Lost in Kinsley

Saturday 16th November

Central Midlands League North Division

Kinsley Boys 5 Easington United 1

Kinsley is a place I’ve now been to twice and have got lost on both occasions!  Unfortunately, whereas on the first occasion I was only in charge of navigation for one car out of five (and had allowed extra time for the Bank Holiday Monday trip) this time I was Navigator-in-Chief of the “Pistol Pete-less Express” driven today by Shotgun Burt. 

So as we completed what appeared to be our third circumnavigation of the “Pontefract Triangle” with less than an hour to go before kick-off I admit to feeling slightly anxious...especially as I looked at the AA Route Planner in front of me and the iPhone sat-nav passed my way by one of the players and both appeared to be telling me different things!

Two hours later I was thinking we may have been better off having never actually located the Kinsley Timber Stadium! 

In truth, this scoreline does not tell the whole story.  As affable home secretary Andrew Rollin said afterwards, “You’ve hammered us second half and we’ve won 5-1!”

The more I thought about this – and the game in general – on the way home, the more I started to feel reassured about this season.  Now that may sound daft given the well-publicised pre-season problems and a run of results that currently sees us sitting second-bottom of the table.

Certainly the mood among the squad would appear positive enough.  In the immediate aftermath of the game, Biggie Smalls took it upon himself to conduct a post-match discussion as to where we thought, collectively, we could improve things.  He also set about reassuring his team mates that they had not been as bad as the scoreline would suggest and that the margins between continued setbacks and an upturn in fortunes continue to get finer.  He made some valid points.

"GerratimSam" as he's now known

On a pitch that played better than it looked, we had gifted our hosts two of the three first half goals that effectively decided the game.

Poor Willow’s rushed clearance that cannoned back off Dave W to home striker Josh Stacy for the first set the tone on 8mins. 

Having lost just two games thus far, Kinsley are a side enjoying their return from a one-year switch to the Sheffield & Hallamshire League and they certainly didn’t need gifts like we were presenting.

Just past the half-hour Tom Mc pulled up with a hamstring injury as he chased a ball into touch.  Amid the confusion this loss created, we struggled to defend the ensuing throw-in ad the ball sat nicely for player/manager Craig Rouse whose well-struck shot took a slight deflection and flew over Mad John into the far corner.

Stella Cidre - reasonably priced - available HERE!

The third looked farcical – Joe Gorner’s in-swinging corner simply dropping directly in for 3-0 on the stroke of half-time.  Gorner direct from a corner – a headline writer’s dream!

Thankfully there was still time for Dave W to fire us back into things and, encouragingly, we had shown signs towards the end of the half of being capable of causing our hosts problems at the back.

As I accompanied the unfortunate Tom to the changing rooms, I overhead the aforementioned Rouse conducting his half-time team-talk.  He was telling his players that we were trying to spray the ball about but were not good enough to do so.

Hmm, I think the second half proved him wrong.  We produced some lovely football as we immediately put Kinsley on the back foot.  And with the only upshot of Tom’s departure being the welcome return to the fold of Hutchie, we suddenly looked a threat at set-pieces again.

The returning Hutch had already gone close twice when JC was felled in the box; penalty!  
Some pointed towards our new man but Sumo didn’t wish to see another mistake of the Sherwood type.  Up stepped Willow – our only successful taker at North Cave and regular spot-kick man at previous club Withernsea.  He went to Joburns’ left.  Unfortunately so did Joburns – penalty saved.

He'll miss this

Willow later said it was his first miss in ten years.  He also said Hutch had admitted that he’d have gone the same way.  I think it provided him with some small consolation!

Two minutes later Hutch’s header from Sam Mc’s free-kick crashed against the Kinsley bar.  As Biggie Smalls commented moments later: this is not going to be our day!

He was right.  We enjoyed more possession, more half-chances and a couple of other near-misses but the two-goal cushion remained...and was then extended.

Willow’s day was to be consigned to the box marked “One to forget” as his attempted flicked clearance from a Kinsley breakaway sat up nicely for sub Jack Owen to volley home.

In injury time he was then out-muscled by Rouse who proceeded to take his season’s tally past the twenty-mark and consign us to our joint-heaviest defeat of the season.

  

All a bit of a blur really (Burt's camera doesn't do floodlights)

Helped by reasonably priced cans of Stella Cidre in the hosts’ smart clubhouse and Smalley’s earlier words of wisdom, there was still an upbeat mood about the lads as we tucked into the post-match buffet.  And this continued on the way home where much of the conversation focused on the future (the average age of the current squad is only about 24).  The way that some of them spoke there would clearly appear to be plenty of scope for optimism.  Now, if only we could string a couple of wins together...

Match report and more blurred pictures can be found here and on our Facebook page.

Mistakes will 'appen

Saturday 28th January

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Kinsley Boys 4

One of the highlights of our first season in the Central Midlands League was the 6-2 win over Supreme Division opponents Kinsley Boys in the preliminary round of the League Cup.  A picture from that game – showing Joni Purse netting our sixth goal – forms part of the header-banner for this blog.

Along with my memories of the match, I can recall it was a scorching day down on the Humber Riviera and our attendance was boosted by our opponents having brought a coach, which despite the result didn’t leave the village until early evening.

Therefore it was no surprise when Kinsley’s affable secretary, Andy Rollin, informed me prior to this season’s league meeting that the West Yorkshire side would again be bringing a bus.  Now all I required was a repeat of the weather and result of 12th September 2009.  Ah…

We had friends around the day after the Parkhouse win.  Ostensibly this was to plan a forthcoming trip to Center Parcs.  In reality, only the women took this task seriously, drawing up lists of everything – from pre-holiday shopping to “things to do” while there.  Meanwhile, as the kids ran amok upstairs, ‘Nige’ and I retired to the kitchen to quaff some fine bottled ales, listen to Rovers’ dismantling neighbours Hull FC in the pre-season derby and pick the bones out of our respective games the previous day.  Given his participation in what sounded a fairly poor Reserves display at home to Reckitts, there was also a certain amount of “putting the world to rights” involved.

It was either windy or whoever applied this was very, very drunk!

The day before the Reserves' fixture had seen some interlopers make a few adjustments to our Low Farm ground.  In particular, the Farm Shed had had something of a "makeover".  It had been re-christened the "North West Ryvita Stand" in honour of the size of most of its regular match day occupants.

The following day had therefore marked its "(un)official unveiling" with a set of scales brought in to record the first day total.  The size of the crowd can perhaps be gauged by a gross weight of 109 stone.  Hmm, what some people will do for that little bit of extra enjoyment on a Saturday afternoon.

It's all very scientific

Ted looks suitably underwhelmed

A week free of meetings meant no hindrance to my enjoyment of a big week on Corrie.  As things came to a head between Becky and Tracy (come on, I know you know who I’m referring to) it again reinforced just why ITV’s flagship soap simply wipes the floor with its doom-laden rival on the Beeb.

Not sure they're part of your pre-match checks, Ian?

On Monday morning Chris Evans played ‘This Is Your Life’, the Top Twenty 1991 track by Communards-offshoot Banderas.  There are certain tunes that immediately put a smile on my face and this is one of them.  The following night I chanced across another such musical offering, courtesy of the latest release by Saint Etienne.  The providers of the soundtrack to so many evenings spent with the radio in the early Nineties, ‘Tonight’ is the debut single from the band’s first new album in seven years.  Sarah Cracknell still sounds as good.  And looks it too!

"Did you watch Corrie, Bo?" / "Down't tawk stoopid Bri!"

There was some surrealism about the Cardiff v Crystal Palace League Cup semi-final, live on BBC on Tuesday night.  For the last quarter of the game, ten-men Palace’s central defensive duo comprised ex-Tiger Anthony Gardner and Paul McShane, currently on loan to the Eagles from the KC.  As the game edged towards a penalty shootout finale, Matthew Rudd tweeted:  “We've a real prospect here of Paul McShane + Anthony Gardner playing at Wembley against Mario Balotelli + Sergio Aguero.”  What a thought!
Thursday brought with it THE must-watch episode of Dr. Thomas Asbridge’s re-telling of ‘The Crusades’.  Tonight was all about Richard The Lionheart (my childhood hero – for obvious reasons) and Saladin.  Brilliant.  I fell asleep.  Thank the Lord for iPlayer.
A slightly different clash of east v west began the following day as Pakistan met England in the Second Test in Abu Dhabi.  It would turn out to be the best of the three match series…though still one in which the ‘Number One Test Team in The World’ would again taste defeat.

On Friday I attended the funeral of Margaret Roberts, wife of one of our most staunch supporters Ted (and godmother to my brother).  Although not directly linked to our club committee, it was felt fitting and right to observe a minute's silence before the Kinsley game as a mark of support for Ted.  It proved a very poignant moment.

A couple of years back, Radio 5 Live had broadcast a series of programmes from Hull as part of a self-styled Octoberfest.  This year it’s Radio 1’s turn.  Beginning with a live gig at The Adelphi on Thursday, the station continued over the weekend with shows from the City Hall, University and Fruit.  It frightens me to think that twenty years ago such an event would have had me excited.  However, the fact that Pete Tong and Trevor Nelson are two names I can still relate to perhaps suggests I’ve not officially reached “old fart” stage yet.

A flat Patty

No doubt some, if not most, of our current First Team squad would beg to differ; especially when they see my reaction to some of the pre-match “sounds” that emanate from our dressing room.  Call that music!?  Cuh.

There was a “buzz” around our changing room on Saturday, not surprisingly given the Parkhouse result.  Unfortunately, away from the seniors there was some unrest following the Reserves’ decision not to fulfil the afternoon’s game at title chasing AFC Woodlands.  Already shorn of eight players for various reasons, another withdrawal just half-an-hour before the designated departure time had left manager Meddy with just ten men and no keeper.  With the Casuals requiring just a point from their trip to Newbald United, perhaps it was no surprise that none of their number were keen to make a last minute switch.  Thus for the second time in as many seasons, the Stiffs handed a walkover to their hosts.  As a County League Committee member – and one who in the past has pushed for stricter punishments for teams not fulfilling fixtures - it all left me feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Re-brand the Stand and they will, er, come...

A Kinsley Boys goal after just three minutes – when top scorer Craig Rouse was given far too much time and space to shoot past a floundering Patti – had me fearing a second embarrassment of the day. 
Beaten just once in 17 league matches, Kinsley can go top of they win their four games in hand.  Their recent run of results is very impressive and boasts some big scalps.  They are a team that can really hurt you and at one down inside the opening exchanges I feared we may be one of them.

Frustratingly, a final scoreline of 4-0 would suggest that’s exactly what they did.  Far from it.  We possibly dictated large periods of the game but while our chances came to nothing at one end, a t’other we proceeded to gift our visitors another three goals.

Young Sam was perhaps slightly unlucky when conceding the penalty from which Rouse made it 2-0 before the break.  Bezza then coughed up possession for Rouse’s killer third goal in the second half, before either Tom or Alex repeated the error to allow sub Stapleton to make it four.  We didn’t deserve that.  But it was another painful lesson in what can happen at this level.

Coming down with "sner" on it

News of the Casuals’ success at Newbald eventually filtered through late – following some confusion as to whether they had actually won 1-0 or lost by the same scoreline!  As such, it was all fairly low-key at our end, although later reports would suggest the regulars in The Gnu pub were certainly left in no doubt that Maccer’s Men were newly crowned ER County League Division 5 champions!

Less pleasing was news of the Tigers’ exit from The FA Cup.  At the hands of League 2 side Crawley Town.  At home.  Nick Barmby had apparently paid the price for making several changes to the side that had won at Reading.  Once again the Cup was shown to be a competition of secondary importance.  Don’t get me started…

The Boys of Kinsley eventually departed the village at half-past-six, leaving behind pleased hosts at both The Granby and The ‘Oss.  They are a team who look like genuine title challengers – especially if other defences are as charitable against them as we were!

 

A busmans (Bank) Holiday

Saturday 27th August
CML North

Glapwell 1 Easington United 1

Monday 29th August
CML North

Kinsley Boys 1 Easington United 1

When you've just about survived a hectic pre-season of meetings, training sessions and matches the one thing you hope for is that the fixture schedule is kind to you once the "serious stuff" gets underway.  Two away games over the Bank Holiday weekend is NOT what was required for peace and harmony in the Slush family household.
To compound things, The Pistol's usually reliable Riding School Express was off the road, we had a distinct lack of willing drivers and, even more worryingly, for the second of the two games we were also faced with a chronic player shortage!
But we came through it all unscathed.  I think.

Our first destination was Glapwell, the Derbyshire village of some 1,500 residents situated between Chesterfield and Mansfield.

It’s a place I’ve visited previously in order to attend Central Midlands League general meetings, held in the local Community Centre, also home to Glapwell Parish Council – more of which later.

Up until the end of last season, the local football club were proud members of the Northern Premier League.  Not anymore.

According to the club website, football in the village originally came on the back of the local colliery.  When this closed in 1974, the community had to wait until 1985 for its first taste of the game at a senior level, with the formation of Glapwell FC, thanks largely to the “infectious ambition of local businessman Roger Caton and his wife Ellen”.

