Middlesex F.A. Senior Cup

Quarter Final

Tuesday 31st January 2024

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

Barnet 0 North Greenford United 3, attendance 130

23’ 0-1

61’ 0-2

63’ 0-3

@ The Hive, 3G Pitch (North side)

Camrose Avenue

Edgware

HA8 6AG

£5 Admission

Programme, online only.

Team Sheet, free.

This was my fourth visit to The Hive complex and the fourth different pitch/ground I’ve seen a game played on here. First time was for London University versus Cambridge University in a Representative Match in January 2011, played on a grass pitch, to the right of the driveway/car park as you enter. Next up was for the stadium itself, this time for a 0-0 draw between Barnet and Welling United in a National League game on a Tuesday night in November 2013, driving over on a day trip whilst I was living in Belgium. Visit number three was in December 2019, this time for a Middlesex F.A. Senior Cup match, which Barnet lost on penalties to Staines Town, after a 1-1 draw, which was played on the 3G Pitch to the left of the entrance (the nearer of the two parrallel ones here) and finally tonight…..this was played on a newer 3G, built on the north side of the complex, running end on to the main stadium. Tickets were bought from the ticket office next to the turnstiles and once inside there was also a tea bar in operation. Spectator access is limited to nearly three quarters of one side, which has a section of metal terracing consisting of ten steps, whilst dugouts are on the far side.

Barnet are currently sitting in third place in the National League, hoping to make a return to the Football League, whilst North Greenford United are in Combined Counties League Premier Division North (Step 5). As with so many ‘big clubs’, Barnet clearly don’t see the county cup as high on their list of priorities, fielding a very young side, who although played some nice football at times, were comfortably beaten tonight. NGU opened the scoring midway through the first half, scoring with a flicked header at the near post from a corner on the left. Barnet went close twice early in the second half, hitting the post and having another effort disallowed for offside and from this, the quickly taken free kick saw NGU immediately break away down the left before finishing across the ‘keeper into the far corner. Two minutes later it was 0-3 and game over, as a ball over the top was controlled and finished with another shot into the bottom corner.

Essex Alliance League

Senior Division Cup Quarter Final

Monday 29th January 2024

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.40

C.S.M. London 3 F.C. Baresi 5, attendance 37

15’ 0-1

30’ 0-2

33’ 1-2

68’ 2-2

82’ 3-2

84’ 3-3

85’ 3-4

90’ + 1, 3-5

@ Parsloes Park Sports Hub, 3G Pitch 2

Terrace Walk

Dagenham

RM9 5PU

No Admission or Programme.

The Parsloes Park Sports Hub has three 3G pitches, all running parallel to each other. The stadium pitch (where May & Baker will be playing their Eastern Counties League games) is nearest to the clubhouse/car park, with two standard cage set ups beyond, with Pitch 2, which hosted tonight’s game, being the nearer of the two. Both of these have spectator viewing on three sides and dugouts on the inaccessible side.

This cup tie was 10th versus 1st as far as league positions go and was excellent to watch from a neutral point of view. Baresi went in front after fifteen minutes, heading in a corner at the far post. CSM had a goal ruled out for offside before Baresi doubled their lead on the half hour mark, but minutes later CSM pulled it back to 1-2, finishing left footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18 yard box. It was 2-2 midway through the second half and both teams went all out for a winner. Baresi had a goal disallowed for offside, before CSM went 3-2 up with eight minutes left. Baresi levelled again within two minutes, finishing at the far post and a minute later went 3-4 ahead, finishing a one on one against the ‘keeper having been played through on goal. They finally killed the game off in stoppage time, smashing the ball in at the near post after CSM lost the ball when trying to play out from the back.

Surrey F.A. Junior Cup

2nd Preliminary Round

Saturday 27th January 2024

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.32

Horsell 4 Walton Hill 0, attendance 10

16’ 1-0 (pen)

83’ 2-0

85’ 3-0

90’ + 1, 4-0

@ Brockwood Recreation Ground

Sheets Heath Lane

Brockwood

GU24 0EH

No Admission or Programme.

I was planning on doing a rugby league match at 5pm in Chiswick, so this Surrey F.A. Junior Cup match fitted the bill perfectly, even if it went to extra time and/or penalties. The match was top of Guildford & Woking Alliance League Division 1 versus top of Surrey South Eastern Combination League Junior Division 2. It was a very hard fought game from start to finish, with the final score not reflecting how even the game had been, although the better side certainly ran out deserved winners on chances created, although a four goal defeat was harsh on Walton.

It looked like an early penalty was going to be enough to win it for Horsell, but they finally made the game safe when they got the all important second goal with just seven minutes left, when a long ball was miskicked by the Walton ‘keeper as he attempted to clear and the ball was walked into the empty net. Two minutes later it was three, when another ball over the top was controlled with one touch and fired low into the bottom corner and another ball over the top saw the striker win a race with the ‘keeper and a defender to lob the ball in for number four in stoppage time.

