The Stanks, based in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland and is the setting for today’s Berwick Charities Cup Semi-Final between Cheesy Waffles Project and Rovers Return FC. The Stanks has been the home of the Berwick Charities Cup for 101 years with a main goal to support local charities.
It’s also become a very popular place to watch football for us groundhoppers! I was planning on visiting last year for the centenary final but with being offered a ticket for the community shield and the Women’s Euros final, it was extremely difficult to turn that down!
But today is the day I finally see those famous Stank walls! I would have definitely preferred the final but I’m away that weekend so the Semi-Final will have to do! So it’s all the way up the A1 for 3 and a half hours and here I am parked next to the ground with about an hour until kick off.
Now for a look around this famous place! Great to meet fellow hopper Clive here today!
A quick warm up from both teams and we are ready to go! A place in the final awaits for wither the Cheesy Waffles or the Rovers Return so let battle commence!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and number 10 is through for Cheesy Waffles… And he scores! What a start! He beat the Offside trap and found the net! 1-0!
5 minutes gone now and Rovers have it on the right, it’s played back to be played across goal, it might come for the Rovers attackers… It’s got away from them both and it rolls away…
1 minute later and Cheesy Waffles play down the right, he cuts inside to cross it in to the far post and the Cheesy Waffles man might get there… He does! OH! It’s a great save… He’s clawed it away but it comes for a Cheesy Waffles man on the edge of the box and he shoots… And he scores!! 2-0 already!
10th minute now and Cheesy Waffles are all over the Rovers Return team here! Here they come again and it’s a shot from distance… Deflected… Over for a corner, in comes the corner… In towards the near post… Cleared but it falls for a Cheesy Waffles man to shoot… He’s put it over! Big chance!
14 minutes now and here come Cheesy Waffles again in the box on the left, it’s played across for the shot… He’s scuffed it! They’re queueing up to score here!
2 minutes later and Rovers get the ball into the box from the left, it’s headed away and it comes to number 2 in the box in space… Cheesy Waffles get there to clear but why didn’t he shoot?!!
30th minute and Rovers get the ball into the box on the right, they’re forced back and the shot comes in… Keeper spills it… But he claims the loose ball. Better from Rovers!
39th minute and Cheesy Waffles have a free kick on the edge of the box, the shot comes in… Deflected and out for a corner, it’s whipped in… Headed out for another and it comes in again… The header… Over! A first half with plenty of chances ends at 2-0 to Cheesy Waffles.
Second half… I really don’t like that rain!! Neither does the ice cream man… 47th minute and it’s a corner for Cheesy Waffles, in it comes… Headed at goal… It’s off the line against the underside of the bar and out… Somehow Rovers survive another Cheesy Waffles attack.
67th minute and it’s a free kick on the right for Cheesy Waffles, it’s played into the box and… It’s there!! It’s stabbed home by number 2! That should be them through to the final! 3-0!
70 minutes gone and here they come again, number 10 has it in the box on the left and he goes for the curler… But it’s wide!
1 minute later and Rovers have it at the back… Not any more as Cheesy Waffles come steaming in… And they do make it 4! Suicidal play there from Rovers to stop their return to this game… 4-0!
2 minutes later and the Cheesy Waffles supporters are going Ole to every pass and it’s played into the box and the attacker might get there… He does and he goes down… Penalty! Debatable! Number 10 takes… And he finds the net! Keeper guessed correctly but it was too good a penalty and there’s a mini pitch invasion now! 5-0!
77th minute and the Rovers get into the box on the right, it’s played across… Are they going to find a consolation here…? Yes they are! It’s tucked away into the bottom corner! Cheesy Waffles are furious! 5-1!
1 minute later and Cheesy Waffles play it into the middle from the left, the header at the far post… And it’s another one! They restore their 5 goal lead straight away! 6-1!
Play goes on… Cheesy Waffles are in the final! A 6-1 win!
FT: Cheesy Waffles Project 6-1 Rovers Return FC
Ratings
- The Ground: 10/10 – One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever watched a game! I do like grounds to have a stand but I will make an exception for the Stanks! They’re truly is nothing else like it!
- Expense: 10/10 – Free entry with a bit of mileage!
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – Great to meet Clive and others here today but the rain really did put a damper on it all… PUN INTENDED!!
26/30 – There was no atmosphere by the way… 1/10!