Gwent Premier League

Division 2

Wednesday 15th September 2021

Kick Off 18.00. On Time !

Llanhilleth Athletic 5 Trinant 0, attendance 62

45’ 1-0 (pen)

69’ 2-0

71’ 3-0

77’ 4-0

87’ 5-0

@ Brynithel R.U.F.C.

Dai Jayne Recreation Ground

Mount Pleasant Court

Brynithel

NP13 2GZ

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was bringing down the curtain on the midweek early kick offs, with the end of March feeling a long way off, before we next get an opportunity for clubs without floodlights to play games on weekdays. The Gwent Premier League had near enough a full programme of matches, spread across it’s three divisions, of which six of the games were at grounds I hadn’t yet visited. Of course, the options are narrowed down by who else is going, as they may not need the same grounds as me. There is also the ‘programme problem’, where some hoppers won’t attend a game without one and finally who can, or are able, to get to the designated meeting point. In the end, neither of my two regular passengers were interested, but somehow I was still heading to Wales with a full car.

I had been to a Llanhilleth home game before, when I saw them lose 2-7 to A.C. Pontymister back on 7th April 2010 in a Gwent County League Division 2 match. In those days they played at Llanhilleth Park, but this season they have moved to the next village up the valley and are now playing at Brynithel rugby ground. The club had been quick to reply via Twitter that the game was indeed here and also that it was an 18.00 kick off, so this was number one choice tonight.

The two sides were evenly matched during the opening half hour, but Llanhilleth started to gain the upper hand and it just seemed a matter of when, and not if, they would break the deadlock. The breakthrough finally came in the final minute of the first half, when the home No.11 J. Thompson cut inside and was fouled inside the box and the resultant penalty was dispatched to make it 1-0.

Having ‘won’ the penalty, the No.11 had an easy tap in from 6 yards to put the hosts 2-0 up on sixty nine minutes and two minutes later he sent an unstoppable shot into the far corner to make it 3-0 and the points were safe. Trinant never looked like getting back into it and it was no surprise to see Llanhilleth add a couple more goals for a resounding 5-0 win, which sees them go third in the table, level on points with second placed Cromwell. Llanhilleth visit league leaders Cwmffrwdoer Sports Club on Saturday, hoping to cut the 8 point gap at the top. As for Trinant, they will hope I’m not at any of their other matches this season, as I’ve seen them twice so far, seeing them lose 0-7 and 0-5, so not exactly a good luck charm!

Full credit must go to both teams and the Referee tonight. They were all there well before kick off and we started dead on time. A quick turnaround at halftime meant the game was all over by 19.36, so no problem whatsoever with lack of light. It was also good news for heading home. Despite the overhead signs on the M4 motorway showing it was closed between J12 and J11, it wasn’t and having dropped my passengers off near J11 of the M25, I was home for 22.30.

Western League

Division 1

Tuesday 14th September 2021

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.44

Gillingham Town 1 Wells City 1, attendance 97 (official)

43’ 1-0

74’ 1-1

@ Woodwater Lane

off Harding’s Lane

Gillingham

SP8 4WL

£5 Admission

£2 Programme, 20 pages.

Gillingham Town moved to their new ground back in 2018. With their old ground in Harding’s Lane (visited 24th September 2005, for a 6–0 win versus Poole Borough in the Dorset Premier League), which you pass a couple of hundred yards up the road, having floodlights, it seemed logical that they would eventually get floodlights at the new ground as well, so I thought I’d wait to tick it off for a midweek match. I didn’t think it would take them this long, but tonight was finally their first floodlit match at their new home. It attracted their biggest home crowd of the season so far, beating the previous best by 30, aided by 15-20 ground hoppers in attendance.

The match itself wasn’t great and was certainly nothing like the quality that the Western League matches produced when I visited many of the grounds in my early years of ground hopping. Then again, having lost the likes of Tiverton Town, Taunton Town, Clevedon Town, Mangotsfield United etc, then perhaps it’s not surprising. Wells created, but wasted, enough chances to win half a dozen matches. Gillingham didn’t create much at all, but a cracking free kick saw them take the lead just before halftime. Wells finally converted a chance with sixteen minutes left, when a scramble in the box finished with a shot fired high into the roof of the net.

