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

OVER THE LINE

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 1 MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 0

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT LEES LANE

9 MAY 2024 --- 7.45PM

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC V MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS RICHARDS V SUTER

South Normanton Athletic secured runners up spot following this 1-0 victory over neighbours Mansfield Hosiery Mills in the Turner twins derby.  A strange end of season encounter that still needed three points for The Shiners to get over the line yet despite a collection of chances a resolute effort from the visitors saw them go down to just a fluke own goal.

TIPTOE CONTROL

A lovely sunny evening greeted us at Lees Lane, arriving with Mr B of The Chesterfield Sunday League Parish he too had started collecting Coops it would appear as he snapped up as many pastries in the nearby outlet as me!

As ever nice to catch up with both sides and after seeing a superb encounter between these teams two weeks ago in which Mills pulled off a remarkable draw in a superb effort tonight's fixture felt as though it could turn out to be after the Lord Mayors parade.

The visitors were on a run of 4 games in eight days for the last couple of weeks and as mentioned in the last blog are well and truly tired out alongside work commitments and injuries they feel like a ravaged squad.  Tonight they would be without both front men in Matt Fowler and Luke Crosby but it allowed for a few new faces as manager Mark Turner once again got a squad of players out.

For The Shiners it was a strong line up although they were missing talisman Josh Parfitt up front an expected win would see them mathematically certain to finish second and with the end of season manoeuvrings looking likely to be offered promotion.

THE EVER DANGEROUS PERRY RICHARDS

The winning goal was the first thing of note in the chances stake and it would be a body blow so early on for the visitors to go behind.  Livewire Perry Richards was the danger man in the first half and non more so than in this his build up resulted in a low cross that keeper Tom Maxwell parried away and the defenders clearance struck a helpless Connor Barnes [await check] and flew back over the line for an own goal after 11 minutes.

Richards continued to be the conduit for Normanton's chances and on 25 minutes they nearly doubled there lead as he weaved his way into the box and crossed to set up Elliott Bland who saw his effort cleared off the line by Ryan Hancock.

The half was not at a serious pace with the warm weather and the visitors happy to sit back and let South Normanton retain possession but the chances came and went with some wayward finishing otherwise the boys in blue could have been five goals to the good.

NORMANTON PRESSURE WITH A CONSTANT SCOREBOARD AFTER THE EARLY GOAL

The second period started on an encouraging note for Mills who were looking for a breakaway goal when just eight minutes into the restart when Aaron Carrington beat the offside trap, plus a very good call from the assistant referee in this, to fire a cross goal shot past keeper Ross Etheridge but also agonisingly wide of the far post.

The substitutions came throughout the half and for Mills their tired squad was further tested with injuries tonight.

South Normanton could just not make a further breakthrough and that had to be testament to the continued determination of the visitors and they were indeed further grateful to keeper Maxwell who pulled off a full length low save from a shot that he saw late on 70 minutes.

At the final whistle though there was relief from the home fans when South Normanton could relax to their final league position being secured.  But having seen Mills quite a bit over the last few weeks of grabbing end of season football and knowing how ready for a season end these lads are they were an absolute credit to the club, manager and more importantly to themselves tonight when many other clubs are calling games off they just keep going.  Three more to go nearly over the line Mills.

Well done to Dave Turner and his team at South Normanton Athletic.

JACK HUTCHINSON 50TH GAME FOR THE MILLS TONIGHT

MARATHON

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 1 DERBY SINGH BROTHERS 0

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

7 MAY 2024 --- 7.45PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V DERBY SINGH BROTHERS

Cory Burton struck the only goal of this entertaining game against a strong Derby Singh Brothers but this match and the recent ones was about so much more and the commitment of clubs, players and officials.

So Tuesday night or Thursday night for that matter and it must be Mansfield Hosiery Mills right?  I have more or less moved to the Huthwaite Sutton border, mind you don't tell anybody I was there early because I've been sleeping over in the groundsmans unit.

The night started with the usual pleasant greetings here, however Ted had not made the game tonight and would not accompany Dawn at the 'gate' thankfully he does seem to be improving on his doggy vitamins.

Where's the headline come into the blog?  Well lets get it in early on.  After a season of mass call offs from the constant rain the business end of the season has meant an extension to many leagues and a collection of games featuring very little recovery time before the next fixture.

