Wednesday 31st August 2011
by TERRY DAMMS
Staveley MWFC made it 7 wins from 4 league and 3 cup games in a 23 day period and went 2 points clear at the top of the NCEL Premiership with a narrow 1-0 victory over Maltby Main.
With 2 games in 3 days, often results don't go to plan or as smoothly as the form book may suggest, with tired limbs and changes in team selection. This time only 14 fit players were able to be mustered for the Maltby game with no fewer than 7 changes from the starting line up on Saturday including new signing Luke Fletcher from Parkgate FC.
Perhaps the most consistent statistic to come from the 2 games was the overwhelming corner count with another double figure corner count for Staveley and just one corner for the visitors in the 88th minute.
The game started off with Maltby standing up to the league leaders well but on 10-minutes a simply horrid tackle by Maltby's Lee Mellon on Staveley's Andrew Fox resulted in the referee immediately dismissing the Maltby midfielder who, for the 2nd time in 3 games against Staveley, received a deserved red card.
Mellon flying in with both feet off the floor and way above the ball, it was a miracle that the Staveley midfielder did not get seriously hurt but thankfully, after treatment, he was able to carry on as the thud of the visitors dressing room door being slammed was heard echoing around the ground.
The game then adopted a pattern of Maltby cramming players behind the ball and hoping that a counter attack or dead ball situation may grab them a goal.
As on Saturday, the visitors keeper had an excellent performance but this time he was ably assisted with some poor finishing by Staveley as chance after chance went begging. Crosses from both flanks by the dangerous Joe Thornton and Jordan Eagers, well supported by Kyle Fores-Chambers, the Maltby defence was stretched but all too often, crosses and chances went begging.
Chris Coy managed to turn the Maltby defence but the Maltby keeper Jamie Lee Bailey stopped the opening goal. Ayden Duffy in the Staveley goal became almost a spectator watching Staveley try and break down a resilient Maltby rearguard. Time after time a last minute block by Maltby or hesitancy by the Staveley players resulted in Maltby keeping a clean sheet for the first 45 minutes.
The second half didn't alter the constant one way traffic of Staveley dominating possession and it was almost an attack versus defence training session. Martin Foster unleashed a superb left foot volley but the Maltby keeper somehow got his hand to it and the danger was cleared.
Chris Coy, one on one with the keeper, was also foiled as it began to look like one of those afternoons and heroic showing. The Staveley corner count seemingly mounting with every 5 minutes brought further opportunities and Tom Jones's bullet header shaved the Maltby post as the visitors just about hung on.
Further injury problems amassed for Staveley when Aymen Tahar limped off with a hamstring problem and further changes were required.
On 70 minutes Staveley did manage at long last to beat Jamie Lee Bailey but with a fortuitous goal. A well struck in-swinging corner from Joe Thornton swung into the far top corner of the net.
Harsh on Maltby it probably was in the manner of the goal but it was, on Staveley's total dominance, no more than the hosts deserved. This could have opened the flood gates as Staveley could smell blood. Credit to Maltby they dug in deep, rode their luck and stuck to their tasks.
Jordan Eagers had a chance but again the keeper denied him scoring Staveley's second goal. Substitute Simon Barraclough was the next player to be denied by the Maltby keeper.
Corner after corner with no fewer than a dozen throughout the 90 minutes for Staveley brought constant pressure.
Maltby's central defender Michael Jones and Jonathan Wragg stood up well to the onslaught but nearing the end, the experienced Jones was nearly out on his legs conceding a corner through sheer exhaustion.
A comedy of errors and scramble in the Maltby penalty area brought roars of laughter from the on-looking crowd of just shy of 130 although no doubt manager Billy Fox was less than amused at his side's inability to convert the dozen or so clear cut chances that were created.
The "football's a funny old game" cliche nearly popped its head above the parapet and there was always the chance that the unthinkable may occur and that it nearly did. Maltby winning their first corner on 88 minutes showed the one bit of desire to try and win the game had a goal bound effort stunningly cleared off the line by debutant Luke Fletcher.
That would have been a travesty for Staveley who had bombarded Maltby all afternoon but who has just the single goal to show for their efforts but it was enough to give Staveley their 7th win on the bounce in the first month of the season and more importantly their 4th straight win from 4 league games.
The injury crisis however is a real problem with Ian Deakin, Chris Fawcus, Aymen Tahar, Ryan Damms and the absence of Richard Patterson but with so many games early on perhaps like other clubs injuries are to be expected.
Manager Billy Fox was pleased with the 7 straight wins but was unhappy that sides that have been dominated were not more heavily beaten.
There is a respite now from the NCEL Premiership with next Saturday's FA Cup Tie at Goole AFC and then providing there is no draw it is Hall Road Rangers who visit Inkersall Road on the 10th September 2011.
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