Shirebrook Town 0 v Staveley MW 1 - PSF

Wednesday 15th July 2015
PSF at Langwith Road
Shirebrook Town (0) 0
Staveley MW (1) 1
Jack Bradbury 26
Admission £3/£1. Attendance 151

Julian Topliss and Paul Sykes

Staveley won a football match at Langwith Road, but the most important result of the night was Julian Topliss's clean bill of health, after he had collapsed in the centre circle just 18 minutes into the game.
The ex Shirebrook player then scared the life out of everyone in the ground, as he appeared to be be spasming and having some sort of fit, as the players, managers and medical staff from both teams ran to his aid.

Topliss was playing in protective headwear to protect a head injury he suffered some time ago, which was an immediate worry... and concerns were raised still further when one of Shirebrook Town's staff was dispatched to grab a defibrillator.
A paramedic arrived after about 15 mins and drove straight onto the pitch to deal with the casualty.
After around another ten minutes, there was a tangible sigh of relief all round, as Julian shakily got to his feet and managed to get to the touchline aided by two teammates.

The trauma on the faces of those who had reached him first told a story all of it's own, about just how serious things had been for several minutes.
Credit where it is due to the people involved with both teams who responded so quickly.
The ambulance had arrived now as well and it was clear that the player was out of any immediate danger and only being taken to hospital for observations.
In the event, both teams decided that they wanted the game to continue. But it was agreed that they would only carry on for ten more minutes, then take a break, before playing the whole forty five minutes of the second half.

Word filtered through that Julian had been suffering from the effects of severe dehydration and was going to be okay, but having witnessed such a harrowing scene, you couldn't of blamed anyone concerned if they hadn't wanted the game to continue at all.
Trialist Jack Bradbury put the visitors in front, eight minutes after the restart, with a well taken goal from 12 yards out, after Ross Goodwin had set the build up in motion by winning the ball in midfield.
But the celebrations were slightly muted given that everyone was still reeling after what they had just witnessed.

In the second half, the game picked up it's tempo again and Shirebrook showed they were capable of asking a few questions of the visitors defence.
But having absorbed a spell of pressure, Staveley went on a raiding spree of their own and pulverised the Shirebrook goal for around twenty minutes, during which time Adam Wisdom and Kieren Watson caused the home side no end of problems, Ross Goodwin had three gilt edged chances and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and Ryan Watters smashed a volley against the crossbar.

FT: Shirebrook Town 0 v Staveley MW 1
But football is only a game and the real cause for celebration tonight is that Julian Topliss is going to be alright.
Get well soon... and don't bloody frighten us like that again!
Thanks to everybody at Shirebrook Town, you were brilliant.