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Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Damian Ainsworth16 Mar - 18:40
Like a Rolling Stone, Menston Gather No Moss As Title Challenge Gains Momentum
When I was an aspiring balladeer, the Menston Folk Festival was one of the biggest draws on the circuit. Back in the early 60s, I ran into a young troubadour who had come over from the United States with nothing to his name but a way with words and a harmonica. We would spend hours swapping rhymes back and forth in the Malt Shovel, hoping to conjure something that might touch hearts and change minds.
A year or so later I found myself in a bar in Greenwich Village, at a table with, among others, folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, when that same fella from the Malt Shovel stepped onto the stage to rapturous applause. "How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?" he echoed and I recognised words that I had written on a napkin, back in Menston. After this performance, I approached Bob Dylan, for it was he, and asked him what had become of that paper towel. He turned to me and smiled; "the answer my friend, is blowing in the wind". As I looked skyward, I could just about make out a napkin, swirling softly in the gentle New York breeze.
A similar breeze was playing out at St Mary's as Menston Rangers took on last season's league runners-up Clifford on an early Sunday evening. Rangers were once again light on numbers, a bare eleven in the squad meaning fitness would be of the essence. It was a lightning start as 'Dylan' Ainsworth, named for the poetic pilgrim, pounced on a raking Machell pass and opened the scoring after a mere eight seconds. Menston sensed the momentum was massively theirs and Macauley bagged another couple, including a stunning free-kick, to put them three up before 10 minutes were on the clock. The away team were shellshocked but gradually worked their way into the match and were rewarded with a good strike on the half hour to reduce the deficit.
There were no further goals in the first half.
Any thoughts of a Clifford revival were dashed when the busy Bates, forever making incisive moves, finished off a great pass from Ainsworth. The visitors showed quality in their finishing throughout the match and reduced the deficit before Macauley bagged two more, almost deigning to celebrate his fourth, which he finished delightfully. Holliday-Gomes struck a deserved goal before Clifford gave the score a slightly more respectable hue in the closing minutes.
Some excellent football was played, with Miller at the back and Imran and Boughan in the middle featuring in a dominant performance as Clifford found themselves on Desolation Row, Tangled Up in the Blue of Menston.
A year or so later I found myself in a bar in Greenwich Village, at a table with, among others, folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, when that same fella from the Malt Shovel stepped onto the stage to rapturous applause. "How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?" he echoed and I recognised words that I had written on a napkin, back in Menston. After this performance, I approached Bob Dylan, for it was he, and asked him what had become of that paper towel. He turned to me and smiled; "the answer my friend, is blowing in the wind". As I looked skyward, I could just about make out a napkin, swirling softly in the gentle New York breeze.
A similar breeze was playing out at St Mary's as Menston Rangers took on last season's league runners-up Clifford on an early Sunday evening. Rangers were once again light on numbers, a bare eleven in the squad meaning fitness would be of the essence. It was a lightning start as 'Dylan' Ainsworth, named for the poetic pilgrim, pounced on a raking Machell pass and opened the scoring after a mere eight seconds. Menston sensed the momentum was massively theirs and Macauley bagged another couple, including a stunning free-kick, to put them three up before 10 minutes were on the clock. The away team were shellshocked but gradually worked their way into the match and were rewarded with a good strike on the half hour to reduce the deficit.
There were no further goals in the first half.
Any thoughts of a Clifford revival were dashed when the busy Bates, forever making incisive moves, finished off a great pass from Ainsworth. The visitors showed quality in their finishing throughout the match and reduced the deficit before Macauley bagged two more, almost deigning to celebrate his fourth, which he finished delightfully. Holliday-Gomes struck a deserved goal before Clifford gave the score a slightly more respectable hue in the closing minutes.
Some excellent football was played, with Miller at the back and Imran and Boughan in the middle featuring in a dominant performance as Clifford found themselves on Desolation Row, Tangled Up in the Blue of Menston.
Further reading