Saturday 28 November 2009

Worksop Town v. Whitby Town - UniBond League Premier Division

As the teams enter the field of play, the match officials turn to the
Tigers captain and tell him "We're not giving you 'owt today!" (Allegedly)

Saturday 28th January 2009. UniBond League Premier Division.
At the New Manor Ground, Ilkeston

Worksop Town (0) 0
Whitby Town (0) 4 (Andrew Campbell 52, Tony Hackworth 56 & 78 , Ashley Lyth 90+)
Note* Both the UniBond website and the Non League Paper have Lyth's injury time strike listed as 45 minutes which is incorrect.

Admission season ticket others £8, Programme 50p (makeshift 4 page issue, due to printer going out of business in midweek, apparently it's caused quite a few clubs to have similar problems)
Attendance 140
Worksop could've been ahead inside the first minute when Tom Jones headed a Chris Adam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
12 minutes in a slide rule pass from Bacon released Gary Townsend who was clean through on David Campbell's goal, but the Whitby keeper saved well.
On 22 minutes it was still Worksop bossing the game with little sign of the turnaround that was to come later. Danny Bacon was flattened on the penalty spot having been tripped from behind. Alas the only person in the ground to miss the foul was Mr M Griffiths the referee and the penalty wasn't awarded. No wonder Griffiths was disguised as Mr N Smith on the back of the programme. He probably wore a false beard to leave the ground in too.
When things aren't going your way, absolutely nothing is going your way.
Whitby charged straight up the other end buoyed by their good fortune and Jon Kennedy did well to save from the visitors captain Tony Hackworth, while the incredulous home support were still throwing their hands in the air with despair at what they had just witnessed and telling the misguided official to 'go away' and perform some contortionist solo sex practices.
Andrew Campbell got on the end of a cross right under the Tigers cross bar, but was wrong footed and the ball bounced off his heel and out of harms way.
Worksop's twins could have created an interesting headline just before half time, when Rob Austin's cross was headed narrowly wide by his sibling Matt.
Right on half time, Whitby, who had definitely found their feet more now after being pinned back in their own half for the first twenty minutes or so, could have gone into the break in front, but Ged Dalton fired over from inside the box.
The referee had an appalling first half and even the Whitby fans I spoke to at half time were of the opinion that the Tigers ought to have been awarded a penalty.

Half Time 0-0
After the break, Whitby grew stronger and Worksop seemed rattled by what had gone on in the first half.
On 52 minutes Kennedy saved from the ever lively Hackworth but Andrew Campbell was on hand to fire home from the rebound.
Less than five minutes later Hackworth bagged one for himself after Campbell combined with him to create the chance, Kennedy almost blocked the shot but it still had enough life left in it to roll over the line, just, but they all count.
On 76 minutes a John Scott corner from the left wing found it's way over to Hackworth again (who else!?) just inside the edge of the area, he headed back across the box ... it's debatable whether his effort was an intended attempt on goal or if he was just putting the ball into the mix for a team mate to latch on to, either way it crept in just under the cross bar and the game was as good as over.
Peter Rinkcavage, the Worksop manager, was seething that his team was now going to lose a game that they should have comfortably been ahead in earlier on if their chances had gone in and they hadn't been handicapped by a blatantly wrong penalty decision while they were in the ascendancy ... and the linesman called the referee over to point out that Rinky was letting his feelings on the matter be known a little too strongly for his liking.
Mr M Griffiths sent Rinkcavage off. Seemingly he can officiate with authority when it suits him then ... maybe he should have consulted one of his assistants when Danny Bacon was hacked down in the first half too.
The penalty decision turned the game, but there was no question about it by now, Worksop were demoralised, their heads had dropped and Whitby had taken over, comprehensively.
Ashley Lyth rubbed salt into the Tigers wounds in injury time, when after being involved in the build up down the right the full back rifled home a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Full Time 0-4
The Worksop fans stood and applauded their team from the pitch, in spite of the result, they know the circumstances through which this team are playing on, but then their exiled home was empty apart from the celebrating Whitby contingent with their songs echoing from the New Manor Ground stands.
It's going to be a long and hard winter for Worksop Town, no one ever said it was going to be easy, but just a little bit of good fortune or the odd decision going their way wouldn't go amiss sometimes.
Whitby leapt from the bottom four to 13th in the table on the back of this result, that is how tight it is in this league. However, Worksop are now only one place above the drop zone and have played more games than all the other teams down there.
For the benefit Whitby Town fans, this is what a working
floodlight at an away game looks like ;-)


the66pow

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Worksop Town v. Leek Town - UniBond League Challenge Cup

