Netherlands

Eerste Divisie

Friday 12th October 2018

Kick Off 20.00. On Time !

Jong A.Z. 2 Jong F.C. Utrecht 2,  attendance 550

12’ 1-0 (pen)

51’ 1-1

68’ 1-2

75’ 2-2

@ AFAS Training Complex

Zuiderweg 72A

1456 NH

Wijdewormer

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

A.Z. or to give them their full title, Alkmaar Zaanstreek, stage their reserve matches here, rather than at their AFAS Stadium. There was no problem with buying tickets for this match (from a booth at the entrance) as it was against a fellow reserve team, but the ground only has a capacity of 2,383 so it may be different against a well supported club, especially one with a ‘hooligan’ reputation. Before taking on the sponsor name AFAS, the ground was known as Sportpark Kalverhoek.

The Eerste Divisie is the second tier in the Netherlands, with this match being 15th versus 19th (out of 20) in the league table. The first half was pretty dull, but Utrecht seemed like a different team in the second half and this resulted in a really good open match. Both teams had chances to win it, but A.Z. will probably feel it was two points lost, rather than one gained.

This was the first match of a 4 game long weekend in the Netherlands and Belgium. We had taken the 10.20 Tunnel to Calais, from where it was a 242 mile drive to just north of Amsterdam. We stopped overnight in the adjacent town of Zaandijk, from where it was a 35-40 minute walk to the ground.

Independent Schools F.A. Cup

3rd Round

Thursday 11th October 2018

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.29

Harrow School 1 Alleyn’s School 1 (AET) (3-0 pens),  attendance 36

92’ 1-0

96’ 1-1

@ Harrow School, Park Lake Field

Garlands Lane

Harrow

HA1 3EA

No Admission or Programme.

This match was absolutely dreadful. When Harrow took the lead two minutes into the second period of extra time, which in this competition is thankfully only ten minutes each way, they should have seen the game out. Instead, they went for a second goal and conceded an equaliser on a quick breakaway.

In the penalty shoot out Alleyn’s had their first two efforts saved, with the third blazed high over the bar and with Harrow dispatching all three of theirs, that was it.

Independent Schools F.A. Cup

3rd Round

Wednesday 10th October 2018

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.31

Royal Russell School 6 Brentwood School 2,  attendance 22

2’ 1-0

9’ 2-0

15’ 2-1

24’ 3-1

38’ 4-1

49’ 5-1

73’ 5-2

80’ 6-2

@ Royal Russell School, North Field Pitch 1

Coombe Lane

Croydon

CR9 5BX

No Admission or Programme.

Royal Russell are always one of the strongest teams in the competition. Going 2-0 up in under ten minutes meant it could have been game over very early, but Brentwood scored next, keeping the game interesting for the neutrals, but that just meant Royal Russell went up another gear. The home win was never in doubt, but Brentwood were not a bad side and certainly didn’t make it easy.

Spectators were made very welcome here, with free tea/coffee and biscuits available in the pavilion behind the goal.

Eastern Counties League

Division One Knockout Cup

2nd Round

Tuesday 9th October 2018

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.51

May & Baker Eastbrook Community 3 Burnham Ramblers 2,  attendance 56

24’ 0-1

42’ 1-1

44’ 2-1

55’ 3-1 (pen)

67’ 3-2

@ Barking R.U.F.C.

Gale Street

Dagenham

RM9 4TX

£5 Admission

£1 Programme, 12 pages.

I arrived here quite comfortably in the end, although it took 1 hour 40 minutes to cover the 18 miles drive from Dulwich. I even had a few extra minutes to spare, as the Referee didn’t even get the players out of the changing rooms until after the scheduled start time, so it was six minutes late kicking off.

Burnham had lost 8-1 here in the F.A. Vase earlier in the season, so I thought this might be a comfortable win for the hosts. Far from it, as they trailed until two goals in the closing minutes of the first half saw them lead 2-1 at the break. Even when they went 3-1 up they were unable to kill the game off, but Burnham could only manage to pull back one goal, so it finished 3-2.

This is the second season that  May & Baker have been playing here, having moved from their original base at the M & B Club in Dagenham Road, which I visited on 8th November 2008. The ground here looks impressive for the level, but it is in fact officially one sided, for football use anyway. The 200 seat stand on the far side is out of bounds, although at least half a dozen watched the match from there and I walked round unchallenged when going to take a few photographs from that side of the ground. The pitch is also poor, which is probably to be expected when it is shared with rugby.

