The R-Inn Stadium, Waterworks Field, home of Desborough Town based in Northamptonshire and play their trade in Step 5 of the non league pyramid in the United Counties League Premier Division South. Nicknamed “Ar Tarn” after a few of the town’s businesses share that title. Back at Borrowash, Moon hopper mentioned to me that the old stand at Desborough was being knocked down at the end of the season and with that said, I have to see that stand!!! So I’ll be taking that advice on board and making the long journey down to see Desborough take on Coventry United! Let’s go!
100 miles to get to this ground from Sheffield… My longest journey in the car!! Down the M1 and onto the A14 sees me at the ground with 1 hour to go before kick off. Into the clubhouse to see the second half of Chelsea and Plymouth Argyle. Chelsea have won it after extra time… Oh no! West Ham have scored right at the end of extra time and Kidderminster sad sad sadly are out… Oh well you can’t win ’em all! Time for Desborough now! £6 to watch this United Counties game! Prestigious!
Kick Off! 9 minutes in and Coventry come forward, number 9 picks it up and he drives at goal, he gets to the edge of the box and he shoots… It’s rolled into the bottom corner!! So easy… No one challenging him and Coventry lead here!! 0-1!!
15th minute and Desborough come down the left, it’s played through for number 7 to chase, out comes the keeper… Keeper saves it but it comes to number 9… He shoots wide! Coventry starting the better of the 2 teams but Desborough growing stronger in the game the more it goes on.
33 minutes on the clock and Coventry’s number 11 has it on the left, he cuts inside the box and shoots… Good block by the Desborough defence but number 11 gets it back on the left side for Coventry, he crosses, number 8 is there at the back post… Blocked again and out for a corner, in it comes… It comes to number 11 on the far side who shoots… Wide!
3 minutes later and Desborough come forward, it comes to number 2 on the edge of the box, he puts it onto his left and shoots… Deflected… Off the bar! Desborough retrieve the loose ball on the left, played across to number 4 who shoots… Straight at the keeper!
44th minute and Desborough’s number 4 wins the ball back in the Coventry half and he drives towards goal, he slides for the ball… He gets it out to number 10 on the edge of the box, he takes a touch and shoots… Good save by the keeper! Corner, in it comes… Punched away by the keeper but only for number 8 to shoot on the edge of the box! Tipped onto the bar by the keeper! Good save again and it’s another corner, in that one comes… Cleared! At half time it remains 1-0 to the visitors.
Back to the clubhouse for some warmth! The hot food menu is looking pretty good!! A double bacon cheeseburger for £5! You don’t see that at many football grounds! Let’s have it… MY WORD!! Unreal! Delicious! One of the best I’ve had at a football ground!! Five Guys eat your heart out! If only I rated food & drink at grounds…
- Food & Drink: 10/10! – Unreal Burger!!!
Second half… Desborough straight out of the blocks! They have it out wide to the left, in comes the cross, it comes to number 7 at the far post, he goes for the far corner… Just wide! 54 minutes now and Desborough are looking the better team in this match now! They play it out to number 3 on the right side, he cuts inside, he gets into the box and shoots… Straight at the keeper.
66th minute and Coventry play a long ball forward, the keeper comes… Number 10 gets there… The keeper saves and it comes to Coventry’s number 7 on the right with the keeper chasing him… He plays it across to number 10, can he get his shot away…? No! Desborough dispossess him and clear the danger.
2 minutes later and Desborough have a throw in on the right wing, it’s played in, flicked on to number 10 running in and he shoots… Straight at the keeper again… Looking like one of those days for Desborough…
74 minutes on the watch and Desborough have a free kick on the left hand side, it’s whipped in, Coventry clear and they break forward, it’s played to number 10, the flag stays down and he’s through, out comes the keeper… He’s past the keeper and… He rolls it in!! Sucker punch for Desborough… It’s 0-2!!
78th minute and Coventry come again, number 9 receives the ball about 20 yards out, he takes a touch and shoots… Just wide! Desborough keep on coming but look like a team that are struggling in the final third as they can’t trouble the Coventry keeper today… They have a lack of urgency as well…
87th minute and Coventry come forward again, number 9 drives forward, he gets to about 20 yards out and he shoots… It’s rolled into the bottom corner!! Just like the first goal! No challenges by Desborough as he glided straight through the middle and that should see out the game for Coventry now! 0-3!!
Into stoppage time and is there time for one more Coventry goal here? They break forward again, it’s played to number 10 running into the box, keeper comes out… Number 10 tries to go around him… But he can’t and the keeper grabs the ball! He hits it upfield… And that is the game!! Referee blows for full time! 3 points for Coventry!
FT: Desborough Town 0-3 Coventry United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – A few in today but it was a dead atmosphere sadly.
- The Ground: 8/10 – I really like this ground! There isn’t much here but what they do have is first class! The stand that is being taken down at the end of the season is quite incredible! One of my favourite stands I’ve seen on my travels! Bags of character and it will be a shame to see it go… Let’s hope they get something just as good! Non-League in a nutshell is how I’d some up this ground!
- Expense: 10/10 – £6 for a decent competitive game despite the score line! That burger as well!! Delicious!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – I really enjoyed today! Glad I ticked that ground off and saw the stand before it’s demise! Great to meet a few of the locals behind the one goal at the side and a good game all in all!
27/40