Northern League Division 1
Ironworks Road, Tow Law
Tow Law Town (2) 2
Craggs 2
Norton & Stockton Ancients (4) 5
Alderson, Clarke 3, Tobin OG
Admission £5, No programme but team sheet issued
Both would be re-visits, but that wouldn't be a problem, because I usually enjoy my football trips up into this 'far corner' of the country anyway... and the aforementioned clubs have both got cracking old ground; but I chanced upon a fixture that I wasn't expecting, which was being played at a venue I had never been to before, which was an added bonus.
It was only a minor detour up the A68 to check out the truth of the matter (what's a 42 mile round trip between friends) and this was one of those occasions that creative mileage book 'amendments' was invented for.
Even though it would mean me stomping around on their pitch.
Actually, I think that I might have helped to thaw out some the areas that were still a bit hard.
Local legend has it that there is a rectangle of the pitch, in front of the Lawyers main-stand that never sees the light of day... and as a consequence, it is frozen solid from late September through to April.
Tow Law Town, in their bleak hillside location, have suffered more than most with the weather this season.
This was their first home game since 12th December 2009.
'A bleak hillside location' note the snow capped hills in the backgroundThe game had been called off at 7pm (at Ironworks Road) and switched, there and then, to Consett's ground, where it kicked off at 8pm.
90 days after the fixture's original scheduled start, it finally finished when the home team, playing away, beat the away team, playing at home, 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw.
Tow Law is where a promising young player, then turning out part time for the Lawyers while working in a sausage factory, set out on a career that would see him reach the dizzy heights of playing for Worksop Town, Staveley Miners Welfare and, of course: Glapwell. Before he continued to drag his aching limbs around the Sunday League circuit in Sheffield.
In between times, Christopher Roland Waddle had a slightly less glamorous 'journeyman' existence, where he had appeared in the colours of a few somewhat less prestigious club's such as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympic Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Falkirk, Bradford City, Burnley and Torquay United.
Oh, and he played sixty-two times for his country and managed Burnley for a while too.
Alas, in spite of all the other games he played during his career, he is mainly remembered for that one when he missed a penalty kick.
I'll never forget it either, I was there that night he put that penalty kick for Worksop over the crossbar at Sandy Lane and allegedly broke his teammate Darren Brookes' car window into the bargain. The Sandy Lane penalty miss is a true story, but the car window adornment might be a myth.
Yes, statistics fans, that is the same Darren Brookes who joined Doncaster Rovers from Worksop Town in 1997 but later rejoined the Tigers... fascinating stuff, eh!?
Two of the first people you will meet at Ironworks Road, are Audrey the friendly, chatty and very informative raffle ticket seller... I was too bashful to ask her where she got her dayglo gloves from but I really want a pair... and 'Darlo Dave' who does loads of jobs around the ground for TLTFC and is one of those unsung heroes that Non-League clubs couldn't get by without.In between times, Christopher Roland Waddle had a slightly less glamorous 'journeyman' existence, where he had appeared in the colours of a few somewhat less prestigious club's such as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympic Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Falkirk, Bradford City, Burnley and Torquay United.
Oh, and he played sixty-two times for his country and managed Burnley for a while too.
Alas, in spite of all the other games he played during his career, he is mainly remembered for that one when he missed a penalty kick.
I'll never forget it either, I was there that night he put that penalty kick for Worksop over the crossbar at Sandy Lane and allegedly broke his teammate Darren Brookes' car window into the bargain. The Sandy Lane penalty miss is a true story, but the car window adornment might be a myth.
Darlo Dave... a guy christened David who hails from Darlington collects the warm up balls before the game.
There was also a very nice local lady called Mary, who wherever you stood in the ground (believe me I moved enough times to test out my theory) could be heard, loudly shouting out 'words of encouragement' in a very shrill voice.
May saints preserve any referee who makes a mistake, or unfortunate player who misplaces a simple pass when Mary is around.
The game itself, even if I do say so myself, was thoroughly entertaining.
A few minutes later the home side's keeper punched out a direct free kick that was destined for the roof of the net... but in the tenth minute, Tow Law's spirited rearguard was finally cracked open and Dave Alderson scrambled the ball home, just inside the left hand post, to make it one-apiece.
May saints preserve any referee who makes a mistake, or unfortunate player who misplaces a simple pass when Mary is around.
The game itself, even if I do say so myself, was thoroughly entertaining.
