UTTOXETER AND HIGHGATE BATTLE IT OUT FOR A POINT EACH

UTTOXETER TOWN 2 V HIGHGATE UTD 2
MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 @ OLDFIELDS 11 APRIL 2015 3PM

AN IMPRESSIVE ENTRANCE TO THE OLDFIELD PITCH

[As ever please take a look in the next few days when a few more pictures from todays blog visit will be on the 'we all stand together' Facebook page]
Fifth placed Uttoxeter so nearly upset the apple cart by taking all three points against Highgate United but a Scott Turner strike 15 minutes from time earned the visitors a deserved share of the spoils in this eagerly contested affair.
This was to be another fairly local visit and a club that had once again been on the 'too do' list for a few seasons and it meant the option of arriving by train or bus, the latter was opted for and following a change in Derby the 'Swift' planted us in Uttoxeter bus station at half past mid day.

UTTOXETER IN FULL BLOOM IN THE SPRING SUNSHINE

Following a little walk round this picturesque town it was fellow hopper Mick who won the spot the Wetherspoons prize this week with The Old Swan right under our noses on the edge of the Market Square we drifted in for some luncheon and a refreshing pint of lemonade.  Surprisingly it was a quiet 'spoons' and yes the toilets were the usual march away and back to being upstairs again following the downstairs variety at Lincoln a few weeks ago.

A JOINT GREETING

A short walk to the ground saw us have a look over to the ground from the main road before we turned around and arrived at The Oldfield Sports Ground just before 2pm.  The car park was nearly full and to the right a large catering wagon was firing up for business.  The impressive two turreted pavilion building features the sports and social club with changing rooms to the rear, the ground also caters for rugby, I guess of the union variety, and cricket.  The football pitch is the biggest distance away from the pavilion and is accessed via a railed  hard standing walkway with the players travelling the same direction through a roped off passage to access the ground.


THE LARGE PAYBOX AT UTTOXETER FC, COULD PROBABLY HOUSE A SMALL FAMILY!

The whole of the ground and approaching walk is rallied off with the thick tubular plastic barriers like at many a UK racecourse.  Entrance to the access road is by payment at a very large white painted 'super shed' which also sold todays programme and a small selection of 'Town' merchandise.  Having paid for programmes, nicely named 'Utcheter Hammer' and admission,, a very reasonable £3 and just £2 for seniors, I kept hold of my numbered entrance ticket popped out of the ground and went off in search of todays teams sheets with both secretary's approachable they were gained without any difficulties, thanks guys.

DUG OUT STANDS

Behind the near goal is a large green storage container and surrounding this three very small dugout sized building planted at regular intervals.  To the far side is the current dugout area and between and to the top side are two park bench side seats and one bench seat with no backs all painted in corporate colours of yellow and black.

TWO SMART ATCOST STANDS WELL POSITIONED WIDE OF THE NETS

Behind the top goal are two Atcost stand which account for just short of 100 seats the first has yellow and blue tip up ones and the second nice shiny new black ones.  The opposite side to the dug outs is all grass standing fine today but I guess rather wet in the summer.
As ever Mick had gone off in search of pastures new and had got into conversation with a few new friends including a Uttoxeter fan who recounted the tale of a local vicar who sometime wears his Chesterfield FC scarf in the pulpit!  We then met Duncan from Scarborough who had popped along today while his beloved Bridlington had no game, he had selected this game after passing the ground many times in his HGV driving job and it was good to meet you cheers mate and we look forward to catching you soon at a 'Brid' match.  During the build up it was also noticeable to the blog that the club had a really friendly feel to it with many supporters stopping for a chat including Uttoxeter manager Mark Grimley who had time for a greeting.  All things that create a positive feel about a club.

MATCH ACTION WITH THE PAVILION OVERVIEWING PROCEEDINGS

The game started at a fair old pace on a slightly bobbly and now drying out surface with a strong wind in the first half slightly disturbing the play.  The first half was being bossed by Uttoxeter until on 25 minutes Highgate took the lead with a fortuitous goal, Liam O Shea's low cross was back heeled across the 6 yard box by Martin Crawford only for it to hit the heal of the unfortunate Harry Price and dribble over the goal line for an OG. 

1-1 UTTOXETER'S GARY BEARDLSEY LEVELS THE SCORES

Town deservedly equalised following a foul by visiting keeper Bradley Catlow and it was Gary Beardsley who converted the resultant penalty into the bottom left hand corner of the Highgate goal.
Four minutes before half time and Uttoxeter had the lead when James Curley hared down on goal  beat keeper Catlow to the ball and slot home for a 2-1 lead.  United were unlucky no to go in on level terms when Scott Turner hit the bar.

ALEX LANGRIDGE CLAIMS WELL AFTER AN AFTERNOON OF
SUCCESSFUL PUNCHED CLEARANCES

The second period saw Highgate mount more serious pressure than they had managed in the first period and Uttoxeter were looking to use their youth and pace to hit the visitors on the break, the next goal would be very important.  With 15 minutes to go it fell to Highgate following a free kick off the right Uttoxeter struggled to clear the ball and when it dropped to Turner who fired home to pull the scores level.  In the closing minutes the visitors had a goal disallowed for offside before on 90 minutes Uttoxeter missed the chance that should have won them the game.  It was however one of those moments when said player probably had the ball in the back of the net in his head before it reached him.  A low cross fired in off the left bypassed the defenders and the keeper to the in running Gary Beardsley who fired into the side netting from 4 yards out with the goal looking certain.

Overall though this was probably the correct result a point that puts Highgate nearer to the title and a point that Uttoxeter's efforts also deserved.

TODAYS MAN OF THE MATCH UTTOXETERS MARK SPRINGALL

 One further comment on todays encounter was the outstanding performance of Uttoxeter's number 5 Mark Springall who was a tower in defence in both commitment and the tackle, man of the match performance today he repelled much of what Highgate threw at him today.

VANTAGE POINTS IN FULL USE

The game finished at 5pm a late start by 5 minutes and a fair few delays had worked well for us on this occasion with now just 50 minutes to meander back to the town centre were we had a further walk around with a few purchases from the journey back from the new [ish] superstore beginning iwht a 'A' sadly this one and the one with a 'T' had probably seen the closure of the local Coop in The Maltings  A Swift exit back to Derby for a 10 minute connection time and base was arrived at just after 8pm.

I KNOW.......OH OK I DON'T I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHATS GOING ON!

Another good day out, an enjoyable pretty ground with friendly supporters a nice little town and one that if you have not visited the blog recommends to you.

BOTH OF TODAY'S LIVERIED TRANSPORTATION
MODES SIDE BY SIDE