Eastbourne Borough 0 v 0 AFC Wimbledon

Saturday 28th July 2012
Pre-Season Friendly
Priory Lane, Eastbourne
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 601
Match rating: 3

Spending Saturday night in Eastbourne meant I would take in a friendly fixture that would otherwise not be particularly appealing. Not that paying a visit to Priory Lane would be entirely without attracion, with a team from the Football League playing at the home of a club of the Conference South - although the teams played each other recently in the Conference National Division. For me it would be a revisit to a ground I had not visited for several years, when it hosted the Four Nations non league tournament, and my previous visit to watch the local team was to watch Langney Sports, then of the Sussex League, at a much more basic ground that it has been upgraded to now.

Priory Lane is located about a 15 minute walk from Pevensey and Westham rail station, and is a ground that has little charm or character, but boasts very decent facilities for a Conference club. As one enters the ground behind the goal there is a cover stretching from corner to corner in front of the changing room building, with executive boxes and a directors lounge above the middle third area. Straddling the half way line on one side is the main all-seater stand, with a few steps of terracing between the stand and one of the corner flags. Around almost all of the rest of the ground is continuous cover a few steps of terracing, with a short area close to the entrance that is uncovered and also contains a basic electronic scoreboard. A very basic 14 page programme was produced for the reduced cost of £1.00, although it did contain all the basics and almost no advertising inside the outer shell.

On a sunny but very windy afternoon, the match started off in lively fashion, with AFC Wimbledon creating some half chances, most notably on 15 minutes when Brendan Kiernan saw his header come off the post with the keeper completely beaten. With half an hour gone, the home side were almost gifted a goal, when a Wimbledon defender and keeper got in a mix up but Toby Ajala could not gain control of the ball sufficiently to get a shot away.

The second half was a much more even affair, as Eastbourne managed to retain possession better.and had the better chances to score. There was an ever increasing feeling of inevitability of a goalless draw, and so it proved, although the game was one of the more entertaining goalless pre-season friendlies.

Hastings United 3 v 2 Brighton and Hove Albion

Saturday 21st July 2012
Pre-Season Friendly
Pilot Field, Hastings
Admission: £12.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 1254
Match rating: 4

A first venture to a pre-season friendly today, and after being tempted by some attractive long distance games, in the end I plumped for a local attractive game which would be a revisit of ground I have visited many times in the past on the south coast, which would see Brighton and Hove Albion send a first team squad along the coast to the home of Ryman Premier League outfit Hastings United.

The Pilot Field is located about a 40 minute walk from Hastings rail station, the option that most visitors appear to take, however an easier walk involving less hill climbing and about half the distance can be undertaken from Ore station. The ground is impressive for Ryman League level - good facilities with a traditional non-league feel, although a good atmosphere rarely seems to be generated here due to the open nature of the ground and spectators being some distance away from the pitch, separated by a gravel track. There is an old fashioned main stand straddling the half way line which offers the only seating in the stadium and a very good elevated view of the action, although with pylons slightly obstructing one's view. Behind the goal where one enters the ground are the tea bar, club shop, clubhouse and a stand. Behind the other goal is a small stand, whilst around all of the pitch is hard standing. Admission was rather steep for a pre-season friendly at £12.00, although a discount of £2.00 could have been obtained by purchasing tickets in advance, and Brighton were promising to send a first team squad for the game. Pleasingly, the programme was the equaivalent of what is produced for league games, and as I always remember, was a good read.

Brighton had promised to send a first team squad, and they were good to their word, with the former Vicente player and Spanish international Vicente the big names of the first half line-up, and Craig Mackail-Smith and Wayne Bridge probably only missing out due to injury.

On a warm and sunny afternoon...a very welcome relief after weeks of cool, wet weather - within a couple of seconds of the match starting I had a feeling of how the first half would pan out, as Brighton kicked off labouriously passing around with no energy, and indeed the first half was a typically dull affair. Brighton always looked the classier side unsurprisingly, although they rarely looked interested in mounting an attack towards goal. They did, however, have a shot from Ashley Barnes cleared off the line on 25 minutes.

