MANSFIELD RESURGENCE IN FORM UNDER TURNER CONTINUES

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 2 NOTTINGHAM FC 1

CMFL PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

2 APRIL 2022 --- 3PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V NOTTINGHAM FC AT THE FIELDINGS

Mansfield Hosiery Mills have now hauled themselves away from the foot of the Premier Division South of The CMFL with a gap of five points over basement side Teversal Reserves helped again today by this victory over Nottingham FC.  An entertaining first half would see the three goals of the game come within a four minute spell and the spirit under new manager Mark Turner was evident as they came back from going behind almost immediately through a wonderfully taken free kick.

THE FORMER MILL SITE THAT GIVES THE CLUB ITS NAME TODAY

Walk to the match season continues and really its been poorly labelled because its also walk back from the match too today this would be a four and a half hour total trip so would be right up there with the bigger ones.  Indeed the twenty mile trip which was the largest so far was to Rowsley at the start of the season were Nottingham visited on that day. 

Today would take a roughly similar route as to Teversal but forty five minutes away a right turn would take the blog towards Woodend, the delightfully named Strawberry Bank and then their ultimate centre Huthwaite.  A little focus on the latter because it is the area that the ground is approached by although the border to Sutton In Ashfield is crossed about 150 yards short of the The Fieldings and I guess with Sutton Town being original tenants the set up is still linked towards the larger town.  

Back to the walk which was going well pacing over the Silverhill Trail which is a former railway line containing the now long gone Woodend for Hucknall Huthwaite station which I never knew the prefix was ever undertaken.  In time the station was renamed Whiteboro and the area known as Whiteborough City.  An amazing name for an location that is still very much fields and previously had a pit in the area, there are though a couple of properties that still carry the name today.

Passing the eatery pub The Woodend the uphill climb to the vista that is Strawberry Bank is reached and when I say vista its not a countryside view but that of the industrial estates of South Normanton and Huthwaite itself with wind turbine to the fore but a very impressive sight.  A nice downhill run to the Market Square and a collection of shops including Coop and converted pub Tesco sit adjacent one another in some sort of resigned acceptance to one another.

MANSFIELD STORMING FORWARD DOWN THE LEFT

Moving onto the Sutton Road heading towards the ground and there was a recreate the past moment taking a picture of what looks like a former Methodist church, which is now a Greek Orthodox worship building, this was the terminus for the former tram service that linked Sutton and Mansfield, again a new discovery for me.

Still in Huthwaite a visit to the former mill site that gives up its name to the football club and this when I first visited the area was still standing and in its latter days of limited operation.  Sadly now the building has been demolished but the lower outer walls retained to I guess protect the site but from the picture you can imagine the size of this mill.  In its infancy it was owned by CWS the coop and its employment in the area a major benefactor to individuals and fellow businesses.

So we have the club named after a Huthwaite institution of old and now we cross the border into Sutton in Ashfield so you can see my question Huthwaite or Sutton and I guess the answer is both.

MARK TURNER [RIGHT] MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS MANAGER

Ever since Sutton Town left their former ground at Priestsic Road after its sale to a large supermarket chain future clubs moved round to neighbouring Kirkby In Ashfield changed their name to encompass the whole area and Ashfield United was born at Lowmoor Road in Kikrby.  There were other clubs too in Oakham United, North Notts, a new born Sutton and now Mansfield Hosiery Mills.  Oh yes and if you want to add Kirkby to the equation they now have fellow CMFL side Ashland Rovers.  But nobody seems to have excited the town or area enough to establish a club and move it forward in what is a fair size in population.  [There is a more in depth meander on the blog from April 2020 should you wish to have a look from the side index]

LUKE MANLOVE AND THE FREE KICK IS GOALBOUND FOR THE EQUALISER

Current day then and arrival is in a snow sleet shower with the sun fighting to get an upper hand on a cold afternoon to the hands.  The Fieldings complex has a smartly enclosed cricket ground for the same named club as the football side and a superb clubhouse too.  The football ground to the right shows signs of Sutton above its turnstiles and today the players entrance and lower turnstile were the ones in use.  This is not a new ground but felt like one as its about four years since my last visit for a game against Pinxton and I also saw a game in Sutton's last season here against Holwell Sports for an evening fixture.

