Monday 29th December 2008

Mansfield Town 0-2 Burton Albion -- Blue Square Premier

Two first half goals were enough to secure the points for league leaders Burton Albion at Field Mill.

A volley under Stags keeper Gamble from Greg Pearson on 26 opened the scoring, followed by a really cracking drive in to the roof of the net by Mark Goodfellow 12 minutes later.

Report from Mansfield Town Official website

1st surprise of the evening? Having to get in a rather long queue at the only open turnstile. Only one turnstile? Surely a big gate was expected and other turnstiles could have been manned....

2nd surprise? Sutton Town manager Danny Bryant coming to sit with us...although we have seen Danny several times this season, it was the first time we have had to have a decent chat..

Kev loves it at Field Mill and is already speculating about season tickets for next season.

Mansfield were outplayed in every department by the Brewers, and new boss David Holdsworth has some serious hard work ahead .....

Admission - a whacking £16.00

Programme - no idea

Coffee -- Kev's flask - a creditable 7/10

Attendance 3612 ( 800 + from Burton)

Saturday 27th December 2008

Rainworth MW FC 1-1 Pontefract Collieries -- NCEL Div 1



We have been to Kirklington Road on several occasions, and always get a warm welcome. Handshakes from the Chairman and team Manager and a chat to Press Officer Gordon Foster - great that these people can take time out to say hello when they are at their busiest....and they had ground grading assessors to look after as well..

The Rainworth line-up seems to be fairly stable now - as far as I could tell the only "regular" missing was striker Malc Brown who is apparently on a ski-ing holiday.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, and we really could have done with some cracking football to warm us up - as it was, the game turned out to be similar to the Boxing day game at Borrowash - some half-decent play but both teams lacking that certain "something"...

The home team had a couple of decent chances in the half - a 20th minute Clarke header from a Bainbridge left-wing cross that went just wide, and a powerful drive from Naylor that beat Ponte keeper Ward, but was also just off target. H-T 0-0

Kev queued for the beverages at the break - usually at Rainworth the drinks are a bit weak, but drinkable. On this occasion they were just undrinkable. We both took sips and decided that it may be best to not drink anymore. Maybe a water filter would help - but next time we go to Rainworth it will be with a flask...sorry, but only marked with a "must do better" ...

The Wrens took the lead just 3 minutes into the second period. JAMES WHITEHEAD flicking home at the near post from Bignall's right wing cross.


Wrens' Richard Smith and goal-scorer James Whitehead

On 52, Robbie Clarke had a great chance to double the home teams lead, but fired way over the bar after the ball had dropped invitingly at his feet just 12 yards out. A bad miss made even worse in the 64th minute when Ponte's CRAIG ROUSE saw his 18 yard speculative shot fly between the outstretched hand of keeper Hales and the post.

Now it is time to mention the Referee... Mr James Douglas -- not seen too many really bad performances lately, but this Referee we have seen on numerous occasions and he really does like himself. He gets a lot of decisions wrong and even over-rules his assistants - his "I'm in charge" attitude is not really suitable in these days of "Respect".

Still, he did give the home team a late Christmas present - a blatant trip in the area by a Rainworth defender that was deemed to be a fair tackle !! Blimey - the term "stone-wall" may be over-used, but this was a real "should have gone to Specsavers" moment.

Apparently Rainworth Manager Rudy Funk had a few harsh words to say to his players after the game -- see Gordon Fosters report from the Wrens website

A few more images

Admission £4

Programme £1 (with team sheet -- I wish this idea would be taken up at other clubs - especially those without a PA system)

Tea/coffee £0.60 - least said, soonest mended - but at least Kev paid !!

Attendance 74

Treated myself to a Highway DAB radio gizmo -- you can pick up DAB radio in car .. great for us because we usually struggle to get 5 live and talksport on our normal car radios ... however, with no football on I stuck Planet Rock on -- and we were treated to a Motorhead double bill - Ace Of Spades and Eat the Rich --- followed by Def Leppards' Hysteria -- great stuff! I can see this newest addition to my gadgets being well used......

Monday we are going to Field Mill to see the Stags entertain Conference leaders Burton Albion.

