Weston 4 Coach & Horses 2

Thursday 13th August 2009
Weston 4 Coach & Horses 2
Summer League
Shirley Playing Field, Park Lane
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
No admission or programme
Attendance: 25 (headcount)
Weather: sunny
Duration: first-half: 40:00; second-half: 41:05


Having read the review of my good friend Aggedor’s trip to visit Weston at the beginning of June, I wondered how difficult this ground would be to find. He wrote: ‘Had fun finding the ground - Sat nav took us to the right area, but no sign of the ground. Tried following a country track for a while, and just as I said "There's no way there's a ground around here" we stumbled across it!!’

So armed with this knowledge of potential problems ahead and what looked like the location of Shirley Cricket Club, I set off to visit what I hoped would be my (lucky) thirteenth different Summer League venue on the thirteenth day of August. Being a superstitious kind of person, something was bound to go wrong…

My sat nav took me, correctly, along Park Lane, a narrow single track road, to the last house. I knew there’d be no sign of the ground at this point and it was about 100 yards or so further up the lane on the right. Park Lane, by the way, was north-west of the Saracens Head and a turn to the left where the road to Ashbourne bent round to the right. If travelling off the A52 towards Shirley, I imaging the turn into Park Lane would be sharp right on the bend before entering the heart of the village.


Shirley Playing Field has been a long standing Summer League venue, previously used by Shirley Saracens. Weston began to use the ground in 2007 after leaving their previous home at Mugginton Lane End. The unroped and slightly undulating pitch (orientated south-west–north-east) was on the far side of a larger cricket field which was enclosed on the furthest two sides by a corn field. The cricket square was adjacent to the near touchlines. Behind the near touchline, closest to the road, were the changing rooms.


Weston (22 points from 25 games) and Coach & Horses (20 points from 26 games) have had a mixed bag of results this season and as a result went into this game occupying 11th and 12th places, respectively. They both went into this game on the back of a victory on Monday evening – Weston defeated Mayfield 4-1 while Coach & Horses won 14-3 at home to Wheel Inn.

Before kick-off both managers provided me with their respective line-ups which I really appreciated, before the Weston boss gave his team talk and told his players using nicknames where they would be playing in the chosen formation.


“As you are, Coach & Horses kick,” announced the referee after meeting the captains in the centre circle and the visitors (wearing navy blue shirts, sky blue shorts and socks) duly got the action underway attacking the near goal in the first half. Coach actually started with just ten men. I opted for a position stood on the near touchline close to the cricket square.

Weston (read shirts, white shorts and red socks) went mightily close to a goal in the fourth minute. Jim Horsfield played a great througball down the middle to Paul Fazekas who lobbed the advancing keeper only to see the ball miss the left-hand post by inches.

The miss didn’t matter as Weston took the lead a minute later. Horsfield hammered an unstoppable right-foot shot from the right corner of the area into the opposite side of the net. It was a great start for the home who were looking to record a third successive victory.

Still with one man short and now a goal down as well, Coach & Horses got forward with Luke Waring lifting a 25-yard shot over the bar.

There was danger in the visitors’ area when with keeper Daniel Carter off his line, Horsfield robbed defender Scott Lyon but could only fire into the sidenetting of an unguarded goal.

With 10 minutes gone, the missing Coach player arrived at the ground.

Coach & Horses were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute for handball in front of goal by Sam Naylor. “It was going wide so not red,” explained the referee to the Coach manager after the defender escaped with just a booking. Paul Spencer stepped up to send Steve Smith the wrong way from the spot to level things up.

Before the game resumed, eleventh man Tom Conway was waived on by the referee to give Coach a full complement of players.

Buoyed by the goal, the visitors enjoyed a good spell without seriously troubling Smith, the Weston keeper. However, they almost took the lead in the 27th minute. Dan Briggs was forced to hurriedly clear danger at the expense of a corner, which was delivered from the left by Waring. Tall striker David Edge got in a glancing header which was cleared off the line by Dan Ford.

Weston were finding it difficult to get deep into opposition territory. When they did, Fazekas robbed the hesitant Carl Spencer on the edge of the area and hit the resulting shot straight at Carter.

