Newcastle Town 1 Leek Town 2 (26th December 2022)
I have friends who love the cold of winter. I don’t get it. What part of thinking “Aaghfreejjbzz it is cold” when the wind chills you beyond rational thoughts, is the enjoyable part?
It was that kind of day at Newcastle Town FC yesterday, with those standing atop the exposed open terrace that ringed the ground’s unique velodrome setting, shivering away, more concerned with their own personal discomfort than for the poor souls braving the same in shorts and t-shirts on the pitch.
Had the overworked tea bar offered any kind of view of the pitch, its steamy confines, offering the feeling of being tucked into a warm duvet on a cold morning, would have been even more packed than it was. The food wasn’t bad either. I can definitely recommend the chicken burger.
When you have been to over 400 grounds (let alone the total of my mate, zeroing in on 1000) somewhere that’s a bit different is a big bonus, and the cycling track is a first for me. In truth you could say that without the track, it wouldn’t be exceptional, but that like saying a certain tower in Pisa would be ordinary if it didn’t lean.
OK, Newcastle Town’s ground isn’t likely to feature on quite as many postcards, but with all of the viewing positions being at the top of the cycle track, you probably can’t get a better view anywhere in the non-league game. The main stand, the place normally offering the best view, was more sparsely used than you’d usually expect as a result, although it’s off centre position, not to mention facing directly into the low sun and biting wind wouldn’t have helped.
The opposite side offered a covered terrace with some chunky steps of terrace, and was pretty popular on this afternoon due to it also being a wind breaker.
With the winter sun already on its early plunge to the horizon, the stage was set for a keenly fought local derby with Leek town, currently going well near the top of the table. Leek took the field in a kit the colour of lime Opal Fruits, which rather than ‘making my mouth water’ made me want them to lose, as such florescent kits would always be in my personal footballing Room 101. When FIFA ask me to take over running the game (strangely no call yet) they will be one of the first things I ban, along with footballers’ wearing socks pulled up over their knees, and Sweet Caroline being played over the PA.
With that in mind, I favoured being behind the goal Newcastle Town were attacking, in the hope that ‘the form book would go out the window’ as the cliché insists it does on derby day. In truth, it wasn’t the best game. Maybe the bitter temperatures impacted both sides, as neither team really looked like they were enjoying being out there.
Leek had the edge, but both teams were struggling to create chances. Leek had the first big chance, when a ball over the top was collected about 40 yards from goal, looking more than a tad like he was offside. From there he ran through, one on one, and looked to have done everything right before the ball somehow rolled wide of the far post.
A well hit shot from distance was also firmly parried over the bar by the home keeper, but Newcastle Town had a gilt-edged chance of their own. With a ball not cleared in the six yard box, it sat up nicely to be nodded into part of the net the keeper wasn’t guarding. Again, it looked a certain goal, giving the keeper no chance from that distance, but again the direction somehow saw it go the wrong side of the post.
Right at the end of the half Leek went in front. A returned shot through a crowded area seemed catch the home keeper out, somehow finding its way into the net, to the delight of the Leek team and their fans, who probably outnumbered the home contingent on this day.
Half time was spent in the soon to be extended club bar, enjoying both the much needed warmth, along with knowing I hadn’t set out on a seven hour round trip on a freezing day for a 0-0. Like many others, I delayed going back out until the last possible moment. In fact, I think some stayed the for the whole of the second half.
The second half was eventually a bit better than the first, although for long stages it looked like Leek were doing just enough to hold the home side off, sitting on their lead.
For Newcastle Town, the best chance looked to be a set piece, but delivery was letting them down. Too many corners and crosses were failing to beat the first man. Eventually Town’s persistence was rewarded when a shot was blocked by a Leek arm though, and the resulting penalty was smacked down the middle to level the scores.
Thoughts that this could see a momentum shift didn’t last long though, as a low shot from the Leek right was turned in at the far post, to put the away side back in front so shortly after beign pegged level.
Newcastle Town pushed again for a second equaliser. They came close. Best was a late chance hit low across the six yard box. Bodies were thrown at the ball, and a lesser connection would probably have spun in, but instead it became an inadvertent clearance past the post, being the third chance of the day that looked a certain goal, but wasn’t.
By this time many fans had already decided they’d had enough of shivering, and retreated to their cars or the bar. Not long after, the ref, who I suspect played as little added time as possible given the icy chill, blew the whistle.
Overall Leek probably deserved it, just having the edge. Despite the hideous away kit, I am pleased to see Leek doing well, after enjoying a trip there a few years back. Hopefully Newcastle Town can look forward to better, not to mention warmer, days ahead, in the rest on the season.
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