TT No.27: Keith Aslan - Sat 25th October 2014 - Barnton v Litherland REYMCA; North West Counties League Div 1; Kick-Off: 15.00; Result: 1-0; Admission: £5; Programme: £2; Attendance: 52 (44 home, 5 away & 3 neutral) 

Today I decided to watch the two North West Counties newcomers do battle even though the home side's website coquettishly showed them as being away to Widnes, which they never were. In spite of previous carless travellers doing the ground via Hartford station, Warrington is the one you want.

Bus 46 (bay 8 at the bus interchange) has a two hourly service to the ground. Don't be put off by the lack of buses, the 12.45 will get you to the ground at 13.20 and coming back it's 17.01, just right providing the referee manages to start the game on time. The bus stop is a 4 minute walk from the ground. There is one train an hour from London which is non stop to Warrington and does the journey in an impressive 1 hour 45 minutes. An excellent service from Virgin Trains (the first and last time you will ever see those words in the same sentence).

The newly erected floodlights were due to be given their debut the following Wednesday, the small stand along the far touchline has been supplemented by a new one on the opposite side, no seats in it yet, and the hard standing has been laid around half the ground. Very much a work in progress.

The North West Counties League are desperate to get their numbers up, and to this end are taking a very laid back approach to ground grading. Behind the far goal is currently a no-go area for spectators and I had to sneak round at half time when nobody was looking to do my "lap". Somewhat strangely, like the League of Wales clubs, Barnton have built a television gantry but I can't see Sky Sports coming to visit anytime soon. The small clubhouse is very welcoming with a wide selection of drinks and food and the lunchtime football showing on TV.

When I visited Litherland a few weeks ago they went bottom of the league, but I predicted they would improve. As usual I was right and they came into this game on the back of three wins and a draw from their last five games. It was not to be today and they went down 1-0 though not through want of trying.

contributed on 26/10/14