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Into the Valley

10/9/2014

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PictureMain stand at Butlin Road with turnstile block to the left
This Tuesday I had a dilemma. Should I take a trip to Rugby Town, over an hour away, or just pop over to Buckingham Athletic, a mere 15 minutes drive. In the end, as it was a pleasant evening, I chose Rugby. Buckingham will have to wait for winter when I don't feel like driving so far.
When I was a kid I used to love going past Stourbridge's War Memorial ground and looking at fluorescent pink and yellow posters on the noticeboard that showed which team was coming to town next. For some reason, in my head, it is always a misty November evening. The bus windows are steamed up and I have to wipe them to catch a glimpse of the exotic names. Nuneaton Borough, Wimbledon, Alvechurch, AP Leamington and, of course, VS Rugby.
Rugby Town will always be VS Rugby to me, the same as Leamington will always be AP Leamington. These names are just so much more evocative of the romance of football to me. Like AC Milan or AS Roma, they have a sense of mystery to them. Yes, I know VS stood for nothing more exotic than Valley Sports, and Automotive Products is nowhere near as mysterious as AP Leamington. However, I still yearn for those days. Maybe everything was more magical as a 8 year old, unaffected by modern life? Anyway, thanks RC Warwick. Keep up the good work.
First impressions of Butlin Road are very good. As you enter the ground through one of the three turnstiles you are faced by a smallish seating area with Rugby Town Football Club emblazoned in blue on the roof. Behind each goal there is covered terracing and just to the left of the turnstiles is a large, 500-seater cantilever stand with the letters VS picked out in white amongst the blue seats. The capacity is said to be around 6,000, although this is unconfirmed according to the website. I would certainly love to visit on a day when then stadium is full.
The two sides were coming into this match on the back of very different weekend results. Rugby had travelled to former leaders Hanwell Town and handed them a 6-1 thrashing whereas Daventry had gone down 4-0 at home to Royston Town. So, on recent form, the odds seemed to be stacked very heavily in favour of the home team. However, it was Daventry who started the stronger of the two, taking a very firm grip on midfield virtually from the off.
The game was being played at a fairly fast pace, as you would expect for a local derby. Just to add to the occasion there is the strange story of James Jepson. Not being that close to either of these clubs, I don't have the full story but I thought it might be worth looking into when I noticed the sizeable and vociferous Daventry crowd roundly booing 'JJ' every time he got the ball. My first thought was that he must be an ex-Daventry player who had defected to their rivals. That is sort of the case. However, it is slightly more intriguing than that. Last season Jepson played for another local rival of both teams, Kettering Town. In early July, Daventry reported that they had signed the 32 year-old beating off a bid from rivals Rugby Town. However, at the bottom of this article there is a footnote stating that Jepson had left the club and had, indeed, signed for Rugby. Maybe if someone from either club reads this, they could fill in the blanks?
Back to the game. Rugby threatened once of twice, mainly from long range efforts, but it was the Purple Army who looked the most likely to break the deadlock, especially when attacking down their right flank. The away side were getting crosses in far too easily for Rugby's liking and only a lack off accuracy in the finish or last ditch blocks from home defenders kept the score to 0-0 at half-time. On the evidence of the first half it was very difficult to see where the previous weekend's results had come from. Rugby looked like they would struggle to score one, let alone six, and the Daventry defence looked way too tight to have conceded four at any point. It's a funny old game.

PictureDaventry on the attack
The decisive moment in the game came on the hour mark. Rugby full-back Marcel Simpson was adjudged to have pulled down Daventry striker Tommy Berwick in the box. From my standpoint it was very difficult to tell if it was the correct decision or not. Obviously, Daventry supporters behind the goal thought it was a
clear foul, Rugby fans claimed it was harsh. All I know is that referee Lisa Rashid, who had a very good game in my opinion, gave the spot kick.
After some treatment to the home keeper, former Glassboy Berwick, picked himself up and fired home to put Daventry in front.
To be fair to Rugby the goal seemed to spark them into life. Certainly, in the last 30 minutes of the game, they looked far livelier than they had in the first hour. In fact, you could say that their endeavour warranted an equaliser. However, Daventry looked very secure at the back and, despite a lot of huffing and puffing from Rugby, the away keeper was never really troubled too much.
So it ended Rugby Town 0 Daventry Town 1. The Purple Army's first win in Rugby for five attempts (I am told). Daventry move up to 7th, while Rugby drop to 11th in the table. Although, both teams will have noted that Kettering scored five goals again to stay two points clear at the top.

