Staveley Miners Welfare 1 v Liversedge 2 - Baris NCEL Prem

Tuesday 30th April 2013, at Inkersall Road

Baris Northern Counties East League, Premier Division

Staveley Miners Welfare (0) 1

Oliver Woodhead 77

Liversedge (0) 2

Danny Toronczak 49

Ryan Wood 75

Admission £5, Programme £1, Attendance 78

Ta very much to 'our Ele' for the team sheet

Left click for enlarged image

Staveley beat bottom placed Hall Road Rangers 3-0 on Saturday, to end a shocking sequence of 15 consecutive League games without a win, since they beat Barton Town Old Boys on Saturday 15th December 2012. 

There have, of course, been mitigating circumstances that have temporarily delayed the progress this club's been making, both on and off the pitch. But even after a worrying spell of uncertainty for the Staveley faithful, that saw the vultures eagerly, but prematurely circling Inkersall Road, there is still an air of positivity around the place, as they move forward again, towards a brighter future.

The truth is, this north Derbyshire football club are far from going bust and vanishing without a trace, as many of the salacious rumour mongers in local football have been predicting.

If I may rehash a variation of a famous Mark Twain quote to make my point: the reports of Staveley Miners Welfare FC's death are greatly exaggerated.

Trust me and just watch them find their feet again next season, now they've taken their standing count squarely on the jaw and weathered the stormy seas, that were caused by the waves of people deserting what they wrongly assumed was a sinking ship.

Defiant Sabre rattling conjecture, or fact? 

Tell you what, if you're not convinced by what I've just said, come back in twelve months time and discuss the above subject matter with me, because I'll enjoy that, a lot, because I absolutely love being proved right.

Earlier this month, Liversedge had dished out an 8-1 mauling to Staveley at their Clayborn base in Cleckheaton, but a fairly lacklustre first half, suggested that this game was never likely to provide many goals,  to entertain the 78 spectators who'd turned out tonight, instead of watching the European football on TV.

But there were a few stand out moments at either end.
Lee Anthony looked as though he had given Staveley the lead, but having connected well with Ryan Damms neat delivery into his path, to lob Tony Clarke in the visitors goal, he saw the ball take a wicked bounce in the rock hard goalmouth and it flew straight over the bar instead of into the net. That moment, encapsulated the kind of luck Staveley have been having this season; i.e, none at all, except for bad luck of course.

At the other end, Gibril Bojang put a dangerous cross into the Staveley box and Matt Bugg crashed the ball against the crossbar,
Lee Anthony's right wing cross was only half cleared by the visitors defence, as far as Sean Dickinson, but Tony Clarke saved well to dent the Blues number 8.
Anthony was involved again, when he dispossessed James Rathel on the edge on the 'Sedge box and played Joe Bytheway through, but his shot went across the face of the goal and out of play narrowly wide of the far post.
HT - Staveley MW 0 v Liversedge 0

The second half was just four minutes old, when Matt Bugg's shot from 10 yards was well blocked by Martin Dewberry, but Danny Toronczak was on hand the score from the rebound, with what was possibly only Liversedge's second notable attempt on goal, of the game, thus far.
Jamie Smith saw his effort fly wide of the target, as the home side started to inject a bit of momentum into their game.
But the pressing game up front, turned into panic in defence, as Martin Dewberry and Joe Bytheway combined to make a real mess of clearing the ball and they were fortunate that Matt Bugg couldn't respond quickly enough to the unexpected chance he was gifted.
Staveley pushed forward, probing for an equaliser and Ryan Damms crashed the ball against the crossbar with Tony Clarke beaten. Michael Trench hurt himself trying to get to the loose ball as Clarke recovered and plucked it out of the air.

