Middlesex F.A. Intermediate Cup

1st Round

Saturday 5th October 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.05

Actonians 2 Pitshanger Dynamo 0, attendance 12

33’ 1-0

69’ 2-0

@ Actonians Sports Club

Gunnersbury Drive

Acton

London

W5 4LL

No Admission or Programme.

The drive west from my morning game took eleven minutes. Although there were a couple of spaces in the very compact car park here at Actonians Sports Club, I decided to park on the road outside, bagging the last space, where there are no Saturday parking restrictions. It is somewhat typical of these large sports grounds around the capital, catering for rugby, cricket, tennis and bowling, as well of course, football. The pitch runs lengthways in front of the cricket pavilion/changing rooms, bordering the cricket square on one side and tennis courts on the other, whilst houses back onto the far goal end. The pitch here was in superb condition and a credit to the groundsman. Yet again, totally blanked by both clubs Twitter accounts (if ever something was in a state of decline, then this is surely it) in trying to confirm the venue and kick off time for this, but text messages to both clubs contact numbers were answered within minutes of each other.

I’d expected it to be far busier here than it was, as there was a type of fun day also taking place. The crowd there was even smaller than the dozen watching the football and there were a few enjoying a drink in the sun, sat at the tables outside the clubhouse, where hot food was also available. The game was in the opening round of the Middlesex F.A. Intermediate Cup, where 5th in Southern Amateur League (not part of the football pyramid) were hosting Step 7 side Pitshanger Dynamo, currently sitting bottom of Middlesex County League Premier Division, having lost all five league games they’ve played so far this season.

The first half saw plenty of chances at both ends, with the only goal of the half going the way of Actonians just after the half hour mark, courtesy of a 25 yarder that went in off the post. The crucial second goal came with just over twenty minutes left, when a deflected cross fell perfectly for an angled shot into the far corner. Pitshanger had a man sent off in the last minute, following what looked like a stamp on a home player, but the game was already decided by then.

Arthurian League

Division 5

Saturday 5th October 2024

Kick Off 11.30 Actual 11.37

Old Oundelians 0 Old Wykehamists II 7, attendance 5

11’ 0-1

39’ 0-2

52’ 0-3

66’ 0-4

72’ 0-5

74’ 0-6

90’ 0-7

@ Club Des Sports, 3G Pitch 3

The Park Club

East Acton Lane

London

W3 7HB

No Admission or Programme.

I’d seen a game here back in December 2018, which was played on the main pitch, right next to the clubhouse. Since then they’ve added a second 11 a side 3G pitch, albeit a dreadful cage with no designated spectator area, although no problem watching from inside the fence. There were even a number of chairs to sit on, left inside, after the hordes of parents had left at the end of the kids training sessions that were on the pitch beforehand. Unlike my previous visit, I avoided the extortionate parking charges, choosing instead to park in the road opposite the entrance, where there are no restrictions on a Saturday, even if it meant a 50 yard walk!

Although part of Club Des Sports, the new pitch is quite a hike. You either wander round the side of some tennis courts, entering the outfield of the adjoining cricket field, or walk through the David Lloyd car park, where you gain access via a gate in the fence. Surprisingly, the cage here has its own changing rooms and clubhouse (probably due to the cricket) and the cafe was open throughout.

With two games scheduled here this morning (10.30 and 11.30) I was guaranteed of seeing one of them played on the new pitch. The near useless F.A. Full Time website can’t be relied upon for accuracy when it comes to which pitch games are on, even if they do give the information, but they don’t even bother stating the pitch numbers for here! I arrived just before 10.30, just to be safe. The early match was being played on the pitch I’d already done, so I had a hour to kill before the Division 5 (bottom level of league) game, where 9th were hosting 3rd in the league table. It was actually quite even during the first half, with OW leading 0-2 at the break. An early second half goal made the points safe and it was very much one way traffic for the last half an hour, where they added four more without reply, with the final goal coming with the last kick of the match.