Somerset County League

Premier Division

Tuesday 19th March 2019

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

Fry Club 2 Middlezoy Rovers 2, attendance 39

64’ 1-0

69’ 2-0

84’ 2-1

90’ + 1, 2-2

@ Somerdale Pavilion

Cross Street

Keynsham

BS31 2FW

No Admission

£2 Programme, 4 pages.

It has been a long wait, but Fry Club finally had a game scheduled under lights during the winter months, this being their only one this season. I never did their old ground, which was on the same complex, but is now under housing, but did see Bristol Rovers U18s play a match on an outside pitch, which is also no longer there.

Although it was 2nd versus 7th in the league table, it was certainly the clash of the two form teams in the league. Fry Club had won seven games on the trot before they drew away at Chilcompton Sports on Saturday, whilst Middlezoy have won six out of their last seven, conceding only two goals in the process, the only defeat being at fourth placed Worle.

The first half was really tight, with the only real chance of note being a Middlezoy header that was saved at the foot of the near post by the home ‘keeper. The second half looked more promising and the game burst into life once Fry Club opened the scoring. Within five minutes they had headed in a second goal to go 2-0 up. When Middlezoy pulled one back with six minutes left it set it up nicely and they deservedly drew level in stoppage time, when a shot from the corner of the 18 yard box sailed over the ‘keeper into the top corner of the net.

The draw means it is still a fight between three teams for the title. Nailsea & Tickenham lead the way with 52 points (6 games left), with Fry Club on 51 points (7 games left) and reigning champions Chilcompton Sports in third place on 49 points, but they still have 9 games left. With Fry Club still to host Nailsea & Tickenham and the other two still having to play each other twice, then it could go to the wire.

The only real downer on the night was the enforced car park charge, which apparently the club get no share of. To be guaranteed of not being fined, you have to pay for up to 3 hours parking, at a cost of £1.80.

Devon & Exeter League

Morrison Bell Cup 1st Round

Sunday 17th March 2019

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.01

Seaton Town 2 Ottery St. Mary 3, attendance 18

14’ 0-1

60’ 1-1

72’ 2-1

90’ 2-2

90’ + 1, 2-3

@ Axminster Leisure Centre, 3G Pitch

Lyme Road (B3261)

Axminster

EX13 5AZ

No Admission or Programme.

This match had been postponed on the last two Sundays due to a waterlogged pitch at their own ground, so the 3G Pitch here in Axminster was booked to enable the game would definitely go ahead.

This is a local cup competition for clubs in this area of East Devon. Seaton last won the cup in 2012, but you have to go back to 1988 for the last time Ottery lifted the trophy.

It was hard to tell which one of these two play at the higher level, such was the way the match went, as it could have gone either way. Seaton are third from bottom in the Premier Division, whilst Ottery are top of Division 3, so it was a bit of a leveller. Ottery took an early lead and were very comfortable, but when Seaton equalised on the hour mark, the game changed, and Seaton went 2-1 up twelve minutes later and it looked like that would be it. Ottery were looking tired and created very little, but somehow, in the last minute they managed to scramble in an equaliser from a corner. It looked like we would be heading to extra time, but a minute into added time, Ottery broke away and their left winger cut inside and fired the winning goal into the far corner of the net.

Kent County League

Premier Division

Saturday 16th March 2019

Kick Off 14.45 Actual 14.47

Kings Hill 0 Otford United 3, attendance 29

2’ 0-1

39’ 0-2

44’ 0-3

@ Kings Hill Sports Park

200 Beacons Avenue

Kings Hill

ME19 4QP

No Admission or Programme.

Back in August 2017 I visited Kings Hill Sports Park to watch a Kings Hill pre-season friendly, which was played on the 3G Pitch that is behind the clubhouse/changing room building, but they play their league matches on one of the grass pitches in the complex. During a conversation with their coach, it was mentioned that they were ‘moving’ to a pitch to the front of the clubhouse, next to the car park, so would relocate from their pitch up on the plateau onto an area that can be developed into a ‘ground’. This is their first season using the new set up.

Having driven twice to Belgium and once to South Devon in the last four days, it was a day for staying local. The match was 10th versus 9th in the league table, although the gap between them was seven points coming into this. There was a really strong wind blowing down the pitch and Otford made full use of it as they had it at their backs in the first half. They opened the scoring with their first attack and put the game out of reach with two headed goals late in the half. Kings Hill were dreadful in the second half, only mustering one real chance to reduce the arrears, whilst Otford were unlucky not to add at least one more goal.

Belgium

Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 2B

Friday 15th March 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 19.59

K.V.V. Windeke 1 K.V. Eendracht Winnik 0, attendance 117

19’ 1-0

@ Stationsstraat

Scheldewindeke

9860 Oosterzele

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Tonight saw a second trip across to Belgium in the last three days. It was 11th versus 10th in the league table, with the match moved to this evening to avoid a clash with a food festival that is taking place over the weekend.