Friday 26th December 2008

Borrowash Victoria AFC 1-1 Holbrook MW FC -- EMCL

Not the best game we've seen this season so far by a long way, but it was nice to be stood standing in glorious sunshine on at the end of December -- and it's always nice to get out in the fresh air after the Christmas Day excesses....



Not a lot of matches to choose from - so we opted 1st v 8th in the EMCL with a noon kick off. We visited the Robinson Construction Bowl a couple of months ago, and saw Borrowash take apart Bardon Hill Sports in the first 45 minutes then do nothing in the second 45. We spent a while before kick off trying to get a "silly" photograph with Kev and a pair of fake boobs that were at pitchside --- failed miserably to achieve any sort of comedic image, but it passed 5 minutes or so!!

Holbrook have only lost 2 games all season and never looked like they were going to lose a third - they attacked straight from the start and only the woodwork and some last ditch defending kept the scoresheet blank. Borrowash offered very little in attack - the pairing of Channon North and Sean Gummer failing to cause much concern to the visitors defence.

Holbrook took the lead in the 31st minute, thanks to some poor goalkeeping from Wayne Smith.

When Dave Moon fired a free-kick into the box, Smith shouted that the ball was his - only it wasn't. It sailed over him and JOE ASHDOWN made no mistake with his close range header.

Holbrook could have gone in 3 up, Ashdown missing with a header and Finlay failing when sent through one-on-one with Smith. H-T 0-1

It was no great surprise to see Vics top marksman Rob Spencer appear after the break - the only surprise was that he hadn't started the game in the first place..

Gummer was moved to right back with Tom Bettridge switching to the left. North was replaced with just four minutes of the second half gone- and three minutes later the Vics were level.

Another goalkeeping slip, another goal. A free-kick into the box was well met by ROB SPENCER who slid home after Holbrook 'keeper Damien Clark failed to hold onto his initial effort.

Not a lot more to say about the game, not a lot of passion on show, nor indeed was there a great deal of football to savour --

Admission £4

Programme £1

Tea/coffee - didn't bother

Attendance - very creditable 170 ( Kev's head count 100 !!)

Holbrook MW website has a more detailed report...

More images -- click here

Got back home at 2:15pm and toyed with the idea of taking in the Ilkeston v Matlock or Worksop v Hednesford games. Decided to watch the "Jeff Stelling Show" on Sky Sports.. not seen Soccer Special for a while - Stelling has changed a lot. He has turned a bit manic - shouting and becoming almost hysterical at times... what's that all about?

Saturday - we are off the see Rainworth take on Ponte Colls in the NCEL 1st Division. Kev mentioned that Notts C***ty are at home to Rothe***m on Sunday and it's only a fiver to get in. What a waste of a fiver that would be!

Field Mill beckons on Monday night and that is going to be £16 - at least that will go to a good cause...my beloved Stags!!

Tuesday 23rd December 2008

Decide to give the Heanor v Ilkeston game a miss..

Settled down with The Glenlivet single malt...

Back on the road on Boxing Day...

Saturday 20th December 2008

Forest Town 1-3 Sutton Town AFC --- CML Supreme Division

Having been at the Sutton v Forest Town reverse fixture in October, we felt we just had to be at this match, and with just three points seperating the teams this certainly had the makings of a good game.

This wasn't our first visit to Forest Town, but it was our first sight of the new, recently erected floodlight pylons. Impressive they cetainly are - blimey are they tall !!

These will be, apparently, among the best lights in the County when they are up and running - for this game though we had to endure the low level eye-boggling temporary ones -- not ideal but adequate I suppose.

Headed straight for the tea-bar ... rewarded with a smashing cup of coffee that certainly was as good as you can hope to get -- styrofoam cups have replaced the proper mugs we had last visit -- but at £0.50 this was well worth an 8/10.

Regular Forest Town keeper and skipper, Jason Johnson, was not present, so Steve Boot was between the sticks -- Sutton welcomed back striker Peter Stubley, with Ben Greenhalgh having to settle for a bench spot even though he netted twice last time out.

The first incident of the game involved Stubley and Boot -- the no. 10 sliding in on the keeper - not a nice challenge, but Boot did no more than get up and push Stubley over - this altercation ended with them both in the Refs notebook... Boot could have easily seen red for the retaliation.

