Denmore Park, NOSFL Championship, 12/5/26
Hall Russell United Football Club
Founded – 1968
Nickname – N/A
Honours – North Region Cup -1992/93. North East Division One – 1989/90
Random Fact – The club are a phoenix of Hall Russells FC who existed from 1915-1963. The only club to this day who have been beaten Scottish Junior Cup finalists from this area. This 3 v 0 defeat came against Newtongrange Star at Tynecastle.
Giving Wee Man the choice of game tonight he selected a trip to Bridge of Don.(Again shunned Pittodrie).A fine option for me as it gives me an opportunity for some book three reccy work as the club will feature.
With the season a ball hair away from over, things are coming to a head in the leagues. With the Premier up here being arguably one of the most exciting leagues at any level in the country, it has over shadowed the Championship somewhat. But the top end of the second tier has also been excellent with up until a couple of weeks ago, a handful of teams still in contention for the auto promotion spots.We headed to Denmore where a win for the hosts would guarantee promotion to the Premier League next season. That was a definite. Another scenario would see them still in the hunt for the title if Fraserburgh United slipped up versus Banchory at Milton Park tonight. Interestingly, the latter would see the Brochers v Hall Russell on the final day for a straight shoot out for the league trophy.
Could Glentanar (also in the next book) throw a spanner in the works and keep the hopes of automatic promotion alive for Newmachar United while pissing on Hall Russell’s chips for now? No and they did not even threaten to in the end.
Denmore Park is a strange one, I have been there many times to watch games but its rarely been the Juniors. Its been Nicolls XI or Hall Russell juveniles back in the day when my pals played for them. Thinking back I think I have only watched the Juniors on one occasion. Wee Man on the other hand had only been here to watch East End when they had pitch issues a couple of seasons ago, this being one of the reasons he chose the game tonight.
A big occasion for the home side as they were looking at a return to the top flight after a four year absence and it was a simple path to the Premier in the end. If HR could do the business they would surely want the favour from Banchory but going up must have been the main aim. Russells started the better side and were on the attack in swathes in the early stages. This always seeming to come down the left hand side via winger Junior Emea. Hall Russell were clearly up for this and despite seeming to attack down the left all match so far the opener came from the right when Nurian Shehu sent a ball into Finlay McDonald who held the ball well to lay off to Jay Ingram who made no mistake from 17 yards. McDonald was unlucky not to get on the score sheet when he was stopped by a sound save from Logan Miller (on him I thought he was a very decent keeper. Very good with aerial ball and quick off his line). But the keeper could not stop him soon after when a corner from Emea found the forward who slotted the ball into the bottom corner with ease. The Glens defence seemed flat footed if truth be told. From here it seemed promotion mission accomplished but what was happening on the banks of the Dee 20 miles away? It was still 0 v 0.
HT 2 v 0
As I drank my coffee out a proper mug, (the simple things in life) there was a strange view at the other side of the Denmore perimeter fence. Two Mallards walking through the long grass. This in the complete wrong direction of the nearby pond in the housing estate. As they meandered through the grass they headed towards Hermes. Maybe they had heard the ground was called Lochside Park and got the wrong idea. Back on the park the second half was pretty similar to the first. Not a huge amount of action and but playing out more in the home sides favour. A third came from the spot when Ingram was wiped out to no complaints. Up stepped Boima Willie who made no mistake from the spot. Given the lack of final third action and the time left on the match, it looked like I was heading for a correct score prediction. But I should have known better as once again like many times before and most likely many times in future, I was kicked in the nuts by a late goal. Thank you Aeden Gray, tidy finish it has to be said, but no use to me. Cheers min! Shortly after the final whistle blew and Hall Russell were up. But that’s as much as it was to be as out in Banchory, Fraserburgh had netted three goals with no reply in the second half. But I don’t think the men in Navy cared as when we reached the car the shouts of “we are going up” rang around the Denmore Industrial Estate. Fair play and congratulations. Still a cup final to go so the season still may get better.
I may have lost out on the correct score with a late goal, but it could have been worse, we could have been at Pittodrie.
Entrance – Me £7, Wee Man Free
Attendance – 54
Pie – £3.50 Coffee, Crunchie, Snickers
Pint – N/A
Score Predictions – Me 3 v 0, Wee Man 2 v 0
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 3 v 3 Wee Man
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