precision training Nottinghamshire Senior League
At: Church Lane
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £1 (44 pages)
Attendance: 45 (headcount)
Weather: cloudy with sunny spells and showers
Duration: first-half: 46:45; second-half: 50:37
Wet and windy weather on Thursday and yesterday threatened to spoil today’s action – and it did in many parts of the country. It was sunny at home this morning, so I had everything crossed that my first choice match would survive the deluge.
After studying this week’s Football Traveller magazine, I opted to visit a ground I’d previously passed during March’s hop on my way from Bulwell Town to Kirkby Town. I was impressed with what I saw at Linby Colliery Welfare so opted to head for their home Notts Senior League game with second-placed Clifton.
Linby are one of just a few clubs in the league to produce programmes and have covered standing at their ground.
Setting off early and getting there early around 1-45 pm, I was pleased to time my arrival with that of the Clifton squad. The Linby squad were also assembling so no need to check if the game was on and, in fact, the pitch didn’t feel that damp when I walked round the pitch.
As the programme states, Linby moved to the current home in 1985 after vacating their famous Gatehouse ground which attracted a crowd of 6850 for the visit of Gillingham for an FA Cup First Round tie back in November 1950. Sadly the ground was lost after the mine closed.
The current Linby CW ground, overlooked by St Michael’s Church, proved straight-forward to find down Church Lane. I approached from the northern end of the A611 Hucknall bypass then followed signs for Linby. Just after crossing the railway level crossing, it was left at the roundabout that followed, signed B6011 to Linby and Papplewick, then first right by the church and white flag pole into Church Lane. The ground entrance was 200 yards on the right by the signs for the Bailiwicks Court development.
In through the gates and immediately into car park, the pitch (orientated south-west–north-east) ran lengthways on the top side of a large field which previously was home to Linby CW Cricket Club, hence the size. On the near end were separate changing rooms for home and away as well as the cricket pavilion. Down the right-hand touchline of the fully roped-off pitch was an old stand from bygone years from which the view was obscured by the away team dugout. Opposite, a more modern area of cover, next to the home dugout, had so such viewing obstructions. A white rail extended from in front of the cover towards the near end along a small additional area of uncovered hand standing.
I headed for the pavilion and inside found a TARDIS-like room including a tea bar. I picked up a programme (£1) and lapel badge (£3), as well as those all important teamsheets from the respective club secretaries. There was also a display titled ‘Linby in National Mag!’ from when the club were featured a couple of years ago in Groundtatstic. I got chatting to the father of one of the Clifton players and learned about the strength of the Notts Senior League this season; he provided good company over a cup of tea and I stood next to him and his cycling friend during the game as well.
Linby in seventh place with 17 points from 13 games, have had a good run of late through a three-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 4-1 defeat at Keyworth last Saturday. However, for this game they were lacking flu-hit leading scorer Julien Wright who had scored nine of Linby’s 20 league goals this season.
Second-placed Clifton (29 points from 13 games) went into the game, one point behind leaders Basford United, knowing that a win for them and anything less for the leaders would see the side reclaim top spot in the table. Unlike Linby, Clifton did have their leading scorer Michael Evans who also topped the Premier Division goalscoring chart with 13 goals.
There was no fairplay entrance, or handshakes after the teams walked the 60 or so yards from changing rooms to pitch.
I opted to stand down the left-hand side and saw Clifton (wearing all white) got the same underway defending the far end in the first half. Linby opted to make use of the wind in the first half.
Linby (wearing red shirts, black shorts and red socks) created the game’s first decent chance in the 13th minute. Hesitation in the Clifton defence allowed Ross Cheeseman’s deep left-wing cross to end up at the feet of Nick Davies, who hit a well struck shot that the diving John Marriott pushed cleared.
Dave Elson was booked three minutes later for a foul on Barry Turner, a decision that had one Linby supporter claiming “he got the ball, ref”.
It was certainly competive on the field with the referee occasionally needing to calm things down. On the half hour, Clifton’s Michael Evans fired just over the bar from 20 yards out.
Half-time came without a goal and only the odd scoring opportunity though the game was anything from dull. I adjourned to the pavilion and enjoyed my tea so much reading the Groundtastic diplay that I saw the players emerging from the changing rooms before I was ready to emerge myself.
It was only 3 pm and certainly getting darker. Cars passing by on Main Street had lights on and no doubt Church Lane would have been lit up as well had floodlights been available.
