Thames Valley Premier League

Premier Division

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59

Finchampstead 4 Marlow United 1, attendance 41

15’ 1-0 (pen)

21’ 2-0

64’ 2-1

73’ 3-1

76’ 4-1

@ Arborfield Recreation Ground

Swallowfield Road

Arborfield Cross

RG2 9QD

No Admission or Programme.

Luckily, the rain that had been forecast only arrived as I pulled into the car park an hour before kick off, at what is the temporary home ground where Finchampstead will play out the season. The wind had increased during the day and combined with the now constant rain, it made viewing rather unpleasant. There was just enough shelter provided by the changing room building and a wooden structure, set back behind the near goal, to keep the majority of the crowd protected from the worst of the weather.

The match was 2nd versus 12th in the league table and a game that pretty much went to form. A penalty put Finchampstead ahead and they added a second goal shortly afterwards, but it was still only 2-0 at the break. Just after the hour mark Marlow pulled a goal back with an unstoppable effort from outside the 18 yard box , but the comeback never materialised and Finchampstead added two more as we entered the last quarter of an hour to run out comfortable 4-1 winners. The win sees them go level on points with Berks County at the top of the table, but they have played three games more than the leaders.

Mid Sussex League

Premier Division (bottom section)

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Cuckfield Rangers 3 Sedlescombe Rangers 2, attendance 33

9’ 0-1

52’ 1-1

69’ 1-2

74’ 2-2

76’ 3-2

@ Whitemans Green Recreation Ground, Pitch 1

Whitemans Green (B2114)

Cuckfield

RH17 5DA

No Admission or Programme.

Whitemans Green Recreation Ground consists of three football pitches. Pitch 1 is to the left of the changing room building, if looking from the car park as you enter the ground, whilst Pitch 2 is to the right. In the far right corner of the field, running widthways to the other two, is Pitch 3. I had seen Cuckfield Rangers play on that pitch when I came here previously, for another Bank Holiday morning fixture back on 3rd January 2011, where they beat Ardingly 1-0 in a Mid Sussex League Division 1 fixture in front of 11 spectators.

Game two for me today was in the bottom section of the revamped split league table, done to complete the promotion/relegation issues whereby each team plays the others just once, with points then added to a PPG total from matches played before the COVID-19 shutdown.

The match had nothing riding on it, as both teams are comfortably sitting in the middle of the table. I had concerns that Sedlescombe might not fulfill the fixture, as they had lost 0-7 on Saturday, but I needn’t have worried. In fact, they were the better team for long periods, in a match that could have gone either way. The visitors led twice, but having levelled at 2-2 with fifteen minutes left, Cuckfield got the winner a couple of minutes later, when a cross from the left was fumbled by the ‘keeper giving an easy tap in for the striker.

Mid Sussex League

Division 2 South

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.59

Ditchling 3 Burgess Hill Rhinos 2, attendance 21

3’ 1-0

28’ 2-0

36’ 2-1 (pen)

53’ 3-1

85’ 3-2

@ Adastra Park (North Field)

Keymer Road

Hassocks

BN6 8QH

No Admission or Programme.

Today’s intended treble started with a 3rd versus 4th clash in the league table. Ditchling had to win in order to still have a chance of pipping leaders Cuckfield Town Reserves to the title, whilst a win for Rhinos could still see them take second place.

Ditchling were ahead early and looked to be coasting to the three points when they went 2-0 up. However, a penalty saw Rhinos get back into it and despite the hosts regaining their two goal lead early in the second half, they had a nervous finish when the visitors added a second goal five minutes from time.

Mid Sussex League

Division 4 South

Saturday 1st May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.57

Keymer & Hassocks 1 Eastbourne Athletic 2, attendance 12

8’ 1-0

34’ 1-1

44’ 1-2

@ Batchelors Field

Bolney Recreation Ground

The Street

Bolney

RH17 5PF

No Admission or Programme.

