#GAME43 25/11/17 Worksop Town 0-3 Bottesford Town

Worksop Town 0-3 Bottesford Town

Bottesford run riot due to a poor performance from the Tigers.

A trio of goals from Dayle Hutson, Declan Bacon and Tom Johnson gave the visitors all three points.

Bottesford Town took the lead after ten minutes as Wayne Graves squared the ball across the Tigers’ box for Dayle Hutson to tap in unmarked.

Bottesford continued to knock on the Tigers door and had two good chances to do so. Jack Cross put in a dangerous cross into the middle, but young Callum Fielding beat Hutson to the ball and held well. A minute later McCarron tried his luck from thirty yards; however his effort went inches away for their second.

Worksop finally responded to the Bottesford dominance with a chance of their own. Currie flicked on a deep Lee Hill freekick, Turner pounced on it and tried to slot it past the keeper but Jordan Douglas saved well with his feet.

Bottesford doubled their lead through their top scorer Declan Bacon as he lashed it home past Fielding from just inside the box.

Worksop would have have pulled a goal back if it wasn’t for an outstanding save from Jordan Douglas. Lee Hill rifled his freekick hard and low into the bottom corner but Douglas pushed it wide with his fingertips.

Then new signing Matty Templeton slipped the ball across the face of goal. The ball went untouched until Bishop swung his left foot at it. The ball sliced up into the air and Jake Currie backheeled it just wide.

That was it for the first half and the visitors led 2-0 at the break.

Bottesford were straight back into first gear from the whistle as dangerman Bacon wrong-footed Matt Varley and curled his shot agonisingly wide of the post.

Worksop went close again as Woolley headed Barnett’s freekick into the path of Lee Hill who tried to volley it towards goal, his shot lobbed  and Currie tried to head it over the keeper but Douglas retreated back towards his line and palmed the ball over.

Shortly after an appeal for a penalty was waved away. Bishop fired his shot into the body of the keeper. Then John Leonard blocked bravely from Hodder’s volley. The ball trickled to Jordan Turner who hit his shot on to the arm of Joe Edwards but the referee didn’t agree with the shout from the crowd and the Worksop players.

Bottesford put the final nail in the coffin as Centre-back Tom Johnson headed home Wayne Graves’ accurate corner.

Worksop couldn’t find any way back and Bottesford held on to take all three points back to Scunthorpe.

Attendance: 313
Goals: Hutson (11’), Bacon (33’), Johnson (67)
Lineup: Fielding;  Barnett, Varley, Hill; Hodder, Thompson (Jordan), Templeton (Husbands) Bishop; Currie (Liversidge), Turner
Unused Sub: Trench

#GAME42 18/11/17 Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Bristol City

Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Bristol City

Attendance: 25,916
SWFC: Keiren Westwood; Jack Hunt, Tom Lees, Glenn Loovens, Morgan Fox; Ross Wallace (Lucas Joao), Barry Bannan, Jacob Butterfield (Kieran Lee), Adam Reach; Jordan Rhodes, Gary Hooper (Steven Fletcher)
Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith, Liam Palmer, Joost van Aken, David Jones.
BCFC: Frank Fielding; Korey Smith, Aden Flint, Nathan Baker, Hördur Magnusson; Callum O’Dowda, Marlon Pack, Josh Brownhill, Joe Bryan (Jamie Paterson); Bobby Reid, Matty Taylor (Milan Djuric)
Unused Subs: Luke Steele, Zak Vyner, Niclas Eliasson, Jonathan Leko

After finally waking up from a bore draw at Hillsborough it was time for me to write this blog. (I apologise with how late it is… I totally forgot I’d written it XD)

The Owls scored within the first 18 seconds in the previous game against Aston Villa when Reach’s wondergoal kickstarted the owls to victory. They started quickly here but not with the same result as Wallace switched the ball from right to left picking out Fox who headed the ball into the centre where Jordan Rhodes was but he could only head over.

6ft 6” Aden Flint then went close for the visitors when he tried the acrobatics and overhead-kicked Brownhills looping header into the box wide of Westwood’s post.

Ten minutes in Callum O’Dowda saw his shot flash across the face of goal after cutting inside from the right. This must have given Ross Wallace an idea as the Scotsman carbon copied O’Dowda and cut in on his left and rifled his shot just wide of Fielding’s left right hand post.

The Robins arguably had their best chance of the half when O’Dowda chipped a cross into the middle of the box where top scorer Bobby Reid was, he headed the ball towards goal, however his effort was straight into the hands of Keiren Westwood. That was all for a timid first half and both sides went in goalless.

The second half opened with Wednesdays best chance of the game as Wallace floated the ball into the visitors box for someone to attack it, that man was Aden Flint who redirected the ball towards his own goal and, luckily for the City defender, on to the roof of the net.

City should have gone ahead on 73 minutes when Browhill played substitute Milan Djuric through on goal, Djuric forced a save out of Westwood but the ball trickled to Bobby Reid. Reid tried to chip the ball into the goal but Hooper headed it away only to Flint who tried the acrobatics once again and hit it wide of the goal.

There was a penalty shout near the end for the Owls as Bannan tiptoed his way towards goal and was brought down by Joe Bryan but the referee waved away an claims.

Despite the fact the Owls failed to register a shot on goal, a draw seemed the fair result in the end.

The game left me and fellow fans very disappointed that we couldn’t find the good playing style we had shown in the previous two wins against Millwall and Aston Villa which both ended 2-1 to the Owls.

#GAME41 14/11/17 England Under 17s 2-1 Germany Under 17s

England Under 17s 2-1 Germany Under 17s

The Under 17 World Champions took on Germany’s Under 17s in an International Friendly played at Rotherham United’s New York Stadium. Tickets were only £1.50 and with the Stadium down the road from me (via the ten minute 137 bus ride) so I thought that was a no-brainer to come and check out the talent we may expect to see in the next couple of years.

England were the better of the two teams and had a lot of chances. Curtis Jones, who was a nuisance on the left-hand side until he went off injured, played a one-two with Laird and then passed it to Tulloch and the England number nine held up the ball. He waited till Jones had made an advance into the box and played him through. He took on the keeper and played the ball to the edge of the box where captain Thomas Doyle was there to hit it first time but his shot was blocked.

No sooner than a minute later Germany were on the back foot again. Firstly Germany’s Daniel Klein tipped Doyle’s curling freekick, which was heading for the top corner, over the bar and out for a corner. From the corner, Set-piece expert Doyle spotted James Garners run pinged the ball perfectly for Garner to head towards goal however the keeper held well.

A quarter of an hour in Mason Greenwood played a perfectly weighted ball down the line for Jones to latch onto, Jones took the ball towards the by-line and crossed it low across the face of goal. The keeper got down to catch it but ended up spilling it into the path of Tulloch but Jon Bongard blocked on the line to spare the keepers blushes.

Germany’s best chance of the half came just before the break when Ole Pohlmann skipped across the edge of the box to try and find an opening, no gaps appeared so he laid the ball off to Katterbach who rifled his shot inches wide of the post.

I didn’t realise that the half’s were only 40 minutes, I swear when I was playing Under 16 level we played a full 90 minutes but I suppose that was Fourth Division in Sheffield playing for the Sheffield Six’s, and both teams went in at halftime goalless.

Germany almost caught the home side out when Leon Dajaku was played the ball on the edge of the box from Oliver Batista Meier (what a name!) and the German forward sliced his shot wide of Arthur Okwonko’s post.

England took the lead on the hour mark when substitute Bobby Duncan cut inside from the right, he wrong footed Tom Krauß and tucked his shot into the bottom corner.

England thought they had doubled the their lead when Nolan gave the ball to goalscorer Duncan who spun and smashed the ball home however the linesman judged him to be offside and raised his flag.

Germany equalised on 71 minutes as a poor corner was attempted to be cleared by Doyle but he volleyed the ball directly into the body of Fabrice Hartmann, Okwonko got down superbly to keep out the deflection but Hartmann reacted quickest and pounced on the lose ball to level.

England showed the fight they showed in their World Cup triumph and got the winner five minutes from time. Greenwood won possession off of Katterbach and squared the ball across the face of goal where Jack Nolan was to tap in and win the game.

A superb performance from the England Under 17s who continue their great run and success story. Also a good night to write a blog.

Attendance: 7,754
England U17s: Arthur Okwonko; Vontae Daley-Campbell, Ethan Laird, Luis Binks, Louie Sibley; Arvin Appiah (Taylor Perry), Thomas Doyle, James Garner; Mason Greenwood, Rayhaan Tulloch (Jack Nolan), Curtis Jones (Babby Duncan)

Germany U17s: Daniel Klein (Lino Kasten); Lenny Borges (Per Lockl), Jordi Bongard, Kevin Vangu Phambu Bukusu, Noah Katterbach; Ole Pohlmann (Fabrice Hartmann), Tom Krauß (Maximilian Maier), Amid Khan Agha (Jonas Kehl), Can Bozodogan (Rene Biskup); Leon Dajaku (Kevin Grimm), Oliver Batista Meier

#GAME40 11/11/17 Dunston UTS 0-1 Worksop Town

Dunston UTS 0-1 Worksop Town

After a great last round against Haughmond it was time for the next stage of the FA Vase against Newcastle based Dunston UTS. Dunston were in the northern leagues which has the connotations of a really tough league compared to the NCEL so we knew we had to set up our game. It was also time for another journey on the Johnson Bros bus. Like the Haughmond game the journey up was electric with chanting, drinking and laughing all way North-Eastwards. That trend carried on as we arrived in the clubhouse as the Tigers had taken it over singing about having a drink to Kenny the King and the Hottstepper tune for Matt Varley... the place was bouncing.

An fairly even first half started with Liversidge volleying just wide. Varley knocked a ball into the middle, the ball was headed away to Liversidge whose side footed volley looped high and to the left of the post.

Hill went close a quarter of an hour into the game when Currie crossed far into the hosts’ box for Hilly who rose highest but headed just over.

Thirty minutes in Mark Fitzpatrick held up the ball in the box, he set up Stafford whose shot was blocked bravely by Liversidge and into Alexander’s hands.

On the stroke of halftime Dunston went inches wide as Fitzpatrick latched onto a Hill clearance but could only hit the advertising boards next to the goal and both teams went in at halftime goalless.

Worksop opened the scoring four minutes after the break when Woolley broke away from his marker and played it to Turner, Jordan returned the favour and played it back to the Tigers Skipper, Woolley beautifully picked out the run of Denton and the forward took a touch and slotted it past Aiden Grant to put the Tigers ahead and sent the away support into raptures.

Ten minutes later Dunston were almost gifted a goal after confusion between Lee Hill and Matt Varley going for the same ball allowed it too fall to Fitzpatrick but the striker again smashed wide.

Shortly after the home side had a great chance to draw level when Rundle beat Hill to the ball, he put a dangerous cross into the six yard box but Varley got there first to head over. Then from the resulting corner Ben Pollock saw his header at the front post flash across the face of goal untouched and out for a goalkick.

Worksop thought they had doubled their lead when Turner converted Hills flick on at the back post however Turner had his strike ruled out for offside.

The defence were solid all game and put in a brilliant display today to keep out the North-East side. An example of this came when Sam Liversidge threw himself into a shot from Scott Heslop that looked certain to of been the equaliser if it wasn’t for Sam.

Worksop fought like soldiers on Remembrance Day and defended in numbers at the death. They saw the game out and are through to the next round of the FA Vase.

What an incredible game. Every single player fought for the cause and wanted it as much as the fans. On that note too the fans were excellent. Creating an immense atmosphere to jeer on the players, I even heard one Geordie say ‘You don’t even hear these types of atmosphere at St James’ Park’ which put a smile on my face to show how proud I was of this club and fans.

Attendance: 368
Goals: Denton (49’)
Lineup: Alexander, Hodder, Hill, Thompson, Liversidge, Varley, Turner, Woolley, Denton (Jepson), Currie (Jordan), Bishop
Unused Subs: Fielding, Higginson, Wankiewicz

Written for the Worksop Town 

#GAME39 07/11/17 Sheffield Wednesday U23s 2-1 Sheffield United U23s

Sheffield Wednesday Under 23s 2-1 Sheffield United Under 23s

Experience prevails as the Owls come from behind to beat the Blades in a Steel City clash

Wednesday started the brighter and kept possession for the majority of the first half, they went close early on when Lucas Joao brought down a lovely cross field ball from James Murphy, he played the ball to Abdi who hit it from the edge of the box and just inches over the bar.

