Hampshire Premier League

Senior Division

Tuesday 21st April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Denmead 5 Southsea Sports 2, attendance 40

1’ 1-0

11’ 2-0

26’ 2-1

33’ 2-2

45’ + 1, 3-2

63’ 4-2

71’ 5-2

@ Thirty Two Acres

Eastern Road

Farlington

PO6 1UN

No Admission or Programme.

The Thirty Two Acres complex is at the end of a lane leading off Eastern Road, sandwiched between the railway line and the A27. There are a number of pitches here, with the main one just beyond the changing rooms/clubhouse (tea bar open throughout). It’s railed off, with wire mesh infills and a pair of wooden dugouts on the far side.

The match was 8th versus 13th (out of 16) in the league table. Denmead got off to a flying start, opening the scoring in under a minute, with a low shot into the far corner. They doubled their lead after ten minutes, when a poor clearance by the visiting’ keeper was returned with a 30 yard daisy cutter that went in off the post. Seven minutes later they had the chance to score a third goal, but a penalty was hit high over the crossbar. A ball over the top was lobbed over the ‘keeper for Southsea to pull a goal back after twenty six minutes and seven minutes later they drew level, after a corner was cleared,but sent back over the ‘keeper from 25 yards. A minute into stoppage time at the end of the first half Denmead regained the lead, when a striker chased down a long clearance by his ‘keeper and just reached the ball ahead of the Southsea ‘keeper and managed to head the ball over him. When they made it 4-2 just after the hour mark, side footing home a cross from the right at the far post, the points were secured. Their fifth goal came nineteen minutes from the end, latching onto a through ball before rounding the ‘keeper and rolling it into the empty net.

It was a clear run down the A3, with just a six minute delay getting past Guildford. No delays coming back and home just before 21.30. That completes the top division of this league once again.

Thames Valley Premier League

Division 1

Monday 20th April 2026

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.36

Hype Train 2 Marlow United 4, attendance 10

6’ 1-0

19’ 1-1

43’ 1-2

52’ 2-2

57’ 2-3

82’ 2-4 (pen)

@ Calcot Recreation Ground

Highview

Calcot

RG31 4XD

No Admission or Programme.

Hype Train normally play home games on the 3G pitch at Waingels College, but some sort of problem with the changing rooms means they’re temporarily using Calcot Recreation Ground. It’s just a pitch in a huge field, about 200 yards from the changing rooms and car park. I’d confirmed venue and kick off time via the away club, who advised the kick off would probably be closer to 18.30 than the advertised 18.00. We eventually got underway at 18.36, but on a nice sunny evening fading light wasn’t going to be a problem.

The match was 7th versus 6th in the league table, with both well clear of the relegation zone and very unlikely to grab a promotion place, although the latter is not mathematically impossible. With no real pressure on either side, it produced a very entertaining match, with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity. Hype Train took an early lead, after a quickly taken throw in saw a looping shot over the ‘keeper that found the far corner. Marlow levelled after nineteen minutes, lobbing the ‘keeper from the angle of the 18 yard box and went in front two minutes before halftime, when a through ball was finished with a lob over the ‘keeper from just inside the box. Hype Train had a player sin binned five minutes into the second half, but then grabbed an equaliser a couple of minutes later, chasing a through ball down the left before cutting inside the full back and beating the ‘keeper low inside the near post. Marlow then had a shot cleared off the line, but soon made advantage of their extra man by making it 2-3, with a shot fired high into the roof of the net after a corner wasn’t properly cleared. Once back to full strength the hosts were unable to force an equaliser and the visitors wrapped the game up by scoring from a penalty with eight minutes left.

Unusually, no traffic problems in either direction, going M25 and M4 outbound and returning via Bracknell and M3.

Mid Sussex League

Championship Division

Saturday 18th April 2026

Kick Off 14.00 On Time!

Wivelsfield Green 1 Cuckfield Town 3, attendance 22

10’ 0-1

23’ 1-1

24’ 1-2

68’ 1-3

@ The Arc Centre for Outdoor Sport, Pitch 4

West End Farm Avenue

Burgess Hill

BN6 9HH

No Admission or Programme.

