East Bedfordshire Charity Cup

Quarter Final

Wednesday 12th September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Henlow 2 Sandy 1,  attendance 17

20’ 1-0

55’ 2-0

60’ 2-1 (pen)

@ Groveside

Henlow

SG16 6AP

No Admission or Programme.

There was no attempt to get this started a few minutes early, despite both teams being there for six o’clock. The Referee, it seems, had already decided that he was going to kick off at the scheduled time and that he was going to play 2 x 35 minute halves as there would be penalties to decide the tie if it was a draw. He then played two minutes stoppage time in the first half, then five minutes more in the second, finishing the match at 19.37 in surprisingly good light.

The match itself, between two teams who play in Division 1 of the Bedfordshire County League, was keenly contested. When Henlow went 2-0 up it looked all over, but Sandy were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty given away for a ridiculous handball. They had a corner on the right and as the ball was played into the box a Henlow defender just reached up and caught the ball, then dropped it quickly when the realisation of what he had just done dawned on him. Very odd.

The match finished at 19.37, with plenty of light to have played more than the 70 minutes we got.

Gwent County League

Division 2

Tuesday 11th September 2018

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.01

Mathern 1 Newport Corinthians 2,  attendance 21

1’ 0-1

45’ 1-1

51’ 1-2

@ Mathern Athletic Club

Birdwood Gardens

Mathern

NP16 6UF

No Admission or Programme.

With the non floodlit matches now winding down, I played safe and headed into Wales, where I knew there would be no problem getting in a full ninety minute match.

Indeed, the vast majority of the visitors were already there when I arrived at the ground at 17.15. Twenty minutes later they were on the pitch warming up and five minutes later the hosts joined them.

Having lost 1-12 at home to Rogerstone on Saturday, it didn’t look good for Mathern when Corinthians took the lead within 30 seconds of the kick off, but they settled into it and deserved their equaliser on the stroke of halftime. Despite going behind again early in the second half they created enough chances to have got at least a draw. Even with six minutes of stoppage time, the game was done and dusted by 19.44.

West Midlands (Regional) League

Division 1

Saturday 8th September 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Allscott 2 Gornal Athletic 3,  attendance 38

2’ 0-1

17’ 1-1

53’ 1-2

55’ 2-2

84’ 2-3

@ Allscott Sports & Social Club

Shawbirch Road

Allscott

TF6 5EQ

£3 Admission

Programme, free, 12 pages.

This ground hosted a Ground Hop match back in 2011, which I didn’t attend, when the club were known as Atlas F.C. and were then members of the Shropshire County League. The ground is probably much improved since then, with a new piece of cover erected on the changing room/tea bar side of the ground and a lorry trailer used as a makeshift stand on the cricket field side, rather like many grounds in Mid Wales have adopted in the past.

As for the match, Gornal always held the upper hand, although both teams missed loads of chances. Having failed to hold the lead twice, Gornal finally killed the game off when they got what turned out to be the winner with six minutes left.

Harry Greening Cup

Quarter Final

Thursday 6th September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Taverners 3 Cam Bulldogs 3 (4-2 pens),  attendance 25

21’ 0-1

24’ 1-1

33’ 1-2

35’ 1-3

45’ 2-3

80’+ 2, 3-3

@ Owen Harris Memorial Ground

Eastington Community Centre

Snakey Lane

Eastington

GL10 3AX

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was yet another match which was played as 2 x 40 minute halves, but this wasn’t due due a late kick off, but was planned due to the possibility of penalties being needed to decide the tie, which turned out to be the case.

Cam were far the better side in the first half and deserved to be leading 1-3 at the break. The rain that had threatened all evening duly arrived as the second half started, but only lasted about 15 minutes, with the overhang of the Community Centre roof coming in very handy. Within five minutes of the restart it was 2-3, then the vast majority of the second half saw Taverners pushing for an equaliser, which eventually came two minutes into stoppage time.

Straight to penalties, with Taverners scoring their first two, whilst their ‘keeper saved the opening two efforts from Cam. Despite hitting the post with their third kick, Taverners converted their next two to win it. The light was still pretty good when it all finished st 19.51.

Below photo : Taverners score the final penalty of the night.

Bedfordshire County League

Premier Division

Wednesday 5th September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.36

Wilstead 3 Marston Shelton Rovers 0,  attendance 22

49’ 1-0

58’ 2-0

76’ 3-0

@ Bedford International Athletics Stadium (outside pitch)

Barkers Lane

Bedford

MK41 9SB

No Admission or Programme.

Due to pitch problems at their own ground, following the dry summer, this was switched to an outside pitch at Bedford International Athletics Stadium. Entrance was via the main reception, before a walk around the left hand side of the stadium and through the hedge to the pitch which runs widthways. On Google Maps it is shown with pitch markings for American Football.

