EvoStik Northern Premier League South
at Greenwich Avenue
Basford United (0) 1
Liam Hearn 59
Gresley FC (0) 1
Jason Law 56
Admission £7
Programme £2 (covering two games)
Attendance 149
Vernon Park is still a thriving sporting facility with several other football pitches in situ.
A cautionary word... you don't half get some funny looks pacing the streets of Old Basford at night, taking photographs of seemingly random pubs, signs and playing fields, that are actually a pivotal part of football history in the area.
In 1905, Basford United were invited to join the second division of the Football League, but they politely declined the offer and the space was given to a London club instead, who go by the name of Chelsea FC... so now you know who to blame for what they went on to become.
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| A Basford United history walk map that I put together, using Google maps and an app that does big yellow dots. |
It's been a few years now, since I've been to see a first team game at Gresley, but the Moat Ground in Church Gresley is one my favourite ever places that I've visited to watch football.
It's lived in charm and rough edges, combined with heaps of character (and characters) set it aside as a monument to how real non league football grounds should look, and should be preserved as an example of how things could be, in the face of all too many identikit new looking grounds, with stands that arrived on the back of a lorry and could have been plonked unceremoniously just about anywhere across the nations football landscape.
I believe it's called progress, but I'm a sentimental old (stuck in my ways) traditionalist.
Photos from one of my most recent visits to the Moat Ground can be found by clicking HERE
The Moatmen's history van be traced back as far as 1882.They played at Mushroom Lane (1882–1885) and then Church Street (1885-1909) before moving into their current home and staying there, in one shape and form, or another, ever since then.
To say that the history of Gresley FC has been a topsy turvy roller coaster ride and wasn't always a happy tale, is something of an understatement.
But, personally, I'm glad that there is still a team carrying on and taking the name forward within the village.
Tonight, that there football proved once again, that it is indeed a 'funny old game'.
With Gresley anchored to the bottom of the table and Basford needing a win to leapfrog Cleethorpes Town and take over in pole position at the top of the table, most people, including those from Derbyshire who had travelled in hope rather than expectation, would've expected a shoe in for Martin Carruthers side.
But what unfolded proved to be a lesson for a few of the Basford side, that if you let you guard down and don't focus 100% and let an element of complacency creep in, then you're going to come unstuck and cop for a full on reality slap across the chops.
When the final whistle sounded and both teams (eventually) left the pitch, after their respective warm downs, the point apiece spelt frustration for the home side and elation for the 'Moatmen', even though it all amounted to the fact that Basford are now level on points with Cleethorpes at the top (but lagging behind on goal difference), while Gresley are still bottom, a point behind Romulus, but at least withing touching distance of a few other struggling clubs.
With Gresley anchored to the bottom of the table and Basford needing a win to leapfrog Cleethorpes Town and take over in pole position at the top of the table, most people, including those from Derbyshire who had travelled in hope rather than expectation, would've expected a shoe in for Martin Carruthers side.
But what unfolded proved to be a lesson for a few of the Basford side, that if you let you guard down and don't focus 100% and let an element of complacency creep in, then you're going to come unstuck and cop for a full on reality slap across the chops.
Prior to kick off, the fates ganged up on the visitors, with striker Ryan Robbins apparently stuck in traffic and unable to get to Greenwich Avenue in time for kick off and Lucas Harrison aggravating an old war wound during the warm up, which meant some late, late changes to the team sheets that had already been printed.
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| A front view of the Catchems Corner public house |
Josh Eggington stepped in to replace Harrison, and Jason Law, at the Moat Ground loan from the Mansfield Town development set up was drafted in to fill the number nine shirt, which meant that he would be starting alongside his Stags team mate Louis Danquah, who is also on loan at Gresley and was playing on the left, in the number eleven shirt.
Callum Hawkins, a 17 year old on a work experience arrangement from Burton Albion, made his debut in goal for a make do and mend visitors line up, which made this unlikely result all the more remarkable.
Truth be told, all three youngsters aquited themselves well against a very experienced Basford side that was full of quality players, with Hawkins excelling in particular and pulling off some quite outstanding saves on the night.
It looked for all the world as if Gresley had set out their stall accordingly, to scrap their way through the game from the in a manner that had 'damage limitation exercise' written all over it, but given the odds that you could've got for them leaving Greenwich Avenue tonight with any kind of result tonight, you couldn't have blamed them for that, but the longer the first half remained goalless the more confident the visiting side seemed to get.
And that confidence increased when the 'Moatmen' realised that in Hawkins, they had a very reliable last line of defence, especially when James Reid unleashed a pile driver of a shot from thirty five yards out but was denied by a great stop from the young keeper who turned the ball away at full stretch down to his left.
My old pal and favourite ginger person in the whole world, Kieran Wells, was being closely watched and not having the usual kind of impact he has on games, which is testament to how well Gresley were organised and sticking to their task in defence.
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| Wow! He really needed to go. |
Tom Manship and Dexter Morris-Clarke both went close to opening the scoring for Gresley late in the first half, with the latter also going close to heading for an early bath when he wiped out James Reid with an x-rated challenge right in front of the Basford bench that sparked an angry reaction, but Ian Jackson, the match referee and operations manager for the night, decided that the 'lunge' was only worthy of a yellow card.
