Having not played since mid-December, Jovial Monk were itching to get back on the pitch. However, they would probably have wished for a more gentle re-introduction to football than a Quarter-Final trip to one a team in a division above them. A team recognised as one of Swindon Sunday league's best who had a 100% home record and had only conceded a single goal on home turf this season.

Of course, all Cups have giant-killings and we all love to see an underdog come through and shock one of the 'big boys'. Unfortunately for Jovial Monk, Sunday was not one of those days. The game went very much the way of the form book. Two goals each from Matt Jones, Biagio Mazzotta and Kyle Parker, with another one for Tommy Ouldridge, saw AFC Mannington cruise to a 7-0 win.
As manager Shaun Smith commented afterwards, "We needed more buses".

No time to dwell on what have been though, the Knockout Cup will have to wait for another year. Let's remember that Monk are still fourth in the league and still in with a shout of the title, despite DPR being six points ahead of them. Next Sunday's league clash with third-placed AFC Stratton is the start of four games that could be pivotal. Following the Stratton game Monk welcome Woodlands Edge to Lambourn, before taking on leaders DPR and then second-placed Gorsehill Borough on consecutive Sundays. All to play for.

Look out for the preview of the Stratton game later in the week.

​After a disappointing morning in which my girl's team crashed out of the cup competition, despite taking the lead in their game, I was in need of some football therapy to prevent myself from spending the entire afternoon re-running the game and trying to work out training sessions for next week. The joys of being a coach. Sometimes it is really hard to switch off after a game. So, with wife and daughter on a little shopping trip, there was time for me to find a local 2pm kick-off. A perfect opportunity to venture into the Northants Combination once again and, luckily for me, second-place Blisworth were scheduled to entertain Corby Pegasus. Just a 52 mile round trip which meant I would still be back home at a reasonable hour. Perfect.

The Ground
Blisworth play at Courtenhall Road on the North-East perimeter of the village. Parking is available either in the car park adjacent to the clubhouse or off-road behind the Courtenhall Road goal. The clubhouse block is slightly elevated from the pitch and also incorporates the players & officials areas. Just behind the clubhouse there is an artificial surface 5-a-side pitch. There is cover for spectators on this side of the ground too, along with a small patio area and some wooden chair/tables, all of which have a vantage point over the playing surface. The dugouts are just below the grass bank on this side of the pitch too. The far side is backed by a tall green fence which separates the ground from the local allotments. Spectators seemed to be restricted to the area around the clubhouse today. I'm not sure if this is a permanent restriction or not. The playing surface doesn't appear to have any noticeable slope in any direction and looked to be in good condition for the time of year.

The Background
This wasn't the first Northants Combination game I had been to. In mid-December I witnessed a thoroughly entertaining game between leaders Roade and Moulton (Roade Works). However, I certainly would not profess to be an authority in the league but that is one of the things that makes non-league blogging so interesting, researching new teams and leagues. I did know that Blisworth, or James King Blisworth, were one of the most successful teams in recent years but I did not know just how much they had dominated the Premier Division for the last 6 or 7 years. Blisworth were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the 2011-12 season and immediately settled in with a 6th place finish. The next two seasons saw a steady improvement with 5th spot and then the runners-up place in 2014-14. Since that time they have won the league on every occasion that it has managed to be completed (the last two season's have been null and void), a total of four straight championships. Corby Pegasus proved to be a little more difficult to research. However, I can say that they were a Premier League team prior to Blisworth's promotion in 2012. They then finished bottom in 2014 before returning to the Premier as Division 1 runners-up at the end of the 2015-16 season. Since then they have been consistent but unspectacular, finishing 11th, 9th and 9th. The head-to-head record between the teams indicates that Blisworth really seem to have the Indian sign over Corby. In the past eleven meetings, Blisworth have won nine and there have been two draws. The aggregate score is even more punishing, with Blisworth holding sway by 54 to 13. However, on the plus side for Corby, one of those draws came earlier this season when the sides fought out a 1-1 result in September. 
Current form shows that Blisworth have won their last 8 league games, including a 2-1 win at leaders Roade. Pegasus have also been on a good run though, winning 4 of their last 5. The only blemish being a 3-0 defeat to Roade.

​The Game
Straight from the kick off it was quite clear that Blisworth were in the mood to put this game to bed as early as possible. They set about their opponents with a vigour that 8 straight league wins gives a team, winning the ball back from the Pegasus kick off and immediately launching a series of attacks. Nathan Bobwicz was the first to really test the Corby keeper, turning well and firing in a low effort that the Pegasus stopper blocked with his legs. Four minutes later a lovely ball into the penalty area was met by the head of Westbury but, again, the Corby keeper was positioned well to save comfortably. Pegasus had a stroke of luck on 14 minutes when a delightful through ball split their defence, leaving Duffy with a clear run on goal. However, his first touch let him down allowing the keeper to collect the ball before he could get a shot off. There was no doubt though, it was only a matter of time before the home side took the lead and the breakthrough duly turned up just a minute later, on 15 minutes. Once again it was Nathan Bobwicz, this time striking a blistering shot from the left hand angle of the box. The effort had way too much on it for the visiting goalkeeper, beating him all ends up at the near post. 1-0. 

Two minutes later it looked as if the floodgates may open. Kieran Westbury was fouled on the edge of the box. He picked himself off the floor and then curled a beautiful effort over the wall and into the net. 2-0
Blisworth were well in control of the game and continued to make chances but, for the time being Corby managed to stem the flow and hold tight. That was until the 39th minute when Blisworth won a corner on the right. The ball was drilled into the box where a Blisworth player went full length in an attempt to get a head on the ball. He failed in his attempt. However, a Corby defender behind him, also diving to clear the ball, managed to spectacularly divert the cross high into his own net. 3-0, OG.
The action was not quite over before half-time when the same Blisworth striker managed to get his head on the next corner but was unlucky to see his downward effort bounce just wide.

HT Blisworth 3 Corby Pegasus 0. One way traffic for pretty much all of the 45 minutes. Blisworth totally in control of the game at the break.

​The second half continued in the same vein as the first. Blisworth pressing forward and Corby defending for their lives. The second half was nine minutes old when Blis almost got their fourth. Captain Chris Griffin rose well to meet a right-wing corner but saw his goal bound effort scrambled off the line for another corner. Just before the hour mark the Corby keeper, who in all fairness had kept the score down, did brilliantly to adjust his footing and dive full length to save a deflected shot. However, a minute past the hour hour he was left helpless when a superb delivery from a free-kick out on the right was perfect for substitute Frankie Belfon to head in from almost under the bar. 4-0. Four minutes later another pinpoint delivery from the right, this time from a corner, was met by a great leap from Chris Griffin who, this time, made no mistake. 5-0.
The game was now well and truly done and dusted. It didn't exactly go flat at this point but it did lose some intensity. Blisworth still went in search of more goals but Corby, to their credit, kept plugging away and probably had the ball in the Blisworth more in the final 25 minutes than in the rest of the game combined. It was still quite a quiet day for Jack Bradshaw in the home goal but at least Corby made him get his gloves dirty in the second period.
The only real incident of note after the fifth goal came in the very last minute of the game when a nasty looking foul on a Corby player led to plenty of raised voices between players on both sides. To be fair to both sides, it stayed at raised voices and didn't progress to anything worse. However, Corby's number 9 must have said a little too much to the referee because he was shown a second yellow before the Corby player was helped off the pitch with what looked like a pretty bad injury. The reduction of Corby to ten players had no affect on the game as the referee blew to end proceedings immediately after the free-kick was taken.

