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.