​My average round-trip journey watching non-league football this season has been 86 miles, and that includes a lot of pre-season friendlies in the local area. So, after watching my U11 girls record another away win in the morning, it was very nice to be able to walk to my chosen afternoon entertainment. I even had time to do a little shopping with the family before strolling across Bicester to the KEA Cub on Ashdene Road, home of Oxfordshire Senior League Division One leaders Bicester Hallions. A visit to Ashdene Road was long overdue so the visit of second-placed Eynsham was just too good an opportunity to miss.

The Background
Of course, the season is still very much in its infancy but a match between the two top teams in a division, at any time, is always worth watching. Hallions were going into the game unbeaten in the opening five games, having won four and drawn one. Eynsham, one point behind their hosts, had won four and lost one. Interestingly, the dropped points for both sides had come against the same side, Ashton Folly. Hallions drew 3-3 with them in the second game of the season. Eynsham, incredibly went down 8-1 to them on the opening day. Their record since that defeat reads four wins, scored 20, conceded 3. It's a funny old game. Of course, Hallions are in the first season in the Oxfordshire Senior League, having moved over from the Banbury & District Lord Jersey League last season. Consequently, there are no previous meetings between the sides.​

​The Game
I am always very reticent to comment on referee's performance for a number of reasons. The game can't function without referees and it's a very difficult job that most of us, if we were honest, would not want to do. However, there were a few challenges early on in this game that the referee, in my opinion, should have penalised, maybe even produced a yellow card. When he let them go, he lost control of the game to an extent. Hallions, who have a few players who have been around the non-league scene for a number of years, knew exactly how to take advantage of this. I don't mean that in a bad way, but they know how to manage a game. That became apparent more and more as the game wore on.

​The first real attempt on goal by either team came in the 9th minute when a good though ball set Dan Smith on his way. His low shot was saved well by the Eynsham goalkeeper, Connor Townsend. However, the respite was short-lived for the away side when shortly afterwards they concede a penalty for handball after the keeper had once again saved well from Smith. Jamie Mundy stepped up and put the spot-kick away to make it 1-0.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure. Townsend was called into action several times and when he did get neaten an Eynsham defender popped up to clear Blossom's header from the line. The game was getting increasingly tetchy, with a number of free-kicks. This is where the home side's game management really came into play. They welcomed the scrap, whereas Eynsham players were letting themselves get drawn in to a battle that they really were not going to win. Hallions just had way too much nous for them. 17 minutes in, Hallions doubled their lead with a superb goal. A free-kick on the right was played in to the edge of the box, Mundy collected it, swivelled and fired a spectacular effort over the keeper, dipping in under the bar. 2-0.

The referee was called into some less ordinary action when one of his linesman drew attention to abuse that was being directed at him by a spectator, who was standing pretty much on the touchline himself. After warning that he could be forced to abandon the game, the spectator eventually retreated and the game was allowed to continue.

Just less than ten minutes before the end of the half Hallions contrived to make the game more difficult for themselves. Lewis Bland launched himself into a tackle on Eynsham's left-winger. It was an awful challenge and, whilst I am convinced there was no real malice involved, it was late, over the top of the ball and reckless. The referee, quite rightly, pulled out a straight red card. However, just to make it even more difficult, whilst the Eynsham player was being treated, Matt Jenkins earned a ten-minute sin bin for comments made to the same linesman who had earlier been the target of the spectator abuse.

However, even with only nine players on the pitch, Hallions saw out the remainder of the half quite comfortably.

HT Bicester Hallions 2 Eynsham 0. Certainly nothing dull about the game. A penalty, a red card, a sin bin and the referee warning a spectator about his behaviour. On the pitch, Hallions showed why they were unbeaten, by bossing the game even when playing with fewer men for the final ten minutes of the half.

​As you would expect, with Hallions still down to nine, Eynsham started the second period on the front foot, looking to take advantage and get themselves back into the game. For a few minutes they did push the home ide backwards but again, Hallions manged the game so well. Leaving the lively Piers McGlynn up top, they massed ranks behind him and restricted Eynsham to a few half chances until they Jenkins was allowed back on.

Even then Eynsham, with a man advantage, should have been moving the ball around, using their numerical advantage to make the home side chase the ball around the pitch. For whatever reason, they didn't manage to do this. Maybe a lot of it was down to the work rate of Hallions who closed the ball down very quickly in all areas. They also had the speed and tenacity of McGlynn as the perfect out ball if they needed it.

