Coach & Horses FC (Sandall Beat Road)

Sandall Beat Road Playing Fields, the setting for today’s friendly between Coach & Horses FC and Innings FC both of the Doncaster Sunday League with Coach & Horses playing in Division One and Innings playing in the Championship which is the league above Division One.

Coach & Horses normally play their home games on Doncaster Town Fields but with Town Fields being fully booked by other teams, it’s a change of venue for Coach & Horses today to a ground mostly used by junior football teams making this a rare opportunity to get the ground ticked off! And it’s a big thank you to Coach & Horses manager Ryan for inviting me to the game today! Let’s hope football is the winner today!

Straight onto Sheffield Parkway, onto the M1, onto the M18 and into Doncaster which sees me here parked up just next to Doncaster Racecourse in good time!

Kick Off! A warm welcome from Ryan here today! I’m now joined by Martin now who only lives around the corner. 6 minutes in and Coach & Horses play a long ball forward, it falls to number 11 and he’s got a sight of goal here… He’s fluffed his lines and the keeper claims it comfortably. 3 minutes later and Innings come forward now, a dinked ball into the left of the box falls for number 7 and he goes for the volley… Brilliant!! Great strike! Innings lead here! 0-1!

It is a scrappy game so far with both teams not getting a real foothold of the ball and the wind certainly isn’t helping… 18th minute and Innings play a ball forward, it’s flicked up… That’s come off the Coach & Horses defender’s hand! Referee puts his whistle to his mouth… He’s not given it and play goes on… Definite handball for me there! Even Coach & Horses thought so too!

24 minutes on the clock and Innings have a corner, in it comes… It falls to number 4 at point blank… Palmed away by the keeper, the shot comes in again from Innings… Off the line but Innings get to it again… Volleyed over! So close!

31 minutes now and Coach & Horses have a throw in on the left, played in, Coach & Horses lump it into the box, it’s played back to number 6 and he shoots… Tipped over for a corner, in it comes… Cleared by Innings. 4 minutes later and Innings have a corner, whipped in… Number 15 with the header at the near post… Over! Innings looking the better of the 2 teams in the first half and lead 1-0 at half time.

Second half, 51st minute and Innings have it on the right hand side, it’s worked across to number 10 in a good position, is this the second…? No! He’s dragged it wide… Should be 2-0 to Innings.

56th minute and Coach & Horses play down the right wing, it’s crossed in, headed away, Coach & Horses win it back and play it forward to number 2 in the box who controls and shoots… And equalises for Coach & Horses!!! It’s 1-1!! Coach & Horses are delighted!! Especially Ryan!

2 minutes later and Coach & Horses are down the right again, it’s worked across and played through to number 4 just inside the box and he shoots… Not the cleanest of strikes… Keeper gets a hand to it and Innings clear.

It’s an end to end game here, no real clear cut chances but I’m sure there’s another goal in this! Innings not as strong as they started the game and the second half, could Coach & Horses claim a shock result here this morning? The game will go to a Penalty Shootout if it stays a draw… And why not?

87th minute and Coach & Horses have a corner, here it comes… Number 14 with the header… IT’S THERE!!! THEY’VE GOT IT!!! Coach & Horses have surely won it here! It may only be pre-season but this is a great confidence booster for them! 2-1! It’s looking like no penalties after all!

89th minute and Coach & Horses number 6 carries it forward and plays a through ball and it comes to number 2 in the box… He’s blazed it high and wide and it’s not very handsome! 1 minute later and Coach & Horses play down the right hand side again, it’s played across to number 2… Tipped onto the bar… It falls for number 5 to shoot… OH! He’s missed… And how? That should’ve been the game for Coach & Horses there!

Play goes on and Innings look like they have one last hurrah with a throw in on the left, played in and it’s lumped forward, keeper comes for it… He’s dropped it… Innings have it in the box and it’s played back to number 6……… He’s blazed it over! That’s it! Game over! Coach & Horses have the win!

FT: Coach & Horses 2-1 Innings FC

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not many spectators here today…
• The Ground: 5/10 – It’s a nice setting with plenty of trees in the background and also a little backdrop of Doncaster Racecourse, the pitch is not the best sadly and the lines are very faint but other than that a good setup all in all.
• Expense: 10/10 – Free game!
• Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – A big thank you to Ryan for inviting me today and making this blog possible! Great to see Martin again today and I certainly enjoyed the ending to the game!

23.5/40