Entry £17
Tea £2
Showing posts with label National League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National League. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Dagenham (24-10-2023)
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 - 3 Borehamwood (National League), Tuesday 24 October 2023
Monday, 26 August 2019
AFC Fylde (26-08-2019)
AFC Fylde 0 - 0 Harrogate Town (National League Premier), Monday 26 August 2019
Petrol estimate £17
Entry £14
Milk 50p
Total £31-50
Petrol estimate £17
Entry £14
Milk 50p
Total £31-50
Friday, 19 April 2019
Darlington (19-04-2019)
Darlington 1 - 0 Bradford Park Avenue (National League North), Friday 19 April 2019
Entry £13
Petrol estimate £3
Total £16
Petrol estimate £3
Total £16
Saturday, 30 December 2017
Barrow (30-12-2017)
Barrow 1 - 2 Solihull Moors (National League), Saturday 30 December 2017
Train £11
Entry £10
Water 85p
Tea £2-10
Tea £1-20
Programme £2-50
Total £27-65
Train £11
Entry £10
Water 85p
Tea £2-10
Tea £1-20
Programme £2-50
Total £27-65
Saturday, 23 April 2016
Wrexham (23-04-2016)
Wrexham 2 – 3 Braintree (National League), Saturday 23 April 2016
Train £17-30
Tea £1-70
Entry £15
Provisions £3-29
Total £37-29
Wrexham is one of those places in the Hinterland in between regions. It's not really in the North West, nor is it in the Midlands, and although it is in Wales it is closer to many English towns and cities. So it was an intriguing one to get to today. The game would also represent my third game in Wales - after Merthyr in 2008 and Caernarfon in 2013.
The journey from Sheffield took me through other 'in between' places like Stockport, Crewe and Chester. Apart from Chester these are the kinds of towns you pass through but rarely visit (and as I discovered recently you'd actively avoid visiting Crewe!) It took 4 trains across although each one was relatively quick.
I arrived in Wrexham General just before 2pm and had a time for a wander around the ground before heading into the town. Visitors to this town shouldn't be put off by the line of cheap shops which greet them from the station - once I got towards the other side of town I found a couple of impressive churches and some more historic buildings.
I headed back to the Racecourse at about 2:30 in time to take up my place in the Glyndwr University stand for £15. This was directly behind the goal and had a few steep rows of seats. There were a few rows towards the front closed off to spectators today. To the left and right were two seated stands, and at the far end was the magnificent Kop end terrace. This is closed off completely which is a pity as the steep sweeping terraces and crush barriers dotted around gave it a classic feel.
There was a small cluster of away fans from Braintree (79 in total), looking to see their team secure an unlikely play off place. The home side were 6 points off Braintree with 2 to play so needed to win to stand a chance of the play offs.
The first half was an open and entertaining affair. Braintree opened the scoring on 3 minutes when Cheek (great name!) scored from close range. Wrexham meanwhile looked reasonable, Fyfield firing a raking shot wide, before their own 23 (Heslop) equalised with a header. Wrexham continued to create chances with Miles only managing to hit the side netting with a first time effort from a long ball. In the middle, Braintree's Cheek and Woodyard looked pacey and tricky to contain. Their Brundle shot just wide, and then Wrexham took what should be a crucial 2-1 lead with a free kick from Fowler which eluded everyone. But Braintree responded well and by half time they were at parity thanks to another goal by Cheek.
Before the second half began the announcer said something rousing in Welsh, and the crowd responded. But the game closed up a lot, largely thanks to some tenacious Braintree defending and ineffective attacks from the Welsh side. I barely recorded an effort until Wrexham’s Briscoe drove a half volley over around the 80 minute mark. Then Braintree finished the job when a clever counterattack left Brundle to stab in from close range. Wrexham's season was over, and with this being their last home game a few fans stayed behind to applaud them off. They could well be in the play-off hunt next year.
