Surrey South Eastern Combination League

Junior Division 1

Saturday 21st May 2022

Kick Off 14.30 On Time !

South Croydon 4 Banstead Rovers 2, attendance 95

32’ 1-0

35’ 2-0

60’ 3-0

73’ 3-1

75’ 4-1

90’+ 3, 4-2

@ John Fisher Sports Ground

192 Limpsfield Road

Warlingham

CR6 9RD

No Admission or Programme.

The Surrey Premier County League (Step 7) is fed by the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) and the Surrey South Eastern Combination League. I’ve always preferred the former of the two feeders, both for location of grounds and also the quality of football on offer. Today’s match certainly went a long way in changing my view on the playing standards, at least, in what was a ’winner takes all’ clash in Junior Division 1, which is Step 10, and the third tier of the S.S.E.C., sitting below the Intermediate Divisions 1 and 2.

Old Boys Clapham had finished the season top of the table, with 46 points (+ 25 Goal Difference) from their twenty games. Banstead Rovers came into this in second place on 44 points (+ 24 GD), with South Croydon in third, having amassed 43 points (+ 39 GD). Therefore, a win for either side would give them the title, whilst a draw would see Old Boys Clapham take the honours. Just to add a little more spice, if it was needed, only the top two teams get promoted!

The two sides were very evenly matched, in what was a game full of commitment. South Croydon broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark, glancing in a header at the near post, from a corner on the left, before doubling their lead just three minutes later, steering the ball into the far corner, after a pull back from the right. Four minutes before halftime Banstead Rovers had a chance to get back into it, but were unable to convert from the penalty spot.

South Croydon went 3-0 up on the hour, brilliantly curling in a shot with the outside of the foot, somehow avoiding the two defenders in the six yard box, after having been forced wide when beating the ’keeper to a through ball. Banstead pulled one back with seventeen minutes left, putting in the rebound, after a long range shot came back off the crossbar, but within two minutes, South Croydon restored their three goal lead, bundling in from 6 yards, after a shot had bounced down off the underside of the crossbar, to make it 4-1. Banstead did pull it back to 4-2, three minutes into stoppage time, but despite the Referee adding on a further seven minutes after the goal, South Croydon hung on to take the title and it will be Old Boys Clapham that join them in the higher division next season.

East Berkshire League

Premier Division

Wednesday 18th May 2022

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.03

Old Windsor 5 Stoke Poges Saints 1, attendance 56

10’ 1-0

11’ 2-0

15’ 2-1

22’ 3-1

47’ 4-1

69’ 5-1

@ Old Windsor Recreation Ground

Robin Willis Way

Old Windsor

SL4 2PX

No Admission or Programme.

With the amount of games in this league that are awarded as walkovers, I wasn’t very confident of actually seeing a game tonight, especially with the visitors being bottom of the league table. However, I needn’t have worried. Both teams were out on the pitch doing their warm ups 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start and Stoke Poges had a full compliment of players, as well as three substitutes, which was good to see.

Old Windsor came into this 3rd in the league table, in a three way fight for the title, with current champions Singh Sabha Slough and Britwell. Unfortunately for Old Windsor, a 1-2 loss at home to Britwell on Saturday means the title is no longer in their own hands. Stoke Poges, on the other hand, really need to win two of their last three games, if they are to have a realistic chance of avoiding relegation.

Old Windsor got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring after ten minutes, then doubling their lead a minute later. Stoke Poges pulled one back within four minutes, but a clinical finish from just inside the box saw Old Windsor go 3-1 up midway through the half. Surprisingly, there were no more goals until the hosts made it 4-1 two minutes into the second half, heading in at the far post. The scoring was rounded off when Old Windsor added a fifth goal on sixty nine minutes, scoring from close range, after the ’keeper had saved the first effort.

The top three have all won their midweek matches, so it is still all to play for, although Britwell look to be favourites. Singh Sabha Slough stay top, with 35 points (+33 Goal Difference), with one game to play. Britwell are also on 35 points (+ 30 GD), but have two games left, as do third placed Old Windsor, who are on 34 points (+ 23 GD).

