HARBOROUGH BUZZING AFTER THREE SECOND HALF GOALS SECURES COMEBACK

HARBOROUGH TOWN 3 V PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR 2
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION @ BOWDENS PK
12 MARCH 2016 --- 3PM

BOWDENS PARK HOME OF HARBOROUGH TOWN FC

A powerhouse second half comeback from Harborough Town saw them score 3 goals in 20 minutes to overturn the visitors half time 2-0 lead.  Peterborough Northern Star [PNS] were looking comfortable at the break 2 goals to the good and with the home side looking out of the match.  But as somebody once said football is a 'funny old game' and the young Harborough side put in a 'full on' second half performance which was graced by a brace from Ryan Watkin and the winner from a sweet strike by Barnes Gladman.  You had to feel a little sorry for PNS the home sides whirlwind second half performance had secured them all three point in a game they looked out of at half time.

MARKET HARBOROUGH STATION

The day started with a confidence that the weather would not interfere with plans, today at last we had seen two days of dry weather and we were planning a trip to see Holywell v Holyhead Hotspur in the Cymru Alliance.  That was until just after 7am when a quick check of the rail enquiries site showed track side cable problems were delaying Manchester trains and then half an hour later it got worse with Sheffield signalling broken with trains backed up all over the place by 8.30am.  So we had got rid of the rain and now the transport network was creating todays problem upon arrival at base station there were a few semi stranded people with a XCountry Edinburgh bound train parked up on platform 3 with nowhere to go north with the line backlogged and we had a decision to make.
One of this weeks games had been a previously researched trip to south Leicestershire and Market Harborough for Bowdens Pk the home of the towns football club.  We came to the conclusion that London bound trains were least affected by the chaos and purchased tickets only then to realise Sheffield Wednesday fans were going via Derby to their game at Forest and England rugby fans were also off to Twickenham.  The slightly delayed service saw us in a nice standing position by the doors, as is becoming the norm.  We managed to take up a seat from Derby and got chatting to a nice couple who were off to see their daughter in London and as usual even though they had got on in Sheffield the gentleman's home town was Alfreton and we had a small chat about The Reds from the 1950's reformation.  We were soon departing in Leciester for the following train that performs the all stopping train to London and within 15 minutes a departure at Market Harborough for a visit to a new ground and also a new town that had never come on my radar before.

ST DIONYSIUS AND IN THE FOREGROUND
GRAMMAR SCHOOL CHURCH

Following a steady walk into the town it soon become clear that the centre is a bottleneck for traffic but the shopping area was smart with a fair degree of boutique type shops.  Wetherspoon's was soon located and for the second Saturday running a 'spoons' was found with downstairs toilets!  The Sugar Loaf is a smart pub and very busy today the food was ok but a little sparse they appeared to have counted out the peas and chips today and any that approached double figures were taken back off the plate.
With a good couple of hours to kick off we walked away from the Northampton Rd that leads to todays venue for a visit to the Union Canal wharf a brisk 15 minute walk from the town centre.

UNION CANAL WHARF

A pleasant experience and there was time for a little look around the basin and catch up with a few people their we very nearly enlisted as crew on one narrow boat.  The time arrived for the walk back to town and having passed by the all seeing parish church, St Dionysius, and Grammar school church.
There was even time to walk down the quaintly named Adam and Eve St formally the home for a few years of Thomas Cook the Derbyshire born travel agent.

WOULD YOU ADAM AND EVE IT?   FORMER HOME OF THOMAS COOK

The time had arrived to set off for the game and off we travelled down Northampton Rd to the end of the town and overlapping one would guess the towns boundary we arrived after about 20 minutes at the leisure centre site which featured numerous facilities.  Walking to the rear we see the local rugby club and behind this the football clubs impressive headquarters comes into view.  To the right is a selection of 3g pitches and further beyond many grass pitches for the clubs 47 sides, yes 47!

CHANGING ROOMS, CLUB HOUSE, FUNCTION ROOM AND SNACK BAR ALL IN ONE BUILDING

With entrance paid and usual purchases a quick tour was made of the ground and although basic it is smart and well looked after immediately to the right is the club house with a lawn terraced area with entrance to the changing rooms and to the side toilets an a further entrance to the clubhouse, private function room and snack bar which was looking smart and presentable as is the norm at Bowdens Park.

