Match 15. Peterborough Northern Star v Harborough Town

Saturday 24^th November 2012 @3pm

FA Vase 2^nd Round

PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR 1-3 HARBOROUGH TOWN

Chestnut Avenue, Dogsthorpe.

Admission: £6

Programme: £1 (A5, 40pp) inc free raffle ticket

Attendance: 68

FOOD: Cheeseburger £2.20

DRINK: Soup, £1. Carling, £2.50

 

With the wet weather dictating my choice of game, PNS was not on my radar before Saturday morning.  Leaving the hopmobile at home, taking a train to London and ringing round the games still on according to the forum & league website, the helpful PNS Secretary kept me informed and even left a message on my phone at 2.15 that the match official had passed the pitch fit to start.  The train to Peterborough only takes ¾ hour and the bus station is 5 minutes away.  After 2 invisible Citi 5 buses, I managed to arrive at the ground right on kick off.

 

The ground has standing cover in front of the clubhouse, behind the nearside goal where the tea bar is conveniently adjacent.  Another DIY area of cover is in the corner of the ground.  2 Atcost small seated stands either side of the large brick dugouts are along the left touchline.  The pitch was very slippery but no standing water so the match was played to a conclusion.  The clubhouse is pretty bare and only had Carling on tap and no one could get the scores on the TV.

 

There was little to distinguish between the 2 sides in the first half.  Not helped by the drizzle turning into heavy rain during the first half.  Harborough did however; take the lead after 30 minutes when a corner fell to the centre half who put Harborough ahead unchallenged.  Both sides played better in the second half, with Harborough doubling their lead on the hour when a goalmouth scramble eventually went into the near corner off a PNS defender.  However, they carried the game to Harborough and got a penalty with 20 minutes left which left winger Billy Smith scored.  Smith should have added to his tally when he hit the post and clipped the bar from 2 efforts.  There were other chances but Smith always chose to keep the ball that little too long, rather than find the player in good position.  Inevitably Harborough, in a rare sortie had a goalmouth scramble which ricochets into the net.

 

Overall, a good second half, raining constantly throughout, but at least it was a game on a Saturday afternoon.  Worth mentioning The Brewery Tap, near the station looked a nice pub with a large choice of beer, unfortunately I only had time for a swift one.