Kent County League

Division 1 West

Saturday 9th December 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.05

Langley Sports 3 Danson Sports 1, attendance 8

17’ 0-1

45’ + 2, 1-1

55’ 2-1 (pen)

75’ 3-1

@ L.A. Sports Club

St. Dunstan’s Lane

Eden Park

Beckenham

BR3 3SS

No Admission or Programme.

With the amount of rain once again overnight, my main aim today was to try and get a game in on grass. I contacted Langley Sports via Twitter and received a prompt reply that there was to be a pitch inspection and shortly afterwards another to confirm that it was game on! There was no further rain forecast, which actually turned out to be correct, for a change. There were even spells of blue sky and sunshine, as well as a cool wind, especially late on.

Langley Sports play at the L.A. Sports Club. There is a clubhouse/changing room building, which looked to be under renovation, with three small size pitches in front. Beyond those, running widthways, are two full size pitches, with today’s game being played on the nearer of the two. The walk across was rather wet underfoot, but the pitch was certainly playable. Spectator access is limited to the majority of the near side and the right hand goal end only.

The match was a relegation battle, as fourth bottom hosted bottom. Langley had managed just three wins from their opening ten games, whilst Danson had lost all thirteen of their games, scoring just 8 goals, whilst conceding 74. At least today was a game that both teams would see as a good opportunity to pick up a win. Danson went in front after seventeen minutes. The Langley ‘keeper had been injured following a challenge at the near post when defending a corner and within seconds of the restart, he was beaten with a shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner. He only lasted another four minutes before being replaced by an outfield player taking over in goal. Langley equalised two minutes into stoppage time, when a defender was dispossessed on the edge of the box and a first time shot found the bottom corner. Ten minutes into the second half Langley went ahead, scoring with a penalty. Minutes later, they hit the post with a header, but finally made the game safe when they made it 3-1 with fifteen minutes left, when a long ball saw a mix up between ‘keeper and defender, allowing a striker to nip between the two and finish from a tight angle.

Wales

Central Wales F.A. Emrys Morgan Cup 3rd Round

Thursday 7th December 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.27

Llechryd 1 Dewi Stars 3, attendance 75

4’ 0-1

33’ 1-1

44’ 1-2

84’ 1-3

@ Teifi Leisure Centre, 3G Pitch

North Road

Cardigan

SA43 1HG

No Admission or Programme.

Having already been postponed twice, this game between two teams who play in the Ceredigion League Division 1 (Tier 5 in Wales), 5th versus 3rd as far as league positions go, was switched to the 3G pitch here at Teifi Leisure Centre (a 520 mile round trip for me, getting home just before 2am) in Cardigan. Although there is no designated spectator area, there is a good 5 yards between touchline and fence and the Referee had no problem with people standing inside the cage, although over half the crowd opted to watch from outside, behind the near goal end, where it gave slightly raised viewing.

It was a decent game, between two evenly matched teams. Dewi Stars went ahead early, with an angled shot that beat the ‘keeper at his near post. Llechryd levelled just after the half hour mark, poking in a cross at the near post, but a minute before halftime, Dewi were back in front, when a cross from the left went right across the six yard box before being smashed high into the roof of the net at the far post. There were chances at both ends, but Dewi made the game safe with six minutes left, when a cross was headed in at the second attempt.

In the final minute (on my watch) a Dewi player suffered an injury, which appeared to be a leg/ankle break. An ambulance was called, but with the player lay on the pitch, covered in blankets/coats, it was obvious the game would not be carrying on. Both the Cymru App and Dewi Stars Twitter (plus a reply to this by Llechryd) have the game shown as 1-3, so looks like the result stands? Dewi Stars now face fourth tier Central Wales League North Division side Waterloo Rovers in the next round.

National League U19 Alliance

South Division

Wednesday 6th December 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Eastleigh U19 6 Southend United U19 2, attendance 15

5’ 1-0

24’ 2-0

37’ 3-0

45’ 4-0

47’ 4-1

63’ 4-2

76’ 5-2

89’ 6-2

@ Ganger Farm Sports Park, 3G Pitch

Ganger Farm Way

Ampfield

Romsey

SO51 0EE

No Admission or Programme.

