To cap off a tough week, The Vets travelled over to Hayfield to play the Nomads, always a favourite fixture for the lads due to the quirky ground and the promise of an Indian/Pakistani feast at the end of the game.  Glossop AGAIN won the toss…8 on the bounce now and you guessed it, choose to bowl. The lads dragged themselves out of the changing room and went to work...

Ste Kirkham and Charley Ingham started the innings  and were immediately attacked by Hayfields opener who struck 3 4s and 2 6s in the opening 10 balls – Ingham fought back though, and whilst going for an almighty slog, Hayfields opener sent the ball high into the summer sky and was caught on the boundary by Mitchell ( I think, there were a lot of wickets, if not, it was Page)  Ingham then struck immediately, a quicker delivery that popped off the bat and was caught by Alder at short cover.  Ingham was on a hat trick, in customary style, the Vets surrounded the bat, the batsman feeling the pressure…but the ball whistled pass the outside edge. Kirkham came back well in his second over and got rewarded by bowling Nomads opener. The ball was that good,  Kirkham was already celebrating before it had hit the wickets.

Rick Ingham and Sam Alder bowled the next 4. Both kept it tight and had helped stopped the early flow of runs but it was Mitchell in the action again, there was confusion in the middle, Mitchell picked the ball up on the boundary and arrowed his throw twds the stumps, it bounced once and clipped the top off leg stump. Nomads were 3 down.

Ted Mitchell and Nathan Allen were next up. Allen bowled tidy, pace for his first over, spin for his second and it was his second over that got a wicket, sending a quicker one down which cleaned bowled the batsman. Mitchell, not content with his nights work so far, got in on the action with the ball. Firstly, he bowled a lovely ball which caught the inside edge and cannoned into the stumps, this brought out Nomads 13 year old, 4ft nothing batter - this didn’t deter Mitchell.picking up the pace he bowled a lovely full length delivery which clattered into the stumps for a 3 ball duck for Nomad’s young batter. The destruction of his night was only just beginning.

Steve Page and Jay Allen bowled the next 4. Allen a little expensive….the rigors of back-to-back games possibly showing on Glossop’s elder statesman, Page was steady.

Colin Taylor and Jamie Kay were last up. Taylor looked like he was getting over his bowling woes and picked up a wicket, a full-length ball that was clattered straight towards Page at mid-wicket – Page held on but the hands must have been stinging. Kay was solid at the other end and Glossop picked up a run out on the last ball. Nomads started fiercely but Glossop kept them in check and Nomads closed on 108 – 9.

Glossop needed one final push to cap an excellent week and it was Page and Ingham who strode out to the middle. Ingham getting rewarded for his performance at Mottram was hoping to show what he could do at the top of the order. Page faced the first delivery, hands still stinging from the catch he took 10 mins earlier, he got a full toss, top edged it off his pads and was caught out. Not the start the Vets wanted.  Andy Wilde came to the crease. Wilde and Ingham started well, Ingham with another lovely cover drive for 4 and Wilde looking solid, but it was Ingham who was next out for 11.  Taylor came to the crease and started with a couple of boundaries and with Wilde, steadied the ship and got about building the total. Both were batting well before Wilde went for a big shot, didn’t quite catch it and was caught out. Glossop were going ok but they were losing wickets.

Kay came to the middle. Taylor quickly raced to 25 not out with a few more boundaries. Steve ‘The Finisher’ Kirkham joined Kay and both started knocking easy singles, rotating the strike with ease. Just as the pair were looking dangerous, Kay holed out and was sent back to the pavilion, Glossop were ahead of the run rate but could the wickets loss be an issue? 

Ted Mitchell was in at 7.  Nomads brought on their 13 year old spinner who was still reeling from his duck in the first innings, hoping he could bowl some good overs to help his confidence.  Mitchell wasn’t having it and smashed his first ball for the biggest 6 I’ve seen in vets cricket. Over the boundary, over the river and deep into someone’s garden. A crunching 4 followed, and at this point some of the Nomads fans were considering calling Childline. Mitchell didn’t care and smashed him for another 4. 

Kirkham was next out, clean bowled which brought Sam Alder to the middle..Alder has good memories of this ground and started well. Mitchell raced to 25 with a few more boundaries bringing Glossop close to victory. Jay Allen strode out to finish things off, and due to having a few of his own fans in the crowd, appeared to be celebrating on his way to the crease.  2 balls later after getting cleaned bowled, he wasn’t celebrating on the way back.  Charlie Ingham joined Alder at the crease, but it was Alder who finished things off with a lovely 4 and then a crunching 6 to finish in style and finish on 15 not out.

A good win for Glossop who have got though this tough period of 3 away games in 7 days with 3 convincing victories.

Man of the Match – Ted Mitchell

Other than the destruction of a 13 years olds confidence it was a great all-round night from Mitchell who was solid in the field, picked up 2 wickets and scored 25 not out in quick time.  Great performance.

Glossop Vets have a week off now, time to recover and enjoy this tough week before the final slog of the season in August where they’ll be facing 2 new and unknown teams.

UP THE VETS 🏏🍺