Northern Counties East League

League Cup 2nd Round

Tuesday 28th November 2023

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Louth Town 5 Armthorpe Welfare 0, attendance 116 (official 105)

45’ + 2, 1-0

74’ 2-0

79’ 3-0

83’ 4-0

86’ 5-0

@ The Welton Group Stadium

Main Road (B1200)

Saltfleetby St. Peter

LN11 7SS

£5 Admission

£1.50 Programme, 28 pages

Team Sheet, free.

Tonight was the first midweek game played under the newly installed floodlights here at Louth Town. The ground is in the village of Saltfleetby St. Peter, out in the middle of nowhere, seven miles from the town of Louth itself. Unless you’ve got a car, getting here (let alone getting back afterwards) on a Saturday would be difficult, but for a midweek game, I would think pretty much impossible. It didn’t seem to affect the crowd number too badly though, as it was just into three figures (I counted 11 more than the official attendance). As well as the lights, there is a seated kit stand on the halfway line and a small bit of cover on the front of the clubhouse, although it’s set back from the pitch. The spectator access is limited to just two sides, with the dugouts opposite the stand and the far goal end out of bounds as it has another pitch beyond it. Hot food was available in the clubhouse and although the programme is an on-line version, they were running off printed copies for those who wanted one, as well as giving out team sheets.

The match was a clash between two Division 1 teams, 11th versus 20th as far as league positions go. It was very even in the first half and looked like it would be goalless at the break, until Louth opened the scoring in stoppage time. The second half saw Louth get on top, but they didn’t add a second goal until sixteen minutes from the end and with the game now safe, they managed to run in another three goals. The 5-0 scoreline was harsh on Armthorpe, as they are a far better team than their league position suggests.

As ever, the journey into the wilds of Lincolnshire was arduous, well, once you go past Peterborough. At least I only had to contend with one road closure coming home, as the M25 was closed between J13 and J11. Tonight’s game once again completes the Northern Counties East League grounds for me.