No.59 - Wed. 30th April 2008; Essex & Suffolk Border League Division 1                    6.30pm at Lawn Meadow, Yeldham Road, Sible Hedingham, Essex. (Att: 27; Admn & Prog: NA)

View matchday images  01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10  Hedinghams United (3) 7  Subury Athletic (0) 0  Super seven sinks Sudbury  With the Essex and Suffolk Border League fixture list still providing more early evening midweek games the trusty Wraymobile was once again heading out to yet another roped off field in the backwaters of rural Essex. Tonight my first choice game was at Lawn Meadow to watch Hedinghams United FC entertain Sudbury Athletic in a First Division league match. There was plenty to play for as United were one of several clubs still chasing that all important third promotion spot and in doing so create a little bit of club history having never played in the Premier Division before. With the game starting at 6.30pm it gave just enough time to get a bite to eat before the kick-off. I managed to find a locally chippy just up the road from the ground and joined the back of a sizeable queue waiting to place my order. Having been weaned on fish and chips since I was a small boy living in Hull, I must admit that there is no place on earth that can match the city when it comes to frying my favourite dish. In all of my  groundhopping years I have never found a shop that has ever served a battered whale and ton of chips (and tasty scraps) like the Star Fisheries used to back home. Or am I just a biased and bigoted old Yorkshireman? No the fare on offer at this Hedingham fryers was definitely wide of the mark and I needed a can of Dandelion and Burdock to help wash all the fat down. It was that bad. Belch!! I digress. A quick U-turn and it was back to Lawn Meadow for the game of the day. By now one or two spectators had gathered as the game started. The evening skies were getting darker by the minute and it wasn't long before the heavens opened making the playing surface very slippery and not particularly conducive to playing good football. However the players adapted well and tried to play a decent passing game. United who were attacking down the slope took the initiative and after a few close attempts on goal soon opened the scoring, the first strike coming mid way through the half. By half-time they were coasting and went back into the clubhouse  with a comfortable 3-0 lead. During the interval I listened in to the United team talk and could hear the manager  telling his lads to build on their goal difference in the second half. The pressure was on - not only did they need to win their last three games but were also required to add five goals without reply to their tally. Their future was in their hands (or should it be feet?) and the question everybody was asking was: could they rise to the challenge? Despite the slope it wasn't an uphill struggle for the homesters. Wthin a minute of the re-start United had scored again to keep their promotion hopes well and truly alive. The driving rain continued. It didn't dampen their enthusism though as the Sudbury goal came under constant seige throughout the entire half. Wave after wave of attack followed as United pressed for more goals. It was exciting stuff. The Athletic 'keeper to his credit played out of his skin and managed to keep the score down with several tremendous 'James-esque' saves as his defenders capitulated slipping and sliding around in the mud. His counterpart at the other end had by comparison a much easier time of it making just three saves during this time and was for the most part a spectator. Despite a series of missed chances Hedinghams netted again three more times to eventually come out winners by an impressive 7-0 scoreline. I am honestly not exaggerating here when I tell you that the result could have been much nearer to 20-0. It really was that one-sided! In fact at one point I thought that my highest ever goals total (12) was going to be broken but I think that the pitch conditions put paid to that in the end. Lawn Meadow? It was more like Boggy Swamp! The game was attended by a crowd of nearly thirty fans who braved the elements. Without any cover at the ground, I watched the action from just inside the pavilion entrance to avoid yet another soaking - what a blooming wimp!! The club is based off the main A1017 Yeldam Road (as if travelling from Haverhill to Halstead) and is only a few hundred yards from Sible Hedingham itself. The venue is fully enclosed by a purpose-built high mesh fence made from green plastic-coated wire netting with access to the pitch gained through a gate opposite the half-way line. The pitch has a pronounced slope. Perhaps this incline helps it to drain - United don't appear to suffer from many postponements. A brick built changing pavilion is situated behind the goal nearest the entrance. There is a small kitchen area/small counter inside this building which provides refreshment facilities for spectators requiring hot drinks and snacks before the game and again at half-time. A cuppa went down very well and helped to  digest those greasy fish and chips which were still making their way slowly through my small intestine. Belch! A lovley little club with friendly people help to make this a ground worth visiting. Despite the lack of a matchday programme you won't be disappointed especially if United find their goal scoring feet again. Who knows it could be Premier League football (of the Essex and Suffolk Border League variety that is) next term? Good luck! Oh and don't forget your brolly!!                                                                  FGIF Rating: 5*

edited on 16/05/08