It was a 70 mile journey back East, with arrival a good forty minutes before kick off, for what was 7th versus 1st in the league table, and the last ground I hadn’t visited in this division.
This was the penultimate match for Exwick Villa. They came into this with a nine point lead over second in the table Newtown, who still have 6 matches to play, so they really needed to win this to have a realistic chance of taking the title. Both teams created plenty of chances, each having efforts that struck the post, but it was one of those days where the defences came out on top.
Bere Alston United 1 Plymstock United 5, attendance 57
30’ 1-0
44’ 1-1
52’ 1-2
77’ 1-3
79’ 1-4
86’ 1-5
@ The Recreation Ground
The Down
Bere Alston
PL20 7HQ
£2 Admission, including Programme, 12 pages.
This was 14th (2nd bottom) versus 7th in the league table. Bere Alston went ahead against the run of play and held out until a minute before the break when Plymstock curled in an equaliser. Early in the second half Plymstock went ahead and it was pretty much one way traffic from here. Three goals in the final thirteen minutes rounded off a resounding 1-5 win for the visitors.
This was 2nd versus 6th in the league table. Cropredy can finish no better than second, but Heyford Athletic still have a chance of finishing top, as they still have another seven matches to play after this.
It soon became apparent that the game was very unlikely to produce a goal. Cropredy never looked remotely like scoring and although Heyford had quite a few chances, most of the efforts were blocked by last ditch tackles, or just missed through poor finishing.
Weldon United came into this match in second place in the league table, 7 points behind leaders James King Blisworth Reserves who have completed their fixtures. Weldon still had three matches to play, but could still win the league if they won all three. The fact that their goal difference was so inferior meant that 2 wins and a draw were very unlikely to be enough.
This match was actually scheduled to be played two weeks ago. It did take place, but having been scheduled to kick off at a ridiculously late18.30, just 3 days after the clocks changed, it is not surprising that the match was abandoned after 65 minutes due to bad light, (even though they were only playing 2 x 40 minute halves) with the score being 1-2 at the time. Apparently Higham were happy for the score to stand, despite losing at the time, but the league ordered the match to be replayed.
Despite kicking off four minutes early, the Referee decided to play 2 x 40 minute halves for some reason. Having scored an early penalty, then adding a second goal ten minutes later, Weldon were coasting it and were very comfortable going into the break 0-2 up. Higham had been very poor in the first half and looked no better early in the second half. Out of nothing, they pulled a goal back and the match turned on its head. They levelled it up at 2-2, with a penalty, quickly followed by what turned out to be the winning goal, when they headed in from a corner on the hour mark.
So, the title has gone for Weldon, but at least their guaranteed second place will see them promoted at the end of the season.
Above : Weldon open the scoring from the penalty spot.
North Molton Sports Club 3 Bradworthy United 1, attendance 19
26’ 1-0
56’ 1-1
57’ 2-1
90’+ 3, 3-1
@ Rocksfield
North Molton Sports & Community Centre
South Holdridge Lane
North Molton
EX36 3HG
No Admission or Programme.
I wouldn’t normally do a floodlit ground for an afternoon match, but with the lights here currently out of use and the fact that it was a day where this was the only unvisited ground available for me, then I made an exception. I took a bit of a risk by staying overnight, as this league is blighted by clubs who fail to fulfill fixtures at short notice, especially as this match had already been scheduled to have been played on a Sunday just two weeks ago!
North Molton came into this in third place in the league table and very much in with a shout of winning the title. Bradworthy are third bottom and could still go down, although it is unlikely that Hartland Clovelly will pull back the four point gap to go above them. North Molton were well on top, but Bradworthy put in a real battling performance and defended superbly. The breakthrough came with a shot on the turn after 26 minutes, but early in the second half Bradworthy scrambled in a deserved equaliser. Within a minute, North Molton were awarded a penalty, but it was saved, then from the resulting corner the ball was headed down and shot through a crowd of players to make it 2-1. The game was only made safe with an unstoppable 25 yard shot into the top corner of the net in stoppage time.
The win now puts North Molton (2 games left to play) top of the table with 47 points (Goal Difference 62). Shamwickshire Rovers (2 games left) are second on 46 points (GD 47) and reigning champions Park United (3 games left) are third on 45 Points (GD 48).
With this afternoons match finishing early, it left ample time to make the half hour drive to the home of Braunton F.C. who were hosting the Division 3 Cup Final, which was between the champions (Lynton) and runners up of the division. I had visited Braunton back on 6th March 2005, when they played at the very basic recreation ground, in Wrafton Road. They have since moved to their new home on the western edge of the town, which is beginning to develop into something capable of hosting a higher level of football.