Wednesday 26th November 2009. UniBond League Challenge Cup 3rd Round
At the New Manor Ground, Ilkeston

Worksop Town (1) 1 (Tomlinson 44)
Leek Town (1) 2 (Ward 21, Ashman 113)
HT 1-1, 90 minutes 1-1, AET 1-2

Admission £8, Programme 50p (makeshift 4 page issue, due to the programme printer going out of business yesterday)
Attendance 74 (seventy four)
A worried fan looks on as Dickie Bromley is zapped by a gamma ray from a passing UFO.
Good shot little green man!!! ;-)

Dion Chambers, Worksop's new loan signing from Eastwood made his debut tonight and had his first attempt on goal within 60 seconds of the kick off, but like the rest of his team, started well then seemed to fade as the first half went on. To be honest, the Tigers looked knackered and could probably have done without yet another midweek cup game clogging up their schedule.

Worksop's last 'home' game had it's attendance effected by some major hold ups on the M1. Tonight, if anything, the section of the M1 a lot of Worksop Town use to get to Ilkeston was even worse than then following a chemical spillage and accident at the next junction south causing hold ups as far north as Junction 28.
And for the benefit of the players here are tonight's crowd line up changes

I had a message from one supporter who simply gave up trying to reach the New Manor Ground when he was still stranded between Junctions 27 & 28 after 8pm.
Though this was never going to be a fixture or competition to fire the imagine and attract an healthy turn out, I'm sure those who had to turn back would've at least pushed the crowd tonight into treble figures.
On 22 minutes the Leek fans who had turned out were rewarded with a headed goal from Nick Ward who got on the end of a free kick from the left wing by Matt Johnson.
Johnson's dead balls at set pieces were a feature of the first half, as Leek looked the side most likely to progress through to the next round for a spell.
Incidentally, Leek is actually closer to Ilkeston than Worksop is.
THE66POW, purveyors of space filling rubbish.

The Tigers finished the half as they had started it, on the attack.
Steve Hodgson charged out of his box, made no attempt to play the ball whatsoever and took out Chris Adam who had a clear run at goal impeded by the reckless foul. It was as blatant a red card offence as I've seen all season, but the referee bottled it for some odd reason and just showed the visitors keeper a yellow instead.
He (referee Mr S M Hutchinson) later explained that a Leek player out on the wing meant Adam wasn't the last man, though how he was ever going to defend the charge on goal from a position twenty yards away from the action is anyone's guess.
If at a later date it is proven that Leek have a full back with extendible telescopic legs, the I'll hold my hands up and admit I called it wrong, but until that happens I stand by my smack in line with the incident observation and say - that was bloody shocking referee!!!
The free kick saw some kind of redress for the Tigers, when Ben Tomlinson crashed home an equaliser with half time looming.
Wheeltappers & Shunters Social Club (Norman Collier to the right)

In the second half the referee continued to mystify both sets of players, officials and supporters and at least one of his assistants with a string of curious decisions.
There were three players out there who must've thought there is a rule change in the Unibond League that states if you get hurt when an opponent fouls you, then you have committed an offence.
Worksop had a bit of a purple patch where they constantly threatened in and around the Leek area for around 10-15 minutes just after the hour, but despite their best efforts Hodgson held strong and wasn't going to let the fact he shouldn't still be on the pitch phase him at all.
Leek too, had periods of the game where they were in the ascendancy, as this game ebbed and flowed one way the the other.
Both teams had chances to clinch the result in the 90 minutes, in what had actually become quite an open game. But with the temperature starting to drop rapidly and home seeming even further way than it already was, normal time came and went and for the second consecutive night I was going to get real value for my money/have to endure at least another half hour (delete as apt).
Pre extra time pep talks, ref to assistants (allegedly)
"Don't worry I'll set up a late goal for Leek to avoid penalties"

The managers changed things around as both sides went for the result, but at the extra time interval there was still nothing separating both teams.
In the second spell, inevitably, the ref had a big say in the result. A Worksop clearance hit Hutchinson's feet, got tangled between them and spun to a Leek attacker from what looked like an inch perfect pass by the match official, Steve Brannan whipped in a cross and Leon Ashman was on hand to convert from close range.
Worksop had to push forward to chase the result which gave Leek more time and space to push up as well.
Andy White missed a good chance for the Tigers, but it was Leek who finished the strongest and just about shaded the balance of play in the end, even though Worksop had thrown everything they could at the visitors defence for a couple of spells earlier in the night.
Gary Townsend about to launch one last assault on Leek's goal.

