BINGO

HEANOR TOWN 0 GRESLEY ROVERS 0

UCL PREMIER NORTH AT THE TOWN GROUND

26 AUGUST 2024 --- 3PM

HEANOR TOWN V GRESLEY ROVERS BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Shortly after this game finished Heanor's social media was advertising bingo in the clubhouse at 8pm and this had a more exciting ring to it than the ninety minutes of football we had just witnessed.  In a game strewn with missed passes and what looked like an inability for either team to look effective going forward.  Gresley would have been the happier of the two sides having played with ten men for nearly all of the second half after Will Robinson was sent off they defended deep and Heanor lacked the ability to breakdown the Rovers defence.

After a good five years it was nice to be back at The Town Ground and an early greeting from Kim who is still at the snack bar offered a nice welcome.  Along the stand terracing Lennie Lion, Heanor's mascot, greeted me in civilian clothes and a Gresley sweatshirt.  It transpires he had moved to near today's visitors and works the snack bar although I believe may have had an outing in Elvis the Rovers hound mascot who has the most wonderful name Elvis Gresley.

CHARIE WOOD GATHERS

A fairly healthy following from Gresley were arriving and a good bank holiday crowd of 227 were in by kick off time.  Rovers would start ex Lions Jamie Sleigh and Alex Britton while for Heanor their would be a debut substitute appearance for winger Chris Politi who had just signed from Cymru South side Taffs Well.  With my interest in Welsh football it was nice to grab a few minutes with Chris while he warmed up during the first half and while he his studying locally it made sense for him to play locally too and I will be interested to see how he gets on with Heanor.

There was also a start for ex Gresley player Jack Tyson in the home teams line up.

QUIET WORD FROM THE REF WITH ROBINSON

Both sides were battling to get into the right half of the table and although I don't see Gresley much they have an lovely old style ground and an attractive home shirt that thankfully they were playing in today so I was quite looking forward to this one.

KARL DEMIDH SETS OFF ON A RUN

The first half was not to encouraging with little to mention as both sides looked to get a grip on the game, referee Lewis Hunt issued two yellow cards to the visitors players in Dylan Hunniford and Will Robinson, the latter would prove important.  When Heanor did get in crosses visiting keeper Charlie Wood was dominant as was central defender Jacob Sturgess.

But overall it did not provide a breakthrough for either side.

RED FOR ROBINSON FROM REFEREE HUNT

The second period start off terribly for Gresley when on 53 minutes Robinson was shown a second yellow card and ultimately red for kicking the ball away.  They always look harsh but are mandatory for the referee if they don't get those they are in trouble.  Overall there was not too much in terms of bad tackles in this game but somewhere referee Hunt tallied seven yellows and a red so whether there was an observer in the ground I know not.

Heanor made three substitutions on 58 one of which brought Politi into the action and although it was a tentative start when he did get some ball he settled down to very nearly score on his debut on 83 minutes driving into the inside left of the penalty box his sharp shot was saved by Wood in the Gresley goal. 

Previous to this Jack Tyson had seen his effort also saved by the visitors number one and Karl Demidh fired just wide from an inviting position.

Very quickly though the visitors got organised with their man down and thwarted Heanor who seemed unable to get behind the defence wide and get crosses in to threaten. So as the frustrations grew more passes went astray and the game took on an untidy feel to it and you just knew if Heanor had have stopped out there all afternoon they would not have scored.

REECE HORNE 

There was agony for Charlie Wood when he innocuously went down injured and then again a minute later and he was then replaced in goal by former Heanor favourite Jamie Sleigh for the closing minutes of injury time.  Sadly Wood was later confirmed to have broken his ankle so hopefully he has a quick recovery.

CLOSE TO A DEBUT GOAL FOR CHRIS POLITI

The final whistle signalled loud appreciation from the visiting supporters who had seen their side battle out a draw with their reduced numbers through injuries for this fixture and then reduced number on the day for over forty minutes by the time we had seven minutes of stoppage time.

It was a valuable point for the south Derbyshire side in the circumstances.

PHOTOS TO THE RIGHT PHOTOS TO THE LEFT AS POLITI RISES

Heanor Town wise this was a disappointing showing and although like both sides effort could not be doubted some of the football in this ninety minutes was so poor for the Heanor and neutral spectator anyway.

Saturday brings a mouth watering FA Cup tie versus local rivals Ilkeston Town at The Town Ground however on today's performance it could be a heavy defeat, but footballs a funny game so you just watch the Lions win.

Now anyone for bingo?

