​After a week in Germany and no game for me last week (or again next week as it happens) I was happy to be out and about again  for a midweek trip down to Surrey and a new stadium to boot. My chosen game was Godalming Town v Farnham Town, the reverse of a fixture I saw at Farnham's Memorial Ground 18 months ago.

The Ground
Godalming's ground, The Bill Kyte Stadium, carries the name of their legendary former President, Mr Bill Kyte who, before his death aged 98 in February last year, had been with the club for 57 years. There is a very touching tribute to the man they called Mr Godalming Town on the club's website (Bill Kyte).
Parking at the ground is limited to players and club officials but there is a large car park on Wey Court just a few hundred yards from the entrance to the ground. Admission is through a single turnstile that brings you into an area below pitch level and directly behind the main stand. In this area is the clubhouse, the snack bar and toilets as well as a large whiteboard that is used to display the teams (I love this. More grounds need this sort of arrangement). There are few steps up, either side of the main stand which also houses the changing rooms, that take you up to pitch level. Aside from the aforementioned main stand, there is also covered standing provided behind both goals. The amenities at the ground give away the fact that the team played two steps higher not that long ago. The ground has a good feel to it and some character and, as Shorts Man (see below) pointed out, it would be great to see the place full one day.

​The Background
The game this evening was a Combined Counties Division One Challenge Cup match, a trophy currently held by Frimley Green.The sides couldn't have been coming into the game in much different form. Farnham, currently sitting in second place, were on a run of six games unbeaten in all competitions, which included five consecutive victories with only two goals conceded. Godalming, despite having won their last league outing 4-2 at home to Ash United, had lost the previous 4 in all competitions, sat third from bottom and had, only the previous evening, suffered the resignation of their manager Les Cleevely. Add to that the fact that the team had been pulled together at short notice, and all pre-match indications pointed to a Farnham victory. What no-one had taken into account was that I was going to attend the game (more of that later).
I'd like to add at this point that I picked up quite a bit of the local news (manager leaving, team changes etc) from Dave Fiddler, aka Shorts Man who got a few mentions the last time I saw these sides meet back in February 2018 (Shorts Story). It was great to catch up with Dave in person, chew the cud a little about football, rugby league and current affairs. Dave is still out there in all weathers, supporting The G's in his shorts and, this particular evening, a T-shirt! when every else was wrapped up in jumpers and jackets. All I can say is that he is from the North. They are a different breed. Nice bloke and a great supporter of the club. They are lucky to have someone like him.

​The Game
The game started off as the form book would have it. Farnham settled the better and looked eager to establish themselves. This they did as early as the 8th minute when a break down the left saw the ball fed into the box to the feet of captain Charlie Oakley. His deft back-heel was nicely into the path of Jack May but his shot was parried by Adam Giles in G's goal. The ball fell back to Oakley who arrowed a left-foot effort into the corner of the net to make it 0-1.

The goal was like an alarm clock to the home side. Almost immediately, they roused themselves and began to look for a way back in. The breakthrough didn't take too long either. After 17 minutes they were level after a lovely move down the left and a lovely, crisp angled drive from Ben Bauchop found the far corner of Boughton's net. 1-1
Eight minutes later and the home side had completed the turnaround. Lively winger Reece Weekes found some space on the edge of the box but saw his shot (yes, shot. Not what I had mistakenly tweeted at the time) come back off the post. Donte Lodge-Francis was first to react though, snapping up the loose ball and planting it into the Farnham net. 2-1

HT Godalming Town 2 Farnham Town 1. A very good response from the home side who seemed to need the wake-up call of going a goal behind to get themselves going.

