Isthmian League

South East Division

Saturday 7th January 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Haywards Heath Town 1 V.C.D. Athletic 1, attendance 279

65’ 1-0

76’ 1-1

@ Hanbury Park Stadium

Allen Road

Haywards Heath

RH16 3PT

£10 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

With my earlier game in Uckfield finished shortly before 2 o’clock, it gave me ample time to drive the twenty five minutes or so west to Haywards Heath. The last time I came here was back in December 2009, when they were still in Sussex County League Division 3. That night they beat Dorking Wanderers 3-1 (att.68). It is fair to say both clubs have risen dramatically in the intervening years, especially the visitors!

Today’s match was 17th versus 9th in the league table. It wasn’t exactly a thriller and it looked at one stage that it was nailed on to finish goalless. The only decent chance in the first half saw Haywards Heath go close two minutes before the break, but an overhead kick was turned over the crossbar. The second half was better. In the opening five minutes the hosts went close, but shot wide. V.C.D. replied with a volley that was saved by the ‘keeper. Haywards Heath had an effort scrambled off the line, but with 25 minutes left the deadlock was finally broken. A foul on the edge of the D saw Alex Laing hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner. V.C.D. levelled with fourteen minutes left when a free kick from wide on the right was headed down from close range just crossed the line as a defender tried to clear. The visitors almost won it when a deflected shot was tipped over by Collings and when Jack Bath was sent off for the visitors (picking up a second yellow card) with two minutes of normal time left, both teams settled for a point apiece.

The rain that had been forecast for this afternoon arrived just as we headed into stoppage time. It was raining quite hard for the walk back to the car and the first 15 minutes of the drive home was particularly bad, with standing water across the whole road in a number of places.

Mid Sussex League

Montgomery Cup

2nd Round

Saturday 7th January 2023

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.08

Ridgewood 3 Balcombe 2, attendance 28

30’ 1-0

34’ 2-0

37’ 3-0

55’ 3-1

71’ 3-2

@ Uckfield Leisure Centre, 3G Pitch

Downsview Crescent

Uckfield

TN22 1UB

No Admission or Programme.

I had naively believed the weather forecast today, so opted for a 3G option to play it safe, but the three hours of heavy rain starting at 11 o’clock (according to the Met Office forecast) never materialised. In fact, it never even rained and there were even odd patches of blue sky during the second half!

When I last saw Ridgewood play a home game, back in April 2021 (0-0 v Reigate Priory att.12) they played at Convent Field, which is adjacent to The Dripping Pan, home of Lewes F.C. Nowadays they play at Uckfield Leisure Centre, on the now all too familiar 3G cage set up, with viewing restricted to one side.

Apart from the attraction of a noon kick off (their Reserves were at home at 2 o’clock) it was also the only ground I hadn’t visited in this division and now leaves me with just five clubs left to complete the entire league. The match itself was also of interest, as 3rd in the Championship Division (W8 L2) hosted 6th in the Premier Division (W8 D1 L4). Very little happened in the opening half hour, but a miss kick by the visitor’s ‘keeper presented Ridgewood with an easy opening goal. An angled shot into the far top corner, followed by a close range finish, saw them race into a three goal lead within seven minutes of breaking the deadlock.

The second half saw Ridgewood try to protect what they had, rather than push for more goals. An unmarked header saw the lead reduced to 3-1 ten minutes into the second half, before a cross from the right was finished with a scuffed shot that looped over the ‘keeper to make it 3-2 as we headed into the last twenty minutes. In the end, the three goal head start was too much for Balcombe to overcome and Ridgewood held on for the win.

Plenty of time for me to head off for a second game at 3 o’clock…..

Midland League

Division 3

Monday 2nd January 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Wake Green Amateur 3 A.F.C. Solihull 2, attendance 59

25’ 0-1

53’ 1-1

55’ 2-1

77’ 3-1

80’ 3-2

@ The Holloway

Drawbridge Road

Major’s Green

Shirley

B90 1DD

No Admission or Programme.

I had been informed by the home club Secretary last night that there was to be a pitch inspection around 10 o’clock this morning and received a text message around 10.20 to say that all was fine and we were good to go! The Holloway has three pitches, with the main one on a higher plateau to the other two, running widthways in front of the clubhouse/changing rooms.

The match was 4th (W7, D2, L3) versus 2nd (W9, D1, L2) in the league table and was a very even contest. The only goal of the first half went the way of the visitors, when a cross from the left was headed in from six yards and they could have doubled their lead, but a second effort was disallowed for a foul on the ‘keeper. It didn’t take Wake Green long to turn things round in the second half. A goal on the break, followed in after an initial save, then a square ball tapped in at the far post saw them go 2-1 up within ten minutes of the restart. The game looked safe when a cross from the right was volleyed in at the near post to make it 3-1, but the visitors hit back almost immediately, with a cracking 25 yard free kick that went straight over the ‘keeper, setting up an interesting last ten minutes. Solihull almost drew level when a header came back off the underside of the crossbar, but Wake Green held out for the win.

National League South

Sunday 1st January 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 1, attendance 932

14’ 1-0

23’ 1-1

44’ 2-1

@ Park View Road

Welling

DA16 1SY

£15 Admission

£3 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

Today was a trip to a ground I hadn’t visited since Boxing Day 1989, when I saw Welling United beat Fisher Athletic 2-0 in a Conference (National League) match in front of 1,208 spectators. That had been a morning kick off and I followed it up later that afternoon with Barnet beating Enfield 2-0 in the same league, which was played in front of a crowd of 4,481 at their old Underhill ground. Traffic never seemed to be such a problem in those days for such a double, but to be fair, the M25 was in fine form today, taking a shade over 40 minutes drive both ways.

Today’s match was 12th versus 10th in the league table and was the reverse of the Boxing Day fixture at Tonbridge, which Welling had won 1-0. It was another tight game. Welling started brightly and hit the crossbar in the opening five minutes, before breaking the deadlock ten minutes later, when Taylor Maloney beat the ‘keeper with a cracker into the top corner from 20 yards. The lead only lasted nine minutes though, as Lewis Gard finished coolly to make it 1-1. Welling edged back in front right on halftime, when Ade Azeez volleyed in from close range, following a low cross in from the left and only a great save by their ‘keeper, from a deflected shot, saw them cling on to their lead in the dying seconds of the half.

The second period saw Tonbridge create the better chances, as Welling appeared to settle for what they had. They were certainly hanging on desperately towards the end, especially in the last ten minutes and the visitors probably deserved to nick a point, but it wasn’t to be.

Somerset County League

Division 1

Saturday 31st December 2022

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 13.01

Uphill Castle 4 Somerton Town 1, attendance 35

2’ 1-0 (pen)

27’ 2-0

60’ 3-0

72’ 3-1

74’ 4-1

@ Weston-super-Mare F.C. 3G Pitch

Winterstoke Road

Weston-super-Mare

BS24 9AA

No Admission or Programme.

Rather than risk a grass pitch, I rounded off the year by once again playing it safe by doing a 3G pitch. Uphill Castle play on the 3G cage that runs parallel to the main Weston-super-Mare F.C. ground (which I had visited on 27th October 2004 for a 3-0 win in a National League South match versus St. Albans City). On 10th May 1997 I had seen Westland United lose 1-2 to Shirehampton in a Somerset Senior League Premier Division match that was played on a grass pitch here, but that was beyond a line of trees that are still in situ, clearly visible to the left of the car park as you enter the complex.

The cage is unusual, in the fact that the only designated spectator area is at the goal end where you enter. There is a small bit of overhang off the changing room building in one corner, but the view of the pitch is through the mesh fence, so not really much use!

The match was 2nd (W9 D4 L1) versus 5th ( W6 D3 L1) in the league table and was a good advert for this level of football. Uphill Castle were ahead from the penalty spot after just two minutes. Somerton had a goal disallowed for offside in the opening ten minutes and were gradually getting on top, but conceded a second goal just before the half hour mark, with an angled shot into the far corner, to go in trailing 2-0 at the break.

Uphill Castle dominated the second half and the visitor’s keeper was forced to tip a curling shot round the post, but was beaten again soon afterwards, as a first time shot made it 3-0 on the hour mark. Somerton headed in from a corner to pull it back to 3-1 with eighteen minutes left, but there was no hope of a comeback, as Uphill restored their three goal lead two minutes later.

Today’s match leaves Mendip Broadwalk as the only ground not visited in the top two divisions of this league now. After a year (and life for that matter!) that nearly ended so abruptly for me in July, it is nice to be back on the circuit. I’m pleased to have managed 140 new ground visits (lowest total since 1998, not counting the badly affected Covid-19 year), although my back to back best year totals of 343 and 396 (2013-2014) are now unlikely to ever be challenged, but never say never….