ATCOST STANDS LOOKING SMART IN CORPORATE COLOURS

The far side has two smart 50 seater Atcost stands in corporate amber and black livery to the top corner is a weird deep covered area which would offer rain shelter but is positioned in the corner behind the corner flag.  The top goal offers uncovered standing and that's were it ends the ground is three sided and as the dug outs beckon down the touchline you cannot enter this area and it remains grassed up to the external fenced area that surrounds the whole of the arena.  Its quite a shame this because there is always a lot of activity around the dug outs and it does take a little away not being able to hear the banter from the benches.
We had some friendly conversations with the local supporters with whom its was a pleasure to catch up with and a couple of PNS followers who had made the trip too, nice to meet you all.  Moving back inside we were sold the club by Pauline who gave the blog a full run down on the club and her enthusiasm shone out brightly for a club with numerous, 47, teams and potential for further developments with the hope of a 3g pitch soon.  We also met Andy at the same time and the enthusiasm of people like Andy and Pauline are a real necessity for non league football to continue, well done more strength to you!
Thanks to Pauline the teams were secured and by this time Mick was off in conversation again catching up with some Bees fans outside.

The game pitched two teams just below mid table but with little to worry about in terms of relegation and after a smart start from PNS it was Harborough who seemed to get on top that was until 21 minutes when the visitors were handed a penalty which Callum Maddigan converted to the right.  Things went from bad to worse 8 minutes later when PNS made it 2-0 when Luke Smith headed in at the far post from a left wing corner.
The Cambridgeshire visitors were looking comfortable at half time and you could not see the home side getting much back from the game.  As we all re gathered for the second half one home fan made it clear they were now kicking to their favourite end, I added that a couple of quick goals and it would be an interesting finish.  How right we both were and with the HTFC 'barmy army' in situ behind the goal we were about to experience a remarkable second half comeback.

1-2 AFTER 56 MINUTES

After 56 minutes belief returned when a floated ball into the box saw visiting keeper fly from his line and in the process collide in an aerial challenge with home captain Ben Williams and as the ball flew further cross the line Watkin headed home.  Moments later home custodian Glen Giles kept Harborough in the game with a save from Chris Jones and this proved all to the good when on 64 minutes the scores were level.

WATKINS MAKES IT 2-2

A looping corner off the right was met by the rising colossus that is Watkins who powered home a cracking header that sent him wheeling away in delight with his team mates in hot pursuit.

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN

The ultimate in comebacks arrived on 76 minutes with Mason Thomas holding the ball up well with his back to goal before laying into the path of Gladwin who drove home from 14 yards out inside the visiting keepers right hand post to make it 3-2.  Pure scenes of joy as the side went over to celebrate with the home dug outs.

3-2 THE CELBRATION CONTINUE

Make no doubts though PNS contributed to this second half and continued to try to play attractive football so much so that Harborough had to remain alert right up to the final whistle.  When the final whistle did arrive it was clearly something that brought much joy to the players officials and it has to be said supporters of Harborough Town who were more than appreciative of this young sides efforts.  The blog would certainly echo these sentiments a real battling performance which showed great character.
Time to say goodbye to Bowdens Park and Harborough Town after a very enjoyable game for a fiver as per usual it would be great if more local football supporters would pop along to non league games you may just see a cracking game, like today, and get the chance to be part of a smart little set up like Harborough Town.

THE BEES COME OFF AS A TEAM

The reverse journey was made via a parallel to the main road footpath that saw arrival back at the station with about 10 minutes to spare before departing on the Leicester bound train.  Word of warning here don't get caught at the station building end of the platform the train pulls well through the station and we had a small sprint to complete to board!  A couple of minutes for our connecting train back to base saw us get a seat for the whole of our two return journeys, things are looking up.
A new town, new ground for the blog and an enjoyable afternoon and one that I look forward to visiting again soon.

2-2 AND WATKIN [16] SEES HIS HEADER NESTLE IN THE GOAL