Fazeley Charity Cup

Semi-Final

Tuesday 31st January 2023

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.44

Sutton United 3 Coton Green 2, attendance 252

11’ 1-0

24’ 1-1

77’ 2-1

85’ 3-1

88’ 3-2

@ Coleshill Road Stadium

Coleshill Road

Sutton Coldfield

B75 7BA

No Admission

£1.50 Programme 16 pages.

Having been thwarted by a gridlocked M25 and surrounding areas on Boxing Day, it was a case of second time lucky in making it here tonight. Sutton United have moved into their new 3G facility this season. Although it has just the standard kit stand at present, it is unlike most of these new cage venues, as you can actually access all four sides to watch the game!

They only came up from Division 3 of the Midland League at the start of this season, but look like their stay at this level will be a brief one, as they currently sit top of the table, ten points clear of second placed Cadbury Athletic, albeit having played two more games. They’ve managed 14 wins and 3 draws from their opening nineteen matches, scoring 76 goals in the process. Coton Green would be a tougher test though, as they currently sit seventh in the division above, having only lost seven of their twenty six league matches so far.

It was a decent game, as you’d expect from a semi-final. At this level, clubs are still interested in reaching cup finals, unlike those higher up the food chain. It only took Sutton eleven minutes to go in front, when a 25 yarder dipped over the ‘keeper into the far corner. They also hit the post and saw another effort go narrowly wide, before Coton Green levelled the score after twenty four minutes, when a header from a corner was deflected past the ‘keeper. Sutton made it 2-1 with thirteen minutes left, heading in a left wing cross at the near post. They looked to have made it safe, when an angled shot into the far corner made it 3-1 as we entered the last five minutes, but Coton Green made for a nervous finish for the hosts when they headed in to make it 3-2 and pushed hard in stoppage time for an equaliser, but despite a sustained period of pressure, couldn’t quite pull it off.

Brighton, Worthing & District League

Saturday 28th January 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Boys Brigade Old Boys 0 Ovingdean 2, attendance 19

10’ 0-1

82’ 0-2

@ Brighton Blues R.U.F.C. 3G Pitch

Waterhall Road

Brighton

BN1 8YR

No Admission or Programme.

I hadn’t intended doing this match today, especially on a day without rain or frost. I had been to Ashurst United, league leaders of West Sussex League Division 3 South, but when the ground was deserted 40 minutes before kick off, it was obvious the game wouldn’t be taking place. A real shame, as it was 7 degrees and there was even the odd patch of blue sky. The pitch looked in good nick too. An hour after the game should have finished it appeared on F.A. Full Time that a home win was awarded. I assume Plaistow couldn’t be bothered to raise a side?

I certainly hadn’t expected a problem seeing a game on grass today, but did have two 3G backups nearby and in just under twenty minutes I arrived on the northern fringes of Brighton, where 2nd in the table hosted 1st in the Brighton, Worthing & District League. The 3G pitch is to the right as you enter the car park, then beyond this, running parallel, is the floodlit grass pitch of Brighton Blues R.U.F.C. which has the clubhouse on the far side. Despite there being no designated spectator area inside the cage, there was no problem watching from inside the fence. There is a good 6 yards between touchline and fence at the sides and even more room at the goal ends, due to the in-goal area for when the pitch is used for rugby.

Boys Brigade Old Boys knew nothing short of a win would be enough for them today. Even then, it would take a collapse of Devon Loch proportions to prevent Ovingdean from winning the league now. When the visitors went ahead after just ten minutes, smashing one in from 12 yards, when a corner wasn’t cleared, it looked like it might be another easy afternoon for the visitors, much like last week when I saw them stroll to a 4-0 victory against Clarendon Athletic, but BBOB were much tougher opponents and really made a game of it. The action ebbed and flowed throughout a very open first half. BBOB hit the crossbar with a 30 yarder, saw their ‘keeper tip one over the bar and then hit the crossbar again with a 25 yarder, and we had still only played seventeen minutes!

Things settled down a bit from here. The longer the game went on, the more it looked like the visitors would hang on to their lead and they finally added a second goal eight minutes from time, dispossessing the full back as he tried to break clear and finishing powerfully past the ‘keeper at the near post. The game finished on a sour note, with both teams having a man red carded after a clash in stoppage time. The Ovingdean player receiving his for the foul, whilst the recipient from BBOB retaliated with a kick to the head that Conor McGregor would be proud of in the U.F.C. The player was bandaged up, but may have required stitches, according to the discussions taking place afterwards. It was a shame that it finished this way, as it had been an excellent game until this point.