​If Farnham had started the first half well, this was eclipsed by the way that Godalming came out all guns blazing for the second period. Within three minutes of the restart Lodge-Francis chanced his arm from outside the box and saw his effort squirm through Boughton's grasp and into the net. 3-1.
Three minutes later came the goal of the game. Darren Wheeler picked the ball up out on the left, danced past a few tackles and then clipped a delightful shot, with the outside of this right foot, past Boughton and into the far corner. 4-1
The game looked to be done for Farnham after only 6 minutes of the second-half and just before the hour mark the home side sealed the deal. Good work down the left saw the ball fed to Lodge-Francis for a simple finish to claim his hat-trick. 5-1

Farnham, to their credit, steadied the ship a little after this second-half onslaught. They even managed to get a goal back after 64 minutes when Karma Thomas was presented with a tap-in to make it 5-2. However, the initial flurry after getting one back didn't lead to any more and it was Godalming who almost increased their lead when Weekes struck a post shortly after Thomas's goal.

FT Godalming Town 5 Farnham Town 2. Three goals in twelve minutes at the start of the second-half ended the game as a contest. Farnham kept fighting and got themselves a consolation goal but never really threatened to make it a close finish.

So, the form book was turned upside down. Maybe, given my record of watching Farnham, it wasn't such a shock. This was the third time that I had seen them play and the third time that I had seen them lose. I think it may be a good idea for me to steer clear of their games for a while, but I am determined to see them win one day. Meanwhile, I am happy to take donations to charity for me to take my jinx to another club.
Just before posting this I saw an announcement that fourth goal-scorer Darren Wheeler has been announced as interim manager. Congratulations Darren!

Godalming Town: Giles, Hardisty, Francis, Mbele, Scotcher, Sellick(c), Villa, Bauchop, Lodge-Francis, Wheeler, Weekes. Subs: Cavender, Grant, Carter
Farnham Town: Boughton, Mitchell, Smith, Sowden, Harper, Branch, Pegg, Meaton, Oakley(c), Thomas, May. Subs: Nash, Corbett, Sharratt, Kerrison

Att: 
Ground Number: 218
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: £2.00

What a weekend! Non-League Day, 1st Round of the FA Vase and, to top it all off, it was also time to celebrate our wedding anniversary. So, after dinner and a night out watching The Stranglers and Alice Cooper in Brimingham, there was just time to quickly knock out a sluggish Dudley Parkrun before heading over to Stourport for my chosen game, and then finally gathering some brainpower together for my brother-in-law's charity quiz night in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice. The less said about our quiz performance the better, so here's what happened at the football.
I love the FA Vase, so much so that I gave up a fairly rare opportunity to watch my home town side Stourbridge play in favour of a trip to Walshes Meadow, current home of West Midland Regional League Division 1 side Droitwich Spa, as the locals took on Step 5 outfit Whitchurch Alport.

The Ground
It was good to read in the programme that there are plans afoot for The Saltmen to move back into Droitwich. However, for the time being, they are playing their games at Stourport Swifts' Walshes Meadow ground on the banks of the River Severn.
The ground is hemmed in the the river side by a dense row of tall trees from which stray balls often have to be retrieved with the aid of a long pole. The dugouts are also situated on this side of the ground as too is the snack bar. There is a single covered seating stand on the opposite side of the pitch.

​The Background
Whatever happened in this game, some club history was already being made. Neither Droitwich nor Whitchurch had ever made it into the First Round of the competition before, so this was a big day for both sides.
Plenty of Whitchurch supporters had made the trip down from Shropshire and were already in good voice as the teams appeared. Their chants being countered by a smaller, but equally vocal, group of local supporters.

​The Game
A feisty start to the game. The Alport goalkeeper and defence seem to have some kind of feud brewing with Spa number 10 James Lemon. The game was only a few minutes old when the referee had to intervene as a spot of wrestling between Lemon and David Parton in the Alport goal. There followed a few meaty challenges on the Droitwich striker, a theme that continued throughout the first half. 
There were chances at both ends in the opening ten minutes, Matt Oliver twice made good stops to keep out Alport whilst Lemon and Collins were making life difficult at the other end for the Alport defence. Whitchurch occasionally showed signs of their higher league ranking, once or twice cutting through the Spa midfield and mounting what looked like dangerous attacks. Each time, though, Droitwich held firm, defending stoutly and countering with raids of their own. Matt Oliver was then called upon to make a brilliant save, getting a fingertip to Joe Cuff's rasping effort.

