United Counties League

Division 1

Wednesday 21st March 2018

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Oakham United 1 Burton Park Wanderers 1,  attendance 28

47’ 1-0

86’ 1-1 (pen)

@ Lonsdale Meadow

Main Road (B640)

Barleythorpe

LE15 7EE

£5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

I had been a bit concerned about whether I would make a visit to the county of Rutland whilst Oakham United were still playing at Step 6, but needn’t have worried. Apparently, the club have been told that there will be no relegation from Division 1 of the United Counties League at the end of the season, which is good news for them, as they have struggled all season and are just a point above bottom club Stewart & Lloyds Corby, who they beat at home on Saturday. They haven’t been helped by a 3 point deduction, although they have no chance of catching any of the clubs above them even with those points. It doesn’t help when they are on their fourth Manager so far this season either.

With it being 19th versus 15th (out of 20) in the league table, I wasn’t expecting a very big crowd, but thought there would be more there than a pathetic 28. I was also surprised that a club at this level didn’t bother to do a match programme, as there must have been one done for the original scheduled Saturday fixture, but with such poor crowds it isn’t worth them bothering. They did give out a list of the teams, but there were no numbers, so not a lot of point.

Oakham battled well and having opened the scoring with a well taken volley early in the second half, they must have been gutted to concede a late equaliser from what looked a harshly awarded penalty, thus preventing them from picking up back to back wins.

Tonights ground visit completed the United Counties League for me once again and now takes the grounds required to complete everything down to Step 6 in England to four…….Penn & Tylers Green, Bristol Telephones, Helston Athletic and Sticker.