A late change in weekend plans meant that, unexpectedly, I had the opportunity to get to a game on Saturday. A quick glance at Football Traveller revealed that there was really on one place to be, Bedfordshire. Marston Shelton Rovers versus Wootton Blue Cross. Very much a local derby, with only just over 3 miles between the grounds, and very much a key game in the Bedfordshire Premier League season. Both grounds are on Bedford Road although, looking at a map, it appears that it is a different Bedford Road, even though they are so close together. Both teams have played at a higher level in the past. In fact they met in the South Midlands Premier League way back in the 1940s and 50s. Blue Cross also played in the United Counties Premier League. More recently, they have both played at Step 6. Marston dropped out of the South Midlands Division 1 in 1973. Blue Cross were a step 6 side until 2013.
As far as I could tell, this was going to be the first league encounter between the teams since the 2018-2019 season, when they played out a 2-2 draw at Wootton and Marston won 3-2 at home. There was also a cup game at Wootton where Marston were again winners, by 4-0. The following season was voided due to Covid, with Wootton dropping down to Division Two. They've been making their way back since, and were promoted back to the Premier League last season. BotP had the pleasure of watching one of their game sin that promotion season, a thoroughly compelling 3-3 draw with Totternhoe Reserves (Nothing Between Them), who also went up at the end of the season. Of course, all of these stats, about both teams, have been gleaned from web searches. If any are incorrect, I'm sure someone will let me know, and I will alter the blog accordingly.
Once again, I have to thank referee Luke Damon who shared the team sheets with me before kick-off and remembered me from the Caldecote v Oakley game last month (Oaks Felled)
As far as I could tell, this was going to be the first league encounter between the teams since the 2018-2019 season, when they played out a 2-2 draw at Wootton and Marston won 3-2 at home. There was also a cup game at Wootton where Marston were again winners, by 4-0. The following season was voided due to Covid, with Wootton dropping down to Division Two. They've been making their way back since, and were promoted back to the Premier League last season. BotP had the pleasure of watching one of their game sin that promotion season, a thoroughly compelling 3-3 draw with Totternhoe Reserves (Nothing Between Them), who also went up at the end of the season. Of course, all of these stats, about both teams, have been gleaned from web searches. If any are incorrect, I'm sure someone will let me know, and I will alter the blog accordingly.
Once again, I have to thank referee Luke Damon who shared the team sheets with me before kick-off and remembered me from the Caldecote v Oakley game last month (Oaks Felled)
Goalmouth action was at a premium With just four points between leaders Marston and third placed Wootton, and with Blue Cross having a game in hand, this was always going to be a tight game, and so it panned out.
Rovers opened the game very brightly and, in the opening couple of minutes, had Wootton pegged back inside their own half. However, the visitors weathered the initial storm and, pretty soon, the game settled into something resembling a fast-paced game of chess. Both teams displayed a high energy approach, especially in midfield, denying space to their opponents and forcing mis-placed passes. Consequently, neither goalkeeper was forced into action.
Despite the lack of goalmouth incident, the game was highly entertaining from a neutral perspective, with no quarter being given, or asked, by either side.
The hard midfield battle continued throughout the half with both sides seemingly determined not to concede first. In fact, their collective defence and midfield managed to ensure that neither Ross Tompkins in the Marston goal nor his counterpart Cristiano Pletersky, had to make a save of any significance until just before half-time.
The closest anyone had come to scoring was a 37th minute miss-hit Fin Brown cross that had sailed over Pletersky, narrowly dropping over the bar at the far post.
However, that all changed with two minutes to go before the break. A long ball found Jamie Cerminara making a run across the outside of the visitor's box, from right to left. The ball arrived at waist height but he controlled it brilliantly with one touch before lifting a dipping volley over Pletersky with the second. A classy strike by anyone's standards. 1-0.
Oddly, for a game with so little incident, Marston almost managed to gift their visitor's an equaliser two minutes into first half added time. The ball was played back to Tompkins, who took a little too long on the ball, allowing Noah Marsh to close him down and nick the ball away. As the Wootton midfielder spun to shoot, however, Tompkins made amends for his mistake by throwing himself to the left and pushing the goal bound shot away for a corner.
HT Marston Shelton Rovers 1 Wootton Blue Cross 0. A very tight first half which was mainly a midfield battle. Chances were at a premium and it took a piece of individual skill to break the deadlock. Still plenty to play for in the second half.
