Wadham Lodge 1 v 1 Bishop's Stortford Swifts

Saturday 25th May 2013
Essex Olympian League Senior Division One
Wadham Lodge Stadium, Walthamstow
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 59 (head count)
Match Rating: 3

For what would certainly be my last league game of the season in England, I headed to east London today for a promotion decider in the second flight of the Essex Olympian League. It would represent an opportunity to visit a ground that used to host senior football, as well as to take one last look at the grand historic Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium, before it is imminently bulldozed to make way for just another bland housing estate.
 

Wadham Lodge Stadium is about a half hour walk from Walthamstow Central tube and train station, and a few minutes walk from Walthamstow Stadium, and is part of a large footballing complex consisting of a railed off full sized pitch which hosted another Essex Olympian League fixture today, Chingford Athletic v Toby in Division Three, and various other pitches and 5-a-side cages. The clubhouse is located in the middle of the complex, and one walks past it to get to the stadium. The stadium used to host Isthmian League football when Waltham Forest called it home until 2008 when they vacated to groundshare Ilford's Cricklefield Stadium. It is therefore no surprise that facilities here are far in excess of what one usually encounters in the Essex Olympian League, but have been poorly maintained in recent years. Turnstiles are still in position together with the snack bar, although both are boarded up, and floodlights are still in position. One enters in one corner of the ground and along the length of the pitch from the entrance is an all seater stand straddling the half way line. Behind both goals are several covered terrace steps, whilst along the remaining length, which has become rather overgrown, is hard standing, with some uncovered terrace steps between the two dugouts. Wadham Lodge do not issue programmes currently.

 

 

 A week ago, it seemed certain that this match, on the final day of the Essex Olympian League season, would decide which of these two teams would claim the title. With a game in hand and three points behind today's visitors, division leaders Bishop's Stortford Swifts, all Wadham Lodge needed to do in midweek was take a point away from a visit to bottom of the table Benfleet to make today's game a one-off shoot out for the title. However almost inexplicably, Wadham Lodge lost that game and with it any realistic chance of claiming the title, as they had a vastly inferior goal difference to Bishop's Stortford Swifts, who would win the title by avoiding defeat today by more than seven goals. However, Wadham Lodge still had plenty to play for today, as a point would be sufficient to move ahead of Newbury Forest, who they are level on points with but had already completed their fixtures, and claim the second and final promotion place. Wadham Lodge's midweek defeat was their first since mid January, spanning ten games. Bishop's Stortford Swifts also had a surprising defeat last time out, 1-2 at home to relegation threatened Ongar Town, but had won their previous three games. As well as winning today's reverse league fixture 2-1, Bishop's Stortford Swifts also triumphed 5-2 at home to Wadham Lodge in the cup in March.
 

On a mainly sunny and warmer afternoon than of late, the home team got off to just the start they needed when they took the lead on 8 minutes, when a corner was headed in emphatically from close range by Aaron Henry. The rest of the first half saw Wadham Lodge in the ascendancy, creating numerous chances as Swifts looked rather off the pace, perhaps unsurprisingly with not much now riding on the result today, although they did still create the odd half chance.
 

The visitors did look an improved team in the second, but still it was really the home side that had the best chances to score. On 75 minutes though, the promotion picture was suddenly very much back in the balance when Swifts scored an equaliser. The ball was crossed from the right by Gavin Cockman and the header by Xavier Doku seemed at first to be rather aimless as it looped high into the air, but eventually the ball went under the bar and into the net. There were a few edge of the seat moments when Swifts attacked Wadham Lodge's goal, knowing that one more goal for Swifts would mean Wadham Lodge would miss out on promotion. Wadham Lodge almost went back into the lead when a free kick hit the crossbar with the keeper nowhere near it, but in the end the game finished as a draw and with everyone happy as the winner and runner up medals were handed out to the players on the pitch soon after the final whistle.

Brighton and Hove Albion 4 v 0 Bognor Regis Town

Saturday 18^th May 2013

Sussex Senior Cup Final

Brighton Community Stadium, Falmer

Admission: £10.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 2435

Match Rating: 3

With games becoming increasingly thin on the ground, I had planned to take in a Middlesex County League game today, however a few days before I decided that I would rather stay more local and chose to book tickets for the Sussex Senior Cup Final at Brighton and Hove Albion’s home stadium in Falmer, even though this would mean a revisit for me.

