POLAR VISIT TO STH NORMANTON FOR CUP ENCOUNTER

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 4 AYLESTONE PARK 3 [AET] [2-2 90 MINS]
EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES LEAGUE CUP ROUND 2----10 DEC 7.45


AYLESTONE PARK PLAYERS WARMING UP ON A COLD NIGHT

The choice tonight was Alfreton in the Conference v Eastleigh and sadly £18 or a trip to see this EMCL Cup encounter at a ground I had covered just a few days ago.  It was a great choice to re visit Lees Lane with what proved to be one of the best games of the season with both sides going for the attacking option to provide a hatful of goals in the entertaining 120 minutes of football.



THIS SHOT OF THE DERBYSHIRE FLAG SHOWS THE STRONG WINDS BUT DOESNT ADD THE WIND CHILL FACTOR INTO THE MIX!

The only downside tonight was the unbelievably biting wind chill factor which would have left Ernest Shackleton questioning what he was doing at Lees Lane which is never the warmest of places at the best of times.  The official attendance of 14 is I guess the lowest non-league crowd I have been part of and for those who visited Alfreton or chose the fireside you missed a treat!
It was the Leicestershire visitors who took the lead on three occasions but in the vital period of the 2nd period of extra time that saw South Normanton take the all important lead for the first time in the game and it proved to be a winning goal.  1-1 at half time, 2-2 at 90 minutes and on both occasions the home side replied within a couple of minutes.  Extra time in the cold weather was not to be welcomed but again the entertainment surpassed the weather the Leicestershire side took the lead from the spot with Linford Harris completing his hat trick.  This time it took the home side 5 minutes to equalise and then in that second period of extra time take the lead for the first time in the game a goal that secured them a spot in round 3.
A superb advert for The East Midlands Counties League and Aylestone contributed so much to this game with a young team who are struggling in the league but surpassed that position in their efforts tonight.

NO CUP OF CHEER FOR PRIMS AT THE PROACT

CHESTEFIELD FC 5 V GRAHAM ST PRIMS 2
DERBYSHIRE SENIOR CUP----9 DEC-7.45
There was no cup of cheer for East Midlands Counties Prims as the took on League 1 side Chesterfield, admittedly with a mixture of youth and a scattering of first teamers.  It could have been so different a minute in when referee Paul Thompson awarded the visitors a penalty but Myles Wright saved superbly, but Prims did take the lead before an immediate response from The Spireites who then ran onto open up a 5-1 score line before Prims deservedly pulled a late gaol back to finish the scoring with a final tall of 5-2 to Chesterfield.
The Proact needs little description it is what it is a purpose built ground while smart and practical.  Once again though tonight as soon as a professional[?] club get involved their seems to be a lack of the finishing touches that sometimes appear to be done better by non league clubs.  Tonight on a bitterly cold and wet evening the gates were finally opened just half an hour before kick off with quite a few people sheltering outside.  The sparse crowd of 100 had seen a few people take up stand seats with padding in them, amazingly over officious stewards [see Everton u19 blog!] wanted all to move.  Then the piece de resistance the club had failed to even do team sheets never mind a programme!  If professional clubs are going to enter County Cup competitions why are they not treating them with respect never mind the opposition team and paying supporters.  All other teams have, as far as I'm aware issued for DSC games so why are the top clubs not.  In fairness Chesterfield used to do a mini programme and then that drifted away to a team sheet and now nothing including no PA system which you can just about understand.
Steady showing from the non league team a little disappointing off the field from the Football League club.

LATE GOAL SECURES VICTORY FOR SPORTING CLUB ALBION

DERBY COUNTY LADIES FC 2 V SPORTING CLUB ALBION WOMENS FC 3
FA WOMENS PREMIER LEAGUE NORTH---7 DEC 2PM
A quick revisit to see Derby Ladies FC at a very cold Anderson Electrical Arena the home of Borrowash Victoria and of course Derby Ladies.
With a low sun from behind the Nottingham Rd goal the game was made awkward to watch and I guess difficult to play in but once again both sides put in a sterling effort.
The game started with the 1914 football remembers joint team tribute and both teams managed superbly to get one Derby one Albion player into the line up.  A nice tribute well done Derby and Sporting.

1914 FOOTBALL REMEMBERS LINE UP

Derby had lead at half time thanks to a Melissa Johnson strike, however after the break two goals in a minute round the hour mark from Albion saw them snatch the lead thanks to Stephanie Smith.  Derby deservedly equalised on the stroke of full time through Aimee Perry.  Albion though were not done and their tremendous spirit saw them win it in the second minute of stoppage time when Trina Greaves
broke through and slotted past the Derby goalkeeper with little chance of any comeback for Derby this time.
Entertaining finish to the game once again good effort from all around the club with a nice little programme well done to I believe Sheila R hopefully a few more people will go along to support these games it was a cold afternoon but around 35 were in again in attendance. 

