FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
ATHERSTONE TOWN 1-0 COALVILLE TOWN
Sheepy Road, Atherstone
Admission: £5
Programme: £1
Attendance: 484
Food: (boiled) hot dog, £1.50
Drink: Koppaberg, £3.50
London Midland trains provided the transport to Atherstone Station, a 10 minute walk away from the ground. As I walked up Castle Road, both sets of fans were making a day of it outside The Angel by the square. The pub opposite also had outside overspill, so I went straight to the ground, arriving at 2.20. The clubhouse is just to the right of the turnstiles and was sedate and quiet on my arrival, with a dozen or so people in the bar. I heard the noise of the crowd outside the turnstile at 2.40 so quickly got another drink in as the hordes then congregated in the bar for their pre match drink. Many of the supporters were already glass eyed and Ken and his staff were working their socks off to serve everybody. I left the bar just before kick off as the queue got fuller and fuller, the customers emptying the fridges of alcohol and they shut the bar at 3.20 as they ran out of beer to serve. They stocked up for half time then closed again on the hour mark when they ran out again. On one side they must have taken a lot of money, but some of the supporters shouldn't have been served as trouble flared up in the far corner at half time. After grabbing a Coalville flag an inebriated supporter together with 20+ other fans goaded the Coalville fans, leaped over the barrier and ran straight into a right hook. The stewards and the club official in his tie separated the two crowds and no further trouble during the match was spotted by me. It did leave me feeling deflated that trouble at this level is still happening. However, despite this, the club is still a great place to visit, probably for a league game.
The ground looks fairly worn but has a great covered stand on the far touchline, running most of the way along, half seated, half standing. A further covered standing area is found on the near touchline, past the bar and toilets. The food kiosk is by the turnstiles but ran out of pies long before kick off and only had hot dogs by kick off. A few steps of open terracing is found behind the goal.
The Adders were playing a team 2 divisions higher and for most of the game the difference was easily recognisable. The first half was Coalville attacking, Atherstone defending, mostly last ditch, especially the excellent performance of the home keeper Philip Smith. He must have made half a dozen top class saves during the first half, including a magnificent dive to the right to stop a one on one from 10 yards. I'd like to see his name mentioned on the FA Cup Player of the Round. Having survived the onslaught against the slope in the first half, it was marginally easier in the second period for Atherstone. They made frequent forays into the Coaville last third, making the keeper make a couple of good saves, but the flow was mainly towards the home goal. Then when it looked like going to a replay, a long ball drifted over the centre back for the on running Lee Smith to take it to the keeper and slip it past him into the net. Wild celebrations including a few on the pitch meant it was a few minutes until the restart. The Adders held out for the 2 + 3 minutes stoppage time for an unexpected victory.
The train back to London arrived at Euston platform 9, 25 minutes late due to a signal failure on platforms 1-7!
The ground looks fairly worn but has a great covered stand on the far touchline, running most of the way along, half seated, half standing. A further covered standing area is found on the near touchline, past the bar and toilets. The food kiosk is by the turnstiles but ran out of pies long before kick off and only had hot dogs by kick off. A few steps of open terracing is found behind the goal.
The Adders were playing a team 2 divisions higher and for most of the game the difference was easily recognisable. The first half was Coalville attacking, Atherstone defending, mostly last ditch, especially the excellent performance of the home keeper Philip Smith. He must have made half a dozen top class saves during the first half, including a magnificent dive to the right to stop a one on one from 10 yards. I'd like to see his name mentioned on the FA Cup Player of the Round. Having survived the onslaught against the slope in the first half, it was marginally easier in the second period for Atherstone. They made frequent forays into the Coaville last third, making the keeper make a couple of good saves, but the flow was mainly towards the home goal. Then when it looked like going to a replay, a long ball drifted over the centre back for the on running Lee Smith to take it to the keeper and slip it past him into the net. Wild celebrations including a few on the pitch meant it was a few minutes until the restart. The Adders held out for the 2 + 3 minutes stoppage time for an unexpected victory.
The train back to London arrived at Euston platform 9, 25 minutes late due to a signal failure on platforms 1-7!
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