CML Hop

CENTRAL MIDLANDS LEAGUE FOOTBALL BONANZA 2010

Saturday 6th March 2010

2010 is the seventh football bonanza that the Central Midlands League (CML) have organised and the first that I have paid in advance for a ticket for admission and programmes to all of the games. There are only three games today due to the distances involved and only one of the clubs being floodlit. I have been on several bonanza games before in 2005 (Santos and Forest Town) and 2007 (Yorkshire Main, Askern Welfare and Hatfield Main) but normally work and time dictates that I cannot normally attend these games. I first watched a game involving a CML club in 1998 when I took in Long Eaton United’s FA Vase game against the now defunct Oldbury United and have watched at least one new team each season since. Prior to today I have seen four games in the CML this season with the games being at Kirkby Town, Louth Town, FC 05 and Parramore Sports.

A few weeks prior to today I had been offered a lift to all three games by a fellow Leicester based groundhopper called Gary. Neither of us had met each other before but it made sense that two people from the same place to go together. Fortunately we got on with each other and it made the journey all the more enjoyable and pass a lot quicker than if sitting in a car on your own. Thanks go out to Gary for this.

Game 1

EASINGTON UNITED 3-0 HUTTON CRANSWICK UNITED

Low Farm, Beck Street, Easington, East Yorkshire

Attendance: 209

The first of the bonanza games and the furthest away from Leicester saw us depart at 6.30am for the 148 mile trip to Yorkshire’s Holderness coast. The journey up was straightforward, uneventful and traffic free and we arrived in Easington at approximately 9.15. This season is Easington’s first in the CML having transferred from the Humber Premier League. They had been founder members of the Humber Premier League (HPL) since its inception in 2000 with a runners-up spot in 2004 being their best finishing position. Opponents Hutton Cranswick are in their second season in the CML having transferred from the HPL a year earlier than their hosts today. Like Easington they too were founder members of the HPL and also like Easington their best ever finish came in 2004 when they were crowned champions. At the start of play Easington sit in mid-table with 31 point obtained from their opening nineteen games played so far while Hutton are third from bottom recording only four wins from twenty-one games played.

Low Farm is a basic affair with the pitch being railed off and some hard standing on a couple of sides of the pitch. An overhang on the changing room block provides the only cover but with the game being played in sunshine it wasn’t required this morning. The first half was a better affair than the second with all the goals coming in the first thirty two minutes. The opener came with just eight minutes on the clock when Craig Havercroft put in a free kick from the right which was headed home by Paul Morrill from six yards out. Havercroft made it 2-0 on twenty minutes when he hit a shot from just inside the penalty area which to be honest the Hutton keeper should have done better. The third on 32 minutes was another soft goal from Hutton’s point of view as Jamie Cousins scored with a shot from the left hand side of the penalty area. Within five minutes of the re-start Hutton had their best chance when a shot from outside the penalty area struck the crossbar. The remainder of the half was mainly forgettable as Easington won comfortably.

Game 2

WESTELLA & WILLERBY 0-1 PARRAMORE SPORTS

Blackburn Welfare Leisure, Prescott Avenue, Brough, East Yorkshire

Attendance: 194

An hours drive to the other side of Hull and more specifically the town of Brough saw us arrive with an hour to spare before the start of game two. West Ella and Willerby are two villages / suburbs of Hull some six or seven miles from Brough but play here due to ground requirements of the CML. Like Hutton Cranswick, Westella are in their second season in the CML having transferred from the HPL. Like the other two former HPL clubs they were also founder members and recorded their best finish in 2007 when a runners-up spot was achieved. Opponents Parramore Sports come from Sheffield and like Westella are in their second season in the CML having been promoted from the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League. At the start of play both these teams sit in mid-table in the CML’s supreme division with just two places and four points separating them in the home side’s favour.

The Blackburn Welfare Leisure is home to four football pitches with the one used by Westella nearest the excellent social club and is fully railed off. The game was the worst of the three with the only goal coming on seventy minutes when following a break by Gavin Davies, he then put the ball across for Gallagher to side foot the ball into the net from six yards out.

Game 3

LOUTH TOWN 3-1 NETTLEHAM

Park Avenue, Louth, Lincolnshire

Attendance: 257

The last game of the bonanza saw us have three hours between the two games. The journey south to Louth across the impressive Humber Bridge took just over an hour, and with time to kill we spent some of it in a restaurant having a chip supper. I have covered Louth before so will not go into detail on their ground etc. This game was the best of the three with it being played at a quick pace throughout, possibly due to it being bloody cold!!!. Louth took the lead early on in the game when Paul Watts volleyed in past Nettleham keeper Leigh Herrick following a chip from James Archer. The home side got a further two goals in the second half from Jamie Rowbotham and Kurt Crossley, but the final goal of the game and day was scored by Nettleham from the penalty spot.

We arrived back in Leicester around 10.45pm some sixteen hours since departing. Overall a long but enjoyable day out.

Websites:

Easington United: http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/easingtonunited/

Louth Town: www.louthtown.co.uk

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.

Derbyshire la la la

Parkhouse 1-3 Westella & WillerbySaturday 13th September
Central Midlands League Premier DivisionMill Lane
Again having got up early after my night shift I decided to make the most of the good weather and take in a game. I had two criteria in choosing where to go. 1) It must be reasonably near to home and 2) It would be a non-floodlit ground. Had a quick look on the net saw Parkhouse were at home to CML new boys Westella & Willerby. A tick on both accounts and decision made. Plugged ground postcode into sat nav and left home @ around 1.30pm and made my way up the M1 to Derbyshire and more specifically Old Turton which is just outside the town of Clay Cross, and took just over an hour to get there.


Entering the ground by car I am charged £2 admission which includes the match day programme. The programme by the way is an excellent effort and I would not be disappointed if I had paid another £1 for it and I also managed to get a pin badge for £3 from the secretary. The ground is not floodlight and also has no cover - ideal for days like today. The club have laid foundations for a stand on the Mill Lane side of the ground so watch this space as it were.

Now to the game...

The visitors took the game to Parkhouse from the start and created numerous chances before they got the opening goal on 18 minutes, when the ball was played across from the right and was tapped in at the far post by Tom Dent. Four minutes later and it was all square as Paul Bicknall scored with a header from a corner. A further six minutes passed and the visitors regained the lead when Matt Fyvie struck a low shot into the bottom right hand corner from 12 yards or so. Westella continued to look the more dangerous and had the better of proceddings during the remainder of the half. The hosts should have been level at half time as their number six hit the woodwork with an angled shot with time about up. The second period saw the home side have the better chances and play the better football - just better finishing required and the game would have had a different outcome. The hosts were again unlucky when the frame of the goal was struck with the score still at 2-1 but it was the visitors who scored a crucial third goal on 79 minutes through a header from Lee Jackson. No further goals ensued and the game ended with a 3-1 victory to Westella & Willerby. An enjoyable and competitive game at a nice friendly club. A visit is well recommended.

websites:

Parkhouse - www.clubwebsite.co.uk/parkhousesatfc/
Westella & Willerby - www.westella-willerby.co.uk/