It was no surprise when Coach took the lead in the 31st minute. Edge rode the tackle of Matt Lee on the edge of the area and confidently fired a left foot shot across the face of goal and into the far right side of the net.

I felt that the Weston defence had lost its shape and discipline and Coach went close to a third goal. Edge hit a curling left footer which was turned round by Smith. I was over the other side by this time on a walk around the pitch and passed a lady with a small white and browen dog walking in the opposite clockwise direction.

I got my seat out of the car at the interval and positioned it near halfway by the cricket square.


Weston made a substitution for the start of the second half with Sean Williamson replacing Guy Birmingham, who was able to continue.

The home side lined up for the start of the second half in an attacking formation. They resumed in determined mood and straight from the kick-off Fazekas burst through to hit a long-range shot that Carter comfortably stopped.

Fazekas made his presence felt again when he controlled the ball and hit a right foot volley that flew over the bar from fully 30 yards out. Weston continued to press after making a second substitution – Dan Scorer replaced Ford - and Naylor fired over the bar after good work by Fazekas.

The lively Fazekas got between two defenders and latched on to Scorers’ throughball and shot wide of the right-hand post.

The lady with the tireless small dog commenced another circuit of the pitch!

The Weston half-time team talk certainly had an impact and they equalised in the 55th minute. Briggs hit a free-kick forward into a packed area which wasn’t cleared allowing Horsfield to hammer the loose ball home from 15 yards.

“C’mon lads, we’re going to do it,” urged the delighted Weston boss. Horsfield had the ball in the net two minutes later though he was flagged offside in the buiid-up.


Coach’s Paul Spencer became the second player to receive a yellow card just before the hour mark for a foul on Scorer near the half-way line ten yards inside the Weston half. Mark Warren sent the resulting free-kick forward down the left which was successfully chased by Scorer. He pulled the ball back towards Fazekas who fired Weston into the lead at the far post in what was the 61st minute.

The visitors looked to respond in this increasingly feisty content and were inches away from an equaliser. Edge cut in from the right and sent a rising left-foot shot which beat Smith and flicked the outside of the far left post.

Waring delivered a dangerous right wing cross which was heading for the far top corner until the leaping Smith palmed the ball clear. As Coach & Horses kept up the pressure, Edge’s long throw fell to Sam Wibley who fired wide at close range.

Weston survived and extended their lead with a fourth goal scored in the 71st minute. Scorer propelled a long throw into the area towards the near post where Williamson got in a shot which Carter turned round. Stacey Hamlett delivered the resulting left-wing corner deep which Fazekas met with a downward header that crept in despite defenders on the line.

A minute after the goal, Coach’s Waring was booked for a foul and shortly after both Waring and Weston’s Naylor, also on a booking as well, were giving a final warning.

Weston mounted a strong finish to this game that was anything but boring and, during the closing stages, Wibley twice made important tackles to prevent further shooting chances for the home side. The sounds of distant church bells gave a pleasant end to the entertainment.

As it turned out it was a case of lucky thirteen on the thirteenth – found the ground OK, got the teams without a hitch, enjoyed the game, saw six goals, didn’t rain and got home OK.

Weston (red/white/red): 1. Steve Smith, 5. Sam Naylor, 3. Matt Lee, 7. Mark Warren (capt), 11. Dan Briggs, 15. Alex Zappolofski, 6. Guy Bermingham, 4. Stacey Hamlett, 17. Dan Ford, 10. Paul Fazekas, 9. Jim Horsfield. Subs: 14. Sean Williamson (for Bermingham, ht), 8. Dan Scorer (for Warren, 43).

Coach & Horses (navy blue / sky blue / sky blue): 1. Daniel Carter, 7. Sam Wibberley, 6. Carl Spencer, 5. Scott Lyon, 4. Oliver Bez, 8. Luke Waring, 2. Adam Yeomans, 10. Paul Spencer (capt), 15. James Dawson, 9. David Edge, 3. Tom Conway. Subs: 14. Alex Todd (not used).

Referee: Rowland Smith.