From a neutral's point of view the game was fascinating. The lower ranked side were working incredibly hard and were undoubtedly the better side. Whitchurch were hanging in there but there was always the thought that they would step it up a gear and begin to take control. For a small time midway through the first-half, this appeared to be the case. Maybe Droitwich couldn't keep the pace up for the 90 minutes, or maybe Alport were beginning to recover from the initial onslaught? Whatever the case the Step 5 side looked as if they were beginning to assert themselves. Credit again to The Saltmen though, after a short breather, back they came, stunting Alport's revival and finishing the half the stronger team again.

HT Droitwich Spa 0 Whitchurch Alport 0. Great work-rate from Droitwich. They clearly have a game plan to play a high intensity style and it certainly worked for the first 45 minutes. Can they possibly keep up the pace for another 45?
​
​The start of the second-half seemed to answer yes to my half-time question. Straight from the whistle Spa were back on the offensive. Twice, within 3 minutes of the restart, Parton was forced to go full length to prevent Collins from opening the scoring. The Saltmen continued to knock on the door with no sign of a let up in their energy levels.
Whitchurch were then quite lucky to keep their captain on the pitch. After picking up a yellow in the first half, Darren Campion committed what looked like a second bookable offence only for the referee to show leniency and let him off with a talking to, much to the annoyance of the noisy Spa contingent in the main stand.
Just past the hour mark came the inevitable breakthrough. Another period of pressure from the home side culminated in the ball dropping to the feet of Jordan Cox whose right-footed shot beat Parton to make it 1-0.

Of course, at this point, you would think that a Step 7 side 1-0 up against a Step 5 side would pull 10 men behind the ball and defend their lead. Not this team. Alport tried to raise their game and, as in the first half, had a short period where they again looked as if they might be getting a foot-hold, with Stephen Jones having their best effort with a free-kick going just wide. Droitwich were having none of it though and almost doubled their lead on 71 minutes when Collins shaped a lovely free-kick around the wall only to see it come back off Parton's left-hand post.
The reprieve for Alport was short-lived though. Seven minutes later it was two and it was Jordan Cox again, this time latching on to hesitancy from the Alport keeper to rob him of the ball and drift an effort into the far corner for 2-0. Cue wild celebrations from the home support.

Try as they might there was no way back for Alport now and even after going two up, Droitwich were not letting up. There was no hint of sitting deep and hanging on for the whistle. If anything they looked hungry for a third goal.
​
FT Droitwich Spa 2 Whitchurch Alport 0. A thoroughly deserved win for The Saltmen. They were the better side from the first minute until the last. Having not seen either side play before, I don't know if Whitchurch had an off day, if Droitwich played out of their skin or if it was a combination of the two. What I can say is that Droitwich's work-rate was too much for Alport on the day. Thanks to both sides for playing their part in providing great entertainment and best of luck to them both for the remainder of the season.

Droitwich Spa: Oliver, Phillips, Brookes, Dugmore, Hunt(c), Rudd, Davis, Tilbury, Collins, Lemon, Cox. Subs: Morris, Burgess, Tilley, Crowther
Whitchurch Alport: Parton, Minshall, Pickerill, O'Neill, Dickin, Campion(c), Jones, Griffiths, Hughes, Robinson, Cuff. Subs: Johns, Burzynski, Bath, Dunne, Skelton, Ellis

Att: 203
Ground Number: 217
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00

​Without noticing, I have been drawn towards Combined Counties games this season and this Tuesday evening was no different. A first ever trip to leafy Ascot was on the cards as I headed off to check out the Combined Counties Premier League leaders in action at home for the first time this season.

