North East Wales League

Championship Division

Saturday 7th September 2024

Kick off 11.30

Yr Wyddgrug P Bellevue P (Match Postponed)

@ Gwernymynydd Village Hall

Ruthin Road (A494)

Gwernymynydd

CH7 4AF.

So, for the second time this season, I arrived at a game in this division only to find that the game had been postponed (July 27 at Acton being the other). The home club ignored a question on Twitter regarding venue and kick off time, in answer to their match preview, but the Cymru App was still showing the game as being on and that it was an 11.30 kick off. Bellevue had tweeted the match at 9 o’clock this morning too, but on arrival at about 10.15, there were kids training on the pitch and when no players appeared to be arriving about an hour before kick off, I checked the Cymru App again, but the game was now showing as postponed! By sheer coincidence, Bellevue have been the visiting team in both failures. Needless to say, I will avoid any fixture in future where they are the visitors! At least I wouldn’t have a wasted day, as there were plenty of options for the afternoon…..although I’d be giving those in the North East Wales League a miss.

Perry Street & District League

Division 2

Wednesday 4th September 2024

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Merriott Saints 2 Merriott Moretti 6, attendance 29

2’ 0-1

24’ 0-2

31’ 0-3

36’ 0-4

37’ 1-4

39’ 1-5

45’ 2-5

85’ 2-6

@ St. George’s Hall Playing Field

Merriott Road

Hinton St. George

TA17 8SL

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was the opening league fixture for these two. Merriot Moretti play in the village of Merriot itself, whilst Merriot Saints are based at St. George’s Hall in Hinton St. George, a mile west. The ground here is shared with cricket, which probably explains why the pitch was in such excellent condition. There is a small car park, with the village hall/changing rooms behind the near goal end, with a small area of cover on the front, which thankfully wasn’t needed tonight. The pitch runs lengthways from here, sloping upwards towards the far goal, whilst extra parking was available along the left hand edge of the cricket outfield.

The game itself was settled as a contest pretty early on as Moretti raced into a 0-4 lead after thirty six minutes. Saints did pull a goal back a minute later, but it was soon 1-5, as the much younger/sharper visitors attacked at will. Saints then got it back to 2-5, with a one on one finish in the final minute of the half, but there would be no way back for them. The second half produced far fewer chances, but Moretti added a sixth goal with five minutes left, breaking quickly before crossing for an easy finish from six yards.

Stroud & District League

Division 1

Tuesday 3rd September 2024

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.30

Horsley United 1 Tetbury Town 2, attendance 28

66’ 0-1

75’ 1-1

80’ 1-2

@ Horsley Village Hall

Priory Fields

Horsley

GL6 0PT

No Admission or Programme.

Around six o’clock the all too common question at this level was asked…”anyone seen the Ref?”….met with the usual response. That is…no response whatsoever and after much deliberation, the match finally got underway fifteen minutes late (resulting in 2 x 40 minute halves being played), with the home official who’d been dealing with the team sheets taking on the job. Tetbury were certainly not impressed and it looked at one point that we wouldn’t be getting a game at all. To be fair, apart from the first five minutes or so, the stand in did an excellent job, helped by the fact that the players seemed to have forgotten about it and just settled in to playing the game by then!

The two teams were evenly matched and as well as no Referee, it looked like there would be no goals either. Tetbury finally broke the deadlock with fourteen minutes left, but the real drama was still to come. With five minutes left Horsley had a corner. As it was about to be taken, a home player and the away ‘keeper ended up in the net, with punches flying in both directions. Once separated, both were sent off and from the corner the ball was headed in at the near post for the equaliser. Then, in the final minute, a cross from the right was headed high into the air and a Tetbury player managed to out jump the ‘keeper as it came back down, nodding in from close range to win the game.

Horsley play at the Village Hall (doubles as a shop), which is where they change and walk through to the pitch, entering behind the goal. The right hand side has grass banking running along it’s entirety, which offers a good view and even has a small section of cover perched at the top.