East Berkshire League

Premier Division

Tuesday 17th May 2022

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.01

Frontline 2 Singh Sabha Slough 4, attendance 44

7’ 1-0

17’ 1-1

27’ 2-1

45’+ 3, 2-2

57’ 2-3

75’ 2-4

@ Langley Academy, 3G Pitch

Langley Road

Langley

SL3 7EF

No Admission or Programme.

Having already been postponed on Friday, rearranged, then postponed again on Saturday, this one finally took place. A number of venues had been listed as hosting it, with the 3G cage here at Langley Academy finally settled upon, although the East Berkshire League had tweeted it was at Langley Grammar School, which also has a 3G pitch, and is not too far away, but once again it shows how poorly run this league is. Thankfully, Singh Sabha Slough had confirmed the correct address via Twitter.

This is a league renowned for teams failing to fulfil fixtures. The clubs who can’t be bothered to turn up are not punished, so it will never change, but it certainly has a detrimental effect on the teams going for the league title, as it is all well and good being awarded the three points (SSS have had walkovers awarded in their last 2 games as KS Gryf and Iver Heath couldn’t be bothered to play. Iver Heath also failed to play at Old Windsor on 23rd April), but there is no increase in the goal difference tally, and in this league, that can be the deciding factor. The usual suspects of Singh Sabha Slough, Britwell and Old Windsor once again battle it out at the top. Singh Sabha Slough, the reigning champions, came into this top of the table on 32 points (GD +31), with two to play. Britwell are second, also on 32 points (GD +28), but with three to play, as have third placed Old Windsor, who have 31 points (GD +19).

Frontline came into this 8th (third bottom) in the league table, but a win against the league leaders would see them climb to fifth. They had a full squad tonight and really had a go, contributing to a very entertaining match and Singh Sabha certainly had to work hard to take the three points. Frontline went ahead in the seventh minute, but the visitors levelled ten minutes later, with a 25 yarder that the ’keeper should really have saved. Frontline went back in front on twenty seven minutes, when a cross from wide on the right totally deceived the ’keeper and found the far corner. Singh Sabha drew level again in stoppage time at the end of the first half, coolly lobbing the ’keeper from the edge of the D. If only Frontline had held onto their lead heading into the break, then we might have had a different outcome. It wasn’t to be. Singh Sabha edged in front twelve minutes into the second half, the striker cutting back onto his left foot, before shooting into the bottom corner from 6 yards and they made it 2-4 with fifteen minutes left, when a through ball was taken wide of the ’keeper and finished from a tight angle.

The cage had no spectator area, but the three match officials had no problem with people standing inside the fence to watch.

Middlesex County League

Premier Division

Saturday 14th May 2022

Kick Off 13.30 On Time !

Sporting Hackney 3 Brentham 1, attendance 26

2’ 0-1

34’ 1-1

50’ 2-1

87’ 3-1

@ Hackney Marshes Centre, Show Pitch 1

Homerton Road

Hackney

London

E9 5PF

No Admission or Programme.

Sporting Hackney normally play at Barking F.C., but they have also played one off games this season at Leyton Sports Ground, Wadham Lodge and today, here at Hackney Marshes. When I last saw them play at home, back on 8th January 2011, they beat Springfield 3-0 in a Middlesex County League Premier Division match, played on the 3G cage at Haggerston Park, in Shoreditch.

I wouldn’t normally make multiple visits to large complexes with vast amounts of pitches. I came to Hackney Marshes on 16th May 2011, when I saw Bethnal Green United ‘A’ lose 0-3 to St. Johns Arsenal Deaf, in a Middlesex County League Division 1 (Central & East) match. The game was played on one of the ’S’ numbered pitches, ( I never noted which one exactly, as I never expected to come back) which are across the Lee Valley Pathway from where today’s match took place. The term ’Show Pitch’ can be misleading, especially in this case. Nearest the building, which houses the changing rooms and cafe/bar, are the two ‘Show Pitches’. No. 1 runs widthways in front of the building and is nothing more than a pitch. No.2 is to the right of this, running at right angles, with this one being roped off. Today, it was hosting an Essex Olympian League Division 1 match between Snaresbrook and Beacon Hill Rovers, which kicked off half an hour after our match. It was a good back up to have, just in case there was a problem with my intended match.