FT Blisworth 5 Corby Pegasus 0. The home side dominated the game from minute 1 to minute 90. Credit to Corby for digging in but even they must admit to being out-played on the day. Blisworth looked like a very good side to me. They can certainly play some entertaining football and are also very happy to mix it with their opponents if necessary. 
Blisworth remain in second spot, still seven points adrift of Roade but with two games in hand. Harpole's 0-0 draw Woodford United seems them push Pegasus down a place to ninth. Next week bot sides are in Premier Division Cup action. Blisworth have a home tie against Rothwell FC Aztec whilst Corby are in the road again, this time at Harpole.

Blisworth: Bradshaw, Reina, Dowling, Gartland, Herbert, Morgan, Westbury, Griffin(c), Wilkes, Bobowicz, Duffy. Subs: Grimley, York, Belfon

Ground Number: 303
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

​Last Sunday morning saw an honourable defeat for Caversham United and another postponement for Jovial Monk. Caversham United Women continued to be our flagship Sunday team with their sixth straight win in all competitions. This weekend we once again have the potential for a full house of games. Let's hope the weather plays ball.

Jovial Monk
After being awarded the game at Highworth in the previous round (we won't go into the reasons), Monk have an extremely tough looking away Knockout Cup Quarter-Final game next weekend as they travel to Division One side AFC Mannington who are currently third in the top league. However, they have a game in hand on the top two and are only 3 points adrift. Unlike Mink, who haven't kicked a ball in anger since mid-December, Mannington have managed to get a couple of games under their belts in 2022, although both were defeats, 2-1 at FC Devizes United in the Wiltshire Cup and 3-0 at Penhill in the league. So, they are not in the best of form, something Monk will want to take advantage of.
AFC Mannington v Jovial Monk
KO 10:30. Mannington Rec Pitch 4, SN5 7YW
Let's hope Full-Time is incorrect because it seems to say that FC Walcot v DPR is on the same pitch at the same time.

Caversham United
The Goats face a fixture that probably could be described as a six-pointer as they welcome 9th placed GC United to Mapeldurham. United may be three places and four points above Caversham but they have played three more games than the Goats. Looking at GC's record this season, they don't win often but, when they do, they win big. Their three victories so far, two of which were on the road, have been 4-1, 4-0 and, most recently, a 14-2 demolition of bottom side Reading Kites. This last game was extraordinary in that no fewer than 9 different GC players got on the score sheet. Caversham went down 4-1 in their last game, against high-flying Give Back, but by all accounts the performance in that game was better than the score suggests.
Caversham United v GC United
KO 10:30. Mapledurham Playing Fields, RG4 8LD

Caversham United Women
As I said above, Caversham United Women go into this weekend looking to make it seven wins on the bounce in all competitions as they entertain the team directly below them in the league, Mortimer Ladies. The Goats have a six point cushion between themselves and Mortimer and have played a game less. However, I am sure they will want to see this stretched to 9 points by the end of the game. Mortimer will be buoyed by the fact that both of their league wins this season have come away from home. However, they have also conceded the highest number of goals in the league, 42 in their 10 games. The Goats will be looking to turn their recent excellent cup form into league points.
Caversh​am United Women v Mortimer Ladies
KO 14:00. Mapledurham Playing Fields, RG4 8LD

​Tuesday was a bit of a last minute decision aided by my young daughter telling me that I should go to the game because she wanted a girly night in with her Mum. Oh well, if you insist. The only question then was which game? I had a few on my possible games list, including two on 3G as backups in case the weather played a part. However, as it happened, I decided on choice number one, Shefford Town & Campton v SSML Division 1 leaders, Stotfold. Shefford was a new ground for me to visit and I had never had the opportunity to see either team play before, although I have been to a game at Stotfold's ground (at the Old Roker Park), when I saw their then tenants, Baldock Town take on Winslow United in 2017 (Reds In Beds).

The Ground
Shefford play their home games at Shefford Sports Club on the South East extremities of the town. The ground, just off Hitchin Road, is accessed via a yet unnamed road, that also leads to what looks it will be quite a large housing development. There is a fairly large car park which on this night, maybe because of the expected larger crowd, was being attended by stewards, pointing cars in the right direction. Even with over 30 minutes to go before kick-off, it was almost full when I arrived. The ground is relatively new and looks like it is very well maintained. There is a large clubhouse block which incorporates the players and officials areas. This is situated behind the town end goal and has a marquee and patio area looking out over the pitch. There was also an external burger grill at the side of the clubhouse which I would have made use of if I had not already eaten. The playing surface at Shefford is completely flat and looked to be very well cared for even after the recent bad weather. There are two covered spectator areas, either side of the halfway line, on the car park side, one seating and one standing. Opposite are the dugouts and that side of the ground is backed by a grass bank which allows a good view of the game. The entire playing area is bordered by white tubular fencing. All in all, a very neat and tidy ground clearly geared up in preparation for taking the club further up the pyramid.

​The Background
With only just over 4 miles between the grounds, it's not that surprising that these sides have met each other many, many times over the years, although the majority of the meetings took place when Shefford were still just Shefford Town. The first time they met in the league seems to be in the 1954-55 South Midland Premier season after Stotfold had come up from Division 1 at the end of the previous year. Shefford then had a brief spell in the Parthenon League and the United Counties League, before returning to the South Midlands and sharing a division with Stotfold for some 14 seasons between 1962 and 1976, when Shefford were relegated to Division 1. Hostilities briefly resumed in the mid 80s when Shefford regained their Premier League status but Stotfold then decided to try their luck in the united Counties League, where they stayed until 2010. Meanwhile Shefford Town was wound up in 1994 and the town remained club-less until a new Shefford Town was formed in 2009, merging with Campton the following year to create Shefford Town & Campton. The new club worked its way up the Bedfordshire pyramid before gaining entry back to the Spartan South Midlands league in 2019 and, with it, renewing their rivalry with Stotfold who had returned to the SSML in 2010. Unfortunately, due to Covid, they have yet to complete a full season in Step 6. That first season back the clubs met once, at Stotfold, with the Eagles coming back from a 2-3 half-time deficit to win 5-3/ The following season, which was abandoned early on with Shefford top of the league, the sides did not meet at all. This season, they had not met in the league before Tuesday evening. However, there was a Gladwish Challenge Trophy meeting in early December. Stotfold led by a goal at half-time but, after losing Ryan Lewis to a red card, Shefford collapsed to a 6-1 defeat.
At the start of play Stotfold were sitting top of the pile with 56 points from their 23 games, 7 points clear of Winslow United but having played four more games than them. Shefford were in 13th spot, with 29 points from only 17 games. With so many game sin hand, they could feasibly make top three if they were to win them all.
​