There was no way that the second half was going to have as much incident as the first. Eynsham huffed and puffed but Hallions, comfortable with a two goal lead, were happy to keep taking the sting out of the game before hitting Eynsham with speedy breaks. It was one of these, in the 77th minute, that led to the third goal of the game when a ball was floated into the box for Mundy to loop the perfect header over the keeper, making it 3-0 and claiming his  hat-trick.

That was it as far as the action went. Eynsham had no way back from three down and Hallions were content to stick to 3-0 and take the three points.

FT Bicester Hallions 3 Eynsham 0. A comprehensive and comfortable victory for Hallions. Even with 10 men they controlled the game. The result leaves Hallions three points clear of Middleton Cheney, who won 2-1 at Woodstock, at the top of the table. Next week Hallions take on fifth-place Chalgrove Cavaliers at Ashdene Road. Eynsham drop to fourth below Adderbury Park Reserves, who they face at home next week.

Att: 40ish
Ground Number: 248
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A

​Another FA Vase weekend. So, after watching my girls storm to their third victory this season, and seeing my daughter get one the the goals (proud coach moment), a quick change and I was back on the road. Once again I was heading West towards Gloucestershire, this time for the all Hellenic League clash between Premier League Longlevens and Division One East leaders Wokingham & Emmbrook.

The Ground
Longlevens is a suburb of Gloucester, just to the North-East of the city centre. The club, although headquartered in Longlevens, play their home games on a leased facility on the other side of the A417 at Sawmills End. The ground is part of a campus which also includes an Ibis Hotel. There is limited parking at the football ground, but ample space on street or on the hotel car park (you should check any restrictions before parking here though). The ground has a covered seating area on the Saw Mills End side of the pitch with the dugouts on the opposite side. The Ibis hotel backs one of the goals with an office building behind the other. The clubhouse is not on site, being at the club's headquarters. However, there is a refreshments bar on site which caters for all supporters needs. The club is renowned for playing Northern Soul over their tannoy (does anyone still call it a tannoy?) before games, a fact borne out by a poster proclaiming exactly that as you enter the ground. I've never been a big fan myself but during my younger years I had a few friends who would regularly make trips up to Wigan. They would have loved the sounds that greeted supporters as they entered the ground. It's a nice touch and gives the club a great bit of character.
In keeping with the current climate there was track & trace in place via the NHS app or manually at the entrance. There were also hand sanitiser stations around the ground and plenty of notices asking supporters to maintain social distancing. All in all, a very safe environment.​

​The Background
For both clubs this season is their sixth venture into the FA Vase. Levens just about edge it in terms of progress made with a Second Round appearance last season where they went out 3-2 at Falmouth Town. Sumas have made the First Round on two occasions, the last being in 2015-16 when they went out 3-1 at Hartley Wintney. Last August BotP was at Wokingham's Lowther Road ground to witness The Town's Team return to FA competition action back in Wokingham, when they won 2-1 against a Step 5 side in Chipping Sodbury Town (Satsumas Vase Homecoming Bears Fruit).
Levens and Sumas have not met previously in the FA Vase or FA Cup, however they have previously played in the same division for one season, 2015-16. Levens did the double over Sumas, who went on to be relegated, that season, winning 1-0 away and 3-2 back at Sawmills in a game that saw Sumas reduced to 10 men.
Both sides have begun the new season in good form. Levens are fifth in the Hellenic Premier League and unbeaten after two wins and three draws. They progressed in the Vase after knocking out another Step 6 side, Hellenic Division One West Tytherington Rocks, on penalties. Sumas, also unbeaten with five wins and a draw, sit proudly top of Division One East. They also saw off a Division One West side, Cheltenham Saracens, in the previous round, winning 3-0 at Lowther Road.