Above photo courtesy of Bob Lilliman.

Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League

Greyhound Cup 1st Round

Monday 2nd September 2024

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59!

Ynysybwl 0 Llantwit Fardre Reserves 3, attendance 63

18’ 0-1

63’ 0-2

82’ 0-3

@ Ynysybwl Recreation Ground

Heol-y-Plwyf

Ynysybwl

CF37 3HU

No Admission or Programme.

I never visited Ynysybwl when they were members of the Welsh League, when I believe they played home games on the rugby ground here at Ynysybwl Recreation Ground. The re-formed (2020 according to their badge) club now have their own designated pitch at the same venue, about 100 yards or so from the rugby pitch. They still get changed near the entrance, in a couple of metal container units, to the left of the rugby pitch as you come in off Heol-y-Plwyf. Car parking is sandwiched between a bowling green and a tennis court, whilst the football is down below, next to a floodlit rugby training pitch, end on and running lengthways away from here. The pitch is fully railed and there are a pair of dugouts on the left hand touchline, with a river beyond the trees lining the far side.

Tonight was a Greyhound Cup (League Cup) 1st Round match, with Premier Division hosting Division 1. It was keenly contested, with the visitors well worth their win. They opened the scoring after eighteen minutes, with a shot from the edge of the box that was hit with the outside of the foot, swerving in at the near post, after looking to be heading wide of the target as it was sent on it’s way. They could have doubled their lead six minutes later, but missed a penalty, which came back off the crossbar. They did make it 0-2 just after the hour, when a deflected cross in from the right was put in at the far post and they rounded off the scoring with eight minutes left, when a cross wasn’t cleared, leaving an easy one on one finish against the ‘keeper.

Certainly no problem getting this one finished in daylight. It kicked off a minute early (it would have gone to penalties if drawn) and with a short halftime break, where everyone stayed on the pitch, we were done and dusted by 19.35. I even managed to make it back into England before it was fully dark.

Above photo : The light holding out in the final minute of the match.

West Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 31st August 2024

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

Sussex Rangers 0 Watersfield 0, attendance 26

@ King George V Recreation Ground

Summerley Lane

Felpham

PO22 7HN

No Admission or Programme.

I picked today’s game for two reasons. Firstly, it was the only ground I hadn’t already visited in this division and secondly, it is not a ground that survives very often when it’s raining…..something that seems to be a problem all too frequently these days. Anyway, it was the season opener for both. Sussex Rangers were known as Felpham Colts last season, but changed their name during the summer. They’d finished second bottom, winning just twice in 22 games, but somehow managed to avoid relegation, whilst Watersfield had finished seventh. It was a bit concerning to see the last Tweet from Sussex Rangers, back on August 17th, stating that they had withdrawn their first team from the Premier Division for this season, although the fixture was showing on the league’s F.A. Full Time website. Neither club, or the league Twitter, bothered replying as to whether it was indeed going ahead okay. Thankfully, on arrival about an hour before kick off, it was all good! There’s not a lot here. Just a brick built changing room and a huge field, where there appeared to be four pitches. Today’s game was on the one in the far right corner, furthest from Summerley Lane. It was roped on one side. Just to give it a bit of a ‘Sunday League’ feel, the crossbars were bent downwards in the centre, particularly at one end and the home ‘keeper played in a yellow shirt with black sleeves, very similar to the Watersfield kit…..not that anyone (apart from me?) seemed to notice, or even care, for that matter.

Not much to say about the game. Sussex Rangers were poor and never looked like scoring. Watersfield tried, but just couldn’t create anything of any real quality. They really pushed hard in the last ten minutes or so and were unlucky not to have made the breakthrough, going close a few times, but kept out by last ditch blocks and tackles. The final whistle was greeted by much cheering and whooping from the home players, obviously very pleased with their afternoon’s work.