After clocking up a fair few miles in midweek, it was nice to get a local game in today and at a recently opened venue. I’d sent a text to the home club, which was returned as a phone call from their very helpful secretary, confirming that the game was going ahead okay and that it was on a grass pitch at The Arc Centre (there’s also a new 3G pitch here), rather than at their normal home venue in Bolney, where the pitch is currently unplayable. The game was played on Pitch 4, which is to the left of driveway/car park as you enter the complex. The changing room building is further on, adjacent to two 3G pitches (one football, one rugby), but I didn’t venture this far.

It was 6th versus 3rd in the league table, both in with a chance of picking up one of the promotion places behind champions elect Hurstpierpoint. Cuckfield went ahead after ten minutes, when a ball cut back from the right was finished at the far post. Wivelsfield levelled midway through the half, when a corner from the right was headed down and flicked past the ‘keeper from a couple of yards out. Straight from the restart the visitors regained the lead, when a ball through the middle was finished low past the ‘keeper. The second half was end to end, with the hosts hitting the crossbar just after the hour mark, before the visitors made it 1-3 with just over twenty minutes left, when a corner from the right was knocked down and hooked in right in front of the ‘keeper. A sin bin five minutes later extinguished any hopes of a home come back and the visitors comfortably held on to take all three points. It sees them move up to second in the table with one game left to play. Both AFC Uckfield Town Reserves and Sovereign Saints could still pip them though, as they still have a game in hand and are trailing by two and four points respectively.

Anglian Combination League

Division 3 North

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.24

Gayton United 1 King’s Lynn Soccer Club 3, attendance 51

24’ 0-1

30’ 0-2

80’ 1-2

87’ 1-3

@ Lime Kiln Road

Gayton

PE32 1QT

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was a trip to Norfolk, for a game where 4th hosted 8th in the league table, with both teams still in with a chance of taking the title and are very much in the promotion fight. The ground is entered behind the goal at the Lime Kiln Road end of the ground. The pitch is fenced along the left touchline, with car parking pitch side. A pair of dugouts are this side too, with the changing room building beyond, where there was also a tea bar. On the opposite side is a quirky piece of cover, which is two storey, but only has room for about half a dozen spectators.

We got underway six minutes earlier than scheduled and it was end to end from start to finish. A 25 yard free kick, which took a deflection, opened the scoring for KLSC after twenty four minutes and they doubled their lead six minutes later, finishing a long clearance from the ‘keeper one on one at the other end. Gayton had a goal disallowed for a foul on the hour mark, as they pushed hard to get back into it. KLSC saw an effort hit the crossbar, before Gayton pulled a goal back with ten minutes left. As we entered the last five minutes they hit the post, with the rebound going straight into the ‘keeper’s arms and a couple of minutes later KLSC killed off the game by adding a third goal, after an initial save by the ‘keeper was volleyed high into the roof of the net on the rebound.

The result leaves Gayton fourth and now unable to win the league and now relying on the teams above them to slip up if they’re still to be promoted. KLSC move up to seventh, now just ten points behind the leaders, but still with four games in hand.

Apart from a three mile queue at the Dartford Crossing, the journey north was trouble free. Despite the M11 being down to one lane near Harlow, followed by SatNav taking me to the bottom of the M11, then the A13 back to Dartford Crossing, which was also down to one lane, I was home for eleven o’clock.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 4

Wednesday 15th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Catsbrook Wanderers 2 Luton Phoenix 3, attendance 6

18’ 1-0

46’ 1-1

75’ 2-1

81’ 2-2

82’ 2-3

@ Lewsey Park

Pastures Way

Lewsey

LU4 0PF

No Admission or Programme.