Keymer & Hassocks have been playing home matches this season at The Beacon, which is the ground of Southern Combination League club Hassocks, but due to pitch works, they scheduled their final two games( the first was postponed after the opposition couldn’t be bothered to raise a team)to here. The ground was used by Bolney Rovers (in Division 2 South) up until January last year, but following the COVID-19 shutdown they didn’t reappear at the start of this season.

Today’s match was 3rd versus 5th in the league table, although neither of them can catch the top two. It was a really good contest and could have gone either way. An early opener for the hosts was cancelled out by a great finish from the edge of the box from the visitors. Eastbourne got what turned out to be the winner a minute before halftime. A through ball looked to be running out of play, but the striker managed to prevent if crossing the line and played the ball across the 6 yard box, where his fellow striker rolled it in from a couple of yards out. The result sees the two teams swap league positions.

Stratford-upon-Avon Alliance League

Division 2

Thursday 29th April 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Blockley Sports 0 A.F.C. Bromsgrove 2, attendance 33

16’ 0-1

66’ 0-2

@ Blockley Sports & Social Club

Station Road

Blockley

GL56 9ED

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was between the two teams that occupy the most southern and northern venues in the league, so well done to Bromsgrove for having the vast majority of their players there over an hour before kick off. It has to be said that the pitch here is probably the best in the league, as it was in superb condition, unlike many of the concrete dust bowls visited in recent weeks. Apart from the local football club, the village has another claim to fame, as it is used for the filming of the television programme Father Brown. In fact, the car park at the ground contained a number of the vehicles and trailers used by the production crew.

Blockley find themselves bottom of the league table now (following the results of previous incumbents Evesham Eagles being expunged from the records) having managed just three draws from their fifteen matches before this. Bromsgrove were third, level on points with A.F.C. Alcester Town and three points adrift of leaders Shipston Excelsior Reserves.

On paper this looked like it might be a big away win, but it was far from it. Blockley never really looked like scoring, but they defended very well and the three points were never guaranteed for the visitors until the second goal went in. With Alcester losing 3-0 away at fourth placed Badsey Rangers, it means Bromsgrove now go level on points at the top, although they have played a game more than Shipston, as well as having a far inferior goal difference.

East Sussex League

Division 2/Division 3 Cup Group Match

Wednesday 28th April 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Sporting Club Pass + Move Arrows 2 Little Common Reserves 2, attendance 38

8’ 0-1

46’ 0-2

75’ 1-2

81’ 2-2 (pen)

@ Netherfield Recreation Ground

Netherfield Road

Netherfield

TN33 9QB

No Admission or Programme.

These two teams are both in Division 2 of the league and when this was brought to a halt this was 2nd (Won 4, Lost 1) versus 1st (won 8 out of 8) in the league table. Arrows came into this cup match as group leaders (W3, D1) with Little Common having 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from their games.

This was certainly a good game to watch as a neutral and a very good advert for this level of football. Little Common took an early lead through an angled shot across the ‘keeper and had a great chance to double their lead just before the break, when they were awarded a penalty, but it was saved by the ‘keeper. It was only a matter of seconds into the second half that their lead was doubled though, as a cross from the right was finished with a superbly cushioned volley into the bottom corner of the net. An unstoppable 20 yarder into the top corner saw Arrows pull it back to 1-2 with fifteen minutes left, before levelling it up at 2-2 from the penalty spot six minutes later. Little Common had a man sin binned before the restart and also had to replace their ‘keeper with an outfield player, as he was injured during the challenge that led to the penalty being awarded. They managed to hang on for a well deserved share of the points.

The ground here is very exposed, being high up, but it does offer great views of the surrounding areas. Luckily the rain that fell was brief, but there was a very cold wind throughout. A real plus though, especially for this level, was the excellent tea bar that was in operation from around half an hour before kick off. Chips, burgers and toasties were on offer, as well as tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Mid Sussex League

Division 1

Tuesday 27th April 2021

Kick Off 18.15. On Time !

