LATE WINNER

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 1 GRAHAM STREET PRIMS 0

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

27 JANUARY 2024 --- 2PM

MAX DENTON IN MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V GRAHAM ST PRIMS

Aaron Carrington stepped up to head home the winner for Mansfield Hosiery Mills with two minutes remaining of a highly entertaining battle against high flying Graham St Prims which had looked destined to be one of those exciting 0-0 encounters.

FINGERTIP SAVE FROM PRIMS KEEPER JACK MORLEY

Todays trip was again by cheeky taxi both ways and with not too long to spare in time the much relegated fish and chips reviews were nowhere near being reinstated never mind the obligatory trip to a Coop which also fell by the wayside.  After last weeks blank Saturday it was good to be at a game and a re visit to The Fieldings.

CHASE IS ON FOR SUTER

This week is deemed to be a match photo special and with no travelling to complain of have I got enough waffle to fill between the pictures?  Probably not!

MILLS IN CONTROL

A usual pleasant greeting was only let down slightly by the non appearance of four legged gate operator Ted who apparently had opted for a lazy warm afternoon on the bed back at base.  Entrance paid and a go on the scratch card led to an early greeting to assistant referee Mark Grayling who was emitting bright light from his official day-glo tracksuit with bright luminous sections.

THE EYES HAVE IT

A catch up with Mills manager Mark Turner for the team details and it was off to obtain a couple of chocolate bars from the lovely little snack bar here always nicely operated for any hoppers who are thinking of making the trip to Sutton in Ashfield.

EARLY ACTION 

So how's it going?  Only a stack load of pictures to still write around, moving on.

MARK GRAYLING INTO THE SUN

The game itself pitted high flying Prims against Mills who are struggling at the wrong end of the table.  But for purely romantic non league purposes these two really have some evocative names but in footballing terms I expected the Derby based visitors to be too strong for the home side.  Footballs a funny old game, somebody once said, and how right they are.

HERES SOUTH NORMANTONS DAVE TURNER ARRIVING WELL ARMED

Mills had now been allocated 2pm starts and although this makes visiting tight time wise it would hopefully help with an extra hour of light for photographs.  Ground wise nothing had changed much since the November visit although the winds of recent weeks had blown a few more wooden slats down out of the fencing on the far side and could do with a tidy up.

SOME CLOSE UP ACTION

Referee Jim Thornhill got us underway and although very industrious there was very little in the way of goal mouth action but the first half saw the home side just edge it with Henry Brooks going closest to breaking the deadlock.

REFEREE JIM THORNHILL SHIELDS FROM THE SUN

The bright low sunshine was making it difficult to see some areas of the pitch and certainly was not good for the photo ops.  Early in that first half Mills managers twin brother Dave Turner the South Normanton manager turned up with a collection of his management team after their game had been called off at Nottingham FC.  They were well on the way when their opposition declared they could not raise a side so an afternoon spent watching this game would probably serve a purpose as The Shiners strive for the CMA South title.

MILLS ROBERTS RECEIVES THE BALL

The second half was just as determined and although again not providing too many clear cut chances was becoming a great advert for the grit and determination of non league football.

HENRY BROOKS LOOKS FOR THE PASS

Just past the hour mark the visitors Max Bulmer forced home keeper Ryan Barson to save with his legs.  Mills threatened next when Prims keeper Jack Morley sliced his clearance the ball fell to George Simpson who tried to lob him from distance but the effort fell wide.

MAX DENTON MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS

Mills were grateful to emergency central defender Tom Torrington for an excellent challenge on 83 minutes.  With Prims substitute Jake Dickinson weaving his way through the home defence Torrington pulled off a superb tackle on the edge of his box to deny the visitors goal bound progress. 

MILLS BREAK AWAY

The last fifteen minutes had seen the game open up not surprisingly after the effort both sides had put into the game new signing Matt Fowler hit the side netting for Mills before the winner on 88 minutes.  

PRIMS RETAIN POSESSION

A determined run down the left from Luke Greaves saw him supply a lovely cross that found Carrington at the back post his initial shot was blocked and as the ball flew up he headed the loose ball to set off some joyous scenes in the tree lined dusk.

CAPTAIN SUTER TRACK PRIMS ATTACK

Mansfield manager Turner was getting edgy now and after a few watch checks decided a few questions to the referee and dug out side assistant Andrew Harland about how long there was left to play.  No need to panic his team got through the five minutes of stoppage time with ease and when referee Thornhill called time it was nice to see Mills gain one of those too few victories.

YELLOW CARD ON DEBUT FOR FOWLER

An all the more remarkable victory in that the home side were down three players who were all waiting on births tow central defenders and goalkeeper.  Torrington filled in superbly at the back and maybe seeing that role become more permanent with an excellent performance from captain Tom Suter to add to this.  New signing Matt Fowler added some bite up front and overall Mills just looked up for the game with a superb amount of hard work their efforts were richly deserved when Carrington got the ball over the line at the far post.