One amusing incident that needs recording for posterity occurred when a Worksop fan, renowned for his distinguishing features, big booming gob and vulgar vocabulary (his name is Johnny Marsden if you need another clue) was lambasted by the visiting manager, who told him "Shut up you ****ing Walrus!" JM might have been mentioned unfavourably on this forum before, so in the interests of balance, here's a song I'll dedicate to him ...

... and if he doesn't like it, he can stick it up his jumper ;-)

the66pow

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Gainsborough Trinity v North Ferriby United - FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round Replay

Tuesday 24th November 2009. FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round Replay
The Northolme, Gainsborough

Gainsborough Trinity (1) 2, 3
North Ferriby United (0) 2, 3
HT 1-0, 90 minutes 2-2, AET 3-3,
Trinity won on penalties GTFC scored 3 NFU scored 2

Admission £10, No programmes (problems with printer),
Attendance 226
The weather was awful ... cold, high winds, frequent downpours and a severe weather warning from the met office, combined to make the conditions unsuitable for playing 'total football' and both teams struggled to combat the elements for most of the game.
North Ferriby United turned up disguised as Worksop Town, better than the green & white!

Gainsborough, pretty much like every other time I've seen them this season, like to get their best work done early on, then retreat back into their shells for the duration of the game.
Darryn Stamp tucked the ball away neatly from the edge of the six yard box on 9 minutes and you'd have expected them to build on the foundations of a good start ... but they didn't.

The chill night air was punctuated by the shrill sound of the referee's whistle far too often and the home fans voiced their despair with the official as the game went from stop/start to stop/stop/start.
A few of the Trinity players seemed to have found a vortex to hide in out in the middle of the pitch.
I wasn't the only one who'd noticed this, because those vocal fans switched their attention from the referee to their own players as North Ferriby upped the tempo and realised the Blue Square North side might be there for the taking.
Ryan Semple could've put the Blues 2-0 up on 40 minutes, but took too long switching the ball to his right foot instead of just putting it away and the chance went begging.
At that stage a second goal for Trinity would definitely have been against the run of play.
HT 1-0
The second half was a scrappy affair.
Both Stamp and Beckett should have tied the game up for Trinity early on, but neither of them even got their shots on target.
Between 70 and 71 minutes, Gainsborough played their best football (yes, the times are correct) when Stamp forced a point blank save from Steve Wilson and then Ashley Burbeary thundered in a cross cum shot from the right edge of the box that nearly caught the NFU goalkeeper out.
The visitors kept plugging away, but the lack of a final ball each time looked like it was going to be their undoing ... for now anyway.
We meandered around to stand near the exit behind the home dug out for a quick getaway, but to everyone's amazement (and there were a few groans from people who'd had enough and wanted to go home too) on 86 minutes a game of football broke out!

