Shirebrook Town 3 - 0 Dinnington Town - Ncel League Cup 1st Round

Dinnington, derailed tonight!!

Another mid-week visit to Langwith Road, clear skies and not a breath of wind, perfect conditions for a Cup-Tie

Dinnington look a shadow of the big strong side I remember from a couple of season`s ago when we visited Laughton Road with Rainworth.


Danny Naylor twisted his ankle in Saturday`s in Shirebrook`s 1-0 defeat to Eccleshill United and Jordan Johnson is also struggling, Pete Stubley gets the nod leaving Lewis Jackson on the bench whilst Brendan Sweeney is unavailable mid-week due to work.

Despite a goal-less first half it was played at a fair pace on a very hard surface, Shirebrook should have took the lead in the first five minutes, Stubley only had to guide the ball home from a decent cross but managed to side foot it over the bar.

Perfect evening for a Cup-Tie

Ben Bowring took a really bad knock early on and ended up being replaced by the strong and powerful Steve McGurk, it remained an end for end affair, but neither side could hit the target, Kieran Watson didn`t seem to be probing as far into the box as last week, doing most of his work on the right flank.

Dinnington`s Danny Lindley and John Mellor were also quick to break but young Luke Thomas was doing a stellar job in central defence along side skipper Andy Jones.

Luke Thomas(5), keeping it honest

As the players left the field I would imagine both sets of supporters would have had an argument as to who should be in front had the chances on offer been taken.


Carl Haslam seems to be a bit of a lovable rogue, everyone else is in the changing room and "Hazza" is stood near the turnstile drawing the dying embers from a fag just prior to the restart. Dudsey spends most of the second half in the company of good friend Ian Oxley.

Nathan Millington tries his luck.

There seems to be no doubt in Shirebrook`s mind who was having the second half, within two minutes a well taken corner was headed neatly beyond Luke Hands (best goalie name ever!!) as McGurk`s towering frame raised above everyone else in the packed box. 1-0 after 47mins.

Hazza`s "Nicotine fix" worked wonders, in the second half he was scintillating, he`s lightening quick and can change direction like a frightened rabbit, constantly changing sides with Watson he`s got the visitors defence totally bamboozled, not to say Dinnington weren`t still trying but on the break Shirebrook always looked favourites.

Shirebrook battle it out.

Shirebrook break once again with Haslam sidling in from the right, he weaves his way into the box, cries to lay the ball off are echoing from behind the goal but he`s having none of it and pushes up to the by-line and blasts the ball home from the tightest of angles, 2-0 with twenty minutes to go.

Haslam, Top Draw!!

Shirebrook`s third and final goal came again from another rampant charge from Haslam this time down the left, he picked the ball up about thirty yards out and looked to be going solo again, he pulls up selflessly and lays a perfect ball back to the feet of Daniel McLane who had no trouble planting the ball beyond Hands.

Even though the game was out of reach Steve Toyne`s lads still managed to make a game of it


Despite the result the Dinnington keeper has had a cracking game. The final whistle blows and Shirebrook`s second half display has comfortably earned them a ticket into the next round.


My Man of the Match - Hazza, Quality!!


Attendance - 81