HONOURS EVEN

SLEETMOOR UNITED 3 ASHLAND ROVERS 3

CMA LEAGUE ONE EAST AT SLEETMOOR LANE

10 FEBRUARY 2024 --- 2PM

SLEETMOOR UNITED V ASHLAND ROVERS CMA LEAGUE ONE EAST

A brace for Ryan Butler for Ashland Rovers and Morgan Boyle of Sleetmoor in a game that saw a 92nd minute equaliser from the visitors would appear to be the highlights but that would miss out visiting keeper Sam Blair from the roll of honour.  Blair constantly denied the Sleetmoor attack and non more so than Boyle who could probably have had a double hat trick had it not been for the heroics of the number 1 who proved to be a superb shot stopper.

SLEETMOOR CAPTAIN CONNOR KERRY

A second visit to Sleetmoor having tried to cover their new 3g pitch just under two years ago for a fixture against Bargate and failed when it was played on grass today was the day to see a game on the facility.  Once again after a week of wet stuff we had three inches of snow in the surrounding area and as this melted thanks to heavy rain we had a weekend of inevitable grass roots postponements and the options of a 3g game were the saviour for the footy fan. 

CARD WITH A SMILE REFEREE HENLEY SHOWS THE YELLOW TO JUDE THOMPSON 

Arrival forty five minutes before kick off after a morning text response from United manager Adam Broadley confirmed the details and the game was on and playing on the 3g pitch.  It was a pleasure to meet Adam before kick off and have a brief chat about non league football and as ever I was very thankful for a quick response to my enquiry in the morning, it really is great when clubs respond like this and allows for the planning to be less stressful.

After a look at the pitch which is caged but with a 2/3rd viewing area down one side I made a journey back the 150 yards to the clubs changing room facilities passing the café and modern cabin toilet block including accessible toilet.  The reason as ever was to obtain the team sheet photo [names as per those listed to numbers] but before manager Broadley could return with these it was also good to catch up with Roger Kerry who will be 

known to many for his tremendous commitment to Sleetmoor United.  With over 400 registered players you will know that clubs like this often survive on a small band of helpers but today Roger was I guess spending another of his many days at the ground.  Having been there I could empathise he saw little of the game from locking up to opening up to allowing access to a substituted player to the changing rooms, he of course greeted referee Richard Henley.  Oh yea and when I lost him in the second half he was doing an outside of the 'cage' sortie in the trees to claim the match balls that had evaded the green mesh.  On the back of men like Roger does non league and grassroots football survive through match days and the many form filling, grant applications and administration, absolute stars.

RYAN BUTLER RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS OPENING GOAL

The game today would pit the visitors who were flying high but off the points total of the leading two in League 1 East against Sleetmoor who were struggling at the wrong end of the table.  Having seen Kirton take on Sleetmoor just before Christmas they did not appear to be in a fair position and after today you would have to question why they are not further up the table.  Its a little while since I caught up with Ashland in a competitive game although I did see them play Glapwell in a pre season game at Holmewood a few years ago. 

ADAM BROADLEY SLEETMOOR MANAGER IN THOUGHTFUL MODE

Pitch side is difficult with 2/3rd open to spectators and no stand like at The Radford Hymas Academy which attracts people from pitch side its not always a clear view for photos with the 'benches' standing the same side as spectators.  But to the footpath end goal there was a clearer view for photos.  It was though a difficult day for them with drizzle to heavier rain all accompanied by poor light.

 ASHLAND ROVERS BRING THE BALL AWAY

There was a frantic start when Rovers took the lead from the penalty spot Butler was fouled but only after two efforts had gone in on goal one that flew back off the woodwork, although referee Henley awarded a penalty and cautioned Jude Thompson for the initial foul..  Butler brushed himself down and converted from the spot.

DAVE PHILLIPS PONTS THE WAY FORWARD WITH JOINT MANAGER JOE WALKER

You did wonder how Sleetmoor would respond and the answer came on twenty minutes when Boyle, who would prove a livewire and goal threat all afternoon, drove home a lovely low drive from 20 yards to level the scores on 20 minutes.

There was though disappointment for the home side when the visitors took the lead again eight minutes later when their own threat Butler got his second with a lovely finish across the keeper into the bottom right hand corner to make it 2-1 to the Nottinghamshire side.

MORGAN BOYLE TAKING ON THE ASHLAND DEFENCE

We arrived at half time unchanged score line wise there was some tentative stuff that got us their with keeping possession being the order of the day but not too much in the way of breaking through the defences being to the fore.

CONTEST FOR THE BALL

Both sides retreated the walk back to the changing rooms to re gather their efforts for the second half and with Ashland out early there was a little wait before referee Henley blew his whistle to bring our the home side for the continuation of the game.

THAT MAN BOYLE ABOUT TO GET ANOTHER EFFORT IN ON GOAL

The second half turned out to be the Boyle Blair encounter and the precedent was set when Boyle fired in two shots that the Ashland number one parried away to deny Sleetmoor.

Shortly after he was there again to push away an effort from Boyle and then to cap it off he denied Finlay Pass with the follow up from the lose ball.  

Finally just shy of the hour mark United levelled again Blair pushed away a Boyle strike but this time the ball was turned into the goal by Will Price.

BOYLE TACKLES THE ASHLAND DEFENCE

It got better on 68 minutes for Sleetmoor when awarded a free kick in a central position 25 yards out Boyle, who always fancies a shot, drove a superb low strike into the bottom right hand of the goal not to be denied this time by the dive of Blair for his second of the match.

3-2 SLEETMOOR

The closing stages would provide some of the best action of the game as the keeper striker encounter continued again Blair denied Boyle his hat trick with five minutes remaining the Ashland number one again got the upper hand, three minutes later he thwarted Connor Kerry as his heroics continued to keep the visitors in the game.

How vital these saves turned out to be when in the second minute of time added on Matt Cullen rose at the far post to head home a left wing cross to bring the scores level at 3-3.

You may have though the remarkable performance from Blair was over, well think again on 95 minutes he again pushed away a shot from hat trick seeker Boyle and immediately rose to his feet to save from Connor Kerry.

A few moment later referee Henley called an end to the game but it would be remembered for a remarkable battle between the Ashland keeper and front man of Sleetmoor, some fantastic shot stopping.

CONNOR KERRY DOWN THE RIGHT WING

An enjoyable game that avoided the blank Saturday scenario and a great chance to catch up with Sleetmoor who continue to work exceptionally hard to provide grassroots and non league football, well done to all.

GO ON THEN ONE MORE OF THE ATTACKING BOYLE