United were awarded a penalty. Gary Bradshaw made no mistake from the spot. And we all turned up our collars against the bitter cold and resigned ourselves to yet more of this end to end thrill a minute entertainment (Stop it! - Sarcasm Department Editor).
But our salvation seemed to have arrived in the very last minute when Trinity were awarded a penalty too.
Nathan Peat, the Blues captain, duly despatched it (see blurred picture above) and once more we trudged wearily towards the exit.
The fourth official raised the board to indicate there would be 4 minutes of stoppage time. And being a bit of a show off, Kevin Larvin of North Ferriby United, timed his equaliser to perfection to coincide with the very last second of that added time.
Ho, ho, how we all laughed. Pity those poor fools who hadn't braved the elements to be here tonight or who had left early, eh!?
FT 90 minutes 2-2
A few of the home fans stood near the dug out have already decided Brian Little is not the man to turn round Trinity's season and weren't exactly showing much restraint in letting him know that either.
"Bring back Mitch!" shouted a couple of them, amongst several verbal missiles that are unrepeatable on a blog with a family orientated reader base (i.e. only my family read it, when they can be bothered, and that's just to check where I am).
Hmm, I seem to recall Paul Mitchell (a former Trinity boss who also managed Worksop Town a few years ago too) getting abuse from these very same fans back in the day, there's nowt' so curious (and fickle) as football folk.
We retreated to the back of the main stand for the remainder of the game, the leg room is non existent but at least it offered us some shelter.
Paul Foot the visitors captain was sent off when he received a second yellow card for going in two footed, he got the ball and didn't get near the Trinity player, but rules are rules and they were applied to the letter of the law.
in the 100th minute, Trinity were ahead again ... Nathan Peat swung the ball into the box, Wilson appeared to have it covered, but let it slip and Wes Parker pounced to run the ball home.
HT ET 3-2
At 3-2 up against ten men, with a fitter and stronger team from an higher league, even the moaning old buggers over on the Blues Club side of the ground started to find their voices in support of their team.
Until Kevin Larvin decided another timely intervention was overdue and fired home yet another equaliser from the edge of the box. He was obviously in no hurry to get home tonight.
FT ET 3-3
The Shoot Out

Phil Barnes saved the first spot kick by NFU's Gary Bradshaw, but the advantage was cancelled out when Trinty's Ryan Toulson slammed his effort against the crossbar (0-0).
Tom Matthews put United ahead with the second before Nathan Peat missed the target altogether (0-1).
Chris Bolder put the visitors 2-0 ahead and into a strong position, at which point Gainsborough must've been kicking themselves for not taking the few clear cut chances that had come their way in open play. Ashley Burbeary kept the tie alive with his effort (1-2).
The NFU keeper Steve Wilson stepped forward for their next attempt ... it was a poor kick and he missed woefully (unlike when he was involved in a penalty shoot out v. Worksop at Ilson recently). Ryan Semple took full advantage of the opportunity to level things up (2-2).
So we'd reach the final kick each before the 'sudden death' rule applied.
Phil Barnes saved well from Callum Russell's strike and it was all down to Darren Dunning to finish off the visitors resistance. He kept his nerve and Trinity squeaked their way through to the next round where they face a trip to Southport. They'll have to play much better there than they did here tonight.
Footnote. Added Friday 27th November.
Even now, three days after the match, the Official UniBond League website is still listing this game as a 3-2 win for Trinity with no extra time having been played. I can assure you that isn't the case ... it's not like that site to get things wrong, is it!? ;-)

Saturday 21 November 2009

Heart of Midlothian v St. Johnstone - Scottish Premier League

Csaba's tactical master plan to boost the 'goals for' column ... possibly ;-)

Saturday 21st November 2009 - Scottish Premier League

Heart of Midlothian (1) 1 (Nade)
St. Johnstone (0) 2 (Samuel, Johannson)

Admission season ticket (others £16 to £28), Programme £3
Attendance 13416A dinner time kick off in the Scottish capital due to the Rugby international being played at nearby Murrayfield later on in the afternoon.
Hearts started the game lively enough, but failed to capitalise on the couple of early chances that came their way.
Pretty soon though, the game descended into a bit of a stalemate, bogged down in tedious inactivity, with neither side showing very much in the way of productive football.
Christian Nade, Hearts stocky centre forward, hasn't scored since St. Valentines Day, so when he received the ball 35 yards out on the left side of the field, I doubt if anybody in the ground (himself included) was expecting what happened next ... he advanced 5 yards unchallenged and then struck the ball home for a sublime opening goal.

Christian Nade's message to fans in the programme

It was obvious the weather was about to produce a deluge, but out on the field of play the floodgates weren't about to open any time soon.
Hearts regained possesion and attacked from the restart, but David Obua squandered a good chance and instead put the ball across the face of goal to where it required a delicate and acrobatic finish from Nade.
Now the big lad can do powerful and on target once every nine months, but grace and finesse aren't really attributes he's blessed with. To be fair, at least Nade was trying today, unlike several others who ought to hang their heads in shame.
The heavens opened, the wind got stronger and the game limped off at half time in need of a life saving injection.
We decided to move out of the rain that was now hammering down.
In fact we swapped ends of the ground during the break. I don't know if that's against rules. I didn't think to ask, but the geography of the three newer stands at Tynecastle with it's all round open plan concourse allows it, so why not?

