Marlborough College 3 Chigwell School 2, attendance 54
11’ 0-1
17’ 1-1
23’ 2-1
43’ 2-2
80’ 3-2
@ Marlborough College Athletics Track Ground
Bath Road
Marlborough
SN8 1PA
No Admission or Programme.
Chigwell went in front early on, but having levelled the game up, Marlborough went ahead with a 20 yard screamer to lead 2-1 at the break. An early second half goal from the visitors made it 2-2 and both sides missed chances to edge back in front. Just as it looked like we would be heading for extra time, a last minute corner from the right was headed in from 6 yards to win it for Marlborough.
Shefford Town & Campton 3 Enfield Borough 1, attendance 61
5’ 1-0
23’ 2-0
58’ 3-0
78’ 3-1
@ Shefford Sports Club
Hitchin Road
Shefford
SG17 5JD
£5 Admission, including Programme, 12 pages*
Shefford Town & Campton are newly promoted into the Spartan South Midlands League, having won the Premier Division and Cup double in the Bedfordshire County League last season. They have started well at the higher level and are second in the league table, whilst the visitors started the night in fourth place.
Enfield Borough arrived by minibus, but that wasn’t until 18.55, and it transpired that they had forgotten to bring their kit with them. Luckily, Shefford lent them some, so the game was able to go ahead and only kicked off a few minutes late, which would probably have been the case anyway, such is the way at so many games these days.
Shefford opened the scoring after five minutes and doubled their lead eighteen minutes later, when a shot from outside the box went straight under the hapless visiting ‘keeper. Their third goal came just before the hour mark when a left wing cross was volleyed in from just inside the 18 yard box. Enfield pulled a goal back with a far post header twelve minutes from the end.
*The programme had all the basics and was better than a lot of those that clubs sell for a ridiculously overpriced £2. However, it could do with a proof reader. The Chairman’s notes state that this is the clubs first match back in the Spartan South Midlands League since 1994…..obviously forgetting the ten league games they have played so far! Then there is the constant reference to them winning the ‘Bedfordshire Premier League’…..They actually won the Bedfordshire County League, Premier Division……basic mistake, but completely different. Then one last gripe. On the results page, why can’t clubs just list their own score first? Their last three away matches are shown as W 0-7, L4-1, W 7-2 and they even have a home game shown as W 2-5……..why not 7-0, 1-4, 7-2 and 5-2, so that you clearly know which is their goal tally?……and people wonder why the matchday programme is dying out.
Last Saturday I had seen Wick knocked off the top of the league table, dropping down to third place, following a 1-0 defeat at Bromley Heath United. Today they were hosting Ruardean Hill Rangers who were in eleventh place coming into this match.
The visitors took an early lead and were never really put under any pressure so comfortably held their one goal advantage at the break. Their lead was doubled early in the second half, but instead of pushing for a third goal, which could have killed the game off, they decided to try and protect what they had and their ‘keeper should really have got at least one booking for blatant time wasting on every goal kick, but the Referee was too weak to do anything about it. The negative approach soon began to backfire. Wick scrambled in a goal just before the hour mark to pull it back to 1-2 and it totally turned things around. Somehow, the visitors held their slender lead for another 25 minutes as they were under intense pressure, but the equaliser deservedly came with seven minutes left. It took just another two minutes for Wick to complete the turnaround, when a shot on the turn saw them nick a 3-2 win which sends them back to the top of the league table.
According to the match programme, Wick have ambitions to go up to Step 6 football, but there would be a huge amount of work needed to make the ground grading. Apart from the lack of floodlights, seats, or any covered area whatsoever, their biggest problem is likely to be that the main pitch is separated from the changing rooms by a second pitch, which rather oddly is right outside the clubhouse. Perhaps they could swap them round to meet the necessary requirements?
Above : Players and Officials make the long trek from the changing rooms, across the middle of the second pitch, to the main pitch.
Wessex Wanderers 0 North Bristol United 7, attendance 8
14’ 0-1
24’ 0-2
30’ 0-3
35’ 0-4 (pen)
40’ 0-5
62’ 0-6
79’ 0-7
@ South Bristol Sports Centre, 3G Pitch
West Town Lane
Knowle
Bristol
BS14 9EA
No Admission or Programme.