Rugby Town - @fcrugbytown
Daventry Town - @daventrytownfc


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Greenbacks return to winning ways

20/8/2014

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Another Tuesday evening jaunt. This time a visit to Southern League Central Division side, Barton Rovers and their clash with Bedworth United. Both sides had started the season reasonably well with 6 points from their opening three games. Barton were coming into the season on the back of a very good 2013/14 campaign, so I was expecting a tight and entertaining game.
The Sharpenhoe Road stadium is part of a sports complex on the edge of Barton-le-Clay which also appears to have a thriving bowls club. There is ample free parking at the ground, all very close to the turnstiles. As you enter the ground you get the feeling of openness. Barton are blessed with plenty of room for expansion, should they need it. At the car park end of the ground, behind the goal, is an artificial surface 5-a-side pitch. To the left of the playing surface is the main stand (pictured below) and behind the stand is the clubhouse, bar and changing rooms. At the far end of the ground, Bedford Road end, there is hard-standing backed by a fence and to the right of the car park there is covered standing alongside the majority of the length of the pitch. This side of the ground also has the dugouts. Something I have noticed at a lot of non-league grounds is that the dugouts tend to be on the opposite side to the main stand. To protect the patrons from the sometimes industrial language perhaps? The playing surface itself seemed to be in pretty good condition although there is a noticeable slope on the pitch from the car park towards the Bedford Road end.
I arrived just as the teams were coming out. Just enough time to grab a cup of tea before the action started.
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I didn't see who won the toss but Barton, by design or not, were kicking up the slope in the first-half. The opening encounters were fairly scrappy with neither team really managing to take a grip on the game. The Bedworth forward line looked quite lively and for Barton, their best chances came when they attacked up their right flank. The Barton wide right player seemed to have the pace and trickery to cause Bedworth some problems.
However, after 28 minutes it was Bedworth who took the lead. A very tempting cross was met at the far post by Danny Dubidat who placed his header back across the keeper and into the far corner. Despite a couple of Barton attempts, one of which was acrobatically turned over the bar by the visiting keeper, the score remained at 0-1 as the half-time whistle blew.
Bedworth had probably edged the first-half and just about deserved their lead. However, my thoughts were that, kicking down the slope and with the pace of their right-sided player, Barton may come back into the game. I wasn't sure that one would be enough for Bedworth. How wrong I was.
The second half followed a similar pattern the first with neither team establishing any dominance over the other. Bedworth were still playing the better football with Barton relying heavily on long balls, trying to get over the top and behind the Bedworth back line. Surprisingly, considering the joy they had down the right flank in the first half, they insisted on playing the ball down the left or through the middle. This tactic was much to the dismay of their wide right player.
On 63 minutes goal-scorer Dubidat turned provider, laying the ball into the path of Naughton who fired home from the edge of the box with a very crisp finish. It was game over 10 minutes later when a defensive mishap lead to Naughton getting his second and Bedworth's third of the night.
Overall, I was disappointed with Barton Rovers. Bedworth won the game at a canter, not really having to work that hard. Maybe it was an off day for the home side. I hope, for their sake, that it was otherwise it could be a long hard season.

Barton Rovers - @bartonroversfc
Bedworth United - @bedworthunited
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Freds and Stags