It was the home team who opened the scoring after 15 minutes. A 40 yard cross-field pass from Jamie Batty found Mark Robinson who also hit a 40 yard pass - this went straight to MARK CARTER who delicately lobbed Snipes keeper Frost from the corner of the box. Not a lot Frost could do, the ball was so well placed.

The visitors seemed to be struggling and failed to put much creative football together, but they were level on 34. James Senior's free-kick picked out BARRY ALBERRY who rose like a salmon at the far post to head powerfully home. It has to be said that the keeper made a bit of a mess with his positioning and was one of many players who stood and watched the ball go into the net....


It was all a blur as Baz Alberry rose well to level the scores

There were a few tasty challenges going in, prompting Kev to predict that the game would end with 22 players on the pitch - prophetic words indeed as it transpired. Sutton should have gone in at half-time in the lead - a great ball in by Martin Newman found Stubley on his own at the far post, but from 6 yards out the striker managed to crash the ball onto the bar when it looked easier to score. H-T 1-1

Stubley almost made amends just three minutes into the second period - a neat header from Newman's cross saved well by Boot. The Snipes did take the lead in the 65th minute though - a great through ball from substitute Richard Guest put PETER STUBLEY through and he calmly rounded the keeper before slotting home. It was to prove Stubley's last contribution to the game - he was hacked down by Ryan Gregory as he scored, and suffered an injury that meant he couldn't carry on. It appears that the officials both missed the challenge so no punishment was handed out to Gregory - again this could easily have been a red card.

The home team were unlucky on several occasions as they pressed for the equaliser .. they hit the post, had shots blocked on the line and caused mayhem in the Sutton back-line for a while. With 10 to go it was game over after Sutton netted their third goal. Dale Crowder, a recent recruit from Blidworth, won the ball well in midfield and played in Matt Lane who saw his goalbound effort handled by Lee Bowler - he had to walk, fulfilling Kev's prophesy - JAMES SENIOR smashed home the penalty with consumate ease. F-T 1-3

Great game of football between two committed teams - we will be watching both teams again very soon..... a few more pics here

One sour note :

As we climbed the steps to exit the ground, the following comment was overheard "they f***ing cheated us!" -- bloke to bloke this wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but this was a young woman talking to a girl who must have been something around 6 or 7 years old !! Now I've been known to utter a curse or two, but I really was gob-smacked - Peter Stubley's dad was also a little shocked " did she really just say that?" he said ....yes, Mr. Stubley, she did.

Admission £3.00

Programme £1.00 ( excellent work again from Pete Craggs)

Tea/coffee £0.50

Head count 45

Not much on offer this coming Tuesday. We are hoping to go to Heanor Town to see them take on neighbours Ilkeston Town in the Derbys F.A. Senior Cup......

Tuesday 16th December 2008

Arnold Town 5-2 Dinnington Town -- NCEL Premier Division

Never expected a 5-2 result !! These teams were in 4th and 5th places in the league table and I thought this would be a little bit cagey...

Then I saw who was in goal for Dinnington and I had an idea that we might be in for a few -- Rob Poulter was probably the worst keeper to ever wear the Eastwood Town shirt while I was a regular at Coronation Park, and he ain't not got no better!!!

Kev's working in Peterborough at the moment and wasn't able to get home in time for him to attend.

I grabbed a minute with local Referee Rob Townsend before the game I had mentioned that in last weeks game the Referee wore black while Market Drayon were in dark blue, making it hard to pick out the Ref -- Rob advised me that it is an F.A rule that the officials must wear black for F.A. competitions. This rule is Referees rule 11 - it seems a bit of a silly rule to me - should the Referee have asked Drayton to change their kit because it clashed with the Ref?

Also met up with the Evening Post man again - I think he may be stalking me!!

The game kicked off and it started peeing it down. I spent the first 10 minutes huddled under the overhanging roof of the changing room block - but the view was a bit restricted so I moved to the "sit-downs" behind the right hand goal. Consequently I was over 100 yards away from the other goal - and of course that's where the first of the games goals went in! Arnold striker Martin Carruthers capitalised on a mix up between Poulter and Elam to fire home from close range on 14, then 5 minutes later Poulter and Axcell gifted the ball to the Arnold striker and he fired home from 12 yards.

Despite the driving rain, both teams were playing some decent football with Dinnington giant striker Gavin Allott looking particularly dangerous. They had a sustained period of pressure as the game - and were rewarded on 36 with a penalty after Brookes tripped Blythen in the area. Allott fired the ball past Broster with consumate ease - this time I was only a few yards away!!