The old ground in Harding’s Lane is still pretty much as it was when Gillingham moved out back in 2018, as seen in the photo below.

Spartan South Midlands League

Division 2

Monday 13th September 2021

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

M.K. College Football Academy 3 Berkhamsted Raiders 0, attendance 128

1’ 1-0

36’ 2-0

59’ 3-0

@ Sport Central, 3G Pitch

Elder Gate

Milton Keynes

MK9 1EN

No Admission

Programme available to pre order via Twitter.

Well, if ever there was a case of being at a match purely for the sake of ticking off the ground, then this was it. These sort of cages should not be allowed to be used by clubs at this level for playing competitive matches. There is no spectator access allowed inside the cage, which the club had tweeted was due to health and safety requirements, meaning the record crowd of 128 had to watch through the mesh fencing. Although that isn’t quite true, as Tony Incenzo (talkSPORT) was excluded from the ban and was allowed to watch from inside the fence, which judging by the comments, certainly didn’t endear him to many of the ground hoppers in attendance!

As for the game, hard to comment. The night was more about the social side, than football. Apart from gaining a ‘tick’, and having a good natter, it was a waste of time coming really.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 1

Saturday 11th September 2021

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58

Tiptree Jobserve 1 Belle Vue Social Club 2, attendance 36

43’ 0-1 (pen)

66’ 1-1

77’ 1-2

@ Colchester United F.C. Florence Park Training Ground, Pitch 5

Grange Road

Tiptree

CO5 0UH

No Admission or Programme.

I had been to a game here before, when I saw Colchester United U23’s lose 0-3 to Leeds United in a Professional Development League match, back on 3rd May 2017. The game that day was played on Pitch 1, which is right next to the building, but Tiptree Jobserve always play on Pitch 5, which runs widthways in front of you as you enter the complex. It is an awful ground and is basically a 3G cage, but with a grass pitch. There are even blue markings of small size pitches and the spare goals are kept on the inside of the rail, blocking the view of the pitch and also placed in a dangerous position, as they are too near the touch line and there are a couple of exposed edges that could really do a player some serious damage if they ran into them. I am glad I came here as part of a double, rather than waste a day on it as a one off.

The game itself looked to be decent, at least on paper, as it was 4th versus 3rd in the league table, but it wasn’t. It was a terrible game, not helped by the constant whinging and moaning from Belle Vue. They are a really horrible team to watch and it’s disappointing that I haven’t visited their ground yet, as it’s certainly not something to look forward to!

The first half was really poor and it looked like it would end goalless, but Belle Vue scored from the penalty spot two minutes before the break to go in 0-1 up. Tiptree levelled things up midway through the second half, when a cross from the left was flicked past the ‘keeper at the near post. Belle Vue won it with a cracking goal thirteen minutes from time, when a ball was played back and hit first time into the box, where their No.9 scored with a diving header from six yards that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

The win sees Belle Vue rise to second in the table, having now won five out of five matches. It is a pity they can’t just stick to the football, as they are obviously a good side. Sadly, this was by far the least enjoyable ground visit this season.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 2

Saturday 11th September 2021

Kick Off 12.30 Actual 12.31

Kelvedon Social 2 Tiptree Jobserve Reserves 4, attendance 18

14’ 1-0

15’ 1-1

45’ + 1, 1-2 (pen)

53’ 2-2

80’ 2-3

90’ + 1, 2-4

@ Kelvedon Recreation Ground

The Chase

Kelvedon

CO5 9AB

No Admission or Programme.

My original plan for today had been to do a treble in the Cheltenham League, but that was reduced to a double, when the 16.15 kick off at Pittville United was showing as postponed on Friday. However, when this match was reversed (no one seemed quite sure why it wasn’t being played at Tiptree), it threw up a more preferable double for me, so I headed to Essex instead.

The match was 11th versus 9th in the league table and what it lacked in skill, was certainly made up for with effort and commitment. It was good entertainment throughout. Kelvedon volleyed in from a corner after fourteen minutes to go 1-0 up, but a fumble by the ‘keeper was followed in to level it up within a minute. Tiptree led 1-2 at the break following a stoppage time penalty.

