RADCLIFFE AND HOLWELL SERVE UP STALMATE

RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC 0 V HOLWELL SPORTS 0
EAST MIDLAND COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE @ WHARF LNE
26 MARCH 2016 --- 3PM

RADCLIFFE OLYMPICS WHARF LANE GROUND

This goal less encounter was affected by a strong wind blowing the full length of the Recreation Ground pitch and although some nil nil games can be classics this one was not.  The game had few chances although there was plenty of effort from both sides and the home team struck the woodwork twice.
More of the game later and for a change we made an all bus blog from base with the holiday period upon us and once again heavy rain forecast we headed east and on this occasion to the east of Nottingham.  Radcliffe Olympic would be a new visit and although my past experience of The EMCFL has not always been favourable the research was done and we opted for a mid morning start with The Comet landing us in Derby at just before 1130 we headed to the landing strip of The Red Arrow.  This Trent Barton service is now served by triple axle coaches at around £250,000 a piece with Nottingham achieved at just after mid day we moved onto the Rushcliffe Mainline service which is also served by Trent Barton and after a change of buses in the Broadmarsh Centre we were soon passing Notts County's and Forest's grounds before the wonderful Trent Bridge home of Notts cricket.

THE RED ARROW RESTING OVER IN NOTTINGHAM VICTORIA BUS STATION

We departed in Radcliffe on Trent at around 1pm to some annoying light drizzle and set off on a walk around the village centre in places it is a quite boutique centre although thankfully for us there was a Coop and a chippy.  Fellow traveller Mick opted for the latter and I made the mistake of deciding to hunt a sandwich in the Coop on the way back.  Now hunt was probably the correct word about 3 lonely desolate packs of fillings I didn't fancy so the ground but I wasn't rescued there today with just crisps and confectionery available.

ST MARYS CHURCH SEEN FROM THE RECREATION GROUND

The Parish church of St Mary's sits well in the village with a weird church column no spire, we wandered out towards The Chestnut pub which seemed to be a place to visit for eats on any future visits to the area.
Back then to Wharf Lane were we approached the Wharf Lane Recreation ground the ground is down a bank and can be seen from the top of the grass knoll or road side we continued to walk towards the railway bridge which supports the line from Nottingham to Grantham and got into conversation with a guy looking to see a rare freight engine which was due.
With the time approaching 2.3opm and Mick already in the ground I made the break to the entrance and paid my admission fee to gateman Michael who offered a warm welcome.  Sadly today there was no programme produced and hopefully any players not spelt correctly are pulled from the team sheet.

CHANGING ROOMS AT WHARF LANE

Immediately straight on and behind the goal are the brick built changing rooms with snack bar serving drinks/crisps etc to the side of a committee room.  The whole ground has the obligatory hard standing walkway around it and so we move onto the far side touchline which in the top half has a single bench seated stand with the dug outs situated by the half way line.  Behind this touchline is a sectioned of field which houses the local livery with a selection of horses.

MAIN STAND FEATURING SOME PROTECTION FROM THE WIND

The far goal had a high raised bank which services the afore mentioned railway line which sees infrequent services passing during the afternoon.  The touchline that leads us back to the main facilities area is at the bottom of the bank and is separated from the rest of the recreation ground by screened Herres fencing, well over 30 panels which I'm told is put in place before every game.  The ground is generally smart apart from a little graffiti which must annoy the club but is something beyond their control with a ground open to the public with footpaths passing through.
The former Chancellor Ken Clarke is the local MP and also President of Radcliffe Olympic and although I couldn't see him being in attendance for a photo I have sat in the same block as him at the cricket at Derbyshire County Cricket Club before, sadly he didn't attend so no photo for the blog!

DERBYSHIRE REF REECE DAVIES SHAKES ON IT WITH ANDREW HARLAND TO THE LEFT
EAGER TO SHAKE TOO

The wind today is blustery without being gale force but is blowing away from the changing rooms and something that Radcliffe have to their backs in the first half as they attack the railway end.  Holwell Sports needing the points to pull away from the wrong end of the table are up against it in the first half with Radcliffe dominant but the only real effort of note came from Ryan Perkins swinging free kick off the left which crashed back off the bar three minutes before half time for the home side

FIRST HALF ACTION WITH HOLWELL ON THE BALL

During the interval we made acquaintances of two hoppers who had made the trip from Chester for this encounter.

RADCLIFFE ATTACK IN THE FIRST HALF

The second half saw Holwell with the wind at their backs and it proved to be their second half with again much pressure resulting in little of note.  Indeed the home side struck the post for the second time after 85 minutes when Jan Yeomans struck the left upright with a free kick off the right hand side of the pitch from 25 yards.  Following a late start at nearly ten past four we finally wrapped up here just 2 minutes short of 5 o clock and it was the blogs second goal less game on the run.
Within a few minutes we were back on the Rushcliff Mainline service to Nottingham and as the skies opened up the rain we had been promised came to fruition.  A rain soaked dash for The Red Arrow to Derby saw us connect with the already landed Comet back to base at just shy of 7pm.

VIEW FROM THE RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC BENCH