No.35 - Sat. 19th January 2008; FA Vase Round 4                                         3.00pm at Lymington Sports Grd, Southampton Rd, Lymington, Hampshire. (Att: 204; Prog: 24pp; Admn: £4) 

 

Photo courtesy of Eric Gillett (CAFC)

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Lymington Town (0) 1 Crowborough Athletic (1) 4

Four goal Borough ease into the next round 

The day started like many others during the past week with heavy rain lashing hard against the outside of our living room window. I had almost resigned myself to spending a frustrating hour or so phoning around clubs only to be given the disappointing news that their game had become another casualty of the deluge that had seemingly covered most of the country. It was definitely going to be one of those days when you think to yourself - I must be bonkers! But surely that is one of the traits of being a self-confessed ground collecting obsessive, isn't it? Yes, sadly I was up for yet another challenge even if it did mean adding a few quid to the phone bill just for a bit of indulgence that would be well worth the effort come five o'clock... but I digress.

My choice of match was going to watch either an FA Vase game (a favourite competition) or a Football League game (Shewsbury Town which would more than likely beat the wet weather). A phone call to Lymington Town FC incredibly proved positive. A young voice at the end of the line sounded incredibly optimistic. Somehow this took me by surprise and I couldn't really quite believe it (as the monsoon had by now gathered pace). Sadly I needed a bit more convincing and so got the missus to try once again for me - this time prompted with a few questions which I had forgotton to ask - again it was good news: the weather in Hampshire was fine; the ref had made an inspection and he had decided that there wasn't a problem with the pitch!! Too good to be true? No the game was ON (I even checked on the brilliant Wessex League website which confirmed this with a 10.30am update). 

By 11.45am we were leaving racing HQ and setting off on a familiar journey made many times on previous trips down to the Isle of Wight (where Fran used to live back in the 80's). The driving conditions were not good as the strong winds and downpour battered the car as it made its way around the M25 (most of Hertfordshire had taken the brunt). By the time we had reached Fleet Services the skies had cleared with, dare I say it, a bit of sunshine trying to poke through the clouds. Amazingly we arrived in Lymington by 2.30pm and pulled up at the ground - the pitch looked in great condition with not a hint of rain anywhere!

Plenty of away fans adorned in blue and white woollen scarves had gathered near to the main entrance and by the time we had got to the front of the queue all the programmes had gone - apart from ONE! I paid for our admission and quickly stuffed this priceless bit of paper into my anorak. What a result! It was a quick cuppa and bite to eat before settling pitchside with both teams ready to get the match underway. I hurriedly reached for my camera and pointing the lens towards the centre circle, pressed the shutter down - nothing!  The error message revealed the words: 'Insert Card' - I soon realised that my memory card was still at home - in all the rush I had forgotton to take it out of the laptop. Oh Dear (well not quite the words I used). I was comforted by the fact we had got to a game and, given the rotten weather, this was the main priority.

The game itself was an exciting contest. A double from Danny Baker helped Sussex County League side Crowborough cruise past Lymington Town and book a place in the fifth round of the competition. Borough led with just five minutes as Wayne Clark drove across goal for Baker to bundle in from close range. The visitors pressed hard to increase their lead but squandered several easy chances before the interval. Clarke grabbed the second four minutes into the second half when he drove a lovely ball in at the near post after some clever play by Wes Tate. By now Borough had the upper hand and added two more: Ross Treleaven's throw was flicked on by Andy Ducliffe for Baker to power in from inside the six yard box (55) and then Tate capitalised from a defensive error after a superb long ball by Dave Adams (74). Lymington managed to pull one back in the dying minutes with a late consolation from Craig Dovey. It was a fair result and on this display Crowborough look a good tip to reach the later stages of this competition.

The Lymington Sports Ground occupies a large site off Southampton Road close to the town centre.  The football club share with cricket and most of the facilities are along the same side as the main entrance. To the right is a changing pavilion and club house with a main stand painted in red (the club colours) to the left. This extends between the ends of each penalty area and there is a combination of plastic and bench seating on the shallow steps of terracing inside. The club name is painted in white and is curiously written at an angle along one of of the stand. On the opposite side there are a couple of plastic dug outs next to the half-way line. To prevent damage to the grass a row of plastic mats had been placed behind the goal nearest to the cricket pitch. With car parking spaces at a premium travellers and fans are asked to park near to the bowls club which adjoins the Sports Ground.

A smart 24-page programme with a glossy red and white colour cover was issued for the game priced at £1. The content is made up with all the usual features including three pages of pen pix on the visitors and some action photos from a recent home game. Refreshments were available throughout the afternoon from an outside catering van and this proved popular with a wide range of hot and cold snacks on the menu. We were quite impressed by the cheerful and polite staff who served us with some of the tastiest burgers and chips we've had for ages.

A visit to Lymington Town Football Club comes highly recommended. To reach the Wessex League club ground involves a journey coming from the end of the M27 through the New Forest along the A317. This road passes through some beautiful countryside as it winds its way through Lyndhust and Brockenhurst before coming to Lymington town centre.

And finally I would like to thank Eric Gillett (CAFC); Dee Flanagan (Sports Editor - Advertiser & Times - Hants) and Gary Francis (Courier Media Group) for supplying the matchday photographs at such short notice. Definitely great non league people!

                                                               FGIF Rating: 5*                                          

edited on 25/01/08