12/8/2014

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Picture
A first visit to Alfredian Park, home of Southern League South & West Division 1 new boys, Wantage Town. Not the easiest ground in the country to find, being almost hidden away down a single track lane. There is a signpost indicating that the ground is there but it is very easy to miss, as I found out the first time I drove past. Nevertheless, I arrived in plenty of time and to my surprise also found the AFC Totton team coach had made it down the very small track to the car park. I can't imagine that there was much room either side for the driver. This was so much of an unusual event that the Wantage twitter account tweeted a picture of said coach as it was, apparently, the first one to ever make it into the car park.
The ground itself is compact to say the least. As you approach down the lane the clubhouse is directly in front of you with parking for, I assume, players, officials and members. Further parking is available on a track that runs alongside the pitch and also behind the fence that backs the opposite goal from the clubhouse. This fence looks like it has been erected fairly recently, I imagine after the club was refused entry to the Southern League after winning the Hellenic League in 2010-11.
I chose to park directly behind the dugouts (for some protection from stray clearances) on the track that runs alongside the ground. Directly opposite this is the covered seating area and also some covered standing sections. Overall, it is a decent, tidy little stadium but has very little room for expansion which I suppose could be a problem if the team progresses through the leagues.
The game kicked off with Totton attacking down the slight slope, and it was the visitors who had the best of the opening spell. However, shortly after Totton hit the bar for the first time (there were more to come), Wantage broke and, when the Stags keeper spilled the ball, on loan Swindon Town player Matt Jones stroked the ball home. 1-0 to Wantage and a place in the record books for Jones, scoring the home side's first ever goal at this level.
Shortly afterwards the same striker almost hit a second when a vicious shot from the edge of the area clipped the bar on it's way over.
Despite the home side making a good start, these two teams were two divisions apart last season and the experience of the away team was beginning to show as the gradually worked their way back into it. Sure enough, on 37 minutes a flowing Wantage move finally saw a right-wing cross headed home by front-man Craig Feeney. There was still time for Wantage to have another goal ruled out for handball (harshly in the view of the home crowd, although I didn't have a clear view myself), but the sides went in level at 1-1. A fair reflection of the first half.
Into the second half and Totton came out looking like a team that had had a rocket in the interval. Almost immediately they, once again, hit the bar and then forced home keeper Lee Farrow into two very good saves to deny them. The Totton forward pairing of Feeney and Sherbourne were giving the home defence a lot to think about. Their movement off the ball was starting to create more and more space for the midfield to exploit.
Don't get me wrong though, Wantage were by no means out of this match. They too were creating a few chances as the match swung from end to end for a fair portion of the second half. Giant striker Jimmy Deabill came very close with a header before Totton once again struck the bar (with the help of a Farrow fingertip), for the third time in the match.
Then came the decisive moment. The referee, who I have to say was having a very poor evening all round, gave another very debateable free-kick to Totton. After already hitting the bar 3 times and putting a couple over the top, the Totton management team were screaming to make sure they hit the target this time. The ball was rolled short to Liam Gilbert who struck the ball very cleanly from 20 yards or so. This time the ball hit the underside of the bar, bounced down and back out again. The assistant on the far side immediately signalled that it had crossed the line, much to the annoyance of the home team and officials. From where I was standing, close to the dugouts, it was impossible to tell if it had gone in or not. Either way, it was harsh on the home side who had given everything they had to hold onto the point.
They did have enough time to create two more chances, one of which was cleared off the line, but it wasn't quite enough for them to gain their first Southern League points.
I'm sure that Wantage will get something soon. Considering that they lost the majority of the Hellenic League winning squad prior to the start of this season, they work hard and create chances. Totton, in the end, just had too much nous for them, especially going forward.

WantageTown - @wantagetownfc
AFC Totton - @afctotton

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Generals March On

30/4/2014

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The games come thick and fast at this level. We had barely got over the nervous tension and excitement from Saturday before Tuesday was upon us and playoff night was here. I was heading back to my old training area (when I was a more serious runner) of Chesham, to watch the home team take on Stourbridge. Only 10 days previously the Glassboys had come to the Meadow, left with a 1-0 victory, and ended Chesham's title hopes. You sensed that the locals wanted revenge.
After meeting up with an old Baggie friend in the town, we bumped into some fellow travelling supporters and learned that the kick off had been put back by 15 minutes due to traffic congestion. You would like to think that it was down to the hordes of Midlanders heading down the M40 but, in reality, Chesham is a commuter town and today the Tube drivers were striking so more people had driven to London and back.
Upon entering the ground it was clear that a fair few had made the trip from the Black Country. A group of around 120 or so were behind one goal and there were a few other scatterings of red and white around the ground.
Stourbridge started the game well enough and, for the first 20 minutes, were definitely edging it. On 21 minutes, Kayleden Brown turned sharply and hit a shot from the edge of the box which beat the home keeper to make it 0-1. The Glassboys were value for their lead at this point. However, that is as good as it got.
To their credit, going a goal down, sparked Chesham into life somewhat and 10 minutes later they got their reward. Some sloppy Stourbridge defending lead to Dean Coleman misjudging a through ball allowing top scorer Drew Roberts to slip the ball home from close range. Now it was Stourbridge who were under some pressure and holding on for the half time whistle. At 1-1, it was time for both sides to re-group for the second half.
Chesham began the second half as they finished the first, on the front foot. Stourbridge were really struggling to gain a foothold on the game. Chesham were bossing the game and looking the more likely to score again.
Sure enough, on 63 minutes, a deep cross from the left, some hesitant away defending, a nod back across the goal and Chris Dillon forced the ball over the line from close range.
From that point onwards Stourbridge huffed and puffed but never really looked likely to pull it back. Chesham, marshalled at the back by experienced Darren Purse, kept it tight and could even have scored again themselves.
In the end it was a fairly comfortable and well deserved victory for the home team. They will now face either Cambridge City or St Albans City at the Meadow to decide who goes up with Hemel.
For Stourbridge it is a second season of playoff heartbreak but I am sure they will be back for another crack at promotion next season.

