Saturday 1st December 2018
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
The Brache, Luton
Admission including Programme: £7.00
Attendance: 70
Match Rating: 3
With heavy rain forecast to fall throughout the morning in the south east (which turned out to be accurate as heavy rain lashed at me as I walked to my local train station), I made quite an early decision to head for this game, with the forecast not quite as bleak in Bedfordshire, and with the added security of a plastic pitch being installed.
The Brache is about a 15 minute walk from Luton Airport Parkway train station, and having moved into the ground back in their home town at the start of this season following more than a decade groundsharing Barton Rovers' home ground of Sharpenhoe Road some eight miles north of their home area, the club are slowly making this ground feel like home. The Brache originally hosted Isthmian League football for six seasons up to 1991, with Vauxhall Motors (Luton) the home club, and after falling out of use as a football venue, Luton Town Football Club became leaseholders a couple of years ago, installing the plastic pitch principally to serve as their training ground, but they have allowed Crawley Green to play their home fixtures there from this season onwards. Crawley Green were tasked with making the necessary upgrades so that the venue would comply with Step 5 ground grading criteria. Visitors enter the ground at the end of a short lane, paying admission at the entrance to the complex, before walking along a path, to the right of which the changing rooms are housed in portakabins, and to the left there is a large grass bank, with a set of steps embedded to enable access for spectators, as well as serving as the path for players to enter the field of play. Straddling the half way line on this side is a neat, refurbished wooden stand, containing four rows of wooden bench seating. Towards the corner flag closest to the entrance, there is a small metal stand covering a flat standing area covered with artificial grass. Behind both goals, there are a couple of uncovered terrace steps, with hard standing along the remaining length. Amongst a couple of adjoining buildings serving as the complex's hub, there is a room which serves a tea bar for spectators as well as a hospitality area for the various officials. No alcohol is available, however. The ground is lined by smart hedgerows, and is situated under the flight path out of Luton Airport, and so planes fly directly over the ground at regular intervals. Printed programmes are no longer compulsory in the Spartan South Midlands League, however Crawley Green produce a limited quantity of printed copies at the gate if required. The club sensibly uses a 44 page outer shell in colour containing plenty of general background information about the club and leagues it participates in, and is an interesting read for one-off visitors, with a 16 page black and white insert previewing today's match with all of the necessary up to date stats. An electronic version is also available for download from the club's website.
Both clubs are having decent seasons in the league so far. Following a 18th place finish in the division last season, Crawley Green went into this game in ninth place, following six wins and four draws from their opening 16 league games. Hadley are having another good season after finishing sixth last season. They came into this game in third place, just three points off the leaders, following 13 wins and a draw from their opening 18 league games. They lost their last league game, but had won their previous ten league games.
After thick misty rain greeted my arrival at the ground, blue skies appeared shortly before kick-off, and conditions would stay dry and mild for the entire game. Crawley Green had the better of the first half, as Hadley put in a disappointing performance considering their lofty position in the table. The hosts took the lead on 8 minutes, when a free kick from the left by Aaron Morgan was guided into the net with a looping header over the keeper by Tyler Ingham. Despite plenty of endeavour and some chances created by both sides, the home side deservedly took a slender lead into the half-time break.
Hadley did indeed come out after the break with more sense of purpose, doing plenty of probing in the opening minutes of the second half, although it was Crawley Green who came closest to scoring to double their lead, a cross into the box was not dealt with decisively by the keeper, but he redeemed himself with a terrific save from a rasping drive. And on 55 minutes, Hadley were back on level terms. Winger Alfie Bartram did well to dribble to the byline before rolling the ball across the six yard box, and after a deflection off the keeper, Nathan Linton tapped the ball home from close range. One had the feeling that the game could then have swung either way, but it was Crawley Green who scored the winner four minutes from time, Phil Draycott striking the ball beautifully from a free kick in a central position just outside the area into the top left corner. Hadley had their best chance to salvage a point on 90 minutes, when a glancing header from a corner flashed just wide of the far post, but Crawley Green held on for a deserved win.
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