Goals:
1-0 Jim Horsfield (5)
1-1 Paul Spencer (15)
1-2 David Edge (31)
2-2 Jim Horsfield (55)
3-2 Paul Fazekas (60)
4-2 Paul Fazekas (71)

Cards:
Weston: Sam Naylor (YC, 15).
Coach & Horses: Paul Spencer (YC, 59), Luke Waring (YC, 72).

Coach Rangers 1 Bradley 0

Monday 10th August 2009
Coach Rangers 1 Bradley 0
Summer League
At: Hulland Ward Playing Field, Ashes Road
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
No admission or programme
Attendance: 35 (headcount)
Weather: sunny then cloudy
Duration: first half: 40:00; second half: 40:15


Champions Bradley and second-place challengers Coach Rangers are the two Summer League sides I’ve seen play most frequently this season and they served up a superb League Cup Final last month which Coach won 3-1.

So despite the game being switched away from Ashbourne Rec, which I still need to visit, the mouthwatering prospect of seeing these two go head-to-head again proved too strong to resist.

The Rec is out of action following recent flooding so I was appreciate of ‘Scottie’, the Coach Rangers Assistant Manager, for the email at lunchtime that told me that the place to head for was Hulland Ward Playing Field. With FC Hulland not contesting this season’s Summer League, the ground was one I’d not had the pleasure of previously visiting.


Hulland Ward is a village about five miles east of Ashbourne along the A517 towards Belper. After a bit of driving around, I found the ground which can be more easily reached by turning off the main road between the Nags Head and Hulland Ward Garage into Firs Road then second left into Ashes Road. The ground was on the right.

From the car park, the pitch (orientated south-east–north-west) ran widthways towards the left. It was a level surface which judging by the slope from the car park towards the pitch, clearly had been levelled at some point. It was unroped with no spectator accommodation, though banking along the near touchline provided an elevated vantage point. Recent rain had left the playing surface a bit on the soft side.


With runners-up spot still very much up for grabs, Coach (50 points from 22 games) were just two points behind Doveridge, the team in possession of second spot, and just one point behind third placed Osmaston. Crucially, Coach had three games in hand on these two sides. The two teams immediately below Coach – Holly Bush United and Alton – both have games in hand as well so could have a say over the next couple of weeks in who finishes as runner-up.

As I witnessed at Hilton last Thursday, Bradley (71 points from 25 games) have already secured the 2009 Summer League title and now their aim was to complete the league season with an unbeaten record. After this clash with Coach, they have two games left – away to Biggin and the return home fixture against Coach.


Just as they did in last month’s League Cup Final, Coach and Bradley served up another superb advert for the Summer League.

“Change sides, Bradley kick,” announced the referee after the toss, meaning the visitors were forced to defend into the prominent low sun in the west.

Bradley (wearing their familiar grey shirts, black socks and either black or black and white hoped socks), attacking from right to left in relation to my slightly elevated vantage point on the near side, created the first chance. Karl Grocott’s deep left-wing cross was met at the far post by Wayne Archer who sliced a first-time volley wide.

Jez Oborn cut in from the right for the visitors to the edge of the Coach area and drilled a low shot which keeper Sean Jones comfortably gathered up. Oborn again went close with a far-post head.

Defender Adrian ‘Dobbo’ Roberts found some space on the right and hit a ferocious 25-yard right-foot volley which flew just over the bar to the sound of ‘ooohs’ from the Coach contingent on the far side.

Roberts tried his luck again in the 16th minute and this time scored a spectacular goal which ultimately settled this game in favour of Coach Rangers. Again out on the right 30 yards out, he hit a rising right footer which this time flew over the Bradley keeper Ollie Maudling into the top-left corner of the net.


I’d previously seen Bradley play four times this season and in three of the games they had to come from behind to secure a victory. I wondered if the Champions would do so again to maintain their 13-month unbeaten league record. Then again, Coach Rangers had won each of the three previous games I’d seen them play, including the League Cup Final win over Bradley.

Coach Rangers (wearing pink shirts, black shorts and black socks) created another good chance in the 23rd minute. Paul Godfrey played a free-kick forward into the area where Simon Wint sent a close-range header straight at Maudling.

