A short move along the A6 Trunk Road from Boxing Day’s  Matlock game you come to Bakewell.

Today I’m not visiting this Derbyshire market town for a much sought after Bakewell Pudding but to see Bakewell Town FC play Long Eaton United Community in the Central Midland Football league Macron Store Stoke Division One South.

A Bakewell Town FC have been in existence since 1883 but todays incarnation is from a merger of three local teams in the 1999/2000 season to play in the Hope Valley League and to step up to the Central Midlands League recently. Long Eaton United Community are the reserves side of Long Eaton United and field a very youthful development team.

The players get changed in the Cricket Pavillion and the home team put up the nets, corner flags and a one strand perimeter fence in the Recreation Park. A crowd of about 30 comes and goes during the game with the stalwarts using the park benches to watch in comfort.

The pitch was flat but a bit bumpy, wet through and heavy but the grey skies do not look like rain. The recreation ground was busy with people walking dogs and just strolling with the backdrop of the Derbyshire hills.

Bakewell 1 Long Eaton 3

Long Eaton are a very youthful side and their deliberate short interpassing game saw a dividend on 5 minutes when No.9 turned neatly and fired under the Goalkeeper for the lead. Bakewell didn’t give up and their more physical game exerted enough pressure to draw level through Aaron Maund whose run and shot from the left was deflected to loop over the Long Eaton keeper. Half time soon came round and was a reflection of how well the young referee had kept the game moving to the point of no added time being needed.

A quick ten minute half time break for this 2 o’clock kick off, no lights here, got us back in action and Bakewell started stronger. Long Eaton though were still very much in the game and on 62 minutes No.9 again netted, with his left foot this time, after his first attempt was blocked.

The Long Eaton keeper who made some good saved, particularly with his legs to beat advancing forwards, made a wander save from point blank range with 25 minutes left when a goal seemed certain. Just a minute later the Long Eaton No. 7 hit the crossbar with a free kick which should have been scrambled home by the attackers.

With just a few minutes left the No. 9 for Long Eaton scored his hat trick when a shot from the left was deflected in off the goalkeeper.

Long Eatons Nos. 7&9  and Bakewells No. 2 were the men of the match.

No refreshments here and no charge. Perhaps a bucket collection would have gained some money for the club and the players efforts who gave a competitive enjoyable game on a difficult surface.