This was 4th versus 1st in the league table and although South Petherton have already been crowned champions, there was certainly no end of season feel to this one. All three goals came from the penalty spot. The opener was given away by the home ‘keeper when he brought down the striker who was trying to take the ball around him. The leveller for Misterton was awarded for a handball and the late winner for the visitors was given for a trip from behind as the striker was attempting to shoot. Just before halftime South Petherton had a man red carded, but Misterton failed to take advantage of the extra man when they too were reduced to 10 men six minutes into the second half. It got a bit nasty for a spell around the hour mark when three consecutive fouls resulted in pushing and shoving between 12-15 players and it looked at one stage that the game might not make it to the full 90 minutes, but it settled down with no further problems.
Even with four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half, it was all over by 15.42, which left ample time to make my second part of today’s intended double……
R.F.C. Saint-Hubert 0 R. Etoile Sportive Champlonaise 1, attendance 154
20’ 0-1
@ Rue Des Pres
6870 Saint-Hubert
€6 Admission
Team Sheet, free.
With it being a Bank Holiday in Belgium it meant it was our destination for today’s match. Even better, it meant it would be an afternoon kick off, so we chose to do one of the longer trips and make use of the good weather, as we headed to the northern fringes of The Ardennes.
The match was 3rd versus 13th (second bottom) in the league table. Saint-Hubert were looking to cement their place in the play offs, whilst Champlon needed to win if they were to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
Anyone who was unaware of which of these two were in which position in the league table would have thought it was the opposite way round to what it actually is. Champlon were much the better team and they deservedly went ahead when a shot came back off the post for an easy tap in and they had chances to increase their lead before halftime. The second half was a different story though and was basically one way traffic, with it becoming a personal duel between the home Number 9 and the visiting ‘keeper. Twice the ‘keeper tipped the strikers headers onto the crossbar and he also made a last ditch save to claw away an effort that was destined for the top corner of the net. Even when he was finally beaten, there was a defender on the line to head the ball clear.
The result had little effect on the top of the table, as Saint-Hubert still qualified for the play offs, but with other results going against them, Champlon finish the season second from bottom, so will play in Provincial 2 next season.
As it was not a Bank Holiday in the U.K. it meant The Tunnel was eerily quiet and nice to see that we left two minutes earlier than scheduled on our outbound journey. The roads in Belgium and France were also very quiet, so the three and a quarter hour drive back for our scheduled 20.50 return was trouble free and with very few cars around at the Border Control, we were processed quickly and managed to make it onto the 20.20 crossing instead, as there were no queues whatsoever as we headed towards the boarding lanes.
This was 1st versus 2nd in the league table, with Nailsea & Tickenham two points clear, but this was their final match of the season, so it was nothing short of a win required for them to have a realistic chance of winning the league. Chilcompton still had two more to play after this, but knew that a win here would give the the league title for the second successive season.
As expected it was a very even contest. Nailsea & Tickenham had more possession, but Chilcompton were creating the better chances and it was no surprise that they broke the deadlock just before the break with a deflected shot from 18 yards that found its way into the bottom corner of the net. Straight from the restart, Nailsea & Tickenham broke clear and an attempted block saw a penalty awarded for handball, but the kick was saved by the visiting ‘keeper.
Nailsea & Tickenham came out all guns blazing in the second half and levelled it up at 1-1 through a looping header that looked to be offside and by the sixth minute of the second half they had turned it round, when a fumble by the ‘keeper was scrambled across the line. With just under twenty minutes left it was 2-2, this time it was the turn of the visitors to get the benefit of the doubt, when the striker who got the final touch of the ball looked to be offside. Normally he would probably have been given offside, whether he was or not, but tonight’s match had proper Linesmen, rather than club ones, so at least the decisions were made in the correct manor, rather than any question of cheating coming into play. With a couple of minutes left, Nailsea & Tickenham broke down the right and their striker cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot that came off the underside of the crossbar and fell perfectly for the player following the ball in to stoop and head the winning goal from 2 yards out.
Nailsea & Tickenham now have a 5 point lead, with Chilcompton having to win their last two matches to overhaul them. They should have no problems winning the first one, as it is away at bottom of the table Odd Down (Bath) Reserves, who they beat 5-0 last Saturday. If they do indeed take the 3 points there, then they will travel to Worle on the final day of the season knowing that a victory will see them retain their league title.
