Match 29. Stamford AFC v Matlock Town

Saturday 27^th February 2016 @3pm

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

STAMFORD AFC 2-0 MATLOCK TOWN

Zeeco Stadium, Borderville Sports Centre, Stamford PE9 1US

Admission: £10

Programme: £2 (42pp)

Attendance: 316

Refreshments: Steak Pie, £2.25. Bacon Roll, £2. Homemade Tomato Soup, £1.50, Mars, 90p. Becks Blue, £3.

With domestic duties meaning a late departure than anticipated but I arrived just before kick-off and parked on the waste ground next to the car park, being used as the overflow and was going through the turnstile as the match kicked off.  The new ground has a soulless feel about it. It has a main seated stand next to the entrance and standing cover behind one goal, whereas the rest of the perimeter is hard standing with a fence enclosing the ground. The club building is adjacent to the main stand and houses the toilets, dressing rooms and tea bar, with the clubhouse situated upstairs.  Plenty of room for future development but lacking atmosphere despite a child effort of banging a drum.  On the plus side the food on offer is excellent.  The pies are full of meat, flavour and can be accompanied by mushy peas and gravy. The tomato soup is thick and yummy too.

With The Daniels struggling at the wrong end of the table and Matlock in mid table no-man’s land, the game turned into one of those that was not pleasant to view. The impetus was understandably from Stamford and they dominated throughout he first half, with a chuck of a target man in Greg Smith and ably supported by no10 and attacking wide midfielders.  Stamford had a goal disallowed for handling and had about 5 corners before they went ahead after 20 minutes when a cross from the right was glanced with the head of Newman on the 6 yard near side across goal into the far corner.

Matlock had more possession in the second half but only carving out half chances with the home centre backs and veteran keeper Bastock in commanding form.  Stamford secured the win a few minutes from full time when a fierce shot was deflected away by the keeper but the loose ball fell to the onrushing Newman who forced the ball home before the keeper could recover.

Match 28. Chelmsford City v Margate

Saturday 20^th February 2016 @3pm

Vanarama National League South

CHELMSFORD CITY 2-3 MARGATE

Melbourne Community Stadium, Salerno Way, Chelmsford CM1 2EH

Admission: £13

Programme: £2.50 (64pp)

Attendance: 778

Refreshments: Hot Dog, £3. Becks Blue £2.80.

I arrived 5 minutes after kick off and luckily a parking space become free right by the turnstile entrance. So even though I was inside 6 minutes into the match I had missed the first goal scored by the home side.  I walked to the man stand and sat down just in time for the equaliser by Margate. The attack down the left hand side from Danny and Nathan Green ended up with the left back shooting hard and low into the corner.  Margate then took the lead 25 minut4es in when a looping header evaded the keeper and defender on the goal-line.  Despite Chelmsford coming back into the game, no clear cut chances ensued and Margate went in at half time with a slender lead.  

With a change in home formation to a Christmas tree set up, the home side won a penalty a couple of minutes into the half, where a trip allowed Williams to slot home the penalty kick.  The game started to get heated and then the captain Hughes was sent off for a high late tackle in the middle of the pitch.  From the free kick the ball was only half cleared and the visiting Captain drove the loose ball home.  With Margate controlling possession, Chelmsford made it even harder when Williams caught a Margate midfielder with a loose elbow and was dismissed to leave Chelmsford with 9 men.  Margate saw out the game in control and the home side definitely on the ropes and looking close at the relegation trap door behind them.

Match 27. Springfield v Bedmond Sports and Social

Saturday 20^th February 2016 @2pm

Anagram Trophy 3^rd Round

SPRINGFIELD 0a0 BEDMOND SPORTS and SOCIAL

Springfield Hall Park, Arun Close, Springfield, Chelmsford CM1 7QE

Admission: free

Programme: free (24pp)

Attendance: 22(h/c)

Refreshments: Ham Roll, 80p. Cheeseburger, £2.20.

I arrived 25 minutes before kick-off and the teams were warming up and the game declared on despite the pitch being soft and greasy with the drizzle turning into rain before kick-off.  I ventured into the clubhouse, where there was free programmes on tables to pick up and the Arsenal FA Cup game was on TV, but the bar was closed until after the match.  The pitch is railed on all 4 sides and 2 dugouts are on the near side, but there is no hard standing or floodlights.

