Match 33. Yaxley v Harrowby United

Saturday 11^thApril 2015 @3pm

United Counties League Premier Division

YAXLEY 2-4 HARROWBY UNITED

In2itive Park, Leading Drove, Holme Road, Yaxley.

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 58

Refreshments: Guinness (surged) £3, Cheeseburger £3, Kit Kat Chunky 70p

Apart from the congestion at Dartford Crossing, it was an easy enough drive into Cambridgeshire and I parked in Leading Drove an hour before kick-off and walked to spend prematch in the nearby, pleasant Three Horseshoes to watch the second half of the Swansea v Everton match before returning before kick-off for a clash between 4^th from top against 4^th from bottom. I was expecting a few goals but not in the way it turned out.

The ground has seen new club buildings built in the last few years and the clubhouse is now large with a hired hall facility which was being used for a 50^th birthday in the evening. There are also new changing rooms and toilets and all housed in one corner of the ground, left of the turnstile entrance, which doubles up as a club shop (with old programmes). The food van is to the immediate left of the entrance. The main stand is next to this and is a metal frame with wooden benches in 2 rows on top of a concrete base. Unspectacular but not as bad as the Atcost type.  There is a small red covered standing area each on the 2 main touchlines, one with a white bench at the back. Be careful if you are over 6 foot though as they have a low roof.  The dugouts are brick built on the opposite touchline and there is hard standing around the post and rail perimeter.  Oddly behind the goal at the non-allotment end, the hard standing consists of 100 or so electric or telephone rectangular man hole covers. Must be someone using their In2itive (sic).

Yaxley begun the stronger of the two sides and after a couple of close efforts, the home side broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.  A free kick on the left side was cross in by Hipwell and the ball missed everyone including the no10 by a whisker and ended up in the far corner of the net.  Yaxley didn’t have it all their own way in the half and both sides came close to adding to the goal tally, but the half finished at 1-0

The wind was picking up in the second half in favour of the visitors and they started the second half in control and ascendency.  Their dominance was rewarded on 55 minutes when a cross was not cleared by the defence and Carr to stab in from inside the area.  The side near the bottom certainly didn’t play like a struggling team now. A corner was drove to the far post where Hill rose and fiercely headed into the top corner to give Harrowby the lead.  Yaxley didn’t give up which made for an excellent second half and they equalised with 20 minutes left. I had one eye on the Grand National so only saw Joyce one on one with the keeper and slotted past hi m for 2-2.  With both eyes back on the match Harrowby regained the lead within minutes.  A free kick again gave the home defence problems and another headed goal from about 8 yards.  In the added stoppage time, Yaxley could have equalised, once denied by a good low save and also a last ditch tackle inside the area, but the ball then went down the other end where the subs shot was only parried for Shaw to score with the rebound just before the final whistle. 

A very entertaining second half, possibly the best 45 minutes I’ve watched this season, coupled with a friendly welcome from the gateman, food cook and birthday barman.