It was a case of keeping it local again this weekend and, as luck would have it, there was a game that caught my eye happening just up the road. Deanshanger Athletic, who I have seen play away from home a number of times, were at home to Silverstone in the North Bucks Interdivisional Trophy. A local derby and a chance to visit Athletic at home for the first time. The teams are both currently members of the Intermediate Division in the North Bucks League structure, the second level of the league. Prior to kick-off the situation on the league was that Athletic sat second, 10 points adrift of leaders Olney. Silverstone were fourth, a further 7 points back but with 4 games in hand on Deanshanger. They had already met once before this season, a league encounter back in late August. That day Silverstone had handed Deanshanger a 5-1 home defeat, despite the hosts taking the lead after half an hour.
The most recent time I had seen Deanshanger play they were 7-2 winners at Finmere on a blustery day back in late November (Fins Fall To Storm Force 7). However, I also saw an early season game at Woburn & Wavendon (Call The Cops There's Been A Mugging), a game refereed by Krzysztof Ziejewski, who was also today's official. It was great to bump into referee Krzysztof gain before the game, especially as he made a special trip back to his car to get the team sheets for me. Thank you sir, very much appreciated.
The most recent time I had seen Deanshanger play they were 7-2 winners at Finmere on a blustery day back in late November (Fins Fall To Storm Force 7). However, I also saw an early season game at Woburn & Wavendon (Call The Cops There's Been A Mugging), a game refereed by Krzysztof Ziejewski, who was also today's official. It was great to bump into referee Krzysztof gain before the game, especially as he made a special trip back to his car to get the team sheets for me. Thank you sir, very much appreciated.
Silverstone (in blue) attacking Silverstone set about this game with a real vigour. Kicking away from the clubhouse end, they had their hosts pinned back in their own half almost from the first whistle. Their fist real chance came in the 7th minute when Harvey Trim, who would prove to be a constant threat to Athletic, broke down the right flank. His cross found Will O'Toole with his back to goal. The midfielder laid the ball back into the path of Theo Higgins, only for the number 10 to blast the effort well over the bar. The pace of Trim was a warning to the home side and one that they didn't heed. Two minutes later another through ball found its way behind the home defence and once again the pace of Trim sent him clear. this time he was much more central and had a direct path to goal. As Sam Watts came out to meet him, the winger slipped the ball under him to open the scoring. 0-1.
Deanshanger were finding it difficult to get to grips with the game and after just 12 minutes could easily have been two goals down. Another defence splitting pass opened them up, this time for O'Toole to break clear. However, Watts was alert enough to make a very good block and, when the loose ball fell back to O'Toole, he could only lash it wildly wide of the mark.
The Silverstone attacks kept coming though. Midway through the half Elliot Gibbons had Watts at full stretch and not getting there, but the cross-shot whistled narrowly wide of the far post, Lucas Broadhurst, on as a substitute for Higgins, then shot over with pretty much his first touch and Trim shot well over again. All of the efforts were coming from the visitors, but it remained at 1-0. Josh Mickley, in the Silverstone goal, was practically a spectator for the first half.
HT Deanshanger Athletic 0 Silverstone 1. Very one-sided but still only one goal in it. Will Silverstone regret not making more of their chances?
Deanshanger were finding it difficult to get to grips with the game and after just 12 minutes could easily have been two goals down. Another defence splitting pass opened them up, this time for O'Toole to break clear. However, Watts was alert enough to make a very good block and, when the loose ball fell back to O'Toole, he could only lash it wildly wide of the mark.
The Silverstone attacks kept coming though. Midway through the half Elliot Gibbons had Watts at full stretch and not getting there, but the cross-shot whistled narrowly wide of the far post, Lucas Broadhurst, on as a substitute for Higgins, then shot over with pretty much his first touch and Trim shot well over again. All of the efforts were coming from the visitors, but it remained at 1-0. Josh Mickley, in the Silverstone goal, was practically a spectator for the first half.
