GRASSMOOR SEE VICTORY SLIP THROUGH THEIR FINGERS

GRASSMOOR WORKS 162 ALL OUT THORESBY COLLIERY 2'S 174 FOR 8

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT DIVISION 2 AT BARNES PARK

14 AUGUST 2021 --- 1PM

SHAILESH PATEL MAN OF THE MATCH FOR THORESBY COLLIERY V GRASSMOOR

Grassmoor looking to consolidate on second spot in division two somehow managed to lose from a strong position twice against Thoresby Colliery.  Having reduced the Nottinghamshire visitors to 59 for 6 an achievable target looked ont the cards but that was to forget the contribution of man of the match Shailesh Patel [74*] who steered the total to 174 for 8.  Even after three early losses in reply the home side rallied thanks to David Spendlove [83] with a wonderful innings but he couldn't hang around with the target at only just above four an over and when the bowling figures were viewed Thoresby again had to look towards Patel who took 3 for 25 as Grassmoor fell a dozen runs short.

STEAMING IN FROM THE BIRKIN LANE END

Local was again the order of the day with the threat of rain late afternoon and other difficulties guiding me thankfully to a second Grassmoor Works game in close succession, so much so that I wont revisit the local history etc.  Needless to say the afternoon remained as non serene as last time with the beautiful game punctuated with motorbikes fit to break the sound barrier, noisy traffic on the adjacent road and then just as this settled down a neighbour decided to power wash his patio with the loudest machinery for an hour or so.

NIGEL BIRKETT SOLID OPENING FOR THORESBY

Still we were viewing some live sport and there was an anticipation to see if last time outs big hitting could be repeated but we would have to wait as the visitors would bat first and a solid start was made before the first wicket fell at 40 in the last ball of the tenth over, Shaun Caldwell [15] bowled by Ian Bradley.  There was a quick return to the new functional pavilion after a duck for Jack Waring  before captain Alistar Walker [14] stabilised the ship.  Opening batsman Nigel Birkett [27] was bowled by John Donaldson after a contribution that had helped set a sturdy base for Thoresby.

JOHN DONALDSON RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS FOURTH WICKET

From the Birkin Lane end Donaldson was proving the threat he dismissed Chris Spittlehouse [1] and James Collins no score before bowling Walker to haul four wickets in and the visitors who were still in the fifties with just four wickets left.  The lower order saw Nathan Culkin [12] chip in before John Kenward-Nash dislodged his bails and Greg Cheshire [5] was stumped by Sam Smith off Craig Dawes.  The bulk of the total would be contributed by Patel who grew in confidence and shot ability as Grassmoor scratched their heads their confidence visibly started to melt away and with Ian Halfpenny [23] contributing that expected total of around 100 had gone nearer to the two hundred.

JOHN KENWARD-NASH WATCHED OVER BY THE GIRAFFE

A challenging total which at one stage was looking like a fairly easy meander and would require the powerful top order to get away and get away well.  Rounding up the bowling Donaldson was on fire for his eight over spell and it was just a shame he couldn't claim five despite his best efforts.  There was 2 for Kenward-Nash and one apiece for Bradley and Dawes.

THE CROOKED SPIRE AT NEARBY CHESTERFIELD WATCHES ON AS GRASSMOOR REPLY

A tea interval wander around a nearby estate took away enough time to just arrive back at the perimeter to see the home sides reply commence.  It was not the start they wanted as they soon fell away to 27 for 3 with Donaldson [11], Andy Woolven [6] and captain Adam Bedford [2] back in the pavilion.  This disappointing start brought together Spendlove and Carl Bowling [18] who steadied the ship and as their confidence grew and the saw off the early threat from the Thoresby attack started to play some shots that would bring the target back within range.  Sadly Bowling was not to hang around to allow Spendlove to attack he was bowled by Christopher Mitchell but the total had moved onto 88 by then.  

TOP MATCH SCORE 73 FOR DARREN SPENDLOVE OF GRASSMOOR WORK CC 

Wickets would fall steadily with Dawes [4 ], Bradley [1 ] and Smith [3] back at base the total had reached 139 thanks in the main to Spendlove.  As confidence grew further in the home number four he was hitting out well and with the target around four and a half an over a win was looking on the cards while he remained but with the score on 149 and achievable with some controlled pushing and running one big hit too many arrived.  Spendlove would fly into Patel only to launch the ball space bound and as we waited for it to fall there would be no mistake by the bowler as he capped his man of the match performance by dismissing the danger man with a comfortable catch.

