Bexhill United 1 v 2 Eastbourne United Association

Tuesday 26th February 2013
Sussex County League Division Two
The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea
Admission: £4.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 44
Match Rating:3

Fancying a midweek game in relatively clement weather conditions compared to recent weeks I headed to the south-coast for a Sussex League Division Two game Although I had visited the venue previously, that was before the recent addition of floodlights to the ground.

The Polegrove is located close to the west of Bexhill town centre, and is located about a five minute walk from Collington train station - which is visible from the ground. Located very close to the seafront, there is little protection from cold winds blowing across the ground. The ground is as spacious as one would expect with it being shared with the cricket club, which is also why all of the facilities and the only stretch of hard standing are along one length of the pitch. From the corner that one enters the ground, there is a functional but not particularly attractive or inviting clubhouse. Straddling the half way line is by far the most attractive aspect of the ground, a large mock Tudor wooden grandstand painted in black and white which dates back to 1929. Excellent views are available from inside the stand. The other three sides of the ground are accessible to spectators, albeit with grass standing. The programme was attractively laid out, on glossy paper but in black and white and is certainly - as is usually the case at this level - overpriced at £1.

This evening's game would be something of a local derby between two clubs from neighbouring towns who are in the top half of the table. Bexhill United had an excellent start to the season. They were unbeaten in their first twelve league and cup games, and were unbeaten in the league until December spanning twelve games. Twelve points from their following ten games has meant they have slipped back into midtable, in seventh place, and seven points shy of third place - officially sufficient for promotion until ground gradings complicate matters. Eastbourne United Association were up in third place going into this game and have had a curious neat pattern of win-lose-win-lose over their last ten games, culminating in a very disappointing 0-4 defeat at mid table Steyning Town. When the two sides met in Eastbourne back in August, the match finished 2-2.

On a dry evening that felt colder than it might have done thanks to a keen wind coming off the sea, the game had an electric start when Bexhill's Jordan Woodley hit a speculative shot from fully 40yards and although the keeper got hands to the shot the ball looped up and into the net. The home side didn't push on from there, and Eastbourne United equalised on 12 minutes, when the ball was crossed from wide and headed in from close range by Jamie Bunn. Things got better for the visitors just three minutes later, when an excellently judge low diagonal ball played between defender and keeper caused confusion and Nick Barden poked the ball home. Although Eastbourne were marginally the better side in the first half, it was Bexhill who had by far the best chances to score, having two shots cleared off the line in quite succession midway through the first half, and then having a goal disallowed for offside. It was something of a surprise therefore that there was no further score in the final half hour of the first half.

The second half followed a very similar pattern to the first. Clear goalscoring opportunities were thinner on the ground, although on the hour mark Bexhill's Will Dunstall hit the ball wide from 6 yards out, and towards the end of the game, Eastbourne had a shot hit the post and a header went narrowly over the bar from close range. As the second half wore on, there was an increasingly ugly feel to the game, with the officials not clamping down on blatant and loud dissent, and the bad tempers finally exploded as the game entered added on time. After a free kick was bizarrely given Bexhill's way, the linesman seemed to want to correct the error for flagging just as bizarrely for offside shortly before Bexhill put the ball in the net. Aggressive swearing and gesticulating ensued, with Bexhill's Steve Morris being sent off as the worst culprit and he did himself no credit at all when he approached the linesman who had flagged offside and screamed obscenities in his face.A member of the Bexhill management team was also dismissed for racing down the touchline screaming obscenities too. After several minutes of ugly scenes when most of the Bexhill players completely lost their composure, the game resumed and Eastbourne held on for an important three points. So a very unsavoury and disappointing end to what previously had been a most entertaining game of football.

Shortly after this game, I returned to take some photos of the Polegrove in daylight...

Charlton Athletic 0 v 2 Nottingham Forest

Saturday 23rd February 2013
Football League Championship
The Valley, London
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 18, 697
Match Rating: 2

Match report can be viewed here

Crowborough Athletic 1 v 2 Redhill

Tuesday 19^th February 2013

Sussex County League Division One

Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Crowborough

Admission inc. Programme: £6.00

Attendance: 51

Match Rating: 2

After a day with (by recent standards) unusually mild and dry weather meaning that there was never any doubt or nervous website checks as to whether a game would be on this evening, I made the short trip once more to the Alderbrook, for a relatively local derby against one of the teams based outside of Sussex in the Sussex County League.

Whereas Crowborough have been characteristically inconsistent in recent times, Redhill have been in great form, unbeaten in their last five games since early December. This evening would be the first game between the two sides, although when the two sides last met at the Alderbrook last March, Redhill came away with a convincing 7-1 victory.