This was played at the relatively new Ganger Farm Sports Park. There are grass rugby and football pitches, as well as a synthetic hockey pitch, whilst today’s game was on the 3G football pitch (Pitch 8 according to the map) that runs parallel to the former. There is a spectator viewing area down three quarters of one side, whilst a pair of dugouts are on the opposite touchline.

Apparently, seven of the starting eleven for Southend United had played last night in an Essex F.A. Senior Cup match, so it was little surprise to see Eastleigh race into a four goal first half lead. The second half was much more even and when Southend pulled it back to 4-2 just after the hour mark, it looked like there was a real chance of them getting something out of the game. They had a couple of good chances, but when Eastleigh made it 5-2 with fourteen minutes left, it was game over. They added number six with a minute left, scrambling in from close range after a corner wasn’t cleared.

West Sussex League

Division 2 South

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.04

Yapton 2 Beaumont Park 2, attendance 29

11’ 1-0

31’ 2-0

60’ 2-1 (pen)

85’ 2-2 (pen)

@ Southfields Recreation Ground

Southfields Road

Littlehampton

BN17 6AE

No Admission or Programme.

I was hoping to avoid having to watch a game on a 3G pitch today, so opted to head to the south coast, where it had been forecast to barely dip below freezing overnight. Beaumont Park had replied via Twitter that as far as they knew “it was still on”, so off I went. It was -1 degree as I headed down the A24, but once crossing The South Downs, the sun was out and at one point the car temperature gauge actually rose as high as 2 degrees. Arriving in the car park an hour before kick off, it was good to see the nets being put up and the corner flags being put out (pitch running widthways, in far right hand corner when looking from car park/changing rooms). The majority of away players arrived around the same time too, so it was good to go, although the Referee didn’t arrive until twelve minutes before the scheduled kick off time! It did turn colder as the game went on and despite the mist/fog rolling in during the latter stages, there was never a doubt that the game might not be completed.

The match was 5th versus 9th (out of 10) in the league table. It was the typical ‘game of two halves’. Yapton dominated the first half, opening the scoring after eleven minutes, with a scuffed finish and although Beaumont Park hit the crossbar minutes later, it was no surprise to see Yapton double their lead just after the half hour mark, finishing with a first time shot into the bottom corner, after a free kick had only been headed clear as far as the edge of the 18 yard box.

Beaumont Park were much improved in the second half. They missed a good chance within minutes of the restart, missing a one on one chance that was saved by the ‘keeper, but got back in it on the hour, converting from the penalty spot, awarded for a foul by the ‘keeper, as he was faced with another one on one attack. They nearly levelled minutes later, when a hit and hope effort hit the crossbar, rebounding for a player following in, but he saw his header tipped onto the bar and over. A second penalty, awarded for another foul by the ‘keeper, saw Beaumont Park draw level with five minutes left and they almost won it in stoppage time, when a diagonal free kick into the box was met with a point blank header that the ‘keeper somehow turned around the post.

Today’s visit now sees this division completed, leaving just Felpham Colts, Ashurst United and Queens Head Raiders to finish the full league now.

Northern Counties East League

League Cup 2nd Round

Tuesday 28th November 2023

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Louth Town 5 Armthorpe Welfare 0, attendance 116 (official 105)

45’ + 2, 1-0

74’ 2-0

79’ 3-0

83’ 4-0

86’ 5-0

@ The Welton Group Stadium

Main Road (B1200)

Saltfleetby St. Peter

LN11 7SS

£5 Admission

£1.50 Programme, 28 pages

Team Sheet, free.

Tonight was the first midweek game played under the newly installed floodlights here at Louth Town. The ground is in the village of Saltfleetby St. Peter, out in the middle of nowhere, seven miles from the town of Louth itself. Unless you’ve got a car, getting here (let alone getting back afterwards) on a Saturday would be difficult, but for a midweek game, I would think pretty much impossible. It didn’t seem to affect the crowd number too badly though, as it was just into three figures (I counted 11 more than the official attendance). As well as the lights, there is a seated kit stand on the halfway line and a small bit of cover on the front of the clubhouse, although it’s set back from the pitch. The spectator access is limited to just two sides, with the dugouts opposite the stand and the far goal end out of bounds as it has another pitch beyond it. Hot food was available in the clubhouse and although the programme is an on-line version, they were running off printed copies for those who wanted one, as well as giving out team sheets.