Train £17-30
Tea £1-70
Entry £15
Provisions £3-29
Total £37-29
Wrexham is one of those places in the Hinterland in between regions. It's not really in the North West, nor is it in the Midlands, and although it is in Wales it is closer to many English towns and cities. So it was an intriguing one to get to today. The game would also represent my third game in Wales - after Merthyr in 2008 and Caernarfon in 2013.
The journey from Sheffield took me through other 'in between' places like Stockport, Crewe and Chester. Apart from Chester these are the kinds of towns you pass through but rarely visit (and as I discovered recently you'd actively avoid visiting Crewe!) It took 4 trains across although each one was relatively quick.
I arrived in Wrexham General just before 2pm and had a time for a wander around the ground before heading into the town. Visitors to this town shouldn't be put off by the line of cheap shops which greet them from the station - once I got towards the other side of town I found a couple of impressive churches and some more historic buildings.
I headed back to the Racecourse at about 2:30 in time to take up my place in the Glyndwr University stand for £15. This was directly behind the goal and had a few steep rows of seats. There were a few rows towards the front closed off to spectators today. To the left and right were two seated stands, and at the far end was the magnificent Kop end terrace. This is closed off completely which is a pity as the steep sweeping terraces and crush barriers dotted around gave it a classic feel.
There was a small cluster of away fans from Braintree (79 in total), looking to see their team secure an unlikely play off place. The home side were 6 points off Braintree with 2 to play so needed to win to stand a chance of the play offs.
The first half was an open and entertaining affair. Braintree opened the scoring on 3 minutes when Cheek (great name!) scored from close range. Wrexham meanwhile looked reasonable, Fyfield firing a raking shot wide, before their own 23 (Heslop) equalised with a header. Wrexham continued to create chances with Miles only managing to hit the side netting with a first time effort from a long ball. In the middle, Braintree's Cheek and Woodyard looked pacey and tricky to contain. Their Brundle shot just wide, and then Wrexham took what should be a crucial 2-1 lead with a free kick from Fowler which eluded everyone. But Braintree responded well and by half time they were at parity thanks to another goal by Cheek.
Before the second half began the announcer said something rousing in Welsh, and the crowd responded. But the game closed up a lot, largely thanks to some tenacious Braintree defending and ineffective attacks from the Welsh side. I barely recorded an effort until Wrexham’s Briscoe drove a half volley over around the 80 minute mark. Then Braintree finished the job when a clever counterattack left Brundle to stab in from close range. Wrexham's season was over, and with this being their last home game a few fans stayed behind to applaud them off. They could well be in the play-off hunt next year.
Saturday, 9 January 2016
Macclesfield (09-01-2016)
Macclesfield 0 - 1 Halifax (Conference National), Saturday 9 January 2016
Train £6-80
Entry £15
Programme £3
Teas x2 £3-40
Total £28-20
The jewel in the crown? Moss Rose certainly sounds like it so I was looking forward to today. I often say this but Macclesfield has genuinely been on my list for a while. It is one of the few grounds I've not done where I could get back from after an evening match. So for today to be a Saturday was a bonus as it meant a shorter trip in the January gloom.
Macclesfield is another nice Cheshire town, so before heading to the ground, I wandered to the market place in the centre. I found an impressive building with almost classical pillars imposing itself on the town.
The ground was a short 20-minute walk south of the town, and before sorting a ticket I did my usual circamambulation around the perimeter. One corner backs onto the railway line, so the ground is just visible from the West Coast Mainline. Bizarrely Macclesfield don't have cash turnstiles so I had to buy a ticket at the office before walking through the turnstile about 3 yards away!
The ground is a decent Conference stadium. Both ends have terraced sections, with the away section exposed to the elements (much like Accrington). The stand opposite me was completely seated, whilst the stand on my side was a hybrid of terrace and seating. The floodlights were on already at it was only just coming up to 3pm!
'Macc' as they are affectionately known, were doing reasonably well this year, pushing for a playoff place. Halifax were less successful, having spent much of the season at the wrong end of the table. It was an evenly matched and tight contest, and the first half was littered with chances.