“Plenty of time lads,” was the encouraging shout from one Bradley player to his teammates and they almost restored parity just before the half-hour mark. Jez Oborn got on the end of Scott Smith’s free-kick and forced a fine diving save out of Jones at the expense of a corner.

As the interval approached, Jones was again called into action to scoop Smith’s low shot around the left-hand post.

Bradley went close again just before the break. Grocott fed the overlapping Jay Tremlow on the left who whipped a cross across the face of goal. Jez Oborn got forward but couldn’t apply the vital touch.


The second half started with Bradley getting deep into Coach territory. Grocott chased a long ball only to be denied a shooting chance Martin Taylor’s saving tackle. The visitors appealed for a penalty in the 52nd minute for a challenge on Grocott but the referee waived play on. Archer delivered a corner from the left which Steve Coates powered over the bar. As Bradley continued to threaten, Jones made a brave save at the feet of Smith.

After Godfrey sent a free-kick against the Bradley wall, the visitors again tested the resolute defending and concentration from Coach. Grocott was tripped by John Dumpleton near the left corner of the Coach area and, just like Godfrey a few minutes before, Smith hit the resulting free-kick against the wall.

I spotted some of the Summer League’s ‘great and good’ in the crowd including Secretary John Brailsford and referee Jim Conway. There was no doubt this was a tense affair with Coach working hard as a unit to prevent Bradley getting the equaliser they needed to maintain the proud unbeaten record. The men in pink may lack the consistency Bradley show over a full league season but can undoubtedly raise their game for the ‘big’ occasion, which this game undoubtedly was.


Having survived a spell of pressure, Coach were able to get forward and look for a second goal. Wint, faced by two defenders, volley wide from 25 yards out, then Craig Frith battled on the edge of the area to set up a shooting chance for James Carter who aimed straight at Maudling. There were more ‘ooohs’ from the Coach bench when Godfrey shaved the top of the Bradley bar with a rising 35-yard left-foot drive.

Maudling kept his side in the hunt for a point with an excellent save in the 74th minute. Diving to his left, the young keeper kept out a long-range effort from Carter and gathered the loose ball at the second attempt.

Bradley’s star striker Jez Oborn was kept unusually quiet by the Coach defence and he was replaced for the final few minutes by Richard Coates.

Wint almost put the outcome beyond doubt in the closing stages with a close-range header from Craig Frith’s pull back that missed the right-hand post by inches.

Bradley had one last chance. Just about everyone apart from Maudling was inside the Coach area when a free-kick was pumped forward. Bouncing inside the area, the ball fell to Clem Mellor who volleyed just over the bar.

These three points keep up the pressure on the other two sides chasing runners-up spot – Doveridge and Osmaston – and maintain the gap over Holly Bush United and Alton who faced each other this evening at Alton.

Even though they have lost their unbeaten league record, Bradley still have a cup final to look forward to. On Saturday they face Biggin in the Wayne Tarbard Memorial Trophy Final at Rose & Crown.

Coach Rangers (pink/black/black): 13. Sean Jones, 14. Adrian Robers, 4. Martin Taylor, 6. Richard Smith, 11. Paul Godfrey, 12. Craig Firth, 16. James Carter, 15. Dec Bacon, 3. Dan Frith, 9. Callum Woolley (capt), 10. Simon Wint. Subs: Ian McConichie, Danny Moon, John Dumpleton (all not used).

Bradley (grey /black/black): 1. Ollie Maudling, 16. Clem Mellor, 2. Simon Oborn, 6. Mike Twemlow, 14. Nick Stubbs, 4. Scott Smith (capt), 3. Jay Tremlow, 5. Steve Coates, 12. Wayne Archer, 10. Karl Grocott, 8. Jez Oborn. Subs: 7. Glyn Sellers (for Steve Coates, 66), 11. Stuart Coates (for Stubbs, 72), 15. Richard Coates (for Oborn, 77), 9. Richard Gage (not used).

Referee: A Smith.

Goals:
1-0 Adrian Roberts (16)

Cards:
Coach: none.
Bradley: none.