The match was a clash between two Division 1 teams, 11th versus 20th as far as league positions go. It was very even in the first half and looked like it would be goalless at the break, until Louth opened the scoring in stoppage time. The second half saw Louth get on top, but they didn’t add a second goal until sixteen minutes from the end and with the game now safe, they managed to run in another three goals. The 5-0 scoreline was harsh on Armthorpe, as they are a far better team than their league position suggests.

As ever, the journey into the wilds of Lincolnshire was arduous, well, once you go past Peterborough. At least I only had to contend with one road closure coming home, as the M25 was closed between J13 and J11. Tonight’s game once again completes the Northern Counties East League grounds for me.

Spain

R.F.E.F. Primera Division

Grupo 1

Sunday 26th November 2023

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.01

Real Club Deportivo La Coruna 1 Club Atletico Osasuna ‘B’ 1, attendance 16,637

22’ 0-1

36’ 1-1

@ Estadio de Riazor

Rua Manuel Murguia

15011 A Coruna

€20 Admission

No Programme.

The 21 mile drive from Carballo took 26 minutes and saw us parked up on the hard shoulder (they don’t seem to bother about such things over there!) of the V-14 dual carriageway by about 19.23. Once parked, it was a very brisk walk of just over 15 minutes, thankfully downhill, to the stadium. We knew the ticket office was at the far side of the stadium from where we arrived, but it was good to see two ticket windows open and only a couple of people in front of us. Again, no problem buying them without any identification documents and we were given a choice of prices, ranging from €20-€100. We opted for the cheapest, in the corner of the top tier and even better, the entrance was only about 30 yards away! Climbing what seemed like endless stairs, saw time to buy a drink before entering our seats at 19.58 and seconds later the light show began and the teams emerged. We’d made it and a minute after the scheduled kick off time, we were underway. Apparently, we were in the ‘away’ section (one of our party sat in the same area when seeing Arsenal here twice in European competitions) although it was full of home supporters tonight.

Although Deportivo La Coruna are now playing in the third level of Spanish football, they were one of the top teams not only in Spain, but Europe as well, not too long ago. Their peak was from the mid 1990s to mid 2000’s playing five successive seasons in the U.E.F.A. Champions League from 2001-2005, making two quarter finals and one semi-final. They had won La Liga in 2000 and the Copa del Rey in 1995 and again in 2002 as well as the Spanish Super Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2002. in They were relegated from the top flight in 2011 and having been promoted, were relegated once again in 2013. Another promotion to La Liga was followed by yet another relegation in 2018 and they then fell to the third tier and only avoided relegation down to tier four in 2021 due to a reorganisation of the Spanish pyramid.

The club was formed in 1906 and have played at the Estadio do Riazor since 1944. It has an all seated capacity on 34,611, set out in two continuous levels and it creates a great atmosphere, despite it having only been half full tonight. We never noticed any away fans, but hardly surprising, as it was a B team, but the ‘Depor’ crowd certainly got behind their team, although they did start to get on their backs late on, as they ran out of ideas, ending the game frantically hitting long balls into the box hoping to produce something out of nothing. Osasuna had taken the lead midway through the first half, after a long range shot was saved by the ‘keeper but followed in by Andre Yoldi, who scored from 6 yards out. Depor levelled nine minutes before the break, when the ball was chipped to the far post and headed in off the upright by Diego Villares.

The game finished at 21.52 and after a much more leisurely walk back to the car, despite it being uphill, we then drove 20 minutes southeast to our overnight hotel in Bergondo. The following morning we made the 2 hour 53 minute (gaining back an hour as we crossed back into Portugal) drive back south to Porto for our 1235 EasyJet flight to London Gatwick, which departed 28 minutes late.

So, another successful trip to Iberia was complete. We’d done all six of our intended matches, three in each country, with the total distance covered coming up just short of 600 miles.