Rovers opened the game very brightly and, in the opening couple of minutes, had Wootton pegged back inside their own half. However, the visitors weathered the initial storm and, pretty soon, the game settled into something resembling a fast-paced game of chess. Both teams displayed a high energy approach, especially in midfield, denying space to their opponents and forcing mis-placed passes. Consequently, neither goalkeeper was forced into action.
Despite the lack of goalmouth incident, the game was highly entertaining from a neutral perspective, with no quarter being given, or asked, by either side.
The hard midfield battle continued throughout the half with both sides seemingly determined not to concede first. In fact, their collective defence and midfield managed to ensure that neither Ross Tompkins in the Marston goal nor his counterpart Cristiano Pletersky, had to make a save of any significance until just before half-time.
The closest anyone had come to scoring was a 37th minute miss-hit Fin Brown cross that had sailed over Pletersky, narrowly dropping over the bar at the far post.
However, that all changed with two minutes to go before the break. A long ball found Jamie Cerminara making a run across the outside of the visitor's box, from right to left. The ball arrived at waist height but he controlled it brilliantly with one touch before lifting a dipping volley over Pletersky with the second. A classy strike by anyone's standards. 1-0.
Oddly, for a game with so little incident, Marston almost managed to gift their visitor's an equaliser two minutes into first half added time. The ball was played back to Tompkins, who took a little too long on the ball, allowing Noah Marsh to close him down and nick the ball away. As the Wootton midfielder spun to shoot, however, Tompkins made amends for his mistake by throwing himself to the left and pushing the goal bound shot away for a corner.
HT Marston Shelton Rovers 1 Wootton Blue Cross 0. A very tight first half which was mainly a midfield battle. Chances were at a premium and it took a piece of individual skill to break the deadlock. Still plenty to play for in the second half.
Late penalty drama As in the first half, Marston began the second half very brightly but Wootton, again, played themselves back into it quite quickly. Once again, neither goalkeeper was being stretched as the fascinating midfield battle continued. I must admit, it did make me wonder of there would be a plethora of late chances when both sides would, presumably, start to tire.
Wootton's Ryan Aka did manage to get a strike on target before the hour mark, but it was straight at Tompkins, and didn't trouble the keeper. At the other end, Harry Baker met a right-wing cross at the far post, directing his volley back across goal but just wide.
With under twenty minutes to go, and the score still at 1-0, Marston must have thought that they may just hang on for a hard-earned three points. However, Wootton had other ideas. On 73 minutes, some good play down the Wootton right ended with the ball being cut back to Joe Holmes, some 8 yards out, but he failed to take the opportunity. Marston thought the danger was over when they cleared, but Wootton come straight back at them and got their reward when a low cross from the right was diverted past Tompkins by the unfortunate Justice Gittens. 1-1
At this point of the game, I went totally against my instinct and, despite having a nagging feeling that there was going to be an incident in the home penalty area, I moved to the other end of the ground, anticipating the home side to press for a winner. A few minutes after I had moved, my gut feeling was proved correct when the referee awarded a penalty to Wootton. By then, I was at the opposite end of the pitch and didn't get a clear view of the incident. However, there wasn't too much of a complaint from the home team, so I assume it was cut and dried.
Alan Henman stepped up and stroked home the spot-kick to give the visitor's the lead, 1-2 deep into added time.
FT Marston Shelton Rovers 1 Wootton Blue Cross 2. A massive three points for Wootton in a game that, even after 90 minutes, no-one watching would have been able to call. Two very evenly matched teams who gave everything. As a neutral observer I felt a draw would have been a just result on the balance of paly. However, credit to Blue Cross who came from behind and continued to look for a winner when many teams would have settled for a point after the equaliser went in.
The result, combined with AFC Oakley's 2-0 defeat of Crawley Green Development, means that a single point now separates the top three. Marston remain top a point clear of Oakley and Wootton, but both second and third placed sides have a game in hand. With Cranfield United Reserves some six points further back, having played three more games, it is now beginning to look very much like a three horse race at the top.
Wootton play their game in hand on Wednesday evening, at home to Queens Park Crescents. A point or more would put them top of the league ahead of next Saturday's fixtures, when both AFC Oakley and Marston are back in action. Rovers travel to 11th placed Totternhoe Reserves whilst Oakley are at second from bottom Flitwick Town
Marston Shelton Rovers: 1.Tompkins(c), 2. Brown, 3.Snapes, 6.Burraway, 5.Gittens, 8.Wilson, 4.Eddy, 7.Clifford, 10.Smith, 11.Baker, 9.Cermiwara. Subs: 12.Wallace, 14.Burke, 16.McShane, 15.Malciw, 17.Cammarano
Wootton Blue Cross: 1.Pletersky, 2.Joseph, 3.Henman, 6.B.Holmes, 5.M.Marsh, 4.Greenwell, 8.Myers, 20.N.Marsh, 9.J.Holmes(c), 7.Allen, 11.Aka. Subs: 19.Fellows, 21.Battezzato, 18.Smith, 10.K.Marsh
Wootton's Ryan Aka did manage to get a strike on target before the hour mark, but it was straight at Tompkins, and didn't trouble the keeper. At the other end, Harry Baker met a right-wing cross at the far post, directing his volley back across goal but just wide.