On a relatively mild evening, Redhill soon seemed to have better of the proceedings early on, and deservedly took the lead on 10 minutes, when Tyrone Pink scored with a good goal. On 28 minutes, Crowborough were surprisingly back on level terms, when Elliott Ward headed in from a corner. The rest of the half was fairly even, although Crowborough would probably be happier with the scores to be level at half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, although both sides had fair chances to take the lead, before Redhill did on 62 minutes, when Niall Egan finished emphatically after being set up by Josh Bonnett. That seemed to really set back Crowborough back, and the game became a very tepid, dull affair. Towards the end, Redhill pushed forward for a third goal, and this made the game slightly more interesting as it gave Crowborough a sniff of a chance to get back on level terms once more. But in the end, Redhill held out for a fairly comfortable, and certainly deserved away victory, whilst Crowborough would have quickly have an opportunity to make up for this defeat, as the play Horsham YMCA in a cup game on Thursday.

Canvey Island 0 v 3 Hendon

Saturday 16^th February 2013

Isthmian League Premier Division

Park Lane, Canvey Island

Admission: £10.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 321

Match Rating: 3

After weeks of either following Charlton or being hindered by extreme weather, my first new ground visit of 2013 was not decided until lunchtime on the day. I headed through the Dartford Tunnel with the intention of paying a visit to Thurrock, however whilst wandering around the neighbouring Lakeside Shopping Centre, I remembered that their game against Carshalton Athletic would be between the bottom two teams in the Isthmian League Premier Division and so may not have been a particularly attractive game to watch. Therefore, I changed my plans and headed a further 20 miles east along the A13, for a match between two of the in-form teams in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Canvey Island Football Club is very conveniently signposted all the way from the approach road onto the island, and car really is the best option to get to Canvey Island – the nearest train station is several miles away in Benfleet, from where a bus journey is necessary. The ground is situated on the eastern side of Canvey Island, very close to the Thames Estuary – in fact, the ground is positioned below sea level and behind one goalmouth one sees freighters sail along at regular intervals, with the north Kent coast also clearly visible. Whilst Park Lane is not a ground that exudes historic charm or character, it is a pleasant and fairly appealing arena, with a very neat and tidy feel to it and almost everything being painted in club colours of yellow and sky blue. Along one length of the pitch as one enters the ground is a tea bar, club shop and a long shallow all-seater stand, whilst along the other length are two small stands covering a few terrace steps. Behind one of the goals is possibly the best feature of the ground, a large steep uncovered terrace, whilst behind the other goal – the sea end - are just a couple of terrace steps, and is the one part of the ground that looks a little unsightly, with a small blue metal fence bordering the terrace. The 40 page programme was a colourful, attractive publication with plenty of interest to read particularly for the regular Canvey Island supporter.

Canvey Island came into this game on a great run of form, having won their last three games and five of their last six, and were in third place in the league, although nine points adrift of leaders Whitehawk. After a poor start to their season, Hendon have also been in very good form recently, having lost just once in their last eight league games, picking up 19 points out of the 24 available and were in twelfth place in the league. When the two teams met last month in the league, Canvey Island claimed a 2-1 away win.

On a mostly overcast but surprisingly mild afternoon, it was the home side who had the better of the opening exchanges, with plenty of possession in the final third without ever really looking like they would score. However, on 12 minutes, it was the visitors who opened the scoring with their first attack. The ball was played back in the area by Casey McLaren, and Dean Hacknell rifled the ball home. The rest of the first half was even, with Canvey Island just shading things but still rarely looking like they could get back on level terms.

One imagined that the home team would receive a rollicking from their manager Steve Tilson at half time and show more urgency in the second half, but apart from a brief bright period at the start of the second half, their play became increasingly worse, particularly after they conceded a second goal on 58 minutes, when they lost possession in midfield, and a fast drive towards goal ended with Junior Morais placing the ball powerfully into the corner beyond the keeper’s dive. Canvey Island really seemed to throw in the towel now, as their play became sloppy and aimless. On the stroke of full time, Hendon put some gloss on an excellent away performance when Belal Aite-Ouakrim strode forward before shooting emphatically low into the corner from the edge of the area. So, a scoreline that on paper would have been very surprising, but was a very good reflection on proceedings this afternoon, with Hendon producing a fabulous away performance and Canvey Island producing a surprisingly woeful one.

Crowborough Athletic 2 v 1 Hailsham Town

Tuesday 12th February 2013

Sussex County League Division One

Alderbook Recreation Ground, Crowborough

Admission inc. programme: £6.00

Attendance: 55

Match Rating: 3

After a frustrating few weeks when the poor weather – ranging from sub zero temperatures to excessive rain – claimed many local matches, I finally managed to get in my first County League game of 2013 this evening. Even this evening, many local matches were called off due to waterlogged pitches, however, happily the Alderbrook pitch does drain extremely well, and this game was never in serious danger.

A description of the ground can be found from my previous visit, and the programme, included with admission, appeared to be a shorter than usual edition of 8 pages, understandable considering the ongoing poor weather conditions putting games in doubt currently. But it contained all of the necessary up to date information, in Crowborough’s usual colourful and glossy format.

On paper, this evening’s encounter would be between two evenly matched sides, separated by one place in the league tables, with Crowborough in 14^th place, six points above 15^th placed Hailsham, although Hailsham had played three games fewer. When the two teams met in early October, Hailsham convincingly won 5-1, with striker Danny Leach scoring all five goals.

