​This midweek I made the very short journey to Yarnton Road, home of Kidlington FC. It's not a new ground to me but it was a chance for me to see how The Greens were progressing since their promotion to Step 4 last May, and since the departure of former manager Martin Wilkinson who had done so much to take them up. I last watched them play, and win, at Thatcham last March in the game that went a long way to clinching their promotion. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/green-party).

Since I last made the trip to Kidlington there has been an addition to the ground. A very nice new covered seating area now adorns the Yarnton Road side of the pitch. Unfortunately for the club, it is this stand that has been the scene of some mindless vandalism in recent months. Let's hope the stupidity has passed and the perpetrators have been/will be caught.

After transferring from the South & West Division last season, visitors Marlow had started the season very well and came into this match in fourth sport, three points adrift of second-placed Farnborough. Kidlington, it has to be said, are probably still finding their feet at this level. However, five wins and three draws so far had left them in 17th spot with a bit of breathing space between themselves and the trapdoor. After some recent good runs, both sides were coming into the game on the back of a defeat. Marlow had lost a tight game at home to AFC Dunstable by a goal to nil whilst Kidlington had gone down 3-0 at Farnborough but, by all accounts, had played well in defeat.

Now, at this point, it has to be said that in four previous games, 2 at Kidlington and 2 away, I had never seen The 
Greens lose a game. In fact, the 2-2 draw at Brackley last season was the only time I have seen them drop a point. Would my run continue?

Well, I would have to wait a little longer to find out as kick-off was delayed slightly after the discovery that a dog 
had used the Yarnton Road pitch as a toilet. However, a plastic bag was duly produced and the game could get under way.

Unsurprisingly, given their lofty league position, Marlow were quick to get on the ball and for the first few minutes Kidlington were finding it hard to get a foothold. However, Marlow didn't really stretch the Greens defence too much and the home side gradually grew in confidence and began to get into the game.
Kidlington did survive a scare after 13 minutes though. A delightful cross from Osei-Tutu was met by the head of Marcus Mealing who beat the keeper but saw his effort come back off the foot of the post.
Kidlington responded with an attack of their own which was repelled by Marlow keeper, Simon Grant, coming out of his box to clear. The clearance fell to a green shirt who tried to put the ball back into the Marlow box only to be thwarted by the hand of Grant outside of the penalty area. Grant picked up a booking for his trouble but the free-kick came to nothing so you could say he took one for the team.

The game was now pretty even. Kidlington were beginning to play some nice football up until the last third, but not really causing any problems for Grant and his defence. Marlow, for some reason, had resorted to long balls towards Mealing and then trying to get players around him to pick up the pieces.

Kidlington finally made the breakthrough on 28 minutes. A break up the right flank culminated in a cross gong into the Marlow box. Grant seemed to misjudge the flight and the ball fell to the feet of Jack Dunmall who made no mistake, stroking the ball into the corner of the net. 1-0 to Kidlington.
Marlow almost hit straight back, forcing a corner on their right hand side. The ball was played into the box where Calum Gallimore powered a header against the bar. 

As we went into added time at the end of the first half a Marlow shot was blocked by a Kidlington defender to huge penalty claims from the Blues. It certainly looked like the ball struck a hand but the referee, presumably deciding it was ball to hand rather than vice-versa, waved play on and seconds later blew for the end of the half.
​
HT Kidlington 1 Marlow 0. The away side would certainly feel that they should have at least been level given the two attempts against the woodwork and the strong penalty claims. However, it's goals that count and Kidlington had taken their chance well.

​With Marlow not producing a performance anything like a team in third spot I was fully expecting an onslaught from them in the second half. However, the home side really took the wind out of their sails early on. With just 5 minutes played in the second half a low cross from the Kiddy left was turned in at the far post by Elliot Osborne-Ricketts. Grant got a hand to it but could not prevent it going across the line. 2-0 to Kidlington.

Marlow huffed and puffed for a while after the second goal and, without doubt, saw more of the ball than in the first half. However, too many passes were going astray and they seemed to lack any kind of cohesion going forward. I don't want to seem to hard on them. Every team has bad days and I can only assume that this was one of them for Marlow. 

