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Club reports from Saturday, 20 March, 2010
Press Round-up will be posted later

League action...
Hursthouse grabs Shirland winner
Shirland Miners Welfare 3 Matlock Town Youth 2
Home scorers: D Hegarty, S Wright, I Hursthouse
Away scorers: S Asanith, S. Martin

A delighted Ian Hursthouse celebrated his quick-fire goal with team mate Steven Wright after helping Shirland to a fantastic win, a game described as the best seen so far this season.

   It was Matlock Town Youth who started this game on top and the better side, with sheer pace and fantastic skill Matlock scored after only two minutes ripping Shirland's defence wide open with a Saul Asanith strike.

   After the re-start Matlock continued to go forward and if not for some fantastic saves from keeper Daz Shaw shirland could have been three nill down within ten minutes, finally though after a bad start Shirland started to find there feet.

   Conviction wins football matches. A painful lack of it loses them and half-heartedness heralds defeat so Shirland knew that to have any chance of winning this game they had to step up severel gears just to match a very quick Matlock side.

   Matlock are a very spirited young side, technically quite brilliant at times but they lack old heads in their side, players such as Steven Boot, Gary Bacon and Paul Hardy – Shirland players who have been around a long time make all the difference to any side.

   Once Shirland got into their stride they went forward well with Gaz Brown making some good runs down the wing. Shirland's first goal started with Steven Wright a fantastic pin-point cross which found Dale Hegarty, he chested the ball down turned and hit a powerful shot which lobbed the Matlock keeper to bring the scores level.

   With twenty minutes still left in the first-half this game really took off with both teams going forward with real determination but the half-time whistle came quickly and both sides went in on level terms.

   Strong words were said by the manager and players, all of them knew where they were going wrong and all of them knew what they had to do to win this game.

   The second half saw Shirland start 100% better and it wasn't long before a stunning run from Steven Wright found him in front of goal with only the keeper to beat, a twist then a turn Steve lost his player pulled the trigger and fired Shirland into a 2-1 lead.

   You have to admire Matlock's resilience and determination because Shirland's goal just made them stronger, they dusted themself off and got straight back into the game with a few good shots on goal.

   Ian Hursthouse came on with 25 minutes left and could have scored four or five times in the first ten minutes if not for some good saves but it was Matlock who put the ball into the net with another stunning goal from Scott Martin to put the teams level again.

   Shirland hit back within five minutes with a goal from super sub Hursthouse to win the game 3-2.

   Credit to Matlock Youth who played some fantastic football at times doing their manager proud. They have the makings of something very speical. And credit to the Shirland players who are putting there heart and soul into this title challenge!

• MOM Shirland: Steven Boot

Super sub Harrop seals Lions win
Darley Dale Lions 4 Ashbourne 0
Home scorers: D Stephenson, M Allsop, M Ashton, W Harrop

Saturday saw Darley Dale Lions travel to Ashbourne hoping to keep their title hopes alive.

   Despite some heavy rain both before and during the match, the pitch was in good condition with both teams going all out for the win. After some early Ashbourne pressure, it was Darley who started to get on top creating a lot of chances but failing to convert them into goals.

   When Matthew Allsop missed from two yards Darley wondered if it was going to be one of those days but only minutes later the deadlock was broken by Danny Stephenson. A superbly delivered corner from Mark Ashton was too much for the Ashbourne defence and goalkeeper to deal with leaving Danny to volley in at the back post to give the Lions the lead.

   The second goal was from another corner, a beautiful Adam Jonhson-esque inswinging corner from Ashton was poorly cleared by the Ashbourne defence and the ball fell straight to Matthew Allsop who atoned for his horror miss earlier on in the game to make it 2-0. This was how it stayed until half-time.

   In the second half Ashbourne came out with intent to try and get an instant reply but some resolute defending from the Darley back four ensured they got no joy. After this period of pressure it was Darley who found the net again with Liam Keeton putting in an inch-perfect cross finding Mark Ashton at the back post who controlled perfectly and smashed the ball past the keeper to make it three.

