The Leadmill Ground, home of Hathersage FC based in the Peak District, Derbyshire. They play their trade in the Hope Valley Amateur League A Division. The Hope Valley League is here again and Hathersage is the chosen destination tonight! Just down the road from the destination of 2 weeks ago and if this ground is to be as good as Bamford’s ground, then I should be very excited indeed!! Pilsley Community the visitors to Hathersage tonight.
On the train I go! I sure do love these trains to Manchester Piccadilly with all this scenery along the way. Arrival in Hathersage and what a beautiful village this is!! I haven’t been here in a while and I sure do miss these views!
With plenty of time to go before kick off, it’s time for a pit stop!!
The Bank House Bar & Restaurant on Main Road and what a lovely place it is!! Groundhoppers take note for future reference, the Spanish Lager I had was fabulous!! Time is ticking on and it’s time for the football! A lovely little walk through the village and the views don’t get away here!
Free Entry to this Hope Valley tie! You Beauty! I am now joined by the Merry Miller and Kizz of Kizzy’s Corner Pics on Twitter just in time for the match! Kick Off! Both teams enjoying an early spell of possession but Hathersage just seem to have the edge in the early stages here. 7 minutes in and Hathersage have a corner, in it comes, the header… OFF THE POST!! it’s still in there… The keeper has claimed it! Close for Hathersage there.
14 minutes into the game now and Hathersage come forward, number 11 has the ball, he plays a 1-2 and he receives the pass into the box, he shoots… Saved but he’s there for the rebound!! OFF THE LINE!! What a clearance!!!! Very unlucky there for Hathersage but they have a corner, here it is… Cleared.
Hathersage are starting to dominate the game now and putting pressure on Pilsley. Hathersage are pressing the ball high up the field and number 8 has won it in a dangerous place and he drives into the box and shoots… OFF THE NEAR POST!!! Number 10 is there to head it in… OH HE’S MISSED IT… Open goal and he’s headed wide… Hathersage should have 3 or 4 here now!
Hathersage continuing to dominate this match, it’s looking like only a matter of time before they open the scoring. 27 minutes gone and Pilsley come forward now on the right, the ball is played back and a cross into the box from deep, number 8 is there with the header… HE’S SCORED!!! Would you believe it? There first real attack of the game and they take the lead! Against the run of play as I’ve ever seen! 0-1!
Hathersage have responded well to going a goal down and are still pushing forward in droves. 36 minutes now and they have a free kick around 30 yards out, the ball is whipped in, cleared by Pilsley, number 16 retrieves and plays it back in and it falls to number 12 on the volley… OH! HE’S SCUFFED IT… It rolls agonisingly wide… How have Hathersage not scored this half so far? Hathersage continuing to press but Pilsley will hold on this half, at half time the score remained 0-1.
Second half, Hathersage coming out just as they had played the entire first half, 2 minutes into the second half and they have a corner, whipped in again and headed away but only to number 5 who shoots… Blocked by the defender and over for another corner, in it comes and it’s cleared. The game is starting to slow down now with Pilsley trying to keep the ball off Hathersage.
61 minutes and a foul by Pilsley gives Hathersage a free kick in a shooting position, he does shoot! Off the wall but here’s number 4 for the rebound!! He’s hit it straight to number 5, no flag here, he shoots on the turn… Brilliant save by the keeper!! It’s not going to be Hathersage’s night is it? 5 minutes later and here they come again, the ball is played in to number 14 in the box, surely!! What a block by the Pilsley defender but the ball is loose and number 17 is here for the rebound… It’s wide…
70 minutes on the clock now and Hathersage have a corner, in it goes, headed away, it’s played back to the corner taker and played back in, headed away again but to number 14 who takes a touch and shoots… Another great save by the keeper!!! At full stretch he gets his leg to it at the near post and it’s another corner, here it is, cleared again!
It’s all Hathersage now and Pilsley have officially parked the bus and coping with wave after wave of Hathersage attacks. Into stoppage time now and one final charge for Hathersage, a long ball is played forward, flicked on into the box, a back heel flick on but it goes to nothing and rolls out… That should be that now. The Pilsley keeper takes the goal kick and the Referee blows for full time with a loud cheer from the Pilsley players. Fantastic result for them!! But not for Hathersage…
FT: Hathersage 0-1 Pilsley Community
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not too many in attendance and no noise from spectators today.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It doesn’t have a stand but it does have some incredible scenery!!! Another picturesque beauty! I absolutely love this ground!!
- Expense: 10/10 – Free entry with at least one goal is good enough for me!
- Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – A great night out with the Merry Miller and Kizz, a beautiful ground but I wish it had a few more goals!
25.5/40