Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League

Division 1

Wednesday 16th May 2018

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.47

Betws-y-Coed 0 Rhuddlan Town 3,  attendance 18

50’ 0-1

53’ 0-2

88’ 0-3

@ Cae Llan

Station Road

Betws-y-Coed

LL24 0AE

No Admission

£1 Programme, 4 pages.

A 500 mile round trip for a match at this level would not normally be on the radar, but having been offered a lift here, then why not ?

Betws-y-Coed are second from bottom in the league table and it is easy to see why. Rhuddlan are fourth, but didn’t look very good either. It didn’t help either team that the pitch is one of the most undulating and sloping that I have seen a match on, but some of the poor control and wayward shooting was not all down to the pitch.

It was hard to tell which team were the strugglers in a very even first half. Five minutes into the second half the visitors broke the deadlock, but within a couple of minutes Betws-y-Coed were awarded a penalty. The kick was sent high and wide in as bad a penalty as you could wish to see. Rhuddlan then made it 0-2 less than a minute later, with a shot that took a huge deflection, killing off any hopes the hosts had of getting anything from the match, before a late third goal rounded things off for the visitors.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Division 2

Tuesday 15th May 2018

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.52

Whitecroft 3 Lydney Town Reserves 0,  attendance 148

10’ 1-0

68’ 2-0

90’ 3-0

@ Grove Road

Whitecroft

GL15 4QJ

No Admission or Programme.

This Forest of Dean derby saw fifth in the league table host eighth. Whitecroft is only a couple of miles outside Lydney, so coupled with a warm, sunny evening, it certainly pulled in the locals for this one. It also helped that Whitecroft need to win their last two matches in order to gain promotion.

One of the downsides of visiting matches in places in the more remote areas, is if one of the teams fail to turn up, then it is often too late to reach an alternative. No such problem tonight though, as both teams were warming up half an hour before kick off. Unfortunately, it was the Referee who held up proceedings. Everyone was walking around mentioning that he hadn’t arrived, but none of them appeared to think of phoning him to check that he was actually coming. He eventually arrived at 18.38, which meant we ended up kicking off seven minutes later than scheduled !

Whitecroft were deserved winners and would have won by a much larger margin if it wasn’t for the Lydney ‘keeper, who pulled off endless saves and was probably the man of the match. Whitecroft remain in fifth place, but the three teams above them are all only one point better off, having completed their fixtures. A draw from their final match would see them finish fourth, due to a poorer goal difference than two of those above them, but a win will see them finish second and go up. They really ought to do it, as their last match is at home to second bottom in the table Winchcombe Town……..

Midland League

Division 2

Monday 14th May 2018

Kick Off 19.15 Actual 19.18

Redditch Borough 6 Hampton 0,  attendance 103

2’ 1-0 (pen)

8’ 2-0

11’ 3-0

30’ 4-0

78’ 5-0

90’ 6-0

@ Mettis Sports & Social Club

Cherry Tree Walk

Batchley

Redditch

B97 6PB

No Admission or Programme.

Redditch came into this second from bottom in the league table, but could still avoid relegation if they pick up enough points from their remaining matches. Hampton were fourth, but their position wouldn’t change regardless of the result here, which was a good job for them, as they had a man sent off just two minutes into the game, when a defender was red carded for a foul on a striker who was clean through, which, as a neutral, spoiled the game as a contest.

Having dispatched the penalty, Borough added two more in the next nine minutes and had the game sewn up by the time the fourth goal went in after half an hour. The game was pretty pedestrian from then on, before Borough added a couple more near the end as the ten men tired.

Below photo : Redditch open the scoring from the penalty spot.

East Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 12th May 2018

Kick Off 16.00 Actual 16.02

Hollington United 5 Sidley United 3,  attendance 130

2’ 1-0

6’ 1-1

23’ 1-2

68’ 2-2

77’ 2-3 (pen)

83’ 3-3 (pen)

88’ 4-3

90’ 5-3

@ Gibbons Field

Wishing Tree Road

St. Leonards-on-Sea

TN38 9LA

No Admission or Programme.

This match was a 16.00 kick off due to the Reserves match kicking off at 13.30 (they needed a win to be promoted, but conceded an 88th minute goal to draw 3-3 and miss out).

Hollington knew nothing but a win would see them retain the East Sussex League Premier Division title. On Wednesday they drew 2-2 at home to Battle Baptist, which left Battle two points clear at the top of the league table, but having completed their fixtures, with Hollington left with this match to play. Sidley were third,(they needed to match the result of fourth placed Rye Town, who were away to bottom club Crowhurst, to finish in this position) although some way back, but they were the only team to beat Hollington on their own patch last season, so it certainly wouldn’t be easy.

