Oxfordshire Senior League

Ben Turner Cup

Quarter Final

Saturday 19th February 2022

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Oxford Irish Athletic 2 Garsington 4, attendance 22

7’ 0-1

33’ 1-1

44’ 1-2

51’ 1-3

56’ 2-3

81’ 2-4

@ The Oxford Academy, 3G Pitch

Sandy Lane West

Littlemore

Oxford

OX4 6JZ

No Admission or Programme.

I had decided early on that I wasn’t going to risk a late call off on a grass pitch this afternoon, so played safe by choosing an easy 3G option. It isn’t something that I’m too keen on for a Saturday afternoon, but this cup tie had caught my eye before I knew that they were playing the game here, as the F.A. Full Time website shows the wrong venue, but the club did tweet the correct ground and it was a ground move that had gone under the radar, as they have played quite a few games here already this season.

The match was 7th in Division 1 versus 9th in the Premier Division. Garsington went ahead early on, sliding in the opener at the far post, before seeing a header come back off the post that could have doubled their lead. Irish levelled just after the half hour mark, with Garsington missing the chance to regain the lead within a minute, seeing a penalty saved, but they did regain the lead a minute before halftime, with a cracking finish into the top corner. The visitors went 1-3 up six minutes into the second half and it looked like they were heading for a comfortable win, but a mistake by the ’keeper, trying to clear a through ball, saw the striker roll the ball into the empty net to pull it back to 2-3. Garsington finally killed the game off nine minutes from time, when a diagonal ball from the right was smashed into the roof of the net to make it 2-4.

The cage has a spectator viewing area along three quarters of one side.

Football League Youth Alliance

South West Conference

Saturday 19th February 2022

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.01

Oxford United U18 3 Portsmouth U18 0, attendance 23

24’ 1-0

57’ 2-0

69’ 3-0

@ The Oxford Sports Park

Oxford United Training Centre

Horspath Road

Oxford

OX4 2RR

No Admission or Programme.

It was back on 30th October 1993 that I saw Oxford United U18 last play a home match. Oddly, it was also against Portsmouth, a 3-2 win in a South East Counties Youth League Cup 2nd Round match, which was played at Brasenose College Sports Ground. Today was a chance to see them at their new training facility, which was officially opened on 18th December 2019.

Today’s match was the final league game of the season, as 5th hosted 3rd in the South West Conference table. Oxford needed a win to guarantee a top five finish, which would advance them into the Merit League, where they play against the top five teams from the South East Conference.

Three hours of heavy rain were forecast for Oxford from 11 o’clock onwards, but at least it meant the game was likely to go ahead, although not guaranteed to finish. A couple of minutes before kick off it duly arrived and it was very unpleasant trying to watch the game in near horizontal rain and a biting wind. The only plus point was that it was coming into our backs, blowing diagonally across the pitch.

Oxford led 1-0 at the break, courtesy of a left footed shot that the ’keeper was unable to keep out, despite getting two hands to it. They added two second half goals, a 20 yarder that gave the ’keeper no chance, then a brilliant 25 yarder curled into the top corner, both of which were wind assisted. They deserved the win though and if it wasn’t for a number of good saves by the Portsmouth ’keeper, the winning margin would have been far greater.

Cheshire League

Premier Division

Wednesday 16th February 2022

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.02

Egerton 0 Middlewich Town 1, attendance 29

90’+ 6, 0-1

@ Egerton Youth Club, 3G Pitch

Mereheath Lane

Knutsford

WA16 6SL

No Admission or Programme.

When I saw Egerton beat Daten 3-1 in a Cheshire League Division 1 match on 30th August 2016, it was played on the railed off grass pitch to the right of the building as you enter the car park. The 3G cage is to the rear of the building and as well as spectator access along the near side and behind the goal to the right, there is even a small section of cover!

The match was 2nd versus 7th in the league table. Egerton had the chance to leapfrog leaders F.C. St. Helens when they played away there on Saturday, but a 0-0 draw saw them come into this game still trailing them by two points, knowing that a win tonight would send them top. There were plenty of chances for both teams. Middlewich were just unlucky that the final touch just didn’t come off for them, whilst Egerton just couldn’t seem to hit the target. I lost count of the number of times they hit free kicks from good positions sailing over the cage fences. Two late substitutions saw Egerton really step it up, but we looked to be heading for a certain 0-0, as it was still goalless as we went into the sixth minute of stoppage time. A ball into the box then saw a striker, defender and ’keeper challenge for the ball and it ended up dropping right in front of the gaping net, where the striker lashed it in for an unlikely looking winner.

Despite it being windy, which was blowing mainly across the pitch, it didn’t affect the game and neither the players or match officials seemed the least bit concerned. Thankfully it never rained all evening.

British Universities & Colleges Sport

Midlands 2A

Wednesday 16th February 2022

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.37

University Staffordshire 0 University Warwick 1, attendance 24

54’ 0-1

@ Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Leek Road

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 2YJ

No Admission or Programme.

