Petrol (estimated) = £10
Entry = £6
Tea = £1
Total = £17
Another Midlands ground (this time in Nottingham) awaited today. Although Basford was not quite on my shortlist for the season, it was probably the easiest journey from Sheffield, with a short drive down the M1 to Phoenix Park and then a 15-minute walk to the ground. The club have only recently entered Step 4, having played a season apiece in the NCEL and the East Midlands Counties League. The catchily titled Mill Street Playing Field housed a modern ground, with a 3G pitch, and relatively newly installed stands/terracing on three sides. There is a further pitch adjacent to the new ground and I understand that the club’s first team may well have used this in the past.
Today’s clash with Northwich Victoria was exactly what I’ve come to expect from the Evostik League. Again I shall rely on squad numbers where names are unknown! Inside 2 minutes, Basford were ahead through Ben Hutchinson, and then doubled their lead when Ricketts poked in a cross. 2-0 is apparently the most dangerous scoreline, and it proved today, as Northwich’s 8 began pulling the strings in midfield and their central defender (6) kept a stranglehold on the home attack. By the end of the first half, the Cheshire side were in the ascendancy, and had a late claim for a penalty turned down (a dubious looking handball).
They came out looking hungry for the second half, with Northwich’s 11 forcing a terrific point-blank save from the home keeper and then 10 driving a left-footer into his arms. Between them, Basford’s 7, 10 and 6 had a cluster of chances and half-chances, with defensive blocks, solid goalkeeping and bad luck denying them. It was almost inevitable when Northwich made it 2-1. Like Basford in the first half, Northwich scored soon after their first when 10’s diving header flew into the net. The game turned into a crazy ‘next goal wins’ competition, with the players dashing furiously from end to end. Northwich’s 12 so nearly grabbed the glory, but his effort was cleared onto the post and away by a fortunate home defender. In the last couple of minutes, Basford made a final push into the away half and could have sealed all three points if they had been more incisive and accurate with their passing. 2-2 was probably a fair result. I strolled away from the ground and back towards the car, and was through the door by about 6pm – it was then that I realised again why I had chosen this ground today!
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