South of Scotland League

Wednesday 6th May 2026

Kick Off 19.00 On Time!

Lochmaben 1 Abbey Vale 1, attendance 92

16’ 0-1 (pen)

45’ 1-1

@ Whitehills Park

Whitehills Avenue

Lochmaben

DG11 1QP

£4 Admission

No Programme.

The trip to Scotland was rounded off by taking in this game at Lochmaben, which was en route home anyway and even better, it completed the South of Scotland League for me.

Lochmaben play at Whitehills Park, in the east of the town, which is just to the west of the A74(M). There’s a small car park as you enter from a narrow lane off Whitehills Avenue, with the pitch running lengthways in front of you. The changing room building is on the right hand touchline and has a small overhang on the front and also houses a tea bar. The pitch is fenced along each side, with the far side, where the dugouts are, having advert boards acting as infills. Grass banking runs along this side and extends behind the goals at both ends, whilst scenic views and farmland act as a backdrop.

This match brought down the curtain for this league’s fixtures, with 7th hosting 6th in the table and apart from the visitors being able to finish one place higher than they started the day if they were to win, there wasn’t much riding on it. It didn’t stop both teams putting on a decent display though and the game was in the balance right up to the final whistle. Abbey Vale went ahead after sixteen minutes, converting a penalty that was awarded for a push in the back. Lochmaben equalised right on halftime, when a long ball forward was finished first time into the bottom corner from just inside the box. There was a clash of heads involving two home players midway through the second half, resulting in nine minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game. Three minutes into this, Abbey Vale saw a header tipped around the post and from the resulting corner a header that went narrowly over the crossbar. In the dying seconds Lochmaben had a shot tipped onto the crossbar and the final whistle blew as the ball was hacked clear by a defender.

Having stayed overnight nearby, it was a drive back south the following morning, which took exactly six hours, including a couple of stops.

West of Scotland League

Premier Division

Tuesday 5th May 2026

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.32

Rutherglen Glencairn 0 Auchinleck Talbot 1, attendance 235

38’ 0-1 (pen)

@ Hamish B Allan Stadium (New Southcroft Park)

69 Toryglen Road

Rutherglen

G73 1HZ

£10 Admission

No Programme.

I’d seen Rutherglen Glencairn play at home back in October 2006, in what was their penultimate game at their former home ground Southcroft Park, where they beat Irvine Victoria 3-1 in a West of Scotland Cup 1st Round match. That ground was lost to the M74 extension, with the club getting a new ground just south of the former site, to the south of the motorway and the railway line that runs behind the north goal end. The car park and changing rooms are behind the south goal end, as is the tea bar that sells the normal fayre you’d expect at a Scottish non-league ground. They did a roaring trade, helped by the bloke in front of me in the queue whose bill came to £39 (yes thirty nine), as he was buying for a few of his mates too. On the left touchline there’s a covered piece of terrace behind the dugouts, flanked by three steps that run to the corners. Opposite are another three steps that run the full length of the pitch, with a small bit of cover at the halfway line. There’s spectator access on all four sides as well as four floodlight pylons down each touchline.

As with my game in this league on Saturday, it involved two clubs who’ve won the Scottish Junior Cup. Rutherglen have four wins, as well as three runners up achievements, whilst visitors Auchinleck have the best record of any club, appearing in seventeen finals and they’ve won fourteen of them, with no other club managing more than five! Rutherglen came into this sitting second bottom in the league table, but have no relegation fears due to the Lowland League restructuring at the end of this season. Auchinleck, on the other hand, are going for the title, despite coming into this in third place in the table. They’d lost the League Cup Final to leaders Troon on Sunday, going down 0-1 to a late goal at Broadwood Stadium, having been down to ten men late in the first half, but are still on for a double, as they’ve also got the Scottish Junior Cup Final versus Largs Thistle to come at the end of the month.

Rutherglen certainly made the visitors work hard for this, although not so much from threatening to score, but being very hard to break down and defending resolutely from the off. The visitors did create a few chances, but just couldn’t get a final touch when it mattered. In the end it was a penalty that separated the two teams and came seven minutes before halftime, when a striker cut inside from the right before being scythed down just inside the box and Ewan Turner gave the ‘keeper no chance from the spot. The goal was well received by the large away following, who made up around half the crowd.

