Penrith (02-08-2014)

Penrith 2 – 2 Blackburn Rovers (Friendly), 2^nd August 2014

Petrol (estimated) = £30

Entrance = £5

Tea = £1

Total = £36

Penrith was a perfect game to conclude my run of pre-season friendlies, as it was en route to Mrs Groundhopper’s home town of Whitehaven. This was a rare occasion when driving was considerably cheaper and quicker than the train. The only disadvantage is that I’ll have to estimate the petrol ‘costs’ as they are not easy to precisely calculate. I set off at 11.30 from Sheffield for this one, as I’d seen two advertised KO times – 2pm and 3pm. I was optimistic that I could just about make it for the 2pm KO, but this proved to be over-optimistic when I was delayed in traffic coming off Scotch Corner, and then over sections of the A66.

After some speedy driving, I made it the ground about 5 minutes after the 2pm KO, not bad timing from Sheffield all things considered. To my surprise, Penrith took the lead on 6 minutes, with Niall robbing the home keeper and slotting in a simple tap-in. This was a turn-up for the books against a U21 Blackburn Rovers side that would presumably be expected to trounce the Cumbrians today. Penrith had a short spell of dominance just after the goal, and doubled their lead on 23 minutes when a similar defence hash-up put Matthew Weeb clean through. After that, the first-half chances belonged to the Lancastrians. 8 hit over with his right foot, before 3 followed suit with a drifting shot, while 6 missed a great chance on 42 minutes when he scuffed his attempt at goal. Penrith were leading the league side 2-0 at the break!

Just as I was about to get up for a cup of tea, an old chap in front of me asked what time the game had started – it transpired that he had also read somewhere that this was a 3PM KO. Good thing I’d planned in for the earlier time today. As I sipped on the tea, I surveyed the ground, which was one of the remoter Northern League stadia. It was all relatively modern and modest, with a multi-purpose stand to the left of the turnstile acting as a seating area, bar and also containing a lift! Opposite was a short strip of what looked like mobile covered terracing, and to the left was a steep hill, reminding me that I was on the boundary with the Lake District.

Penrith’s solitary clear-cut chance in the second-half came with an early free-kick from their number 8, before Blackburn’s superior fitness and strength began to tell. The subs 19 and 14 forced saves from the now busy home keeper, while 10 had a shot blocked on 66 minutes. Blackburn pulled back a goal on circa 70 minutes, and it now seemed only a matter of time before they equalised or took the lead. A stretched volley from 12 went just wide, while they could (and perhaps should) have had a penalty for a foul shortly after. Then the inevitable came when Blackburn’s Lancastrian-named Jordan Preston made it 2-2 to set up a tense finale. In truth, that was almost the last action of the match, until Blackburn’s 17 hit a superb curling shot which was heading for the top-corner until a fantastic tip over from the keeper. 2-2, and it had been a reasonable final friendly to see before the proper season started. As I drove across the A66 to Whitehaven with the radio on, I got a real sense of anticipation that the 2014-15 season would soon be upon us. What will it bring I wonder?