The final nail in The Blues coffin came on the 72nd minute. A driven cross, from the right this time, was deftly turned in by Anaclet Odhiambo for 3-0 and that was that. There was no way back for Marlow now and you could see that both sides knew it.

FT 3-0. The referee blew for full time and signalled the end of what was, ultimately, a comfortable and well-deserved three points for Kidlington. They stay in 17th but are now 13 points clear of the drop zone and, no doubt, looking upwards. Marlow stay fourth despite a second consecutive defeat and will hope to stop the rot at mid-table Arlesey on Saturday. The Greens, meanwhile, have a weekend off before going to Hanwell next Tuesday.

I still have not seen Kidlington lose a football match and I have not seen them drop a single point at Yarnton Road. I expect my season ticket will be in the post shortly.

Good luck to both sides for the rest of the season.

Kidlington - @kidlington_fc
Marlow - @marlowfc

​A second consecutive evening of football for me. After the thrills and spills of the FA Trophy on Tuesday it was back to league action on Wednesday and a visit to The Bourne to see second-placed Hook Norton take on mid-table Abingdon United in the Hellenic League Division One West. Strictly speaking The Bourne is not a new ground for me having previously been there as a visiting committee member in the 2010-11 season. Not as lot has changed in the last five and a half years. The football team shares the ground with the cricket team and, as with Stourbridge and Northampton pre-Sixfields, one side of the ground is completely open so that cricket can be played as well. Opposite the cricket pitch side there are two covered stands, one has seating the other is standing only. They are separated by the dugouts. The clubhouse and other facilities are in a block accessed from the corner of the pitch on the cricket pitch side and sits back slightly from the football pitch. For those not hardy enough to brave the winter weather there is parking available that is close enough to give a decent view of the football pitch.

Hooky were going into this game on the back of a great run that had seen them put some pressure on the leaders, Fairford Town. In fact, Hooky had not lost in the league since going down 5-0 to Fairford early in the season. Undefeated at home and with only a solitary home league goal conceded, they were looking very strong. Abingdon came into the game in seventh but with a few games in hand on a lot of their rivals and having won their last two league games.
When the game kicked off the home side were immediately in their stride and looking like a team near the top and full of confidence. Several chances went begging in the first 15 minutes, all of which fell to Hooky but none of which unduly troubled the Abingdon keeper.

Then, as so often happens in these situations, Abingdon hit Hooky on the break and took the lead. With just under 20 minutes on the clock a break down the U's left flank was pulled back straight into the path of Samuel Wharton who made no mistake with a drilled shot low to the keepers right. I think even the most fervent Abingdon supporter would have to admit that the goal came against the run of play but it was a lovely break and a very tidy finish. 0-1.

The game, in my opinion, turned on that goal. Suddenly it was United who looked full of confidence and the home side who were starting to look a little ragged. In fact, the longer the half went on the more Abingdon began to look the more likely team to score. The pace and timing of the run from the Abingdon forwards broke the Hook Norton offside trap on a number of occasions forcing a few last ditch tackles. On such break in the 42nd minute was ended when Abingdon's pacy right-winger, Siyanda Gila, was dumped to the ground. Although it looked like they had a fair penalty shout the referee waved play on.

The game was certainly not a dirty one but there were some niggles going on around the pitch. A clash in midfield continued up the field after the play had moved on. Another clash on the edge of the home box resulted in a brief outbreak of handbags and, in general, the atmosphere grew a little more heated as the half progressed

It has to be said at this point that the referee had been gradually getting more and more stick from both sides during the half. It also has to be said that there appeared to be a referees assessor at the game which may account for our man in the middle sticking very vehemently to the rule book. I say that because, although his decisions were frustrating to both sides at times and he did get some wrong (who doesn't), he was generally just applying the rules to the nth degree. More of this to come.
So, at half-time it was the visitors who went in the happiest. Hook Norton 0 Abingdon United 1.

