Evo-Stik Div 1 South Play-Off Final : Ilkeston Fc 2 - 0 Leek Town

It`s here; 'The Piece de Resistance'  The finale to an enthralling season and although Grantham Town came out top of the pile there`s something about the play-offs that brings the whole campaign to a magical yet nail-biting ending. 

Two Clubs locked in battle, both of which are accustomed to life in the higher levels of the pyramid, Ilkeston and Leek have both competed at Conference level and clearly have their sights on returning to the Halcyon Days.

Both squads find themselves here by virtue of winning their respective semi`s in such varying circumstances, Ilkeston brushed aside Sheffield Fc in a seven-nil demolition on Monday night, Conor Higginson`s straight-red just before half-time might have effectively ended any hope of Sheffield recovering the two goal deficit they took into the break but reports make it sound like 'The Robins' were well on top in the game.

Leek on the other hand had to carve their own way to the final, two goals down to Carlton Town on their 'own patch' must have seemed like a mountain to climb, but climb it they did, two second-half goals from Tim Grice pulled it all square and with little to separate the sides even extra-time failed to find a clear cut winner. The dreaded penalty shoot out ensued and eventually the Stafford based side emerged 7-6 winners in a nerve-jangling sudden death finale.

Dudsey`s day got off to a perfect start as Shirebrook Rangers U16`s title challenge came to a brilliant ending as Walesby Juniors managed to beat West Bridgford Wolves 1-0, gifting the lads the Mansfield Chad`s Youth League`s Division 1 Title. 

A quick dash down the M1 to the New Manor Ground to meet up with Mr Hales, Poxon and Steve Peat, the place is a hive of activity with a strong police presence. Supporter concern through the media channels earlier in the week insisted that crowd segregation should be implemented but Tbh despite Twitter being besieged by well-wishers it doesn`t look as though too many have made the journey from Staffordshire.

The teams are out on the pitch and it`s looking absolutely immaculate, the Clubhouse is crammed and rocking to the chorus of  "Ten German Bombers", the ultra-vocal 'Shepshed Dynosaurs' have forged an allegiance with the 'Ilson Crew' and have draped their flag in the pride of place behind the home-goal. (They`re a cracking bunch and it would be nice to see Shepshed get another reprieve just to hear the lads in action again next season).

Rickett`s (left) warming-up with his team-mates

Rickett`s, Thomas, and a few more of the squad are warming up just in-front of us, interacting with the local`s and exchanging a good bit of banter, they appreciate everyone`s good wishes for the game and seem pretty relaxed.

Taking everything into account, the home advantage; massive support and a squad to match you`d probably give Ilkeston the edge today; plus it`s only two days since Leek battled out their semi in appalling conditions but Leek have turned-over 'The Robins' at the NMG once already this season, coming away 3-4 winners back in February, so let`s not jump to any conclusions.

In a selfish sort of way Dudsey would like to see 'Ilson' stay in this league for another season as they bring so much to it for the local Clubs in the Notts/Derbys and Leicestershire area. I get talking to a couple of locals who also echo my sentiments in as much as they like it in this league as it offers a lot of local games and the Premier league would involve much more in the way of travelling.

With the pleasantries out of the way both sides take their positions, although both at full strength it seems strange to see big Matt Haddrell has dropped into the centre of Leek`s defence and  it looks as though he`s been assigned the task of keeping Gary Ricketts quiet.

Just prior to the opening whistle sounding an elderly little lady ask`s if she can squeeze in as she can`t see, I manage to jostle her in and she seems very grateful, her nails painted alternate red and white which warms Dudsey`s heart, it`s great to see how football seems to bridge the gap between generations in an ever changing world. Full of expectation she vocally cheers on her 'Robins', calling out the players names as the game gets underway.

The shed-end is now solid and in very fine voice, at the other end 'The Blue Army' although small in comparison are also in fine spirit and making themselves heard as both sides look to secure a place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Ricketts, Thomas (10) and Tim Grice (7) take their places.

Leek come out of the traps quickly and make a quick break through the mid-field out to the wide-left and it initially looks as though the capable figures of Grice and Cope are here to rock the boat once again and we are set for a thriller. How disappointing  the opening minutes turned out to be an April-fool, apart from that initial burst 'The Blues' probably didn`t spend another five minutes in the Ilkeston half, it`s one-way traffic to the max.

