Arthurian League

Junior League Cup 1st Round

Saturday 8th January 2022

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 12.02

Old Albanians S.A. 4 Old Johnians 4 (6-7 pens), attendance 2

9’ 1-0

19’ 2-0

20’ 2-1

45’ 3-1

47’ 3-2

82’ 3-3

90’ 4-3

90’+ 2, 4-4

@ St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, 3G Pitch

High Street

Rickmansworth

WD3 1HG

No Admission or Programme.

I came here for this fixture back on 11th December, but neither team turned up. Apparently it was postponed due to the visitors being unable to fulfil the early kick off slot. It was a pity that the F.A. Full Time website hadn’t been updated to show this. Today offered a second opportunity to see a game here, (it’s just a standard cage, with no spectator area, but no problem watching inside the fence) but not without the drama/farce of a double booking of the pitch, which finally saw the game kick off 62 minutes late!

The match was 3rd in Division 4 versus top of Division 2. Albanians took an early lead, before two cracking 25 yarders, sandwiched by Johnians pulling a goal back, saw the hosts lead 3-1 at the break. Johnians dominated the second half, but despite pulling a goal back within minutes of the restart, it wasn’t until eight minutes from time before they deservedly drew level at 3-3. Albanians went back in front as the clock hit ninety minutes, but were immediately down to ten men, as the scorer picked up a second yellow card in a matter of minutes, the first for a foul, then the second for taking his shirt off during the goal celebrations. There was still time for Johnians to make it 4-4, heading in a corner at the far post a couple of minutes into stoppage time.

It was straight to penalties. The first 12 kicks were scored, before Albanians missed the next one. Their ‘keeper never looked like getting near any of the penalties, diving when the ball was already past him (rather like Peter Shilton for England at Italia 90), so it was no surprise that Johnians won it with the next kick, taking the shootout 6-7. (wrongly shown as 4-5 on pens on F.A. Full Time)

The late kick off meant my planned double for today was now down to just two options. It was just a case of whether I chose the 15.00 or 16.00 kick off, both of which were 3G pitches.

Stroud & District League

Presidents Cup 2nd Round

Monday 3rd January 2022

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Minety 3 Rodborough Old Boys 1, attendance 29

12’ 1-0

48’ 1-1

49’ 2-1

82’ 3-1

@ Badminton Memorial Hall

Haye’s Lane

Badminton

GL9 1DD

No Admission or Programme.

I had a few new ground options today, but this was the safer bet, as I had three other all first team matches in this league, as well as one in the Somerset County League, so I had enough back ups in case of weather or late Covid-19 call offs. Minety tweeted early on that their match was going ahead and that the pitch ‘would take a stud’, so it was all systems go. They are playing this season in the village of Badminton (more famous for it’s horse trials, than it’s football) due to the poor condition of their own pitch back in Minety, some 17 miles to the east of here. The ground is where Badminton Picksons played in the Hellenic League for six seasons, up until 1987, although it may have been a different pitch back then. It was also home to cricket, but that is no longer played here, but the old scoreboard and pavilion remain, if a little worse for wear.

The match was second in Division 2 versus top of Division 1. Minety took an early lead, heading in with the visitors ‘keeper lay on the floor, claiming he had been fouled when trying to punch the initial cross clear, but the Referee was having none of it. The game was end to end and the visitors pushed hard for an equaliser. It didn’t come until three minutes into the second half, but they were only level for a minute, a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box seeing Minety regain the lead to go 2-1 up. The game was in the balance until the hosts added a third goal with eight minutes left to make the game safe.

National League South

Sunday 2nd January 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Ebbsfleet United 1 Dartford 0, attendance 2,566

85’ 1-0

@ Kuflink Stadium

Stonebridge Road

Northfleet

DA11 9GN

£15 Admission

£3 Programme, didn’t bother buying.

When the York City match was postponed due to Covid-19, it left me without a new ground option for today, so I again revisited somewhere I hadn’t been to for years. It was back on 5th September 1992, well before the ground had a sponsored name and in the days that the club was still known as Gravesend & Northfleet. They beat Witney Town 2-1 in a Southern League Southern Division match in front of 492 spectators. I remember being impressed with the size of the ground, but I don’t think I really appreciated just how good it was. I was still only just getting into serious non-league ground hopping at the time (this was ground number 319) and most of the grounds I visited back then were pretty decent. It was well before the days of ‘standing in a field’ every week! The ground still oozes character, but ‘improvements’ and updates to the old place are slowly taking over. Thankfully, it hasn’t been too spoiled yet!

The match was 3rd versus 4th in the league table, for a North Kent derby that is one of the oldest fixtures in football (according to the stadium announcer) having first been played in 1906. It attracted a decent crowd of 2,566, the biggest league attendance for this fixture for 62 years, which if the current quoted stadium capacity is correct (4,769) was just over half full. There is no way you could have got another 2,203 in here.