An early kick off here meant plenty of afternoon options to get a double in. The match was 6th versus 2nd in the league table, with ‘Premier 2’ being the second level of this league.
The match started off very evenly, but once North Bristol United went ahead, through a close range header, the game became very one sided. It was 0-5 at the break and the second half was a real non event, although the goal of the game, a 25 yarder into the top corner, rounded off a resounding win for the visitors, who now go top of the league, having won their opening four matches. I think the Referee felt sorry for Wessex, as he blew the full time whistle a couple of minutes early and we were done and dusted by 13.35, which meant I had even more time to make it to my second match, not that I needed it…….
Above : North Bristol United make it 0-4 from the penalty spot.
I had visited Badshot Lea back on 11th December 2004, when I saw them beat Kingsbury Rangers 2-1 in a Hellenic League Division 1 East match in front of 49 spectators. In those days they played at The Green, which was in the village of Badshot Lea itself, which is north east of Farnham. Nowadays, they are at their new facility in Wrecclesham, which is to the south west of Farnham.
The club had tweeted earlier in the day that the new pitch and drainage had stood up to the vast amount of rain over the last few days and that the game was going ahead without any problems. It was a bit concerning driving through torrential rain en route to the match and it was still raining heavily on arrival at the ground, but their confidence in the pitch was justified and at the end it was still in as good condition as when the game started.
The Premier Challenge Cup involves all Premier Division and Division 1 clubs, bar Jersey Bulls, as far as I can tell. This was an all Premier Division clash, seeing 13th place in the league table hosting 18th place. Badshot Lea wasted an absolute hatful of chances and should have won this with ease. It was 1-1 at halftime and remained so at 90 minutes. A cracking 25 yarder saw Badshot Lea regain the lead in the first period of extra time and they finally made it safe when they netted a third goal with six minutes of extra time left. Redhill could have easily won it with a bit more luck, as they struck the post twice and crossbar once, which could have swung the tie their way if any of those efforts had gone in.
The ground is typical of most new builds these days, although quite what the point is of putting their covered standing area where it is, is baffling. Set well back from the action and a blind spot view of the pitch in one corner due to the shabby looking ‘players tunnel’ blocking your view. As a ‘smoking area’ for those that require shelter whilst enjoying their filthy habit though, it’s just the job!
Above : Badshot Lea No.11 (obscured by the net) opens the scoring from a tight angle.
The three photos below show the shabby looking ‘players tunnel’, the blind spot view from the covered area and the awful choice of location for positioning it.
Today’s match would be between the only two clubs I haven’t visited in Brabant Provincial 1. Kester-Gooik have only been promoted this season and having played a few matches here at Wolvenstraat last season, it has now become their full time home. The ground originally had a grass pitch, but the area was flattened and the pitch was turned through ninety degrees and relaid as a 3G. The ground looks to have been built with little or no thought going into it. The seated area is uncovered and the viewing area outside the clubhouse is open to the elements as well, if you want a decent view of the game, as the cover that is available is set well back from the rail and totally useless.
Kester-Gooik came into this third from bottom in the league table, having taken just two points from their first four games. Diest, on the other hand, are third, with two wins and two draws from their opening four games. Diest were just too good for the hosts and once they opened the scoring it was a stroll in the park for them. They could have won by a much bigger margin, but they seemed content with just the three goals and never had to get out of second gear. It was nice to see they had a good away following, which was around one third of the crowd.
We were booked on the 09.20 outbound crossing on Eurotunnel, but actually travelled on the earlier 08.50 train. Our return also saw us leave ahead of our booked time, making the 19.36, rather than the 20.06 we should have been on. Have Eurotunnel finally worked out how to run to a timetable ?……probably not.
Above : The Diest No.9 sweeps in the opening goal.
Bromley Heath United are new additions to the Gloucestershire County League, having been promoted as champions of the Bristol & Suburban League Premier Division.
They have had a poor start to the season, having lost their opening five matches, which sees them one off the foot of the league table, courtesy of a better goal difference than bottom club Hardwicke. Wick arrived here as league leaders, having won five of their first six games, so this looked like it might be a predictable outcome, but that was not the case.
