Match 30. St Ives Town v Leighton Town

Saturday 21^st March 2015 @3pm

Southern League Division One Central

ST IVES TOWN 4-0 LEIGHTON TOWN

Pro Edge Stadium, Westwood Road, St Ives, Hunts.

Admission: £8

Programme: £1. Raffle £1.

Attendance: 229

Refreshments: Strongbow, £2. Sausage roll, £1. Chicken cup-a-soup, £1

I dropped off my Mrs and youngest daughter for retail therapy at Thurrock Lakeside and drove the 75 minute journey to Westwood Road to see mid-table versus strugglers Leighton. The parking at the ground is at a premium but the Leisure complex next door has free parking for up to 24 hours.  Turn left at the turnstiles to the club building which has a tea hut, changing rooms and clubhouse with overhang cover and 6 rows of terracing.  There is also a 2 row block of seating for the directors and officials only.  The dugouts are in front of this side. On the opposite touchline is the Main seated stand for around 250 with the rest of the ground having hard standing around the perimeter rail, infilled with mdf.  The locals are best described as ex-North London and many decide to stand right in front of the clubhouse door on the obviously yellow marked no standing area.

The first half was instantly forgettable as both sides struggled with the poor surface, content to argue with the ref at any opportunity. The game picked up in the second half as St Ives decided to concentrate on playing football and expose Leighton of their obvious weakness in midfield and at the back.

The first goal arrived early in the second half as a cross by the winger Seymour-Shove was met by the bearded captain to head strongly into the net. The second goal came from a penalty on 70 minutes as the player was unceremoniously dumped on the ground following a corner.  The 3^rd goal came as the winger again provided a good low cross for Hall to tap in from 6 yards. A 4^th goal arrived on 89^th minute when a long ball was headed down for my MOM Seymour-Shove to meet it and smash into the net from 6 yards. 

Match 29. Brighton & HA U21 v Newcastle United U21

Monday 16^th March 2015 @7pm

Barclays U21 Premier League Division 2

BRIGHTON & HA U21 3-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED U21

Amex Stadium, Village Way, Falmer.

Admission: £5 + £1.50 processing fee

Programme: none. Team sheet provided

Attendance: c450-500

Refreshments: Harvey’s Best Bitter, £3. Bovril, £2.10.

A rare weekday outing as my Mrs and youngest were going to the Brighton Centre and my eldest and Uni friend wanted to go to “Crèmes” café and generally doss in the City for the evening, so I volunteered driving duties and found this Under 21 fixture.  There was ample free parking at the Stadium but the only way to get in was to go to the North stand box office and queue for a ticket.  Entry was advertised as a fiver but the joys of modern technology meant a bar coded ticket is needed to scan at the only open turnstile in the West Stand.  This modern joy cost an extra £1.50 even with cash and asked for purchase history to update the database.  Each transaction took 3-4 minutes so lucky it was a small attendance.  I took it in a normal silent British way but the Geordie in front insisted on a 5 minute argument that it only costs £3 at home and no extra charges. He had a point.

My previous visit was in August 2011 against Peterborough and in this evening game the stadium is aesthetically lit up and pleasing on the eye, one of the better new build structures since the Taylor report.  The spare capacity since my first visit has now been filled in with seats and in this sparse crowd all situated in a section of the lower west stand a good view can be gleaned of the overall structure. Unfortunately there were no award winning meat pies on sale but the Bitter was on offer probably because there is no further 1^st team game until Easter. All other alcohol is £4.10 upwards.

The game was played in the right manner with good passing and movement, but without as much diving around or crunching tackles.  It reminded me of a game on 3G. Brighton were by far the better side and the Newcastle youngsters are coached by a Mr P Beardsley!  All the goals came in the first half. On 10 minutes a free kick on the right side was curled in left footed by Jesse Starkey onto the head of centre half Pappoe to direct into the net.  A near carbon copy for the 2^nd goal by both players, this time a free kick near the corner flag but with the same result. A defensive short back pass was pounced on by no9 Rob Dean to run unchallenged and slot the ball beyond the advancing keeper.  The second half as dominated by Brighton and they hit the post near the end. The best thing I recall from the away side is to name and shame the no4 who sported a chicken haircut. Short black hair with a yellow dyed chicken barnet. Macaulay Gillesphey ran about midfield like a headless version though.

