The 61 FC (Luton)
WEDNESDAY 4TH. APRIL 2007 18: WEDNESDAY, 4 APRIL 2007
30 Beverley Way
Spartan South Midlands League Division 2
The 61 FC (Luton) v Padbury United

A quick look on the internet before leaving and I couldn't find any useful info about tonight's hosts at all. They did have a neglected website, but the links to the relevant information didn't work, although you can buy a badge from Sports Kerlectibles. I knew where to go, the Beverley way entrance is only five minutes from the M1.

On arrival I'm immediately pleased, especially after yesterday's offering. There's a clubhouse, a small blue stand with a bench,which covers about fifty I'd guess, and railing all the way around a level pitch. The sun is out, which always helps to make things look better of course. In the bar I buy a programme and a pint for just 2 pounds and eighty pence. The programme is a paper effort with only 6 pages yet packed with more info than you would think possible. Kick off is at half six, which gives me time to watch the orange and white Easyjet planes heading into land at the airport. The stand has seen better days, the back wall having to be covered with anti-vandal paint due to constant problems with local kids daubing 'racist' graffiti. There are two/three newspaper articles pinned up concerning this matter and other vandalism inside the clubhouse. I hope they manage to overcome their problems. An old brick factory/warehouse building which now houses 'Formula One' (car repairs) overlooks one corner of the ground. On the other side of the ground it drops away to an alleyway and a row of neat suburban houses.

Straight from kick off, '61' in their unusual combination of sky blue tops and dark blue shorts are on the attack, and within 30 seconds they are one up. It's clear that they are in a false position in the league, 11th but with up to seven games in hand on their opponents. They go further ahead with the simplest of tap ins on 11 minutes, at this point it looks like it will be a rout. Then midway through the first half, a Padbury forward springs the offside trap and executes an audacious lob over the advancing Luton keeper to pull one back. Had it been Gerrard or Becks who had scored we'd never hear the end of it, all the Padbury United striker in his yellow 'Hummel' shirt gets for his efforts is a polite clap from one person and a shout of "F**kin hell" from the 61 bench. Normal service is resumed when a '61' striker is bundled to the ground, and a penalty is awarded, which is duly despatched with ease. A group of young Asian lads are gathered under the stand, chattering in Urdu. One guy keeps listening to the same track over and over. I'm not averse to 'urban/world /bhangra music or however you would describe it, although by the time I heard it for the sixth time I was a little fed up, and so did my usual amble around the pitch.

Three-one at the interval.

Another penalty early in the second half and a red card for deliberate handball is slotted home, then five minutes later a neat drive from the edge of the area nestles in the corner. From then on I'm hoping for some synchronicity in the scoreline as Luton spray passes around, the no. 10 does a couple of neat turns in and outside of his man, they are still very dangerous but can't produce another goal. Padbury to their credit never give up, on this performance they have little worry of Old Bradwell overtaking them.

Final Score The 61 FC (Luton) 5 Padbury United 1 Attendance 26