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.

S.J.F.A. East Region

Midlands League

Saturday 19th March 2022

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.31

Arbroath Victoria 9 Scone Thistle 2, attendance 40

8’ 1-0

16’ 2-0 (pen)

26’ 3-0

29’ 4-0

34’ 4-1

35’ 5-1

39’ 6-1

61’ 7-1

69’ 8-1

79’ 8-2 (pen)

87’ 9-2

@ Ogilvy Park

Kirkton Road

Arbroath

DD11 4DS

£6 Admission

No Programme.

Having already visited all four grounds on the Scottish ’Hop today, it meant I would be doing a game on public transport, whilst the others headed off on the organised schedule. I had been kindly offered a lift, but the most convenient pick up point for the driver was Perth. Not a problem, as it was only 29 miles north (30 minutes by car) of my overnight accommodation in Dunfermline. However, this was 1 hour 19 minutes by train, which included a change in Inverkeithing. It also meant having to wear a face covering for the entirety, as Mrs Krankie hasn’t lowered the Covid-19 restrictions up in Scotland yet. It cost a whopping £14.50 (about £4 by car) and was a reminder why I only use public transport as a last resort.

Pick up was dead on time and we arrived at Ogilvy Park around 25 minutes before kick off. It has been home to Arbroath Victoria since 1951 and takes it’s name from Lord Ogilvy, who owned land in the area. It is a somewhat typical ’Junior’ ground and has far more character than the dreadful caged pitches that are sadly becoming all too common these days.

I had been expecting a home win, as it was 8th versus 19th in the league table, but didn’t think it would be by such a margin, although Scone Thistle were propping up the table, with a goal difference of -129 coming into this, so perhaps it wasn’t a surprise. It was 6-1 by halftime, where every chance Vics created seemed to end with a goal. Scone competed well, but the game was out of sight, having found themselves four down within half an hour. The goals tailed off in the second half, perhaps due to Vics having already made sure of the points. It was a very enjoyable game, even if it was a bit one sided, and 9-2 is not a score you see too often.

The return journey to Dunfermline involved less faffing about, as the driver was also staying there tonight.

Lowland League

Friday 18th March 2022

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Caledonian Braves 1 Edinburgh University 1, attendance 219

73’ 0-1

90’+ 2, 1-1

@ Alliance Park

Strathclyde Country Park

Hamilton Road

Bothwell

ML1 3RB

£6 Admission

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

Considering the Lowland League is level 5 in Scotland, feeding the Scottish Football League, this is a dreadful ground, but as far as 3G cages go, at least it has a couple of kit stands, but it is not good when one end is not accessible to spectators. This was the first of six matches on the ’Scottish Groundhop’ this weekend. There were only two grounds out of the six that I hadn’t already visited, which were here and the Sunday game at Oakley United, so at least I wouldn’t have to suffer the fanfare that surrounds these events for the entire weekend. To be honest, if I hadn’t been offered a lift up here, I wouldn’t have bothered coming.

There had been rumours that the organisers were going to make this game all ticket, as the ground apparently has a 500 capacity limit. As it turned out, the crowd was a pathetic 219, which, although probably ten times the normal home attendance, was very poor for an official ’hop at this level and shows just how ridiculous it was that there was even talk of it needing to be all ticket. It never ceases to amaze me that clubs and leagues at this level are incapable of organising a ground hop themselves, without giving away a chunk of their profits to a third party. Pandering to a coach load of ’hoppers, incapable of doing anything for themselves, does seem odd. There may even be a few amongst them who could actually manage to get there without having their hand held, so although the numbers would be down slightly, the clubs/leagues would get to keep all of the money for themselves, so end up actually making more from their ’big day’. Looking from the outside in, it seems a no brainer. At the end of the day, if the games are there, people will turn up.

The whole thing had a very underwhelming feel to it. The fanfare had rolled into town, but with few locals there, it was very low key. It didn’t help that the game had nothing on it I suppose, as 9th hosted 16th (out of 18) in the league table, with neither side in the promotion or relegation battles. The game wasn’t great. Not for the lack of chances, but some dreadful finishing, from both sides, meant it looked like we would be lucky to get a goal at all, especially when Braves hit the post in the first half, from a chance that looked impossible to miss.. Edinburgh University broke the deadlock with seventeen minutes left, a deflected free kick finding the top corner, before Braves headed in from a corner to make it 1-1 in stoppage time.

National League U19 Alliance

Academy South

Wednesday 16th March 2022

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Maidenhead United U19 4 Oxford City U19 2, attendance 11

26’ 0-1

31’ 1-1

34’ 2-1

48’ 3-1

50’ 3-2

58’ 4-2

@ Berkshire College of Agriculture

Hall Place

Burchett’s Green Road

Burchett’s Green

SL6 6QR

No Admission or Programme.

