​This Sunday saw a last minute dash down the A34 and A4074 from Bicester to Caversham. My wife and daughter wanted to do some shopping, so I suggested they try Reading for a change. We used to go there frequently years ago but haven't been there since my daughter was a toddler. They were keen to go and, somewhat fortuitously, they need to pass Mapeldurham Recreation Ground on the way. What was even luckier is that Caversham United Women just happened to be playing at home to Carterton this weekend. Spooky coincidence eh? It was all a bit rushed (we didn't leave Bicester until after 1pm) and I didn't think I would make kick-of. Luckily, I also knew @wanderintractor was going to the game, so I sent a quick message to see if he had managed to get sight of team sheets, which he had, and duly sent over to me. Thank you for that. As it happens, the game kicked off a few minutes late, about 30 seconds after I arrived at the ground. Thanks for waiting ladies, much appreciated.

The Ground
I've been to Mapeldurham Recreation Ground before, a 2018 Reading Sunday League Cup Quarter-Final between Caversham United and Borussia Teeth (Goats Survive Brush With Teeth). Consequently, I can't count this as a new ground even though the place has changed considerably and Caversham now play on a different pitch to the game that I witnessed in 2018. The ground is accessed from a service road off the A4074. Look out for the Mapeldurham Tennis Club & Playing Fields signpost. There is a decent car park, shared with the tennis club. The pitches are behind the main building, accessed via a path between the main block and the (new, I think) Heights Primary School. The old pitch, from memory, was lengthways to the right of this path. The new one lies at a 90 degree angle to the left of the path. There are no covered areas of course, this is a community playing field, but the surface looked to be flat and in good condition.

The Background
In all fairness, this was a match-up between the league's two most out of form sides. Carterton, as followers will know, have only taken a single point so far in what has been a difficult season for them. Caversham have struggled for goals in the league and had only take a single point themselves since the 1-0 defeat of Kidlington in October. That came at Mapeldurham, with a 1-1 draw against Eversley & California. When the sides met in the second week of the season, Caversham returned from Oxfordshire with all three points thanks to a 1-0 win courtesy of Sumayah Zayadi.
Carterton may well have had a tough season but impressed with their attitude when I saw them get beaten at home by Woodley United a few weeks back (Call 999, Woodley Are On Fire). It was pleasing to see that they had two substitutes listed this weekend, having struggled to get a team out at times. I really hope they can turn things around there. Despite their league position, they look to only be a couple of additions to the squad away from being competitive again. Caversham for their part, were coming into this game with both of their two top scorers, Sumayah Zayadi and Freya Jenkins (7 goals between them), missing from the team. This meant that debutant Chante Bynoe-Gittins would be leading the line.

It was great to finally meet Dave Read (@wanderintractor). Dave has a very similar approach to watching non-league as I do. Neither of us would class ourselves as groundhoppers, but we do like to get to different grounds when we can. Dave has also been covering a lot of women's football this season and, I know, has an ambition to do even more next season. We plan to pool resources, along with other other bloggers and photographers, with a view to bringing more coverage to grassroots women's football. It's well worth a visit to his site wanderingtractor.co.uk where you can catch up with all of his match blogs, book reviews and football fodder reviews (his latest review of a burger at Petersfield Town has now had over 100k views). I never knew so many people were interested in food at football grounds.

The Game
Caversham started brightly, with Annabelle Baxter letting fly early on but not troubling Burdock too much. However, it was a preview of what was to shortly follow. With only eight minutes on the clock the home side went ahead through Caitlin Levy. The midfielder picked the ball up some 25 yards out before unleashing a fierce dipping drive that beat Lynsey Burdock with pace as much as anything. Great strike. 1-0
Carterton were finding it hard to stem the flow of Caversham attacks. The Goats were playing a very attacking formation, with Katie Dearling pretty much in the right-wing position. They were clearly out to kill this game as soon as they could. However, it took a further ten minutes for Caversham to increase their lead and, when it did come, it was with more than a little help from the visitors. A dangerous looking cross from the left was inadvertently and unluckily diverted past Burdock by defender Molly Duffy, under pressure from Chante Bynoe-Gittens. 0-2.
As with the Woodley game a few weeks ago, Carterton continued to plug away but were finding top scorer Zoe Pugh well marshalled by Sophie Wicks. Jennifer Rozak looked lively and Sam Wadey-Smith kept battling in central midfield. In defence Molly Duffy, who also had a good game against Woodley, showed that that game was not a one-off, despite the unfortunate own goal. Again, you couldn't knock Carterton's efforts all across the pitch. Caversham just had too much for them on the day and, just before the half-hour mark, they effectively killed the game off as a contest. Katie Dearling got free down the right, pulled the ball back for Beth Hope who delivered a pinpoint cross for debutant Chante Bynoe-Gittens to stab the ball past Burdock. 3-0