Chesham United - @cheshamutdfc, @cheshamutd_live
Stourbridge - @sfcofficial
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Glassboys secure fifth....just

28/4/2014

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PictureTravelling support
Top Field, Hitchin, is a stadium that I have driven past many times. However, until Saturday, I had never been inside the ground. Being the last game of the season and a big game for the away side, I decided to not even attempt to park on the stadium car park. Instead, I opted for the local swimming pool, which is practically opposite.
Upon entering the ground through the turnstiles on Fishponds Road, I was pleasantly surprised. Top Field has been around for a long time and, in places it shows, but there is a certain charm and atmosphere about the place. It feels like a proper football stadium. Behind the Fishponds Road goal is a covered stand and a few rows of wooden benches. The main stand, on the Bedford Road side, features covered seating areas and somehow also manages to house the toilet block and the changing rooms. One can only assume that it is like the Tardis inside because it does not appear to be big enough to accommodate all of these facilities. Behind the far goal there are rows of uncovered concrete terraces (see picture) and finally, on the car park side, another covered area behind the dugouts and more wooden benching. Top Field has instantly become one of my favourite ground hops.
Stourbridge has laid on three coaches to accommodate their support for this game who were all desperate to see their team secure the point they required to make the playoffs. It was always going to be a nervy, tense sort of day. Hitchin, sitting happily in mid-table, had nothing but pride and a strong finish to play for but were clearly not going to just roll over for the Glassboys.
Stourbridge started well enough and had an opportunity to take the lead in the opening minutes when Kayleden Brown headed wide from inside the 6 yard area. However on 15 minutes, former Kidderminster Harrier, Brian Junior Smikle put the away team ahead. Cue jubilation from the massed ranks behind the goal.
The goal, however, did not seem to settle Stourbridge. Instead they allowed Hitchin to gradually work their way back into the game culminating with a frantic spell just before the break where they forced a couple of free-kicks and hit the bar from a resulting corner. The danger signs were there for Stourbridge but some better news was coming in from Bulpit Lane where a late first half penalty had seen Bideford go in 1-0 up at the break.
The second half saw Stourbridge again make the early chance but then, maybe through nerves or tension, they seemed to take their foot off and allow Hitchin to start playing some football. In the 66th minute the inevitable equaliser came when Michael King squeezed the ball home amidst a crowded goalmouth. From that point onwards, Hitchin looked much the better side and Stourbridge were starting to look like a team hanging on for a point. With Hungerford's recent record of coming from behind to win late on, this was a dangerous policy to adopt.
Sure enough, Twitter reports showed that Hungerford had scored two quick goals. This was followed, fairly quickly, by the official Hungerford feed denying these report, saying they had been hacked and that it was still 1-0 to Bideford. This ultimately turned out to be true but no-one at Hitchin really knew what the case was in Berkshire. Maybe Hungerford had pulled it back but wanted Stourbridge to think they were still in the driving seat? Who knows? Either way the Glassboys need to hang on for the point and, after surviving a very late penalty appeal, they did just that. As it turned out, just as well, because Hungerford did score two very late goals (the second in the 98th minute) to win the game 2-1.
The final playoff space had been decided on goal difference.
Three coach loads of very relieved Stourbridge fans and a pink emu headed back North, plotting their travel to Chesham on Tuesday evening.

Massive credit to Hungerford Town though. They have picked up 53 points since the New Year and deserve huge credit for the way they pushed the top five to the very last kick of the season making it a nerve jangling finish for all concerned.