Third in the table Queens Head Raiders are the only team who can stop Ovingdean from taking the title now. They can get a maximum of 43 points if they win their last six games, which would be just three more points than Ovingdean already have (still 4 to play), never mind a goal difference of 35 to make up!

Ovingdean are the only club I haven’t visited in this league now. I think I’ll save them though, just incase they are promoted to the Sussex County League next season. They would certainly be good enough, but it may not be their plan. I look forward to visiting whatever happens.

Football League Youth Alliance

South Eastern Conference

Group C

Wednesday 25th January 2023

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.42

Milton Keynes Dons U18 0 Southend United U18 2, attendance 37

44’ 0-1

72’ 0-2

@ Fairfields Sports Hub, 3G Pitch

Apollo Avenue

Fairfields

Milton Keynes

MK11 4BA

No Admission or Programme.

MK Dons normally place their Youth Alliance games at Woughton on the Green, where I had seen them lose 0-1 to Aston Villa in an F.A. Premier Academy League match back on 19th November 2004, but with the pitches there being unfit, this game was switched to the fairly new Fairfields Sports Hub, where there are a number of grass pitches, as well as the 3G cage that hosted today’s game. A typical set up, with spectator access along the majority of one side, with the dugouts opposite.

Despite turning up later than expected, causing the late start, Southend were soon into their stride. Both teams created chances, but it was the visitors who managed to convert two of theirs. The first came in the last minute of the first half, when a defensive mix up resulted in an easy opener. They made the game safe with eighteen minutes left, following in after the ‘keeper had saved the initial effort.

Brighton, Worthing & District League

Saturday 21st January 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Ovingdean 4 Clarendon Athletic 0, attendance 8

6’ 1-0

23’ 2-0

62’ 3-0

75’ 4-0

@ Portslade Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Chalky Road

Portslade

BN41 2WS

No Admission or Programme.

Ovingdean normally play at Longhill Sports Centre in Ovingdean itself (which I have yet to visit), but with the grass pitch there being unfit, today’s match was moved to the 3G pitch here in Portslade. Spectator access is along one side, bar the usual sections of higher fencing and a storage unit at the far end.

Ovingdean have been almost unstoppable in the league this season, winning all bar one of their 12 games so far, the only blemish being a 1-1 draw at home to second placed Boys Brigade Old Boys, who along with Queens Head Raiders in third, are the only two challengers for the title, but in truth, the title has already been won.

Clarendon Athletic came into this 5th in the league table, so I was expecting Ovingdean to be tested. They weren’t. It was all over once the first goal went in after just six minutes and it was then a case of how many more goals would there be. Midway through the half it was 2-0, tapping in at the far post, after a cross was headed back across the six yard box. It was nearly three, but a shot from a tight angle hit the near post. Clarendon only threatened once, hitting the outside of the post with a free kick from 25 yards just before the break.

The second half was much the same. It was 3-0 just after the hour mark, poking the ball past the ‘keeper after holding off two defenders. Clarendon came close when they hit the post for a second time, from an almost identical free kick effort to the one in the first half, but never looked like getting back into it. The fourth goal came fifteen minutes from time, chipping over the ‘keeper into the far corner.

So, Ovingdean edge ever so closer to the title. Next up they visit second in the table Boys Brigade Old Boys next Saturday. If the weather is still poor, I may even go to that one, as they play on a 3G pitch at Brighton Blues Rugby Club.

League positions after today…

Ovingdean 37 points (GD +56) with 5 games left, followed by Boys Brigade Old Boys with 23 points (GD +23) with six games left and Queens Head Raiders on 22 points (GD +22) with seven to play.

Combined Midland Police League

North Division

Thursday 19th January 2023

Kick Off 19.15 Actual 19.27

Leicestershire Police 4 Derbyshire Police 1, attendance 14

6’ 1-0

11’ 2-0

32’ 3-0

45’ 4-0

60’ 4-1

@ Hinckley R.U.F.C. 3G Pitch

Leicester Road

Hinckley

LE10 3DR

No Admission or Programme.

