An unscheduled stop for me this one.I had no plans to go to a game tonight, but when Clitheroe's Jerrome Matthews scored a last minute equaliser on Saturday to set up this replay, after Staveley had gone in front late in the game through Lee Gregory ... that old FA Cup magic came calling again.
And my itchy feet just had to answer the call.
The prize for tonight's winner is a home tie in the 1st Qualifying Round versus Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Henceforth ... tonight I have mostly been watching Staveley Miners Welfare lose 1 - 3 to the Clit Heroes of Lancashire in the FA Cup (approx. spelling my photo of their flag was blurred), despite holding on to a goal advantage at half time.Staveley have changed their all blue kit this season for blue and white striped shirts, most probably at the behest of their Sheffield Wednesday supporting chairman.
No doubt Clitheroe's excitable and enthusiastic (but perfectly harmless) 'Blue Army' of happy clappers will be expelling loud noises from their klaxon, with big beaming grins on their cheery faces, all the way back home over the Pennines this damp and drizzly night.
Good for them.
Non League football needs it's eccentrics and 'characters' who openly, unselfconsciously and unashamedly celebrate their joy of life in open public spaces ... Clitheroe have them in abundance.
That, by the way, is an observation, not a criticism.
This evening marked the first time I have ever been delayed at the entrance of a football ground by a visiting 'WAG' struggling to free her handbag from the turnstile ... and remarkable as it may seem, the first time I have ever seen Clitheroe play.
They (Clitheroe) were very good in the second half and ran out worthy winners, three cheers for the team in amber and black change colours, hip hip hooray x 3 and a prolonged clap for the victors ;-)
The game kicked off slightly late because the visitors team bus didn't arrive until nearly 7.30pm, but it was under way by 7.50.
Maybe Clitheroe took a while to get into their stride because of their delayed journey over, but Staveley just about shaded the first half and went in at half time ahead courtesy of a solitary effort from Lee Gregory.
They could have added more but the first half yielded no further goals and in truth got a bit scrappy at times.
Staveley's pitch, glistening under the floodlights with a coating of early evening rain looked immaculate and was ideally suited fast passing football, something that Clitheroe obviously noted and made good use of in the second half, in particular one man, Jerrome Matthews, who was instrumental in the build up for two of two the visitors goals either side of their second which he tucked home himself from an angle.
Kenny Mayers netted the other two. The first he headed home from a cross, the second he put away after Matthews played the ball back to him from the byline.
Tuesday 1st September. FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay
Inkersall Road, Staveley
Staveley Miners Welfare (1) 1 (Gregory)
Clitheroe (0) 3 (Mayers 2, Matthews)
Admission £5. Programme £1
Attendance 106
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