Hitchin Town - @hitchintownfc
Stourbridge - @sfcofficial


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Easter Promotion Battles

23/4/2014

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A slightly tardy post this week due to the Easter festivities and then trying to catch up on 4 days worth of emails after returning to the office. I decided to combine my two Bank Holiday matches into a single blog. Neither of the games were first time visits to the stadium but both, could have and did have,
significant implications on the Calor Premier promotion and playoff places. 
My first outing was a return to Bulpit Lane Hungerford for the rearranged match against  local (ish) rivals Chippenham Town. I was at the original game, a few weeks back, which had to be abandoned after the terrible injury to Chippenham's Rob Dean. I know that Rob has had a couple of operations and one can only wish him a speedy and full recovery. 
After the way that the original game was abandoned, with an ambulance on the pitch, a fracas amongst the players and a red card shown, I wondered what sort of atmosphere this match would be played in. As I said in my original blog, I didn't think the injury was caused by a malicious tackle but several of the players were very upset with the incident at the time.  
Once the match had kicked off it was quite obvious that there was no lingering ill feeling from either side. The game was full on, as you would expect from a derby, but there didn't appear to be any hint of scores to be settled. 
Chippenham, for a team with nothing left to play for, certainly started the brighter and we're pushing Hungerford back despite playing up the slope. Maybe Hungerford were starting to feel the effects of their punishing schedule and we're looking a yard slower in midfield. The Chippenham forward line of Alan Griffin and former Torquay striker, Lee Phillips, we're giving the home defence plenty to think about with their bustling style. However, a point for the Crusaders would be enough to leapfrog
Stourbridge into the remaining layoff spot. Hungerford's chances were being limited to fairly long
range efforts which the away keeper was dealing with reasonably comfortably. 
Then, on 40 minutes, Chippenham got their reward when Griffin received the ball with his back to goal, turned sharply, and fired past the home keeper. It was nothing less than Chippenham deserved and as the teams went off for half time, it was the home management team who had the most work to do. 
Sure enough, Hungerford came out in the second half looking sharper and that extra yard quicker to the ball. Just as I was tweeting that Hungerford were starting to get on top, a defensive slip allowed a cross to be met by top scorer Mark Draycott and the sides were level. I was fully expecting Hungerford to go on to win at this point. However, Chippenham had other ideas and would not just roll over. The remainder of the game was an even affair with both sides looking to win it. A great advert for the league. 
With a few minutes left the away side were reduced to 10 after Guthrie received a second yellow. In injury time the numbers were evened up when the home keeper handled outside the area, earning a red card for himself but saving his team from defeat. The resulting free kick was easily stopped by the stand-in keeper and that was it, the referee blew to end a thoroughly entertaining game. Local pride was retained by both sides and Hungerford had their point to go into the playoff spots. News came through that Poole had beaten Chesham to keep themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot too. So, going into Super Saturday (as I am sure Sky would call it if they ever bothered to look this far down the
pyramid), Hemel still lead the way and would be up if they bettered Chesham's result. Just a couple of
points separated St Albans, Cambridge City, Hungerford and Stourbridge, with Poole a couple more back, with three playoff spots to contest. Stourbridge travelled to Chesham, Hemel went or Hungerford and Poole were at home to Cambridge. St Albans had an easier game at struggling Banbury. By the
end of the day, the title had been settled, Poole were out of contention but nothing else had been resolved. Stourbridge surprised Chesham with a battling 1-0 away win, Hemel confirmed the title by beating Hungerford 4-0 and Cambridge ended Poole's resistance with another one goal away win, whilst St Albans smashed 5 past Banbury. 


On to my next match of the bank holiday, Stourbridge at home to safe but struggling Banbury United. The Glassboys had comfortably seen off the Puritans 4-0 at the Spencer Stadium earlier in the year and were expected to gain a fairly easy victory. Meanwhile, two points behind, Hungerford were away at local rivals Chippenham, their third meeting in just over a month. Just to add to the occasion, champions Hemel, were hosting a local derby with second placed Chesham. 
A bumper crowd of 670 turned out at the War Memorial Ground on a bright, sunny Black Country Bank Holiday Monday. I say bumper crown but this was dwarfed by the 1943 crammed into Vauxhall Road, Hemel. 
Stourbridge did not start the game like a team that needed all three points. By their standards they
were sluggish and wasteful with their passes. Banbury, it has to be said, did not offer a lot in return and home nerves were eased somewhat when Leon Broadhurst glanced home a Geddes corner on 10 minutes.
However, the proverbial floodgates remained only slightly ajar and the home side continued to struggle to find any fluency. Finally, on 39 minutes Kayleden Brown fired home a second to effectively end the game as a contest. At half time, Stourbridge lead 2-0 and news came through that two late
first half goals saw Chippenham lead Hungerford by the same score at Hardenhuish. If it stayed the same the Glassboys were in the playoffs. 
In the second half Stourbridge found more of their normal passing style and started to really take complete control of the game. Another Brown goal, one from Smikle and another from Ben Billingham made for a very comfortable 5-0 score line. This victory proved to be even more important when Hungerford staged a stunning comeback, scoring twice in the final 13 minutes to win 3-2. 
So, it is all down to the final weekend.  Cambridge City are already guaranteed a playoff spot along with Chesham. Then come St Albans on 84, Stourbridge on 83 and Hungerford on 81. Stourbridge travel to mid table Hitchin Town requiring a point to make the playoffs due to their vastly superior goal difference. Hungerford take on Bideford at home while St Albans travel to Frome Town.  A Hungerford victory, a St Albans defeat and a three goal swing will see the Crusaders pip the Saints. Points for both St Albans and Stourbridge will end Hungerford's hopes regardless of their result. 
BotP will be at Top Field, Hitchin on Saturday along with at least two coach loads of Glassboys. It promises to be a tense finale to a fantastic season in the Calor Premier. 
I'm sticking with my prediction that Chesham, Cambridge, St Albans and Stourbridge will make up the playoff positions. However, I didn't see the amazing effort that Hungerford have put in coming. Regardless of what happens on Saturday they deserve enormous credit for the late run they have made, playing three games a week for the last month of the season. 
Finally, congratulations to Hemel Hempstead Town. A thoroughly deserved league title with a +93 goal difference. They have been the best team in the league this season by far. Good luck to them in the Skrill South next season. 
 
