Dale Park V Messingham

Our re-arranged game with Messingham is on for Sunday, in a game which could prove the deciding factor in the race for second. After seeing three trophies disappear in a week Park will be desperate to beat both Messingham and Barton, if we did second place would be secured. As for team news once again no-one should be missing and Brown may get the nod over Durnian up front, apart from that it will be the same team that played Bottesford on Wednesday. It will be Ryan Ingham will make his first return since leaving at the end of October since then Messingham have hit form and if they win tomorrow they are likely to overtake us before the end of the season. Kick off is half past eleven tomorrow.

Bottesford 2-0 Dale Park

Our title hopes were ended in our final away game of the season on a wet night in Bottesford, who were crowned league champions under the floodlights, however Dale Park gave perhaps their best away performance of the season. It was a display we can be proud off and the Barmy Army deserved at least a draw, probably a win. Despite controlling the match, especially in the first half, Park could not do the one thing Bottesford did well, find the back of the net. With the game being played at Birch Park, we knew stamina and tempo would be vital but the games pace started quickly with most of the play being found in midfield. After Bottesford missed a sitter, Dale Park came into their own and dominated the rest of the half Clark looked a threat and Johnstone also found himself in the penalty area a few times but also couldn't find the net. Bottesford took the lead five minutes before the break after Reeder, who had a superb game, let in Callum Pell who layed on the goal for a Bottesford midfielder. Park again rose to the occasion in the second half and started the better but it was Bottesford who again scored at the crucial time. However to put it simply, it should not have been allowed due to a clear push on Finney, before the header from the corner found the roof of the net. Bottesford again sat back for five minutes and did not allow us to create clear cut chances straight after the goal. We pushed again late on, Rhodes who had another great game hit the post and Bottesford managed to clear off the line. Durnian and Johnstone went close late on but it was not to be. However on reflection we can give ourselves great credit for not only outdoing the champions in effort, passing and movement, but also the fact that we had the best chances. The only two things that Bottesford had the edge over us on, were taking their chances as well as their stamina and fitness which was evident at the end. Still though we can be proud and captain Kier Spencer and the players certaintly looked it at the end. Tonight was about the all round team performance, not individuals. All we need now is to win our last 3 games although they all look tough we can beat anyone if we play like this on our own turf. Finally Winterton Comp in action at Rangers tomorrow 4pm kick off for the semi-final against South Axholme.

DP Team: Finney, Tate(Clixby), Spencer(C), Lacey-Hatton, Reeder, Harvey, Wingate, Rhodes, Johnstone(Merrill), Clark, Durnian(Brown)

Official man of the match: Nick Wingate
Blogger man of the match: Matty Harvey
(any of our players deserved it tonight, but Matty along with Wingate dominated the midfield)


PS Well done Bottesford we look forward to welcoming you to our place in a few weeks.

Lastest News and Bottesford Preview

First off sorry to say but there will be no full match report from last Sundays cup defeat against App-Frod. We lost 3-0 in perhaps our worst performance of the season and one that we should forget about. However we will look for a quick response when tomorrow night we face Bottesford at Birch Park. Full squad expected as usual. Last time we played Bottesford away, it was in December 2008 and we suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat in a game where we only had 10 players for the full game. Game Kicks off at seven Birch Park first team pitch.

DP Team V App Frod:
Finney, Tate, Lacey-Hatton, Reeder, Spencer(C), Rhodes, Harvey, Wingate, Johnstone(Merrill), Brown(Durnian), Clark.

Blogger and Official Man Of The Match: Ash Finney

Ps
School Champions League Semi-Final is on Thursday at Winterton Rangers ground West Street, against South Axholme. Kick off around/ just after 4pm.

Dale Park V App Frod Saints (Div Cup)

We face top of the league two App Frod Saints on Sunday, a side who are yet to lose this season, in the divisional cup quarter final. Its marks the start of a big week for our footballers, with champions in wait Bottesford to face on Tuesday and also the school champions league semi-final on Thursday. With the new rule not allowing players younger than fourteen now in force, Barton Juniors are set to withdraw, giving us even more hope of lifting the cup in April. Finney rested his back from training this week but should start no other injury worries mean Reg Spencer will again have a good selection problem.
Game kicks off half past eleven at Dale Park.

