Match 38. Buckhurst Hill v M & B Club

Saturday 16^th May 2015 @2.30pm

Essex Olympian League Premier Division

BUCKHURST HILL 1-4 M & B CLUB
Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill

Admission: Nil

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 45 h/c

Refreshments: none purchased

With the nice sunny weather arriving in the South East, it was an hour drive to the small town of Buckhurst Hill, where the wannabe TOWIE extras seem to hangout.  The pub I went in before kick-off, The Three Colts, really did epitomise the need for people to be seen. The men and women clothed in designer gear and the restaurant area serving overpriced gastropub grub.  It was lucky I had a shirt on with an animal on it and Vans on otherwise the normal ground hopper apparel would have got a few strange Botox looks I’m sure.

The ground is situated in Roding Lane with the football club on one side of the road and the cricket club on the other.  Parking was tight but they do have an overflow parking area adjacent to the entrance. There is a club building beyond the parking area on the main touchline where there are dugouts as well as a roped off pitch. Three outer pitches complete the football complex.  There was no alcohol at the ground but does serve snacks and hot drinks.

The match was typical end of season fayre and in hindsight I should have gone to by plan B fixture at Harold Wood. There was 5 goals however, with M & B Club in control for most of the game Said and Settle bagging a brace each and only a consolation by Richbell for Buckhurst. A nice venue in the spring sunshine and the view from the disabled railed ramp to the snack area is a comfortable le place to view the action.

Post-match, I dropped by The King Harold to leave play off paper for Mr D.Q. Rioja and enjoyed a swift half in the suntrap of the garden not knowing that DQ was still nursing his 2^nd bottle of red at the nearby Rec Ground.

Match 37. Stansfeld (Oxford & Bermondsey) v Metrogas

Saturday 9^th May 2015 @2.45pm

Kent County League Premier Division

STANSFELD (OXFORD & BERMONSEY) 0-3 METROGAS

Marathon Playing Fields, Forty Foot Way, Avery Hill Road, New Eltham

Admission: Nil

Programme: £1

Attendance: 78 h/c

Refreshments: Guinness £3.60.

I didn’t have the enthusiasm to travel today so I thought I would meander to Metrogas to see them play “visitors” to their tenants, Stansfeld, the game being a 2^nd v 1^st although Metrogas had already won the League for a second successive year.  With cricket taking preference, pitch #1 & #2 were out of bounds so a bonus of a new pitch #3, the top pitch on the other side of Forty Foot Ways driveway.  There is no football furniture apart from a storage unit, but the pitch is surrounded by fencing on 3 sides and the spectators’ touchline is roped off.  The pitch, like all others on the complex is in very good condition.

Despite the warm sunny conditions there was a fierce wind travelling across the pitch from left to right which did affect the play of both teams.  Stansfeld, playing in their blue and yellow striped kit, do have runners up spot to consolidate and the first half was competitive but only half chances for both teams made the half finish goalless.  The healthy attendance consisting of cabbies from Bermondsey, reserve players talking about the recent stag do weekend in Magalluf and a fair smattering of local hoppers.  A chap walked along the touchline in the first half selling the programme, a bonus for this level.

Metrogas came out in their fetching grey kit for the second half in a bouncing mood.  I was still walking back from the clubhouse when a cheer went up and Metrogas had gone 1-0 up.  The second goal arrived just before the hour mark. A cross was met with a defenders diving header which flicked into his own net.  The killer third goal arrived on 70 minutes when a shot was only parried to no17 who scored from close range.

The game was done and dusted by 4.30 and the clubhouse had 100+ in it before 5pm for the League Trophy presentation.

Match 36. Folkestone Invicta v Merstham

Saturday 2^nd May 2015 @3pm

Ryman League Division One South Play off Final

FOLKESTONE INVICTA 0-3 MERSTHAM

The Fullicks Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone.

Admission: £9

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 1,465

Refreshments: Guinness £3.90, Bovril, £1, Salted nuts 80p.

My last visit to Cheriton Road was the last game of 2010/2011 season when they lost 1-0 to Maidstone which was a winner takes all to stay in the Ryman League. Many changes at the ground since then due to the storm damage last season which meant the main stand is now at the opposite touchline and the old stand without its roof is open terracing.  It still has that historic ground feel to it with its low covered stand behind one goal and the open terracing behind the other goal. 

Turnstiles were open at both ends of the ground to cope with the expected large attendance and almost 1,500 turned up for the game 90% must have been from Kent but the Merstham fans behind the goal gave a noisy account of themselves.  I had turned up about 2pm and procured my programme order before parking in Morrison and having lunch there. There was a queue to get in 10 minutes before kick-off but got in as the teams had a minute silence for those lost in the Nepal earthquake.

