POINTS TO IVANHOE AGAIN

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 0 WIRKSWORTH IVANHOE 3

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

25 NOVEMBER 2023 --- 3PM

GEORGE SIMPSON SETS UP A MOVE FOR MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V WIRKSWORTH IVANHOE

After last weeks hard fought victory at then leaders South Normanton Athletic Wirksworth bagged another three points here at The Fieldings against an equally hard working Mansfield Hosiery Mills.  But a double from Jack Higton and a wonderful strike from Billy Franklin sealed the points for Ivanhoe with the home side being slightly hard done by the winning margin.

TEDS BEEN FORCED INTO SUPPORTING LIVERPOOL NOT THE MILLS THIS AFTERNOON

This journey would involve a bus connection in the village of Tibshelf and overall this short journey was leaving me with trepidation as the initial bus service was to be supplied by Hulleys whose reputation has taken a battering lately for the failure of its services.  Very weird to feel this way from somebody who has done Edinburgh and back in a day never mind Bala Town in the Welsh Premier League, look that ground up, all on public transport.

Armed with the bus tracker all looked well with the service set to depart Chesterfield but when arriving at my stop the bus was still sat in Chesterfield!  Finally departing it arrived around half an hour down in time and the same at Tibshelf with a 100 yard dash to the next stop the service to neighbouring Huthwaite was made with about a minute to spare.

CHRISTMAS KENNY WITH PAL CHUNK

The obligatory call into the Coop, although there is a Tesco here, was made for pasty and other eatables before the short walk to the ground which just hops over the boundary into Sutton In Ashfield with both being in Nottinghamshire.  The history of the ground, clubs that have played under Sutton's name and the area have been featured in past blogs so I wont go into these again but needless to say sadly not much as improved with the outward appearance of Huthwaite.

IVANHOE MANAGER KARL EVANS IN RELAXED PRE MATCH MOOD

Thankfully having made the connection it was a comfortable arrival an hour before kick off with the chance to meet Ted the dog who was on gate duty and had previously been met at Pinxton where he had camped out on his blanket with a selection of treats, today mind you by half time it was that cold he had meandered inside to view from a window ledge he was though being kept slightly warmer by his Liverpool FC top.  As entry for cute non league dogs rose there was also time to meet Kenny, after Dalglish and Chunk, the former was already in Christmas mood with festive jumper and collar adorned with seasonal attire although I suspect he didn't have much say in the matter.

ITS ALL SMILES FOR NOW

There was time for a walk around this very tight ground but the advantage of this was you are close to the action although for photographic shots it was a low sun that soon disappeared and through shadows all over the place didn't make for great pictures, there's my excuse in place.

JABLONSKI STRETCHES HIGH TO PUNCH CLEAR

Strangely this would be Mills only the third home league game of the season so far and after last weeks odd goal victory in seven they would be looking to climb away from the wrong end of the table with a similar result.  For the visitors who looked so strong last week they must have aspirations of powering on to a top eight placement.

MILLS TOM TORRINGTON WAITING FOR THE MOVE

Attendances are small here but they are a merry band of helpers and having met the lady running the cafe who was now doubling up as window cleaner the interest and commitment of the non league family shone through.  There was time before the game to meet referee Ibrahim Arsali and re connect with assistant referee Stuart Walker who had a smart new hair cut that had got rid of his long flowing locks from last weeks game at Lees Lane.

TACKLE FROM BEHIND?

Let the action commence and it was the home side who got off to an encouraging start but a sharp break by Ivanhoe saw a corner from Lucas Brough put in a lovely ball for Higton [J] to head in his first of the afternoon after 17 minutes.  Ten minutes later and a glorious cross from Tom Mellor to the back stick saw Higton [J] head home to double his and the Wirksworth tally.

Mansfield would have a close range effort cleared off the line and then they too cleared off the line through Max Denton as they too came under pressure just before half time.

ASSISTANT REFEREE STUART WALKER HAS THE SUN GETTING IN HIS EYES THIS WEEK NOT HIS HAIR

You feared for Mills but going downhill in the second half and after a half time team talk they started at a fair pace and put together nice passing football and were working up a head of steam and with a little bit of luck in front of goal would have scored.  It certainly seemed to shock the visitors and a few edgy tackles went in that resulted in referee Arsali having to reach for his cards, a ten minute passage of play that saw two players from either side cautioned.  

IVANHOE GOAL LINE CLEARANCE DENIES MILLS

Mansfield could not find that final touch and the inevitable happened on 72 minutes a Brough corner was flapped at by keeper Adam Jablonski with the ball falling to Franklin on the edge of the box and he lashed it into the roof of the net for a stunning finish.  It was a heartbreaker for the home side who had built up some danger but like last week Ivanhoe showed they can soak up pressure and then ultimately find the goal on this occasion that settled any doubts that the three points were going back to the Derbyshire dales.

CHRIS CONROY RISES TO CLEAR THE DANGER

With the floodlights illuminating a dark evening now with and probably the coldest night of the year so far the second half had seen camera away and hands warm time to the fore.  The small crowd of 32 had been well entertained by both sides its just a shame a few more football fans don't pop along to give their support to a side in Sutton, but as mentioned in previous blogs you have to say that the town since the loss of its central location ground clearly is not too interested in football at non league level currently.

MANSFIELD ATTACK IN THE FIRST HALF WITH THE POPULAR SIDE IN THE BACKGROUND

A final circuit was completed just before the final whistle and with arrival back in front of the cafe and changing rooms referee Arsali brought an to the play

HENRY BROOKS WATCHES OUT

It looks like a long hard season for Mark Turner and his cohorts but there is always effort and determination here and enough points from sides at the bottom of the table should be enough to keep Mills from that horrible last few places in the league. 

CLOSE UP ACTION

Meanwhile my colleague Mr R of the Buxton parish has a soft spot for Ivanhoe and I can see why they are a determined bunch who really gel together to achieve their aims, certainly in the last few games I have seen them.  They will have a big challenge on Friday night when they travel to Pinxton who will test them out in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.  They are though if results continue in serious danger of challenging the top clubs in the CMA Premier South.

MILLS MANAGER TURNER MAKES A POLITE ENQUIRY IF THE REF HAS BROUGHT HIS YELLOW CARD TO ASSISTANT ANDY POLKEY

With a good thirty minutes for the connecting bus to Tibshelf a walk back along the dark streets of Huthwaite allowed a cheeky revisit to the Coop for a further bit of calorie intake.  The Market Place had come alive now with delivery cars blocking bus stops as the local populace decided not to cook and avoid their MP's advice that they can cook a meal for 30p.

IVANHOE WATCHED BY MILLS CAPTAIN TOM SUTER

Everything ran smoothly on the way back with a 30 minute connection wait and arrival back in base just over ninety minutes after the end of the match which been an enjoyable affair even if somewhat cold.  A thoroughly enjoyable visit.

HAVE A WORD REF, REFEREE IBRAHIM ARSALI DOES JUST THAT