H-T 2-1

I went into the clubhouse during the break and went to sit with Evening Post man - he was devouring a tray of chips. "Do you want a chip?" he asked.... note: singular, not plural as in "do you want some chips?" I politely declined and just seconds later the tray was empty.....no chance to change my mind !!!!

Brian was at the game to interview Carlton Town Manger Tommy Brookbanks, and also to do a "profile" on Arnold's very,very talented right back Josh Thornton.

Back out into the rain as the teams came out - went straight for cover again. Carruthers completed his hat-trick on 55. A free-kick in from Brookes was headed on by Freestone and Carruthers stooped to nod home at the far post - the hapless Poulter could have made a better effort to save this, but as I said previously, he is not the best keeper in the world...

Allott hit a 25 yard stunner past Arnold keeper Broster on the hour mark, then Arnold skipper Mark Clifford replied in kind - a terrific drive that flew past Poulter... not his fault this time!! He got nowhere near the ball as it whistled into the back of the net.

Arnold keeper Broster foiled Allott from point blank range in the 75th minute as Dinnington looked to decrease their arrears.

Carruthers bagged his fourth of the game with three minutes to go - superb wing play from Freestone - and a cross that saw Poulter and Elam leave the ball for each other - Carruthers got there and bundled home from 2 yards out... F-T 5-2

Admission £5

Programme - excellent £1.50

Tea - didn't bother

Best Eagle - Martin Carruthers

Attendance 55 ( looked a few more, but there were a lot of Carlton players knocking about)...

Saturday -- Forest Town v Sutton Town AFC....

Saturday 13th December 2008

Sutton Town AFC 3-1 Harrowby United -- CML Supreme Division

The bottom goal

A bit damp!!

After a morning of non-league football league website watching, one of the few games that survived was our chosen one, Sutton Town AFC v Harrowby Utd. Usually the Fieldings is one of the first venues to succumb to the weather, but thanks to the effort of the players the game was able to go ahead. Three tonnes of sand were shovelled into the bottom goal mouth, and the rest of the pitch was well forked ( oo-er missus) to get rid of any standing water. However, the game did not start at the scheduled ko time -- Harrowby arrived at 2:50pm and the Ref said he had to allow them time to warm up, so the game actually started at 3:20pm........twice in 5 days I have been to a game that was delayed because the away team was late....

While waiting we were treated to a selection of rock toons - from Boston's More Than A Feeling through Fleetwood Mac's Black Magic Woman and even a blast of Ted Nugent's Cat Scratch Fever... a bit different!!

Danny Bryant resigned as Sutton Manager recently because of the lack of help he was getting at the club. He was promised some help if he came back, but we did notice that he was still carrying cones, footballs and water bottles. Not ideal to have your 1st team Manager distracted by having to do these sort of tasks that others ought to be performing.

Danny Bryant and Assistant Keith Simpson

Harrowby kicked the game off at 3:20 and at 3:21 were a goal down!

Kick off

Matt Lane swept the ball out to Martin Newman on the right wing and his cross into the box was collected by BEN GREENHALGH who took his time before turning and slotting the ball home from 12 yards. At 3:25 the visitors were 2-0 down! A training ground set-piece corner ended with STEVE BAYLIS heading powerfully home from Newmans cross.

Steve Baylis

The visitors were a bit shell-shocked and looked very much a team who were 2nd from the foot of the table, and in the 20th minute, when a speculative 20 yard shot from BEN GREENHALGH took a big deflection and ended up in the back of the net, we were wondering what the final score could possibly be.. but then --- Harrowby suddenly seemed to realise they needed to mark and defend a little better, and succesfully kept the score to 3-0 at the break.


A bit misty at half-time

Harrowby kept up their improved form during the second period, and you would have thought two different teams had come out of the changing rooms.. as it was, the visitors managed to grab a goal back on the hour-mark. A fierce drive was well parried by Snipes keeper Mark Frost, but the Harrowby strikers were quicker to the loose ball and it was prodded home from close range. They had a second effort disallowed for offside 10 minutes later as Sutton lost concentration and stopped playing.

