The Riverside Football Ground, home of GNG Oadby Town based in Leicestershire and play their trade in Step 5 of the Non League Pyramid in the United Counties League Premier Division South.
For many years, this club was known as “Oadby Town” and played at a different ground but in 2020, the club was renamed “GNG Oadby Town” to give thanks to members of GNG FC in helping the club in difficult times not so long ago.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So much football to choose from… Well those that haven’t been called off due to the weather anyway. After a look at the fixtures it appears that a fair few of my hopper friends are heading to Oadby for tonight’s game against Long Buckby. At just over an hour down the M1 it looks like I’ll be joining them!
So it is straight through Palterton and onto the M1 and here I am… At the old ground… Good job I was early! 15 minutes later and here I am at the Riverside ground this time. Just as I am parking, is that a familiar face? Hoyland John! A 15 minute walk for him tonight! £6 to watch this UCL tie! Why don’t I ever bring cash to Non League…? A big thank you to Hoyland John for having the cash to help me in.
There certainly is a lot of hoppers here tonight! Mitchell and Paul are here! With the gnome of course! Colin, David, Russell, Neil and Tony are also here to name a few. A good catch up later and out come the teams. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, let’s hope the football will be an early Christmas cracker for us all!
Kick Off! 8 minutes in and Oadby play down the left, it’s played across the middle for Ryan Robbins sliding in… OH! He just doesn’t quite get there and it rolls away for a goal kick.
14 minutes now and Oadby have made a strong start here! They have a corner which is played short, it’s crossed in and it comes for Ryan Robbins at the back post who controls and shoots on the turn… BANG! Brilliant finish! Oadby have a deserved lead here! 1-0!
27th minute now and Oadby have a free kick in a central position at around 30 yards out, Mussa Bham will go for goal… OH! He’s hit the bar! So close to being a goal of the season contender there!
30th minute now and Oadby’s Lemar Parkes drives forward, he gets into the box and he plays it across the middle and here’s Ryan Robbins sliding in at the far post… He’s got it!! He’s got another one and Oadby double their lead here!! 2-0!
4 minutes later and Long Buckby have a free kick in the Oadby half, it’s played into the box, it’s headed away by Oadby but only to Sam Collins on the edge of the box who chests it and volleys at goal… Oooooh! Just wide and he had the keeper scrambling there! Oadby continue to press the Long Buckby goal but at half time it remains 2-0.
Second half, 53 minutes on the watch and Long Buckby come forward, Gokhan Ulker is played through down the right and he drives to goal, he’s in… And he scores!! Long Buckby are back in this!! 2-1!
2 minutes later and Oadby have a corner, it’s driven in… Keeper flaps at it and it falls for Amarvir Sandhu… And he bundles it in!! That’s how you respond to conceding!! Oadby restore their 2 goal lead! 3-1!
62 minutes now and Oadby have a corner again, it’s whipped in… Sukhbindev Johal is there at the back post… He’s hit the post with his header… Long Buckby clear. So close again from Oadby!
Good to see Chimay Bielsa and Paul here tonight as well! It certainly is a hopper heaven here tonight! 67th minute and Oadby play down the right wing, Lemar Parkes plays it back, it’s played in to Ryan Robbins in the box who turns his man and makes space to shoot from about 8 yards out and must score… He’s missed… What a chance that is! He’s somehow rolled it wide… Composure needed!
73 minutes now and Lemar Parkes wins the ball back in midfield and he drives at goal, he gets into the box, he’s going all the way! His shot is saved and Long Buckby clear… No they don’t it’s rebounded off a Buckby player and it comes back to Lemar Parkes on the right, he plays it to Mussa Bham who gets into the box, he beats his man and gets his shot away… BHAM! He beats the keeper at his near post and that should seal the points for Oadby! 4-1!
87th minute and Oadby play a long ball forward looking for Ryan Robbins, he gets it and that’s a great touch to set himself and he’s through here, he gets into the box, is this the hat-trick…? No! The keeper gets his leg to it and it rolls away…
2 minutes later and Long Buckby have the ball in the Oadby half with Dom Bolton, he’s about 40 yards out, why not? He’s going for goal… HE’S GOING FOR GOAL… He’s hit the post! So close to an absolute Christmas cracker there! How unlucky? The game fizzles out and Oadby do get a well deserved 3 points.
FT: GNG Oadby Town 4-1 Long Buckby AFC
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Mostly hoppers here tonight and no real noise sadly.
- The Ground: 4/10 – Not the biggest fan sadly, just the one stand and clubhouse really to write home about, it does appear that there may be more to see at this ground in the future on the far side maybe?
- Expense: 10/10 – £20 for fuel, £6 entry and £2 for a latte, was it worth it? Yes it was! 5 goals and some catch up time with friends, can’t beat it!
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – Great to see everyone here tonight and a decent performance from Oadby.
21/40