MUNDELL HAT TRICK AS KIMBERLEY HIT FIVE

KIMBERLEY MW 5 PINCHBECK UNITED 2

UCL PREMIER AT THE STAG GROUND

26 AUGUST 2023 --- 3PM

KIMBERLEY MW V PINCHBECK UTD JOSH MUNDELL HAT TRICK

Josh Mundell proved a constant danger to Pinchbeck United not only with his hat trick but his turn of pace that was a constant threat to the Lincolnshire sides goal.  In the end a runaway victory gained Kimberley three vital points to move them away from the bottom of the table but defeat left Pinchbeck still propping up the league.

PINCHBECK HIT THE POST

As last week this was a Comet to Alfreton and this time the connection was met but I made the decision with it running late and being well loaded on its departure to wait a further fifteen minutes to catch the one behind and so it proved a quieter bus and more enjoyable journey.  Having said that the new buses on route see the engine turn off at stops and then fire up again more or less straight away after a 45 minute journey of this it does become slightly challenging as a passenger.

This weeks food was down to the large national supermarket for a jumbo sausage roll before the brief amble to the ground this time taking the tight footpath that runs down the side of the historical Stag public house.

AERIAL CHALLENGE FOR THE BANKING TO VIEW

I always enjoy a trip to The Stag Ground and one of the best view was always off the banking sloping behind the dug outs, in an evening this seemed to add to the floodlit atmosphere.  Now though with progression to step five the bank is closed and a concrete walkway added as far as the first dug out.  It is I have to say around four years or so since I last visited but it was nice to see a concrete standing area now added behind the far goal.  Also since my last visit is a 2 rowed fair sized stand on the footpath side with the construction being of the scaffold pole and corrugated sheet type.   

JOSHN MUNDELL RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS OPENING GOAL

A fairly bright afternoon except for the occasional rain filled cloud that deposited a few drops during the game.

Onto the proceedings and the visitors in their bright yellow shirts were first to show with a cross from Harry Johnson that flew over the home keeper and luckily for Kimberley flew back off the post and too safety.  

But it wasn't long before Mundell got his afternoon out of the blocks when he out paced the defender to fire across goal into the fire corner after 25 minutes.  Pinchbeck levelled things just shy of the half hour mark with a neat passing move down that left that saw Johnson cross and Taylor Jaine finish in the middle.  

Kimberley returned to the lead on 39 minutes when Daniel Tuck curled a low effort from wide in the box and as everybody including visiting keeper William Lakin thought it was going wide it did the crafty and popped in at the far post.

REFEREE NORRISS CLEARS AWAY THE VIEWERS

 

Kimberley started to pull away just past the hour mark when Nathan Banton raced through on goal only to be brought down with a last gasp tackle and Aaron Coyle stepped up to convert from the spot.  It was 4-1 on 80 minutes when the dangerous Mundell beat defender and the out coming keeper allowing him to guide the ball into a now open goal.  There was time for the home side to hit the bar before being denied what looked a clear penalty for handball but the fifth did arrive on 89 minutes with Mundell tapping in for his hat trick after good work from the equally impressive Coyle.

HOME GOAL UMBER TWO WITH CONGRATULATIONS TO DANIEL TUCK

There was still time for Pinchbeck to pull back a consolation goal in the fourth minute of time added on when substitute Flynn Slater rose to head in but shortly after referee William Norris called an end to the game and Kimberley had gained a valuable three points.

HERES A SHARP TACKLE

For Pinchbeck it looks like a long season they have a young side and you can only hope they will improve as the season goes on, on the other hand Kimberley who were also struggling at the wrong end of the table, admittedly early on in the season, gained this vital win that gave them a boost in their abilities as they entered a local derby against Eastwood Community on Bank Holiday Monday [a game the narrowly lost 1-0 by a stoppage time goal].

