ALBION AND TOWN SHARE POINTS IN OSSETT DERBY

OSSETT ALBION 1 V OSSETT TOWN 1
EVOSTIK NORTH @ DIMPLEFIELDS, OUR PHYSIO STADIUM, 6 APRIL 2015 3PM

OSSETT ALBION WITH EMLEY MOOR TV MAST OVERSEEING PROCEEDINGS
 

[More pictures from todays game will be on the we all stand together Facebook page in the next few days, please take a look]
Bank holiday Easter Monday and its 'derby' day you have heard of the Glasgow derby, the Liverpool derby, the Manchester derby.....well they don't come any bigger than this one the Ossett derby between Albion and Town!  Bragging rights to the fore for the winners and a much looked forward to match against this small towns two Evostik sides.  Quite an achievement it has to be said to keep the two clubs going.
By the time referee Jane Simms had called time on proceedings a share of the points was a fair score line and the ball could have a rest after being 'hoofed' about for much of the game.  Two quality goals one for Albion in the first half from Nicholas Mathews and the second half equaliser from Town's Steven Jeff belied much of the 90 minutes surrounding them.  However make no mistake this was a game played at full pace and commitment with a desire not to lose to their local rivals from around half a mile away.
As usual before a look at the on the field activities here is a look at the build up for the blog.  Having met a few Albion fans on my travels it was a ground I had always promised to take in and with the option of the derby game on Easter Monday being on the schedule it was an early start from base at 1000. 

FOOTBALL OR CRICKET?

Upon departure from Wakefield Kirkgate the day was promising much with glorious sunshine that we decided to walk the route to Ossett given that we had plenty of time and to take in the surroundings.  Upon arrival in Ossett we took a peek at Town's Inglefields ground, a stadium that I had viewed a game on just once about 14 years ago, it is in a superb edge of town position right opposite the bus station.
This being a bank holiday there was little open and with no W/spoons pub for lunch or take away trading the decision was made to eat at the ground, once again like at Basford a wise choice.  The wander down to Queens Terrace/Dimplefields/Our Physio Stadium [you choose your favourite] was via Station Rd to check out the return bus stop for the 126 Aquamarine special to Wakefield at the end of the game.
A few facts[?] about Ossett it is the largest town in W. Yorkshire without a train station and one of the largest in the country too.  The Coronation St actress Helen Worth is from the town alongside the Cussons soap inventor too.  The clear stand out building, after thee football clubs, is the impressive town hall.  The other amazing fact is there appears to be no large supermarket in the town, no 'T's', there is a small one on the edge of the town and a Coop in the town centre.  A weird feel there aren't many towns were the big boys are not very prominent. 

FOOTBALL LOOKING TOWARDS CRICKET

Back to our walk to the ground and Ossett Albion FC is accessed via a small tight lane between the houses on the junction of Dimple Wells Rd and Dimple Wells Lane.  The lane opens up with bowling green to the right and all weather pitch to the left and then as the Emley Moor TV mast stands proudly on the distance hillside we come across the Ossett Cricket Clubs ground and fantastic pavilion.  Below the far boundary is the entrance to Albions ground just to the left of the impressive score board.

        TIGHT TERRACING BETWEEN THE CRICKET GROUND AND THE FOOTBALL CLUB

Its a tight turnstile entrance were we pay our entrance, purchase a programme and as soon as we put a foot into the ground are challenged to obtain a raffle ticket, something we of course willingly do.  The area to the right is the snack bar and we are straight in there to order a chip cob [buttie] with peas.  This seems a new one but when Mick follows suit the bloke behind asks for the same and we have maybe set a trend.  It was as I mentioned earlier a wise choice to wait and eat at the ground and meet the friendly ladies on duty.  The terracing of two steps is very tight but offers a good view although today it was looking straight into the bright sunshine, this side also houses both dugouts. 

THE FAMILIAR ATCOST STAND END

The far goal has behind it an Atcost stand that this time is all standing not of the usual seating variety. In the far corner of the ground is a wonderful concept, something that we made use of but before the game was in full flow an old style football ground gents toilet, against a wall and 'it' will roll away in a half cut drain pipe.  The wonderful thing here though is it points towards the pitch with no roof on it and if you are over 5ft 6in you can see over the wall, so if you need to go while the game is on you can still watch the action!  Continuing around the ground and opposite the dugouts is the main stand with static black seats that have probably seen happier days, access is around the back of the seats but within the stand and so we come out to the goal were we made out entrance.  This area is full of a quaint collection of buildings some in use some not, a covered portion of terrace, a double deck container cabin building the upper deck housing the good PA system and the lower deck the club shop.  Two points here worth mentioning good audible PA announcements, well one and probably the tidiest of club shops I have seen for a while.

