Brodsworth Welfare 0 Harworth Colliery 5 - CMFL LCC

Saturday 7th December 2013
Central Midlands League - League Challenge Cup
Brodsworth Welfare (0) 0
Harworth Colliery (2) 5
Sam West 14, 70
Ollie Chappell 26, 63
Tom Walker 50
Admission £3, Programme £1, Attendance 23

Brodsworth Welfare:

Lee Appleby, Jake Starbuck, Ben Hodgson, Mark Vickerage (C), Steve Knifton, Gareth Dawson, Dale Wood, Brad Johnston, Joe Fisher, Shane Carver, Luke Kelly

Subs - Wes Butler, Gaz Mundy, Andy Abbott

Harworth Colliery:

Mark Latham, Jordan Hardman, Jonny Bownes, James Woodward (C), Martyn Gee,  Gaz Sides (Lee Edmondson 59), Greg Archer, Ollie Chappell, Dean Bonser (Lewis Hilton 63), Tom Walker (Makenzie Tomlinson 70), Sam West

Unused sub - Steve Wibberley

"Can we play you every week!?"
Oh, I nearly forgot, we virtually already do.
Brodsworth deservedly took three points off of the Colliery in October, when they won 3-2 in a league fixture at the Welfare Ground, a margin of victory that didn't actually reflect just how much better than Harworth the home side had actually played.
But when the teams met at Scrooby Road a couple of weeks later, despite Shane Carver putting Broddy in front after 29 minutes, Harworth won that one comfortably with goals from Sam West, Chris Belshaw, Martyn Gee and Jordan Hardman.
Since that night, the Welfare have lost all five of the games they've played in the interim, while Harworth have won all three league games they've played, scoring 14 goals along the way while conceding just one (against Welbeck), they also lost 1-0 to Westella in the Floodlit Cup in a game they dominated for long spells.
Today's game, which kicked off six minutes late, followed the current form book and though Mark Latham was called into action a good few times, this victory, as the scoreline suggests was a fairly convincing one.
Harworth, playing a traditional 4-4-2 system were on the attack from the off, with Tom Walker and Gaz Sides pushing forward on either flank and causing the home sides defence a few problems.

On 14 minutes Broddy made a bit of a mess of clearing their lines giving Walker the space to thread the ball into the path of Sam West who opened the scoring as the ball crept over the line via the outstretched hand of Lee Appleby.
A minute later, Ollie Chappell played West in on goal, but the referee Mark Senior waved away the penalty appeals as the Colliery number 11 went to ground after tumbling over Appleby when he went down bravely at his feet to prevent a certain goal.
The chances were raining down on the Brodsworth goal: Gaz Sides put the ball narrowly wide after a Jordan Hardman cross was helped his way by a misplaced headed clearance, Appleby saved West's piledriver from 30 yards and Chappell headed just over the bar from Sides left wing cross after Westy had unlocked Brodsworth's defence with a nicely weighted pass out wide.
Harworth were two goals ahead after 26 minutes, when Jordan Hardman excellently turned his man out on the right wing and crossed to Gaz Sides at the back stick, who headed the ball back across the face of the goal for Ollie Chappell to finish from close range.
Walker played the ball inside to West, who took it down on his chest, but shot over the crossbar from long range. A guy sat a few rows in front of me, who was obviously scouting for somebody, asked me who the 'busy looking little number eleven they're calling Westy' was. 'Err, that's Danny Westwood' I told him, 'he's that golfer Lee Westwood's younger brother'.
Sorry Sam, I fibbed ... you're going nowhere pal ;-)

Compo, Clegg and Seymour.
They were funnier with Foggy than Seymour, if truth be told.