​The Game
Stotfold, with confidence clearly high from their league position and recent cup win, were immediately on the front foot. In the first couple of minutes the ball seemed to be constantly inside Shefford's final third. However, it was actually the home side, on a breakaway, who came close when a Scott Metcalfe cross from the right clipped a defender and crashed against the near post. Granted, Liam Gooch had it covered, but a small warning to the visitors nonetheless. In a breathless start to the game, Stotfold went immediately down the other end and were a little unlucky when Luke Smith's cross shot went narrowly wide of Lewis's right-hand post.
Stotfold continued to dominate possession and came close again after 15 minutes when, after some pinball in the area, Smith tried a cheeky backheel which was cleared off the line. The Eagles' pace and trickery, especially down the right with Jake Davis, caused all sorts of problems for the home defence but they were still hanging in there and tried to get the ball forward when they could, although the gap between their forwards and their midfield, who had been pushed back to defend, meant that most forays were snuffed out quickly.
On 22 minutes Stotfold manufactured a very good opportunity when a diagonal ball put Spavins in the clear. Lewis made himself big and managed to parry the attempt but the ball fell to Smith on the edge of the box. He then saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line again. A minute later, from a right-wing corner, Stotfold captain Conor Clarke rose highest but saw his header clip the bar and go over. Shefford's goal was leading a charmed life at this point and it seemed like only a matter of time before Stotfold scored. having said that, they still needed to be aware of the Shefford threat on the break. It was close to the half-hour mark when the home side notched their first shot on target, although it was straight into the arms of Gooch.
As we approached the half time whistle it seemed as if Shefford had somehow ridden out the Stotfold storm. Whilst the visitors were still the more potent threat, the level of intensity had, unsurprisingly, dropped a little. It was still somewhat surprising that we went into the break goal-less.

HT Shefford Town & Campton 0 Stotfold 0. Blistering start from Stotfold but credit to Shefford for hanging in there. They rode their luck at times but dug in admirably.

​Judging by the animated style of Stotfold boss Brett Donnelly during the first half, I think it is fair to say that he probably read the riot act to his side at half-time. Not that they had played badly by any means, but that they were still level when they probably should have been two or even three ahead. His teams responded with the opening goal with six minutes of the restart. The ball was fed out wide to Codi-Lee Spavins who ran at his defender, then cut inside before drilling the ball, with the aid of a small deflection, past Lewis. 0-1. The goal looked as if it might signal the beginning of more of the same, with Stotfold dominating the ball and their opponents. Five minutes after going ahead Spavins was unlucky to see another shot come back off the bare and the luckless Smith saw his rebound scrambled off the line for the their time in the game. However, that little piece of action could well have been the turning point. Just past the hour mark, Shefford pushed forward again through the speedy Number 11. He was felled inside teh Stotfold penalty area, giving the referee no decision to make. Penalty. Up stepped Henry Snee to send Gooch the wrong way and level it up. 1-1
It has to be said that after the equaliser and after Stotfold replaced Jake Davis, (who looked to be their biggest threat) the game became much more even. It swung from end to end with both sides making chances. If anything, as it wore on, it was Shefford who started to look the stronger of the two sides. However, no more goals were forthcoming despite the best efforts of both teams to find a winner.
​

​FT Shefford Town & Campton 1 Stotfold 1. A fascinating game in a lot of ways for a neutral observer. Stotfold were very quick out of the blocks and could easily have been out of sight inside the first 15 minutes. However, Shefford are made of stern stuff and really dug in well, earning themselves the right to play their game and trouble Stotfold. In the second half, when the visitors took the lead, they could easily have run away with the game but, once again, Shefford dug in and deservedly equalised. From that point onwards it was anyone's game. On this showing Shefford could well win a few of those games in hand and put themselves into the mix for a top six place. Stotfold are a good side who won't lose too many and, if they can convert chances into goals, could well severely punish some unfortunate teams. At the weekend both sides are in Beds Senior Trophy Semi-Final action. Shefford are preparing for the visit of fellow SSML Division 1 side Langford, whilst Stotfold face a trip to Bedfordshire County Premier outfit Queens Park Crescents.

Shefford Town & Campton: Lewis, O'Neil, Robinson, Hammer, Metcalfe, Renney, Sheridan, Bateman-Foley, Snee, Day, McNamara. subs: Cooksley, Ingham, Lewis
Stotfold: Gooch, Nicholls, Stewart, Ryan, Sears, Clarke(c), Davis, Simms, Smith, Bagge, Spavins. Subs: Godfrey, Woodley, Holmes, Amaning, Alleyne

Ground Number: 302
Att: 165
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A

Saturday morning started with a hard frost across most of the country. My girl's team away game in Oxford was deemed on and then, just as we were about to set off, called off because the pitch was too hard to play safely. Having already decided that I was going to try to get to a game in the afternoon, I was them waiting on pitch inspections to see where I was heading. Top of the list was the local derby in the posh end of Brum, Hampton v Knowle. I had tried to get to this game previously but it had twice been postponed. However, after an 11am pitch inspection, the game was on. Many thanks to both club's Twitter admins for keeping the supporters informed. 
This would be my first visit to Hampton but I have seen Knowle play before in the 2019 Les James Challenge Final at the Banks's Stadium (Quickfire Borough Thwart Robins).

The Ground
Hampton play at The Boggery, a strange name for a football ground but there is a good reason for it. The Boggery was actually the name of a Folk Club opened by local comedian and long-suffering Birmingham City director and fan Bob Davies, better known as Jasper Carrot. The club had three different venues in its lifetime, the second of which, opened in 1974, was the Old Moseleyans Clubhouse on Lugtrout Lane in Solihull. I can't find any reference to Old Moselyans now but the current clubhouse that is used by Hampton FC is on the junction of Lugtrout Lane and Field Lane. That can't be a coincidence. Is this, in fact, the former folk club? 
The Boggery forms part of a very large football complex. Aside from the main pitch there is another full sized pitch and numerous small-sided pitches that seem to stretch for as far as the eye can see, although some of the ones in the distance are part of an adjoining site called The Glades Football Cetre. It's clearly a big football area because, on the opposite side of Field Lane is Coldland Colts FC which also has an array of small-sided youth pitchs.
The Boggery has a fairly large car park, big enough to cope even on a local derby day. The first team pitch is situated on the opposite side of the clubhouse, accessed by a small path on which a man is stationed to take your entrance fee. Having more than one pitch certainly came to their rescue today because, I was told, the top part of their normal home pitch was still too hard to play on, which meant the game was switched to the other full sized pitch adjacent to the car park. Whilst it was great that the game could go ahead, it was a bit of a shame that the game wasn't played on the main pitch, which is quite an impressive set-up for this level, having two covered spectator stands along the Field Lane side. The pitch we were on today does have a couple of dugouts on the Lugtrout Lane side but does not have any spectator cover. Instead a respect barrier had been set up along the opposite side of the pitch. The main thing was, we were going to see a game of football after this fixture had already been postponed twice, once for a waterlogged pitch and once for Covid in the Knowle camp.