'Onward Christian Soldier'

If we'd wanted to see any more goals from close up we should have stayed at the end St. Johnstone would be attacking in the second half, but even the most cynical of us couldn't have envisaged how poorly Hearts were going to play from then on in.
Second half from Gorgie Road End. Csaba Laszlo to the right.

The second half in all it's gory detail (not for the faint hearted) .... Wave upon wave of St. Johnstone attacks caught Hearts on the back foot from the off, mostly from the wings, but the Jambos tactics were too inflexible to make provision for that.
Csaba Laszlo has been openly touting himself around for other managerial jobs, including the currently vacant Scotland hot seat. His time with Hearts started promisingly and last year it seemed like the seeds were being sown for further progress, but to be frank, it's not working out this season at all.
Sure, they're through to the League Cup semi final (against St. Mirren) but today's defeat saw them slump to ninth place in the table. That might not sound too drastic, but the SPL is only a twelve team league and Falkirk in bottom place are only two points behind Hearts.
If Csaba leaves Tynecastle in the near future, his wish to get out will be endorsed by far more people than anybody might have imagined possible this time last season. Alas though, who else would want to work under the current Hearts owner?
This Heart of Midlothian v St. Johnstone fixture could actually be a dress rehearsal for the League Cup Final, I would imagine that scenario won't be worrying the Saints unduly after today.
"Who's Csaba going to throw on to turn the game round?"
"May as well be the guy in green I s'pose!"

Collin Samuel headed the visitors level on the hour mark, it had been coming and St. Johnstone more than deserved it.
The referee was having a shocking game, but while he was poor, Hearts were truly abysmal.
Jose Goncalves received a straight red card for an high tackle on Liam Craig on 78 minutes - he got the ball but ... well, it's here for you to judge for yourself whether you think it was rash and dangerous or not (I agree with the ref BTW) in the video link below, coming to you in glorious techni-colour at 3 minutes and 44 seconds into the 'highlights' footage.
Alarmingly, a large number of Hearts fans saw fit to applaud Goncalves from the pitch. I did have to question why they were being so generous towards a player who had probably just cost them the game ... but what do I know?

Still five minutes to go, only 1-2 behind but half the crowd have already gone home.

Of course, there was always going to be a sting in this tale of Hearts woeful afternoon.
On 86 minutes, Jonatan Johannson was thrown into the fray by the visitors.
Despite St. Johnstone's best efforts to claim all three points, it didn't look like justice would be done and they were going to have to settle for a point, so Derek McInnes the Saints manager (since Owen Coyle left them for Burnley) was trying to run the clock down.
Even the 'Boys Own' fiction writers couldn't script it ... Johnansson had played his best football at Rangers a long, long time ago, in fact it was exactly 10 years and a day ago since he last scored in the SPL. The veteran striker, who had played for Hearts bitter rivals Hibernian last season, hadn't even been on the pitch 60 seconds when he found himself in the six yard box and, from roughly the same position Jose Goncalves would probably have been defending if he hadn't gotten himself dismissed, slid home a close range winning goal.
That was the cue for half the stadium to empty ... alas I'm doing a sponsored groundhop where I've stipulated I will watch games for their entire duration and was duty bound to stay put ... the next five minutes didn't exactly fly by, :-( believe me!!!

On the way out an elderly Hearts fan was moaning "We should be beating teams like bloody St. Johnstone!" I think if he studies the current league table he will actually find that Hearts are a 'team like St. Johnstone' but actually a place beneath today's worthy winners in the SPL

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Rossington Main v Barton Town Old Boys - Northern Counties East League Divsion One

Tuesday 17th November 2009. Northern Counties East League Division One
At Oxford Street, Rossington
Rossington Main (2) 3 (Jason Stokes 2, Jake Vernon)
Barton Town Old Boys (0)
Admission £4, Programme £1, Attendance 80It's a Non League tradition to stand in front of people who arrived in plenty
of time to get a decent seat and good vantage point,. GRR!!!