This was 1st versus 2nd in the league table and a game`Warwick had to win if they had any chance of topping the table, as they trailed Staffordshire by two points, having played one game more. It was a game of really high quality. The front two for Warwick had pace to burn and they made full use of this, breaking quickly and creating -plenty of chances. The biggest surprise was that the game produced just the one goal, which came nine minutes into the second half and went the way of the visitors. A ball was played across the box and as the striker challenged the ’keeper in a block tackle, the ball span up and looped over the line as a defender desperately tried to hook it clear. The win sees Warwick go one point clear of Staffordshire at the top, but despite having played a game more, they do have a far better goal difference, which may prove crucial.

The last time I saw Staffordshire at home, back on 21st November 2007, they lost 3-5 to Wolverhampton, when they played in the village of Cotes Heath, at a sports ground on the left hand side of the A519, when heading south towards Eccleshall from Junction 15 of the M6. They are now here at the Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre, where they have the use of both grass and artificial pitches. The 3G cage is very exposed and has spectator access along the full length of one side.

Norfolk F.A. Senior Cup

Quarter Final

Tuesday 15th February 2022

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.47

Norwich C.B.S. 1 Dereham Town 2, attendance 176

9’ 1-0

55’ 1-1 (pen)

90’+ 2, 1-2

@ The Nest, 3G Pitch

Holt Road

Horsford

Norwich

NR10 3AQ

£5 Admission

£1.50 Programme, 20 pages.

Norwich C.B.S.. have had quite a few names in recent years. They started life as Norwich Union, but lost the use of their Pinebanks ground and then became A.F.C. Norwich whilst they ground shared at Dussindale for a season. After moving to the village of Spixworth, they changed their name again, to that of the village and finally becoming Norwich C.B.S., which incorporates the sponsors name, so they are likely to change their name again when the current deal expires. They normally play home games at the Football Development Centre in Bowthorpe, but with works going on there, in the meantime they are using the 3G pitch here at The Nest. Spectator access is limited to three sides (dugout side out of bounds) and there is a single row of seating, running from the corner where you enter the cage, towards the halfway line. They are pretty pointless though, as the pitch side rail obscures the view, hence very few people bothered to sit in them.

Norwich C.B.S. are fourth in Division 1 North of the Eastern Counties League (Step 6), whilst Dereham Town are fifth in Division 1 North of the Isthmian League (Step 4). It was rumoured that Dereham would put out a much weakened team for this match, but they were still the stronger side for long periods. C.B.S. went ahead totally against the run of play, a deflected free kick wrong footing the visitor’s ’keeper. Dereham created plenty of chances, but it took a penalty ten minutes into the second half to finally draw them level. Two minutes into stoppage time, we were saved from going to penalties to decide the tie, when Dereham nicked the winner. Overall, it was the right outcome.

F.A. Sunday Cup

3rd Round

Sunday 13th February 2022

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.07

Grand Athletic 1 Baiteze 3, attendance 83

38’ 1-0 (pen)

58’ 1-1

76’ 1-2

90’+ 4, 1-3

@ The Griffin Sports Club

12 Dulwich Village

Dulwich Village

London

SE21 7AL

No Admission

Programme, free, 4 pages.

Today’s match pitted South London against East London. Grand Athletic are champions of the Metropolitan League, unbeaten in all competitions this season, as well as being current holders of the London Sunday Challenge Cup. According to the programme, Baiteze are the current Essex Corinthian League champions, having been unbeaten during the 2021/22 season, but according to the Corinthian League tables, they were only third in the table when Covid-19 brought the season to a halt. They were indeed unbeaten, but had only played 5 games!

The match was certainly keenly contested, but neither side looked to have much idea when it came to the final third of the pitch. It was an attritional midfield battle, not helped by constant rain throughout. We looked to be heading for a goalless first half, until Grand Athletic were awarded a penalty, which was duly dispatched, seven minutes before the break.

The second half saw Baiteze level the scores just before the hour mark, sparking the first pitch invasion of the afternoon, as substitutes, coaches/hangers on and spectators (they are one of these YouTube social media type clubs) ran on to celebrate. The visitors went in front with fourteen minutes left, when a long range shot was pushed away, but fell perfectly for the striker following in. By the time the third goal was nodded in from close range, deep into stoppage time, Grand Athletic looked to have already accepted they were about to suffer their first defeat of the season. There was still time for Baiteze to have a man sent off, picking up a second yellow card following the aftermath of the goal celebrations.

Oxfordshire Senior League

Premier Division

Saturday 12th February 2022

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.32

Marston Saints 0 Launton Sports 5, attendance 12

22’ 0-1

35’ 0-2

71’ 0-3

73’ 0-4

82’ 0-5

@ Boults Lane

Old Marston

Oxford

OX3 0PW

No Admission or Programme.

