BASFORD BOOK QUARTER FINAL SPOT

BASFORD UTD 3 KIDSGROVE ATH 0
INTEGRO EVOSTIK LEAGUE CUP @ GREENWICH AVE
29 JANUARY 2018 --- 7.45PM

BASFORD UNITED FC

A silky performance from Evostik League 1 South leaders Basford Utd booked the first place in the quarter finals of the League Cup after a night of quality football on the impressive 4g surface that also saw Kidsgrove join in with some good football too.
Monday night football is not always on the blogs cards but with the kind offer of a return lift from fellow blogger Bob L Hatt it was all systems go and with a pre match meal at the Bobbers Mill Macs, probably one of the best restaurants in the chain, the diet would have to wait for another day.

THE BUSINESS END AT GREENWICH AVE

The dark streets towards the ground saw a warm welcome on the turnstile and once inside there was still the usual community activity taking place on the pitch so after a few circuits there was time to re acquaint with many fellow hoppers and at least 2 other bloggers Mr Waite from the Retford Parish and Bob L Hatt from the Belper Diocese.  Burnley Dave, formerly Glapwell flag man, was there as was Mr Storer a paid up member of tonight's Parish who provides an excellent round up of the local non league alongside advance fixtures so it was as ever good to catch up alongside this a quick follow up meet with Alan from the Ilkeston Parish too.  The final attendance of just 114 is disappointing for a club that are at present riding high in many competitions and without a good collection of hoppers and interested visitors the crowd would have been around the 70 mark.  It does, as ever, beg the question 'what do the local public want' especially with the standard of football Basford Utd are putting on show, as previously blogged under the excellent guidance of Chairman Chris Munroe.

BUSINESS END PART 2

Tonight's encounter would be a quick re visit following the Corby game between the Christmas and New Year holiday period so it isn't really the time to review a ground descriptor except to say they are still watering the pitch!  Having purchased an admirable programme that also covered the Community sides game on Saturday, plus raffle there was time for a soft drink before catching up with tonight's referee Gareth Davis.

REFEREE DAVIS POINTS TO THE EXACT SPOT FOR THE FREE KICK

Gareth's a personable young man who represents his profession well and who I first made acquaintances with in The Central Midlands Football League and who it has to be noted has progressed well and during this evenings pacey encounter put in some mighty sprints to noticeably keep up with play.  Tonight he was assisted by Lauren Holt and Melissa Burgin and all three officials had creditable performances that helped this entertaining match.

BASFORD PRE MATCH WARM UP

The high energy started early on with Courey Grantham forcing Dave Parton in the visitors goal into a smart save moments later a beautiful move set Fernando Bell-Toxtle away but his shot struck the base of the post.  Not to be outdone Kidsgrove striker Lee Cropper struck the post as the visitors looked to get a foothold in the game.

KIDSGROVE KEEPER PARTON VIEWS THE GAME

It was Basford who deservedly took the lead on 27 minutes when Grantham was upended in the penalty box and James Reid converted with Parton very close to getting a save in but the ball was well struck and nestling in the back of the net.  On the stroke of half time Grantham who was proving a constant threat and was felled just a yard outside the box, again a good judgement by referee Davis whose pace had kept him up with play, and Mathew Thornhill saw his superbly struck free kick excellently saved by Parton.  An action packed first half amazingly had seen Basford only score one goal and Kidsgrove consequently were well in this tie.

BACK OF THE NET

Grantham was on fire and he set up Aidan Austin early in the second period but again in this game the post come to the rescue, shots were raining in now on the visitors goal but with defensive blocks and keeper Parton in fine form it remained a close game in score line terms.  But some light was put between the two sides on 74 minutes when Reid saw his corner sweetly met by the head of Kieran Fenton and then just three minutes later Liam Hearn tapped in at the back post to make it 3-0.

THE FOUNTAINS OF BASFORD GOING STRONG

A comfortable victory really for Basford but along the way it has to be said Kidsgrove put up a good footballing performance but at present Basford are a joy to watch with pace, free flowing football and when needed dogged determination.  This performance put out of the home sides mind the long undefeated run that had come to an end at Stamford last Saturday and hopefully the standard of football seen tonight can remain for the regulars to enjoy to the end of the season.
Thanks to Bob L for the return to Alfreton for the final bus back to base with an arrival around 11pm on an increasingly cold evening warmed by a good footballing night out.

