AYLESTONE PARK LIFT THE LEAGUE CUP

AYLESTONE PARK 2 V SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC  1
EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE JENKINS AND JENKINS LEAGUE CUP
@ RIVERSIDE PARK BARROW TOWN
7 MAY 2016 --- 3PM

AYLESTONE PARK'S CAPTAIN KIERAN NEAT WITH THE CUP IN DRY CONDITIONS

A first half double from Richard Lewis was enough to see Aylestone Park take the League Cup back to Leicester on the afternoon that the clubs professional side Leicester City also claimed the Premiership trophy at The King Power Stadium.  Following the success of St Andrews a few weeks earlier in the EMCFL title race Leicester really is the place to be at the moment.  Two wonderful strikes from Lewis gave the home county side the advantage after South Normanton had looked the dominant side in possession terms and it wasn't until the final stages that the Derbyshire side pulled a goal back and then agonisingly hit the post in the final minutes of stoppage time.  If the game had gone into extra time it would undoubtedly have been abandoned following a 45 minute torrential downpour including thunder and lightening that left the pitch awash with water.

RIVERSIDE PARK ON BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY

Todays game was one of two that the blog selected from and with torrential rain and thunderstorms looking more likely in Winsford for 1874 Northwich v Colne I opted for what looked the safer option and of course it so nearly wasn't.  Mr Ryde of the Buxton Parish was at the 1874 game and you have guessed it no rain at all.
Departure from base station felt like a repeat of the last 2 weeks a standing room only bus and then the train announcer declared the train was formed of 10 carriages and again it only had 5.  Standing room then as normal to Loughborough for our first change.  We only just made this due to a 15 minute delay at Derby where the additional 5 carriages were added but of course ran unmanned and empty, great.
Change made at platform 3 that overlooked the Brush factory and we were soon departing Loughborough home of Ladybird books, oh how I remember that sign of old.

A ROUND ABOUT WELCOME TO BARROW UPON SOAR

We were soon departing the service at Barrow Upon Soar home of Barrow Town who would be hosts for todays final.  The village was a quiet affair with a small selection of shops and a wonderful selection of historical buildings including a small former lock up jail.  After a sandwich stop at the local Coop we drifted down the incline towards the canal and had a few moments around the waterways before making the way to the ground.

FAMOUS LEICESTER CITY FAN ON DISLAY IN A VILLAGE SHOP

It was fever pitch in Leicestershire today with businesses displaying loyalty to Leicester City who would later on today collect the aforementioned trophy one shop even had a famous lady with the Leicester top on, mind you the advertising is relevant too isn't it?

COME ON MOOOVE OUT OF THE WAY

Our arrival was greeted by the Slacks of Matlock coacch that delivered the South Normanton players and to enter the driveway to the ground you cross a cattle grid and further up the drive way we met the clubs initial party of stewards a nice selection a cows who were more than happy to pose for a picture.
Entrance fee paid we obtained a programme, free today so a plus although it could have done with a few staples and a few pages straightening up. 
The first point of call was the snack bar which looked clean and impressive two chip cobs ordered and about to place drink requests too when we were told no chips, the bags of chip like food on the counter we were informed were for the players.  A bit amazing that there appeared to be no substantial food especially with quite a few hoppers travelling a distance today and a fairly healthy crowd too.  Still we kept what probably would have been £10 in our pocket and I'm sure that Barrow would have made a healthy figure today with chip cobs etc. on offer.

THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE RIVERSIDE

The ground is very smart with a well kept clubhouse that looked clean and tidy, the pitch perimeter is well fenced by red black and white painted solid fencing.  Moving round to the left as we enter the ground we come to the goals which have to their rear and outside the ground a large footbridge which I guess takes pedestrians over the nearby busy road that buzzes away in the back ground all afternoon.  The ground is in a lovely location but the traffic is noisy.  Down the far touchline are the two dug outs, a old small terrace stand before two Atcost stands one for seats and one for standing.  Behind the far goal is a large grassed area and soon we are back at the club house via the completely hard standing surrounds.  Overall view of the ground is very smart and tidy with a nice bar area.

TIM WALKER REFEREE ON A BUSMANS HOLIDAY

Before we approach the big kick off there was time to have a few words with a  couple of hoppers including John McClure and a surprise arrival of referee Tim Walker who I have not seen this season and who now lives locally, always a pleasure.  During warm ups for both teams and officials it was also good to note Derbyshire official James Oldham was the referee appointed to cover the final.

