Mid Sussex League

Championship Division

Saturday 12th December 2020

Kick Off 14.00. On Time !

Southwick 1882 2 West Hoathly 0, attendance 68

14’ 1-0

22’ 2-0

@ Southwick Recreation Ground

Old Barn Way

Southwick

BN42 4NT

No Admission

Programme, 28 pages, for donation.

Southwick were founder members of the Sussex County League (now Southern Combination League) in 1920. They joined the Combined Counties League in 1984, before joining the Isthmian League the following season, where they remained for seven seasons, before a return to County League football in 1992.
In March 2020 it was announced that the club’s owner had handed back the lease of their Old Barn Way ground to the council. The club was also believed to be heavily in debt. With no ground to play at, and unable to use the Southwick F.C. name without taking on the old debts, the club disappeared, but the Southwick name would live on. Southwick 1882 were formed in July 2020, starting life in the second tier of the Mid Sussex League, a drop of two levels from the previous club. They are currently playing on Southwick Recreation Ground, which shares the same car park as the stadium, with the two pitches being less than 100 yards apart.

I had visited the old ground on 26th December 2003, when Southwick had beaten local rivals Shoreham 1-0 in a Sussex County League Division 1 match. The ground is lying vacant now and looks in a sorry state, but not too far gone that it couldn’t become home to the new club in the future and all efforts are being made for this to come to fruition. I managed to take a few photographs from the outside of the ground this afternoon…….

Southwick 1882 have certainly made a good start to life in the Mid Sussex League. They came into this game sitting in third place in the league table, having won all six league matches so far. West Hoathly were one place lower, having lost just one of their nine matches to date, a 1-2 loss at home to Southwick 1882. Today’s match was very scrappy. Both goals came from crosses from the left. The first stabbed home from six yards and the second tapped in from little more than a yard out, as the visitors defence stood static, hoping to be saved by an offside flag that rightly never came. The hosts dragged a couple of efforts wide during the second half, but neither side ever looked like adding anything to the 2-0 halftime score.

The win now sees Southwick 1882 go level on points with new league leaders Crawley Devils, but with two games in hand. It is hard to see anyone stopping them from gaining promotion at the first attempt……apart from another aborted season due to COVID-19, especially if we head into more lockdowns after Christmas.

Mid Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 5th December 2020

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.04

Ringmer A.F.C. 1 Hollington United 9, attendance 45

20’ 0-1

39’ 0-2

43’ 1-2 (pen)

51’ 1-3

54’ 1-4

57’ 1-5

63’ 1-6

76’ 1-7

81’ 1-8 (pen)

82’ 1-9

@ King’s Academy, 3G Pitch

Lewes Road

Ringmer

BN8 5RB

No Admission or Programme.

This game was originally scheduled to be played at Hollington, but with their pitch deemed unplayable, it was switched here to the new ground of Ringmer A.F.C. So, not only credit to the league for getting restarted at the first opportunity after the COVID-19 lockdown, but also to both clubs in making the effort to get the game played. Due to it already hosting two matches today it meant this game was slotted in as a 6 o’clock kick off, which made it perfect for a double, and even better, it was the only ground in this division I hadn’t yet visited.

Those who have been to a new build 3G will know what to expect. It is as bland as it gets. Spectators are restricted to just one side (clearly and well set out to ensure safe social distancing COVID-19 restrictions are adhered to), but at least here they have the dugouts on the opposite side of the pitch. Despite having a small seated kit stand, it is situated with little thought given to how poor the sight lines are, as it is towards the corner, set back from the two storey clubhouse/changing room building, therefore having a dreadful view of one corner of the ground. These places seem even worse when it rains, which it did here for almost the entire match.

As far as league positions go this was 8th versus 3rd in the table, but the gulf between the two sides was immense. When Ringmer scored a penalty just before halftime, to make it 1-2 at the break, it looked like we would be in for a good second half contest. It wasn’t. Hollington were simply superb and in truth Ringmer were lucky to only concede nine goals in the end.

East Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 5th December 2020

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Wadhurst United 2 Punnetts Town 4, attendance 39

16’ 0-1

37’ 1-1

45’+ 8, 1-2

61’ 1-3

76’ 2-3 (pen)

87’ 2-4 (pen)

@ Institute Field

Washwell Lane

Wadhurst

TN5 6DR

No Admission or Programme.

