Date: Saturday 17th January 2009
Competition: Vodkat NWCFL Div 1
Venue: Robin Park Arena, Wigan, Lancashire
Attendance: 042
Ticket In: £3.50
Programme: £1.50
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Total: £5.00
A late change of plan and a postponement at Daisy Hill sees a re-arranged trip to the Robin Park Arena to see newly installed NWCFL team Wigan Robin Park take on Chadderton. As facilities for NWCFL teams go, Robin Park Arena is one of the better ones around. But for watching a game of football, it’s one of the worst. The pitch is surrounded by an athletics track, meaning that spectators must view the game from a distance away and the players look like ants. Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration there, but you certainly don’t feel part of the action from that distance away. Before their promotion into the NWCFL, Wigan Robin Park played their games in the Manchester Premier League, becoming champions in the 07/08 season. In their maiden season at this level, Robin Park are sitting near the top of the league after impressive results against AFC Liverpool and other teams near the top. They had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season which has dented their promotion hopes slightly, but they still find themselves as contenders for the title at this point. Their opponents are Chadderton, who lie 6th in the league only three points behind their opponents this afternoon, therefore both teams should be eager to pick up all available points this afternoon.
Due to the ever clouding and cooling conditions prior to kickoff, the pre-match was spent in the aptly named Red Robin Pub on the nearby entertainment complex, quite a nice looking establishment if you are ever in the area.
My personal thanks must go to Wigan Robin Park secretary Mr Taffy Roberts at this stage, for allowing me to stand pitch side to do my photography efforts, this was just one of the signs of the helpful and welcoming club that Wigan Robin Park are, something that is sadly missing from others. As the players emerge from the dressing rooms, Wigan Robin Park in their home colours of red and white striped shirts with black shorts and Chadderton in their changed strip of fluorescent orange, the strange observation was made that there were only two officials. The referee was only joined by one of his assistants and in a bizarre twist, the other officials role would be filled by some bloke in a tracksuit. My guess is that the other official got stuck in traffic or got lost or something. Both the goalkeepers were the captains this afternoon and after all the formalities with the match officials had been completed, it would be Chadderton to get the match underway.
The first action of note came just 20 seconds in as a challenge in the penalty area caused the Chadderton players to appeal to the referee for a penalty with just cause, but the appeals fell on deaf ears as the referee refused their request and play continued.
Down the other end in the 3rd minute, Robin Park won themselves a free kick in an attacking position, but the delivery was hit straight at the Chadderton keeper and without too much effort he gathered the ball. After this though, the game really stagnated with no real moments of excitement, both teams pretty much cancelled each other out and no clear cut chances were created. The next real moment of note came in the 31st minute when Robin Park thought they should have had a penalty for handball, but the referee thought otherwise. Though they had a very good chance to take the lead in the 36th minute when a Mark Evans free kick was played beautifully back into the box and Ryan Small managed to head the ball wide of the target from close range and a good opportunity to take the lead went begging.
But right on the stroke of half time, Robin Park did take the lead when a great through ball by Ben Kay found Mark Evans out wide on the wing. His cross into the box was headed on to the back post and looped back into the danger area by Andrew Miller. With the Chadderton defence not knowing what to do, Danny Worthington executed an improvised overhead kick to send the ball looping up and over the helpless Chadderton keeper into the net to break the deadlock. Not long after, the referees whistle sounded and the half was brought to a close. A sucker punch for Chadderton in a half really devoid of much excitement and action, just the odd glimpse here and there. Neither team has managed to dominate the other in the windy conditions and both teams look fairly evenly matched, although Robin Park will be encouraged to be leading. Here’s hoping for a more action packed 2nd half.
Half Time:
Wigan Robin Park 1 – 0 Chadderton
The 2nd half started in a far more open fashion than the entire first half and Chadderton almost levelled matters when great work down the wing saw a low cross blasted over the crossbar from close range. Chadderton had the next chance when in the 60th minute, a forward broke through the Robin Park defence but could only hit his shot into the side netting of the goal and his opportunity passed.
Chadderton at this point were looking the more threatening of the two sides and in the 66th minute, another effort from range forced Robin Park keeper Jason Foulds into a low save. An injury break occurred in the match in the 69th minute after a challenge left a Robin Park player on the ground in some apparent discomfort. It took him a while to get to his feet before having to be helped off the pitch. 75 minutes left to go in the match and the rain began to fall, one of the most exciting things to happen all afternoon, but Chadderton were still not giving up. Though Robin Park almost extended their lead in the 78th minute when a ball was played into the box and headed on towards goal by Ryan Small. Small’s header was dipping under the bar until the Chadderton keeper was alert to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
Chadderton’s last effort on goal came in the 88th minute when a quick goalkeeper clearance was pounced on by a Chadderton striker, but Robin Park keeper Jason Foulds was equal to the shot. The referee called the match to a halt not long after that and Wigan Robin Park could celebrate their victory.
