This way for free football ... roll up!Wednesday 19th October 2011, at Inkersall Road
Friendly
Staveley Miners Welfare (1) 3
Jordan Eagers 16, Simon Barraclough 67, Andrew Fox 89
Frickley Athletic (2) 3
Ollie Ryan 13, 53, Jack Watts 41
Admission FREE, Attendance 35
Friendly
Staveley Miners Welfare (1) 3
Jordan Eagers 16, Simon Barraclough 67, Andrew Fox 89
Frickley Athletic (2) 3
Ollie Ryan 13, 53, Jack Watts 41
Admission FREE, Attendance 35
Tonight, I was going to the Harworth Colliery Instute Under 19's League Cup tie against Dinnington Town at Scrooby Road, but that was called off, because of a problem with the electrics at Harworth.This is due to somebody breaking into the HCIFC sub station and causing damage to the mains supply.
Well, he's earned himself a free ride in an ambulance and a stay in hospital for his troubles.
And that is before he's dealt with in court.
In these politically correct times, I'd probably get a slap on the wrists from the National Assembly for Do Goodery for saying things like 'tough shit you got what you deserved' and 'what kind of imbecile messes about with high voltage equipment without getting it isolated first?'
So I won't.
But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking it.
Lets cross our fingers that the victim of this crime makes a full recovery soon ... as in, I hope Harworth's power supply is fully restored ASAP, so they don't have to postpone any more first team or Under 19's matches ... and their reserves don't have to change by torchlight again. Hopefully they're not losing any revenue in the bar either.
As for the culprit ... he is reaping what he's sown and that is none of my concern or business, so I shall keep counsel on the matter.
Wow! Staveley MW even have their own wheelie bins, very posh!The game provided both sides with an opportunity to give a few players a run out, for a variety of reasons.
Frickley's Ollie Ryan, in particular, needed a good 90 minutes under his belt... and he will be pleased with tonight's workout, which saw him involved in the majority of Frickley's attacking moves, whilst claiming two goals for himself.
Staveley are a hard side to beat and to their credit, even at 3-1 down and chasing the game, they refused to play it long ... keeping the ball on the deck and not giving up the fight saw them claw their way back into the game and they equalised in the very last minute with a goal from Andrew Fox.
On 13 minutes Ollie Ryan scored his first ever goal for Frickley.Ryan joined the club from Northwich Victoria in June, but injury problems have delayed his availability for first team selection thus far.
Peter Rinkcavage must be delighted with the shift Ryan put in tonight, against NCEL promotion contenders Staveley.
Three minutes after the visitors took the lead, Jordan Eagers fired home the equaliser for Staveley from the edge of the box.
Although this was only a friendly, the north Derbyshire club never go out on the field of play just to make up the numbers.
The game was played in the right spirit, with plenty of open passing play from both sides.
Jack Watts hit the Staveley upright on 22 minutes and Ryan Mallon hit the crossbar on 25.
After a mix up in the six yard box, Jack Watts squeezed the ball home to put the visitors in front just before half time.
On 53 minutes Ollie Ryan struck again, probably putting himself in contention for a game on Saturday against FC United of Manchester in the FA Trophy.And four minutes later he turned provider for Jack Watts, but the young striker had wandered offside just before he struck and his strike was ruled out.
Watts then hit the ball narrowly wide of Staveley's left hand post and Mallon followed suit a few minutes later.
Staveley hit the underside of the bar when they attacked on 67 minutes, as the ball bounced on the line and Adam Billard and his defence tried scrambling the ball away, Simon Barraclough pounced to fire the loose ball home.
Ollie Ryan almost claimed his hat trick, but he headed narrowly wide on 70 minutes.
Then the same player rolled the ball into the path of Karl Jones, but Staveley restricted the Frickley number 7 to along range shot and his effort went over the bar.
Frickley's centre half, Michael Simpkins, took a hefty knock late in the game, but he was able to get up and carry on, despite needing an ice pack after the game.Simpkins is another player who needed a workout tonight.
He was certainly kept busy as Staveley went looking for an equaliser late on.
Frickley had played a load of neat passing stuff and looked strong in the second half, despite the score line suggesting they were better in the first.
But Staveley don't accept defeat without a fight and for the last ten minutes they were really pushing forward to try levelling the score.
Apparently, there is no such thing as a non competitive game at Inkersall Road.
In the dying seconds Staveley rattled the crossbar again and Andrew Fox scored an exact replica of Simon Barraclough's earlier strike.There wasn't time for any more goalmouth action and an entertaining and open game finished three apiece, with handshakes and smiles all round.
Though I would've happily paid to get in, the free admission absorbed some of the outlay from the previous night's excesses, as my partner in crime - a lady I'm going to have to go public about if we attend many more games together - accompanied me to both Sincil Bank and Inkersall Road.
Before she gets an official stalker status however, I'm buggering off elsewhere without her on Saturday. Commitment is one thing, however ... letting my love life interfere with my football travels is completely unacceptable, even though we've been together a 'couple' of years now (it seems MUCH longer, probably even more so for her) and there a big anniversary celebration on the nearby horizon.
There's plenty of time for more football before then though!
NEXT UP - Spoilt for choice, there are loads of tempting options this coming weekend, though I most likely won't be going too far, because I'm going to a gig in York on Saturday night and need to be back in time to get there quite early.
