Stow Claim Last Day Win - Stowmarket Town vs. Cornard United

Far from a rubbish day in Suffolk

It was the last weekend of the season for many teams and ideally I'd liked to see a six pointer. The first game that had caught my eye was Horndean against Totton and Eling in The Wessex Premier with the visitors needing to win to have a chance of staying up but Horndean seemed pretty tricky to get to. In the Eastern Counties Division One there was a winner takes all promotion clash between Saffron Walden and Great Yarmouth but I'd already visited Catons Lane a couple of months ago. Somehow I managed to completely skip over the relegation six pointer between Stamford and Witton Albion. In the end I settled on a game at a ground I been past a couple of times on the train - Stowmarket Town versus Cornard United in The Eastern Counties Division One. I'd seen Stowmarket twice already this season at Saffron Walden and then at Swaffham a couple of weeks ago. On both occasions they'd given two sides who ended up getting promoted a good run for their money which bodes well for next season. Both teams were in the bottom half before the game - Stowmarket just below half way and Cornard were second from bottom. The reverse fixture at the start of the year ended in a 2-2 draw.

Kick off at Green's Meadow

Stowmarket are played in very early on and in a scenario that would be repeated several times, the chance was put high and wide. Cornard get a couple of crosses into the box, the most threatening produces a header which lacks the power to really test the keeper. Stowmarket take the lead when following a break forward the attacker is allowed time to turn on the edge of the area and find the back of the net with a low drive. Stowmarket have a chance for a second but the header from a corner fails to seriously test the goalie. They do make it two nil shortly afterwards when the attacker is allowed the freedom of the area following a free kick from out wide and he stoops down to head his side into a two goal lead. Cornard get back into the game as the keeper waits for an innocuous ball to come to him and the Cornard forward nips in to half the deficit just before half time.  

Stowmarket on the attack in the first half

Cornard almost equalise early on in the second half. The Cornard forward gets into a great position and his pull back finds its target before the Stowmarket keeper makes a great save. The Cornard keeper then almost gifts the home side a third as he slips in a dangerous position but the mistake goes unpunished. Stowmarket get in behind the visiting defence and again the chance is the chance is wasted although the ball did bobble at critical moment. The game is now very end to end and it takes a great low save from the Stowmarket keeper to keep out an acrobatic effort on goal. It is then Stowmarket's turn to have a great chance as the attacker gets in but to his disbelief there is no one there when he cuts the ball back. The home side then come even closer when the Cornard keeper does brilliantly to tip the ball on the bar and the defence clear the rebound. Chances are being produced at will as the Stowmarket goalie makes another great save to keep his side in the lead. In the closing stages Stowmarket get in behind the visitors defence a couple more times and on the third occasion they make the game safe. The right winger cuts inside and his initial effort is saved before the striker knocks home the rebound to make 3-1.

Second half match action with the A14 flyover in the background

After a couple of trickier journeys in recent weeks, Stowmarket was relatively easy to get to. Direct trains to Stowmarket depart from Liverpool Street and the journey takes just under an hour and a half. From the station, Green's Meadow is an easy ten minute walk from the station. As with Charlton a couple of weeks ago, there a variety of pubs in Stowmarket. For the early kick off there is The Royal Oak is a good bet. If you fancy a pub with at lest six ales on then The Royal William is the pub for you. As it is just off the main road, it is very quiet and also had BT Sports. If you want a pub close to the ground then The Crown is about five minutes walk away. The clubhouse also had a couple of ales and the lunch time kick off. As seems to be the case with most Eastern Counties grounds, the hot food was great. While I was waiting for the train I popped into The Kings Arms which also had a good selection of beers. The programme said this was the last edition for the current editor and the person who replaces him has one of hell of a job - a fantastic programme.

Another view of the stands