PILSLEY HIT FIVE TO FINISH FOURTH

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 5 BUXWORTH RES 0

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE DIVISION B AT HIGH ST TIBSHELF

23 APRIL 2022 --- 2PM

WALLHEAD EFFORT SETS UP SHARPLES PILSLEY V BUXWORTH RES

With a Roden cup final appearance on the fixture list against B Division champions Hayfield who have only lost one league game all season Pilsley had plenty to prepare for but with a a run out for a wide selection of players they still managed to secure fourth spot in the division with this 5-0 victory over visitors Buxworth Res.

After last weeks brief flirtation with cricket the red ball sport would interfere with the venue for this encounter with Pilsley and Clay Cross seconds at home Rupert St was unavailable and like a couple of games last season the club de-camped to neighbouring Tibshelf.  The walking train of one carriage, me, opted to take in the five pits trail after Pilsley but not before taking the old Back Lane out of the village which has now become a footpath track way.  

The five pits trail as mentioned previously links up Grassmoor, North Wingfield, Holmewood, Pilsley and Tibshelf along old railway routes but has the interesting connection of Tom Hulatt being honoured by two plaques on the latter two villages stage.  The Tom Hulatt mile to mark Tibshelf's own who ran in third in 1954 to Roger Bannister who secured the first under four minute mile time at Iffley Road in Oxford.

With some spare time I had heard that the headstone to Hulatt was in the parish church and after a careful exploration it was found at the very far end of the church yard I hadn't realised that Tom had died aged just 59 in 1990.  Nice to spend a few moments thinking about a Derbyshire sporting legend.

THE CROWD MAKES IT WAY ALONG TO THE GAME IN JOLLY FASHION

Back onto the traffic busy High St it always amazed me that the local petrol stations shop used to be a Bargain Booze it never seemed a comfortable fit and its now a Go Local but they supported their unique operation further by having a recent massive 24/7 laundrette on the forecourt now, I could have left some washing there while doing the game maybe.  

Tibshelf looks weary and tired in many areas but Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz crew adorned the fence at the village hall to brighten things up and although this former mining village has seen better days there is a frequent collection of dated buildings with local history to the fore, now though is not the time to mention again the site of the first inland oil well and Tibshelf 'Town' station or is it?

STEVEN ROGERS AND CURTIS SHARPLES BURST THROUGH FOR PILSLEY

The former school site has its pitches still available and although its astro turf floodlit caged sports ones are in a derelict state the natural stuff had received a cut and was marked out so it was game on.  Buxworth arrived depleted but it has to be said a credit in their constant efforts during the game and a credit for having a go were some clubs would not have.

HARRY DUDLEY RUNS IN ON GOAL

With Pilsey looking to play a squad game before their Roden cup final against B Division champions Hayfield on Friday it would be a test for some of the fringe players to see what happens.  But we only had to wait for fifteen minutes for the opening goal when Kian Barlow stormed through in the inside right channel to fire into the goal across the visiting keeper.  The lead was doubled just eight minutes later when Rhys Wallhead saw the Buxworth number one pull off an excellent save but the ball fell to the in running Curtis Sharples who gratefully headed into an unguarded goal.  The game settled into comfort zone time when Barlow was brought down in the box and Bradley Warsop put the penalty away with a minute to go to half time.

KIAN BARLOW FIRES HOME THE OPENING GOAL

The second started frustratingly as Wallhead crashed an effort against the bar and from the rebound an edge of the box power driver from Bradley Haggins flew off the underside of the bar onto the line and away to safety.  The fourth wasn't too long in coming on sixty five minutes a corner off the right was met by the head of Gareth Lewin, there was time for the Buxworth keeper to pull off an excellent penalty save from Daniel Caunt.  But the best was saved till last with three minutes remaining Buxworth cleared the ball to the edge of the box where Shane Marriott was on hand to lash home an unstoppable shot the rippled the back of the net.

BUXWORTH KEEPER IN FINE FORM DENIES PILSLEY THIS TIME

Although a lethargic performance with probably thoughts on the end of the league season or the final later on in the week this was still the three points that the club wanted with the chance of third spot sadly this did not come to fruition with Dronfield Woodhouse wining by the odd goal in five at Winster Darley Dale. 

CURTIS SHARPLES HEADS IN TO MAKE IT 2-0

The Pilsley management team of Kev Carline and his assistant Andy Bird will now hopefully plot a successful night in the clubs second final appearance in as many years, although they know this will not be easy against Hayfield the champions of B Division.  On form though Pilsley are capable of giving anybody a game and just three weeks ago they only lost by a single goal to their fellow finalists so could this be Pilsley's time for some silver ware?  I hope so for the lads, Kev and Andy for the hard work in running a club and turning round a slow start to their season.

RHYS WALLHEAD TRIES TO FIND A WAY THROUGH

Return journey took an almost identical route where upon departing Pilsley I realised I had left my smalls in the 24/7 laundrette in 'tibby'. 

IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN