Match 28. Holmer Green v London Colney

Saturday   14^th March 2015 @3pm

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

HOLMER GREEN 1-2 LONDON COLNEY

Airedale Park, Watchet Lane, Holmer Green, High Wycombe

Admission: £5

Programme: free with admission

Attendance: 45 h/c

Refreshments: Guinness, £3.95. Small hot dog, £2. Cheese savouries 70p

I have been meaning to go to Watchet Lane for a few seasons now and finally the opportunity came with no other family plans and the hop mobile full of petrol and time on my side.  A relatively short drive (78 miles) on a well behaved M25/M40 and I arrived just after 2pm.  After parking in the ample sized car park, there was no gateman and the away trainer was setting out cones for his side who were still getting changed.  I went to the club building which has a kitchen, clubhouse and several dressing rooms.  I believe there is a squash court on site and I spotted a cricket square and 3 football pitches.  One next to the cricket square and the main and reserve pitches further away. The main pitch has trees and bushes on 3 sides with the dugouts on the open side where the reserve pitch is adjacent and also has built dugouts.  There is a gatehouse at the entrance which is occupied by an 82 year old who has just celebrated 50 years with the club.  Be sure to say hello as he a hospitable chap. Just the kind of welcome a visitor enjoys.  Behind the goal is a 3 step terrace with an area of cover on the back row in the style of scaffold and metal roofing.  The main stand straddles the half way line and is brick built with 3 rows of wooden benches offering a good view of proceedings.

Holmer Green are languishing next to bottom of the table whereas Colney are in sixth and on a good run of form.  The first half however was quite even but with no goals.  The visitors had more possession but the hosts had clearer chances.  Their best effort came on half hour when the Colney keeper botched a clearance, leaving his goal open with the ball near the touchline 35 yards out. Andy Shed hooked the ball but the bounce on the hard pitch make it hit the crossbar and go over.  London Colney had a great chance 5 minutes before the break when a free kick rebounded off the defence to Fitzgerald who shot across the keeper but it hit the post.

Holmer started the second half on the attack but were not getting the rub of the green together with some dubious refereeing decisions. After about an hour the home sides drive went cold as well as the cold wind arriving to make the spectator find somewhere to stand to stay warm. The Green came under pressure and conceded a goal on 75 minutes. The defence didn’t deal with a through ball and Collins slotted past the keeper unchallenged.  The Green had a good penalty shout ignored on 83 minutes but got their equaliser 5 minutes later when a thundering 25 yard shot by Mealings flew beyond the despairing keeper.   Cruel blow in stoppage time when Fitzgerald got the ball and run onto the retreating defence and curled a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

A friendly club who I hope avoid relegation and should do if they play like today for the rest of the season.