Toronczak put Bugg through on goal with a well weighted pass, but Dewberry made a vital stop to keep the score down to 0-1.
Dewberry was in the thick of it again before long, plucking a left wing cross from the ever lively Toronczak off of Bugg's head.
Just when it looked as though Staveley had weathered a mini storm, Ryan Wood ghosted in, took advantage of a gap in the home sides rearguard and knocked home Liversedge's second goal with fifteen minutes remaining.
Liversedge scoring again woke Staveley up a bit and within two minutes they had pulled a goal back through Oliver Woodhead who headed home a pinpoint delivery from Liam Osborne.
Osborne steeped up the ante and began to cause the Liversedge defence no end of problems as they resorted to kicking him to keep his obvious threat under wraps.
The game finished under a cloud of controversy, due to a couple of decisions that went against the home side and cost both Ryan Damms and Jamie Smith a yellow card apiece.

Several players went up in the six yard box for an in swinging cross from Liam Osborne and there was a call for a penalty as the ball was flicked over the cross bar by the hand of ... well it depends how clear a view you had of it who's hand(s) you're going to think got to the ball.
A Liversedge player definitely handled it, no doubt about that, but Ryan Damms also got a touch.
However it was difficult to ascertain whether the Staveley captain was booked for the handball or for what he said to the ref in the aftermath of the incident.
But if it was for for using his hand, then whichever Liversedge player helped the ball over the bar, should also have received a caution too.
For the record, I was in line with the goal, watching the action through a zoom lens, hoping to get a picture of a late equaliser for Staveley (not that I'm biased or 'owt!).
But that doesn't mean my first hand account is either definitive or wholly accurate.
If opinion was split about the handball decision ... and having spoken to a few people about the incident on the way out of the ground, there were several contradictory and conflicting views from eye witnesses ... then Jamie Smith's misfortune at being shown a yellow card, was agreed upon unanimously.
It was a crap decision, end of!

Smith and Tony Clarke both went for a loose ball and reached it simultaneously, with Smith actually getting a touch on the ball first, before the keeper got his hands on it.
Neither a case of foul or dangerous play, but just the act of a player making a last ditch and legitimate attempt to get to a ball that was still in play, as his team pushed forward in search of a late goal that would salvage a point from the game.
Smith was entitled to go for the ball, just like Clarke, who bravely saved the situation and possibly preserved his teams lead in the process.
I'm loathe to criticise match officials at any time, as I've said previously ... but, in this instance, Jamie Smith is going to have to pay a fine as punishment for challenging for the ball fairly.
Surely, that is exactly what he is meant to do.
Isn't it?
FT - Staveley Miners Welfare 1 v Liversedge 2
It could've gone either way in the second half. But Liversedge hung on to their slender advantage and won the day.
Both sides will finish the season just below mid table in the Baris NCEL Premier Division and will be looking for an improvement next year.

Parkgate U19 1 v Basford United 7 - NMU19L Div 2

Monday 29th April 2013
at Roundwood Pavilion
North Midland U19 League Division 2
Parkgate U19 (1) 1
Curtis Wilkinson 28
Basford United U19 (4) 7
Anton Robinson 13
Dan Jackson 24, 51
Luke McKeag 36
Jack Hodson 43, 75
Kyle Keetley 67
Admission £2 inc team sheet

Congratulations to Basford United U19, who were (finally and deservedly) crowned as champions of the NMU19L Division 2 tonight.
The last time I visited Parkgate, was the unfortunate night (this one) where I ended up missing most of the game to accompany an injured Harworth Under 19's player, Tom Sowden, to Rotherham A&E.
The reasons for my visit to Roundwood tonight were two fold, 1) To seek out the guy from Parkgate's ground staff who'd helped us to get Tom to hospital, because I didn't get chance to thank him properly when things were getting a bit hectic that night & 2) the championship for the NMU19L was probably going to be decided tonight and it's only right that representatives of at least some of the other clubs in that division were present to pay there respects to Basford for their achievement.
Of course, it also got me out of attending a committee meeting at Harworth Colliery FC ... but I'll make sure I'm at the next one, paying attention, listening intently and taking my responsibilities as seriously as ever (cough).

