WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN (The Dog and Duck Ground)

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN 1-0 IRCHESTER UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 120 (h/c)

After the exertions of the previous few days, I did not want to travel to far this Easter Monday. However, when the opportunity of a 'cheeky treble' reared it's head, then it was another early start for a jaunt to Northamptonshire & Leicestershire.

Wellingborough Town and Wellingborough Whitworth's grounds are next door to each other on London road, so when Town were playing at midday and Whitworth at 3pm it was a bit of a groundhopping no brainer.

The Dog and Duck ground is situated behind a pub of the same name and has been Town's home since 1902. They are lucky to be able to still call this home after the original club folded in 2002, as part of the ground was partly built on for a Travelodge. The Dog and Duck is also home to AFC Rushden & Diamonds (more of which later).

The club was reformed in 2004 by a group of supporters including former snooker world champion Peter Ebdon, who is the club President and whom the main stand is named after. The club was originally formed in 1867 which made it the oldest club in Northamptonshire. They were in the United Counties Premier when they folded mid season and they were re-admitted to the league in 2005

Town were taking on local rivals Irchester United in their bid to avoid the drop. Town were fourth from bottom at start of play and, with United rock bottom of the United Counties Premier League having only won one game all season and conceded over 120 goals, the homesters had to be nailed on for victory.

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As you would expect for two teams struggling at the wrong end of the table, the game was not a classic by any stretch of the imagination.

As expected The Doughboys dominated possession and had the bulk of the chances but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping meant the game was settled by solitary first half strike after minutes.

The victory gave Town some much needed breathing space but doomed United to relegation.




For the next match of the day it was a few yards walk around the fence....