We all stand together: 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.