When Hollington went ahead after just two minutes it looked like it might be a bit of a stroll, but Sidley levelled quickly, then went ahead with a free kick from 25 yards that went in off the underside of the bar. Hollington pulled it back to 2-2, but Sidley were back in front when they scored a penalty with thirteen minutes left. The hosts converted a penalty of their own with seven minutes left to make it 3-3. They still needed another goal though. Sidley had a man sent off after 87 minutes and within a minute the title was won, as Hollington went ahead with a volley into the top corner of the net from the edge of the 18 yard box, before rounding it off with a superb 25 yard chip as the ninety minutes were up.

So Hollington won the league by a point, remaining unbeaten for the season. Sidley finished third, despite their defeat, as Crowhurst beat fourth placed Rye Town 3-2.

Below photo : Sidley score from the penalty spot to go ahead 2-3 with just thirteen minutes left.

Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial 3A Eindronde

Promotion Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg

Thursday 10th May 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

K.S.V. Veurne 2 Union Sportive Ploegsteert-Bizet 3 (AET) 3-4 on Aggregate,  attendance 238

41’ 0-1

43’ 1-1

94’ 2-1

98’ 2-2 (pen)

113’ 2-3

@ Stedelijk Sportpark Will Tura

Noordstraat 142

8630 Veurne

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

It was Ascension Day in Belgium today, which meant a good opportunity of doing an afternoon match and being home at a reasonable time.

On final league positions this was 4th versus 3rd in the league table. The 1st leg had finished 1-1, so the tie was still very much alive. Sadly, the opening 90 minutes today was pretty dire, with both teams scoring late in the first half to go in level at 1-1 (2-2 on aggregate). The away goal rule would apply, so we knew if either team were to score in the second half, there would be no extra time. Neither team ever looked like scoring, but with extra time looming, Ploegsteert had a man red carded for picking up a second yellow card, so surely Veurne would go on to win it now, playing an extra half hour with a man advantage.

Veurne scored early in extra time, but four minutes later the 10 men were level, equalising from the penalty spot, but more crucially was the fact it was now 3-3 on aggregate and that would take the visitors through on the ‘away goals’ rule. Rather than hold on to what they had, Ploegsteert kept attacking, being rewarded with what turned out to be the winner with seven minutes left. Veurne then had to score twice in the time remaining time to win the tie, but despite constant pressure, it was not to be their day.

For once, The Tunnel ran without any of the usual problems. Our outbound 10.50 train left 8 minutes early, then on the return we managed to get on the 18.50 (we were booked on the 19.20 in case our match went to extra time and penalties) which left a minute early. As Veurne is only just across the French border and the match finished at 17.34, I was in the house exactly 2 hours after the final whistle at 19.34 !

Midland League

Division 3

Wednesday 9th May 2018

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.06

Continental Star 5 Birmingham Tigers 1,  attendance 17

5’ 1-0

16’ 2-0

30’ 3-0

71’ 4-0

80’ 5-0

81’ 5-1

@ The Hub

101 Holford Drive

Perry Barr

Birmingham

B42 2TU

No Admission or Programme.

This was very much end of season fayre as thirteenth in the league table entertained the team two places above them. Star had it won in the opening half hour, by which time they were 3-0 up. With ten minutes left they made it 5-0, but conceded within a minute. A couple of minutes later they gave away a penalty, but it was saved by their ‘keeper. The Referee blew for full time a couple of minutes early, but not sure if this was because of fading light, or whether he had just had enough.

Below photo : Nice sight to see as you enter the gate to the ground. Just shows what kind of world we live in these days.

Northants Combination League

Premier Division

Tuesday 8th May 2018

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.32

Roade 3 Spratton 0,  attendance 31

8’ 1-0

84’ 2-0

90’ + 2, 3-0

@ Connolly Way

off Hyde Road

Roade

NN7 2LU

No Admission or Programme.

This was 7th versus 12th (2nd bottom) in the league table, in what was the last match of the season for both teams. Spratton have climbed off the bottom of the table, having drawn their last two away games, but have failed to win any of their previous 23, having picked up 9 draws along the way, so this was the last chance for them to get a win on the board.

Roade went in front early on with a breakaway goal that was a good 7-8 yards offside. The Spratton ‘keeper was their man of the match, pulling off endless saves to keep them in it. The two late goals were a little harsh on the visitors, but the score line did reflect how the game had gone. It means that Brixworth All Saints will have to win their final match to leapfrog Spratton at the foot of the table, whilst Roade finish the season in fifth place.

South West Peninsula League

Division 1 West

Monday 7th May 2018

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Wendron United 1 Millbrook 6,  attendance 61

11’ 0-1 (pen)

23’ 0-2

43’ 0-3

48’ 0-4

50’ 0-5

58’ 1-5

83’ 1-6

@ Under Lane

Carnkie

TR13 0EH

£3 Admission

No Programme.

