It was back to the FA Cup and a return visit to Loop Meadow for me on Tuesday evening. Half expecting to see local FA Cup guru @FACupFactFile at the game, I was then pleasantly surprised to finally meet another Oxfordshire football blogger, @OxonFootball. Our Twitter paths cross frequently, but we have not knowingly been at the same game before.

Loop Meadow is a fairly frequent destination for me and, as far as I could make out, nothing has changes since my last visit. The ground remains a firm favourite of mine. There is plenty of cover in case of inclement weather, you can get a decent cup of tea for a £1 and usually get to see a good game of football for a reasonable price. Add to that the proximity to home, less than 30 miles, it makes for a good evening out.

This midweek was all about the FA Cup. I could easily have made a trip to a new ground but the lure of the cup and, perhaps more specifically, the possibility of something of a giant-killing, was too much too ignore.

This, of course, was a replay after Didcot had come from a goal down at Top Field on Saturday. The Canaries have been struggling a little in the league this season, only one win so far, so you would expect confidence to be a little low. A trip to Oxfordshire for this replay was probably not top of their current agenda.

The opening 15 minutes were played at breakneck speed but there was vert little actual football being played. Neither team was stringing any passes together. We were seeing a good many aimless punts from both sides as both defences sought to clear their lines as quickly as possible, leaving no chance of a mistake. No-one was putting their foot on the ball or slowing the game down.

It was 17 minutes before we saw the first effort of target. When it did come, it was Didcot's centre-half Luke Carnell who got his head to a cross, looping his header towards goal where it was collected just under the bar by Michael Johnson in the Hitchin goal.
Two minutes later, Morgan Williams turned his defender this way and that out on the left flank, before crashing a shot wide. Didcot were definitely starting to get on top. Their next opportunity came when Seth Humphries burst into the box on 24 minutes. He possibly should have got a shot off but dallied a little and was closed down. The loose ball fell to Aaron Woodley, but his effort was well blocked by a Yellows defender.

We had to wait almost until the half-hour mark before Hitchin mustered a meaningful effort. Front-man Charlie Thake dragging a shot wide of Leigh Bedwell's left-hand post. A few minutes later Treymayne Charles tried his luck from way outside the box. His effort was on target but was comfortably taken by Bedwell.

HT Didcot Town 0 Hitchin Town 0. The Railwaymen were on top for most of the half but couldn't turn their possession into a goal. Hitchin need to find another gear if they intend to stay in this season's competition.

​It didn't take too long for The Canaries to signal their second-half intent. From the off they looked more up for the contest than in the entire first half. On 54 minutes Thake did well to hold off a challenge, turned sharply and rifled a fizzing drive just over from a very Narrow angle. It was Hitchin's turn to step up.

However, depsite having more of thr ball than in the first half, like their opponents in the first period, there was no end product from the away side. In fact it was Didcot who, on 75 minutes, produced the best effort. Humphries once more got free inside the box on the right hand side and unleashed a stinging shot which Johnson did well to stand up to, saving smartly at his near post.
This seemed to spark Hitchin back into life again. Six minutes later they were denied what, from my angle looked like a very clear penalty when Didcot's Cameron McNeil appeared to control the ball with his hand before clearing. The referee, to be fair, was completely unsighted. However, his asistant was looking right at the incident and insisted that a hand was not used.
Back down the other end Didcot got the ball into the Hitchin net but the other assistant had alreayd flagged for an offence before Learoyd's header crossed the line. No goal.

FT Didcot Town 0 Hitch Town 0. The second half was more Hitchin's but Didcot still managed a few decent chances.

Into Extra-time and on 92 minutes we were treated to the best move of the game when Didcot engineered an opportunity down their left. After a nice passing movement, the ball was fe d wide before being cut back across the box, but the on-rushing McNish could only blast his effort wide. A big chance for the home side.

Didcot then had Bedwell to thank as the stopper was called into action to parry an effort from Fraser, who had run from inside his own half. When the ball ran loose only a great saving tackle from a defender prevented Hitchin going 1-0 up.

ET - HT Didcot Town 0 Hitchin Town 0

Four minutes into the second period of extra-time, one of the Hitchin players threw himself to the floor in the Didcot penalty area. The Dicot defenders took exception to his antics and we had some pushing and shoving leading to a small outbreak of 'handbags at dawn'. However, it was soon under control and the Hitchin player got a yellow card for simulation.

The last real action of the extra-time period came when Fraser tried his luck from way, way out on the right. Was it a shot or was it a miscued cross? Whatever the case, the ball came back of Bradwell's bar, the keeper may have got a fingertip to it, before Thake hammered the rebound well over.

ET - FT Didcot Town 0 Hitchin Town 0. Penalty kicks required to separate the teams.

The penalty shoot-out turned into a real rollercoaster ride. Hitchin were to take the first penalty:

Bickerstaff hits the bar. 0-0
McNish scores for Didcot. 0-1
Webb for Hitchin. 1-1
Woodley for Didcot. Saved by Johnson. 1-1
Thake scores for Hitchin. 2-1
Johnson saves from Williams. 2-1
Galliford for Hitchin. 3-1
Barder has to score for Didcot. He does. 3-2
Fraser to in it for Hitchin but Bedwell saves. 3-2
Carnell for Didcot. Saved by Johnson.
Hitchin go through 3-2 on penalties

A somewhat harsh result for the underdogs but they really needed to score when they were on top in the first-half. Hitchin's central defensive pairing of captain Dan Webb and Lewis Farrell, in my opinion, were the difference in the end. They held the Yellows back-line togetehr throughotu a difficult first-half. This allowed them to go in still level at half-time, regroup and, just about, get through the tie. In Didcot's favour, although there is a step difference between the sides, this was certainly not apparent on the night.

​Didcot Town: Bedwell, Barder, McNeill, Hayden, Carnell, Learoyd(c), Gardner, McNish, A. Woodley, Humphries, Williams. Subs: Cattell, Thomas, M. Woodley, Isaac, Reid, Crowther

Hitchin Town: Johnson, Fraser, Anderson, Spring, Webb(c), Ferrell, Charles, Bickerstaff, Thake, Belgrove, Green. Subs: Forde, Millinson, Galliford, Talbot, Burns

Att: 151
Ground Number: Not a new ground
Entrance: £9.00
Programme: £2.00

​What to do on a dreary, damp Saturday afternoon? Well, you head over to Headington to take in an Oxfordshire Senior League game, of course. Having interacted with the Cropredy Twitter account for some time, it was a perfect opportunity to see them play in their away league game against Horspath. It was also an opportunity to visit another new ground and, as it was a 2 o'clock kick-off, I would still be home nice and early.

It was a bit of a tough decision about which game to go to, especially as other local sides were in FA Cup action this afternoon, one of which I had to drive past to get to Horspath's ground. However, as I have said before. I mostly go to midweek games and, therefore, don't get too many chances to visit grounds that done't have floodlights. So, a Saturday game is a perfect opportunity to get to a ground that I may not have chance to visit again for some time.

Horspath play that the Horspath Athletics and Sports Ground, although their pitch is actually behind the athletics stadium and adjacent to Oxford Harlequins Rugby Club, who incidentally have a beautiful-looking, white-fenced artificial surface. No such luxury for Horspath. This is Step 7, remember. No covered areas required here. Just a pitch and a couple of dugouts. This is proper grassroots football. There are, however, some trees at the side of the pitch which, seeing as it rained non-stop for the entire game, was lucky if only to keep the rain off my phone's touch-screen.

Last season saw Cropredy rule the roost in both fixtures, winning 7-1 on their own ground and 4-1 at Horspath. With Cropredy going into the game unbeaten in three and Horspath with just one win in five, the omens pointed to an away win. However, you can never be too sure in football.

