The Sorrel

MOUNTSORREL AMATEURS 1-5 KINGSWAY RANGERS

Saturday 24th October 2009

Leicester & District League Premier Division

Memorial Playing Fields

After a three week break of watching football I managed to get a decent amount of sleep and rose about 1pm, which gave me around an hour to sort myself out before making then ten mile journey to Mountsorrel. The match in question was chosen as it was to be my first viewing of local side Kingsway Rangers. Kingsway were promoted as champions of division 1 of the Leicester District League last season, winning their opening twenty matches in a successful campaign. The hosts today were also promoted along with Midland Syston St Peters. This season Kingsway have made a solid start collecting seven points from their opening four games while Mountsorrel had played only three games and had three points to their name.

The majority of grounds / pitches in the Leicester & District League are roped off affairs and are played on recreation grounds or school pitches. Today was to be no exception, though as the club share the playing fields with Mountsorrel Castle Cricket Club there were hot and cold drinks available from the pavilion. The address of the ground is Leicester Road but is adjacent to the local leisure centre. If coming from Leicester take the Mountsorrel exit off the A6, then turn right onto Speedwell Road and then left onto Kingfisher Road – the car park is straight ahead of you.

The game itself was not a bad one for this level and reasonably entertaining. The opening exchanges were fairly even, with the deadlock being broken on 12 minutes. Kingsway were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out, from which an unstoppable shot flew past the home keeper. The visitors then doubled their lead on twenty five minutes to give them some breathing space. At the start of the second half Mountsorrel got a goal back through a penalty, but this joy was short lived as Kingsway scored a third through a penalty of their own midway through the half. Two further goals towards the end of the game killed of any hopes the hosts had of getting something from the game.

Admission charge / programme: none

Attendance: 20 ish

A6 derby

GLEN VILLA 3-0 KIBWORTH TOWN

Leicestershire Shield 1st Round

Saturday 3rd October 2009

Recreation Ground

With things back to normal following some holiday away from work, I made my first venture this season into Leicester & District League football in the form of a county cup game. Glen Villa and Kibworth Town both play in division 1 of the afore mentioned league and are separated by a few miles along the A6 between Leicester and Market Harborough. The two teams actually played each other in a league game last Saturday with Glen winning 2-1. This encounter is a 1st round tie in the Leicestershire Shield, a competition won last season by fellow District Leaguers Kingsway Rangers.

Glen Villa play on the village recreation ground on Bindleys Road in Great Glen itself, and not surprisingly play in the same colours as Aston Villa, while Kibworth play in black and white stripes. There is a small car park at the ground, which two full size football pitches straddle a cricket pitch, the one in use today being roped off. One thing I was not expecting was a clubhouse – unusual for a club in the District League.

As per usual at this level no admission was charged or programme issued. The game was played in a blustery wind and to be honest was a scrappy affair. The home side deservedly took the lead on 12 minutes when a ball from the right touchline was tapped home into an empty net. Kibworth tried to get back into the game but to be honest neither side forced the opposing keeper to make any save of note. The second half saw Kibworth have the majority of possession, but were hit on the counter attack midway through the half when Glen broke on the right and the ball across was side footed home from six yards out to make it 2-0 and effectively game over. For good measure Villa added a third was added on 77 minutes from the penalty spot to give the scoreline some gloss.

Overall a pretty poor game witnessed by around 18 people and a couple of dogs.