Match 28. Holmer Green v London Colney

Saturday   14^th March 2015 @3pm

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

HOLMER GREEN 1-2 LONDON COLNEY

Airedale Park, Watchet Lane, Holmer Green, High Wycombe

Admission: £5

Programme: free with admission

Attendance: 45 h/c

Refreshments: Guinness, £3.95. Small hot dog, £2. Cheese savouries 70p

I have been meaning to go to Watchet Lane for a few seasons now and finally the opportunity came with no other family plans and the hop mobile full of petrol and time on my side.  A relatively short drive (78 miles) on a well behaved M25/M40 and I arrived just after 2pm.  After parking in the ample sized car park, there was no gateman and the away trainer was setting out cones for his side who were still getting changed.  I went to the club building which has a kitchen, clubhouse and several dressing rooms.  I believe there is a squash court on site and I spotted a cricket square and 3 football pitches.  One next to the cricket square and the main and reserve pitches further away. The main pitch has trees and bushes on 3 sides with the dugouts on the open side where the reserve pitch is adjacent and also has built dugouts.  There is a gatehouse at the entrance which is occupied by an 82 year old who has just celebrated 50 years with the club.  Be sure to say hello as he a hospitable chap. Just the kind of welcome a visitor enjoys.  Behind the goal is a 3 step terrace with an area of cover on the back row in the style of scaffold and metal roofing.  The main stand straddles the half way line and is brick built with 3 rows of wooden benches offering a good view of proceedings.

Holmer Green are languishing next to bottom of the table whereas Colney are in sixth and on a good run of form.  The first half however was quite even but with no goals.  The visitors had more possession but the hosts had clearer chances.  Their best effort came on half hour when the Colney keeper botched a clearance, leaving his goal open with the ball near the touchline 35 yards out. Andy Shed hooked the ball but the bounce on the hard pitch make it hit the crossbar and go over.  London Colney had a great chance 5 minutes before the break when a free kick rebounded off the defence to Fitzgerald who shot across the keeper but it hit the post.

Holmer started the second half on the attack but were not getting the rub of the green together with some dubious refereeing decisions. After about an hour the home sides drive went cold as well as the cold wind arriving to make the spectator find somewhere to stand to stay warm. The Green came under pressure and conceded a goal on 75 minutes. The defence didn’t deal with a through ball and Collins slotted past the keeper unchallenged.  The Green had a good penalty shout ignored on 83 minutes but got their equaliser 5 minutes later when a thundering 25 yard shot by Mealings flew beyond the despairing keeper.   Cruel blow in stoppage time when Fitzgerald got the ball and run onto the retreating defence and curled a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

A friendly club who I hope avoid relegation and should do if they play like today for the rest of the season.

Match 27. M&B Club v Harold Wood Athletic

Saturday 7th March 2015 @2.30pm
EOFL Premier Division
M&B CLUB 0-0 HAROLD WOOD ATHLETIC
May & Baker Social Club, Dagenham Road. RM7 0QX

Admission: Nil
Programme: None
Attendance: 13 h/c
Refreshments: Guinness, £3.35

Needed a cheap day out so chose this fixture as I had heard good things about the club and the expectation of a programme.  I drove from home in under an hour and after driving the 250yds from the road entrance before arriving at the large car park. As well as the well maintained clubhouse, there are changing rooms for several sports. There are squash courts, a cricket square and scoreboard, a rugby game in progress on the right sports pitch and the football pitch had a rope and post for all 4 sides although only the 2 touchlines were roped off.  The clubhouse had the Bradford v Reading FA Cup match on TV and there is an impressive eatery called Jo's Kitchen with hot drinks and meals available until 5pm. I had brought my own lunch with me so didn't partake.  There was no sign of a programme and the barmaid had no idea either. It transpires that the MK Publication sponsored programme for 10 EOFL clubs has ceased from lack of interest and feedback.