​The Background
Thgis game is very much a local derby. Only just over three miles and the M42 separates The Boggery from Robins' Nest. The sides have also been in the same division now for over a decade, so plenty of local rivalry has had time to build up. Looking at recent history also points to the sides being quite closely matched. In the last eleven meetings, including one in the abandoned 2019-20 season, Hampton have won four, Knowle three and there have been four draws. Six of those games have taken place at The Boggery and, again, it is even-steven, two home wins, two away wins and two draws. Knowle have current bragging rights in light of their 2-0 win at The Boggery in the last meeting on Boxing Day 2019. Goals from Brandon Hague and Zak Harbon sealing victory.
This season Knowle have also had the upper hand in terms of league position, although this would be the first meeting of the teams. Prior to kick-off Hampton were sitting fourth from bottom with 15 points from their 16 games and had not won in the league since a 3-0 victory at Bolehall Swifts in late October. During this time they had also suffered a couple of damaging results against teams also in the bottom half, losing 1-0 at home to Barnt Green Spartak and only drawing at home with bottom side Bolehall. Knowle, meanwhile, were very nicely placed in second spot, seven points shy of leaders Cadbury Athletic but with a game in hand. However, after a run of four wins on the bounce they lot last time out, 1-0 at home to Fairfield Villa. Even so, all pointers would suggest an away win but you never know, especially in a local derby.

​The Game
If Knowle started the game expecting to cruise to victory they had a shock in store as early as the 3rd minute. Kori Edinborough drove forward and tried a speculative effort from outside the box. The shot was mis-cued but fell perfectly for Hamza Siddique who made no mistake to give the hosts the lead. 1-0
Knowle tried to recover from the early setback and on 11 minutes produced a lovely flowing move which was only ended when Matt Allely rushed off his line to smother the ball. Good save from the home stopper. His efforts were doubly rewarded when, after 19 minutes, his team went two in front. Winning a free-kick way out on the left side, the ball was pumped into the mix in the Knowle penalty area. It was not cleared properly and the home side managed to slide the ball out to Will Simons who guided it past Tregartha. 2-0
The goal was a signal for Knowle to final work out that they were in a game and they started to show some of the form that had seen them into such a lofty league position. Just past the 20 minute mark they were unlucky when Jay Payne's 20 yard free kick had Allely sweating as the ball went narrowly over his bar. On 32 minutes the visitors had a massive chance to pull a goal back. A superb crossfield ball setting Nathan Corry free on goal. He bore down on Allely but slid his shot narrowly wide of the near post.
Four minutes later Knowle shoudl have been made to pay even more when Tom Parnaby was put clean through but shanked his effort wide of the mark. It was end to end stuff at this point with KNowle almost immediately breaking up the other end and winning a penalty. It looked a clear cut foul from my angle, despite the protestations form the home defenders. Penalty given. Zak Ahrbon, who scored in the team's previous meeting, stepped up but his spot kick was saved well by Allelly diving to his left. It was at a good heght for the keeper, but credit to the save, keeping his team two up. The first-half action was not finished though. With a couple of minutes remaining Hampton won a free kick some 30 yards out and to the right of the goal. The ball was swung in by Luke benham, looking for someone to get a touch. Neither striker or defender coudl get on the end of it forcing Jack Tregartha to throw himself full length at the last second to divert the ball around the post.

HT Hampton 2 Knowle 0. Something of a strange half in some ways. The visitors certainly had more of the ball them their hosts but lacked that killer final ball and were punished by two clinical finishes from Hampton.

The half-time break was an opportunity to sit in the car with the heater on full blast, trying to store up enough residual heat to face up to the second half on such a chilly day. It really was quite bitter on the side-lines, although the earlier mist had cleared a little by this time, noticeable by the fact that you could now see the planes taking off from nearby Birmingham Airport, rather than just hear them as was the case at the start of the first period.
When the match restarted it was clear from the very start that Knowle had been given the hairdryer treatment at half-time. Their play showed an increased urgency and they looked sharper across the entire pitch. Their reward for the quick start was not long in coming. 48 minutes were on the clock when Nathan Corry made up for his first-half miss. Collecting the ball some 25 yards out he hit a superb dipping drive which left Allely almost motionless as it crashed in, clipping the underside of the bar on its way. 2-1 and game well and truly on. Knowle were now full of confidence and looked as they would get the equaliser in quick fashion as they pushed their hosts back. Thomas Cullen saw a shot well saved by Allely on 56 minutes as the visitors went for the jugular. However, as was the case in the first period, their final ball was letting them down time and again.
Hampton did well to ride the wave of Knowle pressure at the start of the half. They gradually steadied the ship and, as we approached the last 15 minutes, started to look a little more confident themselves. That was when potential disaster struck for the hoists. A rash challenge from Parnaby seeing him pick up his second yellow. Now it really was backs against the wall for Hampton. Knowle smelled blood and were pretty much pinning Hampton in the own half. Still they could not find a goal. A combination of solid defending, good goalkeeping, untidy finishing and, it has to be said, a dose of luck, served to keep Knowle at bay. The Robins' cause was not helped when substitute Ethan Galloway was sin-binned in the final minute.

FT Hampton 2 Knowle 1. The hosts held strong in the face of almost constant second-half pressure. I'm not sure even they know how they managed to hang on, but hang on they did and you have to take your hat off to their resilience. Knowle maybe took the game for granted in the first half, thinking three pounts were in the bag. In the second half, however, they showed why they are pushing the top teams as they strung move after move together. On a different day they would probably have had four or five goals. Overall though, a cracking game for a neutral to watch.
If you would like to catch either of these teams in action, both face away games next weekend. Knowle travel to mid-table Alcester Town while Hampton face a six-pointer at Barnt Green Spartak. Both have the potential to be excellent games, so why not go along to one of them?
Best wishes to both Hampton and Knowle for the remainder of the season and apologies to Knowle who I have now seen lost 2-1 twice. When I get me moped back on the road, I'll be back.


Hampton: Allely, Considine, Chapman, Wyatt, Morris(c), Benham, Connaire, Simons, Parnaby, Edinborough, Siddique. Subs: Knight, Fletcher, McGrath, Mitchell
Knowle: Tregartha, Fox, Payne, Regan, Cosgrove(c), Delaney, Harbon, Andrews, Hague, Cullen, Corry. Subs: Bennett, Galloway, Arthur, Seeley


Ground Number: 301
Att: 72
Entrance: £3.00
Programme: N/A

Footnote: If the former West Brom season ticket holder, with whom I had a conversation in the second half, is reading this. We could have cleaned up at the bookies between us. I seem to remember me saying "This has 1-0 to QPR written all over it" and you said "Charlie Austin to come on and score the winner". There's years of bitter Albion experience and disappointment in those comments, we've seen it all before.

After last week's complete washout let's hope that all three of our favourites can get a game under their belts this Sunday. All three are scheduled to be in action, so fingers crossed. As always, we start the preview with Swindon's finest as they look to get their title challenge back on track.

