CULF DOUBLE HITS THE SPOT AS TUPTON GRAB A POINT

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 3 BOLLINGTON 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT STATION NEW ROAD

26 FEBRUARY 2022 --- 2PM

MAX JACKSON WONDER STRIKECROSSES THE LINE FOR TUPTON IVANHOE V BOLLINGTON

New Tupton Ivanhoe came back from behind in this A division game to secure a point against fellow promotion hopefuls Bollington but they were grateful to James Culf who hit a double from the penalty spot and Max Jackson who curled in a wonderful twenty five yard free kick.  The visitors had set the pace with an early lead and included a double for the ever dangerous Sam Jordan.

SAM JORDAN TURNS TO OPEN THE SCORING FOR BOLLINGTON

Once again the weather had intervened on both Saturday and Sunday football over the last few weeks with often the worse of the climate coming on match days, isn't that so typical.  After a short break a couple of weeks ago in horrendous weather and the chance to sample some much enjoyed Rugby Union it was a back to football today.  A return to the faithful old Ivanhoe's just along the way would line up a tantalising encounter against fellow promotion rivals Bollington who probably travelled the furthest east in the league save for their reserve side who visit Pilsley Community just a few more miles away.  Although that fixture the other week was played at Matlock so this one may have some sort of record for travel in the league.

CLOSE UP AND CAUTIOUS IN THE FIRST HALF

The pitches at Station New Road can take a battering and certainly do not drain well although with an increasingly forceful drying wind they were not looking in to bad condition.  A small crowd of around twenty were in place for kick off and they needed to be alert with the visitors taking a fourth minute lead through Sam Jordan who took the ball down well created space at the fish pond end for himself to fire into the bottom corner.  Tupton came straight back and Jackson appeared to be bundled over just inside the penalty box but referee Jason Glanville waved away penalty appeals.  After a first half of tentatively checking out one another we arrived at half time with the Cheshire side leading by that early goal.

JOY FOR JORDAN AFTER HIS OPENER

The second half would see the wind increase and as the afternoon developed the finger ends became increasingly tested in the cold bite of the blustery stuff.  

Four minutes after the restart Bollington were awarded a spot kick after a foul on the right side of the penalty box but Kieran Fane was alert to dive to his right to save to save the penalty from Tom Long.  But this didn't stop the visitors when three minutes further on they did double their lead when Long fired home smartly.  Tupton had an uphill task but they were given a life line three minutes over the hour mark when they were also awarded a penalty with Culf making no mistake from the spot.

DEFENSIVE DUTIES FOR TUPTON

The encounter was now opening up and excitement reached fever pitch with three goals in as many minutes firstly on 73 minutes the goal of the game when Ivanhoe's were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out on the right, up stepped Jackson who scored the goal of the game to level the scores with a wonderfully curling effort that flew in at the far post despite the visiting keepers valiant efforts.

The home side were still celebrating it would appear as Jordan waltzed through the inside left to slot past Fane with no challenger offered to give Bollington the lead again.  How would Tupton respond?  Well amazingly they were straight back on the attack and following a tumbling in the box referee Glanville awarded the third penalty of the game and Culf again found the back of the net to bring parity to the scoring again at 3 apiece.

KIERAN FANE SAVES BOLLINGTON PENALTY FROM TOM LONG

The game continued at a fair old pace with neither side wanting to lose the game but both sides feeling they could win this game now.  It would in fairness be Tupton who had the best chances firstly Josh Kirkwood hit a sharp volley from the edge of the box that flew just inches over.  Before in the final minute a sweet move down the left found Liam Varley who cut in towards the visitors goal his well placed effort found the Bollington number one pulling off a fine save to deny any hope of a late winner.

PENALTY COMING UP

The second period was brought to an end with the small band of spectators wanting more of this entertaining fayre but in the end Bollington would be disappointed to have thrown away a lead on two occasions whereas Tupton although they were looking the more likely to score would have breathed a sigh of relief to at least grab a point.

MAX JACKSON MAKES IT 2-2 WITH A 25 YARD CURLING FREE KICK

These were two good footballing sides who once again did the Hope Valley League credit and the battle for the promotion spots were not solved today of course and will go on until the last few fixtures, lets hope both of these are in a place at the end of the season after their efforts today.

JAMES CULF LEVELS IT AT 3-3 WITH HIS SECOND PENALTY OF THE GAME