It’s fair to say that Nostell don’t start seasons that
well, and it took them at least fifteen games to record a win last year but
this season things have changed and before the game they found themselves just
two points behind Staveley going into the game and proved to be a much tougher
test than maybe the 134 Trojans inside Inkersall Road were expecting….
After Courtney Hastings had seen Edward Hall in the
Nostell net push his third minute shot wide and out for a corner from which
Fabian Smith skewed wide, Nostell got into the game and Craig Tonkinson ran
down the left and crossed all the way over to the right where Luke Gordon
collected the ball cut inside and put his side into an early lead with a superb
left footed curling shot which looped over Ryan Musselwhite and into the top
corner.
Staveley were struggling to get into their stride, mainly
because Nostell were as “busy” as their beelike yellow and black striped kit
would suggest but the home side were architects of their own downfall with not
taking enough care with their passing.
An over enthusiastic challenge from Ellis Wall gave
Nostell a freekick on the left of the Staveley box and they missed a good
opportunity for a strike on goal by electing to cross into the crowded area as
opposed to finding Luke Gordon in oceans of space unmarked on the edge of the
area and allowed the Trojans to clear and set up their best chance of the match
so far…
…Courtney Hastings inside the box, shrugged off the
attentions of a defender and bore down on the ‘keeper Edward Hall but instead
of pulling the trigger which, even from the tight angle where he found himself
at no one would’ve blamed him, such has been his goal scoring form of late. He
unselfishly squared the ball across goal where Nostells James Beaston just got
to the ball before Kurtis Morley as he was about to tap the ball into an
unguarded net and cleared setting up a breakaway chance for his side. Connah
Judson sprang the Staveley offside trap and raced through one on one with Ryan
Musselwhite who in sensing the danger ran out of his goal and narrowed the
angle just enough to put Judson off and his shot went wide of the far post.
Nostell had had the better chances up to now but they
were made to pay in the fifteenth minute for not taking more of them when
Kurtis Morley took possession off Adam Scott during one his trademark runs across
goal and turned to see Courtney Hastings smash the loose ball curling into the
left hand side of the net from the edge of the area giving Edward Hall no
chance.1-1
For the rest of the half Matt Varley, Richard Mintoft and
the rest of the defence comfortably dealt with the now mainly aerial threat
that Nostell were providing with only a questionably given freekick which
cannoned off the Trojan wall and an offside goal scored by Craig Billington
when everyone else had stopped being the only chances they created.
Ten minutes after Richard Mintoft had won the ball in
midfield with an excellent tackle and clipped a delightful ball which would
have sent Kurtis Morley through on goal had it not been for the intervention of
Franck Zalo, and on the stroke of half time Courtney Hastings took centre stage
again….
…A long throw from Matt Varley landed on the chest of
Hastings who from the left hand corner of the box turned and lashed an
unstoppable volley into the top corner again giving Edward Hall no chance. It
was a truly sensational goal which would’ve been shown time and time again had
it happened in the Premiership.
Half Time Staveley Miners Welfare 2 – 1 Nostell Miners
Welfare
It took five or so minutes for the second half to come to
life when Kurtis Morley chased a through ball and won a challenge with ‘keeper
Edward Hall, Steve Carty pounced on the loose ball and squared for Adam Scott
to seemingly score Staveleys third, play was brought back though as a freekick
was given for the original Morley challenge, although how much contact there
had actually been is open to debate, and this was to be the story of much of
Staveleys half.
On 54 minutes Courtney Hastings was similarly adjudged to
have fouled in challenging for the ball in the box as was Matt Varley when he
went up to for a corner five minutes later, and there were lots of niggling
little fouls given which on another day would’ve been waved away.
On the hour mark Kieran Watson back from suspension and
who had by now replaced Kurtis Morley hit a shot which went just wide and on 82
with his back to goal he held up the ball long enough to allow Steve Carty to
reinforce the attack from midfield and with the space opening up in front of
him Carty ran forward and set up Jamie Brown, also on as a substitute for Ellis
Wall but he shot over the bar.
These two chances interspersed a period of Nostell
pressure brought about mainly from poor ball retention from Staveley rather
than any incisive play from the visitors but in Luke Gordon who had been the
man pulling the away sides strings all through the game they had someone with
the quality to punish any sloppy play but luckily at this stage of the game he
didn’t have the players around him to worry Staveley a great deal and it was
infact Staveleys Kieran Watson who had the best chance but his shot was saved
by Edward Hall when he was one on one with the keeper.
A stoppage time freekick almost met the head of Franck
Zalo but it was too high for him and Staveley recorded back to back wins for
the first time this season perhaps signalling the upturn in form that has been
threatened since day one.
Full Time Staveley Miners Welfare 2- 1 Nostell Miners
Welfare
Chairman's message: Sometimes the phrase “you have to win scruffy” applies to
football matches and this was one of those days where Staveley now sit 7th in
the NCEL Premiership. Little cohesion, little passing in between ad-hoc phases
of play from both sides and then 3 pieces of individual brilliance brought 3
excellent goals and 3 points for Staveley that to be fair on balance they
probably deserved 55/45. Still we are in mid-month 2 of a 9-month season and
there’s a long way to go. The top 3 clubs – Tadcaster Albion/Worksop Town/Handsworth
Parramore are as expected the 3 teams to catch with one succeeding but two
failing in an estimated total playing budget for all 3 of over £200,000. There
is then the second tier clubs, the likes of Albion Sports/Bridlington and
Barton Town that are long standing experienced sides who have been knocking on
the top tier door and then there are the third tier clubs which to be fair is
where we felt we should set as a target for this season. Time will tell to see
if any second/third tier club can penetrate the tier above or if one club falls
from grace to the tier below. Transfers are becoming more in number, phone
calls are being made, players moaning and discreet enquiries of possible moves
back to clubs and with the sun glasses in the glove compartments and long away
game treks, things can soon turnaround one way or another very quickly. Time
will tell.
Staveley head to Sandy Lane for the third time so far this
season on Wednesday 22nd September where they face Worksop Town in
the Sheffield Cup hoping to repeat the performance from the 3-4 win from their
last visit there.
Then next Saturday 26th September the Trojans
head to the seaside to face Cleethorpes Town and anyone wishing to join them on
the trip can join the supporters bus which will be heading east at 10:30am from
the Inkersall Road carpark priced at a bargain £10 – places are filling up fast
so call Gill Watters on 07852 440565 to book your place!
