Today’s intended treble started with a 3rd versus 4th clash in the league table. Ditchling had to win in order to still have a chance of pipping leaders Cuckfield Town Reserves to the title, whilst a win for Rhinos could still see them take second place.
Ditchling were ahead early and looked to be coasting to the three points when they went 2-0 up. However, a penalty saw Rhinos get back into it and despite the hosts regaining their two goal lead early in the second half, they had a nervous finish when the visitors added a second goal five minutes from time.
Above : Ditchling make it 2-0Above : Rhinos pull it back to 2-1 with a goal from the penalty spot.
Keymer & Hassocks have been playing home matches this season at The Beacon, which is the ground of Southern Combination League club Hassocks, but due to pitch works, they scheduled their final two games( the first was postponed after the opposition couldn’t be bothered to raise a team)to here. The ground was used by Bolney Rovers (in Division 2 South) up until January last year, but following the COVID-19 shutdown they didn’t reappear at the start of this season.
Today’s match was 3rd versus 5th in the league table, although neither of them can catch the top two. It was a really good contest and could have gone either way. An early opener for the hosts was cancelled out by a great finish from the edge of the box from the visitors. Eastbourne got what turned out to be the winner a minute before halftime. A through ball looked to be running out of play, but the striker managed to prevent if crossing the line and played the ball across the 6 yard box, where his fellow striker rolled it in from a couple of yards out. The result sees the two teams swap league positions.
Above : The tallest corner flags ever ? They were not far short of 7 feet high!
Tonight’s match was between the two teams that occupy the most southern and northern venues in the league, so well done to Bromsgrove for having the vast majority of their players there over an hour before kick off. It has to be said that the pitch here is probably the best in the league, as it was in superb condition, unlike many of the concrete dust bowls visited in recent weeks. Apart from the local football club, the village has another claim to fame, as it is used for the filming of the television programme Father Brown. In fact, the car park at the ground contained a number of the vehicles and trailers used by the production crew.
Blockley find themselves bottom of the league table now (following the results of previous incumbents Evesham Eagles being expunged from the records) having managed just three draws from their fifteen matches before this. Bromsgrove were third, level on points with A.F.C. Alcester Town and three points adrift of leaders Shipston Excelsior Reserves.
On paper this looked like it might be a big away win, but it was far from it. Blockley never really looked like scoring, but they defended very well and the three points were never guaranteed for the visitors until the second goal went in. With Alcester losing 3-0 away at fourth placed Badsey Rangers, it means Bromsgrove now go level on points at the top, although they have played a game more than Shipston, as well as having a far inferior goal difference.
Sporting Club Pass + Move Arrows 2 Little Common Reserves 2, attendance 38
8’ 0-1
46’ 0-2
75’ 1-2
81’ 2-2 (pen)
@ Netherfield Recreation Ground
Netherfield Road
Netherfield
TN33 9QB
No Admission or Programme.
These two teams are both in Division 2 of the league and when this was brought to a halt this was 2nd (Won 4, Lost 1) versus 1st (won 8 out of 8) in the league table. Arrows came into this cup match as group leaders (W3, D1) with Little Common having 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from their games.
This was certainly a good game to watch as a neutral and a very good advert for this level of football. Little Common took an early lead through an angled shot across the ‘keeper and had a great chance to double their lead just before the break, when they were awarded a penalty, but it was saved by the ‘keeper. It was only a matter of seconds into the second half that their lead was doubled though, as a cross from the right was finished with a superbly cushioned volley into the bottom corner of the net. An unstoppable 20 yarder into the top corner saw Arrows pull it back to 1-2 with fifteen minutes left, before levelling it up at 2-2 from the penalty spot six minutes later. Little Common had a man sin binned before the restart and also had to replace their ‘keeper with an outfield player, as he was injured during the challenge that led to the penalty being awarded. They managed to hang on for a well deserved share of the points.
The ground here is very exposed, being high up, but it does offer great views of the surrounding areas. Luckily the rain that fell was brief, but there was a very cold wind throughout. A real plus though, especially for this level, was the excellent tea bar that was in operation from around half an hour before kick off. Chips, burgers and toasties were on offer, as well as tea, coffee and soft drinks.
Tonight’s match was 5th versus 10th (bottom) in the league table. It was very poor on quality, but certainly not lacking in commitment. Ardingly perhaps shaded it, even though they had a player sin binned in the second half. It looked like their efforts would produce a vital point in their battle against relegation, but a minute from time, a cross from the left was slid in at the far post to give the hosts an unlikely looking win, as this game had 0-0 written all over it!