Within four minutes of the restart, Brighton opened the scoring with a really scrappy goal, as Matt Sparrow broke into the area before being dispossesed. The ball couldn't be cleared until it was rolled into the path of youngster George Barker a few yards from goal, and he had the easy task of smashing the ball home. Six minutes later and Brighton doubled their advantage, when a young Frenchman from Le Havre on trial, Jeremy Balmy, waltzed into the area before curling a beautiful low shot just inside the far post. Having switched three of their players at half time, Brighton changed the rest of their team on the hour mark with youngsters and triallists, and this was to prove the turning point of the match. On 68 minutes Hastings scored  When a long looping corner was headed back across goal before being headed in by Josh Jirbandy off the post. On 82 minutes, Hastings levelled the scores with a quite wonderful goal, when Balo Camara  cut in from wide before firing in an upstoppable shot over Tomaz Kuszack in the Brighton goal and in off the post. Three minutes from time and Hastings scored what turned out to be the winner with perhaps an even better goal, when Zac Attwood worked space for himself just outside the box before rifling in a powerful shot which gave Kuszack no chance.

Delting 1 v 2 Lerwick Spurs

Saturday 14^th July 2012

Shetland FA Manson Cup Final

Gilbertson Park, Lerwick

Admission and Programme: N/A

Attendance : 100 (estimate)

Match Rating: 3

The final game during my stay on the Shetland Islands would be the biggest occasion, being a cup final staged in the “capital” of the Shetland Islands and hosted at the usual home ground for the infrequent matches played by the Shetland Islands representative side.

Gilbertson Park is situated about a ten minute walk, uphill for the most part, from central Lerwick and is an open park, with no spectator facilities nor dugouts and even the goals are only wheeled into position for when a game is about to be played. For today’s game, both touchlines were taped off. As I encountered at each ground visited during this week on the Shetland Islands, the ground has plenty of charm and interest about it. As one enters the park, there is a raised balcony which offers a very good vantage point to watch the game, with rugged hills present behind the opposite touchline, where modern building housing the changing rooms is present. A low stone wall around part of the ground also adds a pleasant charm.

A glance at the league table suggested that Lerwick Spurs would be hot favourites for this game based on league positions, sitting in second place with four wins from five games, whereas Delting have so far lost four of their five games. To reach the final, Delting won 3-0 away at Ness United in the Quarter-Final, before dispatching Scalloway 3-2 at home in the semi-final. Spurs had beaten both of the other Lerwick clubs to reach the final, beating Thistle 3-1 in the quarter-final and Celtic by the same score in the semi-final. When the two teams met in their first league game of the season, Spurs won 4-0, although in the group stage of the Madrid Cup, Delting triumphed 2-0. Lerwick Spurs have already won one cup competition this season, lifting (and retaining) the Madrid Cup last month.

Enjoying weather conditions that were comfortably the best for watching football during my week on the Shetland Islands, it was surprising how low key the atmosphere was in the early stages, with only a very small number of spectators present at kick off, although their number did swell to three figures as the game wore on. The match was a typically cagey cup final affair in the opening stages, although Lerwick Spurs became ever more dominant as the first half wore on and deservedly took the lead on the stroke of half time when their forward latched onto a slide rule pass forward and the shot was placed low past the onrushing keeper from the edge of the box.

Into the second half and there seemed to be only one winner, as Spurs completely dominated proceedings as Delting struggled to get into the attacking half. However, on 73 minutes, suddenly the match was all square. A debatable corner resulted in some ping-pong headers in the box, before the ball was headed powerfully towards goal and a covering defender could only hook the ball high into the roof of the net. As the game wore on, there was a feeling of inevitability that extra time would ensue, but ten minutes from time, Spurs went back in front, when the ball was passed across the penalty area before being clipped past the keeper at the far post. Delting never looked capable of scoring a second equalizer during the remainder of the match, and so it was Lerwick Spurs who deservedly lifted the cup, presented to their captain by the referee in typically understated fashion.

Scalloway 3 v 3 Lerwick Thistle

Friday 13th May 2012

Shetland League Premier Division

Fraser Park, Scalloway

Admission and Programme: N/A

Attendance: 35 (h-c)

Match rating: 4

Contradicting the tradition of things going wrong on Friday 13th, my third game during my stay on the Shetland Islands turned out to be the best so far, in terms of the ground facilities, match entertainment, and weather conditions.

