Staveley Miners Welfare returned to the scene of their
biggest defeat of the season but this time faced a different side who also call
Sandy Lane their home in the shape of Worksop Town in a match which has
probably already won the game of the season award.
For the second game running the Trojans faced a side
fancied by many to be in with a shout of the title and perhaps travelled more
in hope than expectation. That hope increased with
the welcome sight of Matthew
Varley kicking a ball again in a pre-game fitness test following the foot
injury in preseason which has so far seen him side-lined in 2015/2016. Also
returning was Ross Goodwin, and with Varley’s inclusion in the defence it meant
that he could move forward to a more familiar midfield role.
Alex Pugh also moved forward and was given the
responsibility of man marking the Tigers main play maker, Connor Sellars and
new firepower was added to the Trojan attack with Courtney Hastings making his
debut wearing number 9.
The first five minutes proved to be a bit of precursor to
what was to follow, first Worksop went on the attack where Kyle Clarke had to
be alert to brilliantly cover a run from Mitcham Husbands allowing the ball to
run through to Chris Butt in goal. Then it was Staveleys turn to go for goal,
Kyle Clarke fed Adam Scott and chased down Scotts long looping return pass down
the right wing and crossed for Jamie York who collected the ball before feeding
it out left to James Leggitt, whose cross was met by the head of Ross Goodwin
who steered it wide.
Then back came Worksop, Mitcham Husbands ran clear and
from the byline pulled the ball back only to see Kyle Jordan blaze over from
around the penalty spot.
The very open balanced first ten or so minutes then tipped
in Staveleys favour as Jamie York clipped a ball over the top to a flying Adam
Scott who showed great composure not only to bring the ball under control and
hold off the challenge of Jordan Cooke but also to coolly stroke the ball past
John Kennedy.
One became two just a minute later as Jamie Brown pounced
on a mistake from Worksop’s Jack Barnett and cut inside from the left , side
stepped ‘keeper John Kennedy and slotted the ball into the empty net.
The travelling Staveley fans were already in dream land but
it nearly got even better for them not once but twice. With 18 minutes on the
clock James Leggitt chased the ball down the left and got the better of a
challenge with John Kennedy, with the ‘keeper in no mans land, Leggit crossed
for Simon Hore in the box who appeared to have bundled the ball over the line
but was adjudged to have fouled the defender attempting to clear his effort on
the line.
Then two minutes later new boy, Courtney Hastings
collected an under hit back pass from Jordan Cooke and ran towards goal with
only the ‘keeper to beat, as Kennedy came out to narrow the angle Hastings
dinked the ball over him but missed the target by no more than a few
millimetres and the ball went past the angle of post and crossbar.
To their credit Worksop kept plugging away when most
teams would have given up after such an onslaught and they began to pile on the
pressure to try and pull at least a goal back to give themselves some hope for
the second half..
Most of which it though was dealt with by a combination
of wayward shooting for a net situated in the carpark, and resolute defending
from Matthew Varley and the rest of his defensive unit aided and abetted by
Adam Scott who twice ran the full length of the field with the ball before
running out of steam before the final pass or shot but had done enough on both
occasions to allow Staveley to regroup and “go again”.
Worksop did breach that defensive wall on occasions
though, but the post denied them from Mitcham Husbands shot and they were
further denied by an excellent save from Chris Butt, who firstly parried away a
deflected Thomas Elliott shot by readjusting himself whilst sat on the floor
having dived to save the original shot, and then just before halftime tipped a
Steve Wooley effort round the post.
Half time
Worksop Town 0 – 2 Staveley Miners Welfare.
With nothing to lose the Tigers “went for it” and got
their rewards as after Thomas Elliott had forced a save from Chris Butt, Simon
Hore forced the ball into his own net after a good corner routine from the home
side.
Worksop substitute Connor Higginson then fired wide and
Chris Butt again collected a deflected shot form Kyle Jordan.
Staveley were by no means hanging on though and a Jamie
Brown cross eventually fell at the feet of Adam Scott who hit a stinging shot
towards goal but straight at the keeper and then on 58 minutes Kyle Clarke
strode stylishly into the box and cut the ball back to an unmarked Jamie York
just inside the area who swept Staveley back into a two goal lead at 1-3.
James Leggitt was replaced by Levi Walker for Staveley
and Alex Pugh reverted to left back as the frenetic end to end nature of the
game continued…
Courtney Hastings was closed down on the edge of the
Worksop area, and the tigers quickly swept up the field once more where Chris
Butt was in the action again, saving from Kyle Jordan and backed by nonstop
singing from a section of the crowd the home side were back in it with a
superbly taken freekick from Connor Sellars now free of the attentions of Alex
Pugh, curling the ball over the wall and into the left hand corner of the goal.
2-3.
Once again Staveley soaked up more pressure and restored
the two goal lead again, with 12 minutes remaining. Hitting, the Tigers on the
break Adam Scott grabbed his second of the afternoon, firing in from close
range when the defence failed to clear their lines. 2-4
He almost completed his hat trick moments later after a
mazy run through two or three players but fired a tame shot wide.
Amazingly this brilliant game was still not done, in the
83rd minute Thomas Elliott released Chris Adam with a defence
splitting through ball and his first time shot across Chris Butt arrowed into
the bottom corner. 3-4
Connor Sellars nearly broke Trojan hearts in the last few
moments of the game as he raced clear following a Chris Adam pass but quick
reactions and calm goalkeeping from Chris Butt ensured that Sellars was forced
wide and his shot hit the side netting.
Full Time Worksop Town 3 – 4 Staveley Miners Welfare
Both sides contributed to a fantastic game of football
which was a great advert for the Northern Counties East league, but summing up
the Staveley performance is probably best
left to the fans…
RJ =”Really enjoyed performance of the season. Could have
easily been 4-0 up at half time. Chased every ball never let them settle!
Superb team effort thanks all”
DC = “TROJANS TAME TIGERS we came we played and we
conquered today I was one of the privileged to watch an epic battle take place
at the Sandy Lane Arena in an intimidating atmosphere where our warriors came
out worthy victors 4-3 a huge well done to our warriors THE TROJANS march
onwards with their hordes of loyal followers “
Wat”= Inspiring performance by the lads to win at Woksop
today. Bet Sellars is sick of the sight of young Pugh!”
