MEASURED HALL ROAD VICTORY OVER GRIMSBY BOROUGH

HALL ROAD RANGERS 4 V GRIMSBY BOROUGH 0
NCEL 1 @ HAWORTH PARK
7 NOVEMBER 2015 --- 2PM

HALL ROAD RANGERS FC

A well balanced two goals in each half saw the home side take all three points in this bottom of the table encounter.  With some better finishing Rangers could have doubled their score against second bottom Borough who are still struggling to drag themselves away from the basement.

PHILLIP LARKIN WELCOMES YOU TO HULL

Much planning goes into a hoppers travelling but todays was a realisation that the winter weather is back with us and with a selection of games gaining the blogs interest it was the rain that would make Saturday morning a tense affair.  With a guaranteed game on 3g in the West Midlands it was looking favourable for a trip to Birmingham, but never one to go for the easy route the other choice of a trip to Hull gave the chance to visit Hall Rd Rangers and their new ground at Haworth Park and with a 2pm kick off a reasonable call off would leave games at Goole, North Ferriby and Barton Town as a back up.
Well with thanks to the home club a quick text to the grounds man just after 9am confirmed, with the weather improving, he was confident the game would be on.  At this juncture I have to say a quick thank you to Alan and the clubs quick response so many clubs seem un responsive but when travelling is involved it requires a  prompt answer that was gained today, cheers.  With a few hoppers in attendance today hopefully this benefited Hall Rd Rangers with a few more on the gate.

AN ORIGINAL KINGSTON COMMUNICATIONS CREAM PHONE BOX

The usual journey to base station saw departure on an earlier than planned train allowing  a connection onto the 1041 seaside express to Bridlington, calling first at Hull Paragon, it was on the early part of this journey that Gordon of the Rainworth parish text to say their game was off at Barton Town!  A few moments negativity came across my mind but thankfully Sheffield FC fan John was on his way to Goole for their game and our conversation saw me arrive reasonably calmly in Hull just after midday to bright sunshine.
Re acquaintance was made with Philip Larkin famous poet who spent many of his days in Hull as Librarian at Hull University who has a superb statue on the station forecourt with some quotes from his works inserted into the concourse.
A few minutes to gain the blogs bearings for the bus to Scarborough which takes the Beverley Rd out of Hull towards the edge of the estate that is adjacent to Haworth Park.  The early stages of departure are of a edge of city that needs a little love and attention but we were soon alighting to the sight of a Kingston Communications cream old style phone box.  Following track suited player via a footpath that looked like it would near the ground we were rewarded with the approach road to Haworth Park former home of the amateur rugby league club of the same name.

HAWORTH HALL AND THE DUG OUTS SIDE OF HAWORTH PARK

At this point it needs to be made clear that Hall Road have just moved into the ground this season and are in the process of doing many things with I guess even less hands but having took on the ground on a long lease from a local private school they have a good base.

KOP TERRACING

Todays kick off was brought forward to 2pm while the club gets through the final stages of planning application for floodlights, at present they have their temporary ones in place.  With work having gone on this week in some wet conditions there is a fair proportion of mud around the place and a well placed cherry picker by one floodlight which is awaiting its last floodlight to be installed.
At present the ground has two parts open to spectator viewing along the main stand and behind the goal by the entrance hard standing has been put in place and the club aims to have their planned for floodlights operational within a few weeks and develop hard standing around the ground and further upgrade facilities.  The entrance to the ground is quite in auspicious with a turnstile approached to via a rough car park area, plans are also in place to re situate this too.  To the left of the entrance is the main club buildings changing rooms and a small room with tea and coffees only today, a shame as I could have done with a chip cob.  Above is a club house which sadly is closed today for a wedding function to take place but I believe its been upgraded and looking smart.  to the far end are some public toilets and the a fairly large sized stand which has bench seating and seemed to contain most of todays spectators.  The dug outs are on the opposite side with a TV/video gantry between the two this side and the far goal end as no hard standing at present. 

VIEW FROM THE ALAN PARKER STAND

Within the dugouts are two badges one for Hall Rd Rangers and the other for Hull City Ladies who I believe also play at the ground.  Further behind the dug outs and the goal by our entrance are more pitches that grounds man Alan was marking out as the players were warming up.  Also of note at the ground towards the far end is Haworth Hall, a grade 2 listed building and former home of Benjamin Blaydes Haworth, which sits proudly watching the game and all that it entails.

HAWORTH HALL VIEWS THE GAME

Before the game there was chance to catch up with Lee Myers media man and man of many other hats too and the blogs thanks him for the teams and a little resume of the club.
As we approached kick off it was a dry and bright day with photo's a little difficult from the vantage points available the pitch has also been taken in a few yards I guess while the hard work goes on with the lights to save making a mess of the pitch.
So to the game and with Grimsby Borough fighting for the bottom spot with Lincoln Moorland Railways a close encounter may have been envisaged with Hall Rd just 4 places above them.

It was 26 minutes before we saw the first goal with Ben Kinsley driving home well from a pin point cross off the right wing.

BEN KINSLEY MAKES IT 1-0

It was Kinlsey who was involved this time in the build up he had his shirt tugged I the box but before complaints could be made to the referee Mike Thompson had smashed the lose ball home.
After the break Grimsby were forced into making a change with their keeper Leigh Cook being replaced in goal by Kyle Bensley.

Hall Rd were having some stray shots testing the advertising boards and then in a short period of time two tantalising crosses went begging with just a slight touch needed to increase the home sides advantage.  The goals did come though Chris Garth was upended in the box and Paul Morrill slotted the ball home from the penalty spot.
It was 4-0 and game over on 68 minutes when Danny Walker was put through an he drove past the out coming Bensley.

HALL RD RANGERS MANAGEMENT DIRECT PROCEEDINGS

As the game drifted away Grimsby did start to show a little and on occasions could have probably secured a consolation goal but it wasn't to be and the points were successfully placed in the Hall Rd Rangers pot when referee Banasik called time on the affair just after 3.45pm.

NEVER LET IT BE SAID THE BLOG 'CHERRY PICKS' ITS GAMES

Spirited amble back to Beverley Rd with time to upload some food for the 4.57 back to Sheffield with seat gained for the journey there was time to check out the other results and upon departure join a busy train back to base station for just after 6.30pm.  The joys of 2pm kick offs they don't seem right but are great for getting back in nice time as the winter evenings close in.

An enjoyable trip to Hull a city I probably don't visit enough, although twice now in the last few weeks appears to be putting that right, with time and some hard work Hall Rd will I'm sure get their ground up to a standard they would aspire too and I look forward to revisiting again.