HT Caversham United 3 Carterton 0. Not entirely one way traffic, but definitely a dominant display from The Goats.

​Carterton, to their credit, started the second half very brightly with a renewed determination. Within the first minute they finally managed to get Zoe Pugh free of her marker for once. The striker was quick to get a shot off but it was just high and wide of Sam Thoreau's goal. Caversham responded a few minutes later when the newly introduced Chelsea Jumratie was sent clear down the left. She was one on one with Lynsey Burdock but the Carterton stopper came out on top, coming out quickly to block the shot. Caversham were not playing such an attacking formation in the second period. This was mainly due to the change in Carterton's defensive line, which was now pushed up as high as they could be. The ploy seemed to work, although it did increase the risk of Caversham getting the ball lover the top for Baxter and Jumratie to run onto. Annabelle Baxter, in particular, looked a threat for the Goats on the left flank, getting in some decent crosses, but the visitor's defence was coping much better as the game went on. Sam Thoreau in the Caversham's goal, certainly had to pay much more attention in the second period. Both Rozak and Pugh were finding a little more space and neither were shy at having a pop at goal. Unfortunately for them, they were largely kept at distance by the Goats defence.
With 10 minutes left, the high Carterton line was broken when Annabelle Baxter managed to get in down the right side. Once again, Lynsey Burdock did very well to make a great save. However, eight minutes later, Baxter was again in on goal from the right side. Her initial shot was blocked again by Burdock but Baxter was alert enough to follow up, latching onto the rebound and making no mistake. 4-0. That just left enough time for Emma Hopkins to round off the scoring in added time, taking a pass on the left before hitting a dipping shot over Burdock from the edge of the box. 5-0

FT Caversham United 5 Carterton 0. Caversham's biggest win of the season and the first time they had managed more than two goals in a game. A good all-round performance and a promising start from Chante Bynoe-Gittens, grabbing a goal on her first appearance. I am sure that Carterton are now focused on building a squad for next season. They, once again, kept playing until the final whistle and you have to admire their spirit. I found myself wanting them to get a consolation goal toward the end.
Next weekend Carterton entertain Penn Tylers Green, who they lost 5-1 to on the opening day of the season. Caversham make the trip to Eversley & California. The sides drew 1-1 in the reverse league meeting. The Boars also won 3-1 at Mapeldurham in the FA Cup earlier in the season.

Caversham United: Thoreau, Wick, Scott, Clarke, Downey, Levy, Dearling, Baxter, Hope, Bynoe-Gittens, Hopkins. Subs: Nelson, Jumratie, Graham
Carterton: Burdock, Duffy, Cornford(c), Diamond, Wadey-Smith, Rozak, Steptoe, Brain, Pugh, Clarke, Streete. Subs: Galloway, Smart 

Ground Number: Re-Visit
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

​It was a case of third time lucky for BotP on Tuesday evening. This was the third time that I had the Worcestershire Senior Cup Quarter-Final between Droitwich Spa and Pershore Town on top of my possible games list. The weather got the better of the previous two, but tonight it was on. So, after sitting through the second of my four-hour meetings with a well-known US software company, I was able to stretch my legs for five minutes and set off up the M40 for deepest, darkest Worcestershire. Although I had seen Droitwich play at "home" before, the 2018 FA Vase game with Whitchurch Alport (A Dose Of Salts), that game took place at Stourport's ground. So, this was my first visit to Spa's home ground in Droitwich, Kingy's.

