Finedon Volta's reign at the top of the Northants Combination Premier League came to an end in spectacular fashion at Wellingborough Road on Saturday.
After watching my daughter's u15 side come back from behind four times to earn a creditable draw in the morning, despite being without four first team players including their regular goalkeeper, I was in good spirits as I prepared for an afternoon of grassroots football. As always, the biggest problem of the day was deciding which game to go for. Eventually. I settled on the Northants Premier League clash between top of the table Finedon Volta and fourth placed Roade, just a point behind in a congested leader board.
My main reason for choosing this game was the emergence of Volta at the top of the league. This is only their second season at this level. A very solid eighth place finish last season helped to consolidate their position, but for them to be sitting at the summit after nine games was some achievement. This was largely down to an excellent start where they won five and drew one of their opening six games. However, the last three games had seen them lose two and win one. So, with Woodford, Roade, Harpole and Blisworth breathing down their necks, today was going to be a big test. Roade, who won the league back in 2021-22, finished third last season, six points adrift of champions Corby Strip Mills. However, they did lose this corresponding fixture, 3-2. Finedon's goals coming from Damien Burton, Louie Lynes and Wil Newman. JJ McCarthy and Sam Watkins replying for Roade.
After watching my daughter's u15 side come back from behind four times to earn a creditable draw in the morning, despite being without four first team players including their regular goalkeeper, I was in good spirits as I prepared for an afternoon of grassroots football. As always, the biggest problem of the day was deciding which game to go for. Eventually. I settled on the Northants Premier League clash between top of the table Finedon Volta and fourth placed Roade, just a point behind in a congested leader board.
My main reason for choosing this game was the emergence of Volta at the top of the league. This is only their second season at this level. A very solid eighth place finish last season helped to consolidate their position, but for them to be sitting at the summit after nine games was some achievement. This was largely down to an excellent start where they won five and drew one of their opening six games. However, the last three games had seen them lose two and win one. So, with Woodford, Roade, Harpole and Blisworth breathing down their necks, today was going to be a big test. Roade, who won the league back in 2021-22, finished third last season, six points adrift of champions Corby Strip Mills. However, they did lose this corresponding fixture, 3-2. Finedon's goals coming from Damien Burton, Louie Lynes and Wil Newman. JJ McCarthy and Sam Watkins replying for Roade.
Volta attacks were a rarity The game got off to a frantic start. Within the first minute a long ball from Finedon dropped into the Roade penalty area. Goalkeeper Ryan Nutt came to collect but spilled the ball. Luckily there were defenders back too who managed to create enough cover top prevent Volta from getting in a clean strike at goal. Two minutes later, Roade were pressing inside the home penalty area, Richie Collier unleashing a good strike only for a defender to throw himself in the way. The game was being played at a hectic and end-to-end pace for the first few minutes with Roade starting to exercise slightly more control as it progressed. That was highlighted in the 10th minute when they took the lead. A long throw from the right was challenged at the near post, the ball skipping off a head toward the far post. Richie Collier, who initially looked to be slightly in front of the flight, swivelled before hooking a volley in off the far post. A lovely strike of the ball. 0-1.
The goal opened the floodgates. Four minutes later, Ed Uka collected a pass on the edge of the box with his back to goal, turned sharply and drove a low strike past Alex Vitue. 0-2. Then, still with only 17 minutes on the clock, the visitors made it three. Uka got in on the left before miscuing a shot that flew across goal, perfectly into the patch of Jack Lee, who made no mistake from close range. 0-3
Finedon were rocking but, to their credit, they did steady the ship a little or, at least, stem the flow. That was until the 28th minute, when Roade picked up the pace again. After being awarded a free-kick in a fairly central position some 20 yards out, George Wingrove stroked the ball home, low to Vitue's left. 0-4.
Two minutes later it got worse for the home side. Ed Uka picked up a pass on the halfway line, turned, and drove forward, outpacing the defence. As Vitue came out, Uka took the ball round him but then saw his shot come back off the underside of the bar. However, the relief for Volta was very short-lived because there was Jack Lee on hand again to slot home the rebound. 0-5.
Roade were rampant again now. Four minutes after the fifth goal went in, it was very close to xi after Wingrove's burst down the right. His low, driven cross flew across the 6-yard box only inches ahead of Uka sliding in. However, six minutes before the break, it was six and this was the pick of the bunch. You'll have to go a long way this season to see a better goal at any level. Ed Uka juggled the ball on the right-hand corner of the penalty area, flicking it over his marker, a-la Gascoigne 1996, before sending a looping volley over Vitue into the far corner. An absolutely stunning strike. 0-6.
