Bloods Stain First Game - Stanway Rovers vs. Saffron Walden Town

Saffron Walden attack in the first half

This weekend I had intended to finally visit Rottingdean Village in the Sussex County League but the Southern Rail farce meant that this would run the risk of a nightmare trip and so I played it safe and opted for Stanway Rovers against Saffron Walden in the Eastern Counties League. This was the first game in charge for new Stanway manager Karl Duguid after Angelo Harrop stood down in December. The only time I can remember seeing Stanway play previously was against Hanworth Villa in an FA Vase tie six years ago. Saffron Walden is one of my favourite places I've visited for football - although I made the mistake of walking there from Audley End - they were hosting Stowmarket on that afternoon. Stowmarket are second in the table, sixteen points behind run away leaders Mildenhall while Saffron Walden were in mid table. Stanway won the reverse fixture four one back in October.

Kick off at Hawthorns

Both sides have free kicks in decent positions early on but nether cause any serious threat and they are headed away by the respective defences. The first clear sight of goal comes when the Saffron Walden player is played in on goal but his effort is blocked by the keeper. The visitors then almost gift Stanway the opener as they play the Stanway attacker in with a poor back pass and he drags his shot across the goal and wide. Stanway then struggle to fully clear a Saffron Walden free and they regain their composure to scramble the ball away. The away side take the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances as a header hits the post and the rebound bounces off the keeper and into the net. Saffron Walden come very close to doubling their lead shortly before half time when the ball is played back in after a corner is cleared and the resulting header thunders off the bar and just about out to safety. 

Stanway look to put the Saffron Walden defence under pressure

Stanway push for the equaliser straight after half time and the forward has a shot blocked after being played in on goal. Then a well hit corner kick manages to elude everyone. It is however Saffron Walden who score the next goal. A cross into the box isn't fully cleared and after the second one is played in, the attacker gets ahead of his marker to score their second. Stanway half the deficit shortly afterwards as the forward is allowed to turn on the edge of the box and fire home from the edge of the box. Stanway now pile forward and the midfielder goes on a meandering run from around half way only see his shot blocked by the Saffron Walden defence. Stanway soon have a great chance for the equaliser, but a great last ditch tackle keeps Saffron Walden ahead. Saffron Walden are able to see out the remainder of the game to seal the three points.

The Stanway attacker looks to get behind the defence

To get to Stanway I took the train to Colchester Town which takes just over an hour and then from across the road on Osborne Street you can take the 65 bus to just outside the ground. The bus portion takes about ten minutes dependent on traffic. I wouldn't recommend heading straight to Stanway as there are things to see in the town such as the castle and it's grounds. There are also two brilliant pubs in the centre. Firstly there is The Three Wise Monkeys which a great choice of beers including the excellent 'Schmankel' wheat beer from The Tapout Brewery. Then around the corner is the more intimate Queen Street Brewhouse which has more ales and I tried 'Orange' from The Green Jack Brewery. Then in Stanway itself is The Live And Let Live which also had a couple of ales on as well as BT Sports. Here I tried 'Bengal Flare' from the Box Steam Brewery which a good chilli after taste. The clubhouse located outside the ground had a good selection of beers as well as BT Sports. All in all, a fantastic day out in Essex.

The Saffron Walden winger runs on in front of the stand