​The Game
Bright sunshine greeted the teams as they made their way out onto the pitch, Levens in the home kit of red & black stripes, Sumas in a change from their orange kit, wearing an all dark blue outfit.
Early exchanges suggested that this was going to be a tightly contested game, despite there being a division between the sides. In fact it was the away side who seemed to settle into the game the better, exerting some pressure on the home defence with a couple of corners and free-kicks played into the area, none of which unduly unsettled Winman in the Levens goal. 
We were around 20 minutes into the game when the hosts had their first meaningful effort at goal but this was held well by Woodward. There was a not a great deal to choose between the teams but Sumas still, in my opinion, held a slight edge in terms of how dangerous they looked when going forward. This was aided by a succession of 50/50 decisions that seemed to go in their favour, which clearly had the home side and their bench somewhat frustrated. Unfortunately, and as so often happens, the more they contested decisions the more likely those decisions were to go against them.
Even though the away side had held sway, they could easily have gone in a goal down at the break when, after clearing a Levens attack, Dan Collier tried to pass back to his keeper without seeing that a Levens attacker was still comig out of the box. Luckily Sean Woodward was very quick off his line to make the save with his feet. Definitely a let off for Sumas and the best chance of the half for either team.

HT Longlevens 0 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0. A close encounter but Sumas probably edged it. All to play for in the second half.

​Having spent the first half with the sun in my eyes, I switched to the opposite side for the second half. The wind seemed to have intensified during half time too and was now gusting across the pitch at times, seemingly in the faces of the Wokingham defence.
The second period seemed to be a lot more end to end generally, with fewer free kicks, and overall very evenly balanced for much of the time. Levens started quite well, forcing an early free-kick which was headed wide, Wokingham responded with a couple of raids themselves, Josh Harris coming close and captain Liam Eagle heading one over from a corner. It was entertaining stuff for a neutral and, presumably, nail-biting for supporters of the two teams.
Maybe the home coaches had been of the same opinion as me about complaining to the referee because their players definitely didn't seem to be getting on the official's back in the second period. In fact, it was Sumas who were up in arms, twice appealing for penalties and twice being turned down. Both appeals were at the same end of the pitch that I was standing at and, I have to say, both would have been harsh on Levens if they had been given but you can understand the appeals.

​With 78 minutes on the clock and the possibility of penalties looming, the home side finally broke the deadlock. A long ball downfield turned the Sumas defence. Eagle looked to have the situation under control, shielding the ball for his keeper to collect, but when Woodward seemed to slip as he came out towards the ball, the defender and keeper collided leaving Brad Martin to roll the ball into an empty net. There were claims of a push on the defender (it was at the opposite end of the ground, so I couldn't see what happened) but they were waved away by the referee. 1-0

Sumas immediately pressed for the equaliser which, in turn, left them more exposed at the back. The game became more and more end to end, Collier went close for Sumas with a real rasper from long range, but they were looking a lot more vulnerable every time Levens got the ball back now. The nail was hammered into the coffin in the 88th minute when Will Emery, who had raided up the right flank tirelessly all game, drove into the box, fended off a couple of challenges and slipped the ball under Woodward to make it 2-0.

FT Longlevens 2 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0. Levens progress to the next round but it has to be said that the score-line was a little bit harsh on the Sumas. Despite playing in a division below their hosts, they more than matched them. In the end it was a defensive slip-up and a great piece of tenacity that swung the game. For Sumas, next up is a Challenge Cup game at home to Chinnor on Tuesday evening. Longlevens have to wait until next Saturday before making the trip to Hereford to visit Westfields in the league

A final note from me in the light of all of the recent controversy surrounding the £15 pay per view charge on some Premier League games. I spent many, many years following West Brom home and away. At the time I couldn't conceive not watching them play at every opportunity. However, once they reached the Premier League I felt my enthusiasm and enjoyment of the games begin to wane. I began watching non-league, especially my local team from childhood Stourbridge, and it rejuvenated my love for football. Yesterday, I watched a great game, played by two committed sides who genuinely wanted to play (not for money, but because they love the game), I was out in the fresh air and it cost me just £5 to get in, with a further £1 for a cup of tea. Why on earth would I pay £15 to sit on my sofa watching a game with no fans and no atmosphere when I could be out and about watching real football? It's a no from me. I'll always want The Baggies to win and I when they don't it still puts a downer on my day, but as for live football, it's non-league all the way for me now.

​Best of luck to both teams for the remainder of this season and a big thank you to the Severn Sport commentary team who shared the teams sheets with me before kick-off.

