November and December saw very little live action for BotP due to a number of circumstances. However, the New year has kicked off with a bang. Eight days in and we are already onto match number three of the year. Not only that but Tuesday also presented an opportunity to tick off a ground that has been on my list for at least 2 years now. so it was that I set off on the 102 mile journey from my office to North Leicester. More specifically, Cropston Road, Anstey. It was until I arrived that I realised there was some continuity in my recent ground visits. On Saturday I was at Deeping Rangers (United Counties League), watching them play Eastwood Community (East Midlands Counties League). Tonight I was watching a United Counties League game between Anstey (formerly of the East Midlands Counties League) and Northampton Sileby Rangers. Anyone would think that I planned these trips ahead of time.

The Ground
Anstey Nomads are far from nomadic. They have played their home games at Cropston Road since their formation in 1946. Situated to the North West of Leicester, Anstey is a large village that is separated from Leicester by the city's Western bypass and Rothey Brook - which I believe has been a contributor to more than one postponement at Cropston Road. The ground is yet another fine example of a non-league stadium, much like nearby Quorn and Barrow Town. There really must be something in the water around Leicesterhsire that contributes to excellent non-league stadiums.
The ground is very neat and tidy, benefiting from what looks like fairly new red and white fencing around the playing area. There is a flagpole in each corner bearing the club insignia. Parking within the stadium complex is quite limited, although I found a spot, but there is also a car park adjacent to the ground which is only a stones throw from the turnstiles. The facilities are all on the car park side of the ground. A nicely appointed clubhouse which has a small covered seating area directly in front of it. On the opposite side of the ground there is a low, covered standing area which spans almost half of the ground at the Cropston Road end. Next to this are the team dugouts.
There were no programmes on sale as far as I could see. However, it was very easy to get a team sheet (complete with Sileby Rangers history on the  reverse) from the Nomads media man. Much as I like to collect a programme, having the team sheets is just as useful, especially if it is a first visit to a ground.

​The Background
As far as I can tell, this would be the first competitive meeting between the sides (at least in major competitions). There is no FA Vase or FA Cup history between them and the teams have, until this season, progressed through different league structures, Sileby solely in the United Counties League and Nomads through the Leicestershire Senior League and East Midlands Counties. Both sides were approaching the game from fairly string league positions. In the case of Anstey, a very strong league position. Rangers, in sixth, sat 15 points adrift of leaders Lutterworth Town. Nomads, however, sat second, four points behind the leaders but with two games in hand.
Rangers' league form had been very up and down coming into this game. In the last five they had alternated between winning and losing, with their last outing being a 4-1 victory over Raunds Town. Nomads, up until last week, had won five on the bounce scoring 19 and conceding just 4. However, they did come unstuck at Bugbrooke last Saturday, going down 2-1 their first league defeat since October.

​The Game
The first thing I noticed after kick-off was that as soon as the Anstey players got more than about 40 yards away it was almost impossible to pick out their black numbers on their red shirts. Maybe that was more down to my ageing eyes rather than anything else?
Nomads started the brighter of the two and the game was just a few minutes old when Cory Armeni produced the first meaningful attempt at goal, flashing a drive just wide of the Sileby goal. We had a small amount of controversy after 15 minutes when Anstery striker James Hicks burst into the box and, after a collision with both a defender and the goalkeeper which produced penalty shouts from the home side, rolled the ball against the post and out of play. The referee was unmoved by the claims for a foul and signalled a goal-kick.
However, Anstey were not to be denied for much longer and, after 20 minutes, they took the lead with a low, driven effort from just outside the box from Ash Day. 1-0.
Seven minutes later Rangers' defence was caught out by a quickly taken free-kick which allowed James Hicks to get in behind the defence and slide the ball home for 2-0.
It was a case of men against boys at this stage. Rangers just were not competing anywhere on the pitch. Anstey were quicker to the ball and sharper of mind. It was, therefore, no real surprise when after 33 minutes the home side extended their lead. This time I actually managed to track the goal-scorer after the goal and see his number as they lined up for the restart. Corey Armeni, who had fired off the opening salvo in the first couple of minutes, with a another low effort past Riley's outstretched fingers. 3-0.
Once again the goal came about through Rangers just not closing the Nomads player down.

There was still enough time for the Sileby coach, during a break in play, to administer some stinging words to his players. A precursor to a much greater rant at half-time, no doubt.

