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.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 4

Wednesday 22nd April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.22

Meltis Rangers 3 Catsbrook Wanderers 0, attendance 11

48’ 1-0

60’ 2-0

62’ 3-0

@ Meltis Sports & Social Club

Miller Road

Bedford

MK42 9PB

No Admission or Programme.

There are two pitches here at Meltis Sports & Social Club, with this played on the pitch to the left when looking from the building, running parallel with the railway line that backs onto the far side of the ground.

This was a mid table game, with nothing riding on it, bar the three points, as 8th hosted 7th in the table. It was very hard fought, on a dry pitch that sounded very hard, judging by the clomping of studs in quite a few areas. The nearest we came to a goal in the first half was when Meltis hit the crossbar after twenty minutes. Three minutes into the second half the hosts broke the deadlock, intercepting a back pass intended for the ‘keeper and rolling the ball in unchallenged. They doubled their lead on the hour mark, with a 20 yarder into the bottom corner and rounded off the scoring two minutes later, when a corner from the left was met with a stooping header at the near post. Catsbrook thought they’d scored a consolation goal late on, but it was disallowed for a handball.

Despite kicking off seven minutes later than scheduled, a short halftime, where everyone stayed on the pitch, meant it was finished by 20.03. Outbound saw the usual M25 snarl up from J13 to J17, but the return journey was trouble free and home for 21.25.

Hampshire Premier League

Senior Division

Tuesday 21st April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Denmead 5 Southsea Sports 2, attendance 40

1’ 1-0

11’ 2-0

26’ 2-1

33’ 2-2

45’ + 1, 3-2

63’ 4-2

71’ 5-2

@ Thirty Two Acres

Eastern Road

Farlington

PO6 1UN

No Admission or Programme.

The Thirty Two Acres complex is at the end of a lane leading off Eastern Road, sandwiched between the railway line and the A27. There are a number of pitches here, with the main one just beyond the changing rooms/clubhouse (tea bar open throughout). It’s railed off, with wire mesh infills and a pair of wooden dugouts on the far side.

The match was 8th versus 13th (out of 16) in the league table. Denmead got off to a flying start, opening the scoring in under a minute, with a low shot into the far corner. They doubled their lead after ten minutes, when a poor clearance by the visiting’ keeper was returned with a 30 yard daisy cutter that went in off the post. Seven minutes later they had the chance to score a third goal, but a penalty was hit high over the crossbar. A ball over the top was lobbed over the ‘keeper for Southsea to pull a goal back after twenty six minutes and seven minutes later they drew level, after a corner was cleared,but sent back over the ‘keeper from 25 yards. A minute into stoppage time at the end of the first half Denmead regained the lead, when a striker chased down a long clearance by his ‘keeper and just reached the ball ahead of the Southsea ‘keeper and managed to head the ball over him. When they made it 4-2 just after the hour mark, side footing home a cross from the right at the far post, the points were secured. Their fifth goal came nineteen minutes from the end, latching onto a through ball before rounding the ‘keeper and rolling it into the empty net.

It was a clear run down the A3, with just a six minute delay getting past Guildford. No delays coming back and home just before 21.30. That completes the top division of this league once again.

Thames Valley Premier League

Division 1

Monday 20th April 2026

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.36

Hype Train 2 Marlow United 4, attendance 10

6’ 1-0

19’ 1-1

43’ 1-2

52’ 2-2

57’ 2-3

82’ 2-4 (pen)

@ Calcot Recreation Ground

Highview

Calcot

RG31 4XD

No Admission or Programme.

Hype Train normally play home games on the 3G pitch at Waingels College, but some sort of problem with the changing rooms means they’re temporarily using Calcot Recreation Ground. It’s just a pitch in a huge field, about 200 yards from the changing rooms and car park. I’d confirmed venue and kick off time via the away club, who advised the kick off would probably be closer to 18.30 than the advertised 18.00. We eventually got underway at 18.36, but on a nice sunny evening fading light wasn’t going to be a problem.

The match was 7th versus 6th in the league table, with both well clear of the relegation zone and very unlikely to grab a promotion place, although the latter is not mathematically impossible. With no real pressure on either side, it produced a very entertaining match, with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity. Hype Train took an early lead, after a quickly taken throw in saw a looping shot over the ‘keeper that found the far corner. Marlow levelled after nineteen minutes, lobbing the ‘keeper from the angle of the 18 yard box and went in front two minutes before halftime, when a through ball was finished with a lob over the ‘keeper from just inside the box. Hype Train had a player sin binned five minutes into the second half, but then grabbed an equaliser a couple of minutes later, chasing a through ball down the left before cutting inside the full back and beating the ‘keeper low inside the near post. Marlow then had a shot cleared off the line, but soon made advantage of their extra man by making it 2-3, with a shot fired high into the roof of the net after a corner wasn’t properly cleared. Once back to full strength the hosts were unable to force an equaliser and the visitors wrapped the game up by scoring from a penalty with eight minutes left.