​A very welcome cup of tea later I was back out and looking forward to the second half.
It wasn't long before the game sparked into life. Six minutes to be exact. That's how long it was before home captain Joe Eyre picked up a second yellow card and trudged off the pitch. To be fair, the player began taking off his armband almost immediately, so he knew what was coming.
Hooky seemed to be galvanised by the sending off and, even a man light, made the game an equal contest for the next 10 minutes. On 63 minutes Hooky gave away a free-kick just outside their own penalty area. Graham Edney stepped up and curled a lovely effort over the wall and past the stranded Kurt Fox in the home goal. 0-2.

Hooky had now conceded twice as many goals in this game as in all of their previous league home games.
The game got a little disjointed at this point. Hooky didn't give the game up by any means but at 0-2 and a man down they knew it was going to be a tall order.
With just less than 15  minutes to play Abingdon sewed up the points when Gila, who had looked dangerous all evening, struck a fine effort over Fox and in off the underside of the bar. No way back for Hook Norton now. 0-3.

Their cause was made even worse when their number 5 (Howkins?), already on a yellow, went through the back of an Abingdon player. There were protests from the home side but, to be honest, the referee had little option but to hand out a second yellow and the inevitable red.
There was still time for more application of the FA rules from our man in the middle when the Abingdon right-back went down with cramp inside his own half. The game continued and his team-mates urged him to get off the pitch, presumably because he would be playing any Hook Norton players onside. He duly followed orders and limped the couple of yards over the white line. This action brought the referee running 50 yards to brandish a yellow for leaving the field without consent from the officials. Of course, by the letter of the law, this is a yellow card offence but was it really necessary? I would say not and I wonder if it would have happened without the presence of an assessor.

Anyway, the official eventually blew for full-time after what seemed like an eternally long added time with a final score of Hook Norton 0 Abingdon United 3.

It was certainly an eventful and enjoyable game (for a neutral at least), a very good three points for Abingdon and, let it be said, a very friendly club to visit. I would certainly recommend a trip to The Bourne for any hopper out there who has not yet been to Hook Norton and remember, it's next to a brewery.

Hook Norton - @fchooknorton
Abingdon United - @abingdonutd

​Five red cards in two games against Marine would suggest the latter but, in my eyes, at least one of the three reds on Tuesday was very harsh.
​
On an unusually warm November evening, I was making a first ever visit to Rowley Park, or the Premier Plus Stadium if you wish, for an FA Trophy Second Round Replay between St Neots Town of the Southern League Premier and Marine of the NPL Premier. I always find clashes between teams from the same Step but in different division fascinating. 
I must admit that due to work and family commitments, I hadn't read the match report from the first game so I wasn't aware of the 'previous' between the sides. With three reds coming in the first game and, presumably, a few scores to settle on both sides, it was always going to be a tough tie to referee. And so it proved.

First though, a little about the stadium. Parking, I was told, was quite tight at the ground and around the stadium so I took the club website advice and parked on the railway station car park. It's a short walk over the bridge to the stadium. The ground itself has a very pleasing feel to it with covered standing behind both goals and a reasonably large covered seating area on the car park side. The railway side of the ground, where the dugouts are situated, is uncovered but backed by a fairly steep bank and fencing, so it feels quite enclosed. 

I entered the stadium just as the game had kicked off with Marine in their change kit of yellow and green attacking the Kester Way End. The home side, wearing all dark blue, and the officials, all in black, were quite difficult to distinguish. Or maybe it was just my old eyes starting to give up on me?

It didn't take too long for the game to burst into life. The electronic scoreboard was showing 14 minutes on the clock when a deflected shot from Declan Rogers looped over the Marine keeper and nestled in the far corner.

The lead, however, wasn't to last too long. Four minutes later Marine won a corner on their right. The ball was 
delivered towards the far post where Adam Hughes climbed highest and powered a header into the Saints net. 1-1.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes, with Marine possibly just edging it in my opinion. On the half-hour mark they forced a succession of corners, all of which looked quite dangerous. The final one actually resulting in the ball hitting the net again but the referee had already blown for a clear foul on the keeper.
Saints hit back with a couple of attacks of their own but nothing that unduly troubled Hare in the Marine goal. The referee did hand out a couple of yellow cards on both sides, a fact that would be more significant as the game rolled on.
At half-time it was St Neots Town 1 Marine 1. A good, even game with all to play for in the second half.