JAMES OLDHAM HEADS UP THE TEAM OF OFFICIALS

The game started well for South Normanton when Tom Lewis got a shot away from a tight angle but Aylestone keeper Callum Hamill pulled off a sharp save after 2 minutes.

EARLY MATCH ACTION

Aylestone had hardly been in the game when an error gifted the ball too Lewis who from 40 yards out lofted the ball goal bound over defence and stranded Shiners keeper Steve Smith only to see it nestle in the bottom right hand corner of the net moments later, 15 minutes.

COURTNEY BARTLEY GETS HIGHEST FOR SOUTH NORMANTON

This seemed to knock the stuffing out of South Normanton and the Leicestershire side seemed to have some good tactics to disturb the flow of the game with constant lengthy injury stoppages which continued for much of the game alongside slow substitutions and a slow return to proceedings after the half time break.  If they were pre planned and I guess they were they worked a treat and I guess their management team have to be credited.

Two minutes before the allotted 45 it was Lewis who showed great strength to win the ball and was then upended one stride further on.  The number 10 stepped up to take the free kick curling a sweet finish into that previously used bottom right hand corner to double the lead and give the game a 2-0 half time score line in favour of Aylestone Park.

AYLESTONE PARK PLAYERS CELEBRATE

The first period seemed to have around 7 minutes of stoppage time for injuries but frustratingly just 3 minutes of additional time was allowed.
The second period started once again with South Normanton struggling to get any head of steam up in attack they looked off the pace and leggy for this season finale.

In the early stages of the second half Lewis tested Hamill with a 25 yard effort but the number 1 was equal to it with a flying save for a corner.

MAN BEHIND THE BALL LUKE CROSBY

The game continued in much the same vein with Aylestone playing a patient game of counter attacking and Normanton failing to get any consistency in their attacking play.

SOUTH NORMANTON BENCH ALL ATTENTIVE

On 87 minutes Hamill pulled off two snap saves in the same move and you knew then it looked unlikely that there would be any close finish, but wait in the first minute of stoppage time South Normanton pulled a goal back. It was Lewis whose shot was saved and Lee Fell pounced to drive home the loose ball.

RICH LEWIS [10] COMES UP AGAINST HIS NAME SAKE TOM

Wobbles started and anxious Aylestone players and bench wanted this win but had South Normnaton got enough left to take the tie into extra time?  In the 4th minute of stoppage time it nearly happened when The Shiners struck the post with most people thinking it would sneak in the ball was cleared to safety and after the injury time had been played referee Oldham blew his whistle, tough game to referee which overall went well with just a few time wasting questions, for wild scenes to commence as Aylestone Park celebrated victory in the league cup final.

REFEREE OLDHAM HAS A WORD WITH MARK STRYZEZWESKI

As the clouds had darkened all around The Riverside in the second half there was fears for thunder, lightening and torrential rain and boy did we get it right on cue for the presentation.  Having got slightly[!] damp at last Mondays Welsh Cup Final presentation I had to give this a miss and hopefully you can see the distance picture of the cup being presented from the safety of the stand, somewhere I and around 25 other people did not leave until 5.20pm!

THE PRESENTATION OF THE EMCFL JENKINS & JENKINS LEAGUE CUP IT IS THERE SOMEWHERE

It was a big shame because it took so much away from the crowd being able to see the cup presented and Aylestone Park enjoy themselves.  However after the game Aylestone captain Kieran Neat was kind enough to pose for a quick snap for the blog, thank you!

GOOD JOB THERE WAS NO NEED FOR EXTRA TIME THIS IS THE SCENE AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF RAIN AT THE END OF THE GAME

Having secured a position back club house side and realised that the 1743 train was a non starter we finally left the ground at just before the hour for a short walk past the canal approach road which was now flooded soon to realise that we wouldn't get in the pub in the centre of the village for a relaxing fizzy due to Leicester being on TV so it was back to the local Coop and a decamp at the train station.
Return journey was smooth enough with an early arrival at Nottingham allowing us to make a quick connection to an earlier train and arrival back at base station just shy of 8pm.

FIRST CHANGE AT LOUGHBOROUGH STATION