MANSFIELD KEEPER ON FORM IN THE SECOND HALF

A quick descriptor really is 'tight ground'.  There is little more than a five foot space all the way round the pitch but of course providing the crowd is not too large this is not a problem and sadly today only 15 people were in attendance and I guess the paying admissions would struggle to make double figure.  By the entrance a large Atcost stand with the seats in the Sutton's former colours of maroon and blue moving round to the far side two smart dug outs are the only feature and behind the far goal the housing estate is very tight to the ground.  Coming back down the business side its what was the main turnstile block.  We then arrive at the most recent addition of changing rooms and match day club house and snack bar.  The ground needs high mesh fencing on three sides to keep as many balls inside the facility as possible and an overlapping of wooden slats is becoming in need of attention.  Floodlights do add to the facilities assets though and overall its a ground that would make a move up a step if needed.

GROUND OVERVIEW OF THE FIELDINGS DURING PLAY

Pre match had seen the snow and drizzle become prominent but thankfully by kick off time we were back into sunshine on a not to be misled cold afternoon.  Nottingham were just below mid table and from a previous viewing would be a young side but who always want to play 'pure' football.  A selection of the Mansfield side would be from the surrounds of that town they love to hate just down the road and I guess the influence of recent manager Mark Turner who arrived from Glapwell were he was manager of the clubs development-under 21 side were Dave his twin brother is manager who we covered a few weeks ago.

SECOND HALF AWARENESS FROM THE HOME KEEPER DENIES NOTTINGHAM

As ever apologies here for not getting team sheets but thankfully the clubs social media and the Nottingham bench helped out, hopefully the home scorers are in the correct order.  It was an impressive start from Mansfield with the powerful runs of their left back [3] and he was very much the attraction of the the first half always threatening the visitors defence, added to this the constant haranguing of the Nottingham back line by Liam Waller who was proving a handful.

Just as it looked like the game would be going to half time goal less it went goal crazy with three in four minutes.  Firstly after 34 minutes Steve Fox made some space for himself on the edge of the box before firing into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.  Straight from kick off referee Adrian Seward awarded Mills a free kick twenty five yards out and Luke Manlove stepped up to steer home a glorious strike into the top left of the goal.

No point relaxing now for Mansfield and when a cross from the right fell to former Clay Cross player Elliott Nunn he confidently guided the ball home at the back post.

With that the game arrived at half time with the home side in the driving seat and on their way to another three points in their resurgence.

The second half was not the best from a neutral point of view but Nottingham as ever still kept up their efforts to play football the proper way but from a Mansfield Hosiery Mills point of view they bossed the second half defensively and were able to secure those vital three points that sees them move to three from bottom with a five point gap, plus with two games in hand on a few teams a chance to move further away from the basement before the end of the season.

An enjoyable revisit.

A GOOD OLD SLIDING TACKLE STOPS A NOTTINGHAM MOVE

TEVIE CANNOT STOP SELBY'S PLAY OFF HOPES

TEVERSAL 2 SELBY TOWN 5

NCEFL DIVISION 1 AT CARNARVON ST

26 MARCH 2022 --- 3PM

TEVERSAL V SELBY TOWN

Selby Town feared their play off hopes were in tatters after fifteen minutes when bottom side Teversal had stormed to a two nil lead on a sunny Carnarvon Street afternoon.  With the home sides second win of the season gained just two weeks ago against Glasshoughton they have showed an improvement in performances of late.  Although they lost heavily at league leaders Hallam their play gained them many plaudits and then a narrow mid week loss to local rivals Shirebrook has shown some hope in a desperate season.

