OADBY LEAPFROG PINCHBECK TO GO FIFTH

OADBY TOWN 2 PINCHBECK UNITED 0
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER @ WIGSTON ROAD
24 NOVEMBER 2018 --- 3PM

CLASSIC STAND AT OADBY TOWN

A goal in each half from Tom Mangan and a wonder strike from James Ireland secured all three points for Oadby Town as they climbed above visitors Pinchbeck United into fifth spot in The UCL Premier League.
Over the last few weeks the teams that have not been selected off the 'to do list' for quite a while have gradually started to be 'done' and all appeared pretty much as expected at most grounds except last weeks visit to Holwell which was a pleasant surprise.  Today a standard departure from base station at around twenty to one saw an arrival in Leicester, yet again, but thankfully today a quick get away from the station frontage on an aquamarine special number 31 would deposit me around twenty minutes later at the start of the main shopping street in Oadby.

WELCOME TO OADBY

Oadby is around 3 miles to the south east of the city centre and from a commercial point of view offers a fairly standard selection of shops to suit all tastes alongside a large Asda over the busy Harborough Rd.  Arriving at the nearby Wigston Rd ground with 45 minutes in hand a chance to visit Oadby and Old Wyggstonians Rugby club saw a few minutes of one branch of the home sides game versus Loughborough witnessed as well as the towering Leicester Tigers training base which is also at the site.

BACK TOWARDS THE UNDER DEVELOPMENT CLUBHOUSE

Of course the immediate purpose though was to pop along to Oadby Town for a first visit so after a brief viewing the Wigston Rd was navigated and entrance fee paid.  Once again for a step 5 club and no programme was issued this has to be a disappointment and seems to be a trait of Leicestershire clubs where you can add Kirby Muxloe to this roll of disappointment.  Its always a shame especially on a first visit to have nothing to take back to base to read and peruse about the club at a later stage.
Still on the positive the clubhouse to our immediate right was looking like a building site because that's what it was with an excellent development of the bar and social club into what was looking like a truly modern and bright facility with a superb selection of large TV screens and with the intention to pave the exterior this will be a creditable development.

TWO TEAMS READY TO ENTER THE FIELD OF PLAY

Quick ground descriptor once entering there are a few steps of traditional terrace and onto the left touchline straddling the half way line the classic stand here at Oadby with its sloping front protector, with seats of plastic and wooden bench type, nicely varnished I noticed, there is plenty on offer for todays crowd.  The hard standing continues around the far goal and onto the far side which is quite heavily leaf and moss strewn after the autumnal season.
Two dug outs are on this side with one larger than the other I guess being the original set before a new one was built to separate the two and this hard standing brings us back to the changing rooms and clubhouse.

OADBY AND JACK MCMILLAN FREE KICK

With Pinchbeck flying high but on a poor recent run and Oadby close by this promised to be a tight game however the home side took the lead after just four minutes when Mangan fired past the visiting keeper Ricky Lovelace and for most of the game it looked like this could be the deciding goal.  Pinchbeck did have the ball in the net late in the first half but the assistant referees flag was up and there seemed to be little discussion on the merits of onside or offside.
The first half had been disappointing fayre with Oadby carrying the one goal advantage and Pinchbeck unable to formulate too much in an attacking capacity.

OADBY BREAK AWAY FROM JOSH SMITH OF PINCHBECK

Increasingly as the afternoon wore on the home sides man of the match central defender Ellis Preston thwarted any attempt by the visitors to get through or supply newly signed Grantham target man Ryan Oliver.
The second half did though see Chris Shipley head just over the bar for the visitors before for Oadby Jack Samples struck the post.  As Oadby looked the more likely to extend their lead Spencer Brown forced Lovelace into a save before Oli Maltby headed off the line for Pinchbeck.

NON LEAGUE DOGS WELL REPRESENTED AT WIGSTON RD

A rare moment of quality was provided on 63 minutes from the ever threatening Ireland who 25 yards out made time for himself to switch the ball onto his right foot before despatching a wonderful drive into the bottom right hand corner to double the Leicestershire sides lead. 
Lovelace in the visitors goal was alert to deny Jack McMullen before the closing stages finally saw some pressure from the visitors when they brought on player manager Ian Dunn, or he brought himself on I guess, who immediately brought a threat to the home side something that had not been evident for most of the afternoon.

UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE OADBY BENCH AND MANAGER NICK BRETT

A fairly standard game with a comfortable win from an Oadby side who worked well and took two chances to close down the three points that sees them rise to fifth in the table.
Return journey was all running nicely with bus 31A back to the station and it wouldn't be Saturday without a late train and it was the 1734 to base running behind time but around fifty minutes later return was made from another Saturday in fox county.