Roade were not yet finished either. On 44 minutes they should have made it a magnificent seven. Jack Lee's shot crashed off the bar but fell into the path of Uka who, with the empty net at his mercy, somehow smashed his effort off the underside of the bar and away to safety. The crossbar had barely stopped vibrating from that chance when, following a left-wing corner, captain Daniel Osbourne saw his header clip the bar on its way over.
HT Finedon Volta 0 Roade 6. A devastating burst from Roade, who have been excellent in the first half. Finedon had had no answer to them and, in all fairness, could easily have found themselves seven or eight down.
The goal opened the floodgates. Four minutes later, Ed Uka collected a pass on the edge of the box with his back to goal, turned sharply and drove a low strike past Alex Vitue. 0-2. Then, still with only 17 minutes on the clock, the visitors made it three. Uka got in on the left before miscuing a shot that flew across goal, perfectly into the patch of Jack Lee, who made no mistake from close range. 0-3
Finedon were rocking but, to their credit, they did steady the ship a little or, at least, stem the flow. That was until the 28th minute, when Roade picked up the pace again. After being awarded a free-kick in a fairly central position some 20 yards out, George Wingrove stroked the ball home, low to Vitue's left. 0-4.
Two minutes later it got worse for the home side. Ed Uka picked up a pass on the halfway line, turned, and drove forward, outpacing the defence. As Vitue came out, Uka took the ball round him but then saw his shot come back off the underside of the bar. However, the relief for Volta was very short-lived because there was Jack Lee on hand again to slot home the rebound. 0-5.
Roade were rampant again now. Four minutes after the fifth goal went in, it was very close to xi after Wingrove's burst down the right. His low, driven cross flew across the 6-yard box only inches ahead of Uka sliding in. However, six minutes before the break, it was six and this was the pick of the bunch. You'll have to go a long way this season to see a better goal at any level. Ed Uka juggled the ball on the right-hand corner of the penalty area, flicking it over his marker, a-la Gascoigne 1996, before sending a looping volley over Vitue into the far corner. An absolutely stunning strike. 0-6.
Roade were not yet finished either. On 44 minutes they should have made it a magnificent seven. Jack Lee's shot crashed off the bar but fell into the path of Uka who, with the empty net at his mercy, somehow smashed his effort off the underside of the bar and away to safety. The crossbar had barely stopped vibrating from that chance when, following a left-wing corner, captain Daniel Osbourne saw his header clip the bar on its way over.
HT Finedon Volta 0 Roade 6. A devastating burst from Roade, who have been excellent in the first half. Finedon had had no answer to them and, in all fairness, could easily have found themselves seven or eight down.
Wingrove sweeps in a free-kick There was no doubt where the points were heading. The second half was going to be all about Finedon regaining some respectability and ensuring that the score line did not get completely out of hand. They made the perfect start in their quest too. Only a minute into the second period, a long ball, straight down the middle, allowed Zak Campbell to un on, beat the onrushing Nutt to the ball, and slot into an empty net. 1-6.
Four minutes later they almost got a second back when Wil Newman was played in on the left, his shot across the face of goal was narrowly wide of the far post. If that had gone in, would have sewn seeds of doubt into Roade minds? We'll never know.
The early goal back and the following chance of a second shook up Roade enough for them to shut the game down. The second half was never going to be the goal-fest that the first proved to be, but with Roade content with their lead and Volta, in all likelihood, knowing there was no way back, the second half offered very few goal scoring opportunities.
Roade did come close again later on. In the 77th minute Tero Daniels broke away from his marker before slipping the ball square to Ed Uka. Seeing the keeper off his line he attempted to lob him from 30 yards, clearing the stopper and the crossbar. A few minutes later, Uka saw another goal bound effort deflected wide for a corner before, with 8 minutes remaining, substitute JJ McCarthy had his effort headed off the line.
FT Finedon Volta 1 Roade 6. The second half, unsurprisingly, didn't generate the same excitement as the first even after Volta pulled a goal back early on. If the second one had gone in after 50 minutes, who knows? The result sees Roade climb to second, a point behind Woodford United who beat Strip Mills 1-0. Finedon slip to fourth but are only three points shy of the top. Both sides are on their travels in the league next weekend. Volta make the trip up to last season's champions, Corby Strip Mills, where they lost 3-1 last season. Roade are also in Corby, facing Pegasus and the pitch next to Volta's game, at Glebe Park. That game finished 3-0 to the away side last season. If anyone is going to either of these games, having never been to Glebe Park, I'd be really interested to know if it would be possible to cover two games at the same time there. That would make for a good match blog.