Basford United bagged seven quality finishes tonight, to underline their credentials as worthy champions of the NMU19L Division 2, even though the eighth goal of the night, or the third in chronological order, netted by Parkgate's right back Curtis Wilkinson was probably the pick of the bunch, after he raced down the right flank, before smacking home a peach of a goal from just outside the Basford area on 28 minutes, to give his side a brief hope of getting back into the game, before the visitors turned the screw, upped the ante and vanished out of sight and over the horizon.

Anton Robinson opened the scoring after 13 minutes, getting onto the end of a multi pass move, before rounding the keeper and putting the finishing touch to some neat build up play, from ten yards out.

Dan Jackson netted Basford's second, with a calm and confident finish after he was picked out by, err ... a Basford player, out on the left flank, with a cross deep into Parkgate's area.

The home side then gave themselves a temporary respite from Basford's attacking play, through Curtis Wilkinson's aforementioned 'wunder strike' and threatened to get back into the game, until Luke McKeag headed home another goal for the visitors to restore their two goal cushion.

Dan Jackson almost made it 1-4, but his effort came back off the underside of the crossbar.

But Jack Hodson netted Basford's 4th a couple of minutes before the interval anyway.

HT - Parkgate U19 1 v Basford United U19 4

45 minutes gone and the Nottingham based champions elect already had one hand on the trophy.

Shortly after the restart, Jack Hodson put Dan Jackson through with a measured pass and the prolific Basford striker chipped Parkgate's keeper, to all but finish the game off and claim the title for the visitors.

Basford could now afford to slow the tempo down a bit and be a little blase' in their approach play. 

Kyle Keetley's goal to make it 1-6 was pure show boating as he lobbed the ball home from 25 yards after the Parkgate keeper had strayed from his line. And then Jack Hodson belted home a 25 yard free kick from almost 30 yards out to complete the rout, with 15 minutes still to go. 

Basford could, possibly, have really gone to town in the closing stages, but that would just have been showing off and they didn't need to do that. 

This victory was already just about as emphatic as it could've been.

FT - Parkgate U19 1 v Basford United 7

A real champion class performance by Basford on the night.

Well done to all concerned.

Harworth Colliery 2 v Westella Hanson 2 - CMFL North

Saturday 27th April 2013
at the Recreation Ground, Scrooby Road, Bircotes
Central Midlands League (North)
Harworth Colliery (1) 2
Tom Pick 40, 85
Westella Hanson (1) 2
Chris Spinks 21, James Atkinson 86
Admission £3, Programme £1

Harworth Colliery:
Mark Latham, Jordan Hardman, Paul Burns, David Cornthwaite, Simon Brewster, Chris Belshaw, Jonny Bownes, Gaz Sides, Billy Ball, Matt Smith, Tom Pick
Subs - Tom Padgett, Andy Webb, Brendan Wilson
Westella Hanson:
Jody Barford, Rob Dodson, Jack Walters  Andy Bagshaw, James Atkinson, Matt Fyvie, Alex Wood, Bobby Stevenson, Muke Pecora, Chris Spinks, Mike Thompson
Subs - Dave Gorden, Dave Clement, Tom Dent 

Last weekend, Harworth lost 4-3 at Easington United, after being 3-0 ahead at one point, while Westella arrived at Scrooby Road on the back of a eight game unbeaten run.
Earlier this month, Westella emphatically thrashed Harworth 1-0 at Bishop Burton.
That is to say, they played the Colliery lads off the park that afternoon and deserved far more than a single goal victory in the end, on a day when Mark Latham pulled off some top quality stops, to give the margin of defeat a respectable look, that the all round team performance probably didn't warrant.
I think it would be fair to say, that thus far, though there are obviously teams who have more strength in depth, resources and quality individuals who can turn a game single handedly, Westella are, without a doubt in my mind, the best side Harworth have faced, both technically and team work ethic wise, all season.