NAILERS WERE 'SHAWE' THEY HAD SNATCHED VICTORY AT TRAFFORD

TRAFFORD 2 V BELPER TOWN 2
SHAWE VIEW---6 DECEMBER 2014 3PM
Quick hop down to Shawe View for a bottom of the table clash in the Evostik Premier and a new ground visit.
Firstly a return to the comfort of non league with a warm welcome from all around the gate who were sorting out their pre match cuppas as 'we all stand together' disturbed them for some programmes and golden goal tickets, nice welcome guys thanks. 
The obligatory circuit of the ground was undertaken and the first thoughts were of a tidy ground neat and rubbish free even down to the trimming of the grass up to the edges of the advertising boards, its a ground that appeared treasured and much loved.  Behind the goal on entrance is hard standing and then along the far side a stand with seats in the front and standing to the rear straddles the half way line.  Onwards to the rear of the far goal and a neat covered standing area has been erected and so we come to the main stand area with two mini stands within the stand for spectators and officials and a entrance way on the pitch for the players who are housed in neat cabins behind the stand.  After this is the snack bar with attached to its side a cabin with the bar area, more of which in a minute.  Taking us back to the entrance is a smart two stepped raised terrace which seemed to be the popular area of the ground which gave a good view of proceedings.


Back to the bar area this is again for this ground well kept and looks exceptionally clean and tidy, its good to see all their sponsors offered a display holder to place their business cards in.  Also of great note are copies of newsletters readily available on the day and I guess distributed locally to tell people about the goings on at the club, all very impressive.  Snack bar pie, peas, gravy and coffee twice, me and friend not all mine[!] were duly served up by the lovely and friendly ladies in what is one of the most impressive football snack bars I have purchased from for a while.

While we are looking around the periphery of the game the match programme Trafford Review at £2 looks an excellent read and a superb work of art as per the clubs newsletters which I believe are and have been put together for a while by David Murray credit must go to you to its creates a great impression of Trafford FC.
The match saw Trafford lead at half time and when Froggatt equalised in the second half it was Belper who took the lead with a cracker on 90 minutes.  Parity though was restored in the third minute of stoppage time by Trafford to secure a 2-2 draw and a fair result.
Friendly club enjoyed this new visit to a welcoming club there was good banter at the ground while having a lovely feel to it too.

No dash back for trains today thanks to Mr S who kindly assisted todays blog we even managed a call back to KFC in Denton Rock for s small bit of healthy food for the return car journey!

 

Trafford fans and 'the fox' enjoy a moment of celebration

EVERTON SECURITY GUARDS 5 BLOGGER 0!

EVERTON U18 2 V MANCHESTER CITY U18 1
6 DEC 11AM-----BARCLAYS U18 PREMIER LEAGUE@ Finch Farm Halewood
The title here gives credence to why many of us watch non league football for the freedom and its welcome as opposed to world of Premiership/Football League clubs.
This blog has been set up to promote the wonders of non league football and its not my intention to allocate any criticisms of the hard working non league volunteers and so this article in relation to a professional club will I'm determined be an exception to the normal blog.
Everton's Academy at Finch Farm is a superb facility let me make that clear from the start and on arrival I was impressed as a guest today of the match official I looked forward to adding this visit to the blog and after a tea on the cafe area it had been a good start.

Sadly on departure I encountered the 'wardens' being advised I could not take a picture of the front of the academy building and Everton badge and would not be allowed any pictures while on the complex.  I can just about understand the player pictures at an Academy but the next bit amazed me even further.  I thought I would walk over the approach road from our car park a spot that I soon realised when shouted back again and told 'you cant walk over there that's the professionals car park'!  A car park that had about five cars in it.  I was then advised, it must be said always in a courteous manner, which paths I could use to access the pitch.  During the two games being played there were always two security wardens on duty at each watching for I guess any supporter misdemeanour.  Mind you the guards watching failed to have a word with one of the goalkeepers, I wont mention which team, who decided to take a call of nature in a nearby hedge by the pitch.
At the end the over officiousness continued with a mini walkway created for the players to leave the pitch.  Good grief its no wonder Premiership/Football League clubs are losing touch with their fans, I guess I should have been grateful that I was allowed to view the game with the other 100 or so who were in attendance. As a friend commented it would appear fans are not too important to top clubs it may just be about the sponsors.
The game well that was a fast paced encounter on a bitterly cold morning with some good skills on show from both sides and it was Everton who ran at 2-1 winners.

