For a number of reasons, business travel, postponements and illness, I had not been to a match since the second day of the year. Here we were, on the 30th day, and still not feeling 100% I decided to keep things local. In fact, Ardley United is as local as they come for me with their ground being less than four miles from my house. The evening's offering was an Oxfordshire Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie against Oxford United.
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It was plain to see, from the full car park and the cars parked all down the road adjacent to the ground, that there was going to be a bumper crowd at The Playing Fields. This was particularly pleasing from my point of view because a big crowd means more programmes sold and more programmes sold mean more people see the Edie's Butterfly Appeal banner in the programme. I must thank everyone at Ardley United for continuing to print the banner in the programme this season. I originally placed the banner with the previous management and, since the chairman and board has changed, I wasn't sure that the banner would continue. However, it has and, on behalf of everyone connected with the appeal, thank you.

The Oxfordshire Senior Cup has been running since 1885, when it was first won by Culham College. Oxford City hold the record for most wins, at 32 but in recent years it has been United who have dominated. As Headington United and Oxford United they have won the trophy 13 times with six of these coming in the last 12 years. Ardley have won the competition just once, in 2014 with a 4-0 win over Kidlington.

When the teams came out they, and the ranks of Ardley United juniors, gathered around the centre circle to observe a a minute silence for former Oxford United stalwart Cyril Beavon who sadly passed away shortly before Christmas.

​I had found a spot near the away dugout where the trees offered a little shelter from the persistent drizzle that had started to come down and was pleased to bump into Dale James from Sports Shots. Unfortunately for him, the fine rain was creating a mist in the floodlights and making it extremely difficult to get any good shots of the game. Hopefully, after moving into the main stand later, he was able to get some material for the website.

Ardley, kicking down the slope, started off much brighter than Oxford. Playing some really neat football, they carved open a few half chances early on but couldn't quite create the opening goal. Gradually, Oxford began to get a foothold on the game but it still took them the best part of 20 minutes to have their first real effort on goal.
The remainder of the half was a tight but even affair but, as it wore on, Oxford began to engineer one or two better chances and having an effort scrambled off the line with around five minutes to go until the break.
However, immediately after this scare for Ardley, striker Greg Hackett latched onto a through ball, got half a yard on his marker, and unleashed an effort from outside the box that Oxford keeper Niall Clayton did well to tip over the bar

HT Ardley United 0 Oxford United 0. Very close first-half. All square is a fair reflection on the game.

The home side were, again, quicker out of the blocks at the start of the second half, exerting a fair amount of pressure on the the Oxford back-line. Clayton was again forced into action, saving well from Harris before Hackett once more got clear but dallied a little allowing Berry-Hargreaves just enough time to get back and make a very good saving tackle.

On the hour mark Ardley really should have gone in front. Billy Gillett seized upon a mistake, burst clear and round the goalkeeper. However, he was off balance as he went to strike the ball and screwed his effort wide of the mark. It was a let off for Oxford which they duly recognised and began to step it up a notch, calling Ardley goalkeeper Tom Molloy into action a few times.

Molloy proved the saviour for Ardley on 68 minutes when he made a very good save to prevent Oxford going in front. It was, however, a temporary reprieve as, four minutes later, substitute Ryan Crooks finally got the better of the keeper, latching onto  through ball and slotting the ball past the topper into the net. 0-1

Six minutes later and Crooks had his second when he fired home from close range. 0-2. An inspired substitution seemed to have first turned the game and then sealed the victory.

That was until, with five minutes on the clock, Hackett made up for his previous miss by smashing the ball past Clayton to give Ardley some hope. 1-2. Maybe we were going to get a rousing finale to the game?
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Certainly Ardley boss Craig Adey, was getting animated. A little too much for the referee who, after apparently being treated to some choice language, ordered the manager away from the bench.

into injury time and Ardley were pushing for an equaliser. Another Hackett effort, from the edge of the box, was gratefully smothered by Clayton before, five minutes into added time, Oxford closed the game out in some style. Ryan James cut in from the right hand side and, from a tight angle, unleashed a thunderbolt past Molloy and in off the underside of the bar. 1-3

FT Ardley United 1 Oxford United 3. A good effort from the home side who, at times, were on top. However, the young Oxford side just had a little too much for them in the end.

