Combined Counties Premier North
After ticking off a visit to Hungerford at the fourth time of asking last weekend, it was time to attempt another local club that had escaped me so far. Holyport isn’t the easiest to get to via public transport but after a 45 minutes bus ride and a further half an hour hike to the ground from Maidenhead station, I’d finally made it! Entry was £8 for adults and sadly no printed programme.
Both sides went into this game at the wrong end of the table, British Airways sitting in 16th and Holyport in the drop zone in 19th place. An important game for both sides with just six points between the two sides.
I received a very pleasant welcome and, as usual, headed towards their food hut. I’d heard good things about the food at Summerleaze and it certainly didn’t disappoint! They have a decent menu as you can see below and, being back on the burger at football trail, I had their Port Burger, a 6oz burger with bacon, cheese and topped with a fried egg for £7 which was delicious!
After devouring the burger and having a good chat about all things Combined Counties League with two lovely ladies from the visiting British Airways team, I then headed for a walk around the ground. It’s a pleasant ground with seating in their stand on the right hand side and plenty of standing space around the rest of the ground. There is a stream on the right behind the stand and the field to the left looks likely to be developed into new housing in the near future. They also possess the largest technical areas I think I’ve seen on my non-league travels!
So, onto the game. After all the recent rain the pitch looked sticky but playable and the hosts started well forcing two early corners which were well defended by the visitors. British Airways came into it after the early barrage and only some solid defending kept them at bay, a cross from the right flank from Trae Payet found Frankie Major who saw his effort well blocked with the loose ball falling to Tristan Goodridge on the edge of the box whose effort was charged down superbly by Dan Wilson.
Back came Holyport and a good run down the left from Ramon Rose resulted in a pull back to captain Andy Forisky who struck it well but it struck one of his own forwards in the area and deflected off over the bar.
In the 18th minute, a loose ball in the middle was picked up by Alfie Essex for Airways and he played a lovely ball over the Holyport defence picking out Goodridge on the left side of the box. He shimmied past the defender to the byline and cut the ball back into the middle where Major finished well under pressure. 0-1
The game got a little scrappy after the goal with neither side able to keep hold of the ball for any length of time. Approaching half time the home side had a couple of half chances, a nice crossfield pass found the run of Rose down the left flank. He crossed it into the centre but behind Lucas Suparnu who was crowded out and unable to turn, and then a ball over the top found Freddie Lewendon who raced onto the ball but was always running away from goal and could only put his effort wide.
H-T: Holyport 0 British Airways 1
The hosts again started the half quickly with a Suparnu shot from outside the box going narrowly wide. Back came the visitors with Goodridge finding space in the box only to see his shot brilliantly saved to his right by Will Cullum in the Port goal. Ten minutes into the second half the visitors doubled their lead. Goodridge won the ball in midfield and travelled towards the box where he played a nice one-two with Herman Quaynor and fired low into the bottom left corner. 0-2
Goodridge was now taking the game by the scruff of the neck, on another foray forward he picked out Quaynor who sent a shot goalwards which Cullum tipped over the bar. The hosts pushed for a way back into the game but were undone by a long clearance from the visitors. Cullum came rushing out of his area in a foot race with Quaynor and missed the ball completely leaving Quaynor to roll the ball into the empty net. 0-3
British Airways then made three substitutions taking off the two goalscorers and the influential Sean Alexander in midfield and suddenly the home side started pushing them back with substitute Zak Zaoui looking lively down the right flank. On 80 minutes they gave their selves a lifeline when Harry Laflin fired past Eric Negraru from just inside the box. 1-3
Another substitute Liam McVicar hit a good effort goalwards from outside the box only to see it go straight into the midriff of Negraru, and a good McVicar cross from the left was flicked on by Wilson but again straight into the arms of the keeper. Holyport kept the pressure on during the near 15 minutes of added time but just couldn’t find a way through.
F-T: Holyport 1 British Airways 3 Att: 74
A decent game on a tricky surface with the visitors coming out deserved winners. They had much more of a cutting edge in the final third with Goodridge and Quaynor both impressing. Holyport kept going for the whole game but without really putting enough pressure on the away keeper. This result moves British Airways further away from the relegation places but leaves Holyport in deep trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Summerleaze Park and thanks to all at the club for the friendly welcome and hospitality, I’m sure I’ll be back next season! It promises to be an interesting close season for British Airways and I’ll try to cover one of your home games next season.
Wishing the very best of luck to both sides for the remainder of the season!
