Match 14. Grantham Town v Salford City

Saturday 28^th November 2015 @3pm

Evo-stik League Premier Division

GRANTHAM TOWN 2-0 SALFORD CITY

The Meres, South Kesteven Sports Centre, Trent Road, Grantham NG31 7XQ

Admission: £10

Programme: £2 (48pp lots of ads)

Attendance: 788

Refreshments: Cheese & Bacon burger, £4. Chips & curry sauce, £2. Bovril, £1.50. Becks Blue, £2.50.

Chose this fixture with the Class of ’92 bandwagon riding into Grantham and the opportunity for the family to visit old friends in nearby Bottesford (Nott’m).  The car journey up from Kent was trouble free and after the drop off arrived in the large car park by 2.15pm.  Eventually found the clubhouse from inside the ground, using the players’ tunnel.  It’s easier to go to the clubhouse from outside the main stand before the match, but the doorman allowed me back inside the ground before the teams came out.  In the clubhouse on the next table to me was Mr G Neville, with a gaggle of people queuing up for a selfie with the Sky pundit.  Fair play to him, who spent half an hour doing the honours with a smile and then ended up 2 rows behind me in the main stand to watch the first half an hour before leaving to do his day job at the Crisp Stadium in Leicester.  I can’t fault the dedication from the former Man Utd man, who appears to be spearheading the “project”. 

The stadium is one with an athletics track around the pitch and it offers hard standing all round, although pointless to watch behind either goal as the rail is about 30 metres away from the goalposts. There is the main stand, built in 2 tiers with the club facilities attached to the back of the stand and is impressive for non-league level. The upper tier offers the best view of the match even though the 8 lane running track puts the viewer a fair distance from the pitch.  A large covered terrace is on the opposite touchline. 

The bumper crowd were in for an extremely dull first half, with only 2 shots on target, both were Grantham shots. The winner was the blustery wind from right to left, not helping the players. I thought the Salford team had thoughts of staying injury free with next weeks FA Cup match as they looked to be playing in 2^nd gear all match.  The second half brought driving rain and with Salford having to contend with that in their faces, together with the Gingerbreads looking more positive, the home side deserved their win.  Both goals coming in the last 20 minutes from corner set pieces. The first was a header in from the far post and the second was blasted in from a crowded penalty area both scored by Rhys Lewis.

The drive home was one accompanied by heavy rain for the dark A1 part of the trip but a happy day out was had by all in the car.    

Match 13. Kidlington v Deal Town

Saturday 21^st November 2015 @3pm

FA Vase 2^nd Round Proper

KIDLINGTON 7-0 DEAL TOWN

Yarnton Road, Kidlington, OX5 1AT

Admission: £5

Programme: £1 (24pp)

Attendance: 71

Refreshments: Chicken/Tomato Cup-a-soup, £1 each. Mars, 70p, Bread pudding, free.

A planned family visit to Bicester Village so after a 2 ½ hour drive there with only congestion on M25 Jct 10-13, pre-match lunch was spent at The Acorn in Bicester then the short 15 minute drive to Kidlington, where it was dry and sunny, but cold with +2 degrees on the car thermometer and felt like -2 degrees watching the game with the wind chill. The turnstile entrance is next to the clubhouse building and it brings you out behind the near goal.  Beside the goal is an Atcost covered terrace for around 50 people and a snack bar with hot drinks and snacks. Sausage rolls and pasties are the hot microwave food available. It was a nice touch that a slice of homemade bread pudding is offered free with any hot drink.  The dugouts are on the “allotment” touchline with the Main seated stand on the opposite touchline, again in the Atcost style and 4 rows deep. I sat in the stand in the first half then stood in the stand behind the goal second half.

With Kidlington top of the Hellenic Premier and Deal Town struggling near the foot of the Southern Counties East League I expected a comfortable home win but didn’t expect the massive gulf between the 2 teams.  Deal were woeful throughout and barely registered a shot on target all match. The central striker tended to concentrate on the centre half rather than the ball and the back four had no idea where their co-defenders were.  The result was 3-0 by half time, and any chance of a better 2^nd half were dismissed 5 minutes into the second half when a stupid penalty was given away by Deal and Kidlington were 4-0 up. It was a case of how many after that and at least Kidlington scored 3 more down our end to help us ignore the cold chill.  Certainly the most one-sided match of the season so far for me.