Ardley United: Molloy, Boyd, Gabbidon, McKirnan, Leggett, West, J Moore, Mundy, Gillett, Hackett, Harris. Subs: Headford, Lewis, Feaver, Waite and Palfreeman

Oxford United: Clayton, Carr, Bryan, Baker, Berry-Hargreaves, Heap, Hopkins, Cowan, Noel-Williams, Lofthouse, James. Subs: Chillcott, Harris, McCreadie, Crooks, Stevens

Att: 327
Ground Number: Not a new ground
Entrance: £5
Programme: Included in entrance fee

The arch is looming on the horizon. The FA Vase is down to the last sixteen teams and you could forgive anyone associated with those clubs for dreaming of a Wembley appearance in May. However, there are still a few hurdles to negotiate, not least the Fifth Round, scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd.
Following their extra-time victory over Desborough Town, Stourport Swifts become the Base of the Pyramid adopted team in Round Five. They face a long trip to the North-East and a tie against Stockton Town. In this article we look at that game and the other seven intriguing fixtures.

Before we go into detail on each game, let's have a look at the way the bookies think the Vase may go this year. As of January 29th, these were the odds on each team:

• Marske United 5/2
• Bracknell Town 6/1
• Bromsgrove Sporting 6/1
• 1874 Northwich 8/1
• Stockton Town 8/1
• Coleshill Town 10/1
• Wolverhampton SC 16/1
• Thatcham Town 16/1
• Hamble Club 20/1
• Melksham Town 20/1
• Leighton Town 33/1
• Chichester City 33/1
• Stourport Swifts 33/1
• Windsor 33/1
• Tring Athletic 33/1
• Bradford Town 66/1

(Source: BetVictor.com - 29 Jan)
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Marske United, the highest ranked Northern League team in the competition are out there as favourites, which is not that surprising when you look at the recent dominance of the Northern League and the current league position of Marske (they are currently in second place). What is slightly more interesting is the fact that Wolverhampton Sporting Community, the last remaining Step 6 outfit, are only 16/1, better odds than eight teams who play in a Step above them.
As for league representation. Both the Hellenic League and Midland League still have three teams in the competition. The Northern League, Spartan South Midland and Western have two, whilst the remaining teams come from Wessex, West Midlands Regional Premier, North West Counties and Southern Combination.

So on to a little bit of detail about each tie, followed by the bookies projected outcome and (I will live to regret this) the BotP projected outcome. Please don't be offended if I don't pick your team to go through. It's only a game......isn't it? Besides, if I was any good at picking scores, I would be writing this from my beach-house in Bali, not the back-room in Bicester.
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​Wolverhampton Sporting Community v Leighton Town.
In some ways, the most intriguing tie of the round. Step 6 outfit, Sporting, at home to a Leighton Town side who, in recent months, have emerged as serious promotion contenders in the SSML Premier. Sports have already seen off four Step 5 sides in this season's competition, and the home draw gives them an extra edge. At the weekend, Leighton kept pace at the top of the table with a 3-2 win over Crawley Green whilst Sports had a free weekend. The romantic in me wants to see the Step 6 side progress but I have a feeling that Leighton have hit form at just the right time and will sneak this one.
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Bookies Odds - Wolverhampton Sporting Community
Pyramid Pick - Leighton Town
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​Thatcham Town v Bromsgrove Sporting.
Two teams that are also flying very high in their respective leagues. Despite seeing their top of the table clash with Highworth postponed in midweek, Thatcham recorded a 3-1 victory at Fairford on Saturday and climbed to the top of the Hellenic Premier. Sporting, however, are also in top form and their 2-0 win at AFC Wulfrunians saw them close to within five points of Coleshill with two games in hand on the leaders. This really could go either way. Both sides are in good form and both will probably have their sights set on a promotion push. The bookies see Sporting as favourites but I am sticking with my instinct and going for home advantage winning the day.

Bookies Odds - Bromsgrove Sporting
Pyramid Pick - Thatcham Town
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​Marske United v Bradford Town.
​In the eyes of the bookies, this is a clash between the favourites and the rank outsiders. It's a long trek from Wiltshire up to the North Yorkshire coast but the Western League outfit have proven that they travel well this season, with only one defeat on the road. Marske, who didn't play at the weekend, relinquished second spot to North Shields. However, they have a massive seven games in hand on both teams above them. Bradford also got the weekend off and remain in fourth spot. I'm with the bookies in this one. The combination of the long trip and home advantage for Marske will see them over the line.

Bookies Odds - Marske United
Pyramid Pick - Marske United
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Coleshill Town v Bracknell Town.
​An interesting clash between two sides who play their home games on an artificial surface. Normally this would give the home side a slight advantage but, in this case, the surface should pose no problem to either team. The Colemen have a five point lead at the top of the Midland League and will probably have one eye on the threat to their promotion hunt posed by Bromsgrove Sporting. The Robins, who currently sit fifth in the Hellenic Premier, have four games in hand on Highworth and may also fancy their chances of a title tilt. Another tie that could easily swing either way but I just fancy Bracknell to eventually progress after a very tight contest.