Halifax's 18 ran through but couldn't convert, while M23 had a long shot saved. M11 fired over, while h4 did the same at the other end with his left ft. I was particularly impressed with m23, who played passes with plenty of vision and forethought. On 30 minutes, m5 headed wide and then m11s effort was well saved by the away keeper. Halifax had a purple patch just before the break, rattling the post with 35's effort (via the keepers fingertips). H11 blazed over from close range, and h2 fired massively wide.
The second half was a fierce territorial battle in the middle, with less chances registered than before. A couple of half chances resulted in m6 scoring a drop goal (high and over!) and a mixup in the Halifax defence nearly resulting in a goal. Then came the breakthrough. A slick move from the Yorkshire side - instigated by h4 - resulted in a lovely team goal by 18. The combination between 4, 19. 35 and 9 was outstanding. The remaining effort - much to the home fans frustration - came when h15s shot was well saved.
There were boos around the ground at the final whistle as Macclesfield could perhaps have done better given their league position. It had been a tight match though and Halifax had only just managed to find the winner. As I headed away from the floodlit Moss Rose, I saw no less than 5 police cars flying past. I'm not sure whether something had happened back at the ground but on a day like this I only really cared about getting on the train. Thanks to the late FA Cup KO between Man Utd and Sheffield Utd, the train from Stockport was relatively quiet for once.
Train £6-80
Entry £15
Programme £3
Teas x2 £3-40
Total £28-20
The jewel in the crown? Moss Rose certainly sounds like it so I was looking forward to today. I often say this but Macclesfield has genuinely been on my list for a while. It is one of the few grounds I've not done where I could get back from after an evening match. So for today to be a Saturday was a bonus as it meant a shorter trip in the January gloom.
Macclesfield is another nice Cheshire town, so before heading to the ground, I wandered to the market place in the centre. I found an impressive building with almost classical pillars imposing itself on the town.
The ground was a short 20-minute walk south of the town, and before sorting a ticket I did my usual circamambulation around the perimeter. One corner backs onto the railway line, so the ground is just visible from the West Coast Mainline. Bizarrely Macclesfield don't have cash turnstiles so I had to buy a ticket at the office before walking through the turnstile about 3 yards away!
The ground is a decent Conference stadium. Both ends have terraced sections, with the away section exposed to the elements (much like Accrington). The stand opposite me was completely seated, whilst the stand on my side was a hybrid of terrace and seating. The floodlights were on already at it was only just coming up to 3pm!
'Macc' as they are affectionately known, were doing reasonably well this year, pushing for a playoff place. Halifax were less successful, having spent much of the season at the wrong end of the table. It was an evenly matched and tight contest, and the first half was littered with chances.
Halifax's 18 ran through but couldn't convert, while M23 had a long shot saved. M11 fired over, while h4 did the same at the other end with his left ft. I was particularly impressed with m23, who played passes with plenty of vision and forethought. On 30 minutes, m5 headed wide and then m11s effort was well saved by the away keeper. Halifax had a purple patch just before the break, rattling the post with 35's effort (via the keepers fingertips). H11 blazed over from close range, and h2 fired massively wide.
The second half was a fierce territorial battle in the middle, with less chances registered than before. A couple of half chances resulted in m6 scoring a drop goal (high and over!) and a mixup in the Halifax defence nearly resulting in a goal. Then came the breakthrough. A slick move from the Yorkshire side - instigated by h4 - resulted in a lovely team goal by 18. The combination between 4, 19. 35 and 9 was outstanding. The remaining effort - much to the home fans frustration - came when h15s shot was well saved.
There were boos around the ground at the final whistle as Macclesfield could perhaps have done better given their league position. It had been a tight match though and Halifax had only just managed to find the winner. As I headed away from the floodlit Moss Rose, I saw no less than 5 police cars flying past. I'm not sure whether something had happened back at the ground but on a day like this I only really cared about getting on the train. Thanks to the late FA Cup KO between Man Utd and Sheffield Utd, the train from Stockport was relatively quiet for once.
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