St Neots came out of the traps flying in the second half and within 6 minutes had taken the lead with the best move of the game. Some lovely one-touch passing created soem space for Mulready on the edge of the box. He curled a glorious effort past the keeper and into the top corner of the net. A great move and a classy finish. 2-1.

Just as in the first half though, Marine looked to hit back immediately. They really should have been level just 3 minutes later when Sherlock beat the offside trap but dragged his effort wide.

On 72 minutes Tom Wood picked up a very unfortunate second yellow and became the third Saints player to see red over the two games. The incident happened right in front of me and I have to say it was never a yellow card offence in my opinion. Still, I'm not the referee and he saw it as bookable.

Marine saw their opportunity and started to push forward. Within two minutes of the red card Archer, in the home goal, made a great save to keep his side in front. However, a minute later, he was left for dead as Robbie Threlfall struck a lovely free-kick over the wall and into the net. Another very good strike. 2-2.

Archer was called on again a few minutes later but the stopper was equal to the effort and kept his side in the game. Despite the man advantage, Marine couldn't grab a winner and the game was heading for extra-time.
FT St Neots Town 2 Marine 2.

The first half of extra-time saw St Neots giving it all the had. Even with a man short they managed to create as many chances as Marine. However, the only real action of note was yet more yellow cards from the referee. By this time we had all started to lose count I think.
HT in ET. 2-2.

The game was getting increasingly niggly both on the pitch and on the benches. It was clear that there was soem hangover from the previous match. Midway through the second period of extra-time it finally boiled over. A challenge near the touchline on the railway side resulted in a melee involving a fair few players. From the other side of the pitch it was nigh-on impossible to tell what actually happened. A couple of players certainly hit the deck, whether pushed or they just tripped in the fracas was unclear. However, once the dust had settled the referee proceeded to hand out two more red cards, both to players in Blue. It looked like a second yellow for Miles Smith and a straight red for Tom Ward (don't quote me on that one). I really wished I had stayed on that side of the ground, then maybe I would have seen what went on. I guess some fans from that side may fill in the blanks.

So, with Saints down to eight players, Marine could afford to push players forward and go fo the win. St Neots had little option but to try to hang on for penalties.

They almost did it too.

Then as the clock was about to tick over to 120 minutes Monaghan tried his luck from the edge of the box. The ball flew past Archer, hit the inside of his right-hand post and went into the net. A cruel blow for Saints who had defended like lions since going down to eight. 2-3.
A minute later, with Saints trying desperately to rally, a ball over the top was chased down by Mitchley who stroked it past Archer to make it four. 2-4. Game over.

FT in ET. St Neots Town 2 Marine 4.

A good game of football despite the red cards. My initial reaction was that the referee had ruined the game. However, on reflection, he did get the first red card wrong but after that who knows. I certainly didn't have a clear enough view of the other two reds. He could, maybe, have not handed out so many yellows to start with, which left him nowhere to go in the second half and extra-time. Having said that, it was a difficult game to manage. There were a lot of little incidents going on, both on and off the ball, and both teams as well as the officials also have a responsibility to behave accordingly in these cases. So, maybe Saints were sinners but  Marine were no angels either and the officials didn't help themselves.
Still, plenty of entertainment for the crowd, even if it was a late night for the travelling Marine contingent.

