Bedfordshire FA Intermediate Cup Final
Sharpenhoe Road, Barton-le-Clay
Admission: £5.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 200 (estimate)
For my groundhopping adventure today, I was drawn to Bedfordshire for this County Cup final game, which provided an opportunity to tick off a Step 4 ground, with spectators now allowed inside enclosed grounds since Monday.
This fixture was played at the home ground of Barton Rovers, of the Southern League Division One Central. Sharpenhoe Road is about four miles from the nearest train station at Harlington, and although the more direct route is along country lanes, I made my way to the ground mainly along footpaths through some very scenic countryside. Based towards the southern edge of the large village of Barton-le-Clay, access to the ground is gained in one corner, although the brick turnstile blocks were not in use today, probably as a Covid precaution, and instead spectators passed through the gate to one side and after writing down contact track and trace details, handed over the admission fee in exchange for a simple four page programme at a table. It is a well appointed ground, with some good adjustments made for these Covid times. Along the length closest to the entrance, there was a large burger trailer parked up, followed by a wooden shed from which alcoholic beverages could be purchased, and with some table and umbrellas laid out. Behind the shed is a brick building housing the changing rooms and clubhouse. A 4 row all-seater stand straddles the half way line, offering unobstructed views, and a hospitality lounge is located above and behind the seating, although this was not in use today. Behind this stand, a large and spacious marquee has been erected for those preferring to sit down with their drinks under Covid friendly cover. Along the opposite length, there are no less than five separate brick built stands, all very similar looking and with a couple of steps inside each. An electronic scoreboard is located in one corner, although it looks in need of repair and was not operational today. There is uncovered hard standing behind both ends, with a couple of steps of terracing behind the goal opposite the entrance end. Green, lush hills behind one length make for a very scenic setting, and all in all, it is a pleasant ground to watch football at.
Both clubs participating in today's final are based in Luton, and both play in Division One of the Bedfordshire County League, although in different sections. When the season was curtailed, St Josephs were in fifth place in Division One "A", following 13 wins and four draws from their 22 league games, while Stopsley United were in third place in Division One "B", following 13 wins and four draws from their 22 league games. In the league's supplementary cup competition, for which both of today's clubs were drawn in the same group, Stopsley won five and drew one of their eight games, whilst St Josephs won two and drew one of their eight games. In the two games between these clubs, and the games between the two clubs ended in a 6-0 win at home for Stopsley, followed by a 1-1 draw.
On a mostly dry and occasionally sunny afternoon, the first half was quite an even affair, with plenty of attacking intent. Stopsley had the better of the chances that were created, with their standout chances coming midway through the half, first the St Josephs keeper was forced into a full stretch low save, and then a lovely diagonal ball forward through the defence found their striker through on goal, but his shot was saved by the keeper's legs. However, the scoreline remained goalless at the break.
The game burst into life within four minutes of the restart when Stopsley opened the scoring. A corner was whipped in and the keeper couldn’t claim the ball, with it rebounding off of the St Josephs forward Patrick Daily and over the line. However, their lead was to only last ten minutes as St Josephs equalised on the hour mark, Simon Richards taking a few touches to create some space before cutting inside and lashing a powerful shot past the keeper. On 67 minutes, St Josephs took the lead when a free kick was curled into the box and with the keeper caught a little in no-mans land, Paddy Northern poked the ball home with his outstretched boot. On 69 minutes, the referee hobbled off and had to be replaced - the second time it has happened in consecutive games I have watched this week. Stopsley came so close to equalising on 72 minutes when a curling shot hit the underside of the crossbar, with the keeper managing to gather the loose ball on the line, and on 80 minutes, they forced a low fingertip save at full stretch. St Josephs had a great chance to seal the win as the clock ticked 90 minutes when the ball was crossed from the right wing, but his team mate couldn’t quite get the ball under control quickly enough to break clear of the defence, and his eventual shot wfrom distance was fired over. And two minutes into added on time, Stopsley equalised following a corner, Ian McGuinness prodding the ball home just beyond a defender and the keeper, to cue wild celebrations amongst the Stopsley players, thinking they had surely done enough to force the tie to be settled by a penalty shoot-out. Soon after, the heavens really opened but that certainly did not distract St Josephs who, in the sixth minute of added on time, saw a low cross from the right stabbed home Peter O'Donnell. That was virtually the last kick of the game as the substitute referee blew the final whistle immediately after the restart, meaning that St Josephs would lift the trophy in joyous but drenched celebrations on the pitch shortly after the final whistle. Credit to both teams though for producing a very entertaining and dramatic game of football.
No comments:
Post a Comment