Somerset County League

Division 1

Saturday 30th April 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

Yatton & Cleeve United 2 Welton Rovers Reserves 2, attendance 37

6’ 1-0

35’ 1-1

57’ 2-1

62’ 2-2

@ King George V Playing Field

Meetinghouse Lane

Cleeve

BS49 4PB

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited Yatton Athletic back on Christmas Eve 2016, when I saw them lose 3-4 to Middlezoy Rovers in a Somerset County League Premier Division match, which was played at Hangstones Pavilion, in Yatton. They went on to finish bottom of the division and at the end of that season they merged with Cleeve West Town, becoming Yatton & Cleeve United, playing first team games at the ground here in Cleeve, with their former ground hosting all other club matches.

Today’s game was another with nothing riding on it, as 8th hosted 10th in the league table, but it fitted in perfectly with the earlier game at Long Ashton. It was a good open game, played on an immaculate pitch. Yatton took an early lead, following in on a shot spilled by the ’keeper, with Welton levelling ten minutes before halftime, heading in unmarked at the near post, from a corner on the right. Just before the hour mark Yatton went back in front, beating the offside trap and finishing left footed into the far corner, but Welton were only behind five minutes, a ball pulled back across the six yard box being smashed high into the roof of the net, to make it 2-2. Welton had a player sin binned after seventy six minutes, but when he returned, he had a great chance to win it, but he tried to beat the ’keeper at his near post, when a simple pass to either of the two supporting team mates, may have been the better option.

Somerset County League

Division 2

Saturday 30th April 2022

Kick Off 12.30 Actual 12.36

Long Ashton 1 Cutters Friday 3, attendance 32

2’ 0-1

20’ 0-2

23’ 1-2

75’ 1-3

@ Long Ashton Community Centre

Keedwell Hill

Long Ashton

BS41 9DP

No Admission or Programme.

There was nothing on this game, as 12th hosted 8th in the league table. It was the 12.30 kick off that was of interest, as it gave the opportunity of getting in a double today. The early kick off had been agreed to give the home team the chance to go and watch Bristol City play their last Championship match of the season, against Hull City at Ashton Gate. Although the two grounds are only three miles apart, it was still a surprise that the game here kicked off six minutes late, caused by problems with the net at one end not being pegged down properly, which the Referee had brought to their attention twenty minutes before kick off!

Cutters got off to a flyer, going ahead within two minutes of the start, when a through ball saw the ’keeper completely miss his kick when attempting to clear and the striker rolled it into an empty net. A left footed finish into the bottom corner saw them go 0-2 up after twenty minutes, but Long Ashton replied quickly, heading in at the far post from a cross on the right. A good end to end match remained 1-2 at halftime and the second half never really matched the first, as far as goal chances went, bar a couple of decent saves by the home ’keeper. Cutters made it 1-3 with fifteen minutes left, scrambling in a corner from close range and despite having their ’keeper sin binned late on, they comfortably held on for the win.

The game finished at 14.17, giving plenty of time for the players to head off to Bristol City, whilst my second match was less than fifteen minutes drive from here.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Senior Division

Thursday 28th April 2022

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Westerfield United 2 Trimley Red Devils 4, attendance 56

1’ 0-1

7’ 0-2

21’ 0-3

45’ 1-3

79’ 1-4

90’ 2-4

@ Ipswich School Sports Centre

The Street

Rushmere St. Andrew

IP5 1DE

No Admission or Programme.

Westerfield United came into what was their final game of the season, sitting 13th (fourth bottom) in the league table. With two to go down, they could have done with picking up something from this, to keep their destiny in their own hands. Bottom club Achilles can’t catch them, but Capel Plough and Leiston St. Margarets can and, perhaps crucially, they meet in the final game of the season. Trimley Red Devils sit in sixth place, but could still finish third.

Westerfield were warned by the Referee that he would report them for causing the late kick off, which needn’t have happened, as the warm ups were taking place at least twenty minutes before the scheduled start. The dithering didn’t seem to work. They went behind after just 19 seconds and conceded the second before we were eight minutes in, a superb curling shot, that went in off the far post, giving the visitors a 0-2 lead. Midway through the half it was 0-3 and any chance Westerfield had of getting anything from this had gone. They did head in from a free kick in the final minute of the half, to pull it back to 1-3, but the damage was done.

They did improve in the second half and despite having a player sin binned early in the half, they kept the visitors at bay until an own goal (scored by the player who’d earlier been sin binned) made it 1-4 with eleven minutes left. Westerfield rounded off the scoring for the night, when a looping header went over the ’keeper, to make it 2-4 in the last minute.

The Sports Centre is a hive of activity. There is a large car park at the entrance, where the walk from the two storey changing room/reception/bar building to reach the pitch is about 150 yards. To the left is a blue artificial hockey pitch, then some netball courts, whilst to the right, running the opposite way, is a traditional green artificial hockey pitch and another couple of netball courts. On reaching the Westerfield pitch, which is the middle of three parallel, (the old changing room building is in the far left hand corner) there is a second blue artificial hockey pitch to the left, whilst to the right is a second football pitch, which has permanent dugouts and wooden stakes around the perimeter, although no rope through them. A.F.C. Kesgrave Reserves played on this pitch tonight, losing 0-3 to Bacton United ’89 Reserves.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Division 2

Wednesday 27th April 2022

Kick Off 18.30 On Time !

Falcons 3 Bibury 2, attendance 30

13’ 1-0

18’ 1-1

41’ 1-2

75’ 2-2

88’ 3-2 (pen)

@ The Beeches

Sappercombe Lane

off Little Herbert’s Road

Charlton Kings

GL53 8LY

No Admission or Programme.

Falcons have been rumoured to be moving from The Beeches for a number of seasons now. It is not surprising, as it is an awful venue, with a very poor quality pitch. It doesn’t help that it is a good 200 yards from the changing rooms, although when you are actually pitch side, it feels more enclosed than it first appears when looking across from the car park.

The match was 4th versus 8th in the league table, with Falcons in a four way fight for one of the three promotion places and still in with a chance of taking the title, if they win their remaining games. They went ahead early, with a deflected shot that wrong footed the ’keeper, but Bibury scrambled in an equaliser five minutes later. It was very competitive, which was full credit to Bibury, as they were safe in mid table, so had little to play for. The visitors edged 1-2 in front just before halftime, with a cracking 25 yarder that the ’keeper got a hand to, but was unable to keep out.

The second half was spent mostly in the Bibury half of the pitch, as Falcons pushed hard for an equaliser. It came fifteen minutes from time, the striker wriggling free from a challenge, before smashing in left footed from just inside the box. With six minutes to go, Bibury were reduced to 10 men, a defender being red carded for a foul when he was ’last man’. Two minutes from time Falcons were awarded a penalty, for a handball, which they duly put away to make it 3-2, with Bibury having a player sin binned for arguing the decision, so playing out the remainder of the game with nine men.

It is all to play for at the top. Leaders Stonehouse Town Reserves are on 60 points, with two games left, whilst the three chasers all have a game in hand. Smiths Barometrics have 59 points, F.C. Lakeside 57 and Falcons 56.

Kent County League

Division 3 Central & East

Tuesday 26th April 2022

Kick Off 18.30 On Time !

Lenham Wanderers 1 West Kingsdown 2, attendance 43

22’ 0-1

52’ 1-1

77’ 1-2

@ The William Pitt Field

Old Ham Lane

Lenham

ME17 2LR

No Admission or Programme.

This match should have been played earlier in the season, but was called off at short notice by Lenham, for which they received a deduction of one point as punishment for failing to fulfil the fixture. They came into this in ninth place in the league table, so had nothing to play for, but West Kingsdown certainly did, as they required seven points from their remaining four matches, to guarantee finishing ahead of second placed A.F.C. Rangers for the title, with both clubs having already secured promotion. On top of this, they were hoping to go undefeated for the season, having won 16 and drawn 2 from their opening 18 games.

