MACASKILL AT THE DOUBLE

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 3 CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH TOWN 0

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT LEES LANE 

7 OCTOBER 2023 --- 3PM

TY MACASKILL IN DOUBLE FOR SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC V CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH TOWN 

A double from Ty Macaskill helped South Normanton Athletic to the top of the table and defeat a stubborn Cromford and Wirksworth Town who would have been disappointed to have gone away with nothing, much of that due to the home sides sharp finishing and equally dominating performance of keeper Ross Etheridge.  

EARLY BIT OF WRESTLING

Due to the usual public transport fun much of it today with some of the people using it I had a nice little walk from short of Alfreton through the town and out to Lees Lane.  With a nice fifty minutes to play with a re acquaintance with the Coop superstore was made and needless to say a couple of snacks hit the wallet.

Arrival at Lees Lane, which I think was visited on the big walk last season for the game against Mansfield Hosiery Mills, saw the shock of the field to the left now being built on indeed the show cabin was now in the football club car park. 

EARLY PONDERING MOMENT FOR THE ATHLETIC MANAGEMENT

One big change since my last visit would be the arrival in close season of the Glapwell management team along with a fair few of the squad, who admittedly drop their club affinity at the end of the season and with an experienced squad full of some well known faces they would be hoping to make a challenge for promotion this season.

Its a ground that beckons a higher level and this season was looking smart with a fresh coat of paint everywhere to a high standard, probably something to do with Athletic manager Dave Turner being a decorator?  The star of the development though is a new electronic scoreboard situated at the Blackwell end of the ground, an excellent position when so many clubs put these in the wrong place.

SOUTH NORMANTON ATTACK BUT LOOK AT THAT SCOREBOARD

Thankfully the home side were obliging in an early gathering of the team sheets picture and the obligatory circuit was completed before the start of todays proceedings.

The first half saw the sides only separated by a Macaskill goal after fifteen minutes when his sheer determination saw him force his way through on the left edge of the box before firing past Max Charlottes on the visitors goal.

HOME KEEPER ETHERIDGE IN COMMANDING FORM

Much of the first half had failed to get going and at the end of it the visitors had seen as much of the play as Athletic but that all important goal was what made the difference.

REFEREE HODSON ADVICES WHICH WAY THE FREE KICK IS GOING

The second period showed a similar pattern to the first with South Normanton struggling to get much free flowing football together but at the important times they could finish and had the increasing threat of livewire Macaskill who would get his second after 64 minutes.  He would again weave his way into the box with pace to slot past the out coming keeper.

Talking of keepers and Athletic's number one Etheridge who always impress when I have seen him previously was no different today with a commanding performance indeed before Macaskill got the second he had saved superbly from Scot Taylor for the visitors.

GOOD SERVICE HERE AT THE BACK POST FOR CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH

As the game crossed over into stoppage time frontman Josh Parfitt secured the third when he headed home a cross from Elliott Bland off the left.

Shortly afterwards referee Chris Hodson blew for time and The Shiners had leapfrogged to the top of the table after a successful afternoon result wise against a very challenging mid table Cromford and Wirksworth.

TY MACASKILL RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS SECOND FROM OLIVER ROUSE

As a game and I don't know whether it was me but this wasn't an easy watch as a neutral on the entertainment front but South Normanton have some good experienced players at this level and I'm sure will be right up there at the top of the table this season.  Will it be enough to secure top spot?  I'm not sure there will though be some good encounters with Derby Singh Brothers and Mickleover RBL who are also looking strong challengers for the title. 

THE SHINERS BLAND 

With a prompt finish it was back to the bus to Alfreton which needless to say brought further challenges with one passenger who was making a nuisance of himself , thankfully it was only a short journey before launching The Comet back to base.

Look forward to another trip to Lees Lane soon.

LATE ATTACK FROM THE SOUTH NORMANTON SUBSTITUTES