TURNER POWERS PILSLEY

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS 138/3 ASHOVER BARBARIANS 2'S 137/9

DCCL DIVISION 6 NORTH AT RUPERT STREET

25 MAY 2024 --- 1PM

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS V ASHOVER BARBARIANS 2'S GRAHAM TURNER PILSLEY

Graham Turner in usual swashbuckling style powered Pilsley over the line to a seven wicket victory over Ashover 2's at Rupert St and earlier in the afternoon home bowler Brad Garfoot had taken 4 for 22 to set up a modest target for the men from Rupert Street.

CHARLIE JOHNSON RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS FOR HIS FIRST WICKET

At last a cricket match after a long, long football season that had become much extended after the wet weather and countless postponements of games had led to matches continuing through until the end of May.

Today would offer a return to one of the local favourites in Pilsley and Clay Cross and although I wasn't sure if I would be able to watch the whole game, thankfully I did, it was a different anticipation to today's cricket return. 

JACK WARSOP AND RICHARD LEE IN DISCUSSION

After a beautiful morning were the dreams of attending in a T shirt were to the fore that all went out of the window when by noon it had turned overcast and breezy.  With cheeky taxi booked for me, brolly, portable seat and camera bag arrival was nicely on time as the players came out with Ashover winning the toss and deciding to bat.  Thankfully earlier in the morning I had made contact with Tristan Bowers club captain who confirmed all was good to go, of course the crickets already been going on for a few weeks already without us football addicts.

AN ALERT CAMERON LEE IN THE COVERS

With a fair few pictures from today's game there may be a shortage of words to go around and not too many between these pictures with the early ones offering some profiles of the players on show today, hopefully I've got names correct.

As regular readers will know its a ground that sits on a ridge offering some commanding views to east and the north although the south has now been filled in by the new housing estate which looks to have completed since my visit last season.

It was certainly top coat weather and even though I never used the seat all afternoon I managed the five hours doing about three or so circuits with a gradually wedging ridge in my shoulder where the seats strap rested for all of that time.

A SMILING START FOR THE PILSLEY CAPTAIN

It was a strong start from Pilsley with three wickets down early on With Jack Fletcher [2], James Carley [8] and Dale Crowder [1] all back early the victims of Tristan Bowers and the latter two to Charlie Johnson.

Stability arrived in the shape of Josh Stanley [41] and Jon Howard [32] who moved the scoreboard nicely to rescue the disappointing start for the visitors.  Stanley fell bowled by the ever reliable Ian Worthy 1 for 28 in seven and Howard was the first of Garfoot's four wickets.

THE EXPERIENCED IAN WORTHY

Double figure contributions from Asitha Gunawardana [11] and Brandon Marrows [10*] moved Ashover through the early 100's.  By the end of their allotted 45 overs they looked short of runs but had actually put in a creditable return after their early collapse and at least had something to bowl at after the tea interval.

Ashover finished on 137 for 9 and for the home sides bowling as aside to the four for Garfoot the other wicket takers were Charlie Johnson 2 for 16, Bowers 1 for 22 and the one wicket for Worthy added to a run out of Thomas Sorrell by keeper Richard Lee.

FOUR WICKETS FOR BRADLEY GARFOOT

The normal walk around Back Lane and the Old Canteen house, former pit eatery, was done on a return from Pilsley News for a stock up on a few provisions for my own tea interval.

It had become a regular walk for a few seasons but was interesting to catch up with it again today after a good few months away.

Arrival back at the ground again was well timed as the sides came out to re commence play with Pilsley needing 138.

GARETH HATTON ALWAYS KEEPING IT LIVELY

Pilsley opened at a pace with the ever attacking Jack Warsop [28] and the cautious Andrew Parker [15], Warsop had been put down twice and he did finally fall after his brief but exciting cameo when he was bowled by Carley.  Parker was joined by Graham Turner [60] who we had seen before if he gets away can be dangerous and so it turned out today with a match winning performance and when Parker went also bowled by Carley it brought captain Bowers to the middle.

With Turner becoming ever more attacking Bowers [23*] kept his tally ticking along and just as it looked likely they would both see the target achieved without the loss of another wicket the inevitable happened.

MAN OF THE MATCH GRAHAM TURNER IN THE FIELD

Just five short of the target Turner lofted one high off the bowling of  Harry Spencer to be caught by former Clay Cross Town FC player Dale Crowder.  It brought Malc Jelly to the crease but the wining runs were soon struck by Bowers with a boundary that would complete a seven wicket victory with 14 overs to spare. 

