Lowestoft Town 2 v 1 Wealdstone

Saturday 28th January 2012
Isthmian League Premier Division
Crown Meadow, Lowestoft
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 855
Match Rating: 3

Bargain train tickets again from National Express East Anglia prompted me to venture to the most easterly senior football club - and town - in the United Kingdom today. It would also be an opportunity to visit a club that has intrigued me in recent seasons, attracting extremely impressive attendances despite only very recently rising from County League level.

The Crown Meadow ground is located less than ten minutes walk north from Lowestoft train station and very close to the town centre. In truth, it is quite a charmless and dreary ground, but it does the job for the level of football. As one enters the ground in one corner, the clubhouse is to the left behind one of the goals, and as one continues along the touchline, there is a covered terrace area, an old-fashioned all-seater stand straddling the half way line, and a modern brick building housing the changing rooms and tea bar. Behind the far goal is a small shelter, and around the rest of the ground is just hard standing, with a background of housing all around. The programme was reasonable, fairly typical fare for the level - some interesting material but heavy with advertising.

Lowestoft look in a great position to push on and go one better this season, having only missed out on promotion to the Conference South last season when they lost in the play-off final to Tonbridge Angels 3-4, having led 3-1. They were in third place going into today's game, just two points behind the leaders Billericay but with three games in hand - they have two games in hand on second placed Hornchurch, on the same number of points. Their recent form in the league has not been too good, losing two of their last three games, although before that they were in electric form, winning their eight and drawing the other of their previous nine games. Wealdstone are stuck firmly in mid table, in eleventh place but will still have hope of reaching the play-offs, being seven points adrift of fifth placed Cray Wanderers but with two games in hand. They too have been in good recent form, unbeaten in their last nine league games and fifteen games in all competitions, but have drawn their last three games 1-1. A goalless draw was played out when Lowestoft travelled to Wealdstone earlier in the season.

On a dry, intermittently sunny afternoon, it was Lowestoft who looked the brighter in the early stages as they did all of the attacking, but completely against the run of play, it was the visitors who took the lead on 22 minutes when Britt Assombalonga, on loan from Watford, sprang the offside trap, ran from the touchline close to the halfway line unopposed, before beating the keeper. This unsurprisingly inspired Wealdstone to get more into the game, with both sides having reasonable chances to score during the remainder of the half, but going into the break it was the visitors who retained their slender lead.

It did not take Lowestoft long to get back on level terms though, when a defender's clearance was charged down, with the ball running free to Chris Henderson, who took his time to place a beautiful shot into the top corner from just outside the penalty area. Lowestoft then went on to dominate proceedings and on the hour mark, they were awarded a penalty when Lubomir Guentchev was bundled over close to the edge of the box. Joe Francis powered home the penalty just out of the reach of the keeper to his right. It was Lowestoft who looked far more the likely to add to the scoring for the rest of the game, although deep into injury time, it was Wealdstone who came agonisingly close to snatching an equaliser, when a 25 yard free kick was fumbled by the keeper, but he somehow managed to smother a powerful follow-up shot form a few yards out.

Tunbridge Wells 0 v 1 St Ives Town

Saturday 21st January 2012
FA Vase Fourth Round
Culverden Stadium, Tunbridge Wells
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 404
Match Rating: 3

A visit to a very familiar ground today, to witness what would be arguably the biggest occasion at the Culverden Stadium for a couple of decades, with Tunbridge Wells reaching the round of the FA Vase where the draw becomes national.

The Culverden Stadium has not changed at all since my previous reports, which can be viewed here. Unfortunately the state of the pitch has not changed either, resembling something of a ploughed field today, although it would be tough to criticise the club, who have invested much time and money in trying to get the pitch in better shape, but are still stuck with clay soil with poor drainage. Much effort was also put into making today's match run smoothly - and maximise revenue - with the anticipated large crowd with a hog roast, club shop and an additional portakabin tea bar located behing the clubhouse.My comments on the programme are the same as on my last visit, a reasonable effort which did the job, but far overpriced at £1.50.

Today would be the the sixth time that Tunbridge Wells have reached the Fourth Round of the The FA Vase, but have never progressed beyond this stage, and had not even reached this stage since the 1992/93 season. They have had to negotiate five rounds to get this far. Their recent form overall has been good, apart from losing to local rivals Sevenoaks Town 2-3 in the Kent Senior Trophy last time out after conceding two very late goals. Before that, they were unbeaten in their previous nine games in all competitions and were in fifth place in the Kent League, with the runners-up spot very much in their sites still, with games in hand on all teams above them. St Ives Town, of the United Counties League, entered the FA Vase in the Second Qualifying Round - a privilege Tunbridge Wells will also enjoy next season having reached the Fourth Round - and have won away from home in both previous rounds. They have far better recent pedigree in the FA Vase than today's hosts, reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Vase in three consecutive seasons betwee 2008 and 2010. In the league, St Ives are in fourth place - similar to Tunbridge Wells, the title looks out of their reach, but the runners up is a distinct possibility. Their forward line certainly looked impressive, with Junior McDougald, formerly of Brighton and Hove Albion and Dagenham and Redbridge amongst other Football League clubs, alongside Conor Washington, scorer of 24 goals in 29 games this season.

