Thursday 1st October 2020
ES Surdfacing Ltd Scunthorpe & District League, Challenge Cup Final
at the Hawthorns, home of Brigg Town FC
Barnetby United (1) 3
Cam Hill 11, 56
Josh Goodman 90
Scotter United (0) 1
George Cook 81 pen
Tonight I have been time-travelling across Lincolnshire, to attend the eagerly anticipated and long time coming (the semi-finals took place seven months ago) 2019/20 'Scunny League' Challenge Cup Final between Barnetby United and Scotter United, that eventually took place at the EC Surfacing Stadium, AKA the Hawthorns, the home of Brigg Town FC.
For many years, I have worked in the area, in fact just a short distance away from Barnetby United and Brigg Town's grounds... and I'm also involved in a financial investment scheme in cahoots with Scotter United, whereby I pay a pittance into their centenary fund draw every season that quite often reaps generous dividends and benefits for me. As in; "Who's won a cash prize this time? Oh no! Not him from bloody Retford... again!"
The opening goal in the eleventh minute was something of a calamity for Joe Watson as he under hit an attempted pass towards Matt Lawson in the Scotter goal and realised the instant that the ball left his foot that he had played both Josh Goodman and Cameron Hill and could only look on in despair as the over exposed keeper (who is also his team's assistant manager) ran out to block Goodman's charge and the Barnetby number seven casually rolled the ball to his right where Hill had a free shot at an empty net. One-nil and advantage to the Railwaymen, as Barnetby are called (note the steam engine depicted on their rather striking club crest).
A partisan gathering was already assembling as I pulled into the Hawthorns car-park and circumnavigated my way through the very well organised (and policed) Covid virus precautions that were in place, so that spectators could attend this obviously prestigious local affair, from which those present were evidently extremely keen to claim the bragging rights at the end of the night.
The occasional acerbic comment filled the night air as few home truths were exchanged, but it never went beyond anything that could be considered to be either slightly aggressive or even bordered on being threatening, 'twas done more in the spirit of of banter and rapier sharp wit, albeit with a genuine cutting edge.
The young linesman in front of the stand I was in copped for a few verbal brickbats, which I suppose comes with the territory... but any stroppiness was tempered with a blow softening retort of: "It's decent of you to get a smart cup final haircut on your way here though!"
But he took it all in the manner it was intended... i.e, you can't please all of the people all of the time and stuck dutifully to his task with a smile on his face, born from the smug knowledge that he was getting paid for doing his job and his detractors had chipped in towards his expenses on their way into the game.
The humour from the stands was amusingly self-depreciating too: "Bloody hell Scotter! Seven passes in a row, that must constitute a new club record!"
Most people present were aware of their respective teams strengths... but also knew their limitations too, and as such, the occasional stray pass was more likely to have been met with a call of "Unlucky lad... great idea", rather than a stream of overly critical invective.
Genuine mistakes are all part and parcel of the game and are tolerated as such, but you got the impression that there was a completely different kind of undercurrent altogether waiting for any perceived kind of slacker, who wasn't busting a gut or putting in anything less than the requisite 100% effort. I'm happy to report that to that end, any substitutions that were made on the night, weren't because anybody hadn't justified his place out on the pitch, but that some of them had simply run themselves to a standstill and some fresh legs were required.
It wasn't for a lack of trying, but Scotter were labouring to get back in the game and at times looked a little bereft of both pace and sharpness in the final third... though I suspect that will be the case among many grassroots level teams as they look to build up their fitness levels following a lengthy lay off.
Barnetby on the other hand looked full of energy and far more likely to score again before half-time.
Lawson pulled off a great save to turn a well struck effort by Hill over the bar... and Scotter were lucky when Joe Scott's unmarked downward header from Andy Bradley's right wing delivery didn't bounce into their net, but as the game reached the halfway point their was still only one goal in it, in spite of Barnetby having far more of the attacking play... although moments before the break, Paul Reilly's cross found Watson and he was the width of a slice of Spelman's Speciality Butchers of Brigg's home made Haslet, away from atoning for his assist in the build up to Barnetby's goal... and his shot was blocked at the expense of a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.
HT: United 1 v United 0
A momentary breakdown in communication and lack of concentration in the Scotter defence, saw Lawson scuttling towards the edge of his area to plug a gap again, that Hill filled first as he dragged the ball around the advancing keeper before plodding on and rolling the ball into the back of the net. Two-nil... and it's beginning to look a lot like there'll be no need for extra time tonight.
The game appeared to be running even further away from Scotter, when Gaz Bailey couldn't keep his effort on target from Dan Brown's defence splitting delivery.
It looked like 'game over' altogether, when Jake Parker picked up a loose ball inside the Scotter area and dished up a chance on a plate for Hill to complete his hat-trick, but Olly Coates made a last ditch clearance. Coates impressed me no end when he came on as a substitute and the diminutive Jamie Pickwell's introduction to the fray offered a few more options with his tireless running.
Maybe, just maybe, there was still time for the tide to turn yet as Barnetby began to wonder if they might regret not putting the game out of reach while they were in the ascendancy. In the seventy ninth minute they were reduced to ten men when Ben Popple was dismissed and moments later Coates cross beyond the left hand post was cushioned down off of the chest of Dan Ford into the path of Pickwell, who smashed the ball ferociously and bulged the net... that runs across the width of one of tennis court elsewhere inside the boundaries of the ever expanding Brigg Recreation Centre. "You can fetch the next effing one back yourself short-arse!" roared a Barnetby fan, who bore more than a passing resemblance to a drunken old priest, who wiles away his days sitting in an armchair and shouting out profanities on a place called Craggy Island.
'Father Jack' went quiet when Scotter were awarded a penalty... that their Captain (George) Cook drilled calmly past Sam Thirkell. 2-1, don't cash out those bets just yet.
It was finger nail biting time, as just one goal separated the sides now, with nine minutes left to go... feck!
If Scotter were about to turn this cup final on it's head, by arriving en masse with just ten minutes remaining, then Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta would probably have been wrestling Marcelo Bielsa's binoculars off of him to spy on the next training session at Northmoor Park, in an attempt to pick up some tips on game management tips.
But though they chucked everything and everyone forward, especially at set pieces when even Lawson ventured into the Barnetby area in search of a Jimmy Glass style finale, the equaliser just wouldn't come... and in the very last minute, Josh Goodman hooked a beauty of a shot from outside the area into Lawson's goal that went in via the right hand upright to stave off the threat of a Scotter comeback and claim the cup for the Railwaymen.
FT: Barnetby United 3 v Scotter United 1
All told, 3-1 to Barnetby was a fair result, they were the best team on the night for the most part and thoroughly deserved to pick up the 'Scunny Cup', but Scotter had set pulses racing as the game ticked down towards it's uncertain climax and seem to have the makings of a half-decent side looking ahead, once they pick up some momentum.
Congratulations Barnetby United.
