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Four into 2 doesn't go

26/4/2013

Never mind the Barclays Premier League, the Evo-Stik Southern Premier is where it is all at for final day excitement. Yes, the title has been won, so hats off the Leamington FC for a great season. Yes, two of the play-off places are decided. Well done to Stourbridge FC and Chesham United for achieving their goals with games to spare. The final 2 play-off spots, however, are going to be decided on the final day between 4 clubs. Just 3 points separates all 4 teams. It couldn't be much closer.
The teams in question are Hemel Hempstead Town, Barwell, Gosport Borough and Arlesey Town.

Hemel, who lead the table last year, have fallen away in recent weeks. Going into the last match, they have the worst current form, but do have the advantage of being the best placed points-wise. Having said that, neither Barwell or Gosport go into the last day in particularly sparkling form. Barwell have won just one of their last five. Gosport have only managed two wins in the last seven.
The form team would appear to be Arlesey. Four wins in their last six matches have kept them in with a shout. They did, however, suffer a shock reversal at relegated Bedworth on Tuesday night.
So, it would seem that all four contenders are suffering with the jitters as we approach the most vital day of their season.
Saturday is going to be a tense day. All four play-off contenders have home advantage in their final games.
Hemel entertain a Bideford team that has not won since February, picking up just 3 points in that time.
Barwell take on Frome Town who have had a few decent results in recent weeks, including a 3-0 away win at Hemel.
Gosport take on St Neots Town, safely positioned in mid-table but not exactly in consistent form themselves.
Finally, Arlesey play Weymouth who, after having a mid-season promotion push, have fallen away towards the end of the
season.

With none of the away teams having anything left to play for, it would be easy to go with 4 home wins. That would leave the table exactly as it is now with Hemel and Barwell taking the final two spots. However, teams will
want to finish the season on a plus note to give them a boost going into next season, so I wouldn’t expect any of them to roll over too easily. There will be, I'm sure, plenty of ups and downs between 3pm and the final whistles.

This blog isn’t in the business of making predictions, so let’s just wait and see the outcome. Whoever gets through will have a tough away semi-final to face against Stourbridge or Chesham.

The semi-finals take place on Tuesday 30 April with the final the following Saturday. It’s going to be an exciting week in the Southern League Premier.

You can follow the final day live on Twitter. @HemelFC, @GosportBoroFC and @ArleseyTownFC all tweet live updates. I haven’t found any live Barwell updates but maybe someone from the club will tell me differently.

Good luck to all.

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Windy Millers

5/4/2013

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A thursday night trip to the wilds of North Leigh for a local derby with Didcot Town. I was expecting an eventful and competitve game, which I got. In addition there was a dodgy penalty, a first-half meeting with a Wolves supporter and the best reason for being substitued that I have ever heard.
North Leigh's picturesque ground, Eynsham Park, is less than 20 miles from home. So, after saying goodnight to my daughter, I set off around 7pm for a 7:45 ko. The ground itself is situated down a small private road. When I got there the car park was already heaving and cars were starting to park along the private track. A good sign. It was a short walk to the stadium which appears to be cut into a clearing in the woods. There are 2 turnstiles leading into the North end of the ground where the club house, toilets and snack bar are situated. The first thing that strikes you about the ground is the view down to Eynsham Hall in the distance. I don't think I have ever visited a ground that is pretty much in the front garden of a stately home.
With 10 minutes until ko, I grabbed a cup of tea and headed back around the pitch to stand near the dugouts. As I made my way around a voice behind me said 'You should be ashamed to wear that coat' (I was wearing a West Brom jacket). Deep in the wilds of Oxfordshire at an Evo-Stik Div 1 match and I have to stand next to a Wolves supporter!. He turned out to be a good bloke, there to see Didcot who he followed as much as possible. We chatted about the state of Midlands football, and Wolves' plight in particular, throughout the first half. He, like me, much preferred to watch a non-league game these days.
On the pitch North Leigh, kicking up the slope, were first to every ball and went in 2-0 up at half-time.
After grabbing another warm drink, I moved to the opposite side of the ground for the second half. Opposite the dugouts there is a small but nicely appointed covered seating area. I took up a position next to one of the floodlights. This is when I noticed the freezing blasts of cold air. In the first half I had been protected by a fence, but on this side of the pitch the full force of the easterly wind could be felt.
North Leigh went on to score twice more in the first part of the second half. At 4-0 it looked like game over.
I decided to move round to the stand behind the North goal, which would provide some respite from the wind. This turned out to be a good move. Within a few minutes of taking up my new position a Didcot corner to the far post was missed by the North Leigh keeper and powerfully headed in. 4-1 but still too late?
Just a few minutes later a Didcot cross from the right took a deflection off a North Leigh shoulder. Penalty! Much to the disgust of the home support. I'm not sure if the referee was trying 'even it up' as a few supporters suggested, but it was certainly harsh. The spot kick was duly dispatched and, at 4-2, we had an inetresting last few minutes.
It was at around this time that North Leigh made a substitution. As I was standing close to the players tunnel, I could hear the comments from some of the North Leigh officials. 'You alright mate?', 'Picked up a knock?' were a couple of the queries. The answer from the substituted player 'I'm fine but my train leaves in 10 minutes, so I had to come off'. Not the sort of tactical substitution that Sir Alex has to worry about.
Despite keeping the ball in the oppostion half for much of the remaining minutes, Didcot couldn't muster any more goals and the game finished 4-2.
A thoroughly entertaining game, played in a very good spirit, especially as it was a local derby of sorts. Eynsham Park is a very nice place to watch football. I would imagine that on a nice sunny afternoon it would be even better. I'll certainly be making a return visit next season.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northleighfc/

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