Those around me thought Morris-Clarke should have been red carded as they waved their Basford season tickets in disgust, while the gentleman to our left, wearing a very stylish olde world Gresley Rovers FC scarf, reckoned the coming together of boots made it sound a lot worse than it was.
Me... in the neutral corner, what did I think?
Hmm, being objective, I would have to say that the challenge certainly got the overwhelming favourites to win the game rattled, so psychologically it was exactly the right thing to do.
But, being a bit of a Walter the Softy type myself, I peeped through my fingers and prayed that Reid was going to be alright (and indeed he was) before reaching such a conclusion.
It was a bad challenge, but I actually agree with Mr Jackson's ruling that a booking was a sufficient punishment.... there's a first time for everything eh, Jacko!?
Right on the stroke of half time, Liam Hearn let fly with a close range shot, but Hawkins thwarted the home side once again.
Jesus wept! A striker of the calibre of Hearn against a rookie work experience lad. Just how much of a mismatch was this? And how on earth had Gresley managed to repel their league title contender hosts for so long.
HT: Basford United 0 v Gresley FC 0
Perusing the programme at half time, I spotted that this photograph had been used to promote the Basford United FC Football Academy.
I'm dead chuffed that one of my pictures has been recycled from this humble blog and reproduced in connection with a facility that has such a fine reputation.
The action shot comes from a Basford United v Mansfield Town (Brooksby College) game, details here, and the Stags wore Basford's blue away kit that day, because some numbskull had loaded their kit bags into the minibus with yellow shirts in them.
The previous time that I had visited Basford, to be involved in a game in a hands on capacity, was when I had to stand in as one of the makeshift (last resort) management team with Harworth Colliery's Under 19 team, who had also travelled to Greenwich Avenue with yellow shirts.
Football is full of numbskulls you see. But that was before the new facilities were open and there was no freshly laundered kit for us to borrow, just a pile of stinky and mildew riddled training vests that we had to wear over our clashing shirts. It's all character building and there is no substitute for experience y'know.
But, I can still smell those funking vests when the wind blows in the wrong direction.
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| Knock knock. Who's there? Doctor. Doctor Who? |
Before the second half, I nipped out to my car to fetch my hat, because it is October and the nights are drawing in... and discovered a Tardis in the next parking bay.
I can't imagine who'd (time) travelled here in that tonight.
On the subject of Brooksby College, it was good to see that Mike Whitlow and Richard Cooper, the Stags U21 management team and academy coaches, were in attendance tonight, to run the rule over Louis Danquah and Jason Law.
Also present (and possibly watching at least one of the Stags youngsters) was Carlton Town 's manager Wayne Scott, who is far too decent, honourable and honest to be involved in football. It was nice to get the chance for a quick catch up and I've almost forgiven him for the way that his side beat Harworth on the 'night of the stinking vests', when he was still the Under 19 manager at Basford, when they resorted to playing better football and scoring more goals than us.
The second half started as the first had finished, with Gresley looking nothing like a bottom of the table side, while Basford looked anything like a team with championship aspirations.
The unthinkable happened in the fifty sixth minute as an almost wounded, lamenting cry resonated in the still night air: "****ing hell Basford, that wasn't in the script, sort it out!"
The underdogs had nicked their hosts bone and buried it in the back of their net.
Tom Manship's left wing corner was hooked away but fell to Matt Melbourne, who rolled a sideways pass for Law to sweep the ball past Saul Deeney from close range.
Basford were stunned into action. The form book had been torn to shreds
Melbourne appeared to be fouled in the centre circle, but our good friend Mr Jackson, who was closer to the incident than me, penalised the visitors number ten instead of awarding him a free kick and Basford broke forward quickly... Matt Thornhill struck a shot from just inside the area, that Hawkins did well to block, but Hearn pounced on the rebound and stabbed the ball past the grounded Gresley keeper to score the equalising goal.
The 'Moatmen' dusted themselves down and resumed their solid defensive shape.
Basford were pushing for a winning goal now and when the ball was cleared to Jerry Nash, almost thirty yards from Hawkins goal, he unleashed a strike that glanced the crossbar on it's way over.
Meanwhile Robbins who had come on as a late substitute in place of law, curled a free kick round the post.
Gresley had obviously enjoyed the three minutes that they had been ahead and wanted more of the same... but they had to be content with seeing the game out now and sensibly holding out for a draw, that must've felt like a win to their travelling supporters. And although the Greenwich Avenue faithful will have been disappointed with the outcome of this unexpectedly tough game, after the lights go out and everyone's gone home, Basford have still won eight and drawn three of their league games so far, so life's not treating them too unkindly.
FT: Basford United 1 v Gresley FC 1
I bumped into Brian Dennett on the way out of the ground.
Now anybody who is familiar with the Nottingham football scene will know, that Brian is the closest thing to royalty that we have within the local game.
We stood and chatted for a while and shared a few jokes, mainly at each others expense, but it was sad to see how low he is and below par at the moment. Life has been taking it's toll on the old lad and he is a bit down in the dumps. In fact he is so off colour, he didn't even try cadging any money off me for his usually unstinting fundraising efforts for Carlton Town FC.
Please do me a favour guys, if you know Brian 'Steptoe' Bennett and haven't seen him for a while, please contact him and take some time out to cheer him up and enquire after his health, it would mean so much to the barmy old bugger, whose given a lot of us some really good laughs over the years. I hope you're back on top of things and feeling well again soon 'Harold!!!'