​Horspath started by far the brighter of the two, with Cropredy seemingly sluggish for the first 10 minutes or so. They paid the price for this after 11 minutes when a long clearance flew over their defence. Cropredy's keeper came a long way out of his area to clear the ball but, unfortunately for him, missed it, leaving Dan Paige with the simple task of rolling the ball over the line. 1-0.

The goal seemed to wake up the visitors and, from that point onwards, they started to get a grip on the game.
After 22 minutes Cropredy's number 10 tried his luck from a free-kick some 25 yards out. Horspath's keeper did well to get a fingertip to it and put it over for a corner. 
This was to be the first of three saves that the keeper would pull off against the same Cropredy player. The second came on 31 minutes when the Cropredy player was fed on the right hand side of the box. The keeper did very well to parry the effort and was then fortunate to see the rebound bundled just wide for a goal-kick.

HT Horspath 1 Cropredy 0. Horspath took advantage of a sluggish start from their opponents and got a little fortunate with the goal. However, since going a goal down it has been all Cropredy and only a couple of good save from the Horspath keeper has kept them in front.
In proper grassroots style, neither team left the pitch at half-time. Both team talks were conducted on the pitch, in the rain.

​Cropredy immediately set about continuing where they had left off in the first-half, on the front foot. Within three minutes they forced Horspath to clear an effort off the line and were practically camped in the home team's half of the pitch. Still, though, they could not find an equaliser.
On the hour mark a Cropredy attack down the left saw the ball fly across the Horspath goal and come back off the upright to safety. Within a minute of coming so close to the equaliser, Cropredy fell foul to the ultimate sucker punch. In what was the home side's first real venture up-field in the second period, they broke down the right side and managed to produce a good cross which Paige was on the end of to slide his, and Horspath's, second goal. 2-0.

Cropredy's response was almost immediate. Two minutes after somehow managing to go two goals down, they hit back. The broke down their left wing and, when the cross was delivered, Jason Tillcock was in the right place to stroke the ball home. 2-1.
Cropredy then almost fell foul to another sucker-punch but this time their Number 15 was on hand to make a superb blocking tackle when it looked like Horspath were going to get a third goal.
From that point onward the pattern of the game resumed. Horspath were pushed backwards and Cropredy launched attack after attack.

On 77 minutes the Horspath keeper pulled off his third, and possibly, best stop from Cropredy's unfortunate Number 10. This time getting a fingertip to a drive effort to push it over the bar. Whatever the away side threw at Horspath, they just couldn't find an equaliser.

Then, with only a minute left on the clock, Horspath managed a rare foray into the Cropredy half and won a free-kick out on the right wing. The ball was floated into the box and Charlie Bishop rose highest to power in a header. 3-1, and game over. Cropredy managed to launch a couple more attacks but all to no avail.

FT Horspath 3 Cropredy 1. I spoke to Cropredy's keeper on the way off the pitch and he was as incredulous as I was that they had lost the game. He fully admitted responsibility for the first goal but had then spent much of the game as a distant observer and hadn't had a lot else to do apart from pick the ball out of the net twice more. Still, you have to credit Horspath. They were backed up in their own half for much of the game and yet went on to win 3-1. Their goalkeeper must take a lot of credit for a series of good saves but their defence also worked very hard throughout the game and they took their chances when they were presented. Something that Cropredy didn't seem to be able to do on the day.


Att: 1
Ground Number: 164
Entrance: Free
Programme: Not available

​When Coventry United moved to Butts Park Arena in 2017, it spoiled my record of having been to all CV post-code grounds in Step 6 and above. So, it was high time that I got myself up to Coventry again. That time came  this Tuesday when United were scheduled to take on Romulus in the Midland Premier League. It's been almost three years since I first saw United play, that was a November 2015 home game with Southam United at Sphinx Drive, or The Cage as United liked to call it. I recall that on that evening, as I was on my way to Coventry, it only seemed right to be listening to The Specials in the car. This evening, upon parking at Butts Park, I got out of my car to hear The Specials being blasted out of the PA system. A good start to the evening, enhanced even more by The Buzzcocks being cranked out by the time I got into the ground. 

Butts Park Arena is the home of Coventry Rugby Club who won the National League title last season and now play in the second tier of English Rugby. The local Rugby League side, Coventry Bears, also play at the arena, playing in the third tier of the league. It is also, of course, now home to Coventry United Football Club. There is parking available adjacent to the ground with a small charge of £2. Entrance to the ground is via the ticket office, in the shadow of the main stand, and then via a turnstile. The ground has one large stand, which houses 3,000 of the total 4,000 capacity.

United are blessed with one of the most enthusiastic stadium announcers that I have come across, who also seems to have a very good taste in music. Not only did he keep the crowd informed about happenings on the pitch, he also kept us up to date with the Coventry United Ladies game, a crunch top of the table battle with Loughborough Foxes, being played at the same time, and did his utmost to fire up the crowd (largely to no avail, it has to be said). They also have one of the most unusual programmes I have come across. printed in A6 format (yes, I know I tweeted A5, but I was put straight), it's full colour, got plenty of up to date content and, most importantly, fits perfectly into your pocket without folding or creasing. It certainly gets a big thumbs-up from me.

Coming into the game, United were sitting in eighth spot on 13 points. They held a three point lead on their visitors, who were currently placed 12th in the league. Interestingly, both sides had a goal difference of 0, United having scored and conceded 11 goals while Romulus had scored and conceded one more in both column. With Romulus being relegated from Step 4 last season, this was going to be the first meeting between the sides.

​It was the away side who started the stronger of the two, with their midfield buzzing around quicker than the small bats that were flying around the roof of the main stand.  Within three minutes they forced United keeper Brendon Bunn into a good save as United struggled to get a foothold on the game. This pattern continued for the first ten minutes, Romulus looking sharper and quicker to the ball all across the pitch. However, United gradually started to string a few passes together and were beginning to get to grips with the game.

After 15 minutes, we had an extended stoppage for an injury to Coventry defender Chris Cox. The break in play seemed to affect Romulus more than United and, two minutes after the stoppage Coventry created their first clear effort with McDonald shooting just over the bar.
It turned out to be a warning shot that Romulus did not heed as, on 20 minutes, the home side took the lead. A deep cross was swung over from the left and met by the head of Shaquille McDonald, he directed his header back across goal for Jake Holt to crash the ball home. 1-0.

The goal immediately seemed to pump up the United players. There was a noticeable increase in their pace and they were starting to win the 50-50 challenges that they were losing in the first 10 minutes.
Holt was almost on target again just before the half-hour mark but this time Belford got down well to his left and turned the striker's low drive around the post.
​
The game was certainly starting to heat up as the half progressed, the temperature being further increased by some interesting refereeing decisions which seemed to be frustrating the players and officials.
Just before the end of the half, McDonald came close to increasing the lead, seeing his low, angled drive fly past Belford's right-hand post.

HT Coventry United 1 Romulus 0. The home side took a while to get going but, on the whole, just about deserve to be in front at the break.
The stadium announcer excelled again over the half-time period with a fine selection of Rolling Stones tracks. As I tweeted at the time, it's almost worth coming to Butts Park just for the music. 

​The first fifteen minutes of the second-half were very even. Both sides showing no lack of effort and Romulus definitely trying to find a way back into the game. Tempers were noticeably starting to fray just a little bit more as the game wore on, possibly because, in such a tight game, there was a lot of midfield action and plenty of opportunity for challenges.
Bunn got down well to his left, turning away a Richards shot and then getting up quickly to block the rebound from a narrow angle. Then, after 65 minutes, Romulus spurned their best opportunity of the game. A free-kick found Piggon clean through but he couldn't get the ball out of his feet and when it was half-cleared Richards' follow-up shot was blocked well by Bunn. Luke Richards then turned sharply in the box but fired just over, as Romulus continued to press for an equaliser.