But the visitors would get a foothold in the game with a goal before half time and storm onto four second half goals without reply to return to the status quo and keep the pressure up on Rossington Main whose position they desire.

DESPAIR AS CONOR QUALTER DEFLECTS THE BALL INTO HIS OWN GOAL FOR THE TEVERSAL OPENER

Walk to the match season continues and after last weeks long trek to Glapwell this one is a familiar regular at just under the seventeen miles round trip but with spring having finally sprung it would be a pleasant trip today with little of event apart from some very busy roads compared to last week and arrival at Tevie was around 2.30pm.  There was a small selection of Robins fans who had made the trip to Nottinghamshire and with nervous anticipation they eyed three points against the leagues strugglers.

BEN AGBAKOSI MAKES IT TWO FOR TEVERSAL

Teversal were out of the blocks at apace and it was no surprise when after ten minutes they took the lead Cameron Pinnick got the shot in that created problems on the goal line and facing his own goal Selby captain Conor Qualter saw the ball fly off him and over the goal line. 

The home side would double their lead just five minutes later when the pace of Ben Agbakosi saw him facing the keeper and he slotted home with some confidence, Selby must have wondered what was happening.

Of course you don't keep a side down like Selby who are vying away at the top of the table and Teversal knew the real challenge would now begin.  It was neck and neck in the middle of the park and the game was developing into a far old battle for the upper hand.  But just shy of the half hour mark Selby got a foothold in the game when a long cross evaded the home keeper and at the far post Harry Clapham superbly hooked the ball back into the net.

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM PAUL MCFARLAND AND MARTIN BOWER

The second half started just how Selby had talked it out in the changing rooms an equaliser after 57 minutes when a superb free flowing move saw an inch perfect cross off the right find Calum Ward who slotted the ball home with an ease that matched the silky move.

Home keeper Alex Buttery had a three minutes no keeper wants when two errors which are so much more noticeable than an outfield player, of course, would prove harsh on his overall efforts and the Teversal cause.  First on 67 minutes in defensive hesitation on the edge of the box he lost the ball to Ward who poached the goal slotting home into an open net for his second.  Then Selby made the game safe awarded a free kick on the half way line the ball was floated in by Jon-Paul Vass and Buttery flew out to take the catch only for it to sail over his head into the net.  Here I thought the free kick was taken by the visitors number three Vass but may have this wrong as the league have the scorer as Liam Flanagan, the clubs top scorer.

BEN AGBAKOSI ON THE BALL FOR TEVERSAL

Teversal had gone into despair now whereas Selby were ecstatic after that early shock they had turned the game on its head within fifteen minutes of the second period.

There was chance for Buttery to get some confidence back when he punched clear two dangerous crosses and also turned away an effort from Clapham as the Selby man found himself with just the Teversal number one to beat.

CALUM WARD EQUALISES FOR SELBY

The icing was put on the cake in stoppage time when Clapham got his second and the visitors fifth a turn of pace took him across the penalty box and has he beat defender and keeper he fired home to wrap up a confident comeback.

Much like two weeks ago when Teversal won the game with a last minute goal the fifth goal here again was signalled by referees whistle straight from the re start.

WARD GIVES THE ROBINS THE LEAD AT 3-2

Teversal barring any geographical blips will start next season at the old step 7 level and their time will be spent on re building a nice club that I will be sad to see leave the NCEFL.  It will be a very competitive CMFL if that's the way they go and one that is very hard to escape from.

Of course Selby will not be too worried by the Nottinghamshire sides plight as they push on to try to overtake Rossington for that final play off spot in their remaining three games, there is a four point gap but after The Robins comeback today never write off a team with the spirit they showed during this game.

WARD OFF TO CELEBRATE WITH THE SELBY FANS BEHIND THE GOAL

COPESTAKE GOAL SEALS THREE POINTS

GLAPWELL 1 AFC BENTLEY 0

CMFL PREMIER DIVISION NORTH AT HALL CORNER

19 MARCH 2022 --- 2PM

GLAPWELL V AFC BENTLEY SHANE BURTON CLEARS FOR THE HOME SIDE

A solitary first half strike from Ben Copestake turned out to be enough for Glapwell to seal all three points against their Yorkshire visitors on a windy afternoon that did not help proceedings at Hall Corner.