CARL BOWLING GRASSMOOR WORKS CC

A valiant effort was made to get over the line Pete Bedford [4] out bowled by Cheshire to the big swing needed at the time and finally Kenward-Nash suffered the same result to the bowling of Mitchell with four balls remaining.  It was probably about the right result but it always feels better when the chasing side gets to the total but the contribution of Birkett and ultimately Patel for Thoresby was not to be denied, it was though a game that swing first one way then the other and then did exactly the same an hour later when Grassmoor replied.

SHAILESH PATEL THREE WICKETS AND 74 WITH THE BAT

VALIANT PILSLEY FALL TO DUFFIELD

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS 175 ALL OUT DUFFIELD 2'S 232 ALL OUT

DCCL DIVISION 6 NORTH AT RUPERT ST

7 AUGUST 2021 --- 1PM

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS VERSUS DUFFIELD WITH TOM HOLMES FOR THE VISITORS

An intriguing encounter saw Pilsley and Clay Cross come up what looked well short against Duffield seconds but considering the home side were two players short of their compliment but admirably opted to fulfill their fixture, there is a lesson there for others, it was a superb effort.  After 22 overs the home side replying to the visitors 232 all out were 125 for 3 well on target apart from the lack of any leeway in the wickets column.  It would be Duffield though who found the resolve to take three quick dismissals and the challenge in the end fell 57 runs short.

OPENING BOWLER FOR PILSLEY TRISTAN BOWERS

Flip Flopping around on football or cricket today after last weeks start to the season in the NCEFL for the blog was leaning towards the same variety again until late hope sprung in the weather which gave the belief that a few hours of cricket could happen.  With only a brief visit in passing it was time to get back to Pilsley a place were I enjoyed some time last season, added to that as ever a prompt response from Tristan Bowers at the club and the boots were on and the two and a half mile walk saw arrival with thirty minutes in the credit page.

FIRST CHANGE IAN WORTHY ON HIS WAY TO THREE WICKETS

Most, if not all, of the history of the area has been covered on football and cricket visits to Rupert St and of course the wonderful back drop views to both games, if the weather allows, so now is not the time to re visit this.   It was though great to keep the grass roots sport interest alive after a week of footballers moving for multi millions, probably backed up by the same in contracts, to realise that these players are so far away from the fans and basics of the game a thought that you can aim towards a lot of major sports currently.

UP FOR THE SHOUT

Looking back over the pictures before selecting a few as made this look like a study of wicketkeeper Ian Knowles but if you are undertaking that role I guess you are going to appear in the action shots, as an aside to of course having a good performance with the bat too.

GARETH HATTON FROM THE CLAY CROSS END

Both sides came into the game with contrasting recent form with the visitors losing only one in the last five whereas for Pilsley you could flip the coin.  Duffield arrived with a full team sheet with a fair few chaps looking to make their way in the game alongside a nice collection of experience.  For Pilsley the nine available looked strong but it would of course make plugging the fielding gaps even harder and the chance to deny runs was taken away in many instances.

IAN BOWYER FOR DUFFIELD

With Bowers and Pete Lacey opening the bowling for the home side a breakthrough was much sought after winning the toss and electing to field and it came with the score on 25 when Joe Smith [13] was bowled by former.  The second wicket was not to far behind on 47 when a sharp take by Knowles off Bowers sent back Tim Holmes [29] for a respectable contribution.  Ian Bowyer [27] would join Daniel Tomlinson [69] at the crease and they proved difficult to dislodge with the latter gaining in confidence and passing his fifty in what increasingly looked a confident knock.  It would take Gareth Hatton to dismiss Bowyer when he dislodged his bails after replacing Bowers who had bowled his allotment of overs.

GARETH HATTON BOWLS BOWYER WITH CRICH STAND WATCHING ON

At the drinks break, 22 overs, Duffield were registering 81 for 3 showing how well under manned Pilsley were going in their reply later at the same stage.  First change the experienced Ian Worthy was proving a difficult job to handle for the visitors and he saw off Joseph Anderson and Saranya Madina both for ducks the former efficiently stumped by Knowles and the latter caught by Jack Warsop going for a big hit.  