Coventry were starting to drop deeper and deeper but, to be fair, still looked pretty comfortable at the back despite increased Romulus pressure and United still looked dangerous when they did manage to break. A case in point being a very good stop from Belford to prevent United captain Jamal Clarke from heading in a second goal.

Into added time and with Romulus pushing hard the referee made what looked like a very strange decision, awarding a corner to The Roms when he was a good fifteen yards away and the linesman didn't flag at all. I was almost in line with it and I can honestly say that the ball did not cross the line. Strange decision. As it happens, the corner was cleared but that wasn't the end of the action. Romulus had another sight of goal but still couldn't put a chance away.
​
Then, in the 95th minute of a game that had not had too many stoppages, a tussle developed between a Romulus player, trying to retrieve the ball, and the United bench. Suddenly all hell let loose with all players and both benches involved in what can only be described as an outbreak of handbags. At least one Romulus player was pushed over, I didn't see any punches thrown but there was plenty of pushing and shoving before the referee got it all under control. After consulting with his assistant, United Manager Terry Anderson was shown a red card and there were yellows for at least one player on each side. Shortly after the restart the referee blew the final whistle and, after looking like it was about to kick-off again, the players shook hands and the game was over.

FT Coventry United 1 Romulus 0. A workmanlike performance from United. Romulus pushed the quite hard in the second-half, but they stood firm and, over the 90 minutes, just about deserved the three points. The result leaves United in fifth on 16 points, behind city rivals Sphinx (who have played one game fewer) on goal difference. Romulus sit in twelfth with 10 points from their eight games.
United Ladies made it a double for the night by winning 4-0 against Loughborough Foxes too.

A sad side note to this game. During the game I was alerted to the fact that Bicester Town had resigned from the Hellenic League. I don't know any further details at this point, but it is always sad to see a team go under and even more so when it is your local side. Bicester is far too big a town to not have a senior level football team representing it.

Coventry United: Bunn, Barnett, Vallance, Mussa, Cox, Clarke (c), Carey, Holt, Palmer, McDonald, Downes. Suns: Hendricks, Caswell, Nicholson, Hammond, Ellis

Romulus: Belford, Cross, Hirst, Rowe, Taylor, Cooper, Halil, Williams, Dunkley, Piggon, Richards. Subs: 

Att: 165
Ground Number: 163
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: £.50

Tuesday evening's game this week posed a problem. There were plenty of choices. League games, FA Cup Replays and an FA Vase game to choose from. The question was, should I go to a new ground or return to Second Meadow to take in the FA Vase game that I had originally intended to watch on Friday. That game was abandoned before kick-off when the Wormley Rovers goalkeeper, Allan Buck, was taken ill during the warm-up. The sight of paramedics and ambulances on a a football pitch is not one that any of us want to see. I'm very pleased to say that Allan has since tweeted that he is on the road to recovery, although he has decided to call time on his football career. I and, I'm sure everyone at both Biggleswade United and Wormley Rovers, wish Allan all the best for the future.

So, pushing that inner groundhopper aside, I decided that a return to Second Meadow was the order of the day. Although the game was technically a home tie for Wormley Rovers, the match had been switched to Biggleswade because Wormley's ground was not available.

The game was to be Wormley's first venture into the FA Vase. Last season saw the club finish 5th in the Herts Senior League but they managed to secure a place in the Eastern Counties League Division One (Step 6) following the league re-organisation. So, having been a Step 7 side last season, a draw against an established Step 5 outfit like Biggleswade United, was always going to be a tough propostiion for Rovers.

United, who finished 8th in the SSML Premier last season, have reached the 2nd Round of the Vase five times, but only made the 1st Round last season, going down 1-0 at home to Yaxley. Interestingly, back in the 1984-85 season the clubs were both part of the Herts Senior County League set-up, with Division One Wormley being the higher-placed of the teams. United, in those days, were a Division two outfit.

Did anyone get into the re-arranged game for free based upon their confirmed attendance on Friday? Personally, I was happy to pay again (every little helps), but I did wonder if I had missed an announcement on Friday before I left.

Second Meadow has not changed since my last visit in August 2015, a game in which a newly-promoted Welwyn Garden City side ran out 5-1 winners. Of course, The Citizens have since gone on to gain a further promotion and now play in the Southern league. Suffice to say that Second Meadow remains a decent and friendly place to watch football. There is plenty of seating and cover available for those who require it and the pitch still look sin pretty good condition.

So, on an evening noticeably cooler than last Friday, the teams took to the pitch with Wormley in red shirts and Biggleswade in their change kit of blue and black.

​From the first minute, it was clear to see that the underdogs were a very well organised side. Marshalled by their coaches in the technical area, they pressed the ball when necessary but fell back into their formation, keeping their shape well when Biggleswade had the ball in their own half. Biggleswade play a very appealing style of football. They get the ball down, pass and move, making the ball do the work for them wherever possible. This meant that Wormley were having to work very hard to stay in their shape. Having said that Rovers were, in the main, keeping United away from the last third of the park, letting them play the ball around and only engaging after the ball crossed the halfway line. When they won the ball back, however, they immediately tried to get it up to striker Mitchell Linger, who was a more than willing target and hold-up man.

It was, however, Biggleswade who got the first meaningful strike towards goal when, after 16 minutes, left-back Kane Farrell let fly from 25 yards out, only to see his effort go wide of Betts-Cooper's left-hand post.
The Rovers response to this effort was immediate though and almost saw them take the lead. First of all Oliver Finch came close before Biggleswade's keeper, Ollie Leslie, just about tipped a second effort onto the bar and out for a corner.
Two minutes later Leslie was called into action again, parrying a free-kick from just outside the box and then seeing the follow up go just wide as both an attacker and defender challenged for the loose ball.
Just before the half-hour mark it was Biggleswade's turn to go close to breaking the deadlock when Taz Andrews chested down a ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a thunderous volley which beat Betts-Cooper but rebounded to safety from the underside of the crossbar. A superb strike from Andrews which probably deserved better.
Rovers then went straight back down the other end and forced a corner. United cleared the corner and broke with incredible speed. A couple of passes and the ball was played into the path of Sam Holmes who saw his shot, in my opinion, brilliantly tipped over the bar by Betts-Cooper. I say in my opinion because the referee and his assistant gave a goal kick.

Just before half-time, United did manage to get the ball into the Rovers net but the assistant had already raised his flag for offside before Cooper's effort went in.

HT Wormley Rovers 0 Biggleswade United 0. Some nice passing play from United and, overall a fairly even game, but the work-rate of Rovers was the stand-out impression from the first half. I've not seen a team chase and harry this much for a long time. Credit to their coaching staff for instilling such discipline in the team too. An intriguing game for a neutral.

​Maybe it was having the slight slope in their favour or maybe it was the effects of Jimmy Martin's half-time talk, but Biggleswade certainly looked more lively at the start of the second-half. Wormley continued where they left off, organised and sharp in the tackle but now United were matching their opponents for work rate.
Just before the hour mark Biggleswade, once more, had the ball in the Rovers net but, once again, the whistle had already gone for an infringement before the ball had crossed the line. United, tough, were getting closer. A minute or two later, captain George Brinkman hammered an effort just wide of the target before, on 63 minutes, they finally broke the deadlock. There was a slight element of luck about the goal. A corner was cleared to the edge of the box where it was returned towards the Rovers goal. Jamie Smith managed to get a deflection on it, sending the ball past Betts-Cooper and into the net. 0-1.

The goal wobbled Wormley, no doubt about that. However, if anyone was expecting them to collapse, then they were sorely mistaken. The work-rate, which may have been expected to drop off, was showing no real sign of abating. True they had their keeper to thank for keeping them in it on 69 minutes, when he superbly turned a Farrell shot around the post with an acrobatic one-handed save, but there was no sign of the floodgates opening.

