Middlesex County League

Premier Division

Saturday 16th February 2019

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Brentham 1 PFC Victoria London 3, attendance 34

30’ 1-0

35’ 1-1

73’ 1-2

75’ 1-3

@ Brentham Club

38a Meadvale Road

Ealing

London

W5 1NP

No Admission

Programme, free, 8 pages.

The journey from New Malden had taken around 50 minutes, despite it being less than 14 miles. On arrival I found the place deserted, but then noticed the Referee and one of his Linesmen making their way along a path between the tennis courts, which went down behind the bowling green, with the football pitch running lengthways beyond here. The two teams were warming up behind a hedge on what looked like a small sided youth pitch. A club official handed me a free programme on arrival, which was a bit of a surprise, as I hadn’t thought to check if they even issued one, although the Middlesex League are one of the leagues that made it compulsory to do so in the past, although it was not always adhered to.

PFC Victoria are in effect a Polish club, who have had a rapid rise through the league since being formed in 2016. Successive promotions now sees them sitting in third place in the Premier Division league table, whilst Brentham are eighth. They drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, so I was hoping for a good contest and that is how it turned out.

Brentham went in front after half an hour, somewhat against the run of play, before a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box levelled it up five minutes later. PFC took control in the last fifteen minutes of the match, with a mazey run finished with a shot that beat the onrushing ‘keeper, then rounded things off with a free kick into the top corner of the net a couple of minutes later.

Football League Youth Alliance

Merit League 1

Saturday 16th February 2019

Kick Off 10.30 Actual 10.32

A.F.C. Wimbledon U18 3 Luton Town U18 1, attendance 43

22’ 1-0

55’ 2-0

57’ 3-0

83’ 3-1

@ King’s College Sports Ground

Windsor Avenue

New Malden

KT3 5HA

No Admission or Programme.

This was the opening round of the Merit League fixtures. Wimbledon were superior throughout in what was a really entertaining match, which had far more attacking play than the last couple of youth matches I had seen. I hope the coaches don’t get this type of football drummed out of them!

The opening goal was scrambled over the line, with an immediate signal from the Linesman that it was a goal. No need for VAR here! The second was a tap in at the far post, from a corner that came right across the six yard box and the third was a follow in to a parried save by the ‘keeper. Luton did get the goal of the game though. A long kick from their ‘keeper saw a chase between their striker and a Wimbledon player. The ball was taken down first time and a shot from the angle of the 18 yard box flew into the far top corner of the net.

There was no problem getting in to watch this match, although, as ever, it is difficult to take photographs.

Premier League 2

Division 2

Friday 15th February 2019

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.59

Southampton U23 2 Fulham U23 1, attendance 80 (Official figure on PL Website is 126…must have included the security staff as well!)

38’ 1-0

51’ 2-0

80’ 2-1

@ Staplewood Campus, Pitch 4

Parks Farm

Long Lane

Marchwood

SO40 4WR

No Admission

Team Sheet, free.

I had previously seen Southampton U19 beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in a Premier League Academy match at the training ground in Marchwood back on 24th January 2004. In those days they played on what was the former ground of Road Sea Southampton F.C., who played in the Southern League at their peak, which was taken over by Southampton after the demise of the non league side.

Since then, the site has been redeveloped and expanded considerably. The pitch I did previously is still there, but the U16/U18 and U23 matches are now played on two of the new pitches, namely Pitch 3 and Pitch 4, which share a changing room block and viewing area that separates the two. Tonight’s match was on Pitch 4, which is the one that is floodlit and has a much larger seated area.

Southampton are one of the growing number of clubs who don’t allow run of the mill spectators in to watch their youth or reserve matches. However, thanks to a Fulham season ticket holder, who was able to get our names added to a guest list, we were able to gain entry, once a few routine questions were answered at the entrance.

Once inside, we were directed to the canteen, where we received free tea and coffee and as you reached the spectator area, we were given free team sheets (with the wrong date on). It was much more friendly than we were expecting, considering the excessive security presence.

As for the match, it was not as close as the score line would suggest. Southampton won it without breaking sweat. The opening goal was a 20 yarder that gave the ‘keeper no chance. They had a goal disallowed shortly afterwards, but made it 2-0, with a cushioned lob from close range, early in the second half. Fulham got a consolation goal, with a glancing header that beat home ‘keeper Fraser Forster, making a return from an injury lay off, with ten minutes left.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 2B A.C.F.F.

Sunday 10th February 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

Union Sportive Ophain 1 R.F.C. Grez-Doiceau 0, attendance 75

17’ 1-0

@ Stade Communal Ophain

Rue De Lillois 19

1421 Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac

No Admission or Programme.

Having stayed overnight, our intended match today was at U.S. Beauraing ‘61 in Namur Provincial 1. However, at around 12.30 we found out it had been postponed. The only other top level Provincial ground all three of us hadn’t visited was R. Entente Rechaintoise in Liege, but we decided against risking this (it was played) as the rain was heading in that direction. After a bit of discussion we decided it was better to head for a second tier Brabant Provincial match, as we were only just south of Brussels at this stage and chose what looked to be the best match on offer, where second in the league table Ophain were hosting third placed Grez-Doiceau, who were level on points, both trailing leaders R.C.S. Nivellois by eight points.

On arrival at the ground it soon became obvious that the match was in doubt. The home club officials certainly didn’t think the game should be played, as they were concerned with how badly the pitch would be damaged if the game went ahead, but the decision would be left to the Referee. He arrived about 14.10, but rather than inspect the pitch, joined one of his assistants in having a cup of coffee instead. He said he’d have a look at the pitch in five minutes time. Meanwhile the third match official arrived and all three then headed off to the changing rooms. At 14.30 the Referee came out, but lit up a cigarette, rather than check the pitch, although he then headed off to do the inspection……. at 14.35 he decided….’game on’. The decision certainly didn’t go down well with the home club. Even if he had called the match off at this late stage, we still had a back up match at the same level, which was only 18 minutes drive away.

The pitch didn’t really affect play at all and actually dried out quite a bit and the sun even appeared briefly during the second half. The match never really got out of first gear and Ophain won it with an angled shot into the far corner of the net after 17 minutes. Grez-Doiceau did enough to deserve at least a draw, in a match where both defences had the upper hand.

We were back at The Tunnel in ample time for our 20.20 return, but actually got on the 19.50 instead, although it did leave a couple of minutes late. We did have a bit of drama at the French Border Control, where during a routine check for drugs and firearms, there was a bit of a commotion when an immigrant was found in a car three places behind us!

Belgium

Antwerpen Provincial 1

Saturday 9th February 2019

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

K.F.C. Eendracht Zoersel 0 Heikant Berlaar 3, attendance 267

8’ 0-1

35’ 0-2

56’ 0-3

@ DCA Stadion

Complex Zoersel

Westmallebaan

2980 Zoersel

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Eendracht Zoersel were only promoted into Provincial 1 this season and after winning their match at K.F.C. Lille last Saturday, they moved to the top of the league table. Heikant started the day in seventh place, despite having only won one of their last seven matches.

The early goal for the visitors was a sign of things to come. Zoersel were never in it and were lucky to go into the break just trailing 0-2. It was all over as a contest when Heikant made it 0-3, with a shot on the turn that went into the bottom corner of the net, eleven minutes into the second half. Despite being reduced to ten men, following a red card after 76 minutes, Heikant held on comfortably and could have added another couple of goals as well.

Belgium

Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 4D

Saturday 9th February 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

F.C. Rangers Merelbeke 0 K.S.C. De Schroevers Moorsel 1, attendance 30

70’ 0-1

@ Complex S.K. Merelbeke

Zwijnaardsesteenweg 89

9820 Merelbeke

€4 Admission, but not charged

No Programme.