YOU COULD HAVE HAD THE FACE BUT YOU WENT FOR THE CARD

Referee Thornhill shared his part in this entertaining game keeping the game flowing and overall this was up there with my most entertaining games of the season, although I have to be fair and say the bar has sadly not been too high so far this season.

RYAN BARSON CLEARS FOR MILLS

A comfort break and quick cheerio's to people and the cheeky taxi was about ten minutes away so a move the the end of the complex road would see a quick departure back to base for around 4.30pm.

An enjoyable afternoon with a superb early return.

REFEREE THORNHILL ADVISES THE NEXT WAY IS THE DRESSING ROOMS

I was really pleased to see Mills achieve this victory for both manager Mark Turner and his team it must make it all worthwhile its never easy being at the wrong end of the table so I'm sure they will will enjoy their weekend.  Lets hope they can put together a run and start to climb the Premier South table.

MAX DENTON FOR MILLS

So I didn't fill around all the pictures, ha,ha.  Enjoy the remaining ones.

LATE WINNER CELEBRATED BY MILLS

CARRINGTON, CENTRE, RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS

PRIMS HEAD AWAY

SERIOUS FOR GOAL SCORER CARRINGTON

THE THIRD TEAM DEPART THE PITCH

THATS PUT A SMILE ON MANAGER MARK TURNERS FACE

BACK TO THE TOP

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 4 BAKEWELL TOWN 1

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT LEES LANE

13 JANUARY 2024 --- 2PM

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC V BAKEWELL TOWN 

South Normanton went back to the top of The Central Midland Alliance Premier South table courtesy of a Josh Parfitt hat-trick and wonder strike from Reece Shaw that got the Shiners back into this fixture after Will Johnson had shocked the hosts by taking the lead with his headed goal.  With Pinxton slipping up away from home it allowed Athletic to go a point clear and gain local bragging rights, for now anyway.

THE LINE UP

Once again the blog starts with a weather moan but I guess now we are in January it is to be expected but after a dry week, for a change, today's problem was the overnight frost and keeping a check of who was likely to play or whether it would be time to take up the 3g option.  Thankfully with Normanton hosting a game in the morning on the pitch there was a degree of confidence that this game would not be in doubt.

In all seriousness though I'm not sure if other non league fans are getting just a little bit fed up and cheesed off with what the last three months of what mainly rain have done to Friday evenings and Saturday mornings in chasing fixtures.  Thankfully today the right call was made and the ridge at Lees Lane was no colder than anywhere else locally.

WILL JOHNSON GAINS THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LEWIS PRICE AFTER HIS OPENER

With a busy morning once again the 'cheeky taxi' option was taken and a price agreed for the round trip which would see me arrive forty minutes before kick off and set up a wonderful return at 4.30pm from this 2pm start, the luxury of not hanging around for full and unreliable buses is taking away from some of the weather frustrations.

TO QUICK FOR THE CAMERMAN REECE SHAW HITS HIS LONG RANGE EQUALISER

After the helpful securing of team sheet photos thanks to home manager Dave Turner there was a brief catch up and with a selection of home players the chance to say hello, many who are from the Chesterfield area. 

There was a nice selection of kits colours with the light maroon of the visitors against the pleasing to the eye light blue of Athletic for this interesting fixture.

REECE SHAW IS CONGRATULATED BY RYAN ORDIDGE AFTER HIS WONDER GOAL

Before kick off there was also the chance to pass a quick greeting to assistant referee Andy Gasgoigne who the blog had not seen for a little while, alongside a blog debut, I believe, for the man in in the middle Tristan Churcher

REF SAYS NO FOUL CAMERA SAYS LOOKS LIKE IT AS KIERAN ORDIDGE IS BROUGHT DOWN

Opening action looked to set the home side into the ascendancy with Parfitt heading against a post and then from a tantalising cross his outstretched leg could not convert the ball into the goal.  But slowly Bakewell got a foothold in the game and Normanton were looking a little shaky at the back.  The inevitable happened on eighteen minutes when a super back post corner was headed home by Johnson to give Bakewell the lead.

PARFITT ATTEMPTS TO GET A HEADER IN

This shock brought the home side back into the game with a neat move seeing the ball fall out to Shaw who from just shy of thirty yards lashed the ball back into the roof of the visitors goal to level the scores courtesy of this stunning strike.

The Shiners were now looking to take the game back to Bakewell and a lovely move down the left by Kieran Ordidge fed Sam Jackson who pulled the ball back for Parfitt to slot the ball home, 2-1and that's how it remained at half time.

REFEREE CHURCHER BREAKS OUT INTO A SPRINT

While mentioning half time the PA system here is always used and today before and in the break offered a brilliant selection of music, fully enjoyed the choice today and loud enough to hear at all corners of the ground.

