Phoenix Sports & Social Club, home of AFC Phoenix based in Brinsworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire and play their trade in the Central Midlands League.
Home sweet home from Germany and training has been cancelled tonight meaning I have a free Tuesday! We are well and truly in the fixture backlog catch up phase of the season and a lot of local games are on tonight. AFC Phoenix vs Bakewell Town is the game of choice! Just down the road and a 7pm kick off, I am well and truly back!
Onto Sheffield Parkway and into Rotherham. Left at Canklow roundabout and onto Pavilion Lane with 20 minutes to go before kick off. 5 minutes later and… Kick Off? A bit early aren’t we?! Into the ground I go… Oh hello Neil!
£3 to get in here! Thanks Neil mate! Me not bringing cash to non league has struck again… 15 minutes in and Bakewell come forward, it’s played through to James Handley who drives into the box, he’s beat the defender and he gets his shot away… And he finishes! Good work there from Handley! 0-1!
26 minutes now and Bakewell break forward, it’s played through to Rob Littlewood who gets into the box on the right, he plays it across… OH! 2 Bakewell players go for it but they can’t get there and it goes out for a goal kick.
2 minutes later and Phoenix play down the left, it’s played into the middle, the Bakewell defender miss controls it with his chest and it goes straight into the path of number 7 for Phoenix… And he scores! A gift from the Bakewell man there you have to say… 1-1!
1 minute after that and Phoenix play it forward looking for number 2 who’s in behind, he’s in… It’s saved but number 2 retrieves on the right, he wins a corner, in it comes… Number 9 gets there and gets a shot away… Blocked! Out for another, it’s delivered… Wait no it’s not… It’s straight out for a goal kick… At half time here the score is 1-1.
Second half, 55th minute and Bakewell come forward, it’s played to number 8 to shoot from the edge of the box… OH! It’s just wide! Me, Neil and the rest of us thought that was in!
67 minutes now and the Bakewell keeper Tom Crapper has the ball in his grasp and he launches it forward… The wind has got a hold of that and it’s going a long way… Uh-oh! The keeper is scrambling… Surely not… OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON’T BELIEVE IT!! IT’S GONE ALL THE WAY IN!!!! 553 matches in and it’s finally happened! I’ve finally seen a goalkeeper score! Tom Crapper, take a bow!
73 minutes played and Phoenix play it forward, it’s played to number 10 running in the box on the right he gets a shot away… He slips and his momentum takes the ball over the bar.
78th minute and it’s a free kick for Bakewell from around 40 yards, with the wind on their side, number 8 is going for it… OH! It’s just wide! So close to another cracker there!
84 minutes now and Bakewell play through ball to number 9 in the box on the right, he has it on the byline and plays it across for number 11 to seal the deal… NO! It’s a good save! Phoenix clear.
Phoenix press for the equaliser… But Tom Crapper has won the game for Bakewell with his long range kick! Phoenix put in a good shift second half you have to say.
FT: AFC Phoenix 1-2 Bakewell Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – There was none sadly…
- The Ground: 4/10 – It’s not too bad! It’s got a little stand and it’s got a decent view from the near side.
- Expense: 10/10 – £3 in total!
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – A wet, windy and gloomy evening but we saw 3 goals and a keeper score! Great to see Neil as always as well!
21/40