A night out in Barlick

01 September 2010 13:58
This Saturday is Non League Day and last night I had the opportunity to take in a second game this week and attending the Vodkat League Premier Division game between Barnoldswick Town and Rossendale United. Amazingly, this was my first ever visit to the Silentnight Stadium, although I have watched cricket right next door in the past, and, the welcome was warm as the £4 entry was paid along with a further £1 for the match programme.Homemade pie and peas were available in the club house. They looked tempting but already having had tea I had to give that a miss, although I did enjoy the cup of tea ahead of the game.It's enjoyable watching a football match when you don't really care who wins, able to watch the game rather than following the performance of one of the two sides as I always do when watching any involving Burnley, and this one was a cracker.It was a close game, and one where a bit of needle cam e in which was ably assisted by a referee, Mr Gary Chapman, who really did make Howard Webb look like the best in the world. He was being assessed and whether that got to him I don't know but I suspect he'll still be filing his reports right now given the number of cards he produced.The home side included three former Burnley youth players in their squad list, although Paul Barrett was unavailable due to a holiday. Robert Grimes was on the bench while Jack Overson was in the centre of the Barnoldswick defence.The other Burnley link was that of home forward Robbie Smith. His dad Jeff, and brother Connor, have both been apprentices with the Clarets.It was Smith who provided the real highlight of the night with a goal of real quality to cancel out a Nathan Bond goal that had given Rossy a 1-0 lead early in the second half. With a quarter of an hour to go the ball was played into the box, was knocked down for Smith who hit a screamer of a shot into the corner from just outside the box.It completed the scoring, the game ending 1-1, if not the drama. It was inevitable in a game of so many yellow cards that the red would finally be produced.It took all three officials to converge in the centre circle before the card was waved at a Rossendale player. At this point I was close to the visiting dugout and I can confirm , from what I heard, that the manager was not very impressed with the decision and would have liked to have seen a Barnoldswick player go as well.All in all, a really enjoyable night, and I later found I was one of an attendance of 152.It was good to see other visitors to Clarets Mad had been to the game between Ramsbottom United and Padiham, a game that featured four ex-Clarets in Ben Hoskin, Tom Bradley, Cayne Hanley and Joel Pilkington.Padiham is my destination on Saturday for their league game against Flixton on what is Non League Day, and we've already learned that there are a number of other games that will see Clarets Mad representation - at Bishop's Stortford, Mickleover Sports, AFC Fylde, Harrogate Town, Spalding, Guiseley and Pershore Town.

Source: FOOTYMAD