Spain

R.F.E.F. Tercera Division

Grupo 1

Sunday 26th November 2023

Kick Off 17.00 Actual 17.02

Bergantinos 3 Union Deportiva Paiosaco 0, attendance 672

54’ 1-0

70’ 2-0

78’ 3-0

@ Estadio Municipal As Eiroas

Rua Bronce

15100 Carballo

€10 Admission

No Programme.

Originally, we had planned to be at tier four club Sociedade Deportiva Compostela for our second game today, as it was shown as a 16.00 kick off when the fixture schedules were released last week, but when it was changed on Thursday, to 17.30 instead, it meant we would have to have a re-think if we were still to get in a treble today. The game here at Bergantinos, who play at level 5, was the best option available, although we would have to rely on a bit of luck regarding timings going in our favour.

The drive north west from Ourense to Carballo took just under two hours. Again, there was free parking in the road outside the ground, although the nearest we could find was the furthest corner from the entrance, but at least we would be on the right side of the ground to head for our next game. It was another 3G pitch, with a main seated stand (350 seats) on one side, with clubhouse adjacent and a new seated stand (340 seats) behind the goal to the left, with spectator access available around the full perimeter.

Bergantinos came into this as league leaders, whilst Paiosaco were tenth. It took until nine minutes into the second half for the hosts to break the deadlock, finishing into the far bottom corner after cutting in from the left. Goal number two came from a first time shot from the edge of the box that beat the ‘keeper at the near post, before they wrapped the game up with twelve minutes left, when a shot from the angle of the 18 yard box looped into the far corner.

At the end of the game we exited via a gate in the corner of the ground (not padlocked and used to fetch balls from behind that goal that scaled the fence/netting), rather than use the main exit at the opposite diagonal corner, which meant we were in the car and on our way to game three by 18.57……it was going to be tight, but we’d got a reasonable chance of making the 20.00 kick off…

Spain

R.F.E.F. Segunda Division

Grupo 1

Sunday 26th November 2023

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.03

Ourense C.F. 1 Club Deportivo Guijuelo 0, attendance 466

44’ 1-0

@ Estadio Municipal de Oira

Rua de San Silvestre

32001 Ourense

€15 Admission

No Programme.

Having stayed overnight in Portugal, it was a two and a quarter hours drive (plus lose 1 hr due to time difference) north into Spain and the region of Galicia, for what we hoped would be the first of three games for us today. It wasn’t as warm as yesterday, and was rather dull, as the sun struggled to break through, but at least it was dry. We were starting off with a match in the fourth tier of Spanish football, where top of the league table were hosting eighth.

Ourense play at the Estadio Municipal de Oira, situated to the north east of the town, on the north side of the Minho River. It has a 3G pitch and has spectator access on all four sides, dominated by the large seated stand on the halfway line. Parking was easily available in the road outside.

It was a decent game, with the teams evenly matched. Both had chances, but defences were on top. Just before halftime Guijuelo had a man sent off, for a foul near to the corner flag. The free kick was played into the six yard box, but was headed clear to the edge of the D, where Alex Gil controlled it with his left foot before firing a right footed shot into the bottom corner. Despite having a man advantage, Ourense failed to add to their tally in the second half, but comfortably held on to take the three points.

Portugal

Taça de Portugal 4th Round

Saturday 25th November 2023

Kick Off 17.00 Actual 17.01

F.C. Penafiel 3 Vitoria F.C. Setubal 2 (A.E.T.), attendance 675

1’ 0-1

27’ 1-1

60’ 2-1 (pen)

77’ 2-2

96’ 3-2

@ Estadio Municipal 25 de Abril

Rua de Abílio Miranda

4564 Penafiel

€7 Admission

No Programme.

It was a 40 minute drive east to Penafiel for the second game of the day, again in the Portuguese Cup. Arriving so early meant we were able to grab a space in the car park right next to the stadium, at the foot of some steps that led up to the corner of the ground, but on the right side for the ticket office. Again, no problem obtaining tickets and no need for identification either. We chose the main stand, but could also have gone in with the away fans behind the goal if we’d wanted to. Both sections were priced the same.

