On another grey but dry Saturday FC Bolsover v Glasshoughton Welfare FC stood out as an interesting game. Bolsover were the worst team in the pyramid having played 18 games with no points and a goal difference of minus 60. They had recently signed on some new players and only lost their previous game by the odd goal so was this the turning point of their season. The omens were good as their opponents Glasshoughton Welfare had lost their previous five games but were in a respectable mid table position.

Bolsover started in the Central Midland league only two seasons ago, gained immediate promotion and managed to hold onto their Toolstation North East Counties League Division One status by one point on the last day of last season. This is their second year as tenants at Shirebrook Towns ground but are actively looking for a site to play their football in their home town.

A Glasshoughton Colliery team had been around for some years but when it disbanded in 1974 an approach was made to Ansons Sports works team to adopt the Glasshoughton name and play at their Leeds Road Ground. They have since had many ups and downs but have battled on to a peak of the NECL premier but are now playing in Division One.

FC Bolsover 3 Glasshoughton Welfare FC 2

With Bolsover having lost their 18 league games their chances did not look good with their goalkeeper wearing number 13 on his shirt. The game had been in doubt with a 12.15 inspection but the pitch was perfect thanks to its excellent drainage being on top of a limestone outcrop. There is a goal to goal slope and the grass cover was fully intact.

Glasshoughton immediately took the lead after 4 mins from Glasshoughton’s No.9 after a cross from the right. However Bolsover did not cave in and pressurised the visitors into giving away a corner from which the cross was headed home for 1-1 by their dominant number 9 Jack Warwick.

Despite efforts from both sides it wasn’t until the 60th minute that Glasshoughton took the lead again through their No 9, against the run of play. Bolsover were immediately back on level terms within a few minutes with a second header for Warwick from a pass by Jake Morrison. The fairy tale ending was assured when on 64 minutes Bolsover were awarded a penalty and it was slotted home by Brett Lucas. Despite pressure from Glasshoughton until the end of the game they were not able to take away Bolsover’s first points of the season.

It was a pity that only 50 people (18 paying according to the man on the gate) were there to witness the win which still gives Bolsover a mountain to climb to stay in the league, but at least some hope. Of the 18 paying, I chatted to 2 ground hoppers, one from Peterborough and one from Wakefield who regularly roam the country and abroad.

These were the best chips of the season so far and were provide by a lady from the host club, Shirebrook Town, who is at the ground every week. They were tasty, thick, hot, not spoilt by an oily taste, a score of 85. I was offered American Red salt on the chips which I tried separately and was pleased I didn’t ruin the chips with this spicy condiment.

A visit to Forest Town Arena was intriguing to see an EvoStik League East Division game between AFC Mansfield and Sheffield FC.

Sheffield FC recognised as the oldest club in the world (dating back to 1857) taking on the Leagues newest side(formed in 2012). AFC Mansfield were formed by three directors of Mansfield Town who were in dispute with the Management of that club and have since risen very quickly from start up, through the Central Midland League, North East Counties League to where they are today.

The League game was arranged because both clubs have been knocked out of the FA Trophy and follows the reverse fixture at Sheffield the previous week which ‘The Club’ won 2-0. Sheffield are just below the play off positions while Mansfield are in the danger zone to be relegated. AFC Mansfield have been busy in the transfer market recently and included in their team two new loan signings from Northampton Town Sean Whaler and Giuseppe Iaciofano.

The mist had just lifted as I arrived giving way to grey skies with a weak watery autumn sun trying to break through. Being early I went for a coffee in the Forest Town Community Centre just in time to see the final 15 minutes of the Rotherham v Sheffield United derby with Rotherham  scoring a much deserved equaliser at the death ,

The Forest town Arena is  set below the Community centre and Car Park and is a bowl with a cycle track round the edge that looks to have had little use of late. The pitch was flat but the surface looked a bit bumpy due to tufty grass.

There was one small covered stand for officials, seating with no roof, some terracing and a veranda from the Community Centre. The crowd of 101 mostly sat in the uncovered area or on the veranda. The two pounds program had a brilliant history of Sheffield and profiles of the home teams players, statistics on the league, comment on the non league scene and notes by the chairman and Manager. All in all a very good read especially with the team sheet of the day that was fully updated.

