Friday May 4th 2012, at 2inspire ParkBaris Northern Counties East League, Premier Division
Tadcaster Albion (2) 3
Nathan Kamara 14, Matthew Sparkes 22, Danny Gray 71
Staveley Miners Welfare (0) 1
Ryan Damms 59 pen
Admission £5, Programme £1, Attendance 63
Albion's keeper Arran Reid thought it was the end of season
party tonight and turned up dressed as Terry Butcher
party tonight and turned up dressed as Terry Butcher
Tadcaster Albion:
Arron Reid, Paul James, Steve Jeff, Nathan Kamara, Ryan Qualter, Chris Kamara, Graeme Whitehead, Terry Taylor, Rob Pell, Nick Thompson, Matthew Sparkes
Substitutes - Danny Gray, Liam Shepherd, Brenton Leister
Staveley Miners Welfare:
Martin Dewberry, Luke Forgione, Danny Claridge, Carl Vickers, Richard Patterson, Ashley Foyle, Andrew Fox, Jordan Eagers, Ryan Damms, Simon Barraclough, Joe Thornton
Substitutes - Chris Fawcus, Shaun Tuton, Adam Houghton, Josh Thomas, Lee Anthony
Arron Reid, Paul James, Steve Jeff, Nathan Kamara, Ryan Qualter, Chris Kamara, Graeme Whitehead, Terry Taylor, Rob Pell, Nick Thompson, Matthew Sparkes
Substitutes - Danny Gray, Liam Shepherd, Brenton Leister
Staveley Miners Welfare:
Martin Dewberry, Luke Forgione, Danny Claridge, Carl Vickers, Richard Patterson, Ashley Foyle, Andrew Fox, Jordan Eagers, Ryan Damms, Simon Barraclough, Joe Thornton
Substitutes - Chris Fawcus, Shaun Tuton, Adam Houghton, Josh Thomas, Lee Anthony
Erk!I entered the clubhouse at 'Taddy' slightly apprehensively, when I saw the Staveley Chairman, Vice Chairman, Manager and several other people connected with Inkersall Road club in there.
Why?
Well you see, I wrote a few well intentioned words on Monday, after a game at Lincoln Moorlands, about some problems the team have been having with discipline, or more to the point, indiscipline issues of late. Whilst also saying, that I wished they could just get back to playing the passing, entertaining and flowing football, that I know they're capable of.
But my (slight) concerns that I might get some kind of backlash for 'gobbing off', were completely unfounded and what a great reception I received instead.
A few smiles, handshakes, a brief and pleasant chat with the manager Billy Fox and a pint from the Staveley 'head honcho' (and all round top bloke) Terry Damms later, I felt confident enough to remove my cricket box, gum-shield, shin pads and tin hat and settled down to some relaxed pre match socialising.
I guess I shouldn't have expected anything else really, because, as a self indulgent bullshit blog writer recently said: "playing dirty is not the Staveley way"Staveley Miners Welfare FC, as a whole, must be devastated after their so close, but so far, missed opportunity to go to Wembley Stadium this season.
And that doom and gloom was bound to manifest itself some how.
But after tonight's display, especially in the second half, it's evident they're moving on and aren't going to dwell on their disappointment forever.
And I don't doubt for one minute that they'll be back on track and raring to go again next season, having learnt some valuable lessons this time around, throughout what as been a very steep learning curve in a short space of time.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger than and all that ;-)
I've always found the people who watch Tadcaster play on a regular basis, to be a friendly and humorous bunch, which was handy tonight, because I needed as many friends as I could get, given that I'd dragged the 'she devil' along, on the premise that we were visiting "a nice place right near the outskirts of York".Now look, if you ignore the imposing John Smith's Brewery towering over the ground, that you have to drive right through the bloody middle of to get there, it is actually set in an idyllic riverside location, with tree lined borders and a bar that overlooks the pitch, if one should desire a bit of warmth and comfort.
What more could a lady ask for?
Hmm, I've a feeling I'm going to be paying tenfold for this 'romantic night out' in the long run.
Tadcaster celebrate their opening goal in hushed tones,
so as to not destabilise the odd structure behind the goal
Inside the first ten minutes, Chris Kamara (not the over excitable TV presenter, but another Chris Kamara) found himself clear on the edge of the visitors box, but he dragged his shot wide of the left hand upright.
In the exchanges leading up to Kamara's effort on goal, Staveley's Ashley Foyle had taken a bang in the face, in an off the ball incident and the game was held up while he received treatment.
Nathan Kamara, knocked a pass over the Staveley defence for Rob Pell to run on to, but while the big number 9 was cueing up his cross into the 6 yard box, Terry Taylor fouled Staveley's keeper Michael Dewberry and the referee's whistle brought another Albion attack to an abrupt end.
On 14 minutes, Nathan Kamara was just about to send Rob Pell on a run towards goal, but realised his team mate was lurking in an offside position, so he surged through the defence himself, beat Dewberry in a one on one and put Tadcaster ahead with a well taken finish.
A few minutes later, Nick Thompson had the chance to extend their lead, but when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, he shot inches wide of the target.
