Lommel S.K. U17 14 Park Houthalen U17 0, attendance 38
@ Jeugdcomplex ‘t Gestelbos, Pitch 5 synthetic
Soevereinpark
Speelpleinstraat
3920 Lommel
€2 Admission
No Programme.
As our overnight accommodation was only a fifteen minute drive from our intended afternoon match, we needed something to fill in a bit of time. This was the nearest match we could find, although it was also the earliest kick off as well, but it fitted the bill.
The game was as one sided as the score line suggests and was an awful match to watch as a neutral. Lommel were simply too good for Park and there was no comparison as far as the physical size of the players went. It was only 4-0 at halftime, but the second half saw the goals go in by the bucket load. Thankfully it was only 2 x 40 minute halves, as watching another ten minutes of this would have been a real drag. Not something that I would want to watch too often and it is easy to see why I didn’t bother with this kind of thing when I lived in Belgium
K.F.C. Witgoor Sport Dessel 2 Lyra-Lierse Berlaar 5, attendance 600 est.
11’ 0-1
22’ 1-1
34’ 2-1
36’ 2-2
58’ 2-3
81’ 2-4
89’ 2-5
@ Sportpark De Wouwer
Wouwerstraat 45
Witgoor
2480 Dessel
€10 Admission
Team Sheet, free.
The journey from Axel to Witgoor took around an hour and a half, which included going to our overnight accommodation in Mol en route. We already knew that the match tonight had been designated as a ‘risk match’, so we arrived at the ground early, just in case there were any problems getting in. As it turned out, no problem whatsoever (which is what we really expected, but better to be safe…) although as segregation was in operation, we had a choice. We could go in the ‘away’ section, which was behind one goal and along the far side, or, go in the ‘home’ section, which was where the clubhouse and main stand were, although the end behind the right hand goal had no access at all, so we were limited to the one sided view of the pitch. This scenario is not great for taking photos of the ground, especially with such poor standard floodlighting, as the main stand is the only thing worth focusing on, but at least you got a raised view of the action, which at the end of the day is what you’ve actually come to see.
Witgoor Sport have moved to Sportpark De Wouwer this season, having played at the Stadion Jef Lutyen for the last 83 years and one that I visited at the start of the 2015/16 season, a matter of weeks before I left Belgium for the U.S.A. The new ground has been developed on part of what was previously their youth academy set up.
Witgoor Sport came into the match 11th in the league table, whilst the visitors were third. The reason for the match being classed as a ‘risk’ was due to a good number of away fans making the journey from Lierse, as normally teams travel with very low numbers of fans for Belgian League matches, especially for those below the top two levels.
Lyra-Lierse dominated from the off and were soon ahead. Witgoor Sport levelled, totally against the run of play, then had a spell on top which saw them go 2-1 up, resulting in the only potential flash point of the game, as a number of plastic beer glasses were hurled from the terracing towards the away fans standing near the segregation fence, but it was the Police Officers stood in the middle of the two groups that took the soaking instead!
Lyra- Lierse levelled within two minutes and it was still 2-2 at the break. The visitors once again dominated as Witgoor Sport tired during the second half and having gone 2-3 up just before the hour, two late goals rounded off a resounding 2-5 win for Lyra-Lierse, which keeps them in third place in the league, but does close the gap, as the two teams above them were playing each other and drew 1-1.
We headed out from Folkestone on the 08.50 Eurotunnel, which left two minutes late, to do what was looking like being a 4 match weekend trip. Our afternoon action was to be in the Dutch Amateurs 2nd Klasse (level 7 of Dutch football), in the town of Axel, which is just under 2 hours drive from Calais. It is in the Zeeland region, which is the strip of land that runs from the North Sea coast, eastwards towards Antwerp and is not actually joined to the main area of the Netherlands, as it is surrounded by Belgium on its southern and eastern border, but does have a link via the toll road through the Terneuzen Tunnel to the north.
Axel came into this 13th (second bottom) in the league table, with the visitors Yerseke being seventh. It became obvious very early on which way the three points were heading. It was only 0-2 at the break, but should have been at least another two or three goals more. Yerseke did add another three goals after the break, in what was as comfortable a 0-5 away win as you are likely to see.