The Ground
Kingy's, or The King George Playing Field to give it's full name, was Droitwich Spa FC's traditional home following their foundation in 1985 until 2017. That's when they left for Stourport Swifts Walshes Meadow whilst their home ground was being redeveloped. They moved back to the town at the start of this season and have already had some very large crowds pack into the ground, notably the 972 who witnessed the 3-0 victory over local rivals Worcester City in a previous Senior Cup round.
The ground is situated to the rear of Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre, to the West of the town centre. Beware, parking is not easy around the ground. The leisure centre car park is reserved for leisure centre users (rightly so) and, with the large crowds currently watching the team, i is difficult to find a space close by. I eventually managed to find a spot a short walk away, about 5-10 minutes total walk time to the ground.
It's an interesting setup at Kingy's. Access to the ground is via a single gate in the far corner of the ground. When you pay to enter you also receive a stamp on your hand. the reason for this is that the majority of facilities, bar, burger van, toilets, are all outside of the stadium boundary. The ground has covered seating for 100 on the far side with hard-standing around the rest of the pitch. It was good to finally get this game on but the recent weather conditions had obviously played havoc with the surface, emphasised by the number of bobbles seen throughout the game. It was a difficult surface for the players but, it's the same for both sides.

​The Background
Both of the sides are having good seasons in their respective Step 6 leagues. At the start of play Droitwich sat sixth in Division 1 of the Midland League, just outside the playoff places. Pershore, however, could better that. They came into the match sitting proudly atop the Hellenic League Division 1, twelve points clear of their nearest rivals, although having played three more games than second placed Milton United.
League form aside, this evening's game was a Worcestershire Senior Cup Quarter-Final featuring  a Droitwich side making their Senior Cup debut and a Plums who were the current holders, having defeated Worcester City last season, to win the trophy for the fist time in their history. In this season's competition, Droitwich also defeated Worcester City 3-0 (as mentioned above), following that up with a crushing 7-1 defeat of Bewdley Town at Ribbesford Meadows. Pershore hammered Littleton 6-0 in Round 1 before gaining a superb 4-3 win at Malvern in the second round. With Evesham and Redditch already through to face each other in the semi-final, the winner of this game would go head to head with either Stourport Swifts or Kidderminster Harriers.

​The Game
Despite the playing surface, the game got off to a promising start. Both sides loked lively and with a very good crowd inside the ground (463), it really lokoed like we could be in for a great cup match. Six minutes in, home keeper Dominic Rogerson had to be alert as Petar Tonchev was played in. The home keeper coming out on top of their one to one battle. Two minutes later teh visitor's had their keeper Eddie Cox to thank as Connor Collins muscled his way onto a long ball but could not beat the stoppReduceder.
Unfortunately, after this initial burst of action, the game began to get scrappy with neither side really troubling the opposition golakeeper to any extent. Luke Molloy went on a good run from midfield on 18 minutes, beat a couple of defenders, but then lifted his shot well over Cox's bar. Just before the half hour mark, Sam Clark had a big chance for the Plums, possibly the best opportunity of the half, but also fired over.
The half was just about to come to a close when a nasty looking lunge from Cory Rudd left a Pershore player in a heap. Following a fracas involving a number of players, the referee called Rudd over an issued a straight red. The ensuing free kick came to nothing and almost immediately the referee drew the half a close.

HT Droitwich Spa 0 Pershore Town 0. Pershore knocked the ball around well and hprobably just about edged it, in what was a fairly dreary half. However, Droitwich's direct style has caused them problems at the back and they looked vulnerable at times.

The game really needed a goal to spark it into life and it nearly got one when the ten Saltmen surprised Pershore with an early onslaught. Less than five minutes had passed when Perry Moss fired in an effort that was cleared off the line. The ball was recycled to Connor Collins who brought the best out of Cox, diving to his right to stop a goal bound drive.
However, as with the first half, the early excitement soon gave way to a more pedestrian encounter. Droitwich settled back into a more defensive line-up, not that surprising given they were a man light. They were happy to run down the clock as much as possible, employing every tactic in the book. Their physio was a busy man and Rogerson, in goal, was warned by the referee for taking an age over every goal kick. Toi be fair, you couldn't blame them for their tactics, especially as it became increasingly apparent that Pershore were running out of ideas to break them down. I've not seen the Plums play this season, but I am sure they have not got to the top of their league with final balls the like of the ones they produced all night. Crosses and balls into the box were consistently poor throughout and you could see their frustration growing. 

