As always the biggest problem for Sunday games is deciding where to go. I managed to get to a shortlist of five before, eventually, deciding upon the Division One South game between Bursledon and Wimborne Town. The reason? Well, it was a chance to not only visit a new ground, but also to take a look at two teams that I had never had the opportunity to watch before.
Both teams were promoted as Champions of their respective leagues last season. Bursledon won the Hampshire County League by seven points. Wimborne won the Dorset League, finishing four points ahead of Poole Town.
Bursledon fought out a brilliant 4-4 draw at Havant & Waterlooville on the opening day, coming very close to pulling off an incredible away win. Meanwhile, Wimborne had already played twice in the league, a creditable 0-0 draw with Woking on the opening day and then a narrow 2-1 home defeat to neighbours Bournemouth Sports Reserves last weekend.
Thanks to referee Gary Cash for letting me photograph the team sheets just before kick-off. As always, much appreciated.
Both teams were promoted as Champions of their respective leagues last season. Bursledon won the Hampshire County League by seven points. Wimborne won the Dorset League, finishing four points ahead of Poole Town.
Bursledon fought out a brilliant 4-4 draw at Havant & Waterlooville on the opening day, coming very close to pulling off an incredible away win. Meanwhile, Wimborne had already played twice in the league, a creditable 0-0 draw with Woking on the opening day and then a narrow 2-1 home defeat to neighbours Bournemouth Sports Reserves last weekend.
Thanks to referee Gary Cash for letting me photograph the team sheets just before kick-off. As always, much appreciated.
Bursledon corner Bursledon, without the suspended Hannah Campbell following her red card in last week's Dorset derby defeat, started very quickly, taking full advantage of the flat surface to immediately get their passing game moving. They were aided for the first ten minutes by a home midfield that, for some reason, decided not to mark Magpies captain Emily Trim.
In fact it was Trim who got the first strike on target, although her fourth minute effort was easily collected by Jade Kibell. A few minutes later it was Georgia Reeks who tried her luck but her effort went wide of the target. The just before the quarter hour, Ellie Chaffe let rip from 25 yards out, only to see her thunderous effort fizz past Kibell's left-hand post.
Bursledon had not troubled the visitors at all until the 16th minute when, following a swift break, Zoe Bache got a shot on target that was comfortably saved by Tegan Barnes. It was better from the home side though, and midway through the half they came even closer. Issy Pouncy's delightful through ball found Emma Holmes , but her effort went into the side-netting.
Now that Bursledon had tightened up in midfield, Wimborne were finding it harder to control the game in the same way they did for the first ten minutes. The game was becoming much more of a midfield battle, although Bursledon should probably have taken the lead just before the half hour when former Stoneham player Nicola Curtis was played in on the left. Her cross-cum-shot dropped to the feet of Zoe Bache. However, the ball seemed to get caught under feet a little and although she managed to prod the ball goalward Barnes was able to get across her goal and smother the attempt.
As we approached half-time Trim again found some space, this time running onto a ball towards the right flank. Immediately looking for an opening, she checked inside onto her left foot, found a gap and shot low towards the neat post, only for Kibell to get down well to push the ball away for a corner. That was cleared and the final goalmouth action of the half came at the opposite end when the diminutive Curtis once more found some space on the left, beyond the last defender. Her low cross could have caused a problem, but Barnes was alert, smothering the ball at the near post.
HT Bursledon 0 Wimborne Town 0. Wimborne had the better of the opening encounters but Bursledon, arguably, had the best chance to opening the scoring. The midfield battle was a key contest with Kirby Anderson for Bursledon and Wimborne captain Emily Trim looking to be the driving forces behind their respective teams.
In fact it was Trim who got the first strike on target, although her fourth minute effort was easily collected by Jade Kibell. A few minutes later it was Georgia Reeks who tried her luck but her effort went wide of the target. The just before the quarter hour, Ellie Chaffe let rip from 25 yards out, only to see her thunderous effort fizz past Kibell's left-hand post.
Bursledon had not troubled the visitors at all until the 16th minute when, following a swift break, Zoe Bache got a shot on target that was comfortably saved by Tegan Barnes. It was better from the home side though, and midway through the half they came even closer. Issy Pouncy's delightful through ball found Emma Holmes , but her effort went into the side-netting.
Now that Bursledon had tightened up in midfield, Wimborne were finding it harder to control the game in the same way they did for the first ten minutes. The game was becoming much more of a midfield battle, although Bursledon should probably have taken the lead just before the half hour when former Stoneham player Nicola Curtis was played in on the left. Her cross-cum-shot dropped to the feet of Zoe Bache. However, the ball seemed to get caught under feet a little and although she managed to prod the ball goalward Barnes was able to get across her goal and smother the attempt.
