Isthmian League

Premier Division

Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

Horsham 1 Cray Wanderers 1, attendance 481 (official)

35’ 1-0

37’ 1-1

@ Hop Oast

Worthing Road

Horsham

RH13 0AX

£11 Admission

Programme available, but didn’t bother (Not when charged £11 to get in)

I had visited Horsham’s old Queen Street ground on 14th February 2004, where they beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 3-1 in an Isthmian League Division 1 South match, in front of 246 spectators. Having lost the use of the ground before their new home was built, they ended up in a ground share at Horsham Y.M.C.A. and I saw them draw 1-1 there, versus Maidstone United, again in an Isthmian League Division 1 South match, on 8th January 2013, but with a larger crowd of 275 in attendance.

This season they have moved into their new Hop Oast ground, which for the sake of sponsorship money, is currently known as The Camping World Community Stadium. The car park is too small to allow spectator use, but luckily the Horsham Park and Ride site is more or less opposite the ground, so no problem coping with the large crowds they are attracting. There is the very busy B2237 Worthing Road to cross, which would be far safer leaving people to their own devices, rather than rely on the ‘Lollipop Lady’ who seemed to make if far worse! Having negotiated that, you just have the driveway to the stadium to contend with, which is very poorly lit and it is only a matter of time before someone ‘slips’ as winter approaches and the ‘claim society’ we live in have a nice cash bonus heading their way. Even the Stewards, in their high visibility jackets, were carrying torches!

The ground is just as boring as all the other new builds, but on a slightly larger scale, but at least the club now have a ground of their own once more and they are attracting very good crowds. Tonight’s 481 was pretty impressive for a midweek match versus a club with no away support and I only spotted a handful of ground hoppers as many have already visited as they have played a number of floodlit fixtures in the last month or so.

The two clubs were promoted together from the Isthmian League South East Division at the end of last season. They were evenly matched, even down to the constant moaning and crowding of the match officials after every decision, which is something I come to expect at this level. Horsham opened the scoring with a stooping header from just inside the 18 yard box, but Cray were level within two minutes when Horsham failed to clear a cross and the ball was played back across the six yard box and headed in at the far post. Both teams had good chances to win it, but a draw was a fair result

Belgium

Division 2 Amateur V.F.V. A

Sunday 20th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

F.C. Gullegem 0 K.S.V. Oudenaarde 4, attendance 323

16’ 0-1

33’ 0-2

44’ 0-3

67’ 0-4

@ Poezelhoek 12

Gullegem

8560 Wevelgem

€10 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Today was another one off the list as I try to complete the ‘152’, or Belgian League, if you prefer. Division 2 Amateur is level 4 of the league and is split into three divisions, two Flemish (Dutch speaking) and one Walloon (French). The match was 7th versus 6th in the league table, with the visitors looking to climb back into Division 1 Amateur, having been relegated via a play off at the end of last season. The clubs are only 23 miles apart, so this meant there was a good away following, which was probably close on three figures and unlike the game at K.F.C. Witgoor Sport last week, there was no need for segregation.

The match was played at a good pace throughout. Oudenaarde were far too clinical, taking their chances, where Gullegem failed to make the most of theirs. The opener came after sixteen minutes, the ball rolled in from a tight angle, leaving the ‘keeper stranded, before the second was added just after the half hour mark. A neat finish from 18 yards saw the game effectively sewn up in the last minute of the half. Gullegem never looked capable of pulling back the 0-3 deficit and Oudenaarde missed a hatful of chances, before making it 0-4 with another goal finished from a tight angle, having rounded the ‘keeper once more, just like the opening goal.

We were on the outbound 09.20 Eurotunnel this morning, which departed three minutes late. We were back at The Tunnel by 18.15, in plenty of time for our scheduled 19.20 return, but this was retimed to 19.24, then still left two minutes late!

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Premier Division

Saturday 19th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.05

Barnston 1 Gas Recreation 1, attendance 29

38’ 0-1

88’ 1-1

@ High Easter Road

Barnston

CM6 1LZ

No Admission or Programme.

It was a comfortable thirty five minute drive north from Brentwood for my second match of the day. Barnston have really struggled over the last three seasons, but have managed to avoid being relegated from the Premier Division, despite finishing bottom of the league twice and then second from bottom last season. They are much improved this season though and started the day 11th (out of 16) in the league table. Gas Recreation are aiming for a third consecutive title and despite coming into this down in seventh place, winning their games in hand would see them draw level with the current leaders Stanway Pegasus.

Gas Recreation dominated throughout, but struggled to break down a very resolute home defence, finally going ahead following a defensive mix up seven minutes before halftime. The second half saw them continue their dominance, but the very physical approach from the hosts, combined with a pitch that was far too well grassed and really could do with cutting, saw them fail to add a second goal that would have killed the game off. With two minutes left, Barnston had their only real chance of the second half, which saw a header well saved, but the rebound was scrambled in for an unlikely looking equaliser, which on balance of play wasn’t really deserved. Gas Recreation finished the game with ten men, when they had a man sent off in stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.

