Middlesex F.A. Premier Cup
Quarter Final
Monday 28th January 2019
Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.04
Kensington Borough 0 Harefield United 6, attendance 47
10’ 0-1
30’ 0-2
49’ 0-3
72’ 0-4
81’ 0-5
90’ + 5, 0-6
@ Middlesex County F.A. Ground, 3G Pitch No.1
Rectory Park
Ruislip Road
Northolt
UX5 6DE
*£5 Admission, including free 8 page programme.
I came to Rectory Park at the end of July, on a night where there were pre season friendlies being played on the two 3G pitches here. I opted to watch the game on Pitch 2 that night, as I thought it less likely that I might see a game on there in the future, especially as Pitch 1 had two seated stands, so was more likely to host a competitive match at some stage. It does host the matches of Middlesex County League, Premier Division club Lampton Park, but they haven’t played any midweek fixtures there, so the gamble to tick off Pitch 2 paid off when this fixture appeared.
Since my last visit, there is now a cafe at the ground, which does a huge range of hot food as well. Typical ‘London prices’ and I think it is the first time I have ever been at a match where a hot drink cost more if you had milk in it! Sugar was still free!
The set up here doesn’t really meet the requirements for staging a match between two Step 6 teams, as you enter the reception and then go into the cafe, which is actually the entrance to the pitches.*Unless you wanted a programme, (I didn’t bother) which in effect would cost you £5, there was no admission charge as you would have to go back out to pay. Not sure why they didn’t charge money pitchside, which would have made more sense, or even come round and collect money during the match. It was also odd to see the teams and match officials having to come through the cafe to get access to the pitch.
Kensington Borough, (groundshare at Leatherhead F.C.) are third from bottom in the league table in the Combined Counties League Division 1, having won only three of their twenty two matches this season. Harefield United, on the other hand, are still undefeated, having won 21 and drawn 2, as they sit top of the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1. The game went exactly as expected. One unusual occurrence was when ex-Queens Park Rangers (plus 35 other clubs apparently!) striker Richard Pacquette struck an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner which would have made it 0-4 and completed his hat trick. The ball hit one of the wheels that are on the transportable goal frames and came back out……it was clear to everyone that it had gone in…..except the match officials. At least it didn’t have any effect on the final outcome.