Folkestone completely dominated the first half but went in at the interval 2 goals down with Merstham having 3 attacks in the whole half. The first on 6 minutes resulted in Cooper turning up in the area on the blind side and scored while the defence had their arms up for offside.  Merstham really should have been down to 10 men when their centre back pushed his head into the Folkestone strikers face but the referee claimed to be unsighted.  The linesman in front of me should have seen it though. The ref allowed a lot of illegal tackles to go unpunished so the home fans were not impressed with his performance.  The second goal arrived just before halftime thanks to the giant centre back Henriquez.  Then the killer blow came 6 minutes into the second half when the Merstham captain curled a free kick into the corner to make it 3-0. This knocked the stuffing out of the home side and the rest of the match was controlled by Merstham with a passing masterclass.  The only spoiler was a group of a dozen home teenagers looking to cause trouble with the away fans but the stewards brought in from Dover rounded them up and escorted them to the exit. So another play off defeat for Folkestone to digest before next season and a Merstham team needing some fresh blood to survive in the higher league.

I stopped off at The Lion of Kent in Bearsted for a comfort break and the Bearsted FC players were enjoying an end of season beer or three.

Match 35. VCD Athletic v Billericay Town

Saturday 25^thApril 2015 @3pm

Ryman League Premier Division

VCD ATHLETIC 2-0 BILLERICAY TOWN

Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Dartford.

Admission: Pay what You Want (£2)

Programme: £2

Attendance: 363

Refreshments: Guinness £2.80 (can), Bacon Cheeseburger £3.

With no new venues attracting my interest, it was a revisit to Oakwood to see this last Ryman league game of the season with VCD needing a point to ensure survival. Also the special admission offer was too good to turn down. 

30 or so Billericay fans had made the trip and they were on the bar before kick-off and most of them were in the food queue inside the ground when I entered through the turnstile at 2.55.  The ground hasn’t changed much since my last visit in October 2008. They have recently added a 3^rd turnstile entrance and extended the Main Stand to comply with staying at Step 3 next season. 

The match wasn’t a good watch for the neutral with everyone rushing and the game was strewn with errors from both sides.  In the stand was local ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard but he had enough of the game just before half time.  The game was rescued in the dying minutes with 2 VCD goals cementing their stay in the Ryman Premier next season.  The first on 88 minutes was a shot from the left side of the area which beat the keeper and ended up in the right hand bottom corner credited to James Buckworth, who was substituted immediately afterwards.  This was inspired as substitute Azeez collected the long ball in injury time and dribbled around the keeper to pass the ball into the empty net.

Match 34. Hullbridge Sports v Ilford

Saturday 18^thApril 2015 @3pm

Essex Senior League

HULLBRIDGE SPORTS 1-1 ILFORD

Lower Road, Hullbridge, Hockley

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 45

Refreshments: Guinness £3, Mini Cheddars, £1.

One of the closest Step 5 grounds I had yet to visit, so the one hour drive was uneventful and the Dartford Crossing was behaving itself.  I arrived just after 2pm and there is plenty of parking outside the ground.  The club building facilities are outside the entrance for the visitor and only the changing room area is inside the ground boundary.  There is a club bar, toilets and a kitchen which sells the hot food and drinks.  Then the entrance hut is in the near corner of the ground.  The fencing doesn’t block the view from outside so there are some wooden boarding erected behind the goal to obscure the view from the car park.  The dugouts are on the open touchline and the cover is on the facilities side of the ground. There is a flat are of standing cover on the halfway line which is sandwiched between 2x50 seated atcost stands. Another small area of standing cover is found towards the far side of the touchline, much more of a DIY effort.  The rest of the railed perimeter is hard standing.

The match was very dull as the swirling wind defied the bright sunny skies and together with a dry, bumpy pitch made both teams hustle and bustle through the 90 minutes.  Even the goals were uninspiring.  Hullbridge took the lead when a cross was fumbled by the keeper as he tried to catch the ball in the wind and only succeeded in dropping the ball into his own net.  Ilford drew level early in the second half after a scramble in the area and the rest of the game really was a tale of both sides trying to control the ball with dozens of errors. 

Just one of those days where the game is instantly forgettable and at least it was a new ground visit.

Match 33. Yaxley v Harrowby United

Saturday 11^thApril 2015 @3pm

United Counties League Premier Division

YAXLEY 2-4 HARROWBY UNITED

In2itive Park, Leading Drove, Holme Road, Yaxley.

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 58

Refreshments: Guinness (surged) £3, Cheeseburger £3, Kit Kat Chunky 70p

Apart from the congestion at Dartford Crossing, it was an easy enough drive into Cambridgeshire and I parked in Leading Drove an hour before kick-off and walked to spend prematch in the nearby, pleasant Three Horseshoes to watch the second half of the Swansea v Everton match before returning before kick-off for a clash between 4^th from top against 4^th from bottom. I was expecting a few goals but not in the way it turned out.