HT Anstey Nomads 3 Northampton Sileby Rangers 0. There really has been only one team in the first half. Rangers just haven't turned up. Nomads have been better all over the pitch and may be disappointed to only be three to the good.
Nice to meet @OllyHFR at half-time. Olly is a Hopeless Football Romantic or at least a Senior Editor for HFR. Click on the link to take a look at their website if you get a chance. 

​If Rangers' coach did give his players a rocket in the interval it certainly seemed to have an effect. They immediately look to be more competitive in the second half. However, try as they might, they could not break down the Nomads defence and get back into the game.
Nomads for their part were probably quite content to sit on their three goal lead, although I think that Rangers had actually raised their standard enough to be preventing Anstey from increasing their tally. If Rangers had applied themselves in the same way during the first half we may well have had a much different game.
As it was, Nomads comfortably saw out the game with no further scoring from either team.

FT Anstey Nomads 3 Northampton Sileby Rangers 0. The game was won and lost in the first half. Nomads were good, Rangers were poor. In the second half it was much more of a 50/50 competition but Rangers couldn't find an early goal that may have shaken the game up. Anstey move to within a point of Lutterworth with a game in hand.

Anstey Nomads: Smith, Ncube, Taylor, Preston (c), Wolfe, Gough, Matwasa, Chitiza, Hicks, Armeni, Day. Subs: McLean, Marshall, Harris, Hartopp, Blount

Northampton Sileby Rangers: Riley, Sweeney, Mocanu, Liburd, Harris, Herbert, Birkelund, Archer, Maisiri, Duffy, Eales. Subs: Halliday, Freeman, Kahan, Westbury

Att: 
Ground Number: 177
Entrance: £5.00
Programme:  N/A

​After putting my Saturday match options out to Twitter poll, I found myself preparing for a first ever trip to Deeping Rangers on Saturday, a ground that had been sitting on my to-do list, glaring at me for a couple of years. Unfortunately, a 172 mile round trip has always been that little bit too much for a weekday evening game. So, an opportunity to go there on a Saturday was just perfect. Add to that the fact that it was an FA Vase game - I love the FA Vase - and all was well with the world as I set out from Oxfordshire.

The Ground
Deeping Rangers play at the Haydon Whitham Stadium which is situated just to the North East of the village of Market Deeping, Lincolnshire. It's not an area that I have explored too much in the past but, after driving through both Market Deeping and Stamford during the day, its certainly an area that I need to take a closer look at and maybe open up a whole new batch of grounds to visit, Spalding, Stamford, Bourne, Holbeach to name just a few.
The Haydon Whitham stadium is part of the Market Deeping Sports and Social Club where there are facilities for tennis and cricket as well as football. Parking, of which there is ample, and the social club are separate to the football stadium, although only a very short walk away. The stadium itself is accessed through one of two turnstiles which formerly adorned no lesser stadium than Wembley. First impressions when you enter the ground is that it is of a very high standard. I see a lot of Step 5 grounds and this one is definitely up there with the best at this level. The facilities are all immediately in front of you when you enter the ground, running down one side. There is a fairly large stand with over 150 seats, a snack bar and separate lounge for local and visiting officials. Behind the car park end goal there is also a covered standing area with two further, smaller, sheltered standing areas either side of the dugouts, opposite the main stand. For any ground-hoppers that haven't been to Deeping, I suggest you take a visit. It's a really good place to watch football.

​The Background
This was the furthest that either club had been in the competition before so, regardless of the result, there was going to be some history made when either one - or both in the event of a draw - was in the hat for the last sixteen draw. Eastwood, who only formed in 2014 after Eastwood Town folded, were only taking part in the Vase for the fourth time, although Town did make the Quarter-Final in the 2003-04 season. Rangers had been to the 3rd Round on three occasions previously, last season being the latest, but had never progressed this far before. Averaging almost 4 goals per game in the competition and quite nicely placed in the league, they could feel fairly confident about taking on one of the two remaining Step 6 sides. However Eastwood, who only gained promotion into Step 6 last season, are more than holding their own in the East Midlands Counties Premier and had already put out two Step 5 sides in the FA Vase this season. The last of these being a superb 2-1 win at local rivals and Midland Premier leaders, Ilkeston Town. All in all, we were set for a really good, competitive game and that's exactly what we got.