Lynton were well on top from the start and it was no surprise that they opened the scoring with a shot on the turn inside ten minutes. Kingsley levelled it up with a shot through the ‘keepers legs after cutting inside from the left. They scored what turned out to be the winning goal when they scored a penalty after 32 minutes. Neither side looked like scoring again after the break, although Lynton came closest, with an effort that was well saved in the last minute.
Above : Wizards score the winner from the penalty spot.
Park United 4 Barnstaple Town Reserves & Pilton 1, attendance 26
2’ 1-0
4’ 2-0
6’ 2-1
12’ 3-1
33’ 4-1
@ Sandymere Road
Northam
EX39 1XX
No Admission or Programme.
This was 2nd versus 9th (4th bottom) in the league table. The visitors, who are a strange amalgamation of Barnstaple Town Reserves (had the ground) and Pilton Academicals (had the team) have taken quite a few thrashings this season, including a 2-6 defeat in the reverse fixture. It looked like being another hammering today, when they went 2-0 down in the first four minutes and despite replying with a goal a couple of minutes later, they conceded again to make it 3-1 after just twelve minutes. Park added their fourth just after the half hour mark, but never really looked like adding to it. The visitors probably just about shaded the second half, but the damage was already done. With the match kicking off a couple of minutes early, combined with the players staying on the pitch at halftime, this was all over by 16.36.
Shamwickshire Rovers remain top of the table, on 46 points, with two games left to play. Park United are second, with 45 points, but with a game in hand and North Molton S.C. are third, a further point back, also having three matches to play, but they have the better goal difference of the three teams, which may prove vital.
Above : The ‘keeper and defender get in each other’s way as an inswinging corner goes in off the post to make it 1-0.
Even though the match kicked off two minutes early, the Referee only played 43 minutes in the first half and 42 minutes in the second, so we assumed he had decided to play 2 x 40 minutes for some reason, despite it being a nice sunny, clear evening. It was still really light when he blew for full time at 19.45.
Greyfriars are in eighth place in the league table, but Pucklechurch came into this in second place, looking to continue their push for promotion. The opening goal was an unfortunate own goal and despite missing a penalty, Pucklechurch soon added a second, before it became 0-3 just after the half hour. Greyfriars were totally overrun and in the end a bit lucky that they only conceded half a dozen.
Winterbourne United are nine points clear at the top of the table, with the top four all having four games remaining. Pucklechurch now have a lead of eight points over the teams in third and fourth place, so look odds on for promotion now.
Above : Pucklechurch miss a penalty, when the score was 0-1.
The programme was definitely for tonight’s match and not from the future!
I had been to Whitby Sports & Social Club to see a match before, back on 5th April 2000, when it was known as The Shell Club. That night I saw Shell Tessuti 1 General Chemicals 2, in a West Cheshire League Division 1 match, when the game was played on the railed pitch next to the club building, but that has now been taken over by rugby. To the right of the complex, when looking from the buildings, there are now two railed off football pitches, with the one furthest away being home to Ellesmere Port Town.
On arrival, we received a very friendly welcome from the Chairman and Secretary of the club. As well as a free matchday programme, we were also offered free tea/coffee and Penguin/Kit Kat chocolate bars!
The match was 9th versus 1st in the league table, with Newton needing just 4 points from their last 3 games to win the league, such is their superior goal difference over second placed Rainhill Town. Back in January, Ellesmere Port beat Newton 6-4 in the quarter Final of the Cheshire F.A. Amateur Cup, whilst Newton had won the league fixture earlier in the season 3-1, so they were two pretty evenly matched sides, despite the league positions.
Newton went ahead with a penalty, awarded for a handball, then increased their lead with a shot that beat the ‘keeper at his near post. When they made it 0-3, with a goal in the first minute of the second half, it was game over and the consolation goal for the hosts came too late to have any effect on the outcome.
Barnwood United 1 Cheltenham Civil Service 0, attendance 18
76’ 1-0
@ Wall’s Sports & Social Club
Hammond Way
Barnwood
Gloucester
GL4 3HG
No Admission or Programme.
It had rained all day in the South East and it wasn’t until we headed north from Junction 15 of the M4 that it stopped and became drier the further we went. There were two puddles in one of the goalmouths, but the Referee was happy to play the match, as long as the two areas were free of water, which by kick off time, they were.
Civil Service came into this in third place in the league table and still had a chance of taking the title, although realistically, second place is more likely, but still good enough for promotion. Despite being in tenth place and having nothing really to play for, Barnwood gave a really battling display and nicked the winning goal when a free kick from their own half was headed over the stranded ‘keeper who was coming out to challenge for the ball.
The defeat leaves Civil Service two points adrift of second placed Whitecroft, although they do have two games in hand, whilst the leaders Woolaston remain 12 points clear. Barnwood move up to ninth.
