Match 13. Evesham United v Bromley

Saturday 25^th October 2014 @3pm

FA Cup4th Qualifying Round

EVESHAM UNITED 1-2 BROMLEY

Jubilee Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham

Admission: £9

Programme: £2 (good issue)

Attendance: 811

Refreshments: Cider, £3.10

I had the opportunity of taking the official supporters coach from Bromley for a reasonable £20 and was dropped off at Hayes Lane for 8.30 to get a £3.80 breakfast and tea before the coach departure at 9.30.  Safely sitting on the coach just after 9.00 when the coach driver reversed to let the team coach get by and drove over a steel bollard, scraping underneath the coach.  A replacement coach was called for which meant we didn’t leave until 10.45.  Hitting traffic delays on M25 and M40 we counted ourselves fortunate to arrive 25 minutes before kick-off.  The driver took the banter well as he reversed in the Evesham car park.

I just had time for a quick pint before the match started, the clubhouse to the left of the turnstiles was heaving so had no idea what cider it was. The 2 year old ground has been spoken about quite a lot and I too was disappointed in the finished product. A wooden fence surrounds the stadium and the only elevated view is the bland seated stand which has no obstructions as long as you avoid the first 3 rows. The rest of the surround is tarmacked hard standing, with a set back standing cover behind the near goal which kept the supporters flags dry but redundant for the supporters who stood at the plastic perimeter barrier as again no elevation. The ground may delight the ground graders but not the viewing public.  However, the staff and fans were a good welcoming bunch.

Bromley took the lead on their first attack. Danny Waldron side footing the ball home after being set up by Louis Dennis. If Bromley thought this was the start of an easy game, they were much mistaken.  Evesham had 3 good chances in the next 20 minutes. Seb Brown made a superb save from an Evesham shot by Washington, then watched an effort sail over the bar before stopping a dribble and shot by Kennedy. Bromley should have gone 2 up but Ademola fired wide with plenty of space to get one on target. Evesham went into the break level as from a corner Edenborough headed across the goal into the far corner of the net.

Evesham almost took the lead at the beginning of the second half as a volley was tipped over by Brown.  Then Bromley got the decisive goal when from a corner Waldron headed in from 8 yards. The last 30 minutes plus stoppage time had Bromley on the rack, but thanks to last ditch tackling, blocking shots and another great save from Brown, Bromley survived to make their name on ball 77 for the 1^st round proper.

After the match I didn’t fancy the ruck at the bar again or flimsy plastic vessel so, as the coach wouldn’t leave until 6, I took a walk into town which took half an hour. Time for a quick Guinness at the Royal Oak (£3.20) before walking back. I didn’t partake in food at the ground although there was a queue before and at half time serving the usual burgers, hot dogs and chips. Glad I took a packed lunch to supplement my early breakfast.  Arrived back at Bromley not long after nine and ended up in the newly refurbished Ravens Bar to round off the trip before being picked up and home before 10pm.

Match 12. Crockenhill v Phoenix Sports

Saturday 18^th October 2014 @3pm

Kent Senior Trophy 1^st Round

CROCKENHILL 1-8 PHOENIX SPORTS

Wested Meadow, Eynsford Road, Crockenhill

Admission: £5

Programme: n/a

Attendance: 36 (official)

Refreshments: Chicken cup-a-soup £1

I wasn’t being very inspired trying to choose a game for today, so when Onion-Bag contacted me that he was down south and getting dropped off at Crockenhill, it made my mind up.  It has been a long time since my last visit to The Crocks and when checking my records I was stunned that it was back in 1999.  I noticed when driving to the ground that the nearest pub that I went into back then (Fruiterers Arms?) is now redeveloped into 4 houses. The car park was rammed but I managed to squeeze into a gap even the steward was impressed with and went through the turnstile just as the teams kicked off. I walked along the main touchline and ventured towards the small wooden stand behind the goal, wishing I had a machete to chop down the overgrown hard standing.  The ground is currently in a state of dilapidation, with only the main touchline receiving any kind of attention.  I spotted Onion Bag behind the opposite goal line taking pictures in front of the remains of the perimeter rail. He soon walked round to me and I had fine company throughout.  He even got out his large one (lens) to try out.

Despite the condition of the ground, the Main stand with the wooden seating is still a gem, as is the clubhouse behind it, decked out in football scarfs from around the globe and newspaper cuttings and pictures from The Crocks history. The bar is at one end of the clubhouse and at the other end, from a food hatch serves tasty looking food from the tasty looking tea lady.

The match was one of those one sided affairs.  The step up to an inform step 5 side was too much for Crockenhill, despite the bumpy pitch, the heads of the team were down by half time, with the no6 captain giving evils to the home keeper after the 4^th goal went in.  The second half continued the 80/20 possession split, interrupted by a home penalty on the hour, converted by Sam Monks.  After the 6^th goal went in, the keeper was subbed to allow the 40 something overweight coach to shore up the leaks for the last 15 minutes.  However, the inability to dive or move with any speed just allowed Phoenix Sports to add another 2 goals and should have been more. For the record the Phoenix goals came on the 17, 36, 37, 42, 61, 71, 77, 84 minutes.