HT Deanshanger Athletic 0 Silverstone 1. Very one-sided but still only one goal in it. Will Silverstone regret not making more of their chances?
Athletic free-kick The second half started off in a very scrappy manner as the cold weather started biting. Deanshanger looked to be a lot more determined than in the first period and Silverstone were certainly not dominating the ball like they had done for the first 45 minutes. However, as we headed for the hour mark, Mickley still had not been stretched at all.
As the clocked ticked over to 60 minutes there was an extraordinary passage of paly that very nearly led to a comical own-goal. Deanshanger were awarded a free-kick around 10 yards away from their own left-hand corner flag, which Tom Dunning went to take. Looking to square the ball to his goalkeeper so that they could play out from the back, he completely miscued the pass which clattered off the foot of the post, inches from going in. It did make me wonder how much the condition of the pitch had played a part in the close shave, especially as they had already been a number of shanked and mis-cued passes throughout the game. However, the home side survived and there was still just a single goal in it.
Chances were at a premium ay both ends of the pitch for a while as Deanshanger tried to get themselves back onto level terms. However, when good chances came, it was still Silverstone who looked the more likely to add to their total. With 14 minutes left Trim once again latched onto a long ball that beat the home defence. However, his finishing was not so good this time, screwing his shot wide of the mark. A chance to seal the game going by the wayside. Another chance went astray a few minutes later when Broadhurst blazed over from 15 yards. Silverstone could easily have been out of sight by this point and you did wonder if there was going to be a classical last minute sucker punch. However, it didn't come and, in fact, it was the visitor's who came closest in the final few minutes when Penny's miscued cross drifted over Watts but came back off the bar.
FT Deanshanger Athletic 0 Silverstone 1. This one could, and probably should, have been more than 1-0 to Silverstone. Athletic improved a little in the second half, but Silverstone were easily the better of the two on the day. Credit to the visitors for the way they took the game to Athletic. Deanshanger had one of those days where they couldn't seem to get started. Silverstone will face Wing Village in the Quarter-Final after they defeated Newport Pagnell Athletic 3-1 back in December.
Next weekend both sides return to league action. Deanshanger travel to Leighton Woodside, who currently sit 11th. This will be their first meeting this season. Silverstone are back at home where second from bottom Real MK are the visitors. This is also their first meeting of the season.
Deanshanger Athletic: 1.Watts, 2.Grose, 3.Stallard, 4.Dunning, 5.Harris(c), 15.Kisaane, 7.E.Dyer, 8.Moore, 9.McLaren, 10.Barry, 11.Forbie. Subs: 12.Baker, 14.S.Dyer, 6.Fisher, 16.Gibbs
Silverstone: 1.Mickley, 2.Paine, 3.Parnell, 4.Bodily, 5.Fleming, 7.Wakeling, 8.C.Penny, 9.Gibbons, 10.Higgins, 11.Trim. Subs: 12.Chittenden, 14.Broadhurst, 15.T.Penny, 16.Finney
As the clocked ticked over to 60 minutes there was an extraordinary passage of paly that very nearly led to a comical own-goal. Deanshanger were awarded a free-kick around 10 yards away from their own left-hand corner flag, which Tom Dunning went to take. Looking to square the ball to his goalkeeper so that they could play out from the back, he completely miscued the pass which clattered off the foot of the post, inches from going in. It did make me wonder how much the condition of the pitch had played a part in the close shave, especially as they had already been a number of shanked and mis-cued passes throughout the game. However, the home side survived and there was still just a single goal in it.