AFC Mansfield 2 Sheffield FC 3

The game started evenly with both sides using long throws to the penalty area as an early ploy and Mansfield’s Iaciofano had a headed goal disallowed for a foul on the Goalkeeper after only 4 minutes following a corner,

Sheffield however started to boss the game and on 43 minutes  it was no surprise when Sheffield’s Marc Newsham headed home at the far post after good work from no.9 Mitchel Dunne who was continually putting pressure on Mansfield’s defence down the left.

After 51 minutes the same combination combined to give Newsham the chance to tap home Sheffield’s second and a third was soon added (65 minutes) when James Gregory was put through and he smashed the ball passed the helpless Jason White.

The Dunne, Newsham, duo nearly added another after Dunne completely out foxed the Mansfield defence only for Newsham’s shot to go wide.

Almost immediately Mansfield attacked and the substitute Dear crossed for Iaciofano to head in. Only two minutes later on 85 minutes Grant Ryan ran through and chipped it over the advancing goalkeeper to make it 2-3. Despite further efforts Sheffield saw out the rest of the game for what ended a fortunate win despite being in charge for long periods of the game.

Mansfield could take heart in the showing of their new signings and they should pull away from the relegation area in the next few weeks. The outstanding player for me was Mansfield’s centre back Jordan Annable who has come through their junior ranks, I would expect him to be playing at a higher level very soon.

Unfortunately Mansfield didn’t do well in the chip league either with a score of only 45, they were the end of a batch, soggy, warm and the oil had a rather burnt taste.

On a grey Saturday afternoon I arrived at the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield to see them play Billericay Town in the first Round of the FA Cup. Gone are the days when in 1997 Chesterfield reached the semifinals only to lose to Middlesbrough 3-0 in a replay after it ended 3-3 in the first game. A not given disputed goal, when it was adjudged that the ball had not crossed the line, would have given Chesterfield a famous victory, oh for today’s technology.

Chesterfield then in the 3rd tier of football have fallen to 17th place in the 5th tier (The National League). Their fall has been considerable and the club remains up for sale. Back in 1997 they would have played at their ramshackle Saltergate ground that despite the discomfort had plenty of atmosphere, now lacking in this modern concrete stadium graced by just under 3000 spectators. Saltergate used to be very close to the town centre but the new stadium is now out of town close to food outlets of Tesco, Aldi,  Asda, Iceland, Sainsbury’s and Lidl, food city infact.

Billericay Town FC by contrast are top of the National League South and the local Derbyshire Times reported that Chesterfield were the underdogs despite being in a division higher. Billericay were purchased in December 2016 by Essex millionaire Glenn Tamplin who has invested well over £2,000,000 in the club, initially recruited some high profile ex professionals and made himself Manager as they gained promotion from the Isthmian League to the National League South at the end of last season. They have again invested heavily in their push to win promotion into the National League under Dean Brennan.

Armistice day was remembered by playing the last post and two minutes silence was observed.

The pitch was a very flat, green surface that looked the best I have seen all season. The Programme though at only £2 was only 16 pages with not a great deal of statistics or information which seemed to reflect Chesterfield’s plight.

Chesterfield Town FC 1 Billericay Town FC 1

Chesterfield bossed the first half and should have gone in at halftime with the tie out of sight. Some clever running and inter passing by Marc Antoine-Fortune and Zavon Hines should have seen more reward. However in the 17th minute Laurence Maguire rose at the far post to head home a free kick by Joe Rowley to put them infront.

The second half brought a string of decisions by the referee against Chesterfield and the crowd became more annoyed as one of these disputed tussles led to Billericay working the ball from a free kick to Emanuel who from 25 yards out hit a superb curling shot with his instep to beat Callum Burton.

Chesterfield rallied but it was mere huff and puff as the created chances never looked like being converted. It looks good for Billericay in the replay at their home ground but who knows in the FA Cup.

For the second game running the home team scored a nil in the chip league as none were available. I had to settle for a coffee and a chunky Kit Kat for £3.50.

An afternoon at the Impact Arena saw Alfreton Town FC play St Neots FC in the 4th qualifying Round of the FA Cup. The sunny afternoon brought out a total of 645 fans, over 100 from St Neots who were noisy through out.