Success, first in the now-defunct Sutton & Skegby League then the Central Midlands League eventually brought promotion to the Northern Counties East League in 1996/97.

The Derbyshire CFA Senior Cup was lifted in 1997/98 and was followed two years later by promotion to the NCEL Premier Division.  Glapwell finished runners-up to Goole and were also beaten in the final of the NCEL Cup.

"Dear Mrs Slush, I know you think it cruel that I've abandoned you this Bank Holiday..."

Several ups and downs were experienced in the NCEL top-flight before 2007/08 yielded a runners-up spot and with it promotion to the Unibond (Northern Premier) League South.  The second season therein saw Glapwell narrowly miss out on promotion to the Premier Division when they were beaten 0-1 by Staffordshire club Chasetown in the Play-offs.

It was then that off-the-field events took precedence.  An agreement to share Mansfield Town’s Field Mill ground for 2010/11 was curtailed when the Stags were locked out of their home at Christmas.  The subsequent return to Hall Corner was not without its own problems, however, and at the end of the season, an ongoing dispute over the licence of the ground prompted Glapwell to resign from the League and drop down to Step 7 for the current campaign.

Despite the fallout from such a move – wholesale changes at management and playing level being just one of them – it was a fairly upbeat welcome that greeted our arrival on a sunny August afternoon.  Perhaps the hosts felt they were in for a repeat of their most recent outing against East Riding opposition - a 6-3 win over Hutton Cranswick in which the hosts had led 6-1 at the break!

Hopes of a smooth operation were hampered by warning from our hosts that the ground faced an 11am pitch inspection following heavy overnight rain.  Pitch inspection. In August. Someone was having a laugh...weren't they?
Thankfully, on arrival in Patrington I was informed by phone that all was now well and the game was on.
Considering we were without The Pistol (or perhaps because of this?!) our journey down was near flawless; our fleet of five cars arriving more or less in convoy a good hour and a half prior to kick-off.

"One day son, this will all be yours..."

Ushering the players out onto the pitch for a first feel (although only where the rather officious groundsman would allow them to go) I embarked on the task of laying out the day’s kit.  Today this involved unveiling the new First Team home shirts, as sponsored by Holderness Tyre Services Ltd following their success in the first ever Eastenders kit sponsorship raffle.

Unfortunately, Glapwell’s black and white home colours meant no airing for the full strip and instead I’d been forced to dip into the old green shorts and socks to avoid clashing.  It actually didn’t look a bad combo when put together.  Kit porn indeed.  

The kit sorted and team sheet written, the smell from the nearby barbecue hut determined where I headed next.  Two and a half squid bought me the tastiest of burgers, although there was a considerable feeling of guilt moments later when the very affable Glapwell club sec, Debbie, pointed Burt and me in the direction of the “Boardroom” where a decent hospitality spread had been provided for us.  Oops.  Still, we did our best to make inroads into it.

Unfortunately printer problems (what are they?!) meant no match programme although I was assured that one could follow on by post…er, I'm still waiting Debbie!?

Skip & Frosty (left) look on as Brett (right) perfects his "Thractor Dance"

Hall Corner is a neat little ground although without the sort of small main stand one would perhaps expect at this level.  All the amenities are situated at one end, with both sides offering a limited amount of covered seating and/or terracing.

The pitch itself seemed to slope down from both goalmouths towards the centre-circle, giving it an almost bowl-like air.

From casting my eye around the place just prior to kick-off, it was safe to assume that Glapwell versus Easington hadn’t caught the local public’s imagination.  A conversation at half-time with a member of the club’s backroom staff convinced me that Manchester United could have been at Hall Corner that afternoon and the club would still have struggled to pull a crowd in.  “Nobody in the village supports us” was the complaint; most of the twenty-strong crowd “come up from Bolsover or Shirebrook”.  A sad state of affairs indeed when there is this facility in which to watch a decent standard of football.

Nobody appeared too keen to go into details regarding the current impasse between the club and the Parish Council, owners of Hall Corner, but it’s clear that those involved with Glapwell FC feel very let down by those they feel should be supporting one of the village’s major assets.  Hmm, rings a few bells that.

I can't believe the pitch slopes that much!

As to the game itself, well, the major details are recorded here.  Suffice to say it was entertaining fare with Gav’s early goal being quickly cancelled out by Yogi Depasse’s equaliser following an awful Chav error.