PILSLEY KEEPER KNOWLES SHOWS HIS ATHLETICISM

Top scorer Tomlinson who had performed excellently for his years and was only finally dismissed by keeper Knowles as he missed a Worthy delivery moving down the wicket to keep the score moving on at the desired pace.  Bowers was alert in the field to run out Oliver Cox [15] with Edwards Cockayne [10] receiving similar treatment this time by Knowles.  In the run in a forceful effort from Jacob Melling [36] added a speedy and timely contribution to the visitors total while bringing up ten and eleven captain Adam Short [17*] and Richard Jordan [7] added vital runs with the latter caught by Hatton off Will Green in the second ball of the final over.

The home sides bowling held fairly firm in the plight they found themselves in with Worthy returning 3 for 57 proving the pick of the bunch, there were two wickets for Bowers and Hatton with Green chipping in with the final dismissal.

LAST PAIR HITTING OUT FOR DUFFIELD

The tea interval would undertake a trip around the local lane to view the former pit canteen now converted into a unique house/living accommodation.  The weather was no much improved with the wind almost non existent and the drizzle that annoyed a three quarter of an hour spell in the Duffield innings thankfully was by now away elsewhere.  

FINAL TWO ADD VITAL RUNS TO THE VISITORS TOTAL

It looked a tough total but when opener Jack Warsop [18] got the reply underway with a maximum in the first over the reply was well sourced achieving just shy of seven an over in the first ten.  Keepers were to feature in the blog and the busy Warsop was looking to go big but this drew the attention of the visitors keeper who was clearly bantering to upset him and with the number one chirping back it was lively with fellow opener Knowles looking to get the young 'uns head on the next delivery.  The big hitting continued until he was finally caught by an excellent running boundary catch by top scorer Tomlinson running round from long on off Richard Jordan going for another maximum with the score on 41.  With Knowles [55] going along at a steady pace it brought Steve Wood to the crease who struggled to get the ball away and was dismissed without adding to the score caught Bowyer off Adam Short with the scoreboard registering twenty four more runs on the total.  

INTERVAL VIEW TOWARDS THE CLAY CROSS PART OF THE TEAM

Bowers joined Worthy at the crease and this was a vital partnership and somebody needed to go big on the score front.  For so long it looked on the cards as Bowers [30] settled in but Knowles came down the wicket to Jordan and his counterpart whipped off the bails as the ball evaded the Pilsley opener.  Even then with the drinks break showing after 22 overs Pilsley on 125 for 3 the target was around four an over an with a huge boundary to one side it looked to need a calm head and not big hitting, at least for the time being.  It would be a sensible approach from Worthy [24] he fell caught by Joe Smith on the boundary off the bowling of  Joseph Anderson but there was still batting in the tank for the home side.

KNOWLES WATCHES THE BALL WHILE MOVING TOWARDS HIS FIFTY

Duffield struck now with two ducks for the home side when even they were starting to get concerned that the chase was on Green was bowled by Anderson and Hatton looped one up to Cox to take off his own bowling.  The closing pair of Kyle Butterworth [3*] and Pete Lacey [22] offered up some entertainment and as the latter started to hit out there was just the thought of  'could this be on again'.  Sadly not when the latter was caught and bowled by Short to give Duffield the victory by fifty seven runs.

TRISTAN BOWERS AND THE VIEW

The visitors bowlers shared two wickets apiece with Jordan, Short, Anderson and Cox registering in equal terms.

There had to be some doubt of what to expect when the news of a short staffed team for Pilsley was declared but this was a sterling effort from the North Derbyshire outfit in a highly entertaining game which featured two well gathered half centuries Tomlinson for Duffield and Knowles for Pilsley.  Overall though Duffield earned their victory but with those two players on the pitch for the home side this would have been a nail biting finish.

An enjoyable afternoon again at Rupert Street with some genuine honest cricket played during the second innings in some lovely weather.

