Station Road, home of Collingham FC based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in the Central Midlands League Premier Division North. Nicknamed the “Oaks” as the club badge features an Oak Tree. Friday night football returns as me, the Merry Miller, Matt on tour and Match Days Joe are making the journey across to Collingham who face Askern Miners in a mid-table League tie here tonight! Bring it on!
This League has been good to us so far giving us good grounds and good games! Let’s hope for more of the same as always tonight!! The Merry Miller is here and off we go down the A1. Just under an hour later and here we are at Collingham’s co-op with 30 minutes to spare before kick off! Here is Match Days Joe walking in through the entrance. £3 to get in here! Cheap as chips! Out come the teams! It’s time!!
Kick Off! Straight from kick off and Collingham fly straight out of the blocks here, they get it out to the left, it’s played to number 9 who goes for goal on the volley… Straight at the keeper who’s dropped it… Number 10 runs in… The keeper gets there and claims it. What a start that nearly was! 2 minutes later and Collingham play it out to the right, it’s crossed in towards number 9 with the diving header… OH! Just wide! Collingham with a great start here and it’s looking like only a matter of time before they score.
8 minutes now and Collingham get it out to the right wing again, it’s played into the middle, the keeper comes for it and gets a hand to it but it falls to number 3, he shoots… Just wide again! Collingham are getting closer! 1 minute later and here come Askern now for the first time in the game, they launch the ball forward, number 5 gets to it and he goes for the volley on the edge of the box… It’s brilliant!!!! What a strike!! Totally against the run of play and it’s Askern that lead here!! 0-1!!
2 minutes later and Askern come forward again, it’s chipped into the middle, it comes to number 9 at the far post… Good save by the keeper!! Corner, whipped in… Collingham clear. What a start to this game!! Chances galore here!!
20 minutes on the clock and Askern have a free kick in the Collingham half, it’s played into the middle, it comes to number 5 who controls and shoots… He’s scored again… But the Referee has blown for a free kick. A handball by number 5 as he controlled it to score. I have to agree there! No goal!
26th minute and Askern are looking the better team in this spell in the game after that sizzling start from Collingham. Askern play forward and play it to number 5 just inside the box, he goes for goal… He’s struck the post! Collingham clear. So close again! 2 minutes later and Collingham play down the right flank, it’s played across low, it comes to number 10 at the back post… He scores!!!! Collingham are level!!! 1-1!!
32nd minute and Collingham are getting a foot hold in this game once again! They have a free kick around 30 yards out, number 7 steps up and shoots… He’s hit the top of the bar!! What a goal that nearly was!!! Right on half time now and Askern play down the right, it’s crossed in, Collingham get there… OH! Nearly an own goal as it is cleared just over the bar for a corner, in it comes… All the way over everyone and out. A crazy first half finishes 1-1.
I was told before the game by Max of Emma’s ground Guide about how nice the club bar is here and now it’s time to check it out… Wow! I have to say for this level it is beautiful!! A pool table and 2 darts boards as well! Fantastic! But we can’t enjoy it for too long as the players come out for the second half… Let’s hope it’s as good as the first!
Second half, 2 minutes in and Collingham play a ball through to number 9 who has beaten the offside trap, he gets past the keeper… He’s taken it too far and he boots it wide in frustration…
50th minute now and Collingham come forward again, it’s played through to number 10 on the right of the box, he plays it across and here’s number 9 at the near post… It’s wide! He should have at least hit the target there for me!
56 minutes now and Collingham play down the left, number 10 and the keeper chase it… The keeper has somehow missed the ball and he’s brought down number 10 there… That has to be a Penalty… It is!! Stone wall for me! The Askern defence frustrated as the keeper has to deal with that one better! It’s number 9 to step up… And he sends the keeper the wrong way!!! Collingham lead!! 2-1!!
1 minute later and Askern come straight out of the blocks down the right with number 9, he holds it up well and manages to force it across the middle, it comes to number 10 at the far post to shoot… Wide! But brilliant work from number 9 on the right in the build up there!
59th minute and Collingham play down the right wing, he shrugs off his man and plays it across low, number 9 is there… He’s hit it over! Another big chance squandered by Collingham… 2 minutes later and Askern have it on the right now, it’s played into the box, number 5 challenges for it… He misses it and it hits Collingham’s number 6… Keeper saves what would have been an unfortunate own goal there!
1 minute later and Askern have it in the same place on the right, it’s the same ball into the box, number 9 is there with the header… Just over the bar!! Close! 68th minute and Askern have it in defence now, number 2 has the ball on the edge of his own box… He’s given it away dangerously and Collingham charge at goal… But number 2 for Askern has held him back there and it’s a free kick on the edge of the box and he could be in trouble here… He’s off!! Last man! Good decision from the Referee there! The free kick comes in… Off the wall and out for a corner but was it off a hand in the wall there…? “No!” Says the Referee. In comes the corner… Askern clear.
71 minutes on the clock and Collingham come forward, it’s played to number 3 on the right, he cuts inside in the box and shoots… Good save by the keeper and it’s a corner for Collingham, in it comes… Number 6 with the header… Wide! He was stretching for it and it didn’t trouble the Askern goal there.
82 minutes now and Askern are chasing the equaliser here! There is another goal in this for me! Either an Askern equaliser or a Collingham break! Matt on tour certainly agrees and here come Askern as they play it to number 9 in the box… He’s brought down clumsily there! That has to be… The Referee has waved it away… And how!? Stone wall for me! Askern furious! “You might as well put on one of their jerseys pal!” The Referee not happy with that comment… He’s walking over to the Askern bench and off goes the manager for that comment… Oh dear! He has a point though about the Penalty!
85th minute and Collingham break forward down the right, number 10 has it and he gets into the box, he crosses it towards number 12 at the back post, he goes for the header… It’s straight at the keeper… Should have been 3-1 for me there!
88 minutes now and Askern play it long towards number 9 who’s running into the box… He’s brought down on the edge and it’s a free kick… Was the Collingham defender the last man there…? No cards given! Debatable! The free kick comes in… It’s blocked… It falls to number 11… HE’S DONE IT!!! He’s smashed it home and Askern are deservedly level at the dying stages!!!! 2-2!!
Into stoppage time and Collingham play it forward but it comes to no one… The keeper charges out to clear… But he’s hit his own man and Askern have to clear for a Collingham throw in, one last chance perhaps for Collingham, in comes the throw in… Askern deal with it and that is full time! What a game that was!!! Now for the post match thoughts of the Collingham manager.
FT: Collingham 2-2 Askern Miners
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – Not too many here tonight but you could tell there was a crowd there.
- The Ground: 4.5/10 – It is a very basic setup but a nice setup! I do love the bar they have here though! That is the stand out part of the ground for me!
- Expense: 10/10 – Probably the easiest 10 I’ll ever give!! Worth every penny!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – A truly fantastic game! One of the best! And one of the best nights with the Merry Miller, Matt on tour and Match Days Joe!! Thank you to Collingham for the post match interview with the manager at the end!
26.5/40