HORNE LOOKS TO CROSS

POLITI CHALLENGED

WELSH WINGER POLITI

FIVE STAR

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 5 MICKLEOVER RES 2

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT LEES LANE

25 AUGUST 2024 --- 3PM

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC CELEBRATE THEIR SECOND GOAL

South Normanton ran out comfortable winners in the end despite an early second half wobble that saw visitors Mickleover level their at the time two goal deficit.  A brace from Sam Kelly guided them on their way with Josh Devereux, returning sub Josh Parfitt and an own goal supplying the additional goals.

PRE MATCH HOSPITALITY COURTESY OF THE FRYING SQUAD

The afternoon started with a wander around the back streets of South Normanton armed with goods from The Frying Squad a regular visit for games in this area.  With time to play a drop into the Coop would see arrival at Lees Lane around 2pm for an early viewing of the new Malcolm Cotton Stand a fine stand that wold witness its debut today in Athletic's first home encounter of the season.

THE NEW MALCOLM COTTON STAND

But this was not the only development off the pitch as the ground took on an impressive new season look.  The end of the last term had seen the retaining wall behind the Lees Lane end goal rebuilt alongside a new tarmac walkway.

The summer months had seen brand new carpet laid in front of both dug outs in corporate blue as well as the entrance onto the pitch from the changing rooms.  A further significant investment in the floodlights has seen new LED style installed something of course we would not see the benefit of today. 

There has also been a significant work carried out to improve the drainage on the playing surface for the anticipated winter downpours we appear to be having to accept now.

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 24/25

Talking of downpours the forecast one came a little early so by the time we kicked off the ground was bathed in bright sunshine and it was a squinting afternoon in the dug outs as well as a limiting photographing afternoon.

FREE KICK FROM JOSH DEVEREUX EVADES EVERYBODY 

The top of the table before the start of the game was extremely tight already with the top five clubs all having a 100% record and with Normanton on a few games less played victory in these would see them equal top but its early yet and these things will sort themselves out over the next few months.

DEVEREUX RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS

It was a tentative start from the home side with the visitors making it far from easy for them and then the breakthrough came after 27 minutes awarded a free kick wide on the right Normanton's Devereux curled in a low kick that evaded everybody and flew into the goal to start the scoreboard running.

The goal seemed to give the home side a lift and shortly after Kane Snell broke down the inside right and his final lob just evaded the far post by inches.

2-0 OWN GOAL

Normanton soon doubled their lead though and again it was Devereux creating problems on the right and his sharp low cross was turned into his own goal by Taylor Smith as he tried to clear while under pressure from Kieran Ordidge, 32 minutes.

Half time looked to have set the home side up for a comfortable and score line expanding second forty five minutes but of course football is a funny game with Mickleover on level terms within seven minutes!

RITCHIE MATHEWS RUNS THROUGH THE DEFENCE

The first of those two goals came from the penalty spot courtesy of Brad Brittan and then the equaliser nearly came straight after but Ross Etheridge was quick out of his goal to deny a one on one chance for Mickleover.

But the visitors were not to be thwarted when Etheridge saw his clearance crash into the advancing Luke Thompson and agonisingly the ball flew straight back into the Normanton goal to level the scores.

There was a spell were the home side looked knocked off their stride after this deflated start to the half but they gathered themselves along with a sprinkling of substitutions during the half and just before the hour mark they were in the lead again.  An enormous throw out from Etheridge saw Parfitt race on with the ball and slot in a low cross for Kelly to convert.  Four minutes later the lead was extended when Parfitt went in with the visiting number one Jack McDowell and as the ball fell to the striker he fired home.

With fourteen minutes left Kelly got his second racing on to fire past the keeper.  Two minutes later he could have secured his hat trick but keeper McDowell was quick out to smoother the strikers shot.

SOUTH NORMANTON RIDING HIGH DEVEREUX CELEBRATES WITH KELLY

In the end sharper finishing and experience told for South Normanton after a sterling effort from Mickleover who had their chances but not the fire power of the home side who now have five straight wins in the CMA Premier South.  

With investment on and off the pitch this surely has to be Normanton's season to rise back up the non league structure again especially after last seasons close run race but its still only August and it will be a long season.  However you can do no more than win matches and that's what The Shiners are doing along with a goal average of over five a game to further convince you.

A BRIGHT AFTERNOON ON THE HOME BENCH

MORALE BOOSTER

DRONFIELD TOWN 4 WORSBROUGH BRIDGE ATHLETIC 0

NCEFL 1 AT H E BARNES STADIUM

17 AUGUST 24 --- 3PM

DRONFIELD TOWN V WORSBROUGH BRIDGE ATHLETIC

Three vital points for Dronfield who after an edgy start to the season needed this pick me up with a hard fought but fairly comfortable victory that could have been larger but for the heroics of Jacob Rabone in the Worsbrough Bridge Athletic [WBA] goal.

