I had last visited Tiptree Heath on 14th August 2018, when I saw them lose 3-4 versus Hatfield Peverel in an Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division match. That was played at Tolleshunt Knights Village Hall, but this season they have moved three miles south east to the village of Tolleshunt D’Arcy.
Today’s match, which was intended to be the first part of a double header for me, was 11th versus 15th in the league table. It was very much end to end with both teams wasting numerous chances. Having pulled off a number of good saves, the visiting ‘keeper was finally beaten when he fumbled a tame looking effort that trickled across the line via the inside of the post to give Tiptree a 1-0 lead six minutes before the break. Just after the hour mark an angled shot into the bottom corner of the net made it 2-0 and shortly afterwards it became three, when a free kick from the right was headed in from close range. The scoring was completed with nine minutes left to play, when a shot was blocked, but the rebound was swept in from 12 yards.
This was only arranged this afternoon and came to my attention via the Silchester Twitter feed. Silchester play in Division 1 of the Hampshire Premier League, currently sitting second in the league table. Tendown are top of the Southampton League Senior Division 1, which is two steps lower.
Tendown deserved the win and look a very good side considering the level they play at. Their opener came from the penalty spot following a foul by the ‘keeper and the second followed a flick on from a long clearance that was finished with an excellent lob from 25 yards.
I had seen Epping (minus Town at that time) lose 0-1 versus White Notley in an Essex Olympian League Division 1 match back on 28th April 2007, when they played at Stonards Hill Recreation Ground in Epping. This season they have moved a couple of miles north to the village of Thornwood Common, playing on a pitch at Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Union ground. They had played their first two home games here on the middle of three parallel pitches that run widthways away from the clubhouse, but today they used the ‘main’ pitch, nearest the building, which according to the Rugby Chairman, would be where they will now play until February, by which time the rugby teams should be back playing matches. Despite the modern looking clubhouse, the ground has been hosting rugby since 1933.
With so much rain over the last couple of days, it was nice to see an early tweet from the club stating that today’s game was going ahead without problems. I knew there was cover of sorts here, just in case it rained, although the forecast was saying it would remain dry from lunchtime onwards, which it did.
Epping are in Division 2, with Old Chelmsfordians playing in the division above, so it was the perfect ingredient for a cup tie. Epping scored first, but OC levelled through an own goal five minutes before halftime. The second half remained in the balance until the final five minutes. A cross from the right wasn’t cleared and the ball was swept in to put Epping back in front, then two minutes later the win was confirmed when the ball was cut in from the left hand side and a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box beat the ‘keeper at the foot of the near post.
7 Regt Royal Logistic Corps 4 3 Regt Royal School Military Engineering 0, attendance 129
4’ 1-0
22’ 2-0
54’ 3-0
90’+2, 4-0
@ Army Rugby Stadium
Queen’s Avenue
Aldershot
GU11 2JL
No Admission or Programme.
With the Aldershot Military Stadium (next door, behind the south goal end) undergoing refurbishment of the stand, it meant that for the first time in it’s 131 year history an Army F.A. Cup Final was played at a Rugby Stadium. Neutral supporters (groundhoppers) were made very welcome, for what was actually the 2019/20 final that had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant it was a much more scaled down event than it would normally be, but it is good to see that the competition has once again been completed, which has happened every year since 1889 excluding wartime. It was the first time I have had to use the new NHS track & trace app since it’s introduction. All very easy and the seated area was set out for everyone to remain socially distant, which is the first time I have seen this done, although to be fair, I don’t visit that many grounds these days that actually have seats anyway!
RLC took an early lead with a low shot into the far corner of the net, before doubling their advantage midway through the half when a free kick on the right flicked off a defender and was scored from close range. Without doubt the third goal was the pick of the bunch. The ball was played out to the left hand touch line about 15 yards into the RSME half, and with one touch to steady himself, the No.10 then lobbed the ‘keeper with a superb finish. A fourth goal was slotted home in stoppage time rounding off a thoroughly deserved win. RSME just never got going.
I have now seen football played on the three grounds that run end on to each other here in Queen’s Avenue. I had seen a Combined Services XI lose 1-4 versus Isthmian League XI in a Representative Match at the Aldershot Military Stadium on 3rd February 1999, then visited The Wavell Ground 3G Pitch (behind the north goal end of the Rugby Stadium) on 23rd January 2012, where I saw Royal Signals Corps 4 Adjutant General’s Corps 5 in an Army F.A. Woolwich Cup semi-final.