After 80 minutes Biggleswade once again though they had got the game sewn up but this time a timely goal-line clearance kept the score at 0-1. It was to prove to be the catalyst to a barn-storming finish from Rovers.
With under five minutes remaining a little bit of pinball, and a fortuitous ricochet, gave Rovers a clear site of goal but the ball was fired over the bar and into the car park. The warning bell had been rung though.
With a minute left on the clock Rovers forced a corner on their right side. The ball was played in towards the near post where it was met by the tireless Linger, who headed the ball past Leslie and took the game into extra-time. 1-1.

FT Wormley Rovers 1 Biggleswade United 1. A fascinating game of football. Despite always trying to remain neutral, I have to say I was pleased when Rovers equalised for two reasons. One, their effort deserved some reward. Two, I didn't want the game to end.

During the first half of Extra-Time, the efforts of the first 90 minutes seemed to finally be taking their toll on Wormley. Biggleswade were certainly starting to get on top on the game and the threat from Rovers was getting less and less as the game progressed now. Twice United forward Dave Parkinson made progress on the right but neither chance was converted and we were heading into the last 15 minutes still all-square. 
Into the second period of extra-time and the tension was beginning to show. Neither side wanted to make a mistake at this point. Going behind again now would almost certainly be the end of the FA Vase adventure for either team.
With four minutes to go, and both coaches probably thinking of penalties, Wormley were reduced to ten men when one of their players (sorry, I missed who it was), was shown a second yellow. That, possibly, proved to be the turning point. That little bit of extra space allowed Biggleswade to put together one final, one-touch passing move which culminated in substitute Joe Hankin playing a one-two and then slipping the ball under Betts-Cooper. 1-2.

FT ET. Wormley Rovers 1 Biggleswade United 2. Late heartbreak for Rovers. Their players looked out on their feet when the winning goal went in. Great credit to Biggleswade for continuing to plug away even though they clearly weren't at their best. 
Massive, massive credit to Wormley Rovers. I can honestly say that I have not seen a side work so hard all across the pitch. Every player, when they are feeling the aches and pains for the next few days, should be proud of their performance. 
United go on to face London Lions in the next round. Rovers can now look to consolidate their Step 6 position. Good luck to both sides for the rest of the season.

Wormley Rovers: Betts-Cooper, Head, L. Robinson, Welch (c), Thomas, Tourlamain, Offer, Finch, Montella, Linger, Quarrington-Carter. Subs: King, Archer, M. Robinson, Maybury

Biggleswade United: Leslie, Cooper, Farrell, Lewis, Smith, L. Andrews, Holmes, Irish, Parkinson, Brinkman (c), T. Andrews. Subs: Gauge, Howard-Dobson, Goodman, Drakulic, Hankins


Att: 59
Ground Number: Visited before.
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Free with entry (Tuesday)

My normal football match experience these days is a one of solitude. Nine times out of ten, I'll be trekking around the country, on my own, on dark, rainy, midweek evenings to stand in a field watching 22 men kick a ball around for 90 minutes. It doesn't sound that appealing, but I love it. Sunday, however, was far removed from all of that. On a glorious late-Summer day, I found myself setting out for a match in Hertfordshire with my wife and daughter in the car and a pair of shorts in the boot (just in case the weather held out). 

The occasion? The inaugural Edie Wilson Memorial Cup, a game that we were, on one hand looking forward to immensely, but on the other, wishing that there was no need for it to take place at all. Those of you who follow me on social media or read my blogs will know what I mean by that. For those who don't, please take a few minutes to follow this link http://www.ediesbutterflyappeal.com/

After a very pleasant brunch with Cate (Edie's mum), Scott (Edie's dad) and Jacob (Edie's brother), not to mention Lily Pickle (Edie's dog), we headed off to Silver Leys, home of Bishops Stortford Swifts FC in plenty of time to prepare for the 2pm kick-off. Not long after arriving at the ground I was very thankful that I had had the foresight to pack those shorts.

The game was to be played between Bishops Stortford Swifts (u16), Jacob's team, and St Nicholas School (u16), Jacob and Edie's school. Jacob, after much thought, had decided to play for Swifts.

The setting could not have been any better as kick-off approached. The weather was wonderful, the pitch was looking good, the cup was gleaming in the bright sunlight, the bar was open, and it was becoming very clear that a there was going to be a sizeable turnout for the game (well into 3 figures).

​The two teams took to the field led by Jacob and, after the usual coin toss, we had an impeccably observed minute's silence, followed by a rousing minute's clapping, in honour of Edie. 

The game started with Swifts, in red and white stripes, kicking towards the rugby club end of the ground and they quickly had St Nicholas, in all blue, on the back-foot. Swifts passing and pace, especially down the flanks, was causing a few problems for the St Nicholas defenders. It looked as though we may have an early goal as the Blues found it difficult to muster and real possession. However, boosted by the organisation of their two centre-halves, the school team did gradually start to steady their ship and play their way into the game a little.
That was until midway through the 40 minute half when Swifts number 13 opened the scoring with a jinking run and low drive just inside the keeper's right-hand post. 1-0.
Just a minute later and Swifts almost made it 2-0 when Number 18 beat the keeper with a looping volley that came back off the underside of the St Nicholas bar and rebounded to safety, in an incident reminiscent of the infamous 1966 World Cup 'goal'. Given the fact that a boot signed by Geoff Hurst was one of the fund-raising items, if we had had an Azerbijani linesman, it may well have been signalled as a goal.

Only the linesman's flag prevented us from having a goal from Edie's brother as well. When a clearance landed at Jacob's feet, he immediately fired it back into the St Nicholas net only to find that the assistant had already flagged for offside.

​With the score still at 1-0, Swifts have their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in front. In the 25th minute he was quick off his line to smother a St Nicholas attempt when one of their players was clean through, then 10 minutes later he was down well to his left to stop a low drive that was sneaking in at the far post.
Almost immediately after this stop, the St Nicholas keeper was called into action again, acting quickly to thwart a very quick Swifts break down the left. Unfortunately for the stopper, the loose ball fell to Swifts number 10 who immediately returned the ball into the unguarded net from outside the box. 2-0.

HT Swifts 2 St Nicholas 0. Those few minutes towards the end of the half were to prove very important and showed how the game can change in an instant. First the Swifts keeper saves well and sees the ball run to safety. Then the St Nicholas keeper does the same but, unluckily, sees the loose ball go straight to an opponent who, it has to be said, finished very well.

At 2-0 down, St Nicholas went into break knowing that they were still in the game. However, two quick-fire strikes from Swifts early in the second-half put a massive dent in their hopes of getting back into the game. First of all, on 43 minutes, Swifts Number 7 broke clear on the right and fired the ball past the keeper. 3-0. Then, so quickly that I was still trying to tweet the previous goal, the same player (at least I think it was), popped up to score again and make it 4-0.

On 50 minutes it was five when the ball was bundled over the St Nicholas line following a right-wing corner. It was hard to see who got the last touch, but I am going to credit it to their Number 10. 5-0

Maybe, at this point, Swifts took their foot off the pedal? Maybe St Nicholas found a second wind? Whatever the case, they pulled a goal back on 56 minutes, 5-1, and then a minute later made it 5-2. (Note: St Nicholas did not have numbers on their shirts, so I can't even point to the goal-scorers identity.)

Could the comback be on after all?

No, Swifts were having none of that and, before the hour mark was up, they scored again. This time Number 6 volleying in from the edge of the box. 6-2.

On 70 minutes Swifts rapid winger, Number 7, broke down the right and squared for Number 18 to make it 7-2. Then, a few minutes later the scoring was wrapped up when Number 18 offered up a lovely strike to make it 8-2.

