Enthralling Start To Vase - Wellingborough Whitworth vs. Edgware Town

Turning in the shadow of the factory

Wellingborough has been on my radar for a while and after a friend from university moved to the local area, I arranged a trip. There are two teams in Wellingborough and they are next door to each other. The team I saw this weekend were Whitworth who were at home to Edgware. Both sides play in division of their respective leagues, Whitworth play in The United Counties while Edgware play in the South Midlands. Edgware have reformed since they folded after losing their fantastic White Lion Ground in 2008. I was lucky enough to visit The White Lion Ground for a Ryman League game against Wivenhoe in one of my first hopping seasons. The two sides have had contrasting starts to the season with Whitworths having only won one game so far this season while Edgware had won four. One thing the two starts to the league campaigns had in common was that there had been a lot of goals - a total of 48 goals in the nine league games involving the two sides.

Kick off at The Victoria Mill Ground

Both teams have early chances but it is Whitworths who take the early lead. Following a cross from the right, the forward is allowed a free header and he buries it into the back of the net. Edgware then have a free kick on the edge of the Whitworths' area and from this the home side break and a long ball finds the attacker through on goal and he dinks the ball over the on rushing keeper to double the home sides lead. Edgware now go on the attack to try and get back into the game and they come close when the Whitworths keeper does well to block a header from a corner on the line. The home side then gift the visitors a way back into the game. Under very little pressure, the Whitworths centre back powers a header past his own keeper following a long throw into the box. Edgware come close to an equaliser as the Whitworths keeper does well to keep out a header from a free kick. They do get an equaliser when Edgware break out of defence and the centre midfielder times his through ball to perfection and the forward beats the keeper to level the scores. Whitworths are unlucky not to regain the lead when a long range effort hits the top of the bar. It is Edgware who go in at half time in the lead as they score just before the whistle.

The Whitworths winger takes on the full back

Whitworths look straight away to get the equaliser and the Edgware defence has to be alert to clear a dangerous cross into the box. Edgware however extend their lead when after a neat one two, the winger gets in on goal and he makes no mistake to make it 2-4. The visitors further press home their advantage after a diagonal ball in is squared back across the six yard area and the forward makes no mistake from close range. Whitworths are still in this and after they get to the byline and deliver a cross and the Edgware keeper makes a great save from the resulting effort on goal. Edgeware come close to making the game safe when a a ball over the top finds the winger in space and after he unselfishly passes the shot is cleared off the line. Whitworths get within one as the Edgware keeper spills a shot from the edge of the area and the forward is on hand to force the ball home. Whitworths almost send the game into extra time when they hit the bar with a header from a long throw. Unfortunately for the hosts, Edgware score a late sixth to seal their passage into the next round.

Whitworths hit the bar for a second time

Trains to Wellingborough depart from St Pancras and the journey takes around forty minutes. Tickets on the day are very expensive considering the length of the journey and so I recommend booking in advance. The ground is then about a thirty minute walk from the station. If you have time to stop off in the town centre I thoroughly recommend The Olde England which had an incredible selection of ales and is a fantastic pub without loud music or TVs. If you do want to watch the early kick off then The Horseshoe Inn just down the road does the job. A couple of years ago a fire destroyed the old clubhouse at The Victoria Mill Ground. The replacement is fantastic and offers the usual selection of drinks as a view of the pitch for colder days.

Edgeware attack the clubhouse end