Both sides went on to have good opportunities to win the game, especially when things really opened up after home defender Jamie Goodacre saw red for a foul on Frosty.  But it was Charlie who was called upon most in the dying moments.  At the final whistle the view was that this had been a good point, well earned.

Whilst appreciative of having a clubhouse within the confines of the ground, one usual drawback is that such places seldom stock real ale.  There was to be no pleasant surprise at Hall Corner.  No matter; I settled for a shandy before we bade our farewells at just before six o’clock.  I was back in Easington before eight.  Part one of the weekend had been a success.  

For you Mr Goodacre, the game is over...

My "Brownie Points" quota was bolstered by Sunday's participation in the annual East End Bogie Race, which formed part of the local Youth Club's Fun Day held to mark its 50th anniversary. 

I formed part of the "Grumpy Awd Men" quartet, along with two other Ezzie Committee men and "man for a day" Carol, wife of the Groundsman.  Age ensured we were never going to win the race but a first prize in the seniors best costumes category cushioned that particular blow.

As I returned home that evening, following an enjoyable session in The Neptune's beer garden (only Tetley Cask but on decent form) I picked up several messages from the Mack which suggested we would not be at full strength for the trip to Kinsley Boys.  Indeed, we'd be some way from it.  Not what I wanted to hear.

Having arranged the logistics around a lift to Hedon and a hop-in with the Chavmobile from there (accompanied by the Elder Slushette - a Bank Holiday bargaining tool) I arrived at the Embassy rendezous on Hedon Road to find I was the only one who had the faintest idea of where exactly we were heading.  A second worrying development to accompany that of lack of players...
I must confess I made a bit of a pig's ear of getting the four cars to the Wakefield Road venue but at least our 12 noon departure ensured we were still there in good time despite a tour of most of the amateur rugby league grounds of West Yorkshire!
Kinsley Village football club began life in 1962 in the Fitzwilliam U18s League.  Exactly when the name changed to Kinsley Boys isn't apparent from the otherwise informative history section of the club's website.  However, it is apparent that they are a club with a proud tradition and no shortage of honours.

An afternoon away with the Boys

Their ground is affectionately known as the "Cabbage Patch".  That term was not the first to spring to mind when the lads ventured onto a bone-hard, bobbly playing surface just before two o'clock that Monday afternoon.  This was going to be a game in which you couldn't trust your first touch (I had a career of those).
In Mack's absence, Nicho promoted youngster Jordan Hart from the Reserves to making his full debut.  He informed the teenager as part of a fairly rousing talk delivered shortly after arrival.  Lord only knows what his pre-match pep talk was going to be like if that was just his "quiet word before you get changed"!
But we needed to be psyched up.  Kinsley are among the favourites for honours in CML North although they would have to improve on Saturday's 4-4 home draw against struggling Harworth if they're to stake a realistic claim for the title.
From a chat over a cuppa with genial home secretary Andrew, I soon learned that the hosts were also depleted for today's clash.  But how depleted?  And how would our relatively inexperienced line-up cope with (a) big, uncompromising opposition; (b) the pitch and (c) a sizeable home crowd that didn't give the impression of being anything but totally partisan?  I needn't have worried.

Ah. Not the start we were hoping for!

Things didn't look great when skip for the day Blounty gifted Kinsley an early opener but gradually we came more into things and Frosty deservedly levelled matters right on half-time. 
With a strengthening wind in our faces, the second half soon became Alamo-esque with Charlie being called upon for a second game in succession to preserve parity.  Further details can be found here.
A decent crowd seemd to be engrossed in the game as much as I was.  Or at least that's what I thought until one bespectacled spectator came by me to return a match ball recently hoofed into the adjoining car park: "Two poor teams these", he said, "Makes me want to get my boots back aht an' ahm 40. Reet set o'wankers aht 'ere!"  The fact that he looked like he'd never kicked a ball in his life made the quote even more amusing.  Perhaps you had to be there...
The final whistle brought a huge sigh of relief from Nicho, and no doubt pride at a job well done.  Two points from two away games in three days is not to be sniffed at at this level.  I was happy - I'd had a good Bank Holiday!

