Football

Spratton v Roade

Northamptonshire Combination League

Premier Division

Wednesday 24th April 2024

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Spratton 0 Roade 6, attendance 31

22’ 0-1

26’ 0-2

36’ 0-3

45’ 0-4

62’ 0-5

74’ 0-6

@ Spratton Sports & Social Club

Smith Street

Spratton

NN6 8HW

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was a must win game for Spratton. Anything other than all three points would mean they would finish the season second from bottom in the league table and be relegated. Roade, on the other hand, came into this in fourth place, just six points adrift of leaders Corby Strip Mills, but with a game in hand and a point behind second placed Blisworth, having played the same number of games. Earls Barton were third, on the same points as Blisworth, but they only have one game left (as well as having by far the most inferior goal difference) so can finish no higher than second.

Spratton Sports & Social Club has a couple of pitches. As you enter from Smith Street, the clubhouse/changing rooms are to the right, with a small sized pitch in front, whilst the main pitch is to the left, running parallel to the road and was roped off along each touchline. Despite kicking off on time, the Referee decided to play two forty minute halves (plus stoppage time of two minutes first half and one in the second). I’m not sure whether the ‘extra’ ten minutes would have helped Roade improve their goal difference by any more than the six they did manage, but it could come down to the matter of a goal or two that decides the title on the end. As it was, they were 0-3 up by halftime and scored three more in the second half. Considering Spratton lost their ‘keeper to injury after the second goal, replaced by an outfield player, they did well to keep the score down to six. They rarely threatened the Roade goal, but certainly didn’t make it easy for the visitors and put in a fully committed effort right to the end.

So, with three games left, it is still all to play for at the top, with Corby Strip Mills on 60 points (GD +45), Blisworth 58 points (GD +40) and Roade 57 points (GD +44).