This Saturday, after watching an extraordinary 16-goal match in the morning in which my daughter's came out on top, I immediately headed off up the M1 towards Leicestershire and in particular the village of Hathern. My destination was Pasture Lane, home of Hathern FC, and the Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division clash between Hathern and Magna 73. It was the ideal opportunity to catch a couple of teams I had never seen before and visit a ground that I'd never visited before. Prior to kick off the home side were in 12th spot with 12 points from their 10 games. Magna were eight places higher and twelve points better off, although they had played three extra games.
Recent meetings between the sides suggested that his games was destined to be fairly closely contested and would either be a home win or a draw. Neither team has registered an away victory in this fixture over the past three seasons, in which Hathern have won two, Magna have won two and there have been two draws.
Many thanks to the match officials for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off.
Recent meetings between the sides suggested that his games was destined to be fairly closely contested and would either be a home win or a draw. Neither team has registered an away victory in this fixture over the past three seasons, in which Hathern have won two, Magna have won two and there have been two draws.
Many thanks to the match officials for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off.
Ward about to make it 1-0 Magna, in their Inter Milan-esque change kit, began well, as you would expect for a team fourth in the league. However, possession counts for nothing when you go a goal behind after three minutes, which is exactly what happened here. The home side earned a corner on the left, delivered into the heart of the visitor's penalty area. Home captain Jake Maden rose highest, heading the ball down into the patch of Lee Ward, who swept it past Harry Johnson. 1-0
Magna, unshaken by the goal, continued to play the tidier football in the centre of the park, but never managed to cause any great problems for Dan Owen between the home sticks. Hathern's biggest threat looked to be from set pieces. In fact, they came close again in the 16th minute when another corner from the left caused more problems in the Magna defence, but coming to nothing on this occasion. Aidy Kilby then had Magna's best chance so far with a header that wasn't too far off target.
However, despite continuing to have the lion's share of the ball, the visitor's found themselves 2-0 down after 25 minutes. An initial attack down the left was cleared but the ball was picked up by Jack McLachlan on the right. He sent over a beautifully flighted ball that Liam Bailey attacked with a stooping header. The connection wasn't clean, but it was enough to send the ball past Johnson for the second time. 2-0
A few minutes later it could easily have been three when Magna gave the ball away on the edge of their own box when trying to play out from the back. Somehow they managed to escape from the mess, but were lucky not to be further behind.
Just past the half hour mark, Reegan Lawrence, who had been buzzing around the Magna forward line all game and had already been involved with a couple of robust challenges on home defenders, cut inside from the left, beat two defenders but then skied his drive well over the bar and into the cricket ground opposite. That miss proved very costly just a minute later when Hathern left-back Anthony Berridge sent over what looked like an intended cross from way out on the left. The slightly miscued effort drifted over Johnson's head and nestled in the far corner. 3-0.
With six minutes of normal time remaining in the half, Matt Savage picked up a yellow card for scything down Lawrence as the striker tried to break free. Probably setting a score from Lawrence's foul on Niall Henry earlier in the half, that went unpunished. Archie Allen then went close for Magna, cutting in and hitting the target, but not troubling Dan Owen. Then, three minutes into added time, Magna did have the ball in the home net but the assistant's flag had been raised. To be fair, there was no complaint from the Magna players.
HT Hathern 3 Magna 73 0. A strange half. Hathern go in three goals up but it doesn't feel like there's three goals between the teams. In fact, Magna have had more of the ball but haven't been able to create too many chances. It just goes to show that the possession statistic is probably the most over-rated in the game. It means nothing.
Magna, unshaken by the goal, continued to play the tidier football in the centre of the park, but never managed to cause any great problems for Dan Owen between the home sticks. Hathern's biggest threat looked to be from set pieces. In fact, they came close again in the 16th minute when another corner from the left caused more problems in the Magna defence, but coming to nothing on this occasion. Aidy Kilby then had Magna's best chance so far with a header that wasn't too far off target.
