The Main Stand Despite all of the weather warnings about a month's worth of rain in a day and gale force winds, the Tuesday evening trip was never really in doubt. The Kempston Rovers twitter account confirmed that no pitch inspection was required and so it was that I set out for Bedfordshire and a visit to the only unbeaten side in the United Counties Premier League.
Hillgrounds Leisure, Kempston's home stadium, also boasts two state of the art all-weather pitches. Around the main stadium the majority of facilities are on the car park side of the ground. This features the clubhouse, changing facilities and, at the far end from the road, the single turnstile. Around two-thirds of this side of the pitch is bounded by covered seating and standing areas all of which are part of the clubhouse building complex. The rest of the playing area is surrounded by hard-standing and the dugouts are on the far side of the pitch, opposite the main stand.
This was Kempston's first evening game at their own stadium this year. They have been playing midweek games at Langford FC whilst their own floodlights were under repair.
With Sileby dangerously close to the drop-zone on 13 points from 17 games and Kempston riding high, unbeaten and having 36 points from 16 games, this would have been a home banker in any bookies. However, we all know that football doesn't always work that way and sometimes teams fighting for survival produce performances way beyond what their league position suggests.
Rangers came in to the game on the back of throwing away a 4-2 lead going into injury time on Saturday, ending the game with a 4-4 draw. Kempston, however, were on the back of a fine 3-0 win at Sleaford.
The teams took to the field on what was a remarkably warm evening for the first day of December, Kempston in their red & white stripes, Sileby in a change strip of all grey.
It was the home side who, as you would expect, started on the front foot. They took the lead after just 6 minutes. A deep left wing cross found it's way to the far post where it was cut back for former Newport Pagnell midfielder Ieuan Riley to fire home.
For a few minutes it seemed as if the floodgates may open. Rangers were being pegged back and Rovers were looking dangerous. However, a second goal didn't immediately transpire and gradually, to their credit, Rangers worked their way back into the game. The pace and trickery of Joel Gyasi and Ife Ogunbayo in particular were causing some concern in the home defence.
The equaliser, when it arrived on 26 minutes, was a nicely put together move which culminated in driven cross from the left flank. This was met by the left foot of Joe Merrill and driven hard and low under the home keeper. At this point it was no more than Rangers deserved.
In what was becoming an increasingly hard-fought half, the home side finally regained the advantage with 6 minutes go. Rangers conceded a free-kick just outside their 18 yard area and Ash Fuller stepped up to curl a splendid left-footer just inside the keepers right-hand post. Garscadden, in the Rangers goal, got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.
So at half-time the home side had a narrow 2-1 lead and, on the balance of play, probably just about deserved it.
Hillgrounds Leisure, Kempston's home stadium, also boasts two state of the art all-weather pitches. Around the main stadium the majority of facilities are on the car park side of the ground. This features the clubhouse, changing facilities and, at the far end from the road, the single turnstile. Around two-thirds of this side of the pitch is bounded by covered seating and standing areas all of which are part of the clubhouse building complex. The rest of the playing area is surrounded by hard-standing and the dugouts are on the far side of the pitch, opposite the main stand.
This was Kempston's first evening game at their own stadium this year. They have been playing midweek games at Langford FC whilst their own floodlights were under repair.
With Sileby dangerously close to the drop-zone on 13 points from 17 games and Kempston riding high, unbeaten and having 36 points from 16 games, this would have been a home banker in any bookies. However, we all know that football doesn't always work that way and sometimes teams fighting for survival produce performances way beyond what their league position suggests.
Rangers came in to the game on the back of throwing away a 4-2 lead going into injury time on Saturday, ending the game with a 4-4 draw. Kempston, however, were on the back of a fine 3-0 win at Sleaford.
The teams took to the field on what was a remarkably warm evening for the first day of December, Kempston in their red & white stripes, Sileby in a change strip of all grey.
It was the home side who, as you would expect, started on the front foot. They took the lead after just 6 minutes. A deep left wing cross found it's way to the far post where it was cut back for former Newport Pagnell midfielder Ieuan Riley to fire home.
For a few minutes it seemed as if the floodgates may open. Rangers were being pegged back and Rovers were looking dangerous. However, a second goal didn't immediately transpire and gradually, to their credit, Rangers worked their way back into the game. The pace and trickery of Joel Gyasi and Ife Ogunbayo in particular were causing some concern in the home defence.
The equaliser, when it arrived on 26 minutes, was a nicely put together move which culminated in driven cross from the left flank. This was met by the left foot of Joe Merrill and driven hard and low under the home keeper. At this point it was no more than Rangers deserved.
In what was becoming an increasingly hard-fought half, the home side finally regained the advantage with 6 minutes go. Rangers conceded a free-kick just outside their 18 yard area and Ash Fuller stepped up to curl a splendid left-footer just inside the keepers right-hand post. Garscadden, in the Rangers goal, got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.
So at half-time the home side had a narrow 2-1 lead and, on the balance of play, probably just about deserved it.
In the second half it was Kempston who took the game to their visitors. However they could not find a finish to match their build- up play. The home fans were becoming increasingly aware that it would only take one Rangers breakaway to peg them back. In truth that didn't seem to be too likely though. Rangers battled away but rarely tested Martin Conway in the Rovers goal.
The clock had just ticked onto the 90th minute when Rovers finally sewed it up. A corner was not cleared properly allowing Shane Bush to apply the finish and guarantee 3 more points for the Walnut Boys.
So, the Rovers bandwagon rolls on. A workmanlike rather than spectacular performance.
They move up to second place, still 11 points adrift of Leicester Nirvana but with 3 games in hand. Sileby Rangers remain third from bottom but, on this showing, I don't think they will remain there. With a little bit more luck in front of goal and maybe concentration right to the last whistle (that's 3 goals in the 90th+ minute in 2 games) they shouldn't find themselves in too much trouble in my opinion.
AFC Kempton Rovers - afckempston1884
Northampton Sileby Rangers - @silebyrangers
The clock had just ticked onto the 90th minute when Rovers finally sewed it up. A corner was not cleared properly allowing Shane Bush to apply the finish and guarantee 3 more points for the Walnut Boys.
So, the Rovers bandwagon rolls on. A workmanlike rather than spectacular performance.
They move up to second place, still 11 points adrift of Leicester Nirvana but with 3 games in hand. Sileby Rangers remain third from bottom but, on this showing, I don't think they will remain there. With a little bit more luck in front of goal and maybe concentration right to the last whistle (that's 3 goals in the 90th+ minute in 2 games) they shouldn't find themselves in too much trouble in my opinion.
AFC Kempton Rovers - afckempston1884
Northampton Sileby Rangers - @silebyrangers
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