Unusually, no traffic problems in either direction, going M25 and M4 outbound and returning via Bracknell and M3.

Mid Sussex League

Championship Division

Saturday 18th April 2026

Kick Off 14.00 On Time!

Wivelsfield Green 1 Cuckfield Town 3, attendance 22

10’ 0-1

23’ 1-1

24’ 1-2

68’ 1-3

@ The Arc Centre for Outdoor Sport, Pitch 4

West End Farm Avenue

Burgess Hill

BN6 9HH

No Admission or Programme.

After clocking up a fair few miles in midweek, it was nice to get a local game in today and at a recently opened venue. I’d sent a text to the home club, which was returned as a phone call from their very helpful secretary, confirming that the game was going ahead okay and that it was on a grass pitch at The Arc Centre (there’s also a new 3G pitch here), rather than at their normal home venue in Bolney, where the pitch is currently unplayable. The game was played on Pitch 4, which is to the left of driveway/car park as you enter the complex. The changing room building is further on, adjacent to two 3G pitches (one football, one rugby), but I didn’t venture this far.

It was 6th versus 3rd in the league table, both in with a chance of picking up one of the promotion places behind champions elect Hurstpierpoint. Cuckfield went ahead after ten minutes, when a ball cut back from the right was finished at the far post. Wivelsfield levelled midway through the half, when a corner from the right was headed down and flicked past the ‘keeper from a couple of yards out. Straight from the restart the visitors regained the lead, when a ball through the middle was finished low past the ‘keeper. The second half was end to end, with the hosts hitting the crossbar just after the hour mark, before the visitors made it 1-3 with just over twenty minutes left, when a corner from the right was knocked down and hooked in right in front of the ‘keeper. A sin bin five minutes later extinguished any hopes of a home come back and the visitors comfortably held on to take all three points. It sees them move up to second in the table with one game left to play. Both AFC Uckfield Town Reserves and Sovereign Saints could still pip them though, as they still have a game in hand and are trailing by two and four points respectively.

Anglian Combination League

Division 3 North

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.24

Gayton United 1 King’s Lynn Soccer Club 3, attendance 51

24’ 0-1

30’ 0-2

80’ 1-2

87’ 1-3

@ Lime Kiln Road

Gayton

PE32 1QT

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was a trip to Norfolk, for a game where 4th hosted 8th in the league table, with both teams still in with a chance of taking the title and are very much in the promotion fight. The ground is entered behind the goal at the Lime Kiln Road end of the ground. The pitch is fenced along the left touchline, with car parking pitch side. A pair of dugouts are this side too, with the changing room building beyond, where there was also a tea bar. On the opposite side is a quirky piece of cover, which is two storey, but only has room for about half a dozen spectators.

We got underway six minutes earlier than scheduled and it was end to end from start to finish. A 25 yard free kick, which took a deflection, opened the scoring for KLSC after twenty four minutes and they doubled their lead six minutes later, finishing a long clearance from the ‘keeper one on one at the other end. Gayton had a goal disallowed for a foul on the hour mark, as they pushed hard to get back into it. KLSC saw an effort hit the crossbar, before Gayton pulled a goal back with ten minutes left. As we entered the last five minutes they hit the post, with the rebound going straight into the ‘keeper’s arms and a couple of minutes later KLSC killed off the game by adding a third goal, after an initial save by the ‘keeper was volleyed high into the roof of the net on the rebound.

The result leaves Gayton fourth and now unable to win the league and now relying on the teams above them to slip up if they’re still to be promoted. KLSC move up to seventh, now just ten points behind the leaders, but still with four games in hand.

Apart from a three mile queue at the Dartford Crossing, the journey north was trouble free. Despite the M11 being down to one lane near Harlow, followed by SatNav taking me to the bottom of the M11, then the A13 back to Dartford Crossing, which was also down to one lane, I was home for eleven o’clock.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 4

Wednesday 15th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Catsbrook Wanderers 2 Luton Phoenix 3, attendance 6

18’ 1-0

46’ 1-1

75’ 2-1

81’ 2-2

82’ 2-3

@ Lewsey Park

Pastures Way

Lewsey

LU4 0PF

No Admission or Programme.

Lewsey Park is one of those places that is better to visit during ‘silly season’ than on a regular Saturday during the season. The changing rooms and car park are across a brook from the pitches, a good 150-200 yards away. There’s actually a cafe here, which was still open at kick off time and toilets were available here too. There are three pitches here, one slightly offset and to the right (was hosting L.U. Dons Reserves tonight) as you cross the small footbridge, with the other two to the left, running parallel to each other, with the middle pitch of the three hosting tonight’s game (Pitch 3 according to F.A. Full Time, but doesn’t make sense).