Some clubs have switched fixtures and rented out 3g facilities to try to clear some of the back log while others do not have the finances to do this, some clubs are struggling to raise a team for a match.  Lets though briefly look at Mills, and without a pie chart, they have from mid April up to and including tonight's game played out 8 games in 22 days and if their season runs out to plan will have made it 12 in 32.  On the games I have seen a full compliment of 17 players yes they have been affected by injury, holidays, work etc. but when you hear Premiership clubs moaning about games just take a look here a side like most non league clubs at this level that has to manoeuvre around players jobs as wwll as all the other pointers listed.

So a big round of applause to Mills manager Mark Turner and Paul Hutchinson his assistant, alongside players and club officials for their tremendous effort here in getting games on without calling them off.  Oh yes and don't forget the, even though small, contingent of fans who have also turned up consistently for end of season games at The Fieldings.

Marathon not a sprint.

CORY BURTON SCORER OF THE WINNING GOAL

It was a nice sunny spring evening that would allow a few more photo's and onwards to the game against a Derby Singh Brothers team who had looked like challenging at the top until the constant rain postponements frustrated them but even with that in mind they have put up a good challenge to all the sides they have met this season.

For Mansfield centre forward Matt Fowler who made the step back through the lines to keeper last Saturday at Arnold and he will continue in that roll tonight, although I'm led to believe that was his favoured jersey a few years ago he certainly didn't look out of place tonight.

CORY BURTON LOOKS TO OUTPACE JAGJEET DHILLON

The first half produced an evenly balanced affair with little in the way of chances although Mills got into some good edge of the box positions their efforts were often blocked out by a resolute Derby defence.  That defence was also adopting a patient build up in forming any move forward as the home side often thwarted them early there was a predictable 0-0 scoreline at the break.  Of note in the build ups and his increasingly resolute defending as the game wore on was Singh Brothers Jagjeet Dhillon.

JARVIS DENHAM SINGH BROTHERS NUMBER ONE

The second half produced a few more chances and remained an enthralling game to watch but it was capped off by an excellent winning goal just past the hour mark.  Picking up a visitors clearance on the half way line Stef Brown controlled the ball before hitting a defence splitting pass that found Burton just inside the left edge of the penalty box visiting keeper Jarvis Denham looked to close the Mills frontman down but he sidestepped him before firing past the defender on the line from 14 yards.  A cracking goal with a lovely pass setting it all up.

Around this Denham had made a superb save to deny Mills and on the other side with 15 minutes remaining Singh Brothers generated some lovely attacking inter play that set up Lee Williamson but with Fowler to beat he fired over.

By the time referee Dave March, a Sheffield based official, who it was a change to see as he normally is appointed to premier north games blew the final whistle Mills had survived the late possession pressure from the visitors and an entertaining watch had concluded with three points as Mansfield look to continue to secure a mid table position.

LETS DANCE

Next game up is just two days away and its the return twins derby as Mills visit South Normanton Athletic who were held to a draw a few weeks back at The Fieldings.  I'm sure The Shiners and Dave Turner will be up for it as they battle on to secure second place.  Hopefully it will be as intriguing as the first fixture but just getting through these games is a major plus for clubs of Mills resources.

NAIL BITING TIMES FOR THE MILLS BENCH

REFEREE DAVE MARCH DISCUSSES THE BENEFITS OF PINK WITH MATT FOWLER

MILLS NUMBER ONE MATT FOWLER 

CHAMPIONS ELECT

MICKLEOVER ATHLETIC 2 HOLBROOK SPORTS 3

CMA 1 WEST AT THE DON AMOTT ARENA 

4 MAY 2024 --- 3PM

MICKLEOVER ATHLETIC V HOLBROOK SPORTS

Holbrook Sports although remaining in second place took a massive step to The CMA Division One West title thanks to a hat trick from Ewan Barnes who provided the sharp finishing that alluded Mickleover in a game where they probably created the most chances.

Going into the game Mickleover sat top but with Sports games in hand they really had to secure a victory to potentially upset the apple cart and with some potentially easier match in the games in hand you still had to favour the Shaw Lane club. 

