West Sussex League

Division 2 North

Monday 15th May 2023

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.13

Horsham Baptists & Ambassadors 4 Barns Green Reserves 5, attendance 33

2’ 1-0

29’ 1-1

33’ 1-2

42’ 1-3

49’ 2-3

63’ 3-3

69’ 3-4

84’ 3-5

90’ + 3, 4-5

@ Bennetts Field Recreation Ground

Higgins Way

Brighton Road

Horsham

RH13 5DE

No Admission or Programme.

This was 3rd versus 7th in the league table and was the final game of the season for both clubs. It was a simply must win game for Horsham Baptists & Ambassadors, as only the top two get promoted and they trailed second in the table Capel Reserves by a point, and had a worse goal difference. Capel Reserves have the advantage of not playing their last game until Thursday, although as it is at home to unbeaten league champions Holbrook Olympic, then it certainly wouldn’t be easy for them.

I had been a bit concerned as to whether Barns Green would actually turn up for this (such is the poor reputation of this league) as they are comfortably going to finish mid table, whatever the result, but turn up they did and they even had four substitutes!

All seemed to be going to plan for Horsham Baptists when they opened the scoring just two minutes in and it was pretty much one way traffic in the opening exchanges. A break down the right, which saw a square ball finished from 15 yards, levelled the scores just before the half hour mark and two more long range efforts saw Barns Green go 1-3 up minutes before halftime. Shortly after the hour mark Baptists had got it back to 3-3. It just seemed a matter of time until they went on to get a winner, but Barns Green went back in front six minutes later and when a long range shot was scrambled in, following a fumble by the ‘keeper, to make it 3-5 with six minutes left, it was game over. A late stoppage time goal did pull it back to 4-5, but it was far too late to affect the outcome.

Somerset County League

Division 2

Saturday 13th May 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.05

Cutters Friday 3 Chew Magna 1, attendance 62

17’ 0-1

55’ 1-1 (pen)

84’ 2-1 (pen)

90’ + 2, 3-1

@ Cutters Ground

Stockwood Lane

Bristol

BS14 0QE

No Admission or Programme.

Today saw a visit to Stockwood, in South East Bristol and a visit that would complete all four divisions of the Somerset County League grounds for the first time. There are two pitches here. The nearest one to the changing rooms is fully railed, but the camber is extreme, to say the least, with blind spots in the corners. The other pitch, which is the main one, runs parallel, but is only railed on three sides. It was the last of what must be three of the closest grounds you’ll find anywhere. No more than a few yards between the three! I had seen Bristol Telephones play a Western League match (February 2019) on the ground that runs end on to today’s pitch, separated by a fence, whilst on the other side of the trees that run along the far side, I have seen Stockwood Wanderers play a Somerset County League Premier Division match (August 2017).

It was even better that the game had something riding on it, at both ends of the league table, with 5th hosting 11th. We were down to the last game of the season for all involved, with the final promotion place between Peasedown Miners Welfare (47 pts, +10 GD), Imperial (45 pts, +17 GD) and Cutters Friday (45 pts, +10 GD). Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, it would be either Bishops Lydeard Reserves (21 pts, -25 GD) or Chew Magna (22 pts, -19 GD) that would finish third bottom and be relegated. Cutters knew they had to win, whatever happened, then hope other results went their way. Chew Magna only needed to match what Bishops Lydeard Reserves did and were certainly helped by the fact that they were hosting Peasedown MW.

Chew Magna got off to a great start, going ahead after seventeen minutes through a 25 yard free kick into the top corner. Cutters Friday were very poor and created very little. The game never really flowed, not helped by a two minute water break midway through the half (same thing in the second half) despite it only being around 18 or 19 degrees! According to the Referee ‘a few have been requesting it’.

Anyway, a penalty, awarded for a foul, saw Cutters draw level ten minutes into the second half and another spot kick, this time for a handball, saw them go 2-1 up with six minutes left. The visitors had a man sin binned at this point and that ended their chance of getting anything from the game. Cutters added a third goal in injury time to round off the scoring.