FT Bishops Stortford Swifts 8 St Nicholas School 2. Swifts take the inaugural Edie Wilson Memorial Cup after a thoroughly entertaining game at Silver Leys. Speaking to Scott after the game, it is very possible that this could become  an annual event. Let's hope so. It was a smashing event and a lovely tribute to Edie, with so many people  coming out to support the game.

The last Bank Holiday of the year is over. This is where the football season really starts to take shape. A few game sin, teams are starting to settle and the tables are starting to sort themselves out. So, with the Number 9 Derby out of reach (one of the perils of working down South), I needed to find a more local game to attend. The prospect of a local derby drew me towards Ash United versus Frimley Green in the Combined Counties League Division One. Two sides that I hadn't seen before and a new ground to visit. Perfect.

As I said, this is very much a local derby, with just over 4 miles separating the grounds. Ash United were going into the game unbeaten, sitting fourth with ten points from four games. Visitors Frimley Green were ten places below their hosts, having taken five points from three games.

Since Frimley were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 2014-15 season the sides had met six times in the league, with Ash yet to lose an encounter. There have been three Ash victories and three draws. Last season, despite Frimly finishing eleven points and two places above their neighbours, United did the double, winning 3-1 at home and 2-1 at Frimley's Recreation Ground.

Ash's Shawfield Stadium is wedged between the village of Ash and the A331, which divides Ash from Aldershot. There is a decent sized car park at the ground, which appears to have slightly too many allocated spaces for the size of the plot, making it quite difficult to manoeuvre around. There is also ample parking on the adjacent Youngs Drive (although this is a residential area, so please be courteous to the clubs neighbours).
The ground, accessed through a single turnstile off the car park, is a very good example of a stadium for this level of the game. The majority of the facilities are at the car park end, Club house, snack bar and players/officials block. There is a covered standing area (the Paddock) that runs behind the car park end goal. To the right of the entrance is the main stand, a covered seating area that holds just over 150 people. The dugouts are also on this side of the ground. All in all, very good facilities.

​Two further points to make. Firstly, the programme. Last season it was voted the best one in the league and you can see why. Plenty of 
content and statistics for £1. A great effort. The second point is that Ash are one of the clubs that actually put the team lists up on a board before kick-off. For neutrals, visitors, and locals alike, this is an absolute god-send. As someone who travels to a lot of new grounds, I spend a lot of my time trying to find out the teams. If there was one thing that I would wish for, it is that all clubs make the team sheets available or pin them up somewhere in the ground.

Onto the game and, I have to say, this could be a very short part of the blog. It wasn't the most action-packed 90 minutes that I have ever witnessed, although there was an interesting moment just before kick-off. Shawfield Stadium is, as I said, in a residential area. 

Consequently, there are restrictions on the use of floodlights, meaning that evening games kick-off at 7:30pm in order, presumably, to have the lights off by 10pm. It seems that everyone apart from the Frimley Green manager, was aware of this fact. When the 5 minute warning bell sounded in the changing rooms, the Frimley Green squad was still out on the pitch warming up. They had to beat a hasty retreat only to, almost immediately, re-appear for kick-off. To be fair to them, the game only started 2 minutes late.

Maybe the the rush affected the visitors because, within two minutes, Ash should have been ahead. A break down the right and low cross, led to confusion amongst the Frimley back-line and goalkeeper, the ball broke loose in the six-yard box but Fitzgerald and Williams got in each other's way and allowed the defence to recover and clear. It was to be as close as Ash came in the first half though, as 

Frimley quite quickly regained some composure and started to take control of the game.
Twenty minutes in, the away side came closest to breaking the deadlock when Vanterpool got in on the right, but home keeper Jamie Cunningham was quick to come off his line a block the attempt. Two minutes later, Frimley had another good opportunity. This time Dearlove, again in on the right, dragged his shot wide when he probably should have at least hit the target.

Two warnings for Ash, which they didn't heed because, two minutes later, they conceded a corner. The ball was driven into the near post where Zak Horkan was on hand to turn the ball into the net. 0-1.

The expected Ash response to going a goal down never really happened and, although they didn't really look like conceding a second goal, they also didn't really make Harvey Stevens, in Frimley's goal, work either.

HT Ash United 0 Frimley Green 1. Not too much between the sides but Frimley just about deserve to be in front.

​Frimley, presumably to make up for their first-half tardiness, appeared for the second-half well before the bell went off. Maybe, expecting an Ash backlash after a lacklustre first-half showing, they wanted to be prepared for the onslaught. They need not have worried, if so. It didn't happen. In fact, despite plenty of huffing and puffing, not a lot happened in the second-half. Certainly chances, at both ends, were at a premium and Frimley's defence seemed to be coping quite comfortably with anything Ash could throw at them.

That was until the 85th minute when Ash's left-flanker, Kieran Wiliams, burst into the Frimley box and was felled for his troubles. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Jack Fitzgerlad stepped up and beat Stevens, just about. 1-1.

FT Ash United 1 Frimley Green 1. Frimley are still waiting for their first derby win since relegation, a run that extends to seven games. They must have thought that it was coming this evening, until the late penalty undid them. Still, at least we will all remember where we were the night that Saido Berahino finally scored for Stoke.

Ash United: Cunningham, Kipping, Bale, Hamill, Devanney, Passfield, Nwaubani (c), Whitehouse, Wilson, Fitzgerald, Williams. Subs: Chilton, Holmes, Robertson, Charlton, Cairns

Frimley Green: Stevens, Primett, Rayhan, Trinder, Ward (c), Hamer, Dearlove, Horkan, Jermain, Vanterpool, McKinlry. Subs: Cumner, Mepham, Kemp, Bolstrode
Att: 
Ground Number: 162
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00

Two days after returning from a week in Provence it was time to banish the holiday blues and head out to watch some more football. This week's chosen location was Bottom Meadow, home of Sandhurst Town. The Fizzers, as they are known, had not had the best start to the new season, losing both league games and going out of the FA Cup to Lymington Town after a replay. Their opponents, Farnham Town, freshly relegated from the Premier Division, were sitting second in the league after winning their opening two games. However, they too had gone out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle, losing 2-1 at home to Step 5 side Binfield.
Sandhurst transferred back to the Combined Counties League at the end of last season, after two seasons in the Hellenic League, the last of which saw them finish in a creditable fourth place.

The sides had last met in league action back in the 2012-13 season, when both sides were Combined Counties Premier League outfits. Farnham won an early season meeting by a goal to nil at The Memorial Ground with Sandhurst gaining revenge with a crushing 5-1 home win in April. The result, however, was not enough to save The Fizzers from relegation that season. Farnham went on the finish in eighth spot.

Bottom Meadow, a new ground for me, is situated next to Sandhurst Memorial Park, where the team played until National Lottery Charities Board money helped them to move next door into a fully enclosed stadium. Parking is available at the ground and, if full, in the Memorial Park car park (note for evening games: This car park shuts, and is locked, at 10pm sharp). The stadium itself is accessed through a large gate, there are no turnstiles. Facilities are at the entrance end of the ground where you will find the club house, which incorporates the tea/snack bar. Looking from the club house end, down the pitch, there is a small covered seating area to the right. This seats 108 people and have the club name emblazoned across the front of the roof. The dugouts are on the opposite side of the ground.

Having disposed of British Airways by a scoreline of 6-1 in their last game, Farnham were certainly favourites at the start of this match. They had also had their squad boosted by the much travelled Eddie Smith, a striker with a very good scoring record for a number of clubs including Slough Town, where he grabbed 98 goals in 150 appearances. Somewhat surprisingly, considering they had scored 10 goals in their opening two games. Smith went straight into the starting eleven. Sandhurst were looking to get their first points and, in fact, their first league goal, of the season.