It was a pretty even first half, which saw both clubs have chances to go in front. A speculative shot, from the corner of the 18 yard box, was spilled by the Wick ‘keeper and was poked in from close range to give Bromley Heath the lead five minutes before the break. Wick piled on the pressure in the second half, but were not able to break down a very resolute home defence and the hosts hung on to gain their first win of the season, which sees them climb another place in the league table. The defeat sees Wick drop down to third.
This was a chance to see two of the new clubs that have joined the newly formed Division 2 of the Leicestershire Senior League. Northfield Emeralds finished third in the Leicestershire & District League Premier Division last season, whilst Sutton Bonington finished bottom of the North Leicestershire League Premier Division.
They have had contrasting starts to life playing at a higher level. Northfield Emeralds had won their opening six league matches, scoring 49 goals in the process and sit top of the league table. Sutton Bonington, on the other hand, had won just one of their four games, which was a 10-0 away win, which shows just how weak this new division is.
As a contest it was all over after ten minutes when Emeralds were already 2-0 up. Sutton Bonington did settle into the game though and actually created a few chances of their own, but it was 3-0 by halftime and Emeralds had also missed a penalty, which was well saved. The second half was one way traffic and Emeralds should have scored at least double the amount of goals they actually managed. Their No.9 managed to get himself booked twice in a minute with six minutes left on the clock, before Sutton Bonington scored a consolation goal with the last kick of the match.
Emeralds now top the league by six points and have a very impressive +51 goal difference. Lewis Turland scored four of their goals tonight, which if the stats on the F.A. Full Time website are correct, was the ninth hat trick by one of their players in the league this season, (by 6 different players) and the fourth time one have them have scored four goals, in a game (there has also been a 5 and 6 haul). Oddly enough, Nathan Kew-Moss has managed 4, 5 and 6 goals in games this season, but didn’t even get on the score sheet tonight!
As grounds go, this is probably the best one in this division by some distance. It does look a bit strange to see the pitch marooned somewhat in a large railed off area, but apparently this is due to the ground hosting Gaelic sports as well.
The drive from Ardingly saw me arrive twenty minutes before the scheduled kick off. It is always a pleasing sight when you are aiming for a double, to see the teams warming up on the pitch when you arrive, as there is always a possibility that they may have kicked off early if the earlier scheduled match at the ground hasn’t taken place for some reason.
Nutley are second from bottom in the league table of the Championship (level 2 of the league) having taken one point from their first four matches. Eastbourne Rangers are in the Premier Division, sitting third from bottom, also having just a single point, but from five games.
It was evident from the start that Eastbourne Rangers were from a higher division. They were ahead after just three minutes and by halftime it was 0-3 and they were coasting. A defender diverted a cross into his own net to make it 0-4 in favour of the visitors and that looked to be it. Nutley did reduce the arrears within two minutes, heading in from a corner, before a fine solo run and finish from midfield saw it pulled back to 2-4 with twenty five minutes left. Nutley never looked like scoring again though, even when Eastbourne Rangers had a player sin binned for the last ten minutes of the match.
There were double opportunities today in the Mid Sussex League as a number of 4 o’clock matches were scheduled. Rather than risk a cup match, with the possibility of games going to a penalty shoot out and possibly finishing too late to enable making it to a second match, I decided to play safe and do a league match for the first game.
Division 1 in this league is actually the third level (Premier Division, then Championship being the top two levels). These two had started the season losing their opening match, Ardingly going down 0-3 at home, whilst Lindfield II had been thrashed 10-0 at Holland Sports. Had I checked last weeks results beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have risked Lindfield II as the opposition today!
This was pretty much one way traffic from the off. Lindfield II were 0-3 up by halftime and also had 3 shots that hit the post with the ‘keeper nowhere near saving them. They added another couple in the first twenty minutes of the second half to make it 0-5. Ardingly played the last 21 minutes of the match with only 10 players, as they had already used all their substitutions when another player left the field with a head injury. Lindfield II seemed to take pity on them and the last quarter of an hour really dragged.
It seemed strange to be at a match this late in September where there were drinks breaks due to the warm weather. There was one midway through the first half, before two more followed in the second.