Final day twitter feeds:


Stourbridge - @sfcofficial 
Hungerford - @hungerfordtown 
St Albans - @stalbanscityfc 
Frome Town -@frometownfc
All the action - @basepyramid





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Bishops Bash Bridgey

20/4/2014

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After a day of digging for dinosaur bones with my 4 year old, I set off for deepest, darkest Gloucestershire for my first ever visit to Kayte Lane, Bishops Cleeve. The hosts, sitting just one place and 6 points above Fleet Town ink the relegation zone, we're taking on mid table Bridgwater Town. This was a rearranged fixture that had originally been called off in January at the height of the rainy season.  
Kayte Lane is within a short head of Cheltenham racecourse a venue that I know well from years
of donating cash to poor bookies on Gold Cup day. The ground nestles in the shadow of Cleeve Hill about 3 miles out of Cheltenham itself. First impression as you enter through the single turnstile is that of a tidy little stadium. The official capacity is around the 1500 mark but there were just 57 there for this match, including a reasonable Bridgwater contingent. 
Behind the turnstile end goal are the main facilities, clubhouse, bar, toilets, changing rooms and refreshments all set behind a large, paved patio area. To the left of the goal is a small seated, covered area, The Tai Stand, named one of the Directors. On the right hand side of the clubhouse is another covered, seating area. The rest of the ground consists of hard standing although behind the far goal is a sign that reads West End Stand. Not sure if this is tongue in cheek or a sign of future development.  
Bishops Cleve, the Mitres, did not start the game like a team one lace off the relegation zone. From the first minute they were sharper, quicker to the ball and more accurate with their passing than Bridgwater. Maybe the away side, safe from relegation but adrift of the playoffs, were 'on the beach'
already or maybe Cleeve were up for it. Having not seen either teams  before it was hard to tell but either way, the home team were definitely on top. To be fair to Bridgwater, when they did break, they looked useful up front. Their captain and centre forward both caused the home defence a couple of problems, but the keeper was not really tested. 
Bishops Cleeve took the lead after only 3 minutes When a near post cross was forced over the line. Maybe that knocked the stuffing out of Bridgwater, but they didn't really threaten to equalise. 
The away side's frustration was not helped by some odd decisions from the referee, who always seemed to be slightly off the pace of the game to me. I don't normally knock referees because it is a hard job that most of us couldn't do. However, the inconsistency of this particular referee was causing a few problems with the players on both sides. This bad decision making would come to the fore
in the second half. 
At halftime, with the score at 1-0, I was expecting a Bridgwater reaction in the second half. However, when the teams returned, it was again the Mitres who controlled the game, forcing Bridgwater back with some quick passing moves. Then the moment that could have changed the game in the away teams favour. Diminutive home midfield, Oldham, flew into a 50-50 challenge and, in my opinion, clearly got the ball. The referee saw it differently and produced a straight red. I found out shortly afterwards that this was the players third end in five games so maybe that swayed the referees decision. Regardless of his previous disciplinary record, he can count himself extremely unfortunate to have been sent off for this tackle. Not even a yellow from where I was standing, only 10 yards from the incident. 
Cleeve, instead of folding at this point, continued to press Bridgwater and duly got their reward when captain Matt Williams scored with just over 20 minutes remaining. The drama was not over though. When one of the assistants signalled that he had a problem and couldn't continue it looked, for a short while, that we may see an abandonment. With not fourth official present and, after much discussion, the flag eventually went to one of the home substitutes. 
That was enough excitement for one night and, after a lengthy delay, the Mitres saw out the rest of the game to deservedly take a vital 3 points. 

Bridgwater Town - @officialbtfc84
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Sandwiched between Churchill

