London Fire Brigade Western 1 Piccadilly 3, attendance 43
22’ 1-0
54’ 1-1
65’ 1-2
78’ 1-3
@ Trailfinders Sports Club, Pitch 2 3G
Vallis Way
West Ealing
London
W13 0DD
No Admission
£2 Programme, sold out, only 20 copies produced.
The ground here is home to Ealing Trailfinders R.U.F.C. who play at the second level of the Rugby Football Union pyramid. I had been here previously to see a match, but it wasn’t a Trailfinders game, but London Broncos versus Halifax in the Rugby League Championship. That was played on the main stadium pitch which, since my visit on 4th June 2017, now has an impressive new seated stand behind the goal at the entrance end of the complex. Tonight’s match was played on the ‘open’ 3G pitch that runs parallel to the stadium.
The pitch is not full size, perhaps 5-6 yards shorter and narrower than the stadium one. With the rugby posts remaining in place and the football goals being in front of them, means the football pitch is quite short. Also, as it is primarily a rugby pitch, the football lines are very much secondary. As they are blue in colour they are very hard to see and more or less invisible at pitch level. The touch lines are white though, as they are the same ones used for rugby.
The game itself was a full bloodied affair and had a real competitive edge to it. LFBW (who play in the Emergency Services Football League) led 1-0 at the break, but Piccadilly (London Underground League) levelled early in the second half. LFBW then had what looked a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside, before Piccadilly went in front. They then missed a penalty, well saved by the ‘keeper, but did add a third goal late on to seal a 1-3 win.
Gamlingay United 0 Eynesbury United 1, attendance 54
83’ 0-1
@ Gamlingay Playing Field
Stocks Lane
Gamlingay
SG19 3QR
No Admission or Programme.
Gamlingay are new into the top division this season, having finished last season in second place in Senior A Division. The final table was decided by points per game when Covid-19 brought the season to an abrupt end. They have only picked up two points from their opening five matches, but two of the defeats were only by a single goal and the other was a 2-0 loss to league leaders West Wratting. Eynesbury arrived here sitting second in the league table, undefeated, with 11 points from their first five matches.
For a team struggling near the foot of the table, Gamlingay certainly gave Eynesbury a really hard match. There were chances galore at both ends and it was good entertainment for what looked likely to be heading for a goalless draw. The Gamlingay defence managed to hold out attack after attack, with some resolute defending. Eynesbury kept pushing for a winning goal and it finally came with just seven minutes left. A cross from the left was met at the far post and a downward header squirmed past the ‘keeper at the foot of the post. Very harsh on the hosts who certainly deserved a point for their efforts.
Old Albanians 1 Old Brentwoods III 3, attendance 10
26’ 0-1
40’ 0-2 (pen)
71’ 1-2
85’ 1-3
@ Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre Athletics Track
Holywell Hill
St. Albans
AL1 2DL
No Admission or Programme.
This was the only league or cup game in the Arthurian League today (being played at a ground that I hadn’t visited) where I could guarantee getting in a second match. This fixture meant I wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of extra time. I normally avoid doing floodlit grounds on a Saturday, but this one is rarely used midweek. In fact, as far as I know, it is as far back as 2006 when Hadley played a couple of Herts Senior County League matches here under lights, in an effort to catch up on a fixture backlog. Anyway, it was here or nowhere this morning.
This was a top of the table clash as first hosted second. Albanians have won four of their first five matches, amassing a +27 goal difference in the process, whilst Brentwoods had won all three of their games, by way of an equally impressive +20 goal difference, although it is perhaps more a reflection of how poor some of the teams are at this level, which is as low as it gets here in the Arthurian League.
Brentwoods broke the deadlock with an angled shot into the far corner of the net that seemed to deceive the ‘keeper. They added a second goal, just before the break, converting a penalty following a needless foul on the corner of the 18 yard box. Albanians made it 1-2 with a close range header with twenty minutes left, but Brentwoods made the game safe , netting their third goal with a header at the far post following a left wing cross.
Albanians remain top of the table, but only on goal difference from Brentwoods, who have two games in hand.
The later than hoped for finish at Tiptree Heath meant it was a mad dash across nine miles of twisting back lanes, but by 14.56 we were parked up in the car park at the very smart home of Hatfield Peverel. As with the earlier game, it was another club who I had visited before on a former ground, in this case at Maldon Road, where on 4th May 2011 I saw a 0-0 draw versus West Bergholt in an Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division match. In 2013/14 season they swapped their town centre ground, which is still there, for the edge of town Keith Bigden Memorial Ground.
