South Wales F.A. Senior Cup

1st Round

Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Trelewis Welfare 1 A.F.C. Wattstown 2, attendance 82

39’ 1-0

59’ 1-1

66’ 1-2

@ Afon Taf High School, 3G Pitch

Yew Street

Troedyrhiw

CF48 4ED

No Admission or Programme.

This game was postponed on Saturday and re-arranged to be played on the 3G pitch at Afan Taf High School in Troedyrhiw. The pitch has only been open a matter of weeks, having been laid on top of what was previously a grass pitch. It’s a good couple of hundred yards walk from the car park/changing rooms, past a floodlit running track and a number of tennis courts. It’s a cage set up, but one with a bit of thought put into it. Spectator access is along the near side and behind the left hand goal end, with a pair of dugouts on the far side, with a totally unobstructed view of the pitch, which is set about 5 yards in from the barrier, which also helps. At the halfway line the hard standing has a recessed area that would easily fit a kit stand, which may be what is planned in the future? The added bonus of tonight’s game being a 7pm kick off meant there was still daylight for a good portion of the first half, so you even got the chance to see the scenic backdrop too, which certainly adds to the experience. If train spotting is your thing, the Cardiff-Merthyr Tydfil line runs behind one end, although only two or three trains passed during the match.

The game itself was 4th in Merthyr League (Tier 7) versus 8th in South Wales Premier League Championship Division (Tier 5), with little to choose between them. Wattstown had an early effort disallowed for offside, before suffering a double sin bin after twenty four minutes. They survived with their goal intact whilst down to nine men, but conceded six minutes before halftime, when a ball over the top beat the offside trap and was finished with a low shot into the bottom corner. A shot from the edge of the D, that found the bottom corner, saw Wattstown draw level just before the hour mark and seven minutes later they got what turned out to be the winner, when a break down the right saw a one two on the edge of the box that was crossed to the far post for an unmarked tap in. Any hope Trelewis had of getting back into it disappeared when they had a man red carded with eighteen minutes left, having retaliated to a foul.

Journey down to Wales was trouble free, via A449 and A465 Heads of the Valleys Road once crossing the border. Back via A470 to the M4 on the return. Good journey until arriving at the M3/M25 junction which was closed (not advertised on overhead signs or picked up on SatNav) meaning a twelve mile diversion and then half a mile before getting back on the M25, the overhead signs were showing that the M25 was closed from J10 to J9….just a few weeks after the new junction works had been ‘completed’ after twelve years!

Mid Sussex League

Tester Cup 1st Round

Saturday 20th September 2025

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.27

Poets’ Corner 5 Forgewood 0, attendance 16

27’ 1-0

58’ 2-0

76’ 3-0

84’ 4-0

90’ 5-0

@ Nevill Playing Field

Eridge Road

Hove

BN3 7QD

No Admission or Programme.

It was a trip to the south coast today, to see a game at a ground used by two different clubs. Nevill Playing Field is about 100 yards west of Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium and is host to football, cricket and hockey. The main football pitch runs widthways in front of the clubhouse/pavilion, with the cricket square butting up to the far touchline and the pitch slopes side to side, down towards the direction of the sea. Even though there was hockey and a youth football match also taking place, there was just about enough parking, with the added bonus of the clubhouse being open throughout, where hot and cold food and drinks were available.

The Tester Cup is competed for by the teams in Divisions 4 and 5, with this being Division 5 South versus Division 5 North, the lowest levels of the league. The only goal of the first half was a shot on the turn into the bottom corner, which gave the hosts a twenty seventh minute lead. They doubled their lead just before the hour mark, when a superb lob from the halfway line caught out the ‘keeper, who was too far off his line. Forgewood nearly pulled a goal back with eighteen minutes left, but the ‘keeper made a fingertip save onto the crossbar and just four minutes later Poets’ touched in a cross at the near post to make it 3-0 and wrap the game up. A four on one attack saw them add a fourth goal with six minutes left, before a volley from six yards rounded off the scoring in the last minute. Despite no rain being forecast, it actually started raining just before halftime, stopping about ten minutes before the end of the match.

With the game having kicked off three minutes ahead of schedule and a halftime interval where everyone stayed out on the pitch, which is very unusual for a Saturday match, this was all over by 15.05, meaning back home about ten to four.

Nottinghamshire F.A. Senior Cup

1st Round

Tuesday 16th September 2025

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.47

Stapleford Town 1 Dunkirk 1 (abandoned 87 minutes, player injury) attendance 183

3’ 1-0

5’ 1-1

@ Hickings Lane Recreation Ground, 3G Pitch

Hickings Lane

Stapleford

NG9 8PJ

£8 Admission

Programme (apparently there was a free one, but never saw one).

