Sevenoaks & District League

Division 3

Thursday 27th May 2021

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.39

Horsmonden 1 Green Street Green Rovers 1, attendance 60

24’ 0-1

90’+ 4, 1-1

@ Horsmonden Sports Ground

Maidstone Road

Horsmonden

TN12 8NE

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 4th versus 1st in the league table. GSGR won the league last night without kicking a ball, as Kemsing United Reserves, the only team that could catch them, lost away to bottom of the table Kings Hill Development. Horsmonden, on the other hand, were one of four teams that could still finish second in the table, therefore being promoted, but they needed to win tonight (would have lifted them up to 2nd) as this was their last match of the season, then hope results went in their favour on Saturday.

It was very even throughout and there was little between the two sides. GSGR went ahead with a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced behind the line before spinning away, which the Referee awarded as a goal, despite the home club linesman saying it hadn’t crossed the line. It certainly looked a goal, but it didn’t help that there appeared to be no goal line markings between the posts! As well as winning the league, GSGR would also win any competition that involved moaning and whining at every decision. They were relentless and certainly didn’t come across as a very sporting bunch.

At least Horsmonden managed to avoid defeat, even if they fell short of the victory they needed. Late into added time a shot rebounded off the post, but it was put away by a striker following in. The point leaves them third in the table, but they may drop a couple of places if the two teams below them win their final games.

Essex Olympian League

Division 1

Wednesday 26th May 2021

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.02

Ramsden Scotia 1 Ongar Town 3, attendance 46

23’ 1-0

45’ 1-1

54’ 1-2

86’ 1-3

@ Nursery Sports Field

Downham Road

Ramsden Heath

CM11 1PU

No Admission or Programme.

The Essex Olympian League has become a bit of a farce in the last week, with numerous clubs pulling out of their matches as they can’t be bothered to raise a team. Thankfully, there was no problem here, as 8th in the league table hosted the champions. A win for Ramsden would see them in with a chance of finishing fifth, whilst visitors Ongar were looking to remain unbeaten for the season, this being their penultimate match.

Ramsden opened the scoring midway through the first half and if Ongar were going to keep their unbeaten run going, then they were certainly going to have to work hard for it. They were well on top, but were wasting a huge number of good chances, as well as coming up against a home ‘keeper in top form. When Ramsden had a man red carded (two yellow card offences)five minutes before halftime, it turned the game in the visitors favour. They levelled on the stroke of halftime and got their second goal early in the second half, but they struggled to kill the game off and it was only in the last five minutes that they finally made it 1-3.

Sevenoaks & District League

Premier Division

Tuesday 25th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.33

Nomads 6 West Kingsdown 1, attendance 25

1’ 1-0

7’ 2-0

24’ 2-1

33’ 3-1

40’ 4-1

46’ 5-1

75’ 6-1

@ Mowshurst Cottage

Four Elms Road

Mowshurst

TN8 6LP

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 1st versus 7th in the league table. Nomads are another Sevenoaks & District League club that have previously played in the Kent County League, having spent three seasons at the higher level, gaining promotion in their first season, before leaving the league in 2018. Despite their lowly finishing position this season, West Kingsdown are making the step up to county level for next season.

The battle for the title could still see any of the top four teams able to win it coming into this. Nomads were on 29 points (2 to play), F.C. Revo 27 points (2 to play), Potters 27 points (1 to play), then St. Lawrence 26 points (2 to play). After tonight’s fixtures it is now down to just the top two, as F.C. Revo beat St. Lawrence 8-4 in the other game played this evening. Crucially, Nomads have a better goal difference of +9 over F.C. Revo, so a draw could be enough for them in their last match.

The game here was just too comfortable for Nomads. They opened each half with a goal within thirty seconds and apart from a brief spell when West Kingsdown pulled it back to 2-1 midway through the first half, it was never in doubt that it was going to be a home win.

Yeovil & District League

Division 1

Monday 24th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Wyndham Athletic 1 Ilchester 2, attendance 24

48’ 0-1

54’ 1-1

88’ 1-2

@ Bradford Abbas Sports & Recreational Club

Farm Road

Bradford Abbas

DT9 6RP

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 2nd versus 3rd in the league table. Ashcott Reserves and Wyndham had already secured the two promotion places, but the title was still up for grabs. Ashcott (2 to play) were 5 points clear, but Wyndham have a game in hand and if they were to win tonight, then win away at already relegated Pen Mill Athletic on Thursday, then it would set up a title decider as they host Ashcott on Saturday.

