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Flourboys pasted in the rain

16/10/2014

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PictureThe teams emerge
When I set out for Woodford Halse, I really wasn't sure if this game would go ahead or not. It had been raining quite hard all day and wasn't showing much sign of abating. However, as I got into the village, I could see the glow of the floodlights in the distance. Always a good sign.
Although I had seen Woodford play before (a 10-0 drubbing at Aylesbury in the Southern Central) I had never been to Byfield Road before, and I had never seen their opponents, Wellingborough Whitworth, play at all.
Woodford's Byfield Road home is part of the local bowls club. In fact, the approach to the car park is signed bowls club rather than football club. From the car park, you approach the ground and actually walk past the entrance to the club house before you get to the turnstile block. I paid my £5 entry and took a look at the complimentary team sheet expecting an imminent kick-off. The UCL website said that it was a 7:30 start but, it was 7:27 when I got there and the teams were still out warming up, so I guessed the start would be delayed. Sure enough, it had been put back to 7:45 because some of the Wellingborough players had been late arriving. This, as it transpired, would have a knock-on effect to the game later.
The ground is much larger than I expected it to be. To the left of the turnstiles is a reasonably big covered seating area, which is on a grass bank above the side of the pitch. There is a very good view from this stand, better than most views at this level of the games. There are also small covered standing areas to the left of the turnstiles and, for some odd reason, at the right hand end of the ground, close to the corner flag. The rest of the stadium appears to be hard standing all around and bordered by fencing. I must admit, the weather was so bad, I didn't take my normal walk around the ground. As I have commented before, most dugouts seem to be positioned opposite the main stand and well away from the ears of supporters. However, at Woodford they are right in front of the main stand. Note, if you want refreshments or a toilet break you need to go back out of the turnstiles and into the aforementioned clubhouse.
I chose to take a seat in the main stand for the first half which kicked off in driving rain. Within a few minutes we had the first incident of what would be an unusual game of football. A Woodford cross from the right was met with a glancing header which appeared to go into the bottom corner of the Whitworth net. However, the ball ended up behind the goal and resting against the barrier fence. The home side claimed a goal, the away side claimed a goal kick. The referee consulted with his assistant, who was on the far side away from the side of the goal that the ball had apparently entered. After a brief discussion and a check of the net (for holes presumably) he gave a goal kick. To be fair, there wasn't too much outrage from the home team but I am fairly convinced a number of them were sure that the ball had gone in, as were the majority of the people I the seated area (apart from the Wellingborough contingent of course).
With only about 10 minute son the clock the next strange incident happened. One of the Wellingborough players wanted to leave the pitch. Our attention was brought to this by the away officials shouting to him to notify the referee. He immediately disappeared down into the changing rooms. As no substitute was forthcoming, I assumed that he would be returning shortly. However, 10 minutes passed and there was no sign, but still there was no substitute. Finally the player emerged wearing his track suit and was clearly not planning on returning to the field. It seems that some of the Wellingborough team didn't make it at all and they had no substitutes. So, the away side were playing with ten men from around about the 10th minute onwards. To their credit, they dug in well and threw themselves at a number of shots from the home team.
It took a 20 yard piledriver to finally break the deadlock. After what has to be said was a fairly dire first half the teams went in with Woodford leading by a goal to nil.
The weather was certainly not helping the game and it wasn't looking like easing off for the second half. However, my second half was made more interesting by bumping into a rather well travelled ground-hopper. Not long back from two weeks in Argentina, he must have been finding the English Autumn weather somewhat depressing. We spent most of the second half chatting about football at all levels and across the globe, from a Stratford Town supporting dog, through Stourbridge's exit from the FA Cup, Brentford (his team),Laurie Cunningham, Jim Baxter Juan Riquelme and Daniel Passarella.
On the pitch, six minutes into the second period another screamer, this time from around 30 yards, put the home side 2-0 up. The game turned very scrappy after that with a few off the ball incidents that had been building throughout the game. This almost turned into a full scale brawl at one point but the referee just about managed to keep a lid on it.
At some stage in the second half, Woodford were also reduced to 10 men. This was yet another strange incident in the game. Neither myself or the ground-hopper noticed a red card