Unsurprisingly, not much has changed with the stadium since I visited last season, although the corners have now sensibly been filled with seating, and for today’s match, only the West Lower stand was open. I also noticed this time a nice touch outside the ground, a small memorial garden paying respects to players and supporters who passed away during the two World Wars. The programme was surprisingly very good, a 40 page publication in full colour with an abundance of information about both teams, this season’s competition as well as the history of the competition, and other readable articles, all for a very reasonable price.

Today’s match would be between the Development team of Brighton and Hove Albion and Bognor Regis Town first team, who finished in 14^th place in the 22 team Isthmian League Premier Division. So, a tough assignment for Bognor, up against young professionals, some of which have had first team experience, not to mention the fact that this would be Bognor’s first competitive game in three weeks since the end of their league season.  To reach today’s final, Brighton, who were looking for their fifth Sussex Senior Cup title in seven seasons and eleventh in total, had beaten Worthing 2-0 at home, Lancing 0-5 away, Three Bridges 2-0 at home and finally East Preston 3-2 away. Bognor Regis Town also have an excellent pedigree in this competition, having won the competition eight times, including five consecutive triumphs in the early eighties, although they have not lifted the Cup since 1987. Their route to today’s final saw them beat Selsey 0-5 away, Eastbourne United 3-4 away, an impressive 3-1 home victory against Conference South side Eastbourne Borough, and finally 2-1 at home to Hastings United.

On a dry and occasionally sunny afternoon, the occasion really seemed to get to the Bognor players, as they were completely outplayed in the opening half hour and then proceeded to gift the game to Brighton. On 12 minutes, Brighton deservedly took the lead when the ball was sprayed out to the left wing, and Torbjorn Adgestein dribbled the ball into the box before curling it low past the keeper and into the net. Completely against the run of play, Bognor were awarded a soft looking penalty on 29 minutes when Dan Kempson seemed to go down very easily under pressure, but Ollie Pearce placed his shot low wide of the left hand post. This actually seemed to inspire the Bognor players, roared on by their vociferous fans who were in the majority in the crowd, and Bognor had their best spell of the game up to half time and threatened on several occasions to equalise, but at half time, Brighton retained their narrow one goal lead.

Unfortunately for Bognor, their good work was unravelled within 20 seconds of the restart. Adgestein dispossessed a Bognor player at the edge of the centre circle then raced unopposed towards goal, before calming slotting the ball past the keeper for 2-0. This really seemed to deflate the Bognor players as their heads seemed to go down and the result was in no doubt from this point forward. On 52 minutes, another Bognor mistake resulted in a third goal for Brighton. One of their defenders was dispossessed rather too easily on the edge of the box and the ball was taken forward to the byline before being crossed by Adgestein low inside the six yard box and was tapped in by George Barker. On the hour mark, a suicidal backpass by a Bognor defender only just reached his keeper, whose clearance hit Adgestein and the ball rebounded towards goal but dropped just wide of the post. On 76 minutes, Brighton did score a fourth with a very well worked goal. The ball was sprayed out to the left wing for a Brighton player to gallop onto, outpacing the right back, taking the ball towards the byline before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area for Adgestein to take his time before placing the ball low past the keeper for his hat-trick. Brighton could and perhaps should have scored a couple more, but a bad defeat would have been unfortunate on the underdogs on their big day out. Whilst Bognor’s poor performance on the day might have been due in part to the long time since their league season ended, credit to the Sussex County FA for scheduling the final at the end of the season, on a Saturday when no other games were being players, and at a showpiece venue, and it was pleasing to see them rewarded with an excellent attendance far in excess of what one might expect these days for a county cup final.

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

Hollington United II 3 v 2 Mountfield United

East Sussex League Division One
Gibbons Field, Hollington
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 78 (head count)
Match Rating: 3

A 1.30 kick at my earlier game at Westfield meant that, following the trophy presentation, I headed southwards to Hollington, in the west side of Hastings, for a Championship decider in the second tier of the East Sussex League.

I had visited the Gibbons Field at the end of last season, when the planned game was called off and an inter club game was played instead. Today, the formidable metal windows covers were opened and a clubhouse with tea bar was available.

This was the last fixture in the East Sussex League Division One, and the mathematics were simple. Hollington United's second team needed to win today to become champions of the Division, but a draw or defeat would mean that Ore Athletic would claim the title, as they were one point above Hollington with a better goal difference. Hollington will not be promoted though, as their first team is in the division above. Mountfield went into this game in fourth place, and a win would give them a third place finish and probable promotion.

