After a perfect morning watching my daughter's team go top of the league with a thumping 7-0 away win, I was in a very bright mood as I set off on the short journey across the A43 to take in another Northants Combination game on Saturday afternoon. My destination this week was the village of Milton Malsor for the Division One clash between Milton FC and Rushden FC. Malsor comes from the old French word Malesoures, which features on the club badge, meaning an outlying farm or settlement.
Prior to kick off the teams were level on points having both won two and lost one of their opening three. However, Milton were in third spot, three places above Rushden on goal difference. Last season both games ended in away wins, Milton winning 4-0 at Rushden with the visitors winning the return fixture 3-1.
Good to se that Milton put their match day list on a whiteboard prior to the game, along with the correct shirt numbers. Always helpful when their are visitors or neutrals at the match. Also, many thanks to Rushden's coach Louis Gray who kindly shared their team sheet with me prior to kick-off (the handwriting was fine by the way).
Prior to kick off the teams were level on points having both won two and lost one of their opening three. However, Milton were in third spot, three places above Rushden on goal difference. Last season both games ended in away wins, Milton winning 4-0 at Rushden with the visitors winning the return fixture 3-1.
Good to se that Milton put their match day list on a whiteboard prior to the game, along with the correct shirt numbers. Always helpful when their are visitors or neutrals at the match. Also, many thanks to Rushden's coach Louis Gray who kindly shared their team sheet with me prior to kick-off (the handwriting was fine by the way).
Toby Powell (hidden) about to nod in the opener There was a threat of rain in the air and a fairly strong breeze blowing towards the Collingtree Road end as we kicked off. The wind was behind the home team in the first half but, as it turned out, didn't assist them too much with many of their through balls running through to Sam Seuke in the Rushden goal.
In all fairness, the conditions were not making it easy for either. Chances at either end were certainly at a premium in the first half. The hosts were first to show when a deep cross from the right was met by Leo Robinson at the far post, but he could only direct his downward header wide without troubling the keeper.
The game them fell into a pattern of midfield combat with neither side able to find the final pass to open their opponents up. One or two decision that didn't go the way of Rushden's Louis Ogden appeared to have riled the striker, who cut an increasingly frustrated figure. However, he was to channel this frustration into good use much later on. Just past the half-hour mark, Rushden did finally cause home keeper Tyreece Ashton to get his knees dirty when Jayden Souza was sent clear down the right. However, his low drive was well saved by Ashton who shot out a strong right hand to block the effort.
It looked very much like we were heading into the break goalless, but he home side had other ideas. As the clock ticked over to 45 minutes they won a corner on the right. The ball was delivered into the 6-yard box where Toby Powell managed to find enough space to power a header past Seuke. 1-0
HT Milton 1 Rushden 0. A half of very few clear-cut chances for either side. Milton probably just about edged it in terms of possession ad managed to get their noses in front on the stroke of half-time.
In all fairness, the conditions were not making it easy for either. Chances at either end were certainly at a premium in the first half. The hosts were first to show when a deep cross from the right was met by Leo Robinson at the far post, but he could only direct his downward header wide without troubling the keeper.
The game them fell into a pattern of midfield combat with neither side able to find the final pass to open their opponents up. One or two decision that didn't go the way of Rushden's Louis Ogden appeared to have riled the striker, who cut an increasingly frustrated figure. However, he was to channel this frustration into good use much later on. Just past the half-hour mark, Rushden did finally cause home keeper Tyreece Ashton to get his knees dirty when Jayden Souza was sent clear down the right. However, his low drive was well saved by Ashton who shot out a strong right hand to block the effort.
It looked very much like we were heading into the break goalless, but he home side had other ideas. As the clock ticked over to 45 minutes they won a corner on the right. The ball was delivered into the 6-yard box where Toby Powell managed to find enough space to power a header past Seuke. 1-0
HT Milton 1 Rushden 0. A half of very few clear-cut chances for either side. Milton probably just about edged it in terms of possession ad managed to get their noses in front on the stroke of half-time.
