​An unexpected opportunity to take in a Saturday game presented itself this morning. So, the question was, which game should I go to?. Actually, the first question was, which games are on? I had already seen a number of games fall foul of the weather, so I scanned Twitter and various websites in search of a match within reach. My wife and daughter decided that they wanted to take a look at the sales, so they offered to drop me and pick me up from a game. That helped me to make a decision, narrowing the choice down to somewhere near a shopping centre. Milton Keynes looked the best option and, as luck would have it, there was an opportunity to take in a new ground as well as venture into Step 7, something I can only really do at weekends because most Step 7 sides don't have floodlights.
​So, Loughton Manor it was then. They were due to entertain second-placed title-chasers, Amersham Town and, thankfully, had already confirmed that the match had survived the recent downpours.

Having already tweeted my intention to go to the game, I was halfway to the ground when I received a DM from none other than @footballmk, who I have had many interactions with in the past but never met in person. @footballmk is the 'go to' Twitter account for anything football related in Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire. f you don't already follow the account, stop reading this, get onto Twitter and get following - then come back to this match blog, of course.

A little about Loughton Manor's ground, The Pavilion, but to be honest, there isn't too much to say. Situated a short distance from the centre of Milton Keynes (luckily for my wife's shopping trip), it is part of the Loughton Sports & Social Club, incorporating football and cricket. The clubhouse building houses the bar, players and officials areas and the obligatory (and much needed) Snack bar, in this case called Macca's Shak. There are no covered areas around the ground, but there is a patio outside the club with benches and tables. Dugouts are just to the side of the clubhouse patio and that, as they say, is it as far as ground features go. The pitch itself slopes from right to left as you look at it from the club house. The pitch was certainly playable but, with all of the recent rain, was very much on the heavy side.

​I bumped into my Twitter acquaintance in the car park before the game and we wondered over to the patio area get a good view of the match. We were both expecting Amersham to come out of the blocks fast especially after they had put eleven past Clean Slate in their last game before Christmas. However, the onslaught didn't happen and, in actuality, the first 15 minutes was a very cagey and close affair. Both sides were doing their best to contend with the conditions, but it was clear to see that the pitch was going to cut up during the game. 

With 16 minutes on the clock, The Magpies got the breakthrough. Leonardo Pedro was sent clear on the left, he drove towards the box, cut inside and fired in a low drive past Radford into the far corner. 0-1.

Anyone expecting Amersham to push on from this point would have been sorely disappointed. In fact their lead lasted barely four minutes before centre-half Jim Palmer was first to react when the ball ran loose in the Amersham box. He gleefully drove the ball past Turner and we were all level at 1-1.

The rest of the half continued in the same vein. Amersham certainly tried to react to the equaliser and, in fairness, they did make the better chances but Radford was equal to their efforts and, when he was beaten towards the end of the half, there was a defender around to scramble the ball clear.  

HT Loughton Manor 1 Amersham Town 1. A fair reflection of the first-half action. Neither side managed to take control of the game but, as a neutral, it was entertaining enough given the conditions.

​Loughton came out for the second half clearly believing that they could get a result, but as with the first half, neither side grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. In general, however, Loughton seemed to be gaining a slight upper hand even though The Magpies were still managing to create chances, it was the home side that looked the sharper of the two. Having said that, some better timing with his leap and Town striker Raymond Koomson may well have put his side back in front when unmarked in the box.

Loughton captain Jacob Hack then forced Turner into a fingertip save to push over his fierce long-range effort. This was a warning of what was to come for Amersham and not long afterwards, in the 81st minute, they found themselves behind. A corner from the left was lofted to the far post where Jim Davey rose highest to place his header into the net. 2-1

Once more an Amersham onslaught was expected but, if anything, it was Loughton Manor who looked the more likely to score again. Amerhsam did manage one last effort on target but Radford was, again, equal to it and shortly afterwards the referee blew for full-time.

FT Loughton Manor 2 Amersham Town 1. A good result for Manor, edging the game with a battling performance. A setback for Amersham in their pursuit of Park View. It will seem like an even bigger chance missed given that Park View were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Clean Slate.

Given the conditions and what looked like a very sapping pitch, both sides gave the assembled supporters a good afternoon of football. Certainly, from a neutral perspective, it was an enjoyable game. It was also great to finally catch up with @footballmk and spend and afternoon chatting about all things football. I am sure our paths will cross again, which is just as well since I am indebted to the tune of one cup of tea.