GO ON THEN ONE MORE IAN KNOWLES PICTURE

FOOTYS BACK AND ITS STILL JULY

TEVERSAL 0 ARMTHORPE WELFARE 1

NCEFL 1 AT TOMLIN PERSONNEL PARK

31 JULY 2021 --- 3PM

TEVERSAL V ARMTHORPE

Armthorpe Welfare manager Lee Morris promised the South Yorkshire faithful fast free flowing football which provided an open day victory thanks to Matty Hughes first half stoppage time strike.  However Teversal were thankful to an excellent performance from the man of the match between the sticks Louis Pryce who produced a string of excellent saves to deny the goal tally column for the visitors.

Regulars to the blog will know that there normally is a look at the area and tales of transportation a plenty well however with local being the order of the day still one of my 'comfort homes' Tevie would be reached by foot today a fifteen mile round trip along some country lanes I had not trodden for a while.  As ever many discoveries that I had not made before awaited uncovering, a further footnote is that to reach Teversal just over seven miles away would now take three buses and then a half mile walk since the direct service was called off a couple of years ago.

HARSTOFT FORMER SCHOOL ROOMS 1858

The tired old walking boots were strapped up and over a familiar first hour walking arrival was made at Hardstoft were aside the busy main road between Holmewood and Pilsley sits a former Church Of England School dated from 1858 with bell tower and church style doorway now gradually being covered by foliage.  Apparently locally known as St Phillips it was under plans by Bolsover District Council to turn it into a community centre although on a busy road it has little surrounding it other than two terraced houses.

HARDWICK HALL WITH OLD HALL TO THE RIGHT

Within a hundred yards or so The Shoulder of Mutton came into vision and memories of seeing Noddy Holder lead singer of Slade in the office who were performing there after their fame years to the loyal base, all this while my dad was organising a works golf dinner.  Moving down past a lovely village green the drop took us towards Hardwick Hall which came into view with its old hall also visible.  An interesting fact is that the old hall is owned by English Heritage and the newer 'more glass than stone' variety is under the guidance of The National Trust.  Three quarters of the way along the gentle descent the motorway bridge offers some good views and the plan was to spend ten minutes capturing a few truck and coach pictures, I know another sad hobby to add to football hopping.  Just as time came up to move on Derbyshire's finest pulled up behind me as I turned around with camera you could see the look on their faces 'transport spotter' was my polite interpretation.  Anyway they'd had a call to say somebody was hanging from the other side of the fence once they ascertained it wasn't me we all moved on.

ASH COTTAGES IN OLD TEVERSAL

Turning onto the increasingly tight lane towards the hamlet of Stanley which greets you with the signage 'welcome to Stanley' so I guess its sod off if your name is Bill or anything else.  The realistation that this route was an uncomfortable to walk rat run with lots of rubbish deposited in its hedge sides and the arrival towards The Carnarvon Arms was more than welcomed.  Passing the newly expanded holiday let static home park and to the opposite side the site of the former Silverhill Colliery now a country park which features at its summit a miner with Davy Lamp, but that's for another day.

ITS ALMOST HEARTBEAT TERRITORY WITH THIS QUAINT OLD SIGN

With time in hand a look at the older part of Teversal which is a complete contrast to the Teversal football fans see took me past the old station house and into the quaint streets that featured Ash Cottages, superb old style directional road sign, The Reading Rooms Community Centre and The Manor.  The latter and the village are believed to be the base for Lady Chatterley's Lover the infamous D H Lawrence novel that pushed the boundaries of decency at the time.  Cutting back to the ground via the Teversal Trail half way along the walk back, the trail makes up a myriad of former railway lines that make up extensive walkways around the area. 

REFEREE PHILLIP MORTON GETS 21/22 UNDERWAY

Dropping back onto the main Stanton Hill road made the route a little longer but also allowed for a proper approach by Carnarvon St to The Tomlin Personnel Park for the opening game of The NCEFL season on 31 July.  The league had made a sensible decision to get the season underway to compensate for any potential suspensions and delays during the winter months.  Having watched what football that was available towards the end of last season at the imaginary step 8 level and some good stuff there was too in the likes of The Hope Valley League today would be the first game in an enclosed ground for around a year and a half.

