November 1st 2008

Quorn 1 Belper Town 1

This was my second trip to Quorn. The previous one being for a Boxing Day fixture last year that kicked off at midday. Since then they have built a covered stand with turnstiles at the end of the ground where the car park is located. Reminds me very much of the stand at Brigg (and also the one stand they already had on the far side). I hear that the stand has been built with money from the sale (or sell-on) of the Chairmans grandson to Charlton Athletic. Turns out it was a handy thing to have as the heavens opened towards the end of the second half.

In contrast the first half was freezing cold and dark. For any Togs reading this I was shooting at 1000 ISO at 3:30 in the afternoon! For anyone not into photography, just ignore that last bit, it won’t enhance your life to know what it means, honestly. One person who would understand is Mossley Smiffy who was the game looking more like a Pro Tog than ever – now sporting fingerless gloves.
On the way to the match we picked up Tony T and his Grandson Josh. Tony knows the way to Quorn like the back of his hand (assuming he is aux fait with the back of his hand, if he isn’t then he probably knows the way to Quorn BETTER than he knows the back of his hand). This fact didn’t stop scribbler offering suggestions of ‘alternative routes’ from the back seat – already I’m wondering which way we’ll be taking to Brigg Town in two weeks time!. Despite the faulty back seat Sat Nav we make it safely to the ground in time for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

We are surprised to hear that we have a new signing in the team in the shape of Ryan Hindley from Retford Town. He is a wide right player and the sight of Jimmy G in his tracksuit drinking a cup of tea and watching from the sidelines makes us think his days at the Meadow are numbered. (post note: Jimmy joined Buxton the following week)

The game itself saw Belper dominate the first half and really should have been out of sight by the break. Andy Rushbury scored a diving header and then scored an absolute screamer which was ruled out for shirt pulling during the build up. I captured the shot just perfect but sadly it counted for nothing – shame that. Oh well.

The game broke at 1-0 to the Nailers and it was a quick trip to the boardroom for tea and food. Only thing is Quorn are former southern leaguers where they serve the food at the END of the game not at half-time ! so it ended up being Tea & Biscuits. Second half was much the same initially with Belper on the attack but failing to find the back of the net. Stevo missed a penalty, or rather the Quorn keeper saved it. We all thought that would have won the game for the Nailers. It then became one of those matches where you just felt that the other side would snatch an equaliser and sure enough 5 minutes from the end Quorn snatched an equaliser - ! Both myself and smiffy had retired to the Varney stand to get out of the rain as Jenkins fired Quorn level.

It later transpired that a Quorn fan had died in the club despite the best efforts of the paramedics and our very own Penfold (aka David Baines). When you hear that you can’t help thinking that perhaps Bill Shankly was a bit out with his oft quoted ‘Footballs not about Life and Death, it’s much more important than that’. With all respect Sir Bill (RIP), I don’t think it is.

Next Up - Brigg Town UniBond Division 1 South