There was quite a few hoppers in attendance including from the North East, Leeds, Coventry and even one with a Glasgow Rangers hat on. 

Match 12. Molesey v Harlow Town

Saturday 14^th November 2015 @3pm

FA Trophy 2^nd Qualifying Round

MOLESEY 4-3 HARLOW TOWN

412 Walton Road, West Molesey, KT8 2JG

Admission: £8

Programme: £2 (36pp)

Attendance: 94

Refreshments: Bacon Roll, £2. Cheese Roll, £1.20. Chicken Cup-a-soup, £1.  Curly Wurly, 70p. Mini Cheddars, 60p, Golden Wonder crisps, 60p

Decided not to travel for a new tick and plumped for a first revisit to Molesey since 1993, with Sutton Common Rovers at Gangrene Lane as the 3G back up, in case the wet weather won in Molesey. Luckily the match was on thanks to the common sense from the match referee.  The touchline had visible small puddles but although the playing surface was very wet and it rained for the first hour of the match, the ball still offered a decent bounce and the referee officiated with common sense.

The only detail I recalled from the first visit was an elevated seating area as part of the main stand. Thankfully it’s still there although I think the clubhouse building and dressing rooms located behind are a new addition since my last visit?  The dugouts are in front of this seated stand and the snack bar is also at the ground level.  A small covered standing area is available behind each goal and along a part of the far touchline.

I was treated to the best match I’ve seen so far this season.  Harlow came out at the start determined to control the match and went in front after just 4 minutes.  The first corner of the match was crossed into the danger area and Small headed in strongly from 6 yards.  The half continued with Harlow on top. The keeper received a yellow card for charging out of his area and bringing down the attacker.   There was a couple of last ditch tackles by the Molesey defence before Harlow doubled their lead. A free kick was awarded 30 yards out and was swung into the area where a slight flick on was enough to fool the defender Elliot, who simply volleyed it into the net for an own goal.  Molesey got straight back into the match when Palmer received the ball on half way, recovered from 2 heavy tackles, laid off the ball and received it back on the edge of the box where he drove it passed the diving keeper.

Harlow regained a 2 goal advantage before the hour mark when Eadie crossed in from the left side and the bearded Fisher tapped in from close range. With 30 minutes still to play, Molesey began to step up the pressure on their visitors and gained hope for a draw with 13 minutes left when McShane reduced the score to 2-3. Then, with just 5 minutes left a great through ball found Palmer who slotted in the equaliser to the cheers of the home crowd.  Then, amazingly, Molesey carried on their offensive spell and snatched the winner on 90^th minute when a cross from McShane found Stanislaus in space where he slammed home to gain a slot in the next round of the FA Trophy.

Match 11. Coventry City v Northampton Town

Saturday 7^th November 2015 @3pm

FA Cup 1^st Round

COVENTRY CITY 1-2 NORTHAMPTON TOWN

Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Coventry CV6 6GE

Admission: £15

Programme: £2.50 (36pp)

Attendance: 9,124

Refreshments: None purchased.

With cheap Virgin train tickets acquired, I finally made my first visit to the Ricoh Arena 10 years after it opened.  There was a fiver off normal admission prices as well so I arrived at Coventry rail station just after 2pm and took around 50 minutes to make the journey by 2 buses as the traffic was heavy but I got into the ground 10 minutes before kick-off, found one programme seller inside the concourse and bought his last programme. I had eaten on the train up so didn’t need any refreshments but they have the usual hot food for £3-£4.50 and alcohol for similar prices. Hot drinks were £2 and crisps & chocolate was £1.

I climbed the 50 odd steps to my seat near the back of the East Stand in time for the minutes silence and kick off.  The view was excellent and the elevated view only highlights the positional mistakes in the match.  The away fans were in good voice and got behind their team from the start.  They were rewarded within 5 minutes when a free kick was crossed in by Nicky Adams and got a nick off someone and found its way into the net.  Coventry were level 5 minutes later when a run in from the wing by Murphy created space for himself and shot into the net from the edge of the box.  Northampton regained the ascendancy and got what was the winning goal after 15 minutes when a cross from the right corner found Richards unmarked in the 6 yard box and headed easily into the empty net.  The rest of the match was more Coventry in possession, with Northampton relying on counter attacks, but it was not until the last 20 minutes that the home side showed more urgency and found their passing improved, due partly to the introduction of the lively pair Sambou and Alliyu. Northampton held on to a deserved win and coped with the pressure of the last quarter.

The 1655 no4 bus didn’t turn up and the 1715 bus took 40 minutes to get to the bus station.  Thankfully there were plenty of taxis in the adjacent taxi rank so got to the station in time for my booked 1810 train into London.

Match 10. Cirencester Town v North Leigh

Saturday 31^st October 2015 @3pm

FA Trophy 1^st Round Qualifying

CIRENCESTER TOWN 2-1 NORTH LEIGH

Corinium Stadium, Kingshill, Cirencester GL7 1HS

Admission: £10

Programme: £2 (A5, 24pp)

Attendance: 85

Refreshments: Oily chips, £2. Lucozade Sport, £1.50. Klix tomato soup, 90p.

I had the use of my daughters hop mobile so as she has a black box fitted I had a leisurely drive to Cirencester as I chose this thinking there could be a cup upset. The Corinium Stadium does have all the facilities needed for a Community club but is lacking in character, and the small attendence didn't help the lack of atmosphere.  Once parked in the large car park in front of the ground and through the open turnstile (of 6) the refreshment snack bar is on the left, with the main building on the right, including the changing rooms and a small covered searing area in front. The clubhouse is large and is beyond the changing room and players’ tunnel. There is standing cover behind one goal and a main seated stand of around 250 seats opposite the main building with several support posts restricting the view.  The home side are celebrating their 125^th year, the last 13 have been at this location. I do wonder what their former ground was like.

The match was played in beautiful warm sunshine throughout with the sun setting towards the end of the match.  The home side in red and black started well against the visitors in yellow and black and dominated possession for the first half and hour.  The deserved lead arrived on 26 minutes when a corner from no11 found Griffin unmarked in the 6 yard box to head in. North Leigh got back into the match and were unlucky not the go in at the break on level terms. North Leigh started the second half well but fell further behind five minutes into the half with a copycat move, this time Henry using his head to go 2-0 up.  North Leigh then dominate the second half, with Cirencester querying everything and using gamesmanship to rattle the visitors, but the strong referee was having none of it.  The bookings were for dissent and playacting.  North Leigh pulled a goal back with a quarter of an hour to go but despite a late onslaught of the home goal, couldn’t force the equaliser.

Match 9. Glebe v FC Elmstead

Friday 30^th October 2015 @7.45pm

Kent Invicta League

GLEBE 4-0 FC ELMSTEAD

Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst

Admission: £5 including Programme: (A5, 16pp)

Attendance: 272 (official)

Coffee: £1.

After 4 weeks without a live match due to work commitments and illness, I decided to revisit Glebe for their first match under the new floodlights.  Owner Rocky has certainly made progress at the venue in the last 6 months.  From an open field of 2 pitches to a ground soon to be Step 5 standard with just covered standing and changing room to pitchside player “tunnel” to complete before end of March. There had been a fair effort to publicise this match and the result was the 2^nd highest attendance in KIL history. There was a disco and singer booked for post-match celebrations, with the home side already having one hand on the League championship following another demolition and ever expanding cushion between them and 2^nd place.

Glebe went in front early on as the right back Clark made progress down the flank then a great cross allowed Lockyer to place his header into the corner of the net.  Glebe went further in front on 25 minutes as Alderman turned his marker and let loose a screamer from outside the box that the keeper could only parry into the path of Golding to slot home.

FC Elmstead were up against it but put in a better shift in the second half, having subbed the centre forward who was carrying enough extra timber to start a bonfire! They played more positive but still no match for the league leaders, who added 2 more goals in the last 15 minutes to tee up the end of game fireworks and party mood.

Good to finally meet up with Sussexhopper and his driving companions from Lyme Regis.