STRANGE DAY IN THE BORDERLANDS

STUDLEY 1 ATHERSTONE TOWN 1
MFL 1 @ ABBEYFIELDS DRIVE
5 OCTOBER 2019 --- 3PM

STUDLEY V ATHERSTONE TOWN

Having spent most of my time saying 'oh yes I was I'm in Worcestershire today' it appears without so much as a visa check I had actually craftily entered Warwickshire, but only just, for this tight workmanlike derby encounter between two of the extreme county border teams.  A draw at the end of ninety minutes was the correct result from a game that although full of effort and endeavour failed to live up to much else however it did feature two excellent goals and a dug out melee resulting in two red cards.
As is becoming the norm this fixture did not feature on the schedule and after finally plumping for another non league ground in Coventry it was all set fair until an incident on the line around the city meant rail lines would be closed until 2pm.  So a previously looked at plan to visit Studley was enacted it didn't look that easy but upon further research travelling down I discovered a ten minute frequency bus service that dropped you within in five minutes of the ground so we were sorted.
Usual stuff from base station an hour of standing to Birmingham made slightly easier by chatting with The Hope Valley League fixtures secretary who was off to The Hawthorns.  A smart change would have me travelling past last weeks visit to Cadbury Athletic and soon departing at Redditch to be greeted by the large shopping centre on stilts.

GENTLE HILLOCK BEHIND THE MAIN STAND

Here the strange day developed further having earlier lost my bearings, again, in New St station I entered a shopping centre that has left me flummoxed before.  The bus station is straight opposite the station but I needed a comfort break and the initial sign for the toilets are never to be seen again so having found myself on the top floor I located the multiplex cinema and saw their facilities.  Having swiftly got through the door I further added to my thoughts of Redditch being a strange place 'where are the urinals in these toilets, bloody Redditch' I commented.  It was at that point a light bulb moment struck, I was in the ladies!
Moving out on a Diamond bus service 57 for a departure about ten minutes later at Washford Mill it would leave a brief walk the most challenging part of which would be crossing the Birmingham Road which I later found was the Worcestershire border crossing into Warwickshire although at the time I was more concerned about preserving myself.
The village of Studley is just under a mile away and seems fairly average although today with the positioning of the ground in the excellent Studley Sports Centre I decided against a visit.  The site has a main pitch plus a 4g caged area and to its southern side and probably separate the villages cricket club.

THE ADDERS FANS WERE HERE IN NUMBERS

With admission and raffle paid I discovered there was no programme yet at the gate, more of which shortly.  So lets do the descriptor to the left a deep but flat stand with seats of park style mounted on girders all under cover but there appeared to be no standing cover though, a walkway behind the goal offered a viewing area as far as the 4g pitch side which was out of bounds but contained the dug outs.  Back to the entrance and there is an excellent club house, function room, changing rooms and an external snack bar. 
Today I didn't sample produce the chips looked very poor and not many in the capacity levels so I partook in the bar of crisps and light refreshment.  Around the patio area led to the opposite goal hard standing and again apart from the first few feet of the far touchline we were out of bounds by the caged football area.
The last breath of programmes at all sporting events is coming nearer and I've discussed it on here before but clubs have to help themselves really there is a market if you do a good edition, put the work in and promote it on a match day.  A mate told how this Saturday the gateman said at his game don't think we do programmes where upon somebody told him yes we do they are behind the bar!  Back to Studley the story went they had done them but so and so was bringing them he passed it on to so and so and they've not appeared, on the basis that they had produced one then they were sat on somebodies kitchen table either wasting production money or denying match day revenue.  This was all the more amazing with the visitors Atherstone getting around 200 in home attendances it would be a source of revenue that a normal Studley gate of around 35 would not be open too.  Still no paperwork appeared so a little disappointing to have nothing to peruse before proceedings began.  Next weeks hot topic clubs that do a discount for Premier and Football League season ticket holder, don't get me started there.

STUDLEY STRIKER ENJOYED THE OPENING GOAL

This was a fixture in the top echelons of the Midland Football League 1 and nobody needs me to tell you of the previous achievements of the former Atherstone FC with a good following they are desperate to revisit those good times but with Studley also performing well it was set up as a tasty encounter of these 2 borderland territory sides.
It was good to notice 'Brooksy' who I had met before at Bolehall Swifts he performs an excellent video highlight packaging with running commentary and his a local legend I have enjoyed watching his productions from afar, I recommend a pop over to Adders TV on you tube to sample this game and others.  In the proceeding week Atherstone Town manager Ivor Green had resigned and there was amongst a collection of banners a thank you for his excellent efforts for the club but moving forward today would see Joe Obi take caretaker control.
Proceedings then they were few and far between Brady Middleton for the visitors struck a post that Connor McCarthy got a touch too for the after Dan Carter was denied a penalty at the other end after both referee and linesman missed a blatant shirt pull.  From the corner Nathan Haines headed against the cross bar, the deadlock was broken on 38 minutes though.
A superb cross field ball found Odane Barnes who took the it on and slotted past Adders keeper Carl O'Neill but within two minutes it was all level a beautiful move involving at least nine passes from back to front saw Ryan Quinn fire home, Holland of the 70's eat your heart out you aint got nothing on the Adders.
Referee Liam Teraud added just one minute after quite a few stoppages but we were in level pegging at one apiece.

HOME DUG OUT PARTY GETS ROWDY

Criticism of referees is not found on here very often but on this strange day todays incumbents were not adding to their stock the first half also contained an attacking Studley player blatantly handling the ball in the opposition box as he advanced on goal, the second period saw an Atherstone
cross strike a home players arm but the ultimate two were within the second period.  Sam Fitzgerald hit a superb long range effort that McCarthy pushed over however the linesman missed it as did the referee who awarded a goal kick but it was topped later on when the referee blew for the assistant referees flag against an Atherstone player for offside from the Studley keepers goal kick, after some indignation we re started with a drop ball and a quick sorry to the visitors bench.

BRADY MIDDLETON GOES FOR KIT COLOUR COMBINATION

Added into this for the official was a double red card incident when Middleton flew in on a Studley player right in front of the home dug out I guess he would have received a yellow card but some of the home bench got involved and there was greetings then from many of the on field players. 
While trying to calm the situation down subbed Studley number 2 Luke Hennessy tried to cool it down by dispensing the contents of the water bottle over the incumbents.  Result after a lengthy discussion between assistant and referee a red for both players.

REFEREE RAISES HIS VOTING CARD FOR NATHAN HAINES AS MAN OF THE MATCH

There was a collection of yellow cards that came out on all occasions now and the game drifted away again with probably Barnes missing the best chance in the closing stages against ten men Atherstone.
Diamonds are forever well they are for the 4.59pm bus service back to Redditch and shortly after the half five train to Birmingham would see a food stoppage as per last week at Kings Norton however this week the purpose would be a visit to the excellent Cod Pot for fish and chips I did though claim a sweet and drink at KFC also!

ATHERSTONE MAN OF THE MATCH NATHAN HAINES

Back into Birmingham on the frequent service I decided to wait for the booked 125 train at 8pm for a better chance of a seat and went off to take a look at the excellent Shine Walk which was starting at half past seven an excellent turnout that had all ready raised £50,000, well done all!
Back on platform for the Cross Country service back to spire town and of course it was a voyager[!] of limited space but thankfully a seat was gained although the return was somewhat spoilt by rowdy Sheffield United fans coming back form Watford and then fellow refreshed Derby fans joined them.  There was a delay at Derby while the local constabulary sorted out some rowdiness around first class but we arrived back at base just a few minutes after nine.
It had been a strange old day.