Keighley Town FC

A midweek visit to Cougar Park, where many homeless football clubs have played in the past, I believe Keighley football club are now owned by the owner of the Rugby club though so this is their home. A strange visit as Town, only renamed this season, were formerly Eccleshill, who had a great little ground in Bradford and we're managed by ex York winger Lee Elam, unfortunately though for all their history people just didn't turn up and back them which is probably why this has happened, I don't like seeing clubs disappear, but at this level if the financial backing isn't there then the writing is on the wall as with so many others recently, I suppose in this case at least we have gained a new club in its place also. The ground is looking very tired, upon sitting in the main stand I wondered if the wooden seats would hold, looking rotten and full of decay, it is in need of some tlc, much like Teversal where I was the night before.

As the game started it became abundantly clear that Keighley were well out of their depth, despite some heroic defending it was only a matter of time before Knaresborough took the lead, in the 17th minute the home side only half cleared a long throw and number 8 made no mistake on the turn from the penalty spot into the bottom corner.

I'd struggled to get into the ground with no entrance along the main road, I'd gone into KFC over the road for my tea and to kill some time, before the significant detour around the industrial estate to the back of the ground and the turnstiles, it all seems back to front to me! Anyway back to the game.

Four minutes after the goal and a grwat save from the Keighley keeper to tip the ball behind for a corner, Keighley looked bereft of any confidence and like a team of strangers, the locals in the crowd almost seemed to have given up and were just there for the beer. Luckily for me pin badges had just come into stock this week on the gate for £4.

Two minutes later, Knaresborough had a penalty, the keeper going the right way but to no avail. Then just before half time an excellent shot from the edge of the area made it 3.0 to Knaresborough going into the break. 

The second half was a bit of a non event with Keighley trying but lacking any sort of quality and Knaresborough having seemingly took their foot off the gas. However in added time they got another penalty after the forward was hacked down, no red card, the keeper again guessed right but the ball went under him, 4.0 as the full time whistle blew.