My choice of game for this midweek outing was not fully decided until about 30 minutes before kick-off. I had been toying with the idea of a trip back to Wiltshire for Downton v Laverstock & Ford but, eventually, decided to head for Leicestershire where there were two choices within a 4 mile radius. The Leicestershire Senior League clash between Northfield Emerald and Highfield Rangers or the United Counties Division 1 game between Birstall United and Bourne Town. I had only seen one of the four teams play before, Birstall United in an FA Vase tie at Pinxton a couple of years ago. Parking seems to be a bit of a problem at The Emerald Centre which made my mind up. Meadow Lane it was.
The Ground
Meadow Lane or The Football Cards Direct Stadium to give it its full name, is situated on the Eastern side of Birstall, a large village some 3 miles North of Leicester city centre. As always, before going to a new ground, I do a bit of research, especially as far as parking goes. So, I'll be honest, after seeing the ground on Google Maps (photo is from 2010), arriving at the ground is something of a revelation. The club has clearly spent a fair bit on renovation of the ground and the clubhouse. It is entirely different. I parked in a small parking area to the side of the ground where the new entrance is situated, a rather shiny new double turnstile complete with club logo and sponsor signage.
Meadow Lane or The Football Cards Direct Stadium to give it its full name, is situated on the Eastern side of Birstall, a large village some 3 miles North of Leicester city centre. As always, before going to a new ground, I do a bit of research, especially as far as parking goes. So, I'll be honest, after seeing the ground on Google Maps (photo is from 2010), arriving at the ground is something of a revelation. The club has clearly spent a fair bit on renovation of the ground and the clubhouse. It is entirely different. I parked in a small parking area to the side of the ground where the new entrance is situated, a rather shiny new double turnstile complete with club logo and sponsor signage.
Birstall Sunset
Once inside there are also many changes. First of all, on the far side of the ground, which used to be open to the adjacent play park, there are now not one but two stands, one for seating and another, The William Hercock Stand, for standing spectators. Opposite these, on the same side as the new entrance, there are now two very smart looking dugouts. Behind the Meadow Lane end goal is the new clubhouse which houses the players and officials changing areas, a fairly large bar and a tea hut. Alongside this is a patio area complete with barbecue and trestle tables. It is clear to see that a lot of time, money and hard work has gone in to making this a really good non-league facility in keeping, I have to say, with a number of grounds in the Leicester area which seems to take great pride in its non-league football clubs.
The teams The Background
There's not too much history between Birstall United and visitors Bourne Town having spent much of their histories in different leagues. Birstall transferred into the United Counties structure from the Eat Midlands Counties League in the Summer of 2018, finishing 17th of 20 in their first UCL season (although this did include a 6 point deduction). Bourne meanwhile finished 11 points and 4 places above them. Despite the league positions, Birstall had the better of the head to head that season, drawing 0-0 at Meadow Lane and winning 1-0 at Abbey Lawn.
With the 2019-20 season voided, the only other registered league meeting came in last season's truncated campaign when Bourne ran out 5-1 winners at home. So far this season it is Birstall who have had the much better start, winning six and drawing two of their opening ten games to see them sitting in fourth spot on 20 points. Bourne have so far only won once in their eight outings and are currently 19th of 23 teams.
There's not too much history between Birstall United and visitors Bourne Town having spent much of their histories in different leagues. Birstall transferred into the United Counties structure from the Eat Midlands Counties League in the Summer of 2018, finishing 17th of 20 in their first UCL season (although this did include a 6 point deduction). Bourne meanwhile finished 11 points and 4 places above them. Despite the league positions, Birstall had the better of the head to head that season, drawing 0-0 at Meadow Lane and winning 1-0 at Abbey Lawn.
With the 2019-20 season voided, the only other registered league meeting came in last season's truncated campaign when Bourne ran out 5-1 winners at home. So far this season it is Birstall who have had the much better start, winning six and drawing two of their opening ten games to see them sitting in fourth spot on 20 points. Bourne have so far only won once in their eight outings and are currently 19th of 23 teams.
Two stands The Game
After some initial sparring the first real chance came after 10 minutes when Birstall were awarded a free kick just inside the Bourne half. The ball was drifted into the penalty area where Chris Larter just couldn't quite get enough of a head on it to divert it goalward. Ten minutes later it was Bourne's turn to carve out an opportunity when a lovely through ball found Josh Hales through on goal. He hit his shot quite early but was matched by a superb save from home keeper Charlie Doherty.
It was frantic stuff at Meadow Lane with both sides playing at 100 miles an hour somewhat to the detriment of the quality. It felt as if the team who could slow it down and play with a little more precision would be able to make some inroads into the game.
Quite early on Birstall identified a way to get in behind the Bourne defence. Dion Potter's pace aided by the occasional overlap from Watts was causing a lot of problems for the Bourne defence. Time and again diagonal ball's into the gap between centre-half and left-back allowed Potter in but unfortunately for Birstall the final ball in always eluded a striker. However, it was quite clear that if Bourne did not plug this gap, eventually it would pay off for the home side.
HT Birstall United 0 Bourne Town 0. A full-blooded half blighted by a lack of composure from both sides. Birstall had the lion's share of possession but lacked the killer pass in the final third. Bourne, despite being on the back foot for some time, managed to cr4eate the best chance of the game, thwarted by a good save from Doherty.
