Cambridgeshire County League

Division 1B

Saturday 3rd May 2025

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.22

Exning United 7 Needingworth United 0, attendance 16

3’ 1-0

10’ 2-0

28’ 3-0

32’ 4-0

55’ 5-0

65’ 6-0

89’ 7-0

@ Lacey’s Lane

Exning

CB8 7HL

No Admission or Programme.

The noon kick off here gave plenty of options for a double today, or at least should have done. By Friday evening, a lot of fixtures in this league had already been called off, due to teams not being bothered to complete their season, although my two first choices were still, allegedly, going ahead. However, there was the added problem here of the Referee not turning up until after we should have already started. His excuse was that he didn’t know it was a 12 o’clock kick off, until the club phoned him, by which time both teams were already out on the pitch doing their warm ups! Anyway, at least he turned up, albeit resulting in the kick off being 22 minutes later than scheduled, ending a nervous wait for the ‘hoppers present, who made up half the crowd!

It was 4th versus 5th in the league table, with Exning still in with a chance of finishing second, which would see them promoted behind league winners Huntingdon United. It was an easy win for them, being 2-0 up after just ten minutes. The visitors had a man sin binned after nineteen minutes, for arguing the decision of a penalty awarded to Exning. A bit of a waste really, as the kick was saved! The ten men conceded again when a header was saved by the ‘keeper, but followed in to make it 3-0 and within minutes of being back to full strength, they conceded a fourth, when a one two on the edge of the box was finished into the bottom corner. An own goal made it 5-0 ten minutes into the second half, before number six was curled in from the edge of the box ten minutes later. An angled shot into the bottom corner rounded off the scoring with a minute left.

So, the win sees Exning finish their season in second place, but they’ll have to wait to see what happens, as Stretham could still finish above them, depending on the outcome of their home match versus third bottom Great Paxton, which was called off on Saturday. It certainly doesn’t reflect well on the league when a ‘no show’ costs another club a promotion place, whether it’s Exning or Stretham that miss out in the end.

Home to Exning United is Lacey’s Lane (not the ground in Chapel Street, which is where F.A. Full Time shows the game as being played, but correctly marked on Apple Maps) about 200 yards along on the right, after turning off Chapel Street. There’s a small car park, but ample parking outside on the lane too. Just a brick built pavilion, with overhang on the front, with the pitch running lengthways away from here.

Stroud & District League

Division 2

Wednesday 30th April 2025

Kick Off 18.45 On Time!

Stratton United 3 Abbeymead Rovers 0, attendance 70

55’ 1-0

80’ 2-0

82’ 3-0 (pen)

@ Kingshill Playing Field

Kingshill Lane

Kings Hill

Cirencester

GL7 1SY

No Admission or Programme.

This was the last game of the season in this division. Abbeymead Rovers were already champions, with Stratton United third, needing a point from this game to join them in the second promotion spot. There were even three appointed match officials, which I’m sure is not normally the case in this league. It certainly did Stratton a favour that the visitors had nothing to play for, bar pride, with the league already sewn up and a cup final still to come. They still made Stratton work for the win though, in a game that never really hit any great heights. The best chance of a goalless first half saw Abbeymead hit the crossbar, with Stratton rarely threatening.

Things changed in the second half though. In the opening five minutes Stratton hit the post with a header from a corner, quickly followed by a shot from the edge of the box well tipped round the post by the ‘keeper. They made the breakthrough ten minutes in, finishing with an angled shot under the ‘keeper, having been played through on the left hand side of the box. Ten minutes from the end they made the game safe, cutting in from the left, before curling in a shot off the inside of the far post and two minutes later they made it 3-0, scoring with a penalty.

Kingshill Playing Field is a very basic venue, over the hedge from the Corinium Stadium ground of Cirencester Town. F.C. There’s a decent sized car park, with a brick built changing room building. The pitch is round the back of the building and was roped along most of one side. Another trouble free journey in both directions, apart from a small diversion near Swindon due to a closure on the A419, but still a drive time of under two hours.