Independent Schools F.A. Cup

3rd Round

Tuesday 9th October 2018

Kick Off 15.30 Actual 15.49

Dulwich College 0 Winchester College 3,  attendance 130

40’ 0-1

40’ + 2, 0-2

79’ 0-3

@ Dulwich College Sports Field

Dulwich Common

London

SE21 7LD

No Admission

Programme, free, 4 pages.

I had previously visited Dulwich College for a match in this competition back on 8th October 2008, when the school used the Trevor Bailey Sports Ground to host the game, which is a couple of hundred yards further along the same road.

The match today eventually kicked off 19 minutes late, due to the incompetence of Winchester, who didn’t arrive until just after 3.10 pm. Despite already being changed, they then spent 18 minutes in the changing room, before coming out and going through a 15 minute warm up !

Once we got going, it looked like this would be an easy home win, but Dulwich failed to take advantage of their dominance. Winchester only attacked three times in the whole of the first half, hitting the post with their first chance, before scoring twice in the last couple of minutes of the half. Neither side looked like adding to the scoring after the break, until the visitors broke away in the last minute to make it 0-3.

The late start meant I might struggle to make it in time for my intended evening match, which although only 18 miles away, it was north of the River Thames, so it would be touch and go whether I’d make it, although I did have two and a quarter hours to play with…….

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 1 A.C.F.F.

Sunday 7th October 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Racing Club Villers-La-Ville 1 F.C. Genappe 0,  attendance 243

84’ 1-0

@ Plaine Des Sports

Rue Emile Leger 15

1495 Villers-La-Ville

€7 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

This was 1st versus 12th in the league table, with VLV only failing to win one of their matches so far, when they drew 0-0 at second placed Stade Everois Racing Club last week. It looked like being a second successive scoreless match for them, but they won it with just six minutes left when a right wing corner was headed in from six yards.

With the visitors being just six miles away, there was a good crowd here today for the local derby. If VLV are promoted into the Belgian League next season, then the ground will be one of the worst in the league, as it is only really two sided and couldn’t cope with a very much larger crowd than today’s.

The Tunnel once again failed to run to schedule. Our 0820 outbound crossing was re-timed to 0850, but still managed to leave two minutes late. Despite announcing that due to technical problems the train would also be running at a slower speed, it did in fact cross in the normal 35 minutes. At least the return journey was on time.

Somerset F.A. Senior Cup

2nd Round

Saturday 6th October 2018

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.04

Ilminster Town 2 Cheddar Reserves 4,  attendance 31

25’ 1-0

43’ 1-1

62’ 2-1

69’ 2-2

79’ 2-3

86’ 2-4

@ Archie Gooch Pavilion

Canal Way

Ilminster

TA19 9FE

Admission, by collection box

No Programme.

Normally, having stopped over following the match in Cornwall last night, I would have done another match in the area today, but having tickets to see Henning Wehn in Guildford at 7.30 pm meant I needed something a little nearer home, especially when having to allow for the possibility of extra time and penalties.

I had visited the ‘old’ ground of Ilminster Town on 8th November 2003, when they beat Crewkerne 3-0 in a Somerset County League, Division 1 match. That pitch, now minus the old covered area, is still there, with the new ground a couple of hundred yards away, separated by a cricket ground and a canal.

I picked this match, as I thought it was unlikely to need extra time to settle it, which was correct, but not for the reason I thought. With Ilminster being in the Premier Division of the Somerset County League and visitors Cheddar Reserves being in Division 3, albeit top and undefeated in their first six matches, I was expecting a home win.

Ilminster broke the deadlock with a deflected free kick on twenty five minutes, but Cheddar headed an equaliser just before the break. When Ilminster edged back in front just after the hour mark I thought they would go on to win comfortably, but Cheddar levelled again when an attempt to block a cross saw the ball loop over the goalkeeper and drop inside the far corner of the net to make it 2-2. Despite looking very tired, it was Cheddar who got their noses in front next and deservedly finished things off with a shot from an acute angle with four minutes left, to make it 2-4.

Ilminster may have been cheesed off with this result, but it suited me fine, leaving ample time to make it for the evening entertainment !