As with yesterday, it was a poor game. It is safe to say that defences were on top. Dartford had three great chances, but failed to hit the target with any of them. Ebbsfleet had a deflected effort that went past the far post, but offered little else. It looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw, when Ebbsfleet conjured a chance with five minutes left, Ben Chapman firing past the ‘keeper when put through on goal.

Isthmian League

Division 1 South East

Saturday 1st January 2022

Kick Off 15.00. On Time !

Hastings United 1 Lancing 0, attendance 2,017

69’ 1-0

@ The Pilot Field

Elphinstone Road

Hastings

TN34 2AX

£12 Admission

£2.50 Programme, 36 pages.

I only had three new ground options in England today. It was too risky with the prospect of late call offs due to Covid-19, to attempt either Goonhavern or Rosudgeon in Cornwall (both played) and I just didn’t fancy Stroud United in Division 4 of the Stroud & Distict League, as the opposition were Stonehouse Town 3rds.

I opted instead for a revisit at a ground I last visited on 17th January 1997, when I saw Hastings Town lose 1-3 to Salisbury City in an F.A. Trophy 1st Round match, in front of 389 spectators. It is now Hastings United that play here and they came into this top of the league table, whilst the visitors were third from bottom. The club were hopeful of attracting their biggest crowd of the season so far, having already topped four figures on five occasions this season, the best of which was 1,303 versus Ashford United. They absolutely smashed it, as an incredible 2,017 turned up, which included very few, if any, with the visitors. It wasn’t just a season best, but was their highest attendance ever for a league match, eclipsing the 1,834 that saw them host A.F.C. Wimbledon in 2005. Surprisingly, it didn’t even feel cramped, with plenty of space in the standing areas, although the seated stand looked pretty full. These old style grounds have much more character than the boring modern builds will ever have, even if they are a bit rough around the edges.

Unfortunately, the game itself was dreadful. In fact, it wasn’t even that good! Lancing came for a 0-0 draw and offered little. Hastings were awful. It certainly doesn’t say much for this league if they are top. The only goal came from a scramble in the box, that saw Joe Dixon fire in off the underside of the crossbar from 10 yards, with just over twenty minutes left. Ten minutes from time Hastings had a chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot, but the effort was easily saved by the visitor’s ‘keeper. Despite kicking off on time, the game didn’t finish until 16.57.

Saturday 1st January 2022 (Non match day visit)

Elphinstone Road

Hastings

TN34 2AY

On 18th January 1997 I saw St. Leonards Stamcroft lose 0-1 here to Newport A.F.C. in an F.A. Trophy 1st Round match in front of 501 spectators. The ground can no longer host 11 a side games, as a small 3G pitch has been built at one end, meaning it is too short to fit a full length pitch here now. 25 years on from my visit here and there is a surprising amount of evidence that a high level of non-league football was played here up until 2004. It is now just used for training.

Gloucestershire County League

Tuesday 28th December 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Ruardean Hill Rangers 0 Broadwell Amateurs 2, attendance 299

12’ 0-1

63’ 0-2

@ Ruardean Hill Sports Club

Highview Road

Ruardean Road

GL17 9AR

£2 Admission, including Programme, 24 pages.

Today’s match saw a trip to Ruardean Hill, which at 920 feet above sea level, is the highest point in the Forest of Dean, according to the excellent match day programme. This was the only game scheduled in the Gloucestershire County League over the festive period and they were well rewarded with a bumper crowd of 299, against their local rivals who are just ten minutes drive to the south west of here.

It was 11th versus 4th in the league table and was a fully committed derby. The visitors went ahead after twelve minutes, but struggled to get the all important second goal to kill the game off. Just after the hour mark Kieran James scored his second goal of the game, cutting in from the right, beating two players in the process, before superbly chipping the ball over the ‘keeper to make it 0-2.

Today’s visit leaves me with just Rockleaze Rangers to complete the league. As it is a 3G pitch, then I certainly won’t be rushing there. It also brought down the curtain on my football ground visits for the calendar year. After last year (with the enforced shutdown due to COVID-19, where there were five complete months with no football for me) where I managed just 90 new ground visits, it was good to round off this year with 173, despite there being no games until April. I can’t see the 396 new grounds done in 2014 being troubled any time soon.

Somerset County League

Division 2

Monday 27th December 2021

Kick Off 14.00. On Time !

Ashcott 1 Glastonbury 1, attendance 141

3’ 0-1 (pen)

90’ 1-1

@ Ashcott Coronation Playing Fields

Kings Lane

Ashcott

TA7 9PW

No Admission or Programme.

Ashcott were in second place in Division 3, and undefeated at the time, when Covid-19 brought things to a halt last season with just a handful of games having been played. They gained promotion into Division 2 and came into this in eighth place in the league table, whilst Glastonbury were fourteenth (third bottom). It feels odd to see Glastonbury playing in the lower reaches of the Somerset County League, as they were a Western League club when I visited them back in March 1996, although as it was 25 years ago, then perhaps I shouldn’t be too surprised at how far they have fallen in that time.

