6.30pm 14 April 2014
Midlands Regional Alliance, Division One
Pastures 6 Bargate Rovers 0 (att 18)
I'd heard that Pastures played on one of the more interesting venues in this league, in the grounds of was once a mental hospital on the outskirts of Derby, and I wasn't disappointed.
The imposing hospital has been converted into apartments, but still looms over the sports ground, where the main feature is a very overgrown, and treacherously uneven, terrace the length of the touchline.
A pavilion in the corner, with a overhanging in front to provide some cover and some tables and chairs outside, provides an alternative spot to watch the action. Behind the far goal is a cricket pitch, although I couldn't tell if it's currently in use, and the cricket pavilion certainly looks abandoned.
The only downside to the venue, at what is now known as Mickleover Country Park, was the state of the pitch. The grass needed a cut, and where the grass was thinner, in the centre, the surface was rock hard.
The playing surface won't have helped, but there wasn't a lot of skill on show. Despite that it was very entertaining, as Pastures strolled to a win that was even more comfortable than a 6-0 scoreline might suggest. They should have scored more.
Bargate, bottom of the league, arrived with 11 players and no subs, and were unfortunately reduced to just nine men during the game due to injuries, although they were very much second best even when at full strength.
Midlands Regional Alliance, Division One
Pastures 6 Bargate Rovers 0 (att 18)
I'd heard that Pastures played on one of the more interesting venues in this league, in the grounds of was once a mental hospital on the outskirts of Derby, and I wasn't disappointed.
The imposing hospital has been converted into apartments, but still looms over the sports ground, where the main feature is a very overgrown, and treacherously uneven, terrace the length of the touchline.
A pavilion in the corner, with a overhanging in front to provide some cover and some tables and chairs outside, provides an alternative spot to watch the action. Behind the far goal is a cricket pitch, although I couldn't tell if it's currently in use, and the cricket pavilion certainly looks abandoned.
The only downside to the venue, at what is now known as Mickleover Country Park, was the state of the pitch. The grass needed a cut, and where the grass was thinner, in the centre, the surface was rock hard.
The playing surface won't have helped, but there wasn't a lot of skill on show. Despite that it was very entertaining, as Pastures strolled to a win that was even more comfortable than a 6-0 scoreline might suggest. They should have scored more.
Bargate, bottom of the league, arrived with 11 players and no subs, and were unfortunately reduced to just nine men during the game due to injuries, although they were very much second best even when at full strength.
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