RUGBY TOWN JUNIORS 0–5 LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS
Saturday 10th December 2011
Midland Combination Under-21 section; East / North
Division
Kilsby Lane
The first part of a “double” today, as having been
impressed with the Students when I saw them beat Stapenhill 4-1 in October,
decided to take in their away fixture at Rugby Town Juniors. The following
paragraph on the club is taken from their official website:
“RTJFC has been running for 12 years and currently has
approximately 700 members (children under 18 years old). Its general “ Football
for All” message means that any one of any ability can play football. In
addition it has close working links with and encourages community groups and
schools to participate in and enjoy the game of football. The club’s volunteers
play a vital role, offering services such as organised structured coaching and
running after school clubs. RTJFC members play in approximately 47 teams in
five different leagues.”
The club play their home games on Kilsby Lane which is on
the south-east side of Rugby. My route is a very simple one taking me down the
M1 (junction 21) to junction 18, then along the A428 towards Rugby itself.
After approximately 2 ½ miles it was a left turn onto the B4038 Kilsby Lane for
just 100 yards before turning right at the ground entrance. The 24 mile journey took around 35 minutes to
make. There are numerous pitches at Kilsby Lane which are set on different levels, with the main pitch and clubhouse / changing room block set at the bottom. The main pitch is fully railed off, dugouts, floodlights and hard standing on one side. There was a tea bar in operation before and for the majority of the game which was most welcome in the cold but sunny weather.
As it stands in this inaugural season of the Under-21
competition Rugby lie third in the table with nineteen points from their eleven
league games, sitting six points behind league leaders Loughborough Dynamo. The
Students currently sit one place and one point further behind but have only
played seven league games so far. Rugby’s last game was three weeks ago (due to
last Saturday’s fixture @ Kettering Town postponed) when they suffered a 4-1
defeat at Loughborough Dynamo, while the Students put Woodbourne Sports to the
sword in a 6-2 victory at The Paddock.
When arriving at the ground I was informed by Peter Simmons (president of Loughborough Students Football) that the game would kick-off thirty minutes late due to the overnight frost. The game saw two good sides contest an enjoyable first half with good football played and an even number of chances created. The second period saw a more one sided affair and the Students struck five times to move up to second in the East / North division table. Gabriel Ali scored the opener on 49 minutes but as I was on the phone at the time to Kevin Zupp @ Oadby Town FC I missed it and could not tell you anything about it!!!! The second goal came just seven minute later when a swinging volley from Jordan Cocksedge just crossed the goal line. Rugby's best chance came came a couple of minutes later but a volley was well saved by White in the Students goal. The hosts discipline was starting to let them down as they began to argue with the referee. Two of their players were booked for dissent another for persistent fouling. Three goals in the last ten minutes put a more one sided slant on the scoreline. Firstly substitute Worthington got in on the act by hitting a first time shot past the Rugby keeper on 81 minutes. Two minutes later and Humphries finished off a flowing move with a superb strike from the edge of the area. With the game about up it became 5-0. A clever flick from Ali put Worthington away down the left, who then crossed for the unmarked ? to head home from a few yards out.
Admission / programme: none
Attendance: 12 (h/c)
Coffee: £1
Sausage Bap: £2.30
Overall another enjoyable game in this inaugural season of the under-21 competition.
When arriving at the ground I was informed by Peter Simmons (president of Loughborough Students Football) that the game would kick-off thirty minutes late due to the overnight frost. The game saw two good sides contest an enjoyable first half with good football played and an even number of chances created. The second period saw a more one sided affair and the Students struck five times to move up to second in the East / North division table. Gabriel Ali scored the opener on 49 minutes but as I was on the phone at the time to Kevin Zupp @ Oadby Town FC I missed it and could not tell you anything about it!!!! The second goal came just seven minute later when a swinging volley from Jordan Cocksedge just crossed the goal line. Rugby's best chance came came a couple of minutes later but a volley was well saved by White in the Students goal. The hosts discipline was starting to let them down as they began to argue with the referee. Two of their players were booked for dissent another for persistent fouling. Three goals in the last ten minutes put a more one sided slant on the scoreline. Firstly substitute Worthington got in on the act by hitting a first time shot past the Rugby keeper on 81 minutes. Two minutes later and Humphries finished off a flowing move with a superb strike from the edge of the area. With the game about up it became 5-0. A clever flick from Ali put Worthington away down the left, who then crossed for the unmarked ? to head home from a few yards out.
Admission / programme: none
Attendance: 12 (h/c)
Coffee: £1
Sausage Bap: £2.30
Overall another enjoyable game in this inaugural season of the under-21 competition.
Websites:
After this I should have watched Oadby Town take on Bardon Hill in the East Midlands Counties League at 3pm, but at 12.30 I received a phone call from Kev Zupp @ Oadby who informed me that the game had been postponed. A rash and premature decision as the pitch was playable once the frost had thawed. In the end I went back to Oadby and had a beer in their clubhouse before getting home at 3.30pm.
