The Henry Thirsk Amenity Centre, The Balk, home of Pocklington Town based in the East Riding of Yorkshire. They have a number teams with the first team competing in the Humber Premier League, the 2nd team who competes in the York Minster League Division One, the 3rd team in the York Reserves League and the 4th in the East Riding County League. Tonight, me and Mr & Mrs Merry Miller will be watching the 2nd team in the York Minster League against Malt Shovel FC… What a name for a club!!
My second York Minster visit after last summer’s trip to South Milford and I have been told good things about the setup at Pocklington with some suggesting that it is the best in the York Minster League! Let’s see for ourselves! A late journey and a one hour drive up the M18 and M62 sees us here 5 minutes into the game… Damn! It’s still 0-0 though… Yay! Free Entry to this game! YAAAAY!
Onto the game! 12 minutes in and Pocklington’s number 9 breaks free down the left and he’s in acres of space here, he gets into the box and he goes for goal… Side netting… He had time to get closer there… He should’ve done better!
Both teams enjoying spells of possession in the game but only the one clear cut chance so far in the game. 24th minute and Malt Shovel win the ball back in the Pocklington half, number 9 has it and gets into the box… Down he goes… Referee blows his whistle… He’s given a free kick to Pocklington… I thought it was a Penalty and so did Malt Shovel who are surrounding the Referee! The management can’t believe it! Yellow card for number 9 of Malt Shovel too… But what for? Maybe the Referee has a better view.
Great to meet another groundhopper again here tonight named Miles!! Very knowledgeable as well as me and the Merry Miller add to our ever growing list of grounds to visit! This visit was inspired by Miles pending…
35 minutes on the clock and Malt Shovel have a corner, it’s crossed in… Number 4 is there at the back post… And he finds the net!!! Malt Shovel lead!! It’s 0-1!!! “No nil nils here in 2022! In 2022! In 2022!”
Malt Shovel starting to look the better side in the game now and are looking more likely for the 2nd goal in the game should there be one. Into added time in the first half and Malt Shovel come forward with number 7 on the left, he cuts inside about 25 yards out and shoots… Straight at the keeper… He’s spilled it… Off the bar… It bounces out and the keeper claims. Malt Shovel shout for the goal but it was nowhere near. Malt Shovel remain in the lead at half time.
Now to get some warmth in the club bar. A lovely little bar they have here! I have to say it’s better than some of the higher level non league club bars out there! Liverpool have a Penalty against Leeds to make it 3, Mo Salah… Oh yes! Man United are 1-0 down to Atletico Madrid in the first half of their game too. The players are back out for the second half of our game now but hey, we can watch it here no problem! What a great view!
Second half, 54 minutes on the clock and Malt Shovel have a throw in on the left, it’s played to number 11 who cuts inside onto his right foot, he crosses… That’s curling in… The keeper is scrambling… It’s gone in!!! A crazy goal!! And Malt Shovel double their lead!!! 0-2!
4 minutes later and Malt Shovel are digging their heels in the Pocklington half now… Pun intended! They play it forward to number 7 who gets into the box, he’s past his man and he shoots… Good save by the keeper! Pocklington get to the ball and clear… It rebounds off another Pocklington defender and… It’s gone just wide! Nearly an own goal there but it is a corner, in it comes… Cleared for another corner, in that comes… Pocklington clear.
62nd minute and Pocklington have a corner, it’s played in low… Number 5 runs in at the near post… Side netting! Malt Shovel almost caught out there! 77th minute now and Malt Shovel come forward again, it’s played to number 9 and he gets past one, past two, past three! Number 11 gets it and shoots… He’s offside! Keeper saves anyway. He didn’t need to do that, he should have left number 9 to finish off what would have been a fantastic goal!!
2 minutes later and Pocklington come down the right, it’s crossed in, it comes to number 14 who goes for the looping volley… Just over! 2 minutes after that and Pocklington have a goal kick, they play it short to the defender, they play out from the back… It’s given away to Malt Shovel’s number 15 and he’s in… And they really have given Pocklington the Shovel now as Pocklington dig their own graves in this game now! A simple finish for number 15 there and that is 3 for Malt Shovel!!!!! 0-3!!
5 minutes later and Malt Shovel have the ball at the back, it’s played across their own box… Pocklington’s number 9 chases it… And he beats the keeper to it and he lobs him… And taps it home! Looks like Pocklington have given Malt Shovel the shovel back as they have dug themselves out of a clean sheet there… 1-3! Malt Shovel look comfortable as Pocklington try and stage a late fight back but it’s too little too late sadly for Pocklington…
FT: Pocklington Town 1-3 Malt Shovel
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not many here tonight and no noise sadly.
- The Ground: 4/10 – It’s a very good setup! Very spacious should they expand! A good facility for the junior teams and other teams they have and I especially like the club bar and the view of the pitch from there! There isn’t much else here though unfortunately which is why the rating is 4.
- Expense: 10/10 – A free game? What else would I give it?
- Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – Great to meet Miles here tonight! A good game with a few comedy errors and it was a good night once again with Mr & Mrs Merry Miller!
22.5/40