Today’s match was 10th versus 5th in the league table. Both sides went close a number of times before Hatfield Peverel broke the deadlock with a shot on the turn from close range, but Great Bentley levelled through a header just two minutes later. In the opening minutes of the second half Hatfield Peverel went back in front, but again the visitors levelled quickly, this time from the penalty spot. A left footed shot was curled into the bottom corner of the net to put the visitors ahead midway through the half, before they killed the game off going 2-4 up with six minutes left. There was some confusion when a Great Bentley player was sent off with a couple of minutes left, having received a second yellow card following a foul. It was claimed by the recipient that the Referee had booked the wrong player, which was also my reading of the incident. Despite being a man short they added a fifth goal deep into stoppage time to give them a resounding 2-5 win.
So, the intended double worked out perfectly after all, in a league that rarely disappoints.
I had last visited Tiptree Heath on 14th August 2018, when I saw them lose 3-4 versus Hatfield Peverel in an Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division match. That was played at Tolleshunt Knights Village Hall, but this season they have moved three miles south east to the village of Tolleshunt D’Arcy.
Today’s match, which was intended to be the first part of a double header for me, was 11th versus 15th in the league table. It was very much end to end with both teams wasting numerous chances. Having pulled off a number of good saves, the visiting ‘keeper was finally beaten when he fumbled a tame looking effort that trickled across the line via the inside of the post to give Tiptree a 1-0 lead six minutes before the break. Just after the hour mark an angled shot into the bottom corner of the net made it 2-0 and shortly afterwards it became three, when a free kick from the right was headed in from close range. The scoring was completed with nine minutes left to play, when a shot was blocked, but the rebound was swept in from 12 yards.
This was only arranged this afternoon and came to my attention via the Silchester Twitter feed. Silchester play in Division 1 of the Hampshire Premier League, currently sitting second in the league table. Tendown are top of the Southampton League Senior Division 1, which is two steps lower.
Tendown deserved the win and look a very good side considering the level they play at. Their opener came from the penalty spot following a foul by the ‘keeper and the second followed a flick on from a long clearance that was finished with an excellent lob from 25 yards.
I had seen Epping (minus Town at that time) lose 0-1 versus White Notley in an Essex Olympian League Division 1 match back on 28th April 2007, when they played at Stonards Hill Recreation Ground in Epping. This season they have moved a couple of miles north to the village of Thornwood Common, playing on a pitch at Epping Upper Clapton Rugby Union ground. They had played their first two home games here on the middle of three parallel pitches that run widthways away from the clubhouse, but today they used the ‘main’ pitch, nearest the building, which according to the Rugby Chairman, would be where they will now play until February, by which time the rugby teams should be back playing matches. Despite the modern looking clubhouse, the ground has been hosting rugby since 1933.
With so much rain over the last couple of days, it was nice to see an early tweet from the club stating that today’s game was going ahead without problems. I knew there was cover of sorts here, just in case it rained, although the forecast was saying it would remain dry from lunchtime onwards, which it did.
Epping are in Division 2, with Old Chelmsfordians playing in the division above, so it was the perfect ingredient for a cup tie. Epping scored first, but OC levelled through an own goal five minutes before halftime. The second half remained in the balance until the final five minutes. A cross from the right wasn’t cleared and the ball was swept in to put Epping back in front, then two minutes later the win was confirmed when the ball was cut in from the left hand side and a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box beat the ‘keeper at the foot of the near post.
7 Regt Royal Logistic Corps 4 3 Regt Royal School Military Engineering 0, attendance 129
4’ 1-0
22’ 2-0
54’ 3-0
90’+2, 4-0
@ Army Rugby Stadium
Queen’s Avenue
Aldershot
GU11 2JL
No Admission or Programme.
With the Aldershot Military Stadium (next door, behind the south goal end) undergoing refurbishment of the stand, it meant that for the first time in it’s 131 year history an Army F.A. Cup Final was played at a Rugby Stadium. Neutral supporters (groundhoppers) were made very welcome, for what was actually the 2019/20 final that had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant it was a much more scaled down event than it would normally be, but it is good to see that the competition has once again been completed, which has happened every year since 1889 excluding wartime. It was the first time I have had to use the new NHS track & trace app since it’s introduction. All very easy and the seated area was set out for everyone to remain socially distant, which is the first time I have seen this done, although to be fair, I don’t visit that many grounds these days that actually have seats anyway!
RLC took an early lead with a low shot into the far corner of the net, before doubling their advantage midway through the half when a free kick on the right flicked off a defender and was scored from close range. Without doubt the third goal was the pick of the bunch. The ball was played out to the left hand touch line about 15 yards into the RSME half, and with one touch to steady himself, the No.10 then lobbed the ‘keeper with a superb finish. A fourth goal was slotted home in stoppage time rounding off a thoroughly deserved win. RSME just never got going.
