10 Memorable Night Matches at the Lane

[BushBlade]

Another game I would include,simply for one reason, think it was Bristol Rovers in a meaningless end of season game one spring night.Keith Edwards does a Pele +,dummies a cross,the goalie buys it and Keith runs around him,collects the ball in front of an empty net,does a little dance and taps it in.

I don’t remember it being a night match. I’m fairly sure it was a Saturday. I still remember my mate’s dad telling us we should remember that goal because we wouldn’t see many as good. I wish the cameras had been there.

 

[Blacksea]

Marcus Bent scored in the last minute after some shite defending from a very good Barnsley side.

Bent was handy in those days.

Remember that goal,think it was a long goal kick and they let it run and Marcus just latched onto it and ran into the box and slotted it in, kop went wild,loved Bent at his best for us.

 

[Blacksea]

I don’t remember it being a night match. I’m fairly sure it was a Saturday. I still remember my mate’s dad telling us we should remember that goal because we wouldn’t see many as good. I wish the cameras had been there.

It could have been an afternoon game as my memory is not the best,but for some reason I got Bristol Rovers in a night game in my head.

 

[BushBlade]

It could have been an afternoon game as my memory is not the best,but for some reason I got Bristol Rovers in a night game in my head.

It’s OK, someone will tell us shortly.

 

[Blacksea]

The season we got relegated in 1994 we beat West Ham 3-2, a class goal by whitehouse as well. Not sure it's top 10 but definitely top 20.

Sure we beat West Ham 3-0 in a night match at the end of that pathetic season in Div1 when we got relegated in the seventies,we battered them and tore them to shreds,sure it was that season as it was so unexpected.

 

[Blacksea]

I posted the below elsewhere about 2 months ago

The teams for that night were; John Hope, Len Badger, Ted Hemsley, David Powell, Eddie Colquhoun, Trevor Hockey, Alan Woodward, David Ford, Bill Dearden, TC, Gil Reece, sub : Geoff Salmons.
Hull: Ian McKechnie, Bill Baxter, Roger DeVries, Billy Wilkinson, Terry Neill (player-manager), Chris Simpkin, Malcolm Lord, Ken Knighton (later to play for Wendy), Chris Chilton, Ken Wagstaff, Ian Butler.

Early in the game, Gil Reece gave us the lead beating Ian McKechnie to a bouncing ball to poke it into the net at the Kop End. Hull (especially Bill Baxter- nasty ex-Ipswich player who had a fight with Bobby Robson in the manager's office after being dropped from a 1st team game-, Terry Neill, Chris Simpkin and Ken Knighton) were playing dirty and we relitiated back. After about 30 minutes of the game, the ref blew his whistle and called all players to the centre circle to ask them to "cut out the rough stuff" but Hull took no notice of the ref's warning and carried on playing dirty. In the 2nd half Chris Simpkin equalised with a powerful shot. Near the end, Ken Wagstaff (always scored against us) got the winner

To add to this..... Hull might have won the battle but we won the war (as Grecian says) by getting more points than Hull did for the rest of the season and we got promoted. The attendance that night was over 40K

 

[Blacksea]

Len Badger got sent off after Hull got him to lose his cool with their tactics,can remember I was lipstick after that game and hardly slept all night because I thought we had blown it.

 

[Blacksea]

Was at all the 1971 games brilliant memories. Although the Cardiff game was more significant beating is the I remembered enjoying most. For sheer comedy gold our 7-3 win over Northampton in div 4 takes some beating. Speaking of which beating Wigan in same division was an exciting night 1-0

Was it Jock Bryson who volleyed into the top corner from the edge of the area in the kop end goal in the 7-3?
Remember next day the Mirror back page just said "steamrollered" in banner headlines.

 

[BushBlade]

Was it Jock Bryson who volleyed into the top corner from the edge of the area in the kop end goal in the 7-3?
Remember next day the Mirror back page just said "steamrollered" in banner headlines.

No, Bryson played under Bassett, not Porterfield.

 

[Blacksea]

No, Bryson played under Bassett, not Porterfield.

Who scored that goal?

 

[BushBlade]

Who scored that goal?

I don’t know, I wasn’t there.

 

[Blacksea]

I don’t know, I wasn’t there.

Anybody then.

 

[BushBlade]

Anybody then.

