KAPOW ATTENBOROUGH GET LATE EQUALISER AT WOLLATON

WOLLATON 2 ATTENBOROUGH 2
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ WOLLATON ROAD
7 APRIL 2018 --- 2PM

WOLLATON SPORTS ASSOCIATION HOME OF WOLLATON FC

A superb strike from Nick Knight three minutes from time allowed Attenborough to snatch a draw against ten men Wollaton who had fought back from going a goal down early on.  A spicy affair with complete commitment from both sides belied this approaching end of season fixture but once again The NSL provided a superb game for the neutral spectator.
With the dreaded wet stuff forecast, again, the opportunity of getting along to catch up with a game at Wollaton became the obvious choice with a few back up games easily accessible from this west of Nottingham suburb, needless to say armed with umbrellas the rain never materialised.  The fast route in was selected with Comet from base and an immediate change in Derby to The Red Arrow departing at The QMC Hospital just short of the city for a walk via Wollaton Hall and its grounds.

WOLLATON HALL CAN YOU SPOT BATMAN

From its lofty position the Hall offers a superb view around the city and is such a building of character that it was Batman's home in the 2011 film The Dark Knight Rises starring Christian Bale.  With time, as ever, of importance a brief viewing of the famous deer and we were out into the village which offers an excellen first impression to any visitors, we are clearly in a well to do district backed up of course by the obligatory Waitrose!  The village centre offers a library, modern church hall, the Admiral Rodney watering hole more of which shortly and St Leonards Parish Church.  The latter offers one of the few remaining antiphonals, new word of the year[!], a late medieval Church service book.  The display is via a screen as the said item is well away under protection elsewhere, moving next door is the aforementioned public house the dominating Admiral Rodney.

VILLAGE OVERVIEW WELL CHURCH AND PUB ANYWAY

With a crafty hour built into proceedings we were early diners with a superb pint and a meal offer times 2 for a penny shorty of twenty pounds.  This was a recommended meal and pint in amiable surroundings with some nice staff too.  The advantage of this establishment was that you could see the entrance to the ground from our table but with the clock approaching 45 minutes to kick off, 2pm to facilitate use of a party in the social room, we set off on the briefest of walks.

NO CAPTION NEEDED

Having accessed the ground our first view ahead was of the cricket outfield and square with to the far side the football pitch, immediately to our left the pavilion with changing rooms, tea bar and alcohol bar.  A further claim to fame for Wollaton was the filming of the sit-com Outside Edge in the mid nineties starring Josie Lawrence, Timothy Spall and Brenda Blethyn was filmed at the ground for external shots.

EXECUTIVE DUG OUTS

A brief overview of the ground shows a well rope fenced pitch all the way around with catch nets behind each goal, probably the smartest dugouts outside of the Premiership with full back comfy seats and cup holders!  All the perimeter can just about be accessed with no hard standing in place but the whole set up is well looked after so not a problem here.  The ground is surrounded by smart well to do houses around three sides and the whole area is well enclosed save for the Wollaton Rd side which is separated by a bowling green and entrance track with a small amount of car parking.

EARLY SAVE FOR LEWIS SOAL ATTENBOROUGH KEEPER

On arrival and during the afternoon we swapped conversations with Wollaton Chairman Bill Fishwick who at one stage excused himself and the next time I looked up he was marking the pitch out before kick off before a brief respite saw him open up the perimeter rope for the players access route.  As ever people like Bill are the lifeblood of non league football along with his small band of helpers we all know where football would be without them, nowhere!  So thank you to you all.
There was time to get a programme each which was an excellent double edition featuring Tuesdays game versus Cotgrave too before visiting the snack bar for a few provisions!

SECOND HALF WOLLATON PRESSURE

It was to be an early lead for the visitors and a harmless looking cross saw Wollaton keeper Tom Ryan drop the ball over the goal line and by the time he re-claimed it he had rescued it from behind the line something that did not go amiss of the assistant referee Rev Andrew Chislet-MacDonald who was in no need of VAR to give the goal.  We witnessed no more goals in the first half although it was not for the want of trying from both sides with some sharp challenges going in and an excessive amount of dissent referee Phil Towers had to be on his guard.

JAKE FISHER ON THE BALL FOR WOLLATON

The start of the second period saw Wollaton out of the traps at full speed and Jake Fisher had equalised within two minutes a superb run cut him into the penalty box and his shot went into the back of the Attenborough net despite the despairing dive of a defender.  The home side had come out with a new vigour and both Kasey Fisher and Reece Campbell went close before they took the lead on 58 minutes when Ash Kelly fired home a lose ball in the penalty box.

YELLOW FOR JAKE SAMUEL

The game had threatened to have a coming together and this did happen ten minutes later with a few close range greetings the final result saw Jake Samuel booked for the visitors and Ryan Krause dismissed for Wollaton.   The home side should have wrapped it up shortly afterwards visiting keeper Lewis Soal saved from Jake Fisher and on the follow up Ash Kelly miss hit his effort.

LONG WALK BACK TO THE PAVILLION FOR RYAN KRAUSE

As the closing stages developed and the ten men of Wollaton looked to tire up stepped Knight with a superb strike from 20 yards out to beat Ryan in the home goal to grab a deserved point with three minutes remaining of the 90.
The Nottinghamshire Senior League is not a set of fixtures that I visit regularly however once again today it provided a cracking game of football to watch and with the pre-match surroundings this is more than a recommended visit and one I hope to pop along to again soon.
The return journey took a convoluted route via the Two to Ilkeston, the 21 to Heanor, Rapid One to Ripley and finally The Comet back to base all this avoided the Pride Park turn out and also was included in the super Trent Barton day ticket.