After hours of rain it finally stopped as I pulled up in the large grass overflow carpark at Shirebrook Town FC for their game against local rivals Clay Cross Town. Both come into the match with differing recent form and circumstances. Clay Cross were promoted this year to the Northern Counties East League and step 6 of Non League football for the first time whilst Shirebrook were reprieved relegation despite being in the drop zone.
With two league games already played Clay Cross had won two whereas Shirbrook had lost two. The momentum certainly looked on Clay Cross Town’s side.
Once in the ground I was immediately surprised by the changes. The club must have bought a job lot of paint and gained an enthusiastic team of helpers as everything has been painted and cleaned, it looks fantastic. The thick green grass of the pitch would be welcomed on any golf course fairway although the slope might test a few of the golfers.
The dull grey cloud didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for my start to a new season and a large crowd of 221, swelled by away supporters who had only travelled 12 miles, anticipated the start.
The Clay Cross team seemed to look much bigger than their opponents but Shirebrook looked energised with the return of their manager from holiday.
Shirebrook Town FC 5 Clay Cross Town 1
Saturday 5th August. 15.00 pm kick off
Northern Counties East League Division One
Shirebrook: Red and black vertical striped fronts to shirts with red backs and black shorts. Clay Cross: Light grey shirts with sky blue trimming and dark grey shorts.
There was intent by both teams in the first ten minutes but Shirebrooks impressive play on the right flank brought a goal on 12 minutes when Carlton Carty beat the defender again with skill and pace to swing over a pinpoint cross met by Kiyani Clayton whose looping header sailed over the goalkeeper into the net for an early lead.
The game continued to be competitive but fair and it took till the 31st minute for the referee to show a yellow card against Clay Cross for a crunching tackle in midfield. The referee up until then had been anonymous letting play flow.
As halftime approached the thick black skies dropped their predicted rain but the shower only lasted for a few minutes and held off for the rest of the match. Clay Cross’s efforts were not dampened and just before the break a free kick from the left was headed down and amongst a group of players Gracjan Klimczak squeezed it into the net to equalise. Halftime 1.1
Within 5 minutes of the restart Shirebrook, now playing down hill, were attacking when another superb cross by Carlton Carty was nodded down for Nathan Watson to beat the keeper to his right.
20 minutes from half time with Clay Cross being continually pegged back another ball from the right was headed down and after some neat inter-passing the ball was tucked away by substitute Liam Hardy for 3.1.
Clay Cross were trying hard to get back into the game and with less than 10 minutes left they forced the Shirebrook goalkeeper to make a diving save to his left. Being stretched after attacking, the ball sailed down the other end for a forward to be up ended in the box after he had chances to put the ball in the goal net. The penalty that was awarded was dispatched with ease by Liam Hardy, sending the keeper the wrong way.
A shaken Clay Cross conceded a 5th with minutes remaining when another cross by Carlton Cardy was met by Sam Geeves who smashed it home.
My man of the match was Carlton Cardy whose pace and skill tore the heart out of the visitors. In second place was the referee who kept the game flowing only blowing his while on rare occasions.
If both of these teams stay in this league, which I predict they will, then this could become a must watch duel each season between these local rivals.
Unfortunately having won my chip league twice in the past I was disappointed by the chips being soggy with a greasy taste and only warm. A score of only 60.
NB. I have not mentioned any history of these two teams as I have in past blogs.
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