Portugal

Primeira Liga

Friday 1st April 2022

Kick Off 20.15 Actual 20.17

Sporting Clube Braga 3 Sport Lisboa Benfica 2, attendance 16,073

28’ 1-0

70’ 2-0

74’ 2-1 (pen)

77’ 2-2

80’ 3-2

@ Estadio Municipal de Braga

Avenida do Estadio

4700-441 Braga

€20 Admission, Print at Home Ticket

No Programme.

This was the first match of our long weekend in the north of Portugal. The weekend didn’t get off to the best start, as our scheduled 09.40 flight with EasyJet from London Gatwick to Porto, departed 1 hour 36 minutes late. We still had ample time to pick up the hire car and head towards Braga, making a detour via two other top division stadiums, in search of tickets for games later in the weekend. Portuguese football is certainly not well administered. The break down of fixtures wasn’t released until nine days before we were due to fly, and even then, one game that we were planning on watching in the second tier was moved for television purposes, from it’s 17.30 slot (the only game in the country at this time) to 20.00, which would mean a clash with the 20.30 top division tv game. Very odd.

Telephone calls to Braga, a week before the game, had confirmed that there would be no problem purchasing tickets on the day of the match. However, on Wednesday, their website was stating that tickets were only available to members, but it was still possible for ’general public’ to purchase tickets, but these would be in the visiting section of the stadium and had to be purchased through the Benfica website. 2 tickets were duly purchased, with no add on fees (English clubs take note), although it wasn’t until the following day that the tickets arrived via e-mail with a link to print them off.

The stadium has a capacity of 30,286 and was built to host games at the Euro 2004 tournament. It is only two sided, but has been cut into the side of a rock face, with one goal end backing onto this. We stayed at a hotel near to Braga railway station, choosing to walk the twenty minutes down to the stadium (the walk back was uphill all the way and took longer). On arrival, the place was very quiet and certainly didn’t indicate that the biggest club in the country were in town. No food or drink outlets were open around the stadium, not that there were many there anyway. In fact, even once inside, there were just a few bread rolls and bottles of water. on sale. The commercial department in Braga certainly have no idea about making the most of the biggest game of the season. In fact, it was pathetic. One thing they had in abundance though, was riot police, in their hundreds. Everywhere you looked. It was like being back in the 1980’s and seemed totally unnecessary.

The match was 4th versus 3rd in the league table, neither club having any chance of catching second placed Sporting Clube Portugal, let alone leaders F.C. Porto. The game was really dull, as was the atmosphere. Braga led 1-0 at the break against a Benfica side that offered little. Perhaps they were saving themselves for their big game against Liverpool in midweek. When Braga went 2-0 up with twenty minutes left, it looked all over, but four minutes later Benfica were back in it, converting a penalty that was awarded by V.A.R. and within three minutes, it was 2-2, a cross from the right headed back across the six yard box and fired high into the roof of the net. No sooner had Benfica looked to have rescued something from the game, they conceded the winning goal just minutes later, when a cross from wide on the right was volleyed in at the far post.

It was a really disappointing spectacle over all, despite seeing five goals. At the final whistle the police immediately blocked off the exits, keeping us in for 45 minutes, not even allowing use of the toilets. It is little wonder crowds are so poor here, if this is how they treat supporters, especially as local non-members were also inconvenienced.

Gwent Premier League

League Cup Group B

Wednesday 30th March 2022

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.58

Ponthir 4 Rhymney 1, attendance 19

15’ 1-0

28’ 2-0 (pen)

44’ 2-1

64’ 3-1

90’+ 1, 4-1

@ Ponthir Sports & Community Club

School Close

Ponthir

NP18 1GA

No Admission or Programme.

So much for British Summer Time. It started raining around 5 o’clock and absolutely hammered it down, with the temperature dropping to 6 degrees. Parts of the pitch had standing water on it, but it never affected the game and it started to soak in as the match went on, although it rained for the entirety.

As far as league positions go, it was 5th in Division 2 versus 11th (bottom) in Division 1. Ponthir started the better of the two, going ahead after fifteen minutes when a shot beat the ’keeper at his near post, before doubling their lead with a penalty just before the half hour mark. Rhymney argued every decision that went against them, with the Referee facing a constant barrage of abuse from their ’bench’ as well as the majority of their players. It was a shame, because when they concentrated on their football, they made a real game of it. Their spirits were lifted when they pulled it back to 2-1 a minute before the break, when a looping header over the ’keeper found the far corner. Midway through the second half, Ponthir curled in a shot from the edge of the box to make it 3-1, with the final goal coming in stoppage time.