Anyway, it turned out that solid defensive work from Barry Allberry and Luke Sheils ensured that the visitors went home point-less. F-T 3-1

Terrific effort from both sets of players - it could not have been too easy running on that rain-soaked pitch for 90 minutes....

Special mention from Kev for Sutton's Ben Greenhalgh. The former Eastwood Town Academy player never stopped all game - leading the line tirelessly. Excellent performance from the young striker.

Danny Bryants thoughts from Sutton website

Admission £3

Programme - not available

Head count 35

Tea - £0.50 ---- this was a large styrofoam cup of hot water with a teabag in it -- but Kev added milk, sugar and just the right amount of stir ...turned out to be marvelous cuppa --- 8/10

Tuesday -- meeting up with Stick Palms at Carlton's Stoke Lane to watch Arnold Town take on Dinnington Town in the NCEL Premier Division.

Eastwood Town v Guiseley FC

Match due to be played on 16th December 2008 has been put off until 24th March 2009.

From the Guiseley website "The scheduled West Riding County Cup Tie fell victim to the weather for the second time. The teams will try again next Tuesday 16 December which means that the trip to Eastwood will have to be rearranged as the County Cup takes precedence over League matches. Still, there's always the Ladies Xmas Party on Friday!"

This was to have been our midweek game - but will now be either Arnold Town v Dinnington in the NCEL Premier Division, or Heanor Town v Ilkeston Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Choices, choices....

Tuesday 9th December 2008

Arnold Town 0-2 Market Drayton Town -- F.A. Vase 3rd Round Replay

Guess who didn't take many notes? It was a little bit too chilly to keep taking my gloves off.....

What made it worse was the Market Drayton team bus arriving late after getting lost -- kick off was re-scheduled to 8pm.

As the game drew to it's final knockings at 0-0, the dreaded extra-time and penalties scenario reared it's ugly head -- but as it happened the vistiors netted twice in the final 5 minutes to end the misery without the need for the overtime...

All in all though, well done to all involved in making sure this game went ahead - and to Barnsley Ref Ryan Newman - despite the hardening frost he decided the pitch was perfectly playable. Assistant Rob Townsend told me the pitch was ok, but whether the game would finish depended on how hard the freeze was... as it happened it was very cold, but even after 90 minutes the pitch was still cutting up a little. The side lines were like concrete (illustrated poorly by the mobile phone pictures) - but as said previously the playing surface was ok.

A word of advice for Mr. Newman though, please consider us mere mortals with less than perfect eyesight -- please try not to wear black when one of the teams are wearing all dark-blue... it was a bit difficult sorting you out from the Drayton players!!

The players adapted to the conditions really well, the only problem was with the visiting no.7 shirt who was booked in the 10th minute for a bit of a reckless challenge.

Chances were at a premium though, and the first real attempt at goal was a Chris Freestone header on 20 that cannoned off the bar. Seconds later, Pryce in the Drayton net made a point-blank save from a Craig Mitchell effort. H-T 0-0

Market Drayton are top of the Midland Regional Alliance and their talents began to show as the second half wore on. They piled the pressure on the home team in an effort to secure passage to the next round and a tie at home to VT (who?), but were thwarted time and time again by some resolute Eagles defending.

Arnold almost scored against the run of play on 70, Mark Brewster's cross-shot forcing Drayton custodian Pryce to tip the ball onto the bar. The visitors finally broke the deadlock with just 10 minutes to go. A dubious free-kick from the right was cleared, but the loose ball fell kindly to Tom Rogers who saw his drive fly past home custodian Broster with the help of a massive deflection.

It was all over for the Eagles 5 minutes later - sloppy defending allowing James Carvey to run into the box and fire past the despairing hands of Broster. F-T 0-0

After the final whistle it was a rush to the car to get the heater on full - would you believe some in-bred blocked me in? Never happens to Kev... oh -- he was out Xmas partying with friends...... anyway, a bit of manoeuvering and back on the road......

Best Eagle IMO -- Mark Clarke - never fails to impress me every time I see him play - young Josh Thornton looks a very good prospect at right back....

Admission - standard £5 Vase

Attendance - a creditable 116, with quite a good away following

Programme - 1.50 -- the usual excellent Eagles publication - with not a lot of time to prepare this was superb.

Saturday - should see us at the Fieldings to see Sutton Town AFC take on struggling Harrowby in the CMLS division.