Lewsey Park is one of those places that is better to visit during ‘silly season’ than on a regular Saturday during the season. The changing rooms and car park are across a brook from the pitches, a good 150-200 yards away. There’s actually a cafe here, which was still open at kick off time and toilets were available here too. There are three pitches here, one slightly offset and to the right (was hosting L.U. Dons Reserves tonight) as you cross the small footbridge, with the other two to the left, running parallel to each other, with the middle pitch of the three hosting tonight’s game (Pitch 3 according to F.A. Full Time, but doesn’t make sense).

The match was 7th versus 2nd in the league table and was far closer than I’d been expecting. A dreadful pitch didn’t make for pretty football, but it was certainly entertaining. Having kicked off four minutes later than scheduled, the Referee informed both sides he would be playing 2 x 43 minute halves, despite there being no likelihood of a problem with the light. Catsbrook scored the only goal of the first half after eighteen minutes, breaking down the left before crossing to the far post for an easy tap in. An own goal, diverting in a cross when attempting to clear the ball saw Phoenix draw level early in the second half and it looked like they would go on to comfortably win it, such was their dominance, but they struggled with some poor finishing. A free kick from their own half, launched into the box and met with a looping header over the ‘keeper saw Catsbrook go back in front with thirteen minutes left, but they were unable to hold on to their lead. Phoenix smashed one in from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 with five minutes left and a minute later got the winner, with a free kick from the edge of the D that found the bottom corner, despite the ‘keeper getting a hand to it.

The win keeps Phoenix two points adrift of leaders Dunstable Town Cricket Club, having played a game more than the leaders, but crucially, as far as promotion goes, they opened up a nine point lead over Cranfield United Development, although they’ve played two games more than their chasers.

A very tedious journey on the M25 from the M4 junction onwards, followed by a slow moving M1 meant the 68 mile journey north took almost two hours. No such problems coming back and home for 21.05.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Division 1

Tuesday 14th April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.26

Summertown Stars 1 Witney Town 5, attendance 77

24’ 1-0

31’ 1-1 (pen)

34’ 1-2

60’ 1-3

65’ 1-4

70’ 1-5

@ Cutteslowe Park

Lower Pavillion

Harbord Road

Cutteslowe

OX2 8ES

No Admission or Programme.

I have a soft spot for Witney Town, as I used to travel on their coach to away games in the early 1990’s, when they were in the Southern League. The club folded in 2001, but a phoenix club was formed a year later, known as Witney United, but in 2011 the club reverted to the name Town, but the club was dissolved just two years later. Witney Town then re-formed last season, winning Oxfordshire Senior League Division 2 in their debut season and this year have been looking to keep the momentum going by going straight through Division 1. With promotion to the Premier Division already secured, they came into their last game of the season tonight knowing a draw would be enough to guarantee them the title.

Despite only being tenth in the table and having nothing riding on the game, Summertown certainly didn’t make things easy, despite what the final scoreline might suggest. Summertown opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading in unmarked from a corner on the right. A penalty, awarded for handball, saw Witney draw level seven minutes later and it only took another three minutes for them to go in front, when a 20 yarder went in off the post. On the hour mark they made it 1-3 and two more goals in the next ten minutes saw the title secured.

Summertown Stars play on a pitch at Lower Pavillion here at Cutteslowe Park. There’s a clubhouse/changing room building, which also housed a tea bar, with the pitch set in a dip and roped off along the near side. It is pay and display car parking here up until 6pm, although the restrictions in the surrounding roads finish at 5pm. Despite kicking off four minutes ahead of schedule, it was pretty gloomy when the final whistle went at 19.55, as there had been heavy cloud cover and a threat of rain throughout. The usual crawl on the M25 from J14 to J16 outbound, but a clear run home.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 1

Monday 13th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Bedford Albion 4 Caldecote Reserves 1, attendance 23

26’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

53’ 3-0

70’ 4-0

80’ 4-1

@ Renhold Sports Club

Top End

Renhold

MK41 0LR

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game here when this ground hosted Renhold United, so this was the perfect opportunity to put that right. The ground is entered off Top End, via a driveway adjacent to number 44. The ground runs lengthways in front of you as you enter and is roped on three sides and has a pair of plastic dugouts. There’s an open patch of grass area that’s used for car parking, whilst the changing rooms are in the near left corner, where there’s also a tea bar.