TABLE TOPPERS TEVERSAL DEFEAT RIVALS

TEVERSAL 3 ANSTEY NOMADS 1
EMCFL @ CARNARVON ST
27 JANUARY 2018 --- 3PM

DAVE COCKERILL GETS A HEADER IN FOR TEVERSAL

Some sharp finishing from league leaders Teversal saw them defeat Anstey Nomads in a crucial clash at the top of the East Midlands Counties League and establish themselves as clear leaders over todays visitors and fellow challengers Selston.

LIGHTS ON AND THE TEAMS ARE OUT

For regular readers Teversal is as you will know always a local favourite of the blog and indeed pre the festive season the reserves v Pinxton was taken in but not blogged because there always remains a willingness to repeat yourself.  Well here goes D H Lawrence, Lord Carnarvon, Tesco stands, enjoyable club to visit with good programme, teams easily displayed oh yes and a good snack bar the latter of big importance of course.  All the above still applies and I have to say its wonderful to see the first team doing so well after their enforced switch from the NCEFL to their new home league, regular strugglers in the former have turned out to be league leaders in their new challenge and this is fantastic news for 'tevies' regular band of officials.

DAVE COCKERILL SHOWS PERFECT BALANCE ON THE DAMPER AREAS

The trip to Teversal by necessity today was undertaken at the last minute for this mouth watering encounter and unusually for the blog was a 25 minute one bus journey away although even that could not go smoothly with a late departure nearly 15 minutes behind time arrival at Carnarvon St allowed around 5 minutes to spare, add to this after a morning of following the postponements, again, it was far from a simple local match.  Thankfully Teversal had posted game on and providing no more rain, which stopped around mid-day, we would be kicking off at 3pm.

SOME MORE ACTION FROM BEHIND THE GOAL

The outer areas of the pitch were showing a rising of the muddy stuff after a rolling and marking out job had been achieved on Friday but the surface looked remarkably good although a little heavy of course.

BOTH BENCHES IN PONDERING MODE

As ever the cultured left foot of Dave Cockerill featured early on for the home side but on a few occasions he could not find the finish his team were looking for but ever the threat his touches threatened the challengers from Leicestershire who in there own right had come into this first half with an equally positive attitude.  On the goals front it all happened inside one minute in the first half Mason Brown set up Jason Ireland for a sharp finish on 28 minutes to give the visitors the lead and straight from the kick off a low cross off the left was met at the back post by Matt Wilkinson who guided the ball home to level the scores.

MATT WILKINSON IS CONGRATULATED ON HIS EQUALISER FOR TEVERSAL

Half time saw a sample of a chip cob which was of a usually enjoyable standard the compact bar was full with people getting out of the murky afternoon and with the two TV's playing away it makes the club an attractive proposition for a game, have I sold it enough yet for you to visit?

I GUESS THAT ONE HURT A LITTLE

Within 3 minutes of the re start Teversal had the lead Kurt Bamford weaved his way into the box and fired low into the bottom left of the visitors goal, this period of play had 'tevie' on fire with some delightful football and they deservedly extended their lead on 55 minutes when Brad Cox swept the ball home.  Anstey tried and tried to mount a significant challenge and felt that they had the ball over the line in one second half attack but the referee waved their appeals away and Teversal continued to defend their lead with confidence with a Daz Taylor effort cleared off the line by Jason Gregory they were still looking to attack.  At the other end Joe Hopewell tested Josh Turton in the home goal but the number one saved with his legs.

GOOD LUCK IN THE LAUNDRY WITH THAT ONE

A highly entertaining match which saw two good sides battle it out on an afternoon that saw a few followers come up from North West Leicester and with an addition of local clubs supporters whose games were off it allowed the attendance to reach three figures.  Overall they saw a Teversal side cement their lead with some nice football and three very sharp finishes with confidence rising who would back against them?