Loughton Manor: Radford, Smith, Proctor, Collins, Palmer, Greenhargh, Bailey, Hack (c), Davey, Wigg-Booden, Sofroni. Sub(s): Whitcomb

Amersham Town: Turner, Wallis. Mongston, Koomson, Laville, Ajayi, Aldred, Squires-Adams, Pedro, Washington, Asare. Subs: Zeroual, Henry, Debayo, Lamboh.

Att: 38
Ground Number: 146
Entrance: £0
Programme: Non Available

The FA Vase 2017/18 is down to the final 32 teams and, even before the turn of the year, we already know that a new name will adorn the trophy come May 2018. The Third Round saw the demise of the final three previous winners. North Shields went down 3-1 at Newcastle Benfield, Whitley Bay 4-3 at West Auckland and Sholing lost 1-0 at home to Blackfield & Langley. Not only have we now lost all of the previous winners but West Auckland Town are the only remaining side to have appeared in a final.
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Eastwood Community bowed out as the final Step 7 side, despite me trying to ignore extra-time and crediting them with a splendid 1-1 draw at Desborough Town. Once again, apologies to Ar Tarn and Eastwood for that shoddy piece of work. Lesson learned. Don't try to rush out pieces when time is severely limited (hence starting to put this one together in early December). Desborough Town, therefore, remain the Base of the Pyramid adopted club going into Round 4.

There are three Step 6 sides left in the hat and all three were drawn away from home, Wolverhampton Sporting Community at Cogenhoe, Hinckley make the long trip to Marske United and Norwich CBS visit Bell Close to play Leighton Town.

Let's take a look at each team in a little more detail.

​Newcastle Benfield. As far as their FA Vase pedigree goes Benfield, under any of the current or previous incarnations, can boast a single Quarter-Final appearance as their best performance. This came in the 2013-14 season when, after seeing off Spennymoor Town in Round 5, they eventually succumbed to Leicestershire outfit St Andrews by a goal to nil. Their current season league form is indifferent. Sitting just below halfway, they are clear of the relegation pack but way too far back to realistically make any kind of push for promotion.
They will be pleased with their home draw but, on the minus side, they do have to face last season's beaten semi-finalists, Coleshill Town.

Coleshill Town. The Colemen are very well placed in the Midland Premier League and could well be far more interested in a promotion push than another FA Vase run. However they came so close to a Wembley appearance last season, losing out to South Shields in the Semi-Final, that the lure of the arch could be too much to resist. It's a long trip up to Newcastle and they wlll be well aware that The Lions disposed of 2014 champions North Shields in Round Three.

Wisbech Town. The Fenmen have a pretty decent Vase pedigree, reaching the Semi-Final twice in the 80's. In the 84-5 season they went out to eventual winners Halesowen Town. The following season they went down 5-3 on aggregate to Southall, after drawing 2-2 in the first leg. Southall went on to lose to Halesowen in the final. More recently they reached the Quarter-Final in the 2013-14 competition before going out, again to eventual winners, 1-0 to Sholing.

Bromsgrove Sporting. This is only the fifth season that Sporting have been in existence, after emerging from the ashes of Bromsgrove Rovers. As a Step 6 side they reached the Semi-Final last season, putting up a great display before going out 2-1 on aggregate to Cleethorpes Town. They are well placed in the Midland Premier and in a position to mount a second consecutive promotion push. Formidable home form has been the rock of their season so far, so being drawn away from The Victoria Ground could pose a problem.

Cogenhoe United. The Cooks have made four Fourth Round appearances in the Vase. The first time was only their third assault on the competition in the 1993-94 season. They took the scalp of Evesham United (after a replay) and Northampton Spence, amongst others, before bowing out to Oadby Town. Most recently, in 2008-09, they made Round 4 again before going down 2-1 to Bitton. It's not been the best of league campaigns so far, although they are well clear of danger. Maybe the Vase could provide a welcome spark to the season?

Wolverhampton Sporting Community. Last season's First Round achievement has been eclipsed by this journey to the Third Round. A 3-1 defeat at Hinckley marked the end of the road last season. This time, as one of only there Step 6 sides left, Wolves face a tought task at Step 5 Cogenhoe. Promotion from the West Midlands Regional Premier may be the main goal of the season and, at the time of writing, they are certainly in a very good position, sitting in second place behind Tividale but with games in hand.

Markse United. Two losing Quarter-Final appearances are the best runs that The Seasiders have had in the Vase. Just past the turn of the century they were beaten by Bedlington Terriers after a replay. In the 2008-09 season they went down 5-2 at Glossop. The last three league campaigns have been very successful for Marske and this season they are once again well in contention. They'll probably fancy their chances in the Vase this season, especially with a home tie against a Step 6 side to come.