THE RACE IS ON BUT IN THE END IT RESULTED IN A FREE KICK TO KIMBERLEY

As ever a nice trip to a ground of character even though you now have to stand and reminisce about standing on the grass bank, nice assistance with getting the teams and hopefully a re visit soon on the cards over the border into Nottinghamshire. 

REFEREE NORRISS ISSUES A YELLOW CARD TO KRISZTIAN GAGYI

The return journey arrived roughly on time after running late most of the route but sadly a five minute gap that saw no chance of catching the earlier Comet and their was a splash out on a taxi to get back to base earlier.

JOSH MUNDELL GUIDES IN NUMBER FOUR AFTER ROUNDING DEFENDER AND KEEPER

LEEK STORM TO NEXT ROUND OF FA CUP

BELPER TOWN 2 LEEK TOWN 5

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND AT CHRISTCHURCH MEADOWS

19 AUGUST 2023 --- 3PM

BELPER TOWN V LEEK TOWN AT CHRISTCHURCH MEADOW

Belper and Leek are only separated by the geographical split of the Northern Premier League but on the day the chasm was massive as Leek brushed away the Derbyshire side with a display that showed them as being fitter, sharper and more clinical in front of goal.  Belper were fortunate to be just one down at half time and after a brief rally to level it fired the visitors up to respond with four goals before a late reply from The Nailers.

TM TRAVEL 142 WITH NOTTS AND DERBY PLAXTON VOLVO

The first game of the season would see a return to some public transport and although there just wasn't time for the fish and chip review I guess some sort of normality had returned to proceedings, after a late start to the 23/24 due to a variety of reasons.

This was to be a let the bus connection decide your game with a five minute connection for one game it was always tight but with a Belper trip on stand by.  The connection didn't happen when The Comet arrived seven minutes down in Alfreton a town that has suffered like most others with a glut of shops closed and today the bus station bins overflowing onto the surrounding pavements adding to the feeling of melancholy around the place.  This may have been added to by the adjacent club advertising the appearance of veteran snooker player Tony Drago being one of the highlights of the calendar.

Having filled in the three quarters of an hour wait for the 142 TM Travel service to Belper for you spotters it was good to see a Volvo Plaxton bodied full size vehicle turn up in fellow group operators Notts and Derby green and blue livery.   

MARC GROCOTT RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS OPENING GOAL

The pleasure of a trip around the Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales area was highlighted even more by this route taking in South Wingfield and then the picturesque Crich home of The Tramway village, an absolute gem, the village square alongside some evocative buildings that saw ITV make it Cardale and the home of its drama Peak Practice for a period of time in the 90s.  Moving through Fritchley down to Bullbridge and joining the A6 at Ambergate were the weather was fine enough for some cricket adjacent to The Hurt Arms.  Twisting and turning around the tight approach roads departure from the 142 was right by the mill and a short hop over the road saw us into Christchurch Meadows within a few minutes and with half an hour to go to kick off time to do a circuit and grab a picture of the team sheet.

CAMERON JOHNSON WEAVES HIS WAS INTO THE LEEK DEFENCE

Having covered Belper Town many times, including last season, I dont intend to describe the ground but needless to say this has to be one of the best appointed stadia for its level and always looks clean and tidy as aside to being well run.  It is though of note a mini cover as now gone up behind the goal at the far end since last season but the best advancement is a new scoreboard.  It is more than just a time and score monitor with the ability to post up player pictures etc that would make many Conference clubs envious, a super addition.

ROSS DAVIDSON EXPLAINS IT ALL TO REFEREE WAQAR AHMAD

It was a bright sunny day with a fair old breeze blowing down the ground and all looked set fair for a good entertaining cup tie.  Sadly by half time I was re calculating this theory Belper were dreadful and took half an hour to put together any team attack of note.  Leek looked stronger and fitter and as soon as Belper did get the ball it was square and backwards with a lack of interest in taking the ball forward this may have been to do with Leek squeezing up and closing down all space but how it needed a player in yellow to take on the opposition defence.

Somehow Leek only went in one goal to the good when Marc Grocott fired home a low edge of the box drive inside the left hand post after twenty one minutes.

