STAFFORD FALL TO LEWIS DOUBLE

STAFFORD TOWN 0 V UTTOXETER TOWN 2
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE 1 AT EVANS PARK
2 JANUARY 2017 --- 3PM

ACTION FROM EVANS PARK

A second half double from Luke Lewis was just what Uttoxeter ordered for this Staffordshire derby although the two late red cards they also received to finish with 9 men would certainly not have been on the wanted list for the New Year.
The weather was starting to show its presence after a quiet winter so far and with an overnight frost 3g games were in the spotlight and with Stafford Town having this as a new addition to the club the blog had in sight a visit to Evans Park at some stage.  Today started with the usual search around local clubs with much of the transport system locally still in Bank Holiday Sunday mode but it once again has to be said many clubs were appalling at checking their pitches never mind informing potential supporters of what may be happening.  There ended up with 3 sides calling off late, two of which were in the last hour after local refs passed pitches playable before the match official then called the game off with no worsening of conditions in the following two hours.  Thankfully before we got to this frustrating part of the day the decision had been made to play the 3g card and take up the trip to Staffordshire.

SPORTING VISION

It was luxury today with a seat on all three trains to our venue town and with the first change in Derby we sped along to Tamworth for the electric service to Stafford.
Taking the option of a later travel today we arrived at around 1.45pm and with Stafford having been visited last season when todays home sides senior club Stafford Rangers was visited it was straight off to the ground via the big 'T's' for a chilled sandwich and then a short 10 minute walk brought us to the approach road to Evans Park.

THE IMPRESSIVE MAIN STAND AT EVANS PARK

A major sporting site surrounds the football ground with cricket, hockey, rugby, bowls amongst the sports on offer.  The curving entrance road eventually opened up Stafford Town's home with the neat set up and its car park welcoming the smart Uttoxeter mini bus we knew we were in the correct place.
Stafford Town were formed 40 years ago by the current Chairman Gordon Evans and after a variety of grounds, including the nearby Rowley Park, the club based itself in its current home in 2010 which was opened by Micky Adams the then Port Vale manager and last year installed its £650,000 state of the art 3g pitch.  Before the game I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Chairman who explained his excitement at what the club had achieved in partnership with many bodies including Stafford Borough Council to reach their current off the pitch status.  The club operate around 30 teams encompassing a variety of ages and groups and are able now to move some of their teams onto Evans Park.  A proud achievement for the club who have named the ground in the Chairman's honour and his enthusiasm is their for all too see.

UTTOXETER JUMPING FOR JOY BEFORE THE GAME STARTS

A quick ground descriptor sees 3/4 of the ground like many new build 3g stadia with the obligatory green 3 foot fences around the pitch and behind the spectator higher ground protection fences, its tarmac that's the order of the day all around for spectators.  The main stand is the impressive furniture here with a modern high roofed affair including a deep rowed set of seats and to either side flat level covered terracing.  The only down side is the 15 foot high poles that hold up loose netting that stop the ball flying into the stand although this makes viewing from here a non starter for me for the afternoon.  The technical areas are marked on the pitch side but the dugout are sections within the stand 10 feet or so behind the managers.  The changing rooms are housed under the stand as are the toilets and a clubhouse where access can be gained to the snack bar which also opens up at the opposite end to the terrace.  A clean and tidy food outlet was on show today as was the whole set up I know many of you will say its new it should be but as we all know their are many new grounds were no care is taken and litter is all around you well not here they are clearly proud of their smart stadium.
Having gone for a warm in the clubhouse for a drink and snack outside the temperatures were starting to drop on a bright sunny afternoon.

TODAYS OFFICIALS LED OUT BY REFEREE JACOBS

The game then and with Stafford 3rd bottom and Uttoxeter not to much further up the table I close derby was expected and so it turned out when at half time it was scoreless.  The first 45 minutes had seen the visitors in the ascendancy and their neat football on the perfect paying surface should really have seen then in the lead but chances were at a premium with the home side struggling to string much of note together.

UTTOXETER CAPTAIN CALLUM LOVATT

After a warming Bovril at half time we were soon underway again and thankfully the second half provided more of note the deadlock was broken though just 3 minutes into the second half when Lewis nudged the ball home following a superb long ball from Doug Price.

ITS THERE SOMEWHERE

Chances were at a premium still but Uttoxeter looked to put the game to rest 15 minutes later when sub Alex Langridge forced home keeper Tom Degg into a parrying save ball fell out to Lewis whose initial shot was cleared off the line only for his second effort to crash back into the goal.

The game proceeded to develop into a rather tetchy affair and with a few bookings already made for either side the inevitable happened when referee Jacobs produced a second yellow for Liam Sowter on 75 minutes and then with 2 minutes of normal time remaining a challenge from the impressive Josh Bowden saw Uttoxeter amazingly reduced to 9 players for what was his second yellow.  In between this the visitors nearly went further ahead when Lewis went in one on one with Degg who managed to push his effort away.
A spicy end which could have given Stafford hope but although they tried hard to build up a head of steam it never happened for the home side with the visitors holding on.

AN INCREASINGLY COLD AFTERNOON

At the final whistle Uttoxeter were jubilant with 3 points but weirdly questioning the referee on the pitch as they finished without a full compliment of players.
The end of the game signalled an hour to get back to the station so with about 40 minutes or so to spare a quick visit to the fast food outlet on The Hough a retail park which is on the opposite turn on the junction that leads to the ground was made before an increasingly cold night saw the pavements offering a slide back to the train station.
Connections at Tamworth and Derby were all made well with only the first train resulting in standing so I lovely day of travelling with seats gained most of the day which as become an unusual achievement.
Base station was arrived just short of 7.30pm and the longest part of the day was a 50 minute wait for the bus out to the sticks!  An enjoyable day and visit to a smart little club who I hope will find themselves pulling away from the relegation zone soon as for Uttoxeter they played some lovely football on the 'carpet' and may like to roll it up and take it back to Oldfields.

FOR THOSE CONCERNED THERE WAS WARM FOOD