Given those statistics, it is fair to say that the game started predictably. Farnham were immediately on the front foot and looking confident. They forced a corner as early as the second minute and, when the ball was half cleared, new signing Smith fired the ball back goal-wards. Elliot Cardona stuck out a foot and sent the ball looping over Howells into the net. 0-1.

The goal served to give Farnham even more confidence with the movement of striker Danny Turner causing all sorts of issues to the Fizzers defence. Turner's runs were being picked out well by right-back Max Meaton, who was also looking very composed on the ball. Add to that, the battling, ball winning of defensive midfielder Dean Ellis, and all looked good for Farnham in the first 10 minutes.

However, great credit must go to Sandhurst who could easily have let their heads drop. They didn't. Instead, they steadily fought their way into the game and, after 12 minutes, they got their just rewards.
As with the Farnham opener, the equaliser came from a corner, this time on the Sandhurst left. The ball was played into the Farnham six-yard area where Ashley Ledger stooped to head the ball home. 1-1. Terrible marking by the Farnham defence, allowing an opponent to head in, unmarked, inside the six-yard box.

​The goal seemed to completely take the wind out of Farnham and, seven minutes later, the hosts completed the turnaround. A long ball downfield was latched onto by Paul Rake, he out-muscled his marker and then unleashed a volley, from outside the penalty area, which bypassed Norman and nestled in the far corner. 2-1.
A very good finish from Rake.

HT Sandhurst Town 2 Farnham Town 1. The away side started well but Sandhurst hauled themselves back into it and deservedly lead at the break.

Farnham seemed to have re-grouped somewhat after the break. Ellis was getting on the ball more again and starting to make things tick in midfield. However, try as they might, Farnham couldn't find that killer final pass and, despite more possession, the score remained 2-1. 

Farnham's cause was aided just after the hour mark when Fizzers skipper, Henry Oakley, launched himself into a really ugly challenge on a Farnham striker, a challenge that caused the first of a number of minor altercations between the players. Once the referee had calmed the situation down, he issued a second yellow to Oakley and Sandhurst had to play the remaining half-hour with ten men.

The Fizzers immediately made a substitution, bringing on a replacement defender for Oakley, leaving just the diminutive Ieuan Dimech up front. The extra space allowed  Ellis to gain even more control of the midfield for Farnham but, as before, the final ball was never found.
The game became more and more scrappy. Sandhurst employed every trick in the book to help tick away the minutes, a tactic not lost on the referee, who eventually lost patience with goalkeeper Howells and issued a booking.

The Farnham players, irritated by their inability to get back on level terms, were letting themselves be drawn into confrontations by the Sandhurst gamesmanship (or game management, whichever way you see it). A few scores were being settled all across the pitch and the game was getting more stop-start, which was not helping the Farnham cause at all.

​To their credit, Sandhurst were defending really well, despite being a man light. The aforementioned Dimech, left on his own up front, was running himself into the ground in an effort to stop Farnham building from the back. The Sandhurst defence were doing well, but they owe a lot to the non-stop effort shown by their number 9.

The referee, much to the disgust of the local support, added a fair bit of time to the game, presumably taking into account the number of times that Sandhurst had delayed restarts. However, The Fizzers hung on for their first points of the season.

FT Sandhurst Town 2 Farnham Town 1. In the end, a fair result in my opinion. Despite having the feeling that Farnham would get back into the game, especially when Sandhurst went down to 10, the home side hung on through sheer effort in the second-half. As a neutral, it was a very entertaining watch with no lack of application from either side. 
Next up for The Fizzers is a visit from, currently pointless, bottom side Fleet Spurs whilst Farnham travel to Kensington Borough.

Update: I think I have said before that I don't take notes at matches. I try to write from my memory of the game. The theory being that I capture the incidents that stuck out. Whilst this, in principle, is an attempt at an honest report, it does mean that I do miss things out from time to time. When this happens, I am happy to, in fact expect to, get pulled up on it by players, managers or supporters. Last night was a case in question and I have been called out on it. So, let me just state that The Fizzer's victory owes more than a little to a fine, late save from their big man at the back, Ryan Howells. Sorry, Ryan. Next time, I'll pay more attention. (also, he's a big lad and I don't want to make an enemy of anyone that size).

Sandhurst Town: Howells, Turner, Green, Oakley (c), Barley, Goddard, Ledger, Dimech, Barron, Burrows, Rake. Subs: Barnard, T. Cooper, M. Cooper, Khomsi, Cox
​
Farnham Town: Norman (c), Meaton, T. Smith, Ellis, Conteh, Harlowe, Page, Medcroft, Turner, E. Smith, Cardona. Subs: Horwood, Falvey, Marker, Scurfield, Evans

Att: 
Ground Number: 161
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00

An early season FA Cup game on a Friday evening, not too far from home. Too good to miss.
I am starting this match blog not with the run up to the game, or a description of the ground. Rather, I am starting with my journey home and, more to the point, the radio programme that happened to be on in my car. I'm talking about Radio 5 Live. Now, I normally focus my match blogs on positives. After all, the whole point is to promote non-league football.
However, what I heard on my way home and, more to the point, the tone of voice with which it was delivered, just got my back up. It's good that the BBC have been playing lip service to the early stages of the FA Cup. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that they give it some coverage. Two things that really irk me though. First of all, if you are going to talk about the early rounds of the cup, involving these 'little' teams that clearly no-one is that bothered about, at least get your facts straight. Don't announce that the FA Cup, incredibly, starts on Saturday, when there are games being played on Friday (one of which, I was actually driving home from). Secondly, I know that the Haverhill derby is of very little consequence to a BBC commentator who is very busy watching Manchester United, but the condescending way it was referred to as 'the big derby game' and, more so, the tone with which the sentence was delivered, really grated. I am sure that the supporters of both Borough and Rovers were screaming at their radios. I don't know, maybe i'm just turning into an old cynic?

Rant over, onto the game. Winslow United v Easington Sports, with both sides making their FA Cup debuts (fact courtesy of @FACupFactFile). It's not been long at all since I last visited Elmfields Gate but, there has been a change at the ground. A lovely new piece of signage has appeared above the main stand (see photo).

​The game start at a very fast pace. Both sides looked lively but it was Easington who looked most up for it, launching a series of attacks in the opening minutes. Winslow looked a little shaky at the back, giving away a needless early corner when they appeared a little rattled by Sports' good start.
Having said that, it was the home side that possibly created the most promising chance when they had a goal-bound shot well blocked by a defender. A minute or so later, though, they were quite lucky to survive some sustained pressure from Easington, eventually clearing the ball off the line amidst a real scramble in the home penalty area.
It was certainly a very open first 15-20 minutes. After that period, both sides seemed to hold off a little. United had steadied their ship, the defence looked more assured. Maybe the initial surge of energy and Adrenalin had worn off?

Chances were now coming less frequently but Easington did come reasonably close before, on 40 minutes, a fine Winslow effort saw the visitors keeper, Adam Rimmer, pull off a good one handed save to put the ball out for a corner. The right-wing kick was hit deep where Aaron King rose well to power a header over the defender on the line and put Winslow in front. 1-0

The response from Sports was almost immediate. Within three minutes of going behind, they earned a free-kick some 35 yards out on the left. The ball was hoisted to the far post by Convey where Henry Rose got above everyone to head in a fine equaliser. 1-1.

HT Winslow United 1 Easington Sports 1. All square at the break and probably rightly so. The game was shaping into a very good cup tie. We had seen two very well taken headed goals and there was a definite sense of occasion around the ground.

