PRIMS WIN THE DERBY 'DERBY' WITH VICTORY OVER BORROWASH

GRAHAM ST PRIMS 3 V BORROWASH VICS 1
EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES LEAGUE @ THE BAYTREE CARS ARENA
31 AUGUST 2015 3PM

MAIN STAND AT GRAHAM ST PRIMS

This city of Derby 'derby' saw Graham St Prims successful with a 3-1 result that leapfrogs them over their neighbours Borrowash Vics.  The second half gave up three goals with an 80th minute strike giving the visitors a bit of late hope of maybe securing a draw before Dean Oliver made it safe for Prims in the closing minute.
With a cautious eye on the weather with the lovely summer producing some heavy rain the plans looked likely to take the blog to Manchester were surprise, surprise no rain was forecast.  However after a few hours of BBC weather spotting and having full confidence in Carol Kirkwood the 'risk' was taken to make the short journey to see this enticing derby game in the city if Derby between two clubs who back onto themselves on the former Asrterdale club site.

ENTRANCE TO THE BAYTREE CARS ARENA

Base journey to Derby met with a comfortable change before departure on the Nottingham Rd a couple of miles east of the city.  Although this was not a first visit to the newly named Baytree Cars Arena it was a first for the blog and to be honest the first since I guess the late 80's when the ground was not enclosed as now.
Sad to say the approach gates now lead to a derelict Asterdale club with to the far end of the car park has the approach to Borrowash Vic's home ground The Anderson Electrical Arena featured for some Derby Ladies games last season, to the immediate left the way into The Prims ground opens up aside the abandoned club.  We undertook a walk around the playing fields between both clubs which featured rugby and football pitches but no longer the cricket ground that I believe Spondon used to grace.

VICS TO THE LEFT AND TODAYS VENUE GRAHAM ST PRIMS TO THE RIGHT WITH
THE ASTERDALE IN THE BACKGROUND

These two clubs, ground sharing aside, must have two of the closest non league grounds anywhere in the country with at one point the respective clubs boundaries being about 50 yards apart its very reminiscent of the two Dundee clubs in Scotland.
With the rain still nagging away at a consistent drizzle level it was time to enter via a small walkway to the left of the clubs changing room block.  Immediately behind the goal on our entrance is the main stand with tip up seats set on concrete block steps with the whole ground railed all the way round the hard standing also continues for the full perimeter of the pitch and behind this a 6ft high wooden fence encloses the ground in.  The ground as the interesting feature of floodlights set at the four corners of the ground.  The dug outs are nicely positioned on the far side with a bright red decoration prominent and opposite is a collection of small metal shelters that thanks to a Prims fan advised the blog that they were de commissioned smoking shelters from the local Rolls Royce factory and now put to use here at the ground. 
The downside is that only two of them have a roof on them but this it would be due to the lovely wind that whips across this area of Derby dislodging them to elsewhere.  Coming back to out entrance and to the right is the food cabin and a small toilet block which backs onto the changing rooms.

ROSIE AND GILL IN THE G & J CABIN WITH AN IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF SOUPS

The snack bar follows the name of J and G Cabin and of course is run by the lovely ladies who take those initials as their name Josie and Gill.  Now with a few seats inside and a warm welcome its a place to visit and most amazingly the place for the connoisseur of packet soups, unbelievably they had 13 different varieties on offer, great effort ladies!
While the soups and of course confectionery bar the blogs fellow traveller Michael asked about the 'pick the joker in the pack' draw which was £1 a go with a notice board of playing cards face down on them.  The winning raffle ticket at half time had the chance to try to find the joker card on the board and of course you can guess it the man himself won the raffle but sadly did not pick the joker card off the said board.  So he had got the winning ticket but won nothing, well done mate!

MATCH ACTION WITH PRIMS IN RED AND WHITE

Todays match alongside the 'derby' nature of the game had other local connections including Sam Kellogg Prims number 5, brother of England badminton player Donna Kellogg MBE, being a former Vics player and manager.  Borrowash came into this game on the back of a 5-0 win over strugglers Greenwood Meadows so the blog anticipated a lively affair.
To the game and with a first of endeavour but little in the way of chances apart from Liam Oliver who forced Vics keeper Wayne Smith into a sharp save after 37 minutes.

The home side had enjoyed the majority of the first half in the sense of possession and probably deservedly took the lead 4 minutes before the break Jordan Gilhooly sent on the cross for Sam Hawkins to head home confidently.
The second half was a dour affair and it showed little to report until 70 minutes when Prims doubled their lead.  Good work down the right by Gilhooly fed a cross into the box and Mikey Fitzhugh drilled the ball home after the Vics keeper had saved the initial effort. 
Borrowash managed to get themselves back into the game on 80 minutes when substitute Anthony Rowley fired past Martin Apentis and we looked forward to a exciting final 10 minutes.

The anticipation was not really fulfilled, although we did get a further goal, on 89 minutes when Graham St Prims increased their lead to secure a final victory 3-1.  A lovely move saw James Rushby see his effort well saved by Smith only for the on hand Dean Oliver to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
A steady afternoon visit on a bank holiday and with a swift exit there was plenty of time in Derby for a small lemonade before the journey back to base.

PROBABLY THE BEST PICTURE OF THE DAY.......WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THIS  MAN
FROM THE DERBY TELEGRAPH