On to the continuation of 'walk to the match season' part, who knows I have lost count but with the drier weather at last arriving on the scene a return to an old favourite Glapwell FC was on the cards.  However it would be a good old stretch at just over seventeen miles for the round trip but with a route planned to walk through the hamlet of Astwith a prompt departure was made at 1120am.

HARDWICK HALL A FAIR BIT OF COVERING UP

Climbing out through Pilsley and onto Hardstoft, a busy road without pavement, its pretty risky at the best of time today was no different as vehicles flew past at a fair rate of knots.  With a sharp ten minute walk taking me off the racetrack peace was regained as the walk into Astwith commenced and it turned out into a hidden gem some beautiful old houses and a small green with post box, seat and up to date parish notice board.  Tracking the M1 for a while, ear defenders needed, there was a gratitude to turn under the bridge carrying the motorway and away frm the noise onto Stainsby Mill part of the National Trust's Hardwick estate.  Having walked the hills around Ashover I can honestly say the climb from here to Ault Hucknall was today a real test, probably more so with the time pressure of arriving for kick off at 2pm.  I was nicely ahead of schedule and a quick stop to look over the wall of the church of St John the Baptist here in another hamlet centre of around four properties makes it one of the smallest parishes in the country although spread wide over many other small hamlets it is an exquisite area to visit.

ON ROUTE THROUGH ASTWITH

The pace had been sharp all the way and now turning into Glapwell village itself there was just the busy A617 Mansfield Road to cross with arrival now guaranteed twenty minutes before kick off.

It wasn't a new visit having had more visits to Hall Corner than hot dinners over the years but in a strange way it felt like it and the lack of a recent visit probably made it this way.

The history surrounding the previous Glapwell's are well documented but needless to say they were just one game and one goal in a play off game from appearing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division in the glory days of chairman Colin Hancock.  The small crowd was often from far and a wide and the club always struggled to attract a large support from its village.  After the politics of a village club and its council, who own the ground, came to the fore the club collapsed making a re appearance in the CMFL and after a further folding we now arrive at a new set up who gained promotion from Division One of the CMFL last season.  A very brief overview but its too long to document in full on here.

Needless to say some great acquaintances were made including Burnley Dave, Ray who travelled up for night games from London and caught the Nat Ex coach back from Chesterfield at something like 2am in the morning [he just loved everything Derbyshire] and then 'H' sadly no longer with us but a lovely genuine chap and a pleasure to stand with at a game, good old days eh. 

TOWARDS THE DUG OUTS AND STANDING ENCLOSURE

Chesterfield Ladies had a short period on the ground and some housework was done but following the loss of the clubhouse the ground was becoming not at its best.  So how do we find it today?

Approaching the double entrance block I was surprised to see the turnstiles gone, inside the cabins that had been there as the club progressed had also now departed but this was an improvement making the area more light.  To the right the club house and old secretaries office have of course gone following the damage but the newer changing room block is thankfully operational and the snack bar has moved to a window at the front of this building.

Ground wise the floodlights are a long distant memory after one, if I remember correctly fell down on the morning of a charity game and for safety reasons the decision was taken to cut down the other poles at about eight foot height.  These still remain in situ a rusting memory to those glory days of old.

The pitch slopes from the cricket field end to the changing room end with the furniture itself not changed since the higher league days its generally a very tight ground all round with a small enclosure on the far side below the two dug outs and on the car park entrance side a collection of about three stands with different seating varieties.  Sadly now we have roofs off, seats damaged and general rubbish of all sorts around the ground and it is sad to see I guess the Parish Council are responsible for maintenance but I don't like to say but its not looking at its best.