Joao then went close several minutes later as him and Abdi linked up once again. Abdi played it to Joao on 18 yard box, Joao took it in his stride, nutmegged his marker and hit his shot agonisingly wide of the post.

Sheffield United had a chance of their own on the half hour mark as Smith beat Clarke to the ball and then squared the ball across the box for Oliver Greaves who slid in but could only poke it wide.

The Blades opened the scoring two minutes before the break when Hallam pulled it back for Smith to twist and curl into the bottom corner.

Matias tried the spectacular from 25 yards with a pot shot that was just wide of the net. This was the final action of the first half and the Blades led 1-0.

Wednesday were in search of the equaliser and went close when Matt Penny played a short corner with Abdi, Penny continued his run and Abdi returned the favour and played him the ball back, Penny tried to tuck his shot in the bottom corner however Cantrill blocked the shot.

The home side were level in the 68th minute through Lucas Joao. Matt Penny picked out the Portuguese striker who redirected the cross into the net.

Wednesday carried on their dominance to find the winner and they thought they had when Matt Penny unleashed an effort from 30 yards that looked destined for the top corner but keeper Warhurst got fingertips on the shot to tip it over.

The Owls got their deserved goal when Penny crossed the ball into the box, Joao’s header flew in to the air towards the edge of the box where Abdi volleyed it first time into the bottom corner to win the game.

Lucas Joao almost bagged his brace and also could of put the result beyond doubt but as he sent Sam Graham to the shops with his quick feet, his curling effort was a whisker away from nestling in the far corner. That didn’t mater as Sheffield Wednesday held on to their lead and won the Steel City Derby for the Under 23s.

Goals: Joao (68’), Abdi (78’); Smith (43’)
SWFC Lineup: Cameron Dawson; Ash Baker, Frederik Nielson, Connor O’Grady (C), Warren Clarke; Matt Penny, James Murphy, Almen Abdi, Connor Kirby, Marco Matias; Lucas Joao
Unused Subs: Dan Wallis, Liam Williams, Fraser Preston, Preslav Borukov, Liam Shaw
SUFC Lineup: Hugo Warhurst; George Broadbent, Sam Graham, George Cantrill, Keenan Ferguson; Jordan Doherty (Will Portman), Harvey Gilmour (Deon Moore), Regan Slater ( C); Oliver Greaves, Tyler Smith, Jordan Hallam (Connor Cutts)
Unused Subs: Jene Belehouan, Reon Potts

#GAME38 04/11/17 Hall Road Rangers 4-0 Worksop Town

Hall Road Rangers 4-0 Worksop Town

Attendance: 153
Goals: Belcher (1’), Batty (13’), Spinks (27’), Hansen (37’)
Lineup: Alexander; Woolley, Wankiewicz, Liversidge, Phillips; Barnett, Jepson (Thompson), Hill; Jordan (Denton), Currie, Turner (Bishop)

A poor first half display costs the Tigers as they are defeated in Hull.

It was a trip up to Hull today for Worksop and the game started badly as Hall Road Rangers took the lead inside the first minute through a Louis Bruce long throw, Sam Belchar beat Vank in the air to head into the net.

The lead was doubled when Batty took the ball in his stride and coolly slotted it past an outrushing Alexander.

Worksop has their first chance of the game when Hills long throw fell to Kyle Jordan at the back post via a flick on by a Rangers defender however Jordan volleyed wide.

Rangers made it three when Tom Bennett picked out Spinks run at the back post, the striker lobbed the ball over 6ft 6” Alexander.

It was soon 4-0 when Wankiewicz passed the ball into the path of Fraser Hansen instead of to the keeper, Hansen went round Jason and slotted into an empty net. This would now be an historic comeback if the Tigers were to get anything out of this game, they would have to channel their inner Newcastle United when they came back from 4-0 down to Arsenal to draw.

