North Wales Coast West League

Premier Division Cup Semi-Final

Friday 23rd May 2025

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

C.P.D. Penrhyndeudraeth 2 C.P.D. Llanberis 4, attendance 115

18’ 0-1

33’ 1-1

49’ 1-2

57’ 1-3

77’ 2-3

90’ + 6, 2-4

@ Maes Y Parc

A487 East

Penrhyndeudraeth

LL48 6LS

£3 Admission

No Programme.

An easy 40 minute drive down the coast saw me arrive in Porthmadog, where I was staying overnight and from there it was just a ten minute drive east to Penrhyndeudraeth, with the ground on the left hand side of the A487 as you head eastwards out of the village towards Dolgellau. The pitch is fully railed (parts of the rail behind the far goal are at chin height, so no good for leaning on) and there’s a seated kit stand behind the near goal, butted up to the corner, while there’s hard standing at one end and along one touchline and a pair of dugouts on the far side. There was a tea bar that was also doing hot dogs in the way of hot food.

As far as final league positions went, this was 7th versus 6th in the league table, with the winners of tonight’s game facing either Cemaes Bay or Mynydd Llandegai who were playing in the other semi final, which was also tonight. Llanberis, sadly minus the Locomotive prefix these days, went ahead after eighteen minutes, when an initial save by the ‘keeper was followed in from close range. Penrhyndeudraeth levelled just after the half hour mark, when a through ball sent a player clear and he cut inside onto his right foot and shot low inside the naer post. Four minutes into the second half the visitors went back in front, heading in at the far post from a corner on the right.Eight minutes later they increased their lead, when a ball into the box was touched in at the near post, possibly off a defender, which saw them go 1-3 up. With thirteen minutes left, a cross in from the right was forced in to pull it back to 2-3, with Penrhyndeudraeth pushing hard for an equaliser. I’d spoken to the Referee at halftime and he’d confirmed it would be extra time if the scores were level, rather than straight to penalties, which he thought might be a problem, with it being very dull and it rained for most of the match, which was a disappointing end to the day, having been glorious up until about an hour before kick off. Five minutes into stoppage time someone in the home dugout received a red card and a minute later Llanberis made the game safe, making it 2-4 after cutting in from the left and playing a ball across the face of the goal that was finished into the far corner. At least we wouldn’t be going to extra time, which was a relief, as the midges were absolutely relentless during the second half, making it very unpleasant as a spectator and it didn’t look much better for the players. A minute after the goal there was a red card for a home player, after he followed through on a defender, who’d just hacked the ball clear. Seconds later, at 20.26, the Referee blew the final whistle and ten minutes later, I was back at the hotel, by which time the rain was coming down much harder.

North Wales Coast West League

Premier Division

Thursday 22nd May 2025

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.52!

C.P.D. Pentraeth 5 C.P.D. Gwalchmai 3, attendance 97

3’ 1-0

9’ 1-1

28’ 2-1

45’ + 1, 3-1 (pen)

57’ 4-1

62’ 5-1

66’ 5-2

79’ 5-3

@ Bryniau Field

B5109

Pentraeth

LL75 8AZ

£3 Admission

No Programme.

Having stayed overnight in Rhyl, tonight was an opportunity to make a trip over to Ynys Mon, for an Anglesey derby, where 2nd bottom (already relegated) were hosting 2nd from top (guaranteed runners up). Despite nothing to play for, this was an excellent game and a warm sunny evening saw a crowd just short of one hundred turn out for this, probably helped by the fact that one of their youth teams was being presented with a cup that they’d recently won, which took place on the pitch during the halftime break.

Photographs don’t really do the ground justice. The pitch is fully railed, although the touchline running alongside the road is out of bounds, due to the lack of room behind the barrier and perimeter wall. There are two sides of hard standing and a pair of brick dugouts. Raised banking gives an elevated view from the far side, whilst the changing rooms/tea bar are behind the goal nearest the entrance. Car parking was organised brilliantly too, with three helpers already directing traffic well over an hour before kick off and no chance of the usual late arrivals turning up and selfishly blocking everyone else in, which is normally the case at non league level. Great backdrop too. Then there’s the pitch….it slopes from end to end, side to side and has a few undulations, just for good measure.

Pentraeth kicked downhill in the first half and were ahead after just three minutes. Quite a few missed the goal though, caught out by the game kicking off eight minutes earlier than advertised, when a ball pulled back from the left was finished with a low shot at the near post, which the ‘keeper should probably have saved. Some may have missed the equaliser too, as Gwalchmai made it 1-1 before we’d even had ten minutes, finishing with an angled shot from just inside the box. Just before the half hour Pentraeth were back in front, powering in a header from a corner. Gwalchmai saw a header hit the post and Pentraeth had a looping header clip the top of the crossbar, as both teams created good chances, before the hosts made it 3-1 in first half stoppage time, converting a penalty that was awarded for a handball.

