The winning ticket worth £75 was claimed for the pulsating finish v Basford United – the winning prizes this year are listed on the 50/50 tab. 3 more membership forms were also handed out so hopefully our numbers will increase.

BARDS 1-0 DOWN AFTER 42 SECONDS BUT EQUALISE WITH 2 SECONDS TO GO!

As a football fan, there are few things more satisfying IMO than a last gasp equaliser against a side in the lead slowing the game down (as you do). 5 minutes added on at the end turned into 8 with another booking for timewasting, the usual sub and the opposition goaly lying on the ground until springing up when the referee blew the whistle for a corner to be taken, as Basford slowed the game down even more at 2-1 to protect the points. There can’t be many games at The Arden Garages Stadium or elsewhere that have had a goal after 42 seconds and 2 seconds from the end.

Mikey Taylor and Martin Riley were in the starting XI after signing this week and there was the welcome return of Liam in goal. 4 centre halves across the pitch, 4 central midfielders in a narrow diamond shape, and the absence of certain attackers in the 16 (whilst not privy to knocks and injuries apart from to Dan Vann last week), led to the belief that we would pack the centre of the park again. (news broke later in the week that Jack Storer and Dexter Walters had “left by mutual consent”)

As it was our last home game before Remembrance Sunday, flags were put up, a stall was in the FanZone and a minute’s silence was held.

With Bards conceding an average of 2 goals per game this season so far, 2 more were conceded within the first quarter of an hour on a gloomy afternoon with the new floodlights on from the start. For the 2nd game running Bards conceded a goal virtually from the kick off, 42 seconds was all it took for Basford to attack down their right and a cross was headed in with ease. Attacking down their right side again, a low cross was tapped in unchallenged after 14 and it was not looking good with Basford on course for their first win in 4. The ref was letting a lot of challenges go which led to a good old-fashioned game of football but caused some frustration amongst both sets of players and supporters but IMO he was consistent.

It took 75 minutes for the Basford keeper to make a fine save from Sammons’ piledriver as the game was spent mostly in the Basford half with the away side not really threatening after going 2-0 up. 5 minutes from the end with Bards now virtually camped in the Basford half, a magnificent volley from James O’Neill after a great chip from Will setting him up led to the proverbial throwing ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ at the visitors. Liam came up for corners, Wright’s header was cleared off the line and with the last attack of the game, Hawker chested the ball from a headed clearance and drove the ball low into the corner of the net to loud cheers from The Bards faithful as he became our top league scorer with 4. 2 seconds from the restart the final whistle below. A point was deserved through the tremendous fight and passion The Bards displayed especially towards the end – Some weren’t sure it was 4-star entertainment stated by The Non-League Paper but the last 15 minutes were enthralling – as the club website stated a ‘roller-coaster’game. Highlights courtesy of Basford – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Divio2fiRT8

We’ll see you on Tuesday 15th November for the Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd round against a West Bromwich Albion side.  First, we have an away game at play off chasing Coalville on Saturday. Coalville reached the 1st round of the FA Cup losing 4-1 at Charlton. We won at Coalville 2-1 in 2018/19, 1-1 in 2019/20 and lost 3-1 last year meaning we haven’t won our last 4 games against them.

DW – any views are those of the author (and on twitter!)