The Ground
The evening was all about the re-opening of Ascot United's ground, together with their brand-spanking new 3G pitch The stadium is situated within the grounds of Royal Ascot Racecourse, snugly wedged between The Straight Mile and Royal Ascot Golf club. In fact Ascot Racecourse are the club's landlords. This was my first visit to The Racecourse Ground so I can't compare the new ground with the old one. However, what I can say is that first impression is that there has clearly been a lot of hard work done at the ground and, I would say, plenty more still to do on the surrounding area. 
Upon arriving at the ample car park, I was surprised to see so many cars especially as I was 45 minutes early for kick-off. It soon became clear that the reason for so many vehicles was that the club has a thriving mini-soccer scene with session staking place on the new surface prior to this evening's Combined Counties game. As a mini-soccer coach myself, I am always heartened to see so many local kids - boys and girls - getting involved with game and it's fantastic see a club like Ascot United embracing youth football in such a way and sharing their superb facilities.
Back to the new ground. It's shiny. A shiny new pitch, shiny new fencing, shiny new dugouts and a rather unique terrace on the car park side of the ground with a covered seating area raised above the level of the pitch along with covered standing outside the clubhouse.
Personally I'm still not 100% certain about 3G pitches. I completely understand why clubs install them and I don't have any particular beef about the pitches themselves any more - current technology seems to have produced a very playable surface - but the old-fashioned football supporter in me still likes to see a bit of mud and a slick grass surface. Having said that, I am sure that we will continue to see more and more artificial surfaces in non-league and it certainly won't stop me watching the game.

​The Background
Despite having played all eight league games away from Ascot, The Yellamen were coming into this match unbeaten, having only dropped two points - a 1-1 draw with Hanworth Villa - and were sitting pretty at the top of the league. Guildford, meanwhile, were down in 15th spot having won two and drawn three of their nine outings this season. City's main problem had been scoring goals, with just 7 in 9 games. Their strong point, however, was that they had also only conceded 7 goals, a great statistic for a team in the lower half of the table. In fact, only two teams had conceded fewer, Abbey Rangers and this evening's hosts.
Ascot transferred from the Hellenic League at the end of last season and, as far as I can make out, this would be the first meeting, certainly competitively, between the teams.

​The Game
With kick-off delayed by 10 minutes (crowd congestion?), there was time to do a circuit of the new ground and take a good look around before we got under way.
Both sides struggled to get a hold on the game in the early encounters and this was to become a feature of the first half, with neither side able to take control. The reason for Guildford's low number in the goals against column was quite apparent from the start. A well organised back line protected by a solid midfield who were always on hand to drop into defence when called upon. Ascot tried switching the ball from flank to flank but got very little change from the Sweeney defence.
Arguably the best chances of the half fell to Guildford who were finding some success with raking diagonal balls to the speedy Eli Ogunseye on the left flank. His pace was causing all sorts of trouble for the home defence but the final ball was still lacking.

HT Ascot United 0 Guildford City 0. At half-time I tweeted that the home side were certainly not having it all their own way. I can't think of a better way of summing up the half.

​We didn't have long to wait in the second half before the deadlock was broken, four minutes to be exact. However, it did not go the way that the majority of the 400 supporters would have wanted. Guildford, immediately on the front foot broke forward with the ball ending up at the feet of Dan Stewart some 25 yards out, he took a couple of strides before firing a low drive past the outstretched hand of Sam Gray into the bootom corner. 0-1
For 10 minutes or so all was looking good for Guildford. Ascot were pushing to get back into the game but the City dfence still looked solid and they were working hard across the pitch to shut down The Yellamen ebfore they could get up a head of steam. Unfortunately for City midfielder Wayne Ridgeley, already on a yellow from the first half, took matters a little too far with a late challenge in the centre of the pitch leaving the referee little choice but to produce a second yellow and the red card.
It was going to be a tought last 33 minutes for Guildford now. Down to 10 men and defintiely on the back foot.
It was looking like just a matter of time before Ascot fouind and equaliser and went on to win the game. They were now awarming forward at every opportunity but Guildford seemed quite comfortable and happy wirth their defensivve ability, happy to sit deep and soak up the Ascot pressure.
Possibly the biggest turnign point of the game came on the 67th minute when it looked to everyone in the ground as if Ascot were about to get that illusive goal.Somehow though Billy Irving flung himself at the goal-bound effort and managed to clear the ball off the line with the keeper beaten. It was a magnificent effort freom the defender, not only saving his team from being pegged back but inspiring his team-mates to continue their fight for the points.