Padiham 3 Alsager Town 2

Saturday 8th August 2009
Padiham 3 Alsager Town 2
Vodkat League Premier Division
At: Arbories Memorial Sports Ground
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £5; programme: £1
Attendance: 123
Weather: mild with sunny spells
Duration: first half: 50:10; second half: 48:16


For the past three years, I’ve seen a newly-promoted side play their first game on the opening day of the winter league season – Stafford at Grays in 2006, Farsley at home to Stafford in 2007 and Dinnington at home to Liversidge in 2008. I decided to keep up the growing tradition so headed for Padiham’s first game in the Vodkat League Premier Division where my old friends from Alsager were the visitors.

Thursday 6th August 2009

Hilton Athletic 1 Bradley 4
Summer League
At: Village Hall Ground, Peacroft Lane
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
No admission or programme
Attendance: 15 (headcount)
Weather: cloudy, dry
Duration: first half: 40:46; second half: 40:41


We have reached the business end of the 2009 season and tonight’s visitors Bradley found them on the verge of making Summer League history. Unbeaten in the league all season, and indeed since early July 2008, they needed simply to avoid defeat to claim a fifth straight league title.

Whatever the outcome – home win, away win or draw – there was going to be a big headline whether it be ‘Bradley are Champions!’ or ‘Hilton produce shock win to end Bradley’s unbeaten record’.


The name of ‘Hilton Athletic’ has been a new one in the Summer League this season. The side were previously known as Holly Bush and played home games at Church Broughton. They didn’t have the best of starts to the current campaign by gaining just one point from their opening 12 league games, Since defeating Biggin in game 13, Hilton have fared much better since that first win and have gone on to record another six league wins to move up to a current position of 10th. They went into this game with Bradley on 24 points from 25 games.

Visitors Bradley have had another fantastic season and arrived at Hilton with 68 points out of a possible 72 from 24 games. They were on a run of 18 consecutive league victories.

In planning my route, I was aware of the problems previous travellers have had in finding the ground. So, I left home armed with a map of the village with the ground clearly marked from checking the location via the trusty Google aerial photos. Travelling on the A50 from Uttoxeter, I took the A516 exit went under the dual carriageway and headed towards Hilton on the A5132. After going over the first roundabout and entering the 30 mph zone, I took a sharpish left turn by the tall blue Millennium Clock into Eggington Road (signed ‘Village Hall’). After 100 yards, opposite a yellow fronted house, there was a right turn into Peacroft Lane and the ground was straight ahead through the black gates as the road bent round to the right to become Back Lane.


I immediately spotted the referee and confirmed I’d got the correct place. Parking was a choice between the marked-out tarmac on the left or a undulating area a bit further on the right. I opted for the latter, like most of the others early arrivals. Changing rooms were tucked away in the corner near the car park.

The pitch itself, orientated roughly north–south, was behind the court and ran lengthways on a large area of grass. It had been freshly moved with clumps of cut grass littering the surface. The pitch was unroped and a bench behind the near goal provided a seated vantage point.


Over the Top made it to the game just before kick-off along with Graeme, and Veteran also joined our small group as well. We opted to stand down the right-hand touchline.

One of the Hilton players was most obliging in providing the names of his teammates and, as usual, the Wilson brothers of Bradley were again more than happy to provide their side. I, and Over the Top, appreciated all their help.

Bradley (grey shirts, black socks and either black or black and white hoped socks) got the game underway defending the near end in the first half. They created an early chance with Jez Oborn heading over Nick Stubbs’ right-wing cross.

Hilton (sky blue and white striped shirts, nay blue shorts and socks) soon got forward and almost took a fifth-minute lead. Dan Purcell threaded a pass through to Alex McCall who found himself unmarked in front of goal just few yards out. But McCall could only manage a weak shot which a relieved Ollie Maudling gathered up. Steven O’Donnell hammered a well struck shot just wide of the target as Hilton continued their bright start.

These chances were certainly a wake-up call for the league leaders and they got an every bigger one in the 10th minute. O’Donnell burst through into the area down the right to latch onto a neat throughball and confidently fire into the back of Maudling’s net. Was there there going to be a shock outcome?

