Venue: WVH Stadium,Clipstone, Nottinghamshire.
Competition: NCEL Division 1
Scorers - Dan Wood (38),Jamie Smith (43, 60)
Referee - Mr. Daniel McGinley
Clipstone: Siddons, Carnall, Shaw, Rawson, Mintoff, Hill, Ord, Carty, Smith, Wood, Mawby
Town: Ledger, McClaughlin, Butler, Ellis N, Hague, Willis, Dickinson, Ellis W, Horsfield, Bradwell, Earl.
We'd promised Clipstone Chairman Brett Marshall that we would visit the Worksop Van Hire Stadium once or twice this coming season - and with this fixure pitting new Cobras boss Chris Millington with his former team, it seemed it may be as good a time as any to do so. Turned out to be a good choice as the "friendly" rivalry brought umpteem cautions and a straight red from Mr. McGinley.
Greeted as usual with a warm welcome by everyone, We took our place in the middle of the dugouts, a spot that affords a great view of the whole pitch.
With just 40 seconds on the clock, Clipstone had a real chance to open their account - the visitors conceding a penalty after Dan Wood was upended as he drove towards the Town goal. It took a while for Clipstone to decide who was to take the kick, but eventually Jamie Smith stepped up and smoothly ballooned the ball way over the bar.
Clipstone had only two players on the field from last season's squad, Brandon Shaw and Steve Carty, but seem to have recruited well, with Dan Wood and Matty Ord standing out early doors.
Carty tried his luck from 20+ yards on 22, but was just wide of the target - Ord had an effort deflected for a corner 10 minutes later.
We had to wait until the 38th minute for the first goal, and it was a superb finish from DAN WOOD, the no. 10 firing calmly across Adam Ledger, after he was allowed to run into the box from the left.
More images on slideshow at the foot of the report
Five minutes later, Ledger was picking tha ball out of the net again - his clearance was collected by JAMIE SMITH some 35 yards from goal, and when the ball sat up perfectly, the big striker volleyed it straight past the stranded Town keeper. H-T 2-0
We were invited into the Barry Clarke hospitality Suite for a coffee and a sandwich - thanks to Mick Flinton for looking after us yet again!
There were plenty of meaty challenges flying in from the start of the second half, but nothing too malicious - Dronfield were trying to get back into the game, and were maybe a little too enthusiastic with some of their tackles.
JAMIE SMITH added the home teams third on the hour - and for such a big man it was a delicately played overhead lob that beat Ledger on this occasion. The striker didn't appear to be a danger with his back to goal, and Ledger looked as surprised as everyone else on the pitch when the ball gently looped over his outstretched arms.
Ord made a terrific run into the box on 72 before crossing to the far stick where Wood connected well but directed his header just over the bar. A few minutes later Callum Mawby ran in from the left and fired the ball to the far stick where Smith dived to head goalwards, only to see Ledger tip the effort over the bar.
Smith was looking a real handful, and in the 81st minute he ploughed his way into the box and crashed a bullet shot against the post.
More images on slideshow at the foot of the report
Smith had another chance to complete a debut hat-trick seconds later - but after he was picked out a couple of yards from goal by Wood, he managed somehow to fire the ball onto the bar!
More images on slideshow at the foot of the report
There was a 20 man coming together just before the final whistle - prompted by Dronfield's Charles Bradwell apparently stamping on a Clipstone player. I don't know why keepers have to get involved in this sort of thing, but Nick Siddons did, and appeared to get himself on the receiving end of a punch from Will Earl.
The Ref consulted with his Assistant and duly handed Bradwell a straight red - but by this time Earl had sidled away to the opposite side of the field, and as far away from Mr. McGinlay as possible, his indiscretion going unpunished. F-T 3-0
At the final whistle, all the players and management exchanged handshakes - most unusual, but great to see.
Admission: Thank you Mr. Chairman!
Programme: £1.00 (28 pages)
Attendance: 102
MOM: Ash Rawson
Charity: £2.25
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