Match 7. Ashford United v Corinthian

Saturday 26th September 2015 @3pm
Southern Counties East Football League
ASHFORD UNITED 1-1 CORINTHIAN
Homelands stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford TN26 1NJ

Admission: £7
Programme: £2 (A5, 32pp double issue)
Attendance: 190
Refreshments: Guinness India Porter, £3.60. Sausage Roll 60p, Chips, £1.50. Chicken Cup a soup, £1.30

Another revisit for me as the family went to the nearby Outlet Centre.  I had watching both Maidstone United and the former Ashford club hear but this was the first game here with the 3G pitch laid.  The perimeter also has 4 x¾ size goals for the weekday evenings 5/6 a side bookings that bring in the extra income for the club.

This is a nice place to watch football, with a large main stand with the incorporated facilities behind the stand.  There are 3 steps on covered terracing behind each goal and the ground is suitable for a higher level of football if success follows the obvious bigger income.  The tea hut is good as well. There is even Pie, mash & liquor on offer at £4.50.  Something I will go back for again next time.

The match was dominated by the home side and the ball went in the net from a corner via the head of Kingwell but was disallowed for a soft infringement in the box.  Within 5 minutes Ashford went 1-0 up on 32 mins when Welford turned the centre back and drove the ball into the bottom corner.  Ashford had a handful of good chances plus dominated the rest of the game with Corinthian defending in numbers with the odd counter attack.  Against all the odds they levelled with a minute to go when a scuffed shot by Axell somehow managed to slide under the keepers’ body and trickled into the net.  Ashford had another chance on stoppage time but yet again the shooting was inaccurate

Match 6. Hurstpierpoint v AFC Vardeanians

Saturday 19^th September 2015 @3pm

Southern Combination Football League Division 2

HURSTPIERPOINT 0-3 AFC VARDEANIANS

Fairfield Recreation Ground, Uckfied Road, Hurstpierpoint BN6 9SD

Admission: free

Programme: donation (A5, 12pp)

Attendance: 12 h/c

Refreshments: Red Stripe £2.50. Mug of coffee: £1.  Crisps: 50p

Hurstpierpoint were resurrected from the ill-fated merger last season with Burgess Hill Albion, with the latter reforming in the Mid Sussex League as the merged club were more or less bankrupt.  Hurst are run by a 4 man committee with Dave, Jake, Jamie and manager Dudley Christensen, with Dudley slowly assembling a side which only contained 2 players from last season.  The ground has a small car park in front of the club building but there are spaces in the main road near the track to the ground.  The Fairfield ground is shared with the cricket club and the football pitch is on the far side of the ground. A metal rail is down the tree lined side with dugouts also in situ.  The other 3 sides are fully roped off with no hard standing so I was grateful that it was a warm sunny afternoon.

One of the problem positions is that of goalkeeper and the second keeper so far filled in between the sticks.  Unfortunately he collided with the Vardeanians striker after 20 minutes, injuring his shoulder.  He continued and handled well but when the first goal went in soon before half time, the despairing dive to his right was the final straw.  The slightly built sub took over in goal despite having little experience. The original keeper was on the way to hospital at half time with a suspected broken collar bone.

The away side have adjusted well to the step up and dominated the second half although Hursts heads never dropped. They conceded a further 2 goals in the half.  The first was a cross goal shot following a corner and the final goal a well taken hit from 20 yards into the corner.  Both goals would have beaten most keepers at this level.

I hope they get volunteers and sponsors to alleviate the workload of the small committee but with a team only a few short of a decent side, a sponsor now on board and a club linesman volunteered from the local college, the club should be on the rise in the near future and worth a visit on a dry day.

Match 5. Billericay Town v Enfield Town

Saturday 12^th September 2015 @3pm

FA Cup 1^st Qualifying Round

BILLERICAY TOWN 1-1 ENFIELD TOWN

New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay

Admission: £10

Programme: £2 (A5, 44pp)

Attendance: 333

Refreshments: Guinness £3.60. Chips £1.50. Twix 60p.

Wanted a cup tie and chose a revisit having last been to New Lodge some 20 years ago.  The ground has a small car park and cover of sorts on all four stands. Standing cover behind each goal and a mix of standing and seating cover on both sides, with the Main Stand straddling the halfway line with the clubhouse behind and adjacent.

The match didn’t live up to expectations and the game was fractious both on and off the pitch including a bald headed Enfield supporter who walked from behind the away goal to behind the home goal, to incite the opposition by removing an orange home bib. Who knows his reasoning, but he was spoken to by stewards after a kafuffle and was allowed to remain.  The home skipper meanwhile was determined to get sent off and managed to achieve this within the first half hour for 2 bookings, for verbal and a late challenge.

The best player on the pitch was the home no10 Sodje who opened the scoring after 13 minutes by receiving a through ball and lifting it over the advancing keeper into the empty net.  After being down to 10 men, Billericay sat back relying on quick counter attacking but found to be pushed into defending more than they would like.  The equaliser came when a free kick was half cleared only for Devyn to control the ball and shoot home without being challenged.  There was almost a late winner for Billericay but after catching the defence square, missed a chip over the keeper as it rose high over the crossbar.  