What a difference a week makes. Just 7 days ago I saw 'Rosso' start and finish a game playing very well, but they leaked 7 goals in the interim.
Tonight they kept it much tighter at the back and though Barton sprayed the ball around in midfield well at times, they were restricted to just a handful of half decent chances.
Lee Appleby pulled off a string of good saves for 'Main' last Tuesday in spite of conceding so many goals, but tonight he kept a clean sheet for doing a fraction of the work.
Jason Stokes fired Rossington ahead on 22 minutes from the edge of the box. Tom Nicholson appeared to go down to make the save in slow motion and only managed to get his fingertips to it on the way in.
"Blimey!" shouted out an enthusiastic local "Even Arsenal are stood back marvelling at that one touch build up play"
Four minutes later Rossington were on the attack again, down the left flank where most of their 'one touch build up play' was coming from, but Barton's right back Lee Markham cut out the danger, turned, and played a square ball across the edge of his own penalty area ... err, straight to Jake Vernon who just happens to be Rossington Main's centre forward and he wasn't going to miss from there. Half time 2-0
Jason Stokes scored again on 64 minutes. His first goal was sweetly struck, his second crawled in apologetically at the post when it looked to be going wide. They both count equally.
Barton were out of sorts tonight and Rossington weren't giving them any width to play in at all.
In fact, the home side were containing the visitors so well, a few of those who had travelled over from Barton tonight decided to leave with ten minutes still remaining - not the hardy souls who travel everywhere and congregate behind the goal though. They made themselves heard when the referee turned down a late penalty claim and then some, but it wouldn't have changed the course of this game anyway. Rossington were streets ahead of their opponents tonight and well worth their three goal margin of victory.

Me, I got away right on the final whistle and got to work on time too (phew!).
It was good to see Frickley John at Oxford Street to chew the fat and banter with, we'd put the world to rights if we were entrusted with the responsibility of running it.
Come the revolution comrades!
Ah, Rossington level crossing. 20 minutes to reach Rosso, 25 minutes to
get across the ECML. Some things never bloody change!!!

Saturday 14 November 2009

Worksop Town v Bradford Park Avenue - UniBond Premier League

Photograph taken outside Frickley Athletic's ground a couple of years ago.
Old photographs help to break up the boring text on this blog ... don't they?

Saturday 14th November 2009. UniBond Premier League
At the New Manor Ground, Ilkeston

Worksop Town (0) 1 (Danny Bacon 68)
Bradford Park Avenue (2) 3 (Mattie James 16, Chris Hall 24, Steve Downes 70 pen)

Admission Season Ticket, Others £8 (Concessions £4),
Programme £2, Attendance 168
The M1 was closed northbound and southbound between Junctions 29 & 30 from early this morning (still shut when I arrived home too) which caused the kick off to be delayed and probably had an adverse effect on the attendance too.
"It's raining men. Hallelujah!" Some eye candy for our lady readers.
Left click image for super sized version.

Steve Dickinson in the visitors goal saved early on from a Kris Bowler effort, but it was Avenue who opened the scoring at the other end when Mattie James whacked the ball home on 16 minutes. Some people seemed to think there was an infringement in the build up, but you have to play to the whistle (or lack of) and James took his chance well.
In the wind and drizzle, but playing the first half with the wind behind their backs, the Tigers were struggling to find any cohesion ... Bradford weren't though and a well worked move down the right flank saw Simon Baldry's cross find Chris Hall in the box who wasn't in the mood to miss from that range. 24 minutes gone, with the visitors two ahead, Worksop looked as if they'd had the stuffing knocked out of them.
The home side did force a few corners but they came to nothing.
In essence and in windswept Ilkeston, the first 45 minutes belonged to Bradford Park Avenue.
Worksop started the second half more purposefully, following a couple of raids down the right hand side, they switched play to the opposite flank and a long throw from Scott Lowe was helped on by Gary Townsend into the path of former Mansfield Town, Lincoln City and Hucknall Town striker Danny Bacon who halved the arrears from inside the six yard box.
The Tigers resurgence was short lived however and straight from the restart BPA attacked and Simon Baldry was pushed over in the box by Adam Green. Steve Downes drilled the resultant spot kick home and effectively sealed all three points for the visitors.
Worksop's grim afternoon got worse when Danny Anson was dismissed for a second bookable offence on 73 minutes.
"God bless Mother Nature!"