We approached the last 5 minutes of normal time with the game being played almost exzclusively in the Guildford half of the pitch but, as often can happen in these situations, Guildford managed to break downfield. One Ascot player was clearly struggling with an injury, then captain Louis Bouwers slipped at an inopportune moment leaving Dan Stewart to sieze his opoortuntiy, bursting past the stricken defender to slide the ball under Gray much to the delight of the supporters behind the goal. 0-2

This goal knocked the stuffing out of the Ascot team but they continued to push forward, desperate to save their unbeaten record. It was, however clear that this was not going to be their evening and as we went into time added on, Eli Ogunseye confirmed the result, bursting into the Ascot box and finsihing with aplomb to make it 0-3.

FT Ascot United 0 Guildford City 3. A very good performance from Guildford who clearly had a game plan and executed it perfectly, which I am sure had them dancing in the streets of Freiburg. Not the result that Ascot were looking for but, on the plus side they had a bumper crowd some of whom will hopefully return on a regular basis. They have a lovely new playing surface, a really nice ground and they are still top of the league. So, not all bad.
I, however, may have to stay clear Ascot United games in future. They have only lost two of their fifteen games in all competitions this season. I have seen them play twice. I'll let the reader guess which two games I have seen.....
Finally, great to meet Football in Berkshire's Tom Canning and his crew last night. We have corresponded on a number of occasions but have never been at the same game before as far as we know. Always good to put a face to a name. If you haven't checked out the Football in Berkshire (formerly Football in Bracknell) site you really should - https://www.footballinbracknell.co.uk/
​
Ascot United: Gray, Lock, Etienne, Carey, Bouwers(c), Ellis, Haworth, Denton, Davies, Hodges, Lalustani. Subs: Burden, Bennett, Laflin, Wensley, Richardson
Guildford City: Basey, Mason, Nzelo, Woodhouse(c), Sullivan, Irving, Ridgeley, Dacres-Smith, Harding, Stewart, Ogunseye. Subs: Everard, Pillay, Adams, Ocansey

Att: 396
Ground Number: 216
Entrance: Free / Donation
Programme: Free

​Tuesday's weather in Oxford had been so bad that, even though some games further afield were given the green light, it didn't seem like a good idea to drive through monsoon conditions for over an hour each way. So, I kept my powder dry and hoped that the weather improved enough to get to a game on Wednesday. It did, so my next decision was, where to go. Most grounds that I hadn't yet visited were in the West Country, in and around Bristol. In the end I decided on something of a local derby Southern League Cup game between Slimbridge and Yate Town.

The Ground
Slimbridge's Thornhill Park ground is situated just to the South-East of Slimbridge, between the Bristol Road and the M5. There is a reasonable sized on-site car park, mainly for the use of players and officials. However, there is also plenty of parking in a car park and industrial estate adjacent to the ground. This is where the match-day officials were pointing us when I arrived. Access is via a turnstile that brings you into the ground directly behind one of the goals. Immediately to your right is the clubhouse and snack bar, to your left is a covered terrace directly behind the goal. The main stand runs down the right-hand side, the M5 side, as you enter, with the dugout son the opposite side.
The thing that really struck me when I saw the ground was the pitch. It looked absolutely impeccable. A carpet in fact. Given the amount of rain that we had had recently, which followed a period of almost drought-like conditions, it was in perfect condition. You have to take your hat off to the Slimbridge groundsperson(s) for giving the teams such a great surface to play on.