Clifton almost took the lead within a minute of the restart when Danny Johnson saw a shot cleared off the line.
The visitors maintained their strong start to the second half. Evans went for goal with a free-kick taken while the wall was being organised and Linby’s Craig Lear was alert enough to turn the ball round his right-hand post.
Linby took the lead in the 57th minute with a goal that left the Clifton defence fuming. Cheeseman’s initial shot was blocked by Marriott and the ball ran to Kyle McDermott on the right. The midfielder drilled a shot into the 6-yard box which went in via a defelction. Referee Mr Towers was sufficiently concerned by Clifton’s protests that he only confirmed the goal after confirmation from his assistant.
Evans went close again with another free-kick before Linby made a change in the 59th minute with Ash Keetley replacing Elson.
Clifton got back on level terms in the 66th minute when Evans was brought down inside the area by Jake Keetley who picked up a yellow card. Unsurprisingly, leading scorer Evans picked himself up and sent Lear the wring way from the penalty spot.
The sky started to brighten up after a rain shower but not for McDermott was booked in the 72nd minute. He required treatment after being hurt in a 50-50 challenge and received his yellow card for comments made towards the referee before limping off slowly to the sidelines.
Evans also went in the book for dissent in the 77th minute at the same time that Notts County trainee Ashley Way replaced Johnson in a straight swap on the Clifton left.
Linby had a great opportunity to regain the lead in the 80th minute. Davies did well to keep the ball in play down the right and then deliver a deep cross towards the far post where Cheeseman volleyed over.
Both sides clearly wanted to win and Clifton made a second change in the 85th minute with Alan Smithson replacing Danny Gunn. The visitors suffered a blow soon after when Michael Holtham was carried off after failing to respond to treatment on the field. He was replaced by Paul Archer in the 88th minute.
Evans hoped for another penalty when he went down inside the area and so did Linby after the ball struck Vaughan Harvey just inside the Clifton area.
I was told to look out for Way after he came on and the youngster didn’t disappoint with an spectacular finish to put Clifton in front right on the 90 minute mark. Found unmarked on the left inside the area by Mitchell’s deep cross, he hammered a rising shot that Lear couldn’t keep out despite getting a touch.
I wondered how much injury time was to come for Linby to grab an equaliser. Several minutes I though because of the goals, substitutions and the odd bit of treatments from the trainers.
Davies tried to catch out Marriott with a cross-cum-shot that was heading for the top right corner until the keeper got across to hold.
In the end there was another goal but, unfortunately for the home side, it was a third Clifton goal scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Mitchell planted a low angled shot wide of Lear into the far bottom left corner. The goal meant so much to the visitors as clearly seen by their celebrations in front of the stand.
There was almost a fourth Clifton goal just before the referee blew for full-time. Lear failed to hold Evans’ low shot but managed to claim the loose ball at the feet of the Way, who in any case was flagged offside.
On the way home, I continued down Church Lane to see of anything remained of the former colliery. There were houses and industrial units but alas there is no sign of it apart from an old pit wheel erected as a memorial and visible from Waterloo Road.
Linby are certainly a club that should find a high place on any football traveller's 'step 9 grounds to do' list.
Linby Colliery Welfare (red/black/red): 1. Craig Lear, 2. Darren Dickens, 3. David Hardy, 4. Dave Elson, 5. Ross Horton, 6. Pete Campbell (capt), 7. Kyle McDermott, 8. Jake Keetley, 9. Simon Martin, 10. Ross Cheeseman, 11. Nick Davies. Subs: 12. Ash Keetley (for Elson, 59), 14. Tom Walters (not used), 15. Tee Ebanks (not used), 16. Andy Corthorn (not used).
Clifton (white/white/white): 1. John Marriott, 2. Michael Bannister, 3. Russell Howard, 4. Jake Richardson, 5. Michael Holtham (capt), 6. Vaughan Harvey, 7. Karl Mitchell, 8. Danny Gunn, 9. Barry Turner, 10. Michael Evans, 11. Danny Johnson. Subs: 12. Ashley Way (for Johnson, 77), 14. Paul Archer (for Holtham, 88), 15. Matt Carver (not used), 16. Carl Spibey (not used), 17. Alan Smithson (for Gunn, 84).
Referee: Phil Towers (West Bridgford).
Assistants: Tony Watson and John Was.
Goals:
1-0 Kyle McDermott (57)
1-1 Michael Evans (66 pen)
1-2 Ashley Way (90)
1-3 Karl Mitchell (90+4)
