Saturday 23nd February 2008

Looking a little concerned?

Kev views the East Stand !

The seating area!

Our friendly linesman, plus a view of the crowd!

Kimberley Town v Blidworth Welfare CML Premier Division

Well, talk about a culture shock!
Nothing prepared us for what we found at the Stag Ground, home of Kimberley Town FC. This was a treat for us, talk about back to basics! After paying the £2 to get into the ground, we had to take a step back to take in our surroundings. A slope that is an a par with Eastwood's Coronation Park pitch, and just one covered area behind the goal nearest the entrance. The other three sides were just grass. I remember visiting this venue some 12-13 years ago, and virtually nothing has changed since then. .

Didn't manage to get a programme, there were no team sheets - we have no idea of the names of any of the players! There was no PA -- just a lady shouting out of the clubhouse at the end of the game " we're at home next week as well, we're at home next week..." brilliant !!!!

We actually counted the spectators --- there were 13, including us! The football wasn't too bad though, and after half an hour we were discussing that it looked like it would be Blidworth who would win, they had played the much better football although chances had been at a premium. What do we know! The home team went in front soon after, a great corner in from the right hit against the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

When one of the home defenders went down injured, one of the subs, who were warming up in front of us said "if I go on at centre-half, we'll lose 8-0" ..... we were quick to point out to him, very gently and with care, that his team was already winning 1-0 !!!

A minute later it was 2-0, a decent effort shot from 12 yards after good approach play. Had a great time chatting to the linesman during the game, he was so laid back he actually leant on the dugout and the perimeter fencing during breaks in play! Mind you he had lined a game in the morning before doing this one, so I imagine he was a little knackered...H-T 2-0

A surprise as well as we entered a tatty looking "club-house" ... there was a small bar in there and they had Sky Sports News on TV as well !

After a fairly decent 25 minutes of the second half, the best move of the game saw the best goal. Some really decent flowing midfield play (honest!) -- the ball found the Kimberly no.16, who sweetly curled the ball round the visiting keeper from the corner of the box.. Blidworth scored from a free-kick that the Kimberley keeper appeared to let past him, but the Stags held on to secure the win.

F-T 3-1

I have to say that this was not a classy venue, and step 8 is never going to produce classy games, but all in all, we both agreed that after the initial concerns about what I had let us in for, the game was not too bad ...

Saw the Eastwood Town physio Fred Kirk outside the clubhouse after the game, he was killing time after his better half had locked him out of his house!!

Other results: Dunkirk 5-0 Bentley / Calverton 0-0 Newark Flowserve / Matlock Tn 1-0 Eastwood Tn / Belper Tn 2-1 Warrington Tn / Carlton Tn 2-1 Goole AFC / Arnold Tn 3-0 Pickering Tn / Long Eaton Utd 2-0 Armthorpe MW / Gedling Tn 2-3 Dinnington Tn / Teversal 1-1 Pontefract / Hucknall Tn 0-3 Stalybridge Celtic

Tuesday -- Not too sure whether to go to Mansfield v Bury, Eastwood v North Ferriby or Sutton Town AFC v Gedling Miners Welfare...