FA CUP, EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND
Raygar Stadium, Christchurch Meadows, Bridge St, Belper, DE56 1BA
Sunday 7th August, 3:00pm Kick-Off
I have decided to go to the wilds of Derbyshire for my first game of this new season. It's an FA Cup clash between Belper United of the United Counties League, Premier Div North (who ground share with their hosts, Belper Town) and Lichfield City who play in the Midland Football League, Premier Div.
I like to go to cup games that feature clubs from different league competitions if I can and I am thinking this could be a good one to watch with the home side gaining promotion to Step 5 of the Pyramid for the 1st time and Lichfield being a fine footballing side that finished 3rd in their division last season.
The train I catch from Birmingham (Edinburgh bound) this morning is crammed with passengers and it's a miracle that I eventually find a spare seat. When I change trains at Derby for Belper, again there are a lot of passengers and again I am lucky to find a seat. Must be the holiday season!
It's certainly a fine sunny day with the temperature set to reach 23 centigrade. Belper is a cute small town that lies on the banks of the River Derwent just seven miles north of Derby (population 22,000). It dates back to Norman times and really came to prominence in the early days of the Industrial Revolution with the help of cotton manufacture (particularly cotton stockings) when cotton mills were built in this area powered by the river.
The town centre has plenty of good independent shops and I find a good fish & chip restaurant called 'Nik's' to have a meal.
Afterwards I have a look around the town and go to the Belper River Gardens overlooking the weir.
It's certainly a scenic area and one I'd like to come to again. I decide to take the short walk to the ground and soon I am walking through the gates, on the eastern side of the ground.
I pay my entrance fee and get a programme too but I'm disappointed that there are no club badges available today. I'm assured that the club had ordered some but they still hadn't arrived yet.
The pitch looks to be in great condition and at first I thought it was an artificial surface.
The main stand is located on the southern side of the ground and that's where all the seating is available. Another smaller covered stand is on the entrance side of this stadium while there is another stand on the northern side along with the team dug-outs. The western end of the ground features no shelter and is in front of a small artificial practice pitch.
A club house is directly behind the main stand, where I manage to get a cup of tea and then make my way to the end of this stand just past the seating area but still with some shelter from the sun.
The teams come out in their usual 1st team colours, Belper in green & black striped shirts, green shorts & socks while the visitors are all in blue.
From the off it's Lichfield with their possession game that are dominating proceedings while United favour a more direct approach.
They are creating chances on a regular basis and the stand-in keeper for Belper, Charlie Woods, is performing heroics to keep the visitors at bay. His great save from Lichfield captain, Kyle Patterson, in the 24th minute is a particularly worthy effort. On this showing he should be Belper's regular custodian.
After 36 minutes, a Lichfield shot hits Belper's left-hand post and is gratefully scooped up by Woods on the rebound.
Luke Childs has been tormenting his marker, Belper United's No.3 Jake Dodds, with his skill and elusive running and he sees a shot of his saved by that man Woods in the 40th minute.
So half-time arrives with still no score and the home side somehow are still in with a chance in this tie. It's hard to see at the moment though how they can win this game but Lichfield will definitely have to score soon to make their superiority count, otherwise they might lose confidence, the longer this game goes on.
This ground certainly has a dramatic backdrop with the now disused East Mill towering above on one side.
Also, at the entrance end of the ground you have the presence of the much closer Catholic church called, Christ Church, looming too.
I'm informed by a Belper United supporter that the club will have to look for an alternative ground after the close of this current season. I wonder if they have any plans for getting their own ground in the not too distant future?
One of the club's officials comes round with copies of the team sheets for anyone who's interested. Very useful and much appreciated!
When play resumes, Belper are taking the game to their opponents but without creating any clear cut chances. Then normal service is resumed with Lichfield having one shot go above the bar followed soon after with them taking the lead.
It's scored by their new No.9, Ethan Muckley, after the ball is passed to him on the right, with the keeper drawn out of position and he makes no mistake with this opportunity.
Belper respond a few minutes later when their No.9, Richard (Itchy) Hanslow races through to hit a shot over the visitor's bar. Their No.8, Martyn Smyth also shoots another effort over the bar but Lichfield are still dominating the game.
They do score the all important second goal after 82 minutes with Luke Childs fooling both his marker and then the keeper to stroke the ball in to the unguarded net.
At this point I decide to leave the ground as I am worried about catching the next train back to Birmingham, as there is a long wait before the next one.
Of course later on I find out that Lichfield score another late goal, courtesy of substitute, Chandler Pegg, in the 86th minute. I think I probably could have seen that goal but it's better to be safe than sorry.
So Lichfield City go through to the next round, which will played in 2 weeks time and maybe Belper United will have better luck in the FA Vase competiton?
I have certainly enjoyed my visit to this scenic town and ground and it's certainly one I'd like to come to again.
Match Attendance: 178
Entrance Fee: £8 (£5 concession)
Match Programme: £1
Entertaintment Value: 7/10
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