The Referee had sensibly got the game underway a couple of minutes early, with a brief halftime, so we were done and dusted by 19.33. It certainly did me a favour on the homeward journey, as I beat the M4 closure at Junction 11 by a matter of minutes.

Leicestershire Senior League

Premier Division

Tuesday 29th March 2022

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

Desford 6 Northfield Emeralds 2, attendance 55

45’+ 3, 1-0

51’ 1-1

66’ 2-1

74’ 3-1

75’ 3-2

78’ 4-2

88’ 5-2 (pen)

90’+ 1, 6-2

@ Bosworth Academy, 3G Pitch

Leicester Lane (B582)

Desford

LE9 9JL

No Admission or Programme.

Desford normally play their home games at Sport in Desford, in Peckleton Road, where I had seen them draw 2-2 with Highfield Rangers on 1st October 2011. In order to catch up on their backlog of fixtures, they are using the 3G pitch here at Bosworth Academy to play their midweek games, with this being the second of four matches scheduled here.

The match pitted 9th in the league table versus 15th (out of 18). The first half was very tight and it looked like we might end with a goalless first half, but Desford broke the deadlock three minutes into stoppage time, to take a 1-0 lead into the break. The first half gave no clue as to how good the second half would be. The game really came to life and Desford played some really good football. Emeralds drew level early in the second half, but Desford went back in front, before making it 3-1 with sixteen minutes left. Emeralds pulled it back to 3-2 a minute later, but Desford soon restored their two goal lead. A penalty from their No.11, which completed his hat trick, made it 5-2, with the scoring rounded off in stoppage time, to give them a resounding 6-2 win.

Belgium

Antwerpen Provincial 1

Sunday 27th March 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58

K.F.C. Bevel 0 K. Ternesse V.V. Wommelgem 2, attendance 159

48’ 0-1

58’ 0-2

@ Laarstraat 5

2560 Bevel

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

This afternoon’s match was 13th versus 5th in the league table. The first half produced very few chances and it was no surprise that it was still goalless at halftime. Wommelgem broke the deadlock three minutes after the break, scrambling in a corner at the near post. When they added a second goal ten minutes later, when a striker cut in from the right, beating two defenders, before shooting across the ’keeper into the far corner, the points were safe. Bevel battled to the end, but Created very little in the final third.

We were back at The Tunnel just before 1915 for our booked 2050 return, but were offered the earlier 2020 instead, which left a minute ahead of schedule. Queuing at Passport Control was heaving, not helped by the fact the French now have to stamp the passports, whereas previously they just sat there, with the window at the booth closed casually waving you through. The British side of things was painfully slow, which was to be expected. Once again the toilets on the train were closed and you were told to remain inside the vehicle during the crossing.

I hadn’t realised beforehand, but Bevel was my 100th Belgian ground I had visited since leaving Belgium and returning home to England, via the United States, back in September 2015.

Belgium

Limburg Provincial U17 C

Sunday 27th March 2022

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.58

K.F.C. Park Houthalen U17 4 K. Sint-Truidense V.V. U17 3, attendance 53

6’ 0-1

29’ 1-1

60’ 2-1

65’ 3-1

69’ 3-2

76’ 4-2

80’ 4-3

@ Palmenpark, Pitch B

Palmenstraat 61

Houthalen-Oost

3530 Houthalen-Helchteren

No Admission or Programme.

I had done the main stadium here back on 29th August 2015, when I saw K.F.C. Park Houthalen draw 1-1 with Racing Peer in a Limburg Provincial 2A match. Today’s match was on Pitch B, which is behind the clubhouse/stand, running at right angles to the main pitch.

This wasn’t high on quality. Both sides were really poor up front, whilst neither defence were very good either. Quite how we managed to see seven goals is a mystery. It had been quite dull for an hour (they only play 2 x 40 mins at U17 level) but burst into life when Park went 2-1 ahead with twenty minutes left. It soon became 3-1 and when Sint-Truidense then missed a penalty, which was put wide of the target, it looked all over for them. However, they volleyed in to make it 3-2 a minute later, but were two goals adrift again, when a miss hit shot went under the ’keeper to make it 4-2. Park had a player red carded a minute from time, picking up a second yellow card, before Sint-Truidense pulled it back to 4-3 right at the death.