Match 4. Glebe v Crockenhill

Saturday 5^th September 2015 @3pm

Kent Invicta League

GLEBE 1-2 CROCKENHILL

Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, Kent.

Admission: £5 including Programme (A5, 16pp)

Attendance: 85

Refreshments: Guinness £3.50. Kit Kat 60p.

Stayed local due to family commitments this weekend.  Despite Glebe being chucked out of the FA Vase on ground issues, they were still at home in a rearranged league fixture in what was their first Saturday home match at the spruced up ground at the bottom of Foxbury Avenue. Just a 10 minute bus ride on the 160 from Sidcup Rail Station or about a mile walk to Chislehurst Rail Station, although it’s a steep hill from that Station.

As you enter the Sports Ground there is a pitch in front of you where the vets were playing then you see beyond it, the club building and the newly erected fencing surrounding the main pitch.  The clubhouse has a main room and a function room. It also has the bar and a food kiosk behind on the way to the toilets.  The England rugby was on the several TV screens and as I arrived at 2.40pm the gateman was just inside taking admission, before opening the admission gate 15 minutes before kick-off.  The ground is fenced off on 3 sides and has trees behind the far goal completing the enclosure.  The pitch is in good condition and is railed with dugouts on one touchline and a 100 seater stand on the nearer touchline, of which 50 seats was delivered only 2 days beforehand.  Still floodlights and a covered standing area to complete this season and a protected walkway from dressing room to ground to be constructed to progress higher I imagine among other things. But perfectly acceptable for Step 6 apart from the aforementioned list.

Glebe started the match in dominant mood and should have been a goal up after 15 minutes but the referee and assistant didn’t spot the ball hitting the wheel on the bottom station half a yard inside the goal before bouncing back into play. Both teams thought it had been awarded only for the referee to point for a goal kick!  This decision galvanised the away side into action and they had the better chances before, on 36 mins a corner wasn’t cleared properly by the Glebe defence and the 2^nd cross to the far post was directed across the goal into the far corner by Dalrymple.

Early in the second half and Glebe didn’t learn from their first half mistakes by again failing to completely clear the lines in defence and the return was stabbed home from close range by Johnson,  So Glebe found themselves 2 goals down against the run of play.  They did bombard the visitors for the last half hour, with bookings escalating, language on the field deteriorating as Glebe reduced the arrears with a ¼ of the game left when a free kick was headed in.  Despite the pressure and about 5 minutes stoppage time, Crocks stole the 3 points against a good Glebe side who should be up there about at the end of the season.

Match 3. Ebbsfleet United v Whitehawk

Saturday 29^th August 2015 @3pm

National League South Division

EBBSFLEET UNITED 2-2 WHITEHAWK

Stonebridge Road, Northfleet.

Admission: £11

Programme: £3 (A5, 44 pages)

Attendance: 972

Refreshments: Guinness £3.80. Bovril £1.20. Snickers 70p.

With my chosen game being switched to Sunday and restricted to a match within an hours drive I settled for Ebbsfleet as the M25 was at a near standstill from the Dartford Crossing to Junction 4.  Pre match was spent in the Blackfen Pie & Mash shop where my family noshed on the best found in North Kent.  The ground hasn’t yet changed but plans are now approved by Gravesham Council to completely renovate the stadium which is likely to start sometime in 2016.

The match was played with both sides looking to pass the ball around and unfortunately, we had a referee insisting on blowing his whistle on every minor incident and he didn’t let the game flow or playing any advantages. The first 20 minutes had Ebbsfleet enjoying the majority of possession but the slow build-up allowed Whitehawk to defend in numbers and limiting the home side to half chances throughout the half.  The match turned halfway through the first half when a rare foray into the Ebbsfleet area by the visiting right back prompted the defender to make a lunge which the linesman gave as a foul. However from the other 3 sides of the ground it was one of those obvious dives that a forward leaves a trailing leg to find the opponent then makes a theatrical race for the grass.  Justice was done in the short term as the penalty was saved and resulted in a corner.  However a goalmouth scramble from the said corner ended up with the ball being stabbed into the net from close range from Ijaha.  This decision had shook up the home side and they struggled for the rest of the half.  Inevitably after another poorly taken corner kick was cleared by Whitehawk, a quick counter attack involving 4 players one touch football allowed Deering to convert from 20 yards.

The manager McMahon made a brave double substitution at half time. Bringing off the flair midfielders Parkes and Kissock and replacing them with the pacey Haynes and Godden.  In a second half completely dominated by Ebbsfleet, it took 10 minutes to half the deficit when a through ball was met by Godden who shot beyond the keeper from 15 yards.  With the noise level raised from the supporters the home team got back on level terms when a Godden cross found fellow sub Haynes on the far post to convert with 10 minute left.  They went for the win but ultimately ran out of time in what was an exciting second half of football.  Both teams should be in the top 5 come the end of the season. 

