And so to the Autonet Community Stadium at Norton Cricket Club & Miners Welfare Institute in Smallthorne, a working class district just outside Stoke. Today's game features Norton United and Brigg Town in Evostik Division 1 South.
Norton are a comparatively new club, set up in 1989 and promoted through the
Staffordshire, Midland and North West Counties Leagues. 2014 saw them win the
latter, and meeting ground criteria, move up to Step 4 of Non-League. It has
also seen them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, with a
home tie against Gateshead next weekend.
Past a rather
bewildered looking youth sporting a ginger Mohawk outside the revamped Orange
Tree, and then beyond the vintage Belle Vue bus in Bowdon, it's a return to the
Potteries. So yes, more M6 patchwork tarmac and imbecile drivers, before
turning off through Middleport, Longport and Burslem, with Price's National
Teapots and the defunct Ceramica museum en route.
Then it's into Smallthorne, avoiding Jupiter and Saturn Streets, with the
football club on Community Drive, tucked in amongst the maisonettes. The
Institute, a far more imposing building and with the longer history, is on the
right and the football club, with its solitary turnstile, on the left.
The admission sign says £5, but on proffering the correct change, I'm met with
a bemused 'What's that for then?' The gateman is thoroughly confused, and we
eventually establish that £5 is actually £7, and no I'm not an OAP......
A narrow alley, next to an artificial pitch, leads down to a raised walkway
beneath which is the covered seated area. Two sides of the ground are bounded
by trees and those maisonettes, and one end is open, looking out onto distant
densely packed housing in one direction, hills in the other. The popular side
holds the clubhouse, balcony and changing rooms, reached by steps up the grassy
bank. There's also a small covered area next to the dugouts on the far side,
and a walkway round the pitch.
Norton are in
their red and black stripes, with Brigg in change pink with black flashings,
rendering their shirt sponsor illegible. Norton are mid-table, but the Zebras
are not enjoying their 150th anniversary - next to bottom, 9 players out
injured, only 2 subs, and defeated 7-2 by the only club below them, Kidsgrove.
In a cold, blustery wind, Norton start energetically, attacking with pace. The
Zebras' goal leads a charmed life with keeper Robert Zand making two good saves
and Norton hitting the bar. Shortly after Brigg's rather portly central
midfielder leaves the fray with a broken cheekbone, a free kick falls to
Norton's Paul Taylor who confidently strokes home.
Brigg have been poor but are galvanised, hitting the bar twice and then the
post within a minute. From the ensuing corner, Timothy Taylor is tripped (no
ale involved !!) and captain Anthony Bowsley scores from the penalty spot to
equalise on the half hour. Soon after, on the counter attack, Tim Taylor hits
an arrowing strike into the roof of the net. 'Zee-bras' is the cry from the
travelling faithful, and Brigg comfortably maintain their lead till half time.
Within minutes of the start of the second half, there's a second penalty as
Norton's keeper takes out the onrushing forward - Bowsley scores again for 3-1.
Elliott Broughton then scores on the hour with a composed finish after truly
horrible defending to make it 4-1. More 'Zee-bras' and disbelief at what looked
a home banker, especially after the game's first quarter.
Norton have been aimless for the second and third quarters of the match,
coughing up possession far too easily and guilty of overplaying and kamikaze
defending. Manager Scott Dundas has seen enough and makes a triple
substitution.
Within moments we have the game's third penalty, this time for the home side.
The linesman deems it a fair tackle but the referee overrules him; Thomas
Winkle scores and Norton believe...... Five minutes later Paul Taylor gets his
second, heading a long throw into the top corner as Brigg start to cave in.
Unsurprisingly an equaliser arrives after Lee Cropper volleys in a left wing
cross. Fireworks light up the sky and the heavily tattooed home supporter next
to me, looking like death warmed up, celebrates by opening another can of
Special Brew.....
The agony goes on for the Zebras, as an unsighted Zand fumbles a shot from the
edge of the box, and Michael Lennon taps home. Then the best goal of the match
- all one touch pass and move, the ball then played into space behind the
centre back and Lennon sidesteps the keeper and tucks home.
Four minutes from time Jon Beaumont heads home a corner, the assistant flagging
that the ball crossed the line. Six goals in 21 crazy minutes to leave the
crowd stunned as Norton win 7-4 in truly a game of four distinct quarters. The
talking point - whether the Gateshead scout left after 65 minutes..... ?
Quite, quite extraordinary ☺