Finedon Volta: 1.Vitue, 2.Patterson, 3.Borratt, 4.Goosey, 5.Capps, 6.M.Deacon(c), 7.Z.Campbell, 8.Line, 9.E.Campbell, 10.Baker, 11.S.Benn. Subs: 12.Nartey, 14.L.Deacon, 15.Newman, 16.R.Benn, 17.Robinson
Roade: 1.Nutt, 2.Salmon, 3.Lukeman, 16.Smith, 5.Osbourne(c), 6.McDonald, 7.Morgan, 8.Collier, 4.Jack, 10.Wingrove, 9.Uka. Subs: 12.Daniels, 14.Joyce, 17.McCarthy 15.Lewis, Abrams
Four minutes later they almost got a second back when Wil Newman was played in on the left, his shot across the face of goal was narrowly wide of the far post. If that had gone in, would have sewn seeds of doubt into Roade minds? We'll never know.
The early goal back and the following chance of a second shook up Roade enough for them to shut the game down. The second half was never going to be the goal-fest that the first proved to be, but with Roade content with their lead and Volta, in all likelihood, knowing there was no way back, the second half offered very few goal scoring opportunities.
Roade did come close again later on. In the 77th minute Tero Daniels broke away from his marker before slipping the ball square to Ed Uka. Seeing the keeper off his line he attempted to lob him from 30 yards, clearing the stopper and the crossbar. A few minutes later, Uka saw another goal bound effort deflected wide for a corner before, with 8 minutes remaining, substitute JJ McCarthy had his effort headed off the line.
FT Finedon Volta 1 Roade 6. The second half, unsurprisingly, didn't generate the same excitement as the first even after Volta pulled a goal back early on. If the second one had gone in after 50 minutes, who knows? The result sees Roade climb to second, a point behind Woodford United who beat Strip Mills 1-0. Finedon slip to fourth but are only three points shy of the top. Both sides are on their travels in the league next weekend. Volta make the trip up to last season's champions, Corby Strip Mills, where they lost 3-1 last season. Roade are also in Corby, facing Pegasus and the pitch next to Volta's game, at Glebe Park. That game finished 3-0 to the away side last season. If anyone is going to either of these games, having never been to Glebe Park, I'd be really interested to know if it would be possible to cover two games at the same time there. That would make for a good match blog.
Finedon Volta: 1.Vitue, 2.Patterson, 3.Borratt, 4.Goosey, 5.Capps, 6.M.Deacon(c), 7.Z.Campbell, 8.Line, 9.E.Campbell, 10.Baker, 11.S.Benn. Subs: 12.Nartey, 14.L.Deacon, 15.Newman, 16.R.Benn, 17.Robinson
Roade: 1.Nutt, 2.Salmon, 3.Lukeman, 16.Smith, 5.Osbourne(c), 6.McDonald, 7.Morgan, 8.Collier, 4.Jack, 10.Wingrove, 9.Uka. Subs: 12.Daniels, 14.Joyce, 17.McCarthy 15.Lewis, Abrams
The Ground
Situated just off Wellingborough Road in the heart of Finedon, Volta's pitch is part of the town's recreation ground which also plays host to the bowls club and Finedon Volta Juniors FC. There's a car park that holds upwards of 20 cars, but further parking is available on the grass next to the clubhouse. This building sits on a diagonal, looking out over the main pitch and houses the bar as well as the players and officials areas. The ground is a community facility and, as such, there are no stands or dugouts available. The playing area was completely surrounded by yellow respect ropes though and, on one side features four or five benches along the side of the pitch that can be used by spectators (although one is taken by the home side for their substitutes). The pitch looked in good condition and didn't appear to have any pronounced slope. Of course, as with any public ground, the obligatory sweep for dog mess was required. Luckily the home bench carried poo bags in their kit. Why can't dog owners pick up after their animals? (and, by the way, I am a dog owner).
Ground Number: 420
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Situated just off Wellingborough Road in the heart of Finedon, Volta's pitch is part of the town's recreation ground which also plays host to the bowls club and Finedon Volta Juniors FC. There's a car park that holds upwards of 20 cars, but further parking is available on the grass next to the clubhouse. This building sits on a diagonal, looking out over the main pitch and houses the bar as well as the players and officials areas. The ground is a community facility and, as such, there are no stands or dugouts available. The playing area was completely surrounded by yellow respect ropes though and, on one side features four or five benches along the side of the pitch that can be used by spectators (although one is taken by the home side for their substitutes). The pitch looked in good condition and didn't appear to have any pronounced slope. Of course, as with any public ground, the obligatory sweep for dog mess was required. Luckily the home bench carried poo bags in their kit. Why can't dog owners pick up after their animals? (and, by the way, I am a dog owner).
Ground Number: 420
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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