Unfortunately, due to the very late arrival of the Referee, as well as quite a bit of faffing about once he actually arrived pitch side, we kicked off 21 minutes late, so once again it was a game of 2 x 40 minute halves, finishing in very poor light at 20.01.

The first half was very even, but Wilstead got on top once they went in front. Having lost 5-7 on Saturday, Wilstead were glad of the three points, whilst Marston prop up the table, having lost both of their matches 0-3.

North Bucks & District League

Intermediate Division

Tuesday 4th September 2018

Kick Off 18.30. On Time !

Marsh Gibbon 3 Twyford United 1,  attendance 31

4’ 1-0

7’ 1-1

40’ 2-1

76’ 3-1

@ Marsh Gibbon Recreation Ground

Edgcott Road

Marsh Gibbon

OX27 0AT

No Admission or Programme.

Despite the visitors being less than three miles away, they struggled with their players getting to the ground for kick off. Although the match kicked off at the scheduled time, it meant there was no way of getting the full match in, so it was played as 2 x 40 minute halves and even then it was pretty gloomy when it finished at 19.55.

Twyford actually played the first three minutes with ten men, but soon had the full compliment, as well as a substitute. Within seconds of being up to full strength they went behind, but scored a good equaliser a few minutes later. Marsh Gibbon scored a header on the stroke of halftime to go in 2-1 up. The second half was poor. Twyford had a great chance to level the scores, but a good save by the home ‘keeper was followed by a quick break which resulted in the final goal of the night from the corner of the box.

The win leaves Marsh Gibbon top of the table with four wins from four matches. Twyford have three points from their opening three games.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 2

Monday 3rd September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.23

Black Swan (Luton) 4 Houghton Athletic 2,  attendance 14

5’ 1-0

11’ 1-1

16’ 2-1 (pen)

22’ 3-1

71’ 3-2

75’ 4-2 (pen)

@ Icknield Way

Luton

LU3 2JR

No Admission or Programme.

With no access to the changing rooms it meant both teams got changed at the side of the pitch. The Referee only arrived about 10 minutes before the scheduled kick off, but he was already changed, although the match still kicked off eight minutes late.

Black Swan looked a good footballing side, whilst Houghton were the more physical. The hosts were always in control and were well worth their two goal winning margin. Even with a five minute halftime it was getting very gloomy when we finished at 20.01.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Senior Division

Saturday 1st September 2018

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.31

Trimley Red Devils 3 Bramford United 2,  attendance 34

29’ 0-1

43’ 1-1

53’ 1-2

57’ 2-2

61’ 3-2

@ Stennetts Close

Trimley St. Mary

IP11 0TZ

No Admission

Programme, for donations, 12 pages.

11th versus 10th, Red Devils having been promoted this season. Bramford  were the better team and deserved to get at least a draw from the match. Trimley spent most of the second half time wasting and players continually going down with ‘cramp’, resulting in seven minutes stoppage time. Not a nice team to watch.

North Bucks & District League

Intermediate Division

Thursday 30th August 2018

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Buckingham United 6 Brackley Sports 0,  attendance 22

22’ 1-0

60’ 2-0

62’ 3-0

72’ 4-0

85’ 5-0

88’ 6-0

@ Lace Hill Sports & Community Centre

Catchpin Street

Buckingham

MK18 7RR

No Admission or Programme.

These two had very contrasting fortunes last season. Buckingham United finished second in Division 1 and were promoted, whilst Brackley Sports finished bottom of the Premier Division, winning just one of their twenty two matches.

Buckingham won their opening match this season, but Brackley had lost their opening two games, conceding six goals in both. This was very even at 1-0, with the second goal always going to be the important one. When it went to Buckingham, it was game over and they should have finished with quite a few more than the six goals they did manage.

Thames Valley Premier League

Premier Division

Wednesday 29th August 2018

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59

Richings Park 0 Marlow United 4,  attendance 18

8’ 0-1 (pen)

27’ 0-2

38’ 0-3

78’ 0-4 (pen)

@ Richings Park Sports Club

34A Wellesley Avenue

Richings Park

SL0 9BN

No Admission or Programme.

Richings Park won Division 1 last season, but have found it hard going in the higher division. They came into this having lost their opening three matches, failing to score a goal, whilst Marlow United had opened up with a 4-1 home win.

An early penalty for the visitors, followed by a very dominant first half, saw them lead 0-3 at the break. Their only goal from numerous chances in the second half was a late penalty. They then had a man sent off in stoppage time, for a second yellow card, but his first booking should really have been a straight red for his follow through on the home ‘keeper when it was only 0-1.

For the second successive Wednesday in this league, both teams were at the ground nice and early and warming up at 17.20. It is amazing how many teams round these parts manage to kick off late, even when they have floodlights and don’t start until 19.45 !

Below photo : Marlow United wrap it up with a late penalty.