Mark Latham had to rush off his line to thwart Shane Carver and he got a bad knock for his troubles as he collected the ball at the Broddy striker's feet which required some attention before he could carry on.
When play restarted, the home sides captain Marl Vickerage cut in from the right, but as he cued up his shot, Martyn Gee got across him and did enough to make him snatch at his effort that went harmlessly wide.
Harworth's back four of Jordan Hardman, James Woodward, Martyn Gee and Jonny Bownes looked solid today when Brodsworth did get forward.
Dean Boner and Greg Archer dug in deep in the middle of the park, allowing Walker and Sides the freedom to push forward and the understanding that Chappell and West are developing up front gets better each and every week and is a joy to watch at times.
When you look at the strength in depth Harworth had on the bench today and take into account the quality players like Chris Belshaw, Aaron Blakey, Si Brewster, Paul Burns and Tom Pick who weren't available and the long term injured club stalwarts Craig 'Billy' Anderson and David Reeve, along with the reserves who are knocking on the first team selection door ... the pieces all look to be falling into place at just the right time.
And as for the three new signings Harworth made this week, watch this space.
The future's bright, the future's orange.
On the stroke of half time, Gaz Sides held off three challenges on the left and knocked the ball back to Tom Walker, who needlessly squandered possession and crashed a wayward shot against the roof of the stand behind the goal. "There's your stinker for today Rob!" shouted Satch.
Hmm, close but no cigar Mr Hawkins!
HT 0-2

Left click for a panoramic view of the Woodlands.
Once upon a time, I nearly bought the 4th house from the left.

Five minutes into the second half, Harworth had the chance to put the game out of sight when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Brodsworth box. It looked as though Chappell was going to take it, but his dummy run fooled everybody and Tom Walker actually struck the ball several feet wide of the post.
With the Harworth bench and a couple of their 'ultras' in the stand lambasting Walker for being selfish and taking things on himself when other players were better placed, Tom charged down a clearance from Appleby, battled his way round the Welfare keeper and nonchalantly rolled the ball into the back of the goal and then shrugged in the general direction of his critics.
A typical Walker moment, that actually saved him from getting this weeks 'booby prize' rating.
Brodsworth obviously didn't want to be on the wrong end of a rout and they raised the tempo of their game for a while. Mark Latham thwarted Shane Carver once again, with a great reflex save.
It's the mark of a good keeper who can stay focussed and pull off reaction saves like that, when most of the play has been condensed at the far end of the pitch.

Chappell's shot was saved by Appleby at the other end. The ex Retford United striker, who's always had an eye for a goalscoring opportunity, looks to be getting fitter and sharper now he's had a few games under his belt ... he thoroughly deserved to made man of the match today, though there were other contenders not too far behind him too.
Luke Kelly forced another good stop out of Mark Latham, as Brodsworth pushed forward again.
Just after the hour mark, Walker put a foot in and dispossessed Steve Knifton and quickly passed the ball in field to West, who played it on first time to Ollie Chappell, who killed off the game with Harworth's fourth goal.
"At least we won't have to bugger about with extra time now" joked Brodsworth's secretary Mark Bell, through gritted teeth.
Chappell returned the favour on 70 minutes and plut West through on goal with a pass that left the home side's defence flat footed. Appleby saved the first shot, but West rolled the ball home from the rebound.
Game, set and match to Harworth.
In the very last minute, the Welfare went looking for a consolation goal, but Mark Latham was intent on preserving his clean sheet and he turned the ball away at full stretch at the expense of a corner, then bravely went in head first and smothered the ball amongst a cluster of players from the resultant flag kick.
FT - Brodsworth Welfare 0 v Harworth Colliery 5

Shortly after the game ended, Brodsworth's Jake Starbuck posted a 'Good luck in the next round, well played today' message on Harworth's twitter feed ... a much appreciated generous touch of class Jake.

Brodsworth need to start winning a few games and fast, but they've got the calibre of players among their ranks to start turning things round. And Harworth have seen them at close quarters often enough recently to know that.

But the Colliery were irresistible at times today and would've been a match for any team in this league with their quick one touch passing and flowing movement.

AFC Mansfield won one of their games in hand in the CMFL North today (6-0 at Kinsley Boys) to give themselves a massive boost at the top of the table, but there are still a cluster of clubs tucked in behind them, most notably Westella, Harworth and Thorne who are just about staying in touch, should the opportunity arise for a late charge along the rails.

There is a long way to go yet. Que sera!