Hinckley AFC. The current incarnation of Hinckley AFC has officially only been in existence for three full seasons. Last term as their best run in the Vase, a resounding 5-0 win over Berkhamsted being the highlight as they progressed to Round 5 before bowing out to Buckland Athletic at home. In the league they are still well in contention near the top of a very tightly congested Midland League Division One. It's a long trip North to Marske but, having already seen off Step 5 teams in the last two rounds, they won't be short on confidence.

1874 Northwich. Another side that hasn't been around for too long, 1874 have still managed to make a reasonable impression in the Vase. In four attempts they have managed Round Two in the past two seasons and, in 2014-15, they got to the Third Round before going out 3-0 to Glossop North End. In terms of current league standing, 1874 are below the halfway point in the North-West Counties Premier and still need a few more points on the board to avoid a worrying end of season run-in.
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​Pontefract Collieries. This is already Colls best run in the Vase. They made the Second Round in the 2002-03 season, but went out 2-1 to Northallerton. Already with a backlog of league games to play, Colls will certainly want to avoid drawing a cup game and increasing their workload. They are currently sitting in third spot in the league, twelve points off the leaders but with a massive six games in hand.

Stockton Town. Last season saw Stockton's best ever run in the Vase when they reached Round 2 before going down 1-0 to Ryhope Colliery Welfare. After promotion to Step 5 last season, they have already established a respectable mid-table position and should be free to enjoy a Vase run without any league worries. A home draw against a fellow Northern League side who are only five points ahead in the league could be the impetus they need to progress.

West Auckland Town. Could this be the season for the Vase bridesmaids? West have reached the final twice in fairly recent history, losing 2-0 to Dunston UTS in the 2011-12 final and then going down 1-0 to Sholing in the 2013-14 campaign. Very safe in the league but, in all honesty, too far back to make a title bid, they could have the freedom to push on in the Vase if they can overcome a tricky visit to Stockton.

Desborough Town. The BotP adopted team for this round. Ar Tarn have have two consecutive 4th Rounds under their belt, 2003-04 and 04-05. However, their best effort came in the 1979-80 season where the reached Round 5 before bowing out 3-0 to Stamford. League form has dropped off in recent weeks but they did enough earlier in the season to ensure that they won't have any relegation worries. A home draw in Round 4 could well be a deciding factor in their progress.

Stourport Swifts. The heyday of Swifts came just after the turn of the century. The 2000-01 season saw them win the Midland Alliance, albeit on goal difference, and reach Round 5 of the FA Vase, where they eventually lost 5-1 to Tooting & Mitcham. A visit to Waterworks Field is not going to be an easy prospect for Swifts. However, five of their seven league victories this season have come away from Walshes Meadow.

Melksham Town. There have been two 4th Round appearances for Town in recent seasons. A 3-1 defeat to Bradford Town saw them exit in the 2014-15 season. Last season they went out at the same stage after a 5-2 replay defeat to Bristol Manor Farm. Getting a home draw could be a massive boost for Town, having not lost at The Oakfield Stadium in any competition since September.

Crowborough Athletic. The Crows had a superb run to the Fifth Round last season before losing 6-3 to Coleshill Town. This matched their previous best effort from the 2007-08 season, when they went out to Kirkham & Wesham (now AFC Fylde) by a 2-0 scoreline. Crowborough are currently in second place in the Southern Counties East and well in contention for a title push. A visit to Melksham is not easy for any team at the moment and The Crows will need to be on top form to progress.

Westfields. Two Fourth Round ventures represent Westfields best runs in the Vase. In the 1986-87 season they went down 3-2 to Vauxhall Motors (Luton) and, more recently, they were beaten 3-0 by Morpeth Town in the 2013-14 campaign. With a home tie against newly promoted Hamble Club, Westfields will fancy their chances of progressing to the Fifth Round for the first time in their history.

Hamble Club. A first FA Vase adventure for The Monks but it could already be seen as a success, having already put out four fellow Wessex Premier outfits to get this far. They face a tough draw away at Westfields, who have lost just once in their last thirteen in all competitions.

Blackfield & Langley. The Watersiders are busy chasing down Andover Town at the top of the Wessex Premier, but are also in the midst of equalling their best ever Vase run. They have reached Round Four twice before, losing 3-2 to Bemerton Heath in 2012-13 and 3-0 to Larkhall Athletic the following season. Having only lost once at home this season, the draw could prove to be favourable for them.

