Bedfordshire County League

Premier Division

Saturday 4th February 2023

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.33

Riseley Sports 3 Caldecote 1, attendance 27

15’ 1-0

33’ 1-1

61’ 2-1

85’ 3-1

@ Riseley Playing Field

Gold Street

Riseley

MK44 1EG

No Admission

Programme available online only.

It was good to finally get back to doing a new ground visit where there was a grass pitch. I hadn’t done a non-3G ground since visiting Wake Green Amateur back on January 2nd, a run of 11 successive caged grounds, although I did do a re-visit at Haywards Heath Town during that run, which does have a proper pitch, but even that was 4 weeks ago.

I was limited somewhat by having done an earlier kick off in St. Albans, but I was still here half an hour before kick off, helped by the fact that this league reverted to their more ‘normal’ 14.30 kick offs today, as we edge towards the lighter nights. The game was a mid table clash, as 10th hosted 9th (out of 16). It was good to see two teams going all out for the three points, rather than just trying to avoid losing and it was an excellent game to watch as a neutral.

Riseley opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, firing in at the near post after a lucky ricochet fell perfectly for their striker. Caldecote levelled just after the half hour mark, when a quickly taken free kick caught the home defence napping and the striker finished coolly in a one on one with the ‘keeper. Riseley went back in front just after the hour, when a cross from the right was finished at the far post with a cushioned finish into the far corner. Caldecote came close to levelling, when a shot hit the post, but bounced right across the face of the goal, but Riseley made the game safe when they added a third goal five minutes from time, when a challenge just outside the box ended with the ball being deflected high over the ‘keeper.