The Rock Squad was back on the road for the first time since the Whitby outing in September. Renewed faith in the Steelmen after the Spennymoor victory the week before encouraging a trip to Derbyshire to see if the Corby boys could repeat what was something of a surprise again. Matlock have aspirations of climbing to a higher level and are clearly not lying fifth in the table at this stage of the season for nothing. Maybe that was their downfall. Complacency the dreaded word. And why shouldn’t they have been? After all the visitors have been bereft of form, ideas, heart, ambition, will, you name it, all season. So, Big Gordon Edgar has decided to give the Steelmen another go, after feeling unwell the day before with a dose of the tom tits. John Crawley, Brian Joiner and myself, who I have to admit, had given up the ghost a few weeks back, join him.
A pleasant trip throughout the dales it was, interspersed with JC talking horse manure as is his wont, sitting in the front navigating and taking us off on a scenic route into Matlock. “Listen to the sat nav!” Also, starting a conversation about Gary Glitter which rapidly went nowhere fast. “Did you see Gary Glitter at the Stardust John?” I asked, after hearing his name mentioned on the car radio. “No’ he answered. “Where did you see him then?” I asked again. “I didn’t see him” he said. ‘You just said you did”, “No I didn’t”. “Where did you see him then?” By now, i’m clearly unintentionally getting on his tits. “I haven’t seen Gary Glitter!” John bellows. “Well you mentioned him, I thought you said you saw him at the Stardust!” “I just told you, I haven’t seen Gary Glitter!”
By now Gordon is shaking his head in bewilderment, trying to keep his eye on the road. “What the fark are you two talking about!” Brian was sitting impassive, suppressing laughter, he’s heard this sort of conversation before. Thing is, John when sitting in the front of the car is hard to hear, those soft gentle tones of his don’t carry in the wind. And I reminded him I was paid money for being half deaf through my time working in the tube works! Speak up John!
A conversation ensues about some of the punters in the Rock that are sadly no longer with us. John recalling a guy who played the keyboard, well tried to anyway. Can’t remember his name. Heard John say; “He died” I ask, ‘who died?’
“No, I didn’t say he died, I said he was from Hyde”
“Hyde, i thought you said he’d died”
“He has died!”
“That guy from Hyde?”
Thank Christ we had arrived in Hyde, I mean Matlock by this time!
We arrived in plenty of time, had a pint in the Railway pub, then made our way to the ground. A pleasant wee non league ground, picturesque with the hills in the background and a castle plonked on top. “Shithole” John said. No appreciation of our countryside has John.
The teams come out, and I hardly recognise anyone! Its been around four weeks since I gave up watching them but ruddy hell, who are half of these people! To be fair, the manager Gary Mills has taken more than his fair share of stick since he took over the reins two months back but it looks like he’s assembling his own team at last. Considering Matlock are the high fliers, Corby were looking pretty steady. Good to see big Aiden Grant back in goals. Why he was dropped is anybody’s guess. Couple of guys in defence who I hadn’t seen before. The number 6 looked lumbering, a member of the ‘seen milk turn quicker’ brigade, though I have to say, he did have a better second half. His pal alongside him was better, didn’t recognise him but he was domineering throughout, must have had a sore head after the game with all the heading he’d done but talking to Dave Tilley the intrepid Steelmen photographer, stat man, he revealed that it was Aaron Brown! This was the donkey that graced the Steelmen shirt for a spell at the start of last season! Well Aaron, you looked more like a thouroughbred in this game, outstanding. Won’t call you a donkey again!
Standing behind the goals with about ten minutes gone, who walks past us, but our good friend, club shop entrepreneur John ‘Wilf’ Wilson - with one of our directors, Paul Glass! They look as surprised as us! Without breaking step, ‘what are you doing here?” they marched on, heading for the directors enclosure, and a free sandwich at half time, free programme, free cup of tea and no doubt after gaining free entry into the game!
‘Cheesy bastard!” Gordon shouts. “What a chancer!’ or words to that effect, I add. They had turned up late, missed the kick off but …they headed for the free meal ticket. “Bastard!” Gordon says cracking up laughing. I curse again. Crawley, Edgar and Joiner are creasing up. “Your just jealous cus Wilf has taken your place, you used to get away with it for years!” Crawley splutters. Fair enough. It was all said in jest mind. Over the years Ive gained entry to away games as a player, trainer, director, bus driver…
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| Tense moments as Matlock attack again |
The game was moving on, Matlock looking the more dangerous but then suddenly, just to shut the home fans up, Phil Trainer scores for Corby from a corner to put us 1 up! Brilliant! A few minutes later, my mobile goes off, it’s a text. From Wilf. ‘Corby 1 up” it says. “Look at this” I showed the boys. The three of them start laughing. Ten minutes later or whatever it was, another shock for Matlock, and the home supporters. Milnes puts Corby 2 up! My phone goes off again. It’s Wilf. ‘Corby 2 up!’
“Has he forgotten he’s seen us?” Gordon asks in complete bemusement. Crawley, Brian and I all look at my phone. A Corby player gets booked. Its Wilf again ‘Corby player booked’
“Fark me!”
Matlock come close with a shot that hits the crossbar and the whistle goes for half time. Corby 2-0 to the good and on course for one of the major shocks of the day. Well in the Northern Premier League anyway.
Wilf; ‘Corby 2-0 up at half time!’
We gave up!
Second half, Matlock have come out with all guns blazing, embarrassed at being humped at home by the bottom of the table no hopers from Corby.
Corby have played well, look a far better team they have done all season. Look like a team with belief is Gordon’s assessment. Fair enough too. Matlock nearly crap themselves as a Steelmen shot crashes against the crossbar. That would have sealed the game and points!
Rattled, the home side press even harder, Corby are hanging in there. Milnes goes off, damn, our key man. Yes Wilf, we have seen him go off!
Then a clash on the ground between a Matlock defender and Corby forward Trainer. Trainer is given a straight red! Bollocks! Would you believe it, Wilf texts….’Trainer..’ Brian says, send him a text back..’Who’s been given a red card?” We’re all pissing yourselves.
Can Corby hang on with ten men? Quarter of an hour to go. Matlock are desperate. Their number 7 is having a blinder, thinks he’s Messi. “He always ends up beating himself though!” Brian says.
Corner after corner, Brown and co keep heading the balls out. Then a ricochet or two, and Matlock get a goal back. Shite!
The noise levels rise, blow that bleedin’ whistle ref! “He’s been shite this second half” Crawley squeals. “He’s been shite all game” Brian opines. He certainly has. “Poser, thinks he’s on tele” I add. Just to qualify this, Big Gordon bellows out in rage after another crap decision “You’re SHITE referee!!” Home fans around us look on, they are clearly thinking; ‘who are these morons?”
The final whistle goes after four added extra minutes. The Steelmen have won! Unbelievable. Joy! Ecstatic, we head off looking for a chippie. Been a good day. “We are now third bottom!” John says with glee. Cause for celebration!
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| Happy Days! |
Journey home is satisfying, and quiet. Brian has fell asleep, John is contemplating the rest of the season, “we can still get out of this mess”. Gordon turns the radio on.
Thankfully Gary Glitter isn’t mentioned again. And what’s happened to Wilf!