The defeat all but relegates Ardingly now, as even if they win their last two matches, they need the teams they are chasing to lose their games too. With a far inferior goal difference as well, it looks unlikely to go their way. Burgess Hill Albion remain fifth and a second place finish is still possible.
Stopsley United 3 Pitstone & Ivinghoe Reserves 0, attendance 30
12’ 1-0
45’ 2-0
55’ 3-0
@ Stockwood Park Athletics Centre
Stockwood Park
Farley Hill
Luton
LU1 4BH
No Admission or Programme.
Around 3 o’clock Stopsley tweeted that the match had been switched from an outside pitch to the one inside the athletics track, so for the first time since the restart after the COVID-19 lockdown, I would actually be ticking off a ‘proper’ ground at last! I tweeted the club about whether spectators would still be allowed, but during the 45 minutes of waiting for a reply (which never came), I found a piece on the website of the Athletics Centre which stated spectators were welcome to watch outdoor activities, as long as social distancing rules were followed, so it was game on!
The match was between two teams from Division 1B. After taking an early lead Stopsley looked the better of two evenly matched sides. When the second goal went in, right on halftime, it made the second half much more comfortable for the hosts. If we thought the second goal was good, it was outdone by the third, both being excellent finishes.
Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club 0 St. Leonards Social 0, attendance 26
@ Sidley Recreation Ground
Canada Way
Sidley
TN39 4BL
No Admission or Programme.
We are heading towards that time of season where you have to try and get a back up game to your intended destination, as despite being without football for so long, some clubs still can’t be bothered to turn up and play games. Unfortunately, the East Sussex League is one of the worst leagues for this and it is worth noting that 5 of the 24 games scheduled today were off due to teams crying off. The good thing with this game though, was the fact it was kicking off an hour earlier than nearly every other game, so plenty of time to divert if necessary.
As it turned out, the game went ahead, although St. Leonards only turned up with the bare eleven players, but a substitute did arrive twenty minutes into the second half, entering the game some five minutes later, once he was into his kit. Despite this, they put on a very determined show, with some resolute defending, aided by some dreadful finishing from the hosts, especially during the second half. Bexhill A.A.C. squandered chance after chance, but lacked any quality to finish any of them off and overall a draw was probably a fair result.
Bexhill A.A.C. are in Division 1 of the league and were in third place in the table (Played 5, Won 4, Drawn 1) when it was brought to a halt. Their cup fixtures coming into this had seen them pick up two wins and two losses. St. Leonards play in the Premier Division, where they lay second in the table (P9, W4,D3, L2), coming into this with a win and two defeats from their opening group matches of the cup.
This was a match played between two teams from Division 1 South of the league. The other team in this group of the Junior Charity Cup is Bishop’s Cleeve Reserves, who both teams have already played twice, Shurdington winning their games 3-0 and 1-0, whilst Renegades had a 3-0 win and a 1-1 draw.
This game remained in the balance throughout and was certainly a full blooded affair which could have gone either way. One Renegades player managed to get himself sin binned twice, once in each half, but playing for twenty minutes with a man short didn’t affect them too much, with the game finally made safe with what turned out to be the last kick of the match.
The Reg Davis Cup has been revamped this season with four groups of 8 teams playing to advance to the quarter finals, rather than the straight knock out ties that take place in ‘normal’ seasons.
These two are both in Division 2 of the league as far as league positions go. Where the cup is concerned, Lakeside had 1 win and 1 draw from their four matches played, whilst Barnwood had managed just two draws from their games. It was therefore no surprise that it wasn’t the greatest of games and a draw was a fair result overall.
Lakeside have moved into this new facility this season, this being their third match played here. Certainly a ground better visited at this time of year as it is very exposed.
Tonight’s match was between two teams still pushing for promotion as 4th in the league table hosted 3rd. The pitch was in superb condition, apart from a slightly worn patch in each goal mouth, but it has to be said that it would be more suited to crown green bowls. When standing behind each goal, the ‘keeper at the far end was only viewable from just above the waste, such was the rise of the pitch towards the centre circle and subsequent drop towards the ends.
Both teams started well, Ifield going close with two good efforts that were well defended, but having hit the crossbar, then lashing another chance high and wide, it was Hartfield that opened the scoring. Somehow, despite numerous chances at both ends, the score remained 1-0 as we reached the break. An early second half strike levelled it up at 1-1, but Hartfield were back in front just after the hour mark. Ifield pushed hard for a second equaliser, but despite almost constant pressure, the home defence stood firm.
The result sees the two teams swap league positions.
