Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division

ASHBY IVANHOE 2 (Willars 64 Chambers 90og)

BIRSTALL UNITED 4 (Seals 4 Man-Keil 37 Headly 71 Raye 84) Williamson sent off 50 (2nd booking)

Att 37 (h/c)

Entry FREE

No programme

Cheese/Bacon Burger £3

Tea 65p  from a mobile van

Hood Park is not the most exciting of venues, tucked away behind a leisure centre, like an embarrassment. The generator for the floodlights spluttered into life and occasionally belched a dark cloud into the dark skies. No cover save for the overhang of the leisure centre, and nothing to eat except from the burger van whose occupant turned of the internal light when not serving to allow a better view of the action.

But what action it was. Watching Ashby at Ratby last week revealed that they couldn’t defend, and they shipped another 4 completely avoidable goals. Even the dismissal of Williamson who managed to collect a booking for persistant infringement in the 28th minute, didn’t cramp Birstall’s style, although they did score a quite brilliant own goal to offer their hosts scant consolation.

Referee Rob Massey turned out to be the biggest personality on show. He had a fine game, but he told a lovely story to his linesmen as I jotted down the line ups. He’d just referreed a game at Repton Public school. He abandoned the game after 60 minutes after sending off 3 in 4 minutes! He also pointed out that Jeremy Clarkson is one of their most famous alumni!