SAM WATSON WATCHED ON BY HIS BENCH

The second period saw South Normanton attacking up the slope and although there was many a stray pass in some untidy football it always looked likely that the home side would increase their lead and so it proved on 67 minutes.  Again it was the tricky Jackson who put in a lovely cross to the back post for Parfitt to stoop to head the ball into the floor and over the despairing dive of Bakewell keeper Tom Crapper to make it 3-1.

BAKEWELL KEEPER CRAPPER UNDER PRESSURE TO CLAIM

With the time running out for the hat-trick for the Athletic frontman he would prove to be grateful for the introduction of substitute Ritchie Mathews who replaced the injured Ryan Ordidge, he put in a lovely pass from the half way line that found Parfitt who fired in off the post to secure his teams fourth goal as well as his personal milestone.

Before we could re start referee Churcher signalled an end to proceedings so a close call in claiming another career hat-trick for the Normanton number ten.

SAM WATSON JUST AFTER REALISING HE WAS NOT BEING SUBSTITUTED

The final score line seemed to be a little harsh on Bakewell whose early goal seem to awaken the home side who after a strong start had gone into somewhat of a slumber only to be awakened by Johnson's header.  After getting their noses in front Normanton would be the only winners and the joy of the crowd was only matched by realising that neighbours and title challengers Pinxton had lost.

REFEREE CHURCHER CAUTIONS JOE WALTERS

A fait crowd also today hitting three figures, 119, and most of which went away more than happy with the afternoons result.  Bakewell will re gather and realise they have played against one of the better teams in the league and that the final score could have been closer.

JOSH PARFITT RECEIVES PLAUDITS FOR HIS SECOND GOAL

Back to base nice and quickly after this 2pm kick off and as per last few seasons watching Hope Valley League games and other 2pm starts it really helps with pictures and is also a pleasure to get back before the winter nights and maybe even catch Final Score.

RITCHIE MATHEWS IN BALANCED POISE

WATSONS WIN IT

SHIREBROOK TOWN 3 BRIGG TOWN 0

NCEL 1 AT LANGWITH ROAD

6 JANUARY 2024 --- 3PM

LANGWITH ROAD FOR SHIREBROOK TOWN V BRIGG TOWN

Shirebrook went joint top of The NCEL First Division with this win over a determined Brigg Town thanks to a late brace from Kieren Watson and first half strike from Nathan Watson.  The determination shown in a strong defensive performance belied their lowly position in the league and although they did not show too much as an attacking force this was a game that the home side had to stick at it throughout the ninety minutes.

WARM UPS BEFORE THE MATCH BEGINS

The first half had seen Shirebrook denied by the bar and some excellent stops from Brigg keeper Lewis Hill.  In the opening stages AJ Greaves saw his freekick strike the bar only for Marcus Day following up being denied by Hill.  As the home side pressed on Hill denied Lewis Macaskill and then Watson [K] something that gave Brigg encouragement to become more adventurous and push Shirbrook back.

The deadlock was broken when Day fed Watson [N] who went on and this time a home player beat the Brigg number 1 to send the Langwith Road side into a half time lead.

MARCUS DAY PRE MATCH LOOSEN UP

The second period was proving frustrating as Shirebrook were constantly repelled at the Brigg entry gates that was until the closing minutes when Watson [K] made the score line look a little more convincing first when he turned the ball in from a tight angle on 81 minutes and then with another excellent penatly conversion in the fifth minute of stoppage time.  This after the increasingly threatening Macaskill was upended in the box after his run down the left.

EX CAMPION PLAYER MARCUS DAY CATCHED UP WITH WEST RIDING REFEREE DAVID HOLBROOK

For a change a reverse blog with the first bit last, I remember doing one of these a few, few years ago for a game at Rothwell Corinthians.  After a blank weekend last Saturday again due to the wet stuff and frustration of chasing round finding games on today was very similar after yet more wet stuff.  

Thankfully the pitch here is a good drainer as we know from years back and with a visit here just a few weeks back no need to go through this cracking little town and ground but needless to say the game was greeted by a pre match Coop visit, from fish and chip blog to Coop blog.

SHIREBROOK BENCH FEATURING WRAPPED UP MANAGEMENT TEAM

The ground was looking good and with a pitch more than playable a 90 minutes of football awaited after a cheeky taxi trip to and from the 'brook'.  It was an increasingly cool afternoon and unfortunately I had forgot to slip on the fleece for an additional layer of protection from the temperature reduction which by the second half was threatening an overnight frost.

DEC BACON BRIGG FORWARD HAS SOME RECOVERY TIME

Comnfortably back at base just after 5.30pm and Shirebrook were equal top with Wakefield who have five games in hand but for Shirebrook the guide is of winning and winning again whereas Wakefield do seem to be slipping up in some results.  So if all things remain unchanged for Shirebrook and the results continue maybe they can come into the latter stages of the season clear at the top.

THOUGHTFUL MOMENT FOR BRETT AGNEW BRIGG MANAGER