However, things didn’t quite go to plan. They were very much second best tonight and Ilchester really should have won by more. Even allowing for a strong wind that spoiled the game somewhat, Wyndham were awful and didn’t even manage an effort on goal first half. Ilchester broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, when a corner was headed in at the far post, but Wyndham levelled six minutes later when they also scored with a header from a corner. The expected onslaught from the hosts never materialised and Ilchester finally killed the game off two minutes from time, with a 20 yard shot that dipped over the ‘keeper. The result sees Ilchester confirm a third place finish.

Despite the defeat, Wyndham could still have been in with a shout of taking the title if Ashcott had slipped up at A.F.C. Strode tonight. They didn’t. They won 7-1.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Premier Cup Semi Final

Saturday 22nd May 2021

Kick Off 17.00 Actual 16.59

Yarnton 0 Kennington Athletic 1, attendance 87

79’ 0-1

@ Littlemarsh Playing Fields

Green Lane

Yarnton

OX5 1QE

No Admission or Programme.

I never visited Yarnton when they played in the Hellenic League, although as it is 23 years since they dropped down, after having spent seven seasons at the higher level, then perhaps it’s not that surprising. With the late kick off here, due to the Reserves also being at home today, this was the perfect time to visit, especially as it was only 40 minutes drive north from my afternoon match at Goring United. Kennington were actually drawn at home in the tie, but due to unavailability of their ground it meant the match was switched to Yarnton.

It was a game of few chances, but Kennington were the better side for the majority. Yarnton did have a shot that hit the post with the ‘keeper well beaten, but the visitors had missed a number of good chances that should have seen them out of sight. It looked like we might be heading for extra time, until a Kennington striker nipped in front of a Yarnton defender and shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net, to win it for the visitors with eleven minutes left. They now face Launton Sports in the final on Bank Holiday Monday at Old Woodstock Town.

Thames Valley Premier League

Division 2

Saturday 22nd May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Goring United 8 Twyford & Ruscombe 1, attendance 30

8’ 1-0

10’ 1-1

21’ 2-1

30’ 3-1

54’ 4-1

65’ 5-1

73’ 6-1

83’ 7-1

90’+ 3, 8-1

@ Sheepcot Field

Gatehampton Road

Goring

RG8 0EN

No Admission or Programme.

With the amount of teams now failing to fulfill fixtures, it was a case of finding a game with something on it, although even that can’t be enough to guarantee games will actually take place at the moment. The game wasn’t being played at their normal ground in Upper Red Cross Road, due to cricket taking over there, but was some 400 yards away, on the other side of the railway line, at a ground that is also home to the local tennis club. I wasn’t able to confirm the game was definitely going ahead, so set off more in hope than expectation. Goring did reply to my text that the game was indeed on…..but, three minutes into the match!

Goring were second in the league table, where any of the top five teams could still make the two promotion places. Twyford & Ruscombe were second from bottom, but a single win could see them climb two places, so relegation is certainly not guaranteed. An early free kick put Goring ahead, but a deflected shot brought the visitors level within two minutes. By halftime it was 3-1, as a header from a corner, and an angled shot across the ‘keeper put Goring in command and an early second half goal for the hosts put the points beyond doubt. Twyford & Ruscombe battled well throughout, but had nothing to offer in attack. Four more goals rounded off an emphatic 8-1 win for Goring, although it wasn’t as easy as the score line suggests.

East Berkshire League

Division 1

Wednesday 19th May 2021

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.13

Stoke Poges Saints 0 Old Windsor Reserves 4, attendance 19

31’ 0-1

55’ 0-2

57’ 0-3

61’ 0-4

@ Bells Hill Recreation Ground

Bells Hill

Stoke Poges

SL2 4EG

No Admission or Programme.

I have done very few games in this league, as in my experience it is not the most reliable for games actually taking place at this time of the season, especially midweek. No problems tonight though, as 2nd hosted 3rd in the league table. Old Windsor Reserves were well deserved winners. Having led 0-1 at the break, three goals in a six minute spell around the hour mark sealed a comfortable win, with the fourth goal being the pick of the bunch, when a run and cross from the right was headed in powerfully at the far post.