In the end the victory wasn’t enough for Cutters, as Peasedown MW won 4-2 at Bishops Lydeard Reserves, to take the final promotion place. However, this result meant Chew Magna stayed up, so at least they could take something from the day, despite suffering a defeat.

Above : Note the stand and floodlights of Bristol Telephones F.C. behind the fence. Meanwhile, Stockwood Wanderers play the other side of the trees!

Herts Senior County League

Division 4

Thursday 11th May 2023

Kick Off 18.45 On Time!

Global A.F.C. 0 Letchworth Garden City Eagles U21 4, attendance 17

55’ 0-1

66’ 0-2

69’ 0-3

80’ 0-4 (pen)

@ Morris Playing Fields

White Horse Lane

London Colney

AL2 1JR

No Admission or Programme.

The Herts Senior County League hasn’t got the best reputation, especially as you drop down the divisions, as far as games not taking place towards the end of the season goes. Or even midweek matches that are played with 2 x 35 minute halves! Global had failed to play four of their home games during the season, as well as scratching from two away games, and they were on Saturdays! I didn’t have high expectations that this would go ahead, but Letchworth had tweeted about the game, including venue and actually replied on Twitter to confirm that as far as they were concerned , it was game on.

I left home early, to give myself the best chance of negotiating the nightmare of the M25 between J10 and J16, which was slow, but constantly moving. Subsequently I arrived far too early. An hour and a half before kick off! However, within fifteen minutes, the entire away team were here, kitted out in club tracksuits. The home players arrived in dribs and drabs over the course of the next half hour. It looked like we’d got a game!

Global looked a bit of a rag bag outfit. They played in white shirts, but there were six outfield players in black shorts and four in red. They had red socks, all bar one, who wore black. We later had a substitute in navy blue shorts and during the second half, one player even wore a shirt with no number on the back! So typical of this league.

The match itself had nothing riding on it, as far as promotion or relegation matters went, as 10th hosted 6th, but it was a decent contest, between two evenly matched sides. It was certainly not played as an end of season ‘nothing’ match. It took until ten minutes into the second half for Letchworth to break the deadlock, cutting in from the left, before firing a shot into the far corner from the angle of the 18 yard box. A left footed shot from the edge of the box, followed by a one on one finish saw them go 0-3 up, before a late penalty rounded off the scoring.

The game started in pleasant sunshine, which soon turned to rain. It finally let up about ten minutes before the end of the match. The consensus amongst the four ‘hoppers present was that the Referee blew for full time about five minutes early, but the game was done and dusted by then.

Perry Street & District League

Premier Division

Wednesday 10th May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.29

Barrington 2 Misterton 3, attendance 36

2’ 0-1

8’ 0-2

40’ 0-3

53’ 1-3

79’ 2-3

@ Shelway Lane

Barrington

TA19 0JJ

No Admission

£1 Programme, 8 pages.

This was 9th versus 3rd in the league table and was the last game of the season for both clubs. Barrington would finish the season in this position whatever the result, but Misterton could still be caught by South Petherton, six points adrift, but with two games in hand, as well as the better goal difference of the two.

Misterton got off to a great start, going 0-2 up after just eight minutes. They had chances to increase their lead, but their third goal only arrived five minutes before halftime. It looked to be all over, but an early second half goal gave Barrington hope and they created far more chances than they had in the first half. When they made it 2-3 with eleven minutes left, they looked like they might get something out of the game, but Misterton held out to take the three points.

Every so often you come across some really cracking grounds for the level of football you’re at. This was certainly one of them.

Above : Misterton make it 0-3 just before halftime.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 3

Tuesday 9th May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.28

Bradfield Rovers 2 Great Bentley Reserves 3, attendance 33

9’ 1-0

14’ 2-0

46’ 2-1

62’ 2-2

70’ 2-3

@ Bradfield Playing Field

The Street

Bradfield

CO11 2UU

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was 1st versus 4th in the league table. It was a must win game for Bradfield, as it was their last game of the season and despite being top of the table, they can still be caught by Gas Recreation (1 point behind with 4 games left) and Frinton & Walton (6 points behind with 3 games left).