Bracknell Town. The Robins reached Round 5 twice in the 1970's and 80's but have not make much of an impression in recent years. This season is the first time they have progressed past Qualifying for 5 years. Defeat to leaders Highworth on the last Saturday of the year, may well have placed more focus on the Vase for the Robins. The draw may be a disadvantage to Bracknell however, with all three of their league defeats coming away from Larges Lane.

Leighton Town. The Reds reached Round 5 in the 2003-04 season, going out 3-1 to Andover Town. Having spent the majority of the time since that run in Step 4, they only came back to the Vase after relegation two seasons ago. Although they have a couple of league games in hand, the thirteen point gap up to Berkhamsted may be just too much. So, a good run in the Vase may prove to be their best chance of glory, especially with one of the remaining Step 6 sides to come next.

Norwich CBS. CBS gained promotion into the Eastern Counties League last season and are more than holding their own in Step 6. They don't have too much in the way of FA Vase history, although they did reach the First Round in the 1977-78 season, as Norwich Union, before going out 2-0 to Histon. As with the other two Step 6 clubs, they have been drawn away from home. 

Newport (IW). The Port have got as far as Round Five on three occasions, consecutive appearance in the 1991-92 and 92-93 seasons and a 2012-13 run that saw them eventually go out 2-1 to Ascot United after a replay. Currently sitting third from bottom, they may have more pressing matters than the FA Vase to deal with, espcially as they have played three more games than second-bottom Amesbury.

Bradford Town. The Bobcats only made their first Vase appearance in the 2009-10 season. However, in the short time, they have managed to reach the Fifth Round once (2014-15) and the Fourth Round twice, in 2015-16 and last season. Bradford have the opposite problem to their island opponents. They sit third in the Wessex Premier, nine points off leaders Street, but almost certainly still with their eyes on the title run-in.

Eastbourne Town. Eastbourne reached Round 4 last season before going out to Crowborough Athletic. They have managed Round 5 once, back in the 1975-76 season, when they were beaten 1-0 by Barton Rovers. Town a currently second in what is shaping up to be a titanic battle at the top of the Southern Combination Premier, with just six points separating the top seven clubs. Interestingly, the home draw may not be to their advantage as their league record on the road is much better than at home.

Windsor. Since their reformation in 2011 Windsor have only made it as far as Round 2. However, as Windsor & Eton they made a Semi-Final appearance in the 1980-81 season going out 2-1 on aggregate to eventual winners, Whichkam. Mid-table in the Hellenic Premier, they are way off the title pace but comfortably clear of the bottom third. Maybe a Vase run could be the tonic required to pep up their season?

Horley Town. This season has seen Horley surpass their best FA Vase run, a Round Three 3-1 defeat to Greenwich Borough. Currently sitting seventh in the league, Horley have no real opportunity of making a bid for the top but are also in absolutely no danger at the other end. This will allow them a certain amount of freedom to give the FA Vase a real shot. 

Chichester City. Two previous Fourth Round appearances represent The Lilywhites best FA Vase achievements. In the 1995-96 campaign they went down 3-1 to Thamesmead Town at home. Last year they fell to Buckland Athletic, again losing 3-1 and, again, at home. City, like Eastbourne Town, are one of the teams involved in the Southern Combination Premier title race. They'll be wary of a trip to Horley, especially as four of their five league defeats have come on their travels.

Tring Athletic. Tring have made the Third Round on three previous occasions but last season saw them reach the Fourth Round for the first time in their history, going out 1-0 to Sporting Khalsa. Athletic may well be looking more closely at the league than the Vase. Since Sun Sports dropped out they find themselves rock-bottom but they do have games in hand on all of the teams above them. However, a home tie may well provide the impetus they need to lift their season.

Hullbridge Sports. The Bridge have made it to this stage on three previous occasions, consecutive appearances between the 2013-14 and 2015-15 seasons. On each occasion they fell away from home 1-3 to Sholing, 0-3 to Flackwell Heath and 2-4 to Berkhamsted. Like their opponents, Tring, Sports will probably have league matters to the forefront of their minds. Currently sitting second from bottom but they have seen some encouraging results in recent weeks.

Thatcham Town. The mid to late Eighties were The Kingfisher's most productive FA Vase years. In the 1985-86 season they progressed to Round 5 before going down 3-2 to Camberley Town. In the 1988-89 campaign they managed one better, going down 2-0 to Hungerford Town in the Quarter-Final. At the time of writing, Thatcham are the closest team to league leaders Highworth Town but are still eight points adrift, albeit with a game in hand. Unbeaten in any competition since October, they will be full of confidence.