When the two sides met a few weeks ago, Westella moved the ball around quickly and precisely in the last third, looking to make gaps to exploit, for their danger men like Mikle Pecora and Chris Spinks to take advantage of.

So, this afternoon, Harworth were well aware of what to expect, how to contain that threat and who to look out for.
If you defend too deeply against today's East Riding based visitors, they'll try picking you to pieces around your own goalmouth, so a more advanced back-line ought to deal with that problem, while forcing them into resorting to long range pops at goal, instead of playing their usual game.
Right? Err ... no actually.
The game started well for Harworth, who were seeing plenty of the ball, but on 21 minutes, they conceded possession cheaply from a free kick in the middle of the park and a long ball over the top of their defence for Chris Spinks to run on to from out on the right flank, saw him put the ball past Mark Latham with an unstoppable, quality strike.

Harworth didn't let the set back knock them out of their stride too much and they took the game to Westella for the remainder of the first half, looking for an equaliser.
Neither side could afford to lose this afternoon as they battle it out with Clay Cross Town for third spot and thie game turned out to be a compelling contest, with no quarter being given.
Harworth deserved lot of credit for sticking to their task given that there were several notable absentees today and a couple of players drafted into the first team duty from the reserves.
Tom Pick nodded home the goal that levelled things up from a tight angle, from Jordan Hardman's right wing cross, fjust ive minutes before the break.
Maeningly the game was nicely balanced on a knife edge when half time arrived.
HT - Harworth 1 v Westella 1

Jody Barford denies Tom Pick.

Being as diplomatic as I possibly can, the final result hinged on the second half performance of three teams. Namely: the home side, the visitors and the match officials.
All three of those teams did their level best to put on a decent game of football, but all three made mistakes along the way, in the process of doing so ... and some of those errors had more of a bearing on the full time score than others.
Westella came out of the blocks like an express train after the restart, but Harworth just about contained them and worked hard to gain the initiative.
Tom Pick was putting in a busy shift around the visitors goal ... and when he went to ground having been nudged in the back in a crowded six yard box, it looked like a clear penalty from where I was standing, i.e. behind the goal that Harworth were attacking ... but the match officials can only award decisions when they get a clear view of any given incident and that one would've been hard to spot amid a scrum of players.

Tom Pick makes it 2-1 to Harworth on 85 minutes

There was another similar push in Pick's back a few minutes later, but that was probably classed as one of those 'get up and get on with it', two players coming together type collisions. Pick had the last laugh however, escaping the attentions of his marker and firing the ball home from 15 yards with just five minutes to go.
It looked as if Harworth were going to claim three hard earned points today, but this game still had a couple of stings left in its tail.
The home side were in front for less than 60 seconds, before James Atkinson knocked home an equaliser at the other end.
Colliery's keeper Mark Latham stayed down after the goal, which was a worry.
It transpired that he'd taken a stray raised boot in his face in the build up, moments before Westella scored.
I didn't see that clearly first hand, but I guess it was up to the officials at that end to decide whether a head injury warranted stopping play immediately, or calling for treatment to be given once the visitors were celebrating their goal.
In essence, it's all down to split second timing.

Paul Latham was clearly incensed by the incident ... but before anybody says that the players dad is bound to be biased, just let me state; he is actually a fairly harsh critic of his son's performances at times and would've called the incident *exactly* as he saw it, i.e. not through rose tinted glasses.
Sometimes he possibly requires bi-focals ;-) (don't we all) but Paul is never shy about giving people his side of things straight, to the point and as he honestly views them.
A 2-2 draw, as a conclusion to this end to end game, that had seen one team and then the other taking the initiative to go all out to claim the result, was probably a fair result in the cold light of day, once the dust from the firm but fair pitch settles and the finger pointing ceases.