However, despite continuing to have the lion's share of the ball, the visitor's found themselves 2-0 down after 25 minutes. An initial attack down the left was cleared but the ball was picked up by Jack McLachlan on the right. He sent over a beautifully flighted ball that Liam Bailey attacked with a stooping header. The connection wasn't clean, but it was enough to send the ball past Johnson for the second time. 2-0
A few minutes later it could easily have been three when Magna gave the ball away on the edge of their own box when trying to play out from the back. Somehow they managed to escape from the mess, but were lucky not to be further behind.
Just past the half hour mark, Reegan Lawrence, who had been buzzing around the Magna forward line all game and had already been involved with a couple of robust challenges on home defenders, cut inside from the left, beat two defenders but then skied his drive well over the bar and into the cricket ground opposite. That miss proved very costly just a minute later when Hathern left-back Anthony Berridge sent over what looked like an intended cross from way out on the left. The slightly miscued effort drifted over Johnson's head and nestled in the far corner. 3-0.
With six minutes of normal time remaining in the half, Matt Savage picked up a yellow card for scything down Lawrence as the striker tried to break free. Probably setting a score from Lawrence's foul on Niall Henry earlier in the half, that went unpunished. Archie Allen then went close for Magna, cutting in and hitting the target, but not troubling Dan Owen. Then, three minutes into added time, Magna did have the ball in the home net but the assistant's flag had been raised. To be fair, there was no complaint from the Magna players.
HT Hathern 3 Magna 73 0. A strange half. Hathern go in three goals up but it doesn't feel like there's three goals between the teams. In fact, Magna have had more of the ball but haven't been able to create too many chances. It just goes to show that the possession statistic is probably the most over-rated in the game. It means nothing.
Magna looking for a goal Magna came out for the second half looking fired up to get back in the game. Just three minutes in they came within inches of getting back into it when Lawrence's excellent first-time cross from the right was just slightly too high for Carlton Beardmore to get a clean connection with his header, sending the ball lover the bar. However, Magna kept pushing and were probably seeing more of the ball than they did in the first half. The difference now was that Hathern had a three goal lead and were seemingly fairly content to let Magna have the ball, especially as they were still not managing to seriously trouble the home goal.
Just past the hour a superb cross-field ball found Spencer Beck on the right-hand edge of the box. His well-controlled, first time strike beat Owen but also flashed wide of the far post. As the second half wore on, the visitors began to get a little closer, finally making Owen earn his corn, especial in the 78th minute when the home stopper had to throw himself across goal to keep out Beardmore's well struck free-kick.
Hathern's goal attempts were few and far between in the second half but they came close to a fourth with five minutes to go when Ward's poked effort almost caught out Johnson, who just managed to readjust his feet and push the ball away for a corner.
Finally, with a minute of normal time on the clock, Magna got themselves on the score sheet. Hathern failed to clear their lines, allowing substitute Chay Stanley to nip in, round Owen, and slot home. 3-1. However, despite throwing everything at the home side in the 12 minutes of added time, Magna couldn't find another goal.
FT Hathern 3 Magna 73 1. A good three points for Hathern who you could say had a little fortune, certainly with their third goal, but used that to their benefit. They defended well throughout the game, until the late consolation goal and managed the game effectively. Magna played some good football, especially in the middle third, but, for all their possession, didn't cause the home side as many problems as they should.
The result leaves Magna in fourth spot but Hathern jump up to 10th, still nine points adrift of today's visitors, but still with three games in hand.
Next up for Hathern is a home league encounter with FC Khalsa GAD who are one point and one place above them. Hathern have already lost 3-1 at home to them in the Leicestershire Senior Cup. Magna are at home to Aylestone Park Reserves who sit 8th, two points below them with two games in hand. The sides also recently met in the Senior Cup with Aylestone running out 6-1 winners.
