Midland League

Les James Challenge Cup 1st Round

Saturday 15th September 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Coventrians 4 Leamington Hibernian 0,  attendance 37

7’ 1-0

42’ 2-0

69’ 3-0

86’ 4-0

@ Coventry Colliery Ground

Bennetts Road North

Keresley

Coventry

CV7 8HY

£2 Admission

Programme, for donations, 4 Pages.

Coventrians moved here at the end of last season, playing their final 3 matches here, having left Holbrooks Park. Leamington Hibernian are certainly not the whipping boys this season, having already avoided defeat three times in their first five fixtures and losing one of the other matches by just a single goal.

However, the early goal for the hosts today set the tone and when they got the second goal just before the break it was game over. The four goal winning margin was a little harsh on Hibs, although they never really looked like they were ever going to win the match.

Professional Development League

Saturday 15th September 2018

Kick Off 11.30 Actual 11.29

Coventry City U18 2 Colchester United U18 1,  attendance 34

50’ 0-1

85’ 1-1 (pen)

90’+ 4, 2-1

@ The Alan Higgs Centre

Allard Way

Binley

Coventry

CV3 1HW (postcode on official website, but not recognised by my SatNav or Google Maps)

No Admission or Programme.

I had previously been here on 15th January 2005, when I saw the U18’s beat Aston Villa 3-1 in a Premier League Academy match. The pitch used in those days is now being built over (Photo 1 below, pitch was where the partly constructed steel framework is now behind the building). The new pitch is probably a couple of hundred yards away, beyond the new 3G caged pitch, where there are 4 grass pitches running widthways, with today’s match being on the nearest one.

The match was absolutely dreadful. Both teams had obviously had any attacking thoughts coached out of them, with every pass looking to go backwards if possible. Terrible stuff to watch as a neutral.

Colchester had a penalty saved when they were leading 0-1 and it turned out to cost them dearly. Coventry had a penalty awarded with five minutes left, which meant they were at last going to have to play the ball forward !!! They duly scored and then got a totally undeserved winner four minutes into stoppage time. There was still time for another five minutes to be added, during which there was a 21 man brawl (just the visitors ‘keeper not involved) that ended with a red card for each team.

One of the passengers had already seen a match on the new pitch our match was on today, having visited at the end of last season, but with the two clubs also meeting at U16’s level on the adjacent pitch, he decided to watch that instead. A good choice, it ended up 9-2 !

Coventry Alliance

Division 4

Thursday 13th September 2018

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.07

Black Hercules 5 Crick Athletic Reserves 0,  attendance 19

20’ 1-0

43’ 2-0

49’ 3-0

58’ 4-0

76’ 5-0

@ Dunchurch Sportsfield & Village Hall

Rugby Road

Dunchurch

CV22 6PN

No Admission or Programme.

I only picked this match as it was the nearest ground to home that I hadn’t visited. Both teams were there in plenty of time, but when the Referee came out around ten minutes before kick off, it seemed that there might not be a match, as he was not happy with a number of rabbit holes on the pitch. Luckily, they were filled in using wood shavings, but it meant that the match would be reduced to 2 x 40 minute halves following the late start.

Black Hercules are new to the Coventry Alliance this season, their name being taken from a racehorse, which was a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, with quite a few of the players having won their bets placed on it, apparently. They came into this game in fifth place in the league table, whilst the visitors were top.

Despite the score line, it was actually a much closer match. It was just that Hercules were more clinical in front of goal. At 2-0, Crick had a header cleared off the line and from the clearance Hercules broke away and made it 3-0 and the visitors were finally broken.

The match was all over by 19.32 and had the game kicked off on time  there would have been no problem whatsoever getting the full 90 minutes played. Unless I do a match in the Swansea Senior League next Tuesday, where they are scheduled to kick off at 17.30, this was my final non-floodlit midweek match until the clocks change again at the end of March.

East Bedfordshire Charity Cup

Quarter Final

Wednesday 12th September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Henlow 2 Sandy 1,  attendance 17

20’ 1-0

55’ 2-0

60’ 2-1 (pen)

@ Groveside

Henlow

SG16 6AP

No Admission or Programme.

There was no attempt to get this started a few minutes early, despite both teams being there for six o’clock. The Referee, it seems, had already decided that he was going to kick off at the scheduled time and that he was going to play 2 x 35 minute halves as there would be penalties to decide the tie if it was a draw. He then played two minutes stoppage time in the first half, then five minutes more in the second, finishing the match at 19.37 in surprisingly good light.

The match itself, between two teams who play in Division 1 of the Bedfordshire County League, was keenly contested. When Henlow went 2-0 up it looked all over, but Sandy were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty given away for a ridiculous handball. They had a corner on the right and as the ball was played into the box a Henlow defender just reached up and caught the ball, then dropped it quickly when the realisation of what he had just done dawned on him. Very odd.

The match finished at 19.37, with plenty of light to have played more than the 70 minutes we got.

Gwent County League

Division 2

Tuesday 11th September 2018

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.01

Mathern 1 Newport Corinthians 2,  attendance 21

1’ 0-1

45’ 1-1

51’ 1-2

@ Mathern Athletic Club

Birdwood Gardens

Mathern

NP16 6UF

No Admission or Programme.

With the non floodlit matches now winding down, I played safe and headed into Wales, where I knew there would be no problem getting in a full ninety minute match.

Indeed, the vast majority of the visitors were already there when I arrived at the ground at 17.15. Twenty minutes later they were on the pitch warming up and five minutes later the hosts joined them.

