Herts Senior County League

Premier Division

Tuesday 14th May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Hinton 5 Lemsford 0, attendance 43

6’ 1-0

13’ 2-0

40’ 3-0

71’ 4-0

78’ 5-0

@ Ashmole Academy

Cecil Road

Southgate

London

N14 5RJ

No Admission

£3 Programme, 4 pages, didn’t bother buying.

With Hinton’s normal home venue at Holtwhites Sports & Social Club (visited January 2011) giving over to cricket at this stage of the season, they have to find an alternative venue to stage these late season games. Last May I saw them lose 0-1 to Chipperfield Corinthians, in a game played at Hadley Wood Sports Trust, so was pleased to see them use another temporary ground tonight and even better, somewhere I hadn’t seen a game at. There is a 3G pitch hidden behind the trees here at Ashmole Academy, but the game was played on the grass pitch at the front of the building, adjacent to the car park. No changing rooms in use though. The players and three match officials changed pitch side! The added attraction of a 4 page programme certainly added to the crowd, with around 20 ‘hoppers in attendance.

The match was 5th versus 13th in the league table. Hinton could finish one place higher, but only on goal difference, whilst Lemsford could drop a place, but are four points clear of the relegation zone and are safe from the drop. Despite the 5-0 scoreline, this was not as straightforward a win as it would appear. Two goals in the first quarter of an hour saw Hinton lead 2-0, but Lemsford had seen a shot hit the crossbar when it was still goalless. They hit the crossbar again, but within seconds Hinton broke away to make it 3-0 three minutes before halftime. Before the interval Lemsford hit the woodwork twice more, hitting the crossbar with the goal gaping, then hitting the post again. The second half had fewer chances than the first, with Hinton grabbing a fourth goal with twenty four minutes left, heading in a rebound after the ‘keeper had saved the initial shot, before a defensive mix up left an easy finish for goal number five with twelve minutes left.

Peterborough & District League

Premier Division

Saturday 11th May 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Stanground Sports 4 Leverington Sports 1, attendance 27

51’ 1-0

56’ 2-0

65’ 3-0

90’ 3-1

90’ + 2, 4-1

@ Stanground Sports Centre

Peterborough Road

Stanground

PE7 3BW

No Admission or Programme.

With the M25 closed all weekend in both directions between J9 and J10, which would cause total gridlock in the area, I needed to head somewhere via the Dartford Crossing to avoid the chaos and chose this game, where 4th hosted 6th in the league table. A win for Stanground would guarantee them third place, but depending on Uppingham Town losing away at Wittering Premiair, could see them finish as runners up, whilst Leverington also had a chance of grabbing a third place finish, as they trailed incumbents Crowland Town, who’ve finished their fixtures, by six points, but had two games to play (including this) and have the better goal difference.

In blistering heat, where there were drinks breaks in each half, it was still goalless at halftime, but only thanks to the Leverington ‘keeper, who made countless saves to keep the hosts out and the visitors almost broke the deadlock, but had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing minutes of the half. Unfortunately for Leverington they lost their ‘keeper to injury four minutes into the second half, following a late challenge to an over hit through ball from a home striker, which signalled the end of their resistance. Just two minutes later his stand in was beaten with a looping header from 10 yards….scored by the player who had inflicted the injury on their normal ‘keeper. Stanground then scored twice more in the next fourteen minutes and the points were safe. Leverington did pull it back to 3-1 in the final minute, but a finish into the bottom corner, following a goal mouth scramble, saw Stanground make it 4-1 a couple of minutes into stoppage time.

Home to Stanground Sports is Stanground Sports Centre. The pitch is fully railed and has a pair of dugouts and an excellent playing surface. Ample car parking too. Toilets available in the main building and the only refreshments were hot drinks from a vending machine in the reception area.

Cambridge University F.A. Cuppers Final

Friday 10th May 2024

Kick Off 17.00 On Time!

St. John’s College 0 St. Catharine’s College 0 (AET) (4-5 pens), attendance 339

@ St. John’s College Playing Fields

Grange Road

Cambridge

CB3 0HF

No Admission

2 Different Programmes available, A4 and A5 size. Didn’t bother buying.

St. John’s won the toss to determine who would host the final, hence it being played at their very impressive ground in Grange Road, although there is also access off Queen’s Road at the eastern end, but the former being the designated address. Players get changed in the main pavilion, which faces the cricket pitch (Queen’s Road side) with the football pitch at the rear, running parallel to a rugby pitch (Grange Road side). It was roped off for tonight’s game and had as good a playing surface as you’d find anywhere. It was absolutely immaculate.

Unfortunately, the game was poor and offered very little in the way of goalmouth action. To make it worse, we had to suffer an extra 30 minutes as well, which was even more turgid than the previous 90! Neither side deserved to win and it was obvious from very early in the match that we’d be lucky to see a goal and sure enough it finished 0-0. So, on to the penalties. St. John’s went first and scored their first four, before their fifth was sent high over the crossbar. St. Catharine’s were 100% with theirs, so it was a bit of an upset, as they play a division lower than their hosts.