   Darley pressed for a fourth but despite numerous chances it looked like it wasnÕt going to come. Man-of-the-match Martin French twice went through one-on-one with the keeper but struggled with his finishing. His first chance was a slice that Tiger Woods would have been proud of and his second very nearly killed a low flying pigeon.

   The poor finishing prompted Darley manager Mazinho to take action and he removed Allsop for Wez Harrop. Mazinho had watched the DVD of last week's game against Matlock Youth seven times in preparation for the Ashbourne game and he got it tactically perfect as Wez's first touch was to put the ball into the back of the net with a simple right-footed tap-in.

   This made it 4-0 and was how it stayed until the final whistle. A solid all round performance from the Lions with another clean sheet.

Saints sink Hippo as both see red
Black Hippo 0 Laburnum 3
Home scorers: P. Denton (2), M Charlton

On a miserable day in the coldest place in England, Saints ran out onto Cavendish Fields to sideways wind and rain. Early pressure from Hippo kicking downhill didn't pay off as Saints grabbed control of the game on the half hour.

   Both teams ended the first half happy with a nil-nil score line.

   Tactical changes from the Saintss skipper and manager paid off with Pete Denton skipping past the rushing defenders and curling a sweet shot into the top corner past Hippo's man-of-the-match Stuart Pearson.

   Michael Charlton dashed Hippo's hopes with a towering header after 70 minutes and two minutes later Denton collected his second of the afternoon.

   The game was marred by two players being sent off and a hyperactive Hippo supporter. Saint's keeper Tim Killick was sent off after reacting to a foul by Hippo's Luke Travis.

   Within seconds a crazed Hippo supporter ran onto the pitch throwing threats and punches. Killick passed his gloves to son Dan who managed to keep Hippo at bay and retain his Dad's clean sheet for the remainder of the game.

   Credit goes to both teams after the referee lost control of the game. Saints man-of-the-match was Richard Austin for his ball play and exquisite passing.

Superb Rovers hit poor Holloway for six
Riddings Rovers 6 AFC Lea Holloway 1
Home scorers: A Bonser (2), A Gugala, A Clarke (2), D Fenn
Away scorers: S Bott

Riddings produced one of their best performances of the season against an in-form AFC Lea Holloway who were hot on their tales in League standings before this game.

   Rovers started well and were 1-0 up after 15 minutes when Andrew Bonser brought the ball down 20 yards out and beat the keeper with a superb effort.

   The game was quite tight in the first-half and clear cut chances were few and far between but Rovers stopper Danny Clarke had to make a good save from Shaun Bott just before half-time to preserve Rovers' lead.

   The second half was dominated by Riddings as shortly after half time Bonser made it two with another fine finish beating the keeper with a superb shot. It was 3-0 shortly after when a free kick was was met with a fine header from Artur Gugala.

   Adrian Clarke came on for Gugala just after his goal but it was Holloway who were next to register as referee Mick Stallon awarded a penalty to the away side even though it looked like the challenge was out side the box but up stepped the impressive Bott to slot away the spot kick leaving Clarke with no chance.

   Rovers had defended well all game and felt a little disappointed to concede but they responded well when Adrian Clarke added a fine brace with two well taken goals to make it 5-1 to the home side.

   Craig Ivekich and Michael Dables replaced Mark Turner and Adam Coleman for the last 20 minutes and the two gave Rovers some extra energy to see out the game and with five minutes remaining Drew Fenn managed to score his first goal of the season from another set play to make it a very convincing win for the home team.

• MOM Riddings: Ben Bloodman. MOM Holloway: Adam Pearson.

Kings edge nine-goal thriller
Kings Arms 5 Harveys Bar 4
Home scorers: T Holmes (2), D Farmer, S Barsby, P Wragg
Away scorers: T Woodhouse (2), J Barwick, C Maycock

On a wet and muddy Crich Rec it was pretty even play for the firsthalf with two goals from Tom Holmes for the Kings and a good strike from Tom Woodhouse for HarveyÕs setting the score at 2-1 at half time.