Ilkeston make some solid moves down the right usually starting with Ryan Wilson, the pacey right wing-back is creative and feeds the ball to either Will McCall or Ricketts but he has a ship-load of options through a very capable midfield and a very solid back four, who are free to push on as Leek remain deep in their own half.

Ilson`s midfield and defenders push Leek well back

Penned in their own half, the visitors saw at least a dozen corners cross the face of goal, fortunately it looks as though 'The Robins' are more likely to score from free play than from a set-piece as Matt Haddrell`s presence in the box is preventing Ricketts from getting his usually dependable trademark header in.

The towering figure of Ben Chapman in the away goal is giving a very good account of himself and uses his height advantage to keep 'The Blues' honest despite the serious onslaught of corners, you can bet he`ll be well chuffed to hear the half-time whistle but with ten minutes to go he`s still got work to do.

Ben Chapman makes an excellent catch

The frustration of the home-sides inability to finish and the sheer lack of any advances by the visitors is starting to run the game down a little bit. The home supporters seem a little agitated sensing that despite a half of total domination, sooner or later Leek are going to make a quick break and pinch a goal just before the break.

True to form the visitors do emerge from their own half in the final minutes, their off down the far side and seem to have shook off the mid-fielders and only have to break the defence but they`re back in numbers and deal with it just prior to the whistle. So the first half ends a disappointing 0-0.

 Leek manage to spring free just before the break

Severely deflated by Leeks stall and break tactics in the first half, Dudsey`s hoping perhaps a change of staff or direction might make for a more open second half, sadly not! More of the same ensued seeing the visitors sitting deep. Ilkeston`s mid-field were free to do as they wished, McCall, Laurie Wilson and Matt Roberts toy about with the ball until the front men had created enough space to find themselves an opening.

With the best will in the world you can only defend for so long before your luck runs out and that`s how it panned out. Chapman makes another cracking save from Dan Partridge`s well struck shot.

After more of the same Ricketts makes a lovely cross which falls perfectly for Matt Richards to break the deadlock with twenty minutes left. Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and I had moved back to dodge the heavy rain and had denied myself a chance to snap the goal or celebration. Just my bloody luck!!

It`s all Ilkeston again in the second half

With the wind in their sails and Leek still licking their wounds, Ricketts is off again down the left but this time it`s Daryl Thomas who is the recipient of another quality delivery and the nifty No10 makes no mistake, blasting the ball beyond Chapman`s reach claiming Ilkeston`s second goal within as many minutes.

Having showed little life for the best part of the game there`s definitely no way back from here, the visitors are effectively dead and buried. The stand behind the goal has erupted and you can sense the aire of submission from the opposite end as it falls silent as 'The Robins' celebrate in front of the home crowd.

Another chance for Ilkeston late on

Having created two goals, Ricketts deserved a goal of his own and must have counted himself very unlucky not to have got his just deserts. Thomas makes a break and tees up a perfectly weighed ball which the powerhouse managed to get his head to, only to see it shake the crossbar.

Strangely enough with the game over Leek decide to make a change and Oliver Edwards replaces the out of sorts Tim Grice and although there`s little left to play for 'The Blues' actually look better for it and make a few long overdue forays down into Ilkeston`s half, carving themselves two chances in the dying minutes of a game in which they barely turned up to.

Leek finally put a move on Ilkeston - all too late though!

With only seconds left to go Dudsey beats a hasty retreat to beat the rush as the NMG isn`t the best of places to get out of when there`s 1670 fans waiting to disperse.

Admission £7

My Men of the Match - Ilkeston`s Gary Ricketts took the game by the scruff of the neck and sealed the win and for sheer effort, Leek`s Goal-keeper Ben Chapman who prevented them from receiving a serious caning.

Credit due to both teams for the spirit in which the game was played with not one caution all game..

Congratulations to all involved with Ilkeston on their victory and promotion, they will be missed in the Evo 1 South next season but the Club, it`s fan-base and the excellent facility is befitting of a higher level of football and they deserve to return from whence they came..

Good Luck for the future!!

