Manse Lane, home of Knaresborough Town based in North Yorkshire and play their trade in Step 5 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
My second visit to this ground with the first one being way back in 2013 when Shirebrook Town visited Manse Lane. Shirebrook won 4-1 and it was one of the best days for the Shirebrook Boys that day with some cracking goals and some very friendly Knaresborough fans and even a visit from former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Tonight, Knaresborough face Golcar United who I saw lose 1-0 against Yorkshire Amateur last Wednesday. Not the best of records in recent times but what will tonight bring? Work is done for the week and I just can’t not take advantage of these Friday night specials! It’s straight onto the M1, to the M62 and onto the A1, into Knaresborough in plenty of time!
I have to say, I have got here at the right time!! Fireworks! Fireworks everywhere!! The short walk to the ground and here I am! £6 for this Friday night game! BANG! The fireworks aren’t finished yet…
Fantastic display! Let’s hope for some of that on the pitch tonight! Into the clubhouse for some warmth. Oh hello! It’s Mark! I knew there would be some friendly faces here tonight! *PING* Match Days Joe: “Donny Hopper is at Knaresborough tonight” there could be more!
The clubhouse is filling up nicely! It’s looking like a good crowd here tonight so far. The man sat next to me has Futbology… It is the Donny Hopper! Great to meet the man behind the Twitter account and his friend Joe here tonight!! A good laugh and talk about groundhopping later and it’s time for the game. Out come the teams, we’ve got that Friday feeling, let’s hope the football does too!
Kick Off! 8 minutes in and Golcar play down the left, it’s crossed in, Kayle Price gets there first… And he’s headed home… But no! The flag is up it won’t count… Golcar fans gutted but it remains 0-0.
14th minute now and Knaresborough play down the left, it’s crossed in, Cameron Bedford goes for it… He doesn’t get enough on it and it rolls away… Big chance!
29 minutes now and Golcar play down the left, it’s a cross, Danny Facey tries a header… Just wide! Not many chances in the game so far…
39 minutes on the clock and Golcar have it in the Knaresborough half, Dan Naidole has the ball in plenty of space and he’s trying his luck from 30 yards… OH! It’s gone in… It’s gone through the keeper and it nestles into the roof of the net… What a howler!! I haven’t seen one of them in a while! It shouldn’t happen to a keeper! But we’ve got our goal for the night now!! 0-1!
Knaresborough have responded well to going a goal down here and are pushing the Golcar backline but at half time remain a goal down.
Second half, a bit of atmosphere from some of the Knaresborough young boys on the far side now! 50th minute here and Knaresborough play it forward, it’s played to Danny Edwards who turns the defender brilliantly, he does a roulette to beat another defender and he gets into the box on the right and he goes for goal… OHHHHHHHHHHHH WHAT ABOUT THAT!!!! WHAT! ABOUT! THAT! One of the best goals I’ve seen all season! He beats the keeper at the near post with a looping effort but that is sensational!! Knaresborough are level! 1-1!
57 minutes now and Knaresborough have come to life in this second half! Dom Creamer drives forward down the left and he gets into the box, out comes the keeper and he shoots… Wide… But it hasn’t gone out yet and Knaresborough get there on the right, it’s crossed in, it’s flicked on for Dom Creamer to get there… OH WHAT A SAVE! Great reaction save there by the Golcar goalie! In comes the corner… It comes for Phil Milsom… But it rolls wide.
3 minutes later and Knaresborough have a free kick in the Golcar half, it’s lumped into the box, Ben Parkes slides for it and gets there… Yes! Wait no it’s the side netting… It certainly looked in from here!
77 minutes now and Golcar come forward, the ball is played over the top for number 14 in the box on the right, he gets into a good position and shoots… Deflected over! Close! It is a corner, in it comes… Knaresborough clear. The Golcar fans behind the far goal are making some good noise now!
86th minute and Knaresborough have a free kick in the Golcar half again, it’s played into the middle, it’s head tennis here… It comes to the right for Danny Edwards to hook across, he’s found Ben Parkes in the six yard box who shrugs off his man… And he’s poked it wide… What a chance that is to win it for Knaresborough!! Sitter!
Into the 90th minute now and here come Knaresborough! They get it out wide to the right, it’s crossed in, over everyone and it comes for Knaresborough on the left, it’s crossed in again, Ben Parkes with the header… Keeper flaps at it…… IT’S A GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! KNARESBOROUGH HAVE SURELY WON IT HERE!!! The bench are on the pitch and Golcar fall to their knees… What drama! 2-1!
Have Golcar got anything left in the engine here…? They press and press… But no it’s Knaresborough’s night here!
FT: Knaresborough Town 2-1 Golcar United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – A bit of noise from both sets of fans tonight!
- The Ground: 5/10 – It’s nothing special I’m afraid… 2 little stands but a good clubhouse. There is a lot of open space to improve and I hope they do that because it is a great club!
- Expense: 10/10 – £20 for fuel and £6 to get in and a free firework display, was it worth it? A last minute winner is always worth it!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – I had a great laugh tonight with Mark, Joe and Dale the Donny Hopper! A good game as well in the end! Can’t ask for more than that!!
29/40