Renaissance Sportive Forestoise 0 F.C. Kosova Schaerbeek 4, attendance 89
10’ 0-1
14’ 0-2
64’ 0-3
78’ 0-4
@ Complex Centre Sportif Bempt, Pitch 5
Boulevard De La Deuxieme Armee Britannique 600
1190 Forest
No Admission or Programme.
Originally, the plan today was to be dropped off at R. Cercle Sportif Brainois, for a Belgian League match, with the driver continuing on to a game in Huldenberg. However, plans changed late last night when I noticed that instead of playing on the main stadium, they would be playing on their synthetic number 2 pitch instead, which I had visited on July 16th 2014, when I saw A.F.C. Tubize beat R. Union St. Gilloise 1-0 in a pre season friendly.
It turned out that the driver and the other two passengers decided to do the match at Brainois, as it was an unusual venue to stage a Belgian League match, so I needed a nearby drop off and plumped for the match in Forest, which was only going to be a twenty minute wait after the match before being picked up.
The hub here at Bempt is certainly fully utilised. Pitch 1 (synthetic) was hosting Maccabi Brussels ‘B’ in a 3rd Provincial match, whilst the parallel Pitch 2, also synthetic, was being used for training. Pitch 3, which is grass and separated from the other two by a line of trees, had a match that appeared to be between two teams of African decent. The main clubhouse/changing room building, which has a double aspect viewing gallery, has another two synthetic pitches, running widthways, on either side. Pitch 4, to the right as you enter from the car park, was hosting F.C. Forest, which was another 3rd Provincial level match, where I had seen F.C. Forest 1 F.C. Pepingen ‘B’ 2 in a Provincial 4C match on 12th February 2015. So this just left the match on Pitch 5, slightly raised, to the left of the building, which was where I would be watching my game. Just for good measure, there was a Rugby Union match being played on a pitch down in the dip beyond our pitch.
Above : The view from the balcony showing Pitch 4, with Pitch 1 in the far left corner. There are some groundhoppers who would claim they had watched all three matches!
I wasn’t really in any rush to come back here just to do a different pitch in a complex I had already visited, but today was a perfect time to tick it off, and even better, it was a match that was important to both teams. Forestoise were bottom of the league table, but only on goal difference, and if they could win their last two matches, could avoid relegation if other results went their way. Kosova meanwhile, were second in the table, just a point behind R.A.S. Jodoigne, and in with a great chance of making it into the Belgian League next season.
When Kosova scored twice in the opening quarter of an hour, it looked like being an easy afternoon for them. They had to work hard for it though and with a bit more luck in front of goal, Forestoise could have got back into it, but having failed to pull a goal back, Kosova made it safe by adding a couple more goals to take the three points. The defeat sees Forestoise relegated, whilst Kosova go into their final match still trailing the leaders by a point, but with all still to play for.
Our outbound crossing on The Tunnel left a couple of minutes late. We were booked on the 20.50 back, but having had a relatively trouble free journey, we were offered a place on the earlier 20.06 train. Due to it being very quiet, we ‘tail ended’ onto the 19.50 instead, which annoyingly managed to leave 9 minutes late, but we were still well ahead of what we had been expecting from our original booking.
Above : Kosova Schaerbeek open the scoring with a header from a corner.
This was the final league match for these two, being first versus second in the league table, with them level on points, but with Bush Hill having the better goal difference, so Infinity would have to win the match if they were to stop Bush Hill from taking the title. They had met in the semi final of the League Cup in midweek, where Infinity came out on top, winning 2-1, but today was never going to see a repeat.
Infinity were never in it. Once they had conceded the opening goal after seven minutes, it was all over. As a neutral it was an awful game to watch. Bush Hill didn’t have to get out of first gear to win it and Infinity were pathetic and offered nothing whatsoever. I can’t imagine a team has won the league in a ‘winner takes all’ game as easily as what Bush Hill did today. As for the crowd, what a turn out for this level and it could have been much higher had Southampton not been hosting A.F.C. Bournemouth at the same time.
Above : The ‘keeper spills the ball for the opening goal to be tapped in.
Wool United 1 Sturminster Marshall 3, attendance 35
7’ 0-1
59’ 0-2
61’ 0-3 (pen)
78’ 1-3
@ Wool Playing Field
Colliers Lane
Wool
BH20 6DL
No Admission or Programme.
This was 7th versus 1st in the league table and there was quite a gulf between the two sides. Sturminster Marshall have already been crowned champions, having won 19, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their league matches this season. They have also amassed a goal difference of +90 before tonight’s match.