Pictures courtesy of Burt Graham (Glapwell) & Paul Kingston (Kinsley Boys)

Eclipsing the Clippers

Monday 31 August - Hutton Cranswick United (away) Drew 1-1
Saturday 5 September - FC 05 (home) Drew 0-0
Saturday 12 September - Kinsley Boys, League Cup Round 1 (home) Won 6-2

Last weekend saw thousands of people flock to Hull for the start of the Clipper Round-the-World Yacht Race and the “Freedom Festival”. Not surprisingly this resulted in traffic chaos on Saturday as diversions kicked in around the city centre at lunchtime and lasted until midnight.
As referred to by Bob L. Hat in his review on the Tony Kempster site, these diversions also impacted on our Quartet Catering League Challenge Cup first round tie at home to Wakefield side Kinsley Boys. So much so that our visitors didn’t arrive at Low Farm until ten to three with the referee – himself delayed, along with his assistants, by a “blow out” on the M18 – deciding to delay kick-off until a quarter past.

What followed was easily the best ninety minutes experienced thus far in our brief membership of the Central Midlands League. Glorious weather, a decent crowd (73 h/c bolstered by a sizeable travelling contingent) and an entertaining game which saw us upset the formbook and knock out the League’s “August Team of the Month”. It doesn’t get much better (although the “Ryedale Best” in The Neptune wasn’t the most accurate description for my post-match tipple. But hey you can’t have everything!).

The cup win certainly compensated for the rather disappointing result the previous week, at home to FC 05. That 0-0 draw had followed a spirited showing at Hutton Cranswick (1-1) on Bank Holiday Monday and both results mean we go to Church Warsop this Saturday looking for our first league win since the opening day.

Church Warsop Miners Welfare FC currently occupy second place in the table and put nine past Thorne Colliery last weekend. Ominously their squad includes a former Shirebrook Town forward – Simon Johnson; the last time we faced a team containing former Shirebrook players was Parkhouse! We will have to be on our guard.

The village of Church Warsop itself is located just north of Mansfield off the A60 and the ground is a tidy affair, reviewed recently by Ground Hopper “Sticky Palms”. The day will therefore again see us leaving Easington at eleven o’clock on Pete’s “Riding School Express” and involves a drive of just over two hours according to the (in)famous AA Route Finder. This means I should get home just as we're finding out who’s joined Hull KR in the Eliminator Semi-Final of the play-offs (!!!) and also in time to fall asleep in front of “Casualty” - much to the annoyance of the missus!
Despite our move to the CMFL and resignation from the Humber Premier League I still follow the HPL results and keep in touch with several members of clubs involved therein. And at first glance this season’s Premier Division looks wide-open. The likes of Hessle Rangers – strugglers last term – are up there among the early pacesetters while champions Chalk Lane have made a solid if unspectacular start (even at home on the 3G) and usual contenders Sculcoates have endured very mixed fortunes.Predictably, however, Reckitts name is up among the leaders and I’d be amazed if it doesn’t remain there for the duration. We get the chance to find out for ourselves how good the current side is on October 10 when we go there in the ERCFA Senior Cup. With the likes of ‘Nicho’ and Steve Harrod (below) currently plying their wares for Starty’s side there’ll no doubt be plenty of banter flying around as we aim to repeat last season’s victories against the five-times HPL champions.

Elsewhere our two County League sides are away again this Saturday. The Stiffs return to Parkside School to face Goole Goods Office while Maccer’s Casuals are just up the road at Withernsea Thirds. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from opening day defeats and kick-start their seasons.

This schedule leaves the Farm without a game on Saturday, which is not only disappointing for supporters but also for the ground given the current fair weather. Twice already this season, it has been left idle on a Saturday; I just hope we don’t pay for this later in the season when fixtures start to mount up.

Finally, following last week’s cup win it was a happy Lusmore clan that joined Assistant boss Nige and family on Sunday for a jaunt up to Dalby Forest. A good day’s yomping up hill and down dale (and around the gorgeous nearby village of Thornton le Dale) was followed by a sumptuous nosh-up in The Middleton Arms at North Grimston. This was the same watering-hole our party ha d retired to at the end of the “Million Metre Meander” back in May and really is worth a visit. Sadly there was no Timothy Taylor Landlord on offer but Wold Top’s Falling Stone provided a fine substitute as well as the perfect accompaniment to a cracking steak and mushroom pie.

If this weekend proves half as satisfying I’ll be one very happy blogger…

(PHOTOS (from top): Joni Purse scores the sixth goal against Kinsley; Neil Rutter heads home the second (courtesy of Colin Brammer); The Welcome sign at Church Warsop MW (from the club website); Steve Harrod in action for Reckitts at Hedon Rangers earlier this season (courtesy of Colin Brammer))