Belgium

Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 1

Saturday 26th March 2022

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.28

F.C. Sint-Martens-Latem 2 Eendracht Elene-Grotenberge 6, attendance 135

8’ 0-1

11’ 0-2

13’ 1-2

16’ 2-2

24’ 2-3

36’ 2-4

53’ 2-5

61’ 2-6

@ Hoge Heirweg 58

9830 Sint-Martens-Latem

€7 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

It is good to see a ground retain all of it’s character, despite having had a 3G pitch laid. I can’t see why more clubs can’t take this approach, especially in England, rather than flattening everything in sight and replacing it with high mesh fencing, with little thought for spectators, where the main objective appears to be making the surroundings as bland as possible, which they certainly achieve!

The match saw 13th in the league table host 2nd. Elene-Grotenberge were very impressive, especially in the first half. They were 0-2 up after just eleven minutes, but a spirited fight back saw Latem level it up at 2-2 five minutes later, curling a shot into the top corner, before heading in from a right wing cross to equalise. A lob over the ’keeper was put into his own net, by a defender trying to head the ball wide of the post, to put Elene-Grotenberge back in front eight minutes later. The visitor’s No.9 made it 2-4 before halftime, completing his hat trick, finishing with a shot on the turn that was deflected past the ’keeper. It was 2-6 by the hour mark and despite a number of good chances at both ends, there were no more goals.

Belgium

Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 4D

Saturday 26th March 2022

Kick Off 16.00 Actual 15.59

Rug Recht Breivelde-Zottegem 4 K. Standaard S.V. Denderleeuw ’B’ 1, attendance 51

23’ 1-0

54’ 2-0

64’ 3-0

66’ 3-1

72’ 4-1

@ Bevegemse Vijvers, 3G Pitch

Hemelrijkstraat

9620 Zottegem

€4 Admission

No Programme.

At last, after a gap of 2 years 18 days, it was finally time to get back to watching foreign football. It is currently not as straight forward as before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, as there are extra forms to fill in, and of course you need proof that you are fully vaccinated. All this needs to be completed in advance, so as long as it is in order, it is pretty much as you were beforehand. We were on the 0936 Eurotunnel from Folkestone (booked on the 0950, but offered the earlier train) hoping to pick up four matches from our weekend. We departed a minute early, but unlike during ’normal’ times, all the toilets on board were locked and you were told to remain in your vehicle for the duration. Welcome back!

The match was 1st v 12th in the league table. Breivelde have had a great start to the season, coming into this having won 19 of their 20 games, losing just once, along with a goal difference of +73. They were well on top in this one too, but some poor finishing meant they only led 1-0 at the break. They scrambled in a corner at the far post to go 2-0 up nine minutes into the second half, before adding a third ten minutes later. Denderleeuw reduced the arrears a couple of minutes later, when their striker somehow managed to wriggle his way through three defenders, riding the challenges, before squeezing his shot between the ’keeper and near post. An easy tap in saw Breivelde round off the scoring with eighteen minutes left, for a comfortable 4-1 win.

Our evening game was only half an hour from here, so plenty of time to check in at our hotel en route.

Cheshire League

Premier Division

Wednesday 23rd March 2022

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Winstanley Warriors 1 F.C. St. Helens 5, attendance 108

20’ 0-1 (pen)

31’ 0-2

33’ 0-3

54’ 1-3

65’ 1-4

90’+ 4, 1-5

@ Little Lane

Goose Green

Wigan

WN3 6PZ

No Admission or Programme.

This was the first midweek game Winstanley Warriors have played under their new floodlights. They should have christened them in mid December, but the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Tonight’s game was 14th versus 1st in the league table. The visitors were very impressive and raced into a 0-3 lead just after the half hour mark and they could have scored more. A goal early in the second half pulled it back to 1-3, but the comeback never materialised. A defensive mix up saw a St. Helens striker beat the ’keeper to a through ball, nicking it past him, to make it 1-4, before a finish from a tight angle made it 1-5 deep into stoppage time.