THE THREE STANDS AT HALL CORNER

The game then well for Glapwell there are a fair selection of players who have played for Clay Cross Town and a further addition of Sunday League players that have been seen before so a homely feel to the side for me.  AFC Bentley have always been a club that I got along nicely with on my travels and again a hardy dedicated small bunch who keep the non league going.

Referee today would be the second game running with a first name of Kier today its Sheppard.  We also had a shortage of one assistant referee but thankfully referee and club officials agreed one person from each club would run the vacant line and a good job they did too allowing the game to proceed.

CHARLES BRADWELL GLAPWELL ATTACK

Today was dry but once again a fairly strong wind would make conditions difficult added to this the drying nature of the pitches in springtime meant for a bobbly surface which did not aid proceedings.  Glapwell would be grateful for the Copestake goal on eighteen minutes after Charles Bradwell providing the touch to set him up and really that was about it.

The second half saw Bentley have a fair amount of possession but produce little of danger and if a shot did get near goal Ross Etheridge was on hand to command the ball.  Glapwell worked hard and looked solid with Shane Burton and the terrier that is Ritchie Mathews in most things but there was little to show when the home side attacked either.  Three points are three points and Glapwell are sat comfortably in the league table for their debut season in the Premier Division and if they can retain this side with a few additions who knows next season may see a top three challenge.

LEE FLETCHER AND DAVE TURNER GLAPWELL MANAGEMENT TEAM

The return route would take me through a further Ault Hucknall hamlet this time Rowthorne another little beauty and then onwards to the Hardwick Hall Lodge gates and past, to my left, the hall and to my right the old hall.  Strangely the hall is under the guidance of The National Trust and the old hall is looked after by English Heritage today both were wrapped in scaffolding and polythene as extensive works continue.  Down the hill passing the rather busy Hardwick Inn and then the mile long climb Back to Hardstoft and on to Pilsley with still an hour to go back to base which was arrived at in 2 hours 20 minutes.  

An enjoyable walk with a nice bit of reminiscing at Hall Corner while watching the current lads representing Glapwell FC and picking up three hard earned ponts.

ROSS ETHERIDGE HOLDS ON

PURE JOY AS TEVERSAL GRAB SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON

TEVERSAL 2 GLASSHOUGHTON 1

NCEFL 1 AT CARNARVON ST

13 MARCH 2022 --- 3PM

CAMERON PINNICK AND TEVERSAL CELEBRATE HIS STOPPAGE TIME WINNER

A remarkable finish to a game that looked like it would be settled by a first half wonder goal from Jordon Chippendale for the visitors but the Tevie boys did not know when they were beaten in this game and an equaliser on eighty nine minutes and then a superb winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured the home side only their second win of a very tough season.  The celebrations were ecstatically wild, you may have thought they had won the league and why not this had been a full on determined performance.

TROLLY AND TROLLY PARK IT MUST BE A TEVERSAL VISIT

As the 'walk to the match' season continues after last weeks break once again for the wet stuff putting off a lot of the local grassroots games I couldn't resist a revisit to Teversal as many know my comfort club.  With the dark afternoons pulling out it could now be worked I believed relatively safely on a section of road with no pavement before the light had gone on return from the game.  A fair selection of the walk of just over eight miles and taking outbound 2 hours 20 minutes would be accompanied by the whiff created by our now 'spreading' farmers.  Much of the manure now seems to be of a liquid type which is not pleasant and for the up hill section into Pilsley there must have been so much breathed in that I'm now more full of the stuff than normal.

Previous trips this season have seen a couple of routes via the edge of Hardwick Hall and also via the busy Hardstoft road to Tibshelf with no pavement for a large portion of this section of around ten minutes or so.  Having taken the latter route today the intention was to get a snap shot of the massive shopping trolleys on the approach to the industrial estate where the company making supermarket varieties is based.  Anyway I didn't climb into one and can comfortably say 'I'm off my trolly' now, it would though produce a nice link with of course the much photographed trolly park stands at Tesco and meant the need to photograph them again.

