Base of the Pyramid
  • Closed

Down By The Riverside

14/10/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Non-League Day 2018 just happened to coincide with Round One of the FA Vase. The only question was, which FA Vase game would I attend? There were so many to choose from but, eventually, I decided on a fairly short (75 mile) hop up the M1 to Barrow Upon Soar, for a clash between East Midland County Premier side Barrow Town and Northern Counties East Division One outfit, Dronfield Town.The last time that I headed up to North Leicestershire for a game I had a wasted journey when, after arriving, I discovered that the Quorn v Lye game had been called off. There was no such chance this afternoon, despite Storm Callum giving us some high winds, it was very mild for the time of year and no sign of rain.

Picture
Riverside Park
PictureGetting a good view
​Both sides were doing quite well in their respective leagues. Barrow currently sitting in fourth spot with 21 points from their 10 league outings. They were also on a run of seven wins on the bounce in all competitions. In the previous round of the Vase they had seen off Dronfield's divisional rivals, Shirebrook Town by 4-1. In the past they have made it through to Round Two three times, the last time in 2005-06 when they went out to neighbours Quorn. They have not made it out of the Qualifying Rounds since.

Dronfield Town, in their current guise, have only been around for twenty years. In that time they have entered the FA Vase four times, reaching Round 1 on three occasions including last season when thy went down 7-0 at City of Liverpool. In the last round they created a little cup upset by seeing off United Counties Premier side Harborough Town, 3-1.
In the league they are currently in 8th spot with 19 points for 9 games and are unbeaten on the road.

Arriving at Riverside Park 30 minutes before kick-off I managed to find one of the last remaining parking spots and made my way through the single turnstile into the ground. The first thing that you notice, not just upon entering the ground, but even from turning off the main road up the short service road that leads to the car park, is that the ground and the surroundings are well kept, neat and very tidy. When you get into the ground this image is further enhanced. The fencing around the pitch is white and gleaming, there is no peeling paintwork. The walkway looks freshly swept and almost clean enough to eat your dinner off. Turning right from the turnstile you see the facilities block, set back a little from the pitch. This too is clean and very well presented and is fronted by a patio area, compete with picnic style benches and well manicured grass. The pitch itself resembles a bowling green and is obviously tended by a talented groundsman. I may sound like I am going a little over the top here but, believe me (and if you don't, go and visit yourself), this is one of the best kept grounds I have ever seen. It's a great credit to the club, the East Midland Counties League, and Step 6 football in general.

Picture
Riverside Park
​Barrow Town advert over, time to take a look at what happened on that pristine playing surface.

I took up a position on the far side of the ground for the first half were  a hedge behind the standing area provided some protection from the gusts of wind. It was clear that playing conditions were going to be quite tricky. It was at this point that I first noticed the small group standing on the footbridge that runs behind one of the goals at Riverside Park. A great vantage point to watch the game, no doubt, but a bit exposed on such a windy day. 
It was also apparent from very early on that the sides were quite evenly matched. The opening salvos from both sides were pretty much restricted to the centre of the park, with both keepers being spectators for the first 10 minutes or so. The first chance of any great note fell to the home side on 12 minutes when right-wing cross was headed over the bar by striker James Parker.
PictureThe teams
​More midfield battling was followed ten minutes later by Barrow having a second opportunity. This time, after breaking up a Dronfield attack, they broke quickly down the left culminating in Ginvert getting on the end of the final pass before shooting just wide of Naylor's right-hand post. A few minutes later Barrow, who were definitely enjoying  period of some dominance, broke down the left again with Parker once more heading the cross narrowly over the bar.
Dronfield tried to hit back and, on the half-hour mark, they got their first effort on target when Chappell hit a shot from the edge of the box that failed to unduly worry Dillon.
More sparring follow but neither keeper was made to get his knees dirty.

HT Barrow Town 0 Dronfield Town 0. As the scoreline suggests there's not a lot between the sides. Barrow certainly had a short period where they were on top and probably feel they should be in front at the break. The gusty wind is not helping the game.

PictureThe reason we are here
​The second period started with a bang. Barrow, almost from the restart, were presented with an opportunity by some very slack Dronfield defending. Ginvert side-stepped the keeper but couldn't beat the man on the line and the ball was hacked clear. It was a massive let-off for Dronfield but they responded within a minute with left winger Matty Ord shooting wide of Dillon's right-hand post.

Just before the hour mark Barrow were almost in again when Kirk was slipped in clear of the Dronfield defence. However, Naylor was off his line quickly to smother the chance.
Two minutes later the home side were made to regret their missed chances. Gibson played a lovely pass inside the full-back for Dan Wood to run onto. The striker calmly side-footed the ball past the advancing Dillon to make it 0-1.

The response from Barrow was to press forward in search of an equaliser which, without the agility of Naylor, they would have got just 5 minutes after going behind. The visiting keeper going full stretch to turn a goal-bound shot away.
Dronfield were dropping deeper and deeper. Relying heavily on the wind to carry long balls over the top for Gibson and Wood to run onto. The two did their best to keep the home side occupied but Barrow kept knocking on the door.
After 74 minutes they came within a whisker of getting back on level terms. The ball was pin-balling around the visitors six-yard area but no Barrow player could get a killer blow to it and, somehow, Dronfield managed to scramble it clear.
Even with four minutes of added time, growing urgency and frustration, the home side could not find an equaliser.

FT Barrow Town 0 Dronfield Town 1. A good game of football played in extremely difficult conditions. It was always going to be a tight encounter, and it turned out that way. Dan Wood's goal takes Dronfield into the Second Round for the first time in their history. Barrow will look to extend their unbeaten league run and make a push for promotion, starting with a trip to Borrowash who getting hammered 12-1 at Clifton All Whites while this game was happening.
Thanks to both sides for putting on a show even with the conditions and a special mention to the Dronfield contingent, of which their were quite a few, who made the trip down from  North Derbyshire.

Barrow Town: Dillon, Finnemore (c), Solomons, Wells, Hawker, Davies, Page, Marriott, Parker, Ginvert, Kirk. Subs: Sheehan, Law, Shaw, Skinner, Brown

Dronfield Town: Naylor, Bebbington, Hill (c), Gladwin, Mintoft, Fairweather, Chappell, Fereday, Gibson, Wood, Ord. Subs: Savage, Fereday, Flower, Siddons

Att: 114
Ground Number: 167
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Included

Picture
Riverside Park
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    FA Cup
    Football
    Hellenic League
    Northern League
    Southern League

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly