Inkersall Road, home of Staveley Miners Welfare based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and play their trade in Step 5 in the English non league Pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Trojans” after the Staveley Ironworks. I have seen this team a lot of times in the past with Shirebrook Town but never at their ground, and with the ground having a lot of work done to it in recent times, now would be a good time! Lincoln United of Step 4 are the visitors here today.
Off to Woodseats just outside of Sheffield I go to meet Bill who I met at Armthorpe on Thursday, I love making friends at the football!! The very short journey gets us there with an hour to go before kick off! £4 to get into this one! Special! It sure looks good at first sight and it also has a memorabilia store!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Staveley play a long ball forward, Lincoln’s number 2 gets there and plays it back to the keeper… But he’s come out of his goal and the ball is rolling in… Keeper runs back and claws it away did that cross the line…? “Yes!” Says the Referee and I thought so too! And Staveley lead here from a goal very similar to that of Kieran Tripper’s own goal against Chelsea back in 2019…
It’s a very even game at the moment with both teams putting up a competitive fight. “Oh I love meeting groundhoppers at the match…” I’ll get a chant for that one day but it’s great to see the man behind Premier League 2 Non League here along with Turnip blade today!!!
21 minutes gone and Lincoln have a corner, in it comes, number 5 with a free header… It’s there! 1-1! Just like that! No one marking him, easy header! 25 minutes now and the Staveley keeper has the ball now… It’s a poor pass attempt and Lincoln get it back in the Staveley half, the ball is played through to number 9 and he’s in… He’s hit the post… Number 10 for Lincoln retrieves it on the right and he crosses, here’s number 7… And Lincoln have the lead! Another simple finish! Poor play from Staveley you have to say…
Lincoln are starting to take control of the game now and looking more likely to add to their tally. 36th minute and Lincoln have a corner, in it comes, number 3 with the free header… Goal!! Just like the equaliser earlier on! And it’s 1-3! Lincoln still in control of this game! 44 minutes gone and here they come again, a through ball to number 10, he gets into the box and he shoots… OFF THE POST!! So close!
45th minute and Lincoln have a corner, in it comes, cleared and that’s the end of the first half with the score at 1-3 to Lincoln!
Second half, 48 minutes on the watch, Lincoln have another corner, played a long the ground to number 3 who runs into the box at the near post, he shoots first time… It’s there!! It’s the day of the set pieces!! It’s 4 for Lincoln!!! Poor defending from corners yet again from Staveley and they have a mountain to climb in their own backyard…
It’s a fairly even game now with both teams coming forward but no real clear cut chances for either at the moment. 74th minute and Lincoln play forward, the ball comes to number 10, he’s 20 yards out and he goes for goal… What a strike!!! Top bins!!! And Lincoln have 5 now!!!
Straight from kick off and Staveley play forward down the left, it’s played across low and here’s number 16… He scores!! He runs in and shoots first time and beats the keeper at the near post to make it 2-5!
81 minutes now and Lincoln come again, the ball is played to number 12 who carries across the 18 yard line, he gets onto the left hand side of the edge of the box and shoots… It’s a soft effort that goes straight into the keeper’s grasp.
86 minutes on the clock and Staveley come forward now, a good passing move by Staveley and it’s played to number 17 in the box on the left and he shoots… And finds the net!! 3-5! It’s too little too late for a comeback though sadly for them.
FT: Staveley Miners Welfare 3-5 Lincoln United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Nothing in the ground to get anything going sadly.
- The Ground: 10/10 – An absolutely fantastic ground in my opinion! Character all over with the blue & white stripes, a great bar, a stand behind every goal and a memorabilia shop! I love this ground!!
- Expense: 10/10 – £4 is a great price along with £3 for a pin badge and cheap drinks! An 8 goal game for that price is a full marks for me!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Great to see Bill once again! Also great to see Premier League to Non League and to meet Turnip blade! An 8 goal game to top it off as well but it wasn’t the best 8 goal game I have seen I have to admit.
30/40