Notts Senior League Cup
Harvey Hadden Stadium, Bilborough
BilboroughTown (0) 2
Connor Croft 51, 79
Basford United Community (1) 3
Anthony Graham 27, 57, 62
Admission £2.00
And of course there was that day when I was massively proud of the fact that Retford Athletic Club's finest ever fifteen year old long distance runner, AKA my daughter, came second at this very stadium, which was the finishing arena for a national cross country event.
Previously Nottinghamshire had never had a runner finish inside the top six in this prestigious event, so this was a big deal... and when her games teacher (who was never involved in our young un's training and was merely a day tripping glory hunter on this occasion) said "Never mind, second place isn't that bad, you might even win next year if you keep working hard", it was the first and only time that I ever had to turn a blind eye while she called a teacher a rude word.
She's just like her mum is our 'effing Jess!'
But tonight marked the first ever 'competitive' game of football I had ever seen the here.
The home side started well and had the bulk of the play for the first fifteen minutes or so until Basford found their rhythm, after which the only thing that separated these two well matched sides was a splendidly struck twenty five yard shot by Anthony Graham.
Half time came and I had an uncontrollable urge to get out on the running track that circumnavigates the Harvey Hadden pitch and recreate the slow motion race climax scene from the movie 'Chariots of Fire', surely this sort of thing must happen to everybody from time to time?
It's just a shame that the hurdles weren't set up, because they would've come in handy on my second lap. I couldn't remember how the theme, recorded by Vangelis went, so I hummed Denis King's Black Beauty 'Galloping Home' 1972 musical score instead, to heighten the dramatic effect of my public display of athleticism... but I think that I got away with it and besides, all most people could here was somebody up in the back of the stand exclaiming: "What the merry hell is that fat nutcase doing down there!?"
There was a cheerful turn out of familiar faces up in the stand, among an overall attendance of 55 and if your ears were burning, then that would've been us lot slagging you off... and you know what?
You freakin' well deserved it too.
It was nice to catch up with Kieran Harrison, a mainstay of the Mansfield Town U18's back to back league championship winning team and hear how he was getting on, out on a work experience loan at Romulus FC, who I really need to get along to watch any time soon, as well as Corby Town which is where a couple of the other lads, Sam Wilson and Mohammed Crease are getting some valuable game time in, playing against adults.
I feel like an old sheep dog running around keeping tabs on a straying flock these days, but the copious notes, updates and ticked boxes all look really grand in my FA portfolio. And keep my mandatory requirements well up to date, while I am out and about in the company of some of my best pals in football (and real life too). All at my own pace and when I feel inclined to put the effort in too.
However, I shall bite my tongue upon that particular subject matter for the time being, lest anyone else should decide to accuse me of having a dig at the first team management at Field Mill, because in essence I'm not guilty!
But if telling the truth, noting my first hand observations and relating the vibe I am picking up on, from an insiders perspective, is, in anyone's opinion an anti club stance, then click on this LINK and discover just how you can remove your blinkers, whilst taking on board the old adage: that eggy trumps are just like the differing opinions of those who are passionate about their football, inasmuch as, people can only put up with the whiff of their own.
Kieran was here to give his mate Raequoun Noon-Brandy some moral support and the Basford number 16 probably needed it, and a shoulder to cry on, when late in the game he got caught in two minds and couldn't decide whether to indulge in a improvised game of 'rush goalie' or try lobbing Nick Ivanov who had strayed off his line from thirty five yards, so in the heat of a moment indecision, he decided upon a hybrid of the two options and toe punted a gentle pass right into the opposition goalkeeper's arms instead.
Whoops!
The second half was an improvement on the first and the home side were on level terms in the fifty first minute, when the Basford keeper decided to play a game of "No, after you, I insist" with one of his defenders, when it came to clearing the ball away from an under-hit back pass... and while the pair of them faffed about, Connor Croft nipped into the void in between them and 'dinked' it over the visitors keeper to level things up.
But having chased the ball as an over hit right wing cross bounced away from the Bilborough goalmouth, Graham crashed a thumping shot on the turn into the roof of the net from around ten yards out. Evidently Graham doesn't score ordinary tap ins.
Five minutes later Ivanov hesitated when the ball bounced just outside his area and as it dropped Graham nudged a looping header over him to put the visitors in a comfortable position, sitting on a two goal cushion, in a cup match against a team who were now going to have to commit men forward and leave gaps to exploit.
As the sage and learned ground-hopping guru from the Hucknall parish pointed out, by virtue of a right foot strike, a left foot finish and a header, Mr Graham had just completed a textbook hat trick.
Bilborough were back in the game with thirteen minutes left to play however, when Croft diverted a header into the back of the Basford net from a right wing free kick, meaning that he too now had the chance to complete the second textbook hat trick of the night and set up an after show party punch up over who was keeping the match ball.
Could he find the finishing touch that would set up such a grandstand finish?
Err... no!
But admit it, the narrative was heading towards such a gripping finale, that some of you just leaked a bit of sex wee in your knickers.
Luckily for Noon-Brandy, Basford already had the game won when he wasted a good chance to either score of put the visitors on the attack again late on... and that folks, was that!
FT: Bilborough Town 2 v Basford United Community 3
If you would like to learn more about Mr Harvey Hadden, his family history and the origins and development timeline of the stadium itself, then click on this here link: THE HISTORY OF HARVEY HADDEN. You can thank me later.
A decent night out in good company with some great banter, it really is a massive shame that most of it is unrepeatable here.
