Anglian Combination League

Division 3 North

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.24

Gayton United 1 King’s Lynn Soccer Club 3, attendance 51

24’ 0-1

30’ 0-2

80’ 1-2

87’ 1-3

@ Lime Kiln Road

Gayton

PE32 1QT

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight was a trip to Norfolk, for a game where 4th hosted 8th in the league table, with both teams still in with a chance of taking the title and are very much in the promotion fight. The ground is entered behind the goal at the Lime Kiln Road end of the ground. The pitch is fenced along the left touchline, with car parking pitch side. A pair of dugouts are this side too, with the changing room building beyond, where there was also a tea bar. On the opposite side is a quirky piece of cover, which is two storey, but only has room for about half a dozen spectators.

We got underway six minutes earlier than scheduled and it was end to end from start to finish. A 25 yard free kick, which took a deflection, opened the scoring for KLSC after twenty four minutes and they doubled their lead six minutes later, finishing a long clearance from the ‘keeper one on one at the other end. Gayton had a goal disallowed for a foul on the hour mark, as they pushed hard to get back into it. KLSC saw an effort hit the crossbar, before Gayton pulled a goal back with ten minutes left. As we entered the last five minutes they hit the post, with the rebound going straight into the ‘keeper’s arms and a couple of minutes later KLSC killed off the game by adding a third goal, after an initial save by the ‘keeper was volleyed high into the roof of the net on the rebound.

The result leaves Gayton fourth and now unable to win the league and now relying on the teams above them to slip up if they’re still to be promoted. KLSC move up to seventh, now just ten points behind the leaders, but still with four games in hand.

Apart from a three mile queue at the Dartford Crossing, the journey north was trouble free. Despite the M11 being down to one lane near Harlow, followed by SatNav taking me to the bottom of the M11, then the A13 back to Dartford Crossing, which was also down to one lane, I was home for eleven o’clock.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 4

Wednesday 15th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Catsbrook Wanderers 2 Luton Phoenix 3, attendance 6

18’ 1-0

46’ 1-1

75’ 2-1

81’ 2-2

82’ 2-3

@ Lewsey Park

Pastures Way

Lewsey

LU4 0PF

No Admission or Programme.

Lewsey Park is one of those places that is better to visit during ‘silly season’ than on a regular Saturday during the season. The changing rooms and car park are across a brook from the pitches, a good 150-200 yards away. There’s actually a cafe here, which was still open at kick off time and toilets were available here too. There are three pitches here, one slightly offset and to the right (was hosting L.U. Dons Reserves tonight) as you cross the small footbridge, with the other two to the left, running parallel to each other, with the middle pitch of the three hosting tonight’s game (Pitch 3 according to F.A. Full Time, but doesn’t make sense).

The match was 7th versus 2nd in the league table and was far closer than I’d been expecting. A dreadful pitch didn’t make for pretty football, but it was certainly entertaining. Having kicked off four minutes later than scheduled, the Referee informed both sides he would be playing 2 x 43 minute halves, despite there being no likelihood of a problem with the light. Catsbrook scored the only goal of the first half after eighteen minutes, breaking down the left before crossing to the far post for an easy tap in. An own goal, diverting in a cross when attempting to clear the ball saw Phoenix draw level early in the second half and it looked like they would go on to comfortably win it, such was their dominance, but they struggled with some poor finishing. A free kick from their own half, launched into the box and met with a looping header over the ‘keeper saw Catsbrook go back in front with thirteen minutes left, but they were unable to hold on to their lead. Phoenix smashed one in from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 with five minutes left and a minute later got the winner, with a free kick from the edge of the D that found the bottom corner, despite the ‘keeper getting a hand to it.

The win keeps Phoenix two points adrift of leaders Dunstable Town Cricket Club, having played a game more than the leaders, but crucially, as far as promotion goes, they opened up a nine point lead over Cranfield United Development, although they’ve played two games more than their chasers.

A very tedious journey on the M25 from the M4 junction onwards, followed by a slow moving M1 meant the 68 mile journey north took almost two hours. No such problems coming back and home for 21.05.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Division 1

Tuesday 14th April 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.26

Summertown Stars 1 Witney Town 5, attendance 77

24’ 1-0

31’ 1-1 (pen)

34’ 1-2

60’ 1-3

65’ 1-4

70’ 1-5

@ Cutteslowe Park

Lower Pavillion

Harbord Road

Cutteslowe

OX2 8ES

No Admission or Programme.