The game was really poor. Plenty of effort, but very little quality. It looked like a penalty after three minutes was going to be enough to win it. In fact, until the Glastonbury ‘keeper pulled off a good save with five minutes left, it had been the only shot on target we had up to that point. Just as the clock ticked to ninety minutes, Ashcott were awarded a penalty. Their No.9 took it, but his shot was easily saved by the ‘keeper, but he made no mistake with the rebound. Having rescued an unlikely looking point, they should have won it just a minute into stoppage time. The ball was pulled across the six yard box, leaving the ‘keeper stranded, but the No.9 went for power and instead of just diverting the ball across the line, he thundered his shot off the crossbar and it rebounded to safety.

Gloucestershire County League

Saturday 18th December 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

English Bicknor 2 Gala Wilton 5, attendance 37

2’ 0-1

4’ 0-2

16’ 0-3

17’ 1-3

29’ 2-3 (pen)

72’ 2-4

86’ 2-5

@ English Bicknor Playing Fields

Chapel Hill

English Bicknor

GL16 7PJ

£3 Admission, including Programme, 20 pages.

English Bicknor have struggled since being promoted from the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, coming into this game in 15th (out of 16) place in the league table, albeit nine points clear of bottom club Hanham Athletic. Gala Wilton were seventh in the table (would be 6th, but for a three point deduction) and have been as high as second, but were on a run of three consecutive league defeats before today.

A blistering start saw Gala Wilton score twice in the opening four minutes and it was 0-3 with just sixteen minutes on the clock, when they volleyed in from the edge of the box, when a corner wasn’t cleared. English Bicknor scored straight from the restart and then made it 2-3 before we were half an hour in, converting a penalty that was awarded for a handball. Plenty of chances were wasted by both teams and the visitors had a goal ruled out for offside with the last kick of the half.

English Bicknor never created a single chance of note in the second half. Despite being well on top, Gala Wilton struggled to kill the game off, finally making it 2-4 with eighteen minutes left, then rounded off the scoring with a shot curled inside the far post four minutes from time.

Hampshire Combination & Development League

U23 Division East

Monday 13th December 2021

Kick Off 19.15 Actual 19.18

Gosport Borough U23 10 Clanfield U23 1, attendance 45

4’ 1-0

20’ 2-0 (pen)

43’ 3-0

44’ 4-0

47’ 5-0

59’ 6-0

60’ 6-1

78’ 7-1

81’ 8-1

84’ 9-1

87’ 10-1

@ Bay House School Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Browndown Road

Gosport

PO12 2QX

No Admission or Programme.

This league appears to have regular double figure thrashings and this was no exception. Third in the table Gosport were just too strong for bottom of the table Clanfield. It had been an even contest, until two goals in the last three minutes of the first half saw the hosts lead 4-0 at halftime. Within two minutes of the restart it was 5-0 and it was just a case of when, not if, Gosport would reach double figures.

Gosport normally play home games at the first team ground, but the weather dictated the switch here. It is a standard cage and despite having no designated spectator area, there was no problem watching from inside the fence.

Sussex F.A. Intermediate Cup

2nd Round

Saturday 11th December 2021

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.32

Harting 4 Upper Beeding 3, attendance 16

52’ 1-0

68’ 1-1

69’ 2-1

74’ 3-1

79’ 4-1

84’ 4-2 (pen)

88’ 4-3

@ Harting War Memorial Playing Field

B2146 Hurst Road

South Harting

GU31 5QG

No Admission or Programme.

This had been my intended match for today, up until yesterday afternoon, when the Arthurian League match between Old Albanians S.A. and Old Johnians, in the Junior League Cup, was switched to the 3G pitch at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth. My intention was to do that game instead, followed by something around the north west area of the M25, but at 11 o’clock, when it was due to start, no players or referee had appeared. It was obvious that the game was off and unusually for the F.A. Full Time website there is still no indication that it was postponed. Anyway, rather than having hours hanging around for a game, I decided to head to West Sussex and do my original choice after all…….

The game was 3rd in West Sussex League Championship South (Step 9) versus 9th in Southern Combination League Division 2 (Step 7). The first half was poor, to say the least, and it was no surprise that it finished goalless. There was certainly no hint of just how much better the second half would be.

Harting broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half, smashing an unstoppable shot past the ‘keeper from ten yards. Upper Beeding drew level on sixty eight minutes, with a 30 yard shot diverted into the net by a defender trying to block the effort, but straight from the restart the hosts made it 2-1, breaking down the right and scoring after the ‘keeper stopped the first attempt, but had no chance saving the follow up. A cracking 25 yard free kick beat the ‘keeper at his near post to make it 3-1, then the game looked all over when a far post header made it 4-1 with eleven minutes left.

The visitors, having dominated for long periods, actually looked like they could still get something out of this and they nearly did! Harting were out on their feet and were desperate for the final whistle, despite having a three goal cushion. A penalty pulled it back to 4-2, followed by an unmarked header from close range, to make it 4-3 with two minutes left. Eight minutes of stoppage time were played and it was like watching an ‘attack versus defence’ training session, such was the dominance of the visitors, but the home defence survived, just, to make it into the next round.