So, after a gap of 34 days, it was back to watching live football again. Despite having suffered a second lockdown due to COVID-19, on top of a late start to the season, there were still some leagues and clubs that didn’t want to get back to playing. They seem happier stalling for another week or so, even though it might mean another aborted season as a third lockdown is certainly not out of the question. Many had whinged non stop about not being allowed to play, but having been given the go ahead to start up again, suddenly some didn’t want to. Thankfully, this league were happy to hit the ground running, so fair play to them. There were certainly some tired looking legs late in the second half, but it was the same for both teams, so not really a disadvantage to either of them.

I knew this ground had got a sloping pitch, but photographs don’t really do it justice. In fact, if it wasn’t for the slope, which is end to end, the game might not have survived the recent rain as it certainly helps with the drainage. Although it was soft in places the pitch held up fine.

Today’s match was 4th versus 7th in the league table, with Wadhurst looking to extend a five game unbeaten run in the league, whilst Punnetts Town had picked up seven points from their opening five matches.

The visitors played down the slope in the first half, opening the scoring following a long clearance from their ‘keeper that saw the striker sent clear to finish low into the corner of the net. Wadhurst had forced the visitors ‘keeper into making a number of very good saves before they levelled through a header, but deep into stoppage time Punnetts Town went back in front to lead 1-2 at the break. With the slope now in their favour, Wadhurst really pushed for an equaliser at the start of the second half, but were caught on the break for Punnetts Town to make it 1-3. It was certainly backs against the wall from here on in, but they stood firm with some gallant defending and despite Wadhurst reducing the arrears with a penalty, Punnetts Town then scored a spot kick of their own to come away with a deserved 2-4 win.

Unusually for a Saturday, I had got an evening kick off, where there was a match in the Mid Sussex League kicking off at 18.00.

Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League

Premier Division

Saturday 31st October 2020

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Wakefield A.F.C. 1 Hepworth United 0, attendance 295

24’ 1-0

@ Featherstone Rovers R.L.F.C.

Post Office Road

Featherstone

WF7 5EN

Admission : by online ticket only. Crowd limit 300. Cost free, with the option of up to £20 donation when booking.

£2 Programme, 32 pages.

I was originally heading for a double in the Cheltenham League today, but was put off by the dreadful weather forecast. Typically, both games took place, but I was very happy only doing the one match today, especially having been offered a lift up to Yorkshire, which swayed my decision. Not that I needed much persuading, as I knew what a cracking ground this was and with West Yorkshire heading for tighter Covid-19 restrictions from Monday, it was a case of getting here sooner rather than later, as you never know what is round the corner. I didn’t really want to tick off a floodlit ground on a Saturday, but this was certainly more preferable than risking missing out altogether!

This season Wakefield A.F.C. have moved to the former coal mining town of Featherstone, playing at the home of Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Club, who, considering the size of the town, have an illustrious history, winning the League Championship (what is Super League now) in 1977 as well as three Challenge Cups, the most recent win being in 1983. The ground was opened in 1904 and saw a record crowd of 17,531 attend a Challenge Cup match against St. Helens in 1959. Nowadays, the capacity is listed as just short of ten thousand, which is enough to accommodate the crowds Wakefield will attract as they make their (hoped for) rise up the pyramid from their current Step 7 status.

I had been here previously for Rugby League, seeing Rovers beat Oldham 52-14 in a Division 2 match on 7th February 1993 in front of 4,332 spectators. I liked the ground back then, but it has seen a number of improvements since. The seated stand behind the north goal end, along with the small seated stand at the northern corner of the east stand, were previously at the old Scarborough F.C. ground at Seamer Road, but were saved when that ground was demolished, before being reconstructed here.

Today’s match was 5th verses 3rd in the league table. They met in the reverse fixture last Saturday, which Hepworth had won 3-2, but this game never looked like producing much more than the single goal that won it for Wakefield midway through the first half. It had poured down with rain in the hour leading up to kick off, leaving the pitch looking heavy in places and It could certainly do with the grass being cut, but that is unlikely to happen as it is primarily used for rugby, or will be when it returns next year.

The game got heated at times, with the Benny Hill theme music twice played over the tannoy as the players pushed and shoved each other following a couple of fouls. Hepworth had a player red carded on 69 minutes, trudging off to ‘hit the road Jack’ blaring from the loud speakers. There was certainly a rare occurrence as far as the number of Referees on show today went. The first one seemed to pull a muscle in the first half. He swapped places with his senior Linesman and struggled on until halftime. At the start of the second half the Linesman returned to his original role and a different Referee altogether did the second half. The third Referee of the day was actually an Assessor, sat in the stands observing the original incumbent! I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen this before. Wakefield hung on for the three points which sees the two teams swap league positions.