After the club entered a ground share arrangement in order to gain promotion to Step 6, they are now back at their own ground in Hickings Lane. They used to play on a railed off grass pitch, which is still here, to the right of the car park as you enter the complex. They have now developed a 3G caged pitch, to the left, behind an impressive two storey clubhouse/changing room building, which although open, is not yet fully kitted out. The new pitch runs lengthways away from here and unusually for a cage, has spectator access behind the near goal end and along the left hand side. There’s the usual two kit stands, one seated, but as is often the case with these set ups, awful to view from, whilst the dugouts are opposite.

The match pitted two teams from United Counties League Division 1 (Step 6), with 9th hosting 15th, as far as league positions go. It started off brightly, but deteriorated very quickly. Stapleford opened the scoring after just three minutes, when a player was played through, riding a challenge, before firing a shot high into the near top corner. Dunkirk levelled it up within two minutes, when a diagonal cross in from the left was headed back across into the far corner. There was very little of note in the next eighty two minutes, until a bad challenge on the far side of the pitch resulted in an injury to a home player, who was too badly hurt to be moved and after about ten minutes of dithering, the Referee called the game off.

There were no real problems on either the M25 or M1 in either direction, although the A217 into Reigate was closed just after exiting the motorway, which resulted in a three mile diversion to get home.

Neath & District League

Premier Division

Saturday 13th September 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.58

Clydach Sports 2 Glynneath Town 8, attendance 23

7’ 1-0

10’ 1-1

23’ 1-2 (pen)

38’ 2-2

39’ 2-3

49’ 2-4

62’ 2-5

71’ 2-6

79’ 2-7

90’ + 3, 2-8

@ Coed Gwilym Park, Pitch 2

Pontardawe Road

Clydach

SA6 5NS

No Admission or Programme.

I’d originally planned to do Ardal League club Clydach this afternoon, until it was hijacked to be part of the Groundhop U.K. schedule as this afternoon’s match, so it was a case of hunting for an alternative. The Clydach Sports game fitted the bill perfectly, as they play on the adjacent pitch to Clydach and at least it guaranteed they’d be on the second pitch here. Contact with the home club last night confirmed this to be the case, although the game was in doubt due to the pitch suffering from the heavy rain and more was forecast overnight. I received a text message about ten o’clock, stating that there was a pitch inspection taking place an hour later and heard nothing more. If it was off, I’d have to do the game on the main pitch, but thankfully, I arrived to see the teams warming up and all was good. The main pitch runs lengthways, immediately behind the buildings, with Pitch 2 to the left, running parallel, but offset by around half a pitch length and separated by about 10 yards, with a length of tape acting as a divider.

The match was 4th versus 1st in the league table and was an excellent advert for the league. I’d been impressed when I’d seen Glynneath in the Welsh F.A. Cup a few weeks back and they certainly did nothing other than enhance that view today. Glynneath had a goal disallowed in the opening minutes, before a seventh minute diving header put Clydach Sports ahead. Three minutes later Glynneath levelled the scores. They had a shot that hit the post, before a penalty saw them go 1-2 ahead midway through the half. Clydach Sports missed the chance to level things up again, when a penalty hit the crossbar, but did come up with an equaliser a minute later, when a striker nipped in front of the ‘keeper to head in a diagonal cross from the left. Straight from the restart Glynneath made it 2-3, which remained the halftime score. The killer fourth goal for the visitors came just four minutes into the second half, courtesy of a cracking 25 yard free kick and it was then a case of how many more they’d get, as the visitors rarely threatened after this. Clydach Sports had a man sin binned with twenty minutes left, conceding another two goals while down to ten, before another free kick, this time from a good 30 yards out, rounded off the scoring for Glynneath in stoppage time. The win maintains their 100% winning start to the season, with the hosts dropping down to twelfth place.

Another clear run on the return journey and home just after seven, which rounded off an excellent day. A visit back here to see a game on the main pitch awaits and it will be on a day without the circus of the Groundhop U.K. bandwagon being in town. All the better for that!

West Wales Premier League

Saturday 13th September 2025

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.01

Llangennech 2 Dafen Welfare 2, attendance 224 (official)

8’ 1-0

17’ 1-1

38’ 2-1

64’ 2-2

@ Llangennech Recreation Ground

Station Road

Llangennech

SA14 8UY

£5 Admission, including Programme, 20 pages.

Having left home ridiculously early, I arrived in Llangennech, to the northeast of Llanelli, over an hour and a half before kick off. Ordinarily, the car park here would be enough to cope with the crowd, but as this was part of an official ground hop, it was a better bet to park in the road outside. The club were well organised and both teams were already here. The ground is basic for Tier 4, with a wooden fence enclosing the pitch and a pair of portable dugouts flanking a section of uncovered seating. The brick built changing room building, which also housed the tea bar and toilets, is in the near right hand corner as you enter the ground from the car park. Being an organised event, the crowd was well up on a normal day, although the official crowd of 224 can be best described as generous. It certainly felt like there were fewer present. It was also noticeable how many of the regular faces hadn’t bothered this year, too.