10/4/2014

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PictureThe teams emerge at Eynsham Park
I was all geared up for a new ground on Tuesday night. It was a toss up between Thame United and Abingdon Town. I finally decided on the latter and headed off down the A34. I had barely crossed the M40 when my Sat Nav warned me of congestion around the A34/A420 junction. It was then that I remembered the roadworks caused by the Oxford Fatberg (this is a real thing, look it up) so I pulled into a layby and assessed my options. Yes, I could have turned back and headed south to Thame but, as I was already part of the way there I decided upon North Leigh. Not a new ground, but I hadn't been there this season and it is one of my favourite locations to watch football.
I have described Eynsham Park before but for the uninitiated it is a really picturesque setting, almost on the front lawn of Eynsham Hall and pretty much located in a forest clearing. When in the ground you get the feeling that you have stumbled upon a hidden treasure whilst walking in the woods. If you haven't been to this ground I heartily recommend a trip there.
On this particular evening the visitors were Fleet Town, stranded second from bottom of the division and looking doomed despite a good result at the weekend. North Leigh, on the other hand, are still looking at the playoffs as a distinct possibility. So, I was expecting a comfortable home victory.
Fleet can also boast a former Prime Minister amongst their ranks of ex-players. Whilst at university, none other than Clement Atlee played for the club.
The crowd was sparse, officially 49, but I was surprised how many had made the trip from Hampshire on a Tuesday night.
When the game began, I was again surprised. Fleet certainly did not start like a team at the wrong end of the table. In fact, they were the better team for the whole of the first period, passing the ball around very nicely and making a few chances. Unfortunately for them, they weren't able to convert their possession into a lead and this, ultimately, proved to be their downfall. North Leigh, I think by their own admission, were not playing as well as they could. However, they did mange to hit the post twice during the first half, showing that there was more to them than was meeting the eye. The sides went in 0-0 at half-time but I am sure that it was home manager Mark Gee who was shouting loudest in the changing rooms.
Whatever was said at half-time, it seemed to make little difference to either team. Fleet continued to have the lion's share of possession and were denied what I thought was a clear penalty early on. To be fair, the linesman was a little closer than I was and did not flag.
The game changed in 7 frantic second half minutes. In the 68th and 71st minutes North Leigh scored two quickfire goals, the second of which was a superb finsih, and knocked the stuffing out of Fleet. Four minutes later they added a third and it was, in effect, game over.
Fleet did manage a consolation in the 80th minute but never really looked like they were going to manage a storming comeback.
It finished 3-1 leaving North Leigh 3 points adrift of the playoffs and Fleet 6 points from safety. It was a very entertaining game with both teams trying to play football. My overall impression was that it was a good advert for football at this level. Worth the admission fee.

North Leigh - @northleigh_fc
Fleet Town - @fcfleettown

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Poole. In Dorset? It's a lovely place

4/4/2014

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PictureStourbridge corner
Thursday evening. Not the usual day for a football match but, due to their fixture congestion, Poole Town are having to fit a lot of games into a short time. So it was that I set out from my office and braved the M4, M25 and M3 on my 100+ mile trip to the South coast. After sitting in traffic for the first hour I finally broke free of London gravity and managed to start eating up some miles. However, once I got onto the M27 I was greeted by very dark skies and pouring rain. Or should I say pouring mud. There was so much Saharan dust in the air that, at one point, it was actually raining mud.
Nevertheless, after two and a half hours I arrived at School Lane, the rain had stopped, and was directed to a parking spot just on 7:30. Time enough for a cuppa and a bite to eat.
I had heard a number of tales of woe about Poole's Tatnam Ground ranging from basic, through to 'it's just a field next to a school'. So, after following the signs to the entrance, I was pleasantly surprised to see a tidy little ground. Basic yes, but not without it's own charm. At the opposite end to the car park entrance is a recently added covered standing area and on the opposite side to the school is a main seating area and another smaller covered standing area. The rest of the ground is hard-standing. The stadium has quite a tight feel to it and, as such, the 341 strong attendance was enough to create a good atmosphere. After walking around the ground and noting a fair few Black Country accents, I took position behind the Tatnam Road end goal and got ready to watch the game.
This was one of the matches that I had highlighted as a featured game of the week. The reason being the league positions of the two clubs. At kick-off Stourbridge were sitting in the last play-off position on 71 points. Poole, one place and four points behind but with 4 games in hand. An absolute must win for the Glassboys and a match of massive importance to Poole. It was always going to be a tense affair.
At this point I would like to pay tribute to Poole Town. With so many matches so close together and having to fit in Thursday night matches they had come up with the idea of football for a fiver. Yes, just £5! A fantastic idea which probably added 20% plus to the gate.
After a pulsating first 10 minutes in which both teams created good chances, the game settled into the tense, tight battle that was expected. Poole, undoubtedly, had the best of the remainder of the half and only some resolute Stourbridge defending kept the half-time score to 0-0.
I spent a fair portion of the first half chatting to one of the Poole stewards. A former referee himself, he had plenty of non-league tales to tell. I have to say that Poole is a very friendly club and the steward summed up the attitude of the people I met. I think they were genuinely pleased to see the travelling supporters.
Stourbridge started the second half looking much more lively than they had in the first. Throughout the team they looked sharper and quicker. Poole, however, weathered the initial storm and started to play their way back in. Then, almost out of the blue, Luke Benbow latched onto a mistake in the Poole defence and finished very neatly past Thomas in the home goal.
As is normal with the Glassboys these days (see Hemel report) they could not hold on to the advantage for too long. A rushed clearance was picked up by Poole midfielder Steve Devlin who hammered a 25 yarder past Dean Coleman. For a few minutes Poole looked like they might take hold of the game until, just past the 70 minute mark, a clumsy challenge on Benbow resulted in a Stourbridge penalty. Skipper Sean Geddes duly fired the spot kick home to send the travelling support wild.
Poole rallied and, for the final 20 minutes, had far more possession without ever really troubling Coleman's goal. After 5 minutes of injury time, the final whistle brought cheers of relief from the away fans. A vital three points.
Poole, however, still have four games in hand and are only seven points adrift. Anything could happen in the final few weeks of the season. next up for the Dolphins and the Glassboys are AFC Totton. Poole travel to Totton for a local derby this weekend, whilst the Stags visit Amblecote next week.