Sporting Hackney came into this fifth in the league table, whilst Brentham were second, knowing that if they won their three remaining games, they would leapfrog current leaders NW London, who have finished their fixtures, managing to build a seven point lead in the process. It started well for the visitors, heading in at the far post with less than two minutes on the clock, but their performance from here on in was pitiful. They never had another attempt on goal until seventy four minutes later, and that was high and wide of the target. In between, Sporting Hackney were far the better side. They levelled through a header of their own, powerfully put in from a corner on the left and could have been four or five ahead by halftime. They went 2-1 up five minutes into the second half, coolly side footing home a ball pulled back from the right. They never looked like losing their lead. They hit the post with an effort that the ’keeper was nowhere near saving, before making it 3-1 in the dying minutes, a long ball superbly controlled wide on the left, beating a defender in the same movement, before cutting inside and shooting past the ’keeper into the far corner.

So, NW London take the title. The fact that Brentham had a chance of winning it, perhaps suggests the standard of this league is not the best.

Cheshire League

Division 1

Thursday 12th May 2022

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.55

Parklands 6 Malpas 2, attendance 58

54’ 1-0

58’ 1-1

59’ 2-1

61’ 3-1

70’ 4-1

76’ 5-1

86’ 6-1

88’ 6-2

@ Parklands Sports Club

Parklands

Cronton

WA8 4NQ

No Admission

£1 Programme, 4 pages.

I wasn’t sure that this game would definitely take place. It was 8th versus 12th in the league table, with nothing on the game for Parklands and they have already forfeited their final home game next Saturday, whilst Malpas hadn’t played since 23rd April and had already failed to turn up for this fixture when it was scheduled to be played earlier in the season. Although they are fourth bottom, the two teams immediately below them can both still get enough points to leapfrog them, so they are certainly not safe yet.

Malpas to Cronton, just north of Widnes, takes almost an hour to drive at the best of times, let alone during rush hour, so it was little surprise that the away team struggled to get here, with the last car load arriving right on the scheduled kick off time, hence the game getting underway ten minutes late. It didn’t seem to affect them though, as they matched the hosts from the off and looked a far better side than their league position suggested. Plenty of chances at both ends, with Parklands going closest to making the breakthrough, hitting the crossbar ten minutes before halftime, but it remained 0-0 at the break.

Parklands finally broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half, when a defender put the ball past his own ’keeper when trying to cut out a cross. Three minutes later Malpas saw a shot hit the post, but levelled it up at 1-1 a minute later, firing in off the inside of the post. Parklands then scored twice in the next three minutes, to go 3-1 up and it was game over. They added three more, with the free kick that made it 5-1 being the pick of the bunch, before Malpas pulled one back to make it 6-2 with a couple of minutes left.

The journey up and back wasn’t great, with the SatNav taking us up the M1 (to avoid a vehicle fire on the M40) and across the A50 to Stoke, before finally joining the M6 at Junction 16. Coming back was a little better, although the M40 was shut between Junction 12 and 11 and the M25 closed from Junction 10 to 9, which meant by the time I arrived home, I had been driving for 9 hours 59 minutes!

Herts Senior County League

Division 3

Wednesday 11th May 2022

Kick Off 19.10 Actual 19.09

Chorleywood Common 5 Bedmond United 1, attendance 28

11’ 1-0

18’ 1-1

48’ 2-1

60’ 3-1

65’ 4-1

83’ 5-1

@ St. Clements Dane School, 3G Pitch

Chenies Road

Chorleywood

WD3 6EW

No Admission or Programme.

This wasn’t my original plan for tonight, but was my back up if anything went wrong with an earlier kick off. I was heading for Harts of Bracknell U23 Devils, in the East Bershire League Division 1, where a home win would see them take the title. The venue and kick off had been confirmed by the home club during the morning, so what could possibly go wrong! Having arrived on the outskirts of Bracknell, I received a phone call from another hopper, who had already arrived at the ground. It turned out that the game had been switched to a venue we’d already visited (they tweeted it at 15.30, half an hour after I last checked it). It sums up just how ’Mickey Mouse’ the East Berkshire League is. Anyway, time for Plan B. Still arrived here a good 45 minutes before kick off, despite the extra 28 miles drive via Bracknell. At least I got a new kick off time! I can’t remember too many 19.10 starts, but strange times are always possible with hired out 3G Pitches. At least the cage had a spectator viewing area, which was along two thirds of one side.

