Red Lion 1 Doveridge 1
Summer League
At: David Naylor Transport ground, Longford Lane
Kick-off: 7-30 pm
No admission or programme
Weather: cloudy, mild, dry
Attendance: 15 (headcount)
Duration (40): first-half: 40:00; second-half: 41:01
While the final of the Ian Gallimore six-a-side competition was taking place at Osmaston, along with the Penalty Prize final, two rearranged league games took place at the same time – this one between Red Lion and Doveridge, and another at Mappleton where The Bridge entertained George & Dragon.
Here at Longford Lane, both the goals came during the first half in a 1-1 draw. Josh Moore gave Doveridge the lead in the 17th minute but bottom-of-the-table Red Lion equalised six minutes later through Pat Newbould. Red Lion played the first seven minutes with nine men and the remainder of the game with ten men while Doveridge finished with ten men after Stuart Hall was sent off. The visitors dominated large periods of the game, only converting one of their numerous chances, and so allowed Red Lion to claim their first point of the season at the seventh attempt.
I’d only seen one previous game on this date, 12th June, and it was a novel occasion back in 1993, then billed as the ‘latest league game ever played in any previous season’. The Hellenic League ordered the Premier Division fixture between Moreton Town and Didcot Town to be replayed as the original game was abandoned. So, 19 years ago, a crowd of 280 (headcount) saw Moreton, who included Mark Lawrenson in their line-up, comfortably win 7-2.
Coming back up to date… After a gap of several years, the David Naylor Transport ground returned to the Summer League roster this season as the home of Red Lion FC (last year’s Ostrich FC) – hence my desire to head there tonight as it was the only current ground I’d not previously visited.
I was joined just before kick-off by both Dave ‘Veteran’ Woodings and Neil ‘Bob L Hatt’ Laughlin. Red Lion (in black and white stripes, black shorts and socks) got the game underway defending the Longford Lane end in the first half. Stuart Hall headed an early chance for Doveridge against the bar and Lion keeper James Earp blocked a follow-up shot from Ed White. Clem Mellor sent a free header over the bar as well.
Doveridge (yellow shirts; 5th in the table with 14 points from 9 games) took the lead in the 17th minute. Josh Moore hit a left-foot shot from 25 yards low into the far bottom-left corner of the net past the diving Earp.
Red Lion, who went into the game with a league record of ‘played six, lost six’ levelled things up in the 23rd minute during their first real attack. Pat Newbould poked home a shot inside the area.
The equaliser was certainly against the run of play as Doveridge continued to create chances right up to the half-time whistle. Kev Gadsby headed wide at the far post and, on the half-hour, Earp produced a superb reaction save to keep out James Robotham’s close-range shot. Mellor again headed over just before the interval.
It became ten versus ten in the 48th minute when Doveridge defender Stuart Hall was sent off with a yellow card followed by a straight red card in the space of 19 seconds.
Despite the setback, the visitors continued to enjoy possession and create chances but Red Lion almost took the lead on the hour when Lee Moulsdale hit the post.
Red Lion worked hard to stay level, especially when a defender got back to make a goalline clearance which kept out a header from White. Late in the game, Earp provided a diving save to turn round Moore’s low shot and Robotham powered a header over the bar from the resulting corner.
Red Lion (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. James Earp, 12. Tommy Smith, x. Matt West, 4. Lee Barlow, 15. James Stevenson, 2. Lee Moulsdale, 10. Anthony Blackburn, 8. Pat Newbould, x. Joe Bowley, x. Steve West.
Doveridge (yellow/blue/yellow): 1. Tom Oakes, 15. Pete Hoptroft, 12. Stuart Hope, 18. Clem Mellor, 8. Stuart Hall, 4. Danny Chadfield, 7. Charlie Hannible, 11. James Robotham, 7. Josh Moore, 11. Ed White, 17. Kev Gadsby. Subs: 12. Sam Chadfield (for Hope, 74).
Goals:
0-1 Josh Moore (17)
1-1 Pat Newbould (23)
Cards: Red Lion: none
Doveridge: Stuart Hall (YC, 47), Stuart Hall (RC, 48), Josh Moore (YC, 67)