Bradley looked to respond. Richard Gage got to the right bye line and pulled the ball back into the path of Jez Oborn in front of goal who forced a good save out of Hilton keeper Rory Woolley.

It was all-square again in the 13th minute when leaders got their plans back on track. Jez Oborn was found inside the area eight yards and managed to flick the ball into the net when defender Rick Steele had looked favourite to make a saving tackle.

Midway through the first half, Wayne Archer whipped in a cross from the right to which Scott Smith got forward into the area to head over.

Maudling was twice called into action. First he was well positioned to hold Purcell’s 30-yard right-foot volley and a minute later did well to hold onto a low effort by O’Donnell.


Bradley took the lead in the 32nd minute from Steve Coates’ corner. The ball was cleared to Archer who saw a well-struck 20-yarder fly into the net via a hefty deflection off defender Tommy Smith. Archer was credited with the goal.

The visitors thought they’d scored again 80 seconds later. Jez Oborn headed home Archer’s cross, only to have strayed offside. But Oborn was celebrating again in the 35th minute. The prolific striker netted his second goal of the game and Bradley’s third with a low shot from inside the area despite defender Rick Steele making a valiant effort to clear off the line

Before the break, Jez Oborn looked set to score yet again until the Hilton defence managed to scramble the ball clear.

Half-time came with Bradley having recovered from their early score to move mightily close to clinching the title.


Neither side made any changes at the interval and Woolley produced a superb save a minute after the restart to deny Bradley another goal. The keeper stretched out a right hand to stop Smith’s downward header.

The Hilton keeper again did well to prevent Bradley finding the net. Gage hit a 20-yard rising drive which Woolley turned round at the expense of a corner.

Hilton made a triple chance in the 48th minute. We spotted Josh Bowater and Bill Cox replace Purcell and Steele but not the third change. It was down to OTT to notice three players walking round the pitch together and he established that Ryan Jordan had come on for O’Donnell. In fairness to us, it can be difficult to spot substitutions in the Summer League when the sides don’t start with 1-11. Then again, I did get plenty of practice reporting games with squad number reporting Stafford Rangers’ two-year stint in the Conference Premier. No excuse for initially missing it!


After a quiet spell without chances, my pen and notebook were out again in the 57th minute to record Matt Howson’s long-range shot which Maudling comfortably held.

Bradley won three corners in quick succession, before Jez Oborn fired against the left-hand post from 20 yards with Woolley beaten.

Play was briefly halted just after the hour mark by a small brown dog which ran onto the field. It ended up sitting inside the Bradley area waiting for Maudling to throw the ball for the said dog to fetch!

One the action resumed, Bradley were awarded a 64th-minute penalty when Matt West brought down Jez Oborn. Archer stepped to send Woolley the wrong way to score his second and his side’s forth goal. Before the game resumed, the visitors made a change with Andrew Wilson coming on in attack in place of Karl Grocott. Surely the title belonged to Bradley?

Both sides continued to create chances even though the outcome was seemingly beyond doubt. Wilson headed over Gage’s corner and Maudling got down to hold a well-struck 25-yard drive from Howson which took a deflection.

Referee Chris Cope blew the final whistle and Bradley were able to celebrate a fifth-successive title.


Goals:
1-0 Steven O'Donnell (10)
1-1 Jez Oborn (13)
1-2 Wayne Archer (32)
1-3 Jez Oborn (35)
1-4 Wayne Archer (64)

Monday 3rd August 2009

Mayfield 4 Rose & Crown 2
Summer League
At: Recreational Ground, Conygree Lane
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
No admission or programme
Attendance: 15 (headcount)
Weather: cloudy, dry
Duration: first half: 41:09; second half: 41:08


August is the final month of the Summer League season, which began in April, and I was back on familiar territory this evening following Saturday’s trip to Partick Thistle.

Both Mayfield (third from bottom) and Rose & Crown (second from bottom) have found themselves at the wrong end of the Summer League. But they had the common aim of securing a rare victory.

The Recreational Ground was located just inside Staffordshire close to the River Dove which formed the boundary with Derbyshire. A couple of weeks ago, with time on my hands en-route to Mappleton, I had a look for the entrance along Conygree Lane without success.