But, that said, Harworth could and should have had an opportunity to clinch the victory right at the death.
In the last minute of the 90, the referee failed to point to the penalty spot, for an infringement that took place a good foot or so inside the area.
The referees assistant was straight in line with the blatant foul, but his sight line would've blocked due to Gaz Sides and Jonny Bownes surging into the box in tandem with the visitors full back in their slip stream, but how on earth the referee missed it ... hmm, I'll shurrup, we all make honest mistakes at work, don't we!?
Would Pick have scored the spot kick, claimed his hat trick and won the day for Harworth?
I guess we'll never know.
And the Colliery will just have to dust themselves down and accept that possibly, these twists of fate and occasional debatable decisions, balance themselves out over the course of the season.
Much as I'm having to say that through gritted teeth right now, in the direct aftermath of the game.
FT - Harworth 2 v Westella 2
Right, who's got some tweezers, to get these bloody splinters out of a certain fence sitting bloggers big bum ... any takers?

Oi! You two ... come back!

FC Sutton Foresters 3 v Retford Town 1 - AET - Notts FA Saturday Junior Cup Final

Thursday 25th April 2013
at Eagle Valley, home of Arnold Town FC
Notts FA Saturday Junior Cup Final
FC Sutton Foresters 3
Retford Town 1
Matt Young 85
After Extra Time
45 mins 0-0, 90 mins 1-1, 105 mins 3-1, FT 3-1

Bouncers! ... Albert Graves - a Notts football legend

A few pictures and a very brief overview of tonight's Notts FA Saturday Junior Cup Final.

Left click for enlarged image.
Retford Town line up courtesy of Martin 'Buster' Keeton

Match report from Retford Town website

FC Sutton Foresters had the better of the game as a whole, but didn't turn their lions share of possesion into goals and Retford equalised inside the last five minutes, through substitute Matt Young, to force the game into extra time.
But FC Sutton Foresters put the game beyond Town's reach during the first half of that extra time, with two quick fire goals.
On the balance of play the score was about right in the end and I don't think Retford will have any complaints about the final outcome.

In fact, if it hadn't have been for a couple of decent saves (and one moment of improvised good fortune) from Retford's goalkeeper and captain, Jason Holberry, the game wouldn't have needed to go into extra time.
FC Sutton Foresters are a very efficient and attack minded side, as the league table for the Midland Amateur Alliance shows

For the record Retford Town will finish as runners up to the Blues Club (Gainsborough) in this season's Lincoln League Div 1 and they did win the David Cooper Cup earlier this month by beating Fulbeck United 4-2 in the final, so their season hasn't been without its merits.

Chesterfield 3 v Mansfield Town 0 - Central League (Regional fixture)

The Proact Stadium. View from inside the Rose & Crown

Tuesday 23rd April 2013
Central League (Regional fixture)
Chesterfield (0) 3
Danny Whitaker 53
Jacob Hazel 69, 85
Mansfield Town (0) 0
Admission free inc. team sheet
Attendance 300+

Left click picture for enlarged team line up details

Match report from the Mansfield Town website

"Here for the party, we're only here for the party"
Most of the Stags reserves players are away in Tenerife, where the club is celebrating winning the Blue Square Bet Premier championship at the weekend.
So it was just the Under 19s who travelled to the Proact Stadium for this end of season game.
The young Stags gave a fairly good account of themselves at times, especially in the opening half, but they were ultimately undone, by their more experienced hosts, who had a couple of first team trialists in their line up tonight and came good after the break.

Jack Waddle is currently on the Spireites books, he's a dead ringer for his dad Chris, the ex England international, who started his career at Tow Law Town.
Don't worry too much about being at Chesterfield at the moment Jack. As your dad's career path showed, it doesn't hurt in the long run to start at the bottom and aim high.
Oh well Spireites, it was nice to have turned up on your doorstop tonight, to remind you that your local rival team, who you said you would never have to play again, because we are apparently in free fall, whilst you are upwardly mobile in your swanky new ground, with your big money backing, heading up the Football League and out of our reach forever, are actually in exactly the same division as you next season.
Did you miss us?
Thought not, but that's mutual xxx

Of course, none of this brief resume' of a Central League fixture, is meant to be confrontational or antagonistic, 'tis merely tongue in cheek banter.
Bring it on and see you all again soon, you sheep, sheep, sheep sh@ggers ;-)
For the record, I sat and watched tonight's game with my mate called Barry, who is actually from Chesterfield.
Though we possibly won't be sat in the same stand when our respective first teams play each other next season.