Twelve minutes into the second half it was 4-1, breaking clear after intercepting a defensive throw in and minutes later Pentraeth made it 5-1, when a ball over the top was coolly put away in a one on one against the ‘keeper. Gwalchmai quickly replied with a low shot into the corner and with eleven minutes left pulled it back to 5-3, nicking the ball past the ‘keeper from a long clearance and clinically finding the bottom corner from the angle of the 18 yard box. They kept going right to the end, but had left themselves too much to do.

It was a very pleasant drive heading back towards the mainland, with Snowdonia in full sunshine and back at my hotel in about twelve minutes.

North Wales Coast East League

Premier Division

Wednesday 21st May 2025

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Kinmel Bay 0 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 0, attendance 150

@ Y Morfa Leisure Centre

Cader Avenue

Kinmel Bay

LL18 5HU

£3 Admission

No Programme.

This was 2nd verses 1st in the league table, with Penmaenmawr Phoenix two points clear. This was the last game of the season for Kinmel Bay, so they knew nothing short of a win would be enough for them, as it would see them go a point clear of the visitors and mean Penmaenmawr would then have to go away to third in the table Cerrigydrudion to get the point they’d require to take the title on goal difference. In the end they got the job done tonight. It was a game that produced very few clear cut scoring opportunities, but was fully committed from first whistle to last. The bone hard pitch certainly didn’t help matters, but that can’t be blamed for neither team managing to find the net. The nearest we came to a goal was when Penmaenmawr hit the post just before the hour mark, after a corner to the far post wasn’t cleared. I don’t recall either ‘keeper having much to do, apart from taking the odd goal kick or two. A couple of minutes from the end both teams had a man sent off following an off the ball incident and Kinmel Bay also had their manager sent off in stoppage time, which I assume was for dissent. The final whistle was greeted with huge cheers from the visiting players and a high number of their supporters present in a crowd of over 200, although the official attendance was given as 150, which I assume only counted those who’d paid to get in.

The ground is pretty poor for level 4. It’s a pitch at the back of the sports centre, with a pair of dugouts on the far side. Officially, spectators are limited to the near side of the pitch, but a caged area in the centre means barely half the length is actually useable. There were a couple of mobile food wagons operating and toilets were available inside the changing room building.

The journey up to North Wales took around four and a quarter hours, with the only hold up being at the M5/M6 intersection, which added ten minutes to the drive. At least I didn’t have to do the drive back, as I was staying overnight in Rhyl, just across the River Clwyd from Kinmel Bay, which was under ten minutes drive back from the ground.

Above : The league trophy and winners/runners up medals await the presentation.

Surrey South Eastern Combination League

Intermediate Division 1

Saturday 17th May 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.07

Kew Park Rangers 1 London Hibernian 3, attendance 20

16’ 0-1

45’ + 1, 1-1

60’ 1-2

84’ 1-3

@ Richmond Athletic Ground (outer pitch)

Twickenham Road (A316)

Richmond upon Thames

TW9 2SF

No Admission or Programme.

I’m not a great fan of this league and haven’t done a game in it for years, due so was surprised when checking the venues of this division to find that this completed the current grounds. Richmond Athletic Ground is home to the rugby union clubs of Richmond and London Scottish, who play on the main stadium here. Today’s game was played on an outer pitch, the most northerly on the site, which was Pitch 6 if the board advertising pitch allocations was to be believed. The rugby posts remained in place, with portable football goals placed in front. There was a bit of a drama shortly before kick off, as the goals had been chained together and the padlock code that is normally used, had been changed. Luckily, they contacted someone by phone and we got underway seven minutes later than scheduled.

The match was 2nd versus 4th in the league table, with both clubs still able to win the league. KPR were very much outsiders in the race though, as this was their final game and they’d then be relying current leaders Selhurst and today’s visitors London Hibernian, who still have to play each other again, to lose their last few games. Unlikely, but you never know. Hibernian took an early lead, when a cross in from the left was left by a defender and put in unmarked at the far post. KPR levelled in first half stoppage time, when a corner from the right was finished with a shot into the bottom corner of the net. On the hour mark Hibernian we’re back in front, when a long ball over the top saw the striker beat a defender to the ball, nod it forward, then run on to finish one on one with the ‘keeper. They finally killed the game off with six minutes left, breaking quickly and finishing emphatically through the ‘keepers legs.

Leaders Selhurst also won this afternoon, so the title race is now between them and London Hibernian. Selhurst have a better goal difference by 20, as well as a six point lead, although Hibernian do still have a game in hand and host the leaders next Saturday.

Leicestershire County League

League 1

Tuesday 13th May 2025

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Kibworth Town 2 Leicester Rangers 1, attendance 139

2’ 1-0

71’ 2-0

85’ 2-1

@ Birds Barn

Fleckney Road

Kibworth Beauchamp

LE8 0HJ

No Admission or Programme.