National League South

Thursday 29th December 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.59

Braintree Town 1 Chippenham Town 1, attendance 728

52’ 0-1

75’ 1-1

@ Dunmow Group Stadium

Clockhouse Way

off Cressing Road

Braintree

CM7 3DE

£15 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

Today completed the final part of the jigsaw in my recovery from the cardiac arrest that I suffered in July….I actually drove to the match on my own, although I did meet a mate here. My only previous visit was in March 1992, when I saw Braintree beat Witney Town 1-0 (att.174) in a Southern League Southern Division match. It is now a nice neat and compact ground, where you are certainly close to the action. It seemed strange that it was an afternoon kick off, as it wasn’t a Bank Holiday, but it pulled in a decent crowd, with a fair number of ‘hoppers present, although I thought the crowd was probably a couple of hundred fewer than the official figure announced.

The match was 9th versus 22nd (out of 24) in the league table. To be fair, It wasn’t great. In fact, it was turgid at times. It was no surprise to see it was still goalless at halftime. It was the visitors who broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half though, when Jordan Young scored with a shot into the far corner from the angle of the 18 yard box. Braintree were level with fifteen minutes left, Kyran Clements shooting first time into the bottom corner, after a long throw was only cleared as far as the edge of the box. Three minutes later Braintree had Jack Cawley sent off for picking up a second yellow card and the game slowly drifted to a conclusion. Neither side deserved more than a point.

Southern Combination League

Division 2

Tuesday 27th December 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Copthorne 3 Charlwood 2, attendance 63

6’ 1-0

17’ 1-1

27’ 1-2

39’ 2-2

76’ 3-2

@ The Camping World Community Stadium (Horsham F.C.)

Hop Oast

Worthing Road

Horsham

RH13 0AX

No Admission or Programme.

This wasn’t my intended match for today. I was heading for the Midland League game at Sutton United, but arrived home 90 minutes after setting off, having only made it to Esher. The M25 was queuing from the M40 back to Junction 9, which subsequently meant all the surrounding roads also became gridlocked and what should have been a two and a quarter hour drive to Solihull, was now going to take over 4 hours according to the SatNav!

I had visited Copthorne for a home match back in March 2013, when they beat Barcombe 5-0 in a Mid Sussex League Mowatt Challenge Cup Quarter Final (att.15), which was played on the 3G pitch at Hassocks Sports Centre. Then in April 2017 I saw them beat Forest Row 5-0 in a Mid Sussex League Premier Division match (att.36), this time played at King George V Playing Field, in the village of Copthorne itself.

The move up to the Southern Combination League has now seen them move to play home games at the ground of Horsham F.C. The crowd was certainly up on my two previous visits to see them play home games, but it was quite surprising to see there was no admission charge or even a programme on sale, as it can’t be cheap to play games here, although having club linesmen would help keep the costs down a bit.

The quality of football on offer was very good for the level, as 3rd hosted 4th place in the league table. Leaders Jarvis Brook are ten points clear of second placed Capel at the top, but second place is certainly achievable for either of these two, especially on this showing. Copthorne were ahead after six minutes, but Charlwood drew level eleven minutes later, rounding the ‘keeper before finishing from a tight angle. The visitors soon went in front, breaking down the left and pulling the ball back to see the rebound put away following a save by the ‘keeper. Copthorne levelled it up at 2-2 before halftime, with a cracking free kick into the bottom corner from 30 yards. Charlwood nearly went back in front immediately, but having gone round the ‘keeper, the finish from a tight angle came back off the post.

Five minutes into the second half Charlwood had a man sent off, for bringing down a Copthorne player as he went through on goal. Playing with a man light didn’t seem to affect them too much and it wasn’t noticeable at all. Both teams had chances, but it was Copthorne who nicked the winner, heading in unmarked from 6 yards out, following a cross from the right with just under fifteen minutes left.

Unsurprisingly, there were no changes to the ground from when I was last here, back on 22 October 2019, when I saw Horsham draw 1-1 with Cray Wanderers (att.481) in an Isthmian League Premier Division match.

Isthmian League

South Central Division

Monday 26th December 2022

Kick Off 15.00 On Time!