Saturday 6th December 2008

Gedling Town 3-0 Greenwood Meadows -- EMCL



What a pleasant afternoon!! A bit chilly, but not really numbingly cold until about 4:30pm - then it really made your eyes water......


Ayup me duck

Although lying 2nd in the table, Gedling were beaten 5-0 at leaders Borrowash on Tuesday, but they were, apparently, a little unlucky.. we had a chat to Aaron Large's dad and he thought that Gedling made enough chances throughout and played well enough to get something out of the game.

Greenwood were top of the league a couple of months ago, but have found it difficult to keep up their early momentum -- collecting only two points from their last 8 games. Looked a home banker, but early doors it was the visitors who looked the most likely to score.

Dave Wardle under pressure

As early as the 4th minute, Meadows' no. 10 shirt, Dave Baofa, found himself one-on-one with Gedling keeper Dave Wardle who stuck out a leg to block the strikers shot. Soon after, the visitors no.9, Eugene Francis was also one-on-one with Wardle - again the keeper blocked well.

On 18 the visitors almost went a goal down. A surging run from Aaron Large ended with the winger firing just past the near post. Then as the ball was played out of defence Blair saw his overhead kick go just wide of the Gedling net.

Two minutes later the home team took the lead - Lavelle White made a terrific run down the right wing before cutting into the area and unleashing a powerful drive that struck the crossbar before falling kindly at the feet of Rob Gill who hammered the ball home from 6 yards out. Those early missed chances really hurting the men in all green...

Gedling left-back Luke Wright fires in a free-kick

On 37, the superb Aaron Ryan threaded the ball through to Rob Gill who in turn fed strike partner Graham Epps - the no. 10's fierce drive was blocked brilliantly by Greenwood keeper Farnsworth. The next Gedling attack saw Gill play a pin-piont pass to Large, but his shot from 12 yards was high and wide.

H-T 1-0

LAPDOG !! ( Kev's caption, not mine!!)

It took just 5 minutes of the second period for Gedling to increase their lead. Another pacy run down the right wing by Lavell White followed by a cross to the far post where Large was waiting to stoop and head home. It was almost 3-0 straight after - a 25 yard piledriver from Epps beat Farnsworth all ends up, but struck the angle of post and bar before flying out for a goal-kick. The effort prompted the cry of " Eppsy -- worra f****ng strike, son!!" from one of his team-mates....

The home team made the game safe on 73. Luke Smith's throw-in found Gill who turned and played in Jimmy Spiers on the edge of the area. The midfielder controlled well and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner. To their credit, Greenwood kept going although they hardly troubled the home defence.

Gill hit a cracking 20 yarder with the outside of his right foot in the 88th minute - and again with Farnsworth well beaten, the ball hammered off the woodwork and flew safe. F-T 3-0

More pics ( sorry, some are a bit arty-farty -- ducks, moon, landscape, helicopter, a pylon at sunset - the game was not that bad!! I was just experimenting with various settings on my cheapo camera....)

Special thanks to Gedling Chairman Roland Ash. Despite his secretary being absent through illness, he still made time to hand write me a team sheet. Mind you, his effort with the P.A system left a bit to be desired -- not heard feedback like that since the late, great Jimi Hendrix was in his prime!!

Admission £4.00

Programme - in Lincoln with the secretary.

Coffee - out of Kev's flask --- needs to be a bit more heavy handed with the granules - but it was wet and warm and most welcome.....

Attendance -- strange - we did a head count before the game and came up with 30 odd. Did another head count after the half time interval and counted 60+ ....

Best Ferryman -- difficult choice between Ryan and Gill ...but I'll go with Gill

Best visitor - probably Eugene Francis

Tuesday - Arnold Tn v Market Drayton Tn --- FA Vase replay (oh no!!) ... at Carlton Town FC

Clipstone W v Ollerton Town 2/12/08

As per previous post, I was not well enough to go to this game -- there will be another chance though because the game was abandoned ( according to Mitoo anyway)...

Saturday - Gedling Town v Greenwood Meadows...

Tuesday 2nd December 2008

No match this midweek -- not been feeling too well ( man-flu apparently ) so I'm not going out to stand out in the cold -- I really wanted to go to the Clipstone v Ollerton game, but my health comes first...cough, cough......