BARGATE LESSON IN FINISHING SEES OFF SLEETMOOR

SLEETMOOR UNITED 2 BARGATE ROVERS 7

MIDLANDS REGIONAL ALLIANCE PREMIER DIVISION AT SLEETMOOR LANE

8 OCTOBER 2022 --- 2PM

FENWICK BUTCHER CELEBRATES HIS FIRST ON A HAT TRICK DAY FOR THE STRIKER

A remarkable second half performance from Bargate Rovers provided a lesson in finishing to hosts Sleetmoor United who were left shell shocked at the goal fest which included a hat trick from Fenwick Butcher.  It was more than enough for Rovers to retain second spot in the MRA Premier Division in this local derby at Sleetmoor Lane.

BARGATE BRING THE BALL OUT OF DEFENCE

Sleetmoor United had been on the cards for a little while over the last two years and its never quite happened with postponed fixtures when I could make a first visit and then when I couldn't get they played but today would provide the first visit to the complex of pitches.  The collection of pitches is now superbly aided by the new 3g caged surface with some standing available for spectators down one side, the pitch looked massive and very smart as I guess it should having only been commissioned this summer.  The advert for the game, understandably so, shows a backdrop of the new facility but a little disappointingly the game would take place on an outlying grass pitch.  Still it will leave for another visit in probably more inclement weather when I guess the club will use it to secure their fixture.

AN EARLY TUSSLE IN THIS LOCAL DERBY

Still walking to fixtures would mean a re-branding for this season much like the famous pub selling point of  'a pie and a pint' this season will now become 'a walk and a game' and today I would be back on the big one with an approximately seventeen miles round trip from base.  The route would for most of the journey follow the busy A61 south through Clay Cross and Alfreton, some regular readers to the blog have missed the fish and chips review feature and hopefully some form of it can return soon.  But I have to say I was amazed at the big corporate refreshment options available from McDonalds, Costa, Starbucks, Burger King, Subway, Greggs never mind a couple of local shops and independent takeaways on route you could probably do a game at Sleetmoor and visit some different establishment for every fixture or maybe just make a week of it and to that effect you could stop at the Travelodge which is situated within a long goal kick of the ground.

CORNER ACTION WITH THE NEW 3G IN THE BACKGROUND

It was a paced 2 hours 10 minutes to arrive and it was good to catch up with Malcolm back on his home ground, you may of course remember from way back he got me into rugby league as a great enthusiast he encouraged me to give it a try, see what I did there.  I loved it but sadly don't get too see much now although there was an attempt to do Sherwood Wolfhunt a few weeks ago before their opponents pulled out.  Back to today and on entrance to the large car park area you first come across the changing rooms and thanks to the Sleetmoor United Chairman and referee Jason Glanville the team sheets were photographed at this point.  On the way to take a look at the new 3g it was noticeable the club had installed some nice new cabin type toilets which would help out on a facility that I guess at times is very busy with a multitude of games representing various levels of the club.

SLEETMOOR HEADER FROM ANT CRICK

Also at the game with his new long lens was Mr W now of the Wessington parish and of course the excellent 'floodlitpitch blog' highly recommended for a perusal.  It was good to spend the game snapping away behind the road side goal that now had two photographers attempting to get their best shots.

It would have been a good first half for the home side who were the team in the ascendancy but for the chances the created they just could not finish but Bargate could and the sucker punch came five minutes before the break when the home side failed to clear the ball close in and George Ashby pounced to fire the visitors into a half time lead.

FIRST HALF EFFORT FOR SLEETMOOR

A steady stream of goals followed in the second half as Bargate got a firm grip on the game after just two minutes of the re start they had doubled their lead when Tom Lewis broke through and chipped the keeper, it was three mid ay through the half when Kelsey Thomson got a foot in for a sharp finish.  Goals four and five saw the lively Fenwick Butcher further helped the Rovers cause after 70 and 75 minutes respectively.  At 5-0 to the visitors it was time for a Sleetmoor mini revival with two goals firstly Ant Crick and then Ben Brooks from the rebound after a penalty from Liam Minkley had struck the inside of the post.

TOME LEWIS CHIPS THE KEEPER TO MAKE IT 2-0 TO BARGATE

Normal service was soon resumed though when Butcher [F] put in a lovely cross off the right for George Stokes to convert in the middle and then on the stroke of full time Butcher [F] completed his hat trick when he lobbed the advancing Leon Baines in the Sleetmoor goal.  A comprehensive victory against their local rivals with some clinical finishing and something I guess Sleetmoor wished they had because the chances were there but were not converted the first half was evidence to that with the home side missing three gilt edged chances. 

TOM LEWIS SEE HIS EFFORT ABOUT TO GO OVER THE LINE

With farewells bid to Mr W I set off on a marginally more leisurely pace to get back to base avoiding all the multi national refreshment stops only veering off the A61 for a quiet spell around Shirland and the back lanes of Mickley.  When Clay Cross arrived base was within sight mind you so too was McDonalds, but onward and the return would take about ten minutes longer than the outward journey.

KELSEY THOMSON SECURES ANOTHER FOR BARGATE

Hopefully a return to Sleetmoor soon with the added interest of watching a game on the new pitch and second placed Bargate looked good today and again they have been on the radar more recently so hopefully another club to watch at home in the not too distant future.

An enjoyable day and visit with a big walk to boot, now anybody for a pie and a pint?

HAT TRICK HERO FENWICK BUTCHER SECURES HIS FIRST GOAL