Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Willen Road, Newport Pagnell
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 193
Taking advantage of a cheap Southern Advance train tickets for a total of £17 with a £1.90 Plusbus add on, I decided to visit my penultimate ground in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division today, and apparently my 700th ground overall, according to the excellent Groundhopper app.
Having arrived at Milton Keynes Central train station, I then caught a bus for a 20 minute ride, through the rather unique town centre of Milton Keynes, and over the M1, passing by the Willen Road ground, with the nearest bus stop just beyond and a five minute walk back to the ground. The football ground is part of quite a large sporting complex, which also hosts a cricket field, tennis courts and other football pitches. The complex's clubhouse is located outside of the football ground, and is comfortable, bright and airy inside, and impressively offers two cask ales - quite unusual at football grounds - with large screens showing BT Sport. A large grassy area with picnic benches is available in front of the clubhouse, which was ideal on a warm and sunny afternoon like today. The entrance to the football ground is located behind one of the goals, and one enters to find a very neat and tidy ground, tightly lined with hedges along three and a half sides, and a green wooden fence along the remaining section. There are all-seater stands straddling the half way line on both sides, a modern metallic stand on one side, with a more traditional and aesthetically pleasing version on the other side, with hard standing around the rest of the ground. A decent range of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as club merchandise, is available from a wooden shed next to the metallic stand, but perhaps the most attractive aspect of the ground is only visible from the outside - a bright mural painted on the rear of the more traditional stand. There is a lot to like about Willen Road, with a really friendly welcome and environment to go with a neat and comfortable venue. The 16 page programme was professionally presented and printed, and served its purpose in providing the basics on the basis that more in depth stats and facts can be gleaned online.
In their first season since being laterally transferred by the FA from the United Counties League Premier Division, Newport Pagnell have had a good start to their season, with four wins and a defeat from their opening five league games. Leighton Town have have had a more difficult start to their season, with just one point to show from their three league games played so far, although their campaign may not have been helped by the four games they have contested in the FA Cup, before exiting at the First Qualifying Round stage.
On a gloriously warm and sunny late September afternoon - most likely the last such afternoon before autumn and winter take hold - the first half was rather strange in that it was the visitors who created the better chances, but found themselves two goals down at the break. After two minutes, Leighton saw a deflected shot kiss the near post, and a follow up shot by Aaron Murrell beat the keeper but was cleared close to the line, and then Leighton's Danny Webb struck a powerful shots just over the bar on 6 and 11 minutes. But it was the home side who took the lead on 11 minutes, with just about their first effort on goal, but what a goal it was, Leon Lobjoit chested the ball following a cross to tee himself for an acrobatic volley on the edge of the penalty area which flew into the net beyond the keeper's dive. On 31 minutes, the visitors again hit the woodwork, when a low shot across the keeper hit the outside of the post, whilst two minutes later, Lobjoit sent a far post header over the bar for the hosts. Leighton had another great chance on 38 minutes, Murrell's shot being well blocked by the keeper's legs, and Leigh Stevens' follow up shot was blazed over from fairly close range, albeit from a slight angle. Leighton really should have at least been on level terms by that stage, but that was to be as good as it got for them, and Newport Pagnell seized control of the game by doubling their lead on 43 minutes. A low teasing cross from the right caused confusion between a defender and the keeper, and Jimmy Burnside tapped into the empty net.
It was a harsh half time scoreline for the visitors, but they barely threatened in the second half, as Newport Pagnell relatively cantered to a comfortable win. They scored their third on 67 minutes, Micky Burns dinking the ball over a defender to set himself clear down the right, before tantalisingly crossing the ball low into the box and Burnside struck the ball into the roof of the net. And four minutes into added on time at the end of the match, they added gloss to the scoreline with their fourth goal, a corner looped high above the keeper and defenders for an unmarked Lobjoit to head up at the far post.
And so a clinical performance from Newport Pagnell, and Lobjoit's two goals was a reward for a display that was a joy to watch at times, with his silky footwork and inventive play. Leighton Town will rue not being able to convert at least one of their decent chances in the first half, and will be disappointed that they did not threaten to get back in the game after the break.
Video highlights of this game can be viewed by clicking here
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