As we approached half-time Trim again found some space, this time running onto a ball towards the right flank. Immediately looking for an opening, she checked inside onto her left foot, found a gap and shot low towards the neat post, only for Kibell to get down well to push the ball away for a corner. That was cleared and the final goalmouth action of the half came at the opposite end when the diminutive Curtis once more found some space on the left, beyond the last defender. Her low cross could have caused a problem, but Barnes was alert, smothering the ball at the near post.
HT Bursledon 0 Wimborne Town 0. Wimborne had the better of the opening encounters but Bursledon, arguably, had the best chance to opening the scoring. The midfield battle was a key contest with Kirby Anderson for Bursledon and Wimborne captain Emily Trim looking to be the driving forces behind their respective teams.
Wimborne looking for a second Emily Trim started the second half in much the same vein as she end the first, on the offensive. Her low effort, three minutes in, was saved well by Kibell, and maybe that stirred the home side because, six minutes into the half, they took the lead. Zoe Bache flicked the ball over her marker just inside the visitor's penalty area, then tried to follow the ball between the defence. Barnes began to come off her line but, as defence and goalkeeper hesitated slightly, Bache was alive to the opportunity, nipping between them to fire low into the net. 1-0
The goal set off a series of tit-for-tat encounters. Sheree Bell-Jack was first to show, bringing a good save out of Kibell before Zoe Bache was sent through on the left at the other end. Her drive produced an equally good stop from Tegan Barnes. A minute later Barnes was sent clear again, running onto a long ball that dissected the visitor's defence. Her low drive beat Barnes this time, but flashed narrowly wide of the post. Almost immediately, Sadie West found space on the Wimborne right, sending in a low cross toward the front post that evaded the touch of Bell-Jack by a whisper.
That was on the hour mark. Just three minutes later Wimborne had another opportunity when Ellie Chaffe burst through from deep, outrunning the defence but then seeing her goal bound effort blocked by Kibell. Another good stop from the home keeper.
With 20 minutes remaining, a rarity. Rachel Richards, signed from Southampton in the Summer, made probably her first mistake of the day, which let in Chaffe for a run on goal. However, the defenders blushes were spared when Kibell produced yet another good block, this time with her feet.
The home goalkeeper, however, was completely helpless five minutes later when Chaffe unleashed a powerful drive from the right-hand edge of the box. The ball flew past the keeper but smashed off the far upright and bounced to safety.
Unlucky for Town but they only had to wait a further four minutes before they grabbed a deserved equaliser. When a free-kick was only half cleared by the home defence, the ball was fed back to Ellie Chaffe, just inside the box on the right-hand side, and she struck the ball first-time, low under the departing dive of Kibell. 1-1
For a brief few minutes it looked as if the visitors might go on to win the game. They came close gain with 8 minutes left when Chaffe turned provider, feeding Abigail Buck for a run on goal. However, the Magpie didn't quite have the legs to get clear of the defence and the chance was lost. At the other end, substitute Sam Gamble tried her luck from way out, the ball taking a nasty hop just in front of Barnes, who did very well to keep her eye on the ball and make the save.
FT Bursledon 1 (Bache 51) Wimborne Town 1 (Chaffe 79). A day for the goalkeepers union. Both stoppers, Jade Kibell for Bursledon and Tegan Barnes for Wimborne, made a series of very good stops. Without their saves at key stages, the game could have ended very differently.
The result leaves the teams level on points, two. However, Bursledon have played one game fewer. Next weekend Bursledon are at home again as they take on Longham in the FA Cup. Wimborne are on the road again as they face Bournemouth Sports Reserves in the second Dorset-derby league meeting of the season, looking for revenge for defeat at home.
Bursledon: 1.Kibell, 2.Floyd, 3.Curtis, 4.Dennis, 6.Rahman, 7.Norman-Tasker(c), 8.Anderson, 9.Pouncy, 10.Holmes, 17.Richards. Subs: 5.Gamble, 13.Styler, 15.Payne, 14.Baker, 31.Berriman
Wimborne Town: 1.T.Barnes, 37.Adams, 23.Nieman, 12.L.Barnes, 17.Short, 16.Reeks, 7.Trim(c), 10.Chaffe, 3.Buck, 2.West, 18.Bell-Jack. Subs: 27.Boyle, 6.Wollington, 15.Hammond, 5.Hayter
The goal set off a series of tit-for-tat encounters. Sheree Bell-Jack was first to show, bringing a good save out of Kibell before Zoe Bache was sent through on the left at the other end. Her drive produced an equally good stop from Tegan Barnes. A minute later Barnes was sent clear again, running onto a long ball that dissected the visitor's defence. Her low drive beat Barnes this time, but flashed narrowly wide of the post. Almost immediately, Sadie West found space on the Wimborne right, sending in a low cross toward the front post that evaded the touch of Bell-Jack by a whisper.
