ST ANDREWS 0 - 4 BOURNE TOWN

                       FA VASE, 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND

      Teamwork Partnership Stadium, Canal Street, Aylestone Road,

          Leicester  LE2 8LX,    24th Speptmber 2022, 3pm Kick Off

As there are going to be more rail strikes coming in October, I have decided to make the most of it and travel to the East Midlands for the second time this season to the city of Leicester. It's 'Non-League Day' and a City I haven't been to before. I will be watching an FA Vase tie at a club called St. Andrews, who play in the district of Aylestone.

I play clever and buy an advance return rail ticket for just £11 and have no problems with scanning the QR code of my e-ticket at the ticket barrier at Birmingham New Street to pass through and start my journey. It's the first time I have bought a ticket this way and I think it probably won't be the last.

It's quite a boring journey to be honest but we get to Leicester on time and I walk the short journey to the Museum & Art Gallery, where they have an exhibition on 'German Expressionism', roughly from 1910 till the 1940's. It's quite interesting and then I walk to the old Guildhall, then walk by the river and go round the pedestrianised shopping area before finding a place for a cheap fish & chip meal.   

Suitably refreshed I walk to the area where I will be catching my bus but have time to go over to the stadium in Welford Road, where the mighty rugby union team of Leicester Tigers play. When I go through the front door, there is a trophy cabinet to my left and I'm allowed to take a photo by the security staff there. It's an impressive sight and shows that 'The Tigers' are one of the top Rugby Union teams in the UK and probably Europe too.

Soon I cross back over the road and catch the No.85 bus which takes me close to the St. Andrews ground after an eight minute journey. On the way there I pass the Leicester City FC ground and then the Leicestershire county cricket ground. Handy for local sports fans! 

I walk down Canal Street and come to the car park and entrance of the ground. I pay my entrance fee and buy a programme too at the turnstile and go in to the club house to my right, which lies just behind a small seated stand and buy my usual pre-match cup of tea. There are another 2 small stands, one behind the far goal and the other on the opposite side of the ground, alongside the team dug-outs. It's a neat little ground and there is another full size pitch at the far side with a smaller pitch / training area located behind that. 

Although there's still 15 minutes before kick-off there are not many spectators around. Maybe the club's 0-11 thrashing at Radford last Saturday has put them off? Their opponents today are fellow United Counties League, Div One team, Bourne Town, who come from Lincolnshire and are currently lying in a mid-table position.

The teams eventually come on to the pitch, with the hosts in their black & white striped shirts, black shorts & red shorts. Bourne Town are decked out in a mainly all-claret kit with light blue bands at the top of the shirt sleeves.

The first 20 minutes sees the home side taking the game to their opponents, trying to erase the memory of last week's game no doubt.

They create the first chance after 7 minutes when their No.9 goes on a run down the middle and has his shot blocked by the oncoming keeper.

Bourne Town though weather the storm and start to get more in to the game after the 20 minute mark, without creating any clear cut chances and St. Andrews have a header saved at the right hand post. The visitors then quickly have a shot hit the bar just before the half-time whistle is blown.

So it's all-square at the interval and I'm beginning to think my ploy of wearing my black & white checked shirt is bringing the home team some luck. 

They were founded in 1973 and have won the Leicestershire Senior League 3 times and the East Midlands Counties League once in their history. In the 2013-14 season they played West Auckland in the semis of the FA Vase. After a 0-0 away draw, they led 1-0 until the last 11 minutes of the second leg only to be undone by 2 late goals. The victors went on to win the Final too.

Unfortunately in the last few seasons, they have been relegated from the Premier Division and have struggled in the First Division. Maybe it's due to lack of funding but I hope that they can turn things around in the near future.

During the first half I got talking to a guy who it turns out is the father of the St. Andrews goalkeeper. He used to play himself and has managed the Leicestershire club Shepshed Charterhouse too. This explains why he shouts out advice to some of the St. Andrews players from time to time. 

The 2nd half sees the more experienced looking Bourne Town take control of this tie.

James Hill-Seekings slots home in the 58th minute after being put through with a lofted pass and then 8 minutes later they double their lead when Thomas Edwards flicks a header in to the right hand corner of the goal.

  James Hill-Seekings get his second of the match when his shot seems to take a deflection on it's way to the net for the killer goal.

St. Andrews seem to have run out of ideas the longer this match has gone on and in injury time their opponents add a fourth when Shaun Archer shoots in from the right.

A 0-4 defeat seems to be a bit harsh on St. Andrews after their spirited performance in the 1st half but Bourne took their chances well with some clinical finishing and travel back to Lincolnshire with their dreams of Wembley still intact for now.

If St.Andrews could sign 2 or 3 more experienced players, maybe that will help their struggle in the relegation end of the table?

I have enjoyed my visit to this lovely ground and I look forward to coming again to Leicester in the future.

Entrance Fee:                    £6 (£3 concession)

Match Programme:         £2

Match Attendance:          45

Entertainment Value:     6.5/10