I have a soft spot for Witney Town, as I used to travel on their coach to away games in the early 1990’s, when they were in the Southern League. The club folded in 2001, but a phoenix club was formed a year later, known as Witney United, but in 2011 the club reverted to the name Town, but the club was dissolved just two years later. Witney Town then re-formed last season, winning Oxfordshire Senior League Division 2 in their debut season and this year have been looking to keep the momentum going by going straight through Division 1. With promotion to the Premier Division already secured, they came into their last game of the season tonight knowing a draw would be enough to guarantee them the title.

Despite only being tenth in the table and having nothing riding on the game, Summertown certainly didn’t make things easy, despite what the final scoreline might suggest. Summertown opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading in unmarked from a corner on the right. A penalty, awarded for handball, saw Witney draw level seven minutes later and it only took another three minutes for them to go in front, when a 20 yarder went in off the post. On the hour mark they made it 1-3 and two more goals in the next ten minutes saw the title secured.

Summertown Stars play on a pitch at Lower Pavillion here at Cutteslowe Park. There’s a clubhouse/changing room building, which also housed a tea bar, with the pitch set in a dip and roped off along the near side. It is pay and display car parking here up until 6pm, although the restrictions in the surrounding roads finish at 5pm. Despite kicking off four minutes ahead of schedule, it was pretty gloomy when the final whistle went at 19.55, as there had been heavy cloud cover and a threat of rain throughout. The usual crawl on the M25 from J14 to J16 outbound, but a clear run home.

Bedfordshire County League

Division 1

Monday 13th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Bedford Albion 4 Caldecote Reserves 1, attendance 23

26’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

53’ 3-0

70’ 4-0

80’ 4-1

@ Renhold Sports Club

Top End

Renhold

MK41 0LR

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game here when this ground hosted Renhold United, so this was the perfect opportunity to put that right. The ground is entered off Top End, via a driveway adjacent to number 44. The ground runs lengthways in front of you as you enter and is roped on three sides and has a pair of plastic dugouts. There’s an open patch of grass area that’s used for car parking, whilst the changing rooms are in the near left corner, where there’s also a tea bar.

The match was 9th versus 10th (out of 13) in the league table, with the hosts safe for another season, but the visitors were only four points off the bottom and certainly not clear of the drop. It was an excellent game, with both teams fully committed throughout. The visitors missed a great opportunity to take a fifth minute lead, having been awarded a penalty, for a handball, but the kick was easily saved by the home ‘keeper. Bedford broke the deadlock after twenty six minutes, cutting inside a couple of defenders before squirming a shot into the bottom corner from ten yards. Three minutes into the second half the hosts doubled their lead, heading in a cross from the left from 6 yards out. Five minutes later it was game over as they added a third, pulling the ball back across the six yard box for an easy tap in. The fourth goal arrived with twenty minutes left, touching in a corner from the left at the near post, before the visitors got a consolation goal with ten minutes left, angling a low shot into the far corner.

The journey up to Bedfordshire had the usual crawl on the M25 from J13 to J18, adding around twenty five minutes to the original expected arrival time, but the return drive was trouble free and home for 21.30.

Kent County League

Division 2 West

Saturday 11th April 2026

Kick Off 14.45 On Time!

Rotherhithe 0 F.C. Greenwich 1, attendance 36

82’ 0-1

@ Sparrows Farm Sports Centre

Sparrows Lane

New Eltham

London

SE9 2BP

No Admission or Programme.

This was 6th versus 3rd in the league table. Rotherhithe had nothing to play for, but F.C. Greenwich needed four points from their last three games to overhaul second in the table The Charcoal, who’ve already completed all their fixtures, to pip them for the second promotion place. The game was played at Sparrows Farm Sports Centre, which is sandwiched between the Charlton Athletic Training Ground and the home ground of Metrogas. Car parking is free here on weekends, with the changing room building adjacent. The pitch is at the rear, accessed through metal railings, where there are two pitches, one for rugby and the other for football, which is to the right. It was roped along one side, but the majority of the crowd stood with the two ‘benches’ on the unroped touchline.

The pitch was bone hard and dusty, coupled with a very strong wind that both teams struggled to master, especially kicking into it. There was plenty of effort and some crunching tackles, but very few good clear cut chances. Rotherhithe lost their ‘keeper to injury eleven minutes into the second half, but the stand in was an adequate substitute. He was finally beaten with eight minutes left, when a mishit cross from the right was controlled and fired low into the bottom corner to win it for the visitors. The final whistle was greeted with huge celebrations from the Greenwich contingent and although they’ve now gone up into second place, they still require another point to make promotion mathematically certain. They could still take the title too, as despite having played a game more than leaders Old Roan, who they trail by four points, the two still have to meet again.

