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BARDON HILL 4 KIRBY MUXLOE RES 0
LEICESTERSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ BARDON CLOSE
21 APRIL 2018 --- 3PM

BARDON HILL FC

Bardon Hill continue their tussle with Ingles for the title and remain joint top of the Leicestershire Senior League following this 4-0 victory over lowly Kirby Muxloe Res.  After a stilted start the home side were grateful to a brace apiece from Matt Oliver and Kerr Horn for the three points against a stubborn but in the end ten man visitors who had Danny O Brien sent off with the score-line at 2-0.
Flip Flopping around in fixture selection like a politician seeking popularity fixtures in varying parts had been selected and only when base station arrived at was the selection of Loughborough made having visited the University ground before a bit of research found Bardon Hill at home and still with lots to play for at the top of the league with Shepshed based Ingles.  So with connecting buses sorted out while taking the 45 minute journey to the home of Ladybird books, sadly this sign has now disappeared from the station at Loughborough.

A SMART ENTRANCE TO THE CLUB

A very rushed visit to the big yellow 'M' fast foody establishment allowed enough time to catch the aquamarine special to Coalville for the 50 minute journey and as ever many an interesting conversation is undertaken while travelling todays was with a young lady who was coming away from Rugby Union training and plays for Ashfield RUFC in Nottinghamshire.  Coalville as we found it a few years ago on a visit is a set of mixed emotions with a town spread all over in modern and run down format, a market hall away from the centre and a weird feel to the area.  But there is no doubting its great history with pits, former now unused to passenger traffic railway line, former Matel toy factory and large Coop warehouse and with the towns headstocks still on show along the road to Ashby its a town well worth exploring its halcyon days.  Interestingly today we learnt a little more about George Shaw its famous social reformer and philanthropist and by this time we were ready to head off to Bardon Hill and a ground we had passed on our previous visit to Coalville but a club that had suffered a relegation but more awkwardly a pitch that every time we tried to visit was waterlogged, so todays bright day would be a guaranteed game - although we did wonder when unsurprisingly for a Saturday the whole of the first half was played out to a constant rain interruption.

THE UNIQUE FLOODLIGHTS AT BARDON CLOSE

Our route took in circuitous route that almost took us back home and just 20 minutes later we were departing by the ground after a journey that took about the same time on foot on our return still we saw Whitwick and Bardon.
Bardon Hill Fc play on the ground adjacent to Aggregate Industries who operate the massive quarry right by the club and by all accounts is set on or in a volcano, by the side of the football club the cricket lads were making further preparations to the outfield for their new season.

THE BUSINESS END

The main entrance here has a large car park and fascia entrance to the turnstiles and after paying our entrance fee to the right are the toilets, corner flag bar while to the left the collection of changing rooms.  Some of the builds are of modern cabin style while the others of an older wooden build.  Continuing around the 'top' side behind the standing area and dug outs is an access road to the quarry offices pus there are car parking spots sloping to pitch side.  The far goal is a concreted walk round to the stand side which covers about half of the side and is a two rowed affair with some smart blue seats offering a good view and roofed protection from todays first half rain.  Coming around to our entrance point and many of the signs were from a few years ago when the club were in the East Midlands Counties League and for one season step 5 of The Midland League, by all accounts times were a bit more prosperous.  A unique sign was the one declaring 'stone throwing is prohibited at this club' at this point we did think of immediately leaving!  The other point of note are the floodlight columns of the old railway/pit yard type and apparently were an acquisition from Hinckley Rugby Club about 40 years ago.

COME ON THEN WERE OFF

Mick had gone off in communication with all around the ground while I had caught up with a few locals and officials who were all very welcoming and there was also time for fast rising Leicestershire referee Reuban Ricardo who was down to watch the first half having been at Milton Keynes Academy in the morning.  As ever the team sheets were obtained from varying sources and on a positive note these have to be the clearest ones to read I have seen this season, luxury.

TIME FOR A BREATHER

The first half was a rather subdued encounter with chances at a massive premium and little or nothing to give Bardon Hill too much confidence against the second bottom side but effectively the bottom club after Ibstock's disappearance.  That was until four minutes before half time Chris Waldrum crossed off the left and Oliver drilled home to secure a half time advantage for the home side.
Within four minutes of the restart Bardon Hill had doubled their lead and Oliver had his second firing home right footed after Ash Riddell had assisted.

KIRBY MUXLOE CLEAR THEIR LINES

Luke Garratt missed a great chance unmarked at the far post before visiting keeper Darryl Hawthorne saw off a long range effort from Chris Nettel.

REFEREE BULLEN SHOWS O BRIEN THE INEVITABLE RED CARD

Bardon Hill were gaining an upper hand in the game now and non more so than when Danny O Brien was sent off for tripping Horn as he raced through on goal.  Oliver nearly secured his hat trick on 77 minutes when his 25 yard free kick was parried away into the path of Horn who guided the ball home to make it 3-0.  It was all Bardon Hill now Josh Johnson saw his deflected shot come back off the post before Horn got his second two minutes after his opening effort Ryan Pearce provided the cross for the tall striker to head home.

BARDON HILL IN CONTROL

As the game entered the final stages Oliver looked to have secured his hat trick but his effort from in front of goal flew inches wide.

AND FINALLY THE ATTEMPTED ARTY SHOT

The return journey into Coalville was made on foot and having secured a small time to board the bus there was a complete failure to find a local shop to get a much needed soft drink from on this increasingly warm afternoon.  Back via Thringstone we learned of a few more local characters Charles Booth a further philanthropist and then on the outskirts the Grace Dieu Priory established in 1239 and run by the White Nuns of St Augustine.
Back in Loughborough and with an hour to wait after a look around we came across a large white washed house with green window frames by the station interestingly the wall had a 'lived here plaque' to make you aware that Sunloch the Gran National winner in 1914 was stabled on site here of Gainsborough House. 
A quality educational afternoon then all round topped off with a nice visit to a ground that once again had been on the radar for a while.  Arriving on the platform at Loughborough station it appeared all trains were around an hour late due to a points failure but on a pleasant and dry, at last, night this seemed to matter little with base station arrived just shy of 8.30pm.