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Goal-shy hosts rue missed chances!
A rare midweek fixture in the Herts County League was too good an opportunity to miss. And so along with many other travellers I attended the Wodson Park Leisure Centre in Ware to watch new boys Wodson Park FC entertain Park Street Village in a Division One game. The venue, better known for athletics, is also called the Stuart Storey track and is home to Hertford and Ware AC.
The ground/track is situated behind the main Leisure Centre and car park. Access is through a gate in one corner (next to the start of the home straight). Wodsons, the fully enclosed ground of Ware FC who play in the Ryman League is adjacent. To the left are some floodlit all weather football pitches used for training and five-a-side. This and the far side of the athletics arena is raised by a grass embankment which provides an elevated view of the action below. Sadly there is no seating or cover; thankfully for us the earlier threat of rain didn't materialise. It would be advisable to attend in better weather.
The match played under a moonlit sky was a joy to watch. An exciting game saw the hosts dominate most of the play but missed all their goal scoring chances. As the game progressed there was a feeling that if the visitors could just nick a goal they might pull off a surprise victory. And they did!. The lads from St.Albans who were resolute in defence forced a quick break and found the net from a terrific strike close to the edge of the penalty area. The second half was almost a repeat of the first only this time they managed to find the net twice more and so run out 3-0 winnners.
Although a programme wasn't issued for the game refreshments were available from the adjoining sportscentre which backs on to the track. Donations made up the 'gate' which I estimated to be just over the fifty mark. Most spectators crossed the track and stood at pitchside next to the home straight which helped to create a good atmosphere, often lacking at similar venues.
I travelled the short distance from Newmarket using the A11 and M11 to Stansted and then by-passing Bishops Stortford on the A121 to Standon at the junction with the A10. Follow the dual carriageway south for about seven miles until you reach the first turning to Ware. The ground is literally just off this junction with the floodlights visible from the A10. As you would expect there is ample parking on site. The BR station in the town centre is only a couple of miles away.
FGIF Rating: 4* | 