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Sunday, 29 March 2009

Kingsway crowned

Broughton Astley 0-5 Kingsway Rangers
Leicester & District League Division 1
Saturday 28th March
Frolesworth Road Recreation Ground
The Leicester & District League is a league that I would take an educated guess at does not feature on the radar of many, if any groundhoppers. The clubs vary from having their own grounds to using school or park pitches with admission or programmes non existant. Today’s game saw Broughton Astley who lie second bottom take on unbeaten division leaders Kingsway Rangers who have only dropped two points all season - a draw away @ Queniborough.

Broughton Astley is a large village nine miles south of Leicester and six miles east of Hinckley located between the B4114 and A426. The population is believed to be around the 10,000 mark which comprises of three historic settlements – Broughton Astley itself, Primethorpe and Sutton-in-Elms.

Broughton play at the Frolesworth Road Recreation Ground which also houses a childrens play area, skate park and a cricket pitch. The pitch looked like it had seen better days and in need of a good roll. This along with a swirling wind made conditions difficult. As I found out during the second half Kingsway needed to win today to be crowned division 1 champions. The game started (as expected) with the visitors making the early running and created a few chances in the first five minutes which forced the home keeper to produce comfortable saves. As the half wore on the game became scrappy with few chances being created, though just before half time the visitors had a goal disallowed for offside. The second half saw Kingsway break the deadlock on 52 minutes with a shot from the edge of the area. The second then followed two minutes later when the number 9 scored from the penalty spot, and pretty much straight from kick-off the number 6 went through the visiting defence to slot home number 3. The scoring was not finished as the number 9 scored with a header from eight yards on the hour mark. Four goals in an eight minute spell ended the game as a contest and it was then a question of when Kingsway would score next. The answer came with ten minutes left when (I think) the number 11 scored with a cracking shot from outside the area.
Attendance: around 15 but varied throughout the game
Distance / driving time: 10 miles / 25 minutes

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Why?

Thoresby Colliery Welfare 0-1 Westella & Willerby
Central Midlands League Premier Division
Saturday 21st March 2009
Thoresby Colliery Sports Ground, Edwinstowe

I know it is getting on for a week after the event but this is the first time since the game that I have had time to put down some notes on the game.

I wasn't planning to go to a game but having rose at around 12.30pm after finishing another wonderful night shift at Asda I decided to take in a game. Also with it being a nice day weather wise helped make the decision easier. The next question was where? My preference was a non-floodlit club so I had a look on the internet and made the decision to head up into Robin Hood country and more specifically the town of Edwinstowe which is where Thoresby Colliery Welfare play their home games. I also had the wife and dog in tow and as events later unfolded was glad of the company.
Without any hick-ups it should take around 1 hour 10 minutes to make the 48 mile journey. Typically as I didn't leave myself much leeway I got held up on the A46 and made it at the ground just as kick-off was about to commence. Admission was £2 each, though thankfully they did not charge for the dog and £1 for a programme - they had actually sold out of programmes but at half time I spoke to Rob Hornby who is on the committee for the Central Midlands League and he authorised in allowing me to have the league's copy. Thanks Rob much appreciated.

The ground is a large open sports ground that also houses a cricket pitch. The football pitch is fully railed off with what looks like some cover on the far side. As the wife doesn't like football she took advantage of the openness to take the dog for a walk during the game. Now to the game...

This is where the heading will make sense. The game in all truth was deadful. The visitors from Hull scored after two minutes and...that was about it. Poor football from both teams and I think it was a case that Westella knew they didn't have to be at their best and / or exert themselves too much to win the game and this is how the game panned out. Thoresby tried to play some football but didn't have the quality to threaten the visiting defence. The only other chance of note that springs to mind was in the second half when the visitors rattled the post with a shot that deserved a goal. But alas it was not to be and I was glad when the final whistle went.

Definately one of those cases where you wonder...why did I bother?
On the plus side, like most if not all clubs in the Central Midlands League that I have visited over the years, Thoresby are a well run and friendly club to visit.

Monday, 2 March 2009

Advantage Houghton

Desford 1-3 Houghton Rangers
Saturday 28th February 2009
Leicester & District League Premier Division
Sport in Desford

With having completed the Leicestershire Senior League I am now taking more of an interest in it's three feeder leagues, with the District League being one of them. The other two are the Leicester City League and North Leicestershire League. At present I am yet to attend a game in the latter two but I'm sure over the next year or two this will change.
This clash today saw a battle of the top 2 with the visitors from Houghton-on-the-Hill, a village 6 miles east of Leicester leading the hosts Desford by one point but having played a game more. Desford play at "Sport in Desford" on Peckleton Lane, a ground that I saw former Leicestershire Senior League side HM Desford Sports play Ravenstone a few years ago. Desford is very easy to get to from home taking only around 10 minutes to get there, the majority of which is down the A47 in the Hinckley direction.
The first half was an even affair in terms of possession and chances but it was the visitors who struck first on five minutes when a cross from Andy Almond was headed home by their number 8. It took a while for Desford to get into the game but they equalised on 34 minutes through a right footed volley from Rocky Greenwood, which came only a minute after a Paddy Smith header was well saved by the home keeper. Smith then again went close when a shot from the edge of the area hit the outside of the post. The second half was a different story with the visitors playing the better football and creating the better chances and deservedly took the lead on 67 minutes. Andy Almond was left unmarked in the penalty area and headed home a free kick past the keeper. Almond got his second with ten minutes remaining when he tapped home from a couple of yards out to put the game beyond doubt.
With the teams still to play each other at Houghton there could yet be another twist in the race for promotion to the Leicestershire Senior League.
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