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).
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.
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| 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.
Both sides enjoy a good mid-field scrap
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.
Glad you liked ya visit. Micky is not doing a bad job at all. My opinion is a good season for Shirebrook
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