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Dusk at Dickens Road |
This weekend I was meeting my Dad in Grantham and we had intended to watch Grantham Town's home match with Whitton Albion in the Northern Premier League but after looking at the fixtures, the top of the table clash in the United Counties League Division One between Harrowby United and Eynesbury Rovers seemed a lot appealing. The two sides were in second and third place with Oadby Town at the top of the league. Last season I travelled to Eynesbury Rover's Alfred Hall Memorial Ground for a game in the same division agaisnt Bugbrooke St Michaels. They won convincingly on that day and as Eynesbury had only dropped two points on the road all season there was a chance that could be the case again.
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Stan's Stand shortly after kick off. |
In the opening moments of the game there is a scramble in the Harrowby penalty area and after Eynesbury hit the woodwork twice in succession the ball is hacked away. Eynesbury come close again when a header is deflected wide of the Harrowby goal. Harrowby at this point are having a lot of ball in the Eynesbury half but the final ball is lacking. Eynesbury come close again as a shot is driven wide following a corner. Harrowby then have a chance after a neat chip over the defender but the ball is put over the bar. Eynesbury then take a deserved lead as a couple of slips allows the away to go through the middle of the Harrowby defence and the forward slots the ball home.
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A Harrowby short corner in the first half. |
Harrowby have a couple of chances in the opening exchanges of the second half. Firstly the forward is a little unlucky as he scuffs his effort in the area. Shortly afterwards the Eynesbury defence is switched on to clear the ball off the line. Eynesbury then hit the bar for a third time and the Harrowby keeper makes a brilliant save from the follow up. The Eynesbury winger then gets in to a good position but his pass is just behind the centre forward. There is then a major scare for Eynesbury as the Harrowby forward beats the goalkeeper to the ball but his defenders make it back to bail him out. The home side then a fashion a decent headed chance but the forward's header is too weak to trouble the keeper. Eynesbury then get the killer second goal on the break. The ball eventually finds the striker at the back post and he is able to beat the defender and seal the two nil win.
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Dugout side of the ground |
Grantham has a few things to see before going to a game. There is the impressive St Wulfram's Church and the live sign of The Beehive Pub are a couple of things to see. More or less opposite the church is
The Blue Bull which serves beer from the local Oldershaw brewery. Grantham is served by trains from Kings Cross and the journey takes around an hour and half and the trains depart on a regular basis. It is advisable to book tickets in advance as tickets are very expensive on the day. The number one bus from the town centre go past the entrance of the ground and the journey takes about ten minutes and the buses are every twenty minutes. The clubhouse was very welcoming and has Sky Sports.
This was another great programme from a United Counties side following on from Peterborough Sports the previous week. There were a lot of pictures from recent games and there were pen pics for both sides which is useful for neutral fans.
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The locals enjoying the match action |
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