Cambridgeshire County League

Senior B Division

Wednesday 28th August 2024

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.12!

Fenstanton 1 Hartford Rangers 2, attendance 40

55’ 1-0

71’ 1-1

88’ 1-2

@ Hall Green Lane

Fenstanton

PE28 9JH

No Admission or Programme.

This was the opening round of fixtures tonight for these two. Fenstanton had finished third bottom in this division last season, whilst Hartford Rangers are newly promoted, having finished second in Division 1B. They were very evenly matched and they cancelled each other out for long periods, especially in the first half and it was no surprise to see it still goalless at halftime. Fenstanton broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half, when a through ball was flagged as offside by the Linesman, but correctly overruled by the Referee, which saw the striker lob the ‘keeper from the angle of the 18 yard box, as the defence stood and watched. Hartford levelled with nineteen minutes left, when a diagonal free kick was finished with a stooping header at the far post and they won it late on, when a deflected shot fell perfectly for a player following in and he finished first time into the far corner.

Home to Fenstanton is Hall Green Lane, entering the small car park behind one goal, where there is a brick built changing room building to the right. The pitch runs lengthways away from here, enclosed by trees/bushes along the right hand touchline and far end, whilst a small sized pitch runs parallel to the left.

Peterborough & District League

Premier Division

Tuesday 27th August 2024

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Sawtry 2 Warboys Town 0, attendance 58

43’ 1-0

90’ + 1, 2-0

@ Academy Leisure, 3G Pitch

Green End Road

Sawtry

PE28 5UY

No Admission or Programme.

I’d only visited Sawtry two weeks ago, when they played at their Greenfield Sports Pavilion ground, but cracks in the pitch, which have yet to be remedied, meant that this game and all their current scheduled home fixtures, are being played at the brand new Academy Leisure 3G pitch, which is in the village itself, less than a mile west of their normal venue. It is a standard cage set up, with just over half of one side having a designated spectator area, with a pair of dugouts on the opposite side.

The match was 7th versus 2nd in the league table and was a game that could have gone either way, with the two teams very evenly matched. In the end it went the way of Sawtry, courtesy of a late goal in each half. The opener came following Warboys losing possession just outside their own 18 yard box, resulting in an easy finish one on one with the ‘keeper. The second came with almost the last kick of the match, by which time Warboys were down to ten men, having used all their available substitutes, when another player went off injured and they were caught with a ball over the top that was finished from six yards out, low into the bottom corner.

Even though the game kicked off on time and we only had an eight minute halftime, where everyone stayed out on the pitch, the floodlights were still turned on for the second half, even though there was ample light to have completed the game without them.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Premier Division

Monday 26th August 2024

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

East Thurrock Community 2 Sudbury Sports 5, attendance 190

7’ 0-1

18’ 0-2

30’ 0-3

33’ 1-3

59’ 1-4

83’ 2-4

90’ + 4, 2-5

@ Wyldecrest Clubs Sports Country Club

Herd Lane

Corringham

SS17 9BJ

No Admission or Programme.

With Bank Holiday’s providing fewer and fewer options to get in a visit to a previously unvisited ground, becoming harder by the year, I was pleased to find a game just 45 miles from home, where league newcomers East Thurrock Community were hosting a team who’d finished third bottom in the Premier Division last season, narrowly avoiding relegation. They’ve had contrasting starts this time round. ETC were sitting third bottom, having lost their three opening games, whilst Sudbury Sports were three places higher, having picked up four points from four games.

ETC never looked like taking any points from this and were really given a footballing lesson by a very young visiting side. It was 0-3 after half an hour and pretty much game over. The hosts did pull it back to 1-3 before halftime, but Sudbury restored their three goal lead just before the hour mark, rounding the ‘keeper before finishing from a tight angle. With seven minutes left ETC scored a second goal, when a shot off the post was put in on the rebound, but deep in stoppage time Sudbury added a fifth, when a flick on saw the striker race clear to finish one on one with the ‘keeper.