This compact ground very close to Junction 28 of the M1 and tucked away in a housing estate has seating on two sides , standing behind one goal and mixed seating on one side. The pitch slopes down hill from the standing end and the grass cover is thick and lush. There was little wind and the sun shone intermittently through wispy cloud.

St Neots from the Southern League Premier  (Step 3) were trying to progress in the cup and match their previous best showing against an Alfreton team from the higher (Step 2) league, National League North.

Alfreton Town 4 St Neots Town 0

The Reds knowing the ground chose to kick down hill in the first half and soon took control of the game exerting pressure from both wings and were 4 nil up within 28 minutes and out of sight. No 7 Curtis Bateson playing down the left terrorised the St Neots defence and No 2 James Clifton overlapped continually down the right and his long throws were hard to deal with.

Within 5 minutes Batesons cross from a corner on the left swirled over everyone into the far corner of the net. On 18 minutes Peniket was brought down in the box and James Clifton placed it perfectly from the spot into the left hand corner. 4 minutes later Bateson was put through after some sloppy defensive clearances and he drilled it home and a few minutes later Clifton converted another penalty smashing it into the roof of the net in the middle of the goal. The penalty was awarded after Wilde had been bundled to the ground.

The game seemed to drift through to half time and St Neots made early substitutions in the second half and did press  but Ramsbottom in goal for Alfreton made some competent saves to deny any fight back.

Alfreton deserved to go through and their tactic of taking advantage of the slope and dominating early play may earn them a lucrative tie with a EPL club in the draw for the next round. Good Luck Alfreton.

Alfreton Town have two good refreshment kiosks at either corner of the ground and the chips were served quickly. They were hot and cost £1.50 but not a golden brown and did taste a bit flowery, their score is 63.

A beautiful day in Lincolnshire with a temperature of 24 degrees  greeted my visit to Boston United, whilst at the same time the West Coast of Britain was being battered by storm Callum.  As a club Boston United were only formed in 1933 when Boston Town folded. They now play in the sixth tier of English football (National League North) having once graced the Football League between 2002 and 2007. They have been involved in some great F.A. Cup giant killing in the past and reached the F.A. Trophy final in the 1984-85 season. They are very much a community club with a good following in this Lincolnshire outpost.

Their Northumberland opponents Blyth Spartans have a long history going back to their inception in 1899 and they still play at Croft Park where they started. They have for a long time been one of the most prominent Non-League teams of the North East. Like Boston they have been involve in F.A. cup giant killing but have never won a national trophy.

The Jakeman stadium is near to the town centre nestling amongst residential houses. It is overseen by the famous Boston Stump which is the tall tower of St Botolph’s Parish Church. The ground is magnificent, very tidy, covered on all sides, with seating down one side and some at one end. The program £3, ‘The Pilgrim’, is named after Boston’s nickname and is 48 pages of good, detail, interviews, statistics and photos not overpowered by advertising.

The wind swirled around the stadium. The beautiful striped grass was a little bare on the touchlines and the pitch sloped slightly downhill from the ‘stump’ end.

Boston United 4 Blyth Spartans 0

The game started slowly but within five minutes you could feel that Boston were gaining an advantage with some intelligent midfield play. A through ball to Gregg Smith enabled him to beat the offside trap and calmly stroke it passed the keeper for the first goal on 12 minutes.  Boston kept up the pressure and it wasn’t until the 40th minute that Blyth had their best chance as a header just went over the bar.

The second half continued much of the same with the Pilgrims unable to convert their superiority into goals. Then in the space of 15 minutes they scored three deserved goals. Firstly  on 64 minutes Walker scored through the goalkeepers legs after a neat through ball from Allott. The roles were reversed on 77 minutes when Walker’s pass along the goal line from the left was tapped in by Allott and just two minutes later Abbott struck a beautiful drive from 25 yards that went in off the cross bar.  The Pilgrims had beaten the Spartans 4-0.

The food facilities were good, manned by a very friendly and happy team. The prices were very reasonable, coffee £1.10 and chips £1.30. The chips were a good colour, size,  tasted of potatoes and were warm. They could have been a bit hotter hence a score of 73.