Stratford-upon-Avon Alliance League

Division 2

Thursday 6th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.29

A.F.C. Bromsgrove 1 Bearley United 0, attendance 38

47’ 1-0

@ The Navigation Inn Pitch

57 Hanbury Road

Stoke Wharf

Stoke Prior

B60 4LB

No Admission or Programme.

For the second successive Thursday night we would be watching second in the league table A.F.C. Bromsgrove. The visitors have had some real hammerings this season, having lost 10-0, 9-0 twice, including the reverse fixture of tonight’s game, as well as an 8-0 and 7-0. They had been on a good run coming into this though, unbeaten in four matches and sitting seventh in the league table.

Bromsgrove had possession stats that only Manchester City could get near to, especially in the second half, but they lacked any real quality up front. The only goal came a couple of minutes after halftime, when the striker just beat the ‘keeper to a through ball, poking it past him into the far corner of the net. Bearley certainly provided the real ‘highlight’ of the night when they were awarded a late penalty. It was probably the worst attempt I have ever seen. The player tried to be clever with a ridiculous stuttering run up, but only managed to tap the ball straight at the ‘keeper who just stood in the middle of the goal and kicked the ball clear.

Bromsgrove remain level on points with leaders Shipston Excelsior Reserves, but are falling further behind on goal difference with each match they play.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Reg Davis Cup Group B

Wednesday 5th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Brockworth Albion 1 Charlton Rovers 0, attendance 34

50’ 1-0

@ Mill Lane Playing Fields

Mill Lane

Brockworth

GL3 4QL

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited Brockworth (minus the Albion in those days) back on 24th April 1999, when they lost 0-4 to Cadbury Heath in a Gloucestershire County League match. That game was played at Brockworth Rugby Club which is a couple of hundred yards east along Mill Lane, on the opposite side of the road. Two or three years ago the club started playing here at Mill Lane Playing Fields and they have since railed off the main pitch. Unbelievably, the F.A. Full Time website still lists all their home games as being played at the Rugby Club and gives very detailed directions on how to get there!

Despite being in a housing estate it is surprisingly scenic. Beyond the far goal end you get a great view of Cooper’s Hill, home to the famous Gloucestershire cheese-rolling and wake, where each Spring Bank Holiday participants race down the 200m hill chasing a round of Double Gloucester cheese, often resulting in serious injuries being suffered by those brave/daft enough to take part.

The match was 3rd versus 2nd in this group of matches, both teams being in Division 1 of the league. It wasn’t very good, due in part to them cancelling each other out and also the fact that Brockworth did nothing but ‘time waste’ after going ahead early in the second half. They used any way possible to break up the game, the worst being when they kicked a couple of spare balls onto the pitch as Charlton tried to take a quick throw in. The visitors were not that much better, having a player sin binned after 75 minutes, then when he returned it was only three minutes before another player received the same punishment. Not a good advert for the league and a very poor match that won’t live long in the memory.

Mid Sussex League

Division 4 South

Tuesday 4th May 2021

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Uckfield United 1 Buxted Reserves 2, attendance 25

21’ 0-1 (pen)

34’ 0-2

78’ 1-2

@ New Barn Recreation Ground

Old Timbers Lane

New Town

Uckfield

TN22 5BQ

No Admission or Programme.

This was a bit of a dead rubber as far as league positions go as 4th hosted 8th in the table. Uckfield could finish no higher than third and Buxted were already safe from any relegation worries. It was a decent game though. Fully committed throughout and nothing ‘end of season’ about it. Buxted opened the scoring from the penalty spot and doubled their lead with a 20 yarder into the bottom corner to deservedly lead 0-2 at the break. Twelve minutes from time Uckfield pulled one back, a 25 yarder that went in off the underside of the crossbar, but it was little more than a consolation goal.

New Barn Recreation Ground has no changing rooms, so the players get changed at The Victoria Pleasure Ground, where I saw Uckfield Town draw 3-3 with Saltdean United in a Sussex County League Division 3 match on 17 January 2009. The players then walk down to the left corner of the field, passing the cricket field and the football pitch that I had visited previously. Through the hedge, some 100 yards beyond a skateboard park and basketball court, is the pitch that was used tonight. Beyond the far goal there is pedestrian access from the newish looking housing estate, entering via Shepherds Way or New Barn Lane.

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.

Mid Sussex League

Division 4 South

Saturday 1st May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.57

Keymer & Hassocks 1 Eastbourne Athletic 2, attendance 12

8’ 1-0

34’ 1-1

44’ 1-2

@ Batchelors Field

Bolney Recreation Ground

The Street

Bolney

RH17 5PF

No Admission or Programme.

Keymer & Hassocks have been playing home matches this season at The Beacon, which is the ground of Southern Combination League club Hassocks, but due to pitch works, they scheduled their final two games( the first was postponed after the opposition couldn’t be bothered to raise a team)to here. The ground was used by Bolney Rovers (in Division 2 South) up until January last year, but following the COVID-19 shutdown they didn’t reappear at the start of this season.

Today’s match was 3rd versus 5th in the league table, although neither of them can catch the top two. It was a really good contest and could have gone either way. An early opener for the hosts was cancelled out by a great finish from the edge of the box from the visitors. Eastbourne got what turned out to be the winner a minute before halftime. A through ball looked to be running out of play, but the striker managed to prevent if crossing the line and played the ball across the 6 yard box, where his fellow striker rolled it in from a couple of yards out. The result sees the two teams swap league positions.