Poole Town - @pooletownfc
Stourbridge - @sfcofficial



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The Ton Up Club

26/3/2014

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PictureVauxhall Road
On the way down the A41 to Hemel all the talk on the radio was about the Manchester derby but the big game in the Southern League was definitely Hemel Hempstead Town v Stourbridge. The two top scoring teams in the league with 211 goals between them. Hemel sitting at the top of the pile, and my tip to get the automatic spot. Stourbridge still battling to stay in the play-off spots. It promised to be a good game and, as it turned out, that promise was kept.
After negotiating the notorious Hemel magic roundabout I arrived at the ground with a few minutes to spare. Just as well because finding a place to park around Vauxhall Road is very difficult. Luckily, I found a spare patch of grass,  dumped the car, paid my £10 and got into the stadium as the teams emerged.
Vauxhall Road is, in my opinion, a proper non-league ground. There are covered stands on all 4 sides of the ground, large standing areas behind both goals and 250 seats on the opposite side to the entrance. The stadium has a tight, enclosed feel to it that generates plenty of atmosphere. This is enhanced by the vociferous support (compete with drummer) of the home fans who congregate behind whichever end Hemel are attacking.


On to the game itself. With the two top scorers in the league going head to head goals were expected. Sure enough, less than 3 minutes in and former Glassboy Ben Mackey turns and lets fly from way out. His shot was hit so early that it caught everyone, including Stourbridge keeper Dean Coleman, out and flew into the back of the net.

The first 15 minutes were all Hemel. Another shot hit the bar and it was looking like the home side might run rampant. However, gradually Stourbridge started to play their way back into the game. Finally, after 38 minutes, a snapshot from Luke Benbow squirmed under the grasp of Hemel stopper Laurie Walker and into the net.

Just as it looked like the half would end all square, Stourbridge failed to clear a corner and Ollie Thorne headed home to send the home team in 2-1 up.

The second half would prove to be both entertaining and, as I was to find out much, much later, almost controversial.

First of all a Ben Billingham free-kick again eluded the grasp of Walker and levelled the scores. Stourbridge, for a few minutes, looked to be getting on top. However, some hesitant defending let in Lewis Toomey to make it 3-2.

Back came Stourbridge and, when a Billingham cross was missed by everyone only to nestle in the far corner, it was back to all square again. That Billingham strike was the 100th league goal for Stourbridge, joining Hemel in the 100+ club for the season.

Once again as Stourbridge looked to be taking hold of the game, more hesitant defending and there was Toomey again to make it 4-3. A definite suspicion of offside but the assistant referee was having none of it.

Then came the incident that could have sparked some controversy. Although, at the time, I certainly didn't see any problem when Luke Benbow was put clean through with the Hemel defence seemingly appealing for offside. As it happened, Benbow wasted the chance. This was followed by a host of Hemel players berating both Benbow and the referee. As I say, at the time, I and no-one around me knew why. Now, having seen the video, I can see what the argument was about. Hemel put the ball, out of play for an injury to a Stourbridge player. This was not obvious from the other end of the ground. Then, after a long delay for a substitution, the throw-in was taken and belted downfield. The Hemel players stopped, thinking it had been played back to their keeper, but Benbow kept running and attempted to score. I suppose only the player himself will know if he realised that he ball had been deliberately put out. If he did, then I certainly wouldn't defend his actions. If he didn't, as I and many others in the away end didn't, then it may have been an honest mistake, Either way, he missed, so it had no bearing on the result.

A very entertaining game of football played at a proper football stadium with plenty of atmosphere. Hemel has the air of a club that is heading up the leagues. I tipped them for the league title and, although Stourbridge matched them at times, I see no reason to change my prediction.

Hemel Hempstead Town - @hemelfc

Stourbridge FC  @sfcofficial




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