a few weeks ago were beaten 9-0, was ultimately to fall to a goal after fifty minutes from Ben Norman and Tupton in the end were grateful to hear the full time whistle of referee Archie Anderson.  The home side just about deserved their victory but it was to the credit of the visitors that the game and three points were never safe until that final whistle.  It turned out to be an important maximum for Ivanhoe though with Tideswell only managing a draw at Youlgrave, next weeks visitors, they go two point clear at the top of A Division.

JOHN MCARDLE SETS OFF FOR IVANHOE

This weeks look at a local point of interest following last weeks sighting of Clay Cross Station in the village and not in the town of its name is the Quaker Meeting House or at least its former site.  For visitors or locals entering the village from the Tupton Tap, Royal Oak to those of a certain age, within two hundred yards on the right hand side is a large stone house.  Now named Quakers Yard this was the former site of a Quakers Meeting House and settlement from around the late 1600s when very little would have existed around it in the village.  The Quakers could be much persecuted and had probably moved to this site feeling more secure, they did not remain here too long but after their building was lost the stone property of today is on its site and it allegedly has one of the former walls as a retaining wall within the house.  When the ne housing estate behind was built there was much discussion and I believe a little area not built on as it was stated a Quaker burial ground was also at the rear of the site.

FIRST TO THE BALL

To the game then and for a change no rain would greet us but after the constant flow of goals over the last few weeks the first half and to the effect the whole of the game wold be a war of attrition with Hathersage putting up a superb performance that pushed Tupton all the way.  

KEIR STARMER AKA REFEREE ARCHIE ANDERSON POINTS LEFT AND RIGHT

The first period produced little of goal mouth action save for a lovely ball from Dan Stevenson which set up Jack Foulds who got his shot away but the visiting keeper was equal to his effort.  So we arrived goal less at half time.  For the second half Joe Holmes was introduced an immediately there seemed a spark to the home sides play and it resulted in a superb goal fit for any game on fifty minutes.

Jack Foulds turned his marker on the half way fired up his pace to power him down the left wing before he pulled back a perfect ball to Ben Norman who fired the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty box.  

Ivanhoe were now looking more lively and John McArdle was so unlucky just two minutes later when he crashed a long range effort off the cross bar. 

FLICK ON FROM BEN NORMAN

This spell of activity seemed to galvanise Hathersage as the game opened up.  The visitors would retain considerable possession but were generally kept to long range shooting much of which was thankfully off target however when they did get nearer the target they found home keeper Jim Brown in fine form. 

JACK FOULDS TURNS ON THE PACE

For Tupton it was attacking on the break with the pace of Foulds and Stevenson backed up by the experience and know how of frontman Norman but they couldn't find another goal to make the game more secure and as we entered the final stages the visitors pushed on with a couple of off target free kicks that had just one of them gone in would have provided an even more tense finish than we already had. 

BEN NOMRAN THANKS JACK FOULDS [9] FOR THE ASSIST

A vital win for Tupton with other results going their way now puts them clear by a couple of points at the top of the table but it doesn't get any easier with Youlgrave visiting next week and then an end of the month trip to second placed Tideswell.  By the end of October we shall see how serious this challenge for the title is for Tupton.  The visitors Hathersage after a poor start to their season now look a force to be reckoned with and from my limited viewing of Tupton his season provided the toughest opposition I had seen.

THE RACE IS ON 

The other element that will be of interest will be how the side who love to play football will handle the heavier pitches and it will be of interest to see how they hold up at their home ground and if this has any influence on where they will end up come next May.

JAMES CLUF HAS BOTH LEGS TAKEN AWAY AS HE GOES THROUGH

For Dave Martin and Martin Cantrill they know they have a smart side with some great lads out there playing for the club and hoping to bring a second season of success but some of the sides they are now coming up against are the bigger ones many who previously plied their trade in the top league, interesting times ahead for the senior side. 

JOE HOLMES LIVENED UP IVANHOE IN THE SECOND HALF