Friendly

Monday 17th July 2023

Kick Off 19.15 On Time!

Reigate Priory 3 Trenham 1, attendance 19

31’ 1-0

51’ 2-0

66’ 2-1

85’ 3-1 (pen)

@ Reigate School, 3G Pitch

Pendleton Road

Reigate

RH2 7NT

No Admission or Programme.

This was my nearest unvisited ground, less than five minutes drive from home. It is where Reigate Priory ‘A’ play their home games in Mid Sussex League Division 5 North. It also hosted one first team game at the end of last season. Yet another caged pitch with spectator viewing on just over half of one side.

Reigate Priory play in the Mid Sussex League Premier Division (Step 7), whilst according to the people involved with Trenham, they are newly formed and play in the Combined Counties League, although a Google search on the internet offers no information whatsoever and they don’t appear to be in the CCL constitution, so no idea what league they are actually in. I do know they had beaten Reigate Priory Reserves 4-2 in a friendly on Saturday, but that’s about it.

It was a decent game and rather unusually for a friendly, saw three penalties awarded, all for Reigate Priory, with only one of them actually scored! The first was missed, saved by the ‘keeper, but was put in on the follow up to put them ahead just after the half hour mark. They then had another awarded, but this one hit the outside of the post. A shot that took a deflection off a defender saw Priory go 2-0 up six minutes into the second half, before Trenham headed in from a corner to pull it back to 2-1 midway through the half. Priory made it 3-1 with five minutes left, making no mistake with penalty number three, given for a handball on the line.

Above : Third time lucky….Priory make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.

Friendly

Saturday 15th July 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Romsey Town 2 Laverstock & Ford 5, attendance 58

37’ 0-1

41’ 0-2

44’ 0-3

51’ 0-4

56’ 1-4 (pen)

78’ 1-5

90’ + 1, 2-5

@ University of Southampton Sports Ground

Wide Lane

Eastleigh

SO50 5PE

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited the University of Southampton Sports Ground previously, back in 2012, when I saw Fareham Town beat Sporting Bishops Waltham 10-0 in a friendly, which was played on the 3G pitch here. The attraction of today’s match was that it was on the main grass pitch (Pitch 1) which was helpfully confirmed by Romsey Town via Twitter. It is railed on three sides and roped along the other. There are also dugouts on the entrance side.

The match was Wessex League Division 1 (Step 6) versus Wessex League Premier Division (Step 5) and was a massive improvement on the game this morning, which is hardly surprising. There was a very strong wind blowing across the pitch, which didn’t affect the game too much. There was an occasional rain shower too, but the pitch remained in perfect condition, even though there had been another match on it before this.

Laverstock & Ford missed the opportunity to open the scoring after thirteen minutes when they had a penalty saved. They dominated the first half, finally making the breakthrough eight minutes before halftime. By the interval it was 0-3 and they made it 0-4 six minutes into the second half. A penalty saw Romsey pull it back to 1-4, but Laverstock restored their four goal lead with twelve minutes left. A stoppage time goal saw Romsey pull it back to 2-5. A really good game, played with 100% commitment throughout.

On one of the outer pitches, over in the far corner (Pitch 6 or 8) a good few hundred yards away, Michelmersh & Timsbury were playing Warsash Wasps in another friendly. It would certainly warrant another visit here for the other grass pitches.

Friendly

Saturday 15th July 2023

Kick Off 10.30 Actual 10.41

A.F.C. Winkfield 3 Pundit 7, attendance 21

12’ 0-1, 17’ 1-1, 40’ 1-2, 42’ 2-2, 44’ 2-3, 55’ 2-4, 57’ 2-5, 80’ 2-6, 87’ 2-7, 88’ 3-7

@ Garrison Sports Ground

Kings Road

Windsor

SL4 2BD

No Admission or Programme.

When watching pre-season friendlies you can occasionally get caught out on which team you are actually watching. This turned out to be a Winkfield team made up of reserves and trialists (playing in East Berks League, as do visitors Pundit) and it is not something I would have bothered watching had I been aware of this beforehand. Yes, there were plenty of goals, but that was more down to the poor level of playing standards, rather than skill factor. It is even more annoying that I could have done a different game this morning, just a couple of miles from my afternoon match, but too late now!

