LONG BUCKBY HIT FIVE TO WIN AND CLOSE THE GAP ON HOLWELL

HOLWELL SPORTS 2 LONG BUCKBY 5
UCL LEAGUE 1 @ WELBY RD
17 NOVEMBER 2018 --- 3PM

WELBY ROAD HOME OF HOLWELL SPORTS

Visitors Long Buckby wrapped this game up with three goals in the final quarter of an hour against a Holwell Sports side who had twice come back from behind to level and in the process the Northamptonshire side are now just one point behind todays hosts in the bottom four of UCL 1.
The usual Friday of indecision again came to the fore with rail strikes and varying other complications so on the morning Holwell Sports appeared on the radar for a debut visit, indeed the last time I saw them as a club was when they played away at the now departed Sutton Town many a moon ago.  The Welby Road ground had come onto the 'to do' list on a few occasions but this time it had risen to the top and I have to say was a pleasant surprise a nice club with some equally accommodating people running the place.

MAIN ENTRANCE AT HOLWELL SPORTS FC

Train to Leicester was the outbound option and an hour after leaving base station the delayed Melton Mowbray bus was boarded down Belgrave Road the Dewali displays were still on show and as roadwork's were the order of the day at one stage the journey was over 20 minutes late.  Leaving behind the bustle of the city the rolling fields of north west Leicestershire were a welcome relief as we passed through the 'triple' village of Asfordby, Asfordby Valley and finally our departure point of Asfordby Hill.
The village was the former home of Holwell foundry and iron works the later amalgamation with the famous Stanton Ilkeston company, now what's still operational is run by St Gobain, clearly visible by the unique horse and arrow symbol of the company which still adorns the badge on Holwell Sports shirts.  The small hamlet here is made up of 4 rows of terraces that back onto one another and have a slightly overgrown green to the rear of all properties, I guess former foundry workers houses.  With Melton Mowbray just over a mile away man spectators seemed to have travelled from the town especially with Melton Town being away today.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT FOR A LOT AND ITS A SMART SET UP

The ground clearly has connections to the former works and has some sponsorship from todays owners present, its very much an old style complex with social club, bowls green, out of use tennis courts and main football ground with training pitch to its rear.
Admission paid and steady little programme gained the tour looks like this to the left a classic bit of non league structure a low slung corrugated iron stand of which you enter and depart from behind moving down the far side the ground has a large back drop of the local rifle club with an indoor range.

NON LEAGUE CLASSIC

Both dug outs are smart and from a spectator point of view access stops at the home dug out so retracing the steps past the entrance and the changing rooms are in the corner bearing a resemblance to I guess what was the former cricket club. 
I'm told by Martin, who it was a pleasure to meet before the game and talk all things Holwell, that the former cricket club played on the same area and during the summers dry spell from some aerial shots that were taken you could still see the outline of the square.

DUG OUTS WITH RIFLE RANGE BEHIND

Moving along the near side and a very smart stand runs towards the half way line with framed gaps look out onto the bowling green which in best pantomime season banter 'is behind you'.  The all important snack bar follows on and looked smart and happily run offering a good selection of hot foods too as well as the usual confectionary fayre.
The other side of the half way line is walkway standing as is behind the far goal and along the far side to the away dug out where once again spectator access stops.  The unique floodlights are very much of the railway marshalling yard variety and give this ground an overall friendly and homely feel to it.

TODAYS THREE TEAMS

The crowd of 72 also had a nice selection of Long Buckby supporters and we were soon underway in bright but low winter sunshine on one of those days that you knew would become very cold as soon as the big thing in the sky disappeared. 
It was the visitors who struck first with Mitchell Boe steaming in at the back post to slot home with a clinical finish after 10 minutes. The first half had been a pretty even affair with both sides struggling to put much free flowing stuff together and when Holwell equalised it seemed a fair call.  With just eight minute to go to the break Mike Stevenson challenged the Buckby keeper 8 yards out for the ball and as it flew back outside the box Ross McGarry sent an inch perfect lob back over all into the goal to send us into the tea break all square.

LONG BUCKBY IN CONTROL

Within eight minutes of the re start Long Buckby had restored their lead when Alex Webb fired home a sweet finish from the edge of the box.  There was no denying Holwell though when just nine minutes on they levelled the scores through Liam Ambrose who crashed a 25 yard effort in off the underside of the bar.
In what had been a very even game Holwell looked to have got an upper hand but with the pace of Alex Webb for the visitors this game was far from settled.  So it proved with the turning point after 76 minutes with what looked a soft penalty award was converted by Max Johnson to allow Long Buckby to get their noses in front again.

IN FAIRNESS HOLWELL SPORTS IN CONTROL

This time there was to be no comeback from the home side as the visitors clinically finished their chances first on 85 minutes Thomas Mellor on a left hand side break and finish that made it 2-4 and then on the stroke of time Holwell keeper Ben Challis blocked a Webb effort only for Simon Barby to be on hand to wrap up a vital three points for Long Buckby and in the word of former comedian and resident 'deep joy'.
Proceedings over I had spied 'Pauls Plaice' in Asfordby main village on the earlier approach and with many thanks to Martin, check his twitter out 'holwelsportsguy', a kind lift the mile or so to the eatery was offered.  A large fish that overlapped the tray and very nearly my grasp with a bed of chips was sampled while having an evening mini tour including a provision visit to the Coop before a return journey back to Loughborough station this time.
With a seat gained again and a prompt return back to base station at just shy of 7.30pm this had been a surprisingly enjoyable visit with a stack of goals and a club that I would recommend a visit to take in this smart and friendly little set up.