It would be fair to say the home side were having the lions share of the chances in the first half, but some of Staveley's young players were imposing themselves on the game and weren't afraid to go head to head against more experienced and robust opposition players, with Danny Claridge and Joran Eagers in particular catching the eye.
In the exchanges leading up to Kamara's effort on goal, Staveley's Ashley Foyle had taken a bang in the face, in an off the ball incident and the game was held up while he received treatment.
Nathan Kamara, knocked a pass over the Staveley defence for Rob Pell to run on to, but while the big number 9 was cueing up his cross into the 6 yard box, Terry Taylor fouled Staveley's keeper Michael Dewberry and the referee's whistle brought another Albion attack to an abrupt end.
On 14 minutes, Nathan Kamara was just about to send Rob Pell on a run towards goal, but realised his team mate was lurking in an offside position, so he surged through the defence himself, beat Dewberry in a one on one and put Tadcaster ahead with a well taken finish.
A few minutes later, Nick Thompson had the chance to extend their lead, but when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, he shot inches wide of the target.
It would be fair to say the home side were having the lions share of the chances in the first half, but some of Staveley's young players were imposing themselves on the game and weren't afraid to go head to head against more experienced and robust opposition players, with Danny Claridge and Joran Eagers in particular catching the eye.
Man of the match, Danny Claridge, struts his stuff in front of the opposition
Unfortunately for Staveley, Nick Thompson's eye was caught by the figure of Matthew Sparkes charging into the box and he delivered a pinpoint left wing cross, for Sparkes to head powerfully home in the 22nd minute.
Their wasn't a great deal Michael Dewberry could've done to keep that out.
The visitors were up against it now, but lets look for a few positives here.
Ironically, this turn of events, gave Staveley the opportunity to demonstrate that they can keep their focus and show some resolve, while not letting their heads drop, or allowing any feelings of frustration they might harbour at going two goals behind, manifest themselves in the wrong way.
And you know what? Billy Fox's side ticked all four boxes and passed that test of character with flying colours.
So much so, one might even be tempted to suggest that going 2-0 down, to a backdrop of wisecracks and catcalls along the lines of: 'Is this when you start getting mardy then?' and 'Are you going to walk off now, 'cos you're losing and the dew on the grass is a bit too wet for you?', might, inadvertently, have actually done them a power of good.
They didn't implode, or chuck the towel in. Instead, collectively, they addressed the situation, assessed the size of the task they had been given and set about trying to rectify it.
And dear reader, that theory might not be quite as far fetched as it possibly sounds.
Matthew Sparkes goal, gave Staveley a much needed wake up call, because in spite of Simon Barraclogh's long range snap shot just before the break, that nearly went in to half the deficit, there's no denying that Tadcater Albion had the better of the first half and were two goals to the good on merit.
The home side themselves are no mugs and are capable of turning any team in this league over on their day, as their top 8 finish in a competitive NCEL Premier Division demonstrates.
Two minutes after the restart, Barraclough was in the action again when he set up Ryan Damms, but Arron Reid did well and dealt with the Staveley centre forward's effort.
Billy Fox then introduced Shaun Tuton from the bench, a switch that had a desired effect. Because Tuton gave them a new lease of life and provided more attacking options down the right flank.
After a tentative start, the visitors were getting into the game more and more now.
Just before the hour, Ryan Damms was flattened just inside the Albion area.
The ref blew up and pointed to the spot.
Damms got up, brushed himself down and buried the penalty into the back of the net himself.
A few minutes later, the lively Tuton, making a real handful of himself, cut in from the right and fired narrowly over the bar.
At the other end, Chris Kamara pounced on a slip by Luke Forgione and set off towards Staveley's goal, but he completely miscued his shot from 10 yards out, to earn Forgione (who hadn't done much wrong tonight before then) a reprieve.
Jordan Eagers, or Eagles as the handwritten team sheet pinned to the clubhouse door (that I stole) called him, tried his luck with a free kick from 25 yards out, but it was deflected wide for a corner.
Staveley, now looking for an equaliser and asserting themselves on the game by letting their football do the talking, were dealt a cruel blow on 71 minutes, when Danny Gray, one of Albion's second half subs, picked up a loose ball on the edge of the visitors box and made the score 3-1, with a quality and assured finish, advantage Tadcaster.
Adam Houghton entered the fray for Staveley and almost made an immediate impact on the game, but he narrowly failed to connect with Andrew Fox's in-swinging cross shortly after coming on, after finding himself a few yards of space right in front of goal.
I feel that their would definitely have been a much different outcome to the game, if that one had gone in for the resurgent visitors, but it wasn't going to be their night.
Late in the game, Houghton came even closer to scoring, after a great ball from Shaun Tuton released him just outside the Albion box, but with Arran Reid beaten all ends up, his dipping shot crashed off the cross bar.
Fair play to Tadcaster Albion, on the balance of play and especially in light of how many chances they had created in the first half, they deserved the three points tonight, but it was great to see a few flashes of what Staveley are really about again too, with several of their players emerging from tonight with a lot of credit.