Biggleswade. Last season was Biggleswade's first venture into the FA Vase, ending at the Second Round with a 5-3 defeat to Peterborough Sports. It's already been a very good first season at Step 5 for Biggleswade. They are well-placed in sixth spot, probably too far back to have a go at a second consecutive promotion, but still four points clear of local rivals United. They face a very tough task as high-flying Hellenic League Premier side Thatcham Town. 

Note: League positions and points may have changed slightly since this piece was written.

Sources:
​Club websites, league websites, FA Full-Time (old version, of course) and, the rather excellent Football Club History Database ​

A tight encounter between North Leigh and Evesham United is settled by two quality crosses and two decisive headers.

Heading out to a non-league game with my father on Boxing Day has become something of a tradition in recent years and, now that the Number 9 Derby has been moved away from December 26th, we have started to look at games closer to home. Last year we took in the Aylesbury Derby at The ASM Stadium and this year we decided to head over to North Leigh for their Southern League West game with Evesham United. There were a number of local games to choose between but, in the end, I swung towards Eynsham Park because I hadn't been for some time, never during daylight, and my dad had never visited at all.
My choice was swayed by the fact that I think Eynsham Park is one of the must see non-league grounds. The approach to the stadium, down a muddy track that appears to lead nowhere opens up to reveal a football stadium seemingly deposited in a woodland clearing with the unique sight of Eynsham Hall looming up btween the trees at the far end of the ground. The ground itself also offers plenty of character. At the car park end you have all of the facilities. A small clubhouse, a snack bar and a terrace, complete with protective netting and fencing, inches behind the goal. Looking down the, fairly considerable, slope towards Eynsham Hall, you have a covered seating area to the right and the dugouts to the left.

After picking up a couple of teas from the snack bar - staffed by a very jovial lady - we headed over to the covered seats for the first half. As the rain, which started as we entered the ground, had started to get heavier, cover was definitely required.

Coming into the game, Evesham were looking to regain their early season form which had seen them near the top of the table at one point. After a little slump, they had beaten Larkhall 2-0 at the weekend and were poised just four points out of the play-off spots. North Leigh, who had narrowly been beaten 1-0 at Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday, were a further eight points back, slightly closer to the bottom of the table than they probably would want to be. In August, at Jubilee Park, Evesham had recovered from an early setback to win the reverse fixture 3-2.

​The opening encounters were very even although North Leigh did make the best chance of the first 15 minutes when Lawrence just failed to get on the end of a through ball. Apart from that it was nip and tuck as the conditions steadily deteriorated.
However, just before the half-hour mark Evesham managed to get their noses in front when a very inviting cross was swung over from their left-flank. On the end of it was Robins striker Lewis Powell who headed back across the keeper and into the net from six yards out. 0-1.
The remainder of the first-half followed the same pattern as the first 28 minutes. Both sides battled hard but didn't make too many clear cut chances.

HT North Leigh 0 Evesham United 1. Not that much between the teams in the first half. The main difference being the quality of the cross for the goal.

​North Leigh began the second half looking a little sharper. Kicking down the slope, they had the wind in their sails for a while, causing more trouble for the Evesham back-line in the the opening 10 minutes than they did for the whole of the first half. However, they still couldn't quite find that final ball and the Evesham keeper was never unduly worried.
Evesham themselves were not just sitting back on their one goal lead and looked dangerous when the did break forward. They proved this point in the 67th minute when goalscorer Powell turned provider, swinging in another telling cross which was headed home by Matt Liddiard. 0-2.

North Leigh now had a mountain to climb which could have got a lot worse two minutes later when Archie Haskayne tried his luck from outside the box. Fortunately for the home side, Manny Agboola was equal to the effort, throwing himself to his right and turning the ball away.
Just after the hour North Leigh fashioned what looked, from the opposite end, like their best chance of the day. However, with the goal beckoning, George Seacole couldn't take the opportunity and with that miss, the game was just about sewn up for Evesham.

Great credit to Seacole though who, in response to a reply to my tweet about his miss responded that it couldn't have been him because he was tucked up in the centre-half's pocket at the time. Good to see that a sense of humour was retained even in defeat.

FT North Leigh 0 Evesham United 2. All in all there wan't too much to choose between the sides in the entire game. Evesham, in my opinion, managed the game slightly better. Maybe a little more experience showing? They also produced the two best crosses of the match, both finished with very good headers.
The result sees Evesham edge slightly closer to the play-off places whilst North Leigh stay in fourteenth spot, although I don't think they need worry too much about getting sucked into a relegation dogfight.