The second half was set up nicely eight minutes in, when a cross from wide on the left eluded the ‘keeper and sailed into the top corner of the net to make it 2-2. Both sides went close on a number of occasions before Tiptree went 2-3 ahead with ten minutes left, when a defence splitting pass was neatly lifted over the ‘keeper from 12 yards. A fourth goal, following a save that saw the rebound smashed into the net, made the points safe for the visitors in stoppage time.

I had forty minutes to get to a second game, but chose to visit a ground less than ten minutes drive from here…..

Cheltenham League

Division 1 South

Thursday 9th September 2021

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Whaddon United 5 Southside Star 0, attendance 16

11’ 1-0

49’ 2-0

60’ 3-0

79’ 4-0

85’ 5-0

@ Whaddon Recreation Ground

Whaddon Road

Cheltenham

GL52 5NE

No Admission or Programme.

Whaddon Recreation Ground, which is across the road from the ground of Cheltenham Town F.C., has hosted a number of clubs over the years. As well as Whaddon United (their Reserves play at nearby Clyde Crescent Recreation Ground) it is also home to Division 3 club Newton.

Tonight’s match was between two clubs who’d had contrasting results from their opening matches. Whaddon United had beaten F.C. Lakeside Reserves 6-2 at home, whilst Southside Star had lost 0-5 at home to Leckhampton Rovers, which suggested this might be a comfortable home wim and it certainly turned out to be just that.

Whaddon totally dominated the first half, but only managed a single goal to show for it. Southside Star did have three good chances, that came in a five minute spell late in the half, but were unable to make any of them count. An early second half goal saw Whaddon go 2-0 up and the visitors had no answer to a constant wave of attack after attack. It was a surprise that it was only 5-0 in the end, but Southside Star battled well and it would have been harsh if they had taken a really big thrashing.

The game kicked off three minutes late and there were frequent showers throughout the match. During the heaviest rain that fell in the first half, it went so dark we thought the game might not finish, but thankfully the full ninety minutes were completed, even if it was pitch black when the game finished at 19.53.

Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League

Premier Division

Wednesday 8th September 2021

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.12

Houghton Main 2 Swinton Athletic 4, attendance 62

43’ 0-1

52’ 0-2

54’ 0-3

62’ 0-4

78’ 1-4 (pen)

90’ 2-4

@ Houghton Main Sports & Social Club

Middlecliffe Lane

Middlecliffe

S72 0HN

No Admission or Programme.

So, for the second successive night, I was visiting a ground in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League. As with last night, this is a very nice ground for Step 7 football, with a seated stand and the pitch railed off on three sides (only the cricket pitch side not having a barrier), but this had a more cared for feel, helped by the fact that the grass around the perimeter had been cut.

Houghton Main had opened the season with a 4-1 defeat away at Penistone Church Reserves, whilst Swinton Athletic had won 7-0 at Jubilee Sports, maintaining a 100% winning run stretching back to April 2019 (last defeat was 4-1 away at Wombwell Main on 24th April) although it isn’t as good as it sounds, as they’ve only actually played nine league matches in that time due to COVID-19 disruptions!

The first half was absolutely turgid, but when Swinton broke the deadlock just before halftime, it kicked the game into life. The second half saw the visitors score three times in the opening seventeen minutes, to go 0-4 up, and the game was won. Houghton Main reduced the arrears with a late penalty and added another goal with the last kick of the match to make it 2-4. The score line flattered them and it was only because Swinton eased off that they got anything from the game at all.

Despite the match kicking off twelve minutes late, the 3 match officials still went back to the changing rooms at halftime (on the far side of the cricket pitch), whilst both teams remained on the pitch. The game ended at 19.51 and the light was beginning to fade quite rapidly.

Surrey Premier County League

Saturday 4th September 2021

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

A.F.C. Walcountians 2 Spartans Youth 3, attendance 37

42’ 0-1

45’ + 3, 0-2 (pen)

55’ 1-2

73’ 1-3

84’ 2-3 (pen)

@ Walcountians Sports Club

Carshalton Road

Woodmansterne

SM7 3HU

No Admission or Programme.

I decided to head north, back up the M23, for my second game of the day, where a 26 minute drive saw me arrive at the only ground I hadn’t visited in this league. A.F.C. Walcountians are new into the Surrey Premier County League (formerly Surrey Elite Intermediate League) having been promoted from the Surrey South Eastern Combination League. They had won their opening match at the higher level 4-2 at home to N.P.L., whilst this was the first match of the season for Spartans.

