Eastern Counties League Division One North
Blackhouse Lane, Great Cornard
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 70 (estimate)
As if Covid-19 isn't giving everyone involved with football enough headaches at the moment, Storm Alex decided he would add to the mix, bringing heavy, almost constant rain to southern England for the 24 hours leading up to kick-off today. I decided I would play things relatively safe, heading to Sudbury, where the weather was forecast to clear earlier than to the west. My first choice was a visit to Cornard United, with Long Melford as a back-up, and if all else failed, a revisit to the plastic pitch of AFC Sudbury. Although a tweet from Cornard at 12.30 stated that a pitch inspection was still pending, it was confirmed as “Game On” half an hour later, just as my train was approaching Sudbury.
Blackhouse Lane is about a 25 minute, mile and a half way south eastwards from Sudbury train station, located right on the southern extremity of the village of Great Cornard, and the rolling hills of the countryside beyond makes for a pleasant backdrop. Nestled between the grounds of Sudbury Rugby Club, a secondary school, and quite a large expanse of playing fields, entrance is gained in one corner of the ground, with the gates having an eye catching mural on it, and with a welcome sign / fixture board to one side. The NHS track and trace QR code was posted on the inside of the entrance gate to scan, temperatures were taken and a wash station pedestal was located just beyond a wooden shed where admission is paid. Quite a large stand straddles the half way line, containing three rows of individual plastic seats, with plenty of social distancing between rows. Views are elevated but slightly restricted by supporting pillars along the front. On the opposite side is the clubhouse building, with a fairly spacious bar inside, a tea bar hatch on the outside, around which some overhang provides cover for a flat standing area. A few tables and chairs were also scattered on the grass to one side of the building. Around the rest of the ground there is just hard standing. Happily, a 24 page paper programme was issued, and was colourful and informative, with an introduction to both the home and visiting clubs, a welcome message from the manager, stats and facts from the league, news about the reserve team, player interview and a half time puzzle page.
Cornard United have had a fairly average start to their season, winning one and drawing two of their opening six league games. They have certainly tried to shine a spotlight on the club with some marquee signings in recent times. After registering former Premier League player Marcus Bent last season (although he would only make one appearance for the club), for this season they signed Jake Quickenden, better known for his appearances on The X Factor, I'm a Celebrity and Dancing on Ice, and has made three appearances so far, but those were in the opening three games and has not played since. I have already seen Fakenham Town play this season, when they won in quite impressive style at Downham Town, and they have continued their good form, coming into this game still unbeaten in the league, following three wins and a draw from their opening four league games, and they progressed in the opening round of the FA Vase, beating Diss Town 0-1 away.
On a very overcast but mild afternoon, with the occasional shower passing through, the visitors started very much on the front foot, with their first good chance coming with barely two minutes on the clock, when a low shot was parried by the keeper into the danger area but just evaded a tap in before being cleared. On seven minutes, the ball was floated diagonally into the box, and Joshua Youngs managed to get to the ball just before the keeper but his header sent the ball into the side netting. The seemingly inevitable came on ten minutes, when Jack Robinson beat the full back to get to the byline before pulling the ball back low for Ashley Jarvis to strike the ball into the net. Cornard did respond well to going behind, and they won a penalty on 18 minutes for a trip towards the edge of the area. But keeper Thomas Coombe saved the penalty low to his right, and the loose ball was tapped behind for a corner. On 27 minutes, Cornard almost gifted the visitors a goal after a defensive mix up when a defender headed the ball back but the keeper was out of position and the ball bounced agonisongly towards the goal, but the keeper was just able to get back and hoof the ball clear on the line. On 37 minutes, it was Fakenham's turn to be awarded a penalty, after the ball was played into Jarvis and he was fouled as he tried to knock the ball past the defender. Jarvis himself got up and converted with a powerful finish down the middle. Cornard halved the deficit a minute before the break following an excellent diagonal pass found Charlie Gilbert on the right wing, and he just managed to turn inside and wriggle clear of a defender - with the suspicion of a helping hand - before firing low across the keeper, to ensure it was all very much to play for after the break.
However, on 52 minutes, the visitors restored their two goal lead. A free kick was needlessly given away for a push close to the corner flag, which was floated into the box by Sturman, and Jarvis got a faint header on the ball to divert it off the inside of the far post and into the net, to complete his hat-trick. There was plenty of huff and puff from Cornard, but never really looked like they'd get back in the game, and it was Fakenham who had some decent chances to further extend their lead, but were twice denied by the keeper.
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