Danny Claridge was the pick of the bunch for the visitors and if I had to chose one player to bestow the honour of 'man of the match' on, it would be Staveley's young number 3, who was unflappable tonight and showed maturity and composure beyond his years.
Well played Danny!
Their wasn't a great deal Michael Dewberry could've done to keep that out.
The visitors were up against it now, but lets look for a few positives here.
Ironically, this turn of events, gave Staveley the opportunity to demonstrate that they can keep their focus and show some resolve, while not letting their heads drop, or allowing any feelings of frustration they might harbour at going two goals behind, manifest themselves in the wrong way.
And you know what? Billy Fox's side ticked all four boxes and passed that test of character with flying colours.
So much so, one might even be tempted to suggest that going 2-0 down, to a backdrop of wisecracks and catcalls along the lines of: 'Is this when you start getting mardy then?' and 'Are you going to walk off now, 'cos you're losing and the dew on the grass is a bit too wet for you?', might, inadvertently, have actually done them a power of good.They didn't implode, or chuck the towel in. Instead, collectively, they addressed the situation, assessed the size of the task they had been given and set about trying to rectify it.
And dear reader, that theory might not be quite as far fetched as it possibly sounds.
Matthew Sparkes goal, gave Staveley a much needed wake up call, because in spite of Simon Barraclogh's long range snap shot just before the break, that nearly went in to half the deficit, there's no denying that Tadcater Albion had the better of the first half and were two goals to the good on merit.
The home side themselves are no mugs and are capable of turning any team in this league over on their day, as their top 8 finish in a competitive NCEL Premier Division demonstrates.Two minutes after the restart, Barraclough was in the action again when he set up Ryan Damms, but Arron Reid did well and dealt with the Staveley centre forward's effort.
Billy Fox then introduced Shaun Tuton from the bench, a switch that had a desired effect. Because Tuton gave them a new lease of life and provided more attacking options down the right flank.
After a tentative start, the visitors were getting into the game more and more now.
Just before the hour, Ryan Damms was flattened just inside the Albion area.
The ref blew up and pointed to the spot.
Damms got up, brushed himself down and buried the penalty into the back of the net himself.
A few minutes later, the lively Tuton, making a real handful of himself, cut in from the right and fired narrowly over the bar.
At the other end, Chris Kamara pounced on a slip by Luke Forgione and set off towards Staveley's goal, but he completely miscued his shot from 10 yards out, to earn Forgione (who hadn't done much wrong tonight before then) a reprieve.Jordan Eagers, or Eagles as the handwritten team sheet pinned to the clubhouse door (that I stole) called him, tried his luck with a free kick from 25 yards out, but it was deflected wide for a corner.
Staveley, now looking for an equaliser and asserting themselves on the game by letting their football do the talking, were dealt a cruel blow on 71 minutes, when Danny Gray, one of Albion's second half subs, picked up a loose ball on the edge of the visitors box and made the score 3-1, with a quality and assured finish, advantage Tadcaster.
Adam Houghton entered the fray for Staveley and almost made an immediate impact on the game, but he narrowly failed to connect with Andrew Fox's in-swinging cross shortly after coming on, after finding himself a few yards of space right in front of goal.I feel that their would definitely have been a much different outcome to the game, if that one had gone in for the resurgent visitors, but it wasn't going to be their night.
Late in the game, Houghton came even closer to scoring, after a great ball from Shaun Tuton released him just outside the Albion box, but with Arran Reid beaten all ends up, his dipping shot crashed off the cross bar.
Fair play to Tadcaster Albion, on the balance of play and especially in light of how many chances they had created in the first half, they deserved the three points tonight, but it was great to see a few flashes of what Staveley are really about again too, with several of their players emerging from tonight with a lot of credit.
Danny Claridge was the pick of the bunch for the visitors and if I had to chose one player to bestow the honour of 'man of the match' on, it would be Staveley's young number 3, who was unflappable tonight and showed maturity and composure beyond his years.
Well played Danny!
Rear view of the seating at 2inspire Park.
You guessed it, we stood instead!
Next Up:
1 & 2) Saturday 5th May - Arnold Town v Winterton Rangers, Baris NCEL Premier Division, 1pm kick off, and Calverton Miners Welfare v South Normanton Athletic, Central Midlands League South, 3pm kick off (the two grounds are only a few minutes apart by motor conveyance).
3) Sunday 6th May - FC Halifax Town v Gainsborough Trinity, Blue Square Bet North, Play Off Semi Final 2nd leg
4) Monday 7th May - Mansfield Town v York City, Blue Square Bet Premier, Play Off Semi Final 2nd leg
Beyond that, who knows?
1 & 2) Saturday 5th May - Arnold Town v Winterton Rangers, Baris NCEL Premier Division, 1pm kick off, and Calverton Miners Welfare v South Normanton Athletic, Central Midlands League South, 3pm kick off (the two grounds are only a few minutes apart by motor conveyance).
3) Sunday 6th May - FC Halifax Town v Gainsborough Trinity, Blue Square Bet North, Play Off Semi Final 2nd leg
4) Monday 7th May - Mansfield Town v York City, Blue Square Bet Premier, Play Off Semi Final 2nd leg
Beyond that, who knows?