This was bottom of the league table versus fourth. Marston Saints have only picked up a single point from their fifteen games so far and that was from a 0-0 draw away at second bottom Eynsham Association, who themselves are only three points better off. Launton Sports can only realistically finish second, such is the lead Bicester Hallions hold at the top.

As expected, it was a resounding win for Launton, but they made hard work of it, despite the five goal winning margin. It was 0-2 at the break, but Marston wasted a great chance to pull it back to 1-2, missing a one on one with the ’keeper, the striker going for power, instead of placing the shot into either of the bottom corners of the net. That was it as far as Marston coming back was concerned, but it took a cracking 20 yarder into the top corner to finally kill the game off with nineteen minutes left, as Launton made it 0-3, before two more goals were added to round off a 0-5 win.

Launton are now third in the table, whilst Marston look like any chance of them climbing off the bottom has now gone, as they are now six points adrift of Eynsham Association, following their surprise 0-1 win at Southam United this afternoon.

Arthurian League

Division 4

Saturday 12th February 2022

Kick Off 11.00 On Time !

Old Shirburnians 5 Old Wellingtonians 2, attendance 5

7’ 0-1

8’ 1-1

13’ 2-1

30’ 3-1

52’ 4-1

72’ 5-1

84’ 5-2

@ Westway Sports & Fitness Centre, 3G Pitch

1 Crowthorne Road

North Kensington

London

W10 6RP

No Admission or Programme.

The 3G cage here is far more interesting than what is normally on offer. The pitch is far too narrow, but it does have a seated stand and the surrounding area certainly gives a great backdrop as far as taking photographs go. Arriving here by car was no problem, as there is a car park underneath the pitch. Unusually for London, it is not a rip off, as it is only £1.50 for up to three hours.

The match was 1st versus 5th in the league table. The visitors took the lead early on, which certainly set the game up nicely from a neutral point of view, but they were pegged back within a minute. Shirburnians then got on top and edged in front five minutes later and by halftime it was 3-1. The second half was much the same as the first, with Shirburnians coasting into a 5-1 lead, before a late reply from the visitors made it 5-2. The F.A. Full Time website wrongly shows the score as 4-2.

The game was finished a little earlier than expected, due to a quick turnaround at halftime, so rather than stay in the area for a local match, I decided to head back west along the A40/M40 to watch a game in Oxfordshire instead.

Football League Youth Alliance

North East Conference

Friday 11th February 2022

Kick Off 14.00 On Time !

Burton Albion U18 1 Mansfield Town U18 0, attendance 40

90’+ 3, 1-0

@ St. George’s Park, Dick Bate Pitch 10

Newborough Road

Needwood

Burton upon Trent

DE13 9PD

No Admission or Programme.

St. Georges Park has twelve full size pitches, one of which is indoor and another that is 3G. I had previously done Pitch 6, which is the main show pitch that has covered seating along one side as well as seeing a game on Pitch 2, which is the 3G. The pitches are named in honour of past England players etc, such as David Beckham, Paul Ince, Alan Shearer, Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and, erm Dick Bate, which is where today’s game was played. I had to google him, but can’t see what he really did to achieve having a pitch named after him.

It was a good contest, between two very evenly matched teams. A bit too evenly matched really and it looked nailed on to end goalless, especially after Mansfield had a penalty saved midway through the first half. The deadlock was finally broken in the third minute of stoppage time, with a bit of a scuffed shot that found the bottom corner. The Referee blew the final whistle as soon as the game restarted.

Wearside League

Division 2

Thursday 10th February 2022

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.34

Hylton Colliery Welfare 1 South Moor 2, attendance 21

15’ 0-1

80’ 1-1

87’ 1-2

@ Downhill Football Hub, 3G Pitch 3

Kingsway Road

Downhill

SR5 4BB

No Admission or Programme.

The Downhill Football Hub has hosted regular matches this season in the bottom two divisions of the Wearside League, as well as a number of cup matches, as the league look to avoid end of season fixture congestion by playing games at this neutral venue. There are three 3G pitches here, two that run parallel to each other, whilst Pitch 3 is down in a hollow to the right as you exit the hub building. All three having spectator viewing areas along one side. As with a number of these hubs, a QR code is required to gain entry.

Tonight’s match was 7th versus 3rd in the league table. South Moor took an early lead and played some really nice football. They were well in command and should have had the game sewn up before halftime. Hylton would certainly be top of the league if moaning at the Referee after every decision was rewarded with points. They didn’t come across as the nicest of clubs. It didn’t help that their ’bench’, and hangers on, felt the need to stand on the pitch for the duration of the match, usually 2 or 3 yards in from the touchline, even when the ball was in play and only twenty yards away from where they stood. At one point there were eight of them, including two that were smoking. There really is no need for this when there is a permanent barrier in place.

Hylton equalised with ten minutes left, after South Moor had failed to get the all important second goal that would have killed the game off. Three minutes from time, the visitors got a deserved winner, when a shot from the edge of the D flew into the top corner, giving the ’keeper no chance.