Herts Senior County League

Division 1

Wednesday 10th May 2017

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.44

Bengeo Trinity 1 AFC Oaklands 1 (match played at AFC Oaklands) attendance 35

17′ 0-1

48′ 1-1

@ Oaklands College

Hatfield Road

St. Albans

AL4 0JA

No admission or programme.

This was switched to AFC Oaklands as Bengeo Trinity are unable to stage home matches at this stage of the season due to cricket, according to their officials.

It was 5th v 1st and Oaklands required a point from this game to be crowned champions, although they had effectively done enough already considering their far superior goal difference over second placed FC Lemsford, who only drew at home to Ickleford last night. Had they managed a win, they would have entertained Oaklands on Saturday still in with a chance of the title, but not to be.

Despite kicking off a minute early, the Referee had already decided to only play 40 minutes each way. A very strange decision on a clear and sunny evening and all over by 20.12 !

Had Oaklands converted a penalty when they were 1-0 up, it could have been different, but Bengeo were well worth their point in the end.

Spartan South Midlands League

Division 2

Tuesday 9th May 2017

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.38

Clean Slate 2 Tring Town AFC 4,  attendance 46

31′ 0-1

49′ 0-2

54′ 0-3

61′ 1-3

66′ 2-3

86′ 2-4

@ Downs Barn Pavilion

Pannier Place

Milton Keynes

MK14 7QP

No Admission

£2 Programme, 32 pages.

As with most clubs that appear in the Milton Keynes area, the home ground needs checking carefully, as more often than not, another club will have played here previously. Here, it was Mercedes-Benz, although it was back in season 1996/97 when they did so and a ground I never visited at the time.

Tonight offered a chance to see two evenly matched teams, rather than a one sided thrashing that is the norm, especially for the home club. Bottom of the league were hosting second bottom, with 2 points between them and one game left each, after this one, so very much a ‘wooden spoon’ decider, the ‘prize’ now guaranteed for the hosts.

Anglian Combination League

Premier Division

Saturday 6th May 2017

Kick Off 14.30  On Time !

Harleston Town 0 Spixworth 2,  attendance 875

35′ 0-1

70′ 0-2

@ Recreation  Ground

Wilderness Road

Harleston

IP20 9DD

No Admission

£1 Programme, 24 pages.

So, this was to be the title decider. Harleston had won 18 consecutive league games, stretching back to December, when they lost at Spixworth, their only defeat of the season, to come in to this game just 2 points adrift of the long time league leaders.

I expected a decent crowd for this, but nowhere near the amount that turned up. As a neutral, the match itself turned out to be rather disappointing, with the occasion getting to Harleston and Spixworth never needing to do too much to coast to the title. Even before Harleston had a man sent off on 54 minutes the required win for them just never looked like it was going to happen.

Spixworth are now hoping to gain promotion into the Eastern Counties League, which also means a ground move to do so. They are looking to move into the Norfolk F.A. Football Development Centre and will also take on a new name, which as yet is not decided.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Senior Division

Wednesday 3rd May 2017

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Wenhaston United 1 Achilles 3,  attendance 46

34′ 0-1

39′ 0-2

49′ 1-2

61′ 1-3

@ Wenhaston Playing Field

Hall Road

IP19 9EP

No admission or programme.

This was 3rd bottom v 2nd, both teams needing points for different reasons. Wenhaston remain three points clear of second bottom Stanton, with a goal difference better by + 4 as they both head into their final game, with only the bottom two in the table being relegated. Achilles, meanwhile, knew it had to be a win. They now go into their final game at home to Haughley United (10th) 2 points adrift of league leaders Henley Athletic, who entertain Crane Sports, who are third in the table. Achilles have the far superior goal difference, so if they win the last match it means Henley will also have to win their game to take the title.

Professional Development League

Wednesday 3rd May 2017

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Colchester United U23 0 Leeds United U23 3,  attendance 43

12′ 0-1

44′ 0-2

82′ 0-3

@ Florence Park Training Ground, Pitch 1

Grange Road

Tiptree

CO5 0UH

No Admission

Team Sheet, free.

I hadn’t spotted this game, but was tipped off about it at Lewisham Athletic last night, but just needed to confirm it was actually being played at the training ground and that the public would be allowed in to watch. A phone call to a very helpful member of staff at the main stadium confirmed yes and yes to my two questions.It was a real bonus as I was heading right past Tiptree for my evening game anyway.

Colchester started brightly, but once they conceded the first goal were never in it. Second half became a bit of a non event.

Kent County League

Division 1 West

Tuesday 2nd May 2017

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.34 !

Lewisham Athletic 2 Otford United 3,  attendance 51

15′ 1-0

27′ 1-1

43′ 2-1 (pen)

76′ 2-2 (og)

81′ 2-3

@ Warren Avenue Playing Fields

Warren Avenue

Bromley

BR1 4BP

No admission or programme.