On the way home we heard the news that England was heading into a second lockdown. Hopefully, it will only last for the four weeks that have been implemented and doesn’t get extended any further. It could be my last game for a while, but I’m glad I’ve got Post Office Road ticked off, just in case football doesn’t restart again this season.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 3

Saturday 24th October 2020

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.57

Langham Lodgers 0 Wormingford Wanderers 4, attendance 38

1’ 0-1

29’ 0-2

54’ 0-3

75’ 0-4 (pen)

@ Langham Recreation Ground

School Road

Langham

CO4 5PA

No Admission or Programme.

Before today I had never seen a club with Lodgers in their name. Now I would be seeing two in the same day. Even better, the two clubs were just six minutes apart by car, so a perfect double.

This was two levels lower than the earlier match, with this seeing 11th host 7th in Division 3. The league positions suggested an even contest, but it certainly didn’t turn out that way. The visitors opened the scoring within 30 seconds of the start, firing low into the corner from just inside the 18 yard box. Their second goal came after half an hour. A weak effort from the penalty spot was easily saved, but the follow in was safely tucked away, before an angled shot, aided by a slight deflection, saw Liam Whittaker complete his hat trick nine minutes into the second half. A second penalty, fifteen minutes from time, saw him make no mistake this time, bagging his fourth goal of the day to round off an emphatic 0-4 win for the visitors. Langham had plenty of chances of their own, but never really looked like making a game of it.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 1

Saturday 24th October 2020

Kick Off 12.45 Actual 12.44

Boxted Lodgers 1 Belle Vue Social Club 2, attendance 34

8’ 0-1

18’ 1-1

39’ 1-2

@ King George’s Playing Field

Cage Lane

Boxted Cross

CO4 5RE

No Admission or Programme.

Another Saturday double in the Essex & Suffolk Border League for me today, starting off with a Division 1 fixture. Boxted Lodgers began the day in sixteenth place in the league table (second from bottom) having taken just three points from their opening six matches. Belle Vue, on the other hand, were not surprisingly sitting top of the table, having won their opening six matches and conceding just three goals in the process.

When Belle Vue opened the scoring early on it looked like the game was going to form. However, Boxted were level within ten minutes, courtesy of an own goal, when a cross from the left put past his own ‘keeper by a defender attempting to clear the ball. Chances went begging at both ends before the visitors netted a second goal to lead 1-2 at the break. The second half saw more of the same. We even had a melee in the centre of the pitch, involving players and ‘hangers on’ from both sides, resulting in just a yellow card for each team, but Boxted then had a player sin binned for something he said before the game restarted.

No further goals meant Belle Vue stretched their 100% winning start to the season to seven games. Their lead at the top of the table is five points, although third placed Tiptree Jobserve could cut that to just two, if they win their game in hand.

Friendly

Monday 19th October 2020

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

London Fire Brigade Western 1 Piccadilly 3, attendance 43

22’ 1-0

54’ 1-1

65’ 1-2

78’ 1-3

@ Trailfinders Sports Club, Pitch 2 3G

Vallis Way

West Ealing

London

W13 0DD

No Admission

£2 Programme, sold out, only 20 copies produced.

The ground here is home to Ealing Trailfinders R.U.F.C. who play at the second level of the Rugby Football Union pyramid. I had been here previously to see a match, but it wasn’t a Trailfinders game, but London Broncos versus Halifax in the Rugby League Championship. That was played on the main stadium pitch which, since my visit on 4th June 2017, now has an impressive new seated stand behind the goal at the entrance end of the complex. Tonight’s match was played on the ‘open’ 3G pitch that runs parallel to the stadium.

The pitch is not full size, perhaps 5-6 yards shorter and narrower than the stadium one. With the rugby posts remaining in place and the football goals being in front of them, means the football pitch is quite short. Also, as it is primarily a rugby pitch, the football lines are very much secondary. As they are blue in colour they are very hard to see and more or less invisible at pitch level. The touch lines are white though, as they are the same ones used for rugby.

The game itself was a full bloodied affair and had a real competitive edge to it. LFBW (who play in the Emergency Services Football League) led 1-0 at the break, but Piccadilly (London Underground League) levelled early in the second half. LFBW then had what looked a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside, before Piccadilly went in front. They then missed a penalty, well saved by the ‘keeper, but did add a third goal late on to seal a 1-3 win.