Wait while Silent Blade gets home from work.

 

[Maidenhead]

I was at the last seven of those games.

No4, 3-0 v Leeds was my first time at BDTBL

 

[Yewsman]

Dont know if it's been mentioned but v Wigan in Div 4 season. Top 2 teams in Division. 20,000 crowd or might have been bigger. Certainly massive crowd for Div 4 fixture. 0-0 then in last minute Matthew's feeds Colin Morris on right wing inside the full back perfect cross. Keith Edwards lurking on edge of 6 yard box bang! 1-0 Blades. Crowd went mad.

 

[BushBlade]

Dont know if it's been mentioned but v Wigan in Div 4 season. Top 2 teams in Division. 20,000 crowd or might have been bigger. Certainly massive crowd for Div 4 fixture. 0-0 then in last minute Matthew's feeds Colin Morris on right wing inside the full back perfect cross. Keith Edwards lurking on edge of 6 yard box bang! 1-0 Blades. Crowd went mad.

It was probably 30,000 but the official figure was 20,000. I went to a few games against the likes of Rotherham, Donny, Chessy and the kop would be so packed you couldn’t move, John Street full, BL full, even the new stand at least three quarters full - attendances were usually given as about 25k. Bollocks they were.

 

[Silent Blade]

Len Badger got sent off after Hull got him to lose his cool with their tactics,can remember I was lipstick after that game and hardly slept all night because I thought we had blown it.

No one got sent off in the Hull game

 

[Silent Blade]

Was it Jock Bryson who volleyed into the top corner from the edge of the area in the kop end goal in the 7-3?
Remember next day the Mirror back page just said "steamrollered" in banner headlines.

Bryson volley was the 4-0 win against Northampton in Sept 1988

 

[Hagan/Currie10]

Nothing finer than a night match at BDTBL IMO. The atmosphere can be special. Not been so good in recent years but it will return. Meanwhile, memories of 10 good ones:
1. Feb 68 - Tottenham - Won 3-2
Incredible night. Currie scored on debut blinder. Certain we would avoid relegation playing like this. Wrong.
2. March 71 – Hull City – Lost 2-1
Despite the defeat, this match has to be included. 40,000 crowd. Hull City were an absolute set of animals and their intimidation paid off. Referee gathered all22 players together at one point to issue a mass warning. Thought we had blown promotion. Wrong.
3. April 71 – Cardiff City – Won 5-1
How to perform when it matters. It was either us or Cardiff for promotion and this was the decider. 43,000 crowd. Unbelievable atmosphere but some nerves when Cardiff got it back to 2-1 and playing well. Currie, Dearden and Reece had other ideas. Thought we had secured promotion. Right.
4. August 71 – Leeds – Won 3-0
This superb Leeds team were at their peak. They lost occasionally but no-one took them apart. Until tonight. 41,000 crowd. 3 second half goals, one scored whilst whingeing Leeds were surrounding the ref, no doubt as instructed by Ron Devious.
5. Sept 73 – Arsenal – Won 5-0
When United wanted to play they were a match for anybody but just not consistent. 4 up in 17 minutes and Currie memorably sat on the ball, but one of only 7 home wins in the season.
6. August 78 – Liverpool – Won 1-0 (League Cup)
Most unlikely win in my 50 seasons. Liverpool, European Champions, had Rush and Dalglish up front against our Andy Keeley and John Matthews at the back. But young Steve Conroy had a blinder in goal and Sabella set up Hamson for the winner with our only attack in around the 80th minute. Happy Harry dropped Conroy for the next round. Crazy days.
7. Feb 91 – Man U – Won 2-1
We were virtually relegated by Christmas and safe by Easter and this win was vital. Man U had a weakened team but were still formidable. Deane and Bradders saw us home.
8. Mar 98 – Coventry – Drew 1-1 won on Penalties (FA Cup, 6th round replay)
Great game. Taken apart early on by Huckerby inspired Coventry but got back in the game through Dellas power in midfield supported by Borbokis and Quinn on the flanks. Reg Holdsworth’s last minute equaliser sparked off an unbelievable atmosphere for extra time and this inspired Alan Kelly to save 3 Coventry penalties in the shoot out.
9. May 2003 – Forest – Won 4-3
Many fans favourite game. Fine example of the never say die attitude that Neil Warnock brought to the club. I watch the You Tube clip over and over. I have no problem with long ball football when it is played as well as this. Thought we were certainties to go up. Wrong.
10. Dec 2006 – Arsenal – Won 1-0
Strictly speaking, not a night match but it was dark so it counts for me. Another Warnock backs-to-the-wall classic with the team showing the kind of bottle that is just a distant memory these days. Nade scored a beauty and the Blades held on with Jags in goal and Arsenal rampant. Proud of the players that night. Proud. Hope I can use that word again soon. Thought we were certainties to stay up. Wrong.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

