Devon & Exeter League

Bill Slee Cup Semi Final

Tuesday 28th May 2024

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.58!

Farway United 1 Exmouth Spartans 1, (3-5 pens) attendance 26

9’ 0-1

45’ 1-1

@ Eastlee Park

Money Acre Road

Farway

EX24 6EF

No Admission or Programme.

With this being a cup semi final, I was confident both teams would turn up (sadly, not always the case in many leagues these days!) and a phone call to the home team manager at lunchtime confirmed it was indeed all good to go. Farway is in East Devon, around five miles south of Honiton. The ground is to the north of the village, in between Church Green and Farway itself, on the right hand side of Money Acre Road as you head south. There is a very small car park and a wooden changing room/clubhouse building (hot drinks available) on the right as you enter, with the pitch down below, running widthways. Almost the entire crowd watched from the raised area, where there are also a number of wooden benches, whilst the far side has a couple of wooden dugouts. Quite a feat to find a flat enough area around here to accommodate a football pitch!

The game was between two teams from Division 2 of the league, with 6th hosting 8th, as far as final league positions go. Both goals came in the first half, Exmouth taking the lead after nine minutes, when a cross from the right was slid in from six yards and Farway levelling in the final minute of the half, when a free kick from the angle of the 18 yard box beat the ‘keeper at the near post.

Despite having a man sin binned early in the second half, Exmouth managed to hold out and once back at the full compliment probably had the better chances to win it. In the dying seconds they had a point blank header tipped around the post from a free kick and then saw a shot come back off the other post from the resulting corner.

Straight to penalties at ninety minutes. Exmouth went first and scored all five of theirs. Farway scored their first three, but number four was saved. According to F.A. Full Time it was 4-5 on penalties, which cannot possibly be correct when the team going first scored the final kick of the shootout!

Doncaster League

Division 1 Knock Out Cup Final

Saturday 25th May 2024

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.04

Bawtry Town 3 A.F.C. Doncaster Town 3 (A.E.T.) (5-6 pens) attendance 214

7’ 1-0

26’ 1-1

71’ 1-2

90’ + 1, 2-2

106’ 2-3

118’ 3-3

@ Doncaster Knights R.U.F.C.

Castle Park

Armthorpe Road

Doncaster

DN2 5QB

£5 Admission

£2 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

With the Doncaster League playing their three Saturday finals here today (there are two Sunday League ones tomorrow) it was a great opportunity to see a football match at the Castle Park home of Doncaster Knights R.U.F.C. who play in the R.F.U. Championship. It’s an impressive set up, with a capacity of around 5,000, with a large main stand with 1,650 seats and an open ten step terrace opposite, whilst there is a section of open seating at one end. As well as a mobile caterer (very expensive) there was a food/drink outlet behind the left hand goal end, but without doubt, the best for value was certainly from the large bar beneath the main stand. Car parking was available, free of charge, in the club car park as you enter off Armthorpe Road.

We opted for the first game of the day, the Division 1 Knock Out Cup Final, scheduled to kick off at 11 o’clock, which got underway four minutes late. It was 2nd versus 5th, as far as final league positions go and looked like it would be going to form when Bawtry took a seventh minute lead and were in total control of the early exchanges, but Doncaster drew level midway through the half and it became much more even. Doncaster edged in front with nineteen minutes left, when they finished a through ball with a one on one finish into the top corner, that came back off the stanchion of the goal frame. It looked like it would be enough to win the cup, but a minute into stoppage time Bawtry drew level, when a ball over the top saw the striker win the race against the on rushing ‘keeper and nick it past him, before an easy finish from close range.

So, extra time beckoned. Very little of note in the first period, apart from what seemed like continual stoppages, as players went down with cramp after almost every challenge. A minute into the second period and Doncaster were back in front, breaking quickly down the right, before playing the ball across for a finish into the bottom corner. Once again they were close to the winning line, but with two minutes left, a header was flicked on and the ball was dispatched into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-3.

It was now left to penalties to decide the winners. Despite missing their first kick, which hit the crossbar, Doncaster scored their next six. Bawtry had seen their second kick saved and their seventh one sail high over the crossbar, so Doncaster took the shootout 6-5. What with the late kick off, a drinks break in each half, as well as what seemed like endless stoppage time, followed by the extra time and penalties, it was pushing 14.00 when this finally finished. Thankfully, our planned afternoon game, which was due to kick off at 14.30, was only fifteen minutes drive from here, so no need to panic.