The pitch was heavy at one end and did cut up a fair bit, but it could have been worse if the rain that arrived during the second half had been an hour or so earlier. Windeke kicked down the slope in the first half and took the lead through a close range finish from their No. 9 after nineteen minutes. He was the main culprit in why we had no further goals, as he missed another three glaring chances to put the game well out of reach. Luckily, for him, Winnik never looked like scoring, so his poor finishing never cost the team the three points.

We had left extra time for our journey down to The Tunnel, allowing for any problems with ‘Operation Stack’ which although apparently lifted the night before, might still have a knock on effect. As it turned out, we were in plenty of time for our 13.50 crossing and were offered the earlier 13.20 train instead, which we took and it left a couple of minutes early. The return journey saw us arrive in ample time for our booked 01.17 return. At check-in it showed this was now leaving early, at 01.15. Unfortunately, having come through Passport Control in under ten minutes, the screens were showing we were delayed (according to Eurotunnel it was due to delays at Border Control!) until 01.45. Even then, it didn’t leave until 01.52 and lost a further seven minutes during the crossing. To cap it off, the M20 was then closed from Junction 9-7, which added another fifteen minutes to the normal journey time home as we were diverted onto the A20.

Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial 3A

Wednesday 13th March 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 19.58

K. Racing Club De Panne 3 K.V. Patronaat Gits 2, attendance 55

4’ 1-0

29’ 2-0

64’ 2-1

70’ 2-2

87’ 3-2

@ Veurnestraat 317

8660 De Panne

€5 Admission

No Programme.

This was yet another Wednesday where we headed across to Belgium, although it is only five minutes or so drive across the border from France and only 45 minutes from The Tunnel.

De Panne are thirteenth in the league table, with the visitors being sixth. An early goal, followed by a volley that gave the ‘keeper no chance, saw the hosts go 2-0 up in the first twenty minutes, which was totally against the form book, but they comfortably held the lead until halftime. Gits missed a penalty on 64 minutes, which was saved, but from the resulting corner, one of their substitutes pulled a goal back and six minutes later the same player volleyed in to level it up at 2-2. Neither team were happy with playing for a point, but rather than the visitors going on to get the winning goal, it was De Panne who nicked it, when a free kick on the left was met with a bullet header at the near post to wrap up the points.

We actually had a relatively trouble free journey to and from The Tunnel, but it could have been so different. As we approached Junction 7 of the M20 traffic ground to a halt. We had 100 yards to decide whether to get off the motorway or not, as the SatNav was aware there was a problem, but only thought it was a 12 minute queue at this stage. Thankfully, we gambled correctly, as the cause of the hold up was that the police had just put ‘Operation Stack’ into place, so the motorway from Junction 8-9 was being used as a lorry park, for those unable to board the ferries in Dover, due to problems with high winds from Storm Gareth.

As we were one of the first cars to exit onto the A20, the traffic was still moving, although a bit slow at times. We actually made it to check-in at 14.49 (14 minutes after it had officially closed) for our booked 15.20 crossing, but going to a manned booth, instead of the automated option, meant we were still given our slot. The train even left two minutes early!

The amount of lorries around the terminal in France was incredible, but was much better organised than in England, as one lane of the motorway was used for stacking lorries, with the other one for through traffic. Why is it, in England, that the first thought always seems to be ‘let’s shut the motorway’ to resolve the problem?

Anyway, although we were in single track filter lanes for long stretches of the journey back towards Calais, we had ample time to spare for our 23.50 return crossing, which left a minute ahead of schedule. At least the M20 back towards London wasn’t closed for the seemingly never ending overnight roadworks.

South Devon League

Division 1

Tuesday 12th March 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.04

Paignton Saints 4 Babbacombe Corinthians 1, attendance 19

9’ 0-1

43’ 1-1

83’ 2-1

86’ 3-1 (pen)

88’ 4-1 (pen)

@ South Devon College Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Eight Acre Drive

Off Waddeton Road

Paignton

TQ4 7TP

No Admission or Programme.

Paignton Saints normally play their home matches at the 3G Pitch at Paignton Community College. With that fully booked up during the week, they have booked the brand new facility here at South Devon College to play a couple of their matches in order to catch up on a bit of a fixture pile up, this game being the second match staged here.

It is better than a few of the grounds that have recently been allowed into the higher level South West Peninsula League in recent seasons. Spectators can watch from behind the near goal, or along the right hand side, where there is a 49 seat (plus 2 for wheelchair helpers) stand as well as a bit of covered standing. There are even two turnstiles at the cage entrance, although they were not in use tonight.