ARMTHORPE ATTACK THE BACK POST

A pleasant welcome from the lady on the gate who I handed over my fiver too and on a fairly bright afternoon all was looking well with a healthy crowd for Teversal inside [att 133].  The football started brightly for Teversal with Jack McWilliams looking sharp and putting in a couple of tempting crosses off the left.  But Armthorpe were soon into the ascendancy with Liam Owen and Reece High getting in goal bound efforts but for the early heroics of Pryce in the home goal.

ITS A STUDIOS START TO 21/22 IN THE STRESS ZONE

The visitors were gaining the upper hand but were nearly shocked when Connor Bower crashed an effort against the woodwork but a look across at assistant referee Adam Crosser revealed an offside flag that would have denied the Teversal player.  Shortly afterwards it looked odds on a home side opener with Joe Fox through on goal he lifted the ball over visiting keeper Sebastian Tylek but as the ball landed it fell agonisingly wide.  

TEVIE CAPTAIN GEORGE SIMPSON CLAIMS THIS ONE

Sheffield referee Phillip Morton signaled two minutes added time to the first half and that was to the benefit in the final seconds when Hughes drove home a sweet strike that would prove to be the winner.  Teversal would feel flat from the goal and start the second period the stronger but with the couple of quality saves from Pryce denying Armthorpe they would claim the upper hand in chances from the opening 45 minutes.

SPONSORS BOARD PROMINENT IN BUSINESS AREA OVERVIEW

In the strong second half start from the home side Fox was again unlucky when his header struck the bar to give Armthorpe a let off that fired them into a response.  Harry Brown fed substitute James Bytheway but again Pryce was racing out to block the attackers effort with his legs and as the pressure dial was turned up goal scorer Hughes cut in off the left and did everything right bit once again Pryce rose to the challenge.

WATCH THE BALL

Armthorpe were now definitely finishing the strongest and feeling aggrieved they hadn't added to their tally thanks to Pryce who proved his worth again when Hughes drove an effort from the edge of the box that looked to be heading towards the bottom corner of the Teversal goal until the tangerine clad keeper appeared again with an excellent save.

BIT OF SECOND HALF CHASING FOR TEVERSAL

The closing stages saw a little bit of opening day controversy when Welfare thought they had at last doubled their lead Jack Wilson played through to Bytheway who made the move but was flagged for being offside but as he halted his run Wilson ran through and fired the ball into the net.  It was an incident you will not see too often but although it upset visiting manager Morris and for his comments he received the only caution of the day, it was the correct decision I believe with the attacking player making a move towards the ball.  

OWEN FIELDSEND DOES HIS BEST BRIAN BLESSED IMPRESSION AFTER A NEAR MISS

A successful start for Armthorpe and a score line that could have read more in their benefit but three points is three points, for Teversal they will be disappointed after a 4 year journey in The East Midlands Counties League to have come away with a blank.  But they will need no reminding of how hard it is in this excellently competitive NCEFL.

Return route was the same I opted out of a walk up to the statue on Silverhill Colliery and in about two hours fifteen minutes was back for a rest and the chance to review the first game of the season and a local but interesting discovery day that normally would have been in some far flung place after a two hour train journey. 

REFEREE MORTON AND ASSISTANT GREGORY DISCUSS SANCTIONS

BODILL TON BLASTS DENBY TO VICTORY

ASHOVER BARBARIANS CC 249 FOR 7 DENBY CC 2'S 258 FOR 5

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 3 NORTH AT MILKEN LANE

24 JULY 2021 --- 1PM

MAN OF THE MATCH JAMES BODILL 

A match winning century from James Bodill [114] alongside two wickets in his ten over spell was enough to see off the home side who pushed the result a lot closer than it looked at the half way stage of their reply.  

The day provided a warm but thankfully cooler one off the heady temperatures of the last week so what could be better than the country village setting of Milken Lane in Ashover with its church bells ringing out for another big match of the day.  As I arrived after the one hour walk which regular readers will know offers such great views the cars bedecked with ribbons were arriving into the village for the celebrants.  The alpacas were nicely shorn for the summer but for those of you who care they still were having no conversation with this sport hopper, a quite aloof animal.

IAN COOKE BOWLS JOSH TORR

The other big battle of the day was here on the cricket ground and with Ashover not looking as dominant as last season in the results stakes and Denby just below mid way it should be a well matched game for my first viewing this season of The Barbarians.  Having covered the lovely village and historical elements on previous visits today is not the time to re engage but there are plenty and its well worth visiting for a stroll around.