RENISHAW CHALLENGE COMES OFF THE RAIL AGAINST LINCOLN

RENISHAW RANGERS 0 LINCOLN MOORLANDS RAILWAY 5
CMFL NORTH AT STONE CLOSE KIVETON PARK
20 JANUARY 2018 --- 2PM

RENISHAW RANGERS FC STONE CLOSE GROUND

It doesn't take too long to know it's going to be one of those days and it wont happen for you and Renishaw must have felt this way during this defeat to Lincoln Moorlands Railway.  Pitch survives the inclement weather for game on signs upon arrival, in the morning club officials find last nights strong wind has blown the roof off the dug out, player shown a red card after just 10 minutes and then the loss of your keeper to a head injury on half time resulting in an outfield player taking up the jersey and Lincoln take 5 goals without reply with Sean Cann picking up the plaudits for his hat trick and the club to fourth spot in the CMFL North.
It all started so well for the second week running for the home side a presentation following last weeks 'Team of the Month' today saw league representative John Cornthwaite present the award for the 'Respect' team. The club were also able to welcome new physio Mark Grayling to the fold or more appropriately the technical area.

DEBUT FOR MARK GRAYLING

From a blog angle this would be the third visit of the season but there was still an overdue appointment with The Fat Fish much rated and a visit had been missed on previous visits.  So the area and ground have been described previously this season but there was a little time today to take in the site of the former pit and now Kiveton Woodlands which offers a view all around including a panoramic view of Kiveton and the grounds at Stone Close, including the cricket club.  Also at the top of the viewing point is a hollowed out artwork of pit pony and tub reminding visitors of this areas previous prowess.

PIT PONIES PUT OUT TO GRASS

Fish and chip shop calling and the small Fat Fish premises supplied a lovely fresh fish although the chips did let the show down, maybe its a try again chippy on a future visit.
Stone Close was awaking to visitors by now and having paid the admission the teams were obtained from both clubs and also a quick greeting to the officials including Stuart Walker was made, good to catch up again.

ALAN IS RECORDING ALL FOR POSTERITY

Todays visitors Lincoln Moorlands Railway has been covered on a few occasions home and away when they graced the NCEFL but now in this new era it would be the first time for the team in its CMFL days.  There would be a few ground hoppers here today to take in Renishaw's developing ground and it was good to also catch up with Alan from the Ilkeston parish again.

CMFL RESPECT AWARD BY JOHN CORNTHWAITE TO RENISHAW CHAIRMAN MARTIN BAXTER

The game would pit fourth bottom Renishaw against high flying Lincoln and the home side I guess expected their work to be cut out but it got incredibly difficult on 10 minutes when home defender Alex Philpott handled a shot on the line and referee Booth of course produced a red card.  From the spot kick Josh Martin converted to the bottom left hand corner.

CANN GETS A SHOT IN FOR LINCOLN

Within a few minutes the referee was again pointing to the spot when Cann was upended and this time Martin went for the opposite corner with Booth pulling off an initial block he got his body in the way to divert the follow up over the bar.
This seemed to invigorate the home side Owen Ryan firing wide from a good position before the same player forced the visiting keeper Blake Caldwell into a good save for a corner.  From the resulting kick Theo Wilson saw his header saved by the Lincoln keeper and again the ten men were gaining confidence Brandon Ashmore trying an effort from long range that flew just over the crossbar.

RENISHAW KEEPER FEELS THE PAIN AS HIS NAMESAKE REFEREE EXPLAINS ITS A GOAL

As so often happens the sucker punch came in the fourth minute of stoppage time a corner off the right saw Booth unusually not claim the kick and Jordan Curtis headed home.  With Booth flat out on the floor there were appeals to the referee he had been fouled but the official was having non of it but after a lengthy stoppage for treatment the keeper saw the remaining 30 seconds out but did not appear for the second half still feeling groggy.

ASSISTANT REFEREE STUART WALKER CONSIDERS IF THE TRAIN IS ACTIVE

The second goal had made the task difficult but now the home side had to place an outfield player in goal and thankfully Chris Gill stepped up to the mark.  Cann should have added to the visitors score early on but he soon made it 3-0 with a low shot from 14 yards.  It was 4-0 on 69 minutes when Robbie Smith set up Cann for a shot across goal into the bottom right hand corner.

