GLADIATORS TURN OVER DUCKS

I have mentioned Shaw Lane Aquaforce before; here is one  but there are others
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/thedraw-for-fourth-round-of-fa-vase.html.
I only skirt the various past rounds of the FA Trophy and Vase where the "Ducks" have made some progress. Today was a terrible day; windy, rain, misty, very wet underfoot, cold, but perfect for cup ties and both SLA and Matlock Town, their slightly more established opponent, provided an entertaining cup tie; the Second Qualifying Round of the Trophy.

At Shaw Lane, which is also the home of the local rugby club (they share the pitch) and Barnsley CC (they don't share the pitch), the undaunted crowd was kept on tenterhooks through the first half, which was quite dull to be honest.

After half time, the Gladiators from Derbyshire, made their mark with a well worked goal. The Ducks replied with a 20 yard rasping shot after a rebound and then Matlock did it again, passing the ball well, on a day which made accurate play difficult. There were other chances and scrambles in both goal areas, as the ball squirted about, but that is how the score remained.

After all the swearing and frequent use of the f***ing word in virtually every utterance and an occasional c***, one chap said "Oi ref, he's impeding him!" I wonder how many in the crowd appreciated it? The ref brushed it aside! and said "play on".

The Ducks had a clever plot to have no spare balls near the pitch so when the original was belted over a fence, there was a considerable wait. The "ball boys" had disappeared by half time and I'm not surprised, the little chaps would have been frozen, wet and muddy.

So Matlock Town, founded in 1878, play one Step higher than Shaw Lane Aqua and march on, hoping to get to Wembley again, following their FA Trophy Final win in 1974-5. The club is the only one to have three brothers, the Fenoughtys, in the same side at Wembley.
Peter Swan, remember him from Sheffield Wednesday, England and a betting scandal? managed the side that season and led them to the FA Cup First Round losing to Blackburn Rovers, who were to win the Third Division title.

I had a nice chat with Scott Maxfield's dad, who follows his son all over, throughout his career and noted tha Joe Thornton, who has been with the Ducks since they were a Sunday League side, was in the home team squad. A long serving clubman.