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.

Northern Ireland

Ballymena Saturday Morning League

Division 3

Saturday 25th April 2026

Kick Off 10.15 On Time!

Ravel Rovers 0 Cullybackey Blues 6, attendance 26

8’ 0-1

13’ 0-2

22’ 0-3

37’ 0-4

52’ 0-5

60’ 0-6

@ Cargan Park

Glenravel Road

Cargan

BT43 6RE

No Admission or Programme.

Staying in Portrush, on the north coast of County Antrim, meant this morning kick off in the lowest division of the Ballymena Saturday Morning League fitted the bill perfectly for this morning’s action, despite being a forty minute drive in the wrong direction for my favoured afternoon game. Cargan Park is a single pitch venue, entered via a gap between the houses as you head north on the A43 Glenravel Road through the village, with a superb backdrop of the Glens of Antrim, which looked even better on a sunny day like this. There’s a small car park, that could only accommodate about a dozen cars, raised behind the near goal, with the changing rooms in the corner just beyond. There was access to all four sides of the pitch, with each teams ‘benches’ setting up opposite each other. The local petrol station was where the majority of the crowd got their refreshments and hot drinks, about fifty yards from the ground entrance.

The match was 11th versus 2nd in the league table, with the visitors taking an early lead and never really looking like being pegged back. The opener came after cutting in from the left before sending an angled shot into the far corner. A downward header at the far post saw them double their lead, before they made it 0-3 midway through the half, heading a cross back across the ‘keeper into the far corner for the No.9 Gary Glass to complete his hattrick. Ravel had an effort hit the post soon after, but a cross from the right saw a first time shot between the legs of the ‘keeper to make it 0-4 eight minutes before the break. Right on halftime Ravel had an effort saved by the visiting ‘keeper, with the follow up cleared off the line by a covering defender. Seven minutes into the second half Cullybackey added a fifth goal, finishing one on one after a ball over the top. They added number six on the hour mark, when a cross from the right was finished with a first time shot into the bottom corner. Somehow no more goals arrived in the last half an hour, despite both teams creating a number of good chances.

With everyone staying on the pitch at halftime, for a break of barely five minutes, this was all over by 11.51, leaving ample time for me to head westwards again for my afternoon match.

League of Ireland

Premier Division

Friday 24th April 2026

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 19.59

Derry City 1 Shamrock Rovers 0, attendance 7,104

26’ 1-0

@ Celtic Park

Lone Moor Road

Londonderry

BT48 9LA

£10 Admission, booked online

£3 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

When I last saw Derry City play a home game, back in January 2001, it was at Brandywell Stadium, where I witnessed a dreadful 0-0 draw versus Longford Town. With the pitch there currently being replaced, they’re playing a number of home games at Celtic Park, home of Derry G.A.A. (Gaelic Athletic Association), which hasn’t hosted association football since the 1940’s. It’s less than 200 yards from their regular home and holds around 18,500. There are seats along one side, with open terrace behind one goal (not in use tonight) and along one touchline. The other end has the changing rooms and a small viewing area, with food and drink outlets in the car park at the rear. Tickets were not on sale on the day, but no problem buying them online and nice to not be charged any additional add on fees when doing so. I managed to grab street parking just off Brandywell Road, under ten minutes walk away, which aided a reasonably quick getaway afterwards.

The ground was impressive, even with parts closed off and the novelty of playing at the G.A.A. Stadium drew a crowd of 7,104. The atmosphere was disappointing, especially as it was 5th versus 1st in the league table and at no time could the away fans be heard, not that they had too much to shout about. Shamrock did see a thirty yarder come back off the crossbar after twenty minutes, but six minutes later Derry grabbed what turned out to be the winning goal, when a corner from the right was headed back across the six yard box, with two strikers failing to make contact, before James Clarke sent the ball back into the far corner, despite falling backwards as he made contact. The second half saw a Derry free kick clawed away off the line seven minutes in and the game slowly petered out from there. Derry didn’t need to do anything and Shamrock just looked incapable of producing anything in the attacking third.

Northern Ireland

Premier Intermediate League

Thursday 23rd April 2026

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.48

Coagh United 1 Rathfriland United 3, attendance 121

51’ 0-1

62’ 0-2

72’ 1-2

74’ 1-3

@ Hagan Park

11 Ballinderry Bridge Road

Coagh

BT80 0BR

£9 Admission

No Programme.

A few days away, ticking off a few grounds in Northern Ireland, began with the 0825 EasyJet flight from London Gatwick to Belfast International, which left 25 minutes late. First up was a game in the Premier Intermediate League, which is tier three of the pyramid, in the town of Coagh, just west of Lough Neagh. The ground here at Hagan Park has very little parking, but no problem using the road outside. The social club is in the corner of the car park, before you go inside the entrance gate. There is a seated stand on the near side, with a tea bar at the far end, with the changing rooms towards the corner. There’s a raised section of cover on the far side, with a row of bench seating at the back, with the dugouts in front.

The match was 12th versus 6th in the league table, which produced a dull first half that came as no surprise to remain goalless at the break. When Rathfriland broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half, with an angled shot into the far corner, it opened the game up. Just after the hour mark they doubled their lead, when their ‘keeper made a point blank save and the ball was cleared downfield, ending with the ball being smashed low into the far corner from the edge of the box. With eighteen minutes left Coagh pulled a goal back, when from defending a corner, they broke away down the right before crossing to the far post where the ball was swept in from close range. The comeback was short lived though, as two minutes later Rathfriland restored their two goal lead, with a ball over the top that was cut back into the box and finished with a toe poke past the ‘keeper.

The result leaves Coagh in twelfth place, but Rathfriland move up into fourth and still in with a chance finishing as runners up.