Cornwall F.A. Senior Cup

1st Round

Friday 5th October 2018

Kick Off 19.30. On Time !

Helston Athletic 3 Penzance 2 (AET),  attendance 156

8’ 1-0

15’ 2-0

30’ 2-1

43’ 2-2

118’ 3-2

@ Kellaway Park

Clodgey Lane

Helston

TR13 8PJ

£5 Admission, including Programme, 4 pages.

With the only two clubs I hadn’t visited in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division both having home matches tonight in the Cornwall Senior Cup, it was an ideal night to tick off Helston, with the back up of Sticker en route if I hit any traffic problems. The traffic was not too bad, but heading along the A30 between Bodmin and Camborne the mist began to come down and visibility was becoming poor. Thankfully, once I was south of Cambourne, it began to lift and it was totally clear for the last 8 miles or so heading into Helston.

The match was 14th in the Premier Division versus 6th in Division 1 West. After 15 minutes it looked to be going to form as Helston raced into a 2-0 lead. Penzance pulled one goal back, then just before the break, headed in an equaliser from a scramble inside the six yard box. Both teams had plenty of chances to win it in normal time, but it finished level at 2-2 after 90 minutes. Again, in extra time both teams had some decent chances to win it and with it looking like heading to penalties to decide it, Helston broke away and their striker managed to slot the ball past the on rushing ‘keeper to seal the win with just two minutes left on the clock.

The official crowd was announced as 156, although I only counted 128.

Taunton League

Seward Cup 1st Round

Wednesday 3rd October 2018

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.05

Nether Stowey 2 Norton Fitzwarren 0,  attendance 23

43’ 1-0

81’ 2-0

@ Bridgwater College Academy, 3G Pitch

Parkway

Bridgwater

TA6 4QY

No Admission or Programme.

The Taunton League schedule the majority of their cup matches to be played on Wednesday or Friday evenings, using this facility and another 3G Pitch in Taunton to stage games.

Having never seen a match in this league previously, I wasn’t sure what standard it would be. It turned out to be plenty of effort, but lacking somewhat in attacking ability. Despite it being 4th in Division 3 versus 7th in Division 2, the match was totally dominated by the lower level team. It looked like neither side was capable of scoring, but Nether Stowey broke the deadlock just before the break with a 40 yard punt that was fumbled over the goal line by the ‘keeper. The second goal was better though, with a 25 yard shot curled into the bottom corner of the net to seal it late on.

Liverpool Premier League

Premier Division

Tuesday 2nd October 2018

Kick Off 20.05 Actual 20.03

Liverpool Nalgo 1 B.R.N.E.S.C. 4,  attendance 32

7’ 0-1

37’ 0-2

41’ 0-3

42’ 0-4

85’ 1-4

@ Liverpool County F.A. Ground, 3G Pitch

Walton Hall Park

Walton Hall Avenue

Liverpool L4 9XP

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited the Liverpool County F.A. Ground twice before, as they have two floodlit grass pitches here, both with covered standing areas and fully railed. They are at the back of the complex, with the pitch to the right, as you look from the car park, visited on 27th April 2000, with the left hand of the two being visited on 19th November 2007.

The Liverpool Premier League schedule all members to play midweek matches here, rather than at their own grounds, but use the 3G Pitch, which is to the left of the car park as you enter the complex, hence the need to attend for a third time. There are a few ‘outside’ pitches as well, but I will probably never be back for any of those, but never say never !

Nalgo came into this in second place in the league table, still undefeated, knowing a win would take them top. B.R.N.E.S.C. (British Rail North End Social Club, to give them their full title) were fifth, but could go level at the top of the table with a win. As it was, it went the way of the ‘visitors’, who totally blew the hosts away in a superb first half display. The second half never really got going and the late goal for Nalgo was little consolation for them.

Despite the Liverpool Premier League being one of the best Step 7 leagues as far as the standard of football goes, off field it is just like being at a Sunday League match down the local park. The Nalgo ‘Manager’ spent the entire match stood about 2-3 yards on the pitch, joined by two or three others for the vast majority of the game, whilst a couple of kids played with a football, at times 10 yards onto the pitch, even when the game was being played in that half of the pitch at the time !!! I was surprised the 3 match officials didn’t do anything about this, especially as the Linesman on their side of the pitch would have been able to see very little of the touch line most of the time.