Jovial Monk
By the time Sunday comes round it will be over a month since the Monks graced the turf and over 2 months, before we had even heard of Omicron, since they last won a game. As luck would have it, this Sunday they take on Chiseldon, the last team they beat, back in November. That game at Lambourn saw both Jono Peachey-Score and Mitch Sutton grab hat-tricks with goals from Anthony Collett and Kris Redford rounding off an 8-0 thrashing. Chisledon have only played once since that day, a 6-0 defeat at Casuals. A good win for Monk could put them right back in contention, depending upon other results and, with two of the teams above them playing each other, the prospects are good.
Chiseldon v Jovial Monk
KO 10:30. Chiseldon Recreation Ground, SN4 0LE

Caversham United
There's no doubt about it. The Goats need a lift. Second from bottom and winless since October (albeit with three draws in that time), a three-pointer is really needed. Consequently, the visit of unbeaten Give Back FC may not be the fixture they would have chosen this weekend. However, we know that goats love to climb mountains, so here is the chance for them to prove it. The sides met on the second weekend of the season with Give Back running out 6-3 after Caversham played the majority of the second half with 10 men after Oliver Frost's red card. Give Back have been busy in cup action recently and have not played a league game since the November 3-2 win over Emmer Green which only came one week after Caversham had drawn 1-1 at Emmer Green.
Caversham United v Give Back FC
KO 10:30. Mapledurham Playing Fields, RG4 8LD

Caversham United Women
Caversham Women face a trip to Buckinghamshire where they take on mid-table Long Crendon Ladies. The Goats sit third from bottom at the start of play but with Penn & Tylers Green not in action and Wargrave away at second placed Tilehurst, a  good result for them could see them jump into a mid-table slot themselves. They are in a pretty good run of form, albeit mainly in cup matches, with only one defeat in their last five games. Back in October Long Crendon left Reading licking their wounds after two from Rosie Page-Smith and a Caitlin Levy goal saw Caversham cruise to a 3-1 victory. More of the same required for the Goats this weekend.
Long Crendon Ladies v Caversham United Women
KO 14:00. Long Crendon Rec. HP18 9AW

​Ground 300. Not a massive number in comparison to some people I know but, nevertheless, it is a small milestone. It did look as if the chance to clock up 300 was going to pass me by this week. A couple of games that I had pencilled in for Tuesday were washed out but things looked a little brighter on Wednesday and I was very happy to find out that the Midland Division One clash between Bilston Town ad Cradley Town looked as if it was going to survive. I have driven past Bilston's Queen Street ground on many occasions. It seemed like a good choice to be heading back to the Midlands and especially to a town that I had some historical connection to. In the 60s and 70s my Dad worked as an upholsterer for H. Beach & Sons, based in Bilston High Street. As a small boy I went to their workshop many times and sometimes travelled out to jobs during the Summer holidays, something I have mentioned in a previous blog (Step Six Sanitised). I also have a vague memory of Wolverhampton & District Sunday League away games against a team called Lunt, coincidentally the area of Bilston that is home to Bilston Town. I believe Lunt played in a green kit (possibly most of their players were Irish too) but, a glance at the current League tables suggests they don't exist any more. Another team, that seems to now be defunct, from that era of Sunday league was Bantock Park from nearby Wolverhampton. I mention this because Bilston Town spent a short time playing on Bantock Park a few years back, during a period when their ground was deemed unsafe after a period of vandalism. Anyway, I digress. The game was one, so it was time to head up the M40 in time for kick-off.

​The Ground
Bilston Town have played at Queen Street since 1919. It features what I would say is an iconic orange cage-style fence around about a third of the ground, presumably to prevent stray balls landing in the middle of the adjacent, busy Black Country Route. This is the reason I use the word iconic. Anyone who has driven between Dudley and the M6 will have seen the structure, you can't miss it. I'm pretty certain it is a unique feature of a football ground. (Maybe the power of the internet will prove me wrong?). The ground is situated to the East of Bilston town centre in the Lunt district. Access into the ground is through a double gate which allows both pedestrian and vehicle access. Cars can be parked inside the ground but there is also plenty of parking on the surrounding streets. In fact, you can park immediately outside the ground on a match day. The main stand, which straddles the halfway line on the Queen Street side of the ground, is pretty large by Step 6 standards, a throwback to when the club played a little higher up the pyramid and, of course, to days of bigger crowds. The ground attendance record is a colossal 8,000 for a friendly against Wolves in 1953. Alongside the main stand is the clubhouse which also houses has a tea/snack bar. The players and officials changing facilities are part of the main stand accessed via a rarity at this level, a tunnel. At either end of the ground, behind both goals, there are also small covered spectator areas. The one at the town end is labelled Turners End (named after a supporter perhaps?). Opposite the main stand, on the Black Country Route side, there is no cover but plenty of hard standing in front of the parking area which is directly under the orange fencing. What I really like about this ground is the character. yes, it's a bit rickety in places and the main stand has, I'm sur, seen better days, but it's not one of these new style grounds that all look identical. It has seen football for over a century. It has history and I love it. If you haven't been, you should take a visit. It's well worth it.

​The Background
Both Bilston and Cradley are in the first season in Midland League Division One after coming over from the West Midlands (Regional) premier during the Summer reorganisation. However, they have shared a division now for almost a decade. During that time neither have really threatened the league leaders and, in most cases, they have finished in mid-table. Cradley have probably had slightly the better record overall but there's not a great deal in it. This season, however, it has been a different case. Coming into the game Bilston were sitting in 7th spot with 33 points from their 22 games, whereas Cradley were only just above the drop zone with 20 points from 21 games. Recent form for Bilston had been a bit up and down. they had collected 7 points from their last 6 outings which had included a 6-0 win and a 6-1 defeat. Cradley, meanwhile, were coming into the game on a really poor run of form having lost their last five league outings. This included two potentially damaging defeats, 3-1 at home to Khalsa FF and 5-0 at AFC Bridgnorth, both sides just below them in the league table. Earlier in the season the sides had met at The Beeches with A Casey Collins strike not being enough for Cradley as goals from Adam Garmson and Jake Healy gave The Steelmen a 2-1 victory. So, although history was just about on the side of The Hammers, recent form seemed to suggest we would not be hearing the phrase "'ommer 'um Cradley" this evening. Of course, football has a strange habit of throwing up unexpected results.

​The Game
After a slightly later than scheduled kick-off, we finally got under way with Bilston, in their home kit of all orange, defending the goal at Turners End. However after a fairly even first 15 minutes, it was Cradley in their change kit of blue shirts with a black chevron and black shorts, who hit the front. Following a corner that was cleared, Cradley won the ball back. Following some good work down the right flank a low cross was played in where captain Darren Whitley, who had stayed up following the corner, was on hand to finish off the move with a simple tap-in. 0-1.
The goal prompted action from the home side and they only took five minutes to get back to parity. Again it was an attack that was partially cleared by the defending team. The time, however, the ball ended at the feet of Adam Garmson who fired a low effort into the near post where it evaded bot goalkeeper Ethan Hawkes and a covering defender. 1-1
The action was now coming so thick and fats that I was still tweeting about the equaliser when Cradley went straight up the other end and won a penalty. I must admit I didn't see the incident but there weren't any complaints from the home side. It was taken by Jordan Bladen, but he saw home keeper Matt Ballard throw himself to his left and make a very good save. Still 1-1 with 24 minutes gone.
Five minutes later and the visitors were really rueing the penalty miss as The Steelmen went in front with a superb piece of individual skill. The ball was pinged, at a fair rate of knots, into Garmson around waist height. His control was instant, pulling the ball out of the air before juggling a couple of times and smashing a dipping volley over Hakes from all of 25 yards. 2-1. There were some claims of offside from the Cradley defence but, I have to say, Garmson looked on from my vantage point. What a strike too. The best goal I have seen so far this season.
The Bilston joy did not last long at all though. On 32 minutes Casey Collins, who's pace and willingness to run had caused huge problems to the home defence, set off in pursuit of what looked like another lost cause. he managed to chase down a through ball, pressuring the defender into a mistake before using his pace to just about get to the loose ball before Ballard and then slide it into the net. 2-2. Not as spectacular as Garmson's effort but a great goal in its own right made completely by the tenacity, pace and determination of Collins.
That ended the scoring in the first half as both teams needed to take stock and steady themselves after 16 minutes of non-stop incident.