This was originally scheduled to be played at Lutterworth Town F.C. but with the pitch there being unplayable, it was switched to the 3G cage here at Hinckley Rugby Club. The cage is as bad as it gets : no spectator area and two wires across the pitch to divide the area for small sided games. The number of times the ball hit the wire must have been into double figures well before halftime, cutting out quite a few attacks for both teams. At least there was no problem standing inside the cage to watch, which was a relief to the ground hoppers present, who made up half the crowd!

Leicestershire Police are the current champions and cruised to a comfortable victory as they began their defence of the trophy. They were 2-0 up after just eleven minutes and when it became 3-0 just after thirty two minutes, it was game over. A goal in the dying seconds of the half saw them increase their lead to 4-0 and there was no way back for the visitors, although they did score the only goal of the second half, heading in from close range as we hit the hour mark.

This is the third ground I have seen a match at within yards of each other. There is even a fourth pitch that was used by Downes Sports in the Leicestershire Senior League, although I never saw a match there.

Above : The various grounds/pitches.

1. 5.12.90 Hinckley Town 3 Dudley Town 2, att.132 Southern League Midland Division.
2. 1.1.08 Hinckley United 0 Nuneaton Borough 0, att.1,593 National League North
3. Tonight’s match, whilst X is the former ground of Downes Sports.

Spartan South Midlands League

Division 1 Knockout Cup

Semi Final

Tuesday 17th January 2023

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.47

Moulton 1 Eaton Socon 4, attendance 122

6’ 0-1

24’ 0-2

56’ 1-2

68’ 1-3

89’ 1-4

@ Brunting Road

Moulton

NN3 7QF

£5 Admission

£2 Programme, 20 pages.

Tonight’s match completed visits to all the grounds in the Spartan South Midlands League for me. Although it is a 3G cage, it has a standard kit seated stand, and has spectator access on three sides, with just the goal end to the left of the entrance not in use. The clubhouse is outside the ground.

As far as league positions go, this was 6th versus 8th. The two clubs met last week in a league match at Eaton Socon, which Moulton had won 5-0, so I was expecting a comfortable home win in this, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. It took the visitors just six minutes to go in front and they had a couple more decent chances before doubling their lead after 24 minutes, when a cross/shot from wide on the right sailed over the ‘keeper into the far top corner. Eleven minutes into the second half Moulton pulled it back to 1-2, shooting left footed into the bottom corner, with the ‘keeper getting a hand to it, but unable to keep it out. The visitors replied immediately, but having lobbed the ‘keeper, the ball was cleared off the line by a defender. They soon restored their two goal lead though, forcing in from close range after an initial save by the ‘keeper. They rounded off the scoring a minute from time, smashing one in following a one-two on the edge of the box.

Eaton Socon will now play either Holmer Green or Ampthill Town in the final.

Kent County League

Division 1 West

Saturday 14th January 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Danson Sports 2 Welling Park 2, attendance 15

14’ 0-1

16’ 1-1

77’ 1-2

90’ + 5, 2-2

@ Mayplace Sports Field, 3G Pitch

Perry Street

Crayford

DA1 4RB

No Admission or Programme.

Once again the Met Office forecast of heavy rain for 12 hours up until around 3 o’clock this afternoon was totally off the mark, with a number of my options on grass pitches going ahead, but I’d already decided to play it safe and visit yet another cage set up, this one having spectator access along three quarters of one side. Annoyingly, it has one of those curtain wires across the centre, used to divide the pitch for small sided games. I gave up counting how many times the ball hit it, after it was already at seven before we had even reached halftime!

The match was 5th versus 3rd in the league table, having drawn the reverse fixture 1-1 last Saturday. Welling Park went ahead after fourteen minutes, the striker just beating the ‘keeper to a through ball and poking it past him into the bottom corner. Danson levelled within two minutes with an angled shot into the far corner, which the ‘keeper got a touch to, but couldn’t keep out. It looked like Welling Park had won it when they went back in front late in the second half, scrambling in from close range after a corner hadn’t been cleared, but deep into stoppage time Danson made it 2-2, powering in a header from inside the 6 yard box after a corner was cleared and crossed back into the box.

Anyone travelling here by car needs to be careful of the car park charge, especially if it’s a cup match that might go to extra time and/or penalties, although you can park in the road outside if you don’t mind walking a hundred yards!