The match was 7th versus 2nd in the league table and was far closer than I’d been expecting. A dreadful pitch didn’t make for pretty football, but it was certainly entertaining. Having kicked off four minutes later than scheduled, the Referee informed both sides he would be playing 2 x 43 minute halves, despite there being no likelihood of a problem with the light. Catsbrook scored the only goal of the first half after eighteen minutes, breaking down the left before crossing to the far post for an easy tap in. An own goal, diverting in a cross when attempting to clear the ball saw Phoenix draw level early in the second half and it looked like they would go on to comfortably win it, such was their dominance, but they struggled with some poor finishing. A free kick from their own half, launched into the box and met with a looping header over the ‘keeper saw Catsbrook go back in front with thirteen minutes left, but they were unable to hold on to their lead. Phoenix smashed one in from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 with five minutes left and a minute later got the winner, with a free kick from the edge of the D that found the bottom corner, despite the ‘keeper getting a hand to it.

The win keeps Phoenix two points adrift of leaders Dunstable Town Cricket Club, having played a game more than the leaders, but crucially, as far as promotion goes, they opened up a nine point lead over Cranfield United Development, although they’ve played two games more than their chasers.

A very tedious journey on the M25 from the M4 junction onwards, followed by a slow moving M1 meant the 68 mile journey north took almost two hours. No such problems coming back and home for 21.05.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Division 1

Tuesday 14th April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.26

Summertown Stars 1 Witney Town 5, attendance 77

24’ 1-0

31’ 1-1 (pen)

34’ 1-2

60’ 1-3

65’ 1-4

70’ 1-5

@ Cutteslowe Park

Lower Pavillion

Harbord Road

Cutteslowe

OX2 8ES

No Admission or Programme.

I have a soft spot for Witney Town, as I used to travel on their coach to away games in the early 1990’s, when they were in the Southern League. The club folded in 2001, but a phoenix club was formed a year later, known as Witney United, but in 2011 the club reverted to the name Town, but the club was dissolved just two years later. Witney Town then re-formed last season, winning Oxfordshire Senior League Division 2 in their debut season and this year have been looking to keep the momentum going by going straight through Division 1. With promotion to the Premier Division already secured, they came into their last game of the season tonight knowing a draw would be enough to guarantee them the title.

Despite only being tenth in the table and having nothing riding on the game, Summertown certainly didn’t make things easy, despite what the final scoreline might suggest. Summertown opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading in unmarked from a corner on the right. A penalty, awarded for handball, saw Witney draw level seven minutes later and it only took another three minutes for them to go in front, when a 20 yarder went in off the post. On the hour mark they made it 1-3 and two more goals in the next ten minutes saw the title secured.

Summertown Stars play on a pitch at Lower Pavillion here at Cutteslowe Park. There’s a clubhouse/changing room building, which also housed a tea bar, with the pitch set in a dip and roped off along the near side. It is pay and display car parking here up until 6pm, although the restrictions in the surrounding roads finish at 5pm. Despite kicking off four minutes ahead of schedule, it was pretty gloomy when the final whistle went at 19.55, as there had been heavy cloud cover and a threat of rain throughout. The usual crawl on the M25 from J14 to J16 outbound, but a clear run home.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 1

Monday 13th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Bedford Albion 4 Caldecote Reserves 1, attendance 23

26’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

53’ 3-0

70’ 4-0

80’ 4-1

@ Renhold Sports Club

Top End

Renhold

MK41 0LR

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game here when this ground hosted Renhold United, so this was the perfect opportunity to put that right. The ground is entered off Top End, via a driveway adjacent to number 44. The ground runs lengthways in front of you as you enter and is roped on three sides and has a pair of plastic dugouts. There’s an open patch of grass area that’s used for car parking, whilst the changing rooms are in the near left corner, where there’s also a tea bar.

The match was 9th versus 10th (out of 13) in the league table, with the hosts safe for another season, but the visitors were only four points off the bottom and certainly not clear of the drop. It was an excellent game, with both teams fully committed throughout. The visitors missed a great opportunity to take a fifth minute lead, having been awarded a penalty, for a handball, but the kick was easily saved by the home ‘keeper. Bedford broke the deadlock after twenty six minutes, cutting inside a couple of defenders before squirming a shot into the bottom corner from ten yards. Three minutes into the second half the hosts doubled their lead, heading in a cross from the left from 6 yards out. Five minutes later it was game over as they added a third, pulling the ball back across the six yard box for an easy tap in. The fourth goal arrived with twenty minutes left, touching in a corner from the left at the near post, before the visitors got a consolation goal with ten minutes left, angling a low shot into the far corner.

The journey up to Bedfordshire had the usual crawl on the M25 from J13 to J18, adding around twenty five minutes to the original expected arrival time, but the return drive was trouble free and home for 21.30.