Season 07-08 : Northern Counties East League : Match Report

BOTTESFORD TOWN  1  -  2  TEVERSAL (after extra time) Prepared by Kevin Newton

BOTTESFORD TOWN -

TEVERSAL -

REFEREE -

MAN OF MATCH -

ATTENDANCE -

DIARY OF A GROUNDHOPPER (taken from The Non-League Paper : 23.12.07) Wednesday 5th December Bottesford Town 1 - 2 Teversal I have only ever seen half a match at Bottesford Town of the Northern Counties East league, so tonight's Wilkinson Sword semi-final cup tie against Teversal seems an ideal opportunity to put matters right. I take the opportunity to do a spot of bird watching on the Yorkshire coast during the day. For the second time in a week, the BBC's forecast of mainly dry weather actually turns out to be constant rain. Can we sue them for doing such an abysmal job and for wasting so much of our money? The ground, Birch Park, is very difficult to find among the maze of Scunthorpe roads. To make matters worse, I take the back streets to avoid road works on the M180: Big mistake! At this time of year, the directions should have read: Turn left at the giant nodding snowman then right at the flashing Santa and left again at the chavtastic life-size Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer having a fluorescent dump! I finally find the stadium and just as I am parking by the ground I feel my clutch give (no, not crotch!). I hope it gets me home safely! Everyone at the club is extremely friendly. Before I enter the clubhouse, I bag my programme (£1) and it is a good job I do. Not long afterwards, a hopper arrives who is well known for buying up all a club's programmes then trying to sell them for an extortionate amount later. I'm not quite sure how he has lived as long as he has. After a long walk to find some food, I wash the meal down with a cup of tea from the clubhouse. This costs a meagre 30p for a proper mug full. I pay £3 to enter the ground and emerge behind one goal where there is a hospitality Portakabin. I take my position in the stand by the right touchline, though it is perilously dark in here. Several visiting fans are stumbling over steps as they arrive and Bottesford should rectify this problem immediately before they find themselves being sued for a tripping injury. The match is a cracker! The visitors should be four or five goals up at half time but manage only one. Even though the entertainment is of a high standard, I cannot concentrate. A friend sent me the following question by text this morning and the answer is still evading me: Which England International has won championships in three separate countries? Finally, the answer hits me, and I settle down to enjoy the game. The second half is as good as the first. Bottesford hit the equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time. Extra time ensues and I am treated to another 30 minutes of thrilling cup football. Teversal finally, and deservedly, reach the final with their second goal. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable night. I would like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a football-filled New Year. Thank you for your support and lively debate throughout 2007.