DALES DOUBLE MAKES TOWN PAY

Midlands Regional Alliance

Premier Division

RIPLEY TOWN FC 0 MAYFIELD FC 2

Attendace: 55(Headcount)

Programme £2(included admission)

Last week I thought I had finished the 2018-2019 season with a trip to Non League Finals Day at Wembley Stadium, but then on twitter in early week, I spotted this fixture to be played at Ripley Town FC. As many of you will know at the beginning of 2002-2003, I was the Ripley Town Programme Editor and also set up a Club Shop, but due to the club having to move location from the Brickworks ground, the club folded out of the Central Midlands League.

A new and current Ripley Town FC was set up and play up on Nottingham Road and having not seen a fixture there, felt this was the time, the club also advertised they were issuing a programme, those who know me, I dont collect programmes anymore but if one is issued I will support the club in buying a couple.

Sad news came through on Thursday morning that the council had taken down the goal posts, so they couldnt play there, so a search for a new location for the match to go ahead was on and a appeal went out, later the club tweeted that the game was to go ahead at Kilburn MW, another ground I had been to but never seen a match. On Friday, came the third change of venue to say the game was moved due to lack of grass cutting at Kilburn and the game would be at Eastwood Community FC.

It was a shame really as a few hoppers decided to give this match a miss after all the effort that Ripley Town had put in to get this game played, other clubs could have taken the attitude of oh well nothing to play for in a dead rubber match and we will call it off and settle for a point a piece, so a lot of respect must go to Ripley Town FC.

I found the buses only ran one a hour from Mansfield to Eastwood , so gave myself plenty of time and was greeted at the ground on arrival by the Ripley Town manager and a couple of the players, I got my 3 programmes at £2 each which included the admission price and had a chat. The hoppers soon began to arrive from far and local and it was good to meet up with them, just before kick off, the Assistant Referee got the line ups for hoppers to write down and photo.

The game kicked off and a young Ripley team pushed forward but Mayfield from the Ashbourne area started to come in to the game, in the first half there were very few on target chances, but tackles were going in fair and hard from both sides.

At Half Time, I asked Pete Watmough if he was returning back to Mansfield after the match and he offered to give me a lift home, which I was very thankful for, we had a quick drink(mine was a shandy, as I havent drunk now for about 9 months).

The Second Half had begin when we got outside and the visitors had the first chance but the Town keeper was equal to the visiting attackers effort.

As the game went on, it was Mayfield FC that was playing the better football and looked the most likely to score and after 63 minutes JOSH DALES struck a low shot in to the corner of the net from 25 yards.

Town were in shock and in the next visitors move, JOSH DALES added his brace and doubled his sides lead to 2-0 with a side footed placed shot.

Ripley then pressed forward and in the 78th minute felt they had a chance to get back in to the match, when a player went down in the area in my view, the referee pointed to the spot, but then went over to the Assistant Referee and then gave a free kick just outside of the area. The free kick was blocked and cleared.

142 Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK