Thames Valley Premier League

Premier Division

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59

Finchampstead 4 Marlow United 1, attendance 41

15’ 1-0 (pen)

21’ 2-0

64’ 2-1

73’ 3-1

76’ 4-1

@ Arborfield Recreation Ground

Swallowfield Road

Arborfield Cross

RG2 9QD

No Admission or Programme.

Luckily, the rain that had been forecast only arrived as I pulled into the car park an hour before kick off, at what is the temporary home ground where Finchampstead will play out the season. The wind had increased during the day and combined with the now constant rain, it made viewing rather unpleasant. There was just enough shelter provided by the changing room building and a wooden structure, set back behind the near goal, to keep the majority of the crowd protected from the worst of the weather.

The match was 2nd versus 12th in the league table and a game that pretty much went to form. A penalty put Finchampstead ahead and they added a second goal shortly afterwards, but it was still only 2-0 at the break. Just after the hour mark Marlow pulled a goal back with an unstoppable effort from outside the 18 yard box , but the comeback never materialised and Finchampstead added two more as we entered the last quarter of an hour to run out comfortable 4-1 winners. The win sees them go level on points with Berks County at the top of the table, but they have played three games more than the leaders.

Mid Sussex League

Premier Division (bottom section)

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Cuckfield Rangers 3 Sedlescombe Rangers 2, attendance 33

9’ 0-1

52’ 1-1

69’ 1-2

74’ 2-2

76’ 3-2

@ Whitemans Green Recreation Ground, Pitch 1

Whitemans Green (B2114)

Cuckfield

RH17 5DA

No Admission or Programme.

Whitemans Green Recreation Ground consists of three football pitches. Pitch 1 is to the left of the changing room building, if looking from the car park as you enter the ground, whilst Pitch 2 is to the right. In the far right corner of the field, running widthways to the other two, is Pitch 3. I had seen Cuckfield Rangers play on that pitch when I came here previously, for another Bank Holiday morning fixture back on 3rd January 2011, where they beat Ardingly 1-0 in a Mid Sussex League Division 1 fixture in front of 11 spectators.

Game two for me today was in the bottom section of the revamped split league table, done to complete the promotion/relegation issues whereby each team plays the others just once, with points then added to a PPG total from matches played before the COVID-19 shutdown.

The match had nothing riding on it, as both teams are comfortably sitting in the middle of the table. I had concerns that Sedlescombe might not fulfill the fixture, as they had lost 0-7 on Saturday, but I needn’t have worried. In fact, they were the better team for long periods, in a match that could have gone either way. The visitors led twice, but having levelled at 2-2 with fifteen minutes left, Cuckfield got the winner a couple of minutes later, when a cross from the left was fumbled by the ‘keeper giving an easy tap in for the striker.

Mid Sussex League

Division 2 South

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.59

Ditchling 3 Burgess Hill Rhinos 2, attendance 21

3’ 1-0

28’ 2-0

36’ 2-1 (pen)

53’ 3-1

85’ 3-2

@ Adastra Park (North Field)

Keymer Road

Hassocks

BN6 8QH

No Admission or Programme.

Today’s intended treble started with a 3rd versus 4th clash in the league table. Ditchling had to win in order to still have a chance of pipping leaders Cuckfield Town Reserves to the title, whilst a win for Rhinos could still see them take second place.

Ditchling were ahead early and looked to be coasting to the three points when they went 2-0 up. However, a penalty saw Rhinos get back into it and despite the hosts regaining their two goal lead early in the second half, they had a nervous finish when the visitors added a second goal five minutes from time.