RENISHAW ON THE ATTACK

By the end Cann was celebrating his second half hat trick with Lincolns fifth following an assist from Zak Johnson.

BREAKAWAY FOR RENISHAW

A harsh day for Renishaw but an in the end comfortable victory for Lincoln who secured three points when you of course still have to beat what is put in front of you and they did just that today although this would have been a much closer game if it had remained 11 v 11 with a first choice keeper.
With a little bit of time built in there was chance to pop over to the cricket clubs pavilion for an after match social and as per most cricket clubs there was a wonderful selection of memorabilia attached to the walls including a wonderful shot of a cricket match in full flow with the former pit dwarfing proceedings through the cover.
A standard return on the trains with seats gained and indeed this had been a steady local saunter to a club and village that is becoming an ever interesting journey to follow.

FRIAR LANE AND EPWORTH MISS OUT TO SILEBY

FRIAR LANE AND EPWORTH 1 SILEBY TOWN 3
LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER AT KNIGHTON LANE EAST
13 JANUARY 2018 --- 3PM

FRIAR LANE AND EPWORTH FC

After an early Lewis Sharp goal Friar Lane and Epworth found themselves on the back foot in what was generally a tight game although in the latter stages it was the visitors from north Leicester, Sileby Town who finished the match the strongest to secure the three points.
Friar Lane and Epworth had been on the radar for a while especially with the ground sitting adjacent to the mainline railway line, indeed for any regular travellers south of Leicester you will have probably wondered at the ground.  Today with the opportunity of a visit to a relative nearby there was a few options in play around Leicester and on the Friday night having seen a post from the club that barring rain the pitch would be heavy but playable something they further backed up with on Saturday morning.

FISH AND CHIP EMPORIUM

Down to Leicester then direct and as time moved on towards 2pm a back street dash around Knighton saw me arrive at the highly rated Grimsby Fisheries which worryingly has an Aquarium shop just over the side road not sure if there is any link there!  Todays whopper was struggled with over the main Welford Rd and down Knighton Lane East towards the railway viaduct the other side of which houses today's clubs home ground.  The fish and chips I hear you cry yes they were good and the whole set up also has a sit in restaurant if you fancy a relaxing meal but time was pressing for me and having arrived through the car park and towards the entrance which was nicely adorned with a chalk board advertising todays game and the cost.

MAIN ENTRANCE WITH CHALK BOARD INFO

After paying the £3 entrance fee, no programmes in the LSL, it was great to catch up with a fellow Leicester based ground hopper who I normal see towards the end of the season at a variety of finals. 
Circuit was needed before acquiring todays teams from the referee Aidan Murphy to the immediate right is a small club house area and snack refreshment hatch, the main clubhouse is on the corner of Knighton Lane East but I did not have time to visit.

GROUND SNACK BAR AND CLUBHOUSE

The whole ground has hard standing but in less populated areas is in need of a clean up, towards the main stand which houses a selection of coloured tip up seats and changing rooms behind is a semi caged approach for the players, just before is a newish brick building housing the officials and toilets as part of the building.  Moving past the stand is a 1/3rd pitch length covered terrace which is of the tin sheet and scaffold variety.

THE TWO STANDS SIDE BY SIDE

The far goal has behind it a large net area to save the ball flying over to the allotments and unkempt area, I believe the ground was historically also part of the allotments.  The far touchline is flush to the steep railway embankment with dug outs also housed in this area.  There is quite a lot of room around the other 3 parts of the ground for any future changes, if you like your grounds of 'character' then this is the one for you.  The floodlights appear to be on very low posts but when on in the second half I thought did a remarkably good job for what I expected.  Some of the previous upgrades probably done for the clubs dalliance with the heady heights of Midland Football Alliance something they graced for around 4 years in the early part of the 2000's.

EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS 125 DEPARTS TO THE SOUTH OF LEICESTER

A brief overview saw Friar Lane merge with Epworth in 2004 and two years later they had that gem of MFL football at Knighton Lane East.  Problems though arrived just before the start of the 2011 season with a loss of players and travel expenses in the league being a problem and the club resigned and in the end replaced their reserve side in Division 1 of the Leicestershire Senior League.
Todays murky weather would make pictures a challenge again indeed I did struggle with the obligatory match and train picture and I suppose I will have to undertake a visit again in the lighter parts of the season to enjoy this opportunity.