Shirebrook Town 2 - 0 Hemsworth Mw

Another double-header today... First up is 'The Young Rangers' last game of the season and it`s a winner-takes-all affair against the West Bridgford Wolves, the three points on offer would guarantee either side taking the Mansfield Chad Youth League U16`s Division 2 title. True to form; in a very tightly contested game it finishes up a blanker..

Two points clear after today`s game leaves 'The Rangers' now awaiting the result of Bridgford`s last game against Walesby Juniors. "I`ve a funny feeling Walesby`s fan-base might get a significant boost next Saturday morning"..!!

An end of season get-together for the lads at Shirebrook Town`s clubhouse makes an ideal opportunity to take in today`s game against Hemsworth Miners Welfare.

Of all the clubs we visit; Shirebrook Town always provides the very warmest of welcomes, the place is awash with familiar faces, from the committee to old acquaintances, poking my head into the small bar area I see a few familiar faces.. non-more-so than Oakey.

A massive Leeds United fan in a former life and good friend from the days when 'Town' where in the ascendancy back in the 99/2000 season. He`s well chuffed to see Dudsey, we chew on the fat over a beer and do some serious catching-up, it`s a quality start to what turns out to be a decent afternoon out.

Hemsworth Miners Welfare hail from Pontefract and owe a lot of thanks to the Crapper family who pile their efforts into the clubs well-being and I assume that mid-fielder Robbie is also a family member.

Having visited the home of 'The Wells'  twice with Rainworth, the Fitzwilliam Stadium has a brand new clubhouse and is well worth a visit just for the entertainment provided from the 'Rave Cave', (previous visitors will know what I mean).

They like their flags at Hemsworth

Having not visited Shirebrook since last August when they convincingly beat Dinnington Town in the first round of the Ncel League Cup by three goals to nil, 'Town' have taken it all the way, securing themselves a place in the final in a nerve jangling penalty shoot-out against Winterton Rangers, keeper Mark Frost making a vital save to deny the visitors a place in the final at Parkgate Fc on Monday the 7th of May.

'Town' seem to have the uncanny knack of attracting good strikers to the club, back in August the goals where coming from the lightening quick pairing of Carl Haslam and Kieran Watson who have both scaled up the pyramid, joining Retford and Stamford respectively. Since their departure Shirebrook`s manager Micky T has secured the services of ex-Rainworth striker Julian Topliss who`s 20+ goals has continued to carry the trend forward.

Topliss (right) enjoying a recent goal-fest for Town

Micky has chosen to leave Topliss on the bench despite Hemsworth occupying eighth place in the Ncel Division 1, with little left to fight for in the league protecting your prize asset for a final is probably the way to go.

Looking at Hemsworth`s season so far they`re not short of goals and the bulk of them have been coming from Assistant Manager; Andy Hayward and Ryan Pleasants (who for some reason isn`t here today), but other than that Dudsey must confess to not knowing too much about Hemsworth`s current team so it will be interesting to see what they have to show today.

Given the absolute Monsoon distributed last night it`s amazing the pitch is in such a good condition, the Ref gets the game away and the visitors are quick out of the blocks, having only just said hello to Frosty in 'Towns' goal he is immediately put to the test and produces a cracking save to deny 'The Wells' the perfect start.

Frosty`s goal comes under an immediate siege

Shirebrook are called upon to produce some resolute defending in the opening spell but Steve McGurk, Kyle Ludlow and the towering figure of Richard Guest look well prepared to thwart the immediate threat posed by Crapper, Dawson and Wilkes.

After the early rush the game settles down into a bit of a mid-field affair commanded by the excellent Brendan Sweeney with the odd break from both sides, and in all fairness Hemsworth`s back four look fairly adept at containing Shirebrook`s advances.

Dudsey`s a big lover of wing-backs and 'Town' have two cracking examples in Danny McLane and young Lee Briggs, if it`s maximum effort you`re after every-time a player slips a shirt on you`d have to go a long way to beat this lad, 100% every outing and no-doubt it`s Rainworth`s loss and Shirebrook`s gain, not taking anything away from McLane who is also a grafter.