CLASSIC JACK WARSOP POSE

James Carley would take 2 for 23 and the only other wicket of course fell to Harry Spencer who was early in his spell 1 for 15 off three.  There had been some good early bowling from Carley and Ian Cooke but overall the bowlers just didn't have enough to bowl at and we saw an attacking start from Warsop that put the visitors on the back foot straight away.  Added to this a man of the match knock from Graham Turner and Pilsley had collected 22 points that moves them up to second in the early table placings.

SCENIC BACKDROP AS ANDREW PARKER DEFENDS

A brisk walk back to base saw arrival just after 7pm where the seat strapping by now was forcibly removed from my shoulder, ha, ha.

An enjoyable afternoon catching up with quite a few people at the club and hopefully the next visit can be on a warmer and brighter afternoon, but always good to see some cricket and visit this club.

HALF CENTURY MAKER GRAHAM TURNER

As ever a few more pictures than blurb so hopefully you can scroll few and take a look at a few more from the game,

OPENER ANDREW PARKER

EARLY WIDE ONE TO BOWERS

CLUB CAPTAIN BOWERS MID INNINGS REFRESHER

GRAHAM TURNER PARTAKES OF THE MID INNINGS RED WINE

BOWERS HITS OUT

TURNER GOES BIG FOR PILSLEY

PAINFUL ONE FOR TRISTAN BOWERS

THEY ARE BACK 2

AFC NORMANTON 0 CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH TOWN3

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE BROADMEADOWS

18 MAY 2024 --- 3PM

AFC NORMANTON V CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH

Cromford and Wirksworth dominated this game from start to finish and secured a comfortable 3-0 victory in what has been a long season for all clubs affected by the weather and this could be a reason for the ease of the victory as Normanton have suffered from pulling in a lot of end of season games. 

THE FRYING SQUAD...........SAY NO MORE JUST ENJOY

Anyway importantly 'they are back 2' the return of fish and chips to the blog much missed by many, including me, who only came here for the delicacy rather than the football, haha.  The Frying Squad is just half a mile down the road from today's venue and of course has been covered before but has not been sampled for at least four years.  I can report they are still as good as ever and although I had the option of a large fish which I normally take I opted for the smaller fish because this was ready and I could get away to the game.  To be quite frank its worth watching one of the Normanton sides or Pinxton just to pull this chippy in on a regular basis.   On arrival at the ground there were strategically placed two advert boards for the business and this years is their thirtieth year certainly if the standard remains as consistent as it has been here to some years hopefully many more will be celebrated.

So a new ground today on The Broadmeadows sidled up by a pub eatery and a few retail units and business office type units with the recreation ground behind being the home to AFC Normanton who have gradually given some love and attention to the facility.  Firstly building a couple of dugouts followed by railing off the perimeter of the pitch and then some drainage work behind the far goal just recently completed.

The changing rooms are spacious and offer a toilet for visitors, there is attached to the end of the building a kitchen/snack bar with items sold from the window hatch.

It was a lovely warm summers afternoon with club officials smartly turned in their t shirts with a warm welcome offered to all and with a crowd approaching 100 there was a fair few hoppers and local visitors grabbing their last game before probably a month without any live football, haha.

Snack bar looked good with a nice selection of food and the raffle sold during the first half looked to be doing a good trade for the club alongside a programme that the travelling fans snapped up excitedly plus club badges, so a nicely appointed set up.  It was a first for me and one that every time I had tried to do this ground over the last few seasons had seen the weather intervene.

It was nice to catch up with a few hoppers I had not seen for years and also Chesterfield referee Mark Hilton who had a good game as usual always trying to keep the match flowing while communicating well with players.

OPENING GOAL CELEBRATIONS

Cromford took the lead after 21 minutes thanks to the home side who could not clear their lines firstly keeper Patrick Parkes pulled off a smart save with his legs it fell to Joe Geedon who got the ball stuck under his feet and nearly lost the chance to lay off to Tom Wilmot who fired home.

Just seven minutes later the game felt as good as over when the visitors doubled their advantage when Jordan Watts hit a non too dangerous shot towards the Normanton goal but Parkes just lost concentration and the ball slipped through his hands and into the net.

The break saw both sides return fairly quickly but the match officials made everybody wait probably obliviously taking their full fifteen minutes and they received ironic cheers and banter when they did return to the pitch, which was all taking in the good spirit it was intended.

In anticipation of a half time round up I ventured to the end that Normanton were attacking but sadly it did not prove fruitful as the home side just couldn't seem to get going although their was a chance for Josh Manifold who muscled his way through the visitors defence but could only fire wide.