OLD AND NEW MILL AND SCOREBOARD

The second half would see Belper gain an early upper hand and they looked to have made a game of it when they equalised fifteen minutes in with real determination from Cameron Johnson who dispossesed  the Leek defender on the byline, cut inside and rounded the defender before firing into the far corner of the visitors goal.  It was now all Belper and when Curtis Burrows struck the post Leek looked to be wobbling.

But Leek gradually got a grip and they were grateful to Belper defender Phil Watt who deflected a close range cross into his own goal to give Leek the lead again after 71 minutes.  Belper now collapsed as Leek regained their first half dominance when on 77 minutes Jake Avery smashed a glorious back post effort back across the goal and into the far top corner of the net to make it three and it was four with five minutes remaining when home keeper Jonathan Hedge could only parry the ball close in and Avery guided in for his second.

As we entered stoppage time the scoring continued when Leek went through Belper with a superb free flowing move that at the end saw Robert Stevenson weight a perfect  pass to Liam Buckley who ran on to fire through the legs of Hedge to make it five.  Watt headed a late second for Belper but by then it was all over and Leek had stormed into the next round.

BEN RHODES ATTACK HALTED 

With the return 142 at just shy of 5.30pm I did attempt to grab a tray of chips and a, for research purposes of course, fish but the queue was too long at the former George's fish bar, which is now I believe Nik's, and so it was return steps to The Mill for a return back through the picturesque scenery and to Alfreton a wait for the returning Comet ensued.   

A pleasure to visit Belper Town FC as ever alongside an enjoyable bus trip to the town the only thing missing was those fish and chips.

ALEX TROKE GETS A SHOT AWAY

VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT

GRASSMOOR WORKS C C 227 FOR 6 MILTON C C 211 ALL OUT

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT LEAGUE 1 AT BARNES PARK

29 JULY 2023 --- 1PM

JOHN DONALDSON FOR GRASSMOOR WORKS V MILTON

Just before 5.30pm and at 121 without loss Milton were understandably parking up in the winners enclosure as their reply was going with an unexpected ease at just shy of seven an over with opener Daniel Walker [90] threatening a one man destruction of the target.  But come just over ninety minutes later they had to slam into reverse gear to back out of the enclosure to make way for Grassmoor who had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to earn their third win of the season.

A HELMETED CARL BOWLING

Rain rain everywhere and so the last three Saturday's of cricket had been lost but today after a pre-match downpour prospects looked good although a green wicket and uncut outfield probably all due to the inclement stuff would add an interest to the home sides innings.  Visitors Milton won the toss put Works in and on a damp outfield added to the length of the grass they appeared to have the poorest of the conditions and so it was a good toss to have won.  

Grassmoor put on 70 for the first wicket which saw the studious Carl Bowling [15] having the bails dislodged by Walker.  At the other end there was a return to form for Andy Woolven who was applying some big hitting as usual to his contribution, although again there was a large selection of this shots failing to get over the ropes with the outfield conditions.  Luke James [9] fell caught behind by Ryan Cliffe off the bowling of Faisal Rana to a signalled wide but the Grassmoor number three had nicked it and did the admirable thing with an about turn walk back to the pavilion.

UMPIRE ALAN SHAWCROFT COUNTING UP THE OVERS

With just over ten overs left Woolven [98] had looked further to push along the score and frustratingly just two short of a deserved century tickled one behind to Cliffe off Alistair Skinner.  The Works opener had struck 10 fours and 3 sixes in an enterprising knock that would ultimately set up Grassmoor for the 22 points later on.  Adam Bedford [30] would contribute a valuable effort, John Donaldson [12] on return looked about to go big after his half a dozen balls faced produced 1 four and 1 maximum but he fell bowled to Jon Tann who disturbed his stumps.  There was an excellent cameo at the end from David Spendlove [47] from 34 balls which included 4 sixes and 3 fours.  Indeed then penultimate over went for 21 runs including 3 of those maximums his other came from final ball of the last over, an over the contained an audacious reverse sweep four to get Grassmoor up to what looked like a very acceptable total of 227/6.

