Sevenoaks & District League

Premier Division

Tuesday 11th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30. On Time !

Southborough 2 Nomads 0, attendance 37

7’ 1-0

70’ 2-0

@ Yew Tree Playing Fields

The Ridgewaye

Southborough

TN4 0AE

No Admission or Programme.

You know when the end of season is approaching, as every so often a fixture crops up that is impossible to confirm. The F.A. Full Time website, which the league uses, stated the venue as ‘Southborough F.C Firsts’. Neither club contact number on the F.A. Find a Club website bothered to reply and although the Southborough Twitter did reply to me, it wasn’t until halfway through the first half!

In the end, I took a chance and headed for where their next match was down as being played and got lucky. It is the same ground that they used during their brief spell in the Kent County League a couple of years back. Despite giving the impression that it is a ‘Mickey Mouse’ league it was a surprise to find there were three officials for the match, although I believe this is only a temporary arrangement as so many of them have lacked much game time over the last few months.

The match itself was 8th versus 2nd in the league table. It was a game based more on effort than skill, perhaps not helped with the huge sized pitch, which was around 80 yards wide. It was nearly as wide as what the pitch at Zeals was long last night! A goal in each half was enough for the hosts to win it comfortably. The fact that Nomads were second in the table gives more an indication of the standard of the league, rather than how good the visitors are! Nomads were helped by table toppers Potters also losing tonight, beaten for the second time in 4 days by F.C. Revo, who now leapfrog Nomads into second place. Only two points separate the top four, with fourth placed St. Lawrence having a game in hand on the three teams above them, so it is still all to play for.

Yeovil & District League

Division 2

Monday 10th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.27

Zeals 4 Keinton Park Rangers Reserves 2, attendance 38

5’ 1-0

6’ 1-1 (pen)

11’ 1-2

51’ 2-2

79’ 3-2

86’ 4-2

@ Zeals Recreation Ground

Wolverton Lane

Zeals

BA12 6LL

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 3rd versus 12th (bottom) in the league table. The reverse match on Saturday saw Zeals win 6-0, so we certainly weren’t expecting much resistance from the opposition as Zeals looked to add another three points towards their push for promotion.

It looked as if the match was going to form when Zeals (very professional looking in their shirts that had the players names on the back) went in front after five minutes, but KPR levelled from the penalty spot within a minute and five minutes later they went in front, a lead that they held until halftime. An early second half goal brought it level at 2-2. Zeals pushed for a winner, but KPR defended in numbers and were hard to break down, especially on such a small pitch. Two goals in the last eleven minutes finally secured the points for the hosts. They now trail Ilchester Juniors Reserves by three points at the top of the table, but have one game in hand, so the title is still well within their sights.

Zeals Recreation Ground is rumoured to be under threat from housing development. It would be a shame if it does go, as it is a cracking ground for this level of football.

During the match the discussion was had about how Zeals was the perfect club to visit if you are trying to complete an ‘alphabet’ of club names. I hadn’t thought about it before we went, but a quick check of my records showed this was my first ‘Z’ in the U.K. However, I was surprised to see I had already done 30 others, all in Belgium and the Netherlands, but it’s much easier there as both countries commonly use the letter Z in place and club names.

Mid Sussex League

Division 2 South

Saturday 8th May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Burgess Hill Rhinos 0 Cuckfield Rangers Reserves 4, attendance 36

33’ 0-1

48’ 0-2

74’ 0-3

90’+ 4, 0-4 (pen)

@ Tim Farmer Recreation Ground

120 Middle Village

Bolnore Village

RH16 4GJ

No Admission or Programme.

Burgess Hill Rhinos normally play at Clayton Green Recreation Ground, (where I had seen Village of Ditchling 1 East Court 1 on 10th April 2013 in a Mid Sussex League Division 2 match) but with that now given over to cricket, the last three home games had been moved to the ground here in Bolnore Village. It was last used by A.F.C. Bolnore at the end of the 2017/18 season, where they had been undefeated on their way to winning Division 5 of this league.

Today’s match was 4th versus 1st in the league table. When I first decided to do this match it looked like Cuckfield would need a point to win the league. However, on Thursday, the league awarded all games that had been postponed where teams couldn’t be bothered to raise a team, as wins for the opposition,(they should have played Willingdon Reserves at home on Tuesday) so it meant that they had already won the title coming into this.

There was a really strong wind blowing down the pitch, which did spoil the match somewhat, although at least the earlier rain had moved on and it remained dry throughout. It is easy to see why Cuckfield have won the league. They have a very good side and are very easy on the eye. Rhinos gave them a good match, but in the end the extra class showed. Having led 0-1 at the break, the killer second goal came three minutes into the second half, with a spin and shot into the top corner that beat the ‘keeper at his near post. Midway through the half they added a third, before a stoppage time penalty rounded things off with the last kick of the match.