Weston-super-Mare & District League

Division 1

Thursday 23rd May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.33

Churchill Club 70 1 Weston Town 2, attendance 55

15’ 1-0

65’ 1-1

85’ 1-2

@ Churchill Recreation Ground

Ladymead Lane

Churchill

BS25 5NH

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game here when Churchill Club played in the Somerset County League, despite it being as recently as 2017, when they then dropped into the Weston-super-Mare & District League. I was lucky I came to see this game tonight, as we were told this was the last ever game before the club merges with Congresbury and ups sticks to -play first team games some four miles north of here, although the ground itself is still going to remain. The sports ground is also home to the local cricket club, with the football changing rooms being next to the car park as you enter off Ladymead Lane. The pitch runs widthways, beyond a hedge, with the changing rooms in the left hand corner and a double sized concrete dugout on this side. Although the majority of the crowd watched from the near side, it was possible to watch from all four sides, with the far side slightly raised in one corner.

As for the match, where 6th hosted 2nd, there was plenty to play for. Churchill were playing for the pride of the club going out on a positive note, whilst Weston, the reigning champions, had to win in order to pip league leaders Isle of Wedmore to the title, by virtue of having a better goal difference. From a neutral point of view, the game got off to a perfect start, with Churchill going ahead after fifteen minutes, chasing down a long ball, before lobbing it over the on rushing ‘keeper and finishing from a tight angle. Churchill fought hard and they looked the more likely to add a second, rather than Weston draw level.

As the second half wore on, Weston began to get on top and it felt like a constant pressure building up on the Churchill goal. The equaliser came shortly after Weston had hit the post, when a cross was finished with a looping header that found its way in despite the ‘keeper getting his fingers to it. They now had twenty five minutes to find a winner, with the remainder of the game now being played almost entirely in the Churchill half of the pitch. Weston thought they’d won it, but had a goal disallowed for offside, but with just five minutes left, they finally got the all important goal, when a cross from the right wasn’t cleared and the ball ran loose to be smashed in from close range.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 4

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.28!

Ramsey & Mistley 0 Tendring District 2, attendance 25

2’ 0-1

65’ 0-2

@ Furze Hill Recreation Ground

Shrublands Road

Mistley

CO11 1HS

No Admission or Programme.

I’d received positive replies from both clubs that this was going ahead okay, so it was off to Essex for this local derby, with 11th hosting 10th (out of 13) in the table. I assume they’re both safe from relegation, but you never know these days. It was certainly competitive and both teams gave it 100% throughout. As well as battling each other, perhaps the biggest obstacle was the pitch! It was dreadful. As I arrived, I saw various areas being mowed, but they only tackled the worst parts. The grass was far too long and despite overnight rain, the pitch sounded very hard in places.

Tendring went in front after just two minutes, heading in a corner on the left from a couple of yards out. They doubled their lead midway through the second half, with a cracking long range effort that beat the ‘keeper into the bottom corner. Ramsey & Mistley did have a goal ruled out for offside and Tendring almost added a third late on, when a lob over the ‘keeper came back off the crossbar, but it finished 0-2.

Home to Ramsey & Mistley is Furze Hill Recreation Ground in Mistley. It’s a large expanse of grass with a couple of parallel pitches, one for football, running widthways in front of the buildings and the furthest one for rugby. The football changing rooms are first as you enter the car park, followed by the village hall and then rugby clubhouse, which was open for business, serving drinks, sweets, crisps, etc.

Middlesex County League

Division 1 (East & Central)

Monday 20th May 2024

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.08

Kulture Club 2 Aloysius 2, attendance 22

35’ 0-1 (pen)

66’ 1-1

79’ 1-2

80’ 2-2

@ St. Aloysius’ College Sports Ground

Hurst Avenue

London

N6 5TX

No Admission or Programme.

Luckily, Kulture Klub had posted this venue change on Twitter, as Football Mitoo was (and still is on the results page) showing the game as being played at Henry Barrass Stadium and I’d also received a reply via text message from the home club confirming the venue. It’s a typical college ground, with a number of sports catered for, with tonight’s game played on the pitch running parallel to the driveway leading into the small car park as you enter off Hurst Avenue. Plenty of street parking too and you certainly don’t need to worry about your car around these parts, as it is one of the more affluent areas of London.

