Evercreech Rovers 2 High Littleton 2, attendance 20
20’ 1-0
50’ 2-0
88’ 2-1
90’ 2-2
@ Evercreech Sports Club
Pecking Mill Road
Weston Town
Evercreech
BA4 6PD
No Admission or Programme.
With a double opportunity on offer, it seemed as good a time as any to make my debut in the Mid-Somerset League. Division 1 is tier two of the league, which on the evidence of this match is not the best of standards. There was plenty of effort, but both teams were lacking in skill.
Evercreech led 1-0 at the break, courtesy of a Kepa style howler that was gifted by the visitors ‘keeper when trying to be too clever with a clearance. A good finish to a pull back from the left made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half and it looked like the three points were safe. High Littleton had done nothing as far as attacking went, but somehow snatched an unlikely point in the dying minutes. Their opener, with two minutes left, looped over the ‘keeper, going in off the underside of the crossbar, before a corner was headed in from six yards to level it up right on ninety minutes.
Mid table Buxton were hosting the early season pace setters, as Wells Town led the league table having won their opening two fixtures. Buxton started brightly and took an early lead, but Wells looked dangerous with every attack. It took them until the thirty fifth minute to draw level, bundling in a right wing corner at the far post. Five minutes later they were in front, when another corner from the right was headed in powerfully, again at the far post. Six minutes into the second half it was game over as a rebound was smashed into the net to make it 1-3. Two late goals rounded off an emphatic win for the visitors to maintain their 100% winning start to the season.
Track & trace was in operation, which included spectator access being restricted to the ‘car park end’ and the side of the pitch opposite the dugouts/changing rooms only.
Southam United 1 Stockton 1 (3-2 pens), attendance 145
22’ 0-1
41’ 1-1
@ Bobby Hancocks Park
Saints Drive
off Lark Road
Southam
CV47 2UZ
Admission : donation bucket at entrance
No Programme.
Back on 3rd May 1993 I saw Southam United lose 0-1 versus Marston Green in a Midland Combination League Division 1 match, which was played at their Banbury Road ground. That has since been sold for housing and they have this season moved into their new stadum, which is little more than a couple of hundred yards south west of their former home. It is named after the club record appearance and goal scorer Bobby Hancocks.
On first impressions it is a nice stadium, but it is somewhat lacking in design. The small terrace sections, which are below the ‘VIP’ seating in the main building, offer a reasonable view at present, but once the dugouts are completed that will mean blind spots are created. Just what is it with non-league clubs where they place dugouts right in front of the main spectator areas. The kit stand on the opposite side of the ground is fine, but is set back as far from the pitch as is possible. This means anyone walking round the ground has to go in front of the stand, therefore blocking the view for those in the seats. One definite plus though is the grass pitch. So much better than just building a soulless 3G cage that so many clubs now opt for.
Southam are in the Hellenic League Division 2 East (Step 7) at present, but should comfortably climb to Step 6 without too many problems. The standard of this league is very poor, so another top place finish (they were 15 points clear at the top, having won 16 of their 17 games when Covid-19 curtailed last season) should be well within their capabilities and the ground certainly ticks all the right boxes.
Stockton play in the Coventry Alliance League Premier Division, which feeds into Midland League Division 3, making it Step 9. You wouldn’t have known these two sides play at different levels. The match was a really good contest and played with a real competitive edge. Stockton were well worth their lead, but Southam came back to level just before the break. Both teams had chances to win it in the second half, but neither could add to the scoring. Having gone second, Southam won the penalty shoot out with a kick to spare.
Track & trace was in operation tonight by way of name and contact number on a clipboard.
Both these clubs play in the Cornwall Combination League, which sits at Step 8 of the pyramid. It is a league I have never done a game in, hoping that one day it would be part of the ‘South West Peninsula League Groundhop’, but that is now looking like it will never happen, especially with other organised ‘hops seemingly taking over and leaving few available dates for this to happen. Anyway, with the new St. Piran League (East and West divisions) now slotted in at Step 7, which would appeal to a larger audience, it more or less guarantees it won’t happen.
So, if I was going to make my debut watching a new league, then where better to start than the most southerly ground on the U.K. mainland. You can’t get much further south, with Lizard Point barely a mile away. The ground itself is pretty basic, although there is a small bit of cover in one corner. The clubhouse was open for business, but the changing rooms weren’t. The players got changed pitchside, which is now the new normal at this level. No track & trace in operation today. Although the ground isn’t up to much, the views certainly are, especially on a sunny day. It might not be so appealing on a wet and windy winters day!
Having seen a couple of matches in the East Cornwall Premier League in midweek, which is of comparable level, this certainly felt it was a lower standard. Plenty of effort, but lacking in skill, and it did get niggly at times. It had been an even contest, but Marazion edged in front right on halftime. Lizard had a shot bounce down off the crossbar, with the headed rebound being tipped over by the ‘keeper. From the resulting corner, the ball was cleared and the visitors striker was put clear to poke the ball past the advancing ‘keeper to open the scoring. Marazion dominated the second half, wrapping the game up when a right wing cross was smashed into the roof of the net just after the hour mark.
After last night, it was good to see that the Referee here had the sense to play 2 x 40 minute halves to avoid problems with the light, especially after we started a couple of minutes late. in fact, it even meant there was time for both teams to go back to the changing rooms at halftime. Even though there is only one entrance into the ground there was no track & trace in operation tonight, despite the fact that cash was the only way to pay your admission.