JAKE SMITH BUILDING HIS INNINGS

Ashover won the toss and sent Denby into bat and when Josh Torr [5] was out bowled by Ian Cooke in the first ball of the second over it looked at good choice.  Ten overs later it was 61 for 3 with Stephen Payne [33] lbw to Jonathan Taylour after a smart knock that kept the runs flowing and Jake Smith [20] who was caught behind by Russ Cooke off Alex Fowkes.  All this though had brought together Bodill and George Wilson [51*] who proceeded to put on a remarkable 184 for the fourth wicket.  

GEORGE WILSON HALF CENTURY FOR DENBY CC

Early build up of his innings saw me keep seeing references to Geoff Boycott although I guess that was probably to do with his dark blue cap wearing style because his scoring rate was certainly more affluent as he hit 16 fours and four maximums from his 104 deliveries.  It was a well measured performance that accelerated away at just the right time.  As the close of innings came he was striking well but found Alex Flint who took the catch off the bowling of an impressive Alex Fowkes.  The moment that could have changed the afternoon though was a turned down lbw decision early on, off Fowkes, which looked a clear cut decision but the umpire thought otherwise and Bodill went on to confidently stride on to those three figures.

JONATHAN TAYLOUR ASHOVER BARBARIANS CC

Brandon Bullock [7] supported the final overs alongside Billy Askey [2*] around all this George Wilson went to his half century in the final over but the total of 258 would be a stern challenge for the home side.

BODILL HITS OUT ON HIS WAY TO A CENTURY

For the bowling side of the half a dozen bowlers used five chipped in with one wicket each but overall this was a big score with runs being hard to hold up for too long.

The tea interval was spent close by with no village wandering today and upon return thoughts of the reply went very much towards captain, wicketkeeper and opening bat Russ Cooke needing to hit big and bat long certainly over a century for the home side to get over the mark, as witnessed in the past this is most definitely in his reach.

AFTER HIS DISMISSAL FIRST THINGS FIRST WATER FOR BODILL

The reply got off to a good start as Cooke [54] dispatched two first over deliveries for boundaries but when William Saxton and Flint fell for ducks in the next over it was looking precarious at 8 for 2.  Fowkes [19] who had bowled encouragingly come in at number four and smoothly kept the scoreboard moving along as Cooke fired big.  The game didn't needed the captains dismissal because he was looking good and Denby knew he was the danger man to their target but in the twelfth that's what happened caught by Askey behind the stumps off the bowling of Jamie Kelly.  His knock though had including 11 fours and 1 maximum in 40 balls and the plus sign was that the run rate was being well achieved however there were now three wickets down with the total on 84.

RUSS COOKE WATCHES THE BALL

At 104 for 5 with Fowkes dismissed and Alex Lawson [7] both bowled by Wilson the target looked a long way off on some distant horizon.  The ship though was steadied by Ben Roche [38] and Ian Miller [83*] who made a sterling effort to get Ashover close to getting over the line.  But it would be Bodill who would deny the home side again when Roche was caught by Askey off his bowling and then David Atkin [6] who was caught by Liam Foster to provide the century maker with two wickets.  Chris Dent [11] chipped in a valiant effort at the end though Ashover came up nine runs adrift.

JAMIE KELLY FREE FLOWING DELIVERY FOR DENBY CC

WOOLVEN WORKS WONDERS FOR GRASSMOOR

GRASSMOOR WORKS 123 FOR 4 NOTTS AND ARNOLD AMATEUR 121 ALL OUT

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT DIVISION 2 AT BARNES PARK

10 JULY 2021 --- 1PM

GRASSMOOR WORKS AND THEIR BARNES PARK HOME

A quick fire innings from Grassmoor opener Andy Woolven [43] set the 'works' up for a victory ably assisted by captain Adam Bedford [34*] who also contributed 4 for 23 with the ball.  The visitors were bowled out off the penultimate ball of their innings for 121 and after a steady but slow start just two other batsman, aside the openers, made double figures with Ravi Don [22] most likely to move the scoring along at a faster pace.