Tom Smith blocks a Rushden effort With the increasingly gusty wind now behind the visitors it was going to be more difficult for Milton to clear their lines in the second half. Added to that, the threat of rain had become real and many of the spectators headed for the cover of the clubhouse patio.
On the pitch, nothing much changed in the opening encounters. Once again, neither goalkeeper was unduly threatened in the first 20 minutes of the half. However, what had been a fairly low-key encounter burst into life just past the hour. On 67 minutes Rushden grabbed an equaliser when Dan Owen's free-kick, delivered into the heart of the penalty area, seemed to beat everyone. However, it appears my initial report did a dis-service to Shane Oslar. Reading the Rushden match report, it appears that Oslar did get a touch to the ball sending it past Ashton to make it 1-1.
Almost immediately from kick-off, Rushden won the ball back and sent Owen clear to round the keeper and slot home. However, Milton's lino had the flag up. Having moved from the side of the pitch to the cover of some trees behind the goal, I didn't have an angle to see if the player was offside or not. Having spoken to another neutral, who was level with the incident, he believed that the player was onside. Rushden clearly agreed, but after consulting with the linesman the referee chalked off the goal, much to the annoyance of Rushden. Owen vociferously made his views known to the referee, who sent him to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
Credit to Rushden though, despite being a player down for ten minutes, it was hard to tell and the game continued to be fairly evenly contested.
On 81 minutes, with the teams back to 11-a-side, Rushden generated another chance when Scott Bailey rose highest in the box, only for Ashton to grab the ball under the crossbar. It looked very much like honours would be even today especially when, four minutes into added time, Rushden's Harry Keeble got on the end of a through ball but sent his effort narrowly wide. However, a minute later with the referee almost ready to blow for full-time, another through ball sent Louis Ogden clear. Channelling that previous frustration, he lashed the ball past Ashton before being enveloped by his team-mates. 1-2
There was barely enough time for Milton to restart the game before the full-time whistle sounded.
FT Milton 1 Rushden 2. A last gasp winner for the visitors in what was a game of few clear cut chances at either end. Milton edged the first half, Rushden were on top for most of the second, not in any small part due to the conditions. If anything Rushden adapted to the gusty wind better than Milton, which ultimately won them the game.
The result sees the teams swap places in the table. Rushden climb to third spot just a point adrift of leaders Spencer Mill, whilst Milton drop back to sixth.
There's no game for Milton next weekend, but Rushden take on bottom side Weldon United at home. The following week both teams are back in action. Milton travel to Brixworth All Saints and Rushden entertain Kingsthorpe Jets
Milton: 1.Ashton, 3.Fraser, 4.Robinson, 5.Smith(c), 6.Currie, 7.Innis, 8.Reeve, 9.T.Powell, 10.Kirby, 11.Chambers, 14.Reynolds, 15.B.Powell, 16.Cook, 17.McAfee, 18.Hulka, 20.Deakin
Rushden: 24.Seuke, 2.Keeneyside, 12.Bailey, 5.M.Owen, 6.Loasby, 10.O'Dell, 20.Oslar, 3.Reed, 21.Ogden, 11.Keeble, 9.Souza. Subs: 1.McLaughlin, 17.Batos, 4.D.Owen, 16.Westmore
On the pitch, nothing much changed in the opening encounters. Once again, neither goalkeeper was unduly threatened in the first 20 minutes of the half. However, what had been a fairly low-key encounter burst into life just past the hour. On 67 minutes Rushden grabbed an equaliser when Dan Owen's free-kick, delivered into the heart of the penalty area, seemed to beat everyone. However, it appears my initial report did a dis-service to Shane Oslar. Reading the Rushden match report, it appears that Oslar did get a touch to the ball sending it past Ashton to make it 1-1.
