MILLER HITS FOUR AS RHP GO THROUGH

GLAPWELL 1 RHP SPORTS AND SOCIAL 6

BUCKINGHAM INSURANCE LEAGUE CUP ROUND ONE AT HALL CORNER

23 SEPTEMBER 2023 --- 3PM

HAT TRICK FOR SOLOMON MILLER IN GLAPWELL V RHP SPORTS AND SOCIAL

Captain Solomon Miller was the star in this League cup encounter as he hit four goals and had another two chalked off as RHP Sports and Social hit half a dozen to despatch a struggling Glapwell at Hall Corner.

The division one east side led their premier league south counterparts 2-0 at the break in what had been a relatively good showing for the home side but the second period saw the Newark based visitors push home their advantage which in the end could have been by more goals.

KIERAN STARBUCK SHIELDS THE BALL

Today the short trip to Glapwell would be undertaken by four buses the first change would be in Clay Cross and today this definitely looked like a shabbily kept rear end of a Badger, with the bus station and surrounds looking an absolute mess,  How this town as suffered over the the years of industrial decline thankfully we would soon escape on a 49 to Clowne with our departure at Glapwell just over twenty minutes later.

WHERE THE AFTERNOON BEGAN FOR RHP CAPTAIN SOLOMON MILLER 1-0

Over the years Glapwell in its various guises have been covered many times but it sadly needs saying that this ground is in a very sad state of repair and I believe the varying clubs only rent from the council who really need to undertake a tidy up operation its so sad to see Hall Corner in this state.

Admission front was £4 and £3 with the club making the effort to publish a programme something that a small band of the crowd of 21 purchased this afternoon.

GLAPWELL KEEPER HUDSON DOWN TO DENY RHP

Spaced out paragraphs are an excuse for including a larger than normal set of pictures and I make no escuse, apart from this mention, of featuring Miller in so many he was the outstanding contributor to an exciting ninety minutes.  It took me a bit of research after the game to jolt my memory of where I remembered the number 9 from and he was one of the stars of the Newark Flowserve side who rose from step seven to five.  Today the front mans pace and finishing was prominent and although I guess he could be playing at a higher level it was great to see and watch him again.

EARLY CHAT FOR JASON THURLBY WITH REFEREE BARNES

With the preliminaries done and a team sheet photo secured it was to the stand side to take a few pictures on a lovely sunny afternoon.

Glapwell had lost all seven of their league games conceding 44 goals in the process and after losing their management team and squad to South Normanton the shock of rebuilding was proving a stern test for player manager Jamie Durham.  RHP were sat mid table in their regional league one level below but must have fancied their chances of progressing.

KEANU JONES RECEIVES CLOSE ATTENTION OF GLAPWELL DEFENDER DEL KADIS

A fairly even opening but on nine minutes the harshest of fortunes hit Glapwell when Kieran Starbuck struck a sharp shot against the visitors post as the ball fell away the visitors cleared the ball up field and before you knew it Miller drew the keeper and slotted home for the lead.

We didn't see another goal until twenty seven minutes but it was Miller again who enticed Rhys Hudson off his line before firing home all this was superbly set up by a cross field pass from Jason Thurlby.

Before the break Thurlby tried a cheeky back heel that was scrambled off the line before at the other end Starbuck saw his effort saved by Ashley Reed in the visitors goal.

HUDSON DENIES JONES

The half time break was wiled away but for any visitors thinking of taking a visit or re visit to this ground there is a snack bar in operation for the usual goodies.  RHP were out about five minutes earlier than the fifteen minute break eager to continue and also to signify at 'this level' generally everybody gets on with it.

RHP MAKE IT 2-0 THROUGH MILLER

The second period would need just two minutes for Miller to secure his and the visitors third when his pace took him through two merging visiting defenders before firing past Hudson.  A few minutes later he was denied by the keeper but RHP would get their fourth when Thurlby was brought down in the box by Zach Hogg who received a yellow card from referee Martin Barnes, the felled player got up brushed himself down and sent Hudson the wrong way.

STARBUCK DENIED BY RHP KEEPER

Just over the hour mark Miller turned provider when his run down the right saw the ball laid back to Calum Chilvers who cheekily clipped the ball into the far corner of the Glapwell goal to make it five.  Shortly afterwards Glapwell danger man Starbuck did find the net to pull a goal back when the visiting keeper could not deny his low shot.

THURLBY LEGGED UP JUST INSIDE THE PENALTY BOX

Comeback on the cards?  Miller stopped that thought when just two minutes later, 67 minutes, when he paced away and again slotted past Hudson with an apparent ease for his fourth.

The game at this stage was clearly won and although the edge appeared to have gone out of the fixture it didn't stop the chances.

MILLER LEAVES A COLLECTION OF GLAPWELL PLAYERS BEHIND

Having had a first half goal disallowed for offside Miller suffered the same fate with seventeen minutes remaining again outpacing the defence and slotting home only to see the assistant referee with his flag aloft.

Starbuck again got himself into scoring positions but on two occasions Reed again denied him with saves.

CHILVERS [LEFT] CLIPS THE BALL INTO THE BOTTOM CORNER

Referee Barnes was sympathetic to the home side with a full time whistle on forty five minutes non of this 5 and ten past 5 of recent weeks this was a game that was gone and there was no need to drag out the agony for Glapwell.

FOUR FOR CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

With no need to rush for a bus that would now have a fifty minute waiting time which is typical after most of the Saturdays of the season so far when with the overrun of games not leaving enough time for the old public transport timetable.

THIS TIME MILLER IS DENIED BY THE OFFSIDE FLAG

There was time for a comfort break and a reminisce about those 'glory' days at Hall Corner when one of the former Glapwell so very nearly made The old Unibond, Northern Premier League, Premier League.  Those days are so sadly gone but even then the club appeared to have a constant struggle with convincing locals that this footy success thing was a good thing for the village. 

MILLER TURNS ON THE PACE

So for now while this club fights for its future lets hope a few more will pop along to support it in its efforts its going to be a long hard road this season and you can only hope the club will retains its Premier League status in the Central Midlands Alliance.

DO I NEED TO CAPTION IT OH GO ON THEN MILLER WITH A TURN OF PACE AGAIN

Two more back with the 49 and 55 dropping us at base just over an hour later from departure at Glapwell.  An enjoyable afternoon a surprisingly entertaining game, my best of the season so far and great to see the abilities of Solomon Miller on show.

REFEREE BARNES HAS A CHAT WITH CAPTAIN MILLER

TUPTON STRONG

TUPTON 45 DRONFIELD 2'S 10

COUNTIES THREE MIDLANDS EAST [NORTH] AT NORTH SIDE

16 SEPTEMBER 2023 --- 3PM

TUPTON RUFV V DRONFIELD

A brief one from Tupton Rugby Union Club this time around on a cloudy and cooler day after last weeks hot one.

Tupton stormed to a 19-0 lead courtesy of three tries of which two were converted, their dominance fell away a little while Dronfield had a stronger fifteen minutes that saw them pull back three points from a penalty.

Tupton got back into gear with a further try and conversion before being reduced to 14 with a sending off just before the break but lead 26-3.

The reduction of number had little effect as the home side continued to dominate with three more tries and bringing the score line to 45-3 before Dronfield scored a determined try thro the posts to bring the final score to 45-10.

A change of an afternoon for one of the couple of Rugby Union trips that normally encompass a season. 

TOO HOT FOR FOOTY?

RADFORD 2 BOURNE TOWN 1

UCL LEAGUE CUP AT SELHURST ST

9 SEPTEMBER 2023 --- 3PM

RADFORD ON THE ATTACK VERSUS BOURNE TOWN

Never go to a game in strong winds is always my comments after having gone to a game in strong winds because very very rarely is it of any good value as a match.  Here today after a late summer heat wave the temperature in Hyson Green, Nottingham was firmly placed at 30 degrees and purely walking round the perimeter of the pitch and taking a few pictures was enough to require a shower after half a lap, I don't think I have every watched in conditions so hot and humid.  That said these two sides give 100% in what must have been terrible conditions to play in.

In the re visit of old grounds season I wont go over Radford Fc's ground again but just back up with some distance match pictures the wonder of the place it really is one of mine and many others favourite local [ish] non league grounds.  Situated in Hyson Green and wedged tightly right into surrounds this ground is everything a football club should be.

Bourne make a fairly lengthy trip and probably a culture shock to for many as they look to move forward in the UCL League Cup which is at the preliminary round stage.  

It doesn't start well when after just ten minutes Harry Peasgood turned the ball into his own goal following a sharp cross from Jevin Seaton. 

Half time arrived at 3.55 after a three minute late start it had an ominous feeling about bus times after the game for me and when as ever the match officials took, fairly, their full fifteen minute break we re started at two minutes short of quarter past four.

Bourne were level on 58 minutes when Zak Munton swung in a low free kick off the left that evaded everybody and fell in at the far post and Radford were kicking themselves for some half chances they hadn't converted.  Thankfully the penalty option was pushed a little further away when ten minutes later Radford re took the lead.  A free kick just outside the box was laid in low and the ball lofted up for Joseph McLaughlin to head in.

There was a water break of a few minutes in each half with the weather oppressively hot and when after a few minor injury stoppages referee Everatt at 4.45 announced to an asking player that there was still 20 minutes left I knew then it would be a mad dash.

With penalties still looming Radford nearly scored again on 89 minutes when a header bounced back off the crossbar.  

After a few more stoppages in play the end time was obviously going back and like a few other hoppers at this game I also had to leave at five past five for the bus back to Alfreton.  The game finally came to an end at about ten past five and thankfully I missed no goals or penalties.

It does seem a shame games are taking longer with the added on time I was of course all for this at one stage but when the old public transport is involved its not the wonder it sometimes appears.

As the Radford interviewer commented in the after match video this 'felt like a game that was never going to end'.

As ever love visiting but next time I'm sure it will be cooler.

SELSTON VALUABLE THREE POINTS

SELSTON 2 LUTTERWORTH ATHLETIC 1

UCL 1 AT THE PARISH GROUNDS

2 SEPTEMBER 2023 --- 3PM

JORDAN BLACK [10] CELEBRATES THE SECOND OF HIS GOALS

Two superb strikes from Jordan Black gave Selston a deserved three points that puled them away from the lower reaches of the table, both goals came from lovely weighted passes while Lutterworth pulled a late goal back from the penalty spot.

The decision was taken not to blog this game in full after a disappointing 'incident' during the second half.