No.24 - Sat. 12th December 2009; Northants Comb Football League Premier Division Cup QF;         1.30pm at Medbourne Sports & Social, Hallaton Road, Medbourne, Leics.

 

Matchday images (15) >view> 

Medbourne (0) 1  Queen Eleanor Great Houghton (0) 1

1-3 AFTER EXTRA TIME

A superb advert

Although this league may not appear on the hopping radar of many travellers out there, I can honestly say that I just love this county competition. Having ticked off most of the clubs that feature in the top tier of the Northants Combination League over recent seasons I have yet to see a poor game on any my travels. Indeed the standard of football played is far better than I have experienced at many of the matches played in the United Counties League into which this one feeds. Today was certainly no exception either as I took in the Premier Division cup clash between Medbourne and newcomers Queen Eleanor Great Houghton which had now reached the quarter-final stage.

The village of Medbourne was originally a Roman settlement with a thriving market, lying on the Gartree Road. The brook and packhorse bridge cross a tributary of the River Welland. Together with the stone cottages, large elegant houses and leafy walks all combine to make the village one of the most picturesque in the Welland Valley.

Like their closest rivals Harborough Town FC, Medbourne Football Club is based just over the county border in neighbouring Leicestershire, one of the many footballing anomalies in the non league pyramid. The ground, set in a most beautiful countryside location, is only a short drive through the 'sticks' from the main A14 and A6 link roads which serve the area. As you pass through the village on the B123 turn left at the imposing St Giles church along Hallaton Road. Just when you think you must have gone past it, the ground appears after about 200 yards on your right hand side. And what an absolute gem it is too.

Parking space here is at a premium and like many other punters today I had to leave the car on the grass verge along the main road. The whole site has a lovely rural feel about it and provides travellers with some tremendous views of the rolling hillside that climbs up and away into the distance as far as the eye can see. As you look out it is possible to pick out, in perspective, some of the fields, farms and grazing animals in the distance which make up a perfect picturesque backdrop. On days like this, it's lovely to appreciate the symmetrical  patchwork landscape that is so quintessentially English. I just love it! The Medbourne Sports and Social Club offers a varied, multi use games arena for its members and actively shares its playing fields and facilties with the village football, cricket and tennis teams.

Visitors here will not fail to notice the huge white flag bearing the George Cross tethered to the top of a tall mast, a landmark that obviousy dominates proceedings. On first sight this is totally unexpected and indeed quite surreal. The old pavilion has a cosy feel about it and houses a bar, kitchen area and comfortable lounge inside. There's a strong sense of history here as you glance at the range of framed team photos displayed on the walls. Outside the railed off veranda complete with bench seating provides a useful vantage point from which to watch the game. Indeed some of the older (and more senior) members of the club had decided to open up the maintenance equipment hatch at the end of this building and sit inside to escape the cold biting wind. The large cricket scoreboard and complementary clock with its large round white face are mounted on the wall in between. Behind and adjacent to the club car park are a number of floodlit tennis courts which I was informed are used regularly throughout the year by the local club. The pylons and bulbs both seem disproportionately large.

A narrow row of steps leads players and spectators down from the pavilion and changing rooms to the playing area below. The field is large enough to boast several smaller pitches around it's extremities as well as a central cricket square, fenced off at this time of year, by orange plastic netting. The main football pitch which is completely roped off between a number of thin plastic stakes, runs parallel with the Hallaton Road to the right. Space is extremely tight on this side with less than a metre to spare between the hedge and the touchline. Unusually the coaching staff, subs and majority of spectators choose to congregate over here. It is also from this side that you fully appreciate the marked gradient with which the pitch slopes down to the opposite touchline. I reckon it is one of the largest 'drops' that I can remember seeing at a non league ground for some time! With the pitch being so close to the road means that many long clearances can land in the path of oncoming traffic! And today this happened twice!   

After a week dominated by wet and windy conditions the pitch surface appeared unsuprisingly to be quite tacky in places. However the players managed to keep their footing and adapted well to a stiff cross-field breeze that grew stronger as the game went on. Before play both sides occupied a creditable mid table position with only a couple of points separating them - so on paper, at any rate, a close contest was in prospect. And that's exactly how the cup game panned out. Despite a goalless first half there was plenty for the enthusiastic hopper to salivate over as a host of goal scoring chances went begging at both ends. Notably Kev Fisher (25) came closest for Medbourne when his one on one with the keeper saw Matt Collins save with his feet whilst at the other end Bob Turner was unlucky not to score when his low drive was pushed behind by the cat like reflexes of Spencer Marshall in the home goal.

Less than five minutes into the second half Turner (49) made amends for his earlier miss when he got on the end of Harry Drew's pin point cross from the right with a magnificent diving header at the far post to give Queen Eleanor a deserved lead. The visitors' lead lasted only ten minutes though as Medbourne came back into the contest. It was the tricky Rob Mobsby (59) who ended a strong crossfield run from midfield with an absolutely cracking right foot shot that sent the ball zipping low past the outstetched Collins. The attacker, encouraged by his goal, continued to cause problems in the Queen's defence and was very unlucky to have a penalty appeal turned down by the referee after he had been upended in the box following a clumsy challenge from Jamie Matthews (69). Even after eight minutes of additional time had been played over the ninety, the sides could not be separated and so we entered thirty minutes of extra time.

As this was such a great game added time turned out to be a real bonus. The deadlock was broken with only eight minutes gone on the clock when Eleanor's Will Richardson (98) managed to weave his majic beating three players before placing the ball beyond Marshall. To add to the Medbourne woes their brave keeper was badly injured diving to block a point blank strike inside the six yard box. Being unable to continue any longer (and with all of the subs on the field) he had no choice but to hand his gloves over to Tom Chapman (who took in place between the posts) leaving his side with ten players. The stand in keeper held out well until the dying minutes when Barry Lane lobbed him from a full thirty yards out to make the score 1-3. It was a superb opportunist strike and rounded off what had been an outstanding game of cup football.         

The game played for the most part in very cold, dull and windy conditions was attended by thirty five spectators which included the Northants Combination League fixtures secretary, Dave Johnson who gave me the low down on all things to do with the NCL. As expected the club, like all others in this league (I think), does not issue programmes for any of its games. Nevertheless I did manage to obtain copies of the team sheets from the match referee, Andy Davis who furnished me with the important details before the game kicked off. Thankyou Sir! If you are after refreshments then you won't be disappointed on this front as a range of salad filled cobs, hot drinks, snacks and chocolate bars are all available from the tea hatch in the pavilion throughout the afternoon. In fact one punter who had travelled over from Northampton to support Great Houghton enjoyed the cheese and onion rolls so much that he had consumed no less than three of these by half-time! He was right, they tasted absolutely delicious and surely must be nominated on the shortlist for any 'Cob of the Season' awards!

If you are looking for a decent game of football played in a more rural setting and are not too fussed about having a matchday programme, then a visit to this friendly little club comes with my highest recommendation. The joys of hopping in the deepest Leicestershire countryside remain unbridled! Have fun wherever you go.             

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) Mobsby (59) and (A) Turner (49); Richardson (98); Lane (117) 

Attendance: 35; Admission: N/A; Programme: N/A; Match rating: 4/5; Ground rating: 4/5.

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edited 23/12/09