Bobcats Fail To Roar - Bradford Town vs. Odd Down

Corner view of Trowbridge Road

After bottling with the weather the other week and missing out on Bradford Town, it made sense for my first game back in England to be at Trowbridge Road. I'd wanted to visit Bradford-on-Avon having seen what a pretty looking place it was and it didn't disappoint. More on that later, but the Western League game today was with Odd Down, making the short nine mile trip - Bradford's previous visitors Plymouth Parkway travelled 128 miles for that match. The sides were also next to each other in mid table and the reverse match in January was a draw so you can have a guess at what the outcome was! I'd never seen either side play before but I had seen matches at nearby Bath, Larkhall, Warminster and Westbury and I had enjoyed all of these grounds so was hoping for more of the same.

Kick off at Trowbridge Road

Bradford have a couple of half chances in the first half. Firstly a dangerous free kick from wide has to be cleared by the Odd Down defence and then after the forward powers through the visiting defence he can't find the killer ball. I don't know if I'm just watching games more or what but that was I wrote down in the first half.

Bradford trying to build in the first half

The notes don't get any more detailed for the second half. Odd Down hit the post from a free kick and Bradford are reduced to ten men and the game ends nil nil.

Bradford look for the winner in the second half

You can take a direct train to Bradford-on-Avon from Waterloo which takes just over two hours but these are quite infrequent. The main route is to go to Bath from Paddington and change at Bath for the train down to Bradford-on-Avon. As I mentioned earlier, Bradford-on-Avon is a stunning place and is worth exploring before a game. If you do venture into the town then The Stumble Inn has a great choice of ales and beers while The Bear Inn has the sports channels. If you're in a rush then Timbrell's Yard next to the river has a good selection while The Plough is a good half way / sports house. The clubhouse is located next to the bowling green and had a good selection of drinks as well as the sports on TV. The barbecue which apparently is on regardless of the weather is more than worth checking out, A great day out all round. 

Better view of the covered accommodation