ITS RUDE NOT TO INCLUDE A PICTURE

With a short list of three I finally settled on this early re visit to Dronfield because of a liking for both sides or does it surround food maybe?  Distant memory reminds me of the scran on offer at WBA when the food servings where in the hall behind the goal having had a tray full it came to about £1.50!  Then visiting a few years ago for a Sunday game when the snack bar had moved into the new kitchen by the stand and it was just as good.  Whether its still as good I'm sure somebody will tell me and with a direct bus too within a few stops from Chesterfield I'm hoping for a revisit soon.

Of course here at Dronfield The Jolly Friar is a must visit before a game and today would be no exception and the offering to be honest just got better.  The ladies had a new range to work with and the whole place was looking smart as was my lunch.  A nice visit. 

EARLY PRESSURE FROM RHODES

Topped off with an ice cream from the adjacent Coop before a circuit of the cricket match by the ground and it was as good a build up to a game anybody could wish for.  

Arriving just under an hour before the start allowed a nice greeting I guess from comments being one of the first to arrive it always gives time to get the feel for the afternoon.  Although of course the ground is a familiar local one its a bright afternoon so nothing amiss in a stroll around it.

RHODES DOWN THE WING

Both of these sides have not had the best of starts to their season and already are at the wrong end of the table but it felt certain either side was capable of breaking through to get the valuable points.  

It was to be Dronfield who started the strongest and they took the lead after just nine minutes James Lindores long throw of the right created an inability to clear the ball from the WBA defence and it finally fell to Max Rhodes who got the scoring underway.

MAX RHODES FOR THE OPENING GOAL

The remainder of the half was a scrappy poor affair which gave reason to why both were struggling but just before the break the home side had a couple of good chances to increase the lead non more so than when Callum Mawbey broke through with just Rabone to beat but the keeper saved with his outstretched left leg and half time arrived at just 1-0.

JACOB RABONE TOP PERFORMANCE FOR THE VISITORS

It was a nice quick turn around with no silly delays and we were soon back underway and Dronfield much like the first half were quick off the mark when Mawbey slotted home at the far post to double the Derbyshire's lead with just five minutes gone of the second half.

STARINING EVERY MUSCLE

Dronfield overload threatened within three minutes they increased their lead further this time with Mawbey turning provider after he raced into the box lost possession to a defender and them immediately gained it back before supplying a low cross from Rhodes to convert for his second .

The visitors were now under real threat and with some sharper finishing and without the performance of keeper Rabone would surely have gone on to a bigger victory score line.

RABONE DENIES MAWBEY JUST BEFORE HALF TIME

The afternoon got worse for the visitors with ten minutes remaining following a coming together and then a small melee substitute Lewis O'Connor was shown a red card by referee Alexander Moore.

RHODES AND MAWBEY RECEIVE THE CONGRATULATIONS FOR GOAL NUMBER THREE

Of course it did get just a little worse when just two minutes further on Dronfield made it four, again it was Mawbey setting up Owen Lester for a finish in front of goal.  It was a far happier Dronfield with these three points and a move away from the wrong end of the table even at this early part of the season was welcomed.

For Worsborough Bridge it looks like a return to the drawing board this is not a performance Lee Morris will be pleased with and in the second half they looked disjointed but its early yet and many clubs have players away on holiday and this may very well have affected them.

As a neutral my four games so far this season have not thrilled me and this one had a similar mundane feel to it, a poor first half did liven up with the goals in the second forty five but not a thriller.  

The plus side is Dronfield are a nice club to visit alongside the Jolly Friar attraction and here's hoping for a visit to Worsbrough this season.

Words run out before the pictures so hopefully you enjoy the few that follow on.

ALL ARMS

STEADY

RED FOR O'CONNOR FROM REFEREE MOORE

BETTER AND WORSE

GLAPWELL 0 ST JOSEPHS ROCKWARE 3

CMA PREMIER NORTH AT HALL CORNER

10 AUGUST 2024 --- 3PM

GLAPWELL V ST JOSEPHS ROCKWARE AS TEMPLETON GIVES THE VISITORS THE LEAD

First of all St Josephs Rockware won this game by some sharp second half finishing for their three goals and it came about with for the most part a compliment of just ten players after a sin bin start of the half and then a shortage of substitutes following an injury.  Three points fairly on their way back to Worksop.

EARLY GLAPWELL ATTACK

The 'better' part of the headline came from the performance from Glapwell who may count themselves unfortunate after an impressive performance in the first half that looked to put them far away from the whipping boys of last season when they only gained one league victory during the whole campaign, but this season won their first encounter already.  In that campaign it was to their credit that they turned up week in week out for their fixtures unlike some clubs.  Although they wont set the division alight I would be hopeful they wont be at the foot of the table if they keep the first half showing to the fore.