Considering it was 13th versus 16th (bottom) in the league table, it was a decent game, where both teams would have fancied their chances in taking the three points. Llangennech took an early lead, when a cross wasn’t cleared from the box, leading to an easy finish, but Dafen Welfare levelled within nine minutes. The hosts went back in front seven minutes before halftime, with a shot from the edge of the box that the ‘keeper got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out. Midway through the second half Dafen levelled the scores again, with a left foot finish into the bottom corner. The visitors might have won it, if a double sending off for Llangennech, following a bout of pushing and shoving, had come earlier than the first minute of stoppage time, but overall, a draw was probably about right.

Perry Street & District League

Division 1

Wednesday 10th September 2025

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.12

Merriott Moretti 0 Donyatt United 0, attendance 43

@ Merriott Recreation Ground

Broadway

Merriott

TA16 5QH

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was the last of the early evening kick offs scheduled for clubs without floodlights and saw a second successive match in Division 1 of the Perry Street & District League. The village of Merriott is sandwiched between the A303 to the north and the town of Crewkerne to the south, with Merriott Moretti playing at the local recreation ground, behind the village hall. The changing rooms are in the cricket pavilion, with the pitch on the far side of the cricket square, running widthways, with a pair of dugouts on the far side, where a concrete path acts as hard standing and there’s a small bit of cover tucked away in the corner behind the right hand goal end too.

Both clubs play their home games here, so it was a bit of a surprise to see them turn up for the game with near identical kits, which resulted in Moretti playing with yellow bibs over the top of their shirts. As with last night’s game in this division, it was played as 2 x 40 minute halves, which actually kicked off three minutes ahead of schedule and saw a seven minute halftime, where everyone stayed out on the pitch. It was a decent game, where chances were few and far between, where the defences certainly had the upper hand. The nearest we came to seeing a goal in the first half was when a 20 yarder from Donyatt smacked against the crossbar after just three minutes. Three minutes from the end of the game they saw the best chance of the second half cleared off the line, before the follow up was headed out for a corner. All over by 19.40 and no problem with the light.

As with last night’s trip to Somerset, another clear run in both directions and once again arrival back home was just before ten o’clock.

Perry Street & District League

Division 1

Tuesday 9th September 2025

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.14

Kingsbury Episcopi 0 Barrington 2, attendance 27

18’ 0-1

19’ 0-2

@ Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Ground

Thorne Road

Kingsbury Episcopi

TA12 6BG

No Admission or Programme.

A trip down to Somerset and a game in a league that are traditionally one of the few in the south who regularly schedule midweek games in the second week of September. Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Ground is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s just an open pitch, where the grass could do with a mow and large brick built changing room building adjacent to the car park. If you arrive early enough, or choose to visit on a Saturday afternoon, you’ll find the cafe open, which is situated within the same building.

These two were playing their second game of the season, Kingsbury Episcopi having opened with a 5-0 win away to Charmouth, whilst Barrington had lost 0-1 at home to Forton Rangers Reserves. It was a dull evening, with a threat of rain in the air and despite kicking off a minute ahead of schedule, the Referee decided on playing 2 x 40 minute halves, rather than risk any problems with fading light. It was played with full commitment throughout, as you’d expect from a local derby, with the two villages just four miles apart. It was a game of few decent chances. Barrington broke the deadlock after eighteen minutes, with a 25 yarder that went straight through the ‘keeper’s legs and doubled their lead a minute later, when a shot from the edge of the D was lashed into the bottom corner. At no time did it look like being anything other than an away win from this point.

Having kicked off a minute early and with it being an 80 minute match (1 minute stoppage time in first half and three in the second) and a very quick turnaround at halftime, where everyone stayed on the pitch, we were done and dusted by 19.43. A totally trouble free return journey, with no overnight roadworks yet underway, meant arrival home was just before ten o’clock.

West Sussex League

Division 3 South

Saturday 6th September 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

A.F.C. Southbourne 1 Bognor Rovers 3, attendance 34

29’ 1-0

36’ 1-1

41’ 1-2

73’ 1-3

@ Clay Lane Sports Club

Clay Lane

Fishbourne

PO19 3JG

No Admission or Programme.

With the number of first team venues in Sussex I’ve yet to see a game at down in single figures, it was unusual to see a match involving two teams I’d never even seen play before today. A.F.C. Southbourne are based at the recently opened Clay Lane Sports Club, just to the west of Chichester. There’s a good sized car park, with a large brick built changing room building, which also housed toilets and a tea bar. The pitch is at the furthest point from here, running widthways, on the far side of the cricket square. Although there’s an overhang on the building, it is too distant to be able to really watch the game from, although I dare say it wouldn’t stop some from using it.