After some initial sparring the first real chance came after 10 minutes when Birstall were awarded a free kick just inside the Bourne half. The ball was drifted into the penalty area where Chris Larter just couldn't quite get enough of a head on it to divert it goalward. Ten minutes later it was Bourne's turn to carve out an opportunity when a lovely through ball found Josh Hales through on goal. He hit his shot quite early but was matched by a superb save from home keeper Charlie Doherty.
It was frantic stuff at Meadow Lane with both sides playing at 100 miles an hour somewhat to the detriment of the quality. It felt as if the team who could slow it down and play with a little more precision would be able to make some inroads into the game.
Quite early on Birstall identified a way to get in behind the Bourne defence. Dion Potter's pace aided by the occasional overlap from Watts was causing a lot of problems for the Bourne defence. Time and again diagonal ball's into the gap between centre-half and left-back allowed Potter in but unfortunately for Birstall the final ball in always eluded a striker. However, it was quite clear that if Bourne did not plug this gap, eventually it would pay off for the home side.
HT Birstall United 0 Bourne Town 0. A full-blooded half blighted by a lack of composure from both sides. Birstall had the lion's share of possession but lacked the killer pass in the final third. Bourne, despite being on the back foot for some time, managed to cr4eate the best chance of the game, thwarted by a good save from Doherty.
Articolo adds the second It was Bourne who settled earlier in the second-half, creating a decent chance after just 5 minutes, with Watts having to be alert to prevent and damage. Potter had switched from the right onto the left and this had seemingly solved some of Bourne's issues for them. For the first 15 minutes of the second period Birstall had stopped peppering their left side with balls for Potter to run onto. That was, however, until the 67th minute and it wasn't Potter who did the damage. Instead it was captain Sean Phillips who latched onto a ball on the right-wing. His excellent, low, cross towards the front post was perfect for top-scorer Paul Pallett who got in before the keeper and slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.
Bourne's plight got worse 8 minutes later when Corey Newman clattered Birstall number 8 Andres Articolo, leaving the United midfielder in a heap. This sparked quite a scuffle between a number of players from both sides. It was difficult to see exactly what went on but once it had calmed down the referee delivered a straight red to Newman, possibly for a raised hand in the scuffle rather than the tackle. He also booked Birstall goal-scorer Pallett who didn't appear to have been in the melee.
With a numerical advantage and a goal in front it looked unlikely that Birstall would let the points slip and, sure enough, with seven minutes remaining they secured the win. Again it came from the right where Potter had re-appeared, his cross was only half-cleared, straight into the path of Articolo who hammered it back into the net. 2-0
There was still enough time left for substitute Luke Moran to evade a couple of tackles before drawing a superb one-handed diving save from Swales, but the game was up for Bourne.
FT Birstall United 2 Bourne Town 0. Birstall climb to second in the league with just goal difference separating them from Kimberley Miners Welfare who, admittedly, have a game in hand. United have a break from the league at the weekend as they welcome St Andrews to Meadow Lane in the FA Vase. Bourne continue to look for their first three points on the road this season and welcome 12th placed West Bridgford to Abbey Lawn on Saturday.
Birstall United: Doherty, Armstrong, Z.Watts, Sibson, D.Watts, Phillips(c), Yusuf, Articolo, Potter, Larter, Pallett. Subs: Moran, Bibby, Ballinger
Bourne Town: Swales, Gordon, Klinkovics, Fitzjohn, Moss, Panten(c), Warrener, Newman, Mason, Hales, Van Der Drift. Subs: Botterill, Brooks, Cardell, Troth
Ground Number: 280
Att: 45
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Bourne's plight got worse 8 minutes later when Corey Newman clattered Birstall number 8 Andres Articolo, leaving the United midfielder in a heap. This sparked quite a scuffle between a number of players from both sides. It was difficult to see exactly what went on but once it had calmed down the referee delivered a straight red to Newman, possibly for a raised hand in the scuffle rather than the tackle. He also booked Birstall goal-scorer Pallett who didn't appear to have been in the melee.
With a numerical advantage and a goal in front it looked unlikely that Birstall would let the points slip and, sure enough, with seven minutes remaining they secured the win. Again it came from the right where Potter had re-appeared, his cross was only half-cleared, straight into the path of Articolo who hammered it back into the net. 2-0
There was still enough time left for substitute Luke Moran to evade a couple of tackles before drawing a superb one-handed diving save from Swales, but the game was up for Bourne.
FT Birstall United 2 Bourne Town 0. Birstall climb to second in the league with just goal difference separating them from Kimberley Miners Welfare who, admittedly, have a game in hand. United have a break from the league at the weekend as they welcome St Andrews to Meadow Lane in the FA Vase. Bourne continue to look for their first three points on the road this season and welcome 12th placed West Bridgford to Abbey Lawn on Saturday.
Birstall United: Doherty, Armstrong, Z.Watts, Sibson, D.Watts, Phillips(c), Yusuf, Articolo, Potter, Larter, Pallett. Subs: Moran, Bibby, Ballinger
Bourne Town: Swales, Gordon, Klinkovics, Fitzjohn, Moss, Panten(c), Warrener, Newman, Mason, Hales, Van Der Drift. Subs: Botterill, Brooks, Cardell, Troth
Ground Number: 280
Att: 45
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
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