Cambridgeshire County League

Senior A Division

Tuesday 29th April 2025

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Isleham United 2 Orwell 1, attendance 45

50’ 1-0

61’ 1-1

68’ 2-1

@ Isleham Recreation Ground

Mill Street

Isleham

CB7 5RY

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s match was 2nd versus 1st in the league table. Orwell had already won the league, but Isleham needed to win tonight, as they would then be five points clear of fifth in the table Great Shelford Reserves, who have two games to play, so could pip them for the runners up spot. It has to be said, the first half was absolutely turgid stuff, with not a single effort on goal from either side. Five minutes into the second half Isleham broke the deadlock, when a cross in from the left was finished from 6 yards into the far corner and the game really opened up. Just after the hour Orwell were level, with a goal finished into the far corner from just inside the box, but it only took Isleham seven minutes to regain the lead, cutting in from the left before curling a shot into the far corner. They managed to hold on to take all three points, despite having a man red carded late on, for elbowing an Orwell player on the ground, following a tackle where they both ended up on the floor.

Home to Isleham is the recreation ground, in the centre of the village and shared with the cricket club, with the pitch roped along each touchline. There was a cafe inside the building next to the changing rooms, where hot and cold drinks/snacks were available throughout the match. No traffic problems, in either direction, meant it was under two hours drive each way.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial V.V. 4E

Sunday 27th April 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

K.F.C. Werchter 2 K.V. Tremelo 4, attendance 121

13’ 0-1

36’ 1-1

43’ 2-1

45’ 2-2

65’ 2-3

70’ 2-4

@ Grotestraat

3118 Werchter

€5 Admission

No Programme.

It was an early start for this one, booked on the 0815 P&O ferry from Dover to Calais, which left dead on time. The driver and the other passenger were heading for the league match at Sportief Rotselaar, a ground I’d already visited, so I needed a game nearby and this fitted the bill perfectly, as the two grounds are only four miles apart and I was dropped off about an hour before kick off. Considering it was picked purely on its close proximity to Rotselaar, I certainly came up trumps with this one. Despite it being the lowest level of Belgian football, it was a cracking ground, similar to something right out of the Scottish Juniors. There is a clubhouse behind the near goal end, with the changing rooms at the halfway point of the right hand touchline, a side that would be covered for it’s entire length, were it not for two sections of missing pieces of roof, which look to be due to old age/storm damage, which give the initial appearance of there being three separate sections of cover. On the left hand side is a two step section of cover, whilst the far goal end is inaccessible. Even the rail around the pitch adds to the charm, with some sections looking like they’ve certainly been leaned on a lot over the years!

I was also lucky that I got a very good game out of it too, where 5th hosted 6th in the league table, between two clubs just three miles apart. It was a glorious sunny afternoon, where it was around 22 degrees, resulting in a drinks break (for the players, not me) being taken during each half. Tremelo broke the deadlock after thirteen minutes, when a shot on the turn found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. On thirty six minutes Werchter were level, when a ball across the face of the goal was finished at the far post. Two minutes before halftime they went ahead, with another finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, but with the last kick of the half Tremelo made it 2-2, when a deep cross from the left hand touchline was left by the home defence and put in by a striker sneaking in at the far post.

Twenty minutes into the second half Tremelo made it 2-3, breaking quickly from defending a corner and from the second attempt at getting the cross in, it was volleyed in from six yards, with this being the point to then take the second drinks break. Tremelo finally killed the game off when they made it 2-4 with twenty minutes left, when a through ball split the defence and the ‘keeper was beaten low at his near post.

I was picked up just after five o’clock and we headed for home, stopping for a meal en route back to Calais, as we were not booked to return until 22.25, arriving back at the port at 20.45. I arrived home about 00.40. A long day, but well worth it, with this bringing up ground visit number 850 for me in Belgium.

North East Wales League

Championship Division

Saturday 26th April 2025

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 12.55!

C.P.D. Cei Connah 1 Rhydymwyn 4, attendance 19

36’ 0-1

40’ 0-2

42’ 0-3

71’ 1-3

81’ 1-4

@ Dock Road

Connah’s Quay

CH5 4DS

No Admission or Programme.