Bookies Odds - Bracknell Town
Pyramid Pick- Bracknell Town

​1874 Northwich v Chichester City.
An interesting choice to be made by 1874 this midweek. They have a huge local derby against Northwich Victoria scheduled on Tuesday evening, but will not want to pick up any injuries before the big Vase clash on Saturday. Whatever happens, it's going to be a hectic few months in Cheshire with so many games left to pay. Incredibly, 1874 have 14 (FOURTEEN) games in hand on second-placed Widnes and could, in theory, top the league if they were to win all of their spare games. Chichester also did not play at the weekend and are placed third in the table. Their league interests will certainly have been improved by leaders Haywards Heath's unexpected 4-1 home defeat to Three Bridges. I can't see past 1874 in this one. Home advantage plus the teams currently winning mentality, should see them progress.

Bookies Odds - 1874 Northwich
Pyramid Pick- 1874 Northwich
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​Stockton Town v Stourport Swifts.
The current BotP adopted team, Swifts, did not have a game at the weekend and may still be casting a few glances over their shoulders in the league. Ten points clear of the bottom and with a couple of games in hand but they could still do with a few more wins to make things safe. Stockton, meanwhile, fell at home to North Shields at the weekend by 3-1, a result that saw them lose a place in the table. Once again, I have to go with the bookies, despite Swifts being our adopted team, i just think the Northern League side will have too much strength.

Bookies Odds - Stockton Town
Pyramid Pick - Stockton Town
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Windsor v Hamble Club.
Windsor were another side to get a free day this weekend. They are comfortable in mid-table and can safely concentrate their efforts on the Vase. Hamble, also in a very safe league position, edged past Cowes Sports by 3-2 at the weekend. Neither club has anything to lose by giving the Vase their utmost attention. Despite Hamble being shorter odds than their opponents, home advantage will prove to be a decider in my opinion.

Bookies Odds - Hamble Club
Pyramid Pick - Windsor
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Melksham Town v Tring Athletic.
Melksham's 2-0 win over Brislington at the weekend sees them remain in contention at the top of the Western Premier, just about. They are still eight points adrift of Street, who have two games in hand as well. Tring fought out a 0-0 stalemate with fellow relegation threatened side Oxhey Jets. It's very difficult to see past a home win in this game, a view shared by the bookmaker's odds. Athletic may well be happy to spend their efforts on avoiding the drop from the SSML Premier Division.

Bookies Odds - Melksham Town
Pyramid Pick - Melksham Town
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Good Luck to all sixteen clubs and may the best teams progress.

​The first day back at work after the Christmas break is never the best day on the calendar. However, at least it was a Tuesday and there was a possibility of some football in the evening. Saying that, the way the weather was looking, I was starting to wonder if it was going to be a barren first outing of the year. I needn't have worried. Midway through the afternoon Twitter revealed that my chosen game, Ashford Town (Mx) v Marlow was confirmed on.
​ So it was that I set out on a short journey around the M25 to the shadow of Heathrow Terminal 4 for my first visit to The Robert Parker Stadium.

The ground is so close to the airport that they have to have lower than normal floodlights, although, as they point out on the website, they are still as bright. Although the actual car park at the ground is quite small, there is plenty of additional parking available on the grassed areas.

There is a clubhouse, outside the stadium, adjacent to the car park and the entrance to the ground (a double turnstile) is at the side of the clubhouse building. Once inside you are presented with the snack bar and th club shop, which is also where team sheets are available.
There are three covered areas around the ground which, on a night like Tuesday, is just as well. On the near side, the car park side, there is a low covered seating area and a covered standing area. Opposite this is the main stand, a covered seating area which has the dugouts on either side of it. As normal, I headed for the farthest part of the ground for the first half, taking shelter from the driving rain ad cold, blustery wind in the main stand.

A few minutes before kick-off I was surprised to see a spectator heading for the same stand dressed in just a short-sleeved, pink polo shirt. Now, it wasn't a freezing cold night by any means, but the rain was heavy and the wind was certainly making it feel colder than the 7 degrees indicated on my phone. Even Geordies may have considered a long-sleeved top. Still, pink-polo (as he will be known) took his seat in the stand and made himself comfortable for kick-off. Extraordinary.

