Potteries Park, Abbey Lane, home of Hanley Town based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and play their trade in Step 4 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Premier League Division One West.
Staffordshire once again for me this weekend and the first of 2 strongly recommended grounds by Trevor from Hednesford. It’s a Staffordshire derby at Hanley Town who face Kidsgrove Athletic. Hanley sitting second from bottom whereas Kidsgrove still in with a shout of the play-offs.
Oh the weather outside is frightful… Cold, annoying and damn right frustrating at the moment but the game has survived! Have that snow! So it’s straight to the M1 and off at the A38 and onto the A50 and that sees me parked on the grass 15 minutes in to the early kick off. £9 to get in here! Ok then!
No BT Sport in the clubhouse sadly so it’s Bristol City vs Blackpool on Sky Sports as both sets of players come in before warming up. Bristol City win 2-0 and… Oh Liverpool… They can beat Manchester United 7-0 and then lose at Bournemouth… Typical! I’m glad there’s no BT Sport now!
Curry and Chips is not a known combination of mine but it is around these parts and is also a popular choice amongst football fans who have visited so let’s head to the cafe. £4 for Curry and Chips and a Mars bar. And the verdict is… Delicious! Very good Hanley!
The rain is coming down just as kick off approaches but the Kidsgrove fans aren’t fussed! The atmosphere is starting! They have their own version of “Tequila” out come the players, it’s a Staffordshire derby here! Will the relegation battle take a twist? Or will the play-offs have a new contender?
Kick Off! “We’re the mighty grove! The mighty mighty grove! I just don’t think you understand! We play in Blue and White! We’re f***ing dynamite! We are the mighty grove!” So far so good from the Kidsgrove fans!
5 minutes in and it’s a corner for Hanley, it’s whipped in… Couldn’t beat the first man and it’s cleared for another, in it comes again… The keeper gets a hand to it buts it’s fallen to Kyle Blake to shoot… Deflected wide for another, in it comes again… Kyle Blake flicks on at the near post… But the keeper catches.
8 minutes in and Kidsgrove find themselves through with Josh Thorpe who’s in, he shoots… It’s off the bar… And it’s in!!! Kidsgrove have the lead! Carnage in the far stand! 0-1!
27th minute now and the Kidsgrove fans are still in fine voice but now Hanley have a throw in on the left, it’s flicked on to Eden Bailey in the box on the left who cuts inside and gets his shot away… Saved! Cleared for a corner by the Kidsgrove defender, in comes the corner… It comes for Eden Bailey at the far post who plays it back across, it’s headed away and it comes to Sam Turner… Who smashes it home! Eat that! 1-1!
The game is a very scrappy game with some tough challenges going in with the Kidsgrove bench becoming very agitated with the Referee’s dealing with some decisions…
44 minutes now and Kidsgrove play down the right, it’s crossed in, keeper dives for it and gets something on it but it comes to Kieran Knapper who shoots… AND SCORES! How about that?! Fabulous finish! 1-2! That would be the last action of the half!
Second half, 57th minute and Kidsgrove have a corner, it’s played short, the shot comes in from just outside the box to the right, it’s deflected off Turner… And it’s in! But he’s offside no goal! Unlucky there.
68 minutes on the watch now and Hanley are pressing for the equaliser here, they have it down the right, crossed in, Matthew Bell with the header… Wide! It looked like it came off a Kidsgrove defender and Hanley want a corner but aren’t getting it! I thought it was a corner.
“Ally ally ally oh! We’re the kidsgrove boys, making all the noise!” The Kidsgrove fans continue to sing as they have done throughout!
85th minute and Hanley come forward from the right, some good footwork and Eden Bailey is played THROUGH… OH YES!! He smashes it into the roof of the net! It’s 2-2! And now the Hanley Town fans are in the mood!
“We’re Hanley Town!” and “You can shove your f***ing bell up your a**e!” It’s taken them a while but here they are!
89th minute now and Hanley are pushing for the winner now! They hit it forward, it’s flicked on to Eden Bailey who beats his man and shoots from outside the box… OH! It’s tipped wide! I thought that was going in after the save but it is a corner, in it comes… Kidsgrove get it away.
Stoppage time now and it’s another corner for Hanley, it’s whipped in… It’s over everyone and Eden Bailey gives a free kick away. The free kick is lumped forward and the Referee blows for full time.
FT: Hanley Town 2-2 Kidsgrove Athletic
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 5/10 – The Kidsgrove fans were fantastic! It wasn’t rocking but it was good overall! The Hanley fans were good from the 85th minute, why couldn’t they have gone a bit longer eh?
- The Ground: 5/10 – It’s an alright setup! It’s not one I’ll remember but it isn’t too bad. There is plenty of room to expand should the club do likewise.
- Expense: 9/10 – £9 to get in, £8 for food and drink and £20 for fuel, was it worth it? Overall a yes I’d say!
- Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – It was a decent day out in all fairness! Not the best of games but it did heat up for 5 minutes at the end.
26.5/40