Marlborough College 3 Chigwell School 2, attendance 54
11’ 0-1
17’ 1-1
23’ 2-1
43’ 2-2
80’ 3-2
@ Marlborough College Athletics Track Ground
Bath Road
Marlborough
SN8 1PA
No Admission or Programme.
Chigwell went in front early on, but having levelled the game up, Marlborough went ahead with a 20 yard screamer to lead 2-1 at the break. An early second half goal from the visitors made it 2-2 and both sides missed chances to edge back in front. Just as it looked like we would be heading for extra time, a last minute corner from the right was headed in from 6 yards to win it for Marlborough.
Shefford Town & Campton 3 Enfield Borough 1, attendance 61
5’ 1-0
23’ 2-0
58’ 3-0
78’ 3-1
@ Shefford Sports Club
Hitchin Road
Shefford
SG17 5JD
£5 Admission, including Programme, 12 pages*
Shefford Town & Campton are newly promoted into the Spartan South Midlands League, having won the Premier Division and Cup double in the Bedfordshire County League last season. They have started well at the higher level and are second in the league table, whilst the visitors started the night in fourth place.
Enfield Borough arrived by minibus, but that wasn’t until 18.55, and it transpired that they had forgotten to bring their kit with them. Luckily, Shefford lent them some, so the game was able to go ahead and only kicked off a few minutes late, which would probably have been the case anyway, such is the way at so many games these days.
Shefford opened the scoring after five minutes and doubled their lead eighteen minutes later, when a shot from outside the box went straight under the hapless visiting ‘keeper. Their third goal came just before the hour mark when a left wing cross was volleyed in from just inside the 18 yard box. Enfield pulled a goal back with a far post header twelve minutes from the end.
*The programme had all the basics and was better than a lot of those that clubs sell for a ridiculously overpriced £2. However, it could do with a proof reader. The Chairman’s notes state that this is the clubs first match back in the Spartan South Midlands League since 1994…..obviously forgetting the ten league games they have played so far! Then there is the constant reference to them winning the ‘Bedfordshire Premier League’…..They actually won the Bedfordshire County League, Premier Division……basic mistake, but completely different. Then one last gripe. On the results page, why can’t clubs just list their own score first? Their last three away matches are shown as W 0-7, L4-1, W 7-2 and they even have a home game shown as W 2-5……..why not 7-0, 1-4, 7-2 and 5-2, so that you clearly know which is their goal tally?……and people wonder why the matchday programme is dying out.
Last Saturday I had seen Wick knocked off the top of the league table, dropping down to third place, following a 1-0 defeat at Bromley Heath United. Today they were hosting Ruardean Hill Rangers who were in eleventh place coming into this match.
The visitors took an early lead and were never really put under any pressure so comfortably held their one goal advantage at the break. Their lead was doubled early in the second half, but instead of pushing for a third goal, which could have killed the game off, they decided to try and protect what they had and their ‘keeper should really have got at least one booking for blatant time wasting on every goal kick, but the Referee was too weak to do anything about it. The negative approach soon began to backfire. Wick scrambled in a goal just before the hour mark to pull it back to 1-2 and it totally turned things around. Somehow, the visitors held their slender lead for another 25 minutes as they were under intense pressure, but the equaliser deservedly came with seven minutes left. It took just another two minutes for Wick to complete the turnaround, when a shot on the turn saw them nick a 3-2 win which sends them back to the top of the league table.
According to the match programme, Wick have ambitions to go up to Step 6 football, but there would be a huge amount of work needed to make the ground grading. Apart from the lack of floodlights, seats, or any covered area whatsoever, their biggest problem is likely to be that the main pitch is separated from the changing rooms by a second pitch, which rather oddly is right outside the clubhouse. Perhaps they could swap them round to meet the necessary requirements?
Above : Players and Officials make the long trek from the changing rooms, across the middle of the second pitch, to the main pitch.
Wessex Wanderers 0 North Bristol United 7, attendance 8
14’ 0-1
24’ 0-2
30’ 0-3
35’ 0-4 (pen)
40’ 0-5
62’ 0-6
79’ 0-7
@ South Bristol Sports Centre, 3G Pitch
West Town Lane
Knowle
Bristol
BS14 9EA
No Admission or Programme.
An early kick off here meant plenty of afternoon options to get a double in. The match was 6th versus 2nd in the league table, with ‘Premier 2’ being the second level of this league.