​It was clear from kick-off that both sides were going to have as much trouble with the conditions as they were with each other. The very wet surface combined with unpredictably gusty wind was making it very difficult to control the ball. 
If anything, the conditions seemed to suit the away side more than Ashford and so it proved in the 7th minute.
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A Marlow raid led to Ashford conceding a corner on their right. Charlie Barton took the kick, swinging it in towards the goal, assisted by the wind. Although home keeper Tyler Tobin caught the ball, the assistant on the far side immediately flagged that it had crossed the line and the referee signalled a goal much to the displeasure of the home support. To be fair, the Ashford players didn't raise too many complaints. 0-1.

The remainder of the first half was a fairly even affair. Ashford looked at their sharpest when breaking down their right-flank. Right-back Samad Kazi had a couple of very good bursts forward but the final ball let him down. Meanwhile, Marlow looked quite dangerous on the break and maybe would have had a few more chances had Bossman not been caught offside on a number of occasions.

I think it is fair to say that Marlow, just about, dealt with the wind and the rain better than Ashford did. They also took every opportunity they could to slow the game down and break up play. Whilst I understand that this type of gamesmanship is all part of the game it is frustrating for spectators as well as the team on the receiving end. In my opinion the referee did not do enough to stamp out this time-wasting even after, or maybe because, the home bench berated him for it. 

HT Ashford Town (Mx) 0 Marlow 1. A frustrating half for the home side in which the real winner had been the weather. Pink-polo was still happily sitting in the stand, seemingly hypothermia-free.

​The second-half was less than eight minutes old when it ignited. A Marlow attack led to an almighty scramble in the Ashford penalty area. Somehow, the ball stayed out of the goal despite some vehement claims from Marlow that it had crossed the line. The ball was hacked clear and, immediately, Ashford went on the attack forcing a corner. This was cleared but Ashford suddenly had their tails up.

​They mounted another raid, this time down their left flank and when one of their players was bundled over in the box the referee pointed to the spot. From the opposite side of the pitch it was clear that there was a coming together but it was very hard to see what sort of contact was made. The Marlow players clearly thought that it was a harsh decision and made their feelings clear to the officials. There followed a lengthy delay where the Marlow keeper decided to spend a minute or two re-lacing his boots whilst the referee was called over by his assistant to have a word with the Marlow bench. Alex Fisher, who had picked up the ball, managed to keep his nerve during the delay and placed the ball past Simon Grant to make it 1-1 after 57 minutes.

There was clearly belief in the home side now. The rain had relented a little and they were hungry for more goals. Just before the hour mark they broke again and, when Brunton's stinging drive was parried by Grant, Dan Fleming was on hand to blast the ball back past the keeper into the net. 2-1.

Three minutes later they were at it again. James Cottee latched onto a neat flick on the edge of the box and fired a shot over Grant and in off the underside of the bar. 3-1. Marlow were rocking at this point.

With 22 minutes remaining, Ashford made it four goal in a blistering 11 minutes when a low cross from the right was flicked into the net at the far post by Scott Weight. 4-1.

With the home side now well on top, they almost made it five after 73 minutes when an effort came back off Grant's bar with the keeper beaten. Marlow looked like they wanted the final whistle at this point.
However, they stuck at it and, after 83 minutes, earned a free-kick on the edge of the box. Kevin Bossman tried his luck and, with the aid of a deflection, saw his effort beat Tobin. 4-2.
Marlow suddenly had a little more wind in their sails and maybe a little bit of doubt crept into Ashford for a few minutes. They certainly managed to give the ball away a couple of times, much to the consternation of their supporters. However, the home side saw the game out and claimed all three points.

FT Ashford Town (Mx) 4 Marlow 2. The game was turned by the blistering 11 minute spell of attacking play by the home side who, in all fairness, dominated the second half of the game after being slightly second-best in the first half. Pink-polo man made it through to the end of the game without addition of any extra layers. If that is his winter clothing I shudder to think what he wears in the summer but, I take my hat off to him.

Ashford Town (Mx): Tobin, Kazi, Fisher, Weight, Jonas, Gough, Cottee, Pooley, Fleming, Brunton, Beadle (c). Subs: Decabo, Laraba, Poley, Canderton, Tayler.

Marlow: Grant, Bailey, Etienne, Kerrigan, Gallimore, Welch, Chapple, Barton, Bossman, Ovenden (c), Osei-Tutu. Subs: Quail, Francis, Farrugia, Morrison, Brown

Att: 143
Ground Number: 147
Entrance: £9
Programme: Not purchased