Grange Park, home of Millmoor Juniors based in Kimberworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire and play their trade in the Sheffield & Hallamshire League Division 2. The 2020/21 season is all but over! It’s been a turbulent season with all the stop starts but now it’s time for the 2021/22 season!! And tonight we start with Millmoor Juniors who play host to Emley AFC in a pre-season friendly.
Arrival at the ground with plenty of time to kill before kick off and with this on the doorstep, it would be rude not to!! As kick off times draws closer, it’s time to head in to the ground. £2 to watch this pre-season match! LAAVVLLEEE!! Great to bump into Ian, Ken & Martin who I met at Barnby Dun on Sunday!!
Kick Off! A slow start to the game with both teams looking to get comfortable on the ball to start with. 15 minutes in and Millmoor come down the left, played into the box, the Emley defender intercepts but it rolls out to Millmoor’s number 8 on the edge of the box who goes for goal!! OFF THE BAR!!! Goal kick but it could have been so much more…
25 minutes gone and Emley come forward down the right, in comes the cross, headed on by the Millmoor defender but only to the left hand side where Emley will retrieve it, it’s crossed back in, Emley’s number 10 jumps for it, he gets there and flicks it forward to number 7 4 yards out… OH HE’S PUT IT OVER!! Big chance there!
1 minute later and Emley come again, they work it on the edge of the box, the shot comes in… It takes a few deflections and it falls to number 10… And he scores… The flag is up! It won’t count! The ball rebounded off an Emley player and the goal won’t stand.
28 minutes on the clock and now Millmoor come forward, the ball is played to number 7 who gallops into the box, he’s got one defender to beat, he makes space for the shot… And finds the net!!! The first goal of the season for me! And Millmoor lead here!
The game has become a competitive affair but with little conviction in the final third and no real chances and the score at half time remains 1-0.
Second half, 52 minutes on the clock and Emley come forward down the left, the ball is played across to number 16, he’s 25 yards out and he goes for goal… WHAT A GOAL!!! He curls it into the top corner just like I used to on FIFA 10 and it’s 1-1!!
58 minutes gone now and the Millmoor keeper has the ball in his grasp, he kicks it long, it goes all the way to number 7 who runs into the box, he gets the shot away… But it’s straight at the keeper. 71 minutes now and Emley have the ball in the centre of the park, a chipped through ball to number 9, no flag here, he drives into the box 1 on 1… Good save by the keeper and the ball is away from danger.
75 minutes now and Emley play a long ball, number 9 chases it… The Millmoor keeper heads away from the edge of the area but only to Emley’s number 12, he plays it across to number 14, he’s 25 yards out and he let’s fly… Good save again by the keeper who parries the shot but claims it.
80 minutes on the clock and Emley have it in their half, a long ball is played forward, Millmoor’s number 16 gets a head on it but it’s worked as a flick on for Emley’s number 9 who runs onto it in the box, he shoots first time on the volley… It’s wide! Close!
85 minutes and Millmoor have the ball on the right in midfield, a long ball is played all the way to the far post and here’s number 12 who slides in… He’s hit the top of the bar!! Close again! 90th minute now and one last chance for Millmoor perhaps, the ball is played to number 17 on the right of the edge of the box, he goes for goal… OH! It’s just wide… That’s the last action of the game as the Referee blows for full time.
FT: Millmoor Juniors 1-1 Emley AFC
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – A decent turn out tonight but no noise sadly.
- The Ground: 4.5/10 – It’s a nice setup here! A good backdrop with plenty of other pitches for the junior sides and a good café! It wasn’t accessible all the way around unfortunately and there isn’t a stand either…
- Expense: 9/10 – £2 is a price I would love to pay for any game but the game was very flat at times in that first half which has cost it a full mark rating.
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – Great to see Ian, Ken and Martin tonight along with meeting Chris who works with Thorne Colliery! Great to tick this ground off and kick start the season as well!
21.5/40