I stood on the halfway line opposite the 2 benches and there are fences on 2 sides of the pitch to semi enclose the pitch.  Next to me was an old 'un with his early teen grandnephew. He is an Essex groundhopper now and the conversation flowed nicely throughout the match.  The game however was poor, and the language from both sides, especially the home side was appalling.  One player was booked for calling the 18 year old linesman an f*king spotty c*nt.  I can't see 3 officials in this league for much longer if the referee and linesmen have to deal with this abuse every week. There was a couple of bright points in the second half when a shot heading for the top corner was superbly saved by the home keeper and another shot pushed beyond the post. The play in general on a bumpy dry pitch was difficult to maintain ball control and too much whinging puts this down as the worst game so far this season for me.

Match 26. Highworth Town v Tadcaster Albion

Saturday 28^th February 2015 @3pm

FA Vase Quarter Final

HIGHWORTH TOWN 1-1(aet) TADCASTER ALBION

The Elms, A361, Highworth, Swindon

Admission: £7 (special increase for FA Vase. Usually £5)

Programme: £1

Attendance: 771

Refreshments: King Brain Cider, £1.50 (1/2). Guinness, £3.20. Burger, £2.40. Mini Cheddars & Mars bar, £1.30

I wasn’t sure if I was going to attend this match as the family were making noises about shopping in Southampton, but their mind was changed with a little persuasion so I dropped them off at Reading just after 1pm and drove to Highworth, arriving about 2.15 and parked to the south of the ground and trekked across some junior pitches to the gap in the fence known as the 2^nd turnstile.  The main entrance is to the north corner but parking that end was at a premium. Still I had paid my £7 and got a programme and walked around to the clubhouse the opposite end. This a basically a 3 sided railed pitch with a wooden fence and dugouts on the open 4^th side where the cricket pitch is beyond.  The hard standing is available behind both goals and the 3 covered areas are on the east touchline. Two are seated and one is standing.  Nearly 800 crammed into this tiny ground for the biggest match in Highworth Town history.  About 220-250 fans arrived from Yorkshire and all behaved themselves throughout despite copious amounts of alcohol consumed.

The teams lined up and Highworth decided to kick down the obvious slope in the first half.  The away side certainly were all broad shouldered and mostly 6 foot plus so would have a physical presence and would not have looked out of place as a Rugby League side (-2). Indeed the pitch and windy conditions favoured the egg chasing but both sides put on a tense but thrilling show. The Tadcaster style was to mainly pump long balls to the strikers and wingers to stretch the home defence whereas Highworth preferred using the midfield and shorter balls unless necessary.  The first big chance fell to Tadcaster but with the striker one on one with the keeper, the ball was smothered at his feet. Highworth scored just before half time when a powerful shot was saved by the keeper and rebound slotted in but the flag was raised for offside.

The clubhouse and hot drinks queue was packed at half time so I and about 25 others sloped out next door to the Rose & Crown for half time refreshments.

Highworth were given a penalty on the hour when No10 Parsons got to the ball between defender and keeper and was illegally sandwiched in the area.  No9 Bohane scored from the spot.  Tadcaster got back in it about 25 minutes into the half when they were awarded their own penalty for handball and Ward converted to level the score. The rain started to fall and 2 goalmouth scrambles couldn’t add to the score and the game entered into extra time.  Highworth had more chances in the extra 30 minutes but Tadcaster had the best chance right at the end when a cross was backheaded onto the cross bar.  Battle resumes in Yorkshire next Saturday.

Match 25. Chertsey Town v Hanworth Villa

Saturday 21^st February 2015 @3pm

Combined Counties League Premier Division

CHERTSEY TOWN 4-2 HANWORTH VILLA

Alwyns Lane, Chertsey

Admission: £7

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 103

Refreshments: Can of Somersby cider, £2.50. Chicken Soup £1. Walkers Crisps, 60p.

I was going to a match in the EOFL but after the previous wet evening the games were falling fast so I decided to head west on the quiet M25 for a revisit to Alwyns Lane.  This ground I last visited on 7 December 1996 when the hosts played in the Icis League Premier against a pink kitted Yeovil Town where they lost 2-0 and that goalscoring machine Warren Patmore were playing for the Glovers.  Today I had another goalscoring machine, John Pomroy, who was on 299 goals before this game.

I arrived with an hour to spare so walked around the small but pretty little town and had a chicken bap from the local bakery, and small refreshments at the award winning Thyme at the Tavern and the quirky The Olde Swan with its bygone age memorabilia and furniture. The former had 5 hand pumps in use.