NEED NO INTRODUCTION BUT COULD I PARK MY TROLLY IN THEM

The last visit to Carnarvon Street was for the FC Humber game on 18 September when a crazy game saw Teversal run out 7-4 winners and this would prove to be their last victory.  I did give some consideration to the chance of me seeing another victory today but for a side rooted to the bottom of the table and seemingly unable to gain three points at the end of ninety minutes I soon put the idea to bed.

HANDS UP AS TEVIE ATTACK IN THE FIRST HALF

As usual a nice greeting from a few of the people I now at the club and some spectators at todays encounter and with a position taken up to avoid some of the once again strong wind we were underway.  The opening exchanges were very even with Teversal looking to break through but as so often happens when you are struggling the opposition take their first chance.  Mind you what a goal it was good enough to win any game when Chippendale lashed home an eighteen yard effort across the goal rising high into the left top corner of the net after seventeen minutes.

MATCH WINNER CAMERON PINNICK

Just over the half hour mark the visitors failed to clear their lines and Jack Hutchinson put in a goal bound shot only for it to be cleared as it was nearing the goal line.  But just after there was danger at the other end a sliced clearance by Teversal keeper Leon Turton spun back on goal for Jack Appleyard to race through somehow the number one got back to fling himself at the ball and it was enough to put off the visitors striker who fired wide.

CONNER EYES CLOSELY WATCHED BY THE TEVERSAL DEFENCE

The second half was seeing a determined football effort and Teversal were gradually pushing Glasshoughton back and you could see the belief that they could get something out of this game.  Visiting keeper Calum Gladding gathered Chris Heathcote's deflective header before Jak lightly found himself in a good position at the back post, he lobbed the keeper well but the ball landed on the roof of the net and so still the goal would not come.

There was though definitely a feeling that the home side deserved something from this game and it arrived on eighty nine minutes when Kamau Leverock was put in he raced through and coolly slotted past the keeper to level the scores.

JAK LIGHTLY CHIPS THE KEEPER BUT FINDS THE ROOF OF THE NET

Entering the fifth minute of stoppage time Teversal were awarded a corner off the right and after pestering for the last five minutes Teversal keeper Turton was finally allowed to go forward for the kick.  He got nowhere near it but his six foot presence may have distracted the Glasshoughton defensive operation.  They failed to clear the excellently floated corner and when it fell to Cameron Pinnick fourteen yards out he fired the ball low across goal into the far left corner to start scenes of wild celebrations.  Could Teversal hang on?  Well referee Kier Wishart made sure of that and proved what a late, late show this was when he blew for time straight from the re start.

A richly deserved win for the Tevie boys and good to see them get some good success for a change this season.

It was a very sharp dash to get beyond the road only stages of this route back and having arrived in Pilsey before dark the pace was kept up with the support of the enjoyment of that last few minutes for Teversal with base arrived at in one minute under the two hours for the return journey

THE CORNER THAT DID THE DAMAGE WITH KEEPER TURTON FORWARD FOR TEVERSAL

CULF DOUBLE HITS THE SPOT AS TUPTON GRAB A POINT

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 3 BOLLINGTON 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT STATION NEW ROAD

26 FEBRUARY 2022 --- 2PM

MAX JACKSON WONDER STRIKECROSSES THE LINE FOR TUPTON IVANHOE V BOLLINGTON

New Tupton Ivanhoe came back from behind in this A division game to secure a point against fellow promotion hopefuls Bollington but they were grateful to James Culf who hit a double from the penalty spot and Max Jackson who curled in a wonderful twenty five yard free kick.  The visitors had set the pace with an early lead and included a double for the ever dangerous Sam Jordan.

