Sport Italia Hellenic League Premier Division
At: Old School Lane
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: £1
Attendance: 59
Weather: rain
Duration: first-half 45:37; secomd-half: 48:00
Stafford Rangers were due to visit Halifax Town for a Blue Square Premier fixture but it was no surprise when the waterlogged pitch at Shay Stadium fell victim to a 10-00 am inspection. So plan ‘B’ came into action and I ended up spending a very pleasurable afternoon in Hereford.
Prospects for play at Halifax looked doubtful on Friday evening, so I did some homework and knew that heading south down the M5 would be the best option if the inevitable happened in West Yorkshire. Bristol Rovers’ home game with Walsall in League One was a definite starter so with that in mind I set off in search of a game, hoping for one nearer to home. On the way I got the ‘OK’ from the Pegasus Secretary so left the M5 at Junction 8, headed along the M50, leaving the latter motorway to take the A417 and then A438 to Hereford.
Pegasus Juniors were formed in 1955 by a group of players from the Herefordshire County Boys team who wished to continue playing together. Their name was inspired by the great amateur team Pegasus FC (a well-known Oxford-based amateur side who won the FA Amateur Cup in both 1951 and 1953). Originally the club played in the local Herefordshire League, accumulating a large number of league titles and cups, until they graduated to the Hellenic League in 1982. Initially placed in Division One and playing home games at Hereford United’s Edgar Street ground, they were promoted to the Premier Division in 1985 as champions. Eight years later they were relegated back to Division One but bounced back to the Premier Division at the first attempt. In 1995 Pegasus Juniors were relegated once again due to their ground failing new guidelines at the Essex Arms ground they were now based, but in 1999 they returned to the Premier Division where they remained since.
Pegasus’ Old School Lane ground is located to the east of Hereford City Centre. Travelling as I did from the Ledbury direction on the A438, turn right at the crossroad, after passing the hospice and 40 mph signs, over the railway and left onto the A4103. At the roundabout, continue straight onto Roman Road, over the railway bridge and take second left into Old School Lane. The ground entrance is around 100 yards on the left.
Old School Lane is a relatively new venue and, indeed, the aerial photos on goole.co.uk maps show the site as a cricket field containing none of the present-day permanent structures. Entering the ground from the car park, via a small flight of steps, you emerged in the south-east corner of the pitch. There are four floodlight pylons on each side with a neat stand containing around 150 individual black seats, which straddled the half-way line. Opposite are the dugouts and a small area of covered standing. There is a clubhouse to the right of the entrance along a path.
On the cover of the programme, a 20-pager sold for £1, was the aforementioned seated stand and inside were player profiles for both sides, editorial, league table, fixtures and a chart showing the Pegasus line-up for each game played so far in the season.
The game was played in wet and drizzly conditions with Pegasus in red shirts and shorts with white socks and Highworth in all blue. The home side went into the game in a lowly league position on the back of six league games without a win. The programme editor noted that: “recent results do not depict the quality of football the lads have produced.” Highworth had changed their manager earlier in the season with the new boss lifting them up into seventh position.
An interesting incident sticks in mind, which occurred on the hour mark when Highworth were leading 1-0 thanks to Matty Saye’s 43rd-minute shot. Pegasus striker Chris Mortlock was brought down by the last defender close to goal and the referee immediately blew his whistle. The ball continued into the back of the net but whether the keeper would have kept it out or not, we just don’t know for certain. Without any protests, the defender was red carded but the resulting penalty was saved. Highworth held on for the three points.
Pegasus Juniors (red/red/white): 1. James Morgan, 2. Lewis Jones, 3. Richard Harrison, 4. Mark Smith, 5. Bobby Aldrich (capt), 6. Ron Laurie, 7. Anthony Robbins, 8. Ben Price, 9. Chris Mortlock, 10. Cory Hyde, 11. Dave Griffiths. Subs: 12. Simon Gwynne (for Jones, 66), 14. Nick Panniers (not used), 15. Andy Mowen (not used).
Highworth Town (blue/blue/blue): 1. Ian Gill, 2, Lee Spalding, 3. Dan Hilder, 4. Gary Hill (capt), 5. Mark Jordan, 6. Andy Minturn, 7. Tony Joyce, 8. Darren Smart, 9. Phil Corcoran, 10. Matty Saye, 11. Kevin Coles. Subs: 12. Arthur Levett (for Hilder, 78), 14. Tom Dingle (for Jordan, 62), 15. Mark Belcher (for Corcoran, 81).
Referee: Kevin Howick.
Goals:
0-1 Matty Saye (43)
Cards:
Pegasus: Anthony Robbins (YC, 15)
Highworth: Tony Joyce (YC, 57), Lee Spalding (RC, 60)