PLAYERS PREPARE TO EXIT THE CHANGING ROOMS

The club offered a warm greeting throughout their officials and Chairman sadly I had arrived a few minutes later than normal and it was time to take in some match action almost straight away.  Any late comers would have missed the first goal after just 5 minutes the visitors took the lead when Sharp swung in a midriff cross off the left and it flew through a group of players and in at the far post to the bemusement non more so the Sileby number 8. The half was a very even affair with both sides having brief spells of dominance but Friar Lane were perhaps a little lucky to have a full compliment of players on the pitch at the break as just before half time Aiden Kilby on the floor following a tackle was adjudged to have handled the ball with the attacker about to go clean through on goal, the saving grace here was he was 40 yards out and Mr Murphy produced yellow.

THE LANE IN CONTROL

The second period saw Sharp miss an open goal for what would have been his second but it wasn't long, 52 minutes, before Sileby did make it two thanks to Grant Ryder.  The home side deservedly pulled a goal back when substitute Allen got in on a through ball before the Sileby keeper to slot home after 77 minutes.  But moments later it was all over when Mike Noga fed Sileby captain Gus Gnetleman who at the second attempt fired home to make it 3-1.

THE BENCHES IN ACTION

The closing stages did see Allen go close with a fine back post header that was superbly saved by Adam Perry in the Sileby goal.
A frustrating day for the home side on a pitch described as heavy that had held up really well to todays proceedings but for Sileby as the game wore on they became the stronger side and in the final assessment probably warranted their 3 points.

SILEBY TOWN ON FIRE

A prompt departure to the Welford Rd saw arrival back at Leicester station just after 5.30 and after spending horrendous amounts of money on a chocolate bar and drink in that well known newsagents departure north was soon undertaking and an overall return at base station had been helped by obtaining a seat, yes a seat, on the return journey after an enjoyable debut in the Leicestershire Senior League.

TOWN FALL TO HOLKERS DEFENSIVE RESOLUTION

STOCKPORT TOWN 1 HOLKER OLD BOYS 3
NWCFL 1 @ STOCKPORT SPORTS VILLAGE
6 JANUARY 2018 --- 3PM


STOCKPORT SPORTS VILLAGE

The writing appeared to be on the wall in the first minute when Danny Keenan put Holker Old Boys ahead and when John Paul Stanway made it 2-0 on the half hour mark Town were forever chasing this game.  With the home side having by far the majority of the possession it was frustration city that they couldn't convert this into goals of course this was due to the tremendous work rate of their Barrow based visitors.
Melting snow and then heavy rain had waterlogged many pitches mainly around home base in the East Midlands so most of the week had been taken up possibly planning any new 3g pitches to undertake but in the end the 3g at Stockport Sports Village a ground that had assisted me on quite a few occasions in poor weather was the order of the day.

THE LITTLE BEAUTY WOBBLES OUT OF BREDBURY STATION

Todays departure saw a change in Sheffield station for the all stopping Peak District service to Manchester the two carriage sprinter was filling up very nicely by my time of departure at Bredbury.  Having covered this area previously there were just some small changes waiting at the end of the 5 minute walk to the adjacent Woodley.  With the former snooker hall now demolished the shuttered suburbia shopping precinct in the 1970's style, its sounding like Antiques Roadshow, had now lost its Lloyds Bank much like many small towns no doubt the big wigs would have said falling number but most locals found more queues than ever.  The Post Office now had the shutters down and closed as the local newsagent had taken over its responsibilities, with hair and beauty prominent a bakery, fruit and veg shop, warehouse furniture, charity shop, two bookmakers, tattoo parlour, vape shop and hardware outlet you get the feel for how sadly English suburbia is being lost and the fabric of communities is being lost on the positive side Iceland remains.  The shining star is of course the much visited friend Taylors fish and chips shop with smart restaurant seating its always a pull to any game in Woodley or even Hyde a year ago.  The last few weeks have been taken up by yellow golden arches take-aways that it was good to get back to the research!

