Stuniverse

Saturday 25th March 2023 Preview: Armthorpe Welfare (away) Northern Counties East League Division 1 (34) Fortunately, we have no real injury concerns although three players are still working their way back to full fitness. Steven Johnson-Fikula comes in for Charlie Rutt on the left side of central defence. I really wanted to start Charlie as he's been unbelievably good for us this season but, with contract offers on the table for him ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline, one from Sunderland Ryhope CA (who look nailed on to be playing in Tier 8 next season), I'm not sure his mind would be fully on our game away at 5th placed Armthorpe Welfare. And it's a vital game for us as we battle to maintain our top spot and clinch automatic promotion ourselves.

Saturday 25th March 2023 I don't want to lose Charlie... ... but it's out of my hands I've tried to talk Charlie Rutt into staying at Staveley Miners Welfare, but his heart seems set on signing for Sunderland Ryhope CA, who are top of Northern League Division 1 (Tier 9)... so he could be playing in Tier 8 next season. I wouldn't blame Charlie if he decides to leave.

Saturday 18th March 2023 Staveley Miners Welfare v Beverley Town Northern Counties East League Division 1 (33) Inkersall Road, Staveley Miners Welfare. Wow! I'm not sure if there were any neutrals in the crowd of 229 at Inkersall Road today. If there were, I bet the neutrals were thrilled by that spectacle. If you have affiliations to Staveley Miners Welfare, or our opponents Beverley Town, I bet it was a roller-coaster of emotions. It sure was for me. We knew Beverley Town were a good team. They beat us 3-0 at Norwood Recreation Ground earlier in the season and completely outplayed us that day. Today, they reminded us just how good they are. We got off to the perfect start when Lewis Farmer gave us a 6th minute lead. On 20 minutes they equalised and then Kane Patterson committed a rash tackle in our penalty area and they went 2-1 in front from the penalty spot. Lamin Jagne levelled things at 2-2 with a stunning 25-yard free-kick on 35 minutes but, a minute later, Beverley Town were back in front again. On the hour mark we made some changes and went Positive with our wingers on Attack. On 68 minutes we made another change and went Attacking with our wingers pushed further forward. That back-fired though as we got caught going forward and, outnumbered, Beverley Town attacked with pace and extended their lead to 4-2. As if that wasn't bad enough, Liam Farmer bruised his ankle but we'd already made our substitutions. Then 19-year old striker Luca Nelson, on as a second-half substitute, stepped up big time. Luca scored on 79 minutes to pull us back to 3-4, had a goal disallowed for offside two minutes later, and then struck the equaliser on 87 minutes. We changed back to a Balanced mentality and looked to see the game out. Both teams had a couple of chances to win it late on but, I think, a draw, a 4-4 draw, was a fair result. By the final whistle, after being 2-4 down with 17 minutes left, the draw feels like a win. At least Beverley Town didn't close the gap to us and promotion remains very much in our own hands, our own feet, with five games remaining.

Saturday 18th March 2023 Preview: Beverley Town (Home) Northern Counties East League Division 1 (33) Football matches don't come much bigger than this one today. We entertain 2nd placed Beverley Town at Inkersall Road today knowing that a win will put us nine points clear of them with only five more games to go. It won't be easy, Beverley Town beat us convincingly, 3-0, at their place, but we are a different team right now and we're determined to put that record straight. Lamin Jagne and Alex Wood have both passed fitness tests and are in contention for selection today. Lamin Jagne returns to the team today in central midfield, with Callum Hope moving to the bench, and Sam Wright, unfortunately, misses out completely.

Friday 17th March 2023 Senior Affiliate Update

Sunday 12th March 2023 Stuniverse, "We're making good progress!"

Sunday 12th March 2023 Senior Affiliate? With my boss, Terry Damms, in such a good mood, I took the opportunity to ask him again about finding a senior affiliate...

Sunday 12th March 2023 My boss is happy

Saturday 11th March 2023 Staveley Miners Welfare secure playoff spot

Saturday 11th March 2023 Staveley Miners Welfare v Wakefield AFC Northern Counties East League Division 1 (32) Inkersall Road, Staveley Miners Welfare. AFC Wakefield gave us a very difficult game in the first-half and they took the lead on 39 minutes direct from a free-kick. Two minutes later, D'Andre Wainwright equalised and we were level by half-time. After the break, we stepped up a gear and took control of the game. Mitchell George made it 2-1 on 51 minutes. For a while, it looked like the third goal wouldn't come. Lewis Farmer was clearly tripped in the penalty area but the referee waved play on. Then Mitchell George had a goal, harshly in my opinion, chalked off for offside. Mitchell George did make it 3-1 on 79 minutes. D'Andre Wainwright completed the scoring with an 85th minute penalty.

Saturday 11th March 2023 Preview: Wakefield AFC (Home) Northern Counties East League Division 1 (32) Lamin Jagne has been a breath of fresh air since he signed for us so it's disappointing for him to pick up a groin injury in training. Our medical team have given Lamin Jagne the all clear to play but I'm not going to risk him. Callum Hope will start in central midfield instead of Lamin. Sam Wright keeps his place on the bench and is unfortunate not to get the start himself. I just feel Callum is more suited to the AP - Su role.