Both sides enjoy a good mid-field scrap

Despite some decent attempts by both sides to break each-other down it`s just missing that final touch where it matters most, Shirebrook must also have felt unlucky not to go into the break ahead as a swift charge down the right see`s a decent ball skate across the box, only for it to be returned across the face of goal just going wide of the post, so it ends up 0-0 at half-time.

Anybody partial to sampling some 'footie fodder' during the break would do well to pick fault with what`s on offer in the tea-hut, Dudsey opts for a tea and a chip cob, setting me back £2.40 (absolute bargain), the chips are gorgeous and even get Mrs H`s seal of approval.

Sat in 'The Sid Pepper Stand' enjoying our Chip Butty, in glorious sunshine...Dudsey would like to thank 'Look North`s' Paul Hudson for making a total hash for today`s weather forecast, it`s gorgeous, in-fact come the final whistle my head`s feeling a tad scorched

Despite the first half ending 0-0 both sides continued to push

Hoping for a little more in the second half, it`s Shirebrook who look the liveliest, Brendan Sweeney is driving the mid-field with Briggs really starting to create some serious problems for the visitors down the left-flank but it`s not happening for Dean Rick up-front.

Another charge down the left results in a free-kick being awarded to 'Town' much to the disgust of John Impey and Hemsworth`s skipper Andy Hart who does enough to talk his way into the Ref`s book. Sweeney steps up to take the kick and is unlucky to see it just sneak over Dale Walstow`s crossbar.

Sweeney looks on as his free-kick just fails to drop enough.

Feeling there`s something in the game for the home-side, Micky T decides to make a couple of changes...on comes Danny Naylor and goal-getter Topliss. The impact is instantaneous, Naylor and Sweeney are in sync and Briggs is having a stormer on the left-hand side.

McLane is pushing in from the right and finding enough space to thread the ball into Topliss who is hovering just to the right of Walstow`s area, "surely somethings got to give sooner than later".

Walstow find himself under increasing pressure...

With the visitors on the back foot Topliss is in his element and looks to have taken the ball to deep, only to cut back in beating two defenders and drilling the ball in from the tightest of angles, he`s made it 1-0 after only ten minutes on the pitch.

The visitors haven`t come just to make the numbers up and continue to make a game of it but are coming under a severe amount of pressure.

Sensing the game is slipping away from them, Hemsworth throw on all three subs, Myers, Pugh and Benn`s introduction finds Frosty ("who`s had a giggler in the second half") getting caught up in a little bit of activity heading his way, a direct shot on-goal see`s him takes another decent catch. Taylor throws his last trump card on the table in the form of ex-Sutton and Teversal veteran Dean Short who also plague`s the visitors back four.

Frosty`s sunbathing session comes to an abrupt end!!

As far as chances go, that was about Hemsworth`s lot and it`s all Shirebrook for the next ten minutes until Topliss try`s to nip into the box again and whips a ball towards Walstow`s goal again and McLane is on hand to usher it into the net, 2-0 with only five minutes left to go.

With little time left the second goal is a killer and although Hemsworth came to make a game of it Topliss made the difference in what had been an evenly contested match up until his introduction.

My Man of the Match 

Some decent performances today by several Shirebrook players and although Topliss made the difference between the two sides...Lee Briggs for me was immense this afternoon and he gets my vote.

Attendance - A very respectable 101

Admission - £4  and on today`s showing; very good value for money. 

Rainworth Mw 0 - 2 Newcastle Town

Grand National Day!  As British as "Fish 'n' Chips", a day when the non gambling fraternity try their luck on what is almost anybody`s race...

Having made two 'bad calls' this week, one being missing 'The Wrens' surprisingly overturn the in-form Carlton Town last Monday.

Secondly... not being arsed to turn out to see Shirebrook take Winterton to penalties on Wednesday night; taking their place in the Ncel League Cup Final, Dudsey feels compelled to take in Rainworth`s final home-game of the season..

Second game of a double-header and still thawing out from watching 'The Young Ranger' and his team-mates take Shirebrook Rangers U16`s within one final game of winning the Chad Mansfield Youth Football League Division Two Title which would be a befitting end for their manager in what will probably be their final season together.