DERBYSHIRE FA REFEREE STEPHEN REED-ASPLEY

Now for the 'worse' and its taken me longer to write this blog while thinking about this and I do not aim this at the club as I had a few conversations on the day from people who are excited and enthusiastic to put the following right.  As regular readers know I do not go into writing criticisms and this is very hard to do but I cannot ignore todays observations that made the visit a non to pleasant one. 

As a now more local hopper I have visited Glapwell over the years on many occasions through to the glory days of Unibond Northern Premier League football for games and then the regular re formations of the club over recent years.  This ground was always a tight mixed hotch potch of stands and terracing but overall a close to action atmosphere setting.

CRUNCH

Over the last few seasons I have commented on the state of the ground, fixtures and fittings as the pitch is in fair condition for this level.  The general condition as slowly deteriorated over the last few seasons but is now in such a shocking state of disrepair that surely the landlords of this ground whom I believe is the Parish Council have to take a serious site meeting with its members and actively put in action a plan to raise funds, grants etc to put Hall Corner back into an acceptable state.

I've chosen not to use pictures directly of the ground although this can be seen from some of the backdrops.  But today its become a rust bucket which is exposed through minimal paint work through its barriers and former cut down floodlights, stands with roof panels missing and damaged seats on mass, weeds strewn the whole ground from standing areas to borders and the amount of rubbish strewn around gives a terrible impression, on todays circuit I brought it short at the sight of the second strewn dead animal.  You can add a complete lack of refreshing paint work, the old clubhouse still in its fallen down derelict state and showers that apparently have not been operational for a month.

As a hopper we all love our grounds of character and quirks but this as gone way beyond that and the work required here to bring this back to any shape that really makes it safe is massive.  I applaud the enthusiasm around the club that this can be done and I hope that the Parish Council will start to take an interest in their asset to the village after all its a side representing their name.

I add the provision that we all know council's are strapped for money but there are grants available and I just wonder if they have viewed the state of their former jewel in the crown.

FINGER WAGGING MOMENT

That was not easy but anyway onto today's game and a first half that was as even has could be finished goal less.  Rockware hit the bar through Matty Templeton and Glapwell had their own effort through Oli Parffitt that found the woodwork.

Just before half time visiting captain Tom Mullen thought he had been fouled in the box but referee Stephen Reed-Aspley waved away his claims and had to talk to the player to calm him down.

However at the half time whistle Mullen continued and finally the referee's patience was tested and he was sin binned for the first ten minutes of the second half.

CHAD LAKE GETS IN A CHALLENGE

The interval was a solitary affair with no visit to the snack bar and on a bright sunny afternoon we were soon back underway.

CAPTAIN MULLEN ARGUES OVER THE NON AWARD OF A PENALTY

The visitors would take the lead while down to ten men Matty Templeton was looking to torment on the right angle of the penalty box and as he cut inside Fynn Whitehouse had a good grip of his arm and as he went over the resultant free kick was lined up by Templeton who struck a lovely effort into the top left hand corner to break the deadlock, 53 minutes.

As Rockware had used up their substitutes available a further injury reduced them to ten men just after they had gone back to a full compliment with the return of the sin binned Mullen.  But it didn't stop them extending their lead, Chad Lake did the work on the left with Jaden Thackery heading back across the goal for Olly Perry to slot home after 62 minutes.

Glapwell were finding it hard to get back into the game and although they did have an effort cleared off the line it was he visitors who would score again in the fourth minute of time added on.

REFEREE REED-ASPLEY NOTES DOWN THE HALF TIME SIN BIN

After an eventful afternoon for Mullen he would work his way into a one on one with the Glapwell keeper and finishing with an ease from a player who doesn't miss those chances.  It looked to have been a challenging afternoon energy wise and his fellow players congratulated him as he lay on the floor before being assisted back to his feet by his team mates.

OFFICIALS GARETH MOFFATT, STEPHEN REED-ASPLEY AND SCOTT ANDERSON

A slightly harsh score line on Glapwell but on quality of finishing St Josephs deserved their victory and a warm afternoon will have taken it out of both sides in this early season game that didn't really raise to any levels of excitement but was workmanlike for the whole of it, the highlight being the Templeton free kick.

MATTY TEMPLETON OPENS THE SCORING

As ever a few more pictures than words so hopefully you can enjoy the remaining few from the game below. 

CAUTION FOR CHRIS SHARP

TOM MULLEN CELEBRATES HIS GOAL