I don’t think the ground has changed in the near 20 years since my last visit. There is small standing cover behind both goals and also cover alongside most of the terracing on the far touchline. The main focus of course is on the main stand with wooden steps and faded blue plastic seats but certainly a one off design with a press box table area in the middle of the stand.  The tea bar is behind the near goal and the clubhouse and changing rooms are next to the main stand.  The clubhouse only serves refreshments from bottles or cans from a fridge (no draught).

Chertsey are struggling a little this season in the lower mid table but Hanworth Villa are having a bad season, sitting next to bottom of the division.  The first quarter of the game was evenly matched on the heavy but playable pitch.  Chertsey then started to dominate and got a deserved penalty on 33 minutes when the attacker was tripped after playing a neat 1-2.  After several minutes of protests by the away side, Pomroy got his 300^th career goal as he drove the ball just of centre to the despair of the diving goalkeeper.  The referee, who was inadvertently slowing the game down played a good advantage a few minutes later when continuing play after a bookable foul and the ball went forward into the path of Salako who shot into the net under the keepers’ body.

The second half began with Chertsey on the ascendancy and scored three minutes in when Pomroy got his 2^nd goal with a delightful lob over the keeper into the corner from 20 yards. The visitors then decided to stop the verbal and play which gave them 2 chances which were saved well by Adam Faith, the new Chertsey keeper.  Into the last quarter of the game and Hanworth began a comeback when a freekick on the edge of the box was rocketed beyond the keeper. Hanworth sensed a jittering home side and took the match to them. They added a 2^nd goal on 89 minutes when a counter attack found the defence short on numbers and a tap in made the 5 minutes stoppage time nervous for the home fans but Chertsey made the game safe in the 94^th minute when a Wadmore shot went in off the post.  At the end there was applause and a player guard of honour for John Pomroy, 301 goals and counting.

Match 24. Harlow Town v Wroxham

Saturday 14^th February 2015 @3pm

Ryman League Division 1 North

HARLOW TOWN 1-1 WROXHAM

Harlow Arena, Elizabeth Way, Harlow

Admission: £10

Programme: £1

Attendance: 220

Refreshments: Cheeseburger, £2.50. Guinness, £3.20.

I was going to go to the FA Vase match at Holbeach but was not feeling well on Friday and felt rough early on Saturday so didn’t decide until lunchtime that I was ok to venture out and could only fit in a revisit so chose the safe option of the Harlow Arena 3G.

The ground is found driving through a myriad of roundabouts and had plenty of parking available today as I remembered the problems I had last time I was here on proper grass versus Chelmsford which drew a much bigger crowd and I had to park on a grass verge.  On entering through the turnstiles in one corner of the ground the main stand is on the right hand side, with the standing cover on the opposite touchline, as well as the dugouts.  Hard standing throughout and a small caged 3G immediately inside the turnstiles was in use by some youngsters.  Several goals are stacked up beyond the main stand next to the toilet block I presume for pitch rental on non matchdays.  The directors lounge is at the back of the main stand and the food kiosk and supporters bar is on the side of the main stand.  

The last match I saw on artificial surface was at Maidstone in the rain 18 months ago and I came away with a positive opinion.  This surface however, didn’t enhance the argument for 3G. Although the pitch is nice and flat with a consistent bounce, I thought it bounced too low, like a flat ball and the game is noticeably devoid of sliding tackles and the ability to get right under the ball on taking corners and free kicks.  Apart from these setbacks, the game was still enjoyable, with Wroxham the better side in the first half, and Harlow in charge of the second period. 

Wroxham had already had a shot tipped over the bar earlier on before opening the scoring after 25 minutes.  A long ball from the back was controlled well by Danny White who then turned around the last defender and shot under the keepers outstretched arm into the net.  J King had a close range effort block by the home keeper on the half hour.  Harlow managed to draw level just before the break, when a quick counter attack found Alex Read 25 yards out and he expertly shot over the keeper and just under the crossbar.  The second half drew a blank on goals but Harlow had the best chances to win the match with several good saves made and a diving header just wide of the post with the attacker ending up in the net.  Wroxham did manage a shot against the crossbar and on reflection, a draw was the fair result.