OATCAKES AT THE ABBEY AS UNITED WIN

ABBEY HULTON UNITED 2 RYLANDS 0
NWCFL SOUTH @ DRAYTON BEAUMONT PARK
29 DECEMBER 2018 --- 3PM

GETTING TO KNOW YOU ABBEY HULTON UNTED AND RYLANDS

A goal in each half from Lee Cropper and Jake Stribling sent Abbey Hulton joint top of the table after a battle royal against second placed Rylands who since mid October had not conceded a league goal.  But it was the Staffordshire side who got their noses in front and there they remained as they saw out an exciting victory.
Usual experiences today standing to Derby and then the bus on rails, one carriage effort, to Stoke on Trent.  A hop aboard the frequent buses from the station departed me in Hanley, the main shopping centre, for an hour and it was a good choice as my usual visit close by the station is the Uni Chippy which appeared to be shut for the holiday period.

THE BUSINESS END

Now Stoke many of you will know from past blogs is one of my favourite places with its fantastic architecture but of course the area has suffered terrible loss of industry and as a consequence the social fabric is threadbare, with the city centre very much showing this full on.  Once shop open one shop closed with a whole range of boarded up and derelict buildings the last few years have not been kind to this area.  The new bus station provided an option of services either to Birches Head, the Leek Road or as I opted for Abbey Hulton estate and a brisk ten minute walk via the Hulton Abbey to the ground.
Departure on the First Potteries, so much better than its previous moniker PMT, service 5 was close by the Northwood Stadium where Eastwood Hanley also had a home fixture today, just short of Bucknall a left turn took us into the estate.  Departure at Priory Sq for a visit to the Coop for a quick snack and I soon opted to make my retreat with kids bumping scooters off the pavement only topped off moments later when a police car left the estate to be followed by a car that at around 40 mph decided to do a handbrake turn for the delight of all street viewers.

DRAYTON BEAUMONT PARK

The Abbey by which the village gets its name is a partly uncovered set of rubble that from above gives a part view of its former build with much apparently remaining under the earth out of view.  Sadly it appears very run down as a park with little care and attention being given and the information board at the car park end appears to have been taken a walk.
Escape over the Leek Rd and within five minutes the joy of football to look forward to, having seen Abbey at Wythenshawe Amateurs at the start of the season I knew a little about them and opted to take in a trip as soon as possible and first impressions were of a smart little set up in their second year at this level after promotion from The Staffordshire County Senior League.

GREAT NETTED PROTECTION FOR THE OATCAKES

First things first some clubs wouldn't spot a welcome if it ran up to them an introduced itself but here at Abbey Hulton United this is certainly not the case they were a breath of fresh air throughout the visit.  A warm greeting external to the gate was followed by likewise when paying in and purchasing a programme, this was followed by the public address system guy spotting visitors asking their names and thanking them for visiting over the PA system just before the game an excellent touch.
He also recommended me to the Staffordshire Oatkcakes the snack bar did so without being rude I had to sample one didn't I?

SAY NO MORE STAFFS OATCAKE WITH CHEESE AND A TEA

The Abbey Café continued the excellent welcoming feel about this club with the ladies on duty all pleasant and chatty so oatcake with cheese and a tea was sampled and enjoyed it was all that good that I went back for a large chip cob at half time.  The whole feel around the food outlet seemed to be supported by what looked like a large amount of food being sampled by todays attendance of 188.
Here is the descriptor then entrance into a fairly sized car park and pay hut walks you down to on your right hand side the changing rooms followed by an elevated homely clubhouse.  To the left the playing surface looking in great condition is two sided for spectators the immediate goal has the business end and café with the far touch line two Atcost stands separated by the half way line.  The dug outs are on the far side and the grass banking is out of bounds.  Today on a dark and windy afternoon the floodlights were on before the start of the game and hence the lack of any action pictures it was probably the poorest light this season for capturing.

EARLY CARD FROM REFEREE ROBINSON

An interesting fixture awaits with Abbey sat in third spot and offering a wide selection of results including losing three times while conceding five goals or more, including a loss by half a dozen in the reverse game.  Whereas Ryalnds had not conceded a league goal since mid October and had a goal difference of plus 51.
A pacey start to this encounter with young referee Ben Robinson issuing a regular collection of yellows, seven in total, throughout proceedings keeping a lid on things as on a few occasions excitement levels threatened to spill over.  This was not a game with a variety of chances but it always remained of real interest and when Cropper drove home at the back post from a corner off the right on 21 minutes there was definitely a feeling of 'game on'.

CELEBRATIONS AS CROPPER [UNSIGHTED] MAKES IT 1-0

The second period saw Abbey Hulton strengthen their lead just seven minutes after the break when a swift move saw Cropper feed Stribling who fired into the bottom left hand corner to make it 2-0.  Shortly after Rylands looking to get back in the game went close when Jamie White forced Jacob Holding into an excellent save low down.  As temperaments were tested in the closing stages the sheer determination and willing on of the home side by their fellow players and the crowd got them comfortably over the line to record a very creditable victory that sees them go joint top on points but in second berth after goal difference.  For Rylands a third place is not as bad as it may seem with games in hand they are clearly the side to watch but with the top of The NWCFL South so tight every point will be vital in the chase for the title.

HEY LINO DO YOU WANT A SEAT

Back to the Leek Rd and at around 5.05 the '43' got me back to Hanley bus station for a swift change onto the '23' to Newcastle with departure five minutes later at the station we were leaving the Potteries at just after 5.30 with an arrival back at base station around 7pm.
A great visit facilitated by a superb club who showed a friendliness and welcome alongside a hospitable café that makes this a highly recommended visit, cant wait to go again if only for the oatkcakes.