St Neots Town - @stneotstownfc
Marine - @marineafc

​Always check and double-check a new ground location before setting off. It's the mantra of non-league football followers across the land and something that I always try to do, especially on a long midweek journey. Ironically, this week, it was my forward planning that caused me to miss the first 5 minutes and the opening goal of my chosen game. What I tend to do is put the location into my SatNav a few days in advance so that I can see how long it thinks it will take me to get to the ground. Earlier this week I entered Oakham United's ground into the car SatNav. I remembered that the ground was just off Main Road or Street, but I didn't remember the post code. That was my first mistake. Putting Oakham into the SatNav and then seeing that there was, indeed, a Main Road, I selected it and it duly went off and calculated the route for me. It appeared that my journey from home would take around 90 minutes, depending upon traffic.
​
Now, what I had totally forgotten was that the Oakham ground was in the neighbouring village of Barleythorpe, not Oakham. I was slightly unlucky in that there was a Main Road listed under Oakham but I should have been looking for Main Street, Barleythorpe. A schoolboy error for someone who has been doing this for 4 years.
So, having thought that I had timed my travel to perfection, I arrived at Main Road, Oakham, with 8 minutes to spare before kick-off. Perfect except for one thing. I was almost 10 miles away from the actual stadium. Luckily, I managed to google the club address, enter the post code (which I should have done first time) and shoot off towards Barleythorpe. What I also failed to take into account was the level crossing a mile from the ground. Yes, you've guessed it, it was down and there was a long wait. So, I finally arrived at the ground having missed kick-off (a pet hate of mine) and, as it turned out, the opening goal.

Sterling Meadows is a relatively new, purpose built, facility situated on the campus of the Rutland College. There is plenty of parking available within a short walk of the entrance gate. This brings you into the ground pretty much level with the halfway line. The clubhouse and all facilities are immediately to your right and just to the left is a small wooden covered area that houses both seats and standing. Opposite this are the dugouts which are backed by another, smaller, pitch. The right hand goal is backed by trees which, as I said in the Calne Town blog a few weeks back, is always a nice thing to see in my opinion.The playing surface, which has a slight slope from right to left, looked in pretty good condition.

This only being Oakham's second season in the UCL, the sides had met just twice before. Oakham coming out on top by 2-1 at home and sharing the spoils with a 3-3 at the Weston Arena. Eventually just a point separated the sides at the end of the season, so a tight encounter was on the cards.

As I said, I missed the opening goal but reports seem to point to it being a nice passing move finished off by Nicki Young. By the time I arrived Lutterworth seemed to have recovered form going a goal down and were stroking the ball around nicely. Sure enough, with just over 10 minutes on the clock, they got their equaliser through Cameron Wilson. The goal seemed to inspire the away side and dispirit Oakham. Lutterworth, kicking up the slope, spent a good deal of the rest of the half in possession of the ball. However, possession isn't everything and they didn't really put too much pressure on the Oakham goal.
Half-time Oakham United 1 Lutterworth Athletic 1

The second half turned into an intriguing battle for any neutrals in the crowd. Oakham certainly upped their game from the first half but Atho were not backing down and the game ebbed and flowed. 
With 70 minutes gone a nicely weighted ball between the Lutterworth centre-half and left-back allowed an Oakham player to run in on goal. The keeper advanced to meet him and blocked the initial effort only for the ball to spin loose and land at the feet of Adam Rothery who had the simple job of rolling the ball into the net.

For a while it looked as if Oakham may run away with the game after going ahead. A number of attacks culminated in an 81st minute shot coming back off the bar. However, this was as close as they came to a third goal and with barely any time left on the clock, they were made to pay for it.
​
A long, hopeful, punt down field eluded all Oakham defenders. Substitute Callum Wills ran through and just about beat home keeper Dan Swan to the ball, lobbing the keeper and sending the ball looping into the net. Wills took the full force of the advancing keeper for his efforts and, in truth, it was a brave finish. 
There was barely time for the game to restart before the referee drew a close to an entertaining game with a final score of Oakham United 2 Lutterworth Athletic 2.

On the balance of play I think a draw was a fair result although Oakham must have been disappointed to have been leading with just seconds left. In my opinion these sides are quite evenly matched and, as with last season, I don't think there will be much between them come April.

It was time to make the long journey back to Oxfordshire and guess what? The level crossing was down on the way back as well. At least I didn't need my SatNav to find my house though.

