Arnold’s pre-match preparations were plunged into in chaos much to the frustration of manager Ash White at Bakewell’s Recreation Ground. With parking spaces around the ground practically non-existent only half of the Eagles squad got anything like a full warm up with the other half arriving in dribs and drabs right up until kick off time. Indeed one of the match officials decided to give up the ghost and presumably opted to turn back for the comforts of home instead.

The unsettled Eagles were already somewhat depleted for the trip but welcomed back Danny Rigley between the sticks. However, Jamie Crawford, Jake Ogden and Adam Stevenson were all unavailable with their places in the starting line-up taken up by Max Elliott, Antonio Wedderburn and Diallo Nembhard-Lee.

Arnold were the first to show after a move down left provided Toby Francis with a chance to work his way across the edge of the penalty area to a more central position where he let loose a low thirty yard drive which gave the home keeper Angel Bowering an early opportunity to display some good handling. 

As early as the third minute we got to see the first of what became the source of our most potent threat all afternoon that being a Max Elliott long throw into the Bakewell penalty area this time headed back by Francis in the six yard box to drop on top of the home net.

But just two minutes later Bakewell took an early lead. An initial well struck effort by centre forward Ewan Suttherill was athletically forced away by Eagles keeper Danny Rigley at the base of his left hand post. But with the Arnold defence a little slow to react a nearby Bakewell player was able to set up Suttherill for another go and this time the striker made no mistake from a yard or so out.

The maroons reacted fairly well to the set back with Antonio Wedderburn doing well to gain the bi-line and providing a testing cross which Bowering only half saved but the bounce was just too awkward for Max Elliott to get in a decent shot on goal. But for ten minutes or so the visitors were moving forward fairly well although they were being met with a Bakewell side defending efficiently and in numbers.

What’s more with a speedy looking forward line Bakewell were quick to turn defence into attack and on 23 mins the dangerous looking Sam May found himself in a foot race with Delane Hylton and finding a yard to let fly with a vicious volley that flew a yard or so over Rigley’s crossbar. 

Arnold remained pretty persistent in midfield in general although their forward progress seemed to hampered a little by failing to choose the easier options available to them on occasion. Then on 36 minutes they fell further behind to another swift counter attack following a misplaced pass by Hylton approaching the half way line.  

The wayward ball was pounced on by the lively May who was soon making his way down the left flank where a low cross into the danger area found its way to Suttherill who under some pressure still managed to direct the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net with what appeared to be a slightly fortunate sliced finish.

After the two teams exchanged a further half chance apiece at either end the half drew to a close not long after a strong shout for a penalty for the home side. Veteran defender Lenny Jenkins found himself marshalling the hat-trick seeking Sutherill in the Arnold penalty area and although there appeared to be some form of contact between the two the forward’s slightly over exaggerated swan dive only served to put off the match official much to the bemusement of those sat on the home chairs.  

It’s always nice to try and finish these things on a positive note but sometimes it can be a struggle. Off field the wheels I think are now fully in motion and this might prove to be Arnold’s one and only opportunity to circle around the Bakewell Recreation Ground.