Saturday 17th January 2009

Glapwell FC 0-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels -- UniBond South

Tape, tape and even more tape!!

Should have been going to watch Kirkby Town take on Church Warsop, but due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to make the 2pm kick off. Apologies to Fred at Kirkby - we will be visiting you before the end of the season.

There were plenty of 3pm kick offs to chose from, and we opted to go to a ground we have not been to this season. Hall Corner is a tight little ground, with probably the narrowest pitch you will ever see at this level. Since our last visit, a new snack bar has been added - specialising in Pukka pies, a favourite of mine...although with my flat stomach and svelte figure you would never guess!!!

The Glapwell faithful

Is Steel's Ian Richards looking for that certain something?

Pie and peas were Kev's treat - very nice, but the luke warm, slightly watery peas could be improved upon.

Prior to the game, Stocksbridge were lying second in the table with Glapwell 5th. Steels had netted 50 times and Glapwell 39 times, so we didn't really expect the game to be a 0-0 bore draw, but the first half was poor, leaving us wondering whether we should have gone elsewhere.... I only made two entries in my notepad during the first 45 minutes :-

On 30, the Steels' no. 11, Alvin Riley was clear through one-on-one with Glapwell keeper Matthewson, but all he was able to do was gently lob the ball into the grateful keeper's arms.

Carnage - though both players were able to carry on

On 40, a real two footed lunging cruncher by Glapwell's Justin Burdett saw him receive a well deserved straight red card from Referee Mr. Thornhill. The home no. 8 can have no complaints, even though the player he flew in at was able to carry on without treatment, and to his credit not a lot of protestation. He was limping for a while though!! H-T 0-0

Steel's keeper collecting well

Kev's flask provided a very welcome, warming coffee at the break, but I might have to treat him to a bigger jar of Nescafe so he can use a few more granules in future. Sorry buddy, only a 7/10 this time!!

We had a different second half though - plenty of commitment and more attacking ideas right from the off. Steels took the lead on 52, a MARK WARD penalty despatched clinically past Matthewson after the Glapwell no. 14 had been adjudged to have handled in the box. From the restart Glapwell forced the ball into the Steels area and were themselves awarded a penalty after another handling offence. Veteran journeyman Neil Grayson took the kick and to the dismay of the home fans launched the ball over the bar and over the fence at the back of the goal...a very poor effort from the 44 year old.

Steels decide to sit back a little allowing the home team lots of possession and seeming to think that 10 man Glapwell will wear themselves out!! These tactics seemed to work, as late on in the game, the visitors took advantage of Glapwell tiring legs to lay siege on Matthewson's goal. Glapwell did hadve a couple of chances to level, but as the game entered it's final stages they did well to keep the final score to 0-1.

Strange to be standing in a football ground on a freezing cold January day with the summer scent of a barbecue wafting in the air!! The burger bar did a roaring trade as did the pie shop - there was a decent turn out, bolstered by a good away following.

Met some Eastwood Town fans during the interval -- the first thing said was " I don't know how you can put up with this week in - week out!!". Met them again at the final whistle and they had mellowed slightly, admitting that the game was much better in the second half. Mind you, the news that Eastwood had won away at Leigh Genesis 4-0 might have helped soften their opinion...

More images

Admission £6
Programme £1.50
Pie/peas £2.25
Coffee - Kev's flask
Attendance 132

Tuesday - we were due to go to Radford v Greenwood Meadows, but the chance of being at the first competitive game at Arnold's new Eagle Valley ground is too good to miss - so Arnold Town v Pickering Town in the NCE League cup it is..