Saturday 4th March 2023 Dronfield Town v Staveley Miners Welfare Northern Counties East League Division 1 (31) H E Barnes Stadium, Dronfield. I thought there was nothing between the two teams in the first-half and it was difficult, at times, to understand why Dronfield Town are bottom of the division, cast adrift on 10 points. The only real difference was the clinical finishing of D'Andre Wainwright and Mitchell George who both scored to give us a 2-0 lead at half-time. We did have Sam Kellett to thank though for an incredible, triple save, during a goalmouth scramble when the score was 1-0. After the break, we didn't ease off and Mitchell George scored his second goal of the game for 3-0, before Sonny Best made it 4-0. It would have been the icing on the cake to get the clean sheet but Dronfield grabbed a 66th minute consolation goal.

Saturday 4th March 2023 Preview: Dronfield Town (away) Northern Counties East League Division 1 (31) We lost Alex Wood to an injury in training this week. I was a bit worried about fitness levels after playing our game-in-hand in midweek, but everybody is looking lively and raring to go. So we're unchanged again.

Thank you, @JaytheGreat, so do I. Up until mid-December I was focussed on improving the squad but, from then, I’ve been very happy with the make-up of the squad and focussed more on getting a settled, in-form starting 11 and match-day 16. In January, and particularly February, that settled team started to emerge and some of the football we’ve played has been very impressive. There’s still time for Sonny Best to improve and I’m pleased that he’s now contributing to the team in the ML role. To be honest, given we only train two sessions a day, two days a week, I’m amazed he’s gone from makeshift at ML to competent (via awkward and unconvincing) so quickly. My main concern, if I’m reading the latest training report correctly, is that a lot of his attributes seem to be heading in the wrong direction as he’s trained to play ML.

Thanks, @warlock. Yes, I’m very happy at the moment, but it’s very close as Rossington Main and Beverley Town keep winning as well. We still have both of them to play as well during our run-in.

Wednesday 1st March 2023 Monthly Reports Results Board Expectations Finances Dynamics Supporter Expectations

Wednesday 1st March 2023 Stuniverse and George win awards --

Sunday 26th February 2022 Assistant Manager pleased with Best's progress in training

Saturday 25th February 2023 Staveley Miners Welfare v Nostell Miners Welfare Northern Counties East League Division 1 (30) Inkersall Road, Staveley Miners Welfare. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, with eight league games still to play, but it really is a pleasure watching this Staveley Miners Welfare team play at the moment. We were 5-0 up by half-time. D'Andre Wainwright converted a penalty after Lewis Farmer had been tripped in the area. Lewis Farmer then grabbed one for himself. Charlie Rutt headed in a Lamin Jagne corner at the far post. Mitchell George then scored two before half-time. We were slow out of the blocks after the break and Sam Kellett had to make two superb saves within five minutes of the restart. Mitchell George completed his hat-trick but then went off with a bruised shin but, we think, he should be ok for our game at Dronfield Town next weekend. Luca Nelson came on for Mitchell George and scored our seventh goal. Unfortunately, we didn't get the clean sheet Sam Kellett deserved when Nostell scored a 76th minute consolation.

Saturday 25th February 2023 Preview: Nostell Miners Welfare (Home) Northern Counties East League Division 1 (30) After an impressive 4-0 win over Retford last time out, I see no reason to make any changes for the Nostell Miners Welfare game.

Wednesday 22nd February 2023 Mr Damms says, "No!" Maybe I was being greedy asking the club to fund another Coaching Course so soon after completing my National C Licence, but I asked Terry Damms (Owner / Chairperson) and he said no.

Tuesday 21st February 2023 Staveley Miners Welfare v Retford Northern Counties East League Division 1 (29) Inkersall Road, Staveley Miners Welfare. I'm very happy with how we played tonight and I'm proud of the players. Both strikers scored within the first half hour. Mitchell George on 10 minutes and D'Andre Wainwright after 27 minutes. By the break, D'Andre Wainwright had a hat-trick and he had another one chalked off for offside in the second-half. We did get a lucky break just before half-time when Retford had a goal disallowed for offside. It was very tight and, to be fair, I didn't see anything wrong with it.

Tuesday 21st February 2023 Preview: Retford (Home) Northern Counties East League Division 1 (29) We play our game-in-hand at home to Retford at Inkersall Road. The original game was called off due to heavy snow a couple of weeks ago. Lewis Cox rejected the contract from Holbeach United so he comes back onto the bench as back-up goalkeeper in place of Sam Agius. Otherwise we're unchanged. We're in good form having won our last three games and seven of our last eight - the only blip being the 1-2 defeat to Athersley Recreation. I'm very happy with the squad currently and I'm not looking to bring any new players in, unless I have to. Over the last few weeks I've been able to pick a settled team and that's proving beneficial as we're playing well and building some promising partnerships on the pitch.

Monday 20th February 2023 Yes! I got my first coaching badge

Saturday 18th February 2023 Ollerton Town v Staveley Miners Welfare Northern Counties East League Division 1 (28) The FastFrame, Ollerton. This was almost a perfect away game. We controlled the possession, limited Ollerton Town to just one shot on target, kept a clean sheet, and scored three ourselves. D'Andre Wainwright gave us a 15th minute lead after being set-up by Tom Bell. Tom Bell then had a couple of long range efforts that went over the bar. Lamin Jagne doubled our lead with a superbly taken free-kick on 27 minutes. Being honest, I thought both yellow cards Ollerton's Connon received, for a red, were harsh. Neither challenge was reckless or dangerous, but that's the way it is now. If you're on a yellow, you need to be really careful not to give the referee a decision to make. We were comfortably on top against 11 and Ollerton didn't really cause us any problems in the 24 minutes they were down to 10. Mitchell George made it 3-0 on 83 minutes when he headed in Lamin Jagne's corner at the far post.