First Half Borough Blitz - Ampthill Town vs. Hillingdon Borough

Stand through the fence - I did of course actually pay to watch the game!

So after weeks and weeks of having match choices influenced by weather, engineering works on the trains further complicated things. I had thought about games at Little Common and New Milton but the dreaded rail replacement buses put paid to those ideas. Instead I stuck with original choice of Ampthill Town versus Hillingdon Borough in Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League. Both sides were in mid table although Hillingdon were nine points ahead of Ampthill. I visited Hillingdon Borough for a game against Chatham in my very early days of ground hopping when they were still in the Ryman League. This game may not have happened as Hillingdon did resign from the league only to be saved by former player Yannick Bolasie.

View of kick off from the stand

Hillingdon start off on the front foot. The best of the early chances come when the forward is able to round the keeper but the ball gets stuck in the pitch and his eventual shot is blocked by a defender. Then a header goes just over the bar from the resulting corner kick. Hillingdon take the lead in fortuitous circumstances when a shot is deflected past the keeper. They double their lead as the attacker is able to get to the byline and his pull back is lashed in from around the penalty spot. Borough go further ahead thanks to the forward being played in and he slots the ball home. Ampthill have a chance to get back into the game but the shot is dragged wide of the target. On my walk to the clubhouse I hear cheers and turn around to see the Hillingdon players celebrating their fourth goal.

One nil Hillingdon

Ampthill have a decent chance to get back into the game when a great ball is played but unfortunately for the home side, two players run into each other and the chance goes begging. Then Hillingdon have a chance to further their advantage which is wasted as a free header from close range is headed wide. Then Ampthill are able to get to the byline themselves but again, this shot is dragged wide. In the closing stages, Ampthill get the fifth goal to seal the victory.

Hillingdon deal with an Ampthill attack

It is fairly easy to get to Ampthill from London. You have to catch a train from St Pancras to Flitwick which takes less than an hour. Then from here you can catch the 42 bus to the town center. There are two 42 buses run by different companies but they both get you to Ampthill. Ampthill is a pleasant market town with a good selection of pubs. Right in the town center is The White Hart which offers beers from the local Ampthill Brewhouse. A little bit out of the town center is Albion which had an extensive selection of beers and I tried The Man Up from The Manning Brewers. Then on the walk to the ground is The Queens Head which is very homely. Ampthill Park is currently undergoing a major refit and only the main stand was open and the clubhouse was going through a refit. Refreshments are available in the cricket clubhouse overlooking the ground. I will absolutely revisit once all of the works are completed.

Front on view of the stand