The match started off very evenly, but once North Bristol United went ahead, through a close range header, the game became very one sided. It was 0-5 at the break and the second half was a real non event, although the goal of the game, a 25 yarder into the top corner, rounded off a resounding win for the visitors, who now go top of the league, having won their opening four matches. I think the Referee felt sorry for Wessex, as he blew the full time whistle a couple of minutes early and we were done and dusted by 13.35, which meant I had even more time to make it to my second match, not that I needed it…….
Above : North Bristol United make it 0-4 from the penalty spot.
I had visited Badshot Lea back on 11th December 2004, when I saw them beat Kingsbury Rangers 2-1 in a Hellenic League Division 1 East match in front of 49 spectators. In those days they played at The Green, which was in the village of Badshot Lea itself, which is north east of Farnham. Nowadays, they are at their new facility in Wrecclesham, which is to the south west of Farnham.
The club had tweeted earlier in the day that the new pitch and drainage had stood up to the vast amount of rain over the last few days and that the game was going ahead without any problems. It was a bit concerning driving through torrential rain en route to the match and it was still raining heavily on arrival at the ground, but their confidence in the pitch was justified and at the end it was still in as good condition as when the game started.
The Premier Challenge Cup involves all Premier Division and Division 1 clubs, bar Jersey Bulls, as far as I can tell. This was an all Premier Division clash, seeing 13th place in the league table hosting 18th place. Badshot Lea wasted an absolute hatful of chances and should have won this with ease. It was 1-1 at halftime and remained so at 90 minutes. A cracking 25 yarder saw Badshot Lea regain the lead in the first period of extra time and they finally made it safe when they netted a third goal with six minutes of extra time left. Redhill could have easily won it with a bit more luck, as they struck the post twice and crossbar once, which could have swung the tie their way if any of those efforts had gone in.
The ground is typical of most new builds these days, although quite what the point is of putting their covered standing area where it is, is baffling. Set well back from the action and a blind spot view of the pitch in one corner due to the shabby looking ‘players tunnel’ blocking your view. As a ‘smoking area’ for those that require shelter whilst enjoying their filthy habit though, it’s just the job!
Above : Badshot Lea No.11 (obscured by the net) opens the scoring from a tight angle.
The three photos below show the shabby looking ‘players tunnel’, the blind spot view from the covered area and the awful choice of location for positioning it.
Today’s match would be between the only two clubs I haven’t visited in Brabant Provincial 1. Kester-Gooik have only been promoted this season and having played a few matches here at Wolvenstraat last season, it has now become their full time home. The ground originally had a grass pitch, but the area was flattened and the pitch was turned through ninety degrees and relaid as a 3G. The ground looks to have been built with little or no thought going into it. The seated area is uncovered and the viewing area outside the clubhouse is open to the elements as well, if you want a decent view of the game, as the cover that is available is set well back from the rail and totally useless.
Kester-Gooik came into this third from bottom in the league table, having taken just two points from their first four games. Diest, on the other hand, are third, with two wins and two draws from their opening four games. Diest were just too good for the hosts and once they opened the scoring it was a stroll in the park for them. They could have won by a much bigger margin, but they seemed content with just the three goals and never had to get out of second gear. It was nice to see they had a good away following, which was around one third of the crowd.
We were booked on the 09.20 outbound crossing on Eurotunnel, but actually travelled on the earlier 08.50 train. Our return also saw us leave ahead of our booked time, making the 19.36, rather than the 20.06 we should have been on. Have Eurotunnel finally worked out how to run to a timetable ?……probably not.
Above : The Diest No.9 sweeps in the opening goal.
Bromley Heath United are new additions to the Gloucestershire County League, having been promoted as champions of the Bristol & Suburban League Premier Division.
They have had a poor start to the season, having lost their opening five matches, which sees them one off the foot of the league table, courtesy of a better goal difference than bottom club Hardwicke. Wick arrived here as league leaders, having won five of their first six games, so this looked like it might be a predictable outcome, but that was not the case.
It was a pretty even first half, which saw both clubs have chances to go in front. A speculative shot, from the corner of the 18 yard box, was spilled by the Wick ‘keeper and was poked in from close range to give Bromley Heath the lead five minutes before the break. Wick piled on the pressure in the second half, but were not able to break down a very resolute home defence and the hosts hung on to gain their first win of the season, which sees them climb another place in the league table. The defeat sees Wick drop down to third.