A bumper crowd of over 400 packed into the Culverden, swelled by an estimated 150 from Cambridgeshire, and the occasion appeared to get to the home players in the opening quarter of an hour, as they misplaced passes and hurried their clearances. St Ives settled quickly, and played some impressive football on the awful pitch to carve open some reasonable chances. Tunbridge Wells then settled into the game after a couple of half chances and the remainder of the half was even, however as half time arrived, the scoreline remained goalless.

Playing towards a packed terrace behind the goal, Tunbridge Wells dominated much of the second half, as they carved out some fantastic chances and St Neots struggled to mount many attacks of their own. Extra time was looking an inevitability until eight minutes from time, when out of nothing, the visitors opened the scoring when Jamie Alsop did well to work some space for a cross, which was glanced on by a Tunbridge Wells defender over the keeper, and Stuart Cobb touched the ball home from a couple of yards.One sensed that blow would be fatal, and indeed St Ives were good at closing the game out, although Tunbridge Wells still had a couple of reasonable chances to force extra time. But in the end, it was the Cambridgeshire side who progressed to the next round, and Tunbridge Wells would have to reflect on being made to pay for failing to score whilst on top in the game.

St Leonards Social 2 v 1 Wadhurst United

Saturday 14th January 2012
East Sussex League Premier Division
Tilekiln 2, Hastings
Admission and Programme  N/A
Attendance: 7
Match Rating: 3

Today I had decided it was time to watch some real grass-roots football again, and so I headed down to the south coast of East Sussex, for a game in the intermediate East Sussex League Premier Division involving the champions of the last three seasons, St Leonards Social.

The Tilekiln Playing Fields is located three miles to the north west of Hastings town centre, with regular buses running from the train station to the nearby Tesco Extra supermarket, a five minute walk away. The council owned Tilekiln is home to several clubs in the East Sussex League and consists of three football pitches. As one enters the complex from the car park, there is a functional and unattractive building - seemingly built primarily to resist vandalism - housing the changing rooms, with two of the pitches side by side, although separated by a cricket square, stretching away from the changing rooms, with a third pitch set at right angles to and below the second pitch furthest away from the changing rooms. St Leonards Social's home pitch is the middle one, Tilekiln 2. There are no spectator facilities and the pitches are open with no perimeter railing or rope - unsurprisingly it is a rather uninteresting, characterless and bleak venue for football. On the positive side, having the three pitches in close proximity meant that one has a choice of games should one get boring - the few people on the complex appeared to do just that, wandering between the games - and the slightly staggered kick-off times today meant that I was able to watch a little of the action in one of the other games during half time in the game I was focusing on.

Having won the East Sussex League for the last three seasons, although St Leonards Social are currently second in the table this season, there is little prospect of making it four in a row this season, as they are twelve points behind Hollington United - who have won all eleven of their games this season - and have played a game more. Former Sussex County League club Wadhurst United are currently battling against relegation, down in ninth in the eleven team league, although they are comfortably ahead of the bottom two teams.When the two teams met back in November in the league in Wadhurst, the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

On a chilly, overcast afternoon, it was not long before the home side opened the scoring, when a fast break allowed a one on one with the keeper, and the forward dinked the ball over the keeper, leaving a tap in from a few yards out for Terry Smith. St Leonards looked the stronger and more assured side as Wadhurst struggled to get a foothold in the game, and it appeared inevitable that St Leonards would increase their lead, although on the half hour Wadhurst had a great chance, when good trickery and patience created space and an opening, but the eventual low shot was cleared off the line. Right on half time Wadhurst did equalise, when a free kick from about 20 yards out was drilled low and hard by Matt Smith, taking a deflection which wrong footed the keeper.

Wadhurst could consider themselves quite fortunate to go into the interval on level terms, although the second half was much more even from the start, and Wadhurst had a period of about twenty minutes midway through the second half when they were bar far the better side and it looked inevitable that they would take the lead. However, they could not capitalise on their superiority, and it appeared that they would have to settle for a point. It ended up worse than that though, as just three minutes from time, St Leonards went back into the lead when a low cross was tapped in from close range by 44 year old Keith Miles, formerly of Hastings United and Eastbourne Borough, amongst many other clubs. Wadhurst never really threated to grab another equaliser and so it was St Leonards who claimed all three points.