Arthurian League

Junior League Cup

2nd Round

Saturday 14th January 2023

Kick Off 10.45 Actual 10.52

Old Sennockians 2 Old Alleynians III’s 1, attendance 3

8’ 1-0

65’ 2-0

81’ 2-1

@ Harris Academy, 3G Pitch

Tintagel Road

Orpington

BR5 4LG

No Admission or Programme.

Non stop rain on Friday meant Sennockians switched their game to the 3G pitch here at Harris Academy. Although there is no spectator access inside the cage, there is a raised viewing area that gives around 95% of unrestricted sight lines, so no problem.

The Junior League Cup is contested by teams from Division 2 and below, with this being bottom of Division 2 versus third in Division 3. I had been a bit apprehensive about watching a third team, but needn’t have been, as they turned up with a full compliment of players, as well as having three substitutes (one more than Sennockians!) and were a decent side to watch.

Sennockians went ahead after eight minutes, when a corner from the right was headed in off the underside of the crossbar from just inside the 6 yard box. Chances came at both ends and it was a surprise that it took until midway through the second half for a second goal to arrive, when a far post header, again from a corner on the right, saw Sennockians double their lead. Alleynians made for an interesting last ten minutes when a long range effort made it 2-1 and they had a couple of decent chances to draw level, but just fell short.

F.A. Sunday Cup

3rd Round

Sunday 8th January 2023

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.33

Baiteze 2 Burghfield 0, attendance 48

8’ 1-0

73’ 2-0

@ Chigwell School, 3G Pitch

High Road

Chigwell

IG7 6DP

No Admission or Programme.

Baiteze, who play in the Essex Corinthian Sunday League Senior Division (5th place in the table, but have only played 5 games so far) are the current F.A. Sunday Cup holders, having beaten Highgate Albion 2-0 at Millwall F.C. in last seasons final. Burghfield play in the Premier Division of the Reading & District Sunday League, where they are oddly bottom of the table, albeit having played just three games, only managing a single point so far.

Baiteze went ahead after eight minutes, finishing with a shot on the turn, following a header back into the box after a cross wasn’t cleared. Little else of note happened in a pretty dull first half. Burghfield had the better of the second half and had a couple of half chances, but Baiteze made the game safe when they added a second goal seventeen minutes from time, breaking down the left and playing the ball across for an easy finish, although the scorer looked to be well offside. Any chance of a comeback disappeared when Burghfield missed a penalty with eight minutes left, shooting over the crossbar.

The ground is a standard cage, with one side for spectator viewing, although intermittent sections of high mesh fencing mean only about half of it is of use. It is a good 300-400 yards walk down to the pitch from the car park. The players got changed in the old pavilion that you pass on the walk from the car park to the cage.

Isthmian League

South East Division

Saturday 7th January 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Haywards Heath Town 1 V.C.D. Athletic 1, attendance 279

65’ 1-0

76’ 1-1

@ Hanbury Park Stadium

Allen Road

Haywards Heath

RH16 3PT

£10 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

With my earlier game in Uckfield finished shortly before 2 o’clock, it gave me ample time to drive the twenty five minutes or so west to Haywards Heath. The last time I came here was back in December 2009, when they were still in Sussex County League Division 3. That night they beat Dorking Wanderers 3-1 (att.68). It is fair to say both clubs have risen dramatically in the intervening years, especially the visitors!

Today’s match was 17th versus 9th in the league table. It wasn’t exactly a thriller and it looked at one stage that it was nailed on to finish goalless. The only decent chance in the first half saw Haywards Heath go close two minutes before the break, but an overhead kick was turned over the crossbar. The second half was better. In the opening five minutes the hosts went close, but shot wide. V.C.D. replied with a volley that was saved by the ‘keeper. Haywards Heath had an effort scrambled off the line, but with 25 minutes left the deadlock was finally broken. A foul on the edge of the D saw Alex Laing hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner. V.C.D. levelled with fourteen minutes left when a free kick from wide on the right was headed down from close range just crossed the line as a defender tried to clear. The visitors almost won it when a deflected shot was tipped over by Collings and when Jack Bath was sent off for the visitors (picking up a second yellow card) with two minutes of normal time left, both teams settled for a point apiece.

The rain that had been forecast for this afternoon arrived just as we headed into stoppage time. It was raining quite hard for the walk back to the car and the first 15 minutes of the drive home was particularly bad, with standing water across the whole road in a number of places.