Oakham United - @oakhamunited
Lutterworth Athletic - @official_atho

​No new ground for me this week but, after a week off in Iceland, it was a welcome return to some United Counties League action and specifically Bugbrooke St Michael's. I last visited Bird's Close last April on a rare Saturday game day so, in some ways, it was like visiting the ground for the first time seeing it at night time. The evening's opponents were Raunds Town and the game promised a lot with both sides riding high in the UCL Division One table.
As far as I could see, nothing has really changed at the ground i the past 18 months, so no ground description required. Here's a link to my last visit if you fancy a trip down Memory Lane (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/all-white-on-the-night).
The car temperature gauge was reading 3 degrees when I arrived and, for the first time this season, it was time to deploy the extra-quilted jacket and make a quick trip to the clubhouse for a warming cuppa before braving the night air.

The match started as expected with both sides matching each other stride for stride. However, it only took 5 minutes before the home side started to noticeably get on top. Their passing was crisper, their tackling stronger and each Bugbrooke player seemed to have a yard on his opponent. Raunds, despite their lofty league position, were finding it difficult to get any fluency into their game.
Bugbrooke's pace up front was causing all sorts of issues for the Raunds defence but time and again either the final ball or the finish was lacking.

With thirty minutes on the clock the sides were still locked at 0-0. The Badgers had squandered two golden opportunities as well as a number of promising positions before Raunds had even mounted anything that could be described as a serious attack. Still, The Shopmates were hanging in there and did manage to exert a small amount of pressure for a few minutes just past the half hour mark. Aside from one cross which looped over the keeper and clipped the top of the bar, they didn't really look like scoring.

Bugbrooke finally got the breakthrough in the 44th minute. A break down the left and a driven, low cross was turned into the net by Ashley Eales at the front post. No more than the home side deserved after all their possession.
That's the way it stood at half-time, Bugbrooke St Michael's 1 Raunds Town 0. The only real surprise was that it was only one. Would the home side be made to pay for failing to convert more chances?

​With Raunds kicking down the incline in the second half I was fully expecting an onslaught from the visitors. However, it never really transpired and Raunds still looked like they were struggling to get going on the night. Maybe it was an off night, maybe Bugbrooke were making it hard for them? The home side were certainly working hard to chase down the ball when they lost it and looked increasingly dangerous when they pushed forward espcecially with their pace down each flank.

The referee and his linesmen, especially the one marshalling the Raunds defensive line, were increasingly getting some stick from the visiting players and, to be fair, occasionally from the home players and staff. I have to say that the officials weren't having their best evening and some of the decisions did seem to be odd at times. Having said that, this is the second game in a row that I have heard officials getting a lot of abuse form players. It's a worrying trend in my opinion. Officiating is a very difficult job and certainly one that most of us would not want to do (even if we all think we could do a better job). Where would we be if the number of people becoming referees or assistants dropped suddenly? I know it is frustrating when decisions go against you and, during the heat of battle, things can be said. I think everyone accepts that, even most referees. The majority of referees will even accept criticism so long as it isn't accompanied by a stream of foul language (they get it all the time and they can never please everyone) but some of the comments are getting out of hand now. I hope this trend does not continue. 

Lecture over and on with the game.
With 72 minutes on the clock and the homeside well on top they were awarded a penalty. I didn't have a clear view of the incident but given the lack of argument from the defence, I am guessing it was a c;ear cut decision. Callum Westwood, who had been a thorn in the side of Raunds all game, stepped up and blasted the ball home, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process.
At 2-0, with just over 15 minutes to go, it was pretty much game over. Nine minutes later it really was all over. The Raunds keeper did well to parry a shot but Westwood was on hand to roll the ball into the next for his second and The Badgers' third.
That is how it finished. Bugbrooke St Michael's 3 Raunds Town 0. A comprehensive and deserved win for Bugbrooke who, I thought, looked a very good side. They have a very strong spine to the team. Solid at the back, marshalled impeccably by their captain and my man of the match (sorry, no names. I didn't have a team sheet. I am sure someone at the club will fill in the gaps). Very strong in midfield and very lively up front. As for Raunds, I can only assume this was just one of those nights. Their league position points to them being better than this result would suggest and I am sure they will get back to winning ways soon.

Bugbrooke St Michael's - @bugbrookeucl
Raunds Town - @raundstown_fc