No.12 - Tues. 25th September 2007; Central Midlands League Supreme Division                  7.45pm at the Rolls Royce Leisure Sports Ground, Watnall Road, Hucknall, Notts (Att: 29; Admn and Prog: £1) 

 

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Rolls Royce Leisure (0) 1 Hatfield Main (3) 5

Hatfield leave Rolls to repent at leisure

This Central Midlands League Premier Division encounter, played at the Rolls Royce Leisure Sports Ground in Watnall Road, was settled in the first half. With only ten minutes gone a hefty challenge in the six yard box left the home 'keeper lying motionless and face down in the mud with what looked like a pretty serious back injury. Following lengthy treatment the decision was made for him to continue - a mistake which the visitors quickly capitalised on scoring twice soon afterwards. The opener, an opportunist strike from a full forty yards out, was top drawer as the ball simply whistled into the back of the net. The second, from close range, was drilled under the desperate stopper's body. By now he was really struggling to stand up let alone stop the shots peppering his goal. Sadly his luckless replacement, a reluctant outfield player, was soon like his predecessor picking the ball out of the net himself. A cross to the far post was easily tapped in to give Main a comfortable three goal lead which they held going into the half-time break.

 

And then something special happened. Leisure re-started the second half and amazingly to the surprise of everyone scored with only THREE kicks of the ball having been made. The first was a quick tap to start the ball rolling; the second saw an accurate crossfield pass ahead of the speedy winger moving into space and the third and most important contact was a low dive from the edge of the area beyond the helpless 'keeper. I rolled up my sleeve, looked at my trusty wristwatch and reckoned that only TEN seconds had elapsed! Was this a league record? It was certainly the quickest goal to be scored that I can recall seeing for some time. Oh the joys of hopping! Despite this encouraging change in fortune Leisure could not add to this. Main got back into the game and responded well, netting twice (during a much more even second half) to run out 5-1 winners and so take all three points back up to Donny!

 

A 'crowd' of only 29 spectators was in attendance. I was quite pleased as this was 24 more people than I had counted during my visit to St.Johns FC in Ipswich for the Suffolk Junior Cup tie v Bramford United on Saturday. Thankfully the afternoon showers had abated and the wind had eased off. Mind you by full time I was grateful for an extra sweatshirt with the cold autumn nights now closing in.  

 

A rather disappointing eight page photocopied programme was available for the game. In truth I shouldn't complain as I hadn't found anyone selling programmes when I first arrived at the ground. After almost giving up any hope I managed, by chance, to get my copy from the club secretary who most obligingly produced two warm folded pieces of paper from his back pocket during a first half chat. This was his last copy. Pheww! Better late than never as they say.

 

The facilities at the Rolls Royce Sports Ground seem to be rather unpedictable in their layout. The main social club which runs parallel to the driveway is well upholstered with an excellent bar/lounge, adjacent kitchen and changing rooms. The trophy cabinet next to the entrance is most impressive and worth a quick look. However this building is situated some distance from the main pitch which is marked out on the far side of the large open playing field. You have to walk past a cricket square and two other football pitches to reach it. Unusually the main stand is positioned to the side of and behind the left hand side goal to add to the lack of symmetry. This provides plenty of standing cover. A sturdy post and rail perimeter fence surrounds the pitch on three sides with a rope separating it from the cricket pitch. Two brick dug outs straddle the half-way line on the opposite side. Another building away to the right stores the groundsman's equipment. For this level the floodlights are extremely powerful and appear to illuminate the whole field quite easily.

 

To reach the club follow signs for Hucknall from either junction 26 or 27 of the M1. After reaching the town take the B sign for Watnall. Passing Hucknall Town Football Club on the right continue for about 200 yards until the first of two long driveways to the Rolls Royce plant appears on the left. Take this one as it leads to the main car park and ground on your left hand side.

 

Overall this was an enjoyable visit to a new ground with plenty of incident on the pitch. FGIF Rating: 3*         

 

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edited on 28/09/07