There was certainly no doubt as to whether there was anything riding on tonight’s game. If either team won, they’d be crowned champions. If it ended in a draw, then it would be Old Aylestone that would take the title. Just to add a little more spice to it, only the top two get promoted, so tonight’s visitors had the most to lose, as they could miss out all together.

Kibworth were in front after just two minutes, cutting in from the left before beating the ‘keeper low inside his near post. Midway through the half they had a second ‘goal’ ruled out for offside, but there were very few chances at either end. Kibworth ended the half with a player being sin binned, but Leicester Rangers failed to take advantage with the extra man at the start of the second half. The decisive second goal came with nineteen minutes left, when a break down the left was pulled back across the box and finished with a diagonal shot off the inside of the far post to make it 2-0. Leicester did have a couple of decent shots, but both were tipped round the post by the home ‘keeper, but they just didn’t look like getting back into it. They did make it a nervy finish for Kibworth though, when a corner was headed clear of the box but returned with a first time shot that arced over the ‘keeper into the top corner, to make it 2-1 with five minutes left, but it was too little, too late.

The ground here at Birds Barn is impressive for this level. There is a clubhouse/changing room building as you enter a reasonable sized car park. There are a number of pitches here, with the main one a couple of hundred yards away. It’s fully railed and although the pitch was in decent condition, it did have a bit of a slope.

Belgium

Hainaut Provincial 2

Promotion Play Off

Sunday 11th May 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.07

F.C. Etoiles d’Ere 1 Jeunesse Sportive Team Rosellies 0, attendance 133

57’ 1-0

@ Stade Andre Vanderhaegen

Rue Des Coquelicots

7500 Ere

No Admission or Programme.

Today we were bound for Ere, just southwest of Tournai and a promotion play off in the province of Hainaut. We were booked on the 09.24 shuttle from Folkestone, but actually went out on the earlier 08.36 train, which left one minute early. We’d stopped off en route for lunch in Woesten, before making the final 50 minute drive to the game, arriving around an hour before kick off.

There is a small car park, with the main pitch to the left as you enter. Only one side of the ground has spectator access, the same side as the dugouts. Two metal containers have been adapted to act as covered accommodation. To the right is the clubhouse/changing rooms and there’s a second pitch running parallel, which is floodlit, unlike the main one. There was no one taking admission money on arrival and surprisingly no one was seen to come round to take any money during the game either. They do appear to normally charge though, as there were a number of discarded match specific printed tickets lying around from previous games.

The match pitted 3rd in Division 2A versus 5th in Division 2C. It was a very poor game. Both sides seemed more interested in rolling about on the floor at every opportunity, continually feigning injury. The hosts were the worst offenders by far and were embarrassing at times. The first half was dreadful. The only real thing of note was the Referee picking up an injury a few minutes before halftime. He had treatment, but only lasted a couple more minutes before hobbling off the pitch. Luckily one of the Linesmen took over and after a few minutes we were back underway, but the halftime whistle didn’t arrive until 63 minutes after we’d kicked off! The second half was slightly better, with Ere at least looking like they finally had an intention of actually pushing forward in an effort to try and win the game. The only goal came twelve minutes after the interval, when a break down the right was played square across the box and finished at the far post. It always looked like one goal would be enough to win it and indeed it was. Etoiles d’Ere now advance to the next round and a three team round robin of matches against C.O. Trivieres and F.C. Gerpinnes.

With all the faffing about,including a drinks break in each half, the game never finished until 17.17, but a clear run back to The Tunnel saw us arrive in ample time for our booked 20.24 return crossing. We actually made it on to the 19.24 train instead, which left dead on time and with no motorway problems back in England I was home just before 20.15.

Essex Olympian League

Denny King Memorial Cup Semi-Final

Saturday 10th May 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Beacon Hill Rovers 2 Canning Town 2 (4-3 pens), attendance 22

8’ 0-1

17’ 1-1

19’ 1-2

79’ 2-2

@ Wickham Bishops Sports Fields

Great Totham Road

Wickham Bishops

CM8 3NP

No Admission or Programme.

We’re at that stage of the season where games are being called off at the drop of a hat, so I was looking for a match with something on it and a cup semi-final fitted the bill perfectly. These two are both in division 1 of the league, with this being 11th (out of 12) versus 6th as far as their league positions go. Even though it was a semi-final, BHR started the game with just the bare eleven players in attendance, although they did have one substitute by halftime.