The match had nothing riding on it, as 10th hosted 5th in the league table, but it turned out to be very entertaining. Chorleywood Common went ahead early, but Bedmond United levelled with a header, following a corner on the right, eighteen minutes in. The visitors hit the crossbar with a chip from wide on the right, just before the break, but it remained 1-1 at halftime.

Chorleywood had a deflected shot that hit the post two minutes into the second half, but went in front a minute later, with an easy tap in at the far post. Bedmond lost their ’keeper to injury after fifty nine minutes, replaced by an outfield player, which turned the game in favour of the hosts. Despite the stand in making a good save from a free kick, he was beaten twice in his first five minutes between the sticks, as Chorleywood went 4-1 up. Bedmond had a man red carded on 78 minutes, picking up a second yellow card, before Chorleywood rounded off the scoring five minutes later, to give them a resounding 5-1 win.

Sevenoaks & District League

Premier Division

Tuesday 10th May 2022

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.32

Hawkenbury 0 Potters 0, attendance 39

@ Bayham Road Playing Field

Bayham Road

Tunbridge Wells

TN2 5HU

No Admission or Programme.

I had only visited Hawkenbury back on 23rd April, but the council remove the goalposts at Hawkenbury Recreation Ground, once cricket takes over for the Summer, so they have scheduled their remaining home games to be played here at Bayham Road Playing Field. This was played on Pitch 5, which isn’t as bad as it sounds, as it is totally away from the other pitches, separated by the crematorium/car park and is fully enclosed by trees around the perimeter.

The match was 4th versus 3rd in the league table, both still in with a chance of finishing top, although the runners up spot is more likely, due to the leaders F.C. Revo not only being clear at the top, but also having a game in hand on both. Despite finishing goalless, this was a cracking game, with 100% commitment from both teams and it was more a case of good defending, rather than poor finishing, that contributed to this. Hawkenbury had the better of the first half, whilst Potters dominated the second. The longer it went on, the more likely the visitors looked like they might nick it, but a draw was a fair result overall.

The draw was the perfect result for F.C. Revo. They top the league on 35 points, with three to play and would need just a point from their game at home to MALGO tonight (they were kicking off at 19.15) to take the title. St. Lawrence, who have completed their fixtures, are on 33 points,followed by Potters on 32 and Hawkenbury on 31, both with one to play.

This was my first 0-0 since a revisit at Sutton United on 8th February, a run of 71 matches, and my first on a ‘new’ ground since visiting Ormiston, in the East of Scotland League, on 2nd October, some 141 matches ago. Neither of those were anywhere near as good as tonight’s game!

Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League

Greyhound Cup Semi Final

Monday 9th May 2022

Kick Off 18.15 On Time !

Cwrt Rawlin 5 Cilfynydd 0, attendance 138

24’ 1-0

32’ 2-0

68’ 3-0

73’ 4-0

90’+ 3, 5-0

@ Owain Glyndwr Playing Field

Crescent Road

Caerphilly

CF83 1AB

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was between the teams who had finished 2nd and 9th in the Premier Division of the Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League. Cwrt Rawlin are aiming for a cup treble, having already won the South Wales F.A. Senior Cup and Bernard Martin Cup.

Cwrt Rawlin were far too strong, and although Cilfynydd fought to the end, they were no match for the victorious hosts. It was a surprise that the opening goal didn’t come until the twenty fourth minute, but a 25 yarder into the bottom corner doubled the lead eight minutes later, giving the hosts a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead. Their No.10, J. Harvey made it 3-0 on sixty eight minutes, completing his hattrick, before adding his fourth goal five minutes later, before he was substituted. The fifth goal came in stoppage time, riding three challenges, before shooting into the far corner.

Cwrt Rawlin now face Cefn Hengoed in the final.

