Meadow Lane League 1 Saturday, 25th January 2014
After eventually finding a game to go to, the decision turned out to be vindicated as we were treated toi an enjoyable afternoon in the Walsall end as they hammered lowly Notts County at Meadow Lane.
The heavens open shortly before kick-off
Friday afternoon and i was looking up train times to Altrincham in preparation for Boston’s trip there. But that was called off at 4pm that day. so I rang Nick to check if he was going to Carlton v Sutton Coldfield… he was. Good, I had a game. however, the heavy rain experienced the previous night meant that games were going left, right and centre Saturday morning. After warning Nick about major train delays near Derby, advising him to go via Leicester, i then discovered Carlton’s game was in doubt.
So I quickly hitched a plan to go to AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Spalding in the UCL just in case… but that fell victim to the rain. Moments later came the dreaded news that Carlton was off too. I had no game!
Fortunately a few Boston fans saw my messages and we discussed going to Notts County v Walsall. it was a short discussion. We were going. So hopping on the bus again at 12:30, the trip into the City was a nightmare, as the bus had its windscreen shatter, so it had to stop. Rather than wait for a bus 15 minutes later, I walked to a stop further down the line where there are more buses stopping at in the hope that I could get into the City Centre quicker.
Sadly the traffic meant I didn’t get off till 1pm and a quick stop via a cashpoint, I was off. Typically, the meeting point for such a day was Hooters- a place which would be amongst the last anyone who knows me would expect to find me in but alas, you don’t play the reputation.
Tom and his mates from Boston were late getting there so I waited outside for 5 minutes by which time they were there. I also bumped into a lad called Jake, who I played cricket with at Derby Uni, who was at the game with friends and relatives, supporting the visitors, Walsall. They also had TV, so I saw that Liverpool were comfortably getting through their cup tie at Bournemouth (whoever though 12:45 would be a good time for Liverpool fans to have to be in Bournemouth by want their screws putting back in)
At 2:15, I left Jake and went to get my ticket. The skies were threatening and I was not allowed in the ground because I needed a ticket- no cash for student entry. So I had to queue at the ticket office and the heavens opened with fury. After 10 minutes getting totally soaked, I got my ticket (£15) and made my way for the away stand (The Jimmy Sirrel Stand). I got some grub (Chicken & Balti Pie + Tea for a not too shabby at this level £3.80) and after a few texts (those that know me know my phone speaker is hopeless in a crowded place) I re-joined Tom and the other 5 lads from Boston who had made the trip.
Main Stand, Meadow Lane
The pitch was taking a battering from the storm and resembled a mudbath, as you can see in the picture above. We went towards the top and began to get involved with the atmosphere, in that awkward sense of chanting songs for a team you’ve never really bothered with. Speaking to a few Walsall fans, they were genuinely keen to know a bit about Boston and seemed happy enough that we’d joined them. There were 741 of them to add to the 6 of us in a crowd of 5,701
The Game
I was expecting a close affair between a County side in decent form under Shaun Derry and Walsall who had been in and around the playoffs for much of the season so far. The first 20 minutes seemed to suggest this too, as chance were few and far between on a tricky pitch. If anything, county made the visitors’ keeper, Richard O’Donnell, produce a couple of comfortable saves from long range shots. Callum McGregor had the best opportunity for County with a good shot palmed round the post.
But the game burst into life on 24 minutes as Craig Westcarr played in the recently signed Febian Brandy and he rounded home keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and slotted home from 12 yards. This sent the away end into raptures and I even copped a flying finger from one elderly bloke who was very excitable. From there, it was one way traffic.
Brandy made it 2-0 nine minutes later when Walsall broke on County from a corner and a good ball from Milan Lalkovic being played into Brandy’s path. He still had work to do but finished superbly to double the lead for the visitors. It was almost 3 straight from kickoff as Brandy was played in but Bialkowski came out quickly to block the shot.
Just as the board went up for first half added time, it was 3-0 as, following a shot which was saved, Westcarr picked out an unmarked Brandy at the back stick to nod in and seal his hattrick.
Whatever Shaun Derry’s words were at half time, his team can’t have listened, as within 3 minutes they found themselves cut open again- this time from a cross as defender Andy Butler (no, not my dad!) nodded home from Sam Mantom’s cross following a set piece.
No sooner had the ‘Easy, easy’ chants being finished when Walsall went 5-0 up as Westcarr slotted home after the home defence was caught square and after only 50 minutes, we genuinely though it would be 8 or 9.
In truth, it would’ve been but for poor finishing in the final half hour with some misses being particularly poor and also a spirited performance from Bialkowski who, to his credit, made 3 good saves from Walsall chances.
County did reduce the arrears shortly after the hour mark. A debatable free kick was given and from just outside the area, McGregor curled home a delightful finish- goal of the game for me, but ultimately it meant very little, unless County survive by 1 goal. County did actually have a couple of chances to reduce the arrears further – O’Donnell making a superb low save to deny Callum Ball and amidst more wasteful finishing from the visitors, the game would end up 5-1.
A very surprising result in the sense that County had done well of late but a really good day out and an interesting take on going to a random game. I definitely preferred the more vocal away end atmosphere to the sitting down, not chanting much at Forest the previous night. Maybe I will go in the away end more often for neutral games. Interestingly, there were 6 Boston fans at this, more than some teams take away in Boston’s league too. We also knew that results had been kind to Boston, with only a late Hednesford winner at Solihull being one we didn’t need.
Another highlight of the day was the Walsall fan moaning because they let one in and he’d seen them relegated by 1 goal before, so the poor finishing at the end was annoying him… the bloke near to me turned round and said “If you can’t enjoy being 5-1 up, you’ll never enjoy it.” Just no pleasing some people….. we get plenty at Boston!
The Kop at Meadow Lane- where I went when Boston visited there a while back
Notts County: (4-2-3-1): Bialkowski, Freeman, Smith, Leacock(Tempest 69), Sheehan, Boucaud, Fotheringham, Campbell-Ryce (Ball 56), McGregor, Grealish, Showunmi (Appiah 45) Subs: Pilkington, Haynes, Thompson, Hollis,
Walsall: (4-2-3-1) O’Donnell , Butler , Chambers (Purkiss 71, ), Mantom , Lalkovic , Westcarr , Downing , Benning, J Chambers (Featherstone 57), Sawyers, Brandy (Baxendale 76) Subs: Lewis, Hemmings, Hewitt, McQuilkin
Attendance: 5701 (747 visitors- 741 Walsall and 6 Boston!)
Match rating- 8/10. One sided for most parts but Walsall were outstanding and should’v scored 10… at least
Atmosphere- 9/10. 747 in the away end made a good noise throughout- but you will when you’re 5-1 up away from home. County fans understandably quiet for large chunks, but it’s a big ground and 5,701 does not look great in there.
Prices- 6/10. Hooters was £8 for 3 drinks- one being a Coke. £15 for students was pushing it, but not too bad. Food wasn’t too bad, perhaps just towards the dear side of the scale. Programme (£3) pretty good.
Rating- 8/10- Considering my day wall dull at 11am, This turned it into something quite pleasing. Thanks to the Walsall fans and to the lads from Boston. Much appreciated.
Ground- 8/10. More open than Forest’s ground and slightly smaller, though the crowd did not fit well into such a stadium. Very tidy though, if the dreaded all-seater which plagues our league grounds now. also, in 2014, there MUST be a covered section for disabled fans… they were getting drenched today- I felt sorry for them. Come on Notts- sort it out! (Of course, if there is one, I apologize but there didn’t seem to be one)
Next Game for me is Boston v Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday but I’m commentating, so it will likely be just a match report.
Thanks for Reading
Josh
Under The Floodlights 