Chances were at a premium ay both ends of the pitch for a while as Deanshanger tried to get themselves back onto level terms. However, when good chances came, it was still Silverstone who looked the more likely to add to their total. With 14 minutes left Trim once again latched onto a long ball that beat the home defence. However, his finishing was not so good this time, screwing his shot wide of the mark. A chance to seal the game going by the wayside. Another chance went astray a few minutes later when Broadhurst blazed over from 15 yards. Silverstone could easily have been out of sight by this point and you did wonder if there was going to be a classical last minute sucker punch. However, it didn't come and, in fact, it was the visitor's who came closest in the final few minutes when Penny's miscued cross drifted over Watts but came back off the bar.
FT Deanshanger Athletic 0 Silverstone 1. This one could, and probably should, have been more than 1-0 to Silverstone. Athletic improved a little in the second half, but Silverstone were easily the better of the two on the day. Credit to the visitors for the way they took the game to Athletic. Deanshanger had one of those days where they couldn't seem to get started. Silverstone will face Wing Village in the Quarter-Final after they defeated Newport Pagnell Athletic 3-1 back in December.
Next weekend both sides return to league action. Deanshanger travel to Leighton Woodside, who currently sit 11th. This will be their first meeting this season. Silverstone are back at home where second from bottom Real MK are the visitors. This is also their first meeting of the season.
Deanshanger Athletic: 1.Watts, 2.Grose, 3.Stallard, 4.Dunning, 5.Harris(c), 15.Kisaane, 7.E.Dyer, 8.Moore, 9.McLaren, 10.Barry, 11.Forbie. Subs: 12.Baker, 14.S.Dyer, 6.Fisher, 16.Gibbs
Silverstone: 1.Mickley, 2.Paine, 3.Parnell, 4.Bodily, 5.Fleming, 7.Wakeling, 8.C.Penny, 9.Gibbons, 10.Higgins, 11.Trim. Subs: 12.Chittenden, 14.Broadhurst, 15.T.Penny, 16.Finney
A ground with a view
The Ground
Deanshanger Sports Club is where it should be, in the centre of Deanshanger village, just to the North-West of Milton Keynes. The football club thrives across all age for both sexes. When you arrive at the club, accessed off Little London i the heart of the village, this becomes apparent. The main pitch is at the far end of the complex and, to get to it, you have to walk past an assortment of small-sided pitches. The club house is much larger than I expected too, featuring a patio area (not advisable in this weather), from which you could watch quite a number of the junior games. The main pitch, which also has plenty of parking adjacent on Folly Road, is surrounded by a well-maintained fence featuring blue posts and a white tubular barrier. The club's name and logo is emblazoned on a banner behind the goal facing the club house. There is no spectator cover as expected at this level of the pyramid, although the Folly Road side of the ground has a small grass bank which some spectators use to gain a better view. There are also currently no dugouts, although there are two patches of blue Astroturf either side of the hallway line that suggest there either used to be or there are planned dugouts. The playing surface doesn't have a discernible slope. However, it was certainly in need of a trim, this weekend at least.
Ground Number: 434
Att: c30 (manual count)
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Deanshanger Sports Club is where it should be, in the centre of Deanshanger village, just to the North-West of Milton Keynes. The football club thrives across all age for both sexes. When you arrive at the club, accessed off Little London i the heart of the village, this becomes apparent. The main pitch is at the far end of the complex and, to get to it, you have to walk past an assortment of small-sided pitches. The club house is much larger than I expected too, featuring a patio area (not advisable in this weather), from which you could watch quite a number of the junior games. The main pitch, which also has plenty of parking adjacent on Folly Road, is surrounded by a well-maintained fence featuring blue posts and a white tubular barrier. The club's name and logo is emblazoned on a banner behind the goal facing the club house. There is no spectator cover as expected at this level of the pyramid, although the Folly Road side of the ground has a small grass bank which some spectators use to gain a better view. There are also currently no dugouts, although there are two patches of blue Astroturf either side of the hallway line that suggest there either used to be or there are planned dugouts. The playing surface doesn't have a discernible slope. However, it was certainly in need of a trim, this weekend at least.
Ground Number: 434
Att: c30 (manual count)
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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