Cambridgeshire County League

Premier Division

Saturday 17th October 2020

Kick Off 15.00. On Time !

Gamlingay United 0 Eynesbury United 1, attendance 54

83’ 0-1

@ Gamlingay Playing Field

Stocks Lane

Gamlingay

SG19 3QR

No Admission or Programme.

Gamlingay are new into the top division this season, having finished last season in second place in Senior A Division. The final table was decided by points per game when Covid-19 brought the season to an abrupt end. They have only picked up two points from their opening five matches, but two of the defeats were only by a single goal and the other was a 2-0 loss to league leaders West Wratting. Eynesbury arrived here sitting second in the league table, undefeated, with 11 points from their first five matches.

For a team struggling near the foot of the table, Gamlingay certainly gave Eynesbury a really hard match. There were chances galore at both ends and it was good entertainment for what looked likely to be heading for a goalless draw. The Gamlingay defence managed to hold out attack after attack, with some resolute defending. Eynesbury kept pushing for a winning goal and it finally came with just seven minutes left. A cross from the left was met at the far post and a downward header squirmed past the ‘keeper at the foot of the post. Very harsh on the hosts who certainly deserved a point for their efforts.

Arthurian League

Division 5 North

Saturday 17th October 2020

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.06

Old Albanians 1 Old Brentwoods III 3, attendance 10

26’ 0-1

40’ 0-2 (pen)

71’ 1-2

85’ 1-3

@ Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre Athletics Track

Holywell Hill

St. Albans

AL1 2DL

No Admission or Programme.

This was the only league or cup game in the Arthurian League today (being played at a ground that I hadn’t visited) where I could guarantee getting in a second match. This fixture meant I wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of extra time. I normally avoid doing floodlit grounds on a Saturday, but this one is rarely used midweek. In fact, as far as I know, it is as far back as 2006 when Hadley played a couple of Herts Senior County League matches here under lights, in an effort to catch up on a fixture backlog. Anyway, it was here or nowhere this morning.

This was a top of the table clash as first hosted second. Albanians have won four of their first five matches, amassing a +27 goal difference in the process, whilst Brentwoods had won all three of their games, by way of an equally impressive +20 goal difference, although it is perhaps more a reflection of how poor some of the teams are at this level, which is as low as it gets here in the Arthurian League.

Brentwoods broke the deadlock with an angled shot into the far corner of the net that seemed to deceive the ‘keeper. They added a second goal, just before the break, converting a penalty following a needless foul on the corner of the 18 yard box. Albanians made it 1-2 with a close range header with twenty minutes left, but Brentwoods made the game safe , netting their third goal with a header at the far post following a left wing cross.

Albanians remain top of the table, but only on goal difference from Brentwoods, who have two games in hand.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Premier Division

Saturday 10th October 2020

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Hatfield Peverel 2 Great Bentley 5, attendance 56

29’ 1-0

31’ 1-1

48’ 2-1

51’ 2-2 (pen)

66’ 2-3

84’ 2-4

90’+ 6, 2-5

@ Keith Bigden Memorial Ground

Wickham Bishops Road

Hatfield Peverel

CM3 2JL

No Admission or Programme.

The later than hoped for finish at Tiptree Heath meant it was a mad dash across nine miles of twisting back lanes, but by 14.56 we were parked up in the car park at the very smart home of Hatfield Peverel. As with the earlier game, it was another club who I had visited before on a former ground, in this case at Maldon Road, where on 4th May 2011 I saw a 0-0 draw versus West Bergholt in an Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division match. In 2013/14 season they swapped their town centre ground, which is still there, for the edge of town Keith Bigden Memorial Ground.

Today’s match was 10th versus 5th in the league table. Both sides went close a number of times before Hatfield Peverel broke the deadlock with a shot on the turn from close range, but Great Bentley levelled through a header just two minutes later. In the opening minutes of the second half Hatfield Peverel went back in front, but again the visitors levelled quickly, this time from the penalty spot. A left footed shot was curled into the bottom corner of the net to put the visitors ahead midway through the half, before they killed the game off going 2-4 up with six minutes left. There was some confusion when a Great Bentley player was sent off with a couple of minutes left, having received a second yellow card following a foul. It was claimed by the recipient that the Referee had booked the wrong player, which was also my reading of the incident. Despite being a man short they added a fifth goal deep into stoppage time to give them a resounding 2-5 win.

So, the intended double worked out perfectly after all, in a league that rarely disappoints.