After tonight’s games the top of the table now sees Troon on 61 points (2 to play), Cumnock Juniors on 60 points (3 to play) and Auchinleck on 57 points (5 to play). Next game in this division is on Thursday evening….when Auchinleck host Cumnock!

Above : Auchinleck net the winner from the penalty spot.

Caledonian League

Premier Division

Monday 4th May 2026

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.01

Drumchapel Amateurs 4 Strathclyde University 1, attendance 47

13’ 0-1

27’ 1-1

42’ 2-1

71’ 3-1

83’ 4-1

@ Glenhead Park

Farm Road

Duntocher

G81 6HF

No Admission or Programme.

Having been in Campbeltown yesterday and planning on doing a game near Glasgow tomorrow night, this re-visit, after a gap of nearly nineteen years, slotted in well with the schedule. The last time I was here, was for the ground sharers at the time Clydebank, who lost on penalties to Petershill in a S.J.F.A. West Region Cup Winner’s Cup Preliminary Round tie, after a 1-1 draw in ninety minutes. Tonight was a game involving the normal home club, Drumchapel Amateurs, who were top of the league coming into this game, boasting a 100% winning record from their ten games played, whilst Strathclyde University were propping up the table, managing just one win and one draw from their games.

The ground was much as I remembered, with just the one side accessible to spectators, although the steps under the cover looked rather new, so maybe they’ve been relaid since my last visit. The near goal end acts as a car park, with the two storey clubhouse/changing room building in the corner. The far side has grass banking, which runs round behind the far goal and there’s a dugout on each touch line.

Strathclyde University got off to a great start, hitting an unstoppable shot past the ‘keeper from the edge of the D after thirteen minutes. Drumchapel levelled just before the half hour mark, when a quick break and cross from the right was tapped in at the far post. Three minutes before halftime the hosts went in front, when a long throw in was headed in from six yards. The second half saw Drumchapel have an early shot deflected onto the crossbar and have a goal disallowed for offside, before making it 3-1 with nineteen minutes left, juggling the ball up before sending a shot high into the roof of the net. Strathclyde had a chance to get straight back into it, but saw a penalty well saved by the home ‘keeper, before Drumchapel made the game safe with seven minutes left, when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, but returned with a volley that gave the ‘keeper no chance. A couple of minutes later the visitors hit the crossbar with a header, but the hosts deservedly took the three points as they march on towards the title.

West of Scotland League

Division 4

Sunday 3rd May 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.58

Campbeltown Pupils 1 Eglinton 5, attendance 88

5’ 0-1

10’ 0-2 (pen)

29’ 0-3

52’ 0-4

67’ 1-4

81’ 1-5

@ Kintyre Park

Limecraig Road

Campbeltown

PA28 6LP

£5 Admission

No Programme.

The 150 mile drive down to Campbeltown last night, via A82 and A83, took around 3 hours 20 minutes from Blantyre. It would have been done by the much shorter Ardrossan-Campbeltown ferry in the past, but that route no longer runs. Despite being further, the scenery en route more than makes up for it, taking you via Loch Lomond, Loch Fyne and the town of Tarbert, before heading south along the Sound of Gigha and cutting back across Kintyre just before Campbeltown Airport, heading southeast into Campbeltown itself.

The walk from the harbour to the ground took around ten minutes. There’s plenty of parking, with the entrance to the ground being behind the goal at that end. There’s a table set up for refreshments, with the changing rooms building and toilets just beyond. The pitch is fenced off and has a pair of wooden dugouts on the left touchline. The far side has grass banking and a number of park benches dotted along the top. There’s no cover here, but thankfully it remained dry and the afternoon improved as it went on.

Campbeltown are finding life difficult at this level, having lost all bar one of their league matches played so far, a 1-1 draw at home to Giffnock in early March being their only point picked up. Both teams had played yesterday, Campbeltown going down 6-0 at Carluke Rovers and seventh in the table Eglinton losing 2-4 at home to league leaders East Kilbride Y.M.