It turned out that I was right about Conygree Lane and the ground turned out to be an easy find tonight, thanks to the aerial photo on Google maps. From the top of the hill in Mayfield village next to Motor Movers Limited, turn into Conygree Lane from the B5032 and the ground entrance was 400 yards on the left just past a short row of terraced houses.

Down the drive, the pitch (orientated north-south) ran widthways with the River Dove a few yards over the other side of the trees along the far touchline. The pitch was unroped though there was a small area of cover incorporating a bench, unfortunately at a right-angle to the pitch.

Mayfield (13 points from 23 games in 13th position) got off to a great start in April with back-to-back wins over Wheel Inn and Rose & Crown from their opening two fixtures. Since then, they have suffered with injuries and won just one of their next 21 league games.

Boylestone-based visitors Rose & Crown (7 points from 23 games in 14th position) have won just one league game all season (3-1 at home to Hilton at the end of April) and have lost all of their last 18 league games. The league table does show two wins though one of them was awarded after Wheel Inn’s 3-1 victory over Rose & Crown was declared void and replaced with a ‘1-0 win’ to Rose & Crown instead.

The referee was a familiar figure in Jim Conway and I was indepted to Mark the Rose & Crown manager and a couple of people from Mayfield for the line-ups.

Interestingly, neither keeper wore ‘number 1’ – Mayfield’s Mark Swinson wore ‘2’ while Rose & Crown’s Phil Walker had ‘19’ on his back.


Rose & Crown (wearing all blue) got the game underway attacking the left-hand goal in the first half. I was stood on the near side with the changing rooms and bowls club behind my left shoulder. Before the game I got chatting to a man who turned out to be the father of one of the Mayfield players who was able to provide names to most of the players. We continued chatting once the game got underway.

The visitors, looking to end their long losing run, created the game’s first chance. Ben Smith delivered a long throw into the area from the left. It fell to Steve Wright who launched an acrobatic overhead kick which Mayfield keeper Mark Swinson initially stopped and then pounced on the loose ball.

“C’mon lads,” said one of the Mayfield defenders to encourage his team and added: “we haven’t got started.” The home side responded with Steve Tarr firing a 20-yard shot wide of the right-hand post.

It did get better for Mayfield (wearing all maroon) as they soon took the lead in the 10th minute. Ashley Wildsmith sent a low right-foot flick past keeper Phil Walker from the edge of the area.

The home side continued to press. Dave Dowgall created some space and was urged to “have a go.” The striker, and skipper, did just that with a right-foot shot that flew wide of the right-hand post. Tarr tried his luck from 25-yards with a left-foot drive which again flashed past the right-hand post.


Wildsmith looked for another goal in the 23rd minute. In space on the left, he fired towards goal straight at the well-positioned Phil Walker.

After that save by Walker, Rose & Crown started to enjoy a good spell of pressure as they searched for an equaliser but found the home defence difficult to break down. Good work by Tom Hall on the left created a shooting chance for Smith who drove over from fully 30 yards out.

Richard Harrison latched on to a measured pass through the Mayfield defence only for last defender Stuart Asbury to stretch out a leg to make a superb saving tackle. The visitors went agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 27th minute. Wright, inside the area on the right, got in a shot which Swinston turned round at the expense of a corner.

Swinson excelled again just before the half-hour. He stretched out his right arm to turn round a well-struck 35-yarder from Smith that looked destined for the net. There was further danger for Mayfield though the visitors couldn’t get in a shot during a frantic scramble inside the area before the ball was eventually cleared.

Rose & Crown continued to search for an equaliser. Smith played a great ball forward to Wright who fired a first-time shot wide of the near right post. Despite the close attention of Steve Millward, Dave Walker worked another opportunity and shot over the bar.

Mayfield were finding it difficult to get forward until Nick Pinfold set up Tarr who fired straight at Phil Walker.

As the interval approached, Rose & Crown continued to go close. Swinson blocked a good effort by Harrison and Steve Hodges cleared the ball out for a corner. The visitors were awarded a free-kick outside the area on the right which Craig Palmer played forward into the area. Wright got in a header which agonisingly rebounded off the bar and the ball was scrambled clear.