This was 2nd v 1st and the importance of the game meant 3 officials being assigned, rather than the lone Referee that would be the norm. Indeed, on arrival at the ground at 17.30, it was apparent that both teams and the officials were already here and the tea bar was also already doing business.

This result leaves Otford 5 points clear of Lewisham. Otford just have one more game to play, whereas Lewisham still have three more left, so the title could still go either way.

Despite kicking off eleven minutes earlier than the advertised time, this still finished in very poor light, as the second half saw thirteen minutes stoppage time played, resulting in a 20.32 finish.

Spartan South Midlands League

Division 2

Monday 1st May 2017

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.56

Pitstone & Ivinghoe 3 Totternhoe 2,  attendance 78

11′ 1-0

49′ 1-1

54′ 2-1

72′ 2-2

81′ 3-2

@ Pitstone Pavilion and Sports Hall

Marsworth Road

Pitstone

LU7 9AP

£2 Admission

No Programme.

This was 10th v 2nd, with the visitors really losing any chance of winning the league when they were beaten at home by the league leaders Thame Rangers on Saturday. This defeat means that Thame only need a point from their three remaining games to take the title, as they are now eight points clear and have a far superior goal difference than Totternhoe.

This is the first full season that P & I have been playing at this ground, and with the Bank Holiday matches at a premium, it meant it was something of a ‘ground hoppers convention’, with upwards of thirty in attendance today. The club really missed out on a bit of a money spinner by not issuing a programme for today’s match.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Senior Division

Saturday 29th April 2017

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.33

Henley Athletic 1 Bramford United 2,  attendance 116

24′ 0-1

50′ 1-1

67′ 1-2

@ Henley Community Centre

Church Meadows

Henley

IP6 0RP

No Admission

Programme, by donation, 12 pages.

This was 1st v 4th and a win today would have seen Henley crowned as champions in their first season in the top division of the Suffolk & Ipswich League. They came into the game 5 points clear of second placed Achilles, both teams having two games to play, but Achilles with the far superior goal difference.

Henley came into this on the back of 18 consecutive league wins, which is even more remarkable considering this was their first home game for nine weeks !

They really struggled today and never looked like winning, although they came out in the second half and really gave it a go, but when Bramford went in front for the second time, courtesy of a cracking 30 yard shot that dipped over the ‘keeper, it was pretty much game over.

The title is really up for grabs now, as Henley entertain third placed Crane Sports next Saturday, where they will probably need all 3 points to pip Achilles, as they have two winnable games to play. They visit third bottom Wenhaston United on Wednesday evening, then host tenth placed Haughley United on the Saturday.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Premier Division

Thursday 27th April 2017

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.40

Mansfield Road 3 Freeland 6,  attendance 6

8′ 0-1

12′ 0-2

18′ 0-3

35′ 0-4

53′ 1-4

60′ 1-5

69′ 1-6

75′ 2-6

78′ 3-6

@ The University Club

11, Mansfield Road

Oxford

OX1 3PS

No admission or programme.

Arrived here at 1750 to find it totally deserted, although the football pitch was marked out and there were goal nets up, but no corner flags. I rang the home club Secretary to make sure the venue had not been switched at late notice, but having confirmed everything was ok, I was then pleased to see two cars arrive a couple of minutes later, with half a dozen players in red and black track suits emerging. At least the visitors were starting to arrive……so it was now time to pay for the parking. With Oxford being inundated with tourists, and the ground being very close to the city centre, it meant no free parking, even in the streets. In fact, unlike so many cities, parking here is charged up until 22.00, so no way of avoiding the £3 charge. Not sure if the parking charge puts off spectators, but half a dozen for a game at this level is pathetic, especially as three of those present were ground hoppers !

As for the match, it was excellent, as you would expect with it being 4th v 2nd in the league table. Prior to the games on Tuesday evening, these two still had a chance of the title, but Mansfield Road can’t win it now and Freeland can only take it on goal difference. It now looks to be between leaders Heyford Athletic and third placed Adderbury Park, who are 6 points behind, but with 3 games in hand. They meet at Adderbury on 2nd May,  in what will be Heyfords last game, then Adderbury have two more to play after that.

West Sussex League

Premier Division

Tuesday 25th April 2017

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.03

Henfield 4 West Chiltington 1,  attendance 21

14′ 0-1

48′ 1-1

56′ 2-1

78′ 3-1

89′ 4-1

@ Henfield Sports Centre

Northcroft

BN5 9QB

No admission or programme.

6th v 5th and both still had the chance to finish above Newtown Villa who are currently third in the league table. Arriving at 17.35 it was nice to see both teams already going through their warm ups and a Referee who was keen to get the game started as near to the scheduled kick off time as possible.

Henfield had a man sent off after thirteen minutes and then conceded the opening goal a minute later. It must have been a pretty good halftime team talk though, as they totally dominated the second half and this could easily have been won by a larger margin.