Camberley Town 4 v 0 Frimley Green

Saturday 27th November 2014
Combined Counties Premier League
Krooner Park, Camberley
Admission: £6.00
Programme: Sold Out
Attendance: 177
Match Rating: 4

With the majority of clubs below the Conference South moving their games originally scheduled for Boxing Day back a day to the Saturday, my options were reduced with torrential rain falling overnight. With major delays on the trains persuading me to drive to a game today, I actually changed my mind en route, from a game at Sussex League club Loxwood where I had previously visited, to one I had not visited before, at Camberley. Even driving proved problematic today though, as I joined a traffic gridlock on the M25. Despite eventually finding my way across country, I unfortunately still missed the kick-off for this game, arriving about ten minutes in.

Krooner Park is located about a mile south-west of Camberley town centre, passing through an industrial estate until one passes through red and white gates with the club's initials on them and into the car park, located behind one end of the ground. After entering through a brick turnstile building in a corner of the ground, the overall impression of Krooner Park was one of a ground that is rather tired, seen better days - but it is exactly that which gives the ground some nice character and variety. Along the length from the turnstile, one passes a tea bar hut, the clubhouse with some overhang providing cover and a fair amount of open space to pitchside, whilst straddling the half way line is an all-seater stand. Behind the goal closest to the entrance, cover stretches virtually the entire width, and is rather cosy with its fairly low roof  above two terrace steps. Around the rest of the ground there is just hard standing, with a blue industrial unit providing the background to the length opposite the main stand and clubhouse. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, the turnstile operator informed me that they had sold out of programmes.

This match was very much the traditional local derby, with less than two miles separating the two clubs. After finishing as runners-up last season, Camberley are again sniffing around the top of the table this season, coming into this game in fifth place, with 13 wins and three draws from their 19 games, but they have games in hand over all of the clubs above them in the table, and were they to win their games in hand, would climb into second place and within a point of leaders Cove. Frimley Green are struggling at the other end of the table, third bottom, two points ahead of Guildford - having played a game more - and seven points ahead of bottom placed Hanworth Villa, having played two games more. They have won five and drawn four of their 22 games.

Happily, no goals had been scored by the time I arrived, as I found a very open and even game, with both teams creating chances. The first contentious decision came as a Frimley Green striker ran onto a long ball, only to be wiped out by the keeper who came out of his area to make a rather crude challenge, however not even a yellow card was produced. Camberley went on to assume the ascendancy, and deservedly took the lead on 29 minutes. A corner was headed out and then miskicked out of the area only to fall to a Camberley player who lofted the ball first time into the box, and Perry Coles diverted the ball past the keeper with a karate kick style connection. Frimley Green had a great chance to equalise when their striker found himself at the back post with just the keeper to beat, but he pulled his low shot wide of the far post. What would turn out to be the game defining moment came deep into first-half added on time, when the ball was swung from the left towards the Camberley goalkeeper, and the Frimley Green striker bulldozed the keeper into the net. That sparked a rather ugly brawl as the two players grappled with each other, soon others joined in, one Frimley player grabbing the Camberley keeper by the face from behind, whilst Frimley captain Andrew Grace ran the length of the pitch to kick the Camberley keeper. The referee did not help the situation one bit as he stood from a distance frantically blowing his whistle for a minute or more, but eventually made the correct decision, following consultation with a linesman, in sending off Grace and booking both of the original perpetrators. The Camberley goalkeeper could feel very fortunate to remain on the pitch now, benefitting from the earlier decision by the referee not to book him for his cynical foul outside of his area. It's fair to say the half-time interval came at a good time.

Yesterday I had seen a team come back from a goal down and a sending off in the first half to dominate the second and almost snatch a win. That was never going to happen today though, as Camberley went on to completely dominate the second half, with the visitors losing their discipline. It looked only a matter of time before the home side would extend their lead, and after Frimley Green could easily have gone down to nine men with a late, high tackle, they did on 72 minutes with a shockingly poor challenge by Lee Page, who tackled knee-high on Camberley's Daniel Band. From the resulting free-kick, Camberley doubled their lead, Doug Ford stretching out a foot to guide the ball home from the free-kick lofted into the box. Camberley would really turn the screw now, and on 80 minutes, a wonderful pass from the half way line over the defence fell at the feet of Sam Slater, who dribbled towards goal before slotting the ball past the keeper. Two minutes later and another perfectly judged aerial cross from the left resulted in Camberley's fourth, Matt Bunyan heading the ball home after just beating the keeper in the air. The win could have been even more emphatic, but Camberley surprisingly, playing with two extra men, seemed to place more value on the clean sheet than scoring further goals. No doubting that Camberley thoroughly deserved to win this entertaining feisty local derby, but in truth it was Frimley Green's poor discipline which lost them this match, as they seemed to have had enough about them, particularly (but not only) when they had 11 players on the pitch, to have got something from this game.