The Worksop goalkeeper Jon Kennedy was kept busy as Bradford tried to make the victory more emphatic, pulling off a couple of top draw saves along the way, whilst his team mates lost a bit of their self discipline elsewhere on the pitch ... all those yellow cards add up in the long run and those aren't the type of points that make prizes.
There was a a bit of a scuffle late in the game after a reckless lunge from Worksop's Ryan Hindley who's frustration had got the better of him, where I wouldn't have been too surprised to see both Hindley and Bradford's Jamie Price dismissed for their part in the affray, but they were both only booked.
Then the linesman called the referee over and pointed out Kris Bowler who also got shown a yellow card ... up in the posh seats directly above the incident my view of events was that Bowler was merely trying to keep certain argumentative players apart from each other ... unlucky Kris!
Left click team sheet picture to enlarge
Bradford PA actually wore green
In conclusion:
Both teams just about got what their respective performances warranted today and at times the referee and his assistant on the stand side (in the second half) didn't always seem to be keeping up with play very well, although both sides were on the wrong end of a few curious decisions so they were consistent in that respect.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

AFC Emley v Worksop Town - Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup

Wednesday 11th November 2009, Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Second Round
Welfare Ground, Emley

AFC Emley (2) 2 (Steve Kenworthy 25, Mick Amos 41)
Worksop Town (0) 1 (Matt Glass 67)

Admission £4, Programme £1 (said £1.20 on cover), Attendance 130
Temperature - very, very cold.
Caged Tigers

Match report as posted on the AFC Emley website:
http://www.afcemley.co.uk/id19.html
Hear no evil. See no evil. Do no evil.

Match report as posted on the Worksop Town FC website:
http://www.worksoptownfc.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=685

Added Friday 13th November, The Worksop Guardian report:
http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/match-reports/Sheffield-Senior-Cup-exit-at.5818360.jp
A 'Massive' free kick as Worksop pushed for a late equaliser that never came.

A bitterly cold night up in the Yorkshire hills.
It was nice to see the old Welfare Ground again, it's been a few years since I last visited.
Some things never change (nor should they), there's still a really tight and narrow bend to negotiate if you want to get into the football ground car park, still that invisible right turn towards Emley village that everybody misses off of the Denby Dale road, still all the lunatic local drivers recreating Dukes of Hazard car chase scenes coming towards you around each and every hairpin bend at break neck speed ... and of course, it still hasn't thawed out in all this time.
It was f-f-f-f-f f-freezing!
If the heavy cold I've got doesn't become fully blown pneumonia after tonight, then obviously somewhere back in my family tree, there must be a Big Foot blood line.
Nesh. Poorly. But prepared.

Whenever I've seen Ian Banks' team play this season, they've been attack minded and entertaining enough, but they've now overcome their apparent shyness in front of goal too.
Though Worksop squandered a few first half chances and a Ryan Hindley strike hit the bar, the two goal cushion AFC Emley took in at half time wasn't flattering or undeserved in any way, shape or form at all.
Steve Kenworthy took advantage of John Kennedy in the Tigers goal and Kris Bowler combining to make a hash of a clearance to fire the ball home for a soft opening goal. The goalscorer then became the creator, for Mick Amos with a defence splitting through pass.
In the second half Matt Glass pulled a goal back for the Tigers with just over half an hour to go when Gary Townsend headed the ball into his path ... but all subsequent efforts to force an equaliser and send the game into extra time came to nothing. In fact it was AFC Emley who came closest to scoring again through Mark Townsend who headed wide from a clear cut opportunity when the home side had counter attacked to good effect after soaking up a spell of pressure.
Your roving the66pow photographer catches the culprits as the goalposts are stolen

The last time Worksop Town visited the Welfare Ground (for a friendly) they beat the old Emley FC 6-1, a repeat of that result never really looked like materialising tonight in the first ever competitive match between the Tigers and AFC Emley.
The best team won tonight and played some excellent football to bridge the gap in league status that exists between the two clubs at present.
Obviously Worksop Town have other priorities this season, but that shouldn't take anything away from AFC Emley's victory, they played very well, credit where it's due.
By the way, was that really one of those X Factor twins wearing the number 6 shirt and standing in at centre half for AFC Emley tonight?

Opposite the entrance to AFC Emley's car park stands this famous local landmark, the Emley Moor Television Transmitter ... though I suspect that I really need to check out my sources of information far more carefully in future.