GLAPWELL GET FOOTY UNDER WAY WITH A WIN

GLAPWELL 3 ASHLAND ROVERS 0

PRE SEASON FRIENDLY AT OLD COLLIERY LANE

2 JULY 2022 --- 2PM

OWEN RYANS MAKES IT THREE IN GLAPWELL V ASHLAND ROVERS

Glapwell got their pre season campaign off to a successful start mirroring their end to the 21/22 season, were they finished fifth in The CMFL North, against CMFL South opponents Ashland Rovers.  It was a hard working but confident victory for 'Glappy' against their visitors who were up against it after going behind as early as the fourth minute.

LANCASTER FLYPAST AT THE GLAPWELL V ASHLAND ROVERS GAME

A short forty five minute amble along to Old Colliery Lane Holmewood which was staging this fixture would see arrival in the former mining village about twenty minutes before kick off.  The area was covered just a few weeks ago for a Holmewood C C match but has an interesting history with poet John Masefield, the old aerial pit tubs, the former station and the pig and whistle pub.  Without repeating the history again for those who have read the cricket blog I will just refer any new readers to the blog of  2 May for a few pictures and some words on the subjects listed above.  

CLOSE UP ACTION GLAPWELL V ASHLAND ROVERS

Th ground is used as an out ground for some of Glapwell's non senior games and I guess with Hall Corner being rested the option to pop the three miles down the road to Holmewood is a clear one with a very well manicured pitch it does of course overlap the cricket ground where thankfully the home side were away today.

Both sides appeared in their familiar colours but as per usual recognition of players is always a problem in these games thankfully a few of the home side are known but todays report will just be very basic due to this.  However all three match officials were known I'm not sure what that says about me.

TRENT JULES GETS IN A SHARP SHOT

Glapwell had made a nice attempt to rope off 3/4's of the touchline area but with a small crowd of about 20 it didn't prove necessary but certainly gave the assistant referees some freedom.  The ground has a split in style former bus shelter type building, which is well covered in graffiti, acting as the dug out area other than that there is no furniture save for the sports facility changing rooms just off the edge of both the football and cricket pitches.

OWEN RYAN MAKES IT THREE FOR GLAPWELL

Glapwell would take a fourth minute lead after a lovely free flowing move saw 'trialist' convert with a sweet finish.  The second goal came from a right wing corner just after the quarter of an hour mark headed in by the same trialist.  There was a moment of summer fractiousness two minutes before half time when a late challenge of sorts of Richie Mathews saw the latter chase the Ashland player to confront him.  After a moment of  concern all things fell calm and referee Bruce Baskerville produced a yellow card for both players.

There was a further appearance of the Lancaster bomber at a sporting fixture having made a guest appearance at Pilsley a few weeks back.  This time it was travelling north to south having been to an event in Leeds and on the way back to perform at Stanley Common but a nice touch to see what I believe is the only surviving air worthy example once again.

SUBSTITUTE FROM JOINT ASHLAND MANAGER JOE WALKER

The second period saw Glapwell kicking towards the Five Pits Trail end and it was really normal service resumed with Ashland struggling to create too much of any threat.  

Just shy of the hour mark Glapwell made it three after again a nice move down the left and when the ball was fed in Owen Ryan gathered it before firing past the Ashland keeper.

It looked like the home side had a fourth when Ben Copestake [?] ran onto a through pass and fired the ball superbly past the keeper only for the flag of assistant referee Mark Hilton to be spotted aloft on the far touchline by half time change referee Chris Roberts.

DAVID PHILLIPS JOINT MANAGER AT ASHLAND ROVERS

Pre season games can bring out all the cliches of players on holiday, it means nothing at this stage, we were trying new players out etc.  But its always nice to get a victory and you would on this showing at the least expect Glapwell to be right up there in the top five again although as ever The CMFL is getting ridiculously difficult to get out of.  For Ashland Rovers its very early and I'm sure having their reserve side in action also today did not help them too much for selection choice.

I suppose I can count this as being the 22/23 football season underway and it was a good option even if I guess only a mini summer break from the cricket.

REFEREE CHRIS ROBERTS TOOK OVER FOR THE SECOND HALF