Longlevens: Winman, Emery, Barnett, Kavanagh, Long, Emmett, T.Callinan, O'Connor(c), ames, Martin, Johns. Subs: G. Callinan, Haswell, Lovegrove, Johnstone, Williams

Wokingham & Emmbrook: Woodward, O'Connell, Day, Cummukey, L.Eagle(c), C.Eagle, Harris, Collier, Scope, White, Bateman. Subs: Carter, Rushforth, Badshah, Eggleston

Att: 67
Ground Number: 247
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: Online only

Planning for midweek matches is getting more difficult these days. What with late postponements due to Covid-19 positive tests and this endless stream of storms that we seem to get these days (since we started naming them), I find that I need to have 4 or 5 possible games on my list. That was the case this week. I was already mindful of possible waterlogged pitches but was all set to head off to Cheltenham Saracens when I saw the tweet saying their game had been called off. No fault of theirs, or opponents Hereford Lads Club. A positive Covid-19 test in the Hereford ranks meant that they had to postpone. Still, all protocols were followed and best wishes to the player concerned. Hope he is back in action soon.
Not to worry though. Second on my list of possible games (and only second because it was slightly further to travel and I wasn't sure what time I would be free from work commitments) was Stonehouse Town v Hereford Pegasus. This was something of an occasion for the home side as it would be their first ever home game under their new floodlights.

​The Ground
Stonehouse play at Oldends Lane, to the North of the town, and have done since 1949 when the ground was opened by then England captain Billy Wright. There is an ample car park adjacent to the ground with a short cut through to the single turnstile that takes you into the corner of the stadium. Note that the clubhouse and toilets are outside the main stadium. A wristband system was in place to monitor who had already paid. Track and trace via the NHS app or manual collection was in place, as was a temperature check via a gun. Oldends Lane has two stands, a covered terrace behind the goal at The Lane End and the Mike 'Spike' Smith Stand which provides covered seating. Along side the Mike Smith stand at the Lane End there is also a raised walkway which gives a good view of the pitch. On the opposite side of the stand there is a snack bar. The dugouts are on the opposite side of the pitch. At the moment only two sides, the Lane End and the Mike Smith Stand side, are open to spectators. However, I believe that plans are in place to add hard-standing around the entire perimeter.

​The Background
Last season was Stonehouse's first at this level, having risen up through the ranks of the Gloucestershire County League. In the 2018-19 season they finished in third place behind Lebeq United (now of the Western League) and Frampton United (who remain in the County League), despite losing their last three league games. This was enough for them to gain promotion into the Hellenic League. Before the early end of last season they had made a decent start to life at Step 6 and were more than holding their own after a fairly shaky start where they lost three of their opening four games. Interestingly, their one early win came in this corresponding fixture when they thumped 10-man Pegasus 5-0.
Hereford Pegasus, known as Pegasus Juniors until 2019, returned to the Hellenic League last season after eight years playing in the West Midlands (Regional) Premier League. They are no strangers to this league though, having spent almost 30 years plying their trade in the Hellenic structure, mostly in the Premier League. They were sitting in second spot when the season abruptly stopped last year, having only suffered three more defeats after their drubbing at Stonehouse.

It became clear well before kick-off that the opening of the new floodlights had created quite a bit of local interest. Add to that what seemed to be a fair contingent from Hereford and a bumper crowd was definitely on the cards. This was clearly something that the club had anticipated, planned for and in a very good position to deal. There were three club officials on the gate at all times, plus one more actually manning the turnstile, dealing with track & trace, temperature checking and re-admissions through the main gate for the clubhouse and toilets. All, without exception, were welcoming, chatty and efficient. A very impressive setup of which the club should be extremely proud.

​​The Game
We were less than three minutes into the game when we had the first major incident. A strong 50-50 challenge in the centre of the pitch left Stonehouse's number 10 (sorry no name, didn't have a team sheet) down and in some obvious distress. It's important to say that there didn't seem to be any malice in the tackle. It was just two very committed players going for the ball. The game was stopped for a few minutes before the player was helped off the pitch by two teammates (thankfully not on a stretcher). I believe that he was taken straight off to hospital and would like to wish him a swift recovery.

Maybe it was the early injury playing on their minds or maybe Pegasus were just more up fo rhte game but, whatever the case, the first 10 minutes was played almost exclusively in the Stonehouse half of the pitch, even if their goalkeeper was not unduly tested. However they, and a lot of people in the crowd (me included) were taken completely by surprise when Stonehouse took the lead on 11 minutes with their first attack, Tim Williams slotting past Jason Davis to make it 1-0.