We were on the 09.20 Tunnel, which ran on time, heading for what we hoped would be a three match weekend in Belgium. As Rangers Merelbeke play at the ground of S.K. Merelbeke, who also play in this division, then they have a number of Saturday afternoon matches scheduled when there are fixture clashes and as luck would have it, this weekend was one of those occasions.

The match was 9th versus 6th in the league table. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a pretty non eventful match. Rangers were just plain rubbish, whilst Moorsel knew that a single goal would be enough to win it. Rangers had a man red carded three minutes into the second half, for an elbow in the face of a challenging player, but it still took Moorsel until the seventieth minute to make the breakthrough, with a shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner of the net.

Our evening fixture was a match in Antwerpen Provincial 1, just under an hour and a quarter drive north east, so plenty of time to check in at our overnight accommodation in Sint-Antonius en route.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 3D V.F.V.

Wednesday 6th February 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.02

K.F.C. Markzonen Tollembeek 0 V.C. Groot-Dilbeek 4, attendance 67

48’ 0-1

71’ 0-2

75’ 0-3

87’ 0-4

@ Complex Markedal

Hernestraat

Tollembeek

1570 Galmaarden

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

With my only new ground visit options this week being for a 3G pitch in North Shields, or a University match this afternoon, it was nice to see a couple of fixtures appear in Belgium, with this being the one I hadn’t been to. After all, it is far easier to get to here than it is to the North East, as well as being much less mileage.

Apart from one season in the mid 90’s, when they reached Provincial 1, Tollembeek have played in the lower reaches of Brabant Provincial football. They came into this in twelfth place in the league table, whilst the visitors are second. There was little to separate them in the first half, but the gulf between the two teams was pretty evident to see after the break. The opening goal arrived early in the second half, as did the steady rain that remained for the evening, and when a quick fire double made it 0-3 as we approached the last quarter of an hour, it was game over. A free kick into the top corner of the net rounded things off in the closing minutes.

Despite being very quiet at The Tunnel, they were still unable to run smoothly. The train before ours had been cancelled, with our 14.20 crossing retimed to 14.29, but still managing to leave another three minutes late. In the end it wasn’t a problem, as there is a Frituur that shares the car park with the football ground, where you could eat your meal and watch the teams warming up on the pitch at the same time. The journey back towards Calais was very wet, but we had ample time, as we were on the 01.21 return……and yes, it was late, but only by a minute.

Mid Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 2nd February 2019

Kick Off 14.00. On Time !

Eastbourne Rangers 3 Balcombe 4, attendance 16

5’ 0-1

17’ 1-1

34’ 2-1

47’ 2-2

55’ 2-3

71’ 2-4

73’ 3-4

@ Eastbourne Sports Park, 3G Pitch

Cross Levels Way

Hampden Park

Eastbourne

BN21 2UF

No Admission or Programme.

It seemed strange to be travelling down to the South Coast in temperatures of between 5 and 6 degrees, on a sunny day, looking out over mile after mile of green fields knowing that we would be watching one of only a handful of lower level non league matches taking place in the South East today. It just didn’t seem possible that games had been called off for snow, frost and waterlogged pitches, but that seems to be the excuses used for the lack of choice in choosing a match today. I had already got half an eye on this match anyway, but when I was offered a lift here, then my mind was soon made up.

Eastbourne Rangers only have one more home league match left to play after today and that is in a fortnight, so it seemed a good time to tick this off. Rangers are tenth in the league table, whilst Balcombe are third and still in with a chance of winning the title. When the visitors went ahead after five minutes it looked like it would be an easy three points for them. By halftime, Rangers were 2-1 in front, but two howlers by their ‘keeper in the opening ten minutes of the second half saw them trailing 2-3. Balcombe looked to have sewn it up when it became 2-4, but a quick reply brought it back to 3-4. It was nice to see both teams still going all out for another goal, even though the visitors could have shut up shop and settled for what they had.

