FA Cup sponsored by e.on First Qualifying Round
At: Bardon Close
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1 (48 pages)
Attendance: 120
Weather: warm and sunny
Duration: first-half: 46:16; second-half: 48:40
A year ago, I saw a real ‘David versus Goliath’ tie in the First Qualifying Round when Meir KA produced a massive upset to hold Halesowen Town to a 1-1 draw. Today, the teams appeared more evenly-matched on paper but, none-the-less, I was really looking forward to seen them battle for a potential glamour tie in the Second Qualifying Round.
So far my 2009/10 FA Cup trail has taken in two home ties for clubs in the East Midlands Counties League at Gedling Miners Welfare and Borrowash Victoria. Both drew at the first attempt only to lose in replays away to higher-ranked opposition. Just two EMCL sides made it through to the First Qualifying Round – Holbrook MW away to Rainworth MW and this tie where Bardon Hill Sports were hosting Barton Town Old Boys.
I guessed that Bardon Hill didn’t have a long FA Cup history. In fact, as mentioned in the programme, this season is actually their first-ever campaign in the famous competition and so far can boast a 100% record!
Both Bardon Hill and Barton Town entered the competition at the very first hurdle, the Extra Preliminary Round, four weeks ago. Bardon produced a fantastic performance to defeat Arnold Town of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division by the odd goal in five. Barton did well to overcome Gedling Town in a home replay 2-1 after the initial tie finished all square at 2-2.
For Bardon Hill, the reward was an away tie in the Preliminary Round at Coalville, and they produce a shock result to defeat their more senior local neighbours by a single goal. Barton Town also faced a side from the Midland Alliance, Kirby Muxloe, and went goal crazy with a 6-1 home win.
The two wins pocked each side £2250 in prize money for their two wins with another £3000 awaiting the winner of this First Qualifying Round tie, as well as the possibility of a glamorous tie in the next round against a Blue Square North side.
My route via Rugeley, Burton (petrol stop at Morrisons) and the Ashby bypass was a familiar one and almost identical to the one taken to Ellistown and back from Ibstock on the recent Bank Holiday Monday. Bardon Hill, like the other two clubs, are based close to Coalville.
The ground was straight forward to find being just off the A511. Travelling south in the direction of the M1 and Leicester, Bardon Close was on the left, just before the houses ended and Total garage. The entrance was about 100 yards on the right and the first thing I noticed was the cricket match taking place to the right – the football stadium was straight ahead.
At the entrance, I picked up a programme (£1) and was delighted to find club badges on sale as well. Sat in my car reading the programme, I could see how much this tie meant to Bardon Hill Sports. The editor wrote: “How could anyone associated with this club over the past five decades could have imagined that we would be in this position and playing in the most famous and magical domestic trophy in the world, and winning!!” Board member ‘Foz’ added: “It is difficult to keep coming up with new superlatives to describe the clubs entry into the FA Cup…”
Through the ‘turnstile’, the pitch (orientated north-west–south-east) ran lengthways. Behind the near goal were the hospitality room and changing rooms, protected by a net. Down the right-hand touchline nearest the cricket ground, was a seated stand, running from the level with the near ‘D’ to halfway. It had two rows of blue individual tip-up seats and on either side of the stand were areas of open terracing. Dugouts were on halfway down the left-hand touchline.
Teamsheets were available in the hospitality room where ‘Medders’, who I’d last seen at Droitwich Spa back in April, was also recording those important line-ups (which were also announced over the tannoy). His mate Keith spend the time before kick-off watching 10 minutes of cricket and I also spotted ‘chris1963’ (last met in Copenhagen!) as well.
Bardon Hill (in eighth position with seven points from five games) have made a solid start to the 2009/10 East Midlands Counties League and, in fact, only lost their unbeaten league record on Tuesday evening. They went down 1-0 at home to unbeaten Gedling Miners Welfare. Visitors Barton Town Old Boys have only played three league games in the KoolSport Northern Counties East League Division 1. They were in 14th position (out of 18 teams) with three points coming from one win and two defeats.
As is the norm in the FA Cup, teams came out behind the match officials in fair play fashion, lined up in front of the stand before exchanging those pre-match handshakes.