Lenham certainly didn’t make it easy for West Kingsdown, especially in the opening 15 minutes or so. The visitors finally went ahead after twenty two minutes, having already had two goals disallowed for offside, when their lightning quick right winger crossed for an easy tap in at the far post. Lenham never looked like drawing level, but seven minutes into the second half, out of nothing, a ball was played forward and volleyed in on the turn, from the angle of the 18 yard box, to make it 1-1.

West Kingsdown pushed for a winner and when Lenham lost their ’keeper to injury with twenty minutes left, replaced by an outfield player, it looked like their job might be easier. It wasn’t, as the stand in did well and pulled off a cracking save, but minutes later he was beaten, when another rapid breakaway down the right saw the ball played across the six yard box and it was bundled across the line to give the visitors a 1-2 win.

Tunbridge Wells Senior Charity Cup

Semi Final

Saturday 23rd April 2022

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.29

Hawkenbury 2 West Farleigh 0, attendance 30

7’ 1-0

75’ 2-0

@ Hawkenbury Recreation Ground

Hawkenbury Road

Hawkenbury

TN2 5BU

No Admission or Programme.

I never visited Hawkenbury during their five seasons spent in the Kent County League Division 2 East from 2009/10 to 2013/14. I only got to visit the ground today, after Tunbridge Wells District Council gave the club permission to play one final game here, before removing the goal posts for the Summer.

Hawkenbury are in fourth place in the Sevenoaks & District League Premier Division, whilst West Farleigh play two levels higher, in Kent County League Division 2 Central & East, where they are second in the table, very much in the running for one of the two promotion spots and still able to take the title.

The game was played in very windy conditions, not helped by the ground being very exposed. Despite being well grassed, apart from the two six yard boxes, the pitch was awful, being rock hard and very dusty and certainly affected the game. Hawkenbury went ahead early, a defender heading into his own net, trying to cut out a diagonal free kick into the box. West Farleigh always gave the impression that they would turn things round, but the equaliser just didn’t come. The killer second goal came fifteen minutes from time, when an innocuous effort from 25 yards, somehow went under the ’keeper.

Coventry Alliance League

Bermuda Cup Group Match

Thursday 21st April 2022

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.17

Jaguar Daimler 1 A.F.C. Binley Reserves 2, attendance 37

2’ 1-0

58’ 1-1

63’ 1-2

@ Daimler Green Community Centre

Highley Drive

Daimler Green

Coventry

CV6 3LR

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited the Jaguar Daimler Sports Ground, in Middlemarch Road, back on 16th May 1994, when I saw Massey-Ferguson beat Swift P.P. 2-1 in the Midland Combination League Challenge Vase Final. That ground is no more, now part of a huge new housing estate. Jaguar Daimler now play at the Daimler Green Community Centre, no more than 150-200 yards from their former home. It is a two pitch set up, with a surprisingly busy and well used clubhouse.

For the second time this midweek, I found myself at a game that kicked off well behind schedule, this finally getting underway 17 minutes late, despite both teams warming up well before kick off. These two are both in Division 2, with 7th hosting 6th, as far as league positions go. Jaguar Daimler got off to a flying start, volleying in from a corner within two minutes. Binley had plenty of chances to level it up, but it wasn’t until thirteen minutes into the second half, that they got a deserved equaliser, the striker knocking the ball past a defender, before curling a shot past ‘keeper into the far corner. Five minutes later, the same player got what turned out to be the winner, nicking the ball past the ’keeper in a race to a through ball. A decent game, considering it was on a rock hard pitch and it didn’t help that the dimensions were huge, which never helps at this level, as players lack both the skill and fitness levels to make use of it.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Division 2

Wednesday 20th April 2022

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Staunton & Corse 1 Kings Stanley 1, attendance 19

9’ 1-0 (pen)

79’ 1-1

@ Corse & Staunton Playing Fields

Gloucester Road

Corse

GL19 3RQ

No Admission or Programme.

