Maltby Main 1-0 Worksop Town

Maltby Main 1-0 Worskop Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 29th August 2020

Sometimes there are games you enjoy and, other times, there are games you endure!

This one definitely wasn't for the faint-hearted and at times it was akin to some of the lowest points of boredom during lockdown, earlier this year.

For the large part, it was dreadfully dull with too many aimless long punts, too many balls going out of play, and two teams who could barely string a pass together. Played on a terrible sloping pitch which didn't help, the game perfectly mirrored the weather which was cold, damp, drizzly and absolutely crap for the entire afternoon.

In fairness, Maltby (of the NCEL Premier Division) should take pride in the fact they reduced Worksop to their level, prevented them from getting on top and dictating things, and ultimately were victorious. If it wasn't for the fact their manager spent the majority of the match screaming at the officials - encouraged by his entourage of morons behind the dugout who seemed to be treating the game as a World Cup Final, then I'd be willing to give them more credit.

Worksop can't take much comfort from their performance - it was simply dire and, apart from a decent spell of pressure just before the break and a useful 'long-throw' which a couple of their defenders had in their locker, they didn't offer too much.

Being reduced to 10 men didn't help the Tigers' cause (especially as the player who got the red card was reeled in hook, line and sinker by his opponent) although the most surprising thing about it was the inevitable mass-brawl took over an hour before it happened.

The only goal came just after half-time when a Maltby player was on the receiving end of a late tackle just inside the visitors' half - cue the ghoulish screams from their manager. Instead, the referee played a very good advantage and Liam Preston eventually slotted home after a team-mate had done most of the hard work by running through on goal, drawing the 'keeper off his line, and then squaring it.

There isn't much else that can be said about the game other than I left early (which is a rarity for me nowadays) and that I think I've done very well to stretch it out across eight paragraphs!

Next Up: Mossley vs Oldham Athletic (potentially)...