Barton Hill (wearing white shirts, blue shorts and blue socks) got the game underway, defending the entrance end in the first half; in other words attacking from left to right from my seat on the back row of the stand, number 78.
Both sides made a cagey start and on the quarter hour Matt Garner headed over the Old Boys bar. Bardon took the lead in the 19th minute with a well-worked goal. Jake Duffy slipped a perfect pass into the path of Vernon Hart-Harper who fired low into the bottom right corner from just inside the area. There was a great roar of approval from the home fans!
On the half hour, Barton (wearing maroon shirts and shorts with white socks) created a chance on the edge of the area and Gareth Barlow fired over the bar.
The day got even better for the home side when they doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Adam Griffiths hammered a volley home from 15 yards after the Barton defence failed to clear. The raffle ticket seller made his way round to be me soon after the goal went in – would white 36–40 prove lucky?
Bardon Hill almost scored again as the interval approached. Barton keeper Tom Nicholson produced a superb diving save to turn round Duffy’s header but a goal wouldn’t have counted as a flag went up for offside.
Half-time refreshments were served in the cricket pavilion (adjacent to the car park) and by coincidence the cricketers were taking tea. I got back into the ground to hear the bad news: “471–475 on salmon,” came over the tannoy and I was miles away from the prize.
Players were out for the second half before the match officials and had to wait longer for the assistants to recheck the nets. I was back in the same seat and Bardon were now the nearest goal by the entrance. The visitors made a change at the interval with Lee Mouds replacing Lee Mohammed.
Bardon were 45 minutes from dreamland when game resumed and quickly scored their third goal within 86 seconds to effectively put the outcome beyond doubt. Nicholson could only flap at Liam Hibberd’s right-wing cross to present Matt Garner with a routine task of heading home at close range.
The visitors made a second change in the 50th minute with Shaun Mitchell coming on in place of Nathan White. But they had a moment of worry five minutes later when Nicholson suffered what initially looked like a nasty leg injury dealing with a corner. However, the keeper was able to continue after treatment and displayed no ill effects.
Around the hour mark, the sun was shining at a right angle to the pitch and as I noticed the shadow of the floodlight pylon near me following the half-way line.
“2-1 up Leicester, Fryatt again,” said a fan near me to his mate – it was looking like a good day for them with Bardon progressing in the cup and the Foxes heading for three points.
The day got even better for the home side and fans as Bardon scored a fourth goal in the 62nd minute. Garner cut in from the left and pulled the ball back for Hibberd to hammer home into the bottom left corner of Nicholson’s net.
With both feet in the next round, the home side made a first change in the 70th minute when Hibberd, scorer of the fourth goal, went off to be replaced by Dave Jones.
Barton struggled to make an impact inside the home area but Dave Moulds sent a glancing header wide from Pat Masterton’s left-wing cross.
This was followed by a double Bardon substitution in the 75th minute with Joe Jackson and Daniel Piper replacing Dean Partner and Steven Moult. Barton got in on the substitution act, as well, replacing Dave Moulds with Scott McKay a minute later.
Nicholson produced a superb reaction save to tip over Jones’ close-range bullet header which came from Piper’s cross. At the other end, Bardon keeper Aaron Harris had a quiet afternoon though he needed to remain alert to hold an angled left-foot shot from Lee Moulds.
“4-1 Man City,” ‘announced’ the same fan that gave us the Leicester update.
A perfect day for Bardon Hill Sports FC was rounded off with a fifth goal in the 90th minute. Substitute Jones was put clear and lobbed the helpless keeper with the ball dropping into the bottom left corner of the net.
Three minutes added time produced no further incident and the final whistle was greeted with applause from delighted home fans – the dream had come true!
At the end of the game, I checked the scorer of Bardon’s second goal with ‘Medders’ and we both had the same name!
There was time to relax with a few overs of cricket through it didn’t look likely that Bardon Hill would record a cross-sport winning double. They posted a score of 189 and Market Bosworth were well on course to overhaul that total when I left on 53 for 1 from 11 overs.
Footnote: Bardon Hill did get a glamorous Second Qualifying Round tie with a trip to Blue Square North side Northwich Victoria. Market Bosworth knocked off the required runs to win the cricket.