​Looking around the ground at the start of the second-half, there were very few empty viewing spaces around the perimeter fence. It looked like a very good turnout. On the pitch, the second period didn't start with the bang that the first had ended with. You had the sense that both sides had been told to keep it tight for a while. However, that doesn't man that there was a lack of action. King, up front for Winslow, was making a real nuisance of himself, keeping the visitors defence busy. At the other end, the height of Rose meant that he was winning a lot of flick-ons but, as of yet, not quite linking up with his fellow attackers. Easington were, however, starting to look more dangerous when attacking on their right, getting in behind the home defence a couple of times causing the home keeper to berate his defenders.

Just past the hour mark, on 66 minutes to be exact, United went back in front. A ball was played into the right-hand channel for King to chase. He reached the ball as it sat up invitingly, inside the penalty area but at quite a narrow angle. He unleashed a stunning volley, flashing the ball across Rimmer and into the far corner. 2-1. A great finish from King to get his second goal of the game.

The home side had clearly learned from their first-half mistake and, this time, they did not concede and equaliser within a few minutes. In fact the goal seemed to take the wind out of Sports for a while, with the home side looking as if they were going to take control of the game. 
Sports, however, were not going to let their FA Cup run die off that easily. With 79 minutes on the clock, they launched another raid down their right wing, again getting in behind the defence. Goal-scorer Rose drilled the ball across the Winslow six-yard box where it was met by the on-rushing Andrew Stidder to make it all-square again. 2-2.

It was Easington's turn to look the most likely to win now. The home side, however, composed themselves and stemmed the flow of red & white shirts. Whilst I am sure that neither side really wanted, or needed, an extra game at this stage of the season, neither could find a winning goal in the last ten minutes.

FT Winslow United 2 Easington Sports 2. Both FA Cup debutants live to fight another day, and that day is Tuesday. A thoroughly entertaining cup tie between two evenly matched sides. Best of luck to both in the replay. I'm sure that it will be a cracker.

Winslow United:
Easington Sports: Rimmer, Snelling, Fitton, Josh Rose, Robinson, Stidder, Spaull, Henry Rose, Convey, Eyre, Watkin (c). Subs: Pearman, Cramond, Hill, Higgins

Att: 351
Ground Number: Not a new ground
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00

Heading up the M1 on Tuesday evening it occurred to me that I was on my way to watch Leicester Nirvana for the fifth time. However, this would be my first visit to their home ground, Hamilton Park. Much like my record with Kidlington, I have never seen Nirvana lose, either in the Leicester or Thurnby guise. In fact, their record to date when I have seen them is played four, won four. The previous games were:

Sileby Rangers 3 Thurnby Nirvana 4 (Still one of the best games of football I have ever seen)
Desborough Town 2 Leicester Nirvana 4
Rothwell Corinthians 1 Leicester Nirvana 3
Kirby Muxloe 0 Leicester Nirvana 3
​
I have only seen Rugby play once since starting this blog (although I saw VS Rugby play at Stourbridge a few times many years ago), a 1-0 home defeat to Daventry in Step 4. Interestingly, both of these sides have slipped down the pyramid since then, both finding themselves in the United Counties Premier Division this season.

​Hamilton Park, Nirvana's home, is a newly fenced off facility with a recently built clubhouse. Fencing is tall but you could still watch from outside if you wanted to. Two covered areas, both to the right of the entrance and clubhouse. One seating area, one standing. Dugouts are opposite. Note for hoppers. Parking is very limited at the ground. there is a small overflow car park but this was already full at least 40 minutes before kick-off. So, get there early if you want to park nearby.

There were plenty of Valley supporters milling around when I arrived and they had already put their flags and banners up at the far end of the ground. The biggest topic of discussion in the bar seemed to be their position as favourites for the league. The majority of supporters seemed to think that it was nowhere near as clear-cut as that  and that they would need to work very hard to achieve promotion. "We are in Step 5 for a reason" was the general consensus.

In quite blustery conditions, Rugby opened the quicker and certainly looked the sharper side in the first 10-15 minutes.The game burst into life on 12 minutes when Rugby came very close to opening the scoring. A neat move saw Blythe burst into the box but Chey Carter was very quick to spread himself and block the effort. Within two minutes, Nirvana had a similar opportunity but Hill proved himself as adept as his counterpart, saving very smartly. Nirvana then had a free-kick on the edge of the area which Savjani put just over the Rugby bar

​After 19 minutes, Valley had the ball in the home net when a long throw was flicked on and found its way into the net. However, a hand was used on the way and the assistant's flag was raised almost immediately. Still 0-0.

On 21 minutes Nirvana taok the lead in somewhat controversial circumstances. A quite clear Nirvana push in midfield went unpunished and the home side took advantage of the Rugby players stopping to appeal by breaking down their left flank. Suleman Nassor showed good awareness to slide over a very tempting cross and  Jordan Nelson was on hand at the near post to force the ball home. 1-0

The goal changed the game completely. The belief seemed to drain from Rugby and Nirvana's tails were up. They were the team playing all of the football. It has to be said that Leicester managed the game very well from this point onwards. Some would say gamesmanship, I would say game management. They had clearly spotted that the referee didn't have full control over the game. I don't like to criticise officials, but this game needed a strong man in the middle. It didn't have one.

Nirvana can certainly play good football. They can also mix it when they need to. Rugby allowed themselves to be drawn into a toe-to-toe battle with Nirvana. They allowed Nirvana's tactics of taking their time with every dead ball to get under their skin. It was a battle that they never looked like winning.
Leicester just had too much nous for them, as well as, on the day, being the better football team. 

Rugby did have a penalty claim when Rankin and Carter collided in the area, but it was waved away by the referee and, on this occasion, it looked like he got that decision spot on.

HT Leicester Nirvana 1 Rugby Town 0. A very stop-start game punctuated by plenty of niggles and fouls. The referee needs to get a grip on the game. A red card is looking almost nailed on in the second-half if he continues to frustrate the players with inconsistent decisions.

​Valley started the second half with a clear intention to get back into the game as quickly as possible. Nirvana seemed quite happy to let them come onto them, relying on their pace up front to pose a threat whenever a Rugby attack broke down. The Nirvana back-line was coping well with everything that Rugby threw at them, although long balls down the middle aren't going to trouble that many defences too much. 

An increasing number of flare-ups and stoppages didn't help Rugby find any fluency either. Again, I put this down to Nirvana managing the game better and having more experience than their visitors. They knew that they had their opponents rattled and they took complete advantage of it.

With 16 minutes of the 90 remaining and with Rugby pressing forward, Nirvana hit them on the break down the right flank. This time it is Nassor who is on the end of a low cross, leaving him the simple task of tapping into an empty net. 2-0 and no way back for Rugby now.

FT Leicester Nirvana 2 Rugby Town 0. An untidy game but a well earned three points for Nirvana. The most amazing statistic is that we still had 22 players on the pitch at the end.
Nirvana are a good side and, on this evidence, could be contenders this season. However, they will need to ensure that they keep their discipline. They have some very talented individuals but are far too ready to get involved in a physical confrontation. If they stick to playing football, they could play a lot of teams off the park in this league.
For me, Rugby seemed to find their title favourites tag weighing heavily on their shoulders. Once they went 1-0 down, they never really looked like getting back into the game. However, it's not easy to tell from one game. They looked pretty good for the first 20 minutes but allowed themselves to be distracted from the game, as well as being frustrated by the officials decisions. 

