The Welfare Ground… How many of these are there…? This Welfare Ground is home to Blidworth Welfare based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in Step 6 of the Non League Pyramid in the United Counties League Division One.
“Bliderth” as we pronounce it here in Nottinghamshire finished last season as the champions of the Central Midlands South Division putting them into Step 6 for the first time in a long time! And it’s good to have them back! Today they face Clifton All Whites and it’s a ground I have had on my hit list for a while and so has the Merry Miller who will be joining me today!
Coaching duties are back once again for me and it certainly feels great to be back! But for now it’s onto Sheffield Parkway and onto the M1 through Palterton and back home to Shirebrook? We’ve got time to kill in all fairness so back home for a coffee it is. A quick acca on Betfred later and we are en route to Blidworth. About 25 minutes later and here we are outside the ground.
Blidworth Miners Welfare Social Club… Well we’ve found the Cricket, where is the football ground? Oh wait here it is… Or maybe not as a gate separates us from the pitch… No wait here it is we missed an earlier entrance… That was hard work wasn’t it! £4 and a friendly welcome to get in here! Prestigious! Love the friendly clubs!
The teams are still warming up so to the Tea Bar it is. A chip cob for me and just for the record it is a “Cob” not a butty or bread cake as they say elsewhere! I really do love to get plenty of photos at a ground and here comes one of the stand behind the goal here… Oh no! I fumbled my phone but didn’t drop it… But I did drop a few chips…
Anyway, out come our teams down the steps to the pitch, very unique! It’s time for the game!
Kick Off! 2nd minute of the game and Clifton come forward down the left, it’s played into the middle looking for number 7 who’s there and he squares it to number 8… Who finishes… But the flag is up… No goal! Offside!
Clifton have started the better of the 2 teams here today so far and look more dangerous in the final third than Blidworth. 15th minute and Clifton come forward, it’s played to number 11 who has space in the box… OH! He’s blazed it over… Big chance there and he knows it!
2 minutes later and Blidworth have a corner, it’s crossed in… The wind has got hold of it… The keeper palms it away but only back to number 8 on the right and he beats his man to get into the box, he plays it to number 10 who shoots… “HANDBALL!” He gets it back and he shoots again… Good save! It will be another corner but Blidworth want the Penalty that they aren’t going to get… In comes the corner again… Headed away but Blidworth get it back, it comes to number 4 who shoots… Straight to the keeper.
28 minutes now and Clifton have a corner, in it comes… Number 5 with the header… Blocked! Blidworth clear.
The game has fizzled out after it sizzled at the start and with nothing much else to report, it’s 0-0 at half time… I haven’t had one this season let’s not end it today!
Second half, 46th minute and Clifton come down the right wing, it’s crossed in and here’s number 11 at the far post with the header… Straight at the keeper.
3 minutes later and here come Clifton again, it’s a through ball for number 11 in the box, down he goes… No Penalty! Clifton are furious! I’m not so sure on that one.
63 minutes on the clock and Clifton play forward down the left with number 9, he plays it across to number 7 and out comes the keeper… Number 7 gets there first… AND HE’S SCORED!!! Good finish! We do have a goal here!! Clifton have looked threatening going forward and now have their reward! 0-1!
Can Blidworth get back into this game…? Not with the way they are attacking… They just can’t find that killer through ball…
83rd minute and Blidworth have a free kick on the right hand side, it’s crossed in, it’s number 5 with the HEADER… It’s off the post!! It’s so unlucky for Blidworth… Clifton clear.
86th minute and the Clifton keeper has the ball as he runs down the clock, Blidworth’s number 16 chases the keeper as he goes to pick the ball up… 16 gets there first… Big trouble! He squares it and the shot comes in… OFF THE BAR!!! Clifton are reprieved! Especially the keeper!
The 90th minute and Blidworth have a free kick on the right wing again, in it comes… Number 5 wins the header but it’s hit the back of his head and Clifton break, they get it into the box on the right and they have bodies forward, it’s played across the middle… NOBODY THERE… Somehow they’ve blown it and Blidworth might have one last chance to score here after all.
Stoppage time rolls on and Blidworth play forward down the left, it’s played across… Blocked and out but was it by a hand…? It’s a certain penalty for me! You can’t lean your arm in like that! Blidworth protest and the Referee goes over to his assistant… The closest thing to VAR at this level! The Referee… Has given a corner! Unlucky Blidworth… The keeper comes up, in comes the corner… In towards the keeper… He’s fallen to the floor… Number 5 goes for the backheel… Blocked and Clifton clear and they break forward again… They somehow give away a free kick in their own half…
One last chance for Blidworth, in comes the free kick… It falls to number 11 who shoots… Wide! That’s it! 3 points for Clifton! A great end to what was a poor game sadly…
FT: Blidworth Welfare 0-1 Clifton All Whites
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – A small crowd and next to no noise sadly…
- The Ground: 7/10 – I’m a big fan!! For me it’s all about the view from the entrance! It is a fantastic vantage point and one of the best I’ve come across! The stand behind the goal is really nice and makes for a great view as well. The trees give it a picturesque look, it really is a nice ground here at Blidworth but that top view is what makes it for me!
- Expense: 10/10 – £4 entry and £20 fuel, not the best of games but still worth it for me!
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – For entertainment value, I would probably give it a 4 but with a bit of drama at the end and a very friendly welcome from the club officials, I can’t let that go unnoticed! Thank you Blidworth!
25/40