The match was 9th versus 10th (out of 13) in the league table, with the hosts safe for another season, but the visitors were only four points off the bottom and certainly not clear of the drop. It was an excellent game, with both teams fully committed throughout. The visitors missed a great opportunity to take a fifth minute lead, having been awarded a penalty, for a handball, but the kick was easily saved by the home ‘keeper. Bedford broke the deadlock after twenty six minutes, cutting inside a couple of defenders before squirming a shot into the bottom corner from ten yards. Three minutes into the second half the hosts doubled their lead, heading in a cross from the left from 6 yards out. Five minutes later it was game over as they added a third, pulling the ball back across the six yard box for an easy tap in. The fourth goal arrived with twenty minutes left, touching in a corner from the left at the near post, before the visitors got a consolation goal with ten minutes left, angling a low shot into the far corner.

The journey up to Bedfordshire had the usual crawl on the M25 from J13 to J18, adding around twenty five minutes to the original expected arrival time, but the return drive was trouble free and home for 21.30.

Kent County League

Division 2 West

Saturday 11th April 2026

Kick Off 14.45 On Time!

Rotherhithe 0 F.C. Greenwich 1, attendance 36

82’ 0-1

@ Sparrows Farm Sports Centre

Sparrows Lane

New Eltham

London

SE9 2BP

No Admission or Programme.

This was 6th versus 3rd in the league table. Rotherhithe had nothing to play for, but F.C. Greenwich needed four points from their last three games to overhaul second in the table The Charcoal, who’ve already completed all their fixtures, to pip them for the second promotion place. The game was played at Sparrows Farm Sports Centre, which is sandwiched between the Charlton Athletic Training Ground and the home ground of Metrogas. Car parking is free here on weekends, with the changing room building adjacent. The pitch is at the rear, accessed through metal railings, where there are two pitches, one for rugby and the other for football, which is to the right. It was roped along one side, but the majority of the crowd stood with the two ‘benches’ on the unroped touchline.

The pitch was bone hard and dusty, coupled with a very strong wind that both teams struggled to master, especially kicking into it. There was plenty of effort and some crunching tackles, but very few good clear cut chances. Rotherhithe lost their ‘keeper to injury eleven minutes into the second half, but the stand in was an adequate substitute. He was finally beaten with eight minutes left, when a mishit cross from the right was controlled and fired low into the bottom corner to win it for the visitors. The final whistle was greeted with huge celebrations from the Greenwich contingent and although they’ve now gone up into second place, they still require another point to make promotion mathematically certain. They could still take the title too, as despite having played a game more than leaders Old Roan, who they trail by four points, the two still have to meet again.

This completed this division for me today and just leaves Division 2 East side Canterbury Eagles for the whole league. Unfortunately, they’ve played all their home games now, so that one will have to wait until next season.

Gwent Premier League

Division 2

Thursday 9th April 2026

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.04

The Oak 0 Riverside Rovers 4, attendance 26

35’ 0-1

45’ + 3, 0-2

50’ 0-3

87’ 0-4

@ The Recreation Ground (Tredegar R.U.F.C.)

Stable Lane

Tredegar

NP22 4BH

No Admission or Programme.

When I came to The Recreation Ground in January 1999, I saw Tredegar Town beat Garw 3-0 in a Welsh League Division 3 match, which was played on a pitch beyond the rugby ground, running lengthways away from it. The pitch is still there, as are floodlights, but there’s no longer a rail around the pitch, so it doesn’t meet league requirements these days. Tonight was an opportunity to see a game on the rugby pitch, at the second time of trying. I came here on a Saturday in November, hoping to see an F.C. Tredegar match, who normally play next door at Tredegar Leisure Centre, but it was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and I had to head elsewhere. The Oak are now using the rugby pitch here, as their own ground at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre is having a new 3G pitch laid, so it was a good chance to finally tick this one off. I arrived nice and early, leaving time to head off to an alternate game if required. The portable goals were in place, in front of the rugby posts and the corner flags were out, but when the player’s came out to warm up, they removed the flags and proceeded to make their way to the far pitch, which I’d done and put them there instead, before beginning their warm up. According to a player I spoke to, they’d used that pitch the last time they were here, but thankfully, the experienced Referee was having none of it and made them move back to the rugby pitch, as “it’s got a barrier, as required for Gwent Premier matches and that’s where we’re playing”. I feel a younger Referee may have buckled, but thankfully this one stuck to his guns Phew.