North Leigh: Agboola, Lymn, Keightley, Thomas, Wellon, Paddock (c), Mattock, Sheehan, Seacole, Lawrence, Hopkins. Subs: Marshall, Grabe, James, McGlynn, Carroll

Evesham United: Sawyer, Dovey (c), Bennett, Rhodes, Turley, Liddiard, Bryan, Haskayne, Powell, Mann, Binns. Subs: Corrick, Williams, Brown, Hancock

Att: 121
Ground Number: Not a new ground
Entrance: £8
Programme: £1

It was great to get back out watching football after a two week layoff, mainly down to the weather. Even this week, some games were still falling foul of the conditions. However my chosen game, Uxbridge v Hartley Wintney in the Southern League Division One East, was never in doubt.

It was my first visit to Uxbridge's ground and I was very pleased to find that Honeycroft is a fine example of a non-league ground, complete with some cover on all four sides, Christmas songs over the Tannoy, a bit of a slope, wooden picket fencing around the playing surface and, probably best of all at this time of year, palm trees (you don't see many of those at non-league grounds. Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of them).
Honeycroft is situated just a short way North of Heathrow Airport and is accessed via a service road that leads into a reasonably large car park. Entrance is through a single turnstile that brings you into the ground near one of the corner flags looking down the slight slope. Uxbridge post their programmes online and make them available for download rather than producing a hard copy. It's an interesting concept and one that may well catch on. They do, however, have a plentiful supply of team sheets at the turnstile, which is a great idea.
​
The ground, as I said, is a great example of a non-league stadium. There are covered seating areas on both sides of the pitch and covered standing behind both goals. To your left, as you enter, and set back a little from the ground is a building that houses the players and officials, toilets, boardroom and tea bar. This is separated from the playing area by an area of grass and the aforementioned palm trees. It's these little unique quirks that make following non-league football so interesting.
The pitch looked to be in pretty good nick, especially considering the recent weather, and we were all ready for what I hoped was going to be a good game of football.

​The game started at a blistering pace with both sides showing their intent from the first minute. In fact, only a good reflex save from Row stopper Chris Harris prevented Luke Maguire from putting Uxbridge ahead in the first minute. Two minutes after that Hartley won a free-kick just outside the box which was smacked against Paul McCarthy's left hand post.
It seemed only a matter of time before we got a goal and, sure enough, with seven minutes on the clock, we got one. Some nice football released Peden down the Uxbridge right-flank. He managed to beat his man and send over an enticing cross which Prince M'Bengui met with his head, planting the ball back past Harris in to the net. 1-0.

Until this point it could be argued that Hartley had been slightly brighter than their hosts. However, the goal not only boosted Uxbridge but seemed to deflate The Row a little. For the next few minutes The Reds were quicker to every ball and looked as if they might get on top of the game. Credit to Hartley though, they dug in and less than 10 minutes after going behind, they pulled it back.
Tricky right-sided midfielder Paul Hodges, who's pace and skill were to cause Uxbridge problems all night, drew a foul just inside the Uxbridge half. He dusted himself down just in time to receive the free-kick to his feet, some 30 yards out and with his back to goal. A sharp turn beat one man and, after driving towards the Uxbridge goal, he unleashed a low drive past McCarthy into the bottom corner. A very well worked and well taken goal. 1-1.

As you would expect, the equaliser boosted Hartley for a while and on twenty minutes they came very close to taking the lead when a Jack French effort from outside the box came back off McCarthy's bar with the keeper beaten.Both sides continued to play some good football and make chances at both ends.

HT Uxbridge 1 Hartley Wintney 1. A really entertaining first-half. Both sides going for the win and making plenty of chances. If anything, The Row slightly edged the half but, in truth, a 1-1 scoreline is probably fair.

​We restarted the second-half with Hartley only having 10 players on the pitch. A unexpected call of nature being the reason tweeted by the Hartley account.

On the pitch there was no let up in the action. Just a few minutes into the half an Uxbridge corner, swung in from the left, almost deceived Harris. The keeper just about got a hand to the ball and prevented it from going straight in. However, the ball looped up in the air and was then hacked clear by a defender on the line. Uxbridge appealed for a goal but the assistant, who was well placed, kept his flag down and Hartley survived.

