No.6 - Sat 25th August 2012; Peterborough & District League Premier Div;                         2pm at Queens Park; Daimler Avenue; Yaxley; Peterborough; Cambs; PE7 3TZ.

 

Matchday images (51) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/RiversideRoversFC

Riverside Rovers (0) 0 Whittlesey Blue Star (1) 1

Every cloud has a Blue-Star lining!

Just like the weather in recent days it's really muggy once again. As we set off from racing HQ the heavens open as predicted and make way for a heavy rain shower which slows down our journey. Today we are making the relatively short trip up the A14 and A1(M) for the much awaited Peterborough & District League Premier Division fixture between Riverside Rovers and Whittlesy Blue Star. This is in fact our second game in this excellent competition so far this month! 

 

This campaign Rovers are playing their home matches at Queen's Park, a large public recreational area, located in neighbouring Yaxley. The venue is reached by turning right at the first major crossroads on the A15 before turning left some 200 yards down here into Daimler Road. A large green sign fronts the main entrance leads to a spacious car park and large modern changing pavilion funded partly through a Football Foundation grant. A large number of mini junior as well as senior pitches are marked out on the vast green site which is bordered down one side by a brand new housing develoment. It's a bit of a trek from here as Rovers play on the one furthest from the clubhouse. Travellers are advised to arrive in time 'cos it's a long walk to the far side of the field!!

 

The playing area has a bit of an enclosed feel to it being bordered on the near side and behind the top goal by fencing and hedges. A high nylon mesh net affixed to a number of tall metal poles acts as a barrier to wayward shots at this end of the ground. Two modern synthetic fold-away dug outs are positioned close to the half-way line. A length of blue rope is passed through white poles to act as a perimete fence. Incidentally a friendly match played on the parallel adjoining pitch featured fellow P&DL side AFC Peterborough who co-use the facilities.

 

After gaining promotion (with Stilton) from Division One at the end of last season, Rovers have already played four games in the Premier Division this season. It's not been the best of starts having won only one of their opening games games so far (v Coates Athletic, 6-0) with heavy defeats at Netherton (0-5) and Peterborough Sports Parkway (1-7). Opponents Whittlesey Blue Star have not fared much better having picked up only one win out of three games with a surprising 6-1 victory at Pinchbeck on the first day of the season. These stats point to a what looks on paper to be a tight contest today.           

 

Although the game started in bright sunny conditions an increasing number of large, dark, clouds seemingly threatened to interrupt play for much of the first half. They relented. A goal scored by Blue Star's Sean Prentice (31) following a powerful 25-yard run down the left and into the box before firing a low drive past home keeper Tokx Adeoye was all that separated the sides going into the break. 

 

In a fiesty second half the game looked to have changed course when Whittlesey's Jay Kerrison was sent off for a second bookable offence after felling John Regan in the area. Rovers' Lee Barker's (73) resultant place kick from the penalty spot was sadly off target and seen as a wasted chance to level things. Moments later the hosts' Liam Gallagher (no less) feeling frustrated was booked for showing dissent towards match referee Sam Thorell thus becoming the sixth player to be cautioned during a bad tempered phase of the game. The rest of the match was played out during a massive thunderstorm and heavy shower which saw Blue Star successfully hold on to their slender advantage and take all three points.

 

It was in conversation with the referees assistant (during a first-half rehydration break) that I learned about the clear frustration there is amongst Rovers' committee members, players and fans at having to play their home matches at Queen's Park this season. Everyone connected with the club is desperately keen to return to their former home at the Riverside Pavilion in Candy Street, Peterborough which apparently has much better facilities than the present site here. Why they left is not certain. I also understand that the P&DL are concerned about the distance between the changing rooms and the pitch here. Watch this space for future developments as they say!

 

Travellers intending to watch a game in the P&DL this season should be aware of the competition's new website on Full-Time (see address below) which provides fixtures; results and tables. There is now a link to an excellent downloadable league handbook which lists, amongst other things, all the participating clubs and the necessary ground locations with up to date contact details. What more could you ask for? Needless to say a visit to visit to Riverside Rovers Football Club comes with my highest recommendation. Ah the joys of Fenland hopping continues. Have fun wherever you go. 

 

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) N/A and (A) S Prentice (31)

Attendance: 15; Admission and Programme: N/A; Match rating: 3/5; Ground rating: 3/5.

Links

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/riversiderovers01/Home

http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=6486466

 

edited on 26/08/12