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Millers. Giant Killers

8/10/2014

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PictureSpencer defend an early corner
A damp autumn evening and cup football under floodlights. This is why I love football. his is why I keep coming back. After picking this FA Vase clash out in the Six of the Best feature, once it had ended in a draw, there was never really any doubt about where I would be heading on Tuesday. Northampton Spencer v Biggleswade United. Two teams that I had not seen before and a new ground all within 50 minutes drive. A no brainer as my American colleagues would say.
Driving into Northampton I ignored the football and rugby ball signposts. I breezed past Sixfields and did a left at Franklin's Gardens. None of this pro stuff for me, I was headed for Kingsthorpe Mill, home of the aforementioned Northampton Spencer. My GPS through a bit of a fit and kept trying to direct me down a dead end, but I soon found Studland Road and was back on track. The approach to Kingsthorpe Mill takes you through an industrial estate and then down a narrow track to the car park. I found a spot to park and headed to the entrance just as the teams were coming out onto the pitch. After paying my £5 entrance fee and picking up a programme I also purchased a strip of raffle tickets from none other than the home team Chairman This is what I love about non-league football, the community spirit and willingness to pitch in. Later in the evening I even saw the same Chairman doing a round of the ground picking up any litter he could find. A team on and off the pitch.
Entering the ground the first thing that struck me, in stark contrast to the industrial estate I had just driven through, was that I was in a kind of green oasis. The ground is bordered on three sides by trees, combine that with a nicely manicured and flat pitch and the glow of the floodlights and you have the perfect non-league football setting.
All of the facilities at Kingsthorpe Mill are on the car park side of the ground. There is a changing room block then clubhouse building, which also houses the tea and snack bar and a covered standing area. Just the other side of the entrance is a small covered seating area. The rest of the ground is, of course, bordered with hard-standing. The dugouts, as is the norm, are situated opposite the main stand.
I began to make my way around the ground and was barely behind the home goal when Northampton hit the bar at the other end. This was to be the first of many chances at both ends of the pitch. Biggleswade responded to the early scare by forcing a corner of their own but it was the home side that were making the most of the early running. It was shaping into an intriguing contest, with two contrasting styles of play. Biggleswade are, to their credit, a side who want to get the ball down and play their football. Northampton have a more direct style and were looking to hit their front players as early as they could. This is not to say that they are a long ball team though, just more direct than their opponents on the night. Both sides were actually playing some nice football and the first half flew past very quickly.
Biggleswade also hit the post and had a goal disallowed for a push. The latter didn't garner many complaints from the attackers so, even though I didn't have a good view, I think it is safe to assume that it was a foul. Despite their neat football, Biggleswade were finding it difficult to contain the Northampton attack and the home side managed to create a number of good chances, squandering 3 or 4 chances to take the lead.
By the time the referee blew for half-time there was a feeling that maybe Northampton may regret their profligacy.
After a cup of tea and a chat with a local (who suggested another local side to take a look at, Northampton Sileby Rangers), I returned to pitch-side with some anticipation of the second-half.
I was not to be disappointed. Within a minute of the restart Northampton forced the visiting keeper into a very good save. The keeper was called upon again just a few minutes later as the home side stepped up the pace. Still they could not finish any of their chances and gradually Biggleswade's passing game was getting them back into it. As with the first half the second seemed to pass by very quickly. The sign of an interesting and entertaining game. Then, on 81 minutes, came the breakthrough. Northampton forced a corner and, when the ball was crossed, Dove met it with an unstoppable header to put them in front. There was nothing the keeper could do to stop this one.
Biggleswade could and should have had the opportunity to equalise just a minute later when one of their strikers was clearly pushed in the back when challenging for a ball in the box. From my viewpoint it looked a nailed on penalty but the referee and his assistant waved play on to the disgust of the away team.
For the remaining ten minutes both sides continued to play their football. Northampton did not sit on their lead but tried to get a second. Biggleswade did alter their style of play slightly, bringing on a bigger striker and looking to hit him earlier. However, there was to be no way back for them and the match finished 1-0 to Northampton who now travel to Haringey in the first round proper.
All in all I thought this was a very entertaining game. Biggleswade, despite defeat, look like a very good footballing side, plenty of accurate short passing and movement. To Northampton's credit, it was impossible to tell which team were step 5 and which step 6. If they continue to play this way I can see both of these sides being in the mix come the end of the season.