What I remember of that night is that we didn't play particularly well and never really looked like scoring, which made the Jagielka 35yard thunderbastard even more satisfying.

I'm pretty sure the Tom Hark celebration music was born that night.

 

[Hagan/Currie10]

Nothing finer than a night match at BDTBL IMO. The atmosphere can be special. Not been so good in recent years but it will return. Meanwhile, memories of 10 good ones:
1. Feb 68 - Tottenham - Won 3-2
Incredible night. Currie scored on debut blinder. Certain we would avoid relegation playing like this. Wrong.
2. March 71 – Hull City – Lost 2-1
Despite the defeat, this match has to be included. 40,000 crowd. Hull City were an absolute set of animals and their intimidation paid off. Referee gathered all22 players together at one point to issue a mass warning. Thought we had blown promotion. Wrong.
3. April 71 – Cardiff City – Won 5-1
How to perform when it matters. It was either us or Cardiff for promotion and this was the decider. 43,000 crowd. Unbelievable atmosphere but some nerves when Cardiff got it back to 2-1 and playing well. Currie, Dearden and Reece had other ideas. Thought we had secured promotion. Right.
4. August 71 – Leeds – Won 3-0
This superb Leeds team were at their peak. They lost occasionally but no-one took them apart. Until tonight. 41,000 crowd. 3 second half goals, one scored whilst whingeing Leeds were surrounding the ref, no doubt as instructed by Ron Devious.
5. Sept 73 – Arsenal – Won 5-0
When United wanted to play they were a match for anybody but just not consistent. 4 up in 17 minutes and Currie memorably sat on the ball, but one of only 7 home wins in the season.
6. August 78 – Liverpool – Won 1-0 (League Cup)
Most unlikely win in my 50 seasons. Liverpool, European Champions, had Rush and Dalglish up front against our Andy Keeley and John Matthews at the back. But young Steve Conroy had a blinder in goal and Sabella set up Hamson for the winner with our only attack in around the 80th minute. Happy Harry dropped Conroy for the next round. Crazy days.
7. Feb 91 – Man U – Won 2-1
We were virtually relegated by Christmas and safe by Easter and this win was vital. Man U had a weakened team but were still formidable. Deane and Bradders saw us home.
8. Mar 98 – Coventry – Drew 1-1 won on Penalties (FA Cup, 6th round replay)
Great game. Taken apart early on by Huckerby inspired Coventry but got back in the game through Dellas power in midfield supported by Borbokis and Quinn on the flanks. Reg Holdsworth’s last minute equaliser sparked off an unbelievable atmosphere for extra time and this inspired Alan Kelly to save 3 Coventry penalties in the shoot out.
9. May 2003 – Forest – Won 4-3
Many fans favourite game. Fine example of the never say die attitude that Neil Warnock brought to the club. I watch the You Tube clip over and over. I have no problem with long ball football when it is played as well as this. Thought we were certainties to go up. Wrong.
10. Dec 2006 – Arsenal – Won 1-0
Strictly speaking, not a night match but it was dark so it counts for me. Another Warnock backs-to-the-wall classic with the team showing the kind of bottle that is just a distant memory these days. Nade scored a beauty and the Blades held on with Jags in goal and Arsenal rampant. Proud of the players that night. Proud. Hope I can use that word again soon. Thought we were certainties to stay up. Wrong.

Amazing night !

 

[coaxingstar71]

Was it Jock Bryson who volleyed into the top corner from the edge of the area in the kop end goal in the 7-3?
Remember next day the Mirror back page just said "steamrollered" in banner headlines.

Scorers in the 7-3 were; Edwards 3, McPhail, Hatton 2 and Steve Neville.

Despite scoring 35/36 league goals, this was the only hat-trick Edwards scored that season.