Friday 14th January 2011

Staveley MWFC came away from Shirebrook Town FC with 3 deserved points in a game that they dominated from start to finish.

Shirebrook's new boss and ex Staveley manager Rudy Funk had drafted in 5 or 6 Unibond players into his recent squad and Matlock's Dean Cropper was drafted in especially for this match giving Shirebrook a look of an experienced side.

A healthy partisan crowd watched on as Staveley started well moving the ball around on a difficult pitch. Shirebrook's game plan was evident early on, the long direct ball straight down the throats of the Staveley defence but where all night Tom Jones and Ashley Foyle were simply superb.

Staveley kicking down the slope had the first corner with Andrew Fox playing it in short to Ryan Damms who returned the ball for Fox to send the ball into the box where Ashely Foyle's header was well saved but the ball looped to Tom Jones who couldn't believe his luck as he had the simple job of heading the ball home from 2 yards.

The referee not wanting to brandish the cards early on let the game flow but Staveley passing the ball around well were forcing Shirebrook to work really hard and they looked half a yard short in areas to keep pace with Staveley.

On 23 minutes Staveley broke down the left with Chris Coy whose pace caught the Shirebrook midfielder Mark Robinson on the wrong side and a clumsy and unnecessary tackle in the area resulted in a penalty on 23 minutes. Ryan Damms once again varying his penalty kick sent the keeper the wrong way  to give Staveley a comfortable lead.

Shirebrook were struggling to get any sort of hold on the game and were becoming frustrated seemingly chasing shadows.

On 34 minutes Richard Patterson was upended with a horrid challenge from Mark Robinson way above the ball and he was shown a second yellow and a red and Shirebrook were reduced to 10 men.

Half time came with Shirebrook having little joy other than set pieces launched into the Staveley area.

The game was set in a mould, Staveley trying to unlock the home defence with moving the ball around and Shirebrook giving their all to combat the numerical advantage that Staveley held by trying to turn the Staveley defence where Kyle Fores Chambers and Michael Staley were doing well at full back also.

Scott Ellis replaced Jamie Smith down the right and he showed some useful touches and crosses as Staveley went looking to kill the game off. On 70 minutes a flowing move from Staveley's own half opened up the Shirebrook defence.

Aymen Tahar gathered the ball and played a great one two with Andrew Fox and Tahar then slipped the ball back to Fox who swept the ball wide to Chris Coy who turned back inside of the full back and slammed a 15 yard drive into the corner of the net to give Staveley a commanding lead.

Shirebrook managed to get a goal back when the referee awarded a second penalty and Simon Johnson scored to the keepers left.

Staveley could have increased their lead but the game petered out with Staveley taking the points and a 4 point lead at the top of the table.

It was a resilient and workmanlike performance against an experienced side at a ground where some sides will find it difficult to cope. Not many teams will come away from Shirebrook with the points where their new manager Rudy Funk will be eager to make his mark sooner rather than later.

The next game for Staveley is a tricky looking game at Grimsby Borough at their new stadium and who may still linger hopes of a late promotion run with 14 home games out of the 18 games remaining.

The promotion race may be set to be widened to a number of teams. Barton Town have hit a sticky patch, Pontefract face a tough looking span of 7 away games out of 8 starting at Shirebrook on Saturday which may leave teams such as Yorkshire Amateurs and Handsworth to stake their claims for a push in the second half of the season for a promotion place alongside Leeds. Louth and Askern Villa.   

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