Middlesex F.A. Premier Cup

Quarter Final

Monday 28th January 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.04

Kensington Borough 0 Harefield United 6, attendance 47

10’ 0-1

30’ 0-2

49’ 0-3

72’ 0-4

81’ 0-5

90’ + 5, 0-6

@ Middlesex County F.A. Ground, 3G Pitch No.1

Rectory Park

Ruislip Road

Northolt

UX5 6DE

*£5 Admission, including free 8 page programme.

I came to Rectory Park at the end of July, on a night where there were pre season friendlies being played on the two 3G pitches here. I opted to watch the game on Pitch 2 that night, as I thought it less likely that I might see a game on there in the future, especially as Pitch 1 had two seated stands, so was more likely to host a competitive match at some stage. It does host the matches of Middlesex County League, Premier Division club Lampton Park, but they haven’t played any midweek fixtures there, so the gamble to tick off Pitch 2 paid off when this fixture appeared.

Since my last visit, there is now a cafe at the ground, which does a huge range of hot food as well. Typical ‘London prices’ and I think it is the first time I have ever been at a match where a hot drink cost more if you had milk in it! Sugar was still free!

The set up here doesn’t really meet the requirements for staging a match between two Step 6 teams, as you enter the reception and then go into the cafe, which is actually the entrance to the pitches.*Unless you wanted a programme, (I didn’t bother) which in effect would cost you £5, there was no admission charge as you would have to go back out to pay. Not sure why they didn’t charge money pitchside, which would have made more sense, or even come round and collect money during the match. It was also odd to see the teams and match officials having to come through the cafe to get access to the pitch.

Kensington Borough, (groundshare at Leatherhead F.C.) are third from bottom in the league table in the Combined Counties League Division 1, having won only three of their twenty two matches this season. Harefield United, on the other hand, are still undefeated, having won 21 and drawn 2, as they sit top of the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1. The game went exactly as expected. One unusual occurrence was when ex-Queens Park Rangers (plus 35 other clubs apparently!) striker Richard Pacquette struck an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner which would have made it 0-4 and completed his hat trick. The ball hit one of the wheels that are on the transportable goal frames and came back out……it was clear to everyone that it had gone in…..except the match officials. At least it didn’t have any effect on the final outcome.

Norfolk F.A. Senior Cup

Quarter Final

Saturday 26th January 2019

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.28

Wymondham Town 0 Thetford Town 5, attendance 161

4’ 0-1

53’ 0-2

61’ 0-3

68’ 0-4

86’ 0-5

@ Kings Head Meadow

Back Lane

Wymondham

NR18 0QB

No Admission

£2 Programme, 24 pages.

This tie caught my eye as soon as the draw was made. Wymondham are currently in fourth place in the Anglian Combination League, Premier Division. Thetford are two levels higher, sitting in fifteenth place in the Eastern Counties League, Premier Division. They had also met in this same competition last season, with Wymondham coming out on top on that occasion, but it was not going to be a case of lightning striking twice, as Thetford took the honours this time.

The weather was forecast to remain dry in the eastern half of the country, and apart from five minutes of drizzle around the half hour mark, that was exactly how it turned out. It probably helped in attracting a very good crowd, as with no shelter here, it wouldn’t have been very nice had it rained.

The Referee got things underway a couple of minutes early and the visitors wasted no time by scoring from their first attack, in what was a very even first half, although lacking in any real quality, especially in the final third of the pitch. It was all over as a contest when Thetford volleyed in their second goal early in the second half. A looping header, a shot that went in off the post and a header from a corner, finished things off. In the end, Wymondham were lucky it was only a five goal margin, as they were totally outclassed in the second half and will probably be disappointed that they never really looked like they would ever get anything from the game after conceding so early on.