Great End To Non League Season - The 61 FC (Luton) vs. MK Gallacticos

View back across the pitch towards the stand and clubhouse

Bank holiday Monday was my last non league match day of the season (hopefully I'll see one more Scunthorpe game this season!) and choices were pretty thin on the ground. There were a lot of cup finals at grounds I'd already been to and as I was at work on Tuesday, AFC Portchester was a big ask. It was only by chance I saw that there were games in Division Two of The Spartan South Midlands League which is a division where I'd never seen a game in. I'd looked at this league before and The 61 FC were one of the grounds I highlighted as one to visit. Today there were playing host to MK Gallacticos who were several places above today's hosts in the league. Between them the two sides had scored 136 goals in their 64 games so far so hopefully there would be a few goals today.

Kick off with the rolling Bedfordshire hills in the background

The 61 start on the front foot but they can't find the final ball when they get into good positions. When they do manage to get the man in on goal, the MK Gallacticos keeper is able to block the shot. The visitors take the lead with a great goal. A forward ball finds the winger out wide and his ball in is back healed into the path of the advancing forward who hammers the ball home. MK Gallacticos are now rampant and they look like scoring every time they go forward. The MK Gallacticos attacker powers through to the near post and the 61 keeper makes a save, just catching the ball at the second attempt before it goes over the line. Straight afterwards, the MK Gallacticos forward is in again but this time a heavy touch sees The 61 keeper claim the ball. Then in the final stages of the first half, The 61 are able to stun the visitors with two quick fire goals to send them in at half time in the lead.

The MK Gallacticos forward rounds the keeper but can't find the finish

MK Gallacticos equalize shortly after half time. The attacker barges his way through The 61 defense before slamming the ball home. Like when they scored their first goal, MK Gallacticos go looking for further goals. The closest they come to getting one comes as the winger gets in on goal and after his initial effort is saved, the rebound goes well over the bar. MK Gallacticos gift The 61 the lead back when the defender is caught on the ball and The 61 forward robs him before slotting past the keeper to restore the home sides lead. Both sides are now really going for it. The 61 keeper makes another decent save as MK Gallacticos are played in again. The visitors equalize for the second time in the half when the winger is played in on goal and he makes no mistake to make it three all. It is the home side who claim the seventh and winning goal of an entertaining contest. MK Gallacticos commit a needless foul out wide and from the resulting free kick The 61 player gets in a header at the near post to claim the points.  

The 61 forward hooks the ball back in during the first half

The closest station to The Kingsway Rec Ground is Luton. Trains to Luton depart from St Pancras and the journey lasts around half an hour. Pub wise in Luton, I first tried The Red Lion which would be perfect for the early kick offs. Just across the road is The Castle which had a choice of ales as well as playing good music. The walk to Kingsway Rec takes about forty minutes or the 31/32/33 buses from the train station, drops you off right outside. The clubhouse had a couple of lagers as well as BT Sports on the TV. While the gangs of youths around the park don't make you feel particularly welcome, the people in the club certainly do and I recommend a visit. If you've got a wait for your train, The Well is a good spot for this.

Program from the original date

A first half MK Gallacticos chance goes over the bar