Why?

Thoresby Colliery Welfare 0-1 Westella & Willerby

Central Midlands League Premier Division

Saturday 21st March 2009

Thoresby Colliery Sports Ground, Edwinstowe

I know it is getting on for a week after the event but this is the first time since the game that I have had time to put down some notes on the game.

I wasn't planning to go to a game but having rose at around 12.30pm after finishing another wonderful night shift at Asda I decided to take in a game. Also with it being a nice day weather wise helped make the decision easier. The next question was where? My preference was a non-floodlit club so I had a look on the internet and made the decision to head up into Robin Hood country and more specifically the town of Edwinstowe which is where Thoresby Colliery Welfare play their home games. I also had the wife and dog in tow and as events later unfolded was glad of the company.

Without any hick-ups it should take around 1 hour 10 minutes to make the 48 mile journey. Typically as I didn't leave myself much leeway I got held up on the A46 and made it at the ground just as kick-off was about to commence. Admission was £2 each, though thankfully they did not charge for the dog and £1 for a programme - they had actually sold out of programmes but at half time I spoke to Rob Hornby who is on the committee for the Central Midlands League and he authorised in allowing me to have the league's copy. Thanks Rob much appreciated.

The ground is a large open sports ground that also houses a cricket pitch. The football pitch is fully railed off with what looks like some cover on the far side. As the wife doesn't like football she took advantage of the openness to take the dog for a walk during the game. Now to the game...

This is where the heading will make sense. The game in all truth was deadful. The visitors from Hull scored after two minutes and...that was about it. Poor football from both teams and I think it was a case that Westella knew they didn't have to be at their best and / or exert themselves too much to win the game and this is how the game panned out. Thoresby tried to play some football but didn't have the quality to threaten the visiting defence. The only other chance of note that springs to mind was in the second half when the visitors rattled the post with a shot that deserved a goal. But alas it was not to be and I was glad when the final whistle went.

Definately one of those cases where you wonder...why did I bother?

On the plus side, like most if not all clubs in the Central Midlands League that I have visited over the years, Thoresby are a well run and friendly club to visit.

Game 510

NEWARK TOWN 0-2 THORESBY COLLIERY WELFARE

Station Road, Collingham
Central Midlands League Premier Division
Tuesday 21st August 2007

I don't do many midweek games but when I saw this fixture I thought that it would be ideal as it is close enough to visit within the time constraints that I had. Newark Town had also been on my hit list since the joined the Central Midlands League a few years ago.

Newark play at the now defunct Collingham F.C.'s ground on Station Road in Collingham which is about four miles north of Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire and is typical of grounds you find at this level. There are floodlights and a small stand on the clubhouse side of the ground which would hold maybe 30 people dry. It was £2 admission which included a 24 page programme and not a bad effort it was too.

The first half was played in a constant drizzle and brisk wind which didn't help proceedings but the game itself was played at 100mph (which seems to be the norm these days), with both teams at times resorting to the long ball tactic which suited them neither. There were not many attempts on goal to note and the first twenty five minutes had nil nil written all over it. Then came the saving grace when the visitors took the lead through a volley from their number 11 - no idea who as no line-ups were announced. This was probably just about deserved. The rest of the half saw both teams huff and puff wihout causing any problems and the half ended 1-0 to Thoresby.

No food was available at the ground so I went and found the local chippy which was located next to the health centre two minutes drive from the ground - £1.50 for sausage and chips which if I might add were very tasty.

The second half was thankfully played at a slower pace and the game was better for it. Newark had an excellent spell of posession for 10 or 15 minutes at the start of the half but could not find goal that they deserved. Thoresby soaked up the pressure and scored again on 63 minutes from their number 9 through an almight scramble. The home keeper looked to have got the ball under control but somehow it came free for the afore mentioned player to tap the ball home. The last quarter saw the home side of the majority of posession with the visitors trying to catch them on the counter attack which nearly worked when their number 10 hit the bar with a lovely curling shot.

Overall a better second half and the scoreline was in the end probably a fair reflection of the game and chances created.

Final Score: 0-2 (attendance 25 - counted)