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Wednesday 5 July 2023
Ground Tick 433
I don't think we caught that place at it's best. Rather at it's busiest.
The Hoptimist
91 Sitwell St, Spondon, Derby DE21 7FH
First Wednesday of every month is Curry Night. Didn't you hear? The Carrier Bag Firm didn't. On the prescribed Wednesday, Spondon's beautiful people, and associated strays, book tables, chairs, fuck me - ledges even. A trestle table is established as a Base Camp, and trays of Curry and associated periphery are deployed and (eventually) emptied.
Grumpily, I'm going to say - the barperson didn't handle it perfectly. Surely it's either;
"I'm really sorry lads, it's Curry Night, every table is reserved and we can't help you tonight"
or
"I'm really sorry lads, it's Curry Night, we've got stacks of reservations. You can have that table there until 7, or the one at the back until quarter to."
Instead, it was just - "It's Curry Night". As if we were the fully initiated. Of course, I went with the smile.
"Oh. Righto. We didn't realise. We're not from 'round here Me Duck (smirk). We're passing through and have heard good things. We're only having a pint. You tell us where to sit. And we don't mind moving when your booked customers turn up."
"It's Curry Night…"
Putting all aside. Very well appointed one room shop front affair. With a covered courtyard out the back essentially operating as a second room. Ridiculously small bar front. Could be a micropub. (I mean, obvs is, four on Cask). Could be a winebar. A Peroni & Prosecco Place. Flavoured Gins & Aperol front & centre on the shelves. Two safe Keg. And one out of the barrel. Which she disappears behind a door for.
Neon Raptor Brewing Co, Cool Slate, IPA on Cask at 5.2%
El Dorado and Mosaic Hops. Opaque and a bit dank looking. But, pulled up more like an English IPA in the taste. Nice and complex.
Visitors, Heanor Town, play in the United Counties, Premier Division North at Step 5. They finished 13 (of 20) last season. Played 38, Won 14, Drew 5, Lost 19. Hosts, Borrowash Victoria, play outside the National League Step System in one of the County Leagues, the Nottinghamshire Senior League, call it Step 7. The Vics finished 7 (of 17) last season. Played 32, Won 15, Drew 4, Lost 13. So, two Steps between the teams.
Heanor kicked us all off with a long, low, right foot strike on 9. A great equaliser for the Vics on 26, a good, clean, unmarked header from a left wing cross. Then our good friend, the mad ten minutes, arrived. Heanor took the lead on 42. Then pushed it to 4-1 with goals on 45 & 51. My head said - maybe Heanor run away with it now. But, fair play, Borrowash pulled one back immediately. And, that's how it finished, 4-2.
Heanor looked a bit more urgent and switched on throughout. Borrowash tiring and blowing at times. But, I'm sure that's a good work out for both.
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