Montgomeryshire Amateur League

Saturday 7th May 2022

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.32

Trefonen 3 Llanfechain 2, attendance 43

27’ 1-0

52’ 2-0

57’ 3-0 (pen)

74’ 3-1

89’ 3-2

@ The Pit

School Lane

Trefonen

SY10 9DG

No Admission

£1 Programme, 12 pages.

I would never have considered this today, but having been offered a lift, by a driver who was attracted by the fact that the club issue a programme, then it was hard to turn down. Trefonen are one of a number of clubs over the years that are based in England, but ply their trade over the border in Wales. The village of Trefonen is about three miles south west of Oswestry, in Shropshire, and about the same distance from the Welsh border. It was the only ground in the league I hadn’t visited, although it is easier to do these days, as there is now just one division, made up of only 8 teams, whereas there used to be two divisions, albeit containing a fair few reserve teams amongst them.

Trefonen came into this 2nd in the league table, knowing that a win guaranteed them second place. Llanfechain were rock bottom, managing just one win and one draw from their twelve games. They have taken three double figure thrashings, including a 0-11 defeat in the reverse fixture with Trefonen. At least they have turned up for every game, which they deserve credit for. It has to be said, the standard of football was absolutely dreadful, especially in the first half. At times it was difficult to tell which team was at which end of the table.

The only goal of the first half came on 27 minutes, when the ball was played across the six yard box for an easy tap in, which gave Trefonen the lead. Seven minutes into the second half they made it 2-0, before a penalty saw them go 3-0 up five minutes later. Rather than giving up, Llanfechain still competed, reducing the arrears with sixteen minutes left, shooting past the ’keeper at his near post. They then pulled it back to 3-2 in the last minute, with a cracking first time shot into the top corner.

So, Trefonen got the win they needed, and apparently, they are being promoted into the Mid Wales League next season. They will certainly have to improve on this showing, if they are to survive at the higher level.

Central Midlands League

Division 1 Central

Friday 6th May 2022

Kick Off 18.45 On Time !

Bakewell Town 2 Cromford & Wirksworth Town 2, attendance 152

8’ 1-0

18’ 2-0

62’ 2-1

83’ 2-2

@ Bakewell Recreation Ground

Haddon Road

Bakewell

DE45 1AW

No Admission

£2 Programme, 8 pages.

I am not a great fan of the Central Midlands League. It is a league that no longer serves a purpose and it would be far be far better if the clubs were redistributed into their respective county leagues, rather than having a footprint that overlaps so many other leagues at this level. I struggle to find the enthusiasm to complete the two Premier Divisions, having always kept this league up to date in years gone by, let alone bothering with the three divisions at Division 1 level and tonight seemed as good a time as any to bite the bullet and finally drop into the lower standard end of the league.

Bakewell Town had been crowned league champions during the week, but not by achieving it on the pitch, but because of their opposition not being bothered to raise a team to play a game, which subsequently saw the three points awarded. It was a pity, because Cromford & Wirksworth Town came into this third in the league table, and were only five points behind Bakewell, with both having two games to play, so this would have been a real ’six pointer’. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, but Cromford & Wirksworth still needed a point from their last two matches to guarantee a second placed finish.

Bakewell came flying out of the blocks, scoring twice in the opening eighteen minutes. It was hard to see how the visitors could possibly have been challenging for the title, as they were being totally overrun and were in danger of being on the end of a real thrashing, such was Bakewell’s dominance, but it remained 2-0 at the break. Just after the hour mark Cromford & Wirksworth pulled a goal back, scoring with a 25 yarder into the top corner and they grabbed an equaliser seven minutes from time, scrambling in from close range, after a free kick had been headed back across the six yard box. It gave them the point that ensured the runners up spot.

To celebrate the league title, Bakewell produced their first ever official programme (sold out 10 minutes before kick off), which attracted a fair number of ’hoppers. The locals were also out in force, despite the light rain that fell for most of the game, with an official crowd of 152 recorded on the league website. They even set up a table to sell hot/cold drinks and chocolate bars/homemade cakes, which also seemed to be well accepted. The club were presented with the trophy after the game and will play in the Premier Division next season. The ground is certainly not a great addition to Step 7, restricted somewhat by being on the cricket outfield. Just two temporary dugouts and a bit of rope down each side of the pitch. It is in a nice setting though.