Hellenic League

Division 1 East

Saturday 7th April 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Penn & Tylers Green 0 Chalfont Wasps 4,  attendance 83

49’ 0-1

69’ 0-2

82’ 0-3

90’ + 2, 0-4

@ French School Meadows

Elm Road

Penn

HP10 8LF

£3 Admission

£1 Programme, 16 pages.

I had visited French School Meadows for a Penn & Tylers Green home match back on 15th November 2003, when I saw them draw 0-0 with Englefield Green Rovers, which was also in Division 1 East of the Hellenic League. In those days, the main pitch was at the furthest point from the clubhouse, remaining pretty much as it was back then, as the two photos below show.

Since then, a new ground has been constructed nearer the clubhouse. In order for them to progress, or even remain at their current Step 6 status, the ground will require floodlights. Despite the tennis courts behind the clubhouse having lights, the Council continually refuse planning permission for the Football Club to also become floodlit. Although the club will once again appeal the decision, they look set for a ground share arrangement in order to remain in this division next season, so the visit here became a priority, as after today, there is only one more home game to play.

P & TG are the current Division 1 East champions and are in a three way battle for the title this season as well, along with Bicester Town and Virginia Water, the latter being favourites due to having a couple of games in hand. Chalfont arrived here just one place off the bottom of the league table, but certainly didn’t look that bad. The first half was a non event, but it did improve in the second half, helped by an early goal for the visitors. The next three goals were real quality finishes and gave a final score that no one was expecting beforehand.

The visit today now leaves the number of grounds required to complete Step 6 at three…….Bristol Telephones, Helston Athletic and Sticker.

Bristol Premier Combination

Division Premier 1

Wednesday 4th April 2018

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.02

Hambrook 2 Bitton Reserves 2,  attendance 24

31’ 0-1

70’ 1-1

87’ 2-1

90’ 2-2

@ The Pavilion

Moorend Road

Whiteshill Common

Hambrook

BS16 1SJ

No Admission or Programme.

Another day where we had to wait for confirmation that the match would take place. Thankfully, we found out that the pitch had passed a 14.30 inspection, although we were not convinced the match would still be on when we arrived due to the amount of rain we passed through as we headed west along the M4. No need to worry though, as we arrived at the ground around twenty five minutes before the scheduled start time to see the home team warming up and a handful of away players emerging from the changing rooms. Blue sky and sunshine, along with a good drying wind, meant the pitch was in perfect condition, although the area on the side of the cricket square was rather wet.

The match was 4th versus 6th in the league table, with the two teams very evenly matched. Having worked very hard to level the match up with twenty minutes left, Hambrook will feel they should have won it having gone in front with just three minutes left, but Bitton got a deserved equaliser with a close range header in the dying seconds.

No problem getting in the full 90 minutes tonight and with a near prompt start and quick turnaround at halftime, this was finished by 19.40.

Cambridgeshire County League

Foster Challenge Cup 1st Round

Tuesday 3rd April 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.14

Duxford United 2 Bassingbourn 4,  attendance 25

29’ 0-1

33’ 0-2

38’ 1-2

66’ 1-3

72’ 2-3

78’ 2-4 (pen)

@ Duxford Recreation Ground

Hunts Road

Duxford

CB22 4RE

No Admission or Programme.

I had spoken to the home club Secretary at 14.30 to confirm that despite heavy rain during the morning, the game would be going ahead. Despite the match getting underway a minute earlier than scheduled, the Referee had already said he would be doing 2 x 40 minute halves. If scores were level at the end of ninety minutes, we would be going straight to penalties to decide the winners.

Duxford are second from bottom of the league table in Division 1A, whilst Bassingbourn are third in Division 2A. The visitors always looked the more likely winners and once they edged in front, they were never likely to let it slip. The goal of the game was the second for Bassingbourn, lobbing the ‘keeper from inside the centre circle, although his lack of mobility was certainly a contributor to him conceding from such a distance.

With the cloud breaking up and blue sky appearing, there was no problem with the light tonight, especially as this was all over by 19.40.