Both teams had played just one game each before today. Southbourne opened with an 8-1 win against Climping Rangers, whilst newly formed Bognor Rovers, based in Felpham, had drawn their game with Wittering United Reserves 1-1. There wasn’t much to separate the two teams today. Just before the half hour mark the hosts went in front, courtesy of a first time finish low into the bottom corner, after a defender failed to clear a cross. Seven minutes later we were all square again, when an initial save from the ‘keeper was followed in from close range. Four minutes before halftime Bognor made it 1-2, when a long ball forwards was finished with a first time shot into the far corner. Southbourne lost their ‘keeper to injury with just over twenty minutes left, replaced by an outfield player in goal and within five minutes found themselves 1-3 down, when a cross was nodded down and hit first time into the top corner of the net from the edge of the 18 yard box. A couple of minutes later there was a bout of pushing and shoving, including a number of home spectators running across the pitch to get involved, which resulted in a red card for Southbourne and the game as a contest was over and Bognor easily saw out the remaining time, including ten minutes of stoppage time, to take the three points.

Yeovil & District League

Division 2

Wednesday 3rd September 2025

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.26!

Baltonsborough 1 Keinton Mandeville 7, attendance 33

10’ 0-1

25’ 0-2

35’ 1-2

36’ 1-3

49’ 1-4

55’ 1-5

57’ 1-6

81’ 1-7

@ Baltonsborough Village Hall & Recreation Ground

Ham Street

Baltonsborough

BA6 8PX

No Admission or Programme.

A trip down to Somerset tonight, for the opening game for these two teams, whose villages are just four miles apart. I’d received a quick reply via text from the home club that the game was going ahead okay, which was good news, as all four top division games in this league scheduled for last night had been postponed. It’s just an open pitch, behind the village hall, with a small car park at the entrance. The pitch is at the furthest point from the buildings, running widthways, at the top end of a gentle slope that rises up from here. At least everyone was here early, enabling the game to get underway four minutes ahead of schedule, on a night of heavy cloud and frequent showers, although it only rained once during the game, a short downpour just after halftime.

As the score suggests, it was an easy win for the visitors. They were 0-2 up after twenty five minutes, but Baltonsborough pulled a goal back ten minutes later. Any hopes of a comeback disappeared a minute later though, when Keinton made it 1-3, dispossessing the fullback, before shooting in off the far post. A downward header at the far post saw them increase their lead just four minutes into the second half and a quick fire double saw them go 1-6 up before the hour. The scoring was rounded off with nine minutes left, heading in from a corner, to give the visitors a resounding win. The game finished at 20.02, when light was surprisingly still quite good.

The journey down the A303 was trouble free, despite a few very heavy periods of rain. Coming back was even easier, aided by just missing the closure of the M25 from J9 to J8.

Newport & District League

Premier X Division

Tuesday 2nd September 2025

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.04

Llanyrafon A.F.C. 0 Spencer Boys Club 4, attendance 52

10’ 0-1

23’ 0-2

54’ 0-3

89’ 0-4

@ Afon Park

Llanfrechfa Way

Llanyrafon

NP44 8HT

No Admission or Programme.

Two weeks ago I turned up here for a game, only to find out it had been postponed, but no such problem tonight. There’s a small car park, with a changing room building adjacent. A path leads round the back, between the allotments, which opens out into a large grassed area. The pitch is at the far end, about 200 yards away, with the pitch fully railed and having the framework of a dugout on each side, neither having either cover or seating.

The match was 4th versus 1st in the league table. I’d seen Spencer on the night I’d failed here at Llanyrafon and they looked really good in thrashing bottom of the table Afon Valley 14-0. It’s certainly hard to judge them against such poor opposition, but tonight was a much sterner test and they came through it with another impressive win. They were ahead after just ten minutes, when a through ball was lobbed over the ‘keeper from the edge of the box. Midway through the half they doubled their lead, when a cross wasn’t cleared and a shot was squeezed in off the inside of the far post. Nine minutes into the second half it was 0-3, courtesy of a superb lob over the ‘keeper from just inside the halfway line. They rounded off the scoring with a minute left, when a shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the bottom corner.

The game kicked off four minutes late, as the Referee only arrived at six o’clock, as he was under the impression it was an 18.30 kick off. No problem with the light though, as everyone stayed on the pitch at halftime and even with six minutes stoppage time at the end of the game, it was still finished by 19.47. Amazingly, no traffic problems whatsoever on the way down to Wales, helped by the seemingly never ending J10 roadworks finally gone (it’s only taken them 12 years). Trouble free journey home too, although they were getting ready to close three of the four lanes at J9 on the M25, although no idea what for.