CARL BOWLING IN PROFILE

Tea interval was the usual local amble and back well in time for the Milton reply which lets just say got off to a flier.  The ground seemed to have dried out and looked a little easier for Milton but lets take nothing away from Daniel Walker [90] who absolutely dominated the home attack with an innings that was blowing away any thoughts of 227 being enough within the first hour.  

It was looking desperate and even I have to admit to the thought of leaving early but Grassmoor stuck at it and with the first ball of the twentieth over he fell to the bowling of Spendlove.  A fantastic innings which contained 10 maximums and 4 fours in an opening stand of 121, his 50 had arrived in just 34 balls.  Fellow opener Smith was playing the studious partners role, much like Bowling for Grassmoor, and looked more than capable of moving the Notts based side towards victory.  He was joined at the crease by keeper Cliffe and scoring would become more conservative.

WIDE TO THE TOAL SIGNALLED BY UMPIRE PAUL DENHAM

However just fifteen runs were added when Smith [34] fell lbw to James [L], shortly afterwards Jack Beard [3] holed out on the boundary to James [L] from the bowling of Mark Crain and it was 154 for 3.

When the two wickets fell on 164 that would see half of the Milton side back in the pavilion this started to look like game on.  Joe Warriner [9] had sought out Donaldson on the boundary and Pat Stutt [0] was caught by Woolven both of Crain who would bask in bowling figures of 3 for 32 at the close.  With singles and 2's available it seemed a funny move to try to hit big when the steady approach surely would have seen Milton home but the guile of Grassmoor was starting to win the day.

ADAM BEDFORD VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION

Skipper Skinner [9] was bowled by Ian Bradley with the score on 181 for 6 and when Faisal Rana [8] fell caught James [L] off  Donaldson who was now steaming in up the hill with an end change for his return spell and the win was definitely a possibility, but with Cliffe who had batted very sensibly still there it would be close.

The result would soon fall into the home sides favour with Robert Handy run out by Bedford for a duck and Joe Tann [1] bowled by Bradley for his second the score was on 211.  

Entering the penultimate over Cliffe [35] from 75 balls realised he had to now go big and after a great effort had his stumps removed by Donaldson to secure the home side an exciting win

A remarkable finish to a game that looked to be gone brought a valuable victory to Grassmoor in their battle to stay in division one for the second season in this return spell.

MARK CRAIN CALMNESS PERSONIFIED 

To misquote the football saying 'cricket its a funny only game'.

JOHN DONALDSON BIG HIT

CRAIN HALF CENTURY CANNOT SAVE GRASSMOOR

GRASSMOOR WORKS CC 155 ALL OUT MANSFIELD CC 172 FOR 9

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT LEAGUE 1 AT BARNES PARK

24 JUNE 2023 --- 1PM

BARNES PARK GRASSMOOR WORKS CC V MANSFIELD CC

Mansfield Cricket Club lifted themselves off the bottom of The Bassetlaw and District League One table with this 17 run victory over Grassmoor that earned them a second success of the 2023 season.  On a wicket that saw the ball not coming onto the bat it had been a struggle and how they were grateful for the match winning contribution of Jake Hyatt [49*] coming in at number 8 and somehow moving the score on with a speed his colleagues had struggled to achieve.  At the close he was just one short of a half century from 44 balls and including half a dozen 4's'

CRAIG DAWES PICTURE BEFORE IAN BRADLEY IN THIS BLOG

So for just the second match of the cricket season it was a welcome return to Grassmoor and armed with new camping chair an afternoon of frustration endured on a warm day the wicket proved difficult to score runs from with both sides struggling to get the ball of the square.  It must have been as annoying to the players and was especially true when you saw free flowing players struggling to time their shots with any confidence.  However at the end of the day this was to be ultimately a poor day for the home side as their Nottinghamshire visitors took full advantage to secure a hard won victory.