The visitors put the game beyond doubt on 71 minutes when a deflected shot flew to the inside right hand side of the penalty box and Luke Roper fired past the keeper with an air of confidence to make it 3-0.

As the game meandered away so was the season with this being the last Saturday in The CMA there would be some midweek lower level games but to all intense and purposes this is probably the end of the season for most non league supporters.  Although the good old Sunday league around Chesterfield still offers up a selection of fixtures until the end of May for those looking for some footy action before the Euros.

Upon referee Hilton blowing the final whistle it was an end of season feel that left AFC Normanton a little deflated today but hopefully I can get along and see them in finer fettle while Cromford for the end of season looked so fit and up for this game, credit to them.

A nice crowd in attendance and the feeling of a nice club too.

CAN I BORROW YOUR PENCIL?

The Frying Squad reopens at 4.30pm so there is always a chance of a takeaway after the game but for today I had partaken before hand and it was time now to get back to base from a nice afternoon out as the sun goes down on another season.

ATTENTIVE REFEREE

Still not enough blurb to get around these last two pictures so please scroll through and have a look.

REFEREE HILTON TURNS DOWN CROMFORD PENALTY APPEALS

LATE SHOW

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 1 V TEVERSAL 1

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

17 MAY 2024 --- 7.45PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V TEVERSAL TOM TORRINGTON AND GARY SLATER FIND SOMETHING TO SMILE AT

A late show at The Fieldings saw the eight minutes of stoppage time produce an equaliser for The Mills and two red cards to put an exciting conclusion to this end of season encounter. 

On what for most leagues will be the final weekend of this elongated campaign that for many has been so frustrating due to the wet stuff creating chaos on the fixture list it would be floodlight Friday that would complete Mills and Teversal's season in a local derby.

A healthy crowd had gathered and with an official attendance of 163, although this looked fifty ahead of a head count, it would be the top gate at The Fieldings for 24/25.

As ever a catch up with The Mills and Teversal officials, my once go to club before bus service cancelation, was a welcoming start to the evening.  There was also chance to have a catch up with the match officials including Chesterfield Sunday League referees secretary Simon Owen who was in the middle tonight.

So to the game and the first half would produce lots of endeavour but lack application with probably the only chance forcing Mills keeper Matt Fowler into a full length save to turn the ball round the post for a corner.  The first half was punctuated with the danger of Teversal wide man Arthur Pashley threatening the home defence with his tantalising runs.  Oh yes and there was an obligatory caution for the ever combative Jack Hutchinson but we got to the break goal less.

THANKFULLY THE GRIMACE FROM INJURY DID NOT STOP THE RETURN OF TOM TORRINGTON FOR HIS PART IN THE EQUALISER.

The second period would produce a little more in the goal mouth action column within seven minutes Elliott Nunn  had skied over from an excellent back post position to support Mills encouraging start but just a minute later all that fell to pieces when Thomas Widdowson unmarked in front of goal stooped to head home a left wing cross after 53 minutes.

Teversal could have wrapped this up but the crossbar intervened on 72 and 81 minutes first Jake Allen saw his header denied and then an audacious 40 yard effort from Widdowson also found the woodwork.

This game though came to life in stoppage time just as referee Owen's watch had moved into time added on he had the chance to play a tune on his whistle to separate players in fairness who had come in to separate Luke Manlove and the visitors James Whitmore.  Manlove was racing through towards goal and Whitmore attempted to stop him one way or another and when he finally did the two came together to discuss it and after a brief hiatus a red was shown to Manlove and after a long wait, I guess allowing the Mills player to clear the pitch, Whitmore was also shown red.

The seventh minute of time added on produced a warming end to the season for Mills awarded a free kick wide out on the right for handball up stepped Tom Torrington who curled in an exquisite delivery that bamboozled the Teversal defence and sub Matt Dickinson fired the ball into the back of the net.

Mills still had to defend a corner a minute later but managed to clear the danger to the edge of the box as referee Owen called an end to the proceedings.

All things equal for this end of season derby and both sides could take encouragement from the fixture after a long season. 

REFEREE OWEN TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE CLOSING STAGES

ONE TO GO

HOLBROOK SPORTS 1 KILBURN 0

CMA DIVISION 1 WEST AT SHAW LANE

11 MAY 2024 --- 3PM

HOLBROOK SPORTS V KILBURN WINNING GOAL

One more win will secure the CMA Division One West title for Holbrook Sports after this laboured win against a Kilburn side who created the most chances.  Once again last week the finishing power of Sports frontman Ewan Barnes proved the difference as it did today when he exquisitely struck home a 20 yard free kick early on in the game. 

