Mount St Mary's FC

 Monday night West Yorkshire League 2nd Division football, versus possible champions elect Oxenhope Recreation Reserves. We got to the ground in good time at the Co Op Academy in Leeds 9, a stones throw from the City Centre and St James Hospital. However, an hour before kick off, upon checking Oxenhopes social media page, I realised there had been a venue change and the game was to take place at Whitkirk Sports Club. Not to panic though as I've been before and its only about 3 miles from where we were. I found out once at Whitkirk that the usual ground at the school was out of bounds due to exam season for the students, well done to Whitkirk for ensuring the game could go ahead. Tidy ground is Whitkirk with plenty of good standing room and tea, coffee, crisps and chocolate available should you so wish. You've to walk round the cricket pitch, past the bowling green to reach the football pitch.


Onto the game, Mount St Mary's belied their lowly status for the first half hour and if they had been 3-0 to the good it wouldn't have been undeserved, but they didn't take their chances or indeed score at all and Oxenhope came back to go in 1 up at half time with a 30 yard thunderbolt from dead centre. They also had time to have another disallowed for offside and hit the bar in a frantic final five minutes. The Mary's manager was a colourful character, shouting and getting his point across loud enough, it made me laugh when the whistle blew, his players stayed on for the quick turnaround and he absolutely berated Oxenhope for deciding to go in, as it happened they returned after 8 minutes not the full 15, so some sense prevailed. 




He must have inspired the opposition with his words as Oxenhope flew out of the traps second half. It was 2-0 a minute in as the number 19 got the ball on the left wing, his shot from the angle hit the inside of the post and went in. They then gained a dubious free kick, albeit it was taken with an excellent delivery in, a deft header from the number 6 made it 3-0 and coasting. 




The fourth came from a corner, it was put back to the number 9 who poked home from close range. Goal number five was smashed home from the number 10 after he picked the ball up 25 yards out and with nobody closing down he picked his spot, again in off the post. The rout was completed from the spot after a foul on the number 7, in reality though he just fell over. One of the Mary's coaching staff came to ask my opinion as I was right in front of it, taking his glasses off he said at least I don't need to go to the opticians! 




At a head count there was 15 in attendance for this one, not bad considering the short notice change of venue. If driving to whitkirk there is ample parking, if on the train alight at Crossgates and walk or if coming from Leeds get the 19a bus and get off at the brown cow pub. 


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