I had visited Frenford (known as Frenford Senior in those days) at their previous ground, Oakfields Sports Centre in Barkingside, on 10th December 2011, where I saw them draw 0-0 versus Galleywood in an Essex Olympian League Premier Division match. In season 2018/19 they joined the restructured Eastern Counties League and were by this time now playing here at The Jack Carter Centre. The pitch was grass back then, but part way through the season news emerged that they would be turning the pitch through 90 degrees and it was to be converted to a 3G ground. Rather than do it then, I decided to wait until the changes had taken place. It would also give me a now far too infrequent chance to pick up new ground visit under lights (the old pitch was not floodlit). The new pitch is a 50% overlap of the original footprint and the old perimeter rail that was behind the ‘car park end’ is still in place about 10 yards behind the back of the new stand nearest the entrance. There were still quite a few groundhoppers present who were counting this as another tick, despite having been here for the original set up! Then again, it shouldn’t surprise me, as groundhopping, and what people count as a ‘new’ ground, or not, is interpreted under a number of different guises these days.
I arrived at the ground about 18.50 and was surprised to see a huge queue at the entrance, mostly made up of those of the groundhopping fraternity that require a programme in order to make their visit more complete. This sold out very quickly. The gateman remarked to the person in front of me “sorry, we’ve sold out of programmes. We didn’t expect a crowd like this”. Not surprising really. Their two previous league matches here this season had attracted just 55 and 36 spectators!
The ground, so typical of new build caged grounds is as bland as they come and probably doesn’t really meet the ‘grading’ for Step 6. The walk from the changing rooms is a good 30-40 yards, with no walkway for players and officials. The only toilets are also in this building and there are no refreshments available inside the ground either. Spectator access is limited to three sides. The far side, opposite the dugouts and stands is out of bounds. The view from the ‘kit’ stands is absolutely dreadful, not helped by having the dugouts in between, then people standing along the rail. Once again, a new build that has been given very little thought. It wasn’t as if lack of space was an issue here. It might not be as bad when they have their ‘normal’ sized crowd. Not that the club will care, and why should they, as they now have a facility that can be in use all day, every day. It is good to see them back in their home area, having spent last season playing at the ground of Bowers & Pitsea whilst the rebuild took place.
The match itself was pretty even early on. Barkingside took the lead, but Frenford were level at 1-1 by halftime. The second half was very much a case of taking your chances when they come. Frenford certainly took theirs and in the end the visitors were lucky to get away with only a 4-1 defeat. The win sees Frenford go top of the league table, albeit very early days, but a bright future looks in order, both on and off the pitch.
One thing that is worth a mention tonight. The Referee. The game kicked off on time, there was just a seventeen minute halftime and no stoppage time played in either half. Game over by 21.32. Well done that man!
The early match was over by 14.41, which meant I would have had time to make it to a nearby 15.00 kick off in the Somerset County League, but I decided to stick with my original plan. The eleven mile journey from Evercreech was on some very tight and twisting country lanes, but I was still parked up in Coleford at 15.06.
The ground here, along with it’s undulating pitch that has a large end to end slope away from the changing room end, certainly has some history. As well as hosting County League football, it also hosted Western League games in the 1920’s and 1930’s, albeit for just three seasons, as well as a couple of Preliminary Round F.A. Cup ties at the end of the 1940’s.
The step up in standard from this morning’s match was remarkable. It was far more skilful and was played at a much faster pace. Westfield had the game won inside half an hour, scoring five times from seven chances (the other two were saved by the ‘keeper) in a blistering start. Kicking down the slope in the second half didn’t seem to suit them though. Coleford, who battled well despite being totally overrun, deservedly pulled a goal back to reduce the arrears with twenty five minutes left to play, but it was too late to change the outcome. Westfield did add a sixth goal to finish off the scoring, but the second half never reached the heights of the first. I’m not sure if the Referee had seen enough by then, but he blew the full time whistle a couple of minutes early.
Evercreech Rovers 2 High Littleton 2, attendance 20
20’ 1-0
50’ 2-0
88’ 2-1
90’ 2-2
@ Evercreech Sports Club
Pecking Mill Road
Weston Town
Evercreech
BA4 6PD
No Admission or Programme.
With a double opportunity on offer, it seemed as good a time as any to make my debut in the Mid-Somerset League. Division 1 is tier two of the league, which on the evidence of this match is not the best of standards. There was plenty of effort, but both teams were lacking in skill.