At kick off, I doubted whether the game would actually finish, as it was already as dark as it had been when other games I’ve been to recently have finished. It started raining minutes before kick off and thunder was rumbling overhead, but thankfully no lightning. It did brighten up as the game wore on, but it rained for the entirety, although never too heavily.

Bradfield got off to a great start, finishing one on one against the ‘keeper after just nine minutes and quickly following that with a shot into the far corner to lead 2-0 before we were even quarter of an hour into the game. It looked like it would be a comfortable home win, but Great Bentley settled into it and began to show signs of making a real game of it. Within a minute of halftime the visitors pulled it back to 2-1 and almost drew level immediately, when they hit the post from close range. Just after the hour mark it was 2-2. A cracking 25 yarder curled inside the far post. Bradfield looked shell shocked and it was no surprise when Great Bentley grabbed what turned out to be the winner with twenty minutes left, cutting in from the left and shooting for the far corner, with the shot initially being blocked, but the rebound swept in from close range.

So, Bradfield remain top, despite the defeat, but realistically a third placed finish now looks the most likely outcome for them.

Peterborough & District League

Premier Division

Monday 8th May 2023

Kick Off 18.00 On Time!

Uppingham Town 4 Crowland Town 2, attendance 64

15’ 1-0

18’ 2-0

43’ 2-1

51’ 3-1

57’ 4-1

75’ 4-2 (pen)

@ Tod’s Piece

North Street East

Uppingham

LE15 9SZ

No Admission or Programme.

It was about an hour and a quarter’s drive, up a surprisingly quiet M1, from Bedfordshire to Rutland for game two today. The match was 3rd versus 4th in the league table. The visitors could no longer win the league, but Uppingham are well in with a shout of the title. They trail leaders Moulton Harrox by five points and second placed Warboys Town by two points. The top two only have one game left to play, but this was the first of three games in hand for Uppingham, so it is very much in their own hands as they look to clinch a double, having beaten Holbeach United Reserves 4-2 in the Peterborough Senior Cup Final on Friday evening.

Uppingham started brilliantly and were 2-0 up after eighteen minutes. They looked to be coasting, but when Crowland headed in from a free kick just before halftime, it set the second half up perfectly. It only took Uppingham six minutes to restore their two goal lead, finishing with a first time shot from the edge of the ‘D’ into the bottom corner and six minutes later it was 4-1, finishing with a side foot finish at the near post from a corner on the right. A late penalty reduced the arrears, but Uppingham easily held out to take all three points and are now up to second in the table.

Thankfully, the weather was nothing like as bad as forecast, although it did rain for most of the game, but it was only light. The heavy stuff was saved for the drive home.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 3

Monday 8th May 2023

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.31

F.C. Polonia (Luton) 1 Stotfold Junior 1, attendance 24

11’ 0-1

43’ 1-1

@ Moore Crescent Sports & Recreation Ground

Moore Crescent

Houghton Regis

LU5 5GZ

No Admission or Programme.

This was 5th versus 4th in the league table, with both teams still having an outside chance of grabbing a promotion place, more so the visitors, as they are one point above the hosts and have a game in hand. The reverse fixture was played on Saturday, which Polonia had won 4-3.

It was a decent game, with both teams evenly matched. Stotfold had already hit the crossbar with a lob over the ‘keeper, before going ahead after eleven minutes, when a cross from the corner of the 18 yard box was headed in at the far post. The equaliser came two minutes before halftime, when a throw in was finished with a shot on the turn into the bottom corner. Both teams went close to grabbing a winner and Stotfold really should have won it late on, when a cross from the right saw a striker somehow miss an open goal from 6 yards, blasting his shot over the crossbar.

Home to Polonia is Moore Crescent, in Houghton Regis, which hosted South Midlands League football back in the 1990’s when Houghton Town played here. There are two pitches, with today’s game played on the furthest one from the changing rooms.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 1

Saturday 6th May 2023

Kick Off 13.00 On Time!