That was on the hour mark. Just three minutes later Wimborne had another opportunity when Ellie Chaffe burst through from deep, outrunning the defence but then seeing her goal bound effort blocked by Kibell. Another good stop from the home keeper.
With 20 minutes remaining, a rarity. Rachel Richards, signed from Southampton in the Summer, made probably her first mistake of the day, which let in Chaffe for a run on goal. However, the defenders blushes were spared when Kibell produced yet another good block, this time with her feet.
The home goalkeeper, however, was completely helpless five minutes later when Chaffe unleashed a powerful drive from the right-hand edge of the box. The ball flew past the keeper but smashed off the far upright and bounced to safety.
Unlucky for Town but they only had to wait a further four minutes before they grabbed a deserved equaliser. When a free-kick was only half cleared by the home defence, the ball was fed back to Ellie Chaffe, just inside the box on the right-hand side, and she struck the ball first-time, low under the departing dive of Kibell. 1-1
For a brief few minutes it looked as if the visitors might go on to win the game. They came close gain with 8 minutes left when Chaffe turned provider, feeding Abigail Buck for a run on goal. However, the Magpie didn't quite have the legs to get clear of the defence and the chance was lost. At the other end, substitute Sam Gamble tried her luck from way out, the ball taking a nasty hop just in front of Barnes, who did very well to keep her eye on the ball and make the save.
FT Bursledon 1 (Bache 51) Wimborne Town 1 (Chaffe 79). A day for the goalkeepers union. Both stoppers, Jade Kibell for Bursledon and Tegan Barnes for Wimborne, made a series of very good stops. Without their saves at key stages, the game could have ended very differently.
The result leaves the teams level on points, two. However, Bursledon have played one game fewer. Next weekend Bursledon are at home again as they take on Longham in the FA Cup. Wimborne are on the road again as they face Bournemouth Sports Reserves in the second Dorset-derby league meeting of the season, looking for revenge for defeat at home.
Bursledon: 1.Kibell, 2.Floyd, 3.Curtis, 4.Dennis, 6.Rahman, 7.Norman-Tasker(c), 8.Anderson, 9.Pouncy, 10.Holmes, 17.Richards. Subs: 5.Gamble, 13.Styler, 15.Payne, 14.Baker, 31.Berriman
Wimborne Town: 1.T.Barnes, 37.Adams, 23.Nieman, 12.L.Barnes, 17.Short, 16.Reeks, 7.Trim(c), 10.Chaffe, 3.Buck, 2.West, 18.Bell-Jack. Subs: 27.Boyle, 6.Wollington, 15.Hammond, 5.Hayter
The Ground
Bursledon have made their home at Toynbee School in Chandler's Ford, just North of Eastleigh. The school has a number of facilities that are used by local sports teams, including AFC Stoneham, who had a junior boy's game on an adjacent pitch. Bursledon play on the artificial surface which is completely enclosed by a cage. There's not too much to say about it apart from, it's a standard artificial pitch setup. There are no stands or dugouts. However, behind the school end goal is the Toynbee School Pavilion, which offers cover from the elements along with tables and chairs.
There's plenty of parking around the school. If you follow it around to the left as you enter, you can get quite near to the pitches.
The only down side to playing at this ground is that Bursledon are the best part of 10 miles away from their home on the banks of the River Hamble and, consequently, 10 miles from local legends such as this (found on Wiki) - According to local legend, the old Victorian bridge over the railway line on Coal Park Lane is haunted by the ghost of Polly Crook whose love of distilled apple cider and clay pipe caused her to accidentally ignite herself on this spot.
I wonder if Sarisbury Sparks FC, who play just off Coal Park Lane, ever have any ghostly sightings?
Ground Number: 417
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Bursledon have made their home at Toynbee School in Chandler's Ford, just North of Eastleigh. The school has a number of facilities that are used by local sports teams, including AFC Stoneham, who had a junior boy's game on an adjacent pitch. Bursledon play on the artificial surface which is completely enclosed by a cage. There's not too much to say about it apart from, it's a standard artificial pitch setup. There are no stands or dugouts. However, behind the school end goal is the Toynbee School Pavilion, which offers cover from the elements along with tables and chairs.
There's plenty of parking around the school. If you follow it around to the left as you enter, you can get quite near to the pitches.
The only down side to playing at this ground is that Bursledon are the best part of 10 miles away from their home on the banks of the River Hamble and, consequently, 10 miles from local legends such as this (found on Wiki) - According to local legend, the old Victorian bridge over the railway line on Coal Park Lane is haunted by the ghost of Polly Crook whose love of distilled apple cider and clay pipe caused her to accidentally ignite herself on this spot.
I wonder if Sarisbury Sparks FC, who play just off Coal Park Lane, ever have any ghostly sightings?
Ground Number: 417
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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