I'll be honest. The second half, for me, was a dire spectacle. Being a neutral, all I wanted was for either team to snatch a goal so that we could all go home, especially as it seemed to be getting colder by the minute. That didn't look likely until the last few minutes, when both teams decided to pack all of the match action into a couple of minutes.
Firstly, on 89 minutes, Droitwich were awarded a free-kick some 40 yards from goal, way out on the right touchline. Right-back Jack Brighton hoisted a long ball into the Plum's penalty area. Eddie Cox came out to claim it but let the ball slip through his grasp. The momentum took the ball over the line. A scrappy goal for a scrappy game. 1-0.
Oh well I thought, at least I could get back in a warm car soon. No! Two minutes into added time, Pershore launched an assault on the home goal, the ball bounced inside the six yard box where a Pershore player seemed to stoop to head goalward, only to be clattered by a defender's boot. Penalty to Pershore! Droitwich players were incensed, claiming that the forward's head was very low and that the defender had every right to try to clear it. You could see their point to be honest. However, Petar Tonchev didn't care, sending Rogerson the wrong way to even the scores. 1-1. There was hardly enough time to restart the game before the referee blew for full-time and, thankfully, take us straight to a penalty shootout.

FT Droitwich Spa 1 Pershore Town 1. The second half started with a burst of action and then ended with a burst of action. In between was largely forgettable. Not knocking the teams. Sometimes games go this way. They were quite closely matched, the sending off changed Droitwich's game plan, the pitch negated any chance to play passing football. 

This is how the penalty shoot out played out:
Droitwich - Connor Collins 1-0
Pershore - Sean Cooke 1-1
Droitwich - Perry Moss 2-1
Pershore - Petar Tonchev 2-2
Droitwich - Jack Brighton 3-2
Pershore - Scott Hammond 3-3
Droitwich - Jack Davies 4-3
Pershore - Kirk Layton 4-4
Droitwich - Haydn Morris skies it. Still 4-4
Pershore - James Baldwin to win it. Inexplicably rolls it down the middle into the Rogerson's arms
Droitwich - James Lemon 5-4
Pershore - Jake Donnelly has to score. He does. 5-5
Droitwich - Charlie Tilley 6-5
Pershore - Pressure on Sam Clark. No problem. 6-6
Droitwich - Alex Dugmore 7-6
Pershore - Jordan Jones. Under pressure. Scores 7-7
Droitwich - Matthew Hunt 8-7
Pershore - Jordan Adams. Puts it over the bar. 8-7
Droitwich go through 8-7 on penalties

Droitwich Spa: Rogerson, Brighton, Morris, Rudd, Hunt, Dugmore, Moss, Davies, Collins, Lemon(c), Molloy. Subs: Baker, Thompson, Tilley, Charles, Deeprose
Pershore Town: Cox, Stoddart, Cooke, Jones, Layton(c), Adams, Willis, Burns, Clark, Clark, Tonchev. Subs: Nutt, Donnelly, Hammond, Baldwin, Beach

If you want to catch eithe rof these teams in action this coming weekend (4th February). Droitwich are back at Kingy's for a league encounter with 3rd placed Hinckley AFC, one of the teams that The Saltmen have in their sights for the playoff places. Pershore have a Challenge Cup game at Clanfield 85.

Ground Number: 346
Att: 463
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: £1.00

Woodley United kept up their remarkable league run with a seventh consecutive win and seventh consecutive clean sheet. Meanwhile, former table-toppers Milton United, went out of the the league cup at the hands of Premier division opponents. With the top two yet to meet at Milton Heights (12th February), the run-in to the season conclusion promises to be nail-biting.

County Cup
Oxford Athletic 2-0 Carterton
Carterton bowed out of the County Cup to their Thames Valley Division One opponents. With just the league to focus on now, they will be looking to make the most of the remaining four fixtures to both build for next season and get as close as they can to lifting themselves off the bottom of the table, starting with their trip to Caversham on Sunday.