Cavendish 1 Silver End United 3, attendance 16

43’ 0-1

48’ 0-2

81’ 1-2

90’ + 1, 1-3

@ Cavendish Sports Club

Lower Street

Cavendish

CO10 8AD

No Admission or Programme.

This game was the perfect choice today. The early kick off (the Reserves were at home at 4 o’clock) meant there would be ample time to head elsewhere if the game was called off late, especially as we are now at the time of the season where many teams can’t be bothered to “raise a team”. It also helped that Silver End could clinch the title today, as they trailed league leaders Brightlingsea Town, who have completed their fixtures, by two points and this was the first of their three games in hand to try and pick up a win that would see them leapfrog them at the top. Despite being eighth, Cavendish could still manage a fourth placed finish, if they took maximum points from their final three games.

Silver End were certainly looking to get the job done at the first time of asking and pushed hard for the opening goal. They saw a header come back off the post early on. Midway through the half a defender scuffed a clearance which also hit the post and shortly afterwards the home ‘keeper finger tipped a long range effort onto the crossbar. They finally broke the deadlock two minutes before halftime, finishing a right wing cross with a side foot from 6 yards. It was 0-2 within minutes of the restart, when a long range shot beat the ‘keeper despite him getting a hand to it. Cavendish made it a nervy finish for the visitors, when a shot was curled in off the far post to make it 1-2 with nine minutes left, but a one on one finish saw Silver End make the game safe, when Dan Cage completed his hattrick in stoppage time to make it 1-3 and wrap up the title with two games to spare.

It was a horrible day, with rain falling throughout the match. The cricket pavilion provides cover, but the view is across the cricket square. An unusual feature was the couple of corrugated iron dugouts set into the hedge on the far side.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Senior Division

Thursday 4th May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Claydon 1 Halesworth Town 3, attendance 61

5’ 1-0

49’ 1-1

62’ 1-2

67’ 1-3

@ Blue Circle Ground

Bramford Road

Great Blakenham

IP6 0JX

No Admission or Programme.

There was a three way battle at the top of the table coming into this. Henley Athletic are top on 65 points (2 to play) with Ransomes Sports on 61 points (2 to play) and then Halesworth Town on 56 points (5 to play). The top two still have to play each other next week, at Henley, so Halesworth are very much in with a shout of taking the title.

Eighth in the table Claydon had nothing to play for, but certainly weren’t going to make it easy for the visitors. They took the lead after just five minutes, when a throw in was finished with a shot on the turn from 10 yards. Halesworth dominated for most of the first half, but Claydon were hanging onto their lead comfortably and never really looked like conceding. The visitors stepped it up in the second half and equalised within four minutes of the restart, when a square ball across the box was tapped in from 3 yards. Just after the hour mark Halesworth went in front, powering in a header at the near post, from a corner on the left and five minutes later it was 1-3, when another corner from the same side was headed in unmarked at the far post. It was one way traffic from here and it was quite a surprise that the visitors failed to add to their tally.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Division 2

Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.32

Bibury 1 Tewkesbury Town 2, attendance 55

5’ 0-1

47’ 0-2

62’ 1-2

@ Aldsworth Road

Bibury

GL7 5PA

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 3rd versus 1st in the league table and the only ground in this division I hadn’t previously visited. Tewkesbury were already crowned champions and Tredworth Tigers had guaranteed second place, but Bibury knew a win tonight, in their final game, would see them take the remaining promotion place.

Tewkesbury went ahead after just five minutes and never looked like relinquishing their lead, apart from late in the first half when Bibury were awarded a penalty, but it was well saved by the ‘keeper. Another quick start by the visitors saw them go 0-2 up just two minutes into the second half, when a diagonal free kick was headed in from 6 yards. Just after the hour mark Bibury did pull a goal back, finishing from close range after a free kick into the box wasn’t cleared, but they never really threatened an equaliser.

Fourth placed Falcons trail Bibury by eight points, but still have three games left, two of which are at home, so still very much in the balance as far as which of them will go up.