As in the first half though, the action continued to come thick and fast and on 53 minutes we had a controversial incident when 

Hartley defender Liam Eagle used his hands to stop Dylan Kearney breaking through for a clear run on goal. The home crowd and bench immediately called for a red card but, after a short delay, the referee produced a yellow for Eagle. A tricky one in my opinion. The offence happened well outside the box, so Kearney would have still had a lot of work to do in order to score. Yes, Eagle may have been the last man but, was it a clear goal-scoring opportunity? As a neutral, I think the referee got the decision spot on. If I was a home supporter I too would have been calling for a red. If I was an away supporter, a red would have seemed to be a very harsh decision. As a neutral, I always like to see both sides keep eleven players on the park.

Top-scorer Kearney didn't have to wait too long to get another opportunity though. Cole Brown, who had been a constant threat all evening, burst past his marker again and made his way to the byline before drilling a low ball across the six-yard area. Kearney was on hand to clinically steer the ball past Harris and give his side the lead again. 2-1 with just less than an hour on the clock.

Back came Hartley, calling McCarthy into action twice in quick succession. However, the stopper's efforts were all in vain in the 66th minute. A flowing Hartley move, possibly the best move of the game, culminated in a tempting cross from the right which substitute James Tennant got his head onto, to make it all square again. 2-2.

There was still no let-up in the action though. Almost straight from kick-off Uxbridge had another chance, Kearney heading wide. Then the striker turned potential provider, flashing a ball across the box but just beyond the reach of any red shirt. Shortly after that Kearney could, and probably should, have made it 3-2 when a ball found him unmarked some twelve yards out. However, he placed his looping header over the keeper and over the bar, not knowing just how much time he had.

It was breathless end to end stuff with both sides pushing for a winner until the very last kick. A wonderful advert for the Southern League and for Step 4 football.

FT Uxbridge 2 Hartley Wintney 2. From a neutral point of view a draw was a fair result. Both sides played some great football, were fully committed and, without doubt, both wanted to win this game. Both sides possess some very good and exciting footballers and have been set up to utilise these players to the max. I think the best compliment that I can pay the teams is that I really didn't want this game to end.

Honeycroft is certainly up there as one of the grounds that I would highly recommend for any ground-hopper to visit and, if the home side continue to play this style of football, you will be in for a treat.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all concerned at Uxbridge FC and Hartley Wintney FC.

Uxbridge: McCarthy (c), Peden, Humphries, Watson, Thomas, M'Bengui, Rabess, Burgess, Maguire, Kearney, Brown. Subs: Artik, Mohammed, Thomas, Warner, Bramwell

Hartley Wintney: Harris, Callum Eagle, Duff, Paris, Stow (c), Liam Eagle, Hodges, Webb, Baxter, Vine, French. Subs: Paget, 

Tennant, Ball, Millerick

Att: 84
Ground Number: 145
Entrance: £8
Programme: Free Online - Team sheets provided

There were a number of game choices this midweek but, for me, one stuck out. Not only could I tick off a new ground but it also featured two clubs in very good form and promised to be a good game. In addition it was a short journey and a 7:30 ko, so no late night for me. So, I found myself taking the cross-country route from Oxfordshire to Oxfordshire via a very small piece of Northamptonshire, destination Addison Road, home of Easington Sports. The Clan, currently second in the Hellenic Division One West, had a possibility of going top of the league should they win and Ardley lose at home to  fourth-placed North Leigh United. However they, first of all, needed to see off the challenge of fifth-placed Headington Amateurs. A couple of very big games in the division.

Easington's ground is only a stone's throw off Oxford Road, main route into Banbury, less than a mile as the crow flies from Banbury United's stadium. Addison Road is sandwiched between a housing estate and the local Catholic School, where extra parking is available if required. On this occasion, however, I managed to get a spot in the car park behind one of the goals.
The extrance gate, accessed from the car park, brings you into the ground right next to the clubhouse. Teh only other features are the dugouts and the main stand, both of which are to your right as you enter. There is what looks like a single dugout on the opposite side of the ground. A remnant of the past perhaps?

A big shout out at this point to the gentleman serving tea in the club house. I asked him if the club pinned the team sheets up anywhere. He replied that they didn't and that he had seen the home sheet but not the visitors sheet. Thinking nothing of it, I took my tea and wandered back outside in search of anyone carry what looked like an official sheet. A few minutes later the gent came back outside, found me, said that he had both team sheets, and let me take a snap of them both. Any hoppers or enthusiasts out there will know how helpful this is when watching two unfamiliar teams. So, thank you tea bar gent. It's gestures like this that make a massive impression on visitors. You are a credit to your club.