Canning Town were ahead after just eight minutes, when a cross from the left saw a striker nipping in front of the ‘keeper at the near post and flick the ball into the net. A long ball over the top from the ‘keeper saw BHR draw level after seventeen minutes as the ball was helped on and finished from the edge of the box. Within two minutes Canning Town were back in front, when a cross from the left wasn’t cleared from the box and was finished with a side footed shot low into the corner of the net. Just before the hour mark BHR hit the post and as Canning Town sat back on their lead, they were finally caught out with eleven minutes left, when a defender tried to head the ball back to his ‘keeper, but it was well short and a BHR player reached it first, lobbing the ball in from the edge of the box. Minutes later, the hosts lost their ‘keeper to injury, replaced by an outfield player. They survived the final eight minutes, as well as a ridiculous fifteen minutes of added time, with the Referee finally blowing the final whistle right on an hours play since we’d started the half.

It was straight to penalties, which would have come as a relief to the player’s, as it was a really hot day. The hosts went first. Their first two kicks were both missed. High over the crossbar and saved by the ‘keeper. Canning Town had also seen their first kick saved as well. BHR scored their next four, but with Canning Town having their fifth kick saved, they then hit the post with their last one to send BHR into the final.

BHR play at the recreation ground in the village of Bishops Wickham, just east of Witham. There’s plenty of parking and a brick built clubhouse/changing room building, whilst the pitch is roped on three sides and has a pair of dugouts on the far side. Today’s visit now sees the top two divisions of this league complete and unbelievably, a trouble free journey in both directions. Not too many times that happens via Dartford Crossing!

Essex Olympian League

Premier Division

Wednesday 7th May 2025

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.49

A.C.D. United 4 Hashtag United Development 5, attendance 33

26’ 0-1

41’ 1-1

45’ + 1, 1-2

49’ 2-2

55’ 3-2 (pen)

63’ 3-3

65’ 4-3

75’ 4-4

77’ 4-5

@ Forest Glade Sports Club

Barleylands Road

Noak Bridge

CM11 2UD

No Admission or Programme.

With their Seymour Field ground in Ingatestone being unavailable, A.C.D. played this game at the home of Hashtag United Development instead. It’s a large sports field with numerous pitches of varying sizes, with this played on the main pitch, which is Pitch 5. It is nearest the car park and clubhouse and is railed off behind one goal and along one side and as far as the dugouts on the side backing on to the car park. With kids training sessions also taking place, the tea bar was open throughout the game.

The match was 12th versus 8th (out of 14), with both safe from relegation. Hashtag broke the deadlock when a break down the left was finished at the far post. ACD drew level four minutes before halftime, when a free kick from inside the centre circle was pumped into the box and headed back across the face of goal and poked in from close range. A minute into stoppage time Hashtag went back in front, latching onto a through ball and beating the ‘keeper at the near post.

Four minutes into the second half ACD were level at 2-2, when the Linesman (there were three officials appointed for this) flagged to signal a shot had crossed the line before being cleared and six minutes later the same Linesman flagged again, this time for a handball and they scored from the resulting penalty. If we’d had a club linesman, I doubt either decision would have been awarded. Just after the hour mark Hashtag made it 3-3, when a ball pulled back from the right was bundled in from close range. Two minutes later it was 4-3, when ACD scored after a corner wasn’t cleared from the box. Hashtag made it 4-4 with fifteen minutes left, heading in unmarked from a corner and two minutes later they grabbed the winner,when a long diagonal free kick from near the centre circle was met with a stooping header at the far post.

The journey here was a nightmare, taking just over two hours, with 90 minutes of that to do the mere 32 miles to Dartford Crossing. Return journey was a much more reasonable 55 minutes.

Northamptonshire Combination League

Division 1

Tuesday 6th May 2025

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

A.F.C. Towcester 8 Crick Athletic 0, attendance 31

4’ 1-0

15’ 2-0

26’ 3-0

31’ 4-0

69’ 5-0

72’ 6-0

80’ 7-0

90’ 8-0

@ Towcester Recreation Ground

Islington Road

Towcester

NN12 6AU

No Admission or Programme.

A.F.C. Towcester came into this top of the table, knowing that winning their last two games would guarantee the title and they made light work of brushing aside 11th in the table Crick Athletic to easily take the three points. An angled shot into the bottom corner saw them open the scoring after just four minutes and we’d only just gone past the half hour mark when they made it 4-0 and it was job done as far as winning the game went. It took them twenty four minutes of the second half to get goal number five, touching in a cross from the right at the near post. Two more goals soon followed and in the final minute they headed in a corner at the far post to make it 8-0. They should now wrap up the league, as their final game is against bottom of the table Finedon Volta Reserves, who’ve already been relegated.

Home to A.F.C. Towcester is a pitch on the local recreation ground, just off the town centre. There is a small car park at the entrance and the changing rooms are hidden away behind the buildings on the right as you approach along Islington Road. Not surprisingly, everyone stayed out on the pitch for halftime and we were done and dusted for 20.07. At least the prompt finish meant dodging the roadworks for the homeward journey.