A weather enforced winter break enabled Staveley Miners
Welfare Manager Brett Marshall to bring in a few new faces to freshen up and
add the strength in depth to the squad that will be needed to play the
remaining half of the season in 3 months! Bringing in Craig Getliff from
Shirebrook Town, Lewis Naylor from Dronfield Town and Luke Walker returned to
the club following a productive spell at Pinxton.
Even though the persistent rain showers have moved on for
the time being the cold snap that replaced it threatened to postpone another
game at Inkersall road (frozen pitch) and credit must go to the groundsmen
Vaughan and Andy (who was still working on it right up to kick off) for
producing a playing surface that would be the envy of clubs higher up the
pyramid, which enabled Staveley Miners Welfare having only played three games
in the last five weeks to get their campaign up and running again against
Liversedge...
...On paper with Liversedge being the leagues bottom club it
was a good game to play after a long layoff but ‘sedge’ along with many other
clubs have lots of games in hand on their rivals and the table has a bit of a
false look to it at the moment and as Staveley saw in their last home game (a
defeat against Brigg Town who were also bottom of the pile) there are no games
that could be described as “easy”.
The Trojans buoyed by playing in front of a healthy crowd
of 191 began on the front foot with Kieren Watson latching onto a flick on from
Ross Goodwin turning, to knock a pass out to Adam Scott wide on the right. He
cut in and found new boy Craig Getliff, his one two with Courtney Hastings was
cleared as he latched onto the return pass but only as far as Charlie Oglesby
just outside the box. Oglesby showed great vision in spotting his opposite full
back Chris Baugh who, pinged a ball down the inside right channel over
Liversedge left back Tom Brook and into the path of Adam Scott. Unfortunately
for Scott, goalkeeper Dominic Smith had also spotted the run and came out to
smother the ball away before Staveleys flying winger could get a touch.
A slice of luck enabled a Steve Carty clearance via the
back of Matt Varley to land at the feet of Kieren Watson who laid off to Ross
Goodwin. Ross then wriggled clear of the watchful presence of Brandon Kane and
raced into space just past the halfway line where Adam Scott upon receiving the
ball from Goodwin, not for the first time this season cut inside from the right
and lit the afterburners leaving two defenders chasing shadows before splitting
the remaining defenders with an inch perfect outside of the boot pass to Steve
Carty who had run in behind them from the left. On the left hand corner of the
six yard box Carty squared the ball first time to an unmarked Kieran Watson who
applied the finishing touch to what could be described as the classic Staveley
goal.
SMWFC 1 – 0 Liversedge
That good work was almost undone immediately when a rare
moment of indecisiveness from Matt Varley and Staveley ‘keeper Nick Siddons who
were intent on leaving a hopeful long ball to each other allowed Rhys Davis to
pounce who found enough space out on their left to produce a cross which fell
at the feet of Regan Fish where a clever touch to the left sent a blocking
Craig Getliff the wrong way and created space for a placed shot towards the
bottom corner but one which went wide…a let off as with Nick Siddons rooted to
the spot , not set from the earlier confusion it seemed harder to miss.
On 12 minutes a passing move started by Matt Varley
involving Ross Goodwin, Craig Getliff and Charlie Oglesby resulted in a very
good chance for Adam Scott. Oglesbys ball forward was intercepted by Liversedge
substitute Nial Coulthard but his poor pass out was intercepted by Steve Carty,
a brilliant advantage was played by referee Ian Smedley following Brandon Kanes
rash challenge on Carty which brought Staveleys midfielder to the floor (Kane
just sat on the floor expecting a freekick) but not before he could offload the
ball to Kieran Watson who dinked the ball through to Adam Scott who this time
got there before Dominic Smith but could only fire it straight at the
Liversegde ‘keeper.
Smith though would be picking the ball out of his net
just four minutes later when Kieren Watson dispatched a penalty won by a great
turn and subsequent run into the box from Courtney Hastings who left two defenders
in his wake before eventually being upended by Tinique Fishley.
SMWFC 2 – 0 Liversedge
The good start threatened a cricket score, which however
never materialised as further chances for Kieren Watson, Courtney Hastings and
Adam Scott where thwarted at the last by interceptions and offside decisions
although it has to be said it was far from one sided as Regan Fish one again
created a few chances but like at the other end they were cut out at the last.
HT:SMWFC 2 – 0 Liversedge
Kieren Watson had a chance to put the game to bed and
secure his hat trick within seconds of the restart… put clear one on one with
Dominic Smith by a flick from Courtney Hastings he bore down on goal but fired
straight at Liversedges ‘keeper who had positioned himself well on the edge of
his six yard box.
Staveleys lack of games though began to show and their
spurned chances meant that their opponents were still in this and they made a
fight of it on 55 mintutes when Max Elliotts cross hit Matt Varley and went out
for a corner, from which Elliott managed to get in front of his marker and
headed home.
SMWFC 2 – 1 Liversedge
The remainder of the game then reverted to the scrappy
midfield battle that had greeted the end of the first half and whilst
Liversedge where perhaps the more eager of the two sides they never really
created anything to unduly worry the Staveley goal further but the same could
be said for the other end.
Staveley did however get a third goal which sealed the
victory and Kieren Watson grabbed another hattrick when he collected a pass
from Courtney Hastings which bounced up nicely for him to touch it over the
attempted tackle from defender Tom Jackson and then steer it past Dominic Smith
2 minutes from time.
Full Time: SMWFC 3 – 1 Liversedge
A routine victory in the end which on the face of it
probably could have been a bit more emphatic but you only get three points
whatever the margin of victory so it was a good result especially considering
the lack of games recently.
With half the games gone Staveley now, sit just 10 points
off the top of the table with two games in hand on leaders Worksop Town (with
them still to play) and as many as seven games on those in second place…. It
will be a tough ask to keep up the levels of performance required with so many
games to play in such a short time but the run in could be very exciting
indeed.
Attendance: 191
SMWFC Line Up:1.Nick Siddons.2.Chris Baugh.3.Charlie
Oglesby.4.Craig Getliff.5.Matt Varley.6 Matt Varley.7.Adam Scott.(14. Luke
Walker) 8.Steve Carty.9.Courtney Hastings.10.Kieren Watson.11.Ross Goodwin.
(12. Jamie Brown)
Subs not used: 15.Lewis Naylor.16.Matthew
Robinson.17.Jack Hutchinson
Message from the Chairman -
As always, Staveley MWFC’s efforts and focus is as much directed to “off the field” as it is “on the field.” With other games falling foul to the weather, there was a healthy influx of “neutrals and bloggers” in the near 200-crowd that was going to test the clubs facilities. The appreciation was many from those visiting with no bias towards anyone or to any club, just day to day non-league fans hoping for an entertaining game of football and value for money whilst being looked after off the field. They got both. Praise of our facilities from these folks of the volunteers working at our club in a friendly cohesive non-controversial manner was nothing less than they deserve, a testament to hard work, loyalty and getting 110% behind the club. All round, not a bad day at all.
Onwards to Armthorpe Welfare FC on Tuesday night.