   In the second-half with Kings having to use their one sub to replace Tom Holmes, all the play started to go Kings way and soon with goals from Daniel Farmer, a one-on-one with the keeper for Sam Barsby and a ball sneaking under the keeper for Paul Wragg, Kings were looking comfortable at 5-1 up.

   Kings however then decided to sit back and, with Harveys finding some self-belief, they had scored three goals within ten minutes with shots from Jamie Barwick, Colin Maycock and a second for the match from Woodhouse.

   With Kings forward down with cramp and no subs, they had to battle to hold off Harveys, but as the whistle blew for full-time, Kings had held on to the three points.

• MOM Kings: Sam Barsby. MOM Harveys: David Goodall

Press Round-up
Keeton grabs winner in seven-goal thriller
20 March , 2010

One of the season's most entertaining matches brought a narrow defeat for a classy Matlock Town Youth against Shirland Miners Welfare who maintained their pressure at the top of the Matlock & District Football League table.

   It was Matlock's sheer pace and fantastic skill which saw them rip Shirland's defence wide open after only two minutes for Saul Asanith to score. And some fantastic saves from Shirland keeper Daz Shaw kept the visitors at bay.

   Shirland took time to find their feet and got an equaliser when a Steven Wright pin-point cross found Dale Hegarty, who chested the ball down turned and hit a powerful shot which lobbed the Matlock keeper to bring the scores level at half-time.

   It was Wright who fired Shirland into the lead only for Matlock to equalise with a stunning Scott Martin goal. Within five minutes Shirland's super sub Ian Hursthouse sealed the 3-2 victory.

   League leaders leaders Darley Dale Lions turned in an all-round solid performance to earn three points in a 4-0 win on the road against Ashbourne. Striker Danny Stephenson's back post volley from a superbly delivered Mark Ashton corner opened the scoring and the second game from another inswinging Ashton corner which was poorly cleared by the Ashbourne defence for Matthew Allsop to give the Lions a 2-0 half-time lead.

   Despite a period of Ashbourne pressure the Lions notched up their third when Liam Keeton delivered an inch-perfect cross for Ashton to smash home at the back post. Substitute Wez Harrop's first touch was to put the ball into the back of the net with a simple right-footed tap-in to complete the scoring

   On a wet and muddy Crich Rec it was pretty even play for the first half with two goals from Tom Holmes for Kings Arms and a good strike from Tom Woodhouse for Harveys Bar setting the score at 2-1 at half time.

    After the break Kings upped their game with goals from Daniel Farmer, a one-on-one with the keeper for Sam Barsby and a ball sneaking under the keeper for Paul Wragg.

   With a comfortable at 5-1 lead Kings sat back and enabled Harveys to hit back with three goals within ten minutes from Jamie Barwick, Colin Maycock and a second for Woodhouse. However, Kings held on for a 5-4 win.

   Riddings produced one of their best performances of the season against an inform AFC Lea Holloway. After 15 minutes Andrew Bonser beat the visitors' keeper with a superb effort. Rovers stopper Danny Clarke had to make a good save from Shaun Bott just before half time to preserve Rovers' lead.

   Bonser quickly made it two nil and a fine header from Artur Gugala notched up another.

   Holloway responded with a penalty from the impressive Bott before Adrian Clarke added a brace and with five minutes remaining Drew Fenn netted his first goal of the season to make it a very convincing 6-1 win.

   Laburnum Saints' second half tactical changes paid off with Pete Denton skipping past the rushing defenders and curling a sweet shot into the top corner past Hippo's man-of-th-match Stuart Pearson.

   The impressive Michael Charlton dashed HippoÕs hopes with a towering header after 70 minutes and two minutes later Denton collected his second of the afternoon to give Laburnum a 3-0 victory.

• Cavendish Cup semi-final action this Saturday (27 March, 2010) sees Harveys Bar v Riddings while League fixtures include Shirland Miners Welfare v Ashbourne, Kings Arm v Darley Dale, AFC Lea Holloway v Laburnum, Matlock Town Youth v Hilcote United Tibshelf Community v Black Hippo.