​The Game
Deeping started the game slightly more brightly than Eastwood but, to be fair, both sides looked a little nervous for the first few minutes. Probably not surprising given the gravity of the match for both teams. However, it wasn't too long before both teams started to get themselves settled, bolstered by great backing from both home and away support. There was a good atmosphere in the ground from very early on with plenty of support arriving from Nottinghamshire and the snack bar doing a roaring trade way before kick-off.
The first real goalmouth action came after 10 minutes. Deeping won a free-kick some 25 yards out and slight;y to the left of the penalty area. Midfielder Dan Schiavi put in a great delivery, curling in towards the goal and, with players from both sides challenging, the ball came off an Eastwood defender, beat the keeper but cannoned off the bar and to safety. A little bit of a let-off for Eastwood but it actually seemed to rally the team and from this point they started to put some good passages of play together, forcing a series of corners and, if anything, forcing the slightly better chances.
In what was becoming a highly entertaining game, both sides were clearly intent on making a breakthrough although we went into the break all square. I think it is only fair to mention the way that the referee controlled the game too. Fairly early in the half when rash challenges had been made he had called over the offending player and their captain. This happened once on each side. At the time I wondered why he saw fit to do this but it occurred to me that this was extremely good officiating. He appreciated that both sides were probably quite wound up for the game and clearly wanted to try to give each side, and their respective captains, the opportunity to calm themselves down before brandishing cards. It was, in fact, 30 minutes in before he issued the first caution. 

HT Deeping Rangers 0 Eastwood CFC 0.  A fairly even half overall. Both sides created some chances. It really could go either way at this point.

​The second half continued where the first left off, with the sides going head to head, toe to toe for the first 10 minutes. Deeping, who presumably had been asked to up their game at half-time, then started to show why they have been there or thereabouts at the top of the United Counties Premier for the past decade.
Just after the hour mark Deeping broke the deadlock. A raid down their left flank saw the ball played across the Eastwood box, it was helped on to substitute Cameron Johnson who took a tough and then lashed the ball across Pearson into the roof of the net. A very tidy finish. 1-0.
To be fair to Eastwood, no heads dropped after the goal went in. They were straight back into the action and doing their best to find an equaliser. However, it was Deeping who, ten minutes after taking the lead, extended their advantage with a really good goal. Scott Mooney took the ball down with his back to goal, swivelled sharply and smashed the ball past Pearson. A superb strike which gave the keeper no chance at all. 2-0.
Again, Eastwood didn't cave in and were still contributing to the game as a whole. Even at 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining, they certainly weren't throwing the towel in.
Then, after 88 minutes, a brilliant through ball found Dan Schiavi bursting into the box. He rounded the keeper and, despite the best efforts of two Eastwood defenders, slotted the ball home for 3-0. Both sides knew it was game over at this point but, just to rub salt into the wounds, there was still time for Johnson to stab home his second goal for 4-0.

FT Deeping Rangers 4 Eastwood CFC 0. Rangers were just too hot for Eastwood in the second-half. Great credit to the East Midlands Premier side though (big fan of that change kit too). They made Rangers work very hard for the win and the final scoreline does not reflect the amount of effort that they put into the game. Good luck to both sides for the remainder of the season.

Deeping Rangers: Elsom, Flack, Andersen, Burton-Jones (c), Hunnings, Jarvis, Dunn, Coulson, Mooney, Schiavi, Lockie. Subs: Carter, Simpson, Johnson, Marsden, Bircham

Eastwood CFC: Pearson, Conn, Meakin, Wrenn, Mitchell, Hayes (c), Butler, James, Knight, Webb, Bettridge. Subs: Smith, Whithurst, Short, Allen, Walker

Att: 432
Ground Number: 176
Entrance: £6.00
Programme:  £1.00

The Ground
Met Police's Imber Court Ground is part of a large sports club that incorprates, amongts others, rugby, bowls, football and cricket. The complex is a stone's throw from Hampton Court Palace, just South of the River Thames in East Molesey. Met Police have played at the stadium since their formation in 1919, although the ground itself has changed considerably as the team has progressed up the pyramid. Currently playing in Step 3, The Southern League South Premier Division, the ground now has a capacity of 3,000 and features a fairly large covered 300 seat stand and a covered terrace behind one of the goals, at the Mounted Branch End. There is also a small, uncovered terrace running the full length of the ground opposite the main stand. You enter the ground, after a walk through the complex from the quite large car park, through a dual turnstile which takes you in at the corner of the ground alongside the Mounted Branch End stand. All of the facilities are located on the same side as the main stand, the dugouts are in front of the stand and the snack bar (which does great burgers) is alongside. It's quite an impressive stadium for this level and features three old-fashioned pylon style floodlights which tower above the ground. The fourth floodlight is one of the more modern style lights with a single pole rather than a pylon.

