Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 24th June 2017

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.11

A.F.C. Aldermaston 0 Woodley United 5,  attendance 22

@ Everest Community Academy, 3G Pitch

Oxford Way

Sherborne St. John

Basingstoke

RG24 9UP

No admission or programme.

This was played at a neutral venue, which is quite common for many early pre-season games these days. Sadly, another trait that is becoming all too regular, is the habit of playing the game as three thirty minute periods, rather than the proper two forty five minute halves.

As for the game, it was very good. Both teams are from the Hellenic League, the visitors one division higher than the hosts. Goals on 3, 21, 30, 59 and 71 minutes saw the higher level side win comfortably.

France

Ligue Nord Pas-de-Calais

Coupe de la Ligue Seniors Semi-Final

Saturday 3rd June 2017

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.07

A.S. Outreau Football 3 A.S. Hellemmes 3 (4-5 pens),  attendance 230

22′ 0-1

34′ 1-1 (pen)

40′ 1-2

70′ 2-2

90′ 2-3

90′ + 3, 3-3

@ Stade Municipal

Terrein D’Honneur

Rue du President Kennedy

62330 Outreau

€5 Admission

No Programme.

*Match Poster.

With the regular season over in England, it was nice to still get a game in that was only 100 miles from home. It also made a nice change to head south when exiting the tunnel, rather than east, with Outreau only half an hour drive down the coast, just to the south of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The top division of the Ligue Nord Pas-de-Calais is the fifth level of football in France, with the Coupe de a Ligue (League Cup) being contested by clubs from all four levels of the league. Today’s game was third level (champions of their division) versus fourth level (finished 4th in their division) of the league.

The match started at a very slow pace, but soon kicked into life. With the scores level at 2-2, Hellemmes had a man red carded on 81 minutes, but looked to have won it when they went in front in the last minute, but three minutes into stoppage time, Outreau levelled it up with a superb shot off the underside of the bar. Thankfully, no extra time and straight to penalties. Hellemmes went first and were up 5-4 after the first nine kicks. The final attempt for Outreau was scuffed high and wide, sending the visitors into the final, where they will face F.C. Bondues.

Easy drive back to the tunnel and quickly through security, which enabled us to board a train slightly earlier than we were booked on. Even allowing for the time difference, despite the game only finishing at 21.10, I was back in the house for 22.45 !

Wearside League

Shipowners Charity Cup Final

Saturday 27th May 2017

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Richmond Town 2 Cleator Moor Celtic 4,  attendance 349

6′ 0-1

48′ 1-1

53′ 1-2

66′ 2-2

88′ 2-3

89′ 2-4

@ Earls Orchard

Sleegill

Richmond

DL10 4RH

£2 Admission

£1 Programme, 12 pages.

As the season draws to a close, it gets harder to pick a game where teams will actually turn up and play the matches. With this being a cup final, it was more likely to go ahead. Richmond had tweeted about the game earlier in the week, whilst the visitors had tweeted that they were running a supporters coach to the match, so it was game on. The visitors coach arrived just after 13.30, with a fair number on board clearly having consumed plenty of alcohol en route, disembarking and immediately urinating amongst the trees alongside the car park. A group of at least twenty of them then proceeded to walk along the path next to the river, before jumping over the fence into the ground in order to avoid paying the £2 entrance fee. So much for charity !

An excellent game ensued between the teams that finished fourth and third in the league, Cleator Moor having won the two league meetings between them, so the win was not unexpected and was achieved despite being drawn away in every round. It was the third time they have now won this competition, having lifted the cup in 2008 and 2013.

During the halftime break,there was a huge thunderstorm, with lightning and hail, which left water standing on the pitch. The Referee wouldn’t restart the match until the lightning stopped, so halftime lasted 39 minutes.

Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial 2A Eindronde

Promotion Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg

Thursday 25th May 2017

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

K. Excelsior Zedelgem 3 K.F.C. Varsenare 2 (3-3 aggregate, Varsenare win on away goals),  attendance 203

17′ 1-0

50′ 2-0

60′ 3-0

63′ 3-1(og)

77′ 3-2

@ Stadionlaan 48

De Groene Meersen

8210 Zedelgem

€6 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Having stayed overnight in Dadizele, it was not much more than half an hours drive east to Zedelgem. With it being a public holiday in Belgium today, it meant a choice of three matches which were 15.00 kick offs. We plumped for the highest level match of the three, where the visitors would start the game leading 1-0 from the first leg.

When Zedelgem went 3-0 up, it looked like job done, but a goal just three minutes later for Varsenare meant the tie was still in the balance. When they pulled it back to 3-2, it was a case of them holding what they had, therefore taking the tie on ‘away goals’

Having suffered a 22 minute delay on the outbound journey on the tunnel yesterday, it was more of the same on the way home. We were booked on the 19.20 crossing, covering ourselves in case our match went to extra time, but it was total chaos as we arrived back in Calais and we eventually departed at 20.42.

Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial 2B Eindronde

Promotion Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg

Wednesday 24th May 2017

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

V.K. Dadizele 1 R. Dottignies Sports 1 (3-2 aggregate),  attendance 445

26′ 0-1 (og)

30′ 1-1

@ Oliekotstraat

8890 Dadizele

€6 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Apparently, Dadizele normally get around 70 spectators for home matches, so tonight’s turnout was pretty impressive, even for a play off. Having won 1-2 at Dottignies, Dadizele always had the slight advantage, especially with the ‘away goals’ rule counting in the tie.

With the game level at 1-1, Dadizele had a player red carded on 61 minutes, then managed to get a second man dismissed eight minutes later. Dottignies failed to take advantage of the extra two players and then had a player sent off themselves on 84 minutes, but with the game now being 9 v 10, it was easier for Dadizele to hold out and go through to the final.

With tomorrow (Thursday) being a holiday in Belgium, it meant rather than racing back home at the final whistle, it was an opportunity for an overnight stop and a chance to take in another match, which would be between the two teams that were hoping to advance and play Dadizele for the final promotion place into Provincial 1.

Cambridgeshire County League

Foster Challenge Cup Final

Saturday 20th May 2017

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Comberton United 5 Great Chishill 2,  attendance 59

22′ 1-0

23′ 2-0

29′ 3-0

53′ 4-0

71′ 4-1

87′ 5-1

90′ 5-2

@ Harston Bostocks F.C.

Harston Recreation Ground

The Limes

Harston

CB22 7QT

No admission or programme.

Comberton had won Division Senior A, whilst Great Chishill had finished second in Division 1A, which is two divisions lower, so the result went as expected.

Mercian Regional League

Division 1

Thursday 18th May 2017

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Coven United 2 Newport Town Reserves 3,  attendance 21

7′ 0-1

24′ 1-1

43′ 1-2

68′ 1-3

82′ 2-3

@ North East Wolverhampton Academy

Marsh Lane

Wolverhampton

WV10 6SE

No Admission

£1 Programme, 4 pages.

The Mercian Regional League took over from the Shropshire County League and is unfortunately one of those leagues where, especially at this time of season, teams have a habit of not fulfilling their fixtures. Thankfully, no such problem tonight, where it was 9th v 4th, the visitors battling for a promotion place with HMP Stoke Heath and Oakengates Rangers, behind Shrewsbury Juniors who are already crowned champions.

This win means it is now between Newport and  HMP Stoke Heath. Newport have been awarded their match away to Brown Clee this weekend, so have now completed their fixtures. HMP Stoke Heath are two points behind, but entertain Riverside on Saturday, where a win will see them secure second place.

A very entertaining match, excellently handled by former Football League Referee, Terry Holbrook, who during that time was a Linesman for the 1985 F.A. Cup Final and was in the middle for the 1991 F.A. Charity Shield.