South Wales Alliance League

Division 1 East

Wednesday 8th May 2024

Kick Off 18.15 On Time!

Tongwynlais 0 Cwmbach Royal Stars S.C. 3, attendance 82

52’ 0-1

81’ 0-2

88’ 0-3

@ Iron Bridge Road

Tongwynlais

CF15 7NJ

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was 5th versus 1st in the league table, with Tongwynlais able to finish fourth with a win tonight, whilst Cwmbach Royal Stars had wrapped up the title on Saturday, having beaten their nearest challengers Cardiff Cosmopolitan 5-2 away. They still had something to play for tonight though….avoid defeat and they would have gone unbeaten all season in the league, having won 15 and drawn 4 of their games so far.

The first half had been quite even, although little in the way of goalmouth action, so no surprise it was still goalless at the break. Seven minutes into the second half Cwmbach broke the deadlock, when a ball in from the right was finished into the bottom corner from the angle of the six yard box. They never looked like being pegged back, let alone actually lose it and they rounded off a comfortable win with two goals in the last nine minutes, both angled finishes into the far corner.

The ground here at Iron Bridge Road is enclosed by a triangle of the M4, the A470 towards Merthyr Tydfil and the River Taff. The pitch is in front of the changing room building and is fully railed off and has a dugout on each side, with the car park behind the goal as you enter. There is a second railed pitch, running at right angles to the main one, about 20 yards beyond the far touchline.

Northamptonshire Combination League

Premier Division

Tuesday 7th May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.33

Corby Strip Mills 6 Kettering Nomads 2, attendance 197

19’ 0-1

28’ 1-1

32’ 2-1

44’ 3-1

50’ 4-1

59’ 5-1

76’ 5-2

90’ 6-2

@ West Glebe Park, Pitch 1

Cottingham Road

Corby

NN17 1SZ

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was 1st versus 4th in the league table, with Corby Strip Mills knowing that a win against the reigning champions would give them the league title. They came into this on the back of twelve consecutive league wins, but went behind to a nineteenth minute opener for the visitors, which certainly made it more interesting from a neutral point of view. Corby had a goal disallowed for offside, but soon levelled with a downward header at the far post and were in front four minutes later, when a diagonal ball into the box saw hesitation between ‘keeper and defender, which allowed a striker to nip between them, chesting down the ball, before shooting into the bottom corner and they managed to add another one in the final minute of the half. When they made it 4-1 just five minutes into the second half, the title was secured. Goal number five arrived just before the hour mark and although Kettering pulled it back to 5-2 with fourteen minutes left, Corby rounded off the scoring with a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box which was immediately followed by the final whistle.

The game was played on Pitch 1 here at Glebe Park, the furthest of two pitches from the changing rooms/car park on the south side of the complex. As is all too often the case with these hired venues, as opposed to a club owned ground, the pitch was poor and the grass could certainly do with cutting. It was roped off on all four sides and was a pleasant setting on a rare warm and sunny evening. The nice weather will have certainly helped in attracting an excellent crowd of just under 200.

Staffordshire County Senior League

Division 2 South

Monday 6th May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Albrighton 0 Cannock Dynamos 3, attendance 68

12’ 0-1 (pen)

42’ 0-2

47’ 0-3

@ Loak Road

Albrighton

WV7 3HR

No Admission or Programme.

The journey from the earlier game at A.F.C. Solihull, on a surprisingly quiet M42/M5/M6/M54, saw us arrive here around 45 minutes before kick off. The ground here, shared with the local bowls club, is good for the level, being railed off on two sides and hemmed in by hedges on the other two, which are out of bounds to spectators and there’s a pair of dugouts too. Grass banking at one end gives an excellent view of the game as well as of the backdrop of The Wrekin to the west. Hot food and drinks were served in the clubhouse building throughout the game.

5th in the table Albrighton (they’ve since risen a place following the League awarding points from previously postponed fixtures) were hosting a Cannock Dynamo team that had already finished in a promotion place, but needing a win from this, their final game, to take the title, as second placed Newhall United still have two games to play and were only five points behind them. An early penalty set them on their way and they got the crucial second goal three minutes before halftime, finishing with a shot across the ‘keeper after controlling a ball in from the left. The game was put beyond doubt two minutes into the second half, when a downward header at the far post made it 0-3.

Midland League

Division 3

Monday 6th May 2024

Kick Off 15.00 On Time!

A.F.C. Solihull 4 Feckenham 0, attendance 130

57’ 1-0

74’ 2-0

83’ 3-0

88’ 4-0

@ Leafield Athletic F.C.

Rumbush Lane

Tidbury Green

B94 5NA

£3 Admission

No Programme.