The game was another with a possibly of producing an upset. Penafiel are 16th in Liga 2, whilst visitors Vitoria Setubal are two levels lower, currently sitting in second place in Campeonato de Portugal Prio 4D. I had only visited Setubal in December 2019, when I saw them host Vitoria S.C. Guimaraes in a Primeira Liga game, so they’ve plummeted very quickly, although perhaps they’re now on the way back up?

The two level gap between the teams certainly wasn’t evident. They seemed very evenly matched and it produced a good end to end contest from start to finish. The visitors got off to a perfect start, scoring with their first attack, after a break down the left saw a cross to the far post put into his own net by a defending player trying to clear, much to the delight of the 162 away fans behind that goal. They thought they’d scored again after twelve minutes, with an exact build up to the first goal, but it was ruled out for offside. Penafiel levelled just before the half hour mark, scoring with an angled shot across the ‘keeper into the far corner.

On the hour mark Penafiel went 2-1 up, scoring with a penalty, but Vitoria deservedly equalised with thirteen minutes left, breaking down the right before putting a striker clear and his shot was deflected over the ‘keeper, which was credited as another own goal. Neither side tried to win it from here and both seemed happy to take it to extra time. Just six minutes into the first period, Penafiel got what turned out to be the winner, when a cross in from the left was volleyed in side footed from 12 yards.

The stadium here has a 6,500 all seated capacity. The main stand runs the full length of one side, made up of 14 rows and has a section of VIP seats at the back. The visitors end is to the left, whilst the opposite goal end is just fenced off and displaying adverts. The opposite side has an old section in the centre, with newer looking blocks on either side.

Portugal

Taca de Portugal 4th Round

Saturday 25th November 2023

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.05

C.F. Canelas 2010 1 Club Sport Maritimo 3, attendance 525

6’ 0-1

45’ + 3, 0-2

75’ 0-3

90’ + 4, 1-3

@ Estadio de Canelas

Largo dos Fundadores

4410 Canelas

€5 Admission

No Programme.

This morning saw a 25 minute drive to Canelas, a few miles south of Porto, on the southern side of the Douro River from the city itself. The stadium is a real throw back, having been opened in 1966. It has a listed capacity of 10,800 although that figure would be way off the mark nowadays, especially with far tighter health and safety restrictions now in place, but impressive, nonetheless. The pitch is inside a cycle track, which you don’t seem too often either.

As with last night, this was a Portuguese Cup match, this time with the potential for a ‘giant killing’, as 4th in Liga 3A hosted 5th in Liga 2, with the morning kick off presumably to aid in the visitors scheduling their travel arrangements to/from Funchal, on the island of Madeira, although I believe the game was also being shown on live television, but whatever the reason, it certainly suited us!

We arrived around an hour before kick off, parking less than 50 yards from the ground entrance. The ticket windows were still not open, but were soon ready for business. Tickets were only €5 and we didn’t have to show any identification to buy them. The option was to go on the side of the main stand, which we did, or on the covered terrace opposite, where the visitors (83 of them) occupied one half and a handful of locals, the other. Both goal ends were out of bounds. There were refreshments (very limited choice) available in a room underneath the back of the stand, where the walls displayed numerous old photographs of past team lineups, back to 1966, when the club were formed, then known as Canelas Gaia F.C. Financial problems saw the club cease in 2006, but four years later they were reformed, following that up with a debut in the national cup competition in 2019.

It only look Maritimo six minutes to go in front, heading in at the far post, in a first half that saw both teams create plenty of chances. Maritimo hit the post, having gone round the ‘keeper and Canelas saw their best effort well saved, but it took until three minutes into stoppage time at the end of the half before the second goal came and again it went the way of the visitors, scoring with a free kick from the edge of the D that went in off the inside of the post. When they added a third, fifteen minutes from the end, curling in a free kick, it was game over. Six minutes from the end, Maritimo had a man red carded, but it was too late to affect the outcome, although Canelas did round off the scoring four minutes into stoppage time, finishing with an angled shot into the far corner.

The game finished just after one o’clock, so plenty of time to reach our second game of the day. It was only 31 miles east of here and certainly wasn’t going to be a problem, as we’d got four hours to do it!