Game 528

Pilkington XXX 2-1 Bolehall Swifts

Midland Combination Premier Division

Saturday 23rd February 2008

Triplex Sports Ground

Unlike previous games this was no change of plan. Ian McDonald (programme editor and webmaster) had organised a couple of groundhopper's days - this being the second and I thought I would take up the offer. I was planning to visit Pilkington but more than likely next season so this gave me further incentive to visit. I had arranged to go with my mum's partner but my mother and wife decided to come along as well. We left Leicester around midday and headed down the M69 and M6 into Birmingham city centre. The idea being to have some lunch before going to the game. Unfortunately all the pubs were packed due to the Birmingham City - Arsenal game being on the tv and we ended up eating in the glamorous surroundings of a Subway restaurant!!! We arrived at the ground about 5 minutes before kick-off - note if you have not yet visited there is no on site parking, and with the voucher it cost £10 for admission and programme x2 plus a badge. Bargain! The ground was originally used by the works' team from Triplex Safety Glass. Since 1984 there has been a few previous clubs using the ground - Triplex, Richmond Swifts / Kings Norton Town. The Triplex Sports Ground also houses a lawn bowls club while the football pitch has a 100 (approx) seated stand which also contains a small section of covered standing on the far touchline next to the dugouts with three rows of terracing behind both goals. There isn't a clubhouse as such but the building is a private members club, though the club uses one of the rooms at half time to serve refreshments.







Now to the game itself...it was literally a game of two halves. The home side dominated the first and the visitors the second. Pilkington at times were a joy to watch - they got the ball down, didn't result to long ball tactics and played some really good football. The first chance of note came in the 6th minute when the post was struck from 20 yards by one of the home forwards - excellent effort that deserved a goal. The home side struck on the 23rd minute when Paul O'Brien scored as he slotted the ball past the keeper in a one on one situation following a well worked move between himself and the no. 10. Seven minutes later it was 2-0 following a throw in midway inside Bolehall's half the ball was worked into the penalty area and no. 6 Matt Hill hit a low angled shot from 15 yards that went into the bottom right (keeper's side) hand corner. No further goals were added in the first half. Bolehall had a reasonable amount of possession and never gave up but lacked anything up front. The second half was a complete role reversal and Bolehall hit back within five minutes of the restart with Hussain Turgut scoring from 20 yards. A few minutes later Pilkington had an excellent chance to restore their two goal lead but the visiting keeper thwarted the home side no. 8 on another one on one situation. My gut reaction was that could prove costly but despite having most of the possession and chances they could not find a way through and force and equaliser.
Final score: 2-1 (attendance 41 - Midland Combination website)
An enjoyable game, nice ground, excellent hospitality and well worth a visit. Top marks.

Game 527

Wakefield 0-3 Rossendale United

Northern Premier League Division 1 North

Saturday 16th February 2008

College Grove

For the third game in a row my original plan went out of the window, this time it was due to Goole not answering their phone. Why? Anyway I had confirmation that Wakefield was on and that back-up choice Stocksbridge Park Steels was off. For the first time this calendar year I had a travelling companion that was not a member of my familar but a good friend, Kevin Zupp who is Lutterworth Athletic's secretary and programme editor. We decided to head "up north" anyhow and left Leicester at around 12.45, with the plan being to stop at the services on the M1 before you get to Sheffield and try Goole again. Still no answer and we made the rather easy decision to go to Wakefield. With neither of us ever venturing into Wakefield before we relied on the sat nav to get us to the ground and we arrived at around 2.30. The ground is part of the Wakefield Sports Club set up which includes a floodlit hockey pitch and a bowls club. All three were in use this afternoon and we managed to get the last parking space in the complex. The football pitch is a tight enclosure with the turnstiles on the nearside corner nearest the hockey pitch. We were charged £7.50 admission which included a programme. There is a 300 seater stand on the far side of the ground with some open terracing to the left hand side (if facing it). The offices and clubhouse are all portakabins with merchandise and old programmes available before and at half time.




The game itself was not the best I have seen this season but was compeitive throughout. The home side probably had the better exchanges during the first half which ended goalless. The second half saw the visitors come out with all guns blazing and scored three goals inside eight minutes between the 52nd and 60th. The first came from Joe Booth* who scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner. The second came five minutes later when two Wakefield players went for the same ball, clashed heads which allowed Rossendale to take advantage and double their lead when Phil Eastwood* scored at the second attempt. The third and final goal saw Eastwood score his second three minutes later to finish the game in terms of the outcome. To be fair to the home side they did create a few chance towards the end of the game but went unrewarded.

* - from Wakefield F.C. website

Game 526

Ollerton Town 1-1 Kinsley Boys

Central Midlands League Premier Division

Saturday 9th February 2008

The Lane

I was originally going to "go local" today as I planned to make the 10 minute drive to watch Glenfield Town take on Barlestone St. Giles in the Leicester & District League, but having picked up the wife from work at lunchtime I noticed the Ollerton - Kinsley fixture on the net I decided to make the easy 50 mile drive up into deepest Nottinghamshire. For the record "Mrs Rambler" came along as it was the lesser of two evils compared with spending the afternoon watching telly! I guess it goes to show how bad tv is at present!!!


The ground is easy to find being just a few minutes from the main A614 and is located on Walesby Lane. We were charged £2 each for admission and also managed to get hold of a programme for £1 and a pin badge for £2.50. A crowd of around 100 (head count) was present to watch this encounter between the top two in this division. I also, by complete chance met Rob Hornby for the second time in a month.


The game itself was competitve from the start with both teams being guilty of niggly fouls and plenty of verbals with very little football being played. The first decent move saw Kinsley have a goal disallowed due to a late offside flag. From our position on the half way line we didn't agree with the assistant's decision. About midway through the first half with the ball in Ollerton territory our eyes were diverted to an incident in the Kinsley penalty area in which we saw a Kinsley defender shove an Ollerton forward over in the penalty area. The only person which didn't see the incident appeared to be the referee as we thought it was a stonewall penalty. Ollerton were though awarded a penalty (the incident eludes me) late on in the half and was duy despatched to give the home side the lead.



Half time: 1-0


The second continued where the first half finished with niggly fouls and plenty of verbals. Ollerton though decided to play some football as they dominated possession and created the better and majority of chances. As often happens when a side fails to kill off a game they get punished and it happened in this game. With about 10 minutes to go Kinsley got into the game and decided to play some football of their own and got an equaliser with about two minutes left.



The game ended with honours even.