The Coach & Horses Ground, home of Robin Hood Athletic based just outside of Leeds, West Yorkshire and play their trade in the West Yorkshire Premier League. 8th May 2021 and the weather is… Terrible!! Oh dear! I really don’t like the sound of that rain… I haven’t missed a Saturday game due to the weather yet, only lockdown has prevented me watching games on a Saturday, is today the end of that record?
9:00am and my phone is ringing, it’s the Merry Miller… Please don’t be bad news… A game at 10am at the Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre in Cudworth, Barnsley between the Wakefield AFC and Ultimate Academy youth sides!! Out of bed I got and on the road I went. Arrival into Barnsley at 10am to meet the Merry Miller and off we went! We will not lose our record!!! Half an hour later and we have landed in Cudworth and it looks a decent setup!! The goals are out in the main stadium… Is there a game on there later today??
Arrival at the match with the score at 2-1 to Wakefield. A fairly competitive game between the 2 sides with Wakefield just edging it going forward. We got chatting to a parent of one of the Ultimate Academy players who told us about the club and a great chat about football! Love meeting fellow football fans! The game finished 4-2 to Wakefield with some good football played by both sides in the end. Here is some pics of the game below:
And now to find another game… Into the Dorothy Hyman Leisure Centre main office to find out if there is indeed a game on in the main ground later today. The very helpful staff were unsure but got help immediately with the Wakefield AFC manager, but sadly the game was postponed due to pitch precautionary measures. The Wakefield manager did inform us however, that the team will be playing games here for the foreseeable so a game here might be on the cards very soon! But for now, it’s operation: find another game.
Back into Barnsley town centre and we are seeing a regular theme here across the country. The match is ON! The match is OFF! The match is ON! The match is OFF! ON! OFF! ON! OFF! A few clubs contacted but in the end we made our way to Leeds to go with our first choice of the day Robin Hood Athletic. On the way to the ground we see the post that the game is ON! GET IN!!! Beeston St Anthony’s are the visitors today.
Arrival into Leeds and now onto the next bus to the ground. 20 minutes later and we get into the ground just in time for kick off!! Free Entry for this West Yorkshire tie! GET IN AGAIN!!!
Kick Off! 2 other groundhoppers here today that we have just met with one being at the Denaby Main last week! Great start to the game for us! Let’s hope the match follows! 4 minutes gone and Beeston play a long diagonal ball forward to number 7 on the right wing, he plays it in low first time… Should’ve been a goal there! Number 11 comes sliding in with the Robin Hood defender but he puts it over just inside the 6 yard box.
Beeston starting to dominate possession of the ball already this game and it’s beginning to look like an attacking and defending training exercise for Beeston. 26 minutes gone and here come Beeston again, a through ball is played into the box and number 9 is going to get there… He’s scuffed it and hits the post!! Out for a goal kick but he should’ve done better there.
Beeston continuing to dominate with Robin Hood hardly coming out of their own half. 40 minutes on the clock and here come Beeston again, the ball is played to number 9 edge of the box, he makes space for the shot… Deflected… Wide! Corner, in it comes, headed against his own man and it’s a loose ball… A foul on the Robin Hood man results in a free kick to Robin Hood. A dull first half ended with the score at a stalemate and now a chance to get a half time picture on the pitch!!
Second half, Beeston straight out of the blocks and still are the dominant force in this game. 51 minutes on the watch and they have a corner.
In comes the corner, all the way over the box but nevertheless, Beeston retrieve it, another cross into the box but it’s going straight to the keeper… But oh no he’s fumbled it and… IT’S SCRAMBLED IN!!! Number 8 for Beeston gets there to bundle the ball in! And it’s a deserved 1-0 to Beeston! 3 minutes later and Beeston win another corner, they’ve come out fighting again and pushing for a second straight away but will they get a second? In comes the corner, it’s come in low and all the way through the players to number 6 for BEESTON!!! Just wide… Close!
Robin Hood are starting to come into the game a bit more now but still not creating any chances as of yet. 64 minutes played now and Beeston come forward on the left, a pass played into the box for number 7 who controls and shoots on the turn… Wide! Goal kick for Robin Hood and they come forward now and win a corner, in it comes, number 15 with the header… But he didn’t connect with it cleanly and it rolls wide for Beeston to retrieve.
68 minutes gone and Beeston win the ball in their own half, they play forward… “HANDBALL!” From the Robin Hood fans in the stand. Nothing given! Definitely was controlled with his arm there from my view but Beeston come forward and play the ball to number 9 who drives into the box on the right hand side, he cuts inside and shoots… Good save by the keeper! and Robin Hood clear.
1 minute later and Beeston work it forward again, a foul on the edge of the box wins Beeston a free kick, dangerous position this, number 12 steps up… AND SCORES!!!! 0-2!! Brilliant free kick!! Straight over the wall and into the net! Eat that!!
75 minutes gone now and Beeston come forward yet again! Number 12 is played in… And scores!!! But no! The flag is up and it won’t count… Robin Hood take the free kick quickly while the Beeston players argue with the assistant referee, the ball is played forward to number 15 for Robin Hood, edge of the box on the turn and… HE’S HIT THE POST!!! So close to bringing them back into it there and Beeston clear.
78 minutes gone and Beeston win the ball in their own half and move forward… The referee has had to stop play now with the Robin Hood fans in the stand not happy here! An off the ball incident between Beeston’s number 9 and Robin Hood’s number 6 has caused tension. I didn’t see it myself as I was following play but it’s alleged that number 9 has kicked number 6 whilst down. The referee has consulted with his assistant and… A free kick given to Robin Hood but no cards given much to the dismay of the Robin Hood fans…
1 minute later and the referee has stopped play again to consult his assistant, what’s going on here? The referee has gone into his back pocket and it’s a Red Card!! One of the Robin Hood coaching staff is sent off! A word said to the female assistant referee after the earlier incident went unpunished and he is off!
86 minutes gone now and Beeston are on the counter attack here, number 11 is played through… Shot parried! He’ll go for the lob… Tipped out for a corner by the keeper! In comes the corner, the header… OFF THE LINE!! And out for another corner, in it comes and headed over!
Into the last minutes now and Beeston come forward down the right now, the cross comes in and met by a Robin Hood head but only headed into the air, number 12 for Beeston brings it down, makes space for the shot… Brilliant finish!! And emphasises what a performance this has been from Beeston! 0-3 and that is game, set & match!!
FT: Robin Hood Athletic 0-3 Beeston St Anthony’s
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – No singing but good support for Robin Hood today.
- The Ground: 6.5/10 – I like this ground! It’s a unique ground with good character and especially good for this level!
- Expense: 10/10 – Free entry again and goals again!!
- Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – Great to meet other groundhoppers at the game who were exceptionally friendly! Hopefully see them again sometime! The match is what has stopped it from being a 10 as it was a very boring first half of football but a good day out all in all especially as we ticked off a ground we have wanted to for a while!
26/40