Mid Sussex League

Division 2 North

Monday 5th April 2021

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.02

A.F.C. Gatton 4 Galaxy 1, attendance 27

45’ 1-0

74’ 1-1

77’ 2-1 (pen)

78’ 3-1

90’+ 2, 4-1

@ Merstham Recreation Ground

Weldon Way

Merstham

RH1 3QB

No Admission or Programme.

Once again it was a case of finding a match in a public park and this fitted the bill perfectly. When driving into Weldon Way you pass Merstham F.C. on the right hand side, with the Recreation Ground immediately beyond. There are a few smaller pitches and concrete basketball courts, then, separated by a hedge, three further pitches, the nearest of which was used today.

The match was second from bottom in the league table versus fourth, although at times it was hard to tell which team was the higher placed! The 4-1 score line flattered the hosts and it was a much closer game than it suggests.

Once again no photos were taken during the match.

Mid Sussex League

Division 5 North East

Saturday 3rd April 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Caterham 0 West Hoathly Reserves 5, attendance 13

34’ 0-1 (pen)

56’ 0-2

67’ 0-3

78’ 0-4

85’ 0-5

@ Queens Park Pavilion, Pitch 2

Queen’s Park Road

Caterham

CR3 5RB

No Admission or Programme.

So, after 104 days without a match due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was finally back to football. The F.A. were saying there was a ban on spectators at matches, but the government had brought in a ‘rule of 6’ for meeting up in public outdoor places, so any ground that was not enclosed, or was in a public park, would mean there was no way of preventing anyone from watching if they wanted to.

Caterham normally play at White Knobs Park, which is on the other side of town, but four of their remaining five matches are being staged here at Queen’s Park. It is not as bad as it sounds, with the pitch used today being pretty enclosed, with a hedge at one end that runs along Queen’s Park Road and a tree lined path along the near side. Despite a very unpleasant cold wind blowing throughout, other areas of the park were being well used, with numbers easily into three figures.

The match was 4th versus 6th in the league table. Rustiness was very evident in the first half, but once the opening goal had been scored it did improve. West Hoathly totally dominated the second half and the final winning margin could have been far greater.

No photos were taken during the match.