HT Bilston Town 2 Cradley Town 2. On overall play all-square at the break was the right score line in what was a very even but well contested game of football.

Both teams were out ahead of the officials for the second half, clearly keen to get on with proceedings. It was clear from the restart that Cradley had been given instruction to up their game and go flat out for the win. They were immediately quicker to every ball and sharper in the tackle as they tried to rock their hosts back. Only five minutes in, the new approach paid dividends. A quick throw-in just on the halfway line released Collins and caught out the home defence, leaving the Cradley striker one on one with his marker. He shrugged off the challenge before blasting the ball past the keeper. 2-3.
Cradley did not try to sit back and defend their lead, quite the opposite, they continued to keep up their higher tempo. The big question was, could they keep it up. The game became increasingly spread and was pretty much end to end for a period in the middle of the half. As time ran on Cradley definitely started to wilt a little, the pressing and pace starting to get to them, despite making a couple of substitutions. Bilston pressed and pressed. As we approached the end of the game the ball definitely spent more time in the Cradley half but still the home side could not find an equaliser. The referee found quite a lot of added time but it wasn't enough for Bilston.

FT Bilston Town 2 Cradley Town 3. A really top game of football as far as a neutral was concerned. I've been very fortunate lately, seeing some really good games and this was up there with them all. Both sides clearly wanted to win the game. Great credit to Cradley for their second half display. The way they took the game to Bilson at the start of the second half changed the game and the hosts struggled to contain them for a while. I honestly didn't think they were going to be able to hang on but that is exactly what they did despite Bilston desperately trying to find a way back into the game.
If you want to catch either of these teams, they are both back in action away from home on Saturday. Bilston face a tricky looking trip North to take on second placed Stapenhill, victors by 3-1 at Queen Street in October, whilst Cradley have a trip to the Pingles Stadium where they face 8th placed Nuneaton Griff who won 4-0 at The beeches in late August.
Best of luck to both sides for the remainder of the season.

Bilston Town: Ballard, Sappleton-Williams, Short, Weston(c), Harper-Bailey, Davies, Barnett, Pierpoint, Montague, Garmson, Dunkley. Subs: Babs, Skeldon, Mohammed, Ogugua
Cradley Town: Hawkes, Bibb, Umoh, Whitley(c), Gould, Bladen, Dimmock, Calmis, Bladen, Collins, Crackett. Subs: Buchanan, Tomlinson, Bewick, Hangero-Cham, Craddock

Ground Number: 300
Att: 
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A

​Footnote:
In the process of writing this blog I remembered another connection to the town of Bilston Some 30 years ago, at the same time that I worked at local newspaper the Express & Star,  I played in a band that recorded a 4 track cassette (who remembers cassettes?) at a studio in Bilston. We knew it as Blind Mart's (yes, it was owned by a blind guy called Mart) but it may well have had an official name that I have forgotten over time. The fact that I still work in IT and write non-league football blogs probably tells you all you need to know about the quality of the recording. Does anyone remember the studio? The entrance was down an alleyway I think but I can't remember whereabout it was in the town.

​The postponment of my girl's team fixture on Friday, due to a waterlogged pitch, left me with a free Saturday morning but was also a portent to what was to come on Saturday. The apptern started to set in from around 10am, pitch inspection followed by match postponed notices all across the country. Like most, I had already got a list of games with a 3G in there as a backup. One by one, they all started to show a P-P and I was down to my last two grass pitch games before I spotted a Tweet from Watlington Town in response to a question regarding a pitch inspection. The magic words "No inspection required. Game on." Perfect. Only half an hour down the M40 and a 14:15 kick-off, giving me plenty of time to get home to prepare dinner (Korean Bibimbap in case you are interested). Not only that, Watlington had been on my list for over a year, so this was a great opportunity to tick off another ground, number 299 as it happens.

The Ground
Town play at the Watlington Recreation Ground just outside the village on the North-Eastern perimeter on . There is a fair sized car park set back from the main road which is adjacent to a clubhouse in the Watlington Pavilion. I didn't go in but I saw people coming out with hot drinks, so I gather there are refreshments available. The pitch is situated alongside the main road with one of goals backing onto the service road leading to the pavilion. It is also possible to park just off the service road or, as I did, in the next street along, Love Lane, which has another entrance to the Recreation Ground through a small pathway. First view of the ground are very good. There are also many small-sided pitches and goals spread around the Recreation ground. The club offers football to all ages from 4+. Great to see a thriving community club like this. The playing area is surrounded by a white plastic barrier fence. There are dugouts on the main road side of the pitch and, given the recent weather, the pitch looked to be in fair shape (although, it did start to cut up later). All in all, a very tidy looking ground, well worth a visit.

​The Background
Before the start of play Watlington sat at the top of the table on 32 points, two points clear of nearest rivals Woodcote but having played two more games. Holmer Green Dev. sat in 8th spot on 22 points but having played more games than anyone in the league (16). However, that didn't tell the whole story. Top they may be but Town had hit a slight wobble of late, losing 4-0 to Penn & Tylers Green reserves and drawing 1-1 with Chalfont Wasps in the last two home games. Holmer Green, in contrast, came to the game on the back of four wins in their last five games, including a 2-0 win over third placed Thame United A. Since Watlington re-joined the Hellenic structure in 2020, there have been two meeting between the sides, both won by Town. In last season's truncated campaign the sides had met in Watlington with the home side victorious by 3-2 and on the opening day of this season Watlington came back from Buckinghamshire with a 2-0 win courtesy of John Clarke and Adam Holloway goals.

​The Game
It was a lively start from the visitors and a bit of a sluggish opening from Watlington. However, after a few minutes the home side seemed to get to grips with the conditions and the game which led to a much more even contest. Despite this, however, it is fair to say that when the opening goal came on 16 minutes it was slightly against the run of play. It went to the home side. Holmer Green lost the ball in midfield allowing Watlington's speedy Ashley Stevens to break down the right. His low cross evaded both defender and goalkeeper before finding Adam Holloway, unmarked, to slot into an unguarded net. 1-0
Watlington, buoyed by the goal, almost doubled their advantage a couple of minutes later. Once more it was a cross from the dangerous  Stevens, this time right into the centre of the six yard box where a Holmer Green defender was forced to head the ball narrowly over his own bar under pressure from a Watlington striker.
Just before the half hour mark Holmer Green hit back with a little bit of luck on their side. A speculative shot from Jamie Mitchell squirmed out of the home keeper's grasp and, with multiple players from both sides lunging for it, the ball slid over the line. 1-1
As with Watlington earlier, the goal sparked Holmer Green into more action and they came close to taking the lead almost immediately. Only a combination of some good last ditch defending and a save from Ben Little kept out Green's Kudazi Chunga

​
HT Watlington Town 1 Holmer Green Dev. 1. A slow start from the home side but, once they got into their stride, the game was fairly even. Both sides noticeably grew in confidence immediately after scoring. The late downpour added to an an already wet pitch which became quite heavy in the centre. It could be a sapping second 45 minutes for both sides.

