Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 3

Tuesday 9th May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.28

Bradfield Rovers 2 Great Bentley Reserves 3, attendance 33

9’ 1-0

14’ 2-0

46’ 2-1

62’ 2-2

70’ 2-3

@ Bradfield Playing Field

The Street

Bradfield

CO11 2UU

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was 1st versus 4th in the league table. It was a must win game for Bradfield, as it was their last game of the season and despite being top of the table, they can still be caught by Gas Recreation (1 point behind with 4 games left) and Frinton & Walton (6 points behind with 3 games left).

At kick off, I doubted whether the game would actually finish, as it was already as dark as it had been when other games I’ve been to recently have finished. It started raining minutes before kick off and thunder was rumbling overhead, but thankfully no lightning. It did brighten up as the game wore on, but it rained for the entirety, although never too heavily.

Bradfield got off to a great start, finishing one on one against the ‘keeper after just nine minutes and quickly following that with a shot into the far corner to lead 2-0 before we were even quarter of an hour into the game. It looked like it would be a comfortable home win, but Great Bentley settled into it and began to show signs of making a real game of it. Within a minute of halftime the visitors pulled it back to 2-1 and almost drew level immediately, when they hit the post from close range. Just after the hour mark it was 2-2. A cracking 25 yarder curled inside the far post. Bradfield looked shell shocked and it was no surprise when Great Bentley grabbed what turned out to be the winner with twenty minutes left, cutting in from the left and shooting for the far corner, with the shot initially being blocked, but the rebound swept in from close range.

So, Bradfield remain top, despite the defeat, but realistically a third placed finish now looks the most likely outcome for them.

Peterborough & District League

Premier Division

Monday 8th May 2023

Kick Off 18.00 On Time!

Uppingham Town 4 Crowland Town 2, attendance 64

15’ 1-0

18’ 2-0

43’ 2-1

51’ 3-1

57’ 4-1

75’ 4-2 (pen)

@ Tod’s Piece

North Street East

Uppingham

LE15 9SZ

No Admission or Programme.

It was about an hour and a quarter’s drive, up a surprisingly quiet M1, from Bedfordshire to Rutland for game two today. The match was 3rd versus 4th in the league table. The visitors could no longer win the league, but Uppingham are well in with a shout of the title. They trail leaders Moulton Harrox by five points and second placed Warboys Town by two points. The top two only have one game left to play, but this was the first of three games in hand for Uppingham, so it is very much in their own hands as they look to clinch a double, having beaten Holbeach United Reserves 4-2 in the Peterborough Senior Cup Final on Friday evening.

Uppingham started brilliantly and were 2-0 up after eighteen minutes. They looked to be coasting, but when Crowland headed in from a free kick just before halftime, it set the second half up perfectly. It only took Uppingham six minutes to restore their two goal lead, finishing with a first time shot from the edge of the ‘D’ into the bottom corner and six minutes later it was 4-1, finishing with a side foot finish at the near post from a corner on the right. A late penalty reduced the arrears, but Uppingham easily held out to take all three points and are now up to second in the table.

Thankfully, the weather was nothing like as bad as forecast, although it did rain for most of the game, but it was only light. The heavy stuff was saved for the drive home.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 3

Monday 8th May 2023

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.31

F.C. Polonia (Luton) 1 Stotfold Junior 1, attendance 24

11’ 0-1

43’ 1-1

@ Moore Crescent Sports & Recreation Ground

Moore Crescent

Houghton Regis

LU5 5GZ

No Admission or Programme.

This was 5th versus 4th in the league table, with both teams still having an outside chance of grabbing a promotion place, more so the visitors, as they are one point above the hosts and have a game in hand. The reverse fixture was played on Saturday, which Polonia had won 4-3.

It was a decent game, with both teams evenly matched. Stotfold had already hit the crossbar with a lob over the ‘keeper, before going ahead after eleven minutes, when a cross from the corner of the 18 yard box was headed in at the far post. The equaliser came two minutes before halftime, when a throw in was finished with a shot on the turn into the bottom corner. Both teams went close to grabbing a winner and Stotfold really should have won it late on, when a cross from the right saw a striker somehow miss an open goal from 6 yards, blasting his shot over the crossbar.