SAM JORDAN TURNS TO OPEN THE SCORING FOR BOLLINGTON

Once again the weather had intervened on both Saturday and Sunday football over the last few weeks with often the worse of the climate coming on match days, isn't that so typical.  After a short break a couple of weeks ago in horrendous weather and the chance to sample some much enjoyed Rugby Union it was a back to football today.  A return to the faithful old Ivanhoe's just along the way would line up a tantalising encounter against fellow promotion rivals Bollington who probably travelled the furthest east in the league save for their reserve side who visit Pilsley Community just a few more miles away.  Although that fixture the other week was played at Matlock so this one may have some sort of record for travel in the league.

CLOSE UP AND CAUTIOUS IN THE FIRST HALF

The pitches at Station New Road can take a battering and certainly do not drain well although with an increasingly forceful drying wind they were not looking in to bad condition.  A small crowd of around twenty were in place for kick off and they needed to be alert with the visitors taking a fourth minute lead through Sam Jordan who took the ball down well created space at the fish pond end for himself to fire into the bottom corner.  Tupton came straight back and Jackson appeared to be bundled over just inside the penalty box but referee Jason Glanville waved away penalty appeals.  After a first half of tentatively checking out one another we arrived at half time with the Cheshire side leading by that early goal.

JOY FOR JORDAN AFTER HIS OPENER

The second half would see the wind increase and as the afternoon developed the finger ends became increasingly tested in the cold bite of the blustery stuff.  

Four minutes after the restart Bollington were awarded a spot kick after a foul on the right side of the penalty box but Kieran Fane was alert to dive to his right to save to save the penalty from Tom Long.  But this didn't stop the visitors when three minutes further on they did double their lead when Long fired home smartly.  Tupton had an uphill task but they were given a life line three minutes over the hour mark when they were also awarded a penalty with Culf making no mistake from the spot.

DEFENSIVE DUTIES FOR TUPTON

The encounter was now opening up and excitement reached fever pitch with three goals in as many minutes firstly on 73 minutes the goal of the game when Ivanhoe's were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out on the right, up stepped Jackson who scored the goal of the game to level the scores with a wonderfully curling effort that flew in at the far post despite the visiting keepers valiant efforts.

The home side were still celebrating it would appear as Jordan waltzed through the inside left to slot past Fane with no challenger offered to give Bollington the lead again.  How would Tupton respond?  Well amazingly they were straight back on the attack and following a tumbling in the box referee Glanville awarded the third penalty of the game and Culf again found the back of the net to bring parity to the scoring again at 3 apiece.

KIERAN FANE SAVES BOLLINGTON PENALTY FROM TOM LONG

The game continued at a fair old pace with neither side wanting to lose the game but both sides feeling they could win this game now.  It would in fairness be Tupton who had the best chances firstly Josh Kirkwood hit a sharp volley from the edge of the box that flew just inches over.  Before in the final minute a sweet move down the left found Liam Varley who cut in towards the visitors goal his well placed effort found the Bollington number one pulling off a fine save to deny any hope of a late winner.

PENALTY COMING UP

The second period was brought to an end with the small band of spectators wanting more of this entertaining fayre but in the end Bollington would be disappointed to have thrown away a lead on two occasions whereas Tupton although they were looking the more likely to score would have breathed a sigh of relief to at least grab a point.

MAX JACKSON MAKES IT 2-2 WITH A 25 YARD CURLING FREE KICK

These were two good footballing sides who once again did the Hope Valley League credit and the battle for the promotion spots were not solved today of course and will go on until the last few fixtures, lets hope both of these are in a place at the end of the season after their efforts today.

JAMES CULF LEVELS IT AT 3-3 WITH HIS SECOND PENALTY OF THE GAME

MUDDY MARVELLOUS TUPTON

TUPTON RUFC 39 AMBER VALLEY 0

MIDLAND 4 EAST [N] WEST AT NORTH SIDE

12 FEBRUARY 2022 --- 2.15PM

TUPTON GO OVER THE LINE IN THE OPENING MINUTES VERSUS AMBER VALLEY

Tupton put on a tremendous show of commitment and entertainment as they beat Amber Valley to nil on an afternoon of poor weather and subsequent atrocious game conditions for the pitch and kicking.  As we know though a bit of mud, rain and wind doesn't put these lads off and after a blank weekend for sport on the blog last time out it was a very worthy trip to North Side that provided eighty minutes of enjoyable rugby.

