Tulips Continue Perfect League Start - Newport Pagnell Town vs. Spalding United

Newport Pagnell attack in the second half

This season Newport Pagnell have followed in the footsteps of Lewes in producing interesting posters advertising their next game. An archive of this seasons posters can be found on the club website. This encouraged me to travel to Buckinghamshire for their United Counties League Premier Division match against Spalding United. Spalding are nicknamed the Tulips in reference to the town's bulb growing industry. So far this season Spalding have won every league game and were knocked of the FA Cup by Ryman Premier League side AFC Hornchurch in their only defeat of the season. Newport Pagnell weren't doing as well having only won one league game all season.

Kick off under uncertain skies

The game has a very uneventful start and the highlight of the opening stages is a Newport free kick in to the area which the Spalding keeper fails to gather but a free kick is given for a foul on the keeper. Spalding's first effort is a shot from distance which goes well over. They come closer when the winger drives a cross in to the box but no one can get a touch. Spalding take the lead with a penalty midway through the half after the Spalding forward is chopped down in the box. The Newport goalkeeper then spills the ball in the box but the defence is able to clear the danger. Newport then have a strong penalty appeal of their own towards the end of the half but the referee waves away the protests. 

A Newport attack breaks down in the first half

Newport have a half chance from a corner early in the second half but the chance is wasted. Spalding then come close with a long range effort following a free kick but the Newport keeper makes a great save. The away side then double their lead with a close range finish after the first effort following a quick break was blocked. Newport then get a chance to get the ball in to the box with a free kick but a poor delivery means the chance is wasted. The Newport keeper then makes a great save from a long range Spalding effort. The Newport defence continues to frustrate the away side as two efforts from inside the area are blocked. They do eventually get a third in the closing stages as the forward is left unmarked to finish across the keeper.

First half action with one of the stands in the background.

The closest station to Willen Road is Milton Keynes Central which is over five miles away. The number 1 bus from outside the station takes within a five minute walk of the ground. The buses depart every half hour and the journey takes around twenty minutes. If you stay on the bus for five minutes then you end up on the High Street where there are plenty of places for a pre match pint. I went to The Plough which had the early kick off on TV. The ground is then a fifteen minute away from the High Street. The clubhouse is one of the best ones I've been to this season. They have one ale on rotation and had several screens with BT Sports on.

A decent programme for this level was produced for the game. There were all the usual articles regarding recent games and a detailed history of both sides.

Dugout side of the ground