OPENING BOWLER FOR THE WORKS CRAIG DAWES

Grassmoor is situated three miles south of Chesterfield in this former mining and industrial area that has suffered from the loss of many of its key employment outlets.  A too large selection of former strong clubs have completely disappeared off the cricketing map and those that have have merged or languish in the lower leagues.  Grassmoor though continue with fortitude in The Bassetlaw and District League which will provide a debut blog for us.  The village was formerly sandwiched between the colliery with its coking plant and towards the west side the old Sunbrite carbonistaion plant all of course gone and although they have a nice park and country park the option of regeneration in these areas often comes alongside of lets build more 5 bedroom executive houses that do little for the local population and Grassmoor is no exception it has these across a few developing sites with more to come. 

FIRST CHANGE BOWLER DAVID SPENDLOVE

Barnes Park named after the former colliery owner sits aside the busy B6038 adjacent to the Boot and Shoe public house and Woodleigh Motors, soon to be a new Coop, this the site of the former cinema  beautifully named the Electric Theatre before switching to the more mundane Roxy.  In recent times the village has come to notice as the place where Paul Burrell, the butler to Princess Diana, grew up.

The ground is situated at the southern end of the park with a new very impressive new build pavilion, grey in colour it looks functional and the right sort of development for the village, this replaced the former wooden structure and I guess will be shared by the football clubs on a Sunday as the last facility was.  The only downside is the scoreboard is just that perched up outside and although the visitors were irregular updating it a kindly gentleman from Grassmoor kept us up to date during the home sides innings.  There was no live update but thankfully the scorecard was on the leagues website that night so all was good.

JOHN KENWARD NASH

With rain forecast an umbrella would accompany me and of course the obvious happened it remained fine all afternoon.  The two sides had met just a couple of weeks ago in a tight encounter but today didn't match this with Amateurs put into bat they made a steady start but the scoring was slow.  Jack Taylor [24] and Rayhan Don [15] looked comfortable but as they tried to push on they fell to David Spendlove and John Kenward-Nash.  It was left to Ravi Don to try to push the score along and with just Jins Jacob Saju [15] they were the only two, other than the openers, to hit double figures as the total meandered along to 121 all out off the next to last ball of the alotted 40 overs. 

RAVI DON PROVIDED A MOMENT MAINLY FOR THE UMPIRE AT SQUARE LEG

On the bowling front Adam Bedford returned 4 for 23, Kenward-Nash 3 for 20, David Spendlove 2 for 25 and John Donaldson chipping in with a wicket late on as Grassmoor kept a firm grip on the visitors innings. 

The interval here would not provide to much of insight just a wander around the executive housing as previously discussed and we were soon back in place for the home sides reply at just after 4pm.

RAVI DON IN STRIKING MODE NOW

It was a good job to be in place too because ninety minutes later it was all over Andy Woolven [43] started at a pace and after ten overs the reply was going at double the required rate, ably supported by Donaldson the pair set a base that would secure victory.  The tantalising bowling of Saju would be the undoing of both the openers with the former looking bamboozled as his stumps were disturbed.

JOHN DONALDSON GRASSMOOR OPENER

Captain Bedford [34*] came in and further promoted the cause for Grassmoor along side Spendlove who was mightily unlucky to be run out of a straight drive that touched the bowlers finger tips before breaking the stumps with the non striker just out of his ground.  Carl Bowling [9] would then support with Craig Dawes [1*] undefeated at the conclusion as the first ball of the second over from Awais Ghazanfar beat everybody and went sailing through for four byes.

ANDY WOOLVEN HITTING OUT

With just four wickets to fall not too much to report for the visitors bowling attack accept to mention Saju who was always interesting to watch and finished with 2 for 21 from dismissing both openers.

WOOLVEN GOING BIG AGAIN AS HE LAUNCHES ANOTHER DELIVERY

Interesting to watch some cricket very locally with a nice new facility which is really good for the club and must mean so much more than the old pavilion which had seen time out quite a while ago.  Its a fairly pretty park only spoilt by the constant hum and noise of traffic from the travelling two and four wheel vehicles.  Overall cricket wise a good win for Grassmoor who continue to sit just off the top two in the division.

CAPTAIN ADAM BEDFORD SEES GRASSMOOR OVER THE LINE