Saturday 7th January 2017
Kimberley MW 4-0 Barrow Town (H-T 1-0)
Admission £5.00 / £3.00 concession
Attendance : 62
Referee: Wayne Gray
Didn’t see a programme
Teams:
Kimberley MW : Shaun Bodkin (c), Adam Morley, Felix Hogg, Gerry Moran, Josh Stevenson, Tom Dale,
Scott Carlile, Tom Marshall, Adam Hassall, Conor Carter, Scott Bailey. Subs:
Martin Lench, Frazer Campbell, Alex Marshall, Rikki Turner.
Barrow Town: Scott
Handley, Sam Beaver, Jordan Thacker, James Portwood, Bryn Statham, Dan Agar,
George Coser, Jim Mee, Zak Ginvert, Ndouma Chilaka, Ben Law (c). Subs: Mark
Schultz, Jonny Smith, Aaron Carrs.
This was my second game of the
day, the first being a very good, close contest between Mansfield Town U18 and
Doncaster Rovers U18. Played at Rainworth,
the football on show was a credit to both teams and their coaches – fabulous
stuff. The final score was 1-1, and unusually, both goals were own goals, the
Stags conceding on 14, and Donny in the 58 minute.
I was supposed to be going to
watch AFC Mansfield take on Sunderland RCA, but circumstances forced me to
change to a fixture more local to home. Kimberley have been resurgent in recent
weeks, but this could be partly due to the fact they have played their last
nine fixtures at home – the wear and tear on the playing surface more than
evident as you enter the ground.
Kev had other matters taking
precedence , but I wasn’t to be on my own again as Ian Squires was on hand to
keep me company. Ian is usually to be found watching Heanor Town, but didn’t fancy
the trip to Boldmere St. Michaels, so opted for the Kimberley game and after
the first half-hour probably wished he had chosen differently.
Scott Carlile had the first
real chance of the game on 8, but Barrow stopper Handley managed to block the effort with
his legs and force the ball away for a corner.
Seconds later, Tom Marshall played the ball across the Barrow box to Tom
Dale, but his resultant shot was well wide of the post.
Conor Carter saw his header from
Marshall’s eleventh minute free-kick skim the bar, then five minutes later we
were treated to the first Barrow attack, and although Ndouma Chilaka’s drive
was hit well enough, it was blocked well by Bodkin. On 35, Dale had a great chance to play in Carter as he ran in on
goal, but the weight of the pass was a little heavy and a decent chance went
begging.
Kimberley finally managed to
break down the stubborn Barrow defence in the 41st minute when
Carter retrieved the ball after what seemed to be a lost cause, and crossed
into the box to where Tom Marshall was on hand to stab home. The lead should have been doubled on 44, but
Carter scuffed his shot after Carlile’s ball in from the right wing picked him
out in front of goal. H-T 1-0
We had to wait until midway
through the second period before the home team really tested the visiting back
line again. It was Carter again with the chance, forcing Handley into a save after he had broken free
of his marker. Seconds later, sub Alex Marshall flicked his shot wide just of
the post after he connected with fellow sub Frazer Campbell’s corner kick.
The goal that the home team
desperately in need of arrived in the 70th minute – this time
Carlile’s run and cross down the right was flicked home in the six yard box by
the trusty boot of Tom Dale.
Barrow almost clawed one back on
78 after Mark Schultz had jinked his way into the Kimberley penalty area and
picked out Jim Mee ten yards from goal. Although Mee’s shot flew past Bodkin,
fortunately for the home team, it also flew past the outside of the far post.
Carter added the Kimberley third
with 10 to play, this time an Alex Marshall left wing cross finished superbly
at the far stick by the inform striker. The final goal came in added time, and
this was proper “route one” football! Kimberley had used the long ball
occasionally throughout the match, but this time when Bodkin launched the ball
into outer space, after re-entry it fell straight into the path of Carter who
collected it well before clipping it over the advancing Handley. Great finish, and showed what is possible if
you take the playing surface out of the equation! F-T 4-0
MOM : Conor Carter - without doubt