The visitors were the main force in the second half and were piling on the pressure to kickstart some kind of comeback. They went close when substitute Micah Bishop crossed into the middle where Matty Thompson stabbed the ball just inches wide.

Twenty minutes from time Worksop were down to ten men. Jed Phillips, who must of got the ‘kiss of death’ from winning October’s player of the month from the bootiful game magazine, he made a very late challenge on Ben Lewis and after being surrounded by a handful of Hall Road players the referee sent Jed for an early shower.

Shortly after Bishop cut in from the left hand side and rifled a shot across the face of goal, no one else could redirect it towards goal either.

The final chances of the game also fell the Tigers, firstly Currie rolled the defender and slotted the ball towards the back post where Denton was arriving but he couldn’t connect. Then Denton snatched at a shot on the edge of the box but the keeper held on to the ball

#GAME37 02/11/17 Worksop Town U19s 2-0 Dronfield Town U19s

Worksop Town 2-0 Dronfield Town

Dunbar double wins it for the Tigers

Harry Dunbar’s brace either side of halftime keeps the Under 19s unbeaten run in tact.

Dronfield opened the chances in the first few minutes when Ethan Flower broke through into the Tigers box. He managed to wriggle around Callum Fielding however Alex Boyd managed to get back and block on the line.

That scare seemed to kickstart the Tigers into the game as shortly after Mason Gee slalomed his way down the wing and pulled it back to the edge of the box for Smith to hit it, but unfortunately he couldn’t add a goal to his tally of three in the league as Jack Cratchley saved the shot.

On the half hour mark Gee made a nuisance of himself again when Jack Holden switched play from the left to the right where Larder brought it down and played it to Gee who turned on the after burners and saw his shot pushed away from goal by the Dronfield keeper.

The Tigers got their deserved goal three minutes before the break. Firstly Dunbar was sent through by Gee and his curling shot was parried by Cratchley. The ball fell to Mlynarski who passed it into the middle for Dunbar who took on his marker and lashed it past the keeper with his left foot.

Into the second half we went and playmaker Jack Holden had two great chances to double the lead. Again Gee provided a cross to the back post where Holden was, Jack headed the ball across goal and his header bounced of the post and was cleared. Then a well passing move was almost paid off when Igor slotted the ball back to Holden who aimed for the bottom corner but the keeper parried it away from goal.

Harry Dunbar bagged his second just before the hour mark. Niall Blakemore made a fantastic mazy run from fullback into the opposition box, however James Beardow tackled Niall as he was about to pull the trigger. Subsequently the tackle trickled to Dunbar who easily slotted it past the keeper.

Dronfield almost pulled a goal back when a corner fell to Tom Shaw, he snatched at his effort and hit it against the frame of the goal. The ball fell back to him and he beat Fielding but he couldn’t beat Blakemore who rushed to the line and bravely threw himself in front of the shot to keep the ball out.

Dunbar had chance at the end for his hattrick however when the ball was played over the top by Hall he tapped the ball over the outrushing keeper but the ball bounced agonisingly wide of the post.

That was it for the rest of the game and Worksop ran out 2-0 victors
Attendance: 80
Goals: Dunbar (42’, 58’)
Lineup: Fielding (Woodward); Larder, Blythe (Williams), Boyd, Blakemore; Gee, Stead (Robinson), Holden, Mlynarski (Hall); Dunbar, Smith

I then interviewed Jonathan Bownes after the win;

The Tigers defeated Dronfield Town 2-0 at Sandy Lane to keep their unbeaten start to the league campaign. The gaffer thought the game was average but was proud of the lads for grinding out the win. ‘I do think we started slow, I think it was down to the mindset if I’m honest. My job at the minute is too bring them back down to earth as I feel some of the lads thought they could walk on to the field and get the win and that was the gist of my halftime team talk. Just because we had won three in three, (now four in four), they’re entitled an easy win. Yes we have played average but we’ve grounded out three points and I’m proud of the lads for doing so’.

