Today brought a very strange 2020-2021 season to an end. With very few leagues still playing (although there were a few pre-season friendlies), the Wensleydale League was always going to be the most likely league for a game today. Having made sure they were going to this game earlier in the week, I travelled with Katie Wallace, Lee Stewart and Shaun Smith. When I went to Richmond Mavericks vs Reeth & District Athletic Club a couple of weeks ago, it was my first ever game in the Wensleydale League, and this was only my second. The journey was down the A1 to Catterick and then a few back roads across to Harmby. We arrived just over 40 minutes before kick-off, so me and Lee walked up the hill to Harmby Waterfall which I had noticed on Google Maps. It’s hidden away but it’s a very nice feature for the village.
Although this was my last game of the season, it won’t be long before next season starts. I’m over in the Lake District next weekend, and I doubt I’ll get to a game, but if not, 2021-2022 will definitely start a week on Monday as Easington play their first game of the Ford Quarry Summer tournament. I’ll get my season review up during the week (probably Thursday).
Today’s Ferrand Park venue is a nice setting for a game of football. There are dugouts which back into a hill down the near touchline, and that hill also goes behind the goal where cars are parked. In this sense, it’s a bit like Waddington when I went there a few weeks ago. The building with the changing rooms is in the corner as you enter the complex, and there are plenty of signs with the club name and badge on. It looks like the majority of venues in this league are, but Ferrand Park is a pleasant setting for a game of football.
Upon kick-off, both sides had chances within the opening four minutes, but it was Spennithorne & Harmby looking the brighter side.
The hosts had numerous chances inside the opening quarter of an hour, most of which were saved, but their biggest chance of the lot was when their forward fired over from 6 yards when he should have scored.
Spennithorne & Harmby should have been two or three goals up by the 20 minute mark.
Halfway through the first half, chances became less frequent, although Spennithorne & Harmby were still in control.
However, just before the half hour mark, Hawes United took the lead. A free-kick just in front of the dugouts was lifted into the penalty area, and their man rose highest to plant a header into the far corner.
Five minutes later, Spennithorne & Harmby equalised. Their man did very well to slide in and keep hold of possession just as he looked to lose it, and he quickly got back to his feet to drive towards goal. He clipped a cross into the six yard box and it was headed home.
Late in the first half, chances were somewhat few and far between. The home side went close in the 44th minute, but it was level at the break.
Six minutes into the second half, a big chance came and went for the hosts, and Hawes went up the other end and regained their lead in the 55th minute. A very straight free-kick looked quite simple for the defence, but they didn’t clear and a Hawes man peeled off his marker to score with a first time volley.
There was then a 10 minute delay due to an injury to a Spennithorne & Harmby man.
In the 70th minute, seconds after the game restarted, Hawes doubled their lead. The injury meant Spennithorne & Harmby were down to 10 men as they had no subs, and it may have been costly as they were caught short in the middle. A simple ball put their forward in, and he finished well.
Spennithorne somehow didn’t score in the 74th minute. A low ball across goal created a host of chances, but they were all blocked and the final one was fired over.
Hawes scored their fourth in the 77th minute. It was quite a simple move again as a quick break played their forward in, and he side footed the ball into the net.
Two minutes later, Spennithorne & Harmby pulled one back. An attack down the left resulted with a pull back finding their man 16 yards out. He took control before shifting his weight and picking out the far bottom corner.
It was goals galore now as the hosts pulled another back in the 83rd minute, and it came through a lovely strike from the edge of the penalty area.
In the 87th minute, a bullet of a Spennithorne & Harmby free-kick crashed off the underside of the bar and looked to bounce over the line, but the referee said no.
Had the referee given it, the game would have been level.
And the referee’s decision proved decisive as Hawes went up the other end and regained their two goal cushion. A deep free-kick was headed back across goal, and a Hawes man was there to head home.
Now in added time, my attention turned to my phone to watch the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. I was delighted to see Nicholas T win it (not least because I had £2.50 each way on him at 40/1), and I was also delighted for Ben Robinson as he rides a lot of the horses I have/have had shares in.
The earlier injury meant there was a lot of injury time, and Hawes had a man sent to the sin bin in the eighth minute of added time.
It was 10 vs 10 now.
However, goals were still to follow.
A good finish in the 10th minute of added time saw a Hawes man slot the ball through the Spennithorne & Harmby goalkeeper’s legs to make it 3-6, and in the 14th minute of added time, Hawes number 14 scored. An initial effort was saved, but 14 was there to convert the rebound.
I’m fairly sure it was the first time I’ve ever seen a number 14 score in the 14th minute of added time.
I’m also fairly sure today was the first time I’ve ever watched back-to-back 3-7s after the game at the Stanks on Thursday night.
That proved to be that, and Hawes ran out 3-7 winners.
Full-time: Spennithorne & Harmby 3-7 Hawes United
That is it for my 2020-2021 season. As I said earlier in this write up, I’ll publish my 2020-2021 season review during the week, and I may be back next weekend with a game in the Lakes. If not, my 2021-2022 season will start with Chester-le-Street Town vs Easington Colliery a week on Monday.
Admission: Free
Attendance: Shaun Smith counted 50 including people watching from cars
Programme: No
Referee: John Dunwoody
Connor's Football Travels 