Stratford-upon-Avon Alliance League

Division 2

Thursday 6th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.29

A.F.C. Bromsgrove 1 Bearley United 0, attendance 38

47’ 1-0

@ The Navigation Inn Pitch

57 Hanbury Road

Stoke Wharf

Stoke Prior

B60 4LB

No Admission or Programme.

For the second successive Thursday night we would be watching second in the league table A.F.C. Bromsgrove. The visitors have had some real hammerings this season, having lost 10-0, 9-0 twice, including the reverse fixture of tonight’s game, as well as an 8-0 and 7-0. They had been on a good run coming into this though, unbeaten in four matches and sitting seventh in the league table.

Bromsgrove had possession stats that only Manchester City could get near to, especially in the second half, but they lacked any real quality up front. The only goal came a couple of minutes after halftime, when the striker just beat the ‘keeper to a through ball, poking it past him into the far corner of the net. Bearley certainly provided the real ‘highlight’ of the night when they were awarded a late penalty. It was probably the worst attempt I have ever seen. The player tried to be clever with a ridiculous stuttering run up, but only managed to tap the ball straight at the ‘keeper who just stood in the middle of the goal and kicked the ball clear.

Bromsgrove remain level on points with leaders Shipston Excelsior Reserves, but are falling further behind on goal difference with each match they play.

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

Reg Davis Cup Group B

Wednesday 5th May 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Brockworth Albion 1 Charlton Rovers 0, attendance 34

50’ 1-0

@ Mill Lane Playing Fields

Mill Lane

Brockworth

GL3 4QL

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited Brockworth (minus the Albion in those days) back on 24th April 1999, when they lost 0-4 to Cadbury Heath in a Gloucestershire County League match. That game was played at Brockworth Rugby Club which is a couple of hundred yards east along Mill Lane, on the opposite side of the road. Two or three years ago the club started playing here at Mill Lane Playing Fields and they have since railed off the main pitch. Unbelievably, the F.A. Full Time website still lists all their home games as being played at the Rugby Club and gives very detailed directions on how to get there!

Despite being in a housing estate it is surprisingly scenic. Beyond the far goal end you get a great view of Cooper’s Hill, home to the famous Gloucestershire cheese-rolling and wake, where each Spring Bank Holiday participants race down the 200m hill chasing a round of Double Gloucester cheese, often resulting in serious injuries being suffered by those brave/daft enough to take part.

The match was 3rd versus 2nd in this group of matches, both teams being in Division 1 of the league. It wasn’t very good, due in part to them cancelling each other out and also the fact that Brockworth did nothing but ‘time waste’ after going ahead early in the second half. They used any way possible to break up the game, the worst being when they kicked a couple of spare balls onto the pitch as Charlton tried to take a quick throw in. The visitors were not that much better, having a player sin binned after 75 minutes, then when he returned it was only three minutes before another player received the same punishment. Not a good advert for the league and a very poor match that won’t live long in the memory.

Mid Sussex League

Division 4 South

Tuesday 4th May 2021

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Uckfield United 1 Buxted Reserves 2, attendance 25

21’ 0-1 (pen)

34’ 0-2

78’ 1-2

@ New Barn Recreation Ground

Old Timbers Lane

New Town

Uckfield

TN22 5BQ

No Admission or Programme.

This was a bit of a dead rubber as far as league positions go as 4th hosted 8th in the table. Uckfield could finish no higher than third and Buxted were already safe from any relegation worries. It was a decent game though. Fully committed throughout and nothing ‘end of season’ about it. Buxted opened the scoring from the penalty spot and doubled their lead with a 20 yarder into the bottom corner to deservedly lead 0-2 at the break. Twelve minutes from time Uckfield pulled one back, a 25 yarder that went in off the underside of the crossbar, but it was little more than a consolation goal.

New Barn Recreation Ground has no changing rooms, so the players get changed at The Victoria Pleasure Ground, where I saw Uckfield Town draw 3-3 with Saltdean United in a Sussex County League Division 3 match on 17 January 2009. The players then walk down to the left corner of the field, passing the cricket field and the football pitch that I had visited previously. Through the hedge, some 100 yards beyond a skateboard park and basketball court, is the pitch that was used tonight. Beyond the far goal there is pedestrian access from the newish looking housing estate, entering via Shepherds Way or New Barn Lane.