Tow Law took the lead, in the second minute, possibly slightly against the run of play, when Daniel Craggs scuffed a low shot along the ground that deceived Briggs in the visitors' goal and ended up in the bottom corner of the net from all of twenty yards out.
The Ancients (I'm told that's their official nickname, so apologies if my information is wrong) almost equalised straight away, but a right-wing corner flashed across the hosts goal and bounced narrowly wide. "Rubbish Norton!" shrieked our Mary.A few minutes later the home side's keeper punched out a direct free kick that was destined for the roof of the net... but in the tenth minute, Tow Law's spirited rearguard was finally cracked open and Dave Alderson scrambled the ball home, just inside the left hand post, to make it one-apiece.
On seventeen minutes, despite Norton & Stockton applying plenty of pressure, Tow Law were back in front.
The goal's been credited to Daniel Craggs, so if it's all official like, I will have to go along with that, but feel Dale Mulligan, the visitors number 4, will be feeling very fortunate that his 'heavy deflection' into the net from Craggs' thumping right wing cross wasn't deemed to be an own goal.
The Ancients equalised again in the twenty fourth minute, a Jamie Clarke header was saved but he slotted the ball away from the rebound, just inside the left hand post.
On the half hour mark, Mike Dunwell, did well to feed a slide rule pass to David Hillerby in the area,
Hillerby's effort found it's way into the net via Steve Tobin for an own goal, just inside the left hand post (see if you spot a theme developing here as the game goes on).
In a bid to keep their fuel bills down, Tow Law Town have installed their very own wind turbine, to power the floodlights and other electrical output at Ironworks Road.
There are certainly plenty of stiff breezes coming over them there hills for them to utilise.
Just before half time, Jamie Clarke rounded the keeper to stick home his second and his sides fourth goal.
And around the hour mark he fired home from inside the box to complete his hat trick, by which time the Tow Law goalkeeper had finally begun to realise he could actually use his hands and was allowed to move from his line and chuck himself about in the mud every now and then.
He had a shocker in the first half, but played a big part in a damage limitation exercise throughout the second period.
My advice to Tow Law Town would be to get that left hand post at the clubhouse end of the ground exorcised as a matter of some urgency.
FT: Tow Law Town 2 v Norton & Stockton Ancients 5
If you ever decide to visit Ironworks Road, wrap up warm, very warm... and take extra layers along with you to put on at half time if it's a night game.
Me... layered up.
I've never seen a health food emporium in the north east of England. Or anybody who looked las if they might be remotely interested in entering one for that matter either.
Hmm, Tow Law is approximately half way between my current north Notts abode and Tynecastle Park, I might have to factor in a food stop and start using the A68 a bit more again, en route to the SPL games I watch, now that the weather is improving... ver so slightly.
It's always wise to take sustenance on board during a long journey.
When I got back to my room, I was just in time to see the highlights of Man Utd PLC v. AC Milan. The game that Rooney, Beckham and Co. served up, wasn't even nearly as good as the one I'd just witnessed at Ironworks Road.
There are certainly plenty of stiff breezes coming over them there hills for them to utilise.
Just before half time, Jamie Clarke rounded the keeper to stick home his second and his sides fourth goal.
And around the hour mark he fired home from inside the box to complete his hat trick, by which time the Tow Law goalkeeper had finally begun to realise he could actually use his hands and was allowed to move from his line and chuck himself about in the mud every now and then.
He had a shocker in the first half, but played a big part in a damage limitation exercise throughout the second period.
FT: Tow Law Town 2 v Norton & Stockton Ancients 5
If you ever decide to visit Ironworks Road, wrap up warm, very warm... and take extra layers along with you to put on at half time if it's a night game.
And be sure to use the chip-shop on the main A68 through the village... awesome value for money as David Dickenson might say..
You can buy a piping hot steak-pie and a stonking great big chip butty just £2.20... I thought that you might like to know.
You can buy a piping hot steak-pie and a stonking great big chip butty just £2.20... I thought that you might like to know.
Me... layered up.Hmm, Tow Law is approximately half way between my current north Notts abode and Tynecastle Park, I might have to factor in a food stop and start using the A68 a bit more again, en route to the SPL games I watch, now that the weather is improving... ver so slightly.
It's always wise to take sustenance on board during a long journey.
When I got back to my room, I was just in time to see the highlights of Man Utd PLC v. AC Milan. The game that Rooney, Beckham and Co. served up, wasn't even nearly as good as the one I'd just witnessed at Ironworks Road.