Almost immediately from kick-off, Rushden won the ball back and sent Owen clear to round the keeper and slot home. However, Milton's lino had the flag up. Having moved from the side of the pitch to the cover of some trees behind the goal, I didn't have an angle to see if the player was offside or not. Having spoken to another neutral, who was level with the incident, he believed that the player was onside. Rushden clearly agreed, but after consulting with the linesman the referee chalked off the goal, much to the annoyance of Rushden. Owen vociferously made his views known to the referee, who sent him to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
Credit to Rushden though, despite being a player down for ten minutes, it was hard to tell and the game continued to be fairly evenly contested.
On 81 minutes, with the teams back to 11-a-side, Rushden generated another chance when Scott Bailey rose highest in the box, only for Ashton to grab the ball under the crossbar. It looked very much like honours would be even today especially when, four minutes into added time, Rushden's Harry Keeble got on the end of a through ball but sent his effort narrowly wide. However, a minute later with the referee almost ready to blow for full-time, another through ball sent Louis Ogden clear. Channelling that previous frustration, he lashed the ball past Ashton before being enveloped by his team-mates. 1-2
There was barely enough time for Milton to restart the game before the full-time whistle sounded.
FT Milton 1 Rushden 2. A last gasp winner for the visitors in what was a game of few clear cut chances at either end. Milton edged the first half, Rushden were on top for most of the second, not in any small part due to the conditions. If anything Rushden adapted to the gusty wind better than Milton, which ultimately won them the game.
The result sees the teams swap places in the table. Rushden climb to third spot just a point adrift of leaders Spencer Mill, whilst Milton drop back to sixth.
There's no game for Milton next weekend, but Rushden take on bottom side Weldon United at home. The following week both teams are back in action. Milton travel to Brixworth All Saints and Rushden entertain Kingsthorpe Jets
Milton: 1.Ashton, 3.Fraser, 4.Robinson, 5.Smith(c), 6.Currie, 7.Innis, 8.Reeve, 9.T.Powell, 10.Kirby, 11.Chambers, 14.Reynolds, 15.B.Powell, 16.Cook, 17.McAfee, 18.Hulka, 20.Deakin
Rushden: 24.Seuke, 2.Keeneyside, 12.Bailey, 5.M.Owen, 6.Loasby, 10.O'Dell, 20.Oslar, 3.Reed, 21.Ogden, 11.Keeble, 9.Souza. Subs: 1.McLaughlin, 17.Batos, 4.D.Owen, 16.Westmore
Milton FC
The Ground
Milton FC play their home games at Collingtree Road on the Eastern edge of the village of Milton Malsor. There's a fairly small car park next to the clubhouse with further parking available on the grassed area behind the building and alongside the pitch. The clubhouse building also houses the changing facilities and has a comfortable feel with lots of memorabilia, photos of the teams through the years and, of course, a trophy cabinet. The pitch is bounded by Collingtree Road behind one goal, the clubhouse on one side and the West Coast mainline on the other. The goal at the far end is backed by farmland, populated by cows before kick-off but, somewhat strangely, emptied shortly afterwards.
The playing surface is pretty flat and bordered by fencing on both sides. There are no dugouts or spectator cover, although the clubhouse does have a covered patio area that has a view over the pitch. I liked the ground a lot, but I am a real sucker for rural village football grounds.
Ground Number: 460
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Milton FC play their home games at Collingtree Road on the Eastern edge of the village of Milton Malsor. There's a fairly small car park next to the clubhouse with further parking available on the grassed area behind the building and alongside the pitch. The clubhouse building also houses the changing facilities and has a comfortable feel with lots of memorabilia, photos of the teams through the years and, of course, a trophy cabinet. The pitch is bounded by Collingtree Road behind one goal, the clubhouse on one side and the West Coast mainline on the other. The goal at the far end is backed by farmland, populated by cows before kick-off but, somewhat strangely, emptied shortly afterwards.
The playing surface is pretty flat and bordered by fencing on both sides. There are no dugouts or spectator cover, although the clubhouse does have a covered patio area that has a view over the pitch. I liked the ground a lot, but I am a real sucker for rural village football grounds.
Ground Number: 460
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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