Friendly

Wednesday 12th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.35

Cranfield United 3 A.F.C. Oakley 1, attendance 53

8’ 0-1

20’ 1-1

33’ 2-1

86’ 3-1

@ Cranfield Pavilion 3G Pitch (Bedfordshire F.A.)

Lower Breaches Gardens

off Pincords Lane

Cranfield

MK43 1AH

No Admission or Programme.

This was Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 (Step 6) versus Bedfordshire County League Premier Division (Step 7). The game was played on the Cranfield Pavilion 3G pitch, which is a standard cage set up with spectator viewing along three quarters of one side and a pair of dugouts on the other. It runs parallel to the Cranfield United ground (which I had visited in October 2002) where the players got changed and walked through to the pitch. The clubhouse at the main ground was also open for hot and cold drinks.

The match was very keenly contested. Oakley took an early lead, but Cranfield had turned things round to lead 2-1 at halftime. Wholesale changes were made for the second half and Cranfield made it 3-1 with four minutes left, cutting in from the left, before beating the ‘keeper with a shot at the near post. The last ten minutes or so were played with the floodlights having gone off at 9 o’clock (assume on a timer cut off) but there was still enough light for it not to be a problem.