Match 8. Spelthorne Sports v Camberley Town

Saturday 20^th September 2014 @3pm

Combines Counties League Premier Division

SPELTHORNE SPORTS 0-0 CAMBERLEY TOWN

Sports Club, 296 Staines Road West, Ashford Common, Ashford Middx.

Admission: £7

Programme: £1

Attendance: 70

Refreshments: Guinness: £3.20. Cheeseburger £2.50.

After the storming season Spelthorne Sports had last year and their 7-0-0 start to this season, I was interested to see how good this team was. Apart from the usual 30 minute traffic delay at Cobham Services, it was an easy journey to drive with simple directions. The club has a large complex running alongside the main road for some distance, passing 2 full size pitches before reaching the turn off for the club house and car park.  The 2 teams were warming up between the clubhouse and the ground entrance on the junior size pitch outside. Through the turnstile and there is a large shed to the right which hosts hospitality for the committees. To the left is the only building which houses the changing rooms and the tea bar which sells hotdogs, burgers, hot and cold drinks and snacks.  The other side of the goal has a new seated covered stand with 2 rows of yellow seating and the structure made of wood with quite an unusual design.  The only other area of cover is a small structure for standing in between the 2 dugouts on the halfway line. The rest of the metal railed pitch surround has hard standing for spectators.  There is space to continue building on the opposite touchline subject to planning approval, in case the club wishes to enter Step 3-4 territory.

I was surprised that Camberley, although also in the top 5, played the better of the 2 teams throughout the first 70 minutes or so, before Spelthorne really upped their game enough to see why they have been successful recently. The Camberley right back was subbed after only 25 minutes and he sulked off to the dressing room saying he didn’t want to play anymore and didn’t re-join his teammates, choosing to stand alone watching the second half.  To be fair, he wasn’t playing well and the replacement was one of the best players on the pitch.  The best chance in the first half came on 35 minutes when, after a corner was half cleared the shot from 25 yards smacked against the cross bar and cleared.

The second half had greater intensity from the home side but it was only after their subs came on did they have any real chances.  They survived a scare when a goal was not allowed for an offside from a 6 yard melee. Apparently it was a Camberley attacker on the goal line although the keeper was off his line, causing the away dugout to have a different view of the incident.  Shortly after, Spelthorne had their best chance when a scrambled shot hit the bar, then the follow up cleared off the line by the defender who was behind the goal line but I thought only half the ball had crossed the line and the linesman was in a good position.

So my 2^nd game running with no goals. I had to watch the Football League show on Sunday morning to remember what a goal looks like!!