It’s a warm Spring day, sunny, and I’ve nought else on. Why not travel across to Barnsley and watch the Under 21s with Nozzer? It must be 35 years since I’ve last seen a reserve game, back in the days when I’d have a fortnight’s holiday at my nana’s in Barnsley to coincide with the start of the season. Back then, reserve games were at Oakwell and the juniors played on the Queen’s Ground, adjacent to Oakwell. These days, the Queen’s Ground still exists (as far as I know, there’s that much of that ubiquitous metal fencing around it, as well as a sports hall in front of it) but the cricket pitch behind the away end at Oakwell has long since been bought up and turned into more practice pitches for Barnsley FC, including an all-weather astroturf pitch (with sizeable stand). Next to that is a grass pitch with seats built into the hill overlooking it, though, sadly, no roof.
There’s a sizeable crowd this afternoon too, maybe 200 or so. I guess it’s the weather rather than the opposition, albeit it is a local derby. Star 17 year old Jalo (currently away from the first team, injured) has come to see his age group buddies, along with reserve right back Barry Cotter. Good on them. I also saw 1st team manager Collins on the way out. For irregular watchers like me, there’s only 2 players I’m especially familiar with, forwards Aidan Marsh, a diminutive, direct, left footed attacker, and Max Watters, the proverbial donk...I mean, big lad up top. 24 years old and so bad he’s relegated to this, punting around with a bunch of youngsters, staring at the Oakwell stands not 200 metres away. (For the uninitiated, Watters was so bad on loan last season that we signed him. Only BFC...etc)
Some of Wednesday’s players are MASSIVE and Watters is dominated by whoever is marking him. Marsh meantime is MOTM, running at Wednesday, scoring an excellent 20 yarder, and not letting the defence get any peace in possession. However, the visitors enjoy the majority of the chances and the Reds keeper makes some excellent saves, though he’s powerless to stop a header. Then, deep into injury time, Wednesday clear a corner to the edge of their box, their player looks up...and can’t believe the only player stood on the halfway line is their centre forward. Inevitably the ball is played into the acres of space and said player runs onto it to hammer home. Comical, and the Reds coach can be heard wondering where the defender was who was meant to be stood in the centre circle to counter this kind of thing. Oh well. At least it wasn’t the first team.
Oh yeah, and Washday had Bruno Fernandes playing for them. No wonder they won.
The Damage:
c.£8 petrol
free ent
= c.£8
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