It was easy to see why St. Helens are top of the table, even taking into account they have played more games than the chasing pack. They have a massive 14 point lead over second placed Egerton (2 games in hand), with Broadheath Central (3 games in hand) a further point back. Fourth placed Lostock Gralam could also still make a challenge, as they trail the leaders by 18 points, but do have six games in hand.

Isle of Wight Gold Cup

Quarter Final

Tuesday 22nd March 2022

Kick Off 19.30 On Time !

Newport (I.O.W.) 8 Oakfield 1, attendance 106

6’ 0-1

25’ 1-1

28’ 2-1

45’+ 1, 3-1

52’ 4-1

78’ 5-1

83’ 6-1

85’ 7-1

90’ 8-1

@ Smallbrook Stadium

Ashey Road

Ryde

PO33 4BH

£4 Admission

£1 Programme, 12 pages. From postponed game on 2nd March, with updated 4 page insert.

I had visited Newport (I.O.W.) back on 22nd February 1992, when they beat Witney Town 1-0 in a Southern League Southern Division match, in front of 266 spectators. In those days they played at St. George’s Park in Newport, but they vacated the ground in 2018, ground sharing at various grounds on the island, whilst their new stadium is being built. This season they are playing at Smallbrook Stadium, in Ryde, which is home to the Wight Warriors speedway team, as well as Ryde Saints F.C. who play in the Isle of Wight League. I never got round to visiting the stadium when it previously hosted Wessex League club Ryde Sports, up until they resigned from the league midway through the 1997/98 season. In the intervening years, the floodlights were no longer deemed good enough for football, but last week work was carried out to bring them up to standard and so tonight saw the first floodlit game here for nearly 25 years. It has to be said, this is one of the worst grounds you could ever come across, as far as getting a view of the match goes, but is probably perfect for speedway.

Tonight’s match had been postponed three weeks ago, due to a waterlogged pitch, but there were no problems tonight, as it had been a glorious sunny day, reaching 20 degrees on my drive down to the coast. Newport are the current holders of the cup, having won it in 2019, the last time it was played for, having been curtailed by Covid-19 restrictions in the last two seasons. Newport came into this sitting in fourth place in Wessex League Division 1 (Step 6), whilst Oakfield play one level lower, in Division 1 of the Isle of Wight League. They are currently 11th (out of 13), having played fewer games than all bar one of the clubs above them, so perhaps not quite as bad as it looks.

Oakfield got off to a perfect start, going ahead in the sixth minute, finishing off a ball over the top with a chest down and volley that gave the ’keeper no chance. They were pretty much under the cosh for the remainder of the game. They survived for twenty minutes, but were 2-1 behind within three minutes of the equaliser. They had a player sin binned in the closing minutes of the first half and when Newport made it 3-1, with the last kick of the half, there would be no comeback. Newport played some nice football, considering the dreadful quality of the pitch, that was bobbly to say the least. As Oakfield began to tire, it became too easy for Newport and they rounded off an emphatic 8-1 with a powerful header, following a great left wing cross, right on full time.

I decided to take the car over, rather than mess around with parking and travelling as a foot passenger. Smallbrook Stadium is a bit out in the wilds, on partly unlit roads, with no pavements, so not the best for walking back after the match. I took the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route, on Wightlink Ferries, which cost £57 return. The outbound 1700 service left four minutes early, with the 2300 return also a couple of minutes ahead of schedule.

East of Scotland League

Division 1 Conference B

Sunday 20th March 2022

Kick Off 12.15 Actual 12.17

Oakley United 2 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare 1, attendance 365

20’ 1-0

37’ 1-1

41’ 2-1

@ Blairwood Park

Blairwood Walk

off A907 Main Street

Oakley

KY12 9QG

£6 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

Today it was time to rejoin the Groundhop U.K. circus, for what was to be the final game on the Scottish ’Hop and a chance to see the league leaders as they hosted eleventh (out of 15) in the table Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare. Oakley went ahead after twenty minutes, with a good finish after being played through one on one with the ’keeper. Easthouses levelled eight minutes before the break, when an Oakley defender sliced the ball into his own net, trying to cut out a cross. The hosts were back in front four minutes later, heading in a corner from close range. The visitors had a chance to draw level again before halftime, but their penalty kick was saved by the Oakley ’keeper. The second half seemed to drift by and never really got going. Oakley comfortably took the points in the end and reopened their four point lead over second placed Glenrothes at the top of the table.