I had to leave straight after the match as the parking meant cars were blocking each other. Apparently the late arrival of the programmes, which were included in the admission price, were chucked on the pool table inside the clubhouse sometime through the 2^nd half without any announcement. But it is good to see the Club still playing, but for how much longer at step 6 without floodlights and likely not to get a grading for next season, demotion looks the likely result in 2015.

Match 11. Ebbsfleet United v Basingstoke Town

Saturday 11th October 2014 @3pm

FA Cup 3^rd Qualifying Round

EBBSFLEET UNITED 1-2 BASINGSTOKE TOWN

The PHB Stadium, Stonebridge Road, Northfleet.

Admission: £10

Programme: £2

Attendance: 953

Refreshments: Guinness, £3.60.

I started the day driving down to Leeds Castle near Maidstone to meet up with other family members as 6 of us were taking part in a memory walk for my suffering Mother-in-law raising over £500 for the Alzheimer’s Society.  After finishing the 10K scenic walk, we went to The Old Rectory for lunch then I was dropped off with 20 minutes to spare at this fairly local FA Cup match. I last visited over the Christmas holidays and noticed the programme hut near the entrance is no more, with a shelter in the turnstiles now the place to purchase a programme, todays being a reduced 24 page publication for two quid.  As it was remarkably dry after the previous 48 hours wet windy weather and there was quite a few enjoying a drink in the afternoon sun on newly installed benches outside the clubhouse.

This was a match that Ebbsfleet had more possession, about a dozen good chances at goal, and ended up as victims of a smash and grab raid in the second half by Conference North leaders Basingstoke, to the delight of the 50 travelling voices.

The first half was almost one way traffic but the visiting keeper made 3 good saves and the visitors was saved by the woodwork.  After the restart the pattern of play remained the same and Ebbsfleet took the lead on 53 minutes when a cross from the left was headed in from close range by Charlie Sheringham on the second time of asking. Further chances went begging and inevitably, on the first recognisable attack from the visitors in the second half Flood fired past goalkeeper Hall for the equaliser. With a sniff of a winner, both teams surging forward for a winning goal, then with only 7 minutes left, a cross by Bird found Enver Marum to head the Stoke in front. The hosts and supporters were stunned and was a bit too much for Ebbsfleets Howe, who was shown a red card at the end for a crashing tackle on the Basingstoke forward.

I had to use South-eastern trains to get home but the ticket office was closed at Northfleet and the exit gates were open when I alighted, so got the trip home for free.

Match 10. Loxwood v Steyning Town

Saturday 4^th October 2014 @3pm

FA Vase 2^nd Qualifying Round

LOXWOOD 5-2 STEYNING TOWN

Plaistow Road, Loxwood.

Admission: £7 including programme

Attendance:

Refreshments: Hot dog, £2

The journey down to Sussex took longer than usual due to roadwork on the M23 causing a 30 minute delay from the M25 slip road down to Gatwick. These roadwork are to last for 6 weeks.  I managed to arrive as the teams were coming out of the dressing rooms which is in the pavilion, overlooking the cricket pitch.  The 2 football pitches and the ground entrance is beyond the cricket pitch. The main pitch is railed and has wooden board infill. The main seated stand is an atcost affair with white and black seats. The dugouts are on the opposite touchline which is out of bounds to spectators. The only other furniture is a large garage storing the ground equipment.

The match started at a surprising sedate pace and didn’t really get going until the 22^nd minute when Loxwoods no9 Dean Wright beat the offside trap on the edge of the box and slotted the ball across the visiting keeper Aaron Jeal into the bottom corner. On the half hour, Steyning equalised when a cross to the far post was cut out by the defender but the clearance was scuffed straight into the middle where no9 Lewis Levoi was unmarked and he stroked into the net.

At half time there is a small kitchen area next to the closed bar, which sold hot dog and bacon rolls, together with hot drinks and Lucozade. I’m not sure is the bar closure is a regular occurrence or if the hosts was short on volunteers.

The teams returned onto the pitch with a low sun shining in the spectators’ eyes.  The match brightened up instantly, as on 48 minutes the no11Shaun Findlay crossed from the left and the ball was hit first time by no7 Michael Wood, standing 10 yards out into the goal to the keepers right.  The game was put beyond the visitors reach 2 minutes later. Wright was clean through and was pulled down by the goalkeeper in the area.  The ref had no choice but to give Jeal a straight red.  An outfield player pulled on the keepers jersey but could do nothing about the well taken penalty from no10 Oliver Gill.  Loxwood had several chances before their 4^th goal arrived on 65 minutes.  An attack down the right by Wood then a short pass inside to the right back Joe Holvey who ran into the area and blasted into the top of the goal.  On 77 minutes the no16 substitute Casselman, looking a bit like Paul Scholes, cut in from the left wing and then hit the ball right footed just over the keeper’s outstretched fingers into the net from 20 yards.  A consolation strike from Steyning arrived in the last minute when a free kick on the edge of the penalty area was delicately chipped over the wall to no8 Jack Boyall who chested the ball down a hit first time beyond the keeper. 

Steyning Town had ex Worthing captain Paul Kennett in their ranks after retiring last season, playing centre back for the first hour, before moving into the more familiar central midfield.