As I arrived during the half time interval, Hollington were well on the way to getting the win they needed, as they were 3-1 up. Hollington had gone 2-0 up inside the first ten minutes, Mountfield pulled a goal back before Hollington restored their two goal lead by half time. The second half was surprisingly even although Hollington did miss some excellent chances to further extend their lead. However, on 59 minutes, Mountfield were awarded a penalty when a shot was blocked with raised arms. The penalty was scored low down the centre by Peter Matthews to put the destination of the title back in doubt. Indeed the game was very much in the balance now and it wouldn't have been a shock had Mountfield scored an equaliser. Although Hollington were not playing well, they still had the best chances to score, most notably on 75 minutes when the keeper just managed to get fingertips onto a vicious shot from the edge of the box and the ball struck the crossbar before going over, and in the dying minutes, a powerful shot at the near post was somehow saved. But at the whistle it was job done, as the Hollington players broke into a chorus of “Championes, Championes”.

Westfield 0 v 2 Sidley United

Saturday 11th May 2013

Hastings Senior Cup Final

Parish Field, Westfield

Admission by Programme: £5.00

Attendance: 170

Match Rating: 2

With most senior leagues having now completed their seasons, the choice in fixtures is now severely depleted. After most of the week planning to take in a visit to AFC Stoneham in the Hampshire County League, feeling under the weather with a sore throat meant that I wanted to stay local today. Although a trip to the Parish Field would be a revisit for me, the game was attractive enough with silverware at stake, and also it is may also prove that I would watch Sidley United's last ever match as a senior club.

The Parish Field is located adjacent to the A28 road from Hastings to Ashford, just north of Westfield village and about four miles north of Hastings. It's a very basic venue for a senior football, with no floodlights present, and one that would not be accepted back into senior football were they to be relegated. However it's a charming throwback to how County League grounds used to be. The main entrance is in one corner of the ground, one cannot walk behind the goal, and along this length, towards the other corner is the clubhouse and tea bar, now housed in dark green portakabins which are obviously rather cramped inside. These temporary structures replaced the previous clubhouse which was burnt to the ground in 2009 that threatened the club's existence. Strangely, as most spectators line this length, there is no hard standing apart from in front of the clubhouse, where there is also overhang providing cover. Behind the other goal is a narrow gravel path not really suitable for lingering on, whilst the remaining length has hard standing. Trees lining the ground, with rolling hills in the background, give a nice rural feel. Admission todaywas by programme, which was a very basic four page publication contains welcome message, league tables and likely team line-ups.

Today's final had an intriguing look to it, with Westfield at home playing against a team from a division above. Westfield finished their season in the Sussex County League Division Two in excellent form to finish in a comfortable fifth place. Sidley United were in grave danger of relegation from Division One of the Sussex County League, but good end of season form saw them finish sixteenth of the 22 clubs. In the last couple of weeks, Sidley's very existence was suddenly placed in grave danger, when the parent club, the Sidley Sports and Social Club, went bust, and no-one quite knows that the future holds for the football club. Only four clubs entered this competition this year, and in the semi finals, Westfield won 0-3 at Little Common back in March, whilst Sidley won 5-1 against Bexhill United on Tuesday in a match played at Westfield.

On a mainly sunny but blustery afternoon, and on a bobbly pitch that has a slightly slant towards the clubhouse length, the first half was rather scrappy low on entertainment, but both sides had their chances, most notably to Westfield when a header from a free kick glanced the post.

Seven minutes into the second half, it was Sidley who took the lead with a scrappy goal. The ball was pumped long into the box, the Westfield defenders couldn't clear the ball and eventually Kenny Pogue, who had scored a hat-trick in Tuesday's semi-Final win, hit a low first time shot into the goal. Westfield were still very much in the game, until it was effectively killed off on 71 minutes, when Gregg Berry, who had only been introduced as a substitute a few minutes earlier, drove the ball in along the byline from the left, but appeared to have overrun the ball. However the keeper couldn't claim the ball, which spilled away allowing Berry to tap it into three unguarded net. Westfield still battled gamely and had further chances to score but it was not to be and Sidley lifted the cup for the third time in four years, in a ceremony which took place on the pitch after the final whistle.

This would indeed prove to be Sidley's last competitive game before a one year sabbatical, an inevitable move after the loss of their Gullivers home ground and lack of co-operation from Bexhill United to allow Sidley to play there despite the local council approving the move. Hopefully, Sidley United will play again in the East Sussex League during season 2014/15