So with high hopes we make our way to Rainworth but with little to play for on a bitterly cold April afternoon you could hardly expect much of a match for today`s events at Aintree, unfortunately Kirklington Road turned out to be the setting for a definite 'One Horse Race' today.

The Final Furlong

Having lost all but one player at the beginning of the season, Newcastle Town have been left to under-take a total rebuild of the squad, and as hard a task as it must have been the fact that they will be playing Evo-Stik football next season is in itself a credit to all involved.

Similarly Rainworth`s line-up this afternoon includes only two players, Ant Lynam and Cameron Fearon from the same home fixture back in August of the 2010/11 season which ironically also finished with the same score-line as today.

Another Grey day at Kirklington Road

As a supporter it`s all too easy to be critical but to be honest, stood on the side-line talking to Club Secretary Les Lee, the wind buffeting against you in a slight squall of rain and fine hail in a warm coat I know which side of the bye-line I`d rather be...It`s Baltic!

Playing with the wind, Rainworth look to press the visitors back but apart from a half chance for Ryan Goward most of the opening spell of the game is contested within the middle third of the pitch. Newcastle choose to take a wide approach to the game and seem to be doing it quite effectively, on a few occasions they manage to get some decent deep crosses into the box.

Middle of the Road stuff...

Edging up towards half-way through the first half, Newcastle start to take command of the game, Rainworth`s advances are mainly through the centre of the mid-field coming through Shaw and Hollis but it`s all very wasteful, poking it forward with a desperate lack of awareness as to where the ball is going to finish up.

Despite his slight frame and height disadvantage against his marker, Castle`s Jack Harrison is making a real nuisance of himself down the left-flank assisted by fellow strikers Harry Clayton and Leon Ashman. Looking dangerous on the break with only Mark Camm`s excellent sweeping skills keeping 'The Wrens' from real trouble.

Harrison starts to work his magic

After a long spell forcing Rainworth`s backs to the wall the visitors finally get the break they are looking for as Ashman pounces on a loose ball gifted to him by the unusually quiet Nathan Adams, he slopes off out to the left and drives the ball into the box, forcing Barcherini to tip it  wide of the far post for a corner.

With a nice breeze to hold the ball, the corner ball floats perfectly into the path of Shaun Turner who has found himself in plenty of space to blast the the ball over the line, 0-1 with about ten minutes remaining of the first-half. With very little in the way of a reply, Rainworth find themselves trying to keep the lead down to one goal into the interval. Half-time 0-1.

Turner (far-right) prepares to put the visitors ahead

Windswept and a tad on the cold-side, Dudsey decides to sample the delights of the snack bar at the break, pasty, peas and a cuppa (you can`t call em Cornish any-more if they`re from Morrison`s) does a decent job of raising my core temperature ready for the second half.

Newcastle`s team talk must have gone along the lines of  "more of the same lads" and that`s exactly how it went, the visitors continue to create most of the pressure on the re-start, and with the stiff breeze now to their advantage most of the people I share a chat with feel as though it`s going to take something special from the home-side to turn this one around.

Newcastle take a tumble, but they`re not out of it!

Not over-confident that there`s much in this game for 'The Wrens', Dudsey now has one eye on the game and the other on the Grand National ("if they ever manage to get it started"), eventually my 50-1 long-shot is down leaving us empty handed so we decide to return to the game.

It`s still one-way-traffic, and with little prospect of turning it around with the current formation, Manager Kev Gee makes a trio of quick changes, Steve Akers looks lively but it`s still not happening. Ally Barcherini in Rainworth`s goal is really earning his corn, making some decent saves and probably preventing the game from becoming a bit of a rout.

After another spell of mid-field wrangling, Rainworth`s plight takes another serious knock as Fearon is issued a straight red, and although un-sighted the response from Newcastle`s bench told it`s own story, Cameron walks towards the changing room shaking his head in dis-belief but according to sources his punishment is justified.

A man down against a team on the ascendancy has only one outcome and it`s only a matter of minutes before the game is put beyond doubt as yet another corner proves to be Rainworth`s undoing, this time it`s Harry Clayton putting the visitors 0-2 up and it`s all over bar the whistle.

My men of the Match - Rainworth; Mark Camm and Jack Harrison for Newcastle

Attendance - 86