St. Stephen had lost their opening game 7-0 away at Mount Gould on Saturday, whilst this was the season opener for Roche. The game could have gone either way, with both sides going close a number of times in a very even contest. I had resigned myself to seeing a second successive goalless match, which would have been a third in four games, when St. Stephen snatched a last minute winner. The ‘keeper dribbled the ball out about 30 yards and hoofed a long ball towards the box. Striker Courtney Rowe controlled the ball and turned to shoot low into the far corner of the net from 20 yards.
The game was over at 20.01, still light enough to be able to see without any problems, but we wouldn’t have got away with a great deal longer. This brought down the curtain on the midweek early kick offs for non floodlit clubs for me. Roll on the end of March! Not a bad place to sign off at. Although the ground itself is nothing special, a large granite outcrop in the north east corner of the ground that hosts a ruined chapel means the backdrop certainly is.
St. Newlyn East were sitting in second place in the Duchy League Premier Division when Covid-19 brought football to a halt in March, but were promoted into the East Cornwall Premier League for this season. They had started life in their new league with a 3-2 win away at St. Dominick on Saturday, with tonight being their first home game. Foxhole Stars were fourth when last season ‘ended’, but opened up the season with a 0-4 loss at home to Newquay Reserves on Saturday. Due to a combination of Covid-19 restrictions and refurbishment works going on, neither the changing rooms, stand or dugouts were in use tonight and the teams got changed at the side of the pitch. Track & Trace details were taken at the entrance.
With the match kicking off a minute early, then having just six minutes for halftime, all looked to be going well as far as getting the game in before darkness descended. Remarkably, with 36 minutes having been played in the second half, the Referee blew his whistle for full time, saying that it was too dark to complete the match. We only had nine minutes left to play, which would have been no problem, and if he thought it was indeed going to be the case, then why hadn’t he just decided to play 2 x 40 minute halves and be done with it. Apparently the teams had been informed at halftime that it would be a shorter second half.
Anyway, as for the game, it wasn’t too bad considering that there were no goals. St. Newlyn East had the better of the early exchanges, but Foxhole got stronger as the game went on and should really have won it on balance of play overall. Both teams seemed happy with a point each and there were very few complaints about the missing nine minutes at the end of the game.
Above : At 19.56 the Referee brought the game to an end nine minutes early, claiming it was too dark to finish it!
The Jack Forsdick Cup is played annually between the two clubs from the village, to honour the memory of Charlwood’s former groundsman, played at the ground shared by the two.
Charlwood Village play in the Redhill & District Sunday League Division 1 (top tier) with Charlwood making their debut yesterday in the Southern Combination League Division 2 (tier 3) having moved laterally from the fellow Step 7 Mid Sussex League Premier Division for this season.
Charlwood opened the scoring against the run of play, but Village hit them with a four goal burst late in the half to lead 4-1 at the break. Charlwood were much the better side in the second half, but could only claw back two of the three goals that they needed to draw level.
It took around fifty minutes to drive the 11 miles from this morning’s match. I arrived to see that Track & Trace was in operation at the entrance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, although the fact that you had to write down your own contact details, with just one pen available to do so, meant it rather defeated the object! It also meant that the queue to get into the ground took the first twelve minutes of the match to clear!
Peckham Town certainly have the feel of a club very much on the up and the ground is developing along nicely. According to their club Twitter feed the crowd of 159 ( I counted 142) was a club record at the ground. Plenty of their supporters were in club shirts and scarves as well. The tea bar was up and running, but the clubhouse remained closed.
As far as the game went, the less said the better. It was really poor, not helped by both sides lacking any attacking flair whatsoever. It became obvious very early on that this would end goalless. The only time it looked like the deadlock may have been broken, was a late chance for Peckham, where a shot was deflected, but the ‘keeper got down well to turn it round the post.
Today’s visit means I have completed the top division of the Kent County League for the first time. Any trip to Peckham wouldn’t be complete without a mention of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and sure enough, the theme tune was played over the tannoy at halftime!
Above : It would be hard to ‘socially distance’ in this stand!
Old Carthusians 3 King’s College Wimbledon Old Boys 0, attendance 5
38’ 1-0
43’ 2-0
74’ 3-0
@ Commons Extension Sports Ground, Pitch 3
Robin Hood Way
London
SW15 3QF
No Admission or Programme.
This game was played here due to Old Carthusians normal home ground at Charterhouse School being unavailable due to Covid-19 restrictions. The match was played on Pitch 3, which is the furthest of the three parallel pitches when looking from the changing room building, which are separated by a hedge from another eight pitches beyond.
Old Carthusians are regularly challenging for the Arthurian League title and on today’s evidence this season will be no different. A stubborn King’s defence were finally broken down when a shot on the turn found it’s way into the bottom corner of the net seven minutes before the break, with a second goal, courtesy of a header, making it 2-0 shortly afterwards. The only goal of the second half, scored from a rebound, gave Old Carthusians a comfortable 3-0 win.
The game was over by 12.37 so plenty of time to head off for a second match.
Above : The Ground is well signposted from the A3 Southbound.
Whistle Stop are a new team in the Meon Valley Sunday League Division 1, whilst Liss Athletic Reserves play in the East Division of the Hampshire Combination & Development League.
Whistle Stop played in ‘West Liss F.C.’ kits (probably their name last season ?) and had the usual Sunday League look, where a couple of players had the wrong colour shorts, and another two in non matching socks, but as far as ability goes, they looked a decent side. For good measure, they even had substitutes coming on and putting on the shirt of the player they were replacing. Not very hygienic, especially with Covid-19 in our midst!
It was a good end to end game, that was in the balance until Whistle Stop killed the game off with two goals in stoppage time. I was surprised how light it was when we finished at 19.52, considering the thick cloud overhead.