Match 2. Leamington v Bideford Town

Saturday 22^nd August 2015 @3pm

Southern League Premier Division

LEAMINGTON 2-1 BIDEFORD TOWN

The New Windmill Ground (Philipps 66 Community Stadium), Harbury Lane, Leamington Spa.

Admission: £11

Programme: £2.50 (A5, 48 pages)

Attendance: 482

Refreshments: Coors Shandy £3.30.

With my family and friend spending the day at Warwick Castle, I took an opportunity for a game in the area.  I arrived at 1pm at Coventry Sphinx but found the area less than desirable and wasn’t taken on the ground, which was less rustic, rather shabbier. I could either hang around for 2 hours or drive back to Leamington Spa.  To be honest I had plenty of time, so I chose to have a look around the town centre then drive the almost 4 miles to the wilderness that is Leamington FC.  

The ground has a small signpost for the gap in the bushes towards the car park and stadium but you should see the floodlight pylons to find the ground on Harbury Lane. The entrance is in the near corner of the ground which has the clubhouse and catering in front of you and the club shop and toilets to the left.  There is covered terracing behind the near goal and both covered seating and standing alongside one touchline.  The dugouts and hard standing are on the open touchline and there is also uncovered terracing behind the far goal. I had bought a lunch with me so didn’t partake in any food but the usual fayre was on offer (no pies).  The pre match pint was most refreshing in the Brakes Bar on this hot day.  30 degrees Celsius as I parked up and even the forecasted shower blew over during half time.

This match was controlled by the home side although the match scoreline was closer due to their own unforced errors.  Bideford took the lead in the first half after the home centre half shoved the striker in the back when heading the ball.  The 30 plus yard free kick was accurately hit but lacked real power, however the keeper seemed to lose concentration as the ball somehow slipped through his hands and bobbled over the line.  Leamington got back in it after 25 minutes when Lee Moore drew level and the centre midfielder Richard Taundry calling the shots it looked just a matter of time for a home victory.  However Taundry picked up a hamstring injury and was subbed at half time.  The second half was dominated by the Brakes but they lacked leadership but was helped by a fatigued North Devon outfit who were playing their 4^th away game in 11 days.  The expected winner was a good goal though. A 55^th minute half volley on the edge of the box from Rob Ogleby dipped into the far corner of the net.  A good support from the 40 or so travellers from Bideford, a team who will rack up a fair few miles this season.

Post-match after picking up the family, was a stop off for dinner at The Crooked Billet in Iver Heath, then home for 9pm. 

Match 1. Abbey Hey v Worksop Town

Saturday 15^th August 2015 @3pm

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

ABBEY HEY 3-1 WORKSOP TOWN

The Abbey Stadium, Goredale Avenue, Gorton, Manchester.

Admission: £5

Programme: £1 (A5, 20 pages)

Attendance: 180

Refreshments: Becks Vier, £3. Beef & Onion Pie, £1.50

I had earlier taken the opportunity earlier in the summer to purchase cheap Virgin Train sale tickets and the pull of the FA Cup saw me at Goredale Avenue for a clash of sides who have both started the season well in their respective leagues.  The train journey was hassle free and I arrived at the ground quite early at 1.30 due to the hourly service from Manchester and no pubs or cafes on the 10 minute walk to the ground from Ryder Brow.

The ground is dominated by the two storey club building with the clubhouse and tea bar on the first floor and the dugouts in front of the players’ entrance to the pitch.  On the opposite touchline is a covered area of seating and standing around 50 metres in length straddling the half way line.  The rest of the railed perimeter fence has hard standing throughout.

This was a match of two halves.  The first half was dominated by Worksop Town and pleasing on the eye on the lush green playing surface. The second half, following the early substitution of the tall no9, was all belonging to Abbey Hey. They played with 5 in midfield and started to overrun the away side with power and pace. But the main focus of attention during the afternoon regrettably was the performance of referee Paul Ince (no not that one). Firstly he sent off Abbeys Henshaw for something no one else seemed to see. Secondly he failed to punish at least 3 players after a terrible tackle, retaliation and melee which should have resulted in reduced numbers by both sides.  He then insisted that if he stopped play for an injury, the player on the ground would return to the touchline even if the trainer was not called onto the pitch.  Is this a new directive this season???

Worksop took the lead early in the second half when a defence splitting pass found Adam Ward who beautifully dispatched the ball beyond the keeper into the net.  George Noon equalised soon after when Worksop failed to clear their defensive lines. The home lead arrived with 20 minutes left when a free kick was only parried by the Worksop keeper and the defence failed to clear which allowed Jon Hardy to gain the advantage.  Hardy then wrapped up the match in the last minute by unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond the hands of the Town keeper.

Post-match, I killed the 45 minutes wait at Manchester in the disappointing sports bar, The Green in Dulcie Rd, then at the station 1^st floor pub, The Mayfield, which was a Yates pub the last time I was up here.