With under twenty minutes to go, and the score still at 1-0, Marston must have thought that they may just hang on for a hard-earned three points. However, Wootton had other ideas. On 73 minutes, some good play down the Wootton right ended with the ball being cut back to Joe Holmes, some 8 yards out, but he failed to take the opportunity. Marston thought the danger was over when they cleared, but Wootton come straight back at them and got their reward when a low cross from the right was diverted past Tompkins by the unfortunate Justice Gittens. 1-1
At this point of the game, I went totally against my instinct and, despite having a nagging feeling that there was going to be an incident in the home penalty area, I moved to the other end of the ground, anticipating the home side to press for a winner. A few minutes after I had moved, my gut feeling was proved correct when the referee awarded a penalty to Wootton. By then, I was at the opposite end of the pitch and didn't get a clear view of the incident. However, there wasn't too much of a complaint from the home team, so I assume it was cut and dried.
Alan Henman stepped up and stroked home the spot-kick to give the visitor's the lead, 1-2 deep into added time.
FT Marston Shelton Rovers 1 Wootton Blue Cross 2. A massive three points for Wootton in a game that, even after 90 minutes, no-one watching would have been able to call. Two very evenly matched teams who gave everything. As a neutral observer I felt a draw would have been a just result on the balance of paly. However, credit to Blue Cross who came from behind and continued to look for a winner when many teams would have settled for a point after the equaliser went in.
The result, combined with AFC Oakley's 2-0 defeat of Crawley Green Development, means that a single point now separates the top three. Marston remain top a point clear of Oakley and Wootton, but both second and third placed sides have a game in hand. With Cranfield United Reserves some six points further back, having played three more games, it is now beginning to look very much like a three horse race at the top.
Wootton play their game in hand on Wednesday evening, at home to Queens Park Crescents. A point or more would put them top of the league ahead of next Saturday's fixtures, when both AFC Oakley and Marston are back in action. Rovers travel to 11th placed Totternhoe Reserves whilst Oakley are at second from bottom Flitwick Town
Marston Shelton Rovers: 1.Tompkins(c), 2. Brown, 3.Snapes, 6.Burraway, 5.Gittens, 8.Wilson, 4.Eddy, 7.Clifford, 10.Smith, 11.Baker, 9.Cermiwara. Subs: 12.Wallace, 14.Burke, 16.McShane, 15.Malciw, 17.Cammarano
Wootton Blue Cross: 1.Pletersky, 2.Joseph, 3.Henman, 6.B.Holmes, 5.M.Marsh, 4.Greenwell, 8.Myers, 20.N.Marsh, 9.J.Holmes(c), 7.Allen, 11.Aka. Subs: 19.Fellows, 21.Battezzato, 18.Smith, 10.K.Marsh
The Ground
Marston Playing Field has been home to Marston Shelton Rovers since 1898 if the sign at the entrance to the car park is to believed (and there's no reason not to). Aside from football, cricket is also played on the field, which is one of the locations used by Ampthill Cricket Club. There's a small car park, with space for around 20 or so cars. Next to the car park is Marston Moretaine Sparts Pavilion and the changing facilities for the teams and officials. The pitch is lengthways on in front of the pavilion. There are no dugouts, but the pitch and the technical areas had been very clearly, and freshly, marked out. There is a slight slope away from the pavilion end, but it is hardly noticeable.
Ground Number: 443
Att:
Entrance:
Programme:
Marston Playing Field has been home to Marston Shelton Rovers since 1898 if the sign at the entrance to the car park is to believed (and there's no reason not to). Aside from football, cricket is also played on the field, which is one of the locations used by Ampthill Cricket Club. There's a small car park, with space for around 20 or so cars. Next to the car park is Marston Moretaine Sparts Pavilion and the changing facilities for the teams and officials. The pitch is lengthways on in front of the pavilion. There are no dugouts, but the pitch and the technical areas had been very clearly, and freshly, marked out. There is a slight slope away from the pavilion end, but it is hardly noticeable.
Ground Number: 443
Att:
Entrance:
Programme:
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