Saturday 22nd September and the sun was shining as I left my house just after 10am for the short journey into London Kings Cross ready for the 11.23 train to Peterborough with Arlesey being my destination.
Dulwich Hamlet had been drawn away to Arlesey Town of the Evo Stick Southern Premier, in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. This was to be the first competitive match between the 2 clubs and with the hosts currently sitting just outside a play off position after a start of won 5, drawn 1 and lost 2 this was going to be a tough game.
7 of us boarded the 11.23 for the 36 minute journey up the tracks to just north of Hitchin. The route to the ground from the station would see us visit all 4 pubs in the village & by 12.05 we were inside the first one The Old Oak. A large Greene King owned pub with the usual selection on draught from which a swift decent pint of Old Speckled Hen was had before the short walk to the renamed Vicar’s Inn (formerly the Vicar’s Inn, then the Steam Engine) . This is the only pub in the village that features in the Great British Beer Guide & has done for the last few years. A very homely little pub that rather disappointingly only had 2 real ales on draught. We all opted for a pint of Cornish Buccaneer from The Wooden Hand Brewery in Cornwall.
Just after 1pm we were on our way again and this time the destination was The White Horse, a good 10 minutes walk from the Vicar’s Inn and more into the village. Another large Greene King chain pub again with the usual fare but they had a guest beer on which was Farriers Best from The Coach House Brewery, a beer I had sampled before but still a nice pint. After watching 20 minutes of the live game on Sky in the back bar it was onto pub number 4. By this time the peloton of 3 were catching us up as they had left the Vicar’s and had by passed the White Horse. Pub number 4 was The True Briton a free house nestled just off Hitchin Road in a residential area.
The pub was okay but very quiet, the pub’s dog was more friendly than the barman but the Brain’s IPA pint was good and the pork scratchings were even better. Within 10 minutes the peloton were upon us after a quick phone call to check our whereabouts and our numbers had swelled. Arlesey Town’s aptly named Armadillo stadium was just a stroll away and we were inside their smart looking clubhouse by 2.30pm.
As well as Dulwich’s first visit to Arlesey Town it was also mine. A very tidy new ground with 2 open terraces, one behind each goal, a half length covered stand complete with seats on the Main Stand side, with a long covered terrace opposite behind the dug outs and oddly half of this terrace also had blue seats installed but no completed, not sure it was meant to be left like this!
Looking down the Arlesey team sheet it showed at least 6 ex Luton Town and league players one of them Sol Davis who played over 300 leagues games for the Hatters & Swindon Town before drifting into non league football. They also had Nathan Abbey in goal another ex Hatter who is assistant manager to he’s brother Zema.
The hosts started the game in control but were soon out muscled in the centre of the park by Vernon Francis and Peter Adeniyi. The Hamlet had a couple of half chances but only 1 produced a save from Abbey. Then on 43 minutes the crowd of just over 150 witnessed one of the worst open goal misses they will ever see. After a corner for Dulwich the ball was punted up to the half way line where Drew Roberts was waiting with a defender glued to him, as the ball dropped said defender slipped and Roberts went away with the ball, Lewis Gonsalves was beaten leaving Roberts with just our youth team keeper to beat which he did with ease by rounding him on the edge of the box only to then smash the ball with he’s right boot onto the bar and out of play….absolute classic miss which left the match goalless as the players trudged off for half time.
A quick bottle of Abbot Ale Special reserve was had in the bar while catching up on the league half times.
The 2nd half started with the hosts back in control and they should of taken the lead when Roberts crashed a free kick onto the bar midway through the half. A spate of booking for Dulwich followed but no real chances were fashioned. As the game moved into stoppage team and both teams looked like they would do it all over again on Tuesday at Champion Hill, Dulwich conceded a needless free kick just outside the 18 yard box. As the ball was repelled by the defence it fell nicely to Roberts who cut in from the right and unleashed a rocket in the top corner to all but hand victory to Arlesey. Another 4 or 5 minutes was played and it was all Dulwich pressure, a free kick was crossed in but everyone missed it then the best chance of the match fell to Kevin James who was just over 6 yards out with only the keeper to beat but he miscued he’s shot and I caught it in the crowd…less than a minute later and the referee blew he’s whistle signaling that Dulwich were out of their 2nd cup competition in a week both away defeats!
The ground quickly emptied of Dulwich fans and after bagging a crafty lift from a good natured local 5 of us were back in pub one The Old Oak. 2 pints later we boarded the 18.24 back to Kings Cross ending our adventure to Hertfordshire.
Ground number 310 for me today and as Dulwich have no game next Saturday I will be heading off to another new ground and possibly more adventures…
Til the next time….
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