Monday 20th February 2012
by TERRY DAMMS

Staveley MWFC 2 - 1 Nostell MWFC (NCEL Premiership)

Staveley MWFC hosted Nostell MWFC at Inkersall Rd and were looking to get back into their recent excellent run of form in the league that has seen them, prior to this game, taking 16 points from the last possible 18 and keep them in the mix of those clubs chasing title favourites Bridlington Town and current leaders Retford Utd at the top of the NCEL Premiership.

Manager Billy Fox (left) rang the changes trying to avoid the "after the Lord Mayor's Parade" syndrome, giving Andrew Fox a rest and time to recover from his injury and dropping Ryan Damms and Jordan Eagers down to the bench with David Cockerill, Ian Clarke and Ben Ferguson starting in the opening 11.

Nostell started the brighter of the two sides - Staveley perhaps with a few tired limbs out there after the midweek FA Vase tie - but on 5-minutes, Staveley's incisive first move opened up the Nostell defence.

A great block challenge by Chris Fawcus enabled him to pass the ball to David Cockerill whi played a ball over the top to Joe Thornton, he played it down the side to Simon Barraclough and his cross was deflected for the first corner of the game, resulting in a David Cockerill header going narrowly wide.

A series of corners brought some pressure on Nostell, Ashley Foyle going close, then Nostell keeper Gavin Ansley saved well from Joe Thornton.

On 15 minutes, Staveley carved open the Nostell defence. Joe Thornton, picking up a loose ball, fed Simon Barraclough and a neat return pass saw the Staveley striker round the keeper, who somehow managed to parry the shot for another Staveley corner.

Staveley took the lead on 18-minutes, a quick throw-in down the right by Ben Ferguson put in David Cockerill who slipped a neat ball into Simon Barraclough who turned his defender back inside, the ball ran to Ian Clarke who calmly slotted the ball into the Nostell net to give Staveley the lead.

David Cockerill played a good ball down the right side and Ben Freguson returned the favour putting in a good cross that Cockerill managed to volley, but his effort went wide.

Next time around Cockerill's fine 25-yard effort brought an excellent tip over the bar by Ansley for another Staveley corner, but Nostell were finding it tough going against a mean Staveley defence as the game entered the second third of the game, although Richard Patterson was on guard to mop up the danger on the half hour.

Ian Clarke nearly had his second goal, albeit fatuously when an attempted clearance in the area hit him and went inches past the post.

Joe Thornton's cross / shot went past the far post as Staveley went close again.

Far too many offside flags went against Staveley as the game became a little scrappy towards half time and, despite possession being very much in Staveley's favour, the score line remained at 1-0 and Nostell were still very much in the game.

Ben Ferguson was replaced by Jordan Eagers at half time for Staveley, but for 10 minutes, the game was so scrappy, offside decisions, throw ins and far too much stopping and starting, that the game had no fluency.

After 55-minutes, Nostell managed to get an equaliser and seemingly stun the watching crowd of 112. Tom Hope, turning his man, put a cross into the box where James Eyles had acres of space and, one on one, Staveley keeper Ian Deakin came out on top, saving well with his feet, but the ball ran out to Brad Thompson who picked up the rebound and curled the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

Staveley had a good chance to re-take the lead 2 minutes later, a rebound put in Simon Barraclough but one on one, this time the Nostell keeper saved his effort and a corner was the outcome.

Kyle Fores-Chambers played in Simon Barraclough again but the keeper put in a good stop and forced another corner for Staveley.

A minute later, that personal duel surfaced again with Gavin Ansley coming out on top as Staveley were mounting the pressure.

It had been all Staveley after the away goal, but Nostell again nudged the hosts and reminded them very much that they were in the game when slack defending and clearing of their lines by Staveley let Graham Marchant have a free effort on goal that went narrowly over the top.

A mix up from the goal kick by the Staveley central pairing allowed the ball to be played over the Staveley back line but this time, Brad Thompson's effort went over the top. Cries of "Come on, we can win this" came from the Nostell bench which despite the overwhelming possession and chances Staveley were creating, was actually the case.

Staveley pushing forward with both full backs were susceptible to the counter attack but Nostell's final ball was just not there, or being intercepted, and Staveley had become too predictable and looked tired.

Manager Billy Fox, noting the lull, made two further substitutions, Joe Thornton came off with Ryan Damms going on up front and David Cockerill out wide left on 70-minutes.

Ian Deakin made a good double save as Nostell were able to bear down on the Staveley back line with ease as the Staveley midfield were tiring and the Nostell runners were having some success in getting through the home ranks.

Billy Fox made his last throw of the dice putting on U19 striker Adam Houghton with Simon Barraclough going out wide left and David Cockerill retiring after 78 minutes.

Gavin Ansley in the Nostell goal collecting the ball from a back header went to the edge of his right hand side area, obviously trying within the rules to pass time, rolling the ball out, he made a clearance onto the Staveley back line where a straight projected long ball was punted straight back by Ashley Foyle on 80-minutes over the top of the Nostell defence.

Reacting first, he got onto the end of it and flicked the ball around the keeper who blocked it but the Staveley substitute managed to knock it goal bound, rounded the keeper and fired the ball into the roof of the net to give Staveley the lead on 80-minutes.

Staveley went looking for the third goal, but you could not ignore Nostell's effort to get the equaliser against a side that were simply 'knackered'!

Simon Barraclough played in Ryan Damms, whose turn and shot was deflected just past the post.

A slick move near the end and a wedged pass over the top to Adam Houghton, saw him one on one with the keeper but this time, taking it around the keeper, he was denied by the woodwork.

The final whistle blew signalling 3 more points for Staveley.

It has been a lay off for most teams, with really only Staveley getting some competitive football in since the 28th January, as they managed to get the Teversal and Oadby cup ties in, whereas other sides had not played in 3 weeks and news came in from other matches of some surprising narrow wins, draws and defeats.

After such a lay off, the highs of the midweek FA Vase victory and the changes to the line up and the 'getting to know you' of new partnerships in the middle and up top, today was all about the result, and the Staveley players can now take some time to recover from 2 games in 4-days after a fortnight's rest, Thursday bringing another chance to maintain the push on up the league.

There remains 12 league games to play, 7 at home and 5 away, but with games against 5 of the top 7 clubs, there is a massive amount of football still to play, and that will test the squad to its limit!

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