No.4 – Wed. 16th August 2006; Cambridgeshire League Senior B Division  6.15pm at the Recreation Ground  (att: 42; prog: No) 

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Barton Mills (0) 2  West Row Gunners (1) 1

Mills rally to win local derby

Most of the opening games in the Kershaw Cambridgeshire League are played in midweek some time during August. In keeping with this tradition Old Sloppy and I headed over towards Mildenhall to watch Barton Mills FC take on local rivals West Row Gunners in a Senior B Division encounter.

For the last two years our choice of fixture has been spoiled by some atrocious weather conditions: in 2004 we went to Castle Camps and witnessed heavy thunder storms and twelve months ago localised flooding almost caused an abandonement at Wickhambrook. Thankfully the gods were on our side as we approached the Barton Mills Recreation Ground in the Street. It was a lovely pleasant sunny summer evening and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

From the opening minutes 'Mills were on the back foot as the Gunners began to control the game. They were finding the going tough since gaining promotion at the end of last season. Wave after wave of attack saw the home side camped inside their own half for long periods. After numerous chances the visitors managed to find the net after thirty minutes. Had it not been for some poor finishing the score would have been greater by half-time. The home team went back to the changing rooms as the Gunners grouped by the half-way line for their respective team talks. I don't know what was said to the players in the pavilion but it certainly changed the game. 

The new boys, dressed in all blue, looked a different team and within five minutes of the re-start had found the net. Like men possessed they competed for every ball and started to enjoy life in Senior B football. The 'keeper kept his cool as a long range free-kick rattled the back of his net. The visitors thought they had nicked the game with this absolute screamer of a shot and began to celebrate. But the stopper had rightly let the ball go in - he had noticed that the referee had raised his arm and had awarded an indirect kick!

With only a few seconds left on the watch, Barton Mills rallied with one last gasp attack. A low shot in the area was blocked by the 'keeper. The ball agonisingly trickled goalwards. Its journey seemed to take an age. Finally it came to rest. Home fans were sent into raptures as the ball stopped on the grass just short of the net. They had reason to celebrate as their heroes had snatched a memorable victory.

The game, played at village recreation ground in the Street, attracted just over forty spectators. The ground adjacent to the Village Hall, is set in a large tree lined public playing area and is bordered by fields and houses. A small car park leads to a brick-built changing pavilion. It can be reached from the main A11 (London-Norwich road) and is about three miles east of Mildenhall close to the Barton Mills roundabout. 

Like many teams in this Division of the Cambridgeshire League, the club does not appear to issue programmes. On our visit there were no refreshments but this might not be the same for a Saturday game.

FGIF Rating: 3*

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