RED CARDS 3 GOALS 1 @ INKERSALL RD

STAVELEY MW FC 1 V ARMTHORPE WELFARE FC 0
NCEL PREMIER----3 DECEMBER 2014 7.45PM
Another cold night another football match!  Although it has to be said not as cold as last nights venture to Shirebrook, still the evening was warmed up with a rash of red cards some steady football action and a wonderful array of 'hoppers' in a healthy attendance of 136.

Staveley's well known, warm, bar, café and respite area was in full swing again along with its new club shop which encourages visitors into a walk round the ever impressive Inkersall Rd ground.  Chairman Terry now has a good crew of helpers on board with the ever committed Rob Waite among other mass duties is now producing a whopper of a programme, well done mate it makes a visit to Staveley a must for the programme aficionados amongst us!

On the pitch its coming together too as Staveley storm towards the top of the table again, for Armthorpe its concerns at the other end but you may not have recognised it on tonight's display in which they probably had as many chances as the home side.  The game was settled by a fluke deflected goal from Smith after 20 minutes and after that either team could have slotted in a few more goals.  But the game fell into a weird dream like mode with chances going begging and three sending offs from moments of indiscretion in a game that had not been of the red card variety.
Referee Hopton whose stock is rising in officialdom circles dismissed his first player from Armthorpe for a two footed tackle and then a second for a second yellow card late on in the game.  With just a few minutes to go a coming together in front of the dug outs saw Staveley reduced to ten men when it looked as though either player could have gone, but after a consultation with assistant referee Webb its was the home side who lost a player.
Inkersall Rd is a ground with massive space for any future further developments that always looks immaculate and tidy with the what seems t have benn the ever present stand offering a good view of proceedings, the stripes behind the near goal contain a high rising terracing that due to its proximity behind the goal means you have to keep a regular eye on the game otherwise you may be struck by a stray shot. 
Tonight was a superb night to catch up with lots of ground hoppers including Paul, Michael, Neil, the Sheffield badge lads and superbly Jack from Perth [Australia] not sure if he managed to catch the last bus home!!  Enjoyed catching up with all hoppers exploits and Jack is certainly going for it and hopefully before he starts his news job, best wishes, will have enough material for a book on some of his visits this year as he approaches 150 games!

DRONFIELDS HENSON NEARLY SAVES FACE FOR TOWN

SHIREBROOK TOWN 3 V DRONFIELD TOWN 0
NCEL DIVISION 1 ---2 DECEMBER 2014
Any planned visits to Shirebrook are always met with the same reposte...'are you sure'?  Well I explain I have always enjoyed popping along to this former mining town where its tough but friendly with normally a good atmosphere.  Well by half time tonight you had to question being there and why you had not decided to watch some soap or other on TV it was bitterly cold, mind you the thoughts of TV watching only lasted a few seconds as we enjoyed an entertaining game continue.

Night game in Shirebrook you cant beat it

The approach from Langwith Rd for an evening game is always exciting, I know sad aren't I[?], those old pit style floodlights illuminating the ground for nothing quite beats an evening game under lights does it?

The immediate side terracing had a good upgrade before last season and is now very smart and more than able to cater for the current crowds,  the two far side stands are still doing sterling work and with one being sponsored by Sid Pepper I always wish for a Bill Salt to complete the set, sadly its not happened yet.  The pitch still appears to drain well and with many local grounds suffering from water retention at present its good to see a game on what looked like a dry surface.

Chauffeur even allowed to read programme!

So to the game and with a half time lead for the home side through a single goal via a defensive mistake it was game on for the second period.
Within a minute of the re start Dan White was sent off for Dronfield and from the hold back of the attacker a penalty awarded.  What resulted was sickening and quite worrying for a while from the spot kick visiting keeper Richard Henson dove full length to his right to make a save but the superbly hit spot kick hit him full in the face.  Henson was knocked out for a few minutes before slowly coming round and amazingly continuing there has been much discussion in all sports about the need for players to be substituted after likewise incidents and I must say having been stood behind the penalty kick I would have been looking to get him further medical attention better safe than sorry.  Thankfully looking at Twitter it looks like he is sore and in pain but ok as of the following morning, 'We All Stand Together' wishes him well.

Newly upgraded Langwith Rd terrace

Henson proceeded to pull off some great saves late on but Shirebrook did gradually wear down Dronfields 10 men with some neat football to run out with a 3-0 victory.
Nice to catch up with a variety of people at tonight's game including Rudi Funk AFC Mansfield manager and some of the officials from the club.
It was a bitterly cold night and probably the coldest so far this season but both teams put on a creditable performance and once again it had been a good visit to Shirebrook.