Bowman on the Road: Excitement at the Proact meanwhile Ian goes back to drawing board

Last Saturday Sponge and I took the opportunity to travel north into Derbyshire where Chesterfield Fc became number 87.

The trip started with a quick detour to Wolverhampton Races on the Friday evening. Owing to traffic we missed the first race but other than that we had a great time. Dunstall Park is a stunning vista under lights and the Premier Stand is very well equipped. While I managed a couple of nice singles which paid for the evening Ian secured a share of the place pot which was no mean feat. He picked up enough for the whole trip !. After the last race we then drove 70 miles across country to Chesterfield. A quick turn around and back into the city centre for a beer and a curry.

After a lazy morning we had a quick wander around the town. That famous old crocked Spire a real feature of the area. At around 2.30 we travelled by bus out to the Proact ground taking our place in the North stand along with around 770 Posh fans. The Proact is a wonderful new build (2010) with two neatly curved main stands and two excellent covered stands either end. I am sure its a massive improvement on their original home Saltergate but as always there will be fans who miss the old place. Chesterfield must be congratulated in possessing a fine new home facility.

In very soggy conditions a pulsating match unfolded. An exciting 1st half ended nil nil but during the 2nd half all hell let loose. Deservedly Posh took the lead with a scrappy goal from a corner right in front of the away fans. Debutant Tom Nichols stabbing home. Then Peterborough seemed to press the self destruct button as first Smith and then Santos were both rightly given their marching orders. That gave the Spireites a golden opportunity to take all three points. However the nine men, buoyed on be by their travelling army, stood firm against attack after attack. Some how against all the odds Posh hung on to a monster 3 points on the road. Home fans left scratching their collective head!

That rain then followed us all the way back to Mid Sussex but the old Peuguet 206 never missed a beat. A another exciting and memorable trip completed.

Meanwhile, fans have to take the rough with the smooth when following your team around the country. It was certainly the former for the Hillians last Saturday as the club made and exciting trip into London to face Wingate in the Ryman Premier league. Barmy Army member Steve Wright sends the following short report :-

After the midweek win over Enfield we set off for West Finchley in good heart and hopeful of at least a point against the team who replaced the Hillians as having the worst form for the previous six games.

As the crow files it is not too far to Finchley but its location in London means the driving route is via Wembley and the North circular so we decided to go by train which including a travel card was only £8.65 for the day. The 10.49 Thameslink took us to St Pancras so the Parcel Yard in Kings Cross station was the choice for some refreshment followed by a quick hop on the Northern line to West Finchley and a very pleasant free house called Inkies where we watched Leicester continue their remarkable season.

The short walk to the ground showed how strong the wind was and it was obvious it would impact the game. The ground is an old one but is nicely done and the pitch was excellent so much so that on arrival at the ground we thought (from a distance) it was a 4G pitch!

We played against the wind in the first half and struggled to adapt to the conditions and the home side were three up within half an hour. It remained like that until half time and with the change of ends we had some hope that a comeback was possible which is what was relayed via text and on the phone to supporters further afield for their football fix. However we could not use the wind in the same way as the home side and only seven minutes into the second half conceded a fourth which meant in reality game over. A fifth followed and right at the end Will Miles did well to score a consolation but it had to be considered a bad day at the office especially as versatile defender Toby Pointing was stretched off – Hopefully not too serious and a speedy recovery

The journey back this time went via Farrington and an hour in the Weatherspoon’s which was its usual reasonable self and then to the Brewers Arms in Burgess Hill for the finish to the day in the company of other Hillians

All in all it was a surprisingly good day given the result as the beer was good and the journey an easy one.

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