The match was 2nd versus 7th (out of 12) in the league table, the last game for both teams, with Kulture Klub guaranteed to finish as runners up and Aloysius able to finish one place higher with a win from this. There was certainly nothing to suggest anything end of season about it, apart from the fact that it kicked off eight minutes late and despite plenty of light, the Referee opted for 2 x 40 minute halves. Plenty of chances at both ends, but the only goal of the first half was a penalty for Aloysius after 35 minutes. Kulture Klub levelled after 66 minutes, cutting inside, before finishing with a shot into the far corner from the angle of the 18 yard box. Aloysius looked to have won it with a free kick round the wall from the edge of the D in the last minute, but straight from the restart, Kulture Klub broke forward and were awarded a free kick 25 yards out, which flew past the ‘keeper to make it 2-2.

Northamptonshire Combination League

Division 1

Saturday 18th May 2024

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.32

Wootton St. George 2 A.F.C. Towcester 2, attendance 174

8’ 0-1

12’ 0-2

64’ 1-2

90’ 2-2

@ Wootton Community & Sports Centre

Curtlee Hill

Wootton

NN4 6ED

No Admission or Programme.

There was certainly no doubt about whether or not this game had something on it. 2nd versus 1st in the league table, with Wootton two points behind and this being the final game for both. A Wootton win would see them take the title, but any other result would see it go to Towcester. This game had actually been played once already, but was abandoned after seventy minutes following an injury to Towcester player Michael Watson, so was rescheduled for today.

A win for Wootton was certainly not out of the question. They’d won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in September and had also won the League Cup match by the same score, when the two teams met in the final at Cogenhoe United at the start of the month. However, a nightmare start today, where they were 0-2 down after 12 minutes, left them too much to do. A through ball that was finished with a curling shot into the corner opened the scoring, before a cross from the left was put in unmarked at the far post to double the lead four minutes later.

The second half came to life just after the hour mark, when a powerful run down the right saw a cross played into the box, which was laid off for a shot that was hammered in from 12 yards, despite the ‘keeper getting a hand to it. It was now a case of getting a second. It did come, but not until the final minute. Again it came from a cross from the right, which wasn’t cleared and it was smashed in at the far post to make it 2-2. Within seconds they had a great chance to win it, but failed to convert another cross in from the right and Towcester broke away to score what they thought was a third goal, but it was disallowed for offside. A minute later it was all over.

The ground here at Wootton Community & Sports Centre is pretty basic. The pitch runs widthways in front of the building and was roped along the near side. There was a cafe in the Community Centre doing a brisk business and a decent crowd for this level, although not as many as had been at the original fixture a few weeks back, according to a couple of ‘hoppers at the game who’d also been here that day.

Central Midlands Alliance League

Premier Division South

Friday 17th May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Mayfield 1 Mickleover Royal British Legion 4, attendance 52 (official figure on F.A. Fulltime given as 100!)

24’ 0-1 (pen)

49’ 1-1

60’ 1-2

72’ 1-3

82’ 1-4

@ Ashbourne Recreation Ground

Cockayne Avenue

Ashbourne

DE6 1EJ

No Admission or Programme* (advertised one on Twitter, but never saw anyone with one).

I had seen a game at Ashbourne Recreation Ground previously, back in August 2004, when I saw Wheel Inn lose 1-4 to Doveridge in the Ashbourne Summer League, where the game was played on a pitch on the other side of the brook from the main area, which was accessible via a small footbridge. Tonight’s game was played on the main pitch though, which was the only ground I hadn’t visited in this division. The pitch runs lengthways away from the raised clubhouse/changing room building, with a small section of covered bench seating on the right hand side at the halfway line, with the pitch part roped along this side and a pair of portable dugouts opposite, backing onto the cricket square. The far end of the pitch, where it backs onto the brook was very soft and walking behind that end was very boggy. The club had mentioned on Twitter that there was to be a pitch inspection, but mentioned no time. A question of whether the game was going ahead was ignored on their Twitter, but I managed to contact the Secretary just after 12 o’clock and she informed me the inspection was currently taking place and 45 minutes later she messaged me to confirm it was game on!

Mayfield were sitting in 14th place in the league table (out of 18 if you count Nottingham, who dropped out during the season), with this being their final game of the season and could still be overtaken by both Teversal and Arnold Town, who both have one game to play and are a point behind, but both have a better goal difference. Mickleover R.B.L. were fifth, but a win tonight would see them finish one place higher.