As I expected, Illogan R.B.L. couldn’t be bothered to play their ‘bottom of the table’ decider at home to Bude Town, but it won’t bother them one bit as they will get a pathetic punishment for failing to fulfill the fixture, so I was at one of my back up matches, here at Wendron United. It shows what a sorry state the South West Peninsula League is in when a number of other matches were also off due to cry offs, one of which was the Premier Division match at Sticker, which I also still need, due to the away team not fancying it !

As with the match I saw at Bude Town on Saturday, Wendron United are another club who don’t bother doing a match programme, which as said before, is, or was, a league requirement to do so.

The match itself was 5th bottom versus top in the league table. Millbrook knew a win would mean that only Ludgvan can now prevent them from winning the league, but will have to win their last two matches, both of which are away, to do so, as Millbrook now lead them by 5 points and still have one match to play themselves, so are very much in the driving seat.

Below photo : Millbrook open the scoring from the penalty spot.

North Devon League

Intermediate Division 1

Sunday 6th May 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.55

Bridgerule 5 North Molton Sports Club Reserves 2,  attendance 11

38’ 0-1

44’ 1-1

48’ 2-1

52’ 2-2

58’ 3-2

82’ 4-2

87’ 5-2

@ Vinnicombe Park

Chapel Corner

Bridgerule

EX22 7EN

No Admission or Programme.

The North Devon League is not the most reliable for Sunday fixtures actually taking place and is sadly one of the worst hit leagues for having teams that cry off from fixtures at short notice. Thankfully, there were no such problems here today, as arriving at the ground an hour before kick off, there were already players from both teams there and pretty much everyone was there by 14.10. It was perhaps helped by the fact that it was 6th versus 1st in the league table and Bridgerule had a resounding 11-0 away win yesterday.

The Referee got the game started five minutes early, on a really hot afternoon, with a two minute drinks break taken halfway through each half. North Molton finally broke the deadlock on 38 minutes, but were pegged back when a clearance off the goal line hit the ‘keeper on the back, rebounding into the net, just before halftime. Bridgerule came on strongly in the second half and could have easily bagged another couple more goals, such was their dominance. The win now sees them move up to fifth in the league table, ten points off today’s visitors.

South West Peninsula League

Division 1 West

Saturday 5th May 2018

Kick Off 14.00  On Time !

Bude Town 3 Wendron United 1,  attendance 54

26’ 1-0 (pen)

72’ 2-0

78’ 3-0

88’ 3-1

@ Broadclose Park

Broadclose Hill

Bude

EX23 8DR

£3 Admission

No Programme.

I was quite lucky to notice that the kick off time for this match had been brought forward by an hour. I spotted the time had altered on the league website at around midnight on Friday, but neither club had any mention of it on their twitter accounts. Wendron did tweet about it being a 14.00 kick off at around 9 o’clock on Saturday morning (apparently they wanted to get home early due to a number of their players attending an evening wedding reception), but Bude didn’t bother, which may explain why there were only around 20 people in the ground at kick off, although it did increase over the next twenty minutes or so !

Another thing Bude don’t bother with is producing a matchday programme, which I believe they are supposed to do as a league requirement, but it probably isn’t worth their while with such low crowds.

Bude are bottom of the league table, but only because they have an inferior goal difference to Illogan R.B.L., whilst Wendron are fifth from bottom, but are in no danger of being relegated.

Bude were up for it from the start and should have been two goals to the good before finally making the breakthrough from the penalty spot, with the Referee awarding the penalty for a handball just inside the 18 yard box, which he apparently saw from inside the centre circle from where he was well behind play (only club linesmen in this division, who don’t do anything except offsides and balls in/out).

A cracking dipping shot from 25 yards doubled their lead, before the ‘keeper dropped a high ball to gift a tap in from a couple of yards for the third. Wendron got their consolation goal when their striker coolly slotted past the ‘keeper following a defensive mix up.

So, with Illogan R.B.L. beating St. Blazey 3-0 today, it is on to Bank Holiday Monday, and the last game of the season, where Illogan will host Bude, to decide who finishes bottom of the table. Bude will occupy last position, unless they win the match, so they go into it as slight underdogs. Despite this being a match I plan to watch, I am not convinced that Illogan will actually bother to turn up, as they have already thrown a match against third from bottom Plymstock United, so what is to stop them doing the same here ? The punishment for failing to fulfil fixtures is nowhere near harsh enough, so clubs would rather pay a fine than turn up and play matches…….anyway, all will be revealed on Monday.

Below photo : Bude take the lead from the penalty spot.