Staveley Miners Welfare made the short trip to Sandy Lane
to face neigh neighbours Handsworth Parramore for a Boxing Day bonanza that had
more twists and turns than your average rollercoaster....
....Nick Siddons, a recent acquisition from Shirebrook Town
made his debut in goal and Matt Varley returned to the centre of defence following
his return from suspension, at the expense of Alex Pugh who moved to the all
under 21 bench which included for the first time Greg Fitzpatrick, Jack
Hutchinson and Reece Treasure and alongside Chris Butt became one of its most
experienced players –aged just 18. The only other change saw Ross Goodwin come
in for Ryan Watters.
Both sets of players were clearly eager to get back to
football following the festivities from the day before and Handsworth Parramore
took the lead inside the first minute when early pressure from the Ambers
resulted in the ball finding its way via a flick from Kieran Scargill to Bruno
Holden. Nick Siddons dived at the feet of Holden but he was able to just skip
to the left of Staveleys debutant ‘keeper and slot the ball home.
Handsworth Parramore 1 - 0 Staveley MW
The last time these sides met Staveley were on the end of
a 6-0 drubbing which, also started with a goal inside the first minute or so,
but that was all the way back in August and Staveley have found their feet
somewhat since then and were in no mood to suffer the same… and the fightback
started immediately….
Following a strong powerful run down the right Kieren
Watson found Adam Scott backing him up and his low cross into the box somehow
evaded the covering defenders and found Courtney Hastings on the penalty spot.
He showed great composure by taking a touch which with defenders and goalkeeper
diving for a first time shot that never came allowed him the space and time to
pick anywhere in the goal to score and chose bottom right to stab home the
equaliser.
Handsworth Parramore 1 – 1 Staveley MW
Parramore are amongst the front runners for promotion
this season and they continued with their particular direct style of play which
has proved fruitful many times this season, but they hadn’t counted on a
resolute Staveley defence led by example all afternoon by Captain Matt Varley
and the attacking pace, power, and guile of Adam Scott, Kieran Watson and
Courtney Hastings as Staveley set in to soak up the pressure and hit their
opponents on the counter attack.
Following two freekicks pumped into and cleared out of
the Staveley box, chis Baugh in only his second outing of the season showed
great determination to win the ball under pressure from two Parramore players
and fed Courtney Hastings down the left. He dinked inside but saw his shot well
saved by the home sides ‘keeper Archie Sneath.
In the 12th minute Sneath was again in action
in rushing out to save from Kieran Watson and he recovered brilliantly to push
the ball out for a corner from Adam Scott who had returned the rebound with
interest towards the seemingly open goal.
He could do nothing about the resultant corner though, as
poor marking allowed Courtney Hastings to head home Adam Scotts right wing
corner at the far post for his 19th of the season.
Handsworth Parramore 1 – 2 Staveley MW
It should have been three on the quarter of an hour mark
when Charlie Oglesby supplied Kieren Watson who found Steve Carty with a
reverse pass leaving the midfielder in acres of space allowing him to run
unchecked into the box from the left. Instead of shooting himself he elected to
pass to Courtney Hastings who unusually missed the target and scuffed wide of
the far post.
More chances came and went for Staveley with Adam Scott
and Courtney Hastings both hitting long range efforts after Archie Snaith had
been left in no man’s land by once again his defence who could not cope with
the Trojans attack and left back Charlie Oglesby also got in the act with
another effort from outside the box which whistled just over the bar.
Parramorre had their chances too… a low cross from Ben
Starosta flashed across goal which just needed someone to tap home and they
claimed a penalty when Simon Harrison went tumbling after a one two with Kieran
Scargill down the right but Ross Goodwin had clearly won the ball though.
A good proportion of the crowd were in Staveley blue and
at half time they were in dreamland as Adam Scott delivered a belated Christmas
present. The tireless Ash Rawson lobbed a pass onto the head of Kieran Waston
on halfway which flicked into the path of Adam Scott who switched on the
afterburners and raced towards the box. Watson had continued his run but Scott
using him as a decoy isolated himself one on one with left back, Will Eades who
tried in vain to keep up with Staveley’s playmaker. Scott found the half yard
he needed and steered the ball left footed across Archie Sneath into the far
corner.
Ambers manager Peter Duffield clearly wasn’t happy with
his team or some of the perceived wrong decisions from the officials and his
outburst led to him suffering the embarrassment of being sent off before the
break.
HT: Handsworth Parramore 1 – 3 Staveley MW
Duffield returned for the second half standing behind the
dugout rather than in it and his tactical switch by bringing on Kieran Wells
made all the difference to his side. And they reduced the arrears on 53 minutes
when a shot from Wells was spilled and Bruno Holden scored his second of the
game in the ensuing melee.
Handsworth Parramore 2 – 3 Staveley MW
The proverbial game of two halves ensued and it was now
Parramores turn to turn the attacking screw as they piled bodies into the box
making it difficult to see who was doing what and at times the Staveley goal
led a charmed life. But time after time the Trojans worked liked their nickname
would suggest and stood firm…
One of the home sides more crafted attempts fell to
Kieran Scargill whose curling daisy cutter strike on 56 minutes looked in, but
it hit the inside of the right hand post then along the line hitting the inside
of the left and back into the grateful arms of Staveleys Nick Siddons, who was in
fact fouled in the process.
The Trojans were still a threat going forward but were
not quite as dominant as in the first half and were chiefly concerned with
holding it up to give their defenders a brief respite, although they too were
involved in the defending. Kieran Watson had a good shout for a penalty as he
was brought down after brilliantly turning Ben Starosta but nothing was given
and Courtney Hastings was cynically fouled at every opportunity, but wasn’t
always given the decision he merited.
More Parramore shots went wide and over or were battered
away by Matt Varley, Richard Mintoft and co, but it was surely only a matter of
time before the equaliser came but when Kieren Wells from two yards out fired a
Danny Buttle cross wide of the near post and Buttle himself and Bruno Holden having
efforts cleared of the line, with time running out you got the sense that
Staveley might just do this.
A freekick was given 10 or so minutes from time for a
foul on Courtney Hastings with which Ash Rawson sent Kieren Watson to the
corner flag to hold up and waste some time.
Usually in this situation getting a corner or a throw-in off the
pressuring defender is the preferred course of action but Watson succeed in
firing the ball across goal where Steve Carty was on hand to knock the ball
home and cap a fine performance from all eleven in Staveley Blue.
FT: Handsworth Parramore 2 – 4 Staveley MW
Entertainment at its best that was - and both sides deserve 100% credit for giving it all and producing a game of the highest standards - TD
Attendance: 125
SMWFC line up:1.Nick Siddons2.2Chris Baugh.3.Charlie
Oglesby.4.Ash Rawson.5.Matt Varley.6.Richard Mintoft.7.Adam Scott.8.Steve
Carty.9.Courtney Hastings.10.Kieren Watson.11.Ross Goodwin.
Subs not Used:12.Greg Fitzpatrick.14.Alex Pugh.15.Jack
Hutchinson.16.Reece Treasure.GK.Chris Butt.