​The goal did little to alter the run of play. Pegasus were still dominating possession and playing some nice football until they got to the edge of the home penalty area, where it all seemed to dry up for them.  Stonehouse, when they did win the ball back, were mainly restricted to hitting hopeful balls into spaces between the Pegasus defenders. Unfortunately for them, they were being pushed back so far that no-one could get forward in time to pressure the defence. The consequence being that Hereford could re-group and launch another foray into the Magpies half.
Just past the half-hour mark though their persistence finally paid off, albeit in slightly controversial circumstances. The home team and much of the crowd were up in arms as the assistant seemed to miss a foul on one of their players in the build up to the Pegasus equaliser. Play was allowed to continue with the ball eventually being played through for Kieran Slatter to apply a tremendous finish into the top corner of Pedrick's net. 1-1. To make matters worse for the home side, there also appeared to be a suspicion of offside when the ball was slipped through to Slatter. Having said that, on the balance of play it was no more than The Redmen deserved.

With the away side back on level terms it looked as if it would just be a matter of time before they went in front, especially as the pattern of the game showed no sign of changing. However, just on the stroke of half-time Stonehouse launched a rare attack down their left side. Dan Gittings picked the ball up, drifted inside his man and let rip from outside the box to put his team back in front again. 2-1. A quality strike from the Town midfielder.

HT Stonehouse Town 2 Hereford Pegasus 1. On the balance of play I doubt either manager could believe the half-time score. However, goals are what count and the home side had converted their limited possession into two of them whereas Pegasus had kept the ball for long period without finding that killer final pass.

As with the first half, it didn't take long for the second half to give us an incident. This time, however, it was a goal. An equaliser for Pegasus with absolutely no hint of controversy surrounding it. Once again it was left-back Slatter on the scoresheet with a superb strike from well outside the box which gave the keeper no chance at all. 2-2.

Although Pegasus were still seeing more of the ball than their hosts, the second-half was noticeably more balanced than the first, especially with the pace of Chris Earle finally giving Town an out ball. Two or three times the winger threatened down the left, with one effort in particular only just clearing Davies's bar, with the keeper beaten.
I have to say, as a neutral, it was an enjoyable game. Pegasus were still playing the ball around very nicely and neatly, looking quite dangerous but still lacking that cutting edge. Stonehouse continued to dig in but definitely looked to pose a little more threat in the final third than they did in the first 45 minutes.
​

Then, as we entered the final five minutes, more controversy and a winning goal. Pegasus won a corner on their left, which Moreira swung in under the home bar. A number of players, including the goalkeeper, challenged for the ball which somehow ended up in the back of the net. 2-3 (o.g). Pegasus players turned away to celebrate their late winner whilst the Stonehouse players and bench were completely incensed, claiming a foul on their goalkeeper. All of this happened at the opposite end of the pitch to where I was standing unfortunately, so it was impossible for me to see what had actually gone off. Judging by the vociferous protestations from the home team, there must have been some contact. The referee, however, disagreed and the goal stood. Will Pedrick, Stonehouse's keeper, took his protests a little too far and was sin-binned in the aftermath of the goal, leaving The Magpies to play with 10 men for the remainder of the game.

FT Stonehouse Town 2 Hereford Pegasus 3. Two of the Pegasus goals had more than a little hint of controversy around them but overall even the most die-hard Stonehouse fan couldn't really argue with the result. Pegasus were the better team for the majority of the game. Stonehouse did improve in the latter stages of the second-half, but spent a fair bit of the game defending in their own half. On the plus side, the floodlights looked splendid.
On Saturday Pegasus are back in league action with a local derby at home to Wellington. Stonehouse need to pick themselves up in readiness to welcome Premier League outfit Royal Wootton Bassett Town to Oldends Lane.

Stonehouse Town: Pedrick, Basana, Thwaite, King, Bird, J. Williams, Kibble(c), Gittings, Buckland, T. Williams, Earle. Subs: Moyo, Ratcliffe, Love, Lowe
Hereford Pegasus: Davies, Summers, Slatter, Panniers, Burgess, Worthing(c), Langford, Peters, Taylor, Clarke, Moreira. Subs: Cox, Lear, Payne

Att: 175
Ground Number: 246
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Free to first 150