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Photos of Tilekiln 3 (Rock-a-Nore 5 v 1 Old Town Athletic, East Sussex League Premier Division

Photo of Tilekiln 1 - Peche Hill Select II 3 v 7 Battle Rangers, East Sussex League Division 3

Reading 0 v 1 Stevenage

Saturday 7th January 2012
FA Cup Third Round
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Admission: £12.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 11295
Match Rating: 2

It was a fairly late decision to take in the magic of the FA Cup on Third Round day today. The match, in truth, was not one to potentially set the pulses racing, with the favourites at home against a team in just one division below, however bargain ticket prices made watching league football teams at a stadium I had not previously visited for the price that Conference South teams charge made a visit to Berkshire sufficiently attractive.

The modestly named Madejski Stadium is located almost three miles south of Reading rail station, close to the M4, and many buses are available to ferry supporters. Set above a retail park, it is very well designed outside and inside, and certainly has more character and uniqueness than other recently built stadia, being easy on the eye and with excellent views and legroom. It has seating all around and is single tiered apart from the west stand, which is two tiered. A slight wave design to the roof and a gap between the top of the stand and the roof certainly enhances the look of the ground. The programme, which unusually was a full edition for a cup match, was typical glossy Football League fare, but it ranks as one of the better ones, with plenty of interesting articles to read, although match reports of every FA Cup match played by the club in the last two seasons, when they enjoyed runs to the Quarter Finals, was rather tiresome.

Today's match would be between sides in good from in the Football League. Before losing last time out at Cardiff on Monday, Reading won their previous four games, and had won six out of seven, which has propelled them up to fifth in the Championship, albeit eight points behind the top two. They also have excellent recent pedigree in the FA Cup, reaching the Quarter-Finals in the last two seasons, when they have claimed the scalps of Premier League Liverpool, Burnley, West Bromwich Albion, and Everton. Graham Westley, Stevenage's manager, is not everyone's cup of tea, least of all mine, but there is no denying he is doing a quite remarkable job at the Hertfordshire club, taking them from non league football to a play-off berth in League One, in sixth place. Their recent form has been very similar to Reading's - before losing at home to Leyton Orient last time out, they won their previous three games and were unbeaten in thirteen games. Reading and Stevenage were also drawn together in last season's competition, with Reading winning 2-1 thanks to a late goal at Broadhall Way in the fourth round.

On a bright, sunny afternoon, Reading were desperately disappointing throughout, as they appeared lethargic with precious little cohesion in their play, whilst Stevenage hustled and harried, made interceptions and always looked the stronger and more likely side to score. On 21 minutes they deservedly took the lead when Darius Charles took the ball just outside the area and unleashed a low drive into the corner beyond the reach of the keeper. The only surprise at half time was that Stevenage had not increased their lead, with Reading having just one sight of goal.

Reading improved slightly after the break and managed to create some half chances, although it wasn't until the final 25 minutes that Reading finally started to mount some sustained attacks on goals, but still they never managed to create any gilt-edged chances, and indeed, it was Stevenage who came closest to scoring ten minutes from time when a powerful low drive was just turned aside by Adam Federici in the Reading goal. However, it was Stevenage who deservedly progressed to the fourth round and gain revenge for last season's defeat to Reading. Reading were desperately disappointing on the day, very surprisingly given their recent good form and pedigree in the FA Cup, but now they can concentrate fully on pushing for promotion back to the Premier League..

Video highlights at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxxqJxSwqfk

Carshalton Athletic 2 v 3 Cray Wanderers

Monday 2nd January 2012

Isthmian League Premier Division

War Memorial Sports Ground, Carshalton

Admission: £10.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 208

Match Rating: 4

What was my first game of 2012 should actually have been my second, however after a day of heavy rain the previous day, I allowed myself to be swayed by the doom and gloom merchants on various forums to write off getting up early for a morning kick-off today. Frustrations were abound when most games survived the weather. So in the end I had to make do with the 3pm kick-off I had planned to take in anyway in south London.

The War Memorial Sports Ground is located just five minutes walk away from Carshalton rail station, and is quite an intriguing stadium. It certainly would not win any beauty contests, but it does have some unique character. The turnstiles are housed in modified portakabins, with similar buildings housing the tea bar, club shop and bar. Along one length of the pitch are further various small buildings, as well as an old fashioned all-seater stand, not in a particularly good state and about half of the seats are wooden, some of which have been removed. Along the other length is about a dozen steps of covered terracing. Behind one of the goals is a couple of terrace steps with basic cover, and behind the other goal is another basic corrugated iron structure covering the standing area immediately behind the goal. The programme was a very good effort, with an attractive, professional design and plenty of interesting information to read - even if much of it was out of date as the programme went to press before Christmas.

