Match 36. Solihull Moors v Stockport County

Saturday 22^nd March 2014 @3pm

Skrill North

SOLIHULL MOORS 1-0 STOCKPORT COUNTY

Autotech Stadium, Damson Parkway, Solihull

   

Admission: £9

Programme: £2.50

Attendance: 525

Refreshments: Guinness, £3. Burger, £2.50. Chicken Cup-a-Soup, 65p. Chomp and Highland Toffee, 20p each

   

I managed to get cheap Virgin tickets to Birmingham International (£7.50 e/w) and the 966 bus from the station (£2.10) stops just after passing the ground.  There is a car park in front of the entrance turnstiles and to the left of the turnstile is the clubhouse and cafe.  The clubhouse has 2 bars, a smaller one at the front and a large area behind with a big screen projector and dance floor.  Pitchside, there is only 2 sides developed nearest the entrance. The other 2 sides are just hard standing. Behind the goal is covered the entire length of the goal line with 2 areas of seating sandwiching an area of terracing behind the goal.  The main seated standing is on the touchline in front of the clubhouse and is an unusual 2 tier design. A hot food van is next to the main stand where a tasty burger was purchased.  A tea hut is available at the back of the covered terrace.

  

With Solihull just outside the play offs and Stockport being ex-FL I expected a decent match.  With a blustery wind though, both sides struggled throughout to play much decent football and the game goes down as a drab encounter.  It did start brightly in the first 10 minutes when Danny Knights made a couple of dangerous crosses but the final touch was lacking in the box.  The home side dominated midfield but chances were few. Stockport had their one on target effort just before halftime which was easily saved.

   

The only goal came 6 minutes into the second half. A cross was headed down by Elvins and Omar Bogle managed to place the ball just inside the post.  Stockport certainly has fallen with no creativity and a side seemingly content to stick with a rigid format and predictability.  Solihull were better than 1 goal but the best chance in the second half was almost an own goal when a 35 yard back pass was kept out of the net by the keeper diving and saving with his chest.

Match 35. Lewisham Borough v Crockenhill

Saturday 15^th March 2014 @3pm

Kent Invicta League

LEWISHAM BOROUGH 6-4 CROCKENHILL

Ladywell Arena, Silvermere Road, Catford.

 

Admission: £3

Programme: free with admission

Attendance: 38 (26 h/c)

Refreshments: coffee, £1

 

With the car not available and not able to travel far, I chose this game with half an eye on a goal fest against rock bottom Crockenhill.  They have however recently won their first game in over a year and Lewisham are struggling as well.

 

I took the train from Lewisham to Catford Bridge and walked along Doggett Road parallel to the railway line to the ground.  Ladywell station is about the same distance if you use the footpath in the nearby park.  The pub next to the station is closed down and boarded up, with only takeaway and grocers outlets near the station.

 

The ground is enclosed with a green meshed fence so in theory you could watch the game for free, but with the pitch being inside a 6 lane running track, binoculars may be needed.  Facilities are quite sparse here.  The building holds the changing rooms and a small room with chairs, a TV screen and a hatch for hot and cold refreshments. No hot food but sandwiches are made to order for those that ask, as well as alcohol in cans available from the fridge. There is 1 covered dugout for the away side and just seats for the home team on this warm sunny afternoon.  A temporary rail is available to one side of the touchline, situated next to the long jump track.  This is where most of the watching public stood.  There are floodlights but little else, so not a good venue but the home volunteers are nice and friendly and even Manager/Chairman/Secretary Ray Simpson popped into the clubroom for a pre-match chat.

 

Lewisham were given a soft penalty after 9 minutes when their striker was body checked inside the penalty area.  Johan Ebanks took an excellent penalty low and hard into the bottom corner.  The home side were having more possession and added to their lead on 27 minutes.  The visiting no5 fouled the left winger and was yellow carded.  To be fair, he was the wrong side of 35 yrs as was a few of the Crocks side.  The free kick was looped into the box and following a scramble, the ball fell to Leigh Wise to score easily from 6 yards.  Crockenhill then stunned the spectators by drawing level within 3 minutes.  Firstly their number 10 Steve Shippeys quick thinking from a back pass allowed him to touch the ball on and tap into the net.  Then from the kick off, a Crockenhill attack ended up being awarded a corner which bobbled around the 6 yard box before no8 Fairman diverted the ball inside the post.  A breakaway from Lewisham 3 minute before half time allowed Kieran McMahon to shoot over the advancing goalkeeper from 25 yards and just under the crossbar.  Soon after the Mick Mytil received the ball from the right hand side and shot low into the corner from 10 yards.  There was still another goal in 1^st half stoppage time when a free kick in the right hand corner was crossed and tapped in by Crocks no9 Jeffrey on the goal line. 

 

Half time: 4-3

 

After the break, the continuous end to end attacks just resumed relentlessly.  On 49 minutes Lewisham increased their lead when a cross from the left wing was partially cleared but Ebanks controlled the ball and hit it first time in the same movement, volleying in from 18 yards.  Crockenhill kept their heads and got a goal back on the hour when a great run and shot from a narrow angle by Reece Cullen ended up in the roof of the net.  With only 1 goal in it, but both sets of players tiring, the last goal arrived on 89 minutes when a K McMahon shot was parried by the visiting keeper and namesake Connor McMahon arrived first to turn the ball into the unguarded net for a 6-4 victory.  This was my first 10 goal haul of the season.  