FIRST MINUTE PENALTY APPEAL

Having watched Athletics game at Kilburn last week there was no time like the present to make a return visit to The Don Amott Arena, it would be around ten years since my last visit which had featured a few games around a couple of close years.  Since Mr Amott has got involved bringing with him his experience from Derby County and Derbyshire County Cricket Club Mickleover Fc  are now riding high in The Southern League structure.  But also noticeable is the superb upgrade at the ground with new 3g, floodlights and hospitality alongside a smart upgrade to the stands.  Equally impressive is the inward and outward facing advertising boards and tribute displays to local sporting heroes and the England World Cup Winning Squad.  Overall a really smart ground.

EWAN BARNES OPENS THE SCORING

Our visit today though was for Athletic v Sports which would attract a healthy crowd for this level and it certainly appeared to be around the three figure mark on a bright and warm afternoon.

Having had a couple of walks around with an hour to spare the teams were obtained and admission paid before deciding on a tour around for each half too, something that doesn't always work and although there's a few good pictures today I do wonder if stopping in the same position is best.

CLOSE ACTION

The first half was one of the best of the season and although at the interval Sports led 2-1 as a neutral you had to feel sorry for Athletic for all their possession and missed chances they would have felt deflated.

Here goes and hopefully I can keep the chances report brief.

Mickleover started of with apace and determination that threatened Holbrook and as early as the first minute Jamie Laird looked to have been bundled over in the box but referee Dave Viles waved away their appeals. Having little time to recover Sports turned that incident on its head when Barnes [E] secured his first when he converted in front of goal from a ball off the right to settle the visitors.

The home side were straight back at the game with Laird forcing Max Knutton into a save from his 20 yard strike.  There was further disbelief when Cole Hassell headed back for Harry Foxton who from close in headed straight into Knutton's arms.  On the quarter of an hour mark still Athletic could not find the net Lewis Bagshaw headed back across the line and agonisingly Hassell somehow could not find the touch on the goal line. 

DISBELIEF

As an attacking force it was all Mickleover and when presented with a tempting free kick position Piers Thompson found the Sports wall.  On 27minutes Mickleover broke through into the box but strangely referee Viles pulled play back for a hand ball in Mickleover's favour but completely denying the position they were in, something that so exasperated manager Ash Smith that he was cautioned.

Mickleover then had what looked a good shout for a penalty from a handball turned down.

Then came the sucker punch and a further lesson in finishing when the home side failed to clear their box the ball found Barnes [E] who from 18 yards drove home a sweet low drive into the bottom left hand corner to double Sports lead.

Referee Viles was clearly not in the mood for awarding penalties when he turned down the visitors shouts for a one shortly afterwards.

Thankfully for the sake of the game just before the break Athletic pulled a goal a ball to the back post saw Bagashaw create a shot from height keeper Knutton parried and Hassell was on hand to tap home, 1-2.

ATHLETIC MANAGER ASH SMITH QUESTIONS REFEREE VILES

Sports sharp finishing had been the difference because on chances the home side could have won three games never mind this one but Ewan Barnes was proving the difference and so it would continue in the second half.

Mickleover showed further intent with two half time substitutions and their need to secure maximum points came to the fore even more urgently.   

2-0 TO EWAN BARNES

But disaster struck just two minutes into the half with the home defence hesitating on a potential offside and when they all looked back at play it was the one thing you did not want to see, yes Barnes [E] firing home again from the edge of the box with a sense of confidence that belies his age.

This blow visibly deflated Mickleover and the second period struggled to match up to the first half as the home side could not get up that head of steam required and Holbrook could now control the game.

SECOND GOAL CELEBRATIONS

The home side saw Hassell edge the ball just wide before pulling back a late goal on 87 minutes when Laird lobbed a hesitant Knutton in the visitors goal.  

Much as this ought to have given Mickleover impetus it did not as the visitors game management wound down the time in possession and they even managed to hit the post in the final minute thanks to Archie Meyer. 

BUILD UP TO ATHLETICS OPENER

On the final whistle the shouts of joy from Holbrook team and deflation on the faces of the Mickleover players signified the importance of this result.  But there was also nice respect shown between the two players from an entertaining game which ended up being a little harsh on chances created to Mickleover who had received a lesson in finishing that propelled Sports towards the title.

ITS THE EYES HAVE IT

An entertaining visit from an enjoyable afternoon on Station Road and great to revisit this smart little ground.  Just over a couple of weeks to go to the end of the season now and hopefully I can make a long awaited re visit to Shaw Lane to see how one of Sports closing fixtures goes.

Well done to both sides again.

AFTER MATCH CONGRATULATIONS

RESPECT

A HAPPY EWAN BARNES