Today I am watching the match between Bartestree and St.Martins in the West Midlands League, Division 1. Bartestree is a village just 4 miles to the east of the city of Hereford, while St.Martins hail from the Shropshire border town of Oswestry and ground share at the Welsh League champions, The New Saints.
The weather has been windy with rain this morning but is going to be just cloudy with sunny spells this afternoon and it's mild again. I have made the train journey to Hereford without any problems and have checked the bus time to Bartestree to be 1:15pm, (the game starts at 2pm) which gives me enough time to get a fish & chips at the bus station cafe. I also check by phone with the club's secretary to confirm that the match is definitely going ahead.
When I catch the No.476 bus that goes to Ledbury it takes us over the bridge over the River Lugg then through the village of Lugwardine and I get off at the stop in Bartestree just past the club's ground.
It's set in the rolling hills of the Herefordshire countryside. The football club was only formed in 1992. When I go past the sign at the ground entrance I walk along the path which lies at northern end of the pitch. The club's Vice-Chairman is waiting as he is collecting the entrance fee and selling match programmes. He tells me that in a few weeks there is going to be a small stand constructed on the western side of the pitch to give some cover for spectators and the club have received permission to install floodlights at the end of the season.
He directs me to the club house where I can buy a cup of tea and also says there are club badges for sale. I can see that there is a slight slope down to the far end of the football pitch. There is hard standing on the western side with the modern looking dug outs on the other, with a hedge at the back of the far end. Behind the western side of the pitch is located the Village Hall. At the back of this is the cricket ground and another football pitch, overlooked by the club house and changing rooms.
After buying my pre-match cuppa, club badge and raffle tickets, I make my way to the pitch where the teams come out. Bartestree are in their black and white striped shirts, black shorts and white socks. St.Martins are in yellow shirts and black shorts.
Bartestree having been struggling so far this season and currently occupy 14th place while St.Martins are in a healthy fifth place.
The first ten minutes sees a pretty even game with both sides having shots that fly over the bar.
Then Bartestree are the dominant team and create several chances before taking the lead after 20 minutes when their No.8 backheads a cross which had eluded the visitors keeper.
This stings St.Martins in to action and they have equalised just 4 minutes later. They are awarded a penalty when a Bartestree defender is adjudged to have handled the ball while sliding in to tackle pacy centre-forward, James Melusi, (as shown below).
The penalty is put away for the equaliser and this is becoming one of the best games I have seen so far this season. It's an open flowing match with both sides willing to attack.
Bartestree retake the lead in the 37th minute when their No.5 slots home with a shot. Then in the 40th minute, Bartestree's top scorer, Shaun Prince shoots in to the side netting after running on to a ball that's played over the keeper.
So the first half ends with the home side winning 2-1 and it looks as if there should be more goals to come. I find it hard to believe that Bartestree are in the bottom half of the table after watching them today.
I find myself walking behind the players when I make my way to the club house.
I decide to take position by the goal at the end where Bartestree will be attacking for the next 45 minutes. I have seen 2 other photographers snapping away this afternoon. Dave Matthews the Vice-Chairman, who is also the Programme Editor is taking some. One of his photos adorns the cover of today's programme, which is a good standard publication. Also there is a guy who is taking photos with a good quality compact camera and I think he might be with the St.Martins club.
The home team go on the attack again in the early stages of this half and within 6 minutes they have increased their lead when Darren Andrews scores with a good shot from the right and he is enthusiastically congratulated by his team mates (as shown below).
This sets the tone for the rest of the half with the home team having the greater share of the play.
Shaun Prince goes close to scoring with a glancing header and a shot that is saved by the keeper. Then he has a free kick after 30 minutes that is tipped over the bar.
St.Martins occasionally threaten and have a free kick that just goes over the bar.
After 34 minutes the Bartestree No.11, Mark Cooper, receives the ball from a quickly taken free kick, cuts in from the left and his shot is well saved.
Then after 41 minutes, a great cross from the right is met by the home sides No.8 and his header skims just over the bar. That would have been a great goal!
So Bartestree have triumphed today 3-1 against a team that on paper I thought would have probably beaten them. I think Bartestree are probably in a false position and will start climbing up the table soon.
St.Martins have played their part in an entertaining match and although they fell away in the second half I think they will finish in the top half of the table.
I would recommend visiting Bartestree if you have never been before, as they are a friendly, well run club and they have a good quality playing surface that makes it easier to play good football.
I pay the price of not checking the times of return buses to Hereford before I set out this morning and rather than wait for the next one at 5:30pm ( a wait of 1.5 hours) I decide to walk all the way back to Hereford, which is not that bad as it's nice countryside with some good views, at one point I can see the Black Mountains on the Welsh border.
Match entrance fee: £3
Match programme: £1
Match attendance: 33
Match entertainment: 8.5/10
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