The ground itself is literally a stones throw (if one can throw a stone 50 yards) from the other Spondon team's ground, Graham Street Prims, a ground I had visited a couple of weeks before. The Anderson Electrical Arena was seen to be far superior to their (very) local rivals ground with two stands and a better function room facility and it thus wasn't surprising to find out that Derby County Ladies also play their home games there.
Vics and their guests for the evening, South Normanton Athletic (The Shiners), both play in the East Midland Counties League Premier Division (Tier 10) but this night was a county cup game. Actually it was the very first game to be played in the 2015/16 competition.
The game itself was very combative with The Shiners having the better of the opening spell. It was Vics however who broke the deadlock with a neat header at the far post from a deep right wing cross. Vics doubled their advantage shortly after with a neat glancing header from 18 yards.
The Shiners didn't take long to get back in the game. The referee, somewhat harshly in the view of some of the observers, awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and a wicked deflection off the wall saw the ball fly past the helpless Vics keeper. Soon after, with a smart bit of control, a lovely turn and a well placed shot from 15 yards, Athletic were back level.
It was just before half-time when I was called into action. The ball left the field of play and disappeared into a bramble covered hole. I had a quick look for it but had to indicate to the referee that I couldn't see it, let alone retrieve it.
The second half was less eventful, even though both teams had efforts that hit the woodwork.
With the score 2:2 after 90 minutes extra time followed. Vics had the best of it with a golden chance that was fired over from 6 yards.
As the likelihood for penalties being required to decide a winner increased I made my way to behind the goal, the end at which looked most likely to be used. While there I struck up a conversation with a father and son. It soon became apparent that I was chatting to a couple of fellow ‘footy tourists’. This pair had, like me, seen numerous games in continental Europe and were keen followers of non-league football. I mentioned that this game, for me, may be the start of a ‘road to the cup final’ tour. The father informed me that they had undertaken such a trip a couple of years ago in the FA Vase. From their homes in southern Derbyshire they had travelled to the northeast, Cornwall and the south coast only to see in the final a local team, Coalville Town from northwest Leicestershire.
With the game tied after extra-time penalties followed. The Shiners missed two of their five, whereas Vics missed only one of their first four (the one being missed was spectacular in that the ball was struck very hard and very high). Vics' fifth penalty taker made no such mistake and the Derby team went through to the second round.
