Auld Park, NESFA League One, 24/5/24
Me 309, Wee Man 174
Haven Football Club
Founded – 2016
Nickname – N/A
Honours – NESFA League Two – 2017. Victoria Coaches Cup – 2017 and 2019. Ardallie Cup – 2017
Random Fact – The club are the most viewed by us to date in the NESFA
This time of year is great for two reasons, the first being Amateur cup semis and finals being played at Junior and Senior grounds. The second being the goal ridden Welfare fitba is on the go again, the set up that took us the 30 miles north east of Meldrum tonight. People have bucket list places to go. Not many would have St Fergus to see Haven. Well in truth it was not really a bucket list item , more of a “when will we see them at home” type question from both of us which had gone on for a long time. In the three summers we have watched this set up Haven have been the visitors on four occasions and we have both mentioned visiting Auld Park for a while. The fact there is a new chipper in the town sold it to me. Let me say, the chips were excellent in a double cooked type style, the steak pie was not bad and the jumbo sausage chaser was bloody fine. A good addition to the town is my take away from it.
On the theme of new things, a new ground for the both of us and I was impressed with it. Sitting right on the edge of town the first thing that strikes you about Auld Park is its flatness. Its perfect. It’s a superb example of a of a non-non-league pitch. Once you are at pitch level you forget you are in the town and just think you are in a field in the middle of nowhere as it is dug down so civilization is only apparent with the kirk poking up and the occasional police presence in cars passing(surely to do with the nearby gas terminal). Big fan of it, as is Wee Man as it is kitted out perfectly for a kickabout.
Then the game started and it was not the close game I thought it would be. Invercairn were streets ahead from the off. They were in the lead early doors when Gary Patterson arrived to boom home a header from six yards off a corner. The goal was so quick Wee Man was still rubbing his nettle sting with a docking leaf from the pre-match kick about and missed it. The game was not to ignite a contest at any point and Haven were limited to very little chances with off the top of my head only seeing Gordon McLennan in the Belgar goal tested twice. It was one way traffic. Invercairn were unlucky not to have more early after calling the haven keeper into a couple of decent saves and also seeing an effort crash off the bar. But the second did come when a ball over the top saw Invercairn with a spare man going forward and that was Joel Watt who netted with ease. Haven did have the ball in the net when PA Bruce knocked a cross in from a couple of yards. But the referee adjudged that the ball had gone out before the cross. I am not too sure that decision was the correct one . I am fairly certain the ball wasn’t fully over the line. But the ref who was further away than us decided it was. Then from the resulting goal kick, Belgar scored a third rubbing salt into the wounds of an already perturbed Haven. A long ball up the park led to a corner and when swung in, saw a Haven man knock into his own net when under pressure. When you looked at it it could have been one of three players who put it in. I was sure it was Joel Watt but have been assured it was an own goal. A poor goal and notably another poorly defended set piece. Game over before the half you would have imagined.
HT 0 v 3
The kick about had a bit of a difference at half time as two kids (Lewis and Griffin) joined in. Jake was wary as Lewis had rangers gear on and said he didn’t want to play with him, but they ended up pals by the end of the night. The wee dafty that he is. So it was turns about taking shots at Jake until the second half began, this where we swapped sides of the park at Jakes wishes. This saw the two other laddies come with us, then saw the kick about multiply by a few Invercairn side kids too. So I watched the second half unfold on my tod as Wee Man was taking advantage of the delights of Auld Park’s wee goals and who could blame him. The direction of the game didn’t change much and it was Invercairn on the offensive early with two dangerous freekicks early on. It did look like it was only a matter of time before the Haven net was breached again and it was but in an extremely offside manner. At least two players were offside as they slid in for the ball with Watt getting there first to poke it in. It was offside as I was right in line and saw it clearly. But it was not detrimental to the game as it was only heading one way. The Haven keeper Scott Pirie was called into some more saves one of which from Watt was stunning as it was behind him when he got to it and scooped it out. But there was still another Belger goal to come and it was Dan Cowie who rounded off a excellent performance on a very good night for the visitors. Surely a bad day at the office for Haven as they clearly have some decent players . I am sure we will find out as I have been told we must go back as “the kick abouts are ace”. Well so was my chipper meaning there are two reasons to return.
Welcome back the “summer league”. 1 game, 5 goals and counting
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 33
Pie – £6.00, Steak Pie supper from St Fergus Fish and Chips
Pint – N/A
Score Predictions – Me 2 v 2 , Wee Man 1 v 2
Season Score Predictions Total – Me 2 v 1 Wee man
FITBAWBAG 