Home to Polonia is Moore Crescent, in Houghton Regis, which hosted South Midlands League football back in the 1990’s when Houghton Town played here. There are two pitches, with today’s game played on the furthest one from the changing rooms.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 1

Saturday 6th May 2023

Kick Off 13.00 On Time!

Cavendish 1 Silver End United 3, attendance 16

43’ 0-1

48’ 0-2

81’ 1-2

90’ + 1, 1-3

@ Cavendish Sports Club

Lower Street

Cavendish

CO10 8AD

No Admission or Programme.

This game was the perfect choice today. The early kick off (the Reserves were at home at 4 o’clock) meant there would be ample time to head elsewhere if the game was called off late, especially as we are now at the time of the season where many teams can’t be bothered to “raise a team”. It also helped that Silver End could clinch the title today, as they trailed league leaders Brightlingsea Town, who have completed their fixtures, by two points and this was the first of their three games in hand to try and pick up a win that would see them leapfrog them at the top. Despite being eighth, Cavendish could still manage a fourth placed finish, if they took maximum points from their final three games.

Silver End were certainly looking to get the job done at the first time of asking and pushed hard for the opening goal. They saw a header come back off the post early on. Midway through the half a defender scuffed a clearance which also hit the post and shortly afterwards the home ‘keeper finger tipped a long range effort onto the crossbar. They finally broke the deadlock two minutes before halftime, finishing a right wing cross with a side foot from 6 yards. It was 0-2 within minutes of the restart, when a long range shot beat the ‘keeper despite him getting a hand to it. Cavendish made it a nervy finish for the visitors, when a shot was curled in off the far post to make it 1-2 with nine minutes left, but a one on one finish saw Silver End make the game safe, when Dan Cage completed his hattrick in stoppage time to make it 1-3 and wrap up the title with two games to spare.

It was a horrible day, with rain falling throughout the match. The cricket pavilion provides cover, but the view is across the cricket square. An unusual feature was the couple of corrugated iron dugouts set into the hedge on the far side.

Suffolk & Ipswich League

Senior Division

Thursday 4th May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Claydon 1 Halesworth Town 3, attendance 61

5’ 1-0

49’ 1-1

62’ 1-2

67’ 1-3

@ Blue Circle Ground

Bramford Road

Great Blakenham

IP6 0JX

No Admission or Programme.

There was a three way battle at the top of the table coming into this. Henley Athletic are top on 65 points (2 to play) with Ransomes Sports on 61 points (2 to play) and then Halesworth Town on 56 points (5 to play). The top two still have to play each other next week, at Henley, so Halesworth are very much in with a shout of taking the title.

Eighth in the table Claydon had nothing to play for, but certainly weren’t going to make it easy for the visitors. They took the lead after just five minutes, when a throw in was finished with a shot on the turn from 10 yards. Halesworth dominated for most of the first half, but Claydon were hanging onto their lead comfortably and never really looked like conceding. The visitors stepped it up in the second half and equalised within four minutes of the restart, when a square ball across the box was tapped in from 3 yards. Just after the hour mark Halesworth went in front, powering in a header at the near post, from a corner on the left and five minutes later it was 1-3, when another corner from the same side was headed in unmarked at the far post. It was one way traffic from here and it was quite a surprise that the visitors failed to add to their tally.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Division 2

Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.32

Bibury 1 Tewkesbury Town 2, attendance 55

5’ 0-1

47’ 0-2

62’ 1-2

@ Aldsworth Road

Bibury

GL7 5PA

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 3rd versus 1st in the league table and the only ground in this division I hadn’t previously visited. Tewkesbury were already crowned champions and Tredworth Tigers had guaranteed second place, but Bibury knew a win tonight, in their final game, would see them take the remaining promotion place.