It started raining shortly after I left home, gradually becoming heavier as the afternoon wore on. Midway through the first half I had doubts as to whether the game would reach it’s conclusion, especially when the game on the next pitch was abandoned due to water logging about half an hour in. To be fair, there had already been a game played on that pitch, which meant it deteriorated far more than ours, but full credit has to be given to all involved for seeing this one through. At no time was there any question that either team, or their coaches, wanted the game called off and it was refreshing to see a Referee who was looking to get the game finished. Sadly, there are far too many match officials these days who arrive at games with the attitude of ’can I find a reason to not play the game’ rather than looking at any positives.

The game was an absolute cracker. Oxford City certainly didn’t play like a team bottom of the table and were unlucky not to come away with a share of the points. Both teams attacked at every opportunity and this could have finished with both teams scoring double figures, such were the amount of chances created. The stand out player was the home No.9, who finished with a hat trick and gave the Oxford defence a torrid time, with his powerful running and strength in the air.

The set up here has two football pitches, running parallel, both roped off through wooden posts. The main pitch, the nearer to the buildings, which our game was on, has two dugouts, with the other having just one, on the far side.

Kent County League

Les Leckie Cup Eastern Section

Semi Final

Saturday 12th March 2022

Kick Off 14.15 On Time !

Cinque Ports 0 Hildenborough Athletic 1, attendance 48

47’ 0-1

@ Marke Wood Recreation Ground

Dover Road

Walmer

CT14 7JG

No Admission

£1 Programme, 40 pages.

It was a fair slog from Sevenoaks down to Walmer, just south of Deal, on the east coast of Kent. In fact, I only arrived twelve minutes before kick off and was pleased to see the game was going ahead. Neither club had bothered to reply on Twitter as to whether the game was definitely on and a text message to the home club secretary was also ignored. I suppose this can be expected at this level (Step 9), but it is still a poor reflection on both clubs.

The cup tie pitted two teams from Division 2 Central & East, as 7th hosted 1st in the league table. Hildenborough were well on top from the off and Cinque Ports rode their luck as they faced a constant wave of attack from the visitors. Despite being outplayed, Cinque Ports should have scored twice in the first half, a lob over the ’keeper hit a post and an unmarked header should really have been put away. As it was, it remained goalless at halftime.

Two minutes into the second half Hildenborough broke the deadlock, when a through ball was finished with a lob over the on rushing ’keeper. They went close to doubling their lead, but an effort came back off the post and Cinque Ports then saw a block tackle result in the ball spinning up onto the crossbar, as they pushed for an equaliser. It felt like the Referee had forgotten to restart his watch at some point, as despite a couple of stoppages, there were nowhere near the amount he added on. Eleven minutes had been added, when the hosts were awarded a penalty for a handball, but a poor spot kick was easily saved by the visitor’s ’keeper. Two more minutes passed, before a corner on the right for Cinque Ports was headed towards the far corner of the net, but the ‘keeper somehow got a hand to it, sending it wide of the post and seconds later the final whistle blew.

Arthurian League

Division 2

Saturday 12th March 2022

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.01

Old Sennockians 1 Old Radleians 1, attendance 4

14’ 0-1

29’ 1-1

@ Sevenoaks School (Sennocke Centre)

Duke’s Meadow Playing Fields

High Street

Sevenoaks

TN13 1HU

No Admission or Programme.

This was a game that could have gone either way, as 4th hosted 7th in the league table. Radleians broke the deadlock with a one on one finish, after the striker was played through on goal, but Sennockians levelled just before the half hour mark, when a one-two on the edge of the box was finished with a shot under the ’keeper.

The game was over by 12.40, which certainly helped me, as the preferred destination for my afternoon game was the east coast of Kent.

British Universities & Colleges Sport

National Championship

Semi Final

Wednesday 9th March 2022

Kick Off 16.00 Actual 16.05

Newcastle University 1 Nottingham Trent University 3, attendance 90

8’ 0-1

10’ 1-1

19’ 1-2

51’ 1-3

@ Cochrane Park Sports Ground, 3G Pitch 3

Etherstone Avenue

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE7 7JX

No Admission or Programme.

I first saw Newcastle University play here at Cochrane Park Sports Ground on 8th February 2006, when they beat Bradford University 1-0. The game was played on the grass pitch in the far right corner of the complex, which was where they played their games when their Saturday team was in the Northern Alliance League (they have since moved following promotion to the Northern League). It was fully railed, but although the pitch is still there, only the rail on the far side still remains. I also saw them beat Leeds University 6-2 on 24th October 2018, which was played on the 3G pitch at Longbenton Sports Ground, in Coach Lane, which was used as a home base whilst the new hub was built here at Cochrane Park.

Nottingham Trent were well in control of this and I doubt too many teams have had a more comfortable game to reach a final. A long ball was flicked on, and finished with a neat finish over the ’keeper, to give them an early lead. Although Newcastle levelled it up just two minutes later, they never really had another chance for the remainder of the game. A shot that came back off the post was smashed in on the rebound to put Nottingham Trent back in front after nineteen minutes and it was game over six minutes into the second half, when the Newcastle ’keeper failed to clear a cross and the ball was put in, following a scramble, to make it 1-3.