Northampton Spencer - @nspencerfc
Biggleswade United - @biggleswadeutd


Picture
Kingsthorpe Mill
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Robins and Stutes - FA Cup Qaulifier

2/10/2014

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The FA Cup and night games. Two of the great things about football. So it was that I made the trip to Evesham on Wednesday evening to combine these two great things as the local team took on Histon, one division above them in the pyramid, in an FA CUP 2nd Qualifying Replay. This was yet another new ground for me but Evesham only moved there two seasons ago, so it's not that surprising/
The stadium, as I said, is only a few years old but, unlike a lot of these new stadia, has a certain character to it. Once you exit the roundabout from the A46 and take the purpose built service road you get directed to a car park that runs behind a low stand. A piece of advice here. Try not to park directly behind the stand. This is one end of the ground and any stray shots fly over the stand and into the car park.
At this point I feel I should also point out that the club runs a free bus service from the town centre to the stadium on match days. A very nice touch.
Once you enter through the turnstile block you the afore mentioned low stand is directly to your right. The clubhouse, function room and snack  as well as the changing rooms and the main covered seating stand are all on the left hand side of the pitch as you enter. The opposite side of the pitch and behind the far goal is open hard-standing. Of course, as seems to be the standard, the dugouts are on the opposite side to the main stand. Not that it made much difference because, in the second half, the shouts of the Histon bench were clearly audible from anywhere in the ground.
Looking at reports of the first game it had been a disappointing affair. I was really hoping that the replay would be better. Evesham have a number of former Glassboys on their playing staff and three of them made the starting lineup, Marcus Jackson at right back, Linden Dovey in the centre and George Washbourne out wide on the left.
The opening five minutes or so were evenly matched with both teams looking for an early advantage. Then on 9 minutes a Histon attack broke down with the Evesham keeper launching a clearance down the left flank. It was latched onto by Lance Smith who hit a vicious strike that the keeper could only parry. The ball flew into the path of Edenborough who headed it against the underside of the bar and, according to the assistant, over the line. To be fair there was little complain from the Histon players, so I can only assume it was well over the line.
From that point on in the first half it was Evesham who continued to look the most likely. Histon, on occasion passed the ball around quite nicely, but never really threatened the home goal. At half-time it was 1-0 to the underdogs and Histon had plenty to do if they wanted to get back into the game.
If Histon had plans to get back into the game early in the second half they were soon scuppered. Another long clearance from keeper Sawyer found it's way to Kennedy, who ran into the box and finished well. So, 2-0 to Evesham and a mountain to climb for Histon. To their credit they did start to get back into the game at this point, finally creating a few chances of their own but Evesham were still looking dangerous as well. It was turning into a lively encounter especially in the 75th minute when Histon got the goal they were looking for through Freeman. The lower placed club, though, did not buckle under the pressure. Instead they continued to press forward and cause the Histon defence trouble. A header flew wide when maybe it should have gone in and an Edenborough free-kick struck the bar before the same player was brought down in the box with just 5 minutes to go. The fouled player picked himself up and calmly smashed the penalty home to seal a good win for Evesham.
A giant-killing of sort although, even though a division separates the sides, there is actually only about a dozen or so places between them with Evesham in mid-table and Histon near the foot of the Southern Premier.
All in all I thought this was an entertaining game of football. Evesham played very well in my opinion but I think Histon may not be happy with their own performance. I am sure that they are capable of playing better.

Evesham United - @eveshamunitedfc
Histon FC - @histonfc

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