Coming into this game, Carshalton were stuck in mid table, in twelth place in the 22 team league, 10 points adrift of both the play-off and relegation positions. They are not in good recent form, picking up just one point from their last three games. Cray are having a better season, occupying sixth place, just one place and two points off a play-off position, although they lost both of their festive games at home 2-4, after winning their previous three games.

On a bright, sunny but cold day with barely a cloud in the sky, it was the visitors who took the lead with just six minutes on the clock when Tommy Whitnell fired home after a couple of shots had been saved. Cray completely dominated the opening half hour and there only really looked like being one winner, as Carshalton struggled to get any kind of foothold in the game. Gradually they did come into the game towards the end of the half, and they equalised with what was pretty much their first shot at goal, when Billy Crook nodded the ball forward in the penalty area and poked the ball home past the onrushing keeper.

1-1 was how it stood at half time, a relative travesty considering how dominant Cray had been, but in the second half, Carshalton were completely transformed, as they grabbed the initiative, and it was actually quite deserved when they went into the lead on 58 minutes, when Laurent Hamici made some room for himself before unleashing a lovely low curling shot from just outside the penalty area into the net. They looked ever more likely to hold out for an important win, until Cray equalised on 71 minutes with a clever free-kick by Whitnell when he fired into the top right hand corner. Eight minutes from time and Carshalton had the opportunity to retake the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a lunging tackle. The keeper, Sam Walker, clearly won the psychological battle as he “chatted” to the penalty taker and stood by the penalty spot for ages before retreating to his line, and the penalty was struck poorly by Hamici and was comfortably saved. Almost immediately, Cray had a shot saved on the line, but Carshalton did pay the ultimate price for missing the penalty when Leigh Bremner scored after a free kick into the box was not dealt with. With the last kick of the game, the home side had a great chance to equalise, but a powerful shot was slammed just wide of the post. So a deserved three points for Cray, as they looked the better side throughout the game, although Carshalton, despite their poor first half performance, will feel unlucky not to have gotten anything from the game after a much improved performance after the break and a missed penalty.

Chesham United 2 v 0 Arlesey Town

Saturday 31st December 2011
Southern League Premier Division
The Meadow, Chesham
Admission: £9.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 375
Match Rating: 3

On my way home from Cheltenham, I decided to make a detour once I arrived in London Paddington for a one hour tube journey along the Metropolitan Line into Buckinghamshire for what would be my final game of 2011.

The Meadow is located about a 20 minute walk from Chesham London Underground station, through the very pleasant town centre en route, which is well worth spending some time in before a match.On entering the ground, it came as a very pleasant surprise, being a good old-fashioned non-league ground with some pleasant background as well. Along one length of the pitch are steep steps of terracing, to the back of which is a large clubhouse between the entrance in the corner and the small main all-seater stand, which straddles the half way line and set behind the terracing. Along the other length are further terrace steps, with basic cover sheltering the middle two thirds. Behind one of the goals is a modern metallic stand for standing room only, and behind the other goal is a small covered area, behind which is the pleasant backdrop of rolling tree lined hills very close by. The programme, printed on glossy paper and with 20 pages of meaningful, non advertising material, was a reasonable effort in informing readers of the background to the game today. Seen better, but seen much worse at this level.

Going into this game, Chesham United are again "there or thereabouts" in the play-off positions, in fifth place, after finishing one place outside of the play-offs in sixth place last season. Their recent form has not been good though, picking up just three points from three draws from their last five games. After being promted as Champions from the Central Division of the Southern League last season, life has been tougher for Arlesey Town this season, and they found themselves in 18th place in the 22 team league, and they also have not been in good form recently, picking up just a win and a draw from their last five games.

The game was surprisingly even during the opening half hour, with the visitors possibly shading possession and chances, however on 32 minutes it was the home side who took the lead, when a long looping cross from the left wing was headed back over the keeper and into the net by Simon Thomas despite the best efforts of a backtracking defender. Five minutes later and Chesham doubled their lead with a lovely goal, when Steve Wales ran onto a throughball, jinked past a couple of defenders before delicately dinking the ball over the onrushing keeper and into the net.

Arlesey could consider themselves fairly unlucky to be two goals in arrears at half time, but in the second half, they very rarely threatened to get back in the game. The game became a midfield battle with defences very much on top, which obviously suited Chesham, who had a couple of gilt edged chances to extend their lead further, but their two first half goals were sufficient to win the game and lift them up to second place in the table going into the new year, whilst Arlesey slip into the relegation places, in 19th place.