Askern Villa 0 v Albion Sports 4 - Baris NCEL Div 1

Monday 22nd April 2013
at the Welfare Ground, Askern
Baris Northern Counties East League, Division 1
Askern Villa (0) 0
Albion Sports (3) 4
Malachi Farquharson 3
Daniel Facey 23
Kayden Jackson 27
James Stansfield 75
Admission £4, Programme £1, Attendance 35

Bottom placed Askern Villa, tonight hosted league leaders and champions of the Baris NCEL Division 1 elect, Albion Sports.
The home side started on a goal difference of -104, while Sports had a slightly better return of +65.
So an away banker, if ever there was one.
Earlier this month, Askern let in 7 goals against Bottesford Town, 11 against Louth Town and 9 against Pontefract Collieries.
It is to their immense credit that they haven't just chucked the towel in and called it a day, buggering up the league table for every body else in the process, just like certain other teams have done in other local leagues recently.

When Malachi Farquharson put Albion Sports ahead in just the third minute, all 35 people present, myself included, anticipated another rout.
But a combination of rugged, determined defending and some poor finishing from the visitors, restricted Sports to just 3 more goals all night, 2 in the first half and another 1 in the last fifteen minutes, even though Askern finished the game a man light when they had a player dismissed for swearing at the linesman, or more to the point, for calling him a cheat.

Malachi Farquharson heads home the opening goal

Askern have always been a very welcoming club, who have been beset with misfortune and constant vandalism to their ground.
Doubtless, the next time I go there it will be to watch them in action in the CMFL next term, but at the moment that step down, might be just what they need as they regroup and try to get back on an even keel. And at least they'll have a few local derby games to relish next season, with Bentley, Brodsworth, Harworth and Thorne.

Hopefully Askern will get a change in fortune some time soon, because they have a good bunch of people looking after them at the Welfare Ground.
Maybe a name change, like dropping the Villa word and reverting back to being called Askern Welfar, would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
4-0, was actually a very respectable margin of defeat all told, for Askern, given all of the circumstances and background to tonight's game.
As damage limitation exercises go, you could almost call it a success.
Tonight, we got talking to a guy from Pontefract, who proudly claimed to have attended almost 100 games this season.
Wow! Your dedication to duty is commendable good sir.
I hope you achieve that impressive target.

Sheffield U19 0 v Handsworth U19 0 - NMU19L Div 1

Thursday 18th April 2013,
at the Coach & Horses Ground, Dronfield
North Midlands U19 League Division 1
Sheffield U19 (0) 0
Handsworth U19 (0) 0
Admission £2 inc. free programme

Once more this term, the NMU19L has provided an excellent source of entertainment and intrigue again all season and in both divisions its going right to the wire.

Basford United could (deservedly) claim the 2nd Division title at Matlock Town next Thursday, with Buxton and Dunkirk (2nd v 3rd) playing against each other on Tuesday.

Second placed Sheffield hosted Division 1 leaders Handsworth tonight, in this nip and tuck game.

A win for either side, would've given them a massive leg up in the race for the title, but in the event, a goalless draw, combined with Staveley's 3-0 victory at Teversal last night, means that there are still three teams in with a shout of lifting the trophy.

North Midland Under 19 League current positions

Handsworth have just one game remaining, at Arnold Town on Monday 29th April. 

Sheffield's last game will be at Teversal, on Tuesday 23rd April. 

And Staveley MW have two away games left to play at: Hallam on Monday April 22nd and Worksop Town (at Shirebrook) on Thursday 2nd May (according to the NMU19L website, though I'm unofficially but very reliably told that game will actually go ahead on 29th April too).