The ground has seen new club buildings built in the last few years and the clubhouse is now large with a hired hall facility which was being used for a 50^th birthday in the evening. There are also new changing rooms and toilets and all housed in one corner of the ground, left of the turnstile entrance, which doubles up as a club shop (with old programmes). The food van is to the immediate left of the entrance. The main stand is next to this and is a metal frame with wooden benches in 2 rows on top of a concrete base. Unspectacular but not as bad as the Atcost type.  There is a small red covered standing area each on the 2 main touchlines, one with a white bench at the back. Be careful if you are over 6 foot though as they have a low roof.  The dugouts are brick built on the opposite touchline and there is hard standing around the post and rail perimeter.  Oddly behind the goal at the non-allotment end, the hard standing consists of 100 or so electric or telephone rectangular man hole covers. Must be someone using their In2itive (sic).

Yaxley begun the stronger of the two sides and after a couple of close efforts, the home side broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.  A free kick on the left side was cross in by Hipwell and the ball missed everyone including the no10 by a whisker and ended up in the far corner of the net.  Yaxley didn’t have it all their own way in the half and both sides came close to adding to the goal tally, but the half finished at 1-0

The wind was picking up in the second half in favour of the visitors and they started the second half in control and ascendency.  Their dominance was rewarded on 55 minutes when a cross was not cleared by the defence and Carr to stab in from inside the area.  The side near the bottom certainly didn’t play like a struggling team now. A corner was drove to the far post where Hill rose and fiercely headed into the top corner to give Harrowby the lead.  Yaxley didn’t give up which made for an excellent second half and they equalised with 20 minutes left. I had one eye on the Grand National so only saw Joyce one on one with the keeper and slotted past hi m for 2-2.  With both eyes back on the match Harrowby regained the lead within minutes.  A free kick again gave the home defence problems and another headed goal from about 8 yards.  In the added stoppage time, Yaxley could have equalised, once denied by a good low save and also a last ditch tackle inside the area, but the ball then went down the other end where the subs shot was only parried for Shaw to score with the rebound just before the final whistle. 

A very entertaining second half, possibly the best 45 minutes I’ve watched this season, coupled with a friendly welcome from the gateman, food cook and birthday barman.

Match 32. AFC Fiorentina v Sampdoria

Saturday 4^th April 2015 @6.30pm

Italia Serie A

AFC FIORENTINA 2-0 SAMPDORIA

Stadio Artemio Franchi, Firenze

Admission: €40

Programme: N/A

Attendance: 33,777

Refreshments: Peroni €3 (330ml)

A long weekend in Florence with my wife thanks to my daughters Christmas surprise gift. Then as a birthday gift from my Mrs, a ticket for the match on early Saturday evening. I had left Kay drinking Prosecco in Trattoria Bondi near the main station Firenze Santa Monica Novella as I took the regional train to Firenze Campo Marte which takes under 10 minutes and costs €3 return.  It is then a brisk 10 minute walk to the ground going over the railway bridge and passing the official merchandise stalls and food outlets which have a variety of meat products much superior to the English fayre outside the grounds.  I had earlier gone to the match day ticket outlet a few minutes from the ground which opens from 0900-1300 and 1430-kick off on match days. I needed just my passport and cash to buy a ticket in the main stand as it is the only one with cover in an otherwise open bowl-shaped all seated stadium.

It was drizzle when we landed mid-morning and more persistent when we had arrived in Florence after the transfer from Pisa airport.  By the afternoon when I got my ticket it was chucking it down and it continued throughout the afternoon and evening so much so that I purchased a waterproof poncho from the looky-looky man at the main station.

On entering the main stand there is a concourse behind the lower tier, under the upper tier which sold hot and cold drinks, popcorn and snacks. I didn’t see hot food but there is a members area which may have had that on offer.  At least it is cash sales rather than the card system in some other grounds in Europe.

There was a few familiar names from the Premier League. Ex-Man City Micah Richards, ex-Liverpool Aquilani and Chelsea loanee Salah all in the home side starting line-up. Eto’o was up front for the visitors.  The pitch had fast slick areas but patches of boggy mud as well making flowing play difficult. The best shot of the half came from Salah whi struck the post and Sampdoria also had a shot from Eto’o early in the half which was well saved. Fiorentina had more possession but lacked a decisive pass.

At half time I got chatting to a supporter in that broken Italian-broken English way and he stayed chatting with me through the 2^nd half as we watched from the back of the lower tier. He explained that Fiorentina played in a Barcelona style under their current manager Montella and the fans are fully behind him as they try and gate-crash a Champions League spot for next season.

In the second half Fiorentina took control and the fans went wild as Diamanti shot into the top corner on the hour.  The crowd had barely settled down when Salah showed his skill in avoiding the defenders and slipping the ball beyond the keeper for the 2-0 result. They almost had a third at the end from Gomez but the shot was well saved.

So my first Italian ground and match has wetted my appetite for more. Afterwards the café outside the station reopened and made a small fortune in the 30 minute wait for the train back.