RESEARCH RE STARTS

Unbelievably it is just short of two years since I last saw Stockport Town and this was also surprisingly against Holker Old Boys and its not far off the same time since Taylors.  Since then the former, at time current, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron had called in at the shop and undertaken a photo opportunity with owner Ann and her husband.  Today Ann was briefly seen but there was not the chance to renew acquaintances only with her fish and chips which as ever were creditable and as I hope you can see were good enough to eat!
Early arrival at SSV found little changed with the Glossop v Stalybridge Under, I guess, 21 game just coming to an end, having completed a few circuits and obtained the teams, there was time to find a toilet block that did work with most seeming to be out of order luckily the main receptions were not.  With admission paid and programme purchased of which I have to say although £2 this was a really good smart and well produced effort, especially for a club who struggle for attendances today's declared total was 53 but I'm not sure how.

DANNY KEENAN DISAPPEARS UNDER THE CELEBRATIONS OF HIS FIRST MIUTE GOAL

With both clubs sat side by side in the league table it looked like a close game but after just a minute you wondered with Callum Livingstone set up Danny Keenan courtesy of a keeper error to fire Holker into the lead.  Town were having to fight hard to get back into the game with Ben Halfacre forcing Christopher Pearce into an excellent save.

STOCKPORT CAPTAIN BEN HALFACRE TAKES A MOMENT OUT

It was Stanway who added the sucker punch on the half hour mark when he broke away and slotted home to double the visitors advantage.  Again Halfacre was the man looking dangerous for Stockport his next effort flew across goal before on 43 minutes Conor Downes struck home a glorious 25 yard free kick to reduce the arrears and as the home side moved up a gear Aaron Dwyer saw his effort fly back of the base of the post.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

The opening stages of the second half proved a bit tetchy with a halfway push starting a melee before a disturbance that resulted in a four minute stoppage that resulted in the referee consulting both his linesman separately and then taking no action.  But Town player Tyler Devlin has become so upset by what had taken place that he was substituted before he may have got an unnecessary suspension.

HOLKER MANAGER GUY HEFFERNAN URGES HIS SIDE ON

The pressure was all from Stockport now but this Holker side were going to defend their advantage with gusto and so they did displaying a determined side that was to be admired.  As so often happens the second sucker punch arrived as Holker broke on 77 minutes with Nathan Reid slotting past the out coming Dylan Forth.

STOCKPORT MANAGER DAVE WILD POINTS THE WAY FORWARD

Still Town looked for a way back and Dwyer who had become increasingly influential with his passing and willingness to shoot forced Pearce into a wonderful from his 25 yard effort.

HOLKER RIGHT BACK ROBERT PARKER ALSO EXPERT FENCE VAULTER

Holker held on in the latter stages of the 8 minutes of added time fairly comfortably and took away three points from their long trip, although I guess there all fairly long.

GO ON THEN ANOTHER LOOK AT THE EARLIER SOCIALISATION

To tight for the 5.03 train allowed time for a pint in The Rising Sun before just about getting onto the Sheffield bound train one hour later which was now gorged with Manchester City fans on their way back from their home FA Cup game with Burnley.  An excellent re visit and if you want a game on 3g pop along and don't forget to call in for your fish and chips which always make Stockport Town a good experience.

