Staveley Mw 2 - 1 Worksop Parramore - Ncel Prem

With the start of the Evo Stik season still two weeks away and my inability to gel with the pre-season friendlies, Dudsey decides to take in Staveley`s first game of the Ncel 2012/13 campaign. This season opener really whets my appetiite as 'The Welfare' take on newly promoted Worksop Parramore.

I drop the girls off in town (Chesterfield) and make the short journey back to Inkersall Road, I arrive early, "way too early" and decide to have a good look around the ground.

At the risk of sounding boring..everytime I return here I am always taken aback on how much this place has been improved for the better and the man responsible for this, Terry Damms deserves a big pat on the back for the standard he has got the ground to.

I decide to sample some of the very best fayre the Ncel has to offer and ask the afore mentioned Mr Damms if there`s a team-sheet available, "not at the moment, he replies..but I `ll sort you one out when they`ve been printed", within minutes Dudsey is perusing through today`s sides.

Staveley win the toss and get the new season under-way. Bright out of the blocks and keen to impress, the home-side push on, mainly down the right-flank via wing-back Scott McGrory who has absolute acres of space down the bye-line, his desire to push on is leaving a big hole at the back which Parramore are quick to exploit.

The opening spell is pretty evenly contested on what has turned out to be a gloriously sunny afternoon and if not for a little wastefulness on the ball in the final third the visitors could have had Staveley in trouble early-doors.

Up and out Griffiths, 4 takes a knock

A clash of heads see`s Parramore`s No 4 (Griffiths) withdrawn with a nasty cut above the eye being replaced by Hall. The tall No 15 looks very able in keeping Staveley`s advances at bay as he fills in as centre-back.

Parramore play a route one game, over the top and to good affect with the exception of the ability to remain on-side, a handful of opportunities go amiss in the opening quarter of an hour but it was only a matter of time before it dropped right for them and eventually skipper Scott Bates and fellow strikers, Holmes and Whittington manage to beat the trap and present Staveley with their first taste of what might be on offer today

Luke Herriot gets a taste of things to come

Having found the way in, the visitors look be be on the ascendancy and within a matter of minutes from Herriot`s first test the second was to prove a tad to quick for him as Lee Whittington makes a good run into the area and plants the ball beyond the Staveley No1's reach. 0-1 on seventeen minutes.

Lee Whittington celebrates Worksop`s maiden goal in the Ncel Prem

Staveley dust themselves down and look to press through McGrory`s wide-play with Jordan Eagers, Andy Fox and Simon Barraclough looking to create the problems in the box and create a good spell of pressure forcing the Ncel Prem newbies onto the back foot.

The home-side are starting to take hold of the game and a good spell of play forces a late challenge out on the left side of the box which left today`s referee James Thornhill no option but to point to the spot.

Andrew Fox squares the game from the spot on 25 mins

Sensing a possibility that the goal would stifle Parramore`s game Staveley look to apply more pressure upon the men in orange but at times still falling foul to the quick break from the visitors as the ball is lofted quickly back down into the opposite half, it looks a little alien for the home-side to defend against looking a little disjointed at times and you wouldn`t rule out a second goal for Worksop.

Parramore keep Staveley on their toes as opportunities arise

It`s still pretty evenly matched and turning out to be a decent game with good spells of football from both sides. Once again the young Staveley side push in from the right and the ball falls to the toes of  Whittington who gets a direct a direct run at goal and is given enough space and time to unleash a beautiful curler which is met by a equally impressive save from Worksop`s No1, Steve Hernandez who forces it out to his right.

Hernandez`s fine save from Hawthorne

Both teams continue to put each other to the test up until the break, but it remains evenly poised as a very enjoyable first half comes to an end. Dudsey is walking round to the tea-bar as his phone rings..It`s Halesy and Pocco who despite having planned to take in Retford United`s game against Heanor Town at Cannon Park have decided to swing into Inkersall Road instead.

I`m gonna hold my hands up and confess I spent to much time gabbing during the second half and totally lost all my momentum, but in all honest Billy Fox`s half-time team talk saved my blushes as he got the Staveley lads fired up and as a result the second half was definitely one-way traffic in favour of the home-side.

Parramore seem flustered in the second half

Kicking towards the Club-house Staveley hog the midfield and although they have lost their way going forward in the second half Parramore have a very well structured defence and managed to thwart wave after wave of attacks coming in from wide left.

You can only defend for so long before the much awaited break comes and on seventy five minutes Simon Barraclough`s persistence paid dividends as he finally manages to sneak the ball beyond the reach of the impressive Hernandez, 2-1 to Staveley and a bridge too far for the visitors under so much pressure for the duration of the half.

A decent afternoon out at one of the Ncel`s best venue`s and although Parramore ran out of steam going forward in the second half they gave a good account of themselves especially in defence and in Hernandez look to have a very capable keeper.

Admission - £5

Attendance - 132