7.30pm 19 October 2021
Northern League, Division One
West Allotment Celtic 2 Billingham Town 1 (att 82)
West Allotment Celtic's move to a new ground seems to have happened without much fanfare, at least outside the North East.
Perhaps it was because it would have happened last season had it not been abandoned. Maybe it was because they moved into an existing ground, home to Northern Alliance side Forest Hall. Or perhaps it's because it still has the feel of a work in progress, as many new grounds at this level do.
That said, there are two small seated stands along one side and a covered standing area behind the near goal, making East Palmersville Sports Pavilion perfectly adequate for the Northern League.
There's floodlights of course, and plenty of room for expansion with only two sides currently paved and open to spectators. Having been nomadic for many years, it's good to see the club with a permanent base close to West Allotment.
The club earned promotion to the Northern League's top division after leading the second tier when last season was abandoned. They've made a slow start to life at the higher level, so this was a welcome three points.
A win didn't look likely early on. Billingham exerted all the early pressure, and it took some fine saves by West Allotment's keeper to prevent them from going ahead.
As often happens, they were punished for not taking their chances when West Allotment took the lead about five minutes before half time.
Billingham's equaliser was thanks to hesitation by the West Allotment goalkeeper. He failed to clear a ball at his feet, then having been closed down quickly his belated attempt to clear ricocheted off the pressing forward into the net.
The visitors were unlucky not to go ahead when a shot came back off the crossbar. They were still cursing that ill fortune a few minutes later when West Allotment broke forward and got what turned out to be the winner.
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