Game 511

ALSAGER TOWN 5-1 SPALDING UNITED

Saturday 25th August 2007

Northern Premier League Division 1 South

The Town Ground

This was not a planned visit by any stretch. I had planned to visit either Rossington Main or Welbeck Welfare but signs on the M1 saying "Junction 25-27 Long Delays" made me think whether it was worth the risk as I hate (like a lot of people) being stuck in traffic. Fortunately Donnington services were in the vicinity and from there I made a couple of calls to clubs in the Potteries area - Alsager being one of them and with the help of a Sat Nav arrived at the ground with about 15 minutes to kick-off.

The ground is a strange affair as it is situated behind a cul-de-sac in a housing estate. There is no parking at the ground so the only option is to park on the street and walk along a track between the houses in the corner of the cul-de-sac. The layout is such is that it appears to be on three levels - the clubhouse, changing rooms, turnstiles and catering hut is on the upper level, below of which is a small carpark for officials and players and below further is the pitch. On the far side which is where the dugouts are located is a small covered standing area which probably runs maybe half the length of the pitch and on the other side is two covered seated stands which take up probably two-thirds the length of the pitch.

It cost £6 admission and £1.50 for an all-glossy programme which I thought was expensive - not enough reading material to warrant the price. The game itself was pretty good with both teams trying to play the ball on the ground instead of hoofing it into the heavens though the homesters looked the more sharper in the first 15 mins and deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes through Dave Whittaker and two minutes later were two up when Danny George deflected a free kick into his own net. On 26 minutes Spalding were awarded a penalty but this was saved by the home keeper and within two or three minutes were made to pay as Chris Budrys put Alsager 3-0 up. Alsager didn't set on their laurels and went looking for further goals but not no avail.

Half Time: 3-0

The majority of the second half action came with the first 25 minutes when Alsager scored two goals in two minutes to increase their lead to 5-0. Peter Heler got the fourth on 50 minutes and Chris Budrys scored his second on 51 minutes. Spalding then played some better football, maybe because of Alsager taking their foot off the gas and got a consolation goal on 65 minutes Benger. To make things worse for the visitors they had two men sent off within a minute of each other - the first a straight red card for I believe an elbow and the second was for a second yellow card. This ruined the game as Alsager didn't play with the same impetus prior to the dismissals and at time it looked like Spalding would be the one to add further goals to the game.

Final Score: 5-1 (Attendance 76 - Non-League paper)

Game 510

NEWARK TOWN 0-2 THORESBY COLLIERY WELFARE

Station Road, Collingham
Central Midlands League Premier Division
Tuesday 21st August 2007

I don't do many midweek games but when I saw this fixture I thought that it would be ideal as it is close enough to visit within the time constraints that I had. Newark Town had also been on my hit list since the joined the Central Midlands League a few years ago.

Newark play at the now defunct Collingham F.C.'s ground on Station Road in Collingham which is about four miles north of Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire and is typical of grounds you find at this level. There are floodlights and a small stand on the clubhouse side of the ground which would hold maybe 30 people dry. It was £2 admission which included a 24 page programme and not a bad effort it was too.

The first half was played in a constant drizzle and brisk wind which didn't help proceedings but the game itself was played at 100mph (which seems to be the norm these days), with both teams at times resorting to the long ball tactic which suited them neither. There were not many attempts on goal to note and the first twenty five minutes had nil nil written all over it. Then came the saving grace when the visitors took the lead through a volley from their number 11 - no idea who as no line-ups were announced. This was probably just about deserved. The rest of the half saw both teams huff and puff wihout causing any problems and the half ended 1-0 to Thoresby.

No food was available at the ground so I went and found the local chippy which was located next to the health centre two minutes drive from the ground - £1.50 for sausage and chips which if I might add were very tasty.

The second half was thankfully played at a slower pace and the game was better for it. Newark had an excellent spell of posession for 10 or 15 minutes at the start of the half but could not find goal that they deserved. Thoresby soaked up the pressure and scored again on 63 minutes from their number 9 through an almight scramble. The home keeper looked to have got the ball under control but somehow it came free for the afore mentioned player to tap the ball home. The last quarter saw the home side of the majority of posession with the visitors trying to catch them on the counter attack which nearly worked when their number 10 hit the bar with a lovely curling shot.

Overall a better second half and the scoreline was in the end probably a fair reflection of the game and chances created.

Final Score: 0-2 (attendance 25 - counted)

Game 509

TEVERSAL 2-2 COVENTRY SPHINX

Caernarvon Street, Teversal

F.A. Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Saturday 18th August 2007

One word that sums up the day - rain! I'm sure the seasons have got mixed up because this is definately not weather for August - more like November.

Teversal's ground is situated in the Teversal Grange site in the village west of Mansfield, and is a tidy compact affair. You enter the ground behind one of the goals with the majority of the cover to left hand side in the form of both a seated stand and standing area. There are also two small bus shelter type structures behind the far goal. The club house is small and contains a bar (which was showing Sky) and a kitchen area which served hot food and drinks which is on the right hand side. A portakabin houses the board room and is located next to the club house.

It cost £4 to get in with £1 for a programme (though they were sold out when I got there - a club official offered to get one re-printed for me and forward it in the post) and badges were on sale at the game for £2.50.

The game itself was an even match throughout with the visitors causing problems early on for the home side. Teversal gradually got more and more into the game and took the lead through an Andy Woodcock header on 32 minutes. Few clear cut chances were create by either side with defences dominating.
Half Time: 1-0
The second half started with Teversal having the better of the proceedings and increased their lead further on 57 minute when Dean Short scored - how I don't know as I was ordering a burger at the time. Coventry hit back inside two minutes when Craig Martin scored from a penalty kick - I missed the offence happening as I was waiting for the afore mentioned burger! This goal seemed to galvanise the visitors and they found another gear and equalised on 74 minutes through Wayne Pulford. A couple of good saves from the home keeper followed and the home woodwork was also struck but further goals never materialised.
Final Score: 2-2 (Attendance: 104 - from Midland Alliance website)

Game 508

COTON GREEN 3-0 THIMBLEMILL R.E.C.

Saturday 11th August 2007
Midland Combination Division 1
New Mill Lane, Tamworth

My general rule of thumb is that I will at present take in games within an hours drive of my home and this one fitted the bill nicely. Coton Green also play in a division in which I had watched 11 of the 17 current teams and having been promoted in the summer another good reason I thought.

The location of the ground is in the Fazeley area of Tamworth a couple of minutes from the old A5 - very easy to get to, while the ground itself has a rural feel about it. There are no floodlights or cover but according to the programme there are plans to add the latter.

No admission was charged and from a head count I would say 20 people were in attendance, though a 12 programme was for sale for £1 in the club house - they were not advertised and I only found them by accident when looking for the toilets as I saw them on a table. The game itself was not one to remember. Coton Green scored two goals midway through the first half (20 and 27 minutes when they took advantage of mistakes by the visitors. Either side of that saw few chances created in a game which considering the heat was played at quick pace. The second half saw Thimblemill press a lot more and certainly hd the better chances but could not force a telling shot on the home goal. The home team's third came on, I think 70 minutes when they hit the visitors on the counter and 'a player' scored with a lob over the keeper from a narrow angle.

Next up is probably Teversal's F.A. Cup tie at home to Coventry Sphinx on Saturday 18th.