East Sussex League

Hastings & District F.A. Junior Cup Quarter Final

Monday 2nd April 2018

Kick Off 14.30  On Time !

Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club 3 Sedlescombe Rangers II 2,  attendance 23

17’ 0-1

61’ 1-1 (pen)

64’ 1-2

66’ 2-2

79’ 3-2

@ Bexhill Road, Pitch 5

West Pavilion

Bulverhythe

Bexhill

TN38 8AY

No Admission or Programme.

Despite it raining for the duration of our match in Lewes, it must have been drier to the east, as the East Sussex League website was showing that three matches were still scheduled to go ahead, all of which were on grass pitches. Crucially, one of those still on was at Bexhill A.A.C., which neither of us had visited, although today’s match was not at their normal home venue, but another case of it being switched to a different ground, in order to get the game played.

A phone call to the home club Secretary confirmed the match was indeed on and that it was being played at Bexhill Road, although it was thought that it would be on Pitch 4. The changing rooms are to the right as you enter the car park, with six parallel pitches running widthways from here, Pitch 1 being the nearest. The match ended up taking place on Pitch 5 in the end, which was still in perfect condition at the final whistle, where once again the rain got heavier as the match went on.

The match was excellent entertainment. Bexhill are mid table in Division 1(level 2 of the ESL), whilst Sedlescombe II’s are second in Division 3. There certainly didn’t look to be two divisions between the teams, but Bexhill probably just about deserved to go through to the semi final.

Mid Sussex League

Premier Division

Monday 2nd April 2018

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.10

Willingdon Athletic 3 Forest Row 0,  attendance 8

16’ 1-0

30’ 2-0

41’ 3-0

@ Lewes F.C. 3G Pitch

Mountfield Road

Lewes

BN7 2XA

No Admission or Programme.

Due to their own ground being waterlogged, Willingdon moved their match today to the 3G Pitch here at Lewes. The ground is reached by following a path to the right of the entrance to the main stadium, which then takes you down through the tennis courts, entering the area where the synthetic pitch is in the corner at the near end, with the pitch running lengthways from here.

The match kicked off 10 minutes late, due to the late arrival of the Referee, who had apparently gone to Falmer instead of Lewes ! Once it did get going, third in the league table Willingdon made easy work of the visitors who are eighth. After a pretty good first half, the second was a non event.

The rain started just about the same time as the match kicked off and steadily got heavier as it went on.

South West Peninsula League

Division 1 West

Saturday 31st March 2018

Kick Off 19.00  On Time !

Plymouth Marjon 2 Millbrook 3,  attendance 293

28’ 0-1

58’ 1-1

61’ 2-1

68’ 2-2

74’ 2-3

@ Marjon University Sport & Health Club, 3G Pitch

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8BH

£3 Admission

£1.50 Programme (didn’t purchase as it had Ground Hoppers printed on the cover).

This was the final match of the South West Peninsula League Ground Hop. It certainly wasn’t a case of saving the best ‘til last, well not ground wise anyway. The pitch is on the main campus of the University of St. Mark and St. John and is as bad a venue you could wish to watch a match at. Pitches inside cages are not that great at the best of times, but when there is a crowd of 293 present, then it all seems so much worse.

The first half was dreadful, but when Marjon had a man sent off after 53 minutes the game burst into life. Within eight minutes of the sending off they had turned it round to lead 2-1. Their lead lasted just seven minutes and when Millbrook went back in front just six minutes later, the students never looked like they were capable of another comeback.

South West Peninsula League

Division 1 East

Saturday 31st March 2018

Kick Off 15.00  On Time !

Brixham 1 Galmpton & Roselands 0,  attendance 369

58’ 1-0

@ Wall Park

Wall Park Road

Brixham

TQ5 9UE

£4 Admission

£1 Programme, 12 pages. (Wouldn’t have purchased if I had seen the mention of ground hoppers on the cover before handing over my money)

I was able to risk the journey down to the South West today as I had a back up match on a 3G pitch at South Devon League club Paignton Saints, just in case the rain caused a problem again. However, there was no problem here whatsoever and the pitch was in no worse condition at the end than it was at kick off.