The ground is shared with cricket and the wooden changing room building is flanked by a tennis court on each side, whilst car parking is behind the near goal as you enter off Sheets Heath Lane.

F.A. Cup 4th Round

Thursday 25th January 2024

Kick Off 19.45 On Time!

A.F.C. Bournemouth 5 Swansea City 0, attendance 10,166

6’ 1-0, 9’ 2-0, 15’ 3-0, 35’ 4-0, 44’ 5-0

@ Vitality Stadium (Dean Court)

Kings Park

Bournemouth

BH7 7AF

£20 Admission + £1.50 booking fee

£3.50 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

I had visited Dean Court (pre sponsor names) back in April 1990, when I saw Bournemouth draw 1-1 versus Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Division 2 match (att. 7,448). At the end of the 2000/01 season, the ground was knocked down (pitch turned 90 degrees) and then fully rebuilt (11,307 capacity) over the coming months, which meant they had to play a number of home games at the ground of non-League Dorchester Town (saw them beat Notts County 4-2 there in Division 2 att. 3,206 on October 27th) whilst work was completed to a useable level.

I never thought I’d bother coming back here, but being a rare Thursday night game, with the offer of a lift, as well as cheap tickets (our seats are £45 for league games), it was the perfect chance to come and tidy this one up. Tickets were available online, but only in one section of the ground (when I booked them on Saturday evening) and were just £20 (plus a flat £3 booking fee). No option to print your own ticket, but rather oddly, sent out by post. They arrived just after 11 o’clock yesterday morning, so at least we wouldn’t have to go via the ticket office to try and obtain a replacement. Having arrived ridiculously early, we had time to go and eat before returning to the ground and managed to park no more than 200 yards from the stadium (parking restrictions cease at 5pm during the week) which meant an easy getaway afterwards.

Although this was Premier League (12th) versus Championship (16th), you never know whether the higher placed club will take the game seriously. Even clubs who haven’t won a trophy in years don’t seem to care whether they win or not. It wasn’t the case tonight, certainly from a home point of view. Bournemouth were absolutely superb, although Swansea certainly did their best to aid in that, as they were wide open and continued to try and play out from the back, when it became apparent very early on that they couldn’t do so!

It only took Bournemouth seven minutes to open the scoring, when Kelly swept in a Brooks free kick at the far post and goal number two arrived three minutes later, when Brooks cut the ball back for Scott to finish from close range. It was soon 3-0, as Swansea were caught trying to play out from the back, resulting in a Scott interception and a finish from Sinisterra. A rare Swansea attack saw them hit the post and go close with the rebound, but goal number four arrived on 35 minutes, this time finished clinically by Scott, after being played through by Solanke and it was 5-0 in the dying seconds of the half when a Sinisterra cross was put in by Solanke.

The second half, not surprisingly, never produced much. Loads of substitutions and very little in the way of goal mouth action. No messing about with added time at the end of the match though, as the final whistle was blown at 90 minutes 01 second according to the video screen clock!

As for the ground….its functional, but very cramped. It certainly doesn’t feel like you’re at a Premier League stadium, but more like being at League 1 or 2, or one of the better National League grounds.

Kent County League

Invitational Junior Charity Cup 2nd Round

Saturday 20th January 2024

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.31

Aylesford 2 Metrogas 1, attendance 37

45’ 1-0

57’ 1-1 (pen)

86’ 2-1

@ Aylesford Recreation Ground, 3G Pitch

Forstal Road

Aylesford

ME20 7AU

No Admission or Programme.

When my two original choices for today were postponed early, due to frozen pitches, I decided to avoid the lottery of getting a late call off on grass and opted for a 3G option instead. It’s a standard cage set up, with spectator viewing along three quarters of one side and a couple of plastic dugouts on the opposite touchline. The changing rooms/clubhouse are at the entrance end of the complex, next to the car park, whilst the cage is a good 200-250 yards away, at the far end, with a backdrop of a Waitrose distribution centre behind the far goal. Despite being 6 degrees, with the occasional sunny spell, it was bitterly cold and I was surprised how hard the grass pitches here were, that are nearer to the buildings. It was like walking on concrete.

The match was top of Division 2 Central & East versus fourth in Division 1 West. It was end to end from start to finish and could have gone either way. Metrogas came close to opening the scoring late in the first half, when they hit the post with a free kick from the edge of the D, but it was Aylesford that made the breakthrough in the dying seconds of the half, when a long clearance by their ‘keeper saw the ball clear the two centre backs before a striker finished with a looping shot over the ‘keeper from 20 yards. Metrogas levelled with a penalty twelve minutes into the second half and Aylesford had a chance to go back in front when they were awarded a penalty of their own with fifteen minutes left, but it was well saved by the ‘keeper. They grabbed the winner with four minutes left, breaking quickly down the right and when the first attempt of a cross was blocked, the rebound was hit first time left footed into the far corner.

