Trelawny League

Premier Division

Saturday 8th April 2023

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.32

Troon 0 West Cornwall 2, attendance 62

22’ 0-1

35’ 0-2

@ Grouter Park

Troon Moor

Troon

TR14 9HT

No Admission or Programme.

When I decided on this game at the start of the week, which would be my debut in the Trelawny League, there were still three teams in with a shout of the title and this was 1st versus 3rd. Unfortunately, West Cornwall lost away to Illogan RBL Reserves on Wednesday night, which meant they could only now finish second, but a Troon win would see them finish the season on 42 points, which would be five points clear of second placed Ludgvan, who had two away games to play, both of which looked winnable. However, at some stage between Friday evening and kick off, Troon had been awarded three points from a game they had lost 1-5 at home to Camborne School of Mines (4th in table) on March 4th, due to an ineligible player being used, so Troon had already been crowned champions.

It was disappointing, but I only became aware of the situation a couple of minutes before kick off, so it was too late to go elsewhere. The game was really poor. With neither team having anything left to play for it was pretty turgid stuff. Troon certainly didn’t look like a team that had won the league and it was an easy win for West Cornwall. Hard to judge whether this is a decent league or not on this showing. It was certainly not something I would bother with again if I had an alternative option.

West Cornwall opened the scoring midway through the first half, hooking in from 6 yards after a corner wasn’t cleared and they doubled their lead ten minutes before halftime, when a long ball was fumbled by the home ‘keeper, leaving an easy tap in for the striker. The ‘keeper was lucky to still be on the pitch at this stage, as he only got booked for a handball outside his box, when he stopped a West Cornwall player from making a pass across the box for a tap in and then chased the goal scorer of the second goal back to the centre circle, before shoving him in the back, right in front of the Referee.

The second half deteriorated badly. The only thing of note was when West Cornwall saw a header towards the top corner brilliantly tipped over. The match was very disappointing, but the ground more than made up for it. It is probably one of the better grounds in this league, perhaps testament to the days Troon spent playing in the Cornwall Combination League, a level that they haven’t been at since 2015.

Western League

Premier Division

Friday 7th April 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

Falmouth Town 5 Cadbury Heath 1, attendance 491

26’ 1-0

45’ 1-1

45’ + 2, 2-1

62’ 3-1

80’ 4-1

85’ 5-1

@ Bickland Park

Bickland Water Road

Falmouth

TR11 4PB

£6 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

With no games at grounds I hadn’t previously visited scheduled for this afternoon, I decided on a re-visit to Falmouth Town. As we were based in Falmouth, I had to drive back there anyway and I last came to a game here back in August 1998, so didn’t really appreciate just how good a ground Bickland Park was, or still is, for that matter.

Today’s match was 8th versus 18th (out of 19) and a bit of an odd one for a Bank Holiday as Cadbury Heath to Falmouth is just over 190 miles and not a journey you’d relish down the M5 and A30 on one of the busiest days of the year as far as traffic congestion goes. Not surprisingly, there were only a handful of away supporters and considering Falmouth are not really challenging at the top of the table, it was pretty impressive to pull in a crowd just shy of 500.

Falmouth dominated the early exchanges, opening the scoring after twenty six minutes, heading down and in off the far post following a cross from the left. Cadbury Heath made a real game of it and deservedly levelled in the final minute of the first half, with a cross/shot from a tight angle that struck the far post on its way in. Two minutes into stoppage time Falmouth went back in front, when a miss hit back pass was intercepted and finished in to the bottom corner. Falmouth made it 3-1 just after the hour mark and in between a lovely chipped finish, which made it 4-1 with ten minutes left, the visitors had hit the crossbar and seen their ‘keeper save a Falmouth penalty. Cadbury Heath had a goal disallowed for offside, before a through ball was slotted home into the bottom corner to make it 5-1 as we entered the last five minutes.

St. Piran League

East Division

Friday 7th April 2023

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.59

Altarnun 2 St. Dominick 3, attendance 65

7’ 0-1

53’ 1-1

65’ 1-2

81’ 2-2

85’ 2-3

@ Trezibett

Altarnun

PL15 7RF

£3 Admission

No Programme.

Today’s game was 5th versus 3rd in the league table. An early goal, which was at least a couple of yards offside, saw St. Dominick break the deadlock seven minutes into a first half that only came to life in the final five minutes, which saw Altarnun have a shot cleared off the line and the visitors have two great chances, both thwarted by good saves from the home ‘keeper. Eight minutes into the second half Altarnun drew level, coolly lifting the ball over the ‘keeper when played clear on goal. The visitors were soon back in front, shooting into the bottom corner with a shot on the turn. Nine minutes from time Altarnun levelled it up at 2-2, finishing off a through ball with a first time shot from the edge of the 18 yard box that went in off the inside of the post. There was still time for St. Dominick to grab the lead for a third time, when a ball in from the right was finished with a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards and there was no way back for the hosts this time. The win now sees St. Dominick trail league leaders Saltash Borough by ten points, but with three games in hand, they are still very much in with a shout of the title.

