Esh Winning v Tow Law Town

Hosts: Esh Winning FC

LOCATION REPORT

Venue: West Terrace, Waterhouses, Esh Winning, Durham DH7 9BQ

SatNav: DH7 9BQ

Parking: main parking (c.50+ spaces) + small onsite carpark (c.10) adjacent to clubhouse
Public transport: buses #52 [Durham/East Hedleyhope circular] or #43 [Durham-Esh Winning, 1 mile walk away]

Entry: adults £5
Programmes: £1

Refreshments: clubhouse (eg £1 hot drinks, £2 for pies/hamburgers)
Licensed bar: onsite clubhouse
Toilets: inside clubhouse
PA system: none

Covered stands/terraces:
(W) main stand, roofed = c.125 seated
(W) covered standing outside clubhouse
(N) 4 x covered wooden benches
(E) 4 x covered bus shelters
Open viewing:
(W) open standing on concrete tiering
(N) elevated view from bank behind goal, incl 4 wooden benches
(all sides) hardstanding + lean-on barriers all round

Floodlights: 6 (3 per flank)

MATCH REPORT

Kickoff: 7:30pm Wednesday 29 March 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division Two
Weather: chilly, dry, full moon, light breeze

Team colours:
Esh Winning = yellow shirts, green shorts
Tow Law Town = black/white stripes, white shorts

Official crowd: 91

Final [h/t] score:
1 [0] Esh Winning
3 [1] Tow Law Town
Sent Off: 0

Official League Report

NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS

It's an evening game; the weather is crisp and springtime is yet to break the winter pattern of cold and damp. Esh Winning's ground is tucked away behind mighty trees in the nearby hamlet of Waterhouses, a mile or so out of the village centre. As you drive off the winding road, you take the puddly track and swerve the potholes; following the high line of trees that skirts the old railway path beyond.
There is sufficient parking, certainly for an evening match, in either the small carpark adjacent to the entrance of the clubhouse or else the main carpark set a few yards away, which tonight is cloaked in darkness.



There's an entrance with a wee hut, but this is not open tonight and instead I access via the clubhouse, picking up a programme (which I later misplace, annoyingly!) and making my way through the bar with its television playing to an empty room, and then out on onto pitchside. The space immediately outside is under cover, with convenient access to the bar.

The main stand is painted in Esh Winning's customary green livery, with a steep metal roof. There are around fifty seats with backs, along with room for c.75 on benches (which tonight are largely used by people as footrests), so it can seat around 125+ under cover if required.

There is plenty of space around on all sides to pick your favoured spot. Notably, there's a high banking to the north end with excellent views. Here, you'll find eight wooden benches - of which four are covered - accessible via two banistered staircases.

Across on the far side, there is a line of four bus shelters providing further cover.





Around the pitch, the yellow-and-green metal barriers are flaking but complete, and there are curious strips of astroturf along the far flank to stand on.



The moon tonight is huge, possibly a full moon, and the night sky is starless, with a chilly light breeze tingling through me. Standing in the foothills of the large banking provides a bit of protection. There are also trees and tall grasses around the outfield, adding to the general ramshackle countryside character.

The teams emerge from different ends of the stand, with changing rooms situated at each end of the facility underneath. After the handshakes, we're off.

It's not long before the game adopts that familiar character of a local derby; a bit niggly, with plenty of backchat on the pitch and whinging in the stands.
Then a game of football breaks out, as the visitors grab an early goal through an impressive curling free kick; the away fans are happy, the home fans grumpy. 0-1. The flow of the game is constantly interrupted by niggle fouls and free kicks. I guess the word is feisty?

Voices carry on the still air, and you can hear private conversations from many yards away. I wonder if this is a common phenomenon. Whenever the ball bounces off the sloping roof, it disappears behind the stand.
Midway through the first half, I make my way inside for a pie. The clubhouse is completely empty, and the tv continues to play to nobody.
Half-time: 0-1.
A smattering of people stay outside during the break. An early-spring bumblebee zooms through the stand. An aeroplane rumbles overhead high in the blackness. A doggie in warm jacket get lots of cuddles and affection.

The game resumes. The home side are more urgent now, with noticeably better passing. There are gaps everywhere. It's end-to-end stuff, with honest hardworking performances peppered with occasional moments of real class.
Penalty! The visitors are awarded a spot-kick, and their kicker takes a stuttering run-up before sending the Esh Winning keeper the wrong way.
Lead doubled: 0-2.

But not for long. The hosts have an instant response, pulling one back from a corner. Game on: 1-2.
Local hearts are in mouths as Esh hit the woodwork... but Tow Law break on the counter-attack, and thanks to some scratty defending, the Tow Law striker turns in past the grounded keeper. That's kind of rough on Esh, who had found a real spring in the preceding minutes.



And that's how it ends: 1-3. Spoils to the Lawyers from over the hill.
The cold winds whistle through the emptying scene and, as the straggly threads of fans head inside to the warm clubhouse, my own thoughts turn to my warm car and warm house just around the corner.

MORE INFORMATION

Club Twitter: @EWFC1913