Monday 1st January 2018
Attendance: 145
Admission £8 / £5
Teams:-
Dynamo – Martin, Thorogood, Keenan, Sibson, Hodgkinson (c), Andrews, Holmes, Smith, Thorpe, Demidh, Piliero. Subs: Smithson, Riley, Antonio, Rigby, Attenborough.
Basford – Deeney, Grayson, Bartle, Thornhill, Carr (c), Roma, Bell-Toxtle, Fenton, Wells, Duffy, Reid. Subs: Hearn, Meikle, Wakefield, Austin, Nash.
Earlier in the season, Kev and I had decided that we ought to pay a visit to the Nanapantan Sports ground home of Loughborough Dynamo – it’s one of the local (ish) grounds that we had never graced with our presence. The Basford fixture seemed an ideal one to take in, so with the daftlad at the wheel we made our way down the main vein, arriving at the ground with plenty of time to spare before the scheduled 3pm ko.
There was no problem parking and after entering the ground, we decided to have a stroll around the perimeter – taking the odd snap for posterity….
As we terminated our lap around the stadium, we were greeted in the stand behind the top goal with a two-fingered salute from our “friend” and avid football devotee, Pete Chappell. Obviously, the gesture was returned in spades, but as we made our way up the steps we were delighted to see he was with Barry and Judith Wilkins, a couple of friends we hadn’t seen for a while. The lovely couple were as pleased to see us as we were them, and we duly spent the entire game in their company. We first met the couple at Shepshed a few years ago, and hadn’t met up with them for maybe 4 or 5 years, so it was good to catch up with them and it made the 25 mile journey well worthwhile.
Image from almost 6 years ago - Barry and Judith haven't changed at all!
Basford had rotated a few players, and to be honest, splitting up the midfield pairing of Jerry Nash and Fernando Bell-Toxle didn’t seem to work, and early doors Basford struggled to put much together as far as attacking football went.
Dynamo had the first decent chance on 23, but Saul Deeney blocked Karl Demidh’s effort. When the ball was played out of defence, Conor Bartle pinged the ball into the box where Rob Duffy was on hand to nod it into the path of Kieren Wells, and the striker had the relatively simple task of rolling the ball past the outstretched arms of keeper James Martin.
Soon after, a challenge between Matty Thornhill and Louis Keenan left the Basford midfielder lying prostrate and unmoving on the pitch. Intitial fears were of a serious head injury, and paramedics were on the scene within a few minutes of the incident being reported, followed quickly by the Air Ambulance helicopter. Thankfully that wasn’t needed and Thornhill was able to walk to the changing rooms. After a check up by Ambulance crews it was decided it was best for him go to hospital for a more thorough examination. The good news is that Matt’s injury was not as bad as first thought, and he was allowed to go home – albeit with a thumping headache!
After a quick warm up, the game restarted with Deon Meikle taking up Thornhill’s midfield role. Basford doubled their lead on 37 after Dynamo keeper James Martin dallied on the ball allowing Bell-Toxle to nick it off him and fire home from an acute angle. H-T 0-2
James Reid’s set pieces have been a revelation this season, and it was his free-kick that was headed home by Rob Duffy on 50 – Martin made a valiant attempt to stop the ball crossing the line, but his efforts were in vain as the Assistant had already signalled the goal.
3- 0 up and the visitors took their foot off the gas, allowing Dynamo more possession. It took until the 88th minute for the home team to break down the very well organised Basford back-line, Karl Demigh firing into the top corner. The ball hit the stanchion and flew back out of the goal, but again the Assistant was spot on and the goal stood. F-T 1-3
The drive home was uneventful, with Kev his usual calm self on the M1 – and despite the lengthy stoppage for Thornhill’s injury we were home before 6pm..
Overall, a great day out – new ground, old friends, goals, air ambulance, paramedics and another win for Basford that sees them keep their 21 point lead at the top of the NP Div 1 South table.
