LEADERS TOPPLED

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 0 WIRKSWORTH IVANHOE 1

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT LEES LANE

18 NOVEMBER 2023 --- 2PM

RYAN MARCHINGTON CELEBRATES THE WINNER IN SOUTH NORMANTON ATH V WIRKSWORTH IVANHOE

Wirksworth Ivanhoe knocked league leaders South Normanton Athletic off the top spot thanks to a battling performance set up by the first half goal from Ryan Marchington.  It was a determined effort especially in the last thirty minutes as the home side raised their game and the heavy pitch was taking a toll on strengths the visitors held strong though to secure victory.

THE TEAMS ENTER THE PITCH

The first paragraph of most of this season's blog has been somewhat familiar because yes the rain overnight plus a damp week had added to more postponements it will be a pleasure whenever the rain lets up to just be able to select a game and not have to check a collection of fixtures on Saturday morning.  Added to that the vagaries of public transport found a slightly delayed Comet make arrival in Alfreton ten minutes down and with the lack of taxi availability to the game I was originally going to a switch to the Nines would see an arrival at Lees Lane just before 1.30pm for this 2pm kick off. 

JAMES BEARDOW LOOKS TO LAY THE BALL BACK TO HIS KEEPER

South Normanton is a Coop town but today nothing quite took my fancy on the snack front, I know shock, horror.  Empty handed a retrace of steps back to the ground would see a very obliging photograph of both teams sheets gained, as per earlier on in the season, a much appreciated help.

There was time for a walk around the always impressive ground and a small chat with the Clay Cross Town Fc chairman, their game was once again was one of those called off, before proceedings commenced.  The changes to the ground were covered in the blog a few weeks ago but it has to be re stated that I love the electronic scoreboard.

WIRKSWORTH DRIVING FORWARD UP THE SLOPE

The pitch was looking heavy but played well and once again us supporters of a certain age sometimes stand amazed at games that are called off but of course we are from the era of The Baseball Ground and White Hart Lane when mud was the word.  It often made for a right old battle of a game but often now its football for the purist with an indefinite amount of passes before the ball goes forward ten yards.

INCH PERFECT TACKLE

The home side sat proudly on top of the table before the start of the game and it looked a fairly simple game but having witnessed Ivanhoe before if they are on form they are a challenge for any side in this league.  This game also saw my first ever viewing of referee Syd Atwal, as those of you know I like to follow the referees so this was a nice opportunity too.

EARLY WIRKSWORTH ATTACK

Athletic started playing some of that finesse football and indeed had a very early chance when Marc Bright got a shot away that thundered back off the post.  It would though be the visitors who were starting to look the bigger threat as they forced their way up the slope it was Billy Franklin who went close first with his shot going just wide of the upright.  

On twenty five minutes though Ivanhoe broke the deadlock with a goal that would prove the winner, Lewis Hilton on the right hand side of the box fed Ryan Marchington who spun on the ball and placed a low shot inside the post to beat the despairing dive of Ross Etheridge after 25 minutes. 

The home side had shown little and by the time half time was reached it all seemed to be well under control for Wirksworth.

RYAN MARCHINGTON FIRES IN THE WINNER

The second period started in a similar fashion with Ivanhoe looking comfortable but then the final push came with a collection of substitutions looking to give the home side the edge non more so than Perry Richards on the left who looked like the channel to play through and a threat to the visitors defence.

JOSH PARFFIT CHALLENGES KEEPER CHRIS CONROY

With crosses coming in and the light fading on this dark afternoon Wirksworth stood tall to deflect every effort that South Normanton could throw at them.  The heat was rising in the game and the caution count had begun, even with a strange one with fifteen minutes to go for Ryan Hadley who put in a sharp but what looked a fair challenge, the ball went out of play for a throw in and was started thus but referee Atwal went over and booked the player many thought for a foul but with the re-start one can only assume it was for something that was said.

STICKY WICKET FOR ASSISTANT REFEREE STUART WALKER

Passions were evident now on both sides and at last South Normanton seemed to wake from their slumber.  Referee Atwal was again in focus when he signalled there would be four minutes stoppage time this infuriated the home bench and you could see why.  There had been a large amount of substitutions from both sides along side some injuries to visiting players that would probably have required 7 minutes or so to be added on.

JUST ONE CAUTION HERE FOR RYAN HADLEY 

Entering the added on time with a neutral spectating desire for this game to continue because it was now really entertaining the crowd of just under a hundred South Normanton went within inches of equalising when from a right wing corner Josh Parffit headed just the wrong side of the post.  With a further stoppage to treat a visiting players cramp we did reach 7 minutes added time, but with this additional injury you still felt that the game was two minutes or so shy of a full compliment on the watch.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT TIME THE SHOWERS WILL BE TURNED ON

The full compliment on the watch was certainly something South Normanton manager Dave Turner had in his mind as he went on to discuss the timepiece that referee Atwal was employing for this afternoons encounter and on every occasion he appeared to have had the final word he found another one for the man in the middle.  Frustration was the order of the day because his team had not performed to their best today and just as they were starting to time ran out. 

TENSIONS RISING ON THE NORMANTON BENCH

Take nothing away from Derbyshire Dales side they had defended admirably in the closing half an hour and for most of the game looked comfortable but that finale was a very creditable effort from their squad this afternoon, they gave everything.

STEVE MORAN RALLIES WIRKSWORTH FOR THE FINAL MINUTES

Return journey was a fairly swift departure into Alfreton with a half an hour wait and arrival back at base just after 5pm from this early kick off.

ATHLETIC MANAGER DAVE TURNER DISCUSSES TIMEPIECES WITH REFEREE ATWAL