Having lost 1-12 at home to Rogerstone on Saturday, it didn’t look good for Mathern when Corinthians took the lead within 30 seconds of the kick off, but they settled into it and deserved their equaliser on the stroke of halftime. Despite going behind again early in the second half they created enough chances to have got at least a draw. Even with six minutes of stoppage time, the game was done and dusted by 19.44.

West Midlands (Regional) League

Division 1

Saturday 8th September 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Allscott 2 Gornal Athletic 3,  attendance 38

2’ 0-1

17’ 1-1

53’ 1-2

55’ 2-2

84’ 2-3

@ Allscott Sports & Social Club

Shawbirch Road

Allscott

TF6 5EQ

£3 Admission

Programme, free, 12 pages.

This ground hosted a Ground Hop match back in 2011, which I didn’t attend, when the club were known as Atlas F.C. and were then members of the Shropshire County League. The ground is probably much improved since then, with a new piece of cover erected on the changing room/tea bar side of the ground and a lorry trailer used as a makeshift stand on the cricket field side, rather like many grounds in Mid Wales have adopted in the past.

As for the match, Gornal always held the upper hand, although both teams missed loads of chances. Having failed to hold the lead twice, Gornal finally killed the game off when they got what turned out to be the winner with six minutes left.

Harry Greening Cup

Quarter Final

Thursday 6th September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Taverners 3 Cam Bulldogs 3 (4-2 pens),  attendance 25

21’ 0-1

24’ 1-1

33’ 1-2

35’ 1-3

45’ 2-3

80’+ 2, 3-3

@ Owen Harris Memorial Ground

Eastington Community Centre

Snakey Lane

Eastington

GL10 3AX

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was yet another match which was played as 2 x 40 minute halves, but this wasn’t due due a late kick off, but was planned due to the possibility of penalties being needed to decide the tie, which turned out to be the case.

Cam were far the better side in the first half and deserved to be leading 1-3 at the break. The rain that had threatened all evening duly arrived as the second half started, but only lasted about 15 minutes, with the overhang of the Community Centre roof coming in very handy. Within five minutes of the restart it was 2-3, then the vast majority of the second half saw Taverners pushing for an equaliser, which eventually came two minutes into stoppage time.

Straight to penalties, with Taverners scoring their first two, whilst their ‘keeper saved the opening two efforts from Cam. Despite hitting the post with their third kick, Taverners converted their next two to win it. The light was still pretty good when it all finished st 19.51.

Below photo : Taverners score the final penalty of the night.

Bedfordshire County League

Premier Division

Wednesday 5th September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.36

Wilstead 3 Marston Shelton Rovers 0,  attendance 22

49’ 1-0

58’ 2-0

76’ 3-0

@ Bedford International Athletics Stadium (outside pitch)

Barkers Lane

Bedford

MK41 9SB

No Admission or Programme.

Due to pitch problems at their own ground, following the dry summer, this was switched to an outside pitch at Bedford International Athletics Stadium. Entrance was via the main reception, before a walk around the left hand side of the stadium and through the hedge to the pitch which runs widthways. On Google Maps it is shown with pitch markings for American Football.

Unfortunately, due to the very late arrival of the Referee, as well as quite a bit of faffing about once he actually arrived pitch side, we kicked off 21 minutes late, so once again it was a game of 2 x 40 minute halves, finishing in very poor light at 20.01.

The first half was very even, but Wilstead got on top once they went in front. Having lost 5-7 on Saturday, Wilstead were glad of the three points, whilst Marston prop up the table, having lost both of their matches 0-3.

North Bucks & District League

Intermediate Division

Tuesday 4th September 2018

Kick Off 18.30. On Time !

Marsh Gibbon 3 Twyford United 1,  attendance 31

4’ 1-0

7’ 1-1

40’ 2-1

76’ 3-1

@ Marsh Gibbon Recreation Ground

Edgcott Road

Marsh Gibbon

OX27 0AT

No Admission or Programme.

Despite the visitors being less than three miles away, they struggled with their players getting to the ground for kick off. Although the match kicked off at the scheduled time, it meant there was no way of getting the full match in, so it was played as 2 x 40 minute halves and even then it was pretty gloomy when it finished at 19.55.

Twyford actually played the first three minutes with ten men, but soon had the full compliment, as well as a substitute. Within seconds of being up to full strength they went behind, but scored a good equaliser a few minutes later. Marsh Gibbon scored a header on the stroke of halftime to go in 2-1 up. The second half was poor. Twyford had a great chance to level the scores, but a good save by the home ‘keeper was followed by a quick break which resulted in the final goal of the night from the corner of the box.

The win leaves Marsh Gibbon top of the table with four wins from four matches. Twyford have three points from their opening three games.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 2

Monday 3rd September 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.23

Black Swan (Luton) 4 Houghton Athletic 2,  attendance 14

5’ 1-0

11’ 1-1

16’ 2-1 (pen)

22’ 3-1

71’ 3-2

75’ 4-2 (pen)

@ Icknield Way

Luton

LU3 2JR

No Admission or Programme.

With no access to the changing rooms it meant both teams got changed at the side of the pitch. The Referee only arrived about 10 minutes before the scheduled kick off, but he was already changed, although the match still kicked off eight minutes late.

Black Swan looked a good footballing side, whilst Houghton were the more physical. The hosts were always in control and were well worth their two goal winning margin. Even with a five minute halftime it was getting very gloomy when we finished at 20.01.