BYRNE SCREAMER AS DOVE HOLES GRAB A POINT IN THE GALE

ASHOVER 2 DOVE HOLES 2

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION AT MILKEN LANE

29 JANUARY 2022 --- 2PM

ASHOVER PRESSURE FROM A CORNER V DOVE HOLES

A howling gale did its best to wreck this game but it could not deny Ryan Byrne a goal to grace any game when he fired home a twenty five yard free kick before Perry Richards pulled back an equaliser just before half time in a four goal first half at Milken Lane.

The continuation of the 'walk to the match' remained in play again and the round trip of seven miles to the quaint village of Ashover is normally not too much of a challenge, today was though slightly different.  With a fresh breeze forecast for the daytime hours it all looked in order for a steady walk and game, that was until the BBC weather forecast changed mid morning to a near 50 mile an hour wind for the afternoon.  Anybody that knows the area will be aware its very hilly before the drop into the village and today the wind was certainly in my face.

ASHOVER VILLAGE WITH THE STAMP POST OFFICE COFFEE SHOP AND BOUNDS BUTCHERS BEYOND

With a brief look around the stone built village the time soon arrived to get along to the pitch behind the village hall and at the side of the showground.  With some consistent coverage of football and cricket over the last couple of years I think most people have seen my past descriptions so today will once again avoid boring anybody further.  

The corner flags just before kick off were at full in the sense of flag tension and as for the sticks well if they could stop in the floor it would be a plus. 

MR ASHOVER FC DON CARLINE MOTIVATES THINGS FROM THE SIDELINES

Last week the chance to see Dove Holes Reserves came into the plans and this week it was the first team who would come into the light.  Although a tight league at the bottom Dove Holes are not sitting pretty at the foot of the premier league table and remain eager to move on up.  While Ashover are desperately hoping to reclaim that fourth place that looked so comfortable a few week ago.

NEVER TOUCHED HIM REF

The hardy gathering of supporters was down a little on normal number but by half time and not being able to feel my fingers on the camera shutter I was beginning to wonder if I'm getting to old to do this lark in the conditions.

The first half started at apace for Ashover who took the lead after fourteen minutes with captain Paul Murphy rising to head home from close range but it didn't take long for Dove Holes to upset the apple cart with an equaliser on twenty minutes Ashover keeper Joe Birch couldn't hold an original shot and Joe Dale was on hand to fire home the equaliser.

Just over the half hour mark referee Dr Mike Douglass, more of later, awarded the visitors a free kick twenty five yards out into the howling gale Ryan Byrne stepped up and lashed home a superb strike into the top left hand corner.  It was a goal that would have looked good in any level of football but thankfully we had it here in Ashover to warm us up.

It would have been slightly harsh on Ashover if they had gone in behind and with just three minutes to the break they rectified that when Perry Richards drove home from fourteen yards to level the scores.

TIME TO DEFEND FOR ASHOVER

I needed to get the feeling back in my hands now and some light jogging around the cricket outfield did some good before a catch up with referee Douglass before the second half re started.

GOAL OF THE GAME FOR RYAN BYRNE AS DOVE HOLES GO 2-1 UP

Over the last few seasons I have covered games Mike has refereed and he's a jolly decent chap with his always interesting attire in the shall we say the cooler days adds to the fun of the encounter.  Having lost his maroon boots and similar coloured whistle and gloves in more or less the same season he has now moved onto a new colour. 

This season there was an attempt to get some pink boots but the good Doctor had to settle for luminous yellow so along with a whistle of the same colour he has now added gloves of the same shine bright variety.  Today in the testing temperature the top jacket stopped on alongside a woolly hat from an apparently big club in Nottingham adorning the said material.  The game survives on referees like Mike well done mate.

GETTING DOWN WITH REFEREE DR MIKE

With little warmth gained a quick break so the turn round and with Dove Holes kicking into the wind they fancied their chances sadly although they did have long range shooting opportunities they were struggling to keep the ball under control and the target was an increasing mystery.

Ashover had the threat of Richards and Callum Barker on the left with the ever prompting presence of Tom Torrington but overall the gusty stuff was still the victor.

In the final twenty minutes the game did open up a little more and with Barker putting in some tantalising crosses it looked possible for Ashover to find an equaliser.  They thought this had been achieved with ten minutes remaining when Richards cut in off the right struck a shot that beat the visiting keeper but agonisingly not the cross bar which it struck with some force before bouncing back into play.

I HAVE LOTS OF YELLOW THINGS DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY YELLOW CARD

The final stages saw the home side mount pressure from a corner which was cleared for a quadrant kick from the opposite side but there wasn't time to take it as referee Douglass called an end to proceedings.  Time to warm up the muscles for the one mile climb out of the village on the shielded Milken Lane and amazingly as the ridge was reached at the tip the wind was abaiting just as the game had finished how typical but something that I was extremely grateful for on the remainder of the walk back to base.

For those wanting to know the alpacas have got even more aloof and have now been moved to a field further away from the road and show less interest that normal in an aged man shouting them over.

PERRY RICHARDS HITS THE BAR IN THE CLOSING STAGES

A good effort from both sides in the conditions and about the correct result although you feel it wont do much for either side although defeat would have been a real body blow for Ashover or Dove Holes.

CALLUM BARKER ON THE LEFT FOR ASHOVER