League Cup
Eversley & California 2-1 Winchester City Flyers
A great result for the Boars. Goals from Rae Roberts and Jo Hartfield Brown negated Sharna Capel-Watson's strike for Flyers, giving the Division 1 North side a Premier League scalp. The Boars will  now face Premier League opposition again in the Quarter-Finals after Ascot United edged past Abingdon United.

Milton United 1-5 Wycombe Wanderers
Wanderers showed their Premier League credentials, especially in the first half. A hat-trick from Freya Harris plus one each from Amy Leach and Katie Riddington gave the Chairgirls a 5-0 lead at the break. Milton managed to pull a late goal back through Charlotte Comley, to spoil Wycombe's clean sheet, but it was too little, too late for United, who now can turn their focus back to the league. Wycombe now will now take on fellow Premier League side, Bournemouth Sports.

League
Penn & Tylers Green 0-0 Long Crendon
With ten league draws between these two, it was hardly a surprise that this game ended all square. Penn's recent run of five draws and a defeat, in their last six games has effectively ended their chances of a top two finish. Although, with Woodley still to play, they can have a major effect on the destination of title. Likewise Long Crendon, who will welcome Milton United on the last day of the season.

Woodley United 7-0 Caversham United
The Woodley juggernaut flattened another opponent on Sunday. This weekend close neighbours Caversham United became the seventh consecutive team to experience the full force of Woodley's march up the table. Desire a spirited start from The Goats, Woodley were five up by the break and add two more in the second half. That's now 33 goals without reply in seven games. Incredible stats. Woodley's scorers were May Hamblin(3), Gemma Sims(2), Sarah Lawrence and Mollie Haynes. 
Read a detailed report of the game from The Wandering Tractor (@wanderintractor) and check out the photos taken by Andrew batt (@andrewbatt5).

League (2pm ko)
Caversham United v Carterton
Carterton are still searching for their first league win of the season but will fancy their chances against a Goats side who have only managed one win at Mapeldurham so far. The sides met in the early stages of the eason when a Sumayah Zayadi goal was enough to give Caversham all three points. Goal scoring has been the issue for both teams this season, both have only managed 8 goals a piece so far, so don't expect a goal-fest (now I've said that it's going to end 5-5).
Mapeldurham Recreation Ground, Upper Woodcote Road, Mapledurham, Reading RG4 7LD

Eversley & California v Long Crendon
Eversley now haven't lost a game in all competitions since their 2-0 defeat at Woodley in November. Two wins and two draws later, they are team gaining in confidence. Crendon earned a very respectable draw at Penn last weekend and will, no doubt, be looking for a strong finish to their season, especially as they have still only lost twice this season. The sides only met in the reverse fixture a three weeks ago, a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw. Eversley are yet to draw at home but with Long Crendon in town, that could well change this weekend.
Eversley Sports Association, Fox Lane, Eversley RG27 0NS

Milton United v Kidlington
Milton will be smarting after being knocked off the top of the league at the weekend. They will be looking for three points to keep the pressure on Woodley ahead of the big clash next weekend. Of course, The Greens will be looking for some revenge after they lost 7-2 in the reverse fixture, the game that saw their unbeaten start to the season come to an end. 
Milton Heights, Potash Lane, Milton, Abingdon OX14 4XB

Penn & Tylers Green v Woodley United
Not that long ago this fixture could well have been seen as a title decider. However, since Penn last won a league game on October 30th (the same day that any team scored past United in the league), Woodley have won all seven of their league outings. In the midst of this run was a 4-0 win for United which ended Penn's unbeaten league run. A tough ask for Penn who will need to be at their absolute best to put a stop to this run of Woodley results.
French School Meadow, Elm Road, Penn HP10 8LG

Two weeks ago this blog led with the title Two Horse Race? Well, its still not mathematically certain to go to either Milton or Woodley, but it would now require a miracle for Penn to catch both of them. We'll be following the run-in to the title, which promises to be fascinating, especially as the top two have to play each other shortly. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Milton could go through the season unbeaten but still not claim the title. Make sure you check out this weekly blog for more updates.