BEDWORTH KEEN ON THE POINTS AT CORBY

CORBY TOWN 0 BEDWORTH UTD 1
EVOSTIK NPL SOUTH @ STEEL PARK
1 JANUARY 2018 --- 3PM

STAR OF THE SHOW AT STEEL PARK HOME OF CORBY TOWN FC

A goal after just three minutes in from the head of Luke Keen was enough to wrap up the points for the visitors to Northamptonshire and much as Corby tried they could not find their way to the back of the Bedworth net, added to this the frustrating time wasting tactics of Bedworth in the second half this proved a disappointing afternoon for The Steelmen.  That frustration marked a miserable three game festive run that produced no points and no goals for Corby but with a sharper eye for goal things could have been so different but over the couple of games I have seen them the confidence seems to be ebbing away in the last third.
Having seen Corby at Basford a few days earlier and got in conversation with a few people who assured me that the pitch drains well and upon return saw The Steelmen were at home on New Years Day plans were put into action with trains running and no buses available it would just be the trip to base station and back to negotiate. 
Arriving at the station mid morning on New Years Day all was very quiet, thankfully, and throughout the day trains were on time, early and with seats available, there its not very often I say that!  Like a kid in a toy shop there was an excited anticipation today for Corby as a town never mind its football club would be new territory for me and previously I guess the town had become know as 'Kettering for Corby' on the train boards when it was the largest town in Europe to have no train station in the 70's and 80's.  This would have competed with Mansfield in its station less days when all was covered over by Alfreton and Mansfield Parkway a 25 minute bus ride away from stag town. Talking of Parkway's the first change was made at the East Midland variety of these a station that is dwarfed by the cooling towers of Ratcliffe power station.  Seat secured on the Nottingham to London service enhanced today by an old 125, always the way to travel, departure at Kettering was on time for the adjoining platform service which had a meridian on undertaking the ten minute journey to Corby and back once in the hour.  This was excellent as the previous day its was back to the bus replacement days of old due to engineering works the steady amble into Corby station produced a bright station with just one platform that normally runs hourly services to London.

CORBY STATION EVENING VIEW WITH OBLIGATORY ARTWORK

The station was closed in the sixties like of course many others and made a brief one platform shuttle service appearance from 1987-90 funded by the local council to connect to services at Kettering, however when the grant ran out the services stopped and it would be 2009 before a station was re opened in Corby.  It this point I have to make clear that if corny or Corbyn appear anywhere in this blog it must be the place name I have most mis-typed for ages!
Upon arrival there was time to chunter, again, about the weather forecasters a lovely dry afternoon had been forecast and guess what?  It was raining as I departed from under the canopy and the wonderful forecasters had now changed the prediction to heavy rain for the next 2 hours, of course I was happy!  Years gone by we had a local man forecast the weather by viewing a selection of pine cones and I think maybe we should take the expensive computer equipment of the Met Office and go back to the 'good old days'.  More worryingly while in moan mode neither club at this stage, 1245, had mentioned this fixture on social media for Bedworth who seem to follow this pattern regularly and were the away club I thought no more of it, however for the home side it took them until 1.50pm before ant mention of this game being on appeared on their Twitter feed it never ceases to amaze me that clubs always say they are in need of more fans, are they?
Corby had a remarkable rise to popularity around its steel works of course as previously this was a  small village with the old hamlet adjacent to the railway station on the east whereas the new town, indeed it was declared so in 1950, is built to the north and a nice 15 minute walk from the station.  Overall for todays football ground 45 minutes away and a steady stroll to the town its one of those towns that has an inconvenient railway station although I guess on a standard day when buses are running this may not be the problem it was today.

THE OLD NEW TOWN ON A WET BANK HOLIDAY

Turning left out of the station and passing back over the railway line into the town like many of the new town generation they were superbly modern and functionally built, mainly in concrete, for their time but now have hit the buffers with a full pelt.  All sorts of descriptors have been written about Corby and yes its there if you look for it but to the head of the old precinct is the new, a theatre, library, coffee house under the title of The Cube and bright reflective windowed building within the same complex a new cinema, restaurant and swimming pool but still close by boarded up derelict land awaiting further development.  All this approaches the large parkland area that is central to Corby as a town and with the wet stuff still failing I opted for the big yellow signed restaurant for a comfort stop.

THE NEW NEW TOWN THE CUBE AND STEELWORKER STATUE

Checking on the walk time to the ground at 1.40 I found out it would take 40 minutes with the clubs new ground on the very edge of the town since their move from their historical home occupation Rd which was more central.  Todays destination The Rockingham Triangle Sports Centre houses tennis, rugby and athletics track [which the club used to use as their ground] and now of course Steel Park. 
Departing along the many Scottish named roads Argyll/Clydesdale/Shetland to name but a few gave way to this towns recent heritage and its often given title of 'little Glasgow' after many Scots came down to work in the steel plant, formerly Stewarts and Lloyds, before British Steel after nationalisation.   So much did Corby become a off shoot of Scotland that there were two Church of Scotland's in the town, Irn Bru was the highest selling soft drink in any town outside Scotland including I'm assured the delicacy of Irn Bru and vodka as a required tipple.  Alongside this some shops in the early days posted signs in Gaelic but today the symbols were the occasional Saltire flag on cars and houses plus thistles built into UPVC glass door panels. 
The walk to the ground was very much like Skelmersdale Utd a dog leg after dog leg through housing estates to final depart an footpath opposite an out of town Spoons and walk the footpath on a busy road to the ground.

