Middlesex County League

Premier Division

Saturday 16th February 2019

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Brentham 1 PFC Victoria London 3, attendance 34

30’ 1-0

35’ 1-1

73’ 1-2

75’ 1-3

@ Brentham Club

38a Meadvale Road

Ealing

London

W5 1NP

No Admission

Programme, free, 8 pages.

The journey from New Malden had taken around 50 minutes, despite it being less than 14 miles. On arrival I found the place deserted, but then noticed the Referee and one of his Linesmen making their way along a path between the tennis courts, which went down behind the bowling green, with the football pitch running lengthways beyond here. The two teams were warming up behind a hedge on what looked like a small sided youth pitch. A club official handed me a free programme on arrival, which was a bit of a surprise, as I hadn’t thought to check if they even issued one, although the Middlesex League are one of the leagues that made it compulsory to do so in the past, although it was not always adhered to.

PFC Victoria are in effect a Polish club, who have had a rapid rise through the league since being formed in 2016. Successive promotions now sees them sitting in third place in the Premier Division league table, whilst Brentham are eighth. They drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, so I was hoping for a good contest and that is how it turned out.

Brentham went in front after half an hour, somewhat against the run of play, before a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box levelled it up five minutes later. PFC took control in the last fifteen minutes of the match, with a mazey run finished with a shot that beat the onrushing ‘keeper, then rounded things off with a free kick into the top corner of the net a couple of minutes later.

Football League Youth Alliance

Merit League 1

Saturday 16th February 2019

Kick Off 10.30 Actual 10.32

A.F.C. Wimbledon U18 3 Luton Town U18 1, attendance 43

22’ 1-0

55’ 2-0

57’ 3-0

83’ 3-1

@ King’s College Sports Ground

Windsor Avenue

New Malden

KT3 5HA

No Admission or Programme.

This was the opening round of the Merit League fixtures. Wimbledon were superior throughout in what was a really entertaining match, which had far more attacking play than the last couple of youth matches I had seen. I hope the coaches don’t get this type of football drummed out of them!

The opening goal was scrambled over the line, with an immediate signal from the Linesman that it was a goal. No need for VAR here! The second was a tap in at the far post, from a corner that came right across the six yard box and the third was a follow in to a parried save by the ‘keeper. Luton did get the goal of the game though. A long kick from their ‘keeper saw a chase between their striker and a Wimbledon player. The ball was taken down first time and a shot from the angle of the 18 yard box flew into the far top corner of the net.

There was no problem getting in to watch this match, although, as ever, it is difficult to take photographs.