Harvey Hadden Sports Village, home of Bilborough Town based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division and are nicknamed the “Romanies…” Very unique!
One last pre-season game for me before we do it all again next summer is at a ground I’ve had my eye on for a while: Bilborough Town! I was hoping to get this ground done a few years ago but with the restrictions in place, I was unable to visit. Today Bilborough face West Bridgford Reserves in one last friendly before the start of the season.
Liverpool are playing poorly in the early kick off… 2-1 down to newly promoted Fulham and deservedly so… I’m off! Onto the M1 for 15 miles and here I am with around 15 minutes to kick off. 2-2 it finishes… Liverpool got a lucky point there! But now for today’s game. Free entry for this one! Buzzing! One last pre-season game in glorious sunshine!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and West Bridgford play it forward to number 11 who’s got the freedom of Bilborough here… The flag is up! Offside! Good finish though from just outside the box.
West Bridgford starting the better of the 2 teams and are looking dangerous in the final third. 10th minute and Bilborough have a free kick from around 30 yards out, number 8 takes… It’s a low one… Ooooooh! It just curls wide of the post!
3 minutes later and West Bridgford play down the left with number 9, he drives into the box and he puts it on a plate for number 11 at the back post… And he finishes! Tap in! West Bridgford lead and it’s been coming! 0-1!
20 minutes on the clock and West Bridgford are smelling blood at the prospect of a few more goals here! Number 3 drives down the left for West Bridgford, he plays the ball over the top for number 11, what a pass that is! Number 11 goes for the half volley first time… This is surely number 2… No! It rolls agonizingly wide and it certainly should have been 2 there for West Bridgford!
25 minutes now and here come West Bridgford again, number 11 drives down the right, he plays it across to number 9… Who scores! The favour has been returned!! A goal and an assist for both number 9 and number 11 for West Bridgford and it’s 2-0 to West Bridgford now! 0-2!
Bilborough starting to show signs of getting back into this game as the game goes on but can they lift themselves and make a game of it?
40th minute and West Bridgford play the ball through to number 3 who charges into the box, keeper comes… Number 3 gets there first and tries to round him… But he can’t do it and the keeper has the ball in his grasp!
2 minutes later and West Bridgford have a corner, in it comes… Number 11 is free and goes for the volley… He’s sliced it and it’s well over! West Bridgford finish the half in a 2-0 lead.
Second half, 51st minute and West Bridgford has the ball in the Bilborough half and he’s being wrestled off it by Bilborough’s number 10, it’s out for a throw-in… Uh-oh! They’re both not happy! A bit of handbags now between them and other players are running in… Referee finally manages to get them over to him, what’s the decision here…? A word and no cards given! I thought a booking each would have been fair but the Referee has other ideas. The game continues.
57th minute and the ball is played back to the Bilborough keeper… Oh dear he’s lost it and number 11 for West Bridgford has a shot at goal… Keeper saves but West Bridgford get the ball back on the right hand side, it’s played into the middle, number 11 chests it and goes for the volley… Straight at the keeper.
3 minutes later and West Bridgford come again, number 3 down the left wing and he drives into the box, he plays it across to number 9 to shoot… Good sliding block from Bilborough’s number 3 there! Prevented a certain goal!
64 minutes on the clock and Bilborough play down the left now, it’s played in, number 10 is there to meet it… But he can’t get enough on it and it rolls away… Better from Bilborough.
67th minute and play is stopped again… Bilborough’s number 6 and West Bridgford’s number 11 are squaring off and it’s handbags part two here… Referee pulls them over… Another word and no cards! Play goes on again.
70 minutes now and Bilborough come forward, the ball is played over the top for number 10 to chase, keeper comes out… Number 10 gets there first just and it’s rolling in… West Bridgford’s number 8 is there to clear… Oh dear he’s given it straight to number 10 at point blank… And it’s a goal!! What a gift! Bilborough are back in it! They’ve deserved some good fortune in this spell of the game! 1-2!
74th minute, can Bilborough find an equaliser here? West Bridgford play down the right with number 9, he dances past the defenders and gets into the box, he sets up number 7 to shoot… Keeper saves!
3 minutes later and here come West Bridgford again, the ball is played through to number 11 and he’s through on goal here… OH! He’s taken too long and his shot is saved by the Bilborough keeper!
86th minute and West Bridgford have a corner, whipped in… Number 15 rises the highest… He’s headed just over! West Bridgford just can’t quite find that third goal to kill this game off…
Into stoppage time and maybe time for one last attack from Bilborough, they drive forward in the West Bridgford half… West Bridgford get there and break forward… And there goes the full time whistle! West Bridgford too strong on the day and worthy winners of this one!
FT: Bilborough Town 1-2 West Bridgford Reserves
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Dead unfortunately…
- The Ground: 6/10 – It is an athletics ground unfortunately but this ground is all about the stand! It is a fantastic ground especially for the level that Bilborough are! It is amazing to look at from the opposite side! With the athletics track at the side it does make you far away from the game and make the players do their own 100 meters to fetch the ball when it’s out but the stand does offer a good viewing point! It’s not a bad ground all in all and I’m glad i have visited!
- Expense: 10/10 – £20 fuel and free entry! Can’t knock that!
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – A decent day out! A good close game in a fairly good ground!
23/40