Let's move on

Matlock Town 2  v Sheffield United 1
(Billed as an XI)

Pre Season Friendly

Wednesday 19 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

What have we got? Game minutes. GPS yardage. Three beers.

Nothing more to really come out of that lot. Very few SUFC players have done themselves any favours out there. You couldn’t really say anyone has had a nightmare. But, Matlock were well worth that win. Knill was in charge. Brooks, Lavery, Jake Wright Snr & Thomas all finished the game at Chesterfield (I think). And, all started the game here. It was all bits. A bit here. A bit there. Initially set up as a back four of Jake Bennett, Sam Graham, Wright Snr & Wallace. With David Brooks initially back of the diamond Coutts role - taking it off the back two. Maybe they just wanted to try it. Natch, he did it well (enough). But, he’s not had anything like the impact he’s had in the free role in the hole he’s had at Chesterfield yesterday. And, natch, he wasn’t as effective as Coutts.

They switched it a half-time. Jake Wright Jnr had taken a bang just before the whistle. He didn't come out. So, Graham, Wright Jnr & Wallace as a back three. Jake Bennett wide right. Nathan Thomas wide left. Lavery on his jacks up top - and once it had settled down, both Duffy & Brooks in the hole behind that front one. Brooks did come more into it in that role.  I felt Harvey Gilmour (maybe Fleck role) was about the best out there once he’d subbed for Wright Jnr. At least he got around & up and down. (Compared to a somewhat missing in action Regan Slater).

Eventually. Jordan Hallam & Ty Smith came on for Brooks & Lavery. That jiggled it up a bit for a while. But, basically, no one in a red n white shirt could get anything together. Passes astray. Little dinks going past ‘em. Losing their men. As I said, it wasn’t awful. But nowhere near the Races.  Too conservative & safe at times. Not really looking to make owt happen. So nowt did. File that away. Minutes done, yards run.

The MoCa Bar, Matlock. (In the CAMRA Good Beer Guide). One roomed bar, with patio out the back. Wood, everywhere. I'd thoroughly recommend this place. Seven on cask. An array of keg. But nothing pukka new English. The cask range was varied & tempting.

The name had me. Totally Brewed, Punch In The Face IPA on cask at 4.8%. Superb that. I'm not always a fan of cask IPAs. But, they've got that spot on. Glorious in the glass. Almost honey like smell - just deep enough. Then some citrus. It doesn't grab your throat, but the bitterness is there early & grows & almost sweetens at the end. Loved it.

Stanley's Alehouse. Up. A. Hill. A Big Hill. Five on Cask. Abstract Jungle, Jackal on cask at 4.2%. Porter. I was a bit unsure. But, the fella persevered. A little sweeter than I imagined. But, none the worse for that. Well balanced. Some red fruit. Some allspice. Nice beer.

Two cask beers on IN THE GROUND. Nice large Clubhouse at Matlock. There was Doom Bar (speaking of too safe). But, I had Hancock’s HB on cask at 3.6%. Decent enough. But, I ain't writing home about it.

504/1065
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