Goalfest At Station Road - Long Buckby vs. St Andrews

Taking in the action at Station Road

Having visited Gillingham the previous weekend and with Scunthorpe at Crawley the following weekend, I was really looking forward to seeing some non league action at a new ground. My choice was made for me by the number of weekend works but it did mean I got to a ground I'd been planning on visiting for sometime. The ground is question was Staiton Road, home of Long Buckby. Long Buckby has always interested me as it is as far as I can get from Euston using my Network Rail Card. Today in the United Counties League Division One, Long Buckby were playing St Andrews who the only thing I knew about was that they were based in Leicester. In the league, Long Buckby were in second and looking to go up while St Andrews were in mid table.

Lots of new houses in Long Buckby

St Andrews first attack sees a ball fizzed across the goal but there is no critical touch. Long Buckby take an early lead when the forward is played in by a lofted ball and he knocks the ball over the advancing keeper. They double their lead as they go straight down the middle before they score their second. I have a knack of missing goals while in the bar or at the toilet but this was a new low as I somehow missed two St Andrews goals! The first was a penalty with the second being scored from close range following defencive dithering from the hosts. Long Buckby have the final say in an eventful half with a close range header to make it three two.

Long Buckby taking on the St Andrews defence

Beer in hand and bladder emptied I made sure not to miss any goals in the second half. The first of which sees Long Buckby get their fourth as a shot is deflected past the St Andrews keeper. They seal the points with their fifth as the St Andrews keeper is again left stranded when the attacker lofts the ball above him and into the net.

A St Andrews corner at the tree end

As I said at the start, to get to Long Buckby from London, you take a train to Euston which takes just under two hours. The ground is then a short walk away. If you carry on past the ground into the town they you can visit The Old Kings Head which had a couple of ales from the Everards Brewery which were a good start to the afternoon. In the centre of the town is The Peacock that had a selection of lagers and the sports channels. There are two bars at the ground, there is the socail club outside the ground that had a good selection of drinks and again the sports channels. You can also get beer in the tea bar inside the ground. A really enjoyable afternoon a very welcoming club.

Stand at Station Road