The drive from my overnight stay in Cumbria took just over two and a half hours and I was pleased to see players already arriving as I pulled into the car park about an hour before kick off. I’ve had problems with this league twice already this season, having turned up at both Acton and Yr Wyddgrug, only to find that the games had been called off whilst I was en route. At least I had the bonus of the earlier than normal one o’clock start today, just in case I was faced with another no show, so I’d still get a game in somewhere else if need be.

The ground is on an industrial estate, just to the south of the River Dee. As you enter the car park, the changing rooms are to the left, with the pitch in front of you, running lengthways. The pitch is almost entirely railed off, with a pair of brick dugouts on the left hand side. Both were minus a roof, which looked to be due to wind damage, as they were both lay in the long grass behind. There is hard standing from the dugouts to the near corner, continuing behind the goal and along the right touchline. The far end is accessible, but very overgrown, rather like the pitch, which hasn’t been mowed in quite some time by the look of it.

At least the match had something on it. Cei Connah were bottom of the table, following the withdrawal from the league of previous incumbent Deeside United, but a win in this, their last game of the season, could still see them go above Skippy and Deeside Dragons. Broughton United have already won the league, but Rhydymwyn, currently third, could still finish second, if they won their last two games and Sychdyn United failed to win their final game today, with a five point gap separating them coming into this and Rhydymwyn having the better goal difference.

Cei Connah started well and almost went ahead when a visiting defender headed against his own crossbar when defending a long throw in and also saw a volley from the edge of the box well saved by the ‘keeper. After thirty six minutes the visitors broke the deadlock, following in after an initial save by the ‘keeper. Four minutes later the ‘keeper made another save, this time from a downward header, but it fell perfectly for a player following in and an easy tap in made it 0-2, quickly followed by an unmarked header at the far post to see it end 0-3 at the break. With nineteen minutes left Cei Connah volleyed in a flick on from a long throw to give themselves hope of getting back into it. They did miss another good chance before Rhydymwyn added a fourth goal, when a home defender miss hit a back pass to his ‘keeper, which sailed over him into the far corner.

Unfortunately, the win wasn’t enough for Rhydymwyn, as Sychdyn won their match 4-1 as well, so take second place. There was talk that they won’t meet the ground grading required though, so all may not be lost yet for Rhydymwyn.

With having kicked off five minutes early and everyone staying on the pitch at halftime, this was over by 14.34 and I was home just 4 hours later, thanks to no traffic problems until reaching Cobham Services on the M25, where there was a mile long queue of cars trying to gain access from the motorway and it was the same on the opposite carriageway.

Cumberland County League

Benevolent Cup Final

Friday 25th April 2025

Kick Off 19.00 On Time!

Workington Juniors 0 Maryport Athletic 3, attendance 115

37’ 0-1

71’ 0-2

81’ 0-3

@ Workington Town R.L.F.C.

Derwent Park

Church Street

Workington

CA14 2HG

£3 Admission

No Programme.

Tonight was an opportunity to tick off a rugby league ground for football. Workington F.C. are rumoured to be going to play games here during the redevelopment of their Borough Park ground, some time in future, but I decided to come tonight, just in case those rumours don’t come to fruition. I’d already seen rugby league played here, back in November 1992, when Workington Town beat Nottingham City 68-0 in a Division 3 match and the ground remains pretty much as I remember it. It was just named Derwent Park in those days, but is currently known as Fibrus Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons. The ground has a listed capacity of 10,000, with a record attendance of 17,741 for a game against Wigan in 1965. There’s one side of seating, with covered standing opposite and oval ends behind the goals, that have grass banking at one end and open terracing at the other. The pitch is surrounded by a speedway track, but no one rides here anymore, not since Workington Comets left in 2018 for their new track less than a mile away.

Workington Juniors are top of Division 1, having won the league with 17 wins and just one defeat, whilst Maryport Athletic are sitting top of the Premier Division, still undefeated, with 10 wins and 3 draws. They play away at second in the table Cockermouth in the season finale, in a game Cockermouth have to win to snatch the title, as they go into the game two points adrift of the leaders.