​he Background
Although these sides are close neighbours they are currently separated by a division after Yate's promotion through the play-offs last season. Recent league encounters between the sides have tended to go the way of The Bluebells, winning four of the last eight league games with two draws and two wins for Slimbridge - both of which came in the 2016/17 season where The Swans won 2-1 at Yate and 3-1 at home. Last season saw Yate take both games, 3-0 at home and 4-1 at Thornhill Park. The Bluebells went on to beat Moneyfields (5-4 on pens) and then Cinderford Town 3-1 in the play-off Final.
The sides have also met in the FA Cup fairly recently with Slimbridge edging a close encounter 2-1 at Lodge Road in the 2006-07 season.

The Game
The game started at a very lively pace with both sides trying to close the ball down quickly all over the pitch. Yate, in particular, were playing a very high press, defending from the front and trying to apply as much pressure as possible to a very young looking Slimbridge side. The Swans clearly like to play the ball out from the back rather than having the keeper launch it (although this would prove to be a useful weapon later) and Yate had clearly done their homework with their forwards working hard to shut down space when the home defenders took possession.
Slimbridge were certainly capable of playing the ball around nicely up until the final third where they seemed to lack some nous when it came to unlocking a very solid and experienced looking Yate defence, led and marshalled by skipper Nicholas Peare.
It was the away side who were looking the more dangerous when they pressed forward and, sure enough, after 26 minutes they broke the deadlock when midfielder Sam Kamara unleashed a superb effort from the edge of the box, dipping over Wright and just under the bar to make it

Yate tried to press home their advantage and nine minutes later Bradley Webb crashed an effort off Wright's right-hand post, almost doubling the Bluebell's lead.
Slimbridge continued to play their football and, as the half wore on, they did mange to get a couple of shots on target but nothing to unduly worry Adam Forster between the Yate sticks.

HT Slimbridge 0 Yate Town 1. The visitors have shown their extra experience and quality at times, managing the game better than  Slimbridge. However, the home side are by no means out of it, especially if they could find a way of unpicking the tight Yate defensive line.

​As with the first half, the second started off lively but this time it was the home side who were suddenly finding that extra yard of pace and were, without doubt, causing more concern for Peare and his fellow defenders than they did in the first period. There were maybe even one or two signs that the rock-solid Bluebells defence did have flaws after all. However, they still stood firm, relying on their extra experience to weather the spirited efforts of the young Swans outfit.
Then, on 70 minutes, Yate again demonstrated their extra quality when, after defending a Slimbridge attack, they broke exceptionally quickly and, three or four precision passes later, Bristol City loanee Louis Britton was able to calmly stroke home the second goal. 0-2.

Many people in the ground thought that was game over but Slimbridge clearly had other ideas. Within 3 minutes they were back in the game, and it was a goal scored not by their previous style of playing out from the back it was, in fact, a massive launch from their own goal area that caught out the Yate defence as the ball sailed over their heads. Swans substitute Ethan Dunbar reacted quickly to nip in, control the ball and run on to finish neatly past Forster. 1-2 and game on perhaps?

The goal coming so soon after Yate had gone two up could easily have unsettled the away side. However, they quickly regained their composure and, despite Slimbridge throwing everything they could at them for the remaining minutes, Yate held out to progress to the next round.

FT Slimbridge 1 Yate Town 2. A very spirited second half from the home side but the youngsters couldn't quite match Yate's extra experience. Despite defeat the home side must be very pleased with the number of young players that they have coming through the ranks. The future could well be bright for The Swans. Yate looked to be a very accomplished side and, on that showing, should have no problems retaining their Premier League status.

Slimbridge: Wright, Harper, Waddington, Chambers, C.Turner(c), Pring, Spurrier, Horrell, Bloomfield, M.Turner, Tuodolo. Subs: Giles, D.Turner, King, Dunbar
Yate Town: Forster, Evans, Horton, Peare(c), Ford, Webb, Kamara, Guest, Bryant, Britton, Twyman. Subs: Lee, Price, Mehew, Humphreys, Keightley

Att: 92
Ground Number: 215
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: Online