St. Giles Park, home of Sandiacre Town based in Derbyshire and play their trade in the Nottinghamshire Senior League. Nicknamed the “Saints” as their home ground is called St. Giles Park.
It’s the second time I’ve come across Sandiacre with the first time being an absolute cracker of a game coming from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Hucknall Town all before half time! I also watched that game with long serving fan Emma. Sadly I didn’t follow up on visiting Sandiacre last season but today I am finally going to visit! This time in a competitive fixture in the league versus Wollaton FC. Let’s hope for another cracker!
A big thank you to the club who have tagged me in this fixture from their Twitter account during the week which helped me make an easy decision in coming today! Straight onto the M1 and 20 miles later I am off at Junction 25 and into Sandiacre with around 20 minutes to kick off. £3 to watch this Nottinghamshire Senior League tie! Yay! Nice to bump into Emma once again! Let’s hope football is the winner here today… And Sandiacre of course!
Kick Off! 6 minutes in and Sandiacre have a corner, it’s whipped in… Wollaton eventually get it away but Sandiacre get it back and it’s played back into the middle, it comes to number 10 who controls and shoots… Oooooh! Just over! It’s hit the top of the stand and if you know this ground then you know it’s pretty close!
1 minute later and the ball is with the Wollaton keeper, he plays it out… He’s given it away and Sandiacre’s number 11 gets onto it, he shoots from the left wing and is that going in………? Yes it is! What a strange goal that was! The keeper running back at it as if he was trying to pick up a live duck more than stop it going in! It’s a poor ball in the first place from the keeper and he knows it! Sandiacre lead 1-0!
16 minutes on the clock and Sandiacre come forward, number 11 has it on the left, he runs past 1, past 2 and he’s in… What a goal this could BE… No! He tried to go around the keeper and the keeper got a touch and forced a goal kick in the end… Sandiacre feel it should be a corner but I’m with the Referee on this one! Why didn’t he shoot!?
23 minutes now and Sandiacre come forward down the right wing, it’s played into the middle and number 11 is free… And he heads it home!!! He’s got his second goal now! 2-0!!
29th minute and Sandiacre are smelling blood at the prospect of getting a few more goals here! They play down the left wing, it’s played across goal and the keeper is stretching for it… He gets a hand to it and it’s put into the path of Sandiacre’s number 7, it must be… NO! He took too long and the Wollaton defender managed to block the shot and the keeper saved the second shot! Wollaton reprieved for now.
33rd minute and Sandiacre come again, they have it on the right and it’s played in, number 7 with the header… The cross was just too high for him and it’s wide.
39 minutes gone and Wollaton come forward now… The Referee blows for a free kick to Wollaton… They haven’t heard it and play goes on… They’ve scored… It won’t count as the Referee had blown… Unlucky there for Wollaton! The free kick is taken… Sandiacre clear.
1 minute later and Sandiacre play forward, a through ball is played to number 7… He’s Offside but number 4 isn’t and he runs onto it, he’s through on goal… And he makes it 3!!! Good finish! Sandiacre have daylight! 3-0!
1 minute after that and Wollaton come forward, they play down the right wing and it’s played forward, it comes to number 7 in the box on the left, keeper charges out and he shoots… Side netting! Close! Sandiacre lead 3-0 at the break.
Second half, 48th minute and Wollaton have a corner, it’s played in… Sandiacre clear and they break forward… Wollaton intercept and play down the left, it’s played over to the right to number 11 who controls and plays it to number 6, he plays it across the middle… Too high and it goes wide.
51 minutes on the clock and we have a stoppage in play here as the Referee goes over to his assistant on the far side… Time rolls on… He’s done and he calls over Wollaton’s number 7… He’s off! Red card for Wollaton 7… What for? Has he said something to the linesman? He walks off the pitch, let’s find out. Alleged violent conduct? I didn’t see it personally but apparently as he went to hold off a Sandiacre player, the linesman felt that he slapped him… Hopefully not true! Wollaton down to 10 men.
57th minute and Sandiacre come forward again down the right, it’s played in to number 9 in the box, he shoots… Over!
69 minutes now and Sandiacre come forward down the right, they get into the box and it’s played to number 9 to surely make it number 4… OH NO! He’s hit the post and here’s number 2… OH! He’s skied it! It did come to him pretty quick but he should have scored there!
80 minutes now and Wollaton play the ball forward looking for number 9, he’s going to get it and he’s through on goal, he races into the box and shoots… And he scores!! Wollaton do get on the scoresheet! 3-1! Is there time for a fightback?
1 minute later and Wollaton have a throw in on the left, they get it and play it into number 9 in the box… The flag is up! He plays it across to number 12 who scores! It won’t count! Offside in the build up! “WAKE UP SANDIACRE!” Sandiacre fans getting frustrated here!
89th minute and Wollaton have a goal kick which is hit long, it comes all the way to number 9 just outside the Sandiacre box who puts it onto his right foot and shoots… It’s… The side netting! Looked in from my view but it’s wide!
Into the 90th minute and Wollaton play down the right, it’s crossed in, it’s fallen to number 9 who finds space to shoot… Brilliant goalkeeping there from the Sandiacre keeper! It’s out for a throw in for Wollaton, it’s crossed in… All the way out for a goal kick! Play goes on… There’s the final whistle! 3 points for Sandiacre!
FT: Sandiacre Town 3-1 Wollaton
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – A few cheers and jeers here and there but it certainly seemed a family friendly atmosphere here today too!
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a good little setup! The stand behind the goal makes it for me! It has a good backdrop of the church building behind the stand and the bars are painted in club colours which I like too! I especially liked the clubhouse! It is a small one but the decoration in there is stunning to say the least! It’s as good as Collingham’s for me and I certainly liked that one! Great ground!
- Expense: 10/10 – £3 to get in! No fuel and a free pin badge from Emma! What else would I give?
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – A massive thank you to Emma who’s company I really enjoyed being a part of once again today! A good game despite the dull second half but in a nutshell, this is a lovely club run by lovely people!
30/40