Fulwood Amateurs FC

 I had tried to do Fulwood earlier in the season but having arrived into Blackpool where I was staying it was that gut wrenching feeling and confirmation that the game had been postponed. I just wandered around Blackpool, went to the cinema and had fish and chips that day, made the best of a bad job. There was no such problem today though, a big crowd expected as it was the NorthWest Ground Hop and unusually an 11am kick off. I arrived into Preston at 0745 and caught the 43 bus straight upto Fulwood, being in the ground early had its advantages as I was more or less first in line for an excellent bacon and sausage sandwich and cup of tea


The crowd was building, Fulwood were very well prepared with plenty of volunteers helping out and the pitch was excellent however by full time with the rain pouring down it was a mud bath. 519 was the announced attendance and i think it's excellent that these clubs earn a good pay day as there's plenty of days where they'll earn nothing.


The game got going and Fulwood were on the front foot, to be expected with Garstang propping up the table. They scored early on and excellent cross out to the left wing and into the forward who made no mistake, a second followed straight from kick off, Garstang fell asleep and the number 9 just ran through and slotted home, Fulwood 2-0 up after 9 minutes.


The game entered a scrappy phase and Fulwoods management knew this, barking 'get a 3rd don't let them get one back to make it interesting,' however thats just what they did a mix up in the box and fired into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. There were e calls for calm and just to see out the half, but they couldn't even manage that, the ball sent in, the keeper fumbled and the Garstang forward was there to profit, 2-2 heading into the break.


The second half was a tense affair with both sides having real clear cut opportunities to win it, but there was to be no more goals. Fulwood probably shaded things but Garstang dug in and earned a creditable draw although a point apiece doesn't really do either side any favours. 


I caught the bus back into Preston, where I was staying, luckily I had planned to miss the second hop at Thornton Cleveleys as scandalously the referee called it off 45 minutes before kick off. In my opinion given the occasion and what was at stake financially for the club he could have just delayed it for say 20 minutes, no common sense at all. I was missing the 3rd hop too at Squires Gate as I'd already been so my next game was to be AFC Blackpool vs Holker Old Boys for the 1930 kick off.
























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