This completed this division for me today and just leaves Division 2 East side Canterbury Eagles for the whole league. Unfortunately, they’ve played all their home games now, so that one will have to wait until next season.

Gwent Premier League

Division 2

Thursday 9th April 2026

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.04

The Oak 0 Riverside Rovers 4, attendance 26

35’ 0-1

45’ + 3, 0-2

50’ 0-3

87’ 0-4

@ The Recreation Ground (Tredegar R.U.F.C.)

Stable Lane

Tredegar

NP22 4BH

No Admission or Programme.

When I came to The Recreation Ground in January 1999, I saw Tredegar Town beat Garw 3-0 in a Welsh League Division 3 match, which was played on a pitch beyond the rugby ground, running lengthways away from it. The pitch is still there, as are floodlights, but there’s no longer a rail around the pitch, so it doesn’t meet league requirements these days. Tonight was an opportunity to see a game on the rugby pitch, at the second time of trying. I came here on a Saturday in November, hoping to see an F.C. Tredegar match, who normally play next door at Tredegar Leisure Centre, but it was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and I had to head elsewhere. The Oak are now using the rugby pitch here, as their own ground at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre is having a new 3G pitch laid, so it was a good chance to finally tick this one off. I arrived nice and early, leaving time to head off to an alternate game if required. The portable goals were in place, in front of the rugby posts and the corner flags were out, but when the player’s came out to warm up, they removed the flags and proceeded to make their way to the far pitch, which I’d done and put them there instead, before beginning their warm up. According to a player I spoke to, they’d used that pitch the last time they were here, but thankfully, the experienced Referee was having none of it and made them move back to the rugby pitch, as “it’s got a barrier, as required for Gwent Premier matches and that’s where we’re playing”. I feel a younger Referee may have buckled, but thankfully this one stuck to his guns Phew.

The rugby ground was worth making the effort for. There’s a large car park, with the changing room building behind the goal at the entrance end. The pitch is railed on three sides, albeit set back a bit and has a magnificent 250 seat stand, with dugouts in front. Either side of this are two sections of open terracing and there’s another section on the far side too. The ground also has floodlights, but they weren’t needed for tonight’s six o’clock kick off.

The match was 9th versus 4th in the league table and was very evenly contested up until The Oak had a man red carded (2 x yellow) after twenty seven minutes. The ten men only held out for seven minutes before Riverside made the breakthrough, when a header from a diagonal free kick looked to have crossed the line, bouncing back out off one of the wheels on the frame, but the rebound was smashed in from close range anyway, removing any doubt over whether it had already gone in. In stoppage time the visitors doubled their lead, powering in a header from a corner on the left. A one on one finish saw them go 0-3 up five minutes into the second half and the fourth goal arrived three minutes from the end, heading in unmarked from close range.

The game finished at 19.46, by which time the temperature had dropped dramatically and I had daylight up until reaching the M4 for my drive home. No problems, apart from queuing for a couple of hundred yards on the M25 at J10, where they were about to close the motorway.

Above : The old scoreboard has seen better days….

Southampton League

Premier Division

Wednesday 8th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.20

Braishfield 3 Dynamo Dockside 3, attendance 22

17’ 1-0

22’ 2-0 (pen)

30’ 2-1

32’ 2-2 (pen)

84’ 3-2 (pen)

89’ 3-3

@ Braishfield Recreation Ground

Braishfield Road

Braishfield

SO51 0PX

No Admission or Programme.

I never got to see a game at Braishfield when they were members of the Hampshire League from 1986-2000, but tonight was the perfect opportunity to put that right. The ground here is nothing more than a pitch, bookended with a car park behind one goal and the changing room building behind the other, with a gentle slope towards the latter. The pitch runs parallel to the road that runs through the village, with a few park benches dotted around the perimeter.

The match was 4th versus 7th in the league table. Barring a freak set of results, Dynamo Dockside will avoid relegation from this nine team division, whilst Braishfield are very much in with a shout of the title. They came into this five points adrift of leaders Sporting Wessex and four points behind second placed Fordingbridge Turks, with two games in hand over both. They’re a point behind third placed Select Generation too, but as they’ve played two games more than the top two, they’re very much the outsiders. Fifth placed Lyndhurst could also still win it, as they’re only three points behind Braishfield and still have a game in hand.

