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.

Cambridgeshire County League

Division 2B

Saturday 3rd May 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58!

Soham United 2 Wisbech St. Mary Reserves 5, attendance 37

18’ 0-1

21’ 0-2 (pen)

23’ 1-2

40’ 1-3

47’ 1-4

51’ 1-5

90’ 2-5

@ Qua Fen Common

Soham

CB7 5DQ

No Admission or Programme.

I gave away my two original options (both 3G) for this afternoon in favour of this. A fellow hopper at the morning game had received a positive reply that the game was going ahead okay and it was only a twelve minute drive away. Even better, it was on grass and the game still had something riding on it, as the visitors knew a win would see them finish in the second promotion place in the league.

The ground is to the north of the town, just off the A412 heading towards Ely, the ground being on the left as you head back in towards the town. There’s a small car park, as well as ample roadside parking. There’s a wooden changing room building, that also housed a tea bar. In front is a youth team pitch, with the men’s pitch to the right, roped along the near side and a pair of dugouts on the other. Wooden fencing, bordering fields, gives the pitch a more enclosed feel on the other three sides.

Wisbech St. Mary got off to a great start and were 0-2 up after twenty one minutes, the second being a penalty. An own goal saw Soham pull it back to 1-2 within minutes, as a defender diverted a cross into his own net when attempting to clear the ball. Wisbech restored their two goal lead five minutes before halftime, with a 25 yard free kick that went straight over the ‘keeper. They killed the game off when an easy finish at the far post made it 1-4 two minutes into the second half and almost scored again minutes later, but the effort hit the post. Minutes later they did make it 1-5 though, beating the keeper with a shot at the near post. Soham rounded off the scoring with a consolation goal in the last minute to give a final score of 2-5, beating the offside trap and finishing one on one against the ‘keeper.

A nice touch by the home club at halftime, when free tea or coffee was brought round on a tray to all the spectators, as it was the last game of the season and they wanted to use up some of their remaining stock. Rather than heading home after the game, I was on my way north, for my overnight hotel, in readiness for tomorrow’s rugby league ‘Magic Weekend’ at Newcastle United F.C.

Cambridgeshire County League

Division 1B

Saturday 3rd May 2025

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.22

Exning United 7 Needingworth United 0, attendance 16

3’ 1-0

10’ 2-0

28’ 3-0

32’ 4-0

55’ 5-0

65’ 6-0

89’ 7-0

@ Lacey’s Lane

Exning

CB8 7HL

No Admission or Programme.

The noon kick off here gave plenty of options for a double today, or at least should have done. By Friday evening, a lot of fixtures in this league had already been called off, due to teams not being bothered to complete their season, although my two first choices were still, allegedly, going ahead. However, there was the added problem here of the Referee not turning up until after we should have already started. His excuse was that he didn’t know it was a 12 o’clock kick off, until the club phoned him, by which time both teams were already out on the pitch doing their warm ups! Anyway, at least he turned up, albeit resulting in the kick off being 22 minutes later than scheduled, ending a nervous wait for the ‘hoppers present, who made up half the crowd!

It was 4th versus 5th in the league table, with Exning still in with a chance of finishing second, which would see them promoted behind league winners Huntingdon United. It was an easy win for them, being 2-0 up after just ten minutes. The visitors had a man sin binned after nineteen minutes, for arguing the decision of a penalty awarded to Exning. A bit of a waste really, as the kick was saved! The ten men conceded again when a header was saved by the ‘keeper, but followed in to make it 3-0 and within minutes of being back to full strength, they conceded a fourth, when a one two on the edge of the box was finished into the bottom corner. An own goal made it 5-0 ten minutes into the second half, before number six was curled in from the edge of the box ten minutes later. An angled shot into the bottom corner rounded off the scoring with a minute left.

So, the win sees Exning finish their season in second place, but they’ll have to wait to see what happens, as Stretham could still finish above them, depending on the outcome of their home match versus third bottom Great Paxton, which was called off on Saturday. It certainly doesn’t reflect well on the league when a ‘no show’ costs another club a promotion place, whether it’s Exning or Stretham that miss out in the end.

Home to Exning United is Lacey’s Lane (not the ground in Chapel Street, which is where F.A. Full Time shows the game as being played, but correctly marked on Apple Maps) about 200 yards along on the right, after turning off Chapel Street. There’s a small car park, but ample parking outside on the lane too. Just a brick built pavilion, with overhang on the front, with the pitch running lengthways away from here.

Stroud & District League

Division 2

Wednesday 30th April 2025

Kick Off 18.45 On Time!

Stratton United 3 Abbeymead Rovers 0, attendance 70

55’ 1-0

80’ 2-0

82’ 3-0 (pen)

@ Kingshill Playing Field

Kingshill Lane

Kings Hill

Cirencester

GL7 1SY

No Admission or Programme.