Arthurian League

Division 1

Saturday 19th October 2019

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.06

Old Brentwoods 4 Old Malvernians 2, attendance 10

15’ 1-0

52’ 1-1

55’ 2-1

58’ 3-1

64’ 3-2

90’ 4-2

@ Old Brentwoods Sports Club

Ashwells Road

Pilgrims Hatch

Brentwood

CM15 9SE

No Admission or Programme.

Old Brentwoods Sports Club consists of two football pitches, separated by a cricket square, and a rugby pitch, that is furthest from the pavilion/clubhouse, which is the pick of them as it has wooden fencing along one side and a small piece of cover on the halfway line. Today’s match was played on Pitch 1, which runs widthways in front of the pavilion/clubhouse.

The match was 6th versus 10th (bottom) in the league table. Neither side looked up to much at the back, but the two sets of forwards never made the most of numerous chances that came their way. Every time one of the teams attacked it looked like a goal would come. Quite how it was only 1-0 at the break, I don’t know. Malvernians then levelled early in the second half, but within six minutes they found themselves 3-1 down. A fumble by the home ‘keeper saw the ball scrambled in to make it 3-2 and set up a frantic last 25 minutes of end to end football, with constant attacking from both teams and Brentwoods finally Killed the visitors off when they made it 4-2 in the dying seconds.

Nottinghamshire F.A. Senior Cup

1st Round

Wednesday 16th October 2019

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.50

Newark Town 2 Clifton All Whites 2 (4-3 pens), attendance 115

9’ 0-1

33’ 1-1

59’ 1-2 (pen)

73’ 2-2

@ Y.M.C.A. Activity Village, 3G Pitch

Lord Hawke Way

Newark

NG24 4FH

£3 Admission

£1 Programme, 28 pages.

Newark Town have moved into their new ground here at the Y.M.C.A. Activity Village having previously played at the ground of Collingham F.C. From a ground hopping point of view, it is a dreadful venue, although unlike so many of these 3G caged pitches, at least you can walk round all four sides of the pitch, although with no cover or seating, it will not get them any further up the football pyramid.

As far as the team goes, they are top of the Central Midlands League, North Division, although in such a poor league, which is not a patch on what it once was, that is hardly a great achievement, but they did look a decent side tonight. Clifton All Whites play one level higher, in the East Midlands Counties League, although they are below halfway in the league table.

Clifton led twice, but were pegged back each time. The second Newark goal was a superb mazy run that left the defence turned inside out and had the finish to match. Newark pushed hard for a winner and perhaps deserved to get it, but Clifton survived and we went to penalties to decide things. Apparently, there was no extra time as there is a 10pm curfew on the floodlights, although surely it must be a competition rule, as Newark wouldn’t have been able to host the game otherwise. Clifton missed the target with two of their kicks, but Newark scored all four of theirs to advance to the next round of the cup.

Belgium

Antwerpen Provinvial 1

Sunday 13th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

K.F.C. Wezel Sport 2 Racing V.C. Hoboken 0, attendance 216

33’ 1-0

86’ 2-0

@ Moresnetlaan

Wezel

2400 Mol

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

The ground here was opened in 1995 and was formerly a youth and training complex and home to F.C. Wezel Sport ‘B’ team.

Both these clubs are newly promoted into Provincial 1 this season. Wezel started the day eighth in the league table, with Hoboken down in fifteenth place (second bottom). Neither team seemed to have any idea as far as attacking flair was concerned and every attack broke down through poor passing as each team reached the final third of the pitch. Wezel opened the scoring following a quick break away just after the half hour mark and it took them until four minutes from the end of the match before they added a second goal to make the three points safe.

A trouble free journey back to The Tunnel saw us arrive in plenty of time for our 20.36 return crossing. As is the norm, it left late, but only three minutes behind schedule.

Belgium

Non Matchday Visit

Sunday 13th October 2019

Soevereinpark Stadion

Speelpleinstraat 24

3920 Lommel

As we drove past the main stadium on our way to the morning youth match, we noticed that the gates were open, so we called in afterwards to have a look around.

I had visited the ground back on 23rd August 2014, when I saw Lommel United beat R.A.E.C. Mons 2-0 in a Belgian F.A. Cup 5th Round match. It completed a very good days football for me, as it was the only time whilst living there that I managed to do four new ground visits in the same day, the first three games being Limburg Provincial Cup matches.

I had started off the day at S.V. Breugel at 13.00, then moved on to K. Lutlommel V.V. for a 16.00 start, before taking in the 18.00 kick off at K.F.C. Verbroedering Lommel. I see from my records that I took it easy the next day, ‘only’ ticking off three grounds, two in the Brabant Provincial Cup and an evening game in the Oost Vlaanderen Provincial Cup.

