Match 27. Springfield v Bedmond Sports and Social

Saturday 20^th February 2016 @2pm

Anagram Trophy 3^rd Round

SPRINGFIELD 0a0 BEDMOND SPORTS and SOCIAL

Springfield Hall Park, Arun Close, Springfield, Chelmsford CM1 7QE

Admission: free

Programme: free (24pp)

Attendance: 22(h/c)

Refreshments: Ham Roll, 80p. Cheeseburger, £2.20.

I arrived 25 minutes before kick-off and the teams were warming up and the game declared on despite the pitch being soft and greasy with the drizzle turning into rain before kick-off.  I ventured into the clubhouse, where there was free programmes on tables to pick up and the Arsenal FA Cup game was on TV, but the bar was closed until after the match.  The pitch is railed on all 4 sides and 2 dugouts are on the near side, but there is no hard standing or floodlights.

The game kicked off with Springfield having the best of the play for fifteen minutes, although the local referee made the majority of decisions in the home sides favour, which niggled the away bench.  Then approaching a quarter of the match, a home midfielder lost out to a bouncing ball by the centre back, who went in hard and followed through making contact just above the ankle where a shuddering “snap” occurred.  The game stopped and there were accusations of maliciousness but it was one of those tackles that was unfortunate because of the conditions.  I hung around and had something to eat as the player remained on the pitch waiting for the ambulance.  At 2.50 the ref abandoned the match as the paramedics still hadn’t arrived.

So this “bracketed tick” meant some quick thinking and back in the car to revisit Melbourne Avenue to watch….