THATS THE WAY CHADAWAY AS SUB WINS IT IN STOPPAGE TIME FOR AYLESTONE PARK

AYLESTONE PARK 2 HUNTINGDON TOWN 1
UCL 1 @ SAFFRON LANE
9 MARCH 2019 --- 3PM

LATE WINNER FROM MATT CHADAWAY FOR AYLESTONE PARK

A dramatic 92nd minute winner from substitute Mark Chadaway broke the second half deadlock that had seen chances galore go begging but in the process devastate lowly visitors Huntingdon who themselves had been pushing for a winner. 
Journey to Leicester would be a challenging one with Sheffield Wednesday on the same line for their game at Derby and when a delayed XCountry came in with standing room the option to take this and change at Derby for the following on EMT service which should unload a few was taken.  It was then that I realised I may have miss calculated with Leicester City also being at home and todays destination passing the King Power.  However there was a cunning plan Baldrick with a aquamarine special running either way around the route that served Aylestone Park FC.  With time to play with the option of a look around the nearby Wigston centre was opted for, with a lack of encouraging take- aways the option to visit the newly refurbished Two Steeples was taken and a fish and chip meal.
This arrived after half an hour wait and as time drifted on I was fearing having to depart, it was good fayre however they were clearly in chip and pea counting portion control mode which was disappointing for just shy of nine quid.

TOWARDS THE PITCHSIDE CAFE

Hopping back on the circular '48' and after a frustrating delay for a driver change we started to collect City fans on their way to the 'big game'.  As ever to hear the conversations it just make me realise why I enjoy the non league and its volunteers so much more.
Departing more or less opposite the ground and approaching the pay box a warm greeting encouraged you into the ground and with programme, 50/50 and admission all gained in one fell swoop there was time for a look around.
Aylestone Park were last seen in a East Midlands League cup final at Barrow Town versus South Normanton a few years back and the gateman and grounds man well remembered that day of torrential downpour within a minute of the final whistle that left the whole area flooded!  The visit to their home base had been on the list for a while and always put off with the prospects of an uninspiring feel in the forefront of my thoughts, it was though a pleasure to be proved wrong.  From the warm welcome to a smart ground and some excellent catering facilities including a wonderfully pleasant lady in The Pitchside Café this was a very enjoyable visit.

DOUBLE SIDED DUGOUTS TO THE REAR

To the mini tour then to the right of our entrance is the clubhouse along with changing room facilities all added to by a large hang on marquee building.  The far side is out of bounds backing onto a further pitch and has the strange addition of back to back dug outs that are both in one half of the pitch.  The near side touchline is smartly adorned with advert boards a selection of smart wooden park type seats and along the half way a red tip up seated Atcost stand. 
At the top corner is the Pitchside Café a wooden chalet type building were you can also go inside with its fully tabled and chaired sit down area, this was an impressive addition and was well run by the lady on duty today.  Behind the far goal is an uncovered walkway and behind this is the clubs recent 3g pitch which adds a further progressive touch to this complex of pitches.  Overall the ground gave a well cared for and tidy impression to todays visitor.

I FORGOT TO CHECK WHO THE CLUBS SPOSNOR WAS.

Thankfully the clubs manager had confirmed todays game was on with no problems mid morning its just a shame that the club are not to active on social media because as ever there is a smashing little set up on hand here in Leicester.
There was not too much to play for the young Aylestone Park side were pretty well in mid table security whereas Huntingdon would like a few points to pull away from the bottom two of the table but will probably be ok.  The weeks wet weather had given way to gusty winds which really wrecked most of this game for the purist but overall the pitch looked in steady condition for this time of the season.
The first half didn't produce too much in the terms of chances for the visitors Christian Le forced Tom Holyoak into a finger tip save before the deadlock was broken with a screamer against the wind from 25 yards by Riley Davoile just past the twenty minute mark.

COREY KINGSTON EQUALISES FOR HUNTINGDON

The second half though produced a selection of chances that probably proved why these two sides are in the position they are, they just couldn't finish otherwise this could have been 5-5.
A fair few of the chances fell to visiting captain Corey Kingston who stretched and endeavoured to get a touch on quite a few occasions but it looked like it would not be his day that was until just over the hour mark when he turned in a group of players to fire home from close range to level the scores.
For Aylestone Park Cory Holden had forced the visiting keeper into a save that saw his effort ultimately strike the bar.

SHIRT SWAPPING COMES BEFORE THE FINAL WHISTLE

An exciting open second half had seen both sides attack and it looked neither would get the winner that was until we entered the second minute of stoppage time when the ball found Chadaway unmarked and he fired home from close range to win it for Aylestone Park.

REFEREE BULLEN OBSERVES AND BLOWS THAT WHISTLE

The final whistle saw a few of the Huntingdon players slump to their knees they had given so much to this game and you had to feel for them with this last gasp winner but they had contributed to a superb second half taking into account the conditions.

CHADAWAY [LEFT] CELEBRATES THE LATE WINNER

Return journey saw us through the traffic fairly quickly with a comfortable seat gained return around 7pm at base station and once again proving the ones that you put off are sometimes a really nice surprise.