Burgess Hill Albion 1 Ardingly 0, attendance 48

89’ 1-0

@ Worlds End Recreation Ground

Janes Lane

Worlds End

Burgess Hill

RH15 0QJ

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 5th versus 10th (bottom) in the league table. It was very poor on quality, but certainly not lacking in commitment. Ardingly perhaps shaded it, even though they had a player sin binned in the second half. It looked like their efforts would produce a vital point in their battle against relegation, but a minute from time, a cross from the left was slid in at the far post to give the hosts an unlikely looking win, as this game had 0-0 written all over it!

The defeat all but relegates Ardingly now, as even if they win their last two matches, they need the teams they are chasing to lose their games too. With a far inferior goal difference as well, it looks unlikely to go their way. Burgess Hill Albion remain fifth and a second place finish is still possible.

Bedfordshire County League

Supplementary Cup ‘B’ Group Match

Monday 26th April 2021

Kick off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Stopsley United 3 Pitstone & Ivinghoe Reserves 0, attendance 30

12’ 1-0

45’ 2-0

55’ 3-0

@ Stockwood Park Athletics Centre

Stockwood Park

Farley Hill

Luton

LU1 4BH

No Admission or Programme.

Around 3 o’clock Stopsley tweeted that the match had been switched from an outside pitch to the one inside the athletics track, so for the first time since the restart after the COVID-19 lockdown, I would actually be ticking off a ‘proper’ ground at last! I tweeted the club about whether spectators would still be allowed, but during the 45 minutes of waiting for a reply (which never came), I found a piece on the website of the Athletics Centre which stated spectators were welcome to watch outdoor activities, as long as social distancing rules were followed, so it was game on!

The match was between two teams from Division 1B. After taking an early lead Stopsley looked the better of two evenly matched sides. When the second goal went in, right on halftime, it made the second half much more comfortable for the hosts. If we thought the second goal was good, it was outdone by the third, both being excellent finishes.

East Sussex League

Premier Division/Division 1 Cup Group Match

Saturday 24th April 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club 0 St. Leonards Social 0, attendance 26

@ Sidley Recreation Ground

Canada Way

Sidley

TN39 4BL

No Admission or Programme.

We are heading towards that time of season where you have to try and get a back up game to your intended destination, as despite being without football for so long, some clubs still can’t be bothered to turn up and play games. Unfortunately, the East Sussex League is one of the worst leagues for this and it is worth noting that 5 of the 24 games scheduled today were off due to teams crying off. The good thing with this game though, was the fact it was kicking off an hour earlier than nearly every other game, so plenty of time to divert if necessary.

As it turned out, the game went ahead, although St. Leonards only turned up with the bare eleven players, but a substitute did arrive twenty minutes into the second half, entering the game some five minutes later, once he was into his kit. Despite this, they put on a very determined show, with some resolute defending, aided by some dreadful finishing from the hosts, especially during the second half. Bexhill A.A.C. squandered chance after chance, but lacked any quality to finish any of them off and overall a draw was probably a fair result.

Bexhill A.A.C. are in Division 1 of the league and were in third place in the table (Played 5, Won 4, Drawn 1) when it was brought to a halt. Their cup fixtures coming into this had seen them pick up two wins and two losses. St. Leonards play in the Premier Division, where they lay second in the table (P9, W4,D3, L2), coming into this with a win and two defeats from their opening group matches of the cup.

Cheltenham League

Junior Charity Cup Group Match

Thursday 22nd April 2021

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Shurdington Rovers 1 A.F.C. Renegades 3, attendance 42

3’ 0-1

26’ 0-2

30’ 1-2 (pen)

90’+ 3, 1-3

@ King George V Playing Field

Shurdington Road

Shurdington

GL51 4XQ

No Admission or Programme.

This was a match played between two teams from Division 1 South of the league. The other team in this group of the Junior Charity Cup is Bishop’s Cleeve Reserves, who both teams have already played twice, Shurdington winning their games 3-0 and 1-0, whilst Renegades had a 3-0 win and a 1-1 draw.

This game remained in the balance throughout and was certainly a full blooded affair which could have gone either way. One Renegades player managed to get himself sin binned twice, once in each half, but playing for twenty minutes with a man short didn’t affect them too much, with the game finally made safe with what turned out to be the last kick of the match.