HOSTILERY DEPARTURE DAN AND THE SPOTTED COW

A revisit to Holbrook Sports much like Mickleover last week it's probably ten years since the last visit and Sports have gone through various trials and tribulations since then, with St Michaels at home just a quarter of a mile down the road the village was a hotbed of CMA football this afternoon.

A beautiful village and for once I had half an hour to potter around this lovely place on a warm afternoon indeed there as even time to drag to his game Mr B of the CSL Parish, soon to be The Spotted Cow Parish because that is where he was wolfing down a meal and beverage on the viewing garden.  Having walked around the remainder of the village he was off to The Mikes game and I departed to the table topper game where 2nd would take on 3rd.

The club by the ground has reopened not sure how recently that was was good to see, the ground itself was looking a little weary and in need of a spruce up but had not had any visible change from the last visit other than that.  The small stand remains and although the cabin which was for drinks and snacks is still there it was now closed.

FLYING HIGH

Holbrook came into this game knowing two wins would be enough and with three games in the week to come the only thing that would look to deny them was tiredness from the run in.  In midweek they retained their Division One League Cup with victory over Worksop Town Reserves and of course last Saturday a full on game at Mickleover Athletic had seen the gathering of three more points.

Kilburn although with a mathematical chance of promotion still have had a good season and have a very welcoming manager to all visitors in Ryan Smith, they have a steady collection of players who have pushed the sides at the top all the way. 

SAM PIPES HOLDS OFF THE CHALLENGES

Thanks to both managers for their help with the team line ups and the accompanying early pictures are a sequence of shots from the match winning free kick it was worth including the run through such a lovely strike.

EWAN BARNES ALONG WITH THE LEAD PICTURE FIRES IN THE ONLY GOAL OF THE GAME

Kilburn started off as the pacesetters on a warm afternoon with a missed connection in front of goal and then a shot wide in the opening ten minutes showing the visitors intent.

As has been my experience of this Division of the last few weeks Kilburn missed chances against Mickleover and they did today, while last week Mickleover missed a hat full last week against Holbrook who showed you had to take those chances to win something Ewan Barnes did last week and was about to do this week.

Awarded a free kick just outside the box in a relatively central position there was only one person taking it an thankfully being behind the opposite goal I was able to get a good angle to watch this one lift over the wall and curl and drop in despite the heroic efforts of visiting keeper Sam Linford and Barnes [E] was on the score sheet again.  Not only was he on the score sheet but this would prove the decisive goal and it was a strike fit to win any game. 

Play returned to Kilburn as they attacked down the slope and chances came and went with Sam Pipes and Ben Hilton looking lively but the final touch was still missing.  It was turning out a remarkable effort as they only had the basic eleven players. 

The second period found Sports kicking down the slope but struggling to get a head of steam up and it was the visitors on 67 minutes who again produced a good chance with Jason Barratt confronted by just home keeper Max Knutton who came out on top denying the Kilburn man.

It was a hot afternoon, at last after the poor weather of this winter, and with a drinks break in each half taken you hoped for a dousing down of any temperaments but referee Ian Booth did take the chance to call both captains together for a quick calm down instruction as he obviously sensed a possible breakdown in relationships.

As the game wound down to its conclusion you could see the tiredness in both sides as the long and extended season affects clubs at non league levels after this wet winter.  The eleven minutes of stoppage time seemed to be excessive but Referee Booth was enjoying it by now and in fairness at 1-0 Kilburn were always in this game right up to the end.

The final whistle brought some more joy for Holbrook Sports realising just one win now from either Bargate, Holbrook St Michaels Reserves or Cromford and Wirksworth Reserves all this week and all at home would be enough.

For Kilburn this was a sterling effort and a their commitment of the small match day squad was a credit to the lads who turned out and on another day would have secured something from this game.

An enjoyable revisit to Holbrook as a village and Sports added to this the last three Saturday's spent in the CMA Division 1 West had proved to be time well spent meeting three of the leading sides and taking in some entertaining football.

Hope to catch up with all of them next season.

EWAN BARNES OFF TO CELEBRATE

The blurb has just got us through the sequences of photos from the free kick so hopefully you can scroll through and enjoy the remaining pictures from the game.

KILBURN MANAGEMENT INTOT THE SUN

SPORTS MANAGEMENT

REFEREE BOOTH HAS A CHAT WITH KILBURN MANAGEMENT ANDY BONSER

SAM PIPES CATCHES UP WITH BRADLEY DALY

DAN SHARP TAKES A BREATHER

REFEREE BOOTH HAS A CHAT WITH THE CAPTAINS