Snow, ice doesn’t block Barnestoneworth friendly

The prospect of 1-degree temperatures and falling-ice stinging the faces of players didn’t stop Saturday’s ‘friendly’ between C-Grade club-mates Brighouse and Denley Moor.

Accusations of ‘Whose idea was this?’ couldn't didn’t get in the way of Barnies team-mates pulling on the boots for a mid-Winter run alongside a hand full of Tahs ring-ins and at least one Orange rep player.

A plot hatched by Brighouse’s Murray McCloskey and Denley’s Michael Lewis for a game to foil association plans for a mid-comp bye-round came together on the coldest Saturday of the season.

With both sides depleted (by players with better things to do, family commitments and clearly enhanced judgement..) the gaggle of ring-ins and assorted player progeny, created new combinations sparking entertaining play across the park without the regular season threat of being hacked from behind.

Denley striker Richie Shields played out a blinder, notching a hat-trick on the day.

Tahs A-Grader Roland Hammond slotted in well to open the scoring for Brighouse before Richie leveled, off an Al Reeder assist. The match finely-balanced 1-1 at half-time.

Cries of offside were dismissed by the referee ( no really, there was a real one and everything..) as Shields broke into space to leave Brighouse keeper Chas Bliss guessing.

Teen sensation and Orange rep player Sam Golfin was obviously enjoying the ‘friendly’, dancing through Denley defenders to level soon after.

Another long-range shot from Richie sealed the result, providing the excuse for the inaugural presentation of the day’s trophy, an Orange snow-globe dubbed the 'Hypothermia Cup'. (see the video below)