The match was top versus bottom in the league table, Saints having won eleven of their thirteen matches so far, with one draw and one defeat. Babbacombe went ahead against the run of play, but having edged in front, put in a superb defensive performance that really deserved a point for their efforts. Having been pegged back just before the break, they finally conceded a second goal with just seven minutes left on the clock, before two penalties, one for a foul and the second for handball, gave a score line that didn’t give a true reflection of how the game went. The win leaves Saints five points clear of second placed Torbay Police, who have played four games more than the leaders.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Bob Coleman League Cup Semi Final

Saturday 9th March 2019

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.04

Crane Sports 4 Achilles 0, attendance 126

4’ 1-0

16’ 2-0

22’ 3-0

64’ 4-0

@ Gresham Sports & Social Club, Pitch C

312 Tuddenham Road

Ipswich

IP4 3QJ

No Admission or Programme.

This was certainly the game of the day in the Suffolk & Ipswich League fixture card. Crane Sports are top of the league table and are the cup holders. Achilles are the reigning league champions, but are currently fourth in the table, just two points behind the leaders, but with two games in hand.

Gresham Sports & Social Club consists of 5 pitches, of which at least one is for youth football. Three clubs play here in the Suffolk & Ipswich League, Crane Sports on Pitch C, which is in the far right corner when looking from the changing rooms, whilst Pitch A is home to fellow Senior Division club Coplestonians, and Division 2 side Tacket Street B.B.O.B. who were at home to Cockfield United this afternoon, which is the pitch in the far left corner of the field, separated from each other by a couple of lines of trees and Pitch B. All three pitches run lengthways from the changing rooms.

Sadly, the match was spoiled somewhat by a really strong wind that never subsided. Crane had the wind with them in the first half and made full use of it, blowing the opposition away with three goals in the opening twenty two minutes. It might have been different if Achilles hadn’t hit the crossbar, or had an effort disallowed for a foul, before Crane opened the scoring after just four minutes.

The three goal deficit was too much for the visitors to claw back and when they were caught on the break just after the hour mark, it was game over. To be fair, Achilles never really looked like they could get back into it, even before the fourth goal went in.

United States of America

Major League Soccer

Saturday 2nd March 2019

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 13.10

Philadelphia Union 1 Toronto F.C. 3, attendance 16,498

45’ + 3, 0-1

62’ 0-2

73’ 1-2 (pen)

90’ + 4, 1-3

@ Talen Energy Stadium

1, Stadium Drive

Chester

PA 19013

Admission $42 + $6.75 fees, Print at Home Ticket.

No Programme.

The Talen Energy Stadium (current sponsor name) was opened in 2010 and has an all seated capacity of 18,500. The stadium is in the town of Chester, some 14 miles south west of the centre of Philadelphia and is reached by taking the SEPTA (South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) train towards Wilmington, which takes around half an hour. It costs $5.25 each way and on matchdays the club run a free shuttle bus to and from the main station in Chester to the stadium.

It was a bit concerning to have arrived in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon to be greeted by 3 inches of freshly fallen snow, although unlike in England, everything was carrying on as normal and later that evening the club had tweeted pictures of the pitch having been cleared, so the game would be going ahead. Again, unlike at home, where the club would have just postponed the match and made no effort whatsoever in getting the game on.

This was the season opener for both clubs. In fact, it was actually the first match to get underway in the entire league. The standard in the MLS is improving, but most of the teams would probably struggle to survive in the Championship in England. The crowd, which looked far less than the announced figure, still have huge numbers who don’t appear to really understand what they are watching and certainly don’t get the basics of the offside rule and seem to think any tackle where their player falls over is a foul and a yellow card to the opposing teams player. They certainly didn’t get that the ball has to actually cross the goal line for it to count as a goal, which was evident when a shot was easily cleared. It didn’t help that VAR was in use for the match, which meant any close call took an age to decide on whether it was offside/handball/ a goal etc. etc.

Union had plenty of possession, but rarely threatened. Toronto did very little, but having had a penalty saved after 34 minutes, went ahead in stoppage time through American international Michael Bradley. The second half really opened up and Toronto went 0-2 up when Bradley added a second goal just after the hour mark. Union pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, but the visitors finally killed the game off with a third goal deep into stoppage time.

The match itself was certainly enjoyable and a decent watch as a neutral. What was a pain though, was the ten minutes late kicking off, not helped by having to go through two national anthems before we got underway. Added to five minutes stoppage time in each half and what felt like endless stoppages for VAR decisions and players rolling about pretending to be injured, then a match scheduled to kick off at 13.00 didn’t finish until 15.09 !

Thankfully, there wasn’t a train back in to Philadelphia until 15.54, so plenty of time for the shuttle bus to get back to the station and we could start thinking about the next sporting event, which was later that evening and was certainly the hottest ticket in town…………..