Match 38. Southminster St Leonards v Rayleigh Town

Saturday 25th May 2013 @1.30pm
Essex Olympian League Premier Division
SOUTHMINSTER ST LEONARDS 2-3 RAYLEIGH TOWN
King George V Playing Fields, Station Road, Southminster
   
Admission: free
Programme: £1
Attendance 35 h/c
Food: None
Drink: Diet Coke £1
 
With my back beginning to mend and the last chance of a new ground before the season end meant I was able to drive the hour to Southminster for this 3rd v 4th early kick off.  The weather was dry, sunny and fairly  warm when I arrived at the ground.  The changing rooms are mobile buildings painted in green and there is a small hatch to serve non-alcoholic drinks both hot and cold. The pitch was in immaculate condition and roped off on all 4 sides. There is no cover.  I was not the only groundhopper to catch this match.  About 80% of the attendance were also catching a ground fix at seasons end, and I had pleasant conversations with Cliff (Sittingbourne) and Andy (Tooting) during the match.
 
For Step 7, and a match with nothing but pride at stake, this was a thoroughly entertaining game with skill levels that would not be out of place at higher levels.  Rayleigh took the lead after 15 minutes from a corner which was headed in by no5 Hession-Harris.  Then around the half hour mark, a goal each within a minute. The first, an attack by Rayleigh found Luke Smith in space just outside the area. He shot from 18 yards into the corner.  Southminster got a goal back from the restart when a cross was hit home by the no9 Perry.  Just as half time approached a great piece of inter passing by Rayleigh allowed Lewis Manor to slot the ball into the far corner.  Southminster raised their game in the 2nd half and the contest was end to end entertainment, with Southminster reducing the arrears through an O'Sullivan goal, but even though further chances by both teams were created, the score remained at 2-3.  A good game on an excellent playing surface.
 
After the match, I dropped by at the nearby Station Arms where a beer festival was in full swing. Met up briefly with Steve Sjj2112 from the TK Forum and spent an hour chatting with "Fletch" before dropping him off near Don Quixote Mansion on the way home.

Match 37. Standon & Puckeridge v Mill End Sports

Saturday 11th May 2013 @3pm
Herts Senior League Premier Division
STANDON & PUCKERIDGE 3-0 MILL END SPORTS
Recreation Ground, Station Road, Standon

Admission: Free
Programme: £1
Attendance: 52 (h/c)
Food: None
Drink: Can of Draught Guinness, £2.50
 
Driving duties handed over to my Mrs due to my injury and the relatively trouble free journey into Herts via M25 and A10 to the quiet village of Standon. Having arrived 45 mins before kick off, the teams were warming up but no facilities were available so a look around the village with its convenience store, half a dozen shops and 2 pubs, The White Hart and the Crown & Falcon.  The Star has become a Chinese Restaurant.
 
The pitch is beside the club building which is on a complex including a skate park, bowling Club and playground.  The car park was full by kick off due to the healthy attendance of 50+.  The clubhouse has the changing rooms, a bar and small kitchen for refreshments from half time.  The pitch is railed on 3 sides with the open side having a 2nd pitch next to it. I saw no cricket square although the surrounding trees and benches hinted at cricket having been played here before.  The dugouts are on the near touchline, where everyone assembled behind the railing to watch the match.
 
S & P had to score 9 without reply to snatch 2nd place from Baldock, and after 45 minutes I thought there was an outside chance of it happening, until Mill Ends pride kicked in, a bit too much as one player got send off after 70 mins.  All the goals came in the 1st half, the first after 15 minutes when the no11 collected the ball on the left touchline, dribbled past the right back and shot from the left corner of the penalty area low into the bottom far corner of the net.  The 2nd goal came after about 30 minutes when the same player from almost the same position, picked up a loose ball and hit it on the half volley into the same corner of the net.  The final goal came with 8 minutes left of the 1st half. The no9 was tripped as he ran into the area and the no10 converted.

This was an entertaining end of season game, and the standard pretty good for step 7.

Match 36. Westfield v Steyning Town

Saturday 4th May 2013 @3pm
Sussex League Division 2
WESTFIELD V STEYNING TOWN 3-1
The Parish Field, Westfield

Admission: None taken
Programme: Free at the bar
Attendance: 57
Food: Kit Kat 60p
Drink: Coffee 90p
 
A leisurely drive to East Sussex down the A21 as traffic reports around the M25 were not too clever.  The ground is found after passing Westfield village on the A28, there is a hidden turning just as you spot the high netting that stops the wayward shots behind the near goal.  There is a small car park immediately inside the entrance and the facilities are all of a temporary nature, although painted green to blend into the surroundings.  The pitch is railed but has no floodlights.  Covered standing area is built in front of the clubhouse.

After Steyning had taken an early lead, Westfield fought back in the 1st half and equalised on 40 minutes when Cuddington flicked the ball over the keeper and slotted into the empty net.

In the second half, Westfield took control and the lead on 52 mins when from a corner, the ball bounced to no4 Woodley who stabbed it home.  The game petered out before a final goal just before the final whistle cemented the victory for the Home side.

Quick stop off at The George at Robertsbridge where Harveys Best Bitter was refreshing.