The rugby ground was worth making the effort for. There’s a large car park, with the changing room building behind the goal at the entrance end. The pitch is railed on three sides, albeit set back a bit and has a magnificent 250 seat stand, with dugouts in front. Either side of this are two sections of open terracing and there’s another section on the far side too. The ground also has floodlights, but they weren’t needed for tonight’s six o’clock kick off.

The match was 9th versus 4th in the league table and was very evenly contested up until The Oak had a man red carded (2 x yellow) after twenty seven minutes. The ten men only held out for seven minutes before Riverside made the breakthrough, when a header from a diagonal free kick looked to have crossed the line, bouncing back out off one of the wheels on the frame, but the rebound was smashed in from close range anyway, removing any doubt over whether it had already gone in. In stoppage time the visitors doubled their lead, powering in a header from a corner on the left. A one on one finish saw them go 0-3 up five minutes into the second half and the fourth goal arrived three minutes from the end, heading in unmarked from close range.

The game finished at 19.46, by which time the temperature had dropped dramatically and I had daylight up until reaching the M4 for my drive home. No problems, apart from queuing for a couple of hundred yards on the M25 at J10, where they were about to close the motorway.

Above : The old scoreboard has seen better days….

Southampton League

Premier Division

Wednesday 8th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.20

Braishfield 3 Dynamo Dockside 3, attendance 22

17’ 1-0

22’ 2-0 (pen)

30’ 2-1

32’ 2-2 (pen)

84’ 3-2 (pen)

89’ 3-3

@ Braishfield Recreation Ground

Braishfield Road

Braishfield

SO51 0PX

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game at Braishfield when they were members of the Hampshire League from 1986-2000, but tonight was the perfect opportunity to put that right. The ground here is nothing more than a pitch, bookended with a car park behind one goal and the changing room building behind the other, with a gentle slope towards the latter. The pitch runs parallel to the road that runs through the village, with a few park benches dotted around the perimeter.

The match was 4th versus 7th in the league table. Barring a freak set of results, Dynamo Dockside will avoid relegation from this nine team division, whilst Braishfield are very much in with a shout of the title. They came into this five points adrift of leaders Sporting Wessex and four points behind second placed Fordingbridge Turks, with two games in hand over both. They’re a point behind third placed Select Generation too, but as they’ve played two games more than the top two, they’re very much the outsiders. Fifth placed Lyndhurst could also still win it, as they’re only three points behind Braishfield and still have a game in hand.

It looked to be going to plan for Braishfield, opening the scoring after seventeen minutes, before doubling their lead five minutes later, scoring with a penalty that was awarded for a handball. However, half an hour in, Dockside headed in from a corner to make it 2-1, before netting the equaliser with a penalty of their own two minutes later. Braishfield thought they’d gone back in front just before halftime, but the goal was ruled out for offside. When Braishfield were awarded their second penalty, with fifteen minutes left, it looked like the perfect opportunity to regain the lead, but the kick was sent wide of the left hand post. Not to worry though, as they were awarded their third penalty of the night, for another handball and this one was duly dispatched to make it 3-2. With a minute left to play, a ball down the right was finished with an angled shot that beat the ‘keeper low at his near post to level it up at 3-3.

It was only when looking at the league tables that I realised this completed the division for me, although it’s not that difficult when only seven of the nine clubs are first teams. It was a traffic free drive down the M3 to Hampshire, approaching Braishfield from the A303, with the car temperature showing 27 degrees at one point. No trouble on the return either, via the more direct cross country route to Winchester and taking the M3 from there and home for 21.25.