Tonight’s game was very even first half, with no hint of them playing at different levels to each other. There had been very few proper goal scoring opportunities up until Maryport broke the deadlock eight minutes before halftime, heading in from a corner, where the ‘keeper was beaten to the ball as he attempted to punch clear. The second half saw Maryport looking the more likely to add to the goal tally and it was little surprise when they made it 0-2 with nineteen minutes left, when a diagonal ball into the box was finished from close range and they killed the game off when they scored again with nine minutes left, when a free kick into the box was headed against the post and rebounded straight back against the player and ended up in the bottom corner. He certainly can’t claim he meant it. We would have completed the game in daylight, despite the 7 o’clock kick off, but the floodlights were turned on for the last twenty minutes.

Excellent ground tick and well worth the five and a half hour drive north to Cumbria. At least I won’t be driving back until tomorrow, having opted for an overnight stop in Cockermouth, before taking in a game on the way home.

Cambridgeshire County League

Division 1B

Thursday 24th April 2025

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Stretham 1 Huntingdon United 3, attendance 107

42’ 0-1

46’ 0-2

60’ 1-2

78’ 1-3

@ Stretham Recreation Ground

Short Road

Stretham

CB6 3LS

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight saw a trip to Stretham, just off the A10 to the south west of Ely. The ground is just an open pitch, on the local recreation ground. There is a brick built changing room building behind one goal, but that’s it. There is a small car park too, but plenty of parking in Short Road.

The match was 3rd versus 2nd in the league table, with both still in with a chance of winning the league, as they have games in hand on current leaders Outwell Swifts. Huntingdon came into this unbeaten, having won 16 of their twenty games played, including a 1-1 draw when the two sides met in the reverse fixture at the start of the month. It was 100 m.p.h. with both going for the all out attack option. Stretham did hit the crossbar early on, but it was Huntingdon who broke the deadlock three minutes before halftime, when a long throw in was only headed clear as far as the penalty spot and met with a first time shot into the bottom corner. Within seconds of the second half getting underway it was 0-2, scoring with a looping shot over the ‘keeper. Stretham pulled a goal back on the hour mark, finishing a cross from the right into the bottom corner, but were unable to add to it and Huntingdon made the game safe with twelve minutes left, tapping in from close range after the ‘keeper fumbled a cross.

The win secured promotion for Huntingdon and if they win either of their last two matches, they’ll take the title too. Stretham are still very much in with a chance of going up, but will now have to win both of their remaining games to do so, the first of which is at Outwell Swifts, who know if they win that game, it’ll be them who get the second promotion spot instead.

Another day when the traffic was light, with a drive time of just about two hours in each direction.

North Gloucestershire League

Division 1

Wednesday 23rd April 2024

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Soudley 1 Longhope 0, attendance 76

26’ 1-0

@ Soudley Recreation Ground

Lower Road

Soudley

GL14 2TZ

No Admission or Programme.

An early afternoon confirmation from the home club secretary, that the game was going ahead okay, saw me head to the Forest of Dean, for a game at the top end of what is the second level in this league. Longhope were already crowned champions, whilst Soudley required two points from their last two games in order to pip Redmarley & Tibberton United to the runners up spot and with it, promotion to the Premier Division for next season. Even if they hadn’t got a favourable result tonight, they would surely beat already relegated Ross Juniors in their final game, but you never know.

It was an excellent game, that was in the balance right up to the final whistle. Both teams went at it with 100% commitment throughout. It was surprising that it only produced the one goal, as there were plenty of chances at both ends. Longhope hit the post in the first quarter of an hour, but the decisive goal came after twenty six minutes, when a ball in from on the right was finished with a looping header at the far post to give Soudley the lead and they hung on to deservedly take the win they needed. Full credit to Longhope, as despite not really having anything to play for, certainly didn’t take the game lightly. They pressed hard for an equaliser, but just couldn’t get through a resolute home defence and they finished the game with ten men, when they had a player sent off in the last minute for a second yellow card offence.