The journey round the M25 and then up the M40 as far as High Wycombe was in very wet conditions, but further north it looked more promising and by the time we arrived at the ground, just north of Earlswood, off Junction 3 of the M42, the sun had appeared. A.F.C. Solihull had moved here to the ground of Leafield Athletic, (who play in the Birmingham A.F.A. League) part way through the season, so it attracted a fair number of ground hoppers today. We arrived a good ninety minutes before kick off and the clubhouse was already open, with a good supply of hot drinks and food on offer, as well as the usual chocolate/crisps etc. There are two pitches here, both part railed, with the game taking place on the main one, running widthways in front of the clubhouse.

The hosts had wrapped up the league title already, with the trophy presentation taking place after today’s game, whilst Feckenham were fifth, but could still finish third. A pretty uneventful first half ended goalless, but when Solihull broke the deadlock twelve minutes into the second half, things changed completely and they totally dominated for the remainder of the game. They made it 2-0 with sixteen minutes left, heading in at the near post and added two more in the last seven minutes to round off the scoring, with a tap in from six yards followed by an angled shot into the far corner. The win sees Solihull finish the season six points clear of Northfield Town at the top of the table.

South Wales Alliance League

Division 1 East

Saturday 4th May 2024

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.34

Nelson Cavaliers 1 Tongwynlais 2, attendance 40

11’ 0-1

57’ 0-2

90’ + 1, 1-2

@ Wern Park

Caerphilly Road

Nelson

CF46 6NL

No Admission or Programme.

Today’s game was 4th versus 6th in the league table. It was the last game of the season for Nelson, but if Tongwynlais were to win here today, then beat top of the table Cwmbach Royal Stars in their final game, then they would be the ones taking that fourth place. Tongwynlais got off to the perfect start, going ahead after eleven minutes, finishing high into the near top corner of the net, after a through ball beat the offside trap. They doubled their lead twelve minutes into the second half, when a cross from wide on the left was left by both ‘keeper and defender, but it dropped to a striker at the far post, who finished with a cushioned volley. They could have added a third minutes later, but a 25 yarder hit the crossbar. Nelson got a consolation goal a minute into stoppage time, heading in at the far post, from a corner on the left and they could have grabbed an unlikely looking point in the dying seconds, when they had a headed goal disallowed for offside and another effort cleared off the line, with the ‘keeper stranded, but the visitors held on for the win.

Home to Nelson Cavaliers is Wern Park. The changing rooms/car park are as you enter off Caerphilly Road, whilst the pitch is down below, hidden from sight. It is railed on both sides and along the majority of both ends, with the dugouts on the side of the steep grass bank that runs along the near side, where there is a small section of three steps of wooden ‘terracing’ (people sat on it), but the view of the pitch was badly obscured by the dugouts.

Cheshire League

Division 2

Thursday 2nd May 2023

Kick Off 18.45 On Time!

Lymm Rovers 3 St. Helens Town 0, attendance 64

41’ 1-0

53’ 2-0

90’ + 3, 3-0

@ Lymm High School, 3G Pitch

Oughtrington Lane

Lymm

WA13 0RB

No Admission

£1 Programme, 4 pages.

Tonight’s game was between two teams safely sitting in the higher mid table positions in the league, with 5th hosting 7th. Lymm hit the post and St. Helens had an effort come back off the crossbar early on, but it was the hosts that broke the deadlock just before halftime, when a miss kick by the ‘keeper, following a back pass, led to an easy finish from 12 yards. Goal number two came eight minutes into the second half, with an angled shot into the corner and the scoring was rounded off in stoppage time, when a fumbled cross by the ‘keeper was tapped in from close range to make it 3-0.

Home to Lymm Rovers is the 3G pitch at Lymm High School. A typical cage set up, with spectator access along three quarters of one side and a pair of portable dugouts, placed on opposite touchlines. A good display of flags from the St. Helens contingent adorned one goal end, which is an indicator of their more illustrious past. They were inaugural members of the North West Counties League and were F.A. Vase winners at Wembley Stadium back in 1987, where they beat Warrington Town 3-2 in the final.

Sevenoaks & District League

Division 2

Wednesday 1st May 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Five Oak Green 3 Tunbridge Wells Foresters Reserves 0, attendance 37

11’ 1-0

49’ 2-0

64’ 3-0

@ Five Oak Green Recreation Ground

Falmouth Place

Five Oak Green

TN12 6RD

No Admission or Programme.

There are three teams battling it out for the title in this division. Five Oak Green came into this sitting top of the table on 38 points (5 to play), leading Roselands on goal difference (also 5 to play), whilst Tunbridge Wells Foresters Reserves are a further two points back, with one game fewer to play than the other two. Tonight’s teams both have to host Roselands yet, so it could still go right to the wire, whatever the outcome tonight.

The first half was end to end, played at a 100 mph pace. The only goal of the half came after eleven minutes, when FOG finished a break down the right with a shot from just inside the box. They doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, when a striker managed to nick the ball off a defender as he tried to shepherd the ball back to the ‘keeper, leaving an easy finish from eight yards. Just after the hour they made it 3-0, heading in from close range from a corner on the right and there was no way back for the visitors.

The ground here is shared with cricket. Looking from the car park/changing rooms the pitch is to the right of an artificial cricket wicket, with the pitch running away lengthways.