United Counties League Division One
Canal Street, Aylestone
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 104
I decided it was time to take advantage of a very cheap coach trip to the East Midlands today, thanks to converting some Tesco clubcard vouchers. The Megabus stop is conveniently located within comfortable walking distance of several grounds to the south west of Leicester, and I chose the closest one for my destination today.
After arriving at the Fosse Park coach stop, I then made my way on foot across countryside, the Aylestone Meadows Nature Reserve, and finally along a short stretch of the Grand Union Canal, before arriving at Canal Street, with the one and a quarter mile walk taking just under half an hour. The gates to the ground are painted in striped club colours of black and white, with St Andrews FC spelt across them. A club sign is posted just inside the entrance, including next fixture information - although that has not been updated since September. A gravel car park runs along one length of the perimeter fence of the ground, but the area beyond parallel to the half way line is gated off, reserved for players and officials. Admission to the ground is gained through a full height turnstile, located next to a fairly small stand containing three rows of plastic seats, and wooden bench top seating along the rear. The clubhouse building is located some way behind the stand, with a modern bar area and a tea bar offering a good range of hot food and cold snacks inside, and a several picnic tables are laid out on a grass area between the clubhouse and the pitch. Behind one end, there is a fairly long olive coloured stand covering a flat standing area, and a very similar stand is located along the length opposite the clubhouse. This stand is dual facing, with another covered area behind the rear wall facing towards the adjacent secondary junior pitch. There is just hard standing along the rest of this length and behind the end closest to the entrance. For Step 6, facilities here are very decent and smart, if lacking somewhat in character.
St Andrews have had a slow start to their season, having won only four and drawn three of their opening 17 league games, and came into this game down in 17th place in the 21 club division. A win at home last Saturday was certainly welcome, bringing to an end a run of four straight defeats in the league, discounting a home win against Blidworth Welfare, who subsequently resigned from the league and therefore the result that day has been expunged. So today’s game would be tough for St Andrews, against a club who were in the Conference North between 2004 and 2009, and have made a decent start to this season, up in fourth place following eleven wins and three draws from their 18 league games. The reverse fixture of today’s game was played back in early August, with Hucknall winning 4-0.
When I arrived at the ground an hour ahead of kick off, the weather was very grey and gloomy with drizzle falling. But by the time I had enjoyed a pint, burger and chips in the clubhouse, I came out to a gloriously bright and sunny day. The visitors opened the scoring on 9 minutes when a St Andrews player was dispossessed towards the corner flag and the Hucknall player dribbled along the byline before passing low across the six yard box and although one player saw his prod at goal blocked, the ball spilled kindly for Joseph Ashurst to tap home from close range. The visitors had a goal ruled out for offside on 11 minutes, and barely a minute later, St Andrews really should have equalised, but after receiving the ball and one on one with the keeper, the forward screwed the ball horribly wide. And on 20 minutes, Hucknall doubled their lead after the ball was played forward for Craig Westcarr to run onto and strike low into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area. They opened up a three goal lead on 23 minutes when a cross cum shot dropped towards the back post for Aaron Short to head home. St Andrews certainly had their chances to get back in the game, but were denied by another horrible finish and then a double block by the Hucknall keeper and then a defender. But after the half hour mark, the visitors started creating good chances again, and put the goal beyond realistic doubt on 37 minutes when they scored their fourth following some quick passing inside the box ending with Ashurst firing low into the bottom left corner.
Hucknall started the second half on the front foot, creating plenty of chances to extend their lead, and it was a surprise when the next goal actually came from St Andrews, on 72 minutes, when an initial shot from an angle squirmed under the keeper, and the ball was tapped home virtually on the goal line, with the goal credited to Kaden Stokes. But Hucknall restored their four goal lead four minutes later when Joe Butler ran onto a through ball, rounded the keeper before slotting into the empty net. The visitors scored twice in stoppage time, both by Butler, who had come on as a substitute, to seal his hat-trick and complete an emphatic away win, although in truth, they really should have made double figures, but for several chances they missed, along with at times trying to be a bit too clever in laying the ball off instead of taking shots on goal. St Andrews certainly had their moments to score more themselves, but obviously, their defence looked a real weak point today, and they will certainly need to tighten up in that area if they are to avoid a survival scrap in the new year.
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