Harry Dunbar bagged a brace either side of halftime and there was a standout performance from Leftback Niall Blakemore. ‘Niall’s a funny one, he can be hit and miss at times, I left him out of last weeks squad due to lack of commitment and discipline in training, that seemed to give him a kick up the backside and tonight he has proven me wrong. He could have had a goal with a little mazy run but that led to the second so I was very impressed with Niall. Harry’s frustrating but he’s only 16 and has a lot of potential and will be a feature in our team for another two years and his work rate is brilliant so yeah I’m pleased about both’.

Callum Fielding has started in goal for the first team in recent weeks due to an injury to Jason Alexander. The 17 year old has impressed in his performances with his handling ability and by pulling off some great saves, he has only conceded two goals in two games against Haughmond in the FA Vase and Parkgate in the league. Bownes feels strongly about his players and how the first team should be looking to integrate them into Hindley’s plans. ‘ We’ve got a great bunch of lads and if I was the first team manager, and Craig did this job last year too, it would be a no brainier to bring Callum in, Spinky know’s what he’s about. Cal is a safe pair of hands and is great with his feet. My advice to my squad, and to the first team, is that there are players here that can compete, they don’t need ninety minutes, they just need the experience of it, fill the bench up with two or three youngsters, give them that experience cause they are good enough but there does need to be that level of trust there to let these lads fight for a chance. Trust them and nurture them into good first team players. This is something I feel as a club we could improve on’.

‘Overall we have won and that’s what counts’.

Both pieces were written for the Worksop Town Under 19s Facebook page.

#GAME36 31/10/17 Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Millwall FC

Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Millwall FC

Minutes silence for our fallen soldiers

After a brilliant opening couple of minutes Wednesday went ahead four minutes in when Wallace picked out a run down the left from Morgan Fox who brought it down and crossed it low for Adam Reach to side-footed the ball past Jordan Archer

REACH MAKES IT 1-0!

Wednesday carried on there attacking prowess in search of another goal when Bannan tried his luck from 30 yards out, his thunderous effort had to be tipped over by the fingertips of Archer. 

Fox was denied a goal when he connected with Wallace’s accurate corner however Archer saved and then his follow up shot was blocked by Shaun Hutchinson. 

The Lions equalised against the run of play as Onyedinma’s shot deflected off Lees’ tackle to Tom Elliott who poked the ball in. 

Wallace picks out Fox in the Box

Wednesday were not going to let that bother them as they went in search of another goal and nearly did when Rhodes’ header was cleared into the path of Palmer who hit it first time but his shot was palmed wide. 

Wednesday got their noses in front three minutes from half-time when Rhodes headed home Butterfield’s corner to break his duck and score his first league goal of the season and since March. 

Rhodes seemed to gain confidence and went close again in added time when he controlled Wallace’s cross with his chest and volleyed agonisingly wide of the post. 

Wednesday had a couple of scares on Halloween night when Ferguson was played through on goal by Tunnicliffe. However Westwood came out, spread himself and blocked his shot to keep it 2-1. 

Centre-back Jake Cooper had two close chances to equalise. First he connected with Meredith’s freekick but it landed straight to the hands of Westwood. Then he somehow found himself through on goal but he could only fire wide of the post. 

Ferguson slalomed his way past Palmer and Lees but Captain Glenn Loovens led by example and slid in to block the shot. The home side broke and went close as Rhodes’ header landed on the top of the net from a Wallace cross. 

Rhodes went even closer to a second when Reach back heeled it to Fox who delivered a perfect cross for Rhodes who could only hit the post. 

In stoppage time Jake Cooper was sent off for a second bookable offence when he bundled over Bannan. Wednesday kept the ball and saw the rest of the game to earn all three points. 

Fulltime- A great shift from the players!

Attendance: 23,403

Goals: Reach (3’), Rhodes (43’); Elliott (13’)

SWFC: Westwood; Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Fox; Wallace (Lee), Butterfield, Bannan, Reach; Rhodes (Jones), Hooper (Fletcher)

MFC: Archer; McLaughlin, Cooper, Hutchinson, Meredith (O’Brian); Wallace, Tunnicliffe, Ferguson, Saville, Onyedinma (Gregory); Elliott (Morison)

'WE'VE GOT JORDAN RHODESSSS'- I had the same expression when he netted, very relieved