There was nothing riding on this match, both teams sitting comfortably in mid table, as 9th hosted 7th. It was not a bad game though. Staunton & Corse went ahead inside ten minutes from the penalty spot. Kings Stanley created plenty of chances, but it took them until eleven minutes from time to finally get an equaliser, when a corner from the right was headed back across the six yard box and finished off with a looping header into the far corner.

The ground is shared with Corse & Staunton Cricket Club, with the football pitch being furthest from the pavilion.

Essex Olympian League

Premier Division

Tuesday 19th April 2022

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.33

Sungate 4 Harold Wood Athletic 0, attendance 36

29’ 1-0

56’ 2-0

66’ 3-0

78’ 4-0

@ Ilford Wanderers R.F.C.

Forest Road

Hainaut

IG6 3HJ

No Admission or Programme.

This was 7th versus 15th (bottom) in the league table. I am always concerned at this time of the season when watching matches involving teams at the bottom end of the table, that they might call off the game at short notice, but no such problem here, and good to see that the visitors even had five substitutes. There didn’t seem too much urgengy in actually getting the game started, but we finally got underway eighteen minutes late, which meant it was getting gloomy when the game finished.

Harold Wood were well in the game early on. They hit the bar, with a volley that the ’keeper was nowhere near, minutes before Sungate opened the scoring, scrambling in from close range, after a powerful downward header had been saved by the ’keeper, following a corner on the right. Sungate hit the bar themselves, with a lob, but it remained 1-0 at halftime. The second half was more one sided, as Sungate ran in three more goals, the pick of the bunch being a thirty yarder that rounded off the scoring.

The Ilford Wanderers R.F.C. ground is at the far end of the lane when entering off Forest Road and has three pitches. The Sungate pitch is the middle of the three, flanked by a floodlit rugby pitch and another, unenclosed, football pitch. It now completes visits to the three grounds on this lane that runs northwards off Forest Road. I had seen Manford Way lose 1-2 (AET) to Frenford Senior in an Essex F.A. Premier Cup Quarter Final on 5th March 2011, which was played on the London Marathon Sports Ground, which is on the left hand side of the driveway. Then on 3rd December 2011, I saw Westhamians beat tonight’s visitors Harold Wood Athletic 1-0 in an Essex Olympian League Premier Division match. That was played on a railed off pitch on Fairlop Oak Playing Fields, which is to the right of the driveway, behind the Fairlop Powerleague centre.

Somerset County League

Division 1

Monday 18th April 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

Staplegrove 0 Yatton & Cleeve United 1, attendance 24

19’ 0-1

@ Staplegrove Sports Club

Bishops Playing Fields

Manor Road

Staplegrove

TA2 6EG

No Admission or Programme.

Staplegrove is a couple of miles northwest of Taunton, so was an ideal choice on my return from Cornwall. It was 13th versus 8th in the league table. Staplegrove have pulled themselves up to fourth bottom in the table (the bottom two go down) with 10 points from their last four matches coming into this and were unlucky not to add to that impressive run this afternoon.

Yatton & Cleeve United had an effort come back off the post in the opening minutes, and could have scored a couple of goals, before going ahead after nineteen minutes, the ’keeper saving the first shot, but being beaten by the rebound. Numerous chances were created, but wasted, by both teams and it was a surprise that there were no further goals. It did look like Staplegrove had grabbed an equaliser right at the death, when the Yatton ’keeper got his glove caught in the goal netting as he punched a cross clear, under challenge from a striker, but both Linesman and Referee were of the opinion the ball hadn’t crossed the line. If it didn’t, it is hard to see how he got caught in the net.

Staplegrove finished the day four points clear of second bottom Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves, and with two games in hand, it is looking likely that they will stay up.