Fraser Park, which is located very centrally within the village of Scalloway close to the seafront, was a very pleasant surprise, with much more of a traditional football ground feel to it compared to the caged plastic pitch I encountered at Whalsay, and the school playing field feel to the surroundings at Yell. The ground is semi enclosed thanks to stone walls around two of the sides, with housing closely lining the remaining two sides. Along one of the lengths are the changing rooms and a little hut for shelter, although this is placed right in the corner. A raised grass bank close to the pitch offers a good view of the action. Even better vantage points can be had at the top of a taller grass bank along the other length, with a children's play area and a couple of benches between the bank and the stone wall. Again, there is a very pleasant backdrop to the ground, with rolling hills visible and the sea just about, and as it is not possible to park cars by the pitch here, spectators were actually standing around the pitch this evening.

A glance at the league standings showed that this would be a battle between the two strugglers in the league. Scalloway were rock bottom going into this game, having picked up just one point from their opening five games. Lerwick Thistle were third bottom, although this is a rather false position as they have only played three games - fewer than every other team - were they to win all of their games in hand, they would rise from sixth to third. However, current league positions seem to be a reasonable reflection of their abilities, as last season they finished second bottom (Scalloway) and third bottom (Thistle).

Whereas on Monday, Scalloway looked extremely limited, tonight they were the stronger side from the start, and on 15 minutes, they took the lead when they were awarded a penalty for handball, which was dispatched low to the keeper's left despite the keeper going the right way. On 23 minutes, Scalloway had a 25 yard low free kick excellently saved by the keeper, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would extend their lead . On the half hour, a Thistle forward appeared to be racing through for a one-on-one opportunity, but was denied by an excellent last gasp tackle. This seemed to spur Thistle on as they came much more into the game during the remainder of the first half, but at the break it was Scalloway who retained their slender lead.

Five minutes after half time, and Thistle equalised with an absolute screamer, thumped acrobatically into the top corner from 25 yards out on the half volley. On 63 minutes, it was Thistle's turn to be denied by a last ditch tackle, but within a minute Thistle did take the lead, with a low powerful shot that was straight at the keeper, who inexplicably tried to stop the ball with his foot and failed. On 66 minutes, Scalloway hit the post with a header from a corner, and in the ensuing passage of play, were denied a penalty shout for an apparent trip, but were then immediately awarded a penalty for an ill judged lunge. This time, the penalty was converted into the bottom left corner, this time the keeper getting a hand to the ball but could not keep it out. With ten minutes left, Thistle went back into the lead, when they were awarded an indirect free kick deep inside the penalty area after the keeper picked up a back pass. The free kick was nudged to the left, and the ball was drilled low into the net. One had the feeling that that would be that, however deep into added on time at the end of the game, Scalloway were awarded a third penalty of the match, for a handball on the line, which saw the defender given a straight red card. Once again, the penalty was excellently converted, this time low into the bottom right corner, again the keeper went the right way but could not save it. And so that was that, a highly entertaining high scoring draw, which was a fair reflection on proceedings.

Yell 1 v 0 Delting B

Wednesday 11th May 2012

Shetland League Reserve Division

Mid Yell Leisure Centre, Mid Yell

Admission and Programme: N/A

Attendance: 20 (est)

Match rating: 3

For the second game during my stay on the Shetland Islands, all that was on offer this evening were games in the Reserve League. However, playing in that league and who were at home this evening were the first team of Yell, which fitted in very well after a day touring the northernmost island of Unst, with travelling across the island of Yell necessary to get back from Unst to my base in Lerwick on Mainland.

Yell play in the town of Mid Yell which, as the name suggests, is in the middle of the island and just off the main road between the two ferry ports north and south. As one drives down into the village, it becomes apparent that this is another very attractive setting for football. Behind one of the goals is wild sweeping grassy hills, and behind one length is the small village and sea. Behind the other length is the adjoining school and leisure centre. As seems to be usual on the Shetland Islands, there are no spectator facilities whatsoever here. The pitch is grass, and at first glance looked in excellent condition. However, on closer inspection, in several places there were large gouges in the surface which would surely cause unpredictable bounce.

A glance at the league table hinted at this being a game between two closely matched teams, both having accumulated ten points, although Yell have played a game more on nine. Yell won last time out, drew the game before, which followed a sequence of three straight defeats. They are certainly having a much better season this year, having finished rock bottom of the league with just five points from their 20 games last season, some eight points adrift. The reserve team of Delting have been rather inconsistent, gaining one point from their last two games, but recorded 5-0 and 6-0 wins - sandwiched by a draw - in their previous three games.