The game kicked off with Springfield having the best of the play for fifteen minutes, although the local referee made the majority of decisions in the home sides favour, which niggled the away bench.  Then approaching a quarter of the match, a home midfielder lost out to a bouncing ball by the centre back, who went in hard and followed through making contact just above the ankle where a shuddering “snap” occurred.  The game stopped and there were accusations of maliciousness but it was one of those tackles that was unfortunate because of the conditions.  I hung around and had something to eat as the player remained on the pitch waiting for the ambulance.  At 2.50 the ref abandoned the match as the paramedics still hadn’t arrived.

So this “bracketed tick” meant some quick thinking and back in the car to revisit Melbourne Avenue to watch….

Match 26. Potters Bar Town v Egham Town

Saturday 13^th February 2016 @3pm

Southern League Division One Central

POTTERS BAR TOWN 0-1 EGHAM TOWN

Parkfield, The Walk, Potters Bar EN6 1QB

Admission: £8

Programme: £2 (28pp)

Attendance: 102

Refreshments: Bacon Roll, £2.50. Mini Cheddars, £1. Becks bottle £3.20

I had planned on a Herts Senior game but with the weather being wet, decided to revisit Potters Bar and guaranteed cover.  Since my last visit, there is building works to upgrade the clubhouse, but the rest of the cover remained the same.  The pitch was rather soft and behind one goal-line is a particular mud swamp that runs to the corner flag.

Potters Bar had the majority of the first half, with Casey up front looking particularly dangerous up front.  However, the Egham keeper was having a great game and produced at least 4 brilliant saves to make sure they went in at half time 0-0.  After the break, Egham upped their game and the teams were fairly even.  The game was decided in stoppage time, when following another save from the Egham keeper, within a minute a throw in was then crossed to Webb to head into the net from 6 yards.

Match 25. Rotherham United v Charlton Athletic

Saturday 30^th January 2016 @3pm

Football League Championship

ROTHERHAM UNITED 1-4 CHARLTON ATHLETIC

New York Stadium, New York Way, S60 1AH

Admission: £23

Programme: £3 (76pp)

Attendance: 9,227

Refreshments: Balti Pie, £3. Singha, £3.50

With Charlton offering free coach travel up to the match I purchased a ticket in the week and booked my pick up from Bexleyheath. We left at 9.15 and arrived at 1.30 after a 35 minute stop at Watford Gap Services, probably the dullest of Service stations.  The ground is near the town centre and after popping into The Corn Law Rhymer quickly, I headed through the town to The Bridge Inn, which is an excellent football friendly pub with quick bar service and hot pies available for a couple of quid.  I sat near the open fire and watched the Colchester v Spurs game on the big screen before walking the 7 minutes along the river to the Mears Stand.  The ground has the same unimaginative new ground stadium feel about it but has 2 unusual floodlights and a stepped gradient to the roof behind both goals.  A tip for refreshments in the away end, head for the 2^nd food outlet which has a much smaller queue  as most headed for the first outlet.

I had predicted a draw for these 2 struggling sides but I was pleasantly surprised by an open and entertaining match.  The 739 away supporters were delighted as they took the lead in the first 5 minutes when Makienok was set up by Bergdich from the left and the tall Swede entered the penalty area and shot hard into the net.  Rotherham equalised just 6 minutes later as Burke had loads of space on the right as he steadied himself and shot across the keeper into the net.  Both sides then had a midfield battle with the best chances coming from dead ball situations. Charlton sneaked the lead right before the break as an attack down the right wing was crossed and Vetokele was first to the ball to knock in from 6 yards.

Chances for both sides continued in the 2^nd half and got quite feisty with Makienok and Rotherhams centre back grappling with each other to both collect yellows. Makienok won the dual when he headed in his 2^nd from a corner, outjumping his adversary. Rotherham had a chance soon after to get a goal back with a penalty, but Clark-Harris blazed his spot kick into the crowd.  Rotherham continued to press and had most of the last 15 minutes but Charlton added a fourth on the break right at the end.

Back to the coach and left by 5.15. No breaks on the way back and apart from a 30 minute delay at Potters Bar because of an overturned van, arrived back at Bexleyheath by 21.45.