The win sees the two clubs swap places in the table. Old Windsor Reserves now trail leaders Iver Heath by 4 points, but do still have a game in hand. Unfortunately, as their first team are in the Premier Division, they will be unable to be promoted, even if they do go on to win the league.

Sevenoaks & District League

Division 1

Tuesday 18th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.33

Ightham 2 Malgo 5, attendance 21

8’ 0-1

14’ 1-1

38’ 2-1

47’ 2-2

50’ 2-3

51’ 2-4

60’ 2-5

@ Ightham Recreation Ground

A25 Ightham by-Pass

Ightham

TN15 9AD

No Admission or Programme.

The first thing you notice when driving into the car park is the huge end to end slope on the pitch, rising away from you, then once pitch side, it is evident that it also dips in the middle, before rising again towards the touch lines. Along the right hand side the trees also hang over the pitch and the ball hit the branches a number of times during the match.

Tonight’s match was 5th versus 2nd in the league table. I had seen Malgo lose away at Swanley Oaks on Saturday, which was their first league defeat this season and subsequently they lost top spot to Westerham on goal difference, but this was a chance to retake it by winning this game in hand.

Malgo started well and could have scored twice before opening the scoring early on. Ightham responded with an equaliser and were certainly not going to make it easy for the visitors. Ightham scored with a shot that went in off the post to go in 2-1 up at the break and it could have been more, as they also had a goal ruled out for offside. Malgo made a blistering start to the second half, scoring three times in six minutes, which totally knocked the stuffing out of the hosts, before rounding off the scoring on the hour mark.

The win sees Malgo go three points clear of Westerham (who have a better goal difference of +2) at the top of the table, with both teams having two matches to play.

Thames Valley Premier League

Division 1

Monday 17th May 2021

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.05

Wingrave 6 F.C. Imaan Lions 4, attendance 35

2’ 1-0 (pen)

7’ 1-1 (pen)

18’ 1-2 (pen)

23’ 2-2

37’ 3-2

45’+ 1, 3-3

51’ 4-3

61’ 4-4 (pen)

86’ 5-4

90’ 6-4

@ Wargrave Recreation Ground (Kings Field)

Recreation Road

Wargrave

RG10 8BG

No Admission or Programme.

The match started and ended in dry conditions, but in between we had thunder, lightning and rain, which was heavy at times and left the pitch, which was in excellent condition, rather muddied in the goalmouths by the end. The Recreation Ground houses the car park, pavilion and main cricket pitch, then beyond the bowls club and pre-school buildings is Kings Field, which is where the football pitch is, along with a second cricket pitch.

This was 2nd versus 4th in the league table and it certainly didn’t disappoint as far as entertainment went. It was superb. Wargrave opened the scoring with a penalty, but Imaan Lions were awarded two themselves to go 1-2 up. The hosts once again edged in front only for the visitors to head in a stoppage time goal to make it 3-3 at the break. An own goal put Wargrave back in front, but it was level at 4-4 after an hour, when Kamran Khan completed a hattrick of penalties for the visitors. Unbelievably, the Referee then awarded a fifth penalty of the night, but Wargrave were unable to convert, with the striker hitting the outside of the post as he sent his shot wide of the target. Four minutes from time a free kick was headed in at the near post to put the hosts 5-4 ahead, before they made it 6-4 as the clock hit ninety minutes.

Sevenoaks & District League

Division 1

Saturday 15th May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Swanley Oaks 2 Malgo 1, attendance 46

39’ 1-0

50’ 2-0

87’ 2-1

@ Swanley Recreation Ground

St. Mary’s Road

Swanley

BR8 7BU

No Admission or Programme.

It was under half an hour drive from Penshurst for the second part of the double for today. This was 4th versus 1st in the league table, with the visitors arriving here unbeaten, having won 10 and drawn 3 of their matches so far. Swanley Oaks would need an unlikely set of results to go their way to enable them to finish any higher than third.

Swanley Oaks broke the deadlock shortly before halftime, when an unstoppable shot from close range found the top corner of the net, giving the ‘keeper no chance at his near post. Having twice gone close, it was third time lucky, when a through ball put the striker clear and he lobbed the ‘keeper from the angle of the 18 yard box five minutes into the second half, which put the hosts 2-0 up. Malgo reduced the arrears with a looping header with three minutes left, but it was too late to save their unbeaten record.

Westerham now occupy first place in the league table, courtesy of a better goal difference of +5 over Malgo, but crucially Malgo have a game in hand.