Below is the remaining full draw:
Quarter Finals:

A	MESSINGHAM JUNIORS		v		BARTON JUNIORS(BYE)
B	CROSBY WASPS		v		BRIGG T. JUNIORS
C	DALE PARK		v		APP-FROD SAINTS
D	BOTTESFORD TOWN		v		PARK TIGERS
	DIVISIONAL TROPHY - SEMI FINAL
	(TIE TO BE PLAYED WEEKEND 4th APRIL 2010)
1	WINNERS MATCH "A"		v		WINNERS MATCH "D"
2	WINNERS MATCH "C"		v		WINNERS MATCH "B"

Park Tigers 3-5 Dale Park

Dale Park all but booked a top four finish this season, and also kept alive slim title hopes with an overall comfortable victory 5-3 at Park Tigers. After a nervy opening 10 minutes Park then took control with an absolute belter from Jack Rhodes after cutting inside and hitting a screamer into the roof of the net. Despite overall domination Dale Park failed to finish off the Tigers, Johnstone missed from close range and Rhodes corners and Wingate throws always looked a dangerous threat, Lacey-Hatton fired just wide after a typical Wingate bullet. Then controversy at the end of the half after Browns shot was saved Wingate controlled and volleyed in the rebound, however the referee decided that Wingate controlled it with his hand, although this looked a strange decision. Park always new the second half would be tougher and just a few minutes after the restart Tigers leveled after a cross failed to be cleared. However unlike other games this season we refused to crumble under pressure away from home, and after Clark had an earlier goal disallowed for offside he then put Park back in front after Wingates through ball, and Wingate added another goal two minutes later when his cross-shot found the roof of the net, a replica of his goal against Epworth earlier in the season. Wingate was again involved in the next goal after one of his long throws found the head of substitute Durnian who planted the ball past the Tigers keeper. It was to get worst for the leagues bottom of the table side, Rhodes got his second of the game with ten minutes to go. Park Tigers did get two goals late on but this was pure consolation as it was another win for Dale Park, our seventh in the league this season. Bottesford also won 4-0 against Crosby Wasps to keep a ten point lead, however we are yet to play them and also have a game in hand.

DP Team: Finney, Clixby(Tate), Reeder, Lacey-Hatton, Spencer, Wingate, Harvey, Johnstone(Durnian), Rhodes, Clark, Brown(Merrill).

Scorers: Rhodes(2), Clark, Wingate, Durnian.

Man Of The Match: Reeder

Blogger Man Of The Match: Clark/Rhodes
nothing to choose between Parks two standout players on the day.

Other Results:
League 1:
Crosby Wasps 0-4 Bottesford

Darby Cup Quarter Final:
Barton Juniors 1-3 Crosby United

Park Tigers V Dale Park

Sunday Dale Park make the first visit to Park Tigers since a controversial defeat in early 2008. Tigers have only got one point all season, but are far from easy whipping boys as they have proved by drawing and only losing by one goal to title holders Barton Juniors. As for team news Spencer has no new injury worries after Finney seems to have recovered from a slight back strain he gained after filling in at centre back for the champions league school quarter-final. Finney now looks set to stay in this position for the school team, however he will be back between the sticks for Dale Park this Sunday. Tate may also get a run out after training last Thursday. Game kicks off at 10am, and a win will all but secure a top four place this season.

App Frod Juniors 2-9 Dale Park

We returned to action with goals galore at Brumby to take on an App Frod Juniors side that are second in League 2. Nick Wingate topped the scoring with four goals. Early on App Frod looked lively but Lewis Clark's 10th minute goal (which can be watched here) took the knife edge off the tie and put us in control. 2 more goals in the next ten minutes ended the game as a contest before half time. First of all Matty Harvey tapped in from close range and then Connor Durnian chased Clark's long ball and made it 3-0. Nick Wingate then finished after Clark's shot hit the post to make it four right on half time. It was Frod who were once again faster out the blocks after the restart, they scored after a high long ball was well finished. However Park responded in the best way Rhodes scored after a quality move, and then Wingate added two of his own to complete his hat-trick. Frod got another back after a close range header went unchallenged. Clark's free kick then was tipped in by the stranded App-Frod keeper to make it eight, a few minutes after, and then man of the moment Wingate added his fourth to complete the scoring.

Dale Park Team:
Finney, Clixby, Spencer(C), Lacey-Hatton, Reeder, Wingate, Johnstone(Merrill), Harvey, Rhodes, Clark, Durnian(Brown).

Scorers:
Clark(2), Harvey, Durnian, Wingate(4), Rhodes.

Official Man Of The Match: Kieren Spencer

Blogger Man Of The Match: Nick Wingate

App Frod Saints V Dale Park

Tomorrow we are set to make a journey to Brumby to return to App-Frod, a place where on our last visit we lost 4-2 (with only having 10 players on the day). The game is a div cup tie, a competition we have a good record in, after winning the second division tournament last year. However this year the cups format has changed, instead of two div cups (one for each league) this year both league 1 and league 2 teams will compete in the same cup, for the purpose of creating more games. As for team news Tate did not train but could play some part, nor did Clixby but he may also get a run out.