No.31 - Sat. 31st January 2009; Northants Combination League Premier Division                      2.00pm at St David's Close, off Froxhill Crescent, Brixworth, Northants. (Att: 68; Admn: N/A; Prog: £1)

Matchday images (15) >view> Brixworth All Saints (1) 1 Harpole (1) 2   A great advert...  The Football Mittoo website was, amongst other things, a popular topic of conversation. 'How do they do it?' I asked my mate and fellow ‘hopper Paul Roth as we discussed the coming weekend matches over the phone. We both agreed that amongst all the current football Internet resources on offer this site is indispensable when it comes to selecting your next possible fix. It covers so much valuable and up to date information that it really does prove a useful tool for travellers intent on fuelling their obsession. We still weren’t sure what Mittoo actually refers to or even how the site is run but hey-ho, why worry when it’s so good! It was with the page logged on to the Northants Combination Football League fixtures that I spotted a rather juicy game featuring the top two sides!   Reigning champions Harpole Football Club are once again setting the pace at the top of the Northants Combination Football League. Today they faced fellow title hopefuls Brixworth All Saints at the St. David’s Playing  Field in what promised to be a competitive and highly entertaining Premier Division encounter. I couldn’t wait to travel over to the outskirts of Northampton on what was, uncharacteristically for the time of a year, a cold but bright and sunny afternoon. Ideal for football you could say.   And so it turned out! The game, played at a frenetic pace and with little to separate both teams, was a perfect advert for the Combination. As early as the tenth minute front-running Tom Liversedge saw his delicate chip from the edge of the six-yard box saved to deny the visitors an opening goal. Moments later it was All Saints dressed in red and black who took the lead against the run of play when Neil Dolman (16) scored an absolute stunner. The tricky midfielder whose brother Danny plays for the Cobblers found space on the halfway line before unleashing a magnificent 35 yarder which simply whistled into the net beyond brick-built keeper Peter Bulliman. It really was a corker! The strike was certainly well received by an appreciative crowd who had gathered in large numbers on the touchline. However Harpole, experienced campaigners in the NCFL and unbeaten in two years stuck to the task in hand and levelled things just after the half hour mark. It was that man Liversedge (33) again who toe poked the ball home through a packed crowd of players after a bit of pinball in the six-yard area.   By half time and with temperatures falling like the proverbial stone we both headed back to the clubhouse. Belying our years and with the alacrity of finely tuned athletes we outran the pursuing hordes and got to the front of the queue before ordering our hot drinks. Heaven! Fran wisely decided at this point to call it a day as she retreated to the car for some much needed warmth and shelter. By now the unforgiving winds were really biting. There was just enough time to grab an extra anorak, a pair of gloves and a transistor radio before returning pitch side for the second half. With an increasing wind chill in the air, I realised that it was going to be a bit of an endurance test to last out the next forty- five minutes I can tell you: why do we put ourselves through it? Wouldn’t it be better just to stay at home beside a warm fire and absorb the latest round of Football League headlines on Sky Sports News? No it wouldn’t!   Within seconds of reaching a tall and thick privet hedge: my temporary windbreak behind the goal, Harpole struck again. The scrawny but effective Stuart Clarke, wearing a pair of the latest designer gloves, managed somehow to wriggle past his marker and fire in from a tight angle. His effort was accurate enough to hit the target and give his side the lead for the first time. It was definitely ‘backs to the wall’ stuff now for All Saints who really had their work cut out to withstand the unrelenting Harpole pressure. All credit to the youngsters from Brixworth though as they rose successfully to the challenge and snuffed out several dangerous attempts on their goal. Gradually they got back into the game and with renewed confidence started to look for an equaliser. They did manage to get the ball into the net but the late effort from Jones (90) was deemed offside by the eagle-eyed referee Mr Nock who incidentally had a fine game. Whilst on the same subject praise must also go to Peter Bulliman, the visiting keeper, who was in magnificent form and really showed his class throughout the match. I wouldn’t be surprised if the giant stopper soon moved on to bigger and possibly better things. Watch this space for more news!   The game, played on a rather bumpy surface, was attended by a healthy attendance of sixty-eight spectators. Although the club don’t do programmes there is a decent menu on offer providing hot food and drinks at ridiculously (low) prices, dispensed from a kitchen hatch at the end of the bar. Service was most efficient and conducted with good humour. After tipping two heaped spoonfuls of sugar into my tea and realising I had an extremely sweet tooth, the bar man remarked: “Me duck, wouldn’t it be quicker to pour the tea in the sugar bowl!” Don’t you just love it!   Brixworth All Saints Football Club is based at the St David’s Playing Field off Froxhill Crescent, a horseshoe shaped road that almost encircles the ground. As a result the expansive council-owned site is bordered on all sides by houses from the residential area and it is therefore possible to park close enough to the field. Access is via a short and narrow driveway that leads to a small car park and impressive clubhouse complete with changing pavilion, lounge and tea bar. The main football pitch is out of view as it is situated around the back, beyond a cricket square on the far side of the field. You will find that the playing area is roped on all sides. A grassed embankment runs which parallel to touchline below and the main road behind provides visitors with a superb elevated view of proceedings. It’s also a great vantage point from which to take photos. Along here there are several wooden benches offering a bit of spectator comfort, ideal in warmer weather. Behind the goal to the left a large section of netting is supported on four large telegraph-style poles to prevent the ball from entering the neighbouring gardens. A mini enclosed football pitch is found behind the opposite goal. Further sports facilities located near to the clubhouse include some cricket nets, a floodlit play area and tennis courts. It’s certainly a hive of activity here in Brixworth village centre!   Our journey from racing HQ took us west along the A14 as far as junction 2 (A508), the exit for Kelmarsh. After five miles of driving through rural Northamptonshire towards Northampton we approached our destination on the outskirts of the beautiful Pitsford Reservoir. Turn right at the sign for Brixworth Village Centre and after a couple of roundabouts turn left into Froxhill Crescent. The entrance to the playing fields in St. David’s Close (marked) is on the right hand side.   This is certainly a club that I would recommend to all travellers. Perhaps a visit made in warmer weather (whenever that’s going to be!) would be a better option given the lack of cover and hard standing. Despite the lack of a programme, I really enjoy watching games in this competition. The standard of football is excellent and makes for a rewarding trip. The joys of hopping in roped-off fields continue!!          FGIF Match Rating: 4.

edited 06/02/09