The ground here hosts a number of sports. As well as football, there is also hockey, rugby and cricket (there were two matches going on today, one behind each goal end) with the football pitch being a fair distance from the changing rooms, which will prevent them rising up the pyramid any further as things stand.

The two teams were very evenly matched and it was one of those games that looked like it might not produce a goal, as the defences were certainly on top. However, just before halftime, the deadlock was broken when Spartans went in front. A corner was blocked at the near post, but the rebound was put in from close range. They then doubled their lead in stoppage time, scoring with a penalty.

Ten minutes into the second half the hosts pulled it back to 1-2, but a mix up between a defender and the ‘keeper saw Spartans regain their two goal lead with seventeen minutes left. Walcountians reduced the arrears with a penalty of their own, to make it 2-3, and they came close to equalising, when a shot smashed off the crossbar with the ‘keeper well beaten, but Spartans hung on to take the three points.

Mid Sussex League

Division 3 North

Saturday 4th September 2021

Kick Off 12.30 Actual 12.31

Horley A.F.C. 4 Forest Row Reserves 1, attendance 8

1’ 1-0

6’ 2-0

32’ 3-0

45’ 3-1 (pen)

54’ 4-1

@ Court Lodge Playing Fields

Thornton Close

Horley

RH6 8RJ

No Admission or Programme.

This was an early kick off due to the Reserves also being at home today (there are two other pitches here, but they are both narrower than the main one) and meant an opportunity to take in a second game later in the afternoon, even if it would be a very limited choice, as the majority of lower level leagues kick off at 2 o’clock around these parts. After the long drive back from Mid Wales last night, it was nice to only have to drive sixteen minutes to get to this game.

Horley scored with the first attack and a cracking finish from the edge of the box saw them double their lead after just six minutes. I feared this would become a real thrashing, but despite scoring a third goal, just after the half hour mark, they failed to add to it and Forest Row pulled it back to 3-1, scoring a penalty in the last minute of the half. Nine minutes into the second half it was 4-1, when a diagonal free kick was swept in at the far post and that was it as far as where the three points were heading.

Mid Wales League

East Division

Friday 3rd September 2021

Kick Off 18.30 On Time !

Newtown Wanderers 3 Forden United 3, attendance 32

3’ 0-1

11’ 0-2

43’ 1-2

61’ 2-2

70’ 3-2

81’ 3-3 (pen)

@ Trehafren Fields

off Park Lane

Newtown

SY16 1EN

No Admission or Programme.

It is baffling how this ground can possibly be classed as good enough to host tier 4 football. The players get changed at Latham Park, home of Newtown F.C. and having walked across the car park, they then head down a track towards the river. Here they reach an overgrown area, where there are a couple of very small sized goal posts set out around 200 yards apart. They turn left here and walk into a second area, beyond a hedge, where there are two more pitches that run lengthways, end on end, with the pitch furthest away being the one in use. There is nothing here, bar a rope at one end and along the side that runs parallel to the footpath.

Newtown Wanderers have not had a great start to the season, having lost six of their seven games so far, with their only points coming from a 9-1 win away at bottom club Llanfyllin Town. Forden United had done little better, managing just 7 points from their opening seven matches.

Two defensive mistakes by Newtown saw Forden go 0-2 ahead after eleven minutes and they were well in command. An absolute scorcher for Newtown, that flew into the top corner, pulled it back to 1-2 just before halftime. By the hour mark it was 2-2, as the Forden ‘keeper seemed to totally misjudge a 25 yarder that looked an easy save and ten minutes later Newtown completed the comeback to edge 3-2 ahead. Nine minutes from time Forden equalised from a penalty to make it 3-3. A draw was probably a fair result overall.

The journey up was trouble free, but 40 minutes were lost on the return (we ignored the SatNav, deciding not to take the £7 rip off on the Toll Road). The M6 was closed for bridge work at Junction 10, meaning queuing up the slip road and across the roundabout, before rejoining the other side, then just south of Junction 7 the Police stopped the traffic for 15-20 minutes. There was no evidence of anything having happened, as we were finally allowed to continue on our way.