COLLECTORS ITEM

ASHOVER 0 FURNESS VALE 0

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE PREMIER AT MILKEN LANE

13 NOVEMBER 2021 --- 2PM

CLASSIC VIEW WITH THE PARISH CHURCH OVERSEEING ASHOVER V FURNESS VALE

Ashover and Furness Vale served up a highly entertaining premier league game and in the process a collectors item.  Its a rarity that games at grassroots level come up with a 0-0 score line and this was indeed supported by it being the first goal less game this season over the whole three divisions of The Hope Valley League.  

ASHOVER LOOK TO DENY FURNESS VALE

The continuing season of local games by walking thankfully goes on and for the reader who as been with us longer there is a lack of moaning about buses and trains to some far flung place from me and also lets just take a moment here a shortage of fish and chips.  Some of the time limiting reasons for this put me behind schedule today and it ended up being a direct one hour walk to Milken Lane and of course the much reported beauty of Ashover and its surrounds.  Alongside the most enjoyable of walks there is a collection of Hope Valley teams that always seem to cross my path and ones I look out for and todays visitors Furness Vale are one of those.

FIRST HALF FURNESS VALE FREE KICK

The autumn colours of gold were well in evidence along this walk and this had changed so much from the last ten days as the season was now full on.  Hitting Ashover Road as soon as leaving base does give you the feeling that you are not far away well it is only three miles but as many will know contains some nice steep bits within the three miles.  Feeling far from energetic it was a pleasure to arrive at the peak and admire the views before the drop down the unusually busy single track Milken Lane which unveils the beauty of the village on descent. 

VALE KEEPER GETS IN A VITAL CLEARANCE

The game then finds these two just behind the leaders and with Ashover having a better season than last season.  Looking at the side Ashover had out it was a much different team from a few weeks ago in the game against Chapel Town.  For Don Carline who we have mentioned many times before is now in is late 30 years in charge and we believe is the longest serving football manager in the country it becomes a constant battle to keep the club he loves going in the village he loves in the game he loves.  So you can see he loves it, thanks to people like Don the game at village level survives.

PERRY RICHARDS RECEIVES A THROW IN

The game then and firstly thanks to Don and Paul from the visitors for help with a few names for the report.  Also worth mentioning it was a difficult light day which means a few less pictures but with this happening now around 3pm it did help me enjoy what was a superb second half of entertainment.  

The first half was a tentative affair with both sides trying one another out but to the fore for Ashover were the two wide men in Callum Barker and Elliott Nuun alongside experienced striker Perry Richards ever a threat.  So half time arrived and there was just a wonder could a goal less game be on the cards.

WEAVING INTO THE PENALTY BOX

The second half swung into life with what seemed a harsh penalty awarded by referee Mark Davis on 53 minutes and home keeper Harry James pulled off a superb save diving full length to his right to save the unfortunate spot kick from Vales Simon Lomas.

This seemed to galvanise Ashover who responded with a close range effort being pushed onto the bar by the visiting keeper who had a superb game, especially so after he mentioned he had not turned out for 7 years.  The Vale keeper and woodwork saved them again on 83 minutes when Richards cut in off the right drove into the box and fired a sharp effort at goal the keeper got in a vital save that saw the ball fall onto the inside of the far post and was scrambled away by a defender.

The game had really opened up during this second half and Vale were also finding James in the Ashover goal matching the efforts of his counterpart with some excellent saves.  The visitors stormed forward in the last quarter looking for the winner but the home defence was magnificent with right back Jake Adlington and his opposite number Ash Stirling looking comfortable matched by the experience central defenders of John Donaldson and Paul Murphy who kept both the aerial threat and ground danger in check.  It could be said though that the visitors with a fair selection of shots on goal, that all flew wide or high, could have broken then deadlock if their shooting boots had been in place.  However this would take much away from Ashover who were also a constant threat.

This was probably summed up by the belief at the end of the game that it would have been disappointing for either side to have lost after they had put so much into this game which was a pleasure to watch, again finding The Hope Valley League in fine form for entertainment.

REFEREEE MARK DAVIS EXPLAINS HIS DECISION

Ashover remain in the heady heights of fourth while Furness Vale are one point behind in fifth spot.  

The steep climb back up Milken Lane to the views of a superb gold tinged sunset were punctuated near the top of the climb by our mates the alpacas who I can report were still not talking.

ALPACAS ALOOF AND STILL NOT TALKING