Back on the Road
- raylong1965
- Aug 11, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 31, 2021
Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round
Long Eaton United (L9) v Holbeach United (L9)
Saturday 7th August 2021 3:00 pm
Our second attempt at the Long road started with a short trip down the A50 to Grange park, home of Long Eaton United. Their opponents for the extra preliminary qualifying round were Holbeach United, who had made a slightly longer journey from Lincolnshire. Both teams play in the same level 9 league, so it promised to be a tight affair.
We arrived in plenty of time on a drizzly afternoon and, after a few wrong turns in the back streets of Long Eaton, found the amply sized car park for the ground. I was charged £6 at the old-fashioned turnstile, while Samuel had a free entry as his is still, just, under 16. A professionally produced programme cost a further £2.
As usual, we visited the refreshment window, which opened onto a well organised kitchen. A wide variety of fare was on offer and we both chose a cheeseburger (£2.70 each), to which I added a coffee (£1). The latter was fairly typical of a football ground beverage, tongue-scalding and somewhat tasteless. However, the burgers were very juicy, well cooked and, in my case, topped off with a generous portion of zingy onions.
We joined the growing crowd in the main stand, which accommodates about 250 spectators under cover, and is split in the middle by the players tunnel. Opposite was a much smaller, much older stand containing a few wooden benches, sandwiched between the two Perspex dugouts.
Just before 3pm, a concertina tunnel extension emerged like a blue caterpillar, from which the officials emerged. leading out the two lines of players.
Long Eaton started brightly, moving forward with skill and purpose. One of their main weapons in attack proved to be defender Keiran Walker, with area penetrating long throws.
We spotted a couple of familiar faces in the Long Eaton ranks. Brothers Tom and Alex Marshall had transferred from Ilkeston Town, where we had watched them lose to Loughborough University at this stage two years ago.
After 15 minutes, Holbeach finally managed to break away, with Britten advancing on the Long Eaton keeper. However, Wilson, in the Blues goal, saved well, clearing for a corner. From the ensuing set-piece the ball was flicked on to Elston, who drove the ball in to the bottom left corner. Totally against the run of play, Holbeach were in front. 0 - 1.
Undaunted, Long Eaton persevered in the same vein as before, with slick passing possession. This paid off just before the half hour mark, when Parker picked out Gale with a perfect cross field pass. Gale took a touch, then drilled the ball across the Holbeach keeper and into the corner. 1 - 1
Spurred on, the Blues continued to dominate, pressing high, and were rewarded in the 37th minute. Another break down the left resulted in the ball squirting across the face of goal, where poacher Marshall gleefully nipped in to poke home. All eyes turned toward the assistant referee, as there was a suspicion of offside, but his flag stayed down. 2 - 1
No further action of consequence occurred before the referee indicated there would be no additional time by blowing his whistle promptly on 45 minutes.
Half Time Long Eaton United 2 - 1 Holbeach United
During the interval we recorded our half time thoughts for our YouTube channel.
Please watch and subscribe.
We strolled past a portacabin, hilariously described as the hospitality suite, and circled the pitch. In the old stand we were also amused by the Director's box, a small section of wooden benches separated from the hoi-polloi by a low concrete block wall. I love lower league football grounds!
We chose to stand near the corner flag at the end Long Eaton would be attacking in the second period, adjacent to a group of local fans who had clearly sampled the local brew. Several times. They were in good humour and good voice.
In a repeat of the opening minutes of the first half, the hosts began on the front foot after the break. It was not long before they increased their advantage, following a defense splitting ball from Walker to Parker. Without hesitation, the young defender whipped the ball across, putting it on a plate for Campbell to slot in from 6 yards. 3 - 1
On the hour, a flurry of substitutions for both sides changed the personnel, with Micah 'Jebbo' Jebbison and the superbly named Bartosz Korzeniewski replacing Jamie Walker and Alex Marshall for the hosts.
With twenty minutes remaining, Tom Marshall once again broke down the left flank, and rifled the ball towards the penalty spot. Campbell tried a deft flick with his heel, which failed to come off but did land in front of Gale, who doubled his tally with a powerful drive. 4 - 1
As a contest, the game was over and the poor Holbeach goalie, Drury, had to endure a period of good-natured ribbing from the local supporters.
Gale nearly completed his hat-trick with ten minutes left on the clock, but watched his strike from the edge of the area ricochet off the post, with Drury rooted to the spot.
A couple of additional minutes were added before the referee ended the misery for Holbeach
Full Time Long Eaton United 4 - 1 Holbeach United
A fully deserved, comprehensive victory for Long Eaton, who move on to another home tie against Shepshed Dynamo of the Northern Premier League Division 1, a level higher.
To paraphrase Arnold Schwarzenegger, "We'll be back!"
Ratings:
Environment - 6/10 for a non-league ground. Decent main stand, clean and modern facilities.
Entertainment - 7/10 for the performance of the play
ers and lots of goals, plus some amusing banter from the small group of locals.
Food - 7/10 for the delicious burgers.
Attendance : Still trying to find out, but at least 2.
Round trip : 36 miles