Silkstone Recreation Ground, home of Silkstone United based in South Yorkshire. Silkstone play their trade in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Division 2. It sure is great to have football back at last!! Hopefully for good this time! It’s also great to be attending games with the Merry Miller and Mrs Merry Miller again! Silkstone the destination today as they take on Stocksbridge Park Steels Development in the Brian & Judith Bradley Memorial Cup, let’s hope it’s a cracker!!
A lovely walk from Silkstone Common train station to the ground unfortunately ruined by the stench of cow dung… Disgusting! A short trip through the woods and here we are!! Free entry for this one! Boo Yeah!! Kick Off… But first we remember the honourable hero that was Prince Phillip. A one minute silence from all before the start.
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Stocksbridge are in possession, the ball is played forward to number 9, he’s turned the defender and he’s running at goal, he shoots… Straight at the keeper. Good start for the away side. Another friend at the game today, Ken from the FANA Fan Podcast Season 1 Episode 10 has joined us at the game now! Fantastic! It’s a fairly open game here to an extent with both teams having a fair share of possession but no one can quite make that killer pass to break the team open yet. 15 games without a 0-0 please don’t end it here lads!
18 minutes on the watch now and a throw in for Silkstone, thrown to number 11 who turns and shoots… Over! 24 minutes now and a free kick for Silkstone just inside the Stocksbridge half, the ball is lumped in to the box, flicked across goal and here’s number 11!!!! 1-0!!! Number 11 at the far post to head in and give the hosts the lead.
2 minutes later and Stockbridge have a free kick just inside the Silkstone half just like Silkstone did for their goal, will we see a repeat goal here? The ball is lumped forward again, keeper comes to collect… But he’s missed it and he’s number 5 for Stocksbridge surely!!! OH HE’S MISSED IT!!! The keeper miss times and he has it on the volley but can’t hit the target and hits it out for a throw in…
31 minutes on the clock and another free kick for Silkstone in a similar position that they scored the goal from, the ball is played into the box, headed away this time, the ball is played straight back in and number 2 is free here, there’s no flag… OH!! He’s put it wide!! An absolute sitter there! Should have been 2-0!
34 minutes gone and Silkstone come forward, the ball is played to number 10, 25 yards out and he makes space for the shot… OH!!! WHAT ABOUT THAT!!!! TOP CORNER!! On Soccer AM that would have been top bin! Fantastic goal and it is 2 now! 37 minutes gone and Silkstone come again and manage to win a corner, Stocksbridge players getting agitated with each other now. In comes the corner, number 4 is there!! It’s 3!!! Number 4 for Silkstone there to head home and Stocksbridge have a mountain to climb.
Right on half time now and Silkstone have the ball again, a long ball played forward towards number 2 and he’s beaten the offside trap again here… He scores this time!! 1 on 1 with the keeper committed and he lobs him to make it 4 and I have to say, it hasn’t been a 4-0 game on the basis of play. Stoppage time in the first half now and oh dear! Number 9 of Silkstone and number 6 of Stocksbridge are squaring up to each other here, handbags!!! The next tackle between them could be interesting but we’ll have to wait because it’s half time now.
Second half, An end to end start with no conviction again from both teams. 55 minutes gone and Stocksbridge have a free kick just inside the Silkstone half, it is played in to the box, the ball is headed away and played back in by Stocksbridge and it falls to Stocksbridge’s number 10, he turns and shoots… And scores!!! 4-1!! Is it game on?
Stocksbridge starting to look the better of the 2 teams now. 64 minutes gone and Silkstone come forward on the left, number 7 for Silkstone is running into the box and can he score? He can’t he rolls it across to number 14 3 yards out and must score… HE’S MISSED IT… Oh my word!! 3 yards out, open goal and he’s blazed it over!! Everyone here including the management team can’t believe it!! One of the worst misses I’ve seen at a match!
Both teams having a fair share of possession now playing long balls forward but with no end product from both sides. It’s like a football ping pong rally here with no winner. Stocksbridge giving it more but can’t get a shot on target sadly for them. The score remained the same at the final whistle.
FT: Silkstone United 4-1 Stocksbridge Park Steels Development
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not many here today and not much noise either.
- The Ground: 3.5/10 – No stand at the ground but it did have a very good vantage point on top of the hill with benches and also had a decent enough backdrop.
- Expense: 10/10 – Free entry with goals is always going to score 10!
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – A good game and always good to see friends at the game, just wish it wasn’t so cold…
21.5/40