Match 34. Metrogas v Staplehurst Monarchs

Saturday 8^th March 2014 @2:45pm

Kent County League Premier Division

METROGAS 3-0 STAPLEHURST MONARCHS

Metrogas Sports Ground Pitch 1, Marathon Playing Fields, Forty Foot Way, Avery Hill Road, New Eltham

 

Admission: free

Programme: £1 donation

Attendance: 36 h/c

Refreshments: Guinness, £3.60. Bacon Roll, £2.50.

 

I needed a ground close by so none other than the closest Step 7 ground that I haven’t visited before. A leisurely 25 minute walk on a warm, bright day to the playing fields split into 3 areas.  There are 6 full size pitches and includes 2-3 junior pitches on the whole complex.  Metrogas Sports club have 2 full size pitches and a cricket square.  Both pitches have permanent dugouts and roped off pitches. The main pitch is next to the clubhouse which has a small overhang in front of the entrance if it rains. The bar and changing rooms are inside and there is a small hatch for hot drinks and snacks.  A burger van is parked up in the corner and sells burgers, hotdogs and bacon rolls, the latter being very tasty.

 

Metrogas Reserves were playing Club Langley in a KCL Division 3 game, which I believe the home side won, kick off was 15 minutes before the main event.  Metrogas 1^st team are top of the Division but didn’t start very well. Staplehurst were attacking with regular shots on goal including a shot into the net which was disallowed for a close offside decision after 20 minutes.  The no5 centre back got booked for a trip and took umbrage with the ref, who did very well not to send him off.  I later learned it was the players’ birthday. He got injured in the second half and went off to console himself with a beer.  Metrogas took the lead on 43 minutes when a corner to the far post allowed the incoming no3 to head in.  Within a minute the home side scored a second goal, again from a cross, reaching no16 ten yards out who directed the ball into the bottom corner.

 

The double blow just before half time seemed to take the wind out of the visitors.  The second half was almost one way traffic and the 3^rd goal duly arrived on 55 minutes. A good passing move down the right was then cut inside to no9 who switched feet and slotted past the keeper.  There were at least half a dozen chances for Metrogas to add to their lead but wayward shooting let them down. Staplehurst did have a chance to pull a goal back when no11 beat the keeper but the shot ended up in his arms via the inside of the far post.

 

There is a noticeable cabbie convention at the game.  I spotted 6 black cabs in the car park and overheard several conversations regarding drunken customers on a Friday night. There is a poster in the clubhouse advertising 7 drivers running the London Marathon this year from Albany Cars.  For this level the spectator facilities are reasonable, a rare programme at this level and a decent playing surface.

Match 33. Deeping Rangers v Desborough Town

Saturday 1^st March 2014 @ 3pm

UCL Premier Division

DEEPING RANGERS 5-1 DESBOROUGH TOWN

Outgang Road, Market Deeping

   

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 67

Refreshments: Chicken cup-a-soup, £1

    

I have watched Deeping Rangers twice this season.  First time was the 8-1 thrashing of Desborough Town at Waterworks Field.  The second time was at Wellingborough Town which was their first defeat for 3 months.  Since that defeat, Deeping have had average form and slipped from runaway leaders Spalding and sit 5^th before the game. I dropped the family at Peterborough and after several wrong turns as my phone sat nav froze, I arrived at Outgang Road just before kickoff with only £10 on me in cash.  A post match pint then after the game instead at The 16^th Century Inn, The Bull on Market Place.

   

The clubhouse is outside the entrance and although bland outside, is a smart and spacious area inside.  There are 3 standing areas on cover of similar simple grey design.  One is behind the near goal, with the 2 smaller areas either side of the team dugouts.  There is a club shop shed which also sells the match programme. A mobile hut for the home and away committee and changing rooms, toilets and tea bar behind the main seated stand which has an unusual roof.  The rest of the ground is enclosed with high hedges.

  

The match started straight away in top gear and the home side took the lead after just 3 minutes. A free kick was deflected into the path of the Captain 6 yards out who easily knocked it past the keeper.  Desborough got back into the match 2 minutes later when a corner was stabbed in by Bradshaw despite the defender on the line. Soon after Deeping Rangers Burton-Jones hit the cross bar from a corner.  On 11 minutes Griffiths was fouled on the edge of the box and the free kick was drove low into the net by Scott Ginty.  After this goal a header from a free kick hit the bar for a second time.  Desborough got back into the match with possession and had a good shot from Sunderland saved by the keeper near half time.

   

The second half began equally without any easy chances then on the hour, Forbes was sent off for the visitors after trying to get the ball back quickly from the home centre half to take a free kick.  The push in the chest deemed to be dangerous by the referee and not many others.  Deeping Rangers took charge for the rest of the game and killed it off with 2 goals around 20 minutes from the end.  As Deeping Pressured for an equaliser, a long clearance enabled Ryan Oliver to take the ball early and smash past the advancing keeper.  Within a minute, Mitch Griffiths controlled the ball expertly and shot cleverly past the keeper. Then a couple of minutes before the end, a substitute was tripped as he turned into the area and Tinkler scored the penalty.

  

Market Deeping is a lovely village and I counted 7 scenic pubs in the centre or on Church Street towards the ground.  This is a place for me to visit without the car.