Match 1. Wisbech Town v Eynesbury Rovers

Saturday 27^th July 2013 @3pm

Pre-Season Friendly

WISBECH TOWN 1-1 EYNESBURY ROVERS

Elgoods Fenland Stadium, Lynn Road, Wisbech

Admission: £3

Programme: None issued

Attendance: Circa 150

Food: Hot Dog £2

Drink: Carlsberg £3

   

This was my first pre-season game for 3 seasons, due mainly to the family shopping in Cambridge. The invasion of foreign Scout camps to Cambridge centre meant I chose to skip lunch and had time for the one hour drive up to Wisbech for a new ground.  My wife has relatives here and they run the Are You Being Served Cafe in the town if anyone wishes to partake in a pre-match meal. It is nicer than the hot dog I had at the ground.

   

The ground at Lynn Road is one of those built for functionality with a large club building with all the facilities you need and a function room that was booked for a 40^th birthday disco that evening. Elgood beer is the choice in the bar, I decided on lager pop as the weather was rather warm and dry.  The main stand is opposite the club building and dugouts, with full length covered one step terracing behind each goal, with a few rows of seats added to one corner presumably to comply with some ground rule.

   

I watched the game from next to the away dugout as manager Martin Field (?) provided verbal entertainment as he exasperated regarding his sides lack of positional awareness.  The home side seemed to have the upper hand through most of the game and despite having more of the play, had to wait until near the end of the first half before taking the lead.  The right back brought the ball forward and released the no6 down the right and continued his run into the penalty area to head the ball in from the resulting cross.

 

There were 2 penalties in the second half.  The first fell to Eynesbury when the tall substitute Bassett was unnecessarily pulled back while running away from goal.  He dispatched the penalty with ease.  Within 10 minutes a penalty for handball was given to Wisbech. Reeds kick was at least 2 metres high and right of the goal.  Both sides had chances to win the match but the game finished a deserved draw.

 

Luckily, this game was played to a competitive level, and was pleasant to watch in the nice weather and I found the officials at this ground friendly and helpful. Les at the Club Shop in particular, helping to find a recent home programme from the hundreds in the shop.