The Barrett Steel Stadium, Birkdale Park, home of Bottesford Town based in Lincolnshire and compete at Step 5 in the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Poachers…” Possibly to do with the Lincolnshire poacher maybe?
I’m getting closer and closer to completing both of the Northern Counties East Divisions and this is a club that I have seen a few times with Shirebrook Town but never for an away game with them. After a recent visit by the Merry Miller, he notified me that the club intend to install a 3G pitch in October and that the ground will have a brand new look which means if I want to see the ground as it has been for many years, it’s now or never! And today they face Barton Town in a tense Lincolnshire derby.
Coaching duties are back for me and are done for this week and now it’s a race to see the Merseyside derby. Onto the M1, straight onto the M18 and off at the M180 and into the M181 and here I am in Scunthorpe who themselves have a home game today. Thankfully traffic isn’t bad at all around Glanford Park and the short drive down the road into Bottesford was a quick one. Into the ground and here I am just in time for the second half of Liverpool & Everton with the score at 0-0.
After a tense battle with a disallowed VAR goal for Everton, thankfully! And some fantastic goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford, the game stays 0-0. Celtic on the other hand will be partying the night away with a 4-0 against Rangers. But now it’s time for Bottesford vs Barton! £5 to watch this game! Thank you! A good turnout here from Barton I must say.
Kick Off! It’s a scrappy game so far but Barton are looking the more likely out of the 2. 20 minutes in and Barton have a throw in on the right, it’s played to Matthews and he goes for goal from 30 yards out… Over and into the car park and I can thank my lucky stars that I got here early enough to not have to park there!
29 minutes now and Barton have a corner, in it comes… It’s headed back across goal from the back stick… Oh no! 2 Barton players get in each others way and the shot didn’t happen and Bottesford manage to clear the danger as a result… A big coaching point of mine to any teams I have coached: COMMUNICATION!!!
It really is a dull game with next to no action unfortunately… Shots going out of the ground and both teams just void of creativity… 30th minute – 44th minute and nothing… Just nothing!
It is the 44th minute now and Barton have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one into the middle… It’s headed away but Barton retrieve it and play it back out to the left, it’s crossed in, it’s Tom Waudby with the header… AND IT’S A GOAL!! Barton lead here! They have looked the more likely out of the 2 and they have got their just desserts! A great header there by Waudby! “SWAN ARMY!” There it is from the travelling Barton fans! 0-1! That is the last action of what has been a very dull first half but the game will not be finishing 0-0!
Second half… Come on now lads let’s have a bit of drama… I don’t think they’ve heard me unfortunately… 50th minute and I think the Barton manager might of heard me as the assistant Referee has called over the Referee to the dugouts, possible dissent here? He speaks to the Barton manager but it is just a warning and no cards given this time.
58 minutes on the clock and Barton have a free kick on the left hand side in a crossing position, in comes the cross, Davie goes for it and out comes the keeper… Oooooh! They’ve both missed it and it rolls away for a goal kick.
69th minute and Bottesford have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one into the box, it’s headed at goal… But it’s straight at the keeper. The closest that Bottesford have come so far in this game.
85th minute and Bottesford come forward now in search of the equaliser, it’s played through to number 14 and he’s in… AND HE SCORES… But no! The flag is up and it won’t count, offside! Bottesford in despair!
3 minutes later and Barton have a free kick on the left, it’s crossed in, it’s headed back across goal from the far post… AND IT’S HEADED IN!!! Barton have surely won it here now! It’s Tom Waudby again to head home from point blank! The swan army are taking the points back to the Humber and just look what it means! 0-2!
Bottesford press on… But they will not breakdown this Barton backline and Barton do come away with the win!
FT: Bottesford Town 0-2 Barton Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3.5/10 – The Swan Army were a bit quieter than last time I encountered them sadly but still cheered their team home! A few young boys were trying to rile up the Bottesford team as well which was good to see!
- The Ground: 7/10 – I quite like this ground! The clubhouse is fantastic and I especially loved the old shirts on the ceiling! The 2 stands are very good and I do hope that the club keep them along with their new pitch when the time comes but with all due respect the pitch did look a bit out of sorts so a 3G installation is necessary. I certainly hope they put the Taco Bell end sign back on!
- Expense: 7/10 – £40 for fuel, £5 to get in, £3 pin badge and £3 hot dog. Was it worth it? The game really did disappoint sadly in the end…
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – A poor game but it did have a bit of drama at the end so I can’t complain! Glad to have finally seen this ground before the revamp! Revisit when it’s done perhaps?
24.5/40