Vodkat League Division 1
At: M-way Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 51
Weather: icy cold wind, dry
(see also 1/11/08)
For my third visit to Springbank Stadium, it was a repeat of my first game there 13 months ago when Dominoes and the Old Boys netted seven goals between them. The 2008/09 renewal again produced a hat-full of goals and bags of controvercy.
This time it was eight goals, five of them scored by Dan Brown, four red cards, two uncontested goals and the Stone manager ordered from the dugout. There was plenty of reflect on at full time.
After a few family duties in the morning, I got to the ground via Old School Wines on the A34 in nearby Tittensor - a Austrian Riesling to look forward to later in the evening.
Since the begining of the month (game versus AFC Liverpool), new signs have gone up around the complex to promote a new sponsorship deal which means the ground will be known as the 'M-way Stadium'.
Once again, teamsheets were available in the clubhouse with programmes (£1) at the entrance.
With lights on from the start, Stone got the game underway attacking the car park end (or right to left as I looked onto the pitch from my seat around the half-way line).
The score were level when what looked like being the main talking point occurred.
Play was briefly held up when Stone’s Anthony Marshall required treatment after get in the way of a well-struck free-kick hit by Gareth Rowe. When the action resumed with a drop ball, Leek's Michael Machin took the ball forward unchallenged and slotted past Stuart Pope. After some discussions, Dan Brown was allowed to level things up with an uncontested equaliser. Goals were timed in the 15th and 16th minute. I've heard about this kind of things and seen it on TV but never in the flesh until now.
The Old Boys regained the lead in the 24th minute through Mark Thorley before Stone midfielder Alex Baird was sent off for a second booking just before the interval.
Stone looked to have an unhill task to salvage just a point until they got back level in the 64th minute. Stuart Scheuber deceived visiting keeper Gavin Deaville with a looping cross-cum-shot from the right when went in via the far left-hand post.
Brown looked to have missed a great chance to put his side ahead in a one-on-one with Deaville, but quickly made amends by converting a pass from Liam McKinney.
Both Curley and Hambleton escaped with just a booking after clashing off the ball in the 76th minute. The referee was certainly kept busy in a game littered with free-kicks and cards.
Three minutes later, Brown scored Stone’s fourth goal, latching on to a perfect pass from Curley and confidently firing past the helpless Deaville.
Deaville again denied Brown with another fine save but was furious with his defence when the Stone striker struck again in the 87th minute. Scheuber threaded a measured pass which Brown confidently netted.
As stoppage time approached, Curley committed a high tackle in front of the dugouts and Hambleton retaliated before the referee could take action. Things then escalated out of hand.
Curley and Hambleton were not surprisingly sent off and followed, before play resumed, by both Old Boys skipper for a second booking and manager Hollinshead.
Brown wrapped up a memorable individual performance with a fifth goal in the ninth of ten minutes of injury time. He netted after Chris Rowley’s initial shot rebounded off the bar.
