FLASHBACK TO 2014 & CLIFTON ALL WHITES BEAT SOUTH NORMANTON 4-2 TO CLAIM THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS LEAGUE TITLE...

Clifton All Whites 4 South Normanton AFC 2 

(May 2014…)

Clifton claimed the Central Midlands Football League title with this victory, achieved mainly by snaffling three first-period goals, helped by a strong following wind. Yet despite pulling a goal back at the end of the half, after the break the Shiners appeared just like seated framework knitters wearing out their breeches in their town in antiquity, for their expected onslaught in more favourable weather conditions failed to materialise. 

Home defenders Lee Torr and Stuart Robinson held firm too easily, whilst Curtis McDonald, the ‘keeper I used to watch playing for Basford (why didn’t he say hello?) was virtually redundant after the interval and was only beaten by a fine strike from the talented Shane Newton, who shone as South Normanton’s most skilful individual. Indeed, the spectators who did not spend their afternoons baiting visiting ‘keeper Laurence Kennerson, which would be a superb name for a poet, were audibly disappointed by the Shiners’ rather inept second-half showing, especially after earlier passing the ball neatly against the gale and it was Clifton’s White Dogs who might have added three further goals to their tally in a deserved win. 

Clifton scored an early goal though, which was exactly what the Shiners didn’t need. An innocuous fastening onto the ball at inside-right by the wily Phil Massingham led to a low drive from 22 yards, which, propelled by the wind, flew into the bottom left corner of the goal. Kennerson was still setting his feet when the ball smacked into the netting.

CHEERS FOR MASSINGHAM...

Hodgson did well to beat the solid and towering Andy Mottershead in the air in defence at a left-wing Shiners’ corner, then home skipper Craig Anderson hacked the ball clear to Massingham, near half-way, who cleverly flicked the ball with his right foot, facing his own goal, fooling defender Ryan Granger, for the rampaging Lee Torr who was marauding through at inside-left to race onto. The defender took on visiting skipper Joe Carter and in a throw-back to the 1940s, Torr shoulder-barged Carter to the ground in spectacular fashion, before crossing deftly towards the near post, where Massingham rose competently to glance his header past the rooted Kennerson, given scant cover by the retreating Granger and the other full-back Sam Keenan. This was a fine goal.

Clifton then really put the shine on their first-half by scoring a third goal. After being beaten by Torr for the second Clifton goal, Carter somehow allowed Jay’Lee Hodgson to drift away from him at a free-kick from deep and the striker nodded the ball down unchallenged onto the goal-line, where the falling, sprawling Kennerson was unable to keep it out with his left glove. It was surprising how timid the Dogs had become though, rarely using the wind direction to threaten the Shiners, allowing their guests to pass the ball, but they had still netted three times, although the visitors plugged away until half-time to earn a penalty.

NEWTON NETS A PENALTY...

The ball was swung left, Leighton was tripped by Sam Leggitt, who legged it to avoid his skipper’s wrath and confident striker Newton pushed a low penalty to McDonald’s right, who had already unbalanced himself to his left. 3-1 and a second half onslaught to come from the Shiners, perhaps? Er, no: only the sun and the trophy would shine during the second-half.

THE BODGING SEEMS TO LIKE THE MAY SUNSHINE...

The unpleasant songs about the Normanton ‘keeper stopped for a minute or two after he made a fine save, possibly as a show of respect, but more probably so that the ‘choir’ could swallow another few gulps of beer.

Following a right-wing corner, Clifton clinched the league title, when Robinson, annoyed that a short corner had been taken, looked far more cheerful when the ball was swung across low towards the near post, where poor Carter again erred, getting in Kennerson’s way and the ball squirmed towards goal between them for Robinson to convert gleefully.

ROBINSON SCORES...

Immediately though, Newton, who had been given scant support since the interval, provided the spectators with a moment to savour and not to take the piss out of. Rob Fretwell moved inside from the left, poked the ball neatly towards Newton between three defenders and the striker simply curled a brilliant first-time effort from inside-left beyond McDonald and into the far corner of the net, head-high from 18 yards. A fine strike.

NEWTON'S STRIKE...

...& A FINE GOAL...

And that was that, really. Clifton, although 4-2 ahead, took the ball into corners, although I’m sure Massingham would have preferred a third goal and the chanting horde decided that Kennerson could have his chips soon. The celebrations were short, oddly, after the Shiners received something to take home too and the shiny championship cup was hauled aloft by the Dogs, before they made a sprightly retreat to the dressing-rooms, thus hastening their arrival in the bar, I guess. 

I felt that the game was destined to be won by Clifton somehow, for there was an odd atmosphere at times. I was impressed by Torr and Robinson for the hosts, as well as Massingham, who displayed his experience. Right-back Ash Miles ran, well, miles… Mottershead, who was pushed into attack late on by the Shiners, was as starved of long balls as Newton had been for the previous 75 minutes of the match and the tactical switch brought no reward at all, as the hosts cantered through the second period to deserve their victory, despite some heroic play by Kennerson. 

Mottershead’s frustration was palpable, but in truth a lack of will seemed apparent in the visitors’ play after half-time. And I still don’t understand that…

I drove home for my chips… 

It’s what I do…

Teams:  

Clifton:  Curtis McDonald, Ash Miles, Andy Davis; Lee Torr, Stuart Robinson, Tom Maddison; Sam Leggitt, Craig Anderson (Capt), Phil Massingham, Jay’Lee Hodgson, Connor Hardy.

Subs: Will Heath, Dorian Miller, Jake Richardson, Ben Richardson, Michael Bannister.

South Normanton:  Laurence Kennerson, Ryan Granger, Sam Keenan; Joe Carter (Capt), Andy Mottershead, Sam Sims; Tom Leighton, Graham O’Reilly, Shane Newton, Ben Greenhalgh, Danny Roberts.

Subs: Lee Sutton, Sam Griffiths, Rob Fretwell, Chris Green, Scott Whittingham (gk).