​It was Holmer Green who struck first in what was to become a manic second-half. Only four minutes had passed after the break when some good work down the left was finished neatly by Denis Pepelyarski. 1-2.
The visitor's joy did not last too long. Six minutes later the fourth goal of the game arrived. Ashley Stevens' low skidding effort catching out Jack Vaughan who couldn't get enough grip on the slippery surface to get across his goal and prevent the ball flashing into the corner of his net. 2-2.
Right on the hour mark Town were awarded a free-kick out on the left flanks after a long ball was chased down by Ben O'Connor. Green's keeper jack Vaughan sprinted out of his area but was a little too late, clattering the Town player and earning himself a yellow card in the process. Luckily O'Connor was soon on his feet after the heavy challenge. Vaughan's punishment was not over however because when the free-kick was played into the area a group of players challenged for it with the final touch coming off a defender. 3-2.
The action kept coming thick and fast. Two minutes later Holmer Green substitute Jethro Odumosu was completely taken out as he tried to weave his way into the box. The Green player made the mistake of immediately jumping up to confront his assailant, earning himself a yellow card that was to come back to haunt him shortly afterwards. I didn't see any card handed to the Watlington player which, considering the challenge, seemed a little odd. However, I was at the opposite end of the ground, so maybe it looked worse than it was?
The card did not affect the visitors too much and on 70 minutes they, once again, drew level. Centre-half Reece McKenzie climbing well to power home a header from a  left-wing cross. 3-3.
Six minutes after regaining parity it seemed as if the visitors had shot themselves in the foot when Odumuso, chasing down the same player who had fouled him (I believe), got the tackle all wrong and received his second yellow. At this point most of the crowd would have put money on Town going on to win the game but the reduction in numbers did not seem to deter Holmer Green too much as both sides went for the winner.
It duly came in the last minute of normal time but not for the home side. Instead the game was won by a superb piece of individual skill from Green's Alex Dimitrijevic. Picking the ball up near the halfway line and out on the flank, the left-winger used his pace to outstrip his marker, driving for the by-line before stepping inside another defender and firing past Little from an acute angle. 3-4 and cue scenes from the Green players and bench.
Even in this game of twists and turns, there was never going to be enough time for Watlington to come back again before referee David Evans called an end to proceedings.

FT Watlington Town 3 Holmer Green Dev. 4. The first thing to be said is that the amount of effort expended by both teams was exemplary, especially given the conditions that worsened quite quickly after the first-half downpour. Both sides wanted to win the game. There was no sitting back, especially in the second half. When the visitors went down to 10, mine and a lot of other spectator's, money would have been on Watlington to go on and win the game. However, Holmer Green showed great resilience and determination to not just stay in the game but to find a winner themselves.
Once again though, massive congratulations to the Watlington staff for getting the game on in the first place. Best of luck to both sides for the rest of the season. If you want to catch either team in action soon, Watlington make the short journey to third-placed Thame United A on Tuesday evening, in what is a potential cracker of a game at The ASM Stadium. Then, on Friday evening at Watchet Lane, Holmer Green Dev. host Taplow United looking to continue their current winning streak, whilst Watlington welcome AFC Aldermaston Reserves to the recreation Ground. 

Watlington Town: B.Little(c), Carrigan, J.Little, O'Connor, N.Little, Carter-Knight, Cox, Tyson, Burton, Holloway, Stevens. Subs: Butler, Saulter, Cavill, Selwood
Holmer Green Development: Vaughan, Page, Morgan, Ryll, McKenzie, Tyler, Mitchell, Dimitrijevic, While, Pepelyarski, Chunga. Subs: Odumosu, Limar, Barnes, Folker, Browne

Ground Number: 299
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

Happy New Year Sunday football fans! All three of our favourite teams are in action this weekend, weather and Covid permitting of course.

Jovial Monk
Monk take to the pitch for the first time since the 2-0 defeat to Gorsehill on December 12th when they welcome sixth placed Mario's FC to Lambourn. The sides met back in September when Mario's were sitting second in the league. Bondy put Monk one up before the break only for Mario's to equalise and then miss a penalty in the second half. Jono then put Monk back in front before a defensive lapse let Mario's back in to equalise again with just a few minutes remaining. In a division where the top six, down to Mario's, are only separated by six points, every game is a six pointer in itself. A big win for Mario's would see them jump above their hosts, whereas a win for Monk could see them go level on points at the top, depending on other results.
Jovial Monk v Mario's FC
KO 10:30. Lambourn Sports Club, RG17 8PS

Caversham United
The Goats begin 2022 with a very tricky looking trip to league leaders Burghfield Reserves. Caversham have not won in the league since the October 4-3 win at Loxwood but will take some heart from the fact that Burghfield have lost their last two outings, 3-1 against Wayback Wanderers and a 4-0 cup defeat to Emmer Green. 2021 didn't end too well for The Goats, an abandoned game and the announcement that manager Ben Foster had left on New Year's Eve. 2022 can only get better.
Interesting note: Burghfield have the largest list of registered players I think I have ever seen on Full-Time. (157?). If they all turned up that would be an average Step 4 crowd.
Burghfield Reserves v Caversham United
KO 10:30. Burghfield Common Recreation Ground, RG7 3EN

Caversham United Women
The Lady Goats, like the men, also face a tough away game at the league leaders. In their case the opponents in question are Badshot Lea, top of the league and with a 100% record. The sides met earlier in the season where a Holly Swan goal was not enough to prevent the Baggies clocking up a 6-1 victory. This brings together the league's joint top-scorers, Holly Swan for Caversham and Nicola Moore from Badshot Lea. Both have 12 goals to their names with the Baggies hot-shot just edging the stats by means of having played 2 fewer games. Unsurprisingly Badshot Lea are also the overall top scorers in the league with 31 goals in their 8 games.
Badshot Lea Ladies v Caversham United Women
KO 14:00. Westfield Lane, Wrecclesham, GU10 4PF

​Just three days into the New year but I was already preparing for my second game of 2022 after watching an absolute cracker between Kidlington and Wantage on New Year's Day. I was, I admit, originally planning to take in the Solihull derby between Knowle and Hampton after the reverse fixture a week or so ago got washed out. However, Covid in the Knowle ranks put paid to that one. Nevertheless, I had already got a game on standby which promised to be equally intriguing, a Midland League Division Three top of the table, local derby, between AFC Coventry Rangers and Coventrians. Not only that, it was an early kick-off (Noon) which meant I could get to the game and still be home in daylight to attend to a few things around the house and, as it turned out, have a game of netball with my daughter. The perfect combination of football and family but also the reason I don't call myself a groundhopper. Whilst a lot of people raced for the cars at full-time, hurrying to get to a second game of the day, I was heading home to play netball. I think that safely revokes any groundhopper credentials.