IAN BRADLEY IN FULL FLIGHT

As ever a warm welcome was offered during the afternoon from all at the club and it was good to be back watching some cricket on a sunny day.  The visitors would have arrived with hope of a second win but for Grassmoor who start their second season in league one there was a need to start to get some wins on board to move into a mid table position and this fixture would have been one of those targeted.

DAVID SPENDLOVE AND CARL BOWLING CATCH UP ON THE NEWS

Mansfield lost opener Raymel Adams [1] with the score on five and this brought the Jamie Spencer [42] to crease and a steadying took the score onto 61 before three quick wickets moved the game into the favour of Grassmoor.  The first was that of Spencer caught by Adam Bedford off Toby Burgess this was followed by a superb forward diving catch from Bruce Shiels to dismiss Yasser Shafi [1] off the bowling of David Spendlove and the third wicket in this spell was when Burgess bowled Ben Wright [12] the score had slumped to 63 for 4. 

DAVID SPENDLOVE GRASSMOOR WORKS

A steady fall of wickets saw captain Azeezuddin Shah [21] and Aaron Ferry [16], as aside to Hyatt being the only two other players in the second half of the visitors innings to reach double figures.  Twenty two runs were put on for the final wicket and the positive stroke play of Hyatt got Mansfield to a total that looked way off their attainment level earlier in the afternoon.  Grassmoor had appeared to let this one get away but you still hoped that the target of 173 was reachable.

TOBY BURGESS TAKES A BREATHER

Strangely then Burgess and Spendlove both went for five an over but had three wickets in the bag each, with Luke James showing two wickets in his eight over spell from the Birkin Lane end.  The other wicket was snapped up by Ian Bradley and Craig Dawes delivered half a dozen overs for a miserly nine runs.

TOBY BURGESS DELIVERS

The usual leg stretch out down to the country park still allowed for a comfortable pitching of 'the seat' before the Grassmoor openers took to the pitch to formulate their reply.

TOBY BURGESS GRASSMOOR WORKS

The reply started cautiously and shakily when Carl Bowling [2] was bowled by Spencer and it allowed Adam Bedford to join opener Mark Crain at the crease and anticipation was high for a speedy move of the scoreboard.  But both were struggling with the pitch and non more so when Bedford [11] was caught by Christo Cyriac off Shafi.  Luke James [2] was soon to follow him back to the pavilion but the arrival of David Spendlove [16] slowed the fall of wickets for a while, but when he went off the bowling of Mansfield top scorer Hyatt giving the second catch to Cyriac [C].  Ian Woolven [1] was bowled by Adams who was finding his danger spot on this wicket.

WATCHING THE BALL

The dropping of Crain in the 23rd over to a skier gave hope that this could be the turning point if the opener could bat through like the previous week the home side could get home.  Sadly this wasn't to be the case when he tickled on down the leg side to the keeper Aaron Ferry from the bowling of Rajesh Patel.

THE EXPERIENCED EXECUTIVE ENCLOSURE

A difficult spell now for Grassmoor with the players still there to get over the line could they reach the 173?

DAVID SPENDLOVE HITS OUT

Grassmoor keeper Dale James [32] tried to do a Hyatt and hit out to try to get the home side to the target but Adams was having non off it dismissing Dawes and Bradley bowled for ducks in consecutive balls and a tentative play and miss from Burgess saw the ball drifting just past the off stump was enough to deny the spinner a hat trick.

GRASSMOOR TOP SCORER MARK CRAIN

With Burgess [1] dismissed shortly afterwards with Adams disturbing his stumps it was left to Shiels [8*] and Adams [D] who did their best with just over four an over required they got neared until going for a second run off the third ball of over 43 and the the latter was run out after a valiant effort to secure a much needed victory.

