Saturday 9 October 2010

Kirkburton

Another county cup getting under way today, this time the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA Association Cup, and I am up in the hills south of Huddersfield at the Gregory Playing Fields home of Kirkburton.


It is a murky old day weatherwise, but the Emley Moor transmitter is still an impressive sight as it looms over the ground.


The facilities are also the home to the local tennis club.


The land slopes away dramatically in one corner of the pitch, leading to some spectacular views.


The next picture, taken from the bottom corner, gives an indication of just how much the pitch slopes.


Kirkburton begin the day in seventh place in the West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division, with their opponents Kiveton Park similarly placed in the Central Midlands League Premier Division, but the hosts control the first half. A Damien Sykes header from a Josh Williams free kick opens the scoring on 19 minutes, and a superbly delivered cross from Danny Ingham after 32 minutes allows Keiran Ryan to head home the second.


Kirkburton have enough of the play after the interval to put the result beyond doubt, but their failure to do so looks like it could be costly after 78 minutes, as Kiveton Park skipper Jamie Webster wins the chase for a long ball to leave Marcus Green with a simple finish. Worse still for the hosts, keeper Damien Brookes receives a facial injury in the collision, and with three substitutes already used Kirkburton are down to ten men.


Defender Ben Hugill takes over in goal for Kirkburton, and survives a few scary moments, but deep in stoppage time Scott Fulton breaks clear to wrap up a 3-1 home win.