A quiet drive down the A38 and a snack in Lichfield didn’t prepare me for the mayhem to follow.
I was heading for the 1st round F.A. Cup game between Hendsford Town and Gainsborough Trinity. The Hendsford social media suggested parking at the Hendsford Hills Raceway, park and ride, which I found only had a few takers and only 1 coach to ferry fans on the short 6 minute journey. I think that I would have been better abandoning the car on any available space like everyone else.
You could see the ground at the bottom of the hill from the coach on what was a grey dull, overcast day with the temperature not getting much above 12 degrees.
There were queues to get in the ground, not surprising when 3886 were let into the ground. It could have been more as in my queue an adult and four children, a pensioner who swore he would never go again and a lad of about 12 clutching a £5 note with tears in his eyes were all turned away because the game was all ticket. How many more were there? Not everyone has access to the Internet or may not realise to check. I understand for security and safety reasons but perhaps there can be a way of accomadting everyone or a large banner/board at the entrance to inform.
Entering the ground, you are immediately impressed. A large, seated, cantilever stand sits in the middle of one side with changing and other facilities. All other sides are covered standing areas, one side and one end are well banked. The flat grass pitch set the whole arena off and all in all could accommodate a much higher level of football. The ground is reached through a housing estate on the edge of a park.
I had always wanted to visit Hendsford, a team that I have watched become one of the best teams in Non-League football, even winning the F.A. Trophy in 2004. Hensford were also the lowest placed team left in this seasons competition.
Hendsford Town F.C. 4 Gainsborough Trinity 4 (AET). Gainsborough won 5.4 on penalties.
Saturday 1st November 2024.
F.A.Cup 1st round. The Pitmen v Holy Blues.
16th inNorthern Premier League, West v 20th in Northern Premier League, Premier Division
Hendsford; black shorts white shirts with red and black piping on shoulders and down sides of the shirt. Gainsborough; All royal blue kit.
Witin 4 minutes of the start, a Gainsborough attack broke down
and 3 passes later, Manny Duku was put through to slide the ball home to give the home side the lead.
Gainsborough looked nervy at the back as their midfield was being overwhelmed, but their number 11
hit the cross bar intersection with the left post from distance.
10 minutes later, though, Hendsford doubled their lead on
21 mins when Omar Holness from 25 yards out on the right placed a curling shot into the top left hand corner, which the keeper just couldn’t get to. A wonderful strike.
Hendsford seemed to be first to the ball, harrying for everything and very competitive, whereas Gainsborough were just not settled and were in panic mode and must have been glad when half time came.
Gainsborough made changes at half time but their nightmare continued in the second half. In the first minute the ‘Pitmen’ hit the post and a few minutes later made it three nil when a cross from the left was headed across his own goal by a defender which the ball falling to an attacker whose pass was latched onto by Dominic McHale and he buried it into the net. Hendsford were in heaven, three up on their opponents.
With 64 minutes gone Trinity cleared the ball upfield after a strong hand ball shout and Javelle Clarke ran half the length of the pitch to pass to Declan Howe who volleyed the ball along the ground right across the goalkeeper to reduce the deficit. 12 minutes later, Javelle Clarke again skipped forward and passed to Declan Howe, who slotted the ball underneath the keeper to maybe set up a thrilling finish.
It looked like Hendsford had survived but deep into added time Will Lancaster, Trinity’s centre back, picked up the ball in the centre circle and purposely strode forward. From 30 yards he just thumped the ball against the cross bar and it bounced down onto the ground and into the net to make it 3.3.
The Gainborough team celebrated in front of their fans who were in a corner of the ground. A few spilled over onto the pitch, which seemed to be a cue for a group of home fans to invade the pitch and head for the away fans. The referee immediately took the players off, having previously removed a can thrown into the Trinity goal mouth and had smoke bombs dealt with at the start of the match.
The stewards soon calmed the situation and the referee restarted the game for a few minutes to complete the 90 minutes. Trinity had their momentum slowed but they did come closest to score.
Already exhausted from the 90 minutes the 30 minutes of extra time kept up the excitement.
Omar Holness put Hendsford ahead again after just 5 mins of extra time when a cross from the left was not dealt with and he put the ball into the net when it squeezed through to him.
Into the second period of extra time and Gainsborough came back again when Javelle Clarke raced through to latch onto a low cross from the right and place it into the corner of the net. Clarke had seemed lost in the first half when high balls up to him, playing as a lone striker, were easily dealt with by Hendsford. With the ball played to his feet in the second half, he was electric, getting two assists and the final goal.
So all square at 120 minutes we moved to penalties and it was still equal after 8 each. Then Dylan Wharton saved his third penalty in a row to give Jordon Helliwell the chance to put Gainsborough through. He calmly scored and although the tie was over the buzz from the game took ages to calm down.
Hendsford were distraught after being so close to winning but had played their part in one of the best cup games ever.
Almost an anti climax talking about the chips, which were hot, crispy, good texture, bit greasy but a realy good taste good taste. A very high score of 82.
The 44 page program was one of the best I have seen.
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