Home to Soudley is the recreation ground in the village. The changing rooms are in the building behind the goal, which also acts as the village hall. The pitch is tightly enclosed and has a pair of dugouts on the far side, that are constructed with a small area of cover in between, which would fit about half a dozen people. Another trouble free journey in both directions too, rounding off a decent trip.

Cambridgeshire County League

Senior B Division

Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Thurlow 2 Sawston Rovers 1, attendance 34

22’ 0-1

56’ 1-1

64’ 2-1

@ Great Thurlow Recreation Ground

Wratting Road

Great Thurlow

CB9 7LJ

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was 2nd versus 6th in the league table, with Thurlow in a three way battle with Histon Reserves and St. Ives Town Reserves for the runners up spot behind already crowned champions Sawston United. The reverse fixture was only played on Saturday, which Sawston Rovers had won 5-0, so Thurlow knew it wouldn’t be easy to get the three points they needed in their battle to get one of the promotion places.

First half chances were few and far between, but a diagonal ball in from the left was touched in at the far post to give Sawston the lead midway through the half. Eleven minutes into the second half Thurlow drew level, when a mix up between two defenders presented them with an easy finish. Minutes later they hit the post, with the follow up coming back off the crossbar, but it only took them another two minutes to edge in front, smashing an indirect free kick low past the ‘keeper from 8 yards and the result never really looked in doubt from that moment.

The ground here at Great Thurlow Recreation Ground is very basic and shared with the local cricket club. There is a brick built pavilion/changing room, with the cricket field in front. The football play to the left, with grass banking running along one side, with plenty of car parking along the top.

Despite kicking off three minutes late, a quick halftime break, where everyone stayed out on the pitch, meant we were still finished by eight o’clock. Nice to have no traffic problems in either direction.

Devon & Exeter League

Division 5

Monday 21st April 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58!

Cheriton Fitzpaine 0 Willand XI 1, attendance 23

58’ 0-1

@ White Cross

White Cross Hill

Cheriton Fitzpaine

EX17 4HE

No Admission or Programme.

I had a choice of three games in this league today, opting for Cheriton Fitzpaine in Division 5. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, they’re a club who’ve played in the higher levels of the league in the past and secondly, it was a game with something still riding on it. This was the last game of the season for the hosts, who are third from bottom in the league table and if they lost, they could still be overtaken by Awliscombe and Chagford, who currently occupy the bottom two places. Willand XI, however, are still in with a chance of promotion, but more importantly, a chance of winning the league. They came into this sitting second, two points clear of third placed Axminster Town Reserves and four points behind leaders City Raiders, with this being the first of their two games in hand they had over them.

It was closer than I’d been expecting. Cheriton Fitzpaine fought very hard for the entire ninety minutes and proved a hard nut for Willand XI to crack, which seemed to be a recurring story, as the reverse fixture had finished 0-0 a month ago. The best chance of the first half saw Willand hit the crossbar, with the rebound fired well over the top. The second half saw the visitors pile on the pressure. They had a goal ruled out for offside eleven minutes into the second half, but made the breakthrough just two minutes later, when a diagonal cross from the right was finished from close range and that was enough to seal the points.So, Willand know if they win their last two games they’re champions, whilst Cheriton Fitzpaine will have a nervous wait hoping the bottom two don’t pick up enough points from their last games to overhaul them, although previous results point towards this being very unlikely.

The ground here at White Cross Hill is a cracker for the level they play at. It’s to the east of the village, which is roughly halfway between Crediton and Tiverton. There is enough parking inside the ground for the crowds they get, with the pitch running lengthways in front of you as you enter. The pitch is railed along the near touchline, with a small section of cover on the far side, next to the dugouts, with advert boards on the wooden fencing going from there to the corner. The two storey clubhouse/changing rooms are in the far right corner, where there was a tea bar in operation, with snacks limited to chocolate bars and small tubs of Pringles.

The game finished at 16.45 and with SatNav avoiding a huge chunk of the A303 coming back, arrival home was just after 9 o’clock.