South Park Reigate 1 Merstham 1, attendance 208

30’ 1-0

84’ 1-1

@ King George’s Field

Whitehall Lane

South Park

Reigate

RH2 8LG

£9 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

I had started making regular midweek visits to watch South Park (they have now added Reigate to their name since then) before moving to live in Belgium back in 2013, with this taking me into double figures, but this was my first visit here since April of that year, when they lost 0-2 versus Guernsey in a Combined Counties League Premier Division match. I would have gone more often, but games were regularly called off at short notice, due to a pitch that suffered with water logging. There are no such problems nowadays though, following the installation of a 3G pitch. Unfortunately, the all too familiar/bland green mesh fencing, that seems to come with having an artificial pitch, means the ground totally lacks character and would easily be at the top of many a ‘worst ground’ list for clubs at this level. Even the two seated ‘kit’ stands are plonked at one end, which give an appalling view of the action.

The match certainly didn’t go to form. Merstham came into this bottom of the league table, having taken just 9 points from their opening 17 games, whist South Park were 5th, with 31 points from 17 games, six points behind leaders Northwood, but with a game in hand. It was a game of few chances. South Park went ahead after half an hour. A corner from the right was headed down and scrambled off the line, but was followed in from close range. They never looked like adding a second and were made to pay when Merstham levelled the score with six minutes left. Again it was from a corner on the right, this time cleared to the angle of the 18 yard box, but volleyed back into the far top corner of the net.

Somerset County League

Division 1

Saturday 24th December 2022

Kick Off 12.00 On Time!

Castle Cary 2 Wrington Redhill 3, attendance 40

3’ 1-0

29’ 1-1 (pen)

32’ 1-2

46’ 1-3

51’ 2-3

@ Donald Pither Memorial Ground

Catherines Close

off Ansford Rd

Castle Cary

BA7 7AH

No Admission or Programme.

This fell perfectly for me, as I had a back up game on a 3G pitch that was kicking off an hour later. At the moment that looks like my only New Years Eve game, so I was glad this went ahead as planned.

10th hosted 3rd in the league table and there was very little between the two sides. Castle Cary went ahead after just three minutes, with a left footed finish from the edge of the box that gave the ‘keeper no chance and nearly doubled their lead when they saw an effort come back off the crossbar. The visitors levelled with a penalty just before the half hour mark and added a second goal within minutes, beating the offside trap before finishing left footed to make it 1-2 at halftime.

It soon became 1-3. Wrington broke away to score within seconds of the restart, but Castle Cary pulled it back to 2-3 when a cross from the right was touched in at the near post six minutes later. I thought the hosts did enough to get a point overall, but just fell short in the end.

Midland League

Division 3

Saturday 17th December 2022

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.04

Solihull Sporting 1 Leamington Hibernian 2 (abandoned 83 mins, player injury), attendance 19

16’ 0-1

34’ 0-2

61’ 1-2

@ Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst, 3G Pitch

Cooks Lane

Chelmsley Wood

B37 6NU

No Admission

Programme free, 4 pages.

The freezing conditions covering most of the country meant finding a game on grass was going to be a challenge today, so when I was offered a lift to this game, my choice of match was sorted. The club had tweeted the fixture yesterday, but never replied to a number of tweets today as to whether the game would definitely go ahead. In the end it wasn’t until we were at Warwick Services on the M40 that a phone call was returned and indeed the game was going ahead as planned. Phew! If the game had been scheduled for the adjacent grass pitch here it would have had no chance of taking place. It was rutted and like walking on concrete. Once again the artificial option paid dividends.

The match was 7th versus 11th (out of 13) in the league table. Leamington were the better side, especially in the first half. They opened the scoring after sixteen minutes, when a long ball was played down the right, and having cut inside, the striker beat the ‘keeper with a shot at the near post, which should really have been saved. He had no chance when the visitor’s doubled their lead on 34 minutes though, beaten by a cracking 25 yarder.

Solihull did come back into it. They had one disallowed for offside late in the first half, before a deflected shot off the inside of the post saw them pull it back to 1-2 just after the hour mark. Unfortunately, with seven minutes left, the home ‘keeper collided with one of his own defenders when trying to clear a through ball, which resulted in the latter sustaining a head injury. He remained on the floor and was unable to be moved. An ambulance was called, but there was little chance of one being able to respond, at least within a reasonable time, so the Referee was left with no option but to abandon the match.