It looked to be going to plan for Braishfield, opening the scoring after seventeen minutes, before doubling their lead five minutes later, scoring with a penalty that was awarded for a handball. However, half an hour in, Dockside headed in from a corner to make it 2-1, before netting the equaliser with a penalty of their own two minutes later. Braishfield thought they’d gone back in front just before halftime, but the goal was ruled out for offside. When Braishfield were awarded their second penalty, with fifteen minutes left, it looked like the perfect opportunity to regain the lead, but the kick was sent wide of the left hand post. Not to worry though, as they were awarded their third penalty of the night, for another handball and this one was duly dispatched to make it 3-2. With a minute left to play, a ball down the right was finished with an angled shot that beat the ‘keeper low at his near post to level it up at 3-3.

It was only when looking at the league tables that I realised this completed the division for me, although it’s not that difficult when only seven of the nine clubs are first teams. It was a traffic free drive down the M3 to Hampshire, approaching Braishfield from the A303, with the car temperature showing 27 degrees at one point. No trouble on the return either, via the more direct cross country route to Winchester and taking the M3 from there and home for 21.25.

Swindon & District Community League

Division 1

Tuesday 7th April 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.13

Spectrum 3 Ramsbury 5, attendance 26

5’ 1-0 (pen)

23’ 1-1

44’ 2-1

72’ 2-2 (pen)

74’ 2-3

76’ 2-4

90’ + 2, 2-5

90’ + 2, 3-5

@ Nalgo Sports & Leisure Community Club

610 Cricklade Road

Penhill

Swindon

SN2 7AP

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was in the second level of the Swindon & District League, played at Nalgo Sports & Leisure Community Club. There are two full sized pitches here, with the one to the north of the cricket square hosting the game, where 6th in the league table hosted 4th.

Spectrum are the only team in the division yet to draw a game this season, whilst Ramsbury were unbeaten, having won 11 of their 12 games coming into this, so it looked unlikely to be goalless and it certainly went to form. Ramsbury had two goals ruled out for offside in the opening three minutes, before a fifth minute penalty saw Spectrum go in front. Ramsbury levelled midway through the half, having seen a penalty saved, but scoring from the rebound. A minute before halftime Spectrum went back in front, when an attempted header back to the ‘keeper fell short and a striker nipped in to lob the ball in from the edge of the 18 yard box.

Both teams were attacking at every opportunity, leading to loads of chances, but the game swung dramatically in favour of the visitors when Spectrum had a man sin binned with 18 minutes left, arguing the decision to award a penalty to the visitors. Ramsbury certainly made the most of the extra man. They duly dispatched the penalty, before grabbing the lead two minutes later, with a shot on the turn from 20 yards that flew into the top corner. Two minutes later it was 2-4, when a shot bobbled into the bottom corner from twenty yards and despite being back to full strength a few minutes later, there was no way back for Spectrum. A deflected shot, that wrong footed the home ‘keeper, saw Ramsbury make it 2-5 a couple of minutes into stoppage time and right from the restart the ball was launched towards the goal, hitting the crossbar and then the back of the ‘keeper and across the line to make it 3-5. The final whistle came seconds later.

Ramsbury are now up to third with this win, with the top two being promoted. They trail leaders Purton Kingsdown Development by just two points now and still have six games in hand! They’re only a point behind second placed Lambourn Sports Reserves too, who they have three games in hand over, so they now look nailed on for promotion and more than likely the league title too….although you never know in football.

No hold ups in either direction, which is very rare these days. An earlier than scheduled kick off, as well as a halftime of just under ten minutes, meant the game was finished for 19.57 and home for 21.30.

Somerset County League

Division 3

Monday 6th April 2026

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Axbridge United 3 Chew Magna 3, attendance 66

11’ 1-0

17’ 1-1

21’ 2-1

34’ 3-1

38’ 3-2

90’ + 4, 3-3

@ The Furlong Recreation Ground

Penn Way

Axbridge

BS26 2DQ

No Admission or Programme.

A few days away in Cornwall was rounded off with this game in Somerset en route home. It’s a basic venue, with a roped off pitch that runs lengthways in front of the changing room building, sloping down to the far goal end and having a couple of portable dugouts on the right hand side. The small car park soon filled up, but plenty of parking available in Penn Way.

The match was 2nd versus 3rd in the league table. Axbridge came into this level on points with leaders Castle Cary, who they’d lost 3-0 to on Saturday, to relinquish top spot, but have four games in hand on them, so are still likely to finish top. Chew Magna currently occupy the final promotion place, two points ahead of fourth placed Broad Plain House, but having played a game more.