​The game got off to a blistering start. Within a minute the pace of Easington left-sided player, Joe Eyre, got him past a couple of Headington players and to the byline. He cut inside and hit a speculative effort towards the near post. The shot seemed to completely take Harry Jenkins by surprise, beating him all ends up to give the home side the lead. 1-0.
There was a stark contrast between the styles of the two sides. Headington very much wanted to play a short passing game with a measured and deliberate build-up. Easington were playing a far more direct style of football, getting the ball forward at the earliest opportunity. There is something to be said for both approaches. The Headington passing was very pleasing on the eye, apart from when they gave the ball away in dangerous positions. The Easington method, although maybe not as aesthetically pleasing, was still good to watch as a neutral and added to the entertainment on the night.
On the quarter-hour mark, Sports' direct approach almost paid dividends. A long kick from their keeper, Adam Rimmer, caught out the opposing defence allowing Lewars to just about beat the advancing keeper to the ball. However, the striker's lofted effort fell narrowly wide of the far post.
To their credit, Amateurs continued to play their passing game and, as the half progressed, started to get on top, at least in the possession stakes. However, despite all of their lovely build-up play, they seemed to lose their way every time they got near to the Easington penalty area. If they had been able to produce that final, killer, pass they may well have gone in level at half-time.
As it was, it was Easington who almost grabbed another goal before the break, calling Jenkins into action again and the blasting the rebound well over when it looked easier to hit the target.

HT Easington Sports 1 Headington Amateurs 0. Great stuff. Easington have created the better chances, converting one of them but Headington are playing some delightful football at times. It's very evenly poised. Let's hope for more of the same in the second half.

​As if to emphasise how good the first half was, both sides are out early, eager to get on with it. The officials, however, were not quite as keen, sticking to the correct timetable.
Five minutes into the second-half, I was just responding to a Tweet asking if I could see Headington getting back into the game. As I typed 'Definitely. They just need to find a final ball', Headington won a corner on the right. The ball was delivered to the back post where centre-half, Sam Gordon rose to power a header into the net. 1-1.

A few minutes later, and with their tails up, Amateurs won another corner from the right but this time could not convert it into a goal.
In what was increasingly becoming an end-to-end game, Easington won a free-kick on the left side, just on 65 minutes. When the ball eventually dropped to the far post, it was smashed off the Amateurs post by Aaron Donsanjh before flying away to safety. From my angle it looked like a really good opportunity missed but, as I commented on Twitter, it is very easy to make these observations from the sidelines and far more difficult when you are on the pitch.
Both sides proceeded to make chances in the second half as the play switched from one end of the pitch to the other. Nine minutes after the woodwork saved Headington, it came to the rescue of Sports when Peck tried one from outside the box. It beat the keeper all ends up but cannoned away off the bar. Easington then came even closer when Lewars burst through only to see Jenkins make a brilliant fingertip save to push the ball over the bar for a corner.

With five minutes to go and with the home side under a bit of pressure, they won the ball back and broke at pace. Substitute George Coombes received the ball with his back to goal, just inside the Headington half. The striker then laid the ball into the path of the onrushing Joe Eyres, who burst clear of the Headington defence and planted the ball past the keeper into the net. 2-1.
Somewhat harsh on Headington to concede so late on, but a very well worked goal, good vision from Coombes, and devastating pace from Eyres. The goal came very shortly after Headington had made a defensive change with Chase coming on and switching to left-back whilst Harris-Steele swapped over to right-back. Maybe they hadn't quite had time to sort out their new roles or maybe it was just the pace and precision of the Sports break?
Much to their credit, Headington didn't give up the game but, unfortunately for them, there was no way back for a second time.

FT Easington Sports 2 Headington Amateurs 1. A throughly entertaining game between two evenly matched and fully committed sides. As a neutral it was a shame that there had to be a loser. Easington stay in second place following Ardley's 2-0 win over North Leigh United. Next up for The Clan is a home game against Woodstock Town. Headington face a potentially tough away game at sixth-placed Pewsey Vale.


Easington Sports: Rimmer, Fitton, Grant, Rose (c), Hastie, Travers, Spaull, Hill, Lewars, Convey, Eyre. Subs: Montague, Lambert, Jeacock, Coombes, Smith
Headington Amateurs: Jenkins, Day, Harris-Steele, Benji Cuff (c), Gordon, Hafiz, Hill, Peck, Mawema, Jacob, Zaja. Subs: Chase, Ellis, Williams

Att: 48
Ground Number: 144
Entrance: £3
Programme: Included in admission