WELCOME

There is little after the ground and without a car you need to be reasonably fit for the walk its a shame really as the club have a nice part developed ground which would definitely take any future required improvements.

IMPRESSIVE TERRACE AT THE CASTLE END

Entering through the smart turnstile block approach to the immediate right is the club shop housed in a corporate coloured cabin with flat hard standing along this side giving was to the start of the show a cantilever stand proudly displaying 'CORBY' within its seats.  Behind the far goal is an excellent deep terrace with cover and crush barriers offering an excellent view of proceedings the next touchline gives up the dug outs ad for half of its length the back of the athletic stadiums stand which sits adjacent to the new ground.  Coming back to out entry point and the changing rooms and bar area which I only discovered at half time are houses in the building above the changing rooms indeed for new visitors the sign was that small that I missed it, but when I ventured up at half time was a nice sized facility.

TOWARDS THE ATHLETICS STADIUM

The game itself pitted second placed Bedworth, who had leapfrogged Corby after Saturdays results, against a Corby side who had hit a difficult period in their season and it did not get any easier after just three minutes when the visitors took the lead.  Picking the ball up on the right Bedworth's number 7 Kieron Brehon put in a lovely cross for the unmarked Keen to deflect his header into the bottom left hand corner of the Corby goal.

LUKE KEEN [9] CELEBRATES HIS MATCH WINNER

Moments later it could have been worse when Alexander Troke popped up at the far post but his effort was ruled out for offside.  It could have been 2-0 when Keen failed to convert with a low cross again unmarked but this rose Corby from their slumber and Cretu first saw the visiting keeper block his effort before with three minutes to half time he had the ball in the net only for the offside flag to this time deny Corby.

KEEN LOOKING FOR A SECOND

Corby came out with a new gusto and Cretu and Jordon Crawford combined well with the latter firing over, shortly after Ben Bradshaw also saw an effort fly over the crossbar.  Bedworth had little intent in going forward and it was left to Corby to try to break them down as they started the uncomfortable to watch, even as a neutral, time wasting tactics which even the referee seemed unwilling to take action on.  Indeed at one stage he ran 50 yards to tell the visiting number 1 Dan Crane to hurry up taking the free kick but didn't book him and the game probably lost more time than his actions benefitted it.  From a Corby point of view you knew it wasn't going to be their day on 77 minutes when substitute Leon Lobjoit turned on the edge of the box and stuck a post with the ball re bounded to safety with the keeper beaten.  The latter stages saw three cautions in extra time as frustration raised its head 2 to Bedworth and one to the home side and as the referee signalled 5 minutes stoppage time, probably three minutes short of what we should have see, why is blatant timewasting/professionalism not taken action against?

STEVEN LESLIE TEES UP THE CORNER FOR CORBY

Corby threw the kitchen sink at the Bedworth defence but they could not break down a resolute rear guard and failed to score for a third game running against a well marshalled defensive unit, frustrating football all round but the home manager Steve Kinniburgh can sit comfortable that they tried their best to entertain and play an attacking game but of course not the three points he so desired.
A dark walk back along Rockingham Rd towards the old village to cut back to the station followed with strangely street lighting on just one side of the road for the return walk making it appear even darker.  By the time I got back to the Occupation Rd junction it was raining and after a executive meeting with myself I decided against looking at the old grounds offices which are still in use today by of course a new business.
A comfortable 20 minutes to spare at Corby station allowed a dry down before connecting at Kettering for a direct service back to base station just after 8pm and enjoyable journey to a new ground and new town completed I shall watch out for Corby and hope they can get their promotion push back on the rails.