HALL ROAD RANGERS (Dene Park)

Today was "non-league day" which is basically a campaign to encourage supporters of Premiership and Championship teams to go and take in a local non-league game, whilst there is a free Saturday due to the international break, in the hope it will make them want to return to watch another game.

I didn't need much encouragement to do just that!

My local game of choice was just a mere 150 miles east in the village of Dunswell, near Hull, where Hall Road Rangers were taking on Northern Counties East league rivals Brighouse Town in the 1st round proper of the FA Vase.

Dunswell has only one pub, the Ship Inn, which made an appearance in the 2012 GBG so pre-match was spent sampling a Great Newsome "Frothingham Best". The food smelt very tempting but as the clock was ticking towards 3pm, it couldn't be tasted.

Formed in 1959, Hall Road Rangers were founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 and have been in the Premier Division since 2008.

In terms of league position, at the start of play it was 16th v 4th, so the form book would suggest an away victory. Unfortunately for Rangers, that's how it turned out.

The game got off to a flying start with three goals in the opening 12 minutes. Johnny Slater's heavily deflected free-kick gave the home side the lead after just 90 seconds but a Tom Matthews penalty brought the visitors level after 5 minutes (pictured left).

Matthews scored his and the Brighouse second goal after 12 minutes. The game was an open, end-to-end cup tie. The only surprise was that there were no further goals in the first half.

Rangers began the second period with purpose as they sought an equaliser but Nick Jagger scored after 65 minutes to extend the visitors lead, and effectively put the tie to bed.

As a torrential downpour began, Ryan Hall bagged a fourth after 71 minutes, Owen mountain gave Rangers a glimmer of hope when he made it 4-2 after 74 minutes but with 8 minutes remaining, Craig Billington scored a fifth for Brighouse.

Overall, it was an enjoyable cup tie and I'm sure any spectators encouraged to visit thanks to non-league day would not be put off returning based on what they saw today.

Anyhow,  it is Brighouse who move into the next round of the Vase and Hall Road Rangers will have to concentrate on the league, as they say. Their next opponents at Dene Park? You guessed it, Brighouse Town!

Who'd be a goalkeeper?

 

Saturday 13th October 2012
FA Vase 1st Round Proper
Hall Road Rangers 2-5 Brighouse Town
Attendance: 50

COLNE FC (Holt House Stadium)

After being foiled, for what seemed quite a while, usually due the weather, I finally managed a visit to the Holt House Stadium today. Colne FC have been playing at this famous ground, with its spectacular views overlooking the town, since their formation in 1996.

The ground was previously used by Colne Dynamoes, who are unrelated to the current club, who, after an injection of cash, won the Northern Premier League in 1990 but were denied promotion to the Conference and subsequently folded.

Colne British Legion FC took over the ground but they too folded in 1995.

Colne FC were elected straight into the North West Counties in 1996 and were in Division Two until 2004 when they won promotion and have been in Division One/Premier Division since.

Today they were taking on Northern Counties East Division One side Bottesford Town in the FA Vase, a competition that holds special memories for the town of Colne. Following on from Dynamoes win in 1988, the present Colne FC had a run to the semi-final in 2004 before losing 3-4 on aggregate to Sudbury Town. The home leg saw a record gate of 1,742 in attendance at the Holt House Stadium.

There was to be no run to Wembley for the Reds this season as they crashed out at the first hurdle to their lower 'step 6' opponents. 

With the ground being high upon a hill, the one thing that does hit you immediately when you enter the ground is its slope and it's obvious there is going to be some sort of advantage kicking down the slope than up it.

It was Colne who had the advantage of the slope in the first half and it took them just five minutes to break the deadlock when Paul Fildes shot home. The Reds had the majority of the possession and were creating plenty of chances but a combination of poor finishing and Robert Zand's goalkeeping kept Bottesford in the tie.

After 27 minutes though the visitors were level. With their first attempt on goal Danny Boulton raced clear to equalise. Both sides had further chances but it was all square at the break.

The second half began with more pressure on the Bottesford goal as Colne continued the second period as they ended the first. There was another glorious chance to take the lead but an effort was blocked on the line. With an air of inevitability, especially after Colne's profligacy in front of goal, after 55 minutes Bottesford broke clear down the right and a superb cross was headed home by Marc La Rocca.

Colne continued to pile on the pressure for the remainder of the game, whilst being vulnerable to the counter attack, but could not find an equaliser their overall play probably merited.

For Bottesford though it was a consummate away performance. They soaked up the pressure, played on the counter and, when they came, they stuck their chances away. Oh and they also rode their luck on occasions! This result now puts Bottesford into the first round proper where their reward is a home tie against another North West Counties League side, Rochdale Town.

As for me, this visit today now means I only need a trip to Holker Old Boys to complete visits to all grounds in the North West Counties League**

Saturday 15th September 2012

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Colne 1-2 Bottesford Town

Attendance: 68

** I do need to visit one other team to complete the leagues, but seeing as its a certain team in red and they groundshare, I probably won't be in any particular rush to go there!!!

LONG EATON UNITED (Grange Park)

Today was one of those days. To begin with I was undecided until the last moment where I was heading. I wanted to do a game in the FA Vase, but I overslept, which meant options were rather limited due to time.

I decided to head for Long Eaton United, even though this went against my self imposed criteria of, when I can, trying to see games in the FA competitions that don't involve teams from the same league. United were hosting Lincoln Moorlands Railway who, with Long Eaton, play in the Northern Counties East Premier League.

The sat-nav said I was due to arrive at the ground around 1.30pm, but thanks to others drivers 'rubbernecking' an accident on the northbound M6, then the A50 near Sudbury being closed and traffic diverted, after being stationary for about 20 minutes, it was closer to 2.30pm when I arrived at the ground.

Another source of disappointment, after a rather stressful journey, was the lack of paper as there was no programme available. Bah! Luckily I did get a badge and the bacon cob and cup of coffee helped restore ones natural sunny disposition!! ** written with no sense of irony**

Grange Park is the home of Long Eaton and it is smart ground with a large Main Stand (named the Big Jim Stand) and a further seated stand on the opposite side, incorporating a separate block of seats for the Directors, but today this was empty.

The Blues were founding members of the Northern Counties League in 1982 but were demoted in 1989 due to a lack of floodlights, eventually installed in 1998, the club rejoined the league in 2002 and have been in the Premier League since 2004.



Goalscorer Shaun Rickford (10)
on the chase

Going into this game, Long Eaton were in the better form having won three of their first five league games, though they did get knocked out of the FA Cup at the very first hurdle, whilst Lincoln Moorlands Railway were rock bottom of the table, with a solitary point to show for their efforts. Perhaps a run in the Vase could get their season going.

In the end though the game went with form and in the end the homesters ran out comfortable winners. For long periods though it was a pretty even game and, without sounding too harsh, pretty dull.



The home wall is solid as a Moors
free kick is fired in

 Admittedly Craig Turner in the Lincoln goal was the busier of the two 'keepers but a lot of his saves were routine stuff. Long Eaton took the lead after 30 minutes when, after The Moors defence tried to play offside, Blues skipper Shaun Rickford broke clear to smash the ball home.

The tie was eventually settled with two goals in two second half minutes. After 73 minutes  and cross from the right was turned home at the far post by Matt Savage, then after 75 minutes, Savage then bagged his second when the ball came back off the crossbar and he had the simple task of heading home from about two yards.

In the next round, on 15th September, Long Eaton will travel to Radford.



 

Saturday 1st September 2012
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Long Eaton United 3-0 Lincoln Moorlands Railway
Attendance: 52