Duck Town

Gresley 1 v Stocksbridge Park Steels 0

Northern Premier League, First Division South

Friday 30 December 2016

Twitter @ball_sup

First choice was Sheffield FC. Off at 1517.
Second choice was New Mills AFC. Off at 1533.
So, today's benign kidnapping was to third choice Gresley down there in South Derbz. Although the pitch wasn't frozen, it cut up & was poor. Quite a contrast with the synthetic pitch yesterday at Hyde. Team talk, whack it down field.

Because we'd been planning games North, South, West, etc. Who was playing where had passed me by a little. So, it was a “pleasant surprise” to see Sheffield United Futures & Academy youngster Nat Crofts out there for Stocksbridge. (According to the teamsheet, Brodie Litchfield was also on the bench for Stocksbridge).

We stood near the Gresley old boys who talk bollocks. Lovely fellas. They identified Crofts as the main danger for Stocksbridge. “It'll come from him”, etc. He was skillful. But, to be honest, nowhere near incisive enough. Gresley were just about worth that win.

The Clubhouse was OK. It could do with a spruce up. No cask. So, I had a perfectly OK pint of Marstons Pedigree on KEG at 4.5%.

But, my beer day had already come in at an earlier establishment during the waiting for pitch inspections phase.

Abbeydale, Reveller on cask at 3.9%.
Weal Ale, Sqweal on cask at 3.9%.

Both superb.

424/871