It was a pretty drab first half, where the only goal saw Mickleover score with a penalty midway through. The second half was much better. Mayfield equalised four minutes after the interval and could have gone in front minutes later, when a shot was fumbled by the ‘keeper, but the follow up was cleared off the line. On the hour mark Mickleover were back in front, when a left footed shot from the edge of the D gave the ‘keeper no chance and they made the game safe with eighteen minutes left, controlling and finishing a cross from the right with a shot into the bottom corner, to make it 1-3. Eight minutes from the end it was 1-4, when a one-two on the edge of the box was finished into the far corner.

Middlesex County League

Premier Division

Thursday 16th May 2024

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.51

Kensington Dragons 5 London Tigers 0, attendance 20

22’ 1-0

28’ 2-0 (pen)

72’ 3-0

81’ 4-0

82’ 5-0

@ Ark Burlington Danes Academy, 3G Pitch

White Rose Way

off Du Cane Road

London

W12 0TN

No Admission or Programme.

With their normal home venue at the Linford Christie Stadium being unavailable tonight, this game was switched to the nearby Ark Burlington Danes Academy, further east along Du Cane Road, which has a caged 3G pitch, which has no designated spectator area, but with a wide gap between touchline and fence, the three match officials had no problem with us watching from inside the fence.

The match was 11th versus 15th (out of 17) and was a decent contest, despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise. Kensington Dragons led 2-0 at halftime, having opened the scoring midway through the half with a shot curled into the far corner from the angle of the 18 yard box and doubled their lead minutes later, scoring from a penalty, that was awarded despite the foul taking place a good yard outside the box. They never made it 3-0 until eighteen minutes from the end and two goals in two minutes, both 30 yarders, scored by the same player (first one gave the ‘keeper no chance and the second was a free kick off the inside of the post) made it 5-0 with just under ten minutes left. They even had another effort disallowed for offside in the dying minutes.

South Wales Alliance League

Premier Division

Wednesday 15th May 2024

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.01

Treherbert Boys & Girls Club 2 F.C. Cwmaman 1, attendance 387

29’ 1-0

38’ 2-0

61’ 2-1

@ Baglan 3G Pitch

off Baglan Street ( A4061)

Treherbert

CF42 5AW

£3 Admission, including Programme, 12 pages.

It seemed a waste to be doing a 3G pitch on such a glorious evening, but this was certainly one of the games of the day as far as having something to play for. It was 3rd versus 2nd, with the visitors knowing a victory would see them leapfrog leaders Bridgend Street at the top of the table. They’ve finished their fixtures and hold a one point lead over Cwmaman (who still have two games to play, including this one, as well as holding a one goal superior goal difference over the leaders). A win for Treherbert would guarantee them third place. A big win could possibly see them take second place, but they would need a ten goal swing on goal difference, as well as hoping Cwmaman lose their last game.

There was a crowd of just under 400 here, including a fair few from Cwmaman. It was end to end stuff. Treherbert went ahead just before the half hour mark, whipping in a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box and they doubled their lead nine minutes later, cutting in from the right before playing the ball across for a low finish into the corner. Cwmaman could easily have led at the break, but every time they broke through, the home ‘keeper was always perfectly placed to keep them out. Just after the hour mark Cwmaman pulled a goal back, beating the offside trap before beating the ‘keeper at the near post. Treherbert had a man sent off with sixteen minutes left, following a second yellow card, but Cwmaman never took advantage of having the extra man. It finished ten aside, when the visitors had a man sin binned in stoppage time, but the game was out of reach by then anyway.

Although the ground is a 3G cage, it has spectator access on all four sides, which is a vast improvement on most/all others you come across, giving it a feel of being a ‘proper’ ground. One bonus of doing it in daylight was that you got the full extent of the fantastic scenic views. Not something you can say about many 3G grounds! There is a seated stand too, in the club colours of green and white, but the view of the pitch from here is awful, as spectators are allowed to stand against the rail in front, totally obscuring the view. A table was set up in the corner nearest the changing rooms, where tea/coffee/soft drinks/chocolate were available and as mentioned in the heading, a programme was issued and given away with admission. Very little content on the actual match and something you wouldn’t want to pay for!

So, Cwmaman now go to fourth in the table Cardiff Airport in their final match, looking to secure the win needed to take the title, although assuming goal difference is worked on most goals scored being the deciding factor if two clubs finish with the same total, then a 5-5 draw or higher would be enough.