West Sussex League

Division 2 North

Saturday 13th January 2024

Kick Off 14.00 On Time!

Ashurst United 0 Slinfold 4, attendance 15

6’ 0-1

22’ 0-2

25’ 0-3

59’ 0-4

@ Ashurst Recreation Ground

School Lane

Ashurst

BN44 3AY

No Admission or Programme.

I had turned up hoping to see a game here last season, but ended up elsewhere, as there was no sign of life just under an hour before kick off (turned out it was a call off by Plaistow, who couldn’t be bothered to raise a team). I had a back up game on 3G, down in Portslade today, just in case, but on arrival, it was good to see the corner flags in place and the nets going up! The Referee was having a look at the pitch, but with no rain and no sign of frost (never got above 2 degrees all afternoon) it was on okay this time.

The ground here is shared with cricket. There is a small car park, with parking also available in the lane that runs alongside. The football changing rooms are nearest, with the cricket pavilion beyond. The football pitch, which runs widthways, is on the far side of the cricket square and bordered by trees/hedges on three sides, with both ‘benches’ setting up on the near touchline.

Ashurst had won Division 3 Central at a canter last season, only losing once in eighteen games and have continued that form at the higher level, coming into this top of Division 2 North, winning eight of their first ten games. Slinfold were fourth, six points behind the leaders, but with two games in hand, so all to play for.

An early goal saw Slinfold open the scoring with a cracking 25 yarder into the top corner, Ashurst created plenty of chances, dominating possession, but Slinfold looked dangerous on the break and a quick fire double, midway through the first half, saw them make it 0-3, with some clinical finishing. Any chance of a comeback disappeared just before the hour mark, when Slinfold added a fourth goal, finishing with a shot from the edge of the box that went in off the post.

This completes this division now and just Felpham Colts (Premier Division) and Queens Head Raiders (Division 3 South) for the full league.

Sussex F.A. Junior Cup

Quarter Final

Saturday 6th January 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Ovingdean 2 Portslade Athletic 2 (4-3 pens), attendance 16

13’ 1-0

24’ 1-1

38’ 1-2

52’ 2-2

@ Longhill High School Sports Centre

Falmer Road

Ovingdean

BN2 7FR

No Admission or Programme.

This was top of the Brighton, Worthing & District League versus third in Mid Sussex League Division 2 South. As with any game involving a host team in this league, it is very hard to check out and confirm games, but thankfully Portslade had replied promptly via Twitter that the game was going ahead and that they’d let me know if anything changed in the meantime. Thankfully, no message came and I arrived at the ground about twenty five minutes before kick off, with both teams warming up and the Referee checking the team sheets. The pitch is hemmed in at one end by a long jump pit and the other by an artificial cricket wicket, whilst grass banking runs behind the near goal end and along the far side.

It was a game between two very evenly matched teams and was end to end from start to finish. Ovingdean took an early lead, finishing with a shot into the roof of the net after a long throw in was flicked on. Midway through the first half Portslade were level, heading in a corner from the left at the near post and they were ahead before halftime, when a long throw in was flicked on and headed in from six yards. Ovingdean pulled it back to 2-2 early in the second half, when a cross from the right saw a striker just beat the ‘keeper to it at the near post, finishing with a stooping header. Both teams went for a winner, but no more goals came and it was straight to penalties. Portslade went first, but saw their first effort hit the post. Ovingdean scored all four of theirs, before Portslade saw their fifth one saved and that was that.

Arthurian League

Division 3

Saturday 6th January 2024

Kick Off 10.45 Actual 10.46

Old Sennockians 3 Old Haberdashers 2, attendance 6

24’ 0-1

31’ 1-1

38’ 2-1

47’ 3-1

90’ + 2, 3-2

@ Sevenoaks School (Sennocke Centre)

Athletics Track Pitch

High Street

Sevenoaks

TN13 1HU

No Admission or Programme.

On Friday evening I received a message to say that this mornings game was due to be played on the pitch inside the running track, rather than on one of the Duke’s Meadow Playing Fields pitches here, which I had seen a game on in March 2022. The normal pitch was scheduled to host a school game in the afternoon, hence the switch to the alternate, which was good news for me!

The game was 3rd versus 8th in the league table. Haberdashers went ahead, but a 25 yarder, curled in from 25 yards saw Sennockians draw level just after the half hour mark and a one on one chance, finished at the second attempt, saw them go 2-1 up seven minutes before halftime. Two minutes into the second half it was 3-1, when a hit and hope shot from near the centre circle somehow deceived the ‘keeper. Haberdashers did grab a second goal in stoppage time, but too late to affect the outcome.