SOLDIERS AND PELICAN IN GOAL FEST

SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS 4 FC PELICAN 3

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT THE MODEL VILLAGE

19 NOVEMBER 2022 --- 2PM

ENTERTAINING GOALFEST IN SHIREBROOK SOLDIERS V FC PELICAN

Shirebrook Soldiers ran out winners by the odd goal in seven but how Pelican pushed them with a late comeback as the home side battled out much of the closing minutes with ten men after a sin binning.  Soldiers had led 4-1 just after half time but were left watching the clock as Pelican scored from the spot with eight minutes to go.

So once again it was another murky and poor light day but after the rain of the proceeding few days it was great to just get a game on when all looked potentially lost on Thursday.  Here I would like to thank Gary Bryant from the club for his communication on the evening before and again to confirm on Saturday morning the pitch was playable, so off we set to one of my favourite towns to visit as previous blog readers will know.

OVERVIEW OF THE MODEL VILLAGE SPORTS GROUND

Many a winding bus route had been worked out but normally involving a change at Pleasley, well today forget that to accompany the 'walk and a match series' and with the drizzle finally stopping it was a Hulley's Clowne bound bus to Glapwell.  Departure would see a smart little walk through the hamlet of Stoney Houghton and onward down the country lanes to Shirebrook.  From the edges of the town a further ten minutes or so would take me on to The Model, an estate that was built along similar line to toher local ones and here to serve the former pit.  Of course previous readers will know from past meanders around the history of the town while visiting the main football club on Langwith Road that I have popped onto the model for its fantastic chippy before, although today I would somehow avoid the temptation.  Opposite the row of shops that contains the aforementioned is the unbelievably large pub The Victoria.  I'm not sure if this is still open although closed this dinner time it looks like an evening only venue but it certainly would take some upkeep.  We are now adjacent to the former pit site and you can only imagine the busy days that the establishment benefited from then.  Now though its all down to that major sports retailer who has built its distribution centre on the former colliery, although it now looks as though they may be moving in the next few years which will bring further losses to the town centre which there wasn't time to visit today.

GOOD AFTERNOON

To the back of the estate is The Model Village Sports Ground with changing facilities and an open pitch although the ground of interest today was the one running the opposite way guarded by its metal spiked fencing and it offers up some evocative views of terrace houses, of which many have been taken down and re built into modern dwellings.  Beyond the fences that give the ground some security is the town's cricket club which also finds itself behind more metal, it is though a cracking community feel and one that I as always love the feel of.  It is only a shame that the light is so poor and I have to apologise the pictures are few and as good as they get, indeed so dark was it in the last twenty minutes it was a credit to both teams and referee David Dennis for getting us through to the final whistle.

BEN CHARLESWORTH PUTS IN A CROSS FOR SHIREBROOK

The Notts Senior League now comprises of four fairly full divisions and looks a really healthy set up and I would think that Shirebrook Soldiers, after Shirebrook ex Servicemens Club in the town, are along with Borrowash Victoria the only Derbyshire club within its structure.  Pelican arrive from Nottingham and both sides are to be complimented on smart looking kits.

GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM REFEREE DAVID DENNIS TODAY

So to the action and Soldiers were first to score after eighteen minutes when Ben Charlesworth got a shot away the visiting keeper Healey Ntabe let the ball through his grasp at the near post.  The game had been pretty level at this stage and Pelican felt justice when they levelled after 31 minutes when Damilola Sodiq Sanusi [number 9-team sheet was Lee Downer but will go with full time] was on hand when home keeper Harrison Kissane parried an initial shot.

Shirebrook found the goal instinct again with two in three minutes firstly on 35 minutes a sliced clearance fell into the path of Nathan Clarke whose shot took a strong deflection and then the visitors couldn't clear their box and  Frankie Kuncyusz fired in a shot that Absira Siwela [2] could not keep out despite his best efforts on the goal line.

The home side went in comfortable at the break with a 3-1 lead and that was soon to extend in the second half.

THE SURROUNDING TERRACES ADD TO THE GROUND ATMOSPHERE

Within ten minutes of the re start it looked like a romp for Soldiers when Fraser Howarth cut through the middle of the penalty box to fire his shot into the roof of the Pelican net to make it four.  But the visitors were not going to rule themselves out of this game when within three minutes they reduced the arrears with a superb back post strike from Jayden Wilkes [I had the number 12 but full time has Jayden Wilkes there would appear to be differences to team sheet].  Onward to the closing stages as this game intensified and the visitors were awarded a penalty with eight minutes remaining the number 9 [see earlier for name issue] was adjudged to have been brought down in the box and Nicky Jones converted from the spot.  In the process Shirebrook were reduced to ten men when Mitchell Wilton was sin binned for dissent.

NATHAN CLARKE [10] CELEBRATES HIS GOAL

With the light now faded further the back yard spotlight of a neighbouring house was providing little assistance as these two sides battled it out with the home side desperate to hang on mounting a few forays into the visitors half to try to secure a goal on the break.  While the visitors sensed a leveller they drove forward on what must have now been weary legs to provide a further exciting period in this game with stoppage time Wilton would return for the last few seconds and Shirebrook were over the line as the street and car lights illuminated the surrounding area.

3-1 TO SHIREBROOK

A superb little game with a great finish from an enjoyable first visit to a ground that had been long on the cards to do.  Return journey was a reverse through some now dark country lanes accompanied by drizzle with arrival back in the street lights of Glapwell time allowed for a further stretch out down to Bramley Vale were the returning Hulley's bus was caught back to North Wingfield before a twenty minute walk back to base.  Would have liked some better weather for the pictures but this was an all round enjoyable afternoon with a good community club.

ITS NOT AS LIGHT AS IT LOOKS