TIDIEST CLUB SHOP OF THE SEASON

Programmes all in neat condition in order well labelled and a selection of memorabilia well displayed, a credit to you Albion!  There is then a raised terrace behind it the toilet block and to the side the club bar named The Peter Eaton Bar.

SWEDEDN ON TOUR

To the side of this is the changing rooms and we are then back to the corner were we paid our money at the turnstile.
Upon our arrival at 1.45 the ground was buzzing with the childrens teams playing on the pitch and proud parents enjoying the afternoon sun.  Albion had also offered all children attending the game a free Easter Egg if they could save them from the Evil Chicken.  Right on cue after the childrens games had finished and the children had been lined up the Chicken, aka good runner in yellow chicken costume, appeared and ran away across the hallowed turf with 50 kids in pursuit.  Needless to say with chocolate on offer it was not long before they had rescued the confectionary from the clutch of the feathered marauder.  Once again though this along with the childrens games was a superb effort by the club it clearly looked like all including parents had an enjoyable time.

MALCOLM CHECKS OUT THE FOOD FAYRE

Before the game it was great to meet up with Malcolm from Castleford who we met at Widnes earlier on in the season and who has been following the blog since, thanks mate for your interest its much appreciated.  During the game we also got into conversation with one of Malcolm's mates an Ossett Town fan who dropped his pen onto the pitch side and popped round the to collect it during the game passing the Albion ultras who gave this Ossett Town attired supporter a bit of fair banter.  This was the make up of the day with both supporters giving their teams full support and the Albion fans were noisy but amusing in their observations of the goings on in the game.

A BRAVE MAN TO RISK THE ALBION ULTRAS BANTER!

Also of interest was the three supporters from Sweden who visit England for games and have adopted Ossett Albion as their team to follow and indeed it appears most Easter Monday derby games are high on their calendar of events to be attended every year, well done guys and to Albion for making them welcome.
Having completed a couple of circuits of the ground it has to be said some of the views from the ground are lovely and matching to some of my Welsh trips this season.  The other note worthy point is the slope across the pitch towards the main stand and I guess also from the Atcost stand end towards the club bar end.

1-0 TO THE ALBION

The game I hear you say well it was an industrious affair with the ball spending one heck of a lot of time on the air being hoofed from one end of the pitch to the other, some of the passing was woefully amiss and the quality of the football was not great.  However there is clearly a determination not to lose this important game and the pitch was in areas short of grass and now getting to that stage of the season were the ball bobbles about unpredictably.

REFEREE JANE SIMMS NOT SURE WHO TO AID FIRST

That said I enjoyed the commitment of both teams with every inch of ground fought for their was little time on the ball, challenges were fair and too that end referee Jane Simms never had to reach for her cards.
Albion took the lead on 17 minutes when Nicholas Mathews swept the ball past Town's keeper Brad Dixon for clinical finish and that's how we went in at half time, 1-0.

The second period took on board the same nature as the first half until deservedly the visitors from up town equalised with a fantastic strike from Steven Jeff who hit a vicious cross goal drive from just inside the box. 

Brett Souter had to be alert on two further occasions in the second half from Town forays and on the Albion tally sheet Brad Dixon was on hand to force Connor Bower to place his shot into the side netting before positioning himself for a good save from the same player.
Correct score line, honours even, bragging rights protected and a bumper bank holiday crowd of 455 had enjoyed a day out in the sun in a friendly atmosphere, including a few from Sweden, a few hoppers and the largest St Bernard dog seen for a while who was....well just finding it all too hot!
Steady stroll for the bus back to Wakefield, we decided not to walk back, and plenty of time for the train departure from Kirkgate back to base.
This had been an enjoyable afternoon with a friendly club who had quite a busy day all round for their officials and a ground set in beautiful surroundings especially on a gorgeous spring day.

ITS A LITTLE TOO HOT TODAY GUYS