Tewkesbury went ahead after just five minutes and never looked like relinquishing their lead, apart from late in the first half when Bibury were awarded a penalty, but it was well saved by the ‘keeper. Another quick start by the visitors saw them go 0-2 up just two minutes into the second half, when a diagonal free kick was headed in from 6 yards. Just after the hour mark Bibury did pull a goal back, finishing from close range after a free kick into the box wasn’t cleared, but they never really threatened an equaliser.

Fourth placed Falcons trail Bibury by eight points, but still have three games left, two of which are at home, so still very much in the balance as far as which of them will go up.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 3

Tuesday 2nd May 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.39

Sporting Rebels 0 Frinton & Walton 6, attendance 29

8’ 0-1

19’ 0-2

45’ + 1, 0-3

51’ 0-4

60’ 0-5

84’ 0-6

@ Plough Corner Playing Fields

Harwich Road

Little Clacton

CO16 9ND

No Admission or Programme.

This was 10th versus 3rd (out of 11) and affected both ends of the table as Sporting Rebels are four points adrift of safety and Frinton & Walton trail leaders Bradfield Rovers by nine points, but have three games in hand and are five points behind second placed Gas Recreation, having played a game more.

An early goal saw the visitors go ahead and if it wasn’t for a great double save by the home ‘keeper and a shot that came back off a post, this could have been all over in the first fifteen minutes. In truth, once Frinton scored, it was already done and dusted, as Rebels never looked like scoring. Frinton headed in from a corner half an hour in and added a third in first half stoppage time. Frinton wasted chance after chance and could really have boosted their goal difference quite considerably. It was 0-5 by the time Rebels had their first shot on target, with twelve minutes left. Frinton blazed a penalty over the bar with seven minutes left, but did make it 0-6 a minute later, after a great double save by the ‘keeper, stopping one from blank range, before tipping the second effort onto the crossbar, but the rebound was scrambled over the line. Frinton were probably disappointed to have only got six goals. It should have been at least double that.

The ground is a huge field that could probably accommodate six pitches. Tonight’s game was on the one in the near right hand corner as you enter the complex by the changing rooms.

Somerset County League

Division 2

Monday 1st May 2023

Kick Off 15.00 On Time!

Imperial 1 Peasedown Miners Welfare 2, attendance 72

32’ 0-1

79’ 1-1

80’ 1-2

@ South Bristol Sports Centre

West Town Lane

Bristol

BS14 9EA

No Admission or Programme.

I had been to South Bristol Sports Centre back in October 2019, when I saw Wessex Wanderers play a Bristol Suburban League match on the 3G pitch. Imperial play on a grass pitch here, so another visit was required. I actually attempted to come here on Easter Monday, when they were due to host league leaders Combe St. Nicholas. Well, I actually arrived, but the game had been postponed due to a ‘waterlogged’ pitch. It was in perfect condition and the sun was out. I was absolutely astounded it was off, but these things happen from time to time. More annoyingly, another option I had that day, just 5 miles from our overnight stay in Exeter, took place!

Anyway, I decided to make another attempt today. This time there was no problem with the weather and the club had confirmed via Twitter that all was good, so fingers crossed. It was a big game as far as the promotion places went. Either Combe St. Nicholas or Ashcott (56 points each, 4 games left) will win the league, with a three way fight for the final promotion place between Imperial (45 pts, 2 to play) Cutters Friday (41 pts, 4 to play) and Peasedown Miners Welfare (41 pts, 3 to play).

It was a cagey first half, but Peasedown managed to break the deadlock after thirty two minutes, touching in a right wing cross at the near post. It looked like that might be enough to take the points, but with eleven minutes left Imperial drew level, when a flick on sent the winger clear and he finished superbly into the far top corner. It took less than a minute for the visitors to regain the lead though, when a cross in from the left saw a striker nip in front of the ‘keeper to poke the ball in from 6 yards and they weren’t going to let the points slip from there.

The M25, M3 and M4 were as quiet as I can ever remember on a Bank Holiday, without a single delay either way and after today’s visit, I am left with just Cutters Friday to complete the entire league now.

