Slazenger Sports Club… Or the Slaz Siro as they like to call it, home of Horbury Town based in West Yorkshire and compete in Step 6 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Counties East Football League Division One.
For the first time EVER!! Horbury Town are competing at Step 6 level after many many years in the West Yorkshire League and last season the club went all the way and finally got that promotion into the NCEL and I have to say, they have started incredibly!! Blitzing teams such as Ollerton Town and Rossington Main but tonight they face arguably their toughest test yet against Campion who are top of the table. It’s a top 2 clash!!
This is a game I have had pencilled in for a while and tonight I will be joined by Ben as we look forward to meeting Horbury manager Darren Barnes for the first time after his Podcast with the FANA Fan Podcast which you can watch here: https://toplissattheturnstiles.com/the-fana-fan-podcast-season-3-episode-14/
The drive now from Barnsley onto the M1 and into Horbury… At 5:30pm with 2 hours and 15 minutes to go before kick off… What to do to pass the time? A few members of the club are here already… And Darren is one of them!! A very warm welcome from Darren and other members of the club! A few pics of the ground in broad daylight and a very good insight into the plans of redeveloping the ground in the near future. This is a club that is going places for sure!
A pleasure to meet Darren at last and the chairman of Horbury Town Juniors along with the Social Media manager but it’s time for me to let them prepare for tonight’s game. 6pm and time for some food and after a few recommendations of a restaurant named “Ego” including by Darren himself, off I go!
Just around the corner from the ground and here I am! “Ego at the Bull’s Head” table for one! Very nice at first glance I must say. Sirloin Steak looks too good to turn down! Here it comes… And down it goes! Delicious! £20.49! And now for the Restaurant League:
| Place | Name | Look | Food | Service | Expense | Score |
| 1) | Ego at the Bull’s Head | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 37 |
Supporting local football and local business!
Back to the ground I go! £5 for this top 2 clash! Blitz! Ben is here and a few other hoppers are here! Moon hopper, Joanna, Jake and George from Oldham are here too! The man on the tannoy is getting the atmosphere building before the game! Out come the teams and here we go!
Kick Off… It would rain now wouldn’t it! Campion starting the better of the 2 teams so far. 13 minutes in and Campion play down the left, it’s played into the middle towards number 11 with a free header… OH! What a save! Elliott Lightowler tips it wide brilliantly! In comes the resulting corner… Horbury clear.
2 minutes later and Kyeremeh picks the ball up in midfield for Horbury and he drives forward, he plays it through to Kieron Ceesay who’s in… Good save… And he gets to the loose ball! Big chance there for Horbury!
22 minutes now and Campion continue to look the better of the 2 teams here, Aidan Day has the ball from around 20 yards and he’s allowed to shoot… And he’s found the net off the post!!! Not closed down and Horbury are behind!! 0-1!! Good finish!
3 minutes later and Campion have a corner, it’s played in along the ground for number 11 to shoot… Lightowler with another good save there! Horbury need to wake up here!
28th minute and Campion get it forward to number 11 who’s in… The flag is up it won’t count! Good finish though!
33 minutes on the clock and Campion work it down the right, it’s played into the middle, Marcus Day gets it and he holds it up, it’s a brilliant ball played in to Patrick Sykes who bares down on goal… And he finds the goal!! It’s TWO NIL TO CAMPION!! Brilliant work and you have to say they’ve deserved it! 0-2!
Right on half time now and Campion play a ball over the top to number 11 running into the box on the right, he shoots… Lightowler saves again!! How many would Campion have if it wasn’t for Elliott Lightowler!? It’s a corner, in it comes… Patrick Sykes with the header… Just wide!! Campion remain 2 goals to the good at half time.
Second half… Can Horbury mount a fight back here tonight? 49th minute and Campion fight for the ball in the air, they win the flick on to Patrick Sykes who’s… Offside… No goal! Good finish again though.
2 minutes later and Horbury play out from the back… They haven’t got far and Campion win it back, it’s played to Marcus Day in the box who controls and shoots… Brilliant finish!! There you are! 3 for Campion! Game over? 0-3!!
64 minutes on the watch and Campion play a long ball forward, Marcus Day is through and he’s onside… He’s done it again!! He finishes and it’s turning into a rout here from Campion… 0-4!!
10 minutes pass by and Campion have a throw in on the right, it’s a long throw in to the box, it’s flicked on and here’s Aidan Kirby at the back stick… He couldn’t miss!! FIVE!!! What is going on!!!!? 0-5!!
79th minute and Campion get in behind again with a through ball to Ashley Flynn who’s beaten the Offside trap and he’s through… He finishes!! They’re all going to score at this rate… 0-6!
What do you say to your team as a manager when your team is having a day like this…? I do feel for Horbury and Darren tonight! 84th minute and it’s the same ball through to the same player Flynn who’s in the box on the right and out comes the keeper… He rolls it past the keeper………… And he finds the net AGAIN! Ashley Flynn with his second and Campion’s SEVENTH… 0-7!!
89th minute and the Horbury faithful can’t wait for the final whistle… Campion play it through again… It’s too easy! It’s number 11 this time running into the box on the left, is this number 8? He shoots… No! Saved by Lightowler! A dark day for Horbury ends 7-0 to Campion. After the game I spoke with Darren on the game.
FT: Horbury Town 0-7 Campion
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – Nothing much with the crowd but the man on the tannoy made it that little bit more upbeat!
- The Ground: 5.5/10 – It is a basic setup but I do like it! Not too big on sloped grounds too much though… Picturesque in the day and I’m sure this ground will be worth a revisit when the redevelopments are done!
- Expense: 10/10 – £5 for the game! £2.50 for the pin badge! Thank you!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Treated like royalty tonight by the club officials!! A pleasure to meet Darren and the chairman of the junior club! Another very friendly club to visit! Thank you Horbury!!
28.5/40