This was the last game of the season in this division. Abbeymead Rovers were already champions, with Stratton United third, needing a point from this game to join them in the second promotion spot. There were even three appointed match officials, which I’m sure is not normally the case in this league. It certainly did Stratton a favour that the visitors had nothing to play for, bar pride, with the league already sewn up and a cup final still to come. They still made Stratton work for the win though, in a game that never really hit any great heights. The best chance of a goalless first half saw Abbeymead hit the crossbar, with Stratton rarely threatening.

Things changed in the second half though. In the opening five minutes Stratton hit the post with a header from a corner, quickly followed by a shot from the edge of the box well tipped round the post by the ‘keeper. They made the breakthrough ten minutes in, finishing with an angled shot under the ‘keeper, having been played through on the left hand side of the box. Ten minutes from the end they made the game safe, cutting in from the left, before curling in a shot off the inside of the far post and two minutes later they made it 3-0, scoring with a penalty.

Kingshill Playing Field is a very basic venue, over the hedge from the Corinium Stadium ground of Cirencester Town. F.C. There’s a decent sized car park, with a brick built changing room building. The pitch is round the back of the building and was roped along most of one side. Another trouble free journey in both directions, apart from a small diversion near Swindon due to a closure on the A419, but still a drive time of under two hours.

Cambridgeshire County League

Senior A Division

Tuesday 29th April 2025

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Isleham United 2 Orwell 1, attendance 45

50’ 1-0

61’ 1-1

68’ 2-1

@ Isleham Recreation Ground

Mill Street

Isleham

CB7 5RY

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 2nd versus 1st in the league table. Orwell had already won the league, but Isleham needed to win tonight, as they would then be five points clear of fifth in the table Great Shelford Reserves, who have two games to play, so could pip them for the runners up spot. It has to be said, the first half was absolutely turgid stuff, with not a single effort on goal from either side. Five minutes into the second half Isleham broke the deadlock, when a cross in from the left was finished from 6 yards into the far corner and the game really opened up. Just after the hour Orwell were level, with a goal finished into the far corner from just inside the box, but it only took Isleham seven minutes to regain the lead, cutting in from the left before curling a shot into the far corner. They managed to hold on to take all three points, despite having a man red carded late on, for elbowing an Orwell player on the ground, following a tackle where they both ended up on the floor.

Home to Isleham is the recreation ground, in the centre of the village and shared with the cricket club, with the pitch roped along each touchline. There was a cafe inside the building next to the changing rooms, where hot and cold drinks/snacks were available throughout the match. No traffic problems, in either direction, meant it was under two hours drive each way.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial V.F.V. 4E

Sunday 27th April 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

K.F.C. Werchter 2 K.V. Tremelo 4, attendance 121

13’ 0-1

36’ 1-1

43’ 2-1

45’ 2-2

65’ 2-3

70’ 2-4

@ Grotestraat

3118 Werchter

€5 Admission

No Programme.

It was an early start for this one, booked on the 0815 P&O ferry from Dover to Calais, which left dead on time. The driver and the other passenger were heading for the league match at Sportief Rotselaar, a ground I’d already visited, so I needed a game nearby and this fitted the bill perfectly, as the two grounds are only four miles apart and I was dropped off about an hour before kick off. Considering it was picked purely on its close proximity to Rotselaar, I certainly came up trumps with this one. Despite it being the lowest level of Belgian football, it was a cracking ground, similar to something right out of the Scottish Juniors. There is a clubhouse behind the near goal end, with the changing rooms at the halfway point of the right hand touchline, a side that would be covered for it’s entire length, were it not for two sections of missing pieces of roof, which look to be due to old age/storm damage, which give the initial appearance of there being three separate sections of cover. On the left hand side is a two step section of cover, whilst the far goal end is inaccessible. Even the rail around the pitch adds to the charm, with some sections looking like they’ve certainly been leaned on a lot over the years!

I was also lucky that I got a very good game out of it too, where 5th hosted 6th in the league table, between two clubs just three miles apart. It was a glorious sunny afternoon, where it was around 22 degrees, resulting in a drinks break (for the players, not me) being taken during each half. Tremelo broke the deadlock after thirteen minutes, when a shot on the turn found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. On thirty six minutes Werchter were level, when a ball across the face of the goal was finished at the far post. Two minutes before halftime they went ahead, with another finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, but with the last kick of the half Tremelo made it 2-2, when a deep cross from the left hand touchline was left by the home defence and put in by a striker sneaking in at the far post.

Twenty minutes into the second half Tremelo made it 2-3, breaking quickly from defending a corner and from the second attempt at getting the cross in, it was volleyed in from six yards, with this being the point to then take the second drinks break. Tremelo finally killed the game off when they made it 2-4 with twenty minutes left, when a through ball split the defence and the ‘keeper was beaten low at his near post.

I was picked up just after five o’clock and we headed for home, stopping for a meal en route back to Calais, as we were not booked to return until 22.25, arriving back at the port at 20.45. I arrived home about 00.40. A long day, but well worth it, with this bringing up ground visit number 850 for me in Belgium.