Pupils got off to the worst possible start, conceding the opening goal after just five minutes, when a cross from the left saw an easy tap in at the far post. Five minutes later they conceded a penalty, before a far post finish, following a free kick, saw them go 0-3 down just before the half hour mark. Any hopes of a comeback disappeared four minutes later, when Pupils had a man sent off for picking up a second yellow card. It could have been worse, but their ‘keeper saved a penalty just before halftime to keep the deficit at three goals going into the break. The ten men conceded a fourth goal early in the second half, but did manage to pull a goal back midway through the half, when a long clearance saw their striker win the race to the ball with a defender and poke the ball past the ‘keeper from just inside the box. The visitors rounded off the scoring with nine minutes left, turning on the edge of the D and firing a shot into the bottom corner.

West of Scotland League

Division 2

Saturday 2nd May 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Blantyre Victoria 2 Ashfield 1, attendance 115

7’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

82’ 2-1

@ KG Stadium

Castle Park

Forrest Street

Blantyre

G72 0DL

£8 Admission

No Programme.

After heading north yesterday, with an overnight stop in Longtown, it was a little over an hours drive further on to Blantyre, just southeast of Glasgow, for the start of a few days north of the border. My chosen match was between two teams who’ve certainly had an illustrious past, with Blantyre Victoria having won the Scottish Junior Cup three times and been runners up once, with Ashfield having won it four times and twice been runners up. Their glory days are long gone, but the ground here at KG Stadium (Castle Park pre sponsor days) still hints of those former glories. There’s two seated stands behind one goal, with a couple of sections of open seating in front of the changing room building. Opposite, behind the dugouts, are two sections of covered standing and a bit of crumbling terracing too. There’s a tea bar too, selling the normal fayre you’d expect at a game in Scotland.

The match was 3rd versus 13th in the league table, with Blantyre unable to improve on that position and Ashfield having no relegation fears due to league restructuring at the end of the season with the expansion of the Lowland League that will cause shortages from infilling the clubs who make the step up. Unlike in England, there was no fear of teams not bothering to fulfil their fixtures, or indeed not treating the game seriously and this was a cracking game, with both teams giving it 100% from start to finish. Blantyre took a seventh minute lead, when a through ball was deflected and fell perfectly for a low shot into the far corner. Two minutes into the second half they saw a point blank save from the Ashfield ‘keeper prevent a second goal, but within a minute they did indeed double their lead, when a free kick just wide of the D beat the ‘keeper into the near bottom corner. Eight minutes from the end Ashfield pulled a goal back, when a cross from the right was touched in at the near post, making for a nervy finish for the hosts, but they were unable to force an equaliser.

East Berkshire League

Division 1

Thursday 30th April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.37

Bracknell Aces 0 Mortimer Reserves 2, attendance 34

23’ 0-1

90’ + 1, 0-2

@ Ringmead Playing Field (East)

Ringmead

Bracknell

RG12 8UF

No Admission or Programme.

Bracknell Aces play at Ringmead Playing Fields, where there’s a changing room building next to the car park and two pitches, separated by a cycle path and about fifty yards, with tonight’s game on the eastern most one, which was roped off along most of one side.

The match was 1st versus 4th in the league table, both still in the fight for promotion, as well as the title, along with F.C. Bracknell and Prospect.
It was keenly contested throughout, although goal scoring chances were at a premium. Mortimer broke the deadlock midway through the first half, intercepting a pass from the home ‘keeper to his right back and smashing the ball low into the bottom corner. Bracknell had a great chance to level the scores right on ninety minutes, but having been played through on goal, the chip over the ‘keeper cleared the crossbar and a minute into stoppage time Mortimer added a second goal, when a cross from the right was chested down and fired low into the far corner.

This result sees Bracknell Aces remain top with 45 points, but they only have one game left to play. F.C. Bracknell are four points further back, but have five games left, followed by Prospect on 40 points (4 games left) and Mortimer on 32 (7 games left).

