For the first actual league of the season, I travelled to Knaphill to watch their home game against newly promoted Hayes Gate, who finished finished second in the Middlesex County League. Knaphill themselves were denied promotion as they didn't have floodlights. Despite not having a stand or floodlights the foundations are there for a really great ground.
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| Knaphill's Redding Way Ground. Note how wide the pitch is. |
The ground is surrounded on three sides by trees and shrubs. I actually got stung retrieving the ball in one instance. This gives the ground a rural feel.
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| The dugouts and trees on one side. |
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| Other side of the ground. |
The game has a cagey opening as many many opening do. The game is sparked in to life by a stunning 25 yard strike from Ricky Hogsden for the home side. Towards the end of the first Hayes Gate start to establish themselves in the game and the home goal keeper has to make a decent right on half time.
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| Early action in the second half. |
Hayes Gate continue where they left of at the end of the first and create several chances. They eventually get the equaliser and this broke Knaphill's spirit. They failed to carve out any chances of note in the remainder of the game as Hayes Gate score two more goals in the final third of the game. Hayes Gate certainly look comfortable at a higher level and Knaphill will have to improve greatly if they are to repeat last season's top three finish.
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| The clubhouse end. |
The clubhouse while smart and comfy has no bar. If you would like a drink before the game then there are a few pubs on Knaphill High Street. The bus from Woking Station takes about 10 minutes to get to the High Street and then it is a five minute walk down to the ground. There are several buses that travel from outside Woking Station. I used the 35 and 91 buses but there are several more that go to Knaphill. One last thing is how good the programme is. It's is comfortably a lot better then a lot of Ryman League efforts.
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