The Garrison Sports Ground is an (ex?) M.O.D. facility housing football, rugby and cricket as well as a couple of old tennis hard courts. Pathetically, there are just 25 car park spaces here. Totally inadequate if more than one game is on at the same time, especially with the ground being adjacent to the A322. The kick off was delayed while a worn patch in one goal area was filled in with soil to make it playable.

Friendly

Thursday 13th July 2023

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.22

Cranleigh 1 Broadbridge Heath U23 2, attendance 41

48’ 0-1

58’ 1-1

65’ 1-2

@ Glebelands School, 3G Pitch

Parsonage Road

Cranleigh

GU6 7AN

No Admission or Programme.

I had watched Cranleigh play on two grounds in the village before tonight. I’d seen them at their Snoxhall Fields ground back in May 1997 (1-2 versus Cobham in a Combined Counties League match) and then in August 2020 they drew 2-2 versus Rudgwick in a friendly played at The Bruce McKenzie Memorial Field. Tonight’s match was at Glebelands School. I hadn’t realised it was a 3G pitch, as Google Maps doesn’t show it yet on the satellite view. It is the standard set up with spectator viewing along three quarters of one side. Although advertised as an 18.45 kick off, it was brought forward to 18.15 (thankfully notified of the change this afternoon via Twitter). Although there are floodlights, the building was due to be locked up shortly after eight o’clock, hence the earlier start time.

Cranleigh will be new this season in the Surrey County Premier League (Step 7) following their promotion after finishing second in the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) last season. Broadbridge Heath U23 play in the Southern Combination League U23 North Division.

Both teams had chances, but it took until three minutes into the second half for the deadlock to be broken. It was the visitors who went in front, shooting off the inside of the far post having been played through on the left hand side of the box. Cranleigh levelled with a one on one finish from 20 yards, but seven minutes later Broadbridge Heath netted the winner, finishing with a diagonal shot across the ‘keeper into the far corner.

Friendly

Wednesday 12th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.35

Cranfield United 3 A.F.C. Oakley 1, attendance 53

8’ 0-1

20’ 1-1

33’ 2-1

86’ 3-1

@ Cranfield Pavilion 3G Pitch (Bedfordshire F.A.)

Lower Breaches Gardens

off Pincords Lane

Cranfield

MK43 1AH

No Admission or Programme.

This was Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 (Step 6) versus Bedfordshire County League Premier Division (Step 7). The game was played on the Cranfield Pavilion 3G pitch, which is a standard cage set up with spectator viewing along three quarters of one side and a pair of dugouts on the other. It runs parallel to the Cranfield United ground (which I had visited in October 2002) where the players got changed and walked through to the pitch. The clubhouse at the main ground was also open for hot and cold drinks.

The match was very keenly contested. Oakley took an early lead, but Cranfield had turned things round to lead 2-1 at halftime. Wholesale changes were made for the second half and Cranfield made it 3-1 with four minutes left, cutting in from the left, before beating the ‘keeper with a shot at the near post. The last ten minutes or so were played with the floodlights having gone off at 9 o’clock (assume on a timer cut off) but there was still enough light for it not to be a problem.

Friendly

Tuesday 11th July 2023

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.01

Catholic United 0 Great Wakering Rovers 0, attendance 37

@ Unified Seevic Palmer’s College – Seevic Campus Sports Field

The Chase

Benfleet

SS7 3DF

No Admission or Programme.

The players get changed at the college itself, which is in Runnymede Chase, then walk the 200 yards or so down The Chase, to where there are two pitches that run parallel, this being played on the one nearest the entrance. It was roped along each side.

The match was Essex Olympian League Premier Division (Step 7) versus Essex Senior League (Step 5). It was a decent contest, but lacking somewhat in goalmouth action. Apart from the woodwork being hit in the first half, there wasn’t really anything of note that could possibly be regarded as a goal chance. Best to say it was a game where defences came out on top.

