Nanpantan Sports Ground, home of Loughborough Dynamo based in Leicestershire and play their trade in Step 4 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. Nicknamed the “Moes” as it’s part of their last name “Dynamo”.
4 more grounds to go for the big 300! Tonight it’s Loughborough Dynamo vs Halesowen Town in a game that could have significant ramifications in the title race in this league and it’s my first time on the road with the Yeltz! Tonight is the night I will be meeting Tim (You Yeltz) from the FANA Fan Podcast Season 3 Episode 5! And I’m expecting a good atmosphere tonight! Let’s go!
6:20pm and I need to get a move on… Thanks to the match day traffic of Sheffield United vs Wrexham in the FA Cup. But I am en route via Meadowhead, onto the A61 and down the M1 and in I am with 15 to go before kick off. Phew!
£8 for this Step 4 tie! Meh… A quick lap around the ground but no sign of Tim just yet. The teams are ready and so are the travelling Yeltz fans! “Yeltz Yeltz! Woooaaah! Yeltz Yeltz!” We’re ready to go, it’s there a twist coming in the title race of this one?
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Dynamo come forward, they get into the box with Ollie Clark who shoots… Over!
A bright start from Loughborough as the game goes on and they are getting forward and moving the ball around really quickly which is causing problems for Halesowen but the fans don’t care! They’re behind them whatever!
I’ve found him! Behind the goal right in the thick of the atmosphere! It’s great to meet Tim at last! “YOU YELTZ!”
10th minute and Halesowen come forward now, they get it out left, in comes the cross… Loughborough clear and an interesting celebration from the keeper there… “Wooo” the Halesowen fans have got him all game now…
The game has slowed down and is becoming a bore fest… Both teams can’t string two passes together and can’t get forward… It’s looking like this will be a ground out result for someone here.
35 minutes now and Loughborough play down the right, in comes the cross, it comes for number 7 just outside the box to shoot first time… Wide!
Right on half time and Halesowen win a corner… Uh oh! Jamie Insall and the Loughborough keeper are having words here… Handbags! The referee has got to stop this! In comes the corner… Loughborough clear and that is it for the first half and they’re still not done just yet… The Yeltz fans are giving the keeper their opinion here! It’s 0-0 at the break but this could be an interesting second half now!
Second half, 52 minutes on the watch and Halesowen come forward, it’s played to Jamie Insall in the box on the right, he gets his shot away… Over! Keeper is laughing at him there.
2 minutes later and Halesowen come again, they get it out left, it’s played into the box and worked across for Jamie INSALL… OH! It’s just wide of the post! He’s getting closer! The YELTZ ARE GETTING CLOSER! “HALESOWEN! HALESOWEN! HALESOWEN!”
57th minute and Halesowen play it through and they get into the box, it’s played across for Jamie Insall… AND HE SCORES… OH NO! He’s Offside! No goal! How unlucky!
“Top of the league looking… DOWN ON THE SPALDING! And the only explanation I can find!” A certain Celtic song being sang behind the goal now! I’m claiming that one!
67th minute and Halesowen have a corner, in it comes… AND IT’S TURNED IN! It’s headed in at the near post! Luke Hayward may have got the final touch! HALESOWEN HAVE THE LEAD!! 0-1!
“The only thing that makes me feel ok is drinking and watching yeltz away!” To the tune of Only Fools & Horses. They certainly are creative are the yeltz fans! Here comes another one:
Loughborough are going for it but Halesowen do look pretty comfortable you have to say.
Into added time and Halesowen play it forward, Cobourne is away, he gets into the box and he shoots… HE’S GOT IT!! HALESOWEN TAKE THE POINTS! It’s a massive win for the Yeltz! 0-2!
That is the last action of the game! They’ve ground that one out tonight! Looks what it means to them:
FT: Loughborough Dynamo 0-2 Halesowen Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – The Yeltz fans were fantastic once again tonight! Isn’t the best of grounds for atmosphere in all fairness though.
- The Ground: 5.5/10 – It’s alright. The stand by the clubhouse is what makes it for me. Very unique but nothing really much else to shout about for me.
- Expense: 8/10 – £30 in fuel and £8 to get in, was it worth it? Nearly! The first half let us all down I think.
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Great to meet Tim tonight more than anything and to be a part of the Yeltz fans once again! Really enjoyed that!
29.5/40