Football ‘can be a cruel game’ and that comment was apt from a Rose & Crown point of view in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half. Tarr whipped in a cross from the right into the Rose & Crown area where Wildsmith stayed onside to hammer a shot past Phil Walker to double Mayfield’s lead.


During the latter stages of the first half, I’d sampled a number of vantage points along the near touchline and decided it was time to get out my fold-up chair for the second half. Rain was also threatening so I also retrieved my cagoule as well.

The visitors made a double change for the start of the second half with the introduction of both Gav Astbury (wearing 10 like the player he replaced) and George Brandrick.

Wildsmith looked to find the net again within 45 seconds of the restart, bursting through the middle and shooting wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the area. Drizzle briefly fell as Dowgall tried his luck from out of the right with a rising effort that didn’t miss the far top corner by much.

However, the half-time substitution quickly paid dividends as Rose & Crown got back into the game with a goal in the 50th minute, much to the delight of their bench and the five WAGS. Astbury pulled the ball back from the right into a populated area where Brandrick, in his red boots, sent a low shot into the bottom left corner. Rose & Crown needed at least one goal and a clean sheet to end their winless run. Could they do it?

But hope for Rose & Crown soon turned into joy for Wildsmith when he completed his hat-trick four minutes later. The visitors appeals for offside as Wildsmith powered down the right into the area before shooting low across the face of goal into the opposite bottom corner of the net.


Rose & Crown threw on midfielder Carl Jeffrey in place of Dan Avery and set about trying to salvage a point. Just before the hour mark, a well struck shot from Wright rebounded off keeper Swinston’s boot and in the next attack Brandrick got into the area only to head wide at close range.

“Lads, loads of time,” felt the visitors still needing to score twice and they halved that deficit in the 68th minute with a neat move. Palmer passed to Jeffrey who in turn fed Brandrick inside the area who fired low into the bottom right corner.

“One to go!” and Rose & Crown demanded a penalty when Wright went down inside the area. Me Conway said ‘”no”.

However, just as happened after Rose & Crown pulled a goal back before to make it 3-1, Mayfield scored again in the 72nd minute to made restore a two-goal lead. Pinfold was fouled by Tom Hall 28 yards out and Gavin Ratcliffe hit an unstoppable free-kick that beat Walker on its way into the net via the inside of the left-hand post.

It was game over for Rose & Crown’s gallant bid to end their long run without a point. The last act of the game was for Archer to play a free-kick forward into the Mayfield half and out of play. Mr Conway blew for full-time before the resulting goal kick could be taken.


Mayfield (maroon/maroon/maroon): 2. Mark Swinston (gk), 5. Steve Hodges, 6. Mark Burford, 4. Steve Asbury, 2. Richard Elliott, 18. Nick Pinfold, 16. Gavin Ratcliffe, 7. Steve Tarr, 11. Steve Millward, 9. Dave Dowgall (capt), 11. Ashley Wildsmith. Subs: –.

Rose & Crown (blue/blue/blue): 19. Phil Walker (gk), 2. Craig Palmer, 7. James Archer, 4. Dan Avery, 5. Tom Hall, 15. George Yates, 8. Ben Smith, 9. James Rowbotham, 11. Richard Harrison, 16. Steve Wright, 10. Dave Walker (capt). Subs: 10. Gav Astbury (for Walker, ht), 14. George Brandrick (for Yates, ht), 3. Carl Jefrey (for Palmer, 59).

Referee: Jim Conway.

Goals:
1-0 Ashley Wildsmith (10)
2-0 Ashley Wildsmith (40+1)
2-1 George Brandrick (50)
3-1 Ashley Wildsmith (54)
3-2 George Brandrick (68)
4-2 Gavin Ratcliffe (72)

Saturday 1st August 2009

Partick Thistle 5 Berwick Rangers 1
CIS Insurance Cup First Round
At: Firhill
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £12; Programme £1-50 16 pages
Attendance: 1472
Weather: sunshine and showers
Duration: first half: 46:00; second half: 45:25