The Marra Falcons Stadium, home of Armthorpe Welfare based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and play their trade in Step 6 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Division One. My second visit to this ground after the first one being in pre season against Sutton Rovers but tonight it’s the big one!! The Donny Derby!! Rossington Main the visitors! Me and Match Days Joe will be there along with Matt on Tour! Always promises to be a good game with a good crowd is what I am told by Match Days Joe! Let’s hope tonight is the same!! Bring it on!!
Off I go onto Sheffield Parkway to the M1 to the M18 which sees me here with 45 minutes to go before kick off! £5 to watch this Donny Derby! Buzzing! Now we wait for Match Days Joe… About 10 minutes later and here he is… And they’ve let him in for free… Jammy B£$^@(d! Reminds me of me at Thorne that day… But here he is closely followed by Matt on Tour! The team has assembled! Mariner Chris is also here tonight!!
Kick Off! Both teams having spells of possession so far and there are some flying challenges coming in from both sides like we expected! The Referee has had to have a quiet word with Rossington’s bench already… 12 minutes in and Rossington have a corner, in it comes… It’s a free header… Blocked and it’s loose… It falls Rossington’s way and the shot comes in… Saved but the keeper has lost it… He gets to it… Has it crossed the line? No flag from the assistant Referee and play goes on.
2 minutes later and Rossington’s Dec Slater is away down the right, a bit of pace from him sees him drive into the box and he goes for the far post… It’s wide! 18th minute of the game and Armthorpe play forward now, they get into the box on the left and it’s played across goal… It’s too high but Armthorpe retrieve it on the right, it’s played back to the edge of the box for Charlie Shelley to shoot… OH! Brilliant save by the keeper who tips it over for a corner, in it comes… Rossington clear at the near post.
33 minutes on the clock and Rossington play a long ball forward from an Armthorpe corner, Bradley Grayson gets it down and he’s in… He’s been brought down there outside the box by Armthorpe’s Conner Williamson… The keeper clears for a throw in but no foul is given… Williamson is a lucky boy in my opinion! Rossington are furious and rightly so! In comes the throw in… Armthorpe get there and clear the danger.
38th minute and it’s a good spell for Rossington here, they come forward again, it’s played to Tyla Bell and he goes for goal from 25 yards out… Wide! 44th minute and Rossington come again, Bradley Grayson is dispossessed by Freddie Russell… Grayson is hanging on to Russell and Russell is not happy… Oh no! He’s kicked out at him right in front of the assistant Referee… Play carries on and here’s Tyla Bell played through in the box… He shoots… Saved… And cleared for a corner… Not sure how there was no foul given or a red card for Russell there but in comes the corner… It’s Greg Young with the header… It’s off the bar and in!!!! First blood to Rossington!! 0-1!!
The Referee blows for half time straight from the resulting kick off and the Referee is being approached by an unhappy Armthorpe coach… He’s been shown a Yellow Card for his protests… But he’s not finished yet and he’s going to have to be careful… He’s removed himself from the situation thankfully.
Second half, 49 minutes now and Armthorpe have a corner, in it comes… Headed at goal… It’s off the line… Or is it? Armthorpe think it did… Nothing given! Armthorpe get it back and work it out to the left, it’s crossed in… All the way out for a goal kick. I didn’t think it had crossed the line and Match Days Joe’s replay certainly confirmed that.
It’s the slowest the game has been in this part of the game with little chances to report. 69 minutes on the clock and Armthorpe work it forward, it’s played to Adam Baskerville in the box and he shoots… Wide! 76 minutes now and Rossington play forward, it’s worked to Tyla Bell on the edge of the box, he turns and shoots… Keeper saves!
Armthorpe are struggling to show any real urgency in the closing stages of the game here with Rossington looking really comfortable to say the least. Into stoppage time and the ball is played back to the Armthorpe keeper… It’s a poor clearance which comes straight to Myron Gibbons and he’s in to wrap it up… But the keeper makes up for his error and saves! Armthorpe clear.
Play goes on and Armthorpe have a free kick on the left, last chance surely, it’s played into the middle… Straight into the keeper’s hands… So easy for Rossington! Rossington drive forward and get to the edge of the Armthorpe box… And the Referee blows for full time! A massive win for Rossington! Now we hear from the Rossington manager for his thoughts with Match Days Joe.
FT: Armthorpe Welfare 0-1 Rossington Main
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – There was a good 200 here tonight but it was very flat unfortunately.
- The Ground: 7.5/10 – Still as good as before! I do love those quotes!
- Expense: 10/10 – £5 and we got a goal and some good moments in the game! Can’t moan with that!
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – It wasn’t the best game I’ve ever seen but great to see Match Days Joe and Matt on Tour once again and great to experience my first Donny Derby!
24.5/40
Here is how the last trip went: click here