A backdrop of ominous looking storm clouds akin to something
a Hollywood disaster movie special effects department would be proud of greeted
Staveley Miners Welfare as they entered the field of play to face Worksop Town who,
as recently as February were top of the league but having since faltered in
their title bid now requiring both Handsworth and Tadcaster to slip up
massively to stand any chance of going up,
are still a “box office” draw and an Inkersall Road seasons best crowd
of 320 turned up to see two sides renowned for playing “football” who would
surely serve up a classic like the reverse fixture all the way back in August –
a thrilling 3-4 victory for Staveley.
The Trojans made just one change from the 0-3 win over
Clipstone at the weekend with Courtney Hastings coming in for Dan Fletcher, who
moved to the bench.
It started exactly how you would expect from these two sides
with Worksops Andy Ofosu trying to thread a through ball to Andre Johnson which
Chris Butt in goal for Staveley was able to gather.
Butt then found Adam Scott, who laid off for Chris Baugh to
quickly pass to Courtney Hastings who found himself out on the right side of
attacking midfield. He wriggled an angle to find Ash Rawson in his customary
position prowling the centre of midfield and he opened play up for Kurtis
Morley in space which he used to run into before knocking the ball to Kieren
Watson who under pressure from Jamie Hadfield lost possession but rather than
give up he, along with Ash Rawson harried Andre Johnson, who had picked up the
loose ball and regained possession from which Kurtis Morley shot for goal but
it never troubled Jon Kennedy who watched it harmlessly out by his far post.
Staveley got slightly closer after ten minutes following
more excellent distribution from Chris Butt and excellent control from Courtney
Hastings who brought the ball under his spell in one touch following Butts goal
kick. Hastings turned and pinged it wide to Adam Scott who showed exactly why
the Tigers made a seven day approach for his services earlier in the season by
taking on left back Kieron Fenton and firing a cross low across goal which
Julian Lawrence nearly put into his own goal as it spooned off his left boot
and over the crossbar for a corner, which was swung in and taken off the
volleying boot of Courtney Hastings by a timely interception from Jack Waddle.
Play moved swiftly to the other end of the field and
Staveleys Chris Baugh saved his team with another timely interception just as
Connor Higginson was about to apply the finishing touch to Andy Ofosu’s cross
after a one two with James Cottingham.
But just as the match was developing into the high quality
game that the spectators were expecting the scriptwriters threw in the storm
that had been gathering pre-match and as the rain lashed the pitch Worksop took
the lead via an André Johnson penalty given, rather harshly for a Matt Varley
handball who had slipped in the dreadful conditions and was adjudged to have
stopped an effort on goal from Johnson at a point blank range from Andre
Johnson whilst he was on the floor, and knew nothing about the incident.
Staveley MW 0 – 1 Worksop Town
That probable injustice was soon cancelled out by Adam Scott
who took control of the ball on the left hand side just past the halfway line
and after getting the better of a ricochet off a covering defender he cut
inside, waltzed across the box and let fly from the edge of the area hitting
the underside of the crossbar giving Jon Kennedy no chance – a genuine goal of
the season contender! (Account taken from various spectators and the goal
scorer because the weather caused a few technical difficulties in the press
box..i.e the writer didn’t see it ;) )
Staveley MW 1 – 1 Worksop Town
Seven minutes later however Worksop retook the lead following
quick break from a poor throw In from Staveley, Andy Ofosu went free down the
left and centred, low on the saturated ground where a clever dart forward from
Andre Johnson wrong-footed the Staveley defence enabling him to find the space
he needed to pass it side footed between the sticks.
Staveley MW 1 – 2 Worksop Town
They went further ahead just before halftime when a corner
was poked goal wards by Jamie Hadfield but was initially stopped going over the
line by Steve Carty but again owing much to the conditions he couldn’t sort his
feet out to clear and ended up knocking the ball over his own goal line.
HT: Staveley MW 1 – 3 Worksop Town
The rain abated in a second half which produced a much
better performance from the Trojans but even though they enjoyed the lion’s
share of the attacking possession they could only manage a few half chances…
An offside flag denied Kieren Watson a goal that would’ve brought
them back into contention –a fine strike from a difficult angle which looped
over Jon Kennedy and dropped in at the far post, and he went close a couple of
minutes later with a free kick that just went over the crossbar.
Courtney Hastings did his level best to create something and
managed to hold off the challenge from three defenders before finding a cross
which was blocked and he went close with a header following another mazy Adam
Scott run and cross. Worksop were content with controlling the game and rarely
threatened until the 86th minute when the game was put to bed when
Andy Ofusu set himself up with a Cryuff style turn following a through ball
from Mitch Husbands and that bit of skill set him up for a left footed strike.
Ft: Staveley MW 1 – 4 Worksop Town
Attendance: 320
SMWFC:1.Chris Butt.2.Chris Baugh.3.Steve Carty.4.Ash
Rawson.5.Matt Varley.6.Charlie Oglesby.7.Adam Scott.8.Kurtis Morley.9.Courtney
Hastings.(15.Dan Fletcher)10.Kieren Watson.11.George Johnson (17.Greg
Fitzpatrick)
Subs not used: 12.Jamie Brown.14.Alex Pugh.16.Richard
Mintoft.