Hathern: 1.Owen, 2.Henry, 4.Savage, 5.Maden(c), 3.Berridge, 6.Bailey, 8.Waldrum, 10.Davis, 7.McLachlan, 9.Alleyne, 11.Ward. Subs: 12.Halford-Harding, 14.Gee, 15.Botfield, 16.Musson, 17.Thom, 18.Tormey, 19.Peganov
Magna 73: 1.Johnson, 2.Beck(c), 3.Hicking, 4.Brookes, 5.Beasley, 6.Kilby, 7.Lawrence, 8.Beardmore, 9.Govia, 10.Starbuck, 11.Allen. Subs: 12. Weatherill, 14.Richardson, 15.Stanley, 16.Fairhurst, 17.Marrell, 18.Ward, 19.Rolison
Just past the hour a superb cross-field ball found Spencer Beck on the right-hand edge of the box. His well-controlled, first time strike beat Owen but also flashed wide of the far post. As the second half wore on, the visitors began to get a little closer, finally making Owen earn his corn, especial in the 78th minute when the home stopper had to throw himself across goal to keep out Beardmore's well struck free-kick.
Hathern's goal attempts were few and far between in the second half but they came close to a fourth with five minutes to go when Ward's poked effort almost caught out Johnson, who just managed to readjust his feet and push the ball away for a corner.
Finally, with a minute of normal time on the clock, Magna got themselves on the score sheet. Hathern failed to clear their lines, allowing substitute Chay Stanley to nip in, round Owen, and slot home. 3-1. However, despite throwing everything at the home side in the 12 minutes of added time, Magna couldn't find another goal.
FT Hathern 3 Magna 73 1. A good three points for Hathern who you could say had a little fortune, certainly with their third goal, but used that to their benefit. They defended well throughout the game, until the late consolation goal and managed the game effectively. Magna played some good football, especially in the middle third, but, for all their possession, didn't cause the home side as many problems as they should.
The result leaves Magna in fourth spot but Hathern jump up to 10th, still nine points adrift of today's visitors, but still with three games in hand.
Next up for Hathern is a home league encounter with FC Khalsa GAD who are one point and one place above them. Hathern have already lost 3-1 at home to them in the Leicestershire Senior Cup. Magna are at home to Aylestone Park Reserves who sit 8th, two points below them with two games in hand. The sides also recently met in the Senior Cup with Aylestone running out 6-1 winners.
Hathern: 1.Owen, 2.Henry, 4.Savage, 5.Maden(c), 3.Berridge, 6.Bailey, 8.Waldrum, 10.Davis, 7.McLachlan, 9.Alleyne, 11.Ward. Subs: 12.Halford-Harding, 14.Gee, 15.Botfield, 16.Musson, 17.Thom, 18.Tormey, 19.Peganov
Magna 73: 1.Johnson, 2.Beck(c), 3.Hicking, 4.Brookes, 5.Beasley, 6.Kilby, 7.Lawrence, 8.Beardmore, 9.Govia, 10.Starbuck, 11.Allen. Subs: 12. Weatherill, 14.Richardson, 15.Stanley, 16.Fairhurst, 17.Marrell, 18.Ward, 19.Rolison
Pasture Lane
The Ground
Situated on the North-Eastern edge of Hathern Village, Pasture Lane is the road that leads to the village sports and leisure activity areas with Hathern Park (cricket) and the park play area on the left, and Hathern FC on the right. There's a fair amount of parking available inside the ground with further spaces available on Pasture Lane. Entrance payment is either via the car park attendant or by card at the snack kiosk, which is located just beyond the main building that houses the changing rooms and toilets.
The playing area is surrounded by fairly new-looking white plastic fencing. Dugouts are on the far side of the ground and there's now a new wooden covered standing area on the car park side. The pitch doesn't have any discernible slope and looked to be in pretty good condition.
Ground Number: 470
Att:
Entrance: £3.00
Programme: N/A
Situated on the North-Eastern edge of Hathern Village, Pasture Lane is the road that leads to the village sports and leisure activity areas with Hathern Park (cricket) and the park play area on the left, and Hathern FC on the right. There's a fair amount of parking available inside the ground with further spaces available on Pasture Lane. Entrance payment is either via the car park attendant or by card at the snack kiosk, which is located just beyond the main building that houses the changing rooms and toilets.
The playing area is surrounded by fairly new-looking white plastic fencing. Dugouts are on the far side of the ground and there's now a new wooden covered standing area on the car park side. The pitch doesn't have any discernible slope and looked to be in pretty good condition.
Ground Number: 470
Att:
Entrance: £3.00
Programme: N/A
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