IAN WOOLVEN STUMPS DISTURBED

A strange game to watch free flowing it was not but a hard fought for and deserved victory for Mansfield as Grassmoor came up short even after the efforts of Crain and Adams [D] in their reply.  It will now be important for the Barnes Park side to start to pick up points to keep away from those bottom positions

RAYMEL ADAMS JUST MISSING OUT ON A HAT TRICK

PILSLEY LEAPFROG DUFFIELD TO GO SECOND

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS 169 FOR 6 DUFFIELD 3S 168 FOR 9

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE 6 NORTH AT RUPERT ST

17 JUNE 2023 --- 1PM

JAMES ALDIS SOLID BASE FOR PILSLEY TO SECURE A WIN

Pilsley and Clay Cross needed determination and hard work to beat Duffield in a tight encounter that saw the home side put their recent week stumble behind them as they returned to winning ways and a top two spot that had welcomed them in the opening weeks on their return to this division.

THE SCENIC ONE WITH NORTH WINGFIELD CHURCH IN VIEW RUSSELL KING ON HIS WAY TO A TOP SCORE OF 71

Firstly it was great to return to some sport after an enforced break that had seen no sport never mind pics/blog.  Today would see a return to one of the 'locals' at Pilsley and along with Grassmoor, who I hope to get to when they are next at home all things being equal.  Arrival was a similar route but this time by taxi, put it on the expenses, and just a few overs into play with new seat pitched we were ready for some summer sport.

CAPTAIN BOWERS BOWLING WITH DUFFIELD TOP SCORER RUSSELL KING AT THE NON STRIKERS END

I say summer sport but from somewhere on a bright sunny day there was for two hours a constant amount of albeit wet stuff coming out of the sky, not enough to be noticeable to most on this warm afternoon but enough for constant camera lens cleaning.  So much so that in the end I zipped up the bag regularly to then just watch the game, thankfully by the second innings the sun had come out to play but so too had my hay fever.

CHARLIE JOHNSON FROM THE PARKHOUSE END

A steady score of 168 was posted by visitors Duffield that owed so much to number three Russell King [71] with support from Harry Fearnehough [16] and Ian Bowyer [20] the former skying a short ball from Charlie Johnson which the delivery raced through to claim with Bowyer bowled by Gareth Hatton with the last ball of the 27th.  Two other players made double figures Will Clare [10] who again skied one from Hatton and was snapped up by Andrew Parker and there was a defiant flurry from Max Patterson [21*] at the end.  

GARETH HATTON AND IAN WORTHY

From a Pilsley front this was an acceptable target after a strong performance from the bowlers attached to some sharp ground fielding including a couple of super cover field stops from Pete Lacey, on the downside proceedings may have been over earlier with a a few early dropped catches that would have been stunners had they stuck.  There was a wicket apiece for openers Tristan Bowers and James Aldis along with first changes Ian Worthy and Charlie Johnson.  Pick of the bunch though was the ever effervescent Gareth Hatton who bagged four from his ten overs.

IAN WORTHY WALKS BACK TO HIS MARK

For a change the tea break was taken at the ground in the company of the now increasingly strong sun as we awaited the Pilsley reply.  Also of note this season is the live scoring of which thanks to Steven Horsley it makes the game much more interesting and adds an extra touch to the club.

GARETH HATTON OFFERS UP HIS THOUGHTS

Openers Pete Lacey and Ian Knowles came out to start the reply and the latter was in 'bazball' mode the current philosophy of the England side as they crashed 29 off the opening three overs.  Lacey [4] went with the score on 31 which brought Aldis [39] to the crease who again providied a solid base for this win but it was proving harder that may have been expected non more so with the threat of Niall Watson who was a threat through his ten overs.  Amazingly he somehow remained wicket less but conceded just 28 runs, alongside Patterson [1 for 39] they were a constant threat as they secured their line and length to add to their pace. when Aldis fell it was 110 for 3 off the last ball of the 23rd it did appear that Pilsley were on their was to the win.  But it remained a tight game scoring wise and with Parker [16] from 65 balls enforcing the argument, he had been joined by captain Bowers [30] who guided the home side nearer to the target. Parker fell with the score on 139 in over 33,.  His replacement Johnson [3] went back with 151 on the board and within four balls the captain fell to Adil Ahmed caught by Max Patterson.