​The Ground
AFC play their home games at Coventry Technical Rugby Club. The football ground, just off Mitchell Avenue, is at the far end of the rugby club grounds with its own car park and club house. Parking at the ground is, under normal conditions, most likely quite adequate. However with the early kick-off attracting a few groundhoppers as well as a sizeable local crowd, it had already filled up when I got there, some 40 minutes before kick-off. Luckily the leisure centre on the opposite side of Mitchell Avenue has a large car park just a couple of minutes walk to the ground. Entrance to the ground is through a gate where a table had been set up to collect the entry money and sell programmes (they were limited but I did manage to get one), something of a rarity at this level. All of the facilities are in the clubhouse block, including the players and officials areas. There is also a small club shop selling scarves pin badges etc. On the clubhouse side there the two dugouts, labelled home and away, as well as few benches between the car park and the playing surface. There are no stands or covered spectator areas (this is Step 8 after all) but there is a bank beyond the far goal which gives a good view across the pitch. The pitch itself was unsurprisingly quite heavy and slops a little across the pitch up towards the clubhouse. All in all, this is a very good facility which appears to be run in the right way. The Twitter account replied to my query about any further pitch inspections this morning, they produced a good programme, they have club merchandise and club logos at the ground and signage outside. This club is going places.

​The Background
I have to admit that I didn't know a lot about either of these teams before today. Possibly not that surprising since neither have been around for too long. Coventrians were founded in 2007, Rangers not until 2020. Prior to kick-off they formed two of the top three in the Midland league Division Three table. Rangers sitting top of the tree with 43 points from their 16 games, Coventrians some nine points back in third place. Rangers, in their first season at Step 8, have been a revelation. They had already scored 90 goals and only conceded 15. Their home form, especially, was formidable to say the least. Played nine, won nine, scored 49 conceded 6. That being said, Coventrians away form was nothing to be sniffed at with seven wins from their nine outings. The sides could also boats the top two scorers in the division. Nathan McGarrity for Coventrians was second in the chart, with 20 goals to his name but way out in front was AFC's Connoll Farrell who had amassed a colossal 31 in the league already. Combining all that with the fact that only the city centre (less than 6 miles) separating the clubs, a noon kick-of attracting a bigger than normal crowd, and a slippery pitch, I was expecting a a good game. I was not to be disappointed.
​

​The Game
It was the visitors from the North of Coventry who took the early initiative. Just two minutes in they won a free-kick way out on the left. When the ball was played into the box no one was a able to vet a touch on it but it nearly deceived Allen in the home goal. His last second dive to palm the ball away averted an early setback. AFC soon settled, however, and the game became quite open, with play switching from end to end but neither side manufacturing too many clear cut chances. On 17 minutes the home side came close when a Rory Turnbull cross beat the visiting keeper but skimmed the top of the bar before going out for a goal kick. The visitors keeper was called into action four minutes later, proving his worth as he saved well from Connoll Farrell, Jordan Powell's follow-up was too good for him but was scrambled off the line by some very good covering defensive play.
The home side were beginning to edge the game on possession but Coventrians reminded them they were in a game on 23 minutes when top scorer Nathan McGarrity unleashed an effort from the edge of the box that whistled narrowly wide of Allen's left post. We had a real game on our hands now, end to end an some thunderous challenges going in on the slippery surface. One such challenge on Joe Gardner left the Rangers midfielder in a heap and earned a yellow card for Nathan Cadby. At first it seemed as if the tackle had done damage to the ankle of the Rangers player but he was up after treatment but holding his shoulder. Then, a few minutes later, after another hefty challenge on the same player, he signalled to be replaced. The shoulder injury from the awkward fall being the culprit it seemed. There was an ambulance in attendance at the ground later. Hopefully, the injury is not too serious.
Just past the half hour mark the home side went in front. Superb work down the flank from right-back Gomes who beat a couple of players, rode a challenge and then fed a lovely pass into the path of captain Powell who duly applied an assured finish. 1-0. Plenty of calls for offside from the visitors but nothing given.
The home side had their tails up now and were clearly on top. Coventrians, once again, had their keeper to thank on 38 minutes when he produced two very good saves within a few seconds to keep his side in the game. Four minutes after that, however, even he could do nothing as Rangers struck again. Once more the damage was done down the right. This time Farrell did the donkey work and then played a cross in to Powell who controlled and finished with some style. 2-0
The half was not done though. Right on the stroke of half-time Coventrians produced a lovely move. Effortlessly interchanging passes and only a very brave save from Allen, diving at the feet of the attacker, prevented them from getting a goal back. So close to the whistle, that could well prove to be a decisive moment which would certainly have changed the half time team talks on both sides.

HT AFC Coventry Rangers 2 Coventrians 0. A very good game to watch. End to end at times. Uncompromising tackling and plenty of chances at both ends. The home side may have take a two goal advantage into the break but the visitors were by no means out of the contest.

​It was definitely getting colder as the two teams made their way back for the second half. They were keen to get on with it, but had to wait around for a couple of minutes until the officials reappeared. When they did, it was the away side who were then caught cold early on in the second period. Only 4 minutes had passed when Rangers went route one. A long ball from inside their own half caught out the Coventrians defenders, who all called for offside. Sub Liam Doyle didn't wait to see if there was a flag though. He latched onto the ball before sliding it across the box to lay it on a plate for the fast-arriving Connoll Farrell to stroke home. 3-0
The visitor's complaints about the possible offside continued even after the ball was in the net. So much so that Dan Hume managed to earn himself a 10 minute rest when the referee sin-binned him for dissent. From my vantage point it was impossible to tell if it was offside or not but, judging by the level of incredulity from the visitor's defence and bench, when the flag did not go up, I am guessing it may have been off. Ah well, no VAR at this level (and long may that last).
Just on the hour mark, and with the visitors still down to 10, AFC made the advantage count. A fast and incisive break this time. From defending inside their own half, two or three passes took them to the edge of the visitor's box, Doyle was again set loose and, again, slid in Farrell to get his second. 4-0
Coventrians were now back to a full complement but the game was already lost for them. Not that they were about to throw in the towel in however, and a combination of their determination and the home side relaxing a little meant that the visitors had a better period of possession than they had since midway through the first half. They kept pushing but were up against a defence and goalkeeper who clearly value clean sheets. As I tweeted during the second half, I don't think Curtis Cutts lost a heading duel in the entire game but, to be fair, the entire Rangers back-line was superb, well-drilled and strong.
On 89 minutes, top scorer Farrell decided it was time to put the icing on the cake, embarking on a solo effort that saw him cut in from the left and slot home his hat-trick and AFC's fifth. 5-0.

FT AFC Coventry Rangers 5 Coventrians 0. A great game to watch as a neutral. Despite the seemingly one-sided score line, the game was not that uneven. Coventrians gave as good as they got for much of the game. The big difference was the clinical home finishing combined with their extremely efficient and solid defence. Rangers retain their six point lead over Sutton United, who also won 5-0 against Castle Vale today. AFC Solihull's 3-0 win at Leamington Hibernian sees them leapfrog Coventrians into third. Next up, AFC entertain seventh placed Upton Town whilst Coventrians welcome fourth from bottom Hibernians.
The very best of luck to both sides for the remainder of the season.

AFC Coventry Rangers: Allen, Gomes, Curran, Whitelaw, Swain, Cutts, Fagbemi, Gardner, Farrell, Powell(c), Turnbull. Subs: Comasky, McAndrews, Chesters, Doyle, Davis
Coventrians: Connolly, Hall, Hassan, Kearns, Muhammad, Hume, Donaldson(c), Mason, McGarrity, Cadby, Gibbs. Subs: Heeley, Allen, Dumbleton, Butler, Brandish



Ground Number: 298
Att: 193
Entrance: £3.00
Programme: £1.00