Thames Valley Premier League

Premier Division

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59

Finchampstead 4 Marlow United 1, attendance 41

15’ 1-0 (pen)

21’ 2-0

64’ 2-1

73’ 3-1

76’ 4-1

@ Arborfield Recreation Ground

Swallowfield Road

Arborfield Cross

RG2 9QD

No Admission or Programme.

Luckily, the rain that had been forecast only arrived as I pulled into the car park an hour before kick off, at what is the temporary home ground where Finchampstead will play out the season. The wind had increased during the day and combined with the now constant rain, it made viewing rather unpleasant. There was just enough shelter provided by the changing room building and a wooden structure, set back behind the near goal, to keep the majority of the crowd protected from the worst of the weather.

The match was 2nd versus 12th in the league table and a game that pretty much went to form. A penalty put Finchampstead ahead and they added a second goal shortly afterwards, but it was still only 2-0 at the break. Just after the hour mark Marlow pulled a goal back with an unstoppable effort from outside the 18 yard box , but the comeback never materialised and Finchampstead added two more as we entered the last quarter of an hour to run out comfortable 4-1 winners. The win sees them go level on points with Berks County at the top of the table, but they have played three games more than the leaders.

Mid Sussex League

Premier Division (bottom section)

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Cuckfield Rangers 3 Sedlescombe Rangers 2, attendance 33

9’ 0-1

52’ 1-1

69’ 1-2

74’ 2-2

76’ 3-2

@ Whitemans Green Recreation Ground, Pitch 1

Whitemans Green (B2114)

Cuckfield

RH17 5DA

No Admission or Programme.

Whitemans Green Recreation Ground consists of three football pitches. Pitch 1 is to the left of the changing room building, if looking from the car park as you enter the ground, whilst Pitch 2 is to the right. In the far right corner of the field, running widthways to the other two, is Pitch 3. I had seen Cuckfield Rangers play on that pitch when I came here previously, for another Bank Holiday morning fixture back on 3rd January 2011, where they beat Ardingly 1-0 in a Mid Sussex League Division 1 fixture in front of 11 spectators.

Game two for me today was in the bottom section of the revamped split league table, done to complete the promotion/relegation issues whereby each team plays the others just once, with points then added to a PPG total from matches played before the COVID-19 shutdown.

The match had nothing riding on it, as both teams are comfortably sitting in the middle of the table. I had concerns that Sedlescombe might not fulfill the fixture, as they had lost 0-7 on Saturday, but I needn’t have worried. In fact, they were the better team for long periods, in a match that could have gone either way. The visitors led twice, but having levelled at 2-2 with fifteen minutes left, Cuckfield got the winner a couple of minutes later, when a cross from the left was fumbled by the ‘keeper giving an easy tap in for the striker.

Mid Sussex League

Division 2 South

Monday 3rd May 2021

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.59

Ditchling 3 Burgess Hill Rhinos 2, attendance 21

3’ 1-0

28’ 2-0

36’ 2-1 (pen)

53’ 3-1

85’ 3-2

@ Adastra Park (North Field)

Keymer Road

Hassocks

BN6 8QH

No Admission or Programme.

Today’s intended treble started with a 3rd versus 4th clash in the league table. Ditchling had to win in order to still have a chance of pipping leaders Cuckfield Town Reserves to the title, whilst a win for Rhinos could still see them take second place.

Ditchling were ahead early and looked to be coasting to the three points when they went 2-0 up. However, a penalty saw Rhinos get back into it and despite the hosts regaining their two goal lead early in the second half, they had a nervous finish when the visitors added a second goal five minutes from time.

Mid Sussex League

Division 4 South

Saturday 1st May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.57

Keymer & Hassocks 1 Eastbourne Athletic 2, attendance 12

8’ 1-0

34’ 1-1

44’ 1-2

@ Batchelors Field

Bolney Recreation Ground

The Street

Bolney

RH17 5PF

No Admission or Programme.

Keymer & Hassocks have been playing home matches this season at The Beacon, which is the ground of Southern Combination League club Hassocks, but due to pitch works, they scheduled their final two games( the first was postponed after the opposition couldn’t be bothered to raise a team)to here. The ground was used by Bolney Rovers (in Division 2 South) up until January last year, but following the COVID-19 shutdown they didn’t reappear at the start of this season.

Today’s match was 3rd versus 5th in the league table, although neither of them can catch the top two. It was a really good contest and could have gone either way. An early opener for the hosts was cancelled out by a great finish from the edge of the box from the visitors. Eastbourne got what turned out to be the winner a minute before halftime. A through ball looked to be running out of play, but the striker managed to prevent if crossing the line and played the ball across the 6 yard box, where his fellow striker rolled it in from a couple of yards out. The result sees the two teams swap league positions.