The 36 mile journey took a ridiculous ninety minutes, with the pre Bank Holiday getaway causing a crawl around the M25 from J9 to J12 (the M3). The return took exactly half the time of the outbound slog.

Aylesbury & District League

Division 1

Wednesday 29th April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Rivets Sports 0 Aylesbury Hornets 5, attendance 27

7’ 0-1

9’ 0-2

10’ 0-3

13’ 0-4

69’ 0-5

@ War Memorial Recreation Ground

Bishopstone Road

Stone

HP17 8QX

No Admission or Programme.

The War Memorial Recreation Ground is just an open pitch in a public park, with a number of park benches around the perimeter and the changing room building does have cover at the front, but not needed on a sunny evening.

The match was 2nd versus 5th in the league table, with both still able to take the runners up slot and with it promotion. Oddly, Rivets played players out of position, treating the game as a joke, or at least they did for the early stages. They conceded after seven minutes and three minutes later they were already 0-3 down. Their ‘keeper was immediately substituted, by what looked like their normal ‘keeper replacing him (perhaps he’d arrived late?), but he only lasted three minutes before conceding a goal himself. Their attitude was pathetic, but once they realised Hornets were just going to dish out a thrashing to them, they at least dug in a bit, but it was too late to rescue the game. A very weak Referee allowed some shocking challenges to go unpunished and was at risk of letting the game get out of hand. The second half was better, but only just. Hornets saw a header hit the crossbar midway through the half and then added their fifth goal of the night a couple of minutes later, volleying in at the far post.

So, Rivets end their season in second place, but the defeat tonight means both Stoke Mandeville Reserves and Aylesbury Hornets, who are now up to fourth, can both finish above them. Very odd decision to basically throw away tonight’s game….

Despite kicking off four minutes late, the halftime interval was short and it was all over by 20.14, even with a couple of minutes stoppage time in the second half. The usual M25 queue from J14-J16 outbound, but a clear run coming back.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Division 3

Tuesday 28th April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Greater Leys Youth 1 Watlington Town 5, attendance 26

16’ 0-1

19’ 0-2

30’ 0-3

37’ 0-4

52’ 1-4

55’ 1-5

@ Sandy Lane Recreation Ground

Blackbird Leys Road

Blackbird Leys

OX4 3RD

No Admission or Programme.

Sandy Lane Recreation Ground is accessed from Blackbird Leys Road, sandwiched between Eastern By-Pass Road and the railway line. There’s a small car park, with the main pitch at the far end of the complex, with the changing room building in the far left hand corner. Apparently, the land is earmarked for housing, so glad I got here before it disappears.

The match was 2nd versus 4th in the league table, with Chesterton MBLS already crowned champions, but the second promotion spot is still up for grabs. This was Greater Leys Youth’s last match of the season and they had a ten point lead over tonight’s visitors, although Watlington still have six to play after this.

Watlington were well on top from the start and opened the scoring after sixteen minutes, following in after an initial shot had been saved by the ‘keeper. They doubled their lead three minutes later, cutting in from the left before curling a shot into the far corner and by the half hour mark they’d made it 0-3, with an easy side footed finish after a cut back from the left. Seven minutes later it was 0-4, when a corner from the right was headed in unchallenged right in the centre of the goal. Greater Leys did pull one back seven minutes into the second half, with a shot on the turn that went in off the underside of the crossbar, but the comeback was short lived, as the visitors restored their four goal lead within minutes, when a free kick was headed in from close range. Despite kicking off dead on time, everyone stayed out on the pitch at halftime, with the break lasting just eight minutes and the game was over by 20.08.

So, Greater Leys Youth finish the season on 51 points and now have to wait and see if they remain in the final promotion spot. Watlington Town are now up to third, with 44 points (6 games left), above Launton Sports Reserves (3 games left) on goal difference.

The drive up to Oxford had the usual queue on the M25 from J13 to J16, with the return being totally trouble free.

Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League

Premier Division

Monday 27th April 2026

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.58

Graig 0 Rhydyfelin Non Pol 4, attendance 67

55’ 0-1

77’ 0-2

84’ 0-3

87’ 0-4

@ Trehafod Park

Bridge Street

Trehafod

CF37 2NN

No Admission or Programme.

