The Christmas period always used to bring up local derbies in the higher leagues that seems to have fallen by the wayside, but is still very present in the Non-League scene. I decided to go to see Stapleford play Sandiacre in what is locally known as the Ereeash Clasico. These two teams are based only a few miles apart but the Erewash River, the Erewash Canal and a railway line are in between them. I was charged a pound more than usual but this included a program which I thought was a great idea.
I tried to visit Stapleford Town before but found that they were not playing their games at home because their ground was being upgraded, so luckily found that Sandiacre were at home, so I went there instead.
The redeveloped facilities at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground are first class. Entering the turnstiles you see an immaculate all weather pitch and to the right is a two storie club house at one end of the pitch. The ground floor is made up of changing rooms. with the upstairs being a well furbished bar/lounge and other social rooms. The Notts Forest v Man City game It was possible to view the match from two picture windows.
It was a grey day, just a slight drizzle in the air, and it felt cold at 6 degrees as the wind blew from end to end.
The new artificial pitch had a small covered seated stand on one side almost adjacent a small covered standing area. The ‘Club house’, changing rooms one end, and open on the other side and end Parking , main road around 2 ends other playing pitches.
Stapleford have only been running for 12 years but have come a long way and now with their new facilities have 34 teams of all ages, abilities and sexes.
Sandiacre Town were inaugural members of the Central Midlands League in 1983 but ground grading saw them drop back. They were back in the Central Midlands League in 1992 after they merged with Lace Web United. They joined the United Counties League Division One in 2023.
Stapleford Town 4 Sandiacre Town 2
Saturday 27th Decenber 2025
United Counties League Division One.
3rd v 11th. Saxons v The Saints
Stapleford; Red and black vertical stripes to the fronto of the shirts with all red backs and black shorts, the goalkeeper in all pink.
Sandiacre; All pale blue shirts with some black edging and pale blue shorts, goalkeeper in all pale yellow.
The floodlights were on from the start on such a grey day.
Sandiacre were at transformed team from the one I saw over a year ago and after a hectic 15 minutes they took the lead when a throw in from the right was not cleared and was eventually noded down for Jamie John McKenzie Williamson to hook the ball into the top left hand corner of the net despite the home team keeper getting his fingertips to the ball.
This woke up Stapleford who had been second best up to that point and they drew level 7 minutes later when after clever dribbling near the left of the goal away goal the ball was delivered along the ground for Max Taylor to tap home in the middle of the goal.
Sandiacre wouldn’t give in and on the half hour the Stapleford defence had to block 3 goal bound shots.
With 36 minutes on the clock, and against the run of play the ball was whisked out to the right and a pin point cross was headed on for Max Taylor again, standing all alone to make it 2.1.
An outstanding save by the Stapleford goalkeeper with just 5 minutes to half time enabled them to go in with a one goal lead.
The second half was only one minute old when a long throw that was not cleared bounced in the goal area and David Ayodeji Olatomide performed a spectacular overhead kick that found the net.
Although the game was not over physical by the 70th minute 6 Stapleford players were in the referees book.
Sandiacre tried hard to get back into the game but with only 5 minutes left it was made harder when Stapleford’s Alan Vosrkresenskis headed the ball down towards goal and the unfortunate Sandiacre goalkeeper, who had well, let the ball slip out of his hands and drift into the net.
41 corner from right headed down gk let ball slip out of hands for 4.1.
That should have been it, but with just a few minutes left Sandiacre scored again when Wayde Hines followed on the meet a parried ball from the home keeper. Sandiacre picked the ball up and rushed to restart the game . It was all over though and Stapleford maintained their slot in the play off places but both teams could be proud of serving up a pulsating game that was appreciated by the 235 spectators.
No chips here, probably a good thing after overeating at Christmas.
No chips, coffee and a kitkat.
payonthegate 