Shirebrook Soldiers Athletic

Coronation Drive, home of Shirebrook Soldiers Athletic based in the Model Village of Shirebrook, Derbyshire and they play in the Mansfield ICI Sunday League Division One.

It’s Saturday club plays in the Nottinghamshire Senior League with 2 Sunday League clubs in the Mansfield ICI Sunday League. Today, it’s the visit of Glapwell Gladiators from the Chesterfield Sunday League in the Derbyshire County Cup, let’s hope for a Sunday League special!

10:30am and I am out the door of my Shirebrook home for a little walk. Up Church Drive and onto Acreage Lane and I am up’ model as we say here in Shirebrook! Don’t like that fog though… I can hear shouting as I turn onto Coronation Drive with a lot of cars parked, we’ve got a game!! And I am delighted to see Shirebrook Town’s old photographer Pete here today! It’s been a long time!

But first, just like yesterday, for those who fought for us on this remembrance weekend, we WILL remember them! It’s Mansfield vs Chesterfield, the Soldiers vs the Gladiators! Let’s play!

Kick Off! 6 minutes in and Shirebrook play down the left, it’s played in low, the keeper misses it and Ben Burbanks has a tap in for Shirebrook… NO! It’s blocked but it’s loose in the air… He heads it home! Burbanks nods Shirebrook into the lead!! “He should’ve got it first time!” Yes he should in all fairness! 1-0!

11 minutes now and Shirebrook come forward again, Jamie York has it in space from 30 yards and he’ll shoot… Wide! Ambitious!

3 minutes later and Glapwell have a free kick in the Shirebrook half, it’s lumped into the box, it’s headed on and here’s Josh Parfitt on the volley… OH! WHAT A HIT SON!!!! Brilliant goal there and Glapwell are level!! 1-1!

22 minutes gone and Shirebrook come forward again, they get to the edge of the box and it’s played in to Frankie Kuncyusz in the box on the right and he shoots… Keeper saves and holds.

29th minute and Shirebrook win a free kick in their own half and it’s taken quickly and Ben Burbanks is through down the right, keeper hesitates and Burbanks shoots… It’s bobbled and he’s not caught it right and the keeper gets a hand to it and the Glapwell defender is there… Oh dear he’s played it straight back to Burbanks who squares it to York… He’s skied it! Big chance wasted there by Shirebrook!

36 minutes now and the Glapwell keeper launches it and number 7 finds himself through on goal here, he shoots… Saved by Harrison Kissane in the Shirebrook goal and Shirebrook clear the danger and now Ben Burbanks finds himself through here for Shirebrook, he bares down on goal… He’s found the keeper’s legs and it falls to Jamie York to shoot… He’s hit the bar! Just like some of the players last night perhaps? Keeper claims the loose ball. How many chances are Shirebrook going to get here?

2 minutes later and it’s a ball over the top for Ben Burbanks on the right, he plays it across looking for Leon Bartle who gets there and he gets his shot away… What a block that is from Glapwell’s number 6!! Great defending! At half time here the score remains 1-1.

Second half, 47th minute and Shirebrook work it down the left hand side, it’s played across for Jamie York running IN… OH! What a save!! Tipped wide brilliantly by the Glapwell keeper. Corner, it’s played to number 6 outside the box who will shoot… Wide!

55 minutes now and Shirebrook play it forward to Jamie York who drives into the box on the right, he cuts inside and backheels it to number 12 who shoots… Get in!! What a finish!! Arrowed into the bottom corner and Shirebrook deservedly take the lead again!! 2-1!

4 minutes later and Shirebrook are looking to give themselves daylight here, ben Burbanks is played down the left here, he plays it across low, keeper misses it again and Leon Bartle is there to make it 3… OH NO!!! He’s missed… He’s actually missed it!! Bartle to make it 3 misses the goal from about 3 yards… Open goal as well! The Shirebrook bench can’t believe it! They’re not going to let him get away with that one!

62nd minute and Glapwell come forward down the right, they get into the box and it’s played across… “HANDBALL!” Shout the Glapwell team… Penalty!! Gary Bryant the Referee has pointed to the spot!! Josh Parfitt will take… And he scores!!! It’s 2-2! Shirebrook have been made to pay for their missed chances!

71 minutes now and Shirebrook play the ball forward towards Frankie Kancyusz who’s through on the right, he goes early… Just over!

77th minute and the ball comes for Jamie York for Shirebrook and he’s through on goal, he gets into the box and shoots… Saved! He’ll get it back and he plays it to Jamie Rowbottom, he gets his shot away… He’s hit the post! It comes for Carter Widdowson and he shoots… Great block and Glapwell are reprieved!

87th minute now and Shirebrook play the ball forward, it’s flicked through to Ben Burbanks who’s through on goal, he’s brought down there… The Referee has given a Penalty!! That was outside! Glapwell are furious!! It’s a foul, there is no question that it was a foul but it was outside the box there! Glapwell are unlucky! No card given either and tempers are fraying…

Carter Widdowson will take the spot kick, can he send Shirebrook through to the next round… He can!! Good Penalty!! Shirebrook lead again!! 3-2!

Into stoppage time and can Glapwell salvage anything from this game now? They’ve got a free kick on the halfway line, it’s played to number 6 on the right, he beats his man and gets into the box, he fizzes it across and it comes to the back post, he controls and goes for the overhead kick… Wide!

The game goes on… Shirebrook have it down the right and it’s played in, Jamie Rowbottom slides for it… Over! The Referee blows for full time! Shirebrook are through!

FT: Shirebrook Soldiers Athletic 3-2 Glapwell Gladiators

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 2/10 – A few jeers and cheers.
• The Ground: 3/10 – Not a bad little setup in all fairness but nothing really else to say about the place.
• Expense: 10/10 – £0!!
• Overall Experience: 8/10 – Great to see Pete here today along with some other familiar faces and it certainly was a great game!!

23/40