There was little sign that the game would be on as the clock ticked around to the scheduled kick off time of 6.45, with absolutely nobody present on or around the pitch. However, players slowly trickled towards the pitch, did some brief warming up, and the game kicked off at 7pm. On what was an increasingly cold and wet evening - more akin to what I would be used to in the winter months at home - the game was a competitive affair which was mildly entertaining whilst never really catching the imagination. On 15 minutes, it was the home side who took the lead, when a low corner was stabbed powerfully into his own net just inside the post by a Delting defender. The rest of the half passed with little in the way of goalmouth action.

So things continued in the second half, although on 54 minutes Delting had a shot cleared off the line. It wasn't until three minutes from time when another chance was fashioned, this time Yell having a good shot palmed away by the keeper, whilst deep in added on time at the end of the game, a Delting player struck a powerful dipping shot from 25 yards which went just wide, and the keeper would not have got to. So it was Yell who claimed the win, which they greeted with great cheers, and in all honesty, I was pretty happy to hear the final whistle too, as I hastily retreated to my car for warmth and dryness and headed south for the ferry back to the Mainland.

Whalsay 3 v 0 Scalloway

Monday 9th May 2012

Shetland FA Fraser Cup Semi Final

Harbison Park, Symbister

Admission and Programme: N/A

Attendance: 50 (est)

Match rating: 4

For the first game during my stay in the Shetland Islands - indeed, what would be my first game of the 2012-13 season, I headed over to the small island of Whalsay, which is reached by a half hour drive north from Lerwick to Laxo, followed by a half hour ferry crossing eastwards.

After a day of very enjoyable walking on the island, I headed back to the the village where the ferry docked, Symbister, for the game. Harbison Park is located high above the town, and as such has a glorious backdrop, with rugged rolling hills behind one touchline and the sea and some islands behind one of the goals. Such a setting also made for a bitterly cold evening for football here, with a very strong biting wind throughout the match. The pitch, which is of the artificial variety and is cage-like in that it has high fencing all around the pitch, is part of a leisure complex. Facilities are minimal, although a tall steep grass bank to the side where the leisure centre is offers good elevated views of the action. Parking is also available at the top of this bank, and most spectators take advantage of this with excellent views of the action from the comfort of their own vehicle, only a handful of persons braving the elements outside. It is also possible for spectators to enter the "cage", with a few benches available to sit on along one of the touchlines.

This evening's game would be a cup semi-final, with the home side very much the favourites. Whalsay won the Premier League last season and are well placed this season as well, in third place in the eight team league. Scalloway are one of the strugglers of the league - after finishing second bottom last season, they are rock bottom this season, with just one point from their opening five games. Both teams had comfortable looking results in the last round to reach this stage, both at home - Whalsay beating Delting 3-0, and Scalloway beating Ness United 3-1.

It was the visitors who had the best of the opening exchanges and created some reasonable chances, however it was the home side who went into the lead with ten minutes on the clock with a thumping drive from 25 yards which swirled in the wind giving the keeper no chance, and was greeted by multiple honks of car horns. It was certainly hard on Scalloway, but just before the half hour mark, they were two behind, when a high ball was pumped forward, the Scalloway defender inexplicably headed the ball on straight to the Whalsay striker, who then had a clear run on goal, and he showed good composure in the difficult windy conditions by placing the ball neatly past the keeper. There was a slightly controversial moment when Whalsay scored again, but the referee had blown for half time seconds before and so the goal was not given, and the scoreline remained 2-0 to the home side.

The second half was competitive but by now Whalsay were in total control of the game. Scalloway never gave up and battled gamely, but seemed painfully short of ideas going forward. On 70 minutes, they were nearly gifted a route back into the game, when the Whalsay keeper completely missed a cross, but fortunately for him a covering defender hacked the ball off the line. Three minutes later and it was game over though, as Whalsay strode forward, and when one of their players drew the keeper wide, he passed the ball to his team mate, who took his time before placing a shot past a defender and into the net. The rest of the match was played out without much incident, with Whalsay always looking far more likely to score than Scalloway, and they claimed their place in the final with the comfortable 3-0 scoreline. So an entertaining first fixture for me in the Shetland Islands, despite the bitterly cold and windy conditions, which seemed scarcely believable in July.