VENUE #35 AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON Hollingsworth Group Stadium (Airfield)

 CORBETTS SPORTS
  WELSH PREMIER

Airbus UK Broughton... 3
Afan Lido... 1

Saturday 2nd February                        2013

@ Hollingsworth Group
     Stadium (Airfield)


     The original date for this fixture was January 5th and we had some bad rain in the last month or two but the week prior to the game was sunny and dry unusually for the time of year and so I as expecting everything to be ok as I made my way to Broughton.  As I arrived at the airfield I was met by some home supporters walking back the way I had just come and said to me when passing "The ref's called the game off 10 minutes ago because the goal area is too muddy".  Shocked and annoyed I took some pictures and made my way back home.
      A month later and I'm back at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium (Airfield) and I'm hoping to see a game of football this time around.  From what I can see of the pitch in comparison to the last time I would say it is in a worse condition but the referee was happy to let this game go ahead, thank God.

     Airbus manager Andy Preece made one change to the team that thrashed Prestatyn Town 6-1
at Bastion Road, Steve Tomassen replaces Ian Kearney.  Meanwhile, Paul Reid the Afan Lido boss has made four changes to his side that lost 1-0 to Llanelli at the Marston stadium, Kyle Graves, Lee Hartshorn, Joshua Doyle and Matt Thompson are out and replaced by Mark Crutch, Adam James, Simon Prangley and Chris Hartland.

Approach road to factory

     Airbus start this game in second place in the table while Lido are currently bottom and propping the rest up.  As expected it was Airbus who came out the traps first pinning Lido in their own half and after just 3 minutes they had the lead when Wayne Riley's shot from 12 yards flew past Rogers in the Lido goal and into the roof of the net.  Glen Rule had a shot well saved by Rogers as Airbus tried to extend their lead and just afterwards Lido had their first chance of the game when Hartland put the ball wide of the Airbus goal.
     Then on 25 minutes a Glen Rule cross found Steve Tomassen unmarked to head the Wingmakers two up and just a minute later it was three when the ball was played into a congested Lido penalty area and fired home by Phil Bolland from close range.
     3-0 at half time and we were wondering how many it would be at the finish with Airbus's domination of the game, I was predicting a cricket score but when the second half started it seemed as though the two teams had swapped kits in the dressing room as Lido looked the better side and were dominating the game as Airbus did in the first half.  In the 61st minute Lido came very close to pulling a goal back when Simon Prangley's shot beat Stephens in the Airbus goal but only to hit the crossbar.  Soon after a couple of set pieces brought the best from Stephens as Lido pushed to reduce the deficit.
     At the other end Airbus had one of their rare chances of the second half when Wayne Riley's fierce shot was blocked on the line by a Lido defender.  But it wasn't long before the reds got their break through when a free kick was awarded just outside the Airbus 18 yard box in the 76th minute and Kieran Howard's fantastic curling shot went straight into the top right hand corner of Jamie Stephen's net but unfortunately for Lido it was just a consolation goal.

     What's it like at the airfield?  Well it's a 2,100 capacity Stadium with 300 seats, apparently, but it's like going to a works league game with the ground being situated on the approach road of the

Main Stand

Airbus factory.  Net wire fencing cordons off the ground from the approach road with two turnstiles one either side of the goal that lead on to a flat standing area to view the game from.
     The main stand is on the left side of the pitch looking out from the approach road end and sits on the centre circle with a flat standing area running either side.
     Across the other side of the pitch is the social club which has a single row of seats that run either side of the players tunnel, it also sits centrally and has a flat standing area that runs the length of the pitch in front of it and is where I watched the game.  There is a club shop (porto-cabin) to the left of the social club and in between them are the toilets which are adjoined to the players dressing room, yes, the same ones the players use.  In front of the club shop there is a van that sells chips, burgers, hot dogs hot and soft drinks etc.
     Behind the goal at the airfield end is an open seating area that probably runs the length of the 18 yard area with the actual airfield right behind it.

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