Friendly

Saturday 8th July 2023

Kick Off 14.45 Actual 14.49

Orpington 1 Gillingham Town 1, attendance 16

16’ 0-1

77’ 1-1

@ Goddington Park

Goddington Lane

Orpington

BR6 9DH

No Admission or Programme.

It was a 37 minute drive back west along the M2 and M25 for the second game of the day, again between two teams from the Kent County League, where Division 2 West hosted Division 3 Central & East. There was very little between the two sides. Gillingham opened the scoring after sixteen minutes, when a diagonal free kick was headed in at the far post. Orpington had the chance to draw level eight minutes into the second half, but they missed from the penalty spot, sending the kick wide of the target. They did manage a late equaliser though, when a lob over the ‘keeper came back off the crossbar and was followed in from close range.

Goddington Park is a huge area next door to Westcombe Park Rugby Club, which is where you park. The first team pitch (No.14 on the pitch map) is in an area beyond the changing room building and hidden from view as you approach from the car park. No facilities, other than a couple of park benches around the perimeter.

Friendly

Saturday 8th July 2023

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.03

A.F.C. Rangers 2 Cuxton ‘91 4, attendance 23

8’ 0-1

20’ 0-2

24’ 0-3

30’ 1-3 (pen)

47’ 2-3

52’ 2-4

@ Watling Park Football Centre, 3G Pitch

The Anchorians Club

Darland Avenue

Gillingham

ME7 3AN

No Admission or Programme.

The early kick off here meant this was the first of two games today. It was a clash between two teams who play in the Kent County League as Division 1 Central & East (Step 8) hosted Premier Division (Step 7). The game was at The Anchorians Club, which also hosts hockey (artificial) and rugby (grass) on their own separate pitches, whilst the caged football pitch has spectator access along three quarters of one side.

Cuxton raced into a 0-3 lead inside twenty five minutes, but a penalty for Rangers saw it pulled back to 1-3 after half an hour. Two minutes into the second half Rangers scored again to make it 2-3, but Cuxton restored their two goal lead within five minutes to make it 2-4. Both sides were fully committed throughout and Cuxton ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Friendly

Thursday 6th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.29

Blandford United 0 Portland United 4, attendance 90

3’ 0-1

7’ 0-2

12’ 0-3

25’ 0-4

@ The Blandford School, 3G Pitch

Milldown Road

Blandford Forum

DT11 7SQ

No Admission or Programme.

This was Dorset Premier League (Step 7) versus Wessex League Premier Division (Step 5). Portland came flying out of the blocks, scoring three times in the opening twelve minutes. They could have added a couple more too, before making it 0-4 after twenty five minutes. Blandford weathered the storm and credit to them for not totally collapsing. They even had a few chances late on, but Portland had made a number of changes by then.

The game was played at The Blandford School. The usual 3G set up with spectator access along three quarters of one side.

Friendly

Wednesday 5th July 2023

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Sporting Weston 2 Wrington Redhill 1, attendance 42

29’ 1-0

42’ 1-1

45’ 2-1

@ Kewstoke Village Hall

Crookes Lane

Kewstoke

BS22 9XB

No Admission or Programme.

This was between two teams in the Somerset County League. Sporting Weston are new into Division 3, having finished second in Division 1 of the Weston-super-Mare & District League last season, whilst Wrington Redhill are in the Premier Division, having also been promoted, following their runners up place in Division 1 behind Uphill Castle.

Sporting Weston actually play their home league games at King George V Playing Field, Meeting House Lane, Cleeve, where I had seen Yatton & Cleeve United play a home game in April last year. The attraction tonight was that this match was being played at Kewstoke Village Hall, which I never got to when Kewstoke Lions played here in the Somerset County League before dropping out at the end of the 2017/18 season.

Sporting opened the scoring just before the half hour mark, with a close range header following a corner on the left. Wrington levelled three minutes before halftime, shooting past the ‘keeper into the far corner after a neat through ball, but Sporting edged back in front with the last kick of the half to lead 2-1 at the break. Plenty of chances in the second half, but neither side able to convert.

Above : Sporting Weston No.2 heads in the opening goal.