Sunday 2nd August 2015
After 4 matches on Saturday with each team scoring at least one of a grand total of 17 goals, I was keen to see what the next three matches would produce. After a good night’s sleep and a relaxing morning bath, I was ready for the short drive from the hotel to Thrapston town centre for today’s first game.
479.Chancery Lane
Thrapston Town 4v1 St Neots Saints (10.45am ko)
United Counties League Division One
The ground is shared with the cricket club, so all the spectator facilities are down one side. There are three small covered sections of seats and a small three step covered enclosure on the other side of the dugouts. The rest of the ground is open with the far side roped off from the cricket pitch.
St Neots had a chance to get back into the game from the penalty spot on 49 minutes, but Soloman Orieji couldn’t hit the target, firing a good yard past the post. After that missed opportunity the visitors played really well, creating plenty of chances and eventually found the back of the net three minutes from time, when substitute Ageymang got on the end of a right wing ball to slide in at the far post. It was too little too late for the Saints, but it might have been a closer outcome if they had converted that wasted spot-kick early in the second half.
Matchday Stats and SponTTFC 4(Morgan 19 Whiteman 28 Perkins 34 Hope 46) StNTSFC 1(Ageymang 87)
Att.257
Pin badge £3
Coffee £1
480.Station Road
Oundle Town 3v4 Baston (2pm ko)
PDFL Division 1
Football in Oundle dates back to 1883, the club secretary was Mr.W.E.Dolby and the club captain Mr.W.T.King both belonged to well known families in the town. The club first played in the Peterborough League in 1910 and have won an array of local cup honours throughout their history. The club moved from its first home, off Benefield Road to their present ground on Station Road in 1952. The ground is known locally as “the Waitrose Arena” as the supermarket stands in the shadow of the fully railed off pitch. There are dugouts on one side, with the ground entrance behind the goal, where access is gained through the homely clubhouse. This was my favourite club of the seven on show over the weekend as they went all out to make it a special occasion. There was a beer tent serving beer from the local Nene Valley Brewery, including a special commemorative bottled ale, so I bought a couple of bottles(one to drink and one to keep) I was also going to also purchase one of their black ‘n’ white striped away shirts, but unfortunately the jersey didn’t have to club crest on it. There were also plenty of home shirts also available, but as it's red and white stripes I didn’t bother. The whole afternoon was hosted by a bloke on the microphone, who was a bit of a Brian Potter type, but it was all in good humour and he gave out plenty of useful information, including the goalscorers in a seven goal thriller.
Baston levelled just after the break when Dan Pitt beat the ‘keeper to a long ball to fire in, then ten minutes later Troy Waters slotted in a left wing cross, which resulted in an injury to the goalkeeper.
The hosts looked to have grabbed a point when Chris Kaye played a quick one-two and finished well, but yet another Rutland ‘Hop penalty decided it in the last minute, as Waters converted from 12 yards to give Baston a credible 4-3 victory.
Matchday Stats and SponOTFC 3(Hipwell 3pen Murphy 45 Kaye 77)BFC 4 (Murphy 31OG Pick 49 Waters 58 90pen) Att.321
Pin badge £3
Burger & bacon sarnie £3
Nene Valley NVB(4.1%) £3
Bottles of NVB Groundhopper Ale £3 each
481. Kingsmead
Kings Cliffe United 0v1 Stamford Lions (5pm)
PDFL Division 1
I mentioned the special effort Oundle made in hosting a hop game, but Kings Cliffe played the trump card and I'm not talking about the beer tent serving 4 ales from the neighbouring Kings Cliffe Brewery. Prior to kick off six paratroopers from the local airfield landing on the pitch(well 5 did, one ending up behind the goal) as part of a champagne prize draw and more importantly, to present the match ball to the referee.
Matchday Stats and SponKCFC 0 SLFC 1 (Kelly 84)
Att.296
Pin badge £3
Kings Cliffe 5C(3.8%) £2.50
Considering I wasn't really looking forward to this weekend it turned out to be really ace. As always it's good to meet up with some of the groundhopping pals from around the country including some people for the first time, namely Squad#170 Neil Daniel, Paul Splodge Proctor, Ian and Duncan the GBG pub collectors and Talksport's Tony Incenzo. A big well done to all the clubs involved and of course Chris and Lawrence for playing another blinder in organising such a wonderful event.
Foetoes
(Matchday album of 74 pictures from all 3 games)