I took no photos on my previous visit here, but the ground looks pretty much unchanged over the intervening five years….

Belgium

Limburg Provincial U17-A

Sunday 13th October 2019

Kick Off 09.30. On Time !

Lommel S.K. U17 14 Park Houthalen U17 0, attendance 38

@ Jeugdcomplex ‘t Gestelbos, Pitch 5 synthetic

Soevereinpark

Speelpleinstraat

3920 Lommel

€2 Admission

No Programme.

As our overnight accommodation was only a fifteen minute drive from our intended afternoon match, we needed something to fill in a bit of time. This was the nearest match we could find, although it was also the earliest kick off as well, but it fitted the bill.

The game was as one sided as the score line suggests and was an awful match to watch as a neutral. Lommel were simply too good for Park and there was no comparison as far as the physical size of the players went. It was only 4-0 at halftime, but the second half saw the goals go in by the bucket load. Thankfully it was only 2 x 40 minute halves, as watching another ten minutes of this would have been a real drag. Not something that I would want to watch too often and it is easy to see why I didn’t bother with this kind of thing when I lived in Belgium

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Belgium

Division 3 Amateurs V.F.V. B

Saturday 12th October 2019

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

K.F.C. Witgoor Sport Dessel 2 Lyra-Lierse Berlaar 5, attendance 600 est.

11’ 0-1

22’ 1-1

34’ 2-1

36’ 2-2

58’ 2-3

81’ 2-4

89’ 2-5

@ Sportpark De Wouwer

Wouwerstraat 45

Witgoor

2480 Dessel

€10 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

The journey from Axel to Witgoor took around an hour and a half, which included going to our overnight accommodation in Mol en route. We already knew that the match tonight had been designated as a ‘risk match’, so we arrived at the ground early, just in case there were any problems getting in. As it turned out, no problem whatsoever (which is what we really expected, but better to be safe…) although as segregation was in operation, we had a choice. We could go in the ‘away’ section, which was behind one goal and along the far side, or, go in the ‘home’ section, which was where the clubhouse and main stand were, although the end behind the right hand goal had no access at all, so we were limited to the one sided view of the pitch. This scenario is not great for taking photos of the ground, especially with such poor standard floodlighting, as the main stand is the only thing worth focusing on, but at least you got a raised view of the action, which at the end of the day is what you’ve actually come to see.

Witgoor Sport have moved to Sportpark De Wouwer this season, having played at the Stadion Jef Lutyen for the last 83 years and one that I visited at the start of the 2015/16 season, a matter of weeks before I left Belgium for the U.S.A. The new ground has been developed on part of what was previously their youth academy set up.

Witgoor Sport came into the match 11th in the league table, whilst the visitors were third. The reason for the match being classed as a ‘risk’ was due to a good number of away fans making the journey from Lierse, as normally teams travel with very low numbers of fans for Belgian League matches, especially for those below the top two levels.

Lyra-Lierse dominated from the off and were soon ahead. Witgoor Sport levelled, totally against the run of play, then had a spell on top which saw them go 2-1 up, resulting in the only potential flash point of the game, as a number of plastic beer glasses were hurled from the terracing towards the away fans standing near the segregation fence, but it was the Police Officers stood in the middle of the two groups that took the soaking instead!

Lyra- Lierse levelled within two minutes and it was still 2-2 at the break. The visitors once again dominated as Witgoor Sport tired during the second half and having gone 2-3 up just before the hour, two late goals rounded off a resounding 2-5 win for Lyra-Lierse, which keeps them in third place in the league, but does close the gap, as the two teams above them were playing each other and drew 1-1.

Netherlands

Zaterdag 2 Klasse E, Zuid I

Saturday 12th October 2019

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.33

F.C. Axel 0 V.V. Yerseke 5, attendance 247

10’ 0-1

43’ 0-2

58’ 0-3

64’ 0-4

75’ 0-5

@ Sportcomplex F.C. Axel

Sportlaan 11

4571 CA

Axel

€3 Admission

Team Sheet, free, plus Season Magazine avaiable.

We headed out from Folkestone on the 08.50 Eurotunnel, which left two minutes late, to do what was looking like being a 4 match weekend trip. Our afternoon action was to be in the Dutch Amateurs 2nd Klasse (level 7 of Dutch football), in the town of Axel, which is just under 2 hours drive from Calais. It is in the Zeeland region, which is the strip of land that runs from the North Sea coast, eastwards towards Antwerp and is not actually joined to the main area of the Netherlands, as it is surrounded by Belgium on its southern and eastern border, but does have a link via the toll road through the Terneuzen Tunnel to the north.

Axel came into this 13th (second bottom) in the league table, with the visitors Yerseke being seventh. It became obvious very early on which way the three points were heading. It was only 0-2 at the break, but should have been at least another two or three goals more. Yerseke did add another three goals after the break, in what was as comfortable a 0-5 away win as you are likely to see.