The Background
Both sides were coming into the game in good form and in decent league positions. The Met were on an unbeaten run stretching back into September and, with two games in hand on most, were in sixth spot just outside the play-offs. A win in this game would take them into fifth place and well within striking distance of top spot. Beaconsfield, who had won their last two games, were hoping to have ended a wobbly spell which had seen them only win one in six before Boxing Day. A win for them wouldn't lift them into the play-offs but would put them within a point of Merthyr Town.
The top scorers for both teams, Jack Mazzone for The Met and Brendan Matthew for The Rams, were level on 12 goals each. The telling statistic before the game though was that Mazzone was in the Met's starting line-up whilst Matthew was out of Town's squad after picking up an injury in the New Year's Day win over Basingstoke.

​The Game
A lively start to the game saw Met Police start looking the more likely. Twice within the first 15 minutes Oliver Knight had chances, the first volleyed well wide whilst the faintest of touches from Rams keeper Ravan Constable turned the second against the far post and away to safety. Then, as so often happens when a team starts well, Met Police conceded. It was a good, swift break from Beaconsfield down their left flank resulting in a low cross from Balogun which caused havoc in the Met defence. The keeper and his defence seemed to get in each other's way and the ball ended up in the net. Credit was given to Rams striker Jon-Jo Bates for the final touch. 0-1. A goal against the run of play but credit to Beaconsfield who took their chance when it came.
The goal only served to make Met Police up their game even more. Mazzone and Gilbert both drew good saves from Constable and Gilbert put a good chance wide.

HT Metropolitan Police 0 Beaconsfield Town 1. The Rams somehow managed to stay in front despite being under the cosh for much of the half. A combination of good goal-keeping from Ravan Constable and some, frankly, woeful shooting from Met Police mean that the away side go into the break 1-0 up.

​The second half looked to be continuing in the same vein as the first. Met Police looked the more likely team to score but still seemed to be struggling to hit the target and, when they did, they were finding Constable in fine form. Beaconsfield, who were slowing the game down at every opportunity, still looked like they could cause a problem on the break but were seemingly content to contain The Met as much as possible.
However, just after the hour mark the game was turned on its head in the space of three minutes. First, following a raid down the left, the ball was knocked back inside for John Gilbert on the edge of the box. He took a stride to his right, steadied himself and then curled a low effort past Constable into the bottom left corner of his goal. A great strike to make it 1-1 after 62 minutes.
On 65 minutes Gilbert was in the action again, this time being tripped in the box for a penalty to The Met. Top scorer Jack Mazzone stepped up and tucked the ball away to make it 2-1.

The Rams tried to up their game after going behind and Williams had to be alert to block Morgan after he had latched onto a through ball. However, it was Constable, in the opposite goal, who was still the busier of the two, saving from Mazzone again to keep his team in it. 
Yet, even with the greater possession, The Met could not find the third goal that would put the game beyond Beaconsfield. The Rams were starting to make one or two in-roads but were still finding the home defence difficult to breach.
With a minute to go Met Police finally sealed the game when Blackmore headed in to make it 3-1.

FT Metrolpolitan Police 3 Beaconsfield Town 1. A well deserved victory for Met Police who were the better side for the majority of the game. 

Metropolitan Police: Williams (c), Webb, Fisher, Robinson, Arthur, Birch, Knight, Robertson, Mazzone, Blackmore, Gilbert. Subs: Guinness-Walker, Hippolyte, Atkinson, Murdoch, MacLaughlin

Beaconsfield Town: Constable, Eccleston, Balogun, Yorke, Neville, Daly (c), Stead, Ajenlekoko, Bates, Passaj, Losasso. Subs: Adoo-Peters, Webb, Brown, Costa, Morgan

Att: 136
Ground Number: 175
Entrance: £9.00
Programme:  £2.00