As a game of football, this match didn’t set the stadium alight. The two teams pretty much cancelled each other out and prevented any sort of flowing football. The only breakthrough came from an overhead improvisation, though it was pretty impressive to watch. The result will keep Wigan Robin Park in contention with the leaders of the pack in the division. Nothing really much else to say, other than congratulations to Wigan Robin Park.
Full Time:
Wigan Robin Park 1 – 0 Chadderton
Due to the ever clouding and cooling conditions prior to kickoff, the pre-match was spent in the aptly named Red Robin Pub on the nearby entertainment complex, quite a nice looking establishment if you are ever in the area.
My personal thanks must go to Wigan Robin Park secretary Mr Taffy Roberts at this stage, for allowing me to stand pitch side to do my photography efforts, this was just one of the signs of the helpful and welcoming club that Wigan Robin Park are, something that is sadly missing from others. As the players emerge from the dressing rooms, Wigan Robin Park in their home colours of red and white striped shirts with black shorts and Chadderton in their changed strip of fluorescent orange, the strange observation was made that there were only two officials. The referee was only joined by one of his assistants and in a bizarre twist, the other officials role would be filled by some bloke in a tracksuit. My guess is that the other official got stuck in traffic or got lost or something. Both the goalkeepers were the captains this afternoon and after all the formalities with the match officials had been completed, it would be Chadderton to get the match underway.The first action of note came just 20 seconds in as a challenge in the penalty area caused the Chadderton players to appeal to the referee for a penalty with just cause, but the appeals fell on deaf ears as the referee refused their request and play continued.
Down the other end in the 3rd minute, Robin Park won themselves a free kick in an attacking position, but the delivery was hit straight at the Chadderton keeper and without too much effort he gathered the ball. After this though, the game really stagnated with no real moments of excitement, both teams pretty much cancelled each other out and no clear cut chances were created. The next real moment of note came in the 31st minute when Robin Park thought they should have had a penalty for handball, but the referee thought otherwise. Though they had a very good chance to take the lead in the 36th minute when a Mark Evans free kick was played beautifully back into the box and Ryan Small managed to head the ball wide of the target from close range and a good opportunity to take the lead went begging. But right on the stroke of half time, Robin Park did take the lead when a great through ball by Ben Kay found Mark Evans out wide on the wing. His cross into the box was headed on to the back post and looped back into the danger area by Andrew Miller. With the Chadderton defence not knowing what to do, Danny Worthington executed an improvised overhead kick to send the ball looping up and over the helpless Chadderton keeper into the net to break the deadlock. Not long after, the referees whistle sounded and the half was brought to a close. A sucker punch for Chadderton in a half really devoid of much excitement and action, just the odd glimpse here and there. Neither team has managed to dominate the other in the windy conditions and both teams look fairly evenly matched, although Robin Park will be encouraged to be leading. Here’s hoping for a more action packed 2nd half.Half Time:
Wigan Robin Park 1 – 0 Chadderton
The 2nd half started in a far more open fashion than the entire first half and Chadderton almost levelled matters when great work down the wing saw a low cross blasted over the crossbar from close range. Chadderton had the next chance when in the 60th minute, a forward broke through the Robin Park defence but could only hit his shot into the side netting of the goal and his opportunity passed.
Chadderton at this point were looking the more threatening of the two sides and in the 66th minute, another effort from range forced Robin Park keeper Jason Foulds into a low save. An injury break occurred in the match in the 69th minute after a challenge left a Robin Park player on the ground in some apparent discomfort. It took him a while to get to his feet before having to be helped off the pitch. 75 minutes left to go in the match and the rain began to fall, one of the most exciting things to happen all afternoon, but Chadderton were still not giving up. Though Robin Park almost extended their lead in the 78th minute when a ball was played into the box and headed on towards goal by Ryan Small. Small’s header was dipping under the bar until the Chadderton keeper was alert to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Chadderton’s last effort on goal came in the 88th minute when a quick goalkeeper clearance was pounced on by a Chadderton striker, but Robin Park keeper Jason Foulds was equal to the shot. The referee called the match to a halt not long after that and Wigan Robin Park could celebrate their victory.As a game of football, this match didn’t set the stadium alight. The two teams pretty much cancelled each other out and prevented any sort of flowing football. The only breakthrough came from an overhead improvisation, though it was pretty impressive to watch. The result will keep Wigan Robin Park in contention with the leaders of the pack in the division. Nothing really much else to say, other than congratulations to Wigan Robin Park.
Full Time:
Wigan Robin Park 1 – 0 Chadderton
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