Finding the ground is not easy. The fixture page on the F.A. Full-time website warns you not to use the postcode if using SatNav! Luckily, by using Google Maps and placing the destination manually, it was not a problem. It doesn’t help when the roads around the village have no names. At least confirming that the game was going ahead okay was much easier, as a tweet was answered within minutes by St. Dominick. Makes a change from so many clubs who never reply at all.

The tea bar was very popular at halftime and could have done with being open a little earlier, but not really possible, as the woman manning the entrance gate was also in charge of the tea bar and couldn’t be in two places at once! One other thing of note and certainly not a regular occurrence, was when an Altarnun player went down with cramp late in the game and it was the referee that went to his aid!

South West Peninsula League

Premier Division West

Thursday 6th April 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.32

Mullion 0 Wendron United 4, attendance 141

1’ 0-1

10’ 0-2

48’ 0-3

81’ 0-4

@ Clifden Parc

Clifden Close

Mullion

TR12 7EQ

£6 Admission

Programme online only.

When this match was scheduled to take place on Good Friday morning it was the perfect opportunity to re-complete the South West Peninsula League grounds. When it then got moved to the Thursday evening, it was even better, as it meant making a proper weekend of it. Mullion had played their first game under their newly installed floodlights last week and tonight’s match attracted a number of fellow ‘hoppers, all off to various other matches over the next few days.

The game was 10th versus 2nd in the league table and despite the score line, remained competitive throughout. Wendron scored within a minute and when they doubled their lead after just ten minutes, it looked like it might turn into a bit of a routing. Mullion did come into it more, but rarely threatened and when Wendron added a third goal three minutes into the second half, it was game over. Further goals looked sure to follow, as the visitors headed against the crossbar and had a 25 yarder tipped over by the ‘keeper, but it wasn’t until we were into the final ten minutes that goal number four eventually arrived, finishing low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

With two games remaining, Wendron trail leaders St. Blazey by six points and also have a goal difference inferior by seven. It is not impossible for them to still win the league, but probably unlikely.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 2

Wednesday 5th April 2023

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

A.F.C. Bedford United1 Bedford Sports Athletic 2, attendance 36

14’ 0-1

23’ 0-2

37’ 1-2 (pen)

@ Mowsbury Park

Wentworth Drive

Brickhill

Bedford

MK41 8DQ

No Admission or Programme.

With light drizzle throughout, coupled with kicking off three minutes late, it meant we had a 2 x 40 minutes match, although both halves had an extra two and a half to three minutes stoppage time, so hardly made a difference.

The match was 11th versus 4th in the league table and turned out to be a far closer contest than we had been expecting from the league positions of the two teams. Bedford S.A. opened the scoring within fifteen minutes, hooking in from a long throw in. Eight minutes later they doubled their lead, again profiting from a long throw, this time scoring from close range at the near post. Bedford United reduced the arrears when they converted a penalty eight minutes before halftime to pull it back to 1-2. Surprisingly, there were no further goals though, despite both sides giving it a real go in the second half.

The match was played at Mowsbury Park, which is little more than a multi pitch council ground. The F.A. Full Time website shows two different pitch numbers for where the game was played, being either No.7 or No. 9, depending which page you look at. I spoke to a home player who seemed to think it was actually No.11. Anyway, it was the one in the south west corner, sandwiched between two cricket squares.

Gwent Premier League

Division 1

Tuesday 4th April 2023

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.12

Newport Saints 3 Pentwynmawr Athletic 0, attendance 39

13’ 1-0

41’ 2-0

88’ 3-0

@ Black Ash Park

Corporation Road

Newport

NP19 0HD

No Admission or Programme.

Newport Saints were formerly known as West of St. Julians and play at Black Ash Park, not far from the now long gone Somerton Park, former home of Newport County, which is now a housing estate. The ground address for Black Ash Park is given as Corporation Road, with a pathway between a tyre centre and a B&Q being the ‘main’ entrance, although various pathways lead into the park from alleyways off the surrounding housing, where there is ample street parking.

As is standard for the Gwent Premier League, the pitch is railed off and there are a couple of dugouts, but they only consisted of the metal framework, so not much use if it rains! Hot drinks were available, but despite being ‘promised’ there was a match programme, this wasn’t the case. It certainly wasn’t well received by a couple of ‘hoppers present, but no problem to those of us there purely for the football! On the pitch beyond, which runs the opposite way, the reserves were hosting their Pill counterparts.

The match was 6th versus 13th (now bottom following the withdrawal of Cromwell Youth) in the league table and despite looking like a comfortable win for the hosts, it was a decent contest. It was a surprise that it took Newport Saints thirteen minutes to break the deadlock, as they attacked constantly for the opening fifteen minutes or so. Pentwynmawr settled into it, but when Saints added a second just before halftime, spinning on the edge of the box before shooting into the bottom corner, it looked like the points were safe. The visitors battled well in the second half and only conceded the third goal with a couple of minutes left and Saints nearly added a fourth in stoppage time, but shot against the crossbar.

Still quite light when the game finished at 19.52. The only ‘problem’ on the homeward journey was the M4 being closed from J13 to J12.

Arthurian League

Division 4

Monday 3rd April 2023

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.47

Old King’s Scholars 2 Old Haberdashers 5, attendance 5

7’ 0-1

13’ 1-1

18’ 1-2

22’ 1-3

67’ 1-4

74’ 2-4

82’ 2-5

@ Royal Docks Academy, 3G Pitch

Prince Regent Lane

Custom House

London

E16 3HS

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 4th versus 2nd in the league table. Haberdashers knew a win would guarantee them promotion and they were well in control throughout. An early goal was soon cancelled out with an equaliser for King’s that came courtesy of an own goal. Midway through the half it was 1-3 and the result was never in doubt. A long ball over the top saw a lob over the ‘keeper make it 1-4 and despite pulling it back to 2-4 shortly afterwards, Haberdashers rounded off the scoring when they added their fifth goal of the night, shooting into the bottom corner with eight minutes left. The win now sees Haberdashers lead second placed Old Brentwoods III by a point in the race for the title. Both have three games to play.

The venue is nothing more than a basic cage. Although there is no designated spectator area, there was no problem for the ‘crowd’ of 5 (100% made up of hoppers!) to watch pitch side.

Spartan South Midlands League

Premier Division

Saturday 2nd April 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Dunstable Town 1 Biggleswade United 1, attendance 165

22’ 1-0

37’ 1-1

@ Creasey Park Community Football Centre, 3G Pitch No.2

Creasey Park Drive

off Brewers Hill Road

Dunstable

LU6 1BB

Admission : Pay what you like

£2 Programme, 52 pages.

This game came on the radar after Dunstable had tweeted that the game was switched from the stadium pitch (I had seen them beat Braintree Town in a Southern League Southern Division match there on 3rd January 1994) to the 3G pitch (agreed by the league and the visitors) here at the complex, due to a waterlogged pitch on the former. Google Maps shows a 3G pitch adjacent to the stadium, but this was played on a second one, not shown on there yet, which is about 100 yards away, which has a spectator area along about three quarters of one side, with dugouts on the opposite side.

The match pitted 5th against 7th in the league table and despite very few real goal scoring opportunities, it produced a decent contest. Dunstable opened the scoring midway through the first half, powering a header in from close range, after a cross from the left reached the back post. Biggleswade levelled eight minutes before halftime, when a cross from the left was fumbled by the ‘keeper and smashed in from close range. The nearest we came to a winner was when Dunstable hit the post early in the second half.

A decent turnout of at least 13 ‘hoppers in a reasonable crowd, perhaps helped by the club offering a ‘pay what you like’ deal, due to the game not being in the stadium (normally £8). Not as high as the 218 that the club claimed on Twitter though. Even including both teams and the three match officials would have still seen the total well short of that!

Arthurian League

Premier Division

Saturday 1st April 2023

Kick Off 11.30 Actual 11.20

Old Cholmeleians 2 Old Brentwoods 1, attendance 8

53’ 1-0

86’ 1-1

88’ 2-1

@ Maccabi London Sports Ground, 3G Pitch

Rowley Lane

Arkley

EN5 3HW

No Admission or Programme.

With the continuous rain of the last few weeks causing the Yeovil & District League Hop to be called off once again, it was the wet weather that gave me this option, as Old Cholmeleians switched their game to the 3G pitch here at Maccabi Lions Sports Ground, due to their own ground being waterlogged. I had done the main stadium pitch here back in 2005. The 3G runs parallel, but is down on a lower level. It is a standard cage set up, with no spectator area, although no problem watching from inside the fence. There is a small area of cover perched at the top of the grass banking on one side, backing onto the stand of the main ground, which just about gives a view over the top of the fence.

The match was 8th versus 6th in the league table. Neither side looked like scoring, so it was a relief when Cholmeleians broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half, breaking down the right before a cross was finished off with a first time shot into the bottom corner. It looked like this would be enough to win it, as the only real chance apart from this saw Brentwoods head over a chance at the near post with twenty minutes left. Out of nothing the visitors levelled it up at 1-1 with four minutes left, chesting down and volleying in from 6 yards. A draw would have been a fair result, but the hosts grabbed the winner, when a shot deflected off a defender and squirmed through the ‘keepers legs a couple of minutes later.