Ian Worthy [4] and Shaun Fisher [12] saw it through with no more scares in over 39 to secure to 22 points.

GARETH HATTON ITS ALL ABOUT THE EXPRESSION

Nice to be back watching some of the 'beautiful game' and catch up with some of the players, hopefully summer as started roll on some dry weather.

PILSLEY OPENER IAN KNOWLES 

MARRIOTT WORLDIE AS PILSLEY STAY TOP

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 3 FURNESS VALE RES 0

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT RUPERT ST

25 FEBRUARY 2023 --- 2PM

EDGE OF THE BOX PILSLEY CLEARANCE V FURNESS VALE

A wonderful strike just past the hour mark from Shane Marriott broke the deadlock in this tightest of games and it was only an injury time brace from Curtis Sharples that broke the determination of a Furness Vale side who were in this fixture right in the proceeding ninety minutes.

SOME EARLY MIDFIELD ACTION FEATURING RHYS WALLHEAD

The usual walk to the familiar 'ridge' would find an increasingly cold afternoon, why I should be surprised by this I know not after enough visits for football and cricket to know that it is very rarely warm up here.  Visitors Furness Vale would be a tough test after a large win the previous weekend against Hathersage and just one defeat so far this season they would be a stern challenge for the home sides title aspirations.

CAPTAIN WALLHEAD CLEARS

After a collection of weekends away from local sport it was good to be back and with a little time to pop this blog on I will keep the time weary report to a minimum from what was a wonderfully challenging encounter.

REFEREE WHITE ISSUES THE FIRST BOOKING OF THE DAY

The opening exchanges were all in the visitors favour that was until John Donaldson tried a thirty yard effort forcing the Vale keeper into an excellent save from the corner the same player got in a header that flew off target.  Furness Vale came straight back at it and Lewis Shuker fired over from a good position.  

The game was developing into a right ding dong of an affair as we went into the second half with Donaldson in the thick of it again forcing the visiting keeper into a save at the foot of his post,  Shuker was again the threat for Vale with an excellent save from the Pilsley keeper.  

WALLHEAD BRINGS THE BALL AWAY FOR PILSLEY

Home captain Rhys Wallhead forced the visiting keeper into an excellent save before it was the turn of his opposite number to deny the visitors and then on 65 minutes a moment to light up any game.

Used as a second half substitute the always influential Marriott tested his abilities after 64 minutes from forty yards out and as the ball sailed towards the visitors goal it was heading close towards the target with a little loss of altitude at the last minute it rippled into the top left hand corner of the net with unsurprisingly the Vale keeper rooted to the spot.  A goal typical of the Pilsley number fourteen but illuminating this tough game and providing the breakthrough that looked so hard to come by.

SHANE MARRIOTT GETS WIDE ACCLAIM FOR THAT GOAL

Vale redoubled their attacking efforts but Pilsley were the equal to it with a tremendous defensive display to deny the High Peak visitors.  Matt Parnham had the chance to wrap the game up but he unusually fired his point blank header over with ten minutes to go.

As the game entered injury time two late goals from fellow sub Sharples wrapped it up first Richard Marshall saw his back post header parried by the Vale keeper but he hooked the ball back towards goal from a horizontal position and Sharples fired the ball home from all of a yard out.  The pick of the two was from a superb Parnham cross field ball to Sharples who took the ball on into the visitors penalty box and he jinked past the defender to fire home to give Pilsley a comfortable goal advantage.

A comfortable score line but this was anything but and Vale would feel hard done by the final outcome in a game they gave so much to and one that definitely needed that 'worldie' to put Pilsley in the box seat.

A great advert for The Hope Valley League yet again. 

GAZ LEWIN AND REFEREE DARYLL WHITE DISCUSS A FOUL