Taking The Long Way Home...

Yesterday, we decided that we'd take in The Ambers away game at Barton Town. A nice day. A ground we'd not been to before and despite it being a longer journey than we would usually undertake, we decided it'd make a nice change!

Well, it certainly did that!

Since I am a little paranoid about being late for anything and because I like to try to ensure there's a parking spot when we arrive, we set off around noon. Route Finders and Google Earth suggested it was about a 1.1/2 hour drive from Nortoner Towers. It actually took us an hour and 40 minutes because, again, as ever on these longer drives, I had to make a pit stop for a pee at the services on the M18/M180 junction.

Anyway, as we parked on the car park, we were met with the news that the game was off due to an unplayable pitch!

We entered the stadium for a look (and another pee) and we were surprised to see that the pitch looked in almost perfect shape. However, we learned from the Ambers lads in the bar that the referee had called it off after, as he was walking the pitch before the warm ups, his foot sank to around ankle-depth in a couple of the 3 or 4 areas where the pitch was very damp.

Barton Town have lost several home fixtures to the weather this season and there was some speculation that they didn't want to lose another with the season end date set for 6th April so they perhaps took a chance on not calling for a morning pitch inspection, hoping that the match referee would give the go ahead. That's no more than speculation of course.

Pity, because from what we saw,  the Easy Buy Stadium looks a good set up with a nice, flat pitch and a clean, well-equipped clubhouse and facilities.

I'd decided that I'd wear my Handsworth "3rd kit" shirt to see if that broke the run of bad luck we've been enduring. Obviously - that didn't work either although as someone pointed out - Handsworth didn't drop points to a last minute goal this weekend! 🤣

So - what to do instead? We initially decided that we'd drive across to the RSPB site at Blacktoft Sands and do a spot of birdwatching but then we came up with what we thought was a much better idea. We'd head for Cleethorpes for fish and chips before going home.

It's a 35 minute drive according to sat nav and after a couple of slightly wrong turns (thanks sat nav) we arrived to find Cleethorpes was, basically, full!! We couldn't find a parking space apart from a couple that were about three quarters of a mile outside the town and much as I love fish and chips, I wasn't going to walk a round trip of a mile and a half for them.

I then realised that Horncastle is only about 45 minutes south of Cleethorpes and having holidayed there over several years before I retired, we knew the fish & chip shop/restaurant in the market square was a very good one so we'd nip down there. The drive took a few minutes longer than estimated because we followed a tractor for about 3 miles.

However, we got to Horncastle to find the fish restaurant was closed until 1st April for refurbishment!

Plan C. There's a lovely bar/restaurant at Tattershall, right next to the entrance to Tattershall Lakes caravan park. We've eaten at the place in the past and the food was good and it's only 20 minutes from Horncastle so we drove down there.

It was very busy and despite not booking, they managed to squeeze us in. Our dinner was steak pie, chips and  veggies and I have to say that the food was very good although we both felt that it was a little overpriced. Certainly a lot more expensive than when we ate there last. To be fair, that was "pre-COVID" - 2018 but even so. Pricey!

After our meal, we set off on the 70-odd mile drive home. That was largely uneventful and we eventually pulled into our drive at 7:45pm. Tired but oddly, happy with the events of our very, very unusual Saturday.

I opened this blog by saying the drive to Barton - about a 130 mile round trip - was further than we'd normally go to watch football. When we arrived home yesterday, the trip meter showed I'd driven 225 miles in the 7.1/2 hours we'd been out of the house!

It certainly made a change but not quite the one we planned! Still, as someone said, unplanned days are often the best!! Won't be doing it every weekend though!

Next up for Handsworth is a trip to Golcar on Saturday 23rd March. We can't make that one but we'll hopefully be at the 2 games that follow. A Senior Cup 1/4 final v Rossington at Olivers Mount on the 27th followed by a home league game v Pickering Town on the 30th.

Three games in a week leaves 2 more league fixtures and maybe more cup games if we beat Rossington. Then there's the Barton game to be rescheduled.

A busy end to the season for sure!

(And no pictures on this one. Sorry - never even thought about photos! 🙄)

COYA!! 🧡🖤⚽👊

Beginning to think it's me that's a jinx...

Wednesday, 6th March 2024. A "first" happened. Watching Handsworth lose out 0-3 to Albion Sports, I actually packed the camera away and didn't photograph most of the 2nd half. In fact, I didn't even watch much of the second half at all. I suppose I could have made a Flickr album as usual from the shots I got in the first half but my heart and my head weren't in it. I can't recall ever feeling as despondent after a game as I did after this one.

Disappointment and frustration were the main reasons. Albion Sports are a good side but they "scored" 2 own goals and Handsworth had a goal ruled out for offside. It seems we're just not getting any of the breaks this season. 

Our squad has a long injury list and this game was another example of what managers Jon Froggatt and Mark Ward are having to cope with. Injuries, illness and unavailability due to work commitments has meant they've rarely been able to field their strongest 11 in almost all games since the early part of the season. 

Wednesday's game was fairly typical. At least 5 players who would probably be expected to start weren't available. The side we put out played well enough against strong opposition but with nothing to  show for it. 

What's bothering me is that we've been to 5 games in the last 6 weeks (3 first team and 2 reserves) and in 4 of them, The Ambers have conceded a late goal resulting in a loss or a draw. 

I'm sick of saying "You deserved more lads" if I'm honest.

I'm now seriously wondering if I am some sort of jinx! It's got to be soul destroying for the players when we drop points to last minute goals like against Rossington and Frickley. The reserves too have had last minute disappointments with defeats at home to Sheffield City and Silkstone Utd. The common denominator in all of these disappointments is that I was there with the camera! Hmmm!

One of the bright spots from Wednesday was the performance of young Leiwi Abraham who has joined Handsworth on a month long loan from Rotherham United. A sort of "work experience" deal. He looks like a good player and the bonus is, he's a lovely lad. Here's a shot of him in action.

Next up is another tough game. This time we are at home to Tadcaster who beat us 5-1 at their place in early February (although I can't take the blame for that one. I wasn't there!) 

Taddy have had their struggles too this season but the current form tables show they've taken 7 points from their last 6 games against Handsworth's 4 points from their last 6. That suggests it could be a tight game but who knows? A lot depends on what sort of side Mark and Jon can put out on the day I guess.

I've decided to give it another go and take the camera to record the game. We'll have to see what happens but if I'm really honest, I can't wait for the season to end.

COYA 🧡🖤⚽👊