ETC play at Wyldecrest Clubs Sports Country Club, in Corringham. There is plenty of parking and the pitch runs lengthways away from the clubhouse/changing rooms. Grass banking runs behind the near goal end and along the left hand side, where there’s a pair of dugouts, whilst the pitch is fully enclosed with multiple metal barriers. There are a number of other pitches here, all beyond the main one and I may require another visit, as it is also home to Essex Olympian League Division 2 side Pitsea Athletic, but only if they play on one of the outer pitches.

Wiltshire Senior League

Division 1

Saturday 24th August 2024

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

Stratton Juniors 1 Bratton 3, attendance 31

14’ 1-0

25’ 1-1

71’ 1-2

90’ + 2, 1-3

@ St. Luke’s Academy

Cricklade Road (A4311)

Penhill

Swindon

SN2 7AS

No Admission or Programme.

With the rain forecast to be heading eastwards, I went west, with the two clubs I hadn’t visited in the Wiltshire Senior League both being at home. I opted for Stratton Juniors (the other being Redhouse), who had finished bottom of the league last season, but avoided relegation. They haven’t started this season much better either, sitting 13th (out of 15) in the league table, having won one and lost four of their games so far and this was already their fifth home league game of the season! Bratton were 7th, looking to improve on last season, when they finished one place outside the promotion places, but came into this having picked up just seven points from their opening five games.

Stratton started the better of the two, going ahead after fourteen minutes. Having been awarded a penalty, the kick was saved, as was the initial follow up, before it was poked in at the third attempt. Bratton levelled midway through the half, when a defender was dispossessed on the edge of the D, resulting in a cool finish into the bottom corner. The visitors were far better second half and it was no surprise to see them go in front with nineteen minutes left, when a ball pulled back across the six yard box was slid in at the far post and they rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, finishing one on one with the ‘keeper, having been played through on goal.

I’d seen Stratton Juniors play at home previously, back in January 2020, when they were based at Meadowcroft Recreation Ground, but they now play at St. Luke’s Academy, on the right hand side of Cricklade Road when heading north out of the town. There is a decent sized car park and a changing room building/tea bar, whilst you go through a metal fence to an adjoining field to find the pitch, which is fully roped. There was one very heavy shower towards the end of the first half, which soon scattered the crowd, but certainly won’t have done the pitch any harm as it looked like it could do with a good watering.

Kent County League

Division 1 West

Wednesday 21st August 2024

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.37

South East Athletic 1 Long Lane 2, attendance 46

16’ 0-1

41’ 1-1

72’ 1-2

@ Kidbrooke Playing Fields, Pitch 3

Dursley Road

Kidbrooke

London

SE3 8PB

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was an opportunity to see two ground sharers play each other. Unfortunately, due to re-seeding on the main pitch, this was played on Pitch 3. It is the furthest one from the changing rooms, beyond the 3G cage (visited in January 2022) running parallel with Pitch 1, but separated by a small sized pitch. Grass banking runs behind one end and continues along the far touchline. It’s just an open pitch and Long Lane brought their own chairs along to use as their bench!

South East Athletic had kicked off their season with a 2-4 defeat to Danson Sports , whilst Long Lane had opened up with a 7-1 win against Crayford Arrows. It was the visitors who took an early lead tonight, through a free kick over the wall and they almost doubled their lead ten minutes later, when a 20 yarder came back off the crossbar. South East Athletic equalised four minutes before halftime, when a diagonal free kick saw a defender slice the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear it from the six yard box. Long Lane got the winner with eighteen minutes left, when a ball pulled back from the left was put in from close range after the initial shot was blocked.

It was a windy and cool night and certainly felt like Summer was coming to an end. At least it remained dry and despite the game kicking off late, the light held out well and we were done and dusted by 20.17.