I have now seen football played on the three grounds that run end on to each other here in Queen’s Avenue. I had seen a Combined Services XI lose 1-4 versus Isthmian League XI in a Representative Match at the Aldershot Military Stadium on 3rd February 1999, then visited The Wavell Ground 3G Pitch (behind the north goal end of the Rugby Stadium) on 23rd January 2012, where I saw Royal Signals Corps 4 Adjutant General’s Corps 5 in an Army F.A. Woolwich Cup semi-final.
I had visited Frenford (known as Frenford Senior in those days) at their previous ground, Oakfields Sports Centre in Barkingside, on 10th December 2011, where I saw them draw 0-0 versus Galleywood in an Essex Olympian League Premier Division match. In season 2018/19 they joined the restructured Eastern Counties League and were by this time now playing here at The Jack Carter Centre. The pitch was grass back then, but part way through the season news emerged that they would be turning the pitch through 90 degrees and it was to be converted to a 3G ground. Rather than do it then, I decided to wait until the changes had taken place. It would also give me a now far too infrequent chance to pick up new ground visit under lights (the old pitch was not floodlit). The new pitch is a 50% overlap of the original footprint and the old perimeter rail that was behind the ‘car park end’ is still in place about 10 yards behind the back of the new stand nearest the entrance. There were still quite a few groundhoppers present who were counting this as another tick, despite having been here for the original set up! Then again, it shouldn’t surprise me, as groundhopping, and what people count as a ‘new’ ground, or not, is interpreted under a number of different guises these days.
I arrived at the ground about 18.50 and was surprised to see a huge queue at the entrance, mostly made up of those of the groundhopping fraternity that require a programme in order to make their visit more complete. This sold out very quickly. The gateman remarked to the person in front of me “sorry, we’ve sold out of programmes. We didn’t expect a crowd like this”. Not surprising really. Their two previous league matches here this season had attracted just 55 and 36 spectators!
The ground, so typical of new build caged grounds is as bland as they come and probably doesn’t really meet the ‘grading’ for Step 6. The walk from the changing rooms is a good 30-40 yards, with no walkway for players and officials. The only toilets are also in this building and there are no refreshments available inside the ground either. Spectator access is limited to three sides. The far side, opposite the dugouts and stands is out of bounds. The view from the ‘kit’ stands is absolutely dreadful, not helped by having the dugouts in between, then people standing along the rail. Once again, a new build that has been given very little thought. It wasn’t as if lack of space was an issue here. It might not be as bad when they have their ‘normal’ sized crowd. Not that the club will care, and why should they, as they now have a facility that can be in use all day, every day. It is good to see them back in their home area, having spent last season playing at the ground of Bowers & Pitsea whilst the rebuild took place.
The match itself was pretty even early on. Barkingside took the lead, but Frenford were level at 1-1 by halftime. The second half was very much a case of taking your chances when they come. Frenford certainly took theirs and in the end the visitors were lucky to get away with only a 4-1 defeat. The win sees Frenford go top of the league table, albeit very early days, but a bright future looks in order, both on and off the pitch.
One thing that is worth a mention tonight. The Referee. The game kicked off on time, there was just a seventeen minute halftime and no stoppage time played in either half. Game over by 21.32. Well done that man!
The early match was over by 14.41, which meant I would have had time to make it to a nearby 15.00 kick off in the Somerset County League, but I decided to stick with my original plan. The eleven mile journey from Evercreech was on some very tight and twisting country lanes, but I was still parked up in Coleford at 15.06.
The ground here, along with it’s undulating pitch that has a large end to end slope away from the changing room end, certainly has some history. As well as hosting County League football, it also hosted Western League games in the 1920’s and 1930’s, albeit for just three seasons, as well as a couple of Preliminary Round F.A. Cup ties at the end of the 1940’s.
The step up in standard from this morning’s match was remarkable. It was far more skilful and was played at a much faster pace. Westfield had the game won inside half an hour, scoring five times from seven chances (the other two were saved by the ‘keeper) in a blistering start. Kicking down the slope in the second half didn’t seem to suit them though. Coleford, who battled well despite being totally overrun, deservedly pulled a goal back to reduce the arrears with twenty five minutes left to play, but it was too late to change the outcome. Westfield did add a sixth goal to finish off the scoring, but the second half never reached the heights of the first. I’m not sure if the Referee had seen enough by then, but he blew the full time whistle a couple of minutes early.