Staveley MW also travel to Cannon Park/The Jones & Co. Solicitors Stadium (home of Retford United), on Wednesday 8th May, when they face Hallam again in the NMU19L League Cup Final.

If Handsworth win at Arnold the league title will be theirs and they'll already know both Sheffield and Staveley's interim results by then.

Both teams were well supported tonight, for this game that could've gone either way.
In the end I think the draw was just about a fair result.
Handsworth had Sheffield on the back foot for most of the first half, but couldn't make their lions share of the possession count.
But after the break, Sheffield got into the game more and Liam Fox came closest to breaking the deadlock  when he shot narrowly wide and into the side netting from close range.
Adam Hurrell went in late and recklessly on the Handsworth keeper, just after the restart. I gave him the benefit of the doubt over an unpunished challenge on Staveley's Dan Hatfield a couple of weeks ago, but tonight, well ... he deserved his yellow card, at the very least.

Barry and Pam Crownshaw, NMU19L Committee stalwarts ...
and an ex England international footballer called Chris

Elsewhere tonight, Retford United beat Worksop Town 4-3 in the Bassetlaw NMU19L Division 1, local derby game (at Shirebrook), in what must've been a great game if the text updates I was getting from there, are anything to go by.
The result all but guarantees the Badgers a top four finish, unless Hallam win all of their four games in hand.
Worksop will be hoping Hallam don't achieve that record, because they could then slip down in the table, below the dreaded dotted line, that could spell demotion to Division 2 next season.
The fact that Hallam and Worksop both need maximum points from the run in, adds even more spice to Staveley's two remaining league games.
Hold on tight!
NMU19L Remaining fixtures - April
NMU19L Remaining fixtures - May

Mansfield Town 6 v Morecambe 0 - The Central League - Divisional Section Division Two

Wednesday 17th April 2013
at Field Mill, AKA Wonk Hall, AKA One Call Stadium
The Central League - Divisional Section Division 2
Mansfield Town (3) 6
Todd 35, Clements 43, 45
Wright 48, 62, 75
Morecambe (0) 0
Admission Free, no programmes or team sheets
Attendance 65/70 or somewhere around that

There will possibly be a few more people here on Saturday

Mansfield Town Reserves:
Redmond, Tolley, Wright, Thompson, Hutchinson, Todd, Marsden (Birch), Pilkington, Geohaghon, (J) Green (Lamb), Clements
Morecambe Reserves:
Cookson, McGowan, Lewis (Newton), Riley, Short, Dunleavy, McGee, Naylor, Mwasile, Woods, Parkinson.
Sub not used: Jones.

Spot the referee - pre kit change

The Stags Reserves made easy work of dismantling a predominantly youthful looking side from Morecambe tonight.
The home side started the game with the stiff wind behind their backs and had several chances to take advantage of the conditions, before player/manager Andy Todd finally broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when he nodded a header back across the face of goal from Jake Green's cross that bulged the net just inside the right hand upright.
The Shrimpers defence were caught flat footed, twice, just before half time and Chris Clements benefited both times ... scoring first from a lofted James Tolley pass into his path that he drilled home from 12 yards, before lobbing the visitors keeper Jack Cookson, from a similar distance, after Nick Wright had picked him out with a precision ball, less than a minute later.
HT - Mansfield Town 3 v Morecambe 0

Three minutes into the second half, the officials missed Nick Wright pulling a defenders arm back to put him out of the race for the ball in the middle of the park, before he advanced 30 yards at pace and buried the ball into the Quarry Lane End net for the Stags fourth goal of the night.

In what had become a fairly one sided contest, which was hardly surprisingly given how strong a line up Mansfield had started with tonight, i.e. ten of the starting eleven have had first team experience this season, Nick Wright bagged another brace of goals to claim his hat trick, as the home side steadily racked up the goals and won fairly easily.

FT - Mansfield Town Reserves 6 v Morecambe Reserves 0