STEVENSON HAT TRICK KEEPS IVANHOE TOP

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 4 JBM SPORTS 2

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT STATION NEW ROAD

9 OCTOBER 2021 --- 2PM

HAT TRICK HERO DAN STEVENSON V JBM SPORTS

The goal machine that is currently New Tupton Ivanhoe continues its smooth operation with four more thanks to another suburb contribution from hat trick hero Dan Stevenson and the hard working frontman Ben Norman chipping in with one also.  But long term rivals JBM Sports made this one of the harder games for the home side who in fairness were missing a few players. 

CROSS COUNTRY COME THROUGH THE FORMER CLAY CROSS STATION WITH ONE OF STONE SUPPORTS FOR OLD STATION BUILDING SHOWING.

This season the shortage of long journeys associated with chippys of varying kinds and train journeys of length alongside acting like sardines crammed into carriages has been missed but currently that remains off the agenda and as previously mentioned the HVL and MRA have provided some cracking games and really friendly clubs.  Of course my local side are The Ivanhoes but hopefully there is still some things of interest not discussed about the village or so far back in a previous blog that they may be worth mentioning again.  With a few more games lined up for this season and having mentioned the superb village chippy, Roman road, Quaker House etc today is time to reminisce about the former station in the village.

ALL UNDER CONTROL FOR NEW TUPTON

Hence the location of the ground Station New Road which half a mile down the hill leads to the railway line and the continuation of the road as just plain Station Road.  Those of a younger generation will see it as a railway line that has a junction to the Erewash line and the Midland Main line that more or less immediately enters a tunnel that takes passengers under Clay Cross onwards to Derby and London.  The town is of course famous for many things but its quirky airshafts that support ventilation in the tunnel appear at varying locations and still bemuses many visitors.

Back to Tupton though and the railway line and bridge this was the former site of Clay Cross station until its closure in 1967.  Amazingly the station had four platforms and there are a fine selection of pictures online of the station ticket office and main building which ran away from the bridge as in the picture enclosed you can see one of the stone support structures for this building.  Amazing to think of the journeys started from here some of the earlier pictures show soldiers going to war from the station.

Of course it was also of confusion to some visitors that Clay Cross station was actually in Tupton a mile away from the town that carried its name however the impracticalities of building a station under ground made this essential.

RISING HIGH TO CLEAR A JBM ATTACK

Back to matters in hand and JBM Sports had suffered a defeat by Tupton earlier in the season and would certainly be looking to right that wrong in their eyes.  Both these sides play hard and fair and I believe have great respect for one another having gone up as champions, JBM and runners up last season from B Division.  The fixture at Langer Lane , then the home ground of Tupton, was a superb advert for HVL football and one that convinced me to take in some more games from this level.

NORMAN AND MCARDLE STICK CLOSE TOGETHER

The afternoon started with sharp rain for half an hour as I decided to try to get a picture at the station something I just managed, but for half an hour had me thinking about the BBC weather forecast service struggling to organise a drinks party in a brewery.  Thankfully by just after 1pm all was fair and the sun even made an appearance for a warm start to kick off.

An edgy opening from Tupton gave the impression that this would be one of the sides harder matches of the season and so it proved they were very grateful for a double salvo of two goals in a minute.  In the first half Norman drove hone a low bottom corner 25 yard drive on 8 minutes and then immediately he turned provider with a lovely cross driven in for Stevenson to convert in the middle.  JBM were shell shocked but were clearly a force to be reckoned with and when keeper Parker took out a visiting attacker the ever dangerous Dane Hurst converted from the spot.

JACK FOULDS GETS A SHOT AWAY

Joe Holmes was bemused, as were most of the crowd when a visiting player handled his cross with a high arm just inside the box but referee Douglass clearly did not see the infringement and play continued.  That danger to the home sides was confirmed when with ten minutes to the break Khan latched onto a ball wide n the box and finished smartly past Parker

JOHN MCARDLE BREAKAWAY FOR IVANHOE

Half time duly arrived and thoughts turned to when referee Dr Mike Douglass would see the arrival of his new pink boots a phenomenon I was hoping to photograph but he did also advice me his pink whistle was also no more and he would have to get one of those so it could be a double debut soon at a game involving Mike. 

JBM WIN THE BALL BUT DANNY TAKES THE FORCE

The second half was a strange affair that at times drifted into dream world with Tupton reliant on two goals in a minute again first on 49 minutes Norman fed Jack Foulds who crossed for Stevenson to fire home and then complete his hat-trick when keeper Parker cleared long and as the ball bounced the winger rose salmon like to head over the approaching keeper. 

Normally Tupton would power on but JBM were again left shocked by this quick double but would battle right back into the game and as the home side looked to tire at the back they were grateful in the last five minutes to Parker for two match winning saves, that otherwise could have seen the three point disappear from their grasp.

HAT TRICK MAN STEVENSON FEELS THE FULL FORCE OF A JBM TACKLE

The final whistle would in the end come as some relief as JBM had proved a constant threat and the contest of the previous ninety minutes could revert back to their mutual respect for one another and once again both sides had put on a good show and a game of credit to The HVL. 

Tupton remain top of the league from Tideswell, who also won, on goal difference but it is a vastly superior one at present.  Next up they entertain Hathersage at Station New Road next Saturday with a 2pm kick off.

JOE HOLMES DISTRIBUTES THE BALL FOR TUPTON