No.22 - Sat 1st December 2012; Hunts FA Scott Gatty Intermediate Quarter-Final;                    1.30pm at Greenfields; Straight Drove; Sawtry; Huntingdon; Cambridgeshire; PE28 5XN.

 

Matchday images (48) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/SawtryFC

Sawtry (0) 2 Stilton United (0) 0

Beaten holders lose grip on cup...

Since moving from the village playing fields about fifteen years ago (surprise, surprise, to make way for a new housing development) Sawtry Football Club now play at the spacious Greenfields Recreation Ground in Straight Drove off Old North Road in an area referred to by locals as Sawtry Fen. Found about a mile from the A1(M) between Huntingdon and Peterborough it's a desolate location with views over the flat lands running as far as the eye can see.

 

A sign directs visitors from the main approach road over a narrow bridge to the car park on the other side of a steeply banked river below. The large site which shares its facilities with cricket and football is bordered on both sides by fenland and a sturdy wooden fence nearest to the main facilities. A smart pavilion (with the overhead legend Sawtry Cricket Club) complete with changing accomodation, function room and kitchen area is found closest to the field. A welcome wooden chalk display board on the patio advertises food and drink available during the game. Inside a range of club trophies and team old photos are proudly displayed on the walls. An old, dilapidated, wooden container standing adjacent once provided the original facilities used back in the late 1990's when the club first moved here. Two floodlights affixed to shortened poles are used for midweek training sessions.

 

The main pitch (one of three here) is marked out parallel to the pavilion and is bordered on the near side by a blue perimeter rope passed between white plastic posts covering a length stretching approximately between both penalty areas. Behind the goal to the right, a number of large metal fence barriers are joined end to end and placed in front of the fence to stop errant balls entering the ditch. The goal nets are strikingly coloured in blue and yellow to match the club's playing strip. As you might expect there are no dug outs for playing squads or other specator cover. I imagine that it must be pretty bleak here in mid winter! The huge new £6 million state-of-the-art premises from the neighbouring East Anglian Galvanising Ltd makes for an imposing backdrop to the immediate action.

 

It's an important fixture in the local football calender for Sawtry as the Peterborough and District Football League Division One side are taking on Silton United FC in the Huntingdonshire FA Scott Gatty Intermediate Cup Quarter-Finals. There's a lot at stake not only because their Premier Division opponents are their greatest rivals but they also happen to be the current holders of the competition after beating Poweleague AFC (5-2) in the final last May. For the hosts confidence couldn't be higher after already claiming the scalps of two United Counties League Reserve sides in previous rounds beating Huntingdon Town (H) and Eynesbury Rovers (A) winning 4-1 on both occasions. Stilton, with a bye to the Second Round, beat Cambridgeshire County League side St Ives Rangers (A) scoring the only goal of the game last time out.

 

After a tight but even opening first ten minutes it's Sawtry who begin to take the upper hand. The game turns on a key decision when the hosts' Craig Smith (12) is dramatically brought down on the edge of the area by the last defender Matthew King after been put through on goal with a clear chance to score. It's a tough decision for young rooky referee Matt Dunkey who gets it right when, after some thought, he brandishes the red card and reduces the visitors to ten men. Nick Lee (14) taking the resultant direct free kick 'Bends it like Beckham' as he places the ball perfectly around the wall and into the top right hand corner of the net. Moments before the break Lee (40) doubles his tally and his side's lead when he beats the offside trap to advance on goal and lob keeper Simon Dalton to make it 2-0 at the break. 

 

As Sawtry press hard for a third and the Stilton rearguard hold firm throughout neither side can take advantage of the chances they create failing to build on the score throughout the second half. As the whistle blows to signal the end of the tie the hosts celebrate leaving the visitors thoroughly dejected having lost their grip on the trophy. For Sawtry it's all a bit ironic really when I learn afterwards from one of the locals that the jubilant goalscorer was actualy transferred here from Stilton United earlier in the season! There's nothing like rubbing salt in the footy wounds is there? Good luck to them though in the Semis!!

 

The match played in increasingly cold conditions on a slippery suface attracted an excellent turnout with over fifty fans in attendance creating a terrific atmosphere. Most chose to congregate on the pavilion side of the ground with some standing on top of a low patio wall to to get a better view of proceedings. Judging by the various range of hats, scarves and thick woolly coats on show it was clear to all that grip of an icy Winter is fast approaching! Although the club doesn't issue programmes it does opeate a cracking tea bar which serves hot food and drinks including, amongst other things, a very tasty hot bacon roll. Simply delicicious and money well spent!! 

 

During the afternoon I got into conversation with an elderly gentleman wearing a jacket sporting the distinctive Hunts FA crest badge on the front. This turned out to be the county FA President Alec Worraker who explained that the Scott Gatty Cup dates back to just before 1920 when the trophy was first donated, originally a competition open to clubs based within a thirty mile radius of Huntingdon market centre. Directing me to the relevant page of his county handbook he showed me that it was in fact Godmanchester Rovers FC who won the cup in the inaugural contest held during the 1918-19 season. It was quite pertinent then that a minute's silence was observed before today's game as a mark of respect to John Ashwell the Hunts FA Vice Chairman for the last ten years who sadly passed away last Sunday evening. God Bless You Sir!

 

To find out more about both the Hunts FA and the Peterborough & District Football League check out the websites listed below. A visit (perhaps in the warmer months) to this friendly little club comes thoroughly recommended. Indeed I would like to thank Assistant Manager Jason Bohonis who couldn't have been more welcoming providing me with both team line ups and offering me a hot cuppa before kick-off. Cheers mate! Ah the joys of county cup games continues...have fun wherever you go!                   

 

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) N Lee (14; 40) and (A) N/A

Attendance: 53; Admission and Programme: None; Match rating: 4/5; Ground rating: 3/5.

Links

http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?divisionseason=17744092&league=6486466

http://www.huntsfa.com/

edited on 02/12/12