10 YEARS ON: BIDDULPH VICTORIA 0-3 BARWELL: ARTICLE, TWO POEMS & 9 IMAGES...

Feisty Biddulph Fail To Derail Barwell Latecomers

2010: Biddulph Victoria 0 Barwell 3 (Att. 80)

I hate the M6. I was held up on my journey from Birmingham. Twice. And so were some of Barwell’s players, hence the 8pm kick-off. Washing hung on a line, a wooden fence aged behind the dugouts, one of which drooped at its centre and the sloping, uneven, undulating pitch did not augur well for a passing game. 

The Vics were tough and uncompromising but didn’t lack pace, as Barwell’s players were harried and hustled, yet despite an unusual penalty miss by Charley, the Canaries, as usual, found a way to win. 

It’s what they do. 

There was no Cunnington, Dutton, Castle, Julien, Orton or Hier in the starting line-up for the guests, only maybe three available substitutes too but still Barwell forced the game, with Towers looking quite dangerous in attack, using his turning skills. Green was a constant thorn in midfield and Letts showed a few smart touches on the right. Knibbs was powerful at the back and his verbal support was demanding of colleagues. 

The deserved opening goal for Barwell arrived in the 12^th minute, when Letts picked up a short free-kick on the right and crossed to the far post where Green made a prodigious leap to head across the ‘keeper, off goalie Heeps’ left glove and into the net in the far corner. 

Towers was then pulled over from behind by Chadwick, who was eventually cautioned and a penalty was awarded but unusually, Charley didn’t put as much pace on his shot as usual and the mouthy Heeps dived left to save. Towers reached the rebound on the right bye-line but Charley was denied by Pearson at the near post and the danger evaporated.

Amazingly, on the half-hour Charley was reprieved, as Hadzik’s back-pass was intercepted by the striker and he rounded Heeps towards the right to score comfortably into the bottom far corner of the net from an angle.

Barwell had been the more industrious team on a difficult surface, without really looking like world-beaters but at least the Vics were snapping at their heels and keeping the game lively. Towers appeared to be relishing his central role but with Green dominating in midfield and Knibbs in control in defence, it would take a monumental effort for the hosts to get back into the game after the break. 

However, the dissent was reaching ridiculous proportions and a member of the Vics’ coaching staff was sent to the shed. Subsequently though, a third goal killed the game off for Barwell and it was begun by Knibbs’ 70^th minute throw on the left flank. Towers turned his marker at the left corner flag after receiving the throw and centred low for Letts, 16 yards out at inside-right and the midfielder drove a low cross-shot past the angry Heeps into the far corner of goal.

The game was finally ended as the weather turned cold and the Biddulph players certainly looked aggrieved about the officials’ performances but they were well beaten in truth and despite fielding feisty individuals, their offensive play was generally tepid. Lower was typically involved for the visitors and Green was irrepressible but Towers would have been pleased with his contribution… 

Charley? Missed a penalty. Then scored. 

It’s what he does… 

Biddulph Undermined

Angled sections of turf,

Like an uneven mosaic:

A kaleidoscope of green

Under evening dew,

Beaded in floodlighting,

Or Victorian gas-lighting…

Sloping gently away to level ground,

Biddulph’s valued heritage lay: 

Its hallowed cricket arena, 

With spooky, white pavilion 

And score-box fading into

April’s evening oblivion, 

Guarded by canine spectator, 

Ignorant of angry footballers,

With their profanity, 

Their insanity

And their ambiguity, 

Which infected 

Their sporting demeanour.

Pete Ray

April 2010 

Biddulph’s more cared for cricket-area made the soccer pitch look like a run-down inner-city wasteland.

Biddulph, New House

Dull line of weekly washing

Hung like a reminder 

Of yesteryear, 

Behind palings,

In the shadow of an obscurity:

A modern dwelling,

Incongruous,

Conspicuous,

Like a baseball-cap

In a milliner’s window

And forced into an available space:

To the surroundings simply adding incredulity…

Pete Ray

April 2010

A corner of the Biddulph ground, with a new house squeezed against the fencing and the washing hanging out.