Harworth Colliery Institute 1 v Thorne Colliery 0 - CMFL North

Monday 27th August 2012, 3.00PM Kick Off
at Scrooby Road, Bircotes
Central Midlands League (North)
Harworth Colliery Institute (0) 1
Tom Pick 80
Thorne Colliery (0) 0
Admission £3, Programme £1, Attendance 43 (ish)Harworth Colliery Institute:
Latham, Hardman, Burns, Dunning, Needham, Belshaw, Garner, Anderson, Walker, Sides, Pick.
Subs: Armstrong, Francis, Forbes, Gresham, Pashley
Thorne Colliery:
Chester, Sneap, C Hookway, Glyn, Marshall, Hindson, Sheppard, Atkinson, Rhodes, Palmer, Parkin.
Subs: Chapple, Boder, Cuttle, G Hookway, Fell.
Harworth took over top spot in the CMFL North this afternoon, by virtue of winning their fifth game in a row and having a maximum 15 points from their opening five league fixtures this season (and they were winning at Brodsworth when the South Yorkshire club's floodlights failed causing the CMFL game to be abandoned too).
It hasn't gone unnoticed, that Easington United (who visit Scrooby Road on Saturday) and Ollerton Town, still have 100% win records too.
I arrived just as the captains were shaking hands, after having had to circumnavigate my way around several problems on the A638 & A1 southbound and a gridlocked A635 detour through Doncaster, that had caused me a few headaches ... and possibly three points for an 'alleged' traffic light indiscretion too.
Thanks to Rob Dawson for saving me a programme when he heard I was delayed, they sold out again ... it must be the swanky new design Harworth are using this season.
It wasn't just me that suffered from delays and Bank Holiday hold ups today.
For the majority of the first half, Harworth found themselves stuck in a bit a gridlock too and they were struggling to get going ... while Thorne, playing some half decent football, got in behind the home side several times by playing a neat passing game.
Half time came with the game still evenly balanced and everything to play for, but it was evident that the Harworth lads were in need of some alternative directions and, in one or two instances, a bit of a 'recharge' to get them motivated.
Whatever was said said during the 'cosy chat' the management team gave at half time, which I would imagine was quite lively and loud, it seemed to do the trick.
They came back out all gun blazing and looked like a different side in the second half.
It's been a steep curve for the new management team, but they're learning fast.
And appointing from within seems to have been an inspired idea, because the players at the club respond well to both Bren and Jonny and it bodes well that they actually want to do well for the pair of them.
Harworth scored late on and had to settle for just one goal in the end.
That solitary strike came just when it looked as though both sides were going to settle for a point apiece from a hard fought (but never dirty) 0-0 draw, but all's well that ends well, for the Scrooby Road side today.
The Harworth team created enough chances in the second half, to have put all thoughts of their lacklustre first half showing behind them and win this game quite comfortably.
Early in the second half, Tom Walker delivered a precision free kick into the six yard box that sat up perfectly for Gavin Anderson, but the Harworth number 8 couldn't quite make the contact he wanted and he missed an open goal.
A good last touch in the final third evaded Harworth again shortly afterwards, when Chris Belshaw couldn't quite reach a cross into the box with the goal at his mercy.
Tom Pick then sent the lively Chris Belshaw away into the Thorne box, but the visitors right back Mark Sneap nicked the ball away at the last moment.
With time beginning to run out, Tom Walker resorted to shooting from 20 yards out, but his rushed shot was easily saved by Rob Chester.
Harworth substitute Kyle Pashley had a fierce shot blocked on the six yard line as the visitors battled gamely to preserve a point from the game, that their first half showing probably merited.
Inside the last five minutes, Tom Walker, who has improved no end as a player since he returned to Harworth, broke free on the right and put over a cross for Tom Pick, who broke Thorne's hearts with a great finish that sent Harworth to the top of the CMFL North table.
I joked after the game, that Harworth had lured Thorne into a false sense of security in the first half, then thrashed them in the second ... but everybody who'd seen the game knew that was only said in jest, because Thorne were a quality side at times, who'd caused Harworth a few problems and the league leaders had had to work bloody hard for the three points.
I think Jordan Hardman deserved a special mention today. The Harworth right back showed some great touches and was totally calm and collected when under pressure, he's got a very wise footballing brain and an assured, confident demeanour about him for someone so young.