BLABY & WHETSTONE SWEEP ASIDE RADCLIFFE

BLABY AND WHETSTONE ATHLETIC 5 V RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC 1
EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES LEAGUE @ WARWICK RD
7 JANUARY 2017 --- 3PM

MAIN STAND AT WARWICK RD

A storming first half from Blaby and Whetstone Athletic [BAW] saw them go in at the break 4-1 to the good and third placed Radcliffe Olympic must have been shell shocked and although they limited the damage to one goal in the second half it was all over by then.  The Leicestershire side did their credentials no harm at all although had it not been for 3 superb saves from the home custodian Tom Hollyoak the score may have been closer.
To the planning stage for todays game and with trips to West Wales and Buckinghamshire all put on hold with an annoying forecast of fog it was too much of a risk and I went back to my original plans of an EMCL game, as many of you know this league does not normally rate in my top 2,500 of favourite leagues but there were a wide selection of games in the South Leicestershire area today and this one stood out with a new visit on offer and a top of table affair, well nearly.
Sadly as seems to be the case with this league a majority of the clubs are poor in advertising their games with a lack of social media and or website promoting their games I know its about having the volunteers but BAW were consistent to this example and its a shame because they have a good product and you certainly have to tell people about it, today there were I guess around mid 20's who paid admission.

FIRST CALL BLABY

Departure from base station found us gaining a seat, again, on the 1101 train and with arrival on time in Leicester we were soon on board an aquamarine special to arrive in Blaby for around 1215.  I had opted to take a look around the centre first and then amble out with the massive amount of time built in here to Whetstone the other part of todays twin location team.  Blaby is a functional town with a nice selection of shops todays luncheon stop was from 'The Chippy', I did consider asking if they did chips but thought better of it.  Small sample of produce supplied and I might add some cracking chips here and we were soon off on the 1 mile or so walk into Whetstone.  On the way we passed another imaginatively named shop with good alliteration 'Blaby Booze' I wonder what they supply?

AND TO FINISH OFF THE NAME WHETSTONE

Whetstone generally appeared a sleepy village with a few shops and a smart main street but I'm not sure when it opened.  Having once again built in too much time for what attractions there were around here I had a quick journey past Warwick Rd to take a look at the new housing estates going up I believe on the site of the former GEC factory.
As ever Leicester is a fantastic sporting town, on our journey out we passed The City, Tigers and Grace Rd the home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club but the area we were now in has a further selection of clubs from Vipers RUFC, Saffron Dynamos, Leicestershire and Rutland FA HQ at Holmes Park and Leicester Lions RUFC.  It amazes me how much sport there is in and around Leicester it must be more than many other cities.

STAND WITH A VIEW

Finally no more time could be eaten up and it was up the impressively named Warwick Rd although the road itself is a disappointing narrow affair with the club on the right hand side.  Upon arrival you can see there are a selection of grounds around the main pitch and the signs show Blaby and Whetstones Boys Club etc but nothing anywhere to signify todays hosts.  The entrance to the clubhouse saw a left turn take you to the changing rooms, there was no access to the function room and bar today due to a party and so I opted for a quick circuit of the pitch for the obligatory pictures.  To the left its hard standing behind our entrance goal and on the first touchline is a smart little corporate blue and white bench seated stand before just after the dug out and no spectator access below making this a 3 1/2 sided ground.

DOUBLE SIDED STAND

The tour can continue behind the bottom goal with hard standing all the way around until in the top half of the opposite touchline a small double sided stand that serves the main pitch and adjacent one.  Coming back to the top goal and main club house changing rooms area to the right hand side or upon entry to the ground your immediate right their is a snack bar that to be honest is probably also a member of the secret society and with no signs it was only by asking I found it and dropped a few pennies in the coffers mind you the Twix was 4 months out of date.

PRE MATCH PREP FROM BLABY AND WHETSTONE ATHLETIC FC

With no more delay to the game in the opening exchanges Hollyoak pulled off a superb save from his own defender Jake Waine whose defensive header was going in until the number one palmed it away.  Blaby got into their stride when James Ireland saw Tom Dudley deny him but it wasn't long before the home side took the lead and it was Dudley in the action again this time he upended Daniel Henfrey in the box and Tom Hill slotted home the spot kick.

HERE COME THE TEAMS

Radcliffe came back and it was Hollyoak again with a save to deny Sam Adams before amazingly Blaby went 2 up when on the right hand side Jack lane coming off the touchline curled a superb 25 yard effort in to the top left hand corner.  It was all BAW now when Hill had his shot parried and then Aaron Preston saw his effort denied too.
Radcliffe pulled a goal back when Ryan Perkins guided in a free kick off the right for Adams to power home the header before this Hollyoak had again saved well at full stretch from Ryan Smiths header.

OVERVIEW OF THE ACTION

A lovely move 8 minutes before half time made it 3-1 Ireland on the edge of the box fed the ball through to the on running Lane who laid the ball back to Lee Barratt [FA site shows Tom Hill] who fired the ball home.  On the stroke of half time Barratt fed Preston who slotted past the out coming keeper to make it 4-1 at the break.
Often it game over for the second half but within 2 minutes of the re start any hope the Nottinghamshire side had of a comeback disappeared when BAW made it 5-1 thanks to a glorious strike from Ireland who strike home sweetly from 25 yards out into the top left hand corner of the visitors goal.

RADCLIFFE OLYMPIC ON THE ATTACK

That really was game over Blaby took their foot of the pedal and it was one of those halves, Radcliffe did create a chance when the pace of Ryan Perkins saw him put a shot away that Hollyoak could only half stop and as the ball rolled goal bound it was left to Waine to clear from the goal line.
The second half had become increasingly a going through the motions affair and in the end it was with acceptance that referee Lauren Holt blew for time.  A word for all three officials here today excellent games all round with the experienced Martin Dexter taking a junior assistants role their was always a watchful eye on proceedings, well done to you all.

REFEREE HOLT CHECKS HER WATCH

Nice short walk to the bus stop for the 84 back into Leicester which waited for time on at least 2 occasions on the way back but it was all very civil and with a comfortable connection at the station the blog arrived back at base around 7.30pm.