Graig normally play home games at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, where I’ve already seen a game, but I was tipped off that this was being played at Trehafod Park, in the next village up the valley towards Porth. The ground is sandwiched between the Rhondda River and the railway line, accessed via Bridge Street and then down a narrow access track, with a very small car park at the end. There’s a brick built changing room building behind the near goal, with the pitch fully enclosed with mesh fencing and despite giving the impression it’s a 3G cage, it’s actually a grass pitch and no problem watching from inside the fence. Just in case the football is dull, the scenery is anything but, with a different outlook on all four sides.

The match was 8th versus 5th in the league table and would complete all the fixtures in this division for this season. There was nothing riding on the game, bar the three points, although a win for the visitors would see them finish in third place. There was nothing end of season about it, with both teams going for the win. Graig had a goal ruled out for offside midway through the first half, but it was still goalless at the break. Ten minutes into the second half Rhydyfelin broke the deadlock, when a ball in from the right was flicked up and volleyed into the far corner. They didn’t grab the second goal until thirteen minutes from the end, which finally broke Graig’s resistance. Two more goals in the final six minutes made it look a more comfortable win than it was, with all four goals being quality finishes and all into the same corner of the net. An excellent game to start off the new week.

Apart from a two mile queue at a ‘police incident’ on the M4 between J16 and J17, it was a clear run heading west. With the game having kicked off a couple of minutes earlier than scheduled, followed by a short halftime interval, where everyone stayed on the pitch, we were done and dusted for 19.35, which meant a clear run home, beating all the roadworks!

Northern Ireland

Premier Intermediate League

Saturday 25th April 2026

Kick Off 15.00 On Time!

Strabane Athletic 1 Oxford Sunnyside 1, attendance 155

35’ 1-0

74’ 1-1

@ Melvin Sports Arena

Melvin Road

Strabane

BT82 9PP

£9 Admission

No Programme.

The journey from this morning’s game west to Strabane took around one and a half hours, taking a direct route that remained in a pretty straight line, taking in some very scenic views en route. Melvin Sports Complex is on the south side of the Mourne River from the town centre. It’s a pitch inside a cinder track, compounded by having a six lane sprinting track on the stand side. The stand itself has three rows of seating, with an open backed roof, so probably not that good when it rains and is flanked by six rows of open steps either side. There was a refreshment table set up just inside the entrance, with the changing rooms at the far end of the main viewing area. Grass banking runs along the far side, where the dugouts are, with mesh fencing running around the complex perimeter….perfect for the twenty or so free loaders to watch from!

Strabane are new into the Premier Intermediate League this season, having achieved the treble of Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League, O’Gorman Cup and Crawford Cup in 2024/25. Oxford Sunnyside had won back to back Mid Ulster League titles before beating Strabane in a two legged play off to join the N.I.F.L. the season before, so there was recent history between the two clubs. Today’s match was 2nd versus 10th in the league table and was not a game to live too long in the memory, certainly not as far as the entertainment value, or lack of it, goes. Perhaps the hot weather didn’t help matters…we even had a drinks break midway through the first half! Strabane broke the deadlock ten minutes before halftime, when an Oisin Duffy strike found the bottom corner from just inside the box. They hit the crossbar seven minutes into the second half too, but failed to get a second goal, which would probably have killed the game off and were made to pay for it with sixteen minutes left, when a cross from wide on the right was missed by the ‘keeper and sent back over him with a looping header from Michael O’Connor that found the far corner.

The result was a blow to Strabane’s title hopes heading into the final games of the season and could even see them missing out on promotion too. Moyola Park lead the table by three points from second placed Dollingstown, with both having one game left. Strabane are one point further back, but do have one extra game to play than the top two, however, Newry City, Rathfriland Rangers and Ballymacash Rangers can still achieve second place too, so it will be an interesting last day of the season!

An overnight stay just south of Antrim, before catching the 09.55 EasyJet flight back to London Gatwick on Sunday morning, which left on time.