Evercreech led 1-0 at the break, courtesy of a Kepa style howler that was gifted by the visitors ‘keeper when trying to be too clever with a clearance. A good finish to a pull back from the left made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half and it looked like the three points were safe. High Littleton had done nothing as far as attacking went, but somehow snatched an unlikely point in the dying minutes. Their opener, with two minutes left, looped over the ‘keeper, going in off the underside of the crossbar, before a corner was headed in from six yards to level it up right on ninety minutes.
Mid table Buxton were hosting the early season pace setters, as Wells Town led the league table having won their opening two fixtures. Buxton started brightly and took an early lead, but Wells looked dangerous with every attack. It took them until the thirty fifth minute to draw level, bundling in a right wing corner at the far post. Five minutes later they were in front, when another corner from the right was headed in powerfully, again at the far post. Six minutes into the second half it was game over as a rebound was smashed into the net to make it 1-3. Two late goals rounded off an emphatic win for the visitors to maintain their 100% winning start to the season.
Track & trace was in operation, which included spectator access being restricted to the ‘car park end’ and the side of the pitch opposite the dugouts/changing rooms only.
Southam United 1 Stockton 1 (3-2 pens), attendance 145
22’ 0-1
41’ 1-1
@ Bobby Hancocks Park
Saints Drive
off Lark Road
Southam
CV47 2UZ
Admission : donation bucket at entrance
No Programme.
Back on 3rd May 1993 I saw Southam United lose 0-1 versus Marston Green in a Midland Combination League Division 1 match, which was played at their Banbury Road ground. That has since been sold for housing and they have this season moved into their new stadum, which is little more than a couple of hundred yards south west of their former home. It is named after the club record appearance and goal scorer Bobby Hancocks.
On first impressions it is a nice stadium, but it is somewhat lacking in design. The small terrace sections, which are below the ‘VIP’ seating in the main building, offer a reasonable view at present, but once the dugouts are completed that will mean blind spots are created. Just what is it with non-league clubs where they place dugouts right in front of the main spectator areas. The kit stand on the opposite side of the ground is fine, but is set back as far from the pitch as is possible. This means anyone walking round the ground has to go in front of the stand, therefore blocking the view for those in the seats. One definite plus though is the grass pitch. So much better than just building a soulless 3G cage that so many clubs now opt for.
Southam are in the Hellenic League Division 2 East (Step 7) at present, but should comfortably climb to Step 6 without too many problems. The standard of this league is very poor, so another top place finish (they were 15 points clear at the top, having won 16 of their 17 games when Covid-19 curtailed last season) should be well within their capabilities and the ground certainly ticks all the right boxes.
Stockton play in the Coventry Alliance League Premier Division, which feeds into Midland League Division 3, making it Step 9. You wouldn’t have known these two sides play at different levels. The match was a really good contest and played with a real competitive edge. Stockton were well worth their lead, but Southam came back to level just before the break. Both teams had chances to win it in the second half, but neither could add to the scoring. Having gone second, Southam won the penalty shoot out with a kick to spare.
Track & trace was in operation tonight by way of name and contact number on a clipboard.
Both these clubs play in the Cornwall Combination League, which sits at Step 8 of the pyramid. It is a league I have never done a game in, hoping that one day it would be part of the ‘South West Peninsula League Groundhop’, but that is now looking like it will never happen, especially with other organised ‘hops seemingly taking over and leaving few available dates for this to happen. Anyway, with the new St. Piran League (East and West divisions) now slotted in at Step 7, which would appeal to a larger audience, it more or less guarantees it won’t happen.
So, if I was going to make my debut watching a new league, then where better to start than the most southerly ground on the U.K. mainland. You can’t get much further south, with Lizard Point barely a mile away. The ground itself is pretty basic, although there is a small bit of cover in one corner. The clubhouse was open for business, but the changing rooms weren’t. The players got changed pitchside, which is now the new normal at this level. No track & trace in operation today. Although the ground isn’t up to much, the views certainly are, especially on a sunny day. It might not be so appealing on a wet and windy winters day!
Having seen a couple of matches in the East Cornwall Premier League in midweek, which is of comparable level, this certainly felt it was a lower standard. Plenty of effort, but lacking in skill, and it did get niggly at times. It had been an even contest, but Marazion edged in front right on halftime. Lizard had a shot bounce down off the crossbar, with the headed rebound being tipped over by the ‘keeper. From the resulting corner, the ball was cleared and the visitors striker was put clear to poke the ball past the advancing ‘keeper to open the scoring. Marazion dominated the second half, wrapping the game up when a right wing cross was smashed into the roof of the net just after the hour mark.