As expected, there was very little between the two sides today and was a quick chance for Axbridge to gain revenge for the 3-2 defeat they suffered away at Chew Magna nine days ago, which was their first defeat in the league this season. They got off to the perfect start today, going ahead after eleven minutes, with a 20 yard shot that just eluded the ‘keeper as he tried to tip it wide of the goal. A cross from the right, touched in at the near post levelled the scores six minutes later, but Axbridge soon regained the lead, with a corner played to the edge of the D that was met with a shot that was diverted with a header that flew over the ‘keeper. They thought they’d added a third goal a couple of minutes later, but it was ruled out for a handball. They soon did get a third goal though, when a free kick from wide on the left was met with a close range header that went in off the underside of the crossbar. Seven minutes before halftime Chew Magna pulled it back to 3-2, when a diagonal free kick was touched in from close range.

The second half was end to end stuff, with both teams creating plenty of chances. When the visitors had a man sin binned with three minutes left, it looked like they’d blown their chance of getting back into it, but four minutes into stoppage time the ten men grabbed a deserved equaliser, when a cross from wide on the right was finished with a stooping header at the far post and seconds later the Referee blew the final whistle.

So, that’s this division completed, leaving me just Isle of Wedmore, who are currently third in Division 2, to complete all four divisions of this league now. An excellent day was rounded off with delays of under ten minutes on the drive home, all on the M5 heading north back towards Bristol, before picking up the M4.

St. Piran League

Premier Division (West)

Saturday 4th April 2026

Kick Off 14.30 On Time!

Pendeen Rovers 1 Ludgvan 4, attendance 110

8’ 0-1

29’ 0-2

35’ 0-3

41’ 0-4

90’ + 4, 1-4

@ Borlase Park

Calartha Road

Pendeen

TR19 7DX

£3 Admission, including 16 page Programme.

After staying overnight in Cornwall, I decided to tick off the most westerly ground in England that I’d yet to visit…..Borlase Park, home of Pendeen Rovers, just ten miles from Land’s End. On a clear day it gives a superb view of the Atlantic Ocean. You could still see the sea today, but it was very overcast and the wind blowing across the pitch was horrendous and never let up all afternoon. At least it remained dry though, as there’s no cover here to offer any sort of shelter. Car parking is pitchside, backing towards the coast, with the clubhouse/changing rooms behind the goal. The dugouts are opposite, either side of the old changing room building, where there would have been an overhang cover at one time, but currently lacking its roof. The pitch is fully railed, with a pitch that slopes sideways, falling away towards the sea.

Pendeen came into this sitting top of the table, level on points with second placed Porthleven, but with a game in hand. Ludgvan were twelfth, having won Division 1 (West) last season and the reverse fixture two weeks ago had only seen Pendeen win by the only goal of the match. They also managed a very credible 2-2 draw at home to Porthleven on Tuesday night too, so it wouldn’t be as easy as the league table suggested.

We’d played no more than a minute before we had a stoppage for dog mess to be removed from the pitch. It certainly didn’t affect Ludgvan too much though, as they went ahead after eight minutes, when a cross from the right was deflected in off a defender at the far post. Just before the half hour mark they doubled their lead, when a wind assisted corner from the right sailed over the ‘keeper into the far corner of the net. Six minutes later it was 0-3, when a 25 yard free kick was bent around the outside of the wall and beat the ‘keeper low into the bottom corner. Incredibly, they then made it 0-4 four minutes before halftime, when another corner from the right was tapped in at the far post. Pendeen never looked like turning things round in the second half, despite having the near gale force wind at their backs. Ludgvan had a man red carded in the dying minutes, following some pushing and shoving after the award of a free kick to Pendeen. It was too late to have any bearing on the outcome, but the hosts did pull a goal back four minutes into stoppage time, when a cross from the right went in via a deflection, possibly off a defender.

Admission was collected by a club volunteer, who came round just after kick off, with programmes given away with the admission fee. It’s worth popping inside the clubhouse at some stage, with the walls decorated in loads of old newspaper clippings and photos that document the history of the club.

This was only the second league defeat of the season for Pendeen, which now sees them replaced at the top of the table by Porthleven, but it could have been worse, as a 1-1 draw at home to St. Agnes only sees them hold a one point lead and Pendeen still have a game in hand. The win for Ludgvan sees them climb above Redruth United into eleventh place.