Shropshire County League

Premier Division

Saturday 29th April 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Shrewsbury Up & Comers 4 Ercall Colts Evolution 3, attendance 26

3’ 0-1

5’ 1-1

31’ 2-1 (pen)

51’ 2-2

62’ 2-3

71’ 3-3

75’ 4-3

@ Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology

London Road

Shrewsbury

SY2 6PR

No Admission or Programme.

I got lucky with this one. The Referee from my morning game was listed as also doing this match (as Linesman) so I was able to confirm that the game was going ahead okay. However, I never thought to confirm the location, so turned up at the ground listed on the F.A. Full Time website, where Shrewsbury Up & Comers are shown to have played all their home games so far this season, but found a cricket match in progress. I was told that the football ‘always move to London Road once the cricket start’ and that was where the game would be. It’s only half a mile away, but the problem was, I had already done a game at S.C.A.T. before, as I had seen Shrewsbury Town U18 play there back in 1997.

Having driven past here dozens of times over the years, I was well aware of the layout, so had no problem in knowing if this was being played on a different pitch to the one I had seen a game on already. When I came before, the match was on the pitch that runs lengthways away from the old changing room building. Both remain, but the building looks as if it is no longer used. Today’s game was being played on a pitch beyond the hedge, running widthways to the former, so I was okay. There was even a game taking place on the 3G pitch as well, which has been installed in the intervening years, where Wellington Amateurs Development were hosting Ercall Colts Revolution in a Shropshire County League cup match, which also wasn’t shown as being played here on the F.A. Full Time website!

As for the match, I wasn’t expecting too much, as it was another mid-table game, as 6th hosted 8th. It turned out to be a cracker though. Ercall were ahead within three minutes, coolly lobbing the ‘keeper when put through, but their lead only lasted a couple of minutes. Up & Comers went ahead from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark, following a trip by the ‘keeper and it was still 2-1 at halftime. By the hour mark Ercall had turned things round to lead 2-3, but Up & Comers levelled it up at 3-3 with twenty minutes left. They then went 4-3 up just four minutes later and Ercall had their ‘keeper sin binned for arguing about a ‘foul’ during the build up to the goal. Up & Comers could have added a fifth in stoppage time, but the penalty was well saved by the ‘keeper.

Even on the results section of F.A. Full Time, neither game are being shown as having been played here. Very poor.

Shropshire County League

Premier Division

Saturday 29th April 2023

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.09

Prees United 3 Wrockwardine Wood 1, attendance 23

35’ 1-0

39’ 1-1

53’ 2-1

68’ 3-1

@ Prees Cricket and Recreation Club

Brades Road

Prees

SY13 2DX

No Admission or Programme.

I had assumed this was an early kick off due to it being played at a ground shared with cricket, but it was in fact due to the social club hosting a wedding reception later on. Anyway, the noon kick off had been confirmed via Twitter, so it was an early start for the 194 mile drive to the north Shropshire village of Prees, just south of Whitchurch. There are two pitches here, either side of the cricket square, with the main pitch furthest from the car park. There are dugouts here and an old bandstand that acts as cover, as well as training lights (they were used during a 19.15 kick off on Tuesday evening).

Although there was nothing riding on the game, as both were comfortably mid table (5th v 7th), it was keenly contested and at times had a nasty under current, which threatened to boil over a number of times. It was a dull opening half hour, before the visitors had a header disallowed for offside, followed almost immediately by Prees having one chalked off for a foul on the ‘keeper. Within minutes Prees did open the scoring though, tapping in from 6 yards from a ball pulled back from the left. The visitors soon levelled, shooting into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Prees went ahead early in the second half, clipping the ball into the far corner after being played clear and their third goal arrived with just over twenty minutes left, heading in at the near post from a long throw in. Deep into stoppage time the visitors missed a penalty, which was well saved by the ‘keeper.

There were six hoppers present, planning to head off to four different games in the afternoon, although the late kick off and subsequent later than expected finish, meant revised plans for some. I had plenty of time to get to my intended match. It also helped that the Referee was actually running the line at my second game, so it certainly wouldn’t be starting until he got there. What could possibly go wrong?……