A DARK AND UNINSPIRING DAY AND THEN THE RUGBY ENTERTAINED US

It all started so well with a calm morning weather wise but the forecast proved correct as the rain and wind arrived around noon and so it looked as though any of the 'walking to the game season' football would be off.  However thankfully the chaps at Tupton RUFC were at home again to help me out plus I could manage a fifteen minute walk in the rain and wind with umbrella aloft couldn't I?

Well it was going well and after about 500 yards I was proudly declaring to myself its not so wet or windy, but two smug steps later and a gust of wind had turned the umbrella inside out and broken one of the spokes.  As you can be aware in an extremely calm mood I traced my steps backwards threw many things out of the cupboard and found the quality umbrella which thankfully made the afternoon bearable and I would arrive just as the home side entered the arena.

LINE OUT FOR TUPTON 

Tupton are nicely positioned in fourth place and mid table but with more of a threat to the top half than the danger of the bottom half so look relatively comfortable although todays visitors did beat them in December in the away fixture.

The club house had its roof blind down to provide some cover for the reduced crowd who had vacated the liquid refreshment facility onto the terraced external area to sample the delights of North East Derbyshire in February.  My last visit had been in a howling gale and on a bitterly cold afternoon a few weeks back, today would just be strong wind with driving rain so a little change but not much.

REFEREE LANE AWARDS THE FIRST TUPTON TRY

The pitch was looking comfortably damp with most of the surrounds to the pitch being wet for spectating but taking up a position with my back, or more to the point side, to the wind and rain it was a behind the try line at the A61 end for the view of todays proceedings. 

TRY NUMBER THREE FOR TUPTON PART ONE

Early Tupton nerves were settled when they went over in the opening minutes for the first try and with a determined opposition who in fairness appeared to be having as much first half possession it became important to hold their own defensively something they did denying Amber Valley any chance of a sniff of points.  What the home side did do was take their chances and attack with a purpose to which they found themselves 24 points, including two conversions, to the good at the break.

TRY NUMBER THREE PART TWO

No messing about with changing rooms breaks in union just get on with a quick team talk and clean a bit of mud off the kit and we were ready to go again.  Tupton soon added five more points with an early crossing of the whitewash before a couple of breaks in proceedings.

The far touch line produced a general coming together of most of the players on the pitch and after a while of calming down and players of both sides retreating referee Barry Lane had time to have a serious chat with a couple of the combatants.  The game had now become a little disjointed and a further kerfuffle in the same area resulted in another chat that involved slightly less players taking part in the psychical stuff this time.

HALF TIME AND THOUGHTS TURN TO A WARM CLUBHOUSE

Thankfully the final fifteen minutes saw rugby come back to the fore and by full time Tupton had popped in a couple more tries and the game had finished 39-0 in their favour.  By now it was all friendly as both sides exchanged muddy 'well dones' as they squelched off the pitch to create a nightmare for the changing room cleaners and it was time for them to ask 'is the bar open', of course it is.

SECOND HALF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT REAL ALE IS ON ALL PHOTBOMBED BY EWS

Roll call of scorers,

Tries Jake Cooper, Sam Cooper, Lee Moslin, Lewis Conway and Jordan White [2].

Conversions Jordan White [2]

Fully enjoyable afternoon if the one side of me facing the elements was drenched the two sides on the pitch had put on a game of rugby in terrible playing conditions that entertained and for Tupton a strong win that was probably one of my most enjoyable in my all too infrequent visits.

Oh yea and at the final whistle the wind calmed down and the rain stopped and the brolly was no longer needed for the walk back to base, how typical.

FIRM ENOUGH GRIP FOR KICK TO TOUCH