Leicester Nirvana: Carter, Gore, Bahrey, Calver, Harper, Bains, Gonga, Savjani, Nassor, Nelson, Master. Subs: Mudhur, De Lacerda, Brown-Wingfield, Glover
Rugby Town: Hill, Rosser, Thomas, Edwards, Recci, Perkins, Rankin, Bunting, Adams, Johnson, Blythe. Subs: Evans, Holloway, Kavanagh, Blake, Marsden

Att: 112
Ground Number: 160
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00

An advantage of having a wife who 'gets' my passion for non-league football is that she comes up with ideas like today. As I have pointed out many times, the majority of my live action is midweek. Weekends are family time. However, the opening day of the season is sort of special and my wife came up with a plan to combine family and football time.
The question she posed 'Is there a game somewhere that we haven't been, where we could have a little day out as well as you taking in a match?'. As it happened, a perfect fixture leapt off the pages of the NLP. Ely City v Framlingham Town.
​
You couldn't really find a better one. A new ground for me, a team playing it's first ever Step 5 game (Framlingham). A cathedral (since a recent trip to Wells, my daughter likes visiting cathedrals), it is an historic city with plenty to keep the family occupied and the ground is within walking distance of the city centre. So it was that we found ourselves heading 81 miles East on Saturday lunchtime, towards The Fens and new ground number 159.

​After a brief wander around the city, a visit to Oliver Cromwell's house and then a little bit of lunch in the cathedral cafe, I left the girls to their day and headed off towards the Ellgia Stadium, home of Ely City FC. The ground is situated on the outskirts of the city (remember, it is a very small city), about 25 minutes walk from the cathedral. It is part of a sports complex that appears to incorporate almost every sport under the sun. Ely Tigers RFC, a golf club, tennis club and did I see squash? It is also adjacent to what looks like a very new edition to the city, the Isle of Ely, a village of restaurants, fast food and entertainment. This new entertainment village has also provided a very useful underpass from the city, under the busy A10, and into the entertainment areas. All in all, an impressive array of eateries, entertainment and, best of all, sport facilities. Well played, City of Ely. The football stadium itself is a very tidy, compact ground. Most of the facilities are on the entrance side of the ground, accessed though a single turnstile. Immediately as you enter, on your right is the main stand, which rises quite high above the ground and has seating for 150. Next to this stand is the clubhouse, which has some sheltered areas immediately outside (handy on a baking hot day like today). There is also a small covered area to the left of the entrance, which has a few benches in, but is mainly a covered standing area.

​A little introduction to the two sides in action today. Hosts Ely City, founded in 1885, joined the Eastern Counties League in the 1960-61 season and have played in the league ever since. They have won Division One once in their history as well as being Division One Cup winners once. They have been something of a yo-yo club over the years, suffering four relegations and the equal number of promotions. Since they returned to the top flight two season ago, they have finished 13 and 14th but have also had their best ever FA Vase run (5th Round) and won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup for the 4th time in their history.
​Framligham Town, The Castlemen, were promoted from the Ipswich & Suffolk League three season ago, entering the Eastern Counties structure for the first time since their formation in 1887. ​

They finished a creditable 7th in the first season and then obtained promotion to Step 5 as runners-up last season. There are a couple of interesting facts about both the club and the castle of Framlingham. First of all, the club purchased their floodlights from the Sizewell B nuclear plant. Now, I guess they have heard this before, but does this mean that their lights glow even if they don't switch them on? That could save a pretty penny. The second, and not so interesting fact, is that I and my then pregnant wife, visited Framlingham Castle during a East Anglian holiday in 2009.

​And so onto the game and Framlingham Town's introduction to Step 5 football. The recent weather meant that the pitch was dry and hard, through no fault of the club, I should add. It was a very warm, still day. Not the best conditions for a game of football.

Framlingham started really well. They looked sharper and far more threatening than Ely. However, despite having a lot of the ball, they couldn't make the home keeper work. Star striker, Danny Smith looked very dangerous. Quick, and incisive, but he couldn't find that final ball. He seemed to be the one making the chances, whereas Framlingham would probably have preferred him to have been on the end of them.
Most of Ely's play focused on number Jamie Thurlbourne, who was working hard to gain a grip on the midfield and was, certainly in the first half, involved in almost every Ely move.

25 minutes in, and with the score still 0-0, the referee, very wisely, called for a drinks break. I knw that some people feel that this  little bit 'nanny state, but, I can tell you, it was hard work just standing, watching in the sun. I really did not envy these players and they must have been getting seriously dehydrated after 25 minutes of running in this weather.

As the half wore on, Thurlbourne was starting to pull more strings and his team-mates were also getting more into their stride. Ely were definitely coming into the game more as the half progressed.

​Comedy moment of the first half came when Ely were awarded a free-kick for a foul. The Ely player, who had taken a knock to head, was still getting up as they tried to take a quick free-kick, succeeding only in belting the ball into their recently stricken colleague. As the ball ran loose the Framlingham right-back, thinking that the referee was going to make them take the kick again, picked the ball up, only for the referee to award a fee-kick against him for hand ball. What annoyed the Framligham bench most of all was that, if their player had controlled the ball, he could have played in one of their strikers as the home defence was absolutely wide open.

HT Ely City 0 Framlingham Town 0. A good start from the visitors but Ely looking more dangerous as the half progressed. Not a classic but good entertainment for neutrals.

Ely came out for the second half looking to continue their growth into the game. They didn't have too long to wait before their resurgence paid off when a deep cross from the left was met by Deaken Napier, at the far post, who volleyed the ball past the keeper. 1-0 after 51 minutes.

Framlingham heads didn't drop but you sensed they needed to get an equaliser quickly if they were to stay in the game. They were getting noticeably less of the ball than the first half, possibly more because Ely had upped their game rather then Framlingham had dropped their standards. As the clocked ticked past the hour and headed towards the 70th minute mark, an equaliser was starting to look more unlikely. Suddenly, however, The Castlemen sprang into life. A little bit of pressure on the home goal was half cleared to the left flank, Max Willett swung over a lovely cross and there was Anthony Johnson to power home a header. 1-1 after 69 minutes and a perfect time for a second-half drinks break.

​The drinks seemed to invigorate both teams and, immediately after the restart we had some fine end to end action. First of all Lewis Hook's diving header for Ely was touched onto the inside of the post by Sam Chivers, before he managed to grab the ball on the line. Then, in the 72nd minute, less than a minute after Ely had almost re-taken the lead, home keeper Evan Jeckells was forced to make a sharp stop at his near post. From the resulting corner, Jeckells was again called into action to prevent the way side taking the lead.

It looked as if we were heading for a stalemate until, in the 86 minute, the referee had no option but to award a home penalty as Hook (my view was slightly obscured, so it may not have been) was bundled over in the box. Up stepped Lee Reed to send the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1.
Then on the stroke 90 minutes, with Framlingham somehow finding the energy to press for a second equaliser, Ely hit them on the break down the left, before pulling the ball back for Reed to expertly stroke home his second and Ely's third. 3-1.
There was still enough time for a little bit of 'handbags' before the end, but it only led to a yellow card and was soon calmed down.

FT Ely City 3 Framlingham Town 1. Ely ultimately deserved their win. After Weathering Framlingham's blistering start, they played their way into the game and scored a couple of very nice goals. Both sides worked incredibly hard in what must have been very tough conditions to play football in. This was only my second Eastern Counties League game and, I have to say, I have enjoyed both immensely (the other was Godmanchester v Felixstowe a couple of seasons back). It a shame that the majority of sides in this league are just that little bit too far, especially as I watch most of my football in midweek. I must, however, make an effort see a few more games.
Best wishes to both sides for the rest of the season.

Ely City (All Red): Jeckells, Dalby, Alsop, Walter, Williams, Lee Reed, Napier, Hook, Thulborn, Jeffrey, Thurlbourne. Subs: Brannan, Sam Reed, Heap, Griffin
Framlingham Town (Green & White hoops): Chivers, Poacher, Willett, Thorpe, Johnson, Mayhew, Boardley, Matt Aldis, Smith, Kerridge, Driver. Subs: Evans-Hendrick, Abraham, Borg, Brooks

Att: 81
Ground Number: 159
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: £1.00