Sadly, despite a large crowd for this local derby, the match was absolutely rubbish, with both teams being really poor. The fact that either team actually managed to score a goal was a huge surprise.

Canterbury & District League

Whitstable Senior Charity Cup Quarter Final

Friday 30th March 2018

Kick Off 16.00

Minster v The Bull, Match Postponed

@ Minster Recreation Ground

St. Mildreds Road

Minster

CT12 4DE.

I should have been down in Devon today, for games two and three of the South West Peninsula League Groundhop that were taking place. However, Honiton Town were unable to host their match due to waterlogging, so it was to be switched (news was released Thursday afternoon) to the neutral venue of Exwick Villa, which I had already visited. This meant I would only have the evening kick off at Axminster Town as a new visit. The fact that they have floodlights and are little more than two hours drive from home, it wasn’t worth the cost of a hotel, just to tick off the one ground, so the trip was cancelled…….although it is looking a little better down in the South West for the games tomorrow, so it should be all systems go !

Minster were confident that their game would go ahead this afternoon, so it was off to Whitstable for lunch, before heading a little further east for the match. It had rained non stop for the last two hours, but both teams were at the ground when I arrived at 15.15. The Referee arrived shortly afterwards and carried out his inspection. The ball was rolling okay when kicked and was also bouncing, although the pitch was pretty wet in the centre circle. He came back to the changing rooms, had a discussion with the teams, then went back out and did a second inspection, with the ball reacting the same as it had the first time. He then came back to the changing rooms at 15.31 and said the game was off.

Typically, by 16.15 the rain had stopped and patches of blue sky began to appear !

North Bucks & District League

Division 2

Wednesday 28th March 2018

Kick Off 18.15. On Time !

Westbury 3 Deanshanger Athletic Reserves 1,  attendance 22

39’ 1-0

54’ 1-1

74’ 2-1 (pen)

78’ 3-1

@ Westbury Village Hall

Playing Field Road

off Brackley Road

Westbury

NN13 5JN

No Admission or Programme.

When I telephoned the home club Secretary at 14.15 there was a pitch inspection taking place, but shortly before 15.00 the news came through that everything was fine, as long as there wasn’t too much more rain before kick off.

On arrival at the ground at 17.55 it was good to see a team warming up on the far side of the cricket square, who turned out to be the visitors, whilst the home team emerged a few minutes later. With the ridiculously late start time of 18.15 for the first midweek of the ‘early’ kick offs the Referee very sensibly decided on two forty minute halves and a short half time to try and get the game finished before it got too dark.

The match itself was 7th versus 4th in the league table (Westbury are the only non reserve club in the 12 team division) and had quite a few nasty fouls and a few bouts of pushing and shoving going on, especially during the last quarter of an hour. Even with the short halves and seven minute halftime, it was pretty gloomy when the match finished at 19.44.

Herts Senior County League

Premier Division

Tuesday 27th March 2018

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

Ware Sports 1 Bovingdon 5,  attendance 32

4’ 1-0

7’ 1-1

47’ 1-2

81’ 1-3

82’ 1-4

85’ 1-5

@ Wodson Park Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Wadesmill Road

Ware

SG12 0UQ

No Admission or Programme.

There are 3 grounds here which all back onto each other. The main ground, to the left as you enter the car park, is that of Ware, which I visited on 28th December 1998. Behind the Sports Centre building, which is straight in front of you, is an Athletics Track, which is where I saw Wodson Park play on 4th April 2009. Tonight’s match was on the 3G pitch that runs lengthways beyond the Ware ground.

This was 2nd versus 1st in the league table, although there was a massive gulf between the two sides. When Bovingdon went in front right at the start of the second half it was game over. The three late goals for the visitors rounded off a well deserved win that could have easily been by another two or three goals more.

Bovingdon have now won 17 of their 18 matches (they play 28 games) with just one defeat so far. They are 9 points clear of second placed Letchworth Garden City Eagles, with two games in hand, with Wormley Rovers a further 2 points back. Ware Sports are now down to fourth place.