Belgium

U.E.F.A. Europa League Play Off

Group A

Tuesday 16th May 2017

Kick Off 20.30. On Time

K.V.R.S. Waasland-S.K. Beveren 1 R. Standard Liege 3,  attendance 1,961

32′ 0-1  R. Edmond

35′ 0-2  R. Mmaee

37′ 1-2  Z. Gano

51′ 1-3  Edmilson Junior

@ Freethiel Stadion

Stadionplein 1

9120 Beveren-Waas

€20 Admission

Monthly Magazine, free, 36 pages

Team Sheet, free.

 

The Europa League play offs in Belgium are contested with two groups of six teams, playing each other home and away, with the two group winners playing off for the final qualification place. Tonight’s game, which was 14th v 7th from the regular season, saw the visitors already eliminated, but Waasland- Beveren could still qualify, but would have to win this game to still have a chance of progressing. In the end it wouldn’t have made any difference, as group leaders K. Sint-Truidense V.V.  won 1-3 away, leaving them as almost certain to go through due to their superior goal difference over second placed K.V. Mechelen, who are three points behind, with just one game to play.

The current Waasland- Beveren club took its name in 2010, following the merger of K.V. Red Star Waasland with K.S.K. Beveren, the latter having the more illustrious past, having been champions of Belgium in 1978/79 and 1983/84 seasons, as well as winning the Belgian Cup in 1978 and 1983.

The merger saw the new club retain the matricule of Red Star, but use the Freethiel Stadion of Beveren, as it was the larger stadium, having a capacity of 13,290. With the open terrace at one end permanently closed and the visitors section behind the other goal now being seated, the capacity is probably under 10,000 these days.

The journey out was out on the 1420 Tunnel, with the return having to be via the 0122 due to the late finishing time of the match, but at least it meant the return cost of just £53. As there were four of us on the trip it meant, including fuel, it was only £21 each !

This is also the first time I have completed a division, at any level, in Belgium, although I have done Division 1B, but only by ‘default’ as I had already visited the eight grounds used by the clubs when the new division was formed at the start of the season.

Spartan South Midlands League

Division 2

Saturday 13th May 2017

Kick Off 15.00  Actual 15.02

Thame Rangers 3 Enfield Borough 2,  attendance 61

35′ 1-0

71′ 1-1

72′ 2-1

74′ 2-2

90′ +3, 3-2

@ Meadow View Park (Thame United F.C.) Pitch 2

Tythrop Way

OX9 3RN

No admission or programme.

This was the champions v 4th. The visitors would have finished third had they won this, as Aston Clinton had lost 1-5 at home and the three points here would have lifted them a place due to their superior goal difference over them. They had enough chances here to have got at least a draw, but for the second successive match I saw a 93rd minute goal result in a 3-2 win for the home team.

With the title secured, this was likely to be the last game that Rangers would play on this pitch as it doesn’t meet the requirements for the next level. They are moving into the main stadium for next season. The attraction of the last match on this pitch, plus the promise of the club issuing a programme for this game, which they failed to produce, saw a turnout of over 20 ground hoppers for this one.

Arthurian League

Premier Division

Thursday 11th May 2017

Kick Off 20.00 *

Old Carthusians 3 Old Salopians 2 ( match played at Old Salopians)  attendance 4

46′ 0-1

66′ 1-1

79′ 1-2 (pen)

90′ 2-2

90’+3, 3-2

@ King’s House Sports Ground, 3G Pitch

Riverside Drive

Chiswick

London

W4 2SP

No admission or programme.

* Both the Arthurian League website and the F.A. Full-Time website had this as a 19.00 kick off. When checking the match with the venue late this afternoon, I was informed it was 19.30. When the teams started to arrive at around 18.50, we were told that it had been agreed between the clubs to go for a 20.00 kick off !

So, for the second successive night, I saw the ‘away’ team hosting the fixture. This was 1st v 5th, Carthusians already crowned champions and extending their winning margin to 13 points as the Premier Division fixtures were completed here tonight. If Salopians had held on to win, or even a draw, they would have ended the season in fourth place.