On a very cold but dry evening, it was Crowborough who had the better of the opening exchanges, although on 8 minutes, Hailsham had a powerful shot hit the crossbar. The rest of the half was entertaining, with Crowborough having several fantastic chances to open the scoring, but failed to do so and so the scoreline remained goalless at half time.

Eight minutes after the restart and the deadlock was broken, deservedly by the home side, as a high cross into the box was headed across goal and stabbed home by Paul Butler. Crowborough doubled their advantage just two minutes later, when Sam Carrington showed good composure and ball retention in dribbling the ball forward, around a couple of half-hearted challenges, before firing low past the keeper.  For the next half hour, Crowborough looked in no danger, as the game descended into a rather dull affair, with Hailsham not really looking like they could get back into the game. However, a couple of minutes from time and they suddenly were right back in it, when a tame shot was deflected high towards the far post, and Shane Saunders finished excellently on the half volley. Unsurprisingly, Hailsham looked a transformed team now, and looked quite likely to force an underserved equaliser, their best chance coming when they hit the post following a header from a free kick. But Crowborough held on for the three points to rise one place in the league standings, whereas Hailsham dropped one place.

Charlton Athletic 1 v 1 Birmingham City

Saturday 9th February 2013
Football League Championship
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Attendance: 17,269
Match Rating: 2

 

Match report can be found here

Crystal Palace 2 v 1 Charlton Athletic

Football League Championship
Selhurst Park, South Norwood
Admission: £32.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 17,945
Match Rating: 4

As a Charlton fan, a visit to Selhurst Park has never been an attractive proposition since the club played there in the late eighties, so much so that the only time I have watched a game there was back in 1995, when Wimbledon hosted Charlton in a League Cup tie. However, as my current partner comes from the Croydon area and wanted to visit Selhurst Park, I was sufficiently tempted to make a return visit.

Selhurst Park is located about a 15 minute walk from Norwood Junction train station (as well as from Selhurst and Thornton Heath stations), and the ground is a curious mixture of old and new. Some of the exterior to the ground is extremely old-fashioned, and as I entered the away end, into the Arthur Wait stand, it really was like going back in time, with the turnstiles and interior before entering the stand almost exactly how I remember it from the eighties, and the stand itself does not seem to have had much improvement either. Running along one length of the pitch, about half of the stand has wooden seats, the remainder plastic seats, and there are a couple of obstructing pillars to obscure one’s vision. If one were seated towards the rear of the stand, the low roof would also impede one’s view somewhat. Along the other length is a similarly archaic and single tiered stand. Behind both goals are much more modern stands, constructed in the nineties. Behind one of the goals is a fairly small seating capacity with only 17 rows, but with a couple of rows of corporate boxes above the seating and a Jumbotron scoreboard placed on the roof. Behind the other goal is the only two tiered stand, an impressive structure towering far above the other stands with steeply banked seating and an attractive curved roof to it. Apparently Crystal Palace’s programme was awarded “Championship Programme of the Season 2012/13”, and indeed it is a very impressive publication, consisting of 80 pages, a minimum of advertising, plenty of interest to read, including very copious information about the visitors.

Coming into this game, although Crystal Palace were in fifth place in the league, their recent form has been poor, having picked up just one point in their last three games and have won once and collected eight points from their last nine games. Charlton went into this game in twelfth place but in good recent form in the league, having won three games in a row before throwing away a goal lead to lose at home to Sheffield Wednesday last time out. Crystal Palace would be looking to complete the double over Charlton today, having already won at The Valley 0-1 back in September.

The match started off surprisingly with Charlton in the ascendancy, and should have taken the lead when Leon Cort glanced a header wide from close range. They did take the lead on 15 minutes, when Ricardo Fuller did well to bring down a ball from Chris Solly, before side stepping a defender and slotting home from a tight angle. Charlton had several chances to increase their lead before half time as Crystal Palace were surprisingly poor and struggled to push towards goal, but Charlton had to make do with a slender one goal lead. The support from the Charlton fans was loud and constant, in contrast the home fans were surprisingly silent throughout, save for some booing of their players at half time.

After half time entertainment from the cheerleaders of NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars – following on from the home club’s Crystal Girls cheerleaders before the match, the second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with Charlton in the ascendancy, and yet another golden chance for Charlton to increase their lead came when Fuller ‘s long range shot was excellently tipped over by the Palace keeper Speroni. One feared that Charlton would be made to pay for not scoring more than once, and so it proved. On 75 minutes, the ball found Glenn Murray, who turned in the box and had all the time and space in the world to place the ball past the keeper and into the net. The turnaround was complete just four minutes later, when the ball found its way to Murray wide of the goal, and he lashed the ball home. Finally the Crystal Palace fans woke up and found their voice, as the tide had turned, and it was only the home side who looked like scoring, as Charlton never looked like getting back on level terms and were left the painful experience of losing both league games to their bitter south London rivals this season, and for the second game in a row, Charlton ended up losing after taking the lead, and fell two places in the league to fourteenth. Crystal Palace stayed in fifth place, but have now built up an eight point gap to the seventh placed team immediately outside of the play-offs.