TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (White Hart Lane)

FA PREMIER LEAGUE, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-2 EVERTON, ATTENDANCE: 36,192

After a great evening in Cambridge watching Beth Orton and sampling a few real ales, Sunday was a trip down the M11 to North London for Everton's Premier League clash with Spurs at White Hart Lane.

As you would expect, parking is limited around the ground so I did my usual routine of parking near Turkey Street station and getting the train in.



Get your Gareth Bale, sorry Spurs, scarves!

A trip to White Hart Lane is always a good day out, even though i've yet to see the Blues win at the Lane, as I consider Spurs a 'proper' football club, whose fans have probably seen more downs than ups, not unlike ourselves, but remain passionate about their team.

I travelled in anticipation of a good game and it did not disappoint. Spurs took the lead after just 35 seconds when Emmanuel Adebayor was allowed the freedom of the Everton penalty area to fire home.

After a Leon Osman effort went narrowly wide, Phil Jagelka equalised after 14 minutes when he headed home a Leighton Baines corner.

A superb solo effort from Kevin Mirallas gave Everton the lead after 52 minutes before Gylfi Sigurdsson rescued a point with four minutes to go, after Adebayor's initial shot had crashed back off the crossbar.

Victor Anicebe, who had one of his best games in an Everton shirt, had a chance to grab a winner at the death but Hugo Lloris was quick to make a fine stop.

St NEOTS TOWN (New Rowley Park)

SOUTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE, St NEOTS TOWN 1-2 ARLESEY TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 273

As I was heading East this weekend to see the wonderful Beth Orton in concert at the Cambridge Juntion, I had to find a game within radius. A local-ish derby between St Neots and Arlesey (there are 25 miles between each other)  in the Southern Premier, fitted the bill perfectly.

I had heard good reports from fellow 'hoppers about St Neots so it was to New Rowley Park I headed. The ground is a modern new stadium that was opened in 2008. As new builds go, I was rather impressed with the set up. Some thought had gone into the design and there was not a pre-fab stand in sight, which is always good news.

St Neots' current ground is actually their 3rd home in the last 25 years. Their original home, Shortsands, was sold off to property developers in 1988, which forced the club to disband after 109 years.

The club was reformed in 1990 and, after playing on parks pitches in a junior league, the club returned to the United Counties League in 1993  at a new ground, Rowley Park. This ground was then also sold off for housing but the developers, as part of the deal, the developers built the New Rowley Park.

The game had little riding on it, apart from pride, as St Neots were safely ensconced in mid-table, and the Manager in his programme notes admitted they were already plotting for next season, whilst Arlesey had an outside chance off the play offs, but even that was a real long shot.

The game was rather entertaining though as the visitors came from behind to take all three points.

There was not much between the sides in the opening 45 minutes and The Saints just about shaded the half. They took the lead courtesy of a great free-kick from Lewis Hilliard (pictured left) after 18 minutes and were pretty comfortable after that.

Whatever Arlesey player/manager Zema Abbey said in the dressing room at the break certainly worked as The Blues were a different team in the second half.

They levelled things up when a cross from Shane Blackett was headed home at the back stick by Chris Dillon after 58 minutes.

The winner came from Drew Roberts after 75 minutes when he smacked home a sweet shot from distance which flew into the corner of the net. The visitors had dominated the 2nd half and that fantastic goal deserved to settle any game.

Before I end though, I must mention the pie I had at the ground. It was a Steak and Stilton and it has to be the best pie I've had at a ground this season!! Tuck in my son.....



This flag was on display behind the goal at
the ground. I can only assume that St Neots
has a significant Kurdish Population who
are now Saints supporters...



ANSTEY NOMADS (Cropston Road)

EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES LEAGUE, ANSTEY NOMADS 0-4 IBSTOCK UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 82

For my final game of Easter Monday it was a trip up the motorway to Leicestershire for Anstey Nomads' evening clash with Ibstock United.



No need to apologise to me!

The board advertising the game outside the ground had an apology for the late kick off!

I have no idea why this game was an evening kick when the rest of the league played at 3pm, but I was very grateful as I allowed me to complete a cheeky treble. 

Founded in 1947, Anstey Nomads spent many seasons in the Leicestershire Senior League before winning promotion to the East Midlands Counties League in 2009. Cropston Road has been their home since their formation.

The game was your cliched "relegation six pointer" as both teams are near the foot of the table.

Ibstock United did not look like a team struggling near the bottom as they comprehensively outclassed their hosts. ex-Anstey player Chris Rudkin gave United the lead after 30 minutes when he prodded home from inside the box. A sensational long range strike from Carl Benson (40) doubled the visitors advantage.

It was Adam Joynson who added a third after 50 minutes before Benson's second after 65 minutes completed the scoring.

There were a few other local 'hoppers' present and speaking to one who told me that Ibstock have linked up with a local academy to provide game time for young players. Their team certainly impressed me this evening and they would appear to have enough to beat the drop.

I wish I could say the same regards Anstey who, after 8 game without a win, look like returning to the Leicestershire Senior League, I stand to be proved wrong.

An enjoyable game brought a conclusion to yet another mad Easter Weekend!!!

WELLINGBOROUGH WHITWORTH (Victoria Mill Ground)

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, WELLINGBOROUGH WHITWORTH 1-3 AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS, ATTENDANCE: 581

As said, It was a mere stroll to the next game as Wellingborough Whitworth's Victoria Mill ground is just over the fence from Wellingborough Town's ground.

Whitworth were formed in 1973 and have been in the United Counties League since 1985.

Today Whitworth were taking on another reformed club in the shape of AFC Rushden and Diamonds. This is the Diamonds' first season back in the Pyramid after the original club folded in 2011 and they are well in the hunt for the title.

Whitworth are mid table at the moment but are in a run of form of three wins in their last five games and, with it being a local derby, anything could happen.

However, it turned out to be a comfortable afternoon for AFC, well until they decided to attempt to mess it up in the final minutes!



Note the rear of Wellingborough
Town's Main Stand in the
background

The visitors were three goals to the good and cruising thanks to efforts from Jack Wisniewski (11) and Jake Newman (32 & 72)

With the end of the game approaching the concentration lapsed and an attempt to play the ball across the box was intercepted by Cavell Jarvis (90) who scored for the homesters.

The referee signalled five minutes of stoppage time and moments later a similar thing happened but this time Whitworth failed to capitalise. If that had gone in then who knows, but The Diamonds regained their composure to see the game out.

Match highlights can be found on this here link....

http://www.afcdiamonds.com/wellingborough-whitworth-v-afc-rushden-diamonds