The visitors played well within themselves and only did what they needed to. Neither team were helped by a dreadful pitch that is in desperate need of a cut. It could also do with being a bit narrower for this level of football. It was around 80 yards wide, which meant the players taking the corners were struggling to reach the near six yard box with their kicks! Wool did come close to scoring a couple of times, hitting the crossbar twice, with the ‘keeper well beaten on both occasions, but at least they managed a consolation goal near the end.
There was a bit of confusion about where this match was actually going to be played. On arrival at the ground there were portable goals on the part railed off pitch, but they were both at one end. All seemed well however, when players started to arrive at the ground, but they were there for a Sunday League match, that was being played at a pitch round the back of the school. The general opinion was that the Oxhey match was being played across the other side of the road, where there was another part railed pitch. About half an hour before kick off, the home team appeared across the road, but then proceeded to walk across to where we thought the game was being played originally! It turned out that the reason for the confusion was that the changing rooms were not available, hence getting changed across the road instead.
Despite being 9th versus 8th in the league table, with neither side really having anything to play for, there was no end of season feel to it. Both teams went at it from the off and it could have gone either way and we could have had more goals if the four efforts that struck the crossbar and/or post had gone in. Bovingdon probably just about deserved the win.
It was nice to finally have a local match during these end of season matches, this being just nine miles from home. It was a game with something on it too, as third in the league table entertained fourth, both still having a chance of winning the league.
Both teams took a physical approach, with players dropping like flies and it was a bit surprising that the match ended with both teams having the full complement of players. It had been quite even coming up to halftime, before T.D. Shipley scored two headers in the dying minutes of the half. When Capel pulled a goal back just after the hour mark it looked like they might turn things round, but having missed a few good chances, they were punished when the visitors added their third goal with eight minutes left. This result sees the two clubs swap league positions.
It remains very tight at the top of the table, with four of the top five clubs still in with a chance of winning the league. West Chiltington are top, with 43 points (3 games left), Nyetimber Pirates are second, also on 43 points, but having completed their fixtures. T.D. Shipley are third, also on 43 points, but with one match left. Capel drop to fourth, a point behind the top three, but with two games to play. Even fifth in the table The Unicorn Bognor Regis could still win it, as they are on 37 points, with three matches left. Next up for them is a home match versus West Chiltington, which if they win that, it could make things very interesting………..
Having lost my intended match for today, which has been rescheduled to tomorrow night, I decided on this match, as it involved only going slightly off route when heading back home and it also had something on it, with Chilcompton Sports looking to retain their title.
Coming into this they were in third place in the league table, five points adrift of leaders Nailsea & Tickenham, but with three games in hand. Worle are seventh and had nothing to play for, which was certainly reflected in how they approached the game.
It was all over after sixteen minutes, by which time it was already 4-0. Worle did pull one back, but by the 25th minute mark it was 5-1, with the game becoming very pedestrian from here onwards. Worle somehow managed to make it 5-2 in the last ten minutes, but Chilcompton rounded off the day’s scoring when they added their sixth goal in stoppage time.
It is still all to play for as far as the title goes. Nailsea & Tickenham have 62 points (2 games left) goal difference +33, with Fry Club on 61 points (1 game left) goal difference +43 in second place. Chilcompton are now on 60 points (4 games left) goal difference +43. The title could well be decided when Nailsea & Tickenham host Chilcompton Sports next Tuesday.
I was a bit concerned that this match might not take place, as Ludgvan are having a terrible season, having lost every one of the 24 league matches they have played, as well as having points deducted for failing to fulfil another two of their matches, so they sit bottom of the league table on minus 6 points. Just for good measure, they have also forfeited two cup matches as well.
It looked like this might be another hammering, as fourth in the table Wadebridge scored twice in the opening ten minutes of the match. With Ludgvan having conceded 189 goals before today, it looked like the 200 could easily be reached before the day was out, but they somehow managed to drag the visitors down to their level and tightened things up at the back. When they conceded the third goal after 52 minutes, it looked like the floodgates might open, but they stood firm and only conceded the last two goals inside the last ten minutes. As bad as they were, at least Ludgvan turned up, even if one of their players was 60 or 61 years old, depending who you spoke to, and they also had two substitutes.
Having visited Bere Alston United yesterday, this now completes Division 1 West for me. On Monday, the plan was to have visited Waldon Athletic, of Division 1 East, to complete all three divisions of the league, but their fixture has now moved to Tuesday evening, so it looks like it will now be next season before the full set is completed.