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Charlton Athletic 1 v 1 Cardiff City

Friday 26th December 2014

Football League Championship

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3.00

Attendance: 17,543 (874 away fans)

Match Rating: 3

As has seemed to happen a lot more often than not over recent years, Charlton were handed a home game for this year's Boxing Day, and although one had to sympathise with Cardiff and their fans for a long away day with extremely limited public transport running, today's opposition certainly added some spice for me. Having studied at university in West Wales, during which time I attended many Swansea City home games at their wonderfully old and ramshackle ground, The Vetch, I developed a dislike of Cardiff City. Furthermore, today's fixture conjured up memories of a remarkable game the last time the two teams met at The Valley two seasons ago, when Charlton came from 0-2 down to lead 5-2, only to concede two late goals to leave the home fans on tenterhooks during added on time.

Despite Cardiff being relegated from the Premiership last season, and Charlton only just avoiding relegation to League One, there was little to separate the two clubs in the league table going into this game, tied on 30 points from 22 games and with the same goal difference of +1, although Cardiff had won two more and drawn six fewer games than Charlton, and Cardiff a place higher than Charlton having scored six more goals. Following their disappointing home draw with bottom placed Blackpool, Charlton lost 0-2 at Blackburn, and manager Bob Peeters seemed to have responded with a shake up of the team for today's game. After a number of errors leading to conceding goals in recent games, young goalkeeper Nick Pope was dropped for Phillipine international Neil Etheridge, Chris Solly switched to left back to oust Morgan Fox from the team, Igor Vetokele made way for George Tucudean, whilst club captain Johnnie Jackson returned to the team after two games out through injury.

On a bright, sunny afternoon, this was another game very much of two halves, with Cardiff dominating at least the first half hour. The first ten minutes were fairly unremarkable though, until Cardiff took the lead on 12 minutes. A throw-in from the left by Aron Gunnarsson into the box was flicked on, allowing Tom Adeyemi to plant his header into the bottom left corner, with Etheridge stranded flat-footed. Cardiff really pushed on from their, and could easily have increased their advantage, and the game appeared to turn even more in the visitors' favour on  33 minutes, when Charlton were reduced to ten men, following Callum Harriott's late, high tackle on Craig Noone. It was one of the very rare decisions that the referee got correct, as generally he had as poor a game as I can remember a referee having at The Valley, with quite baffling inconsistency and seeming to strongly favour Cardiff in awarding fouls in similar scenarios. As often happens, Charlton seemed to up their game a little, although the visitors remained very comfortable as they went into the half-time interval a goal to the good.

Into the second half and Charlton were truly a team transformed, the ten men really taking the game to Cardiff, and the more the half progressed, the much more likely it looked the Charlton would score an equaliser. Tucudean connected with a corner with an overhead kick, but the ball hit the post, although a defender on the line probably would have blocked the ball had it been on target. Around the hour mark, Charlton manager Bob Peeters sent on Vetokele and played three at the back. On 65 minutes, Cardiff should have been reduced to ten men when Tucudean sprinted towards goal, but Sean Morrison fouled him, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity but the referee awarded just a yellow card. Justice was almost done from the resultant free-kick, but although Johann Berg Gudmundsson's bending free-kick beat the keeper, the ball came back off the same right hand post as Tucudean's earlier shot. Tucudean again came close with a shot that beat the keeper but was cleared off the line, and Charlton were denied a clear penalty when another Tucudean shot was blocked by an arm, but the referee gave nothing. One always wishes to hope that referees do not favour either team in a game, but it really was hard to cling to this as Mick Russell had no problem at all with the visiting players wasting so much time, to the point of really taking liberties. Happily, justice was finally done two minutes from time when Charlton equalised with a real goal of the season contender. Gudmundsson won the ball back with a sliding tackle in midfield, took a few paces to create space for himself before thumping a shot from fully 30 yards which flew into the top left hand corner, giving the keeper no chance. However, it could and really should have been even better for Charlton, as right at the end of added on time, Vetokele, the one man Charlton fans would wish for a golden chance to fall to, sprinted clear of the defence and ran towards goal, but inexplicably, with just the keeper to beat, he placed his shot high over the goal. A couple of months ago and it would have been a certain goal, however Vetokele has struggled for form in recent weeks since returning from injury.

Having had to play with ten men for almost an hour after falling behind, a point has to be considered a good outcome for Charlton, but it was difficult not to feel disappointed that all three points were not claimed following a very strong second half performance, but having to contend with an incredibly poor refereeing performance and lady luck not going their way.

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Hastings United 0 v 1 Burgess Hill Town

Monday 22nd December 2014
Sussex Senior Cup Round Three
Pilot Field, Hastings
Admission: £6.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 199
Match Rating: 2

For this evening's entertainment, after finishing off my Christmas shopping and visiting relatives, I headed to the Pilot Field for the first time in over two years, to see another game in this season's Sussex Senior Cup, a competition I've seen quite a few games in already this season.

There have been no significant changes to the Pilot Field since my last visit during pre-season in 2012, and so it remains a stadium that one enjoys, for its character with its imposing, old-fashioned large main stand, but spectators remain fairly distant from the pitch. The programme for this evening's fixture was just a four page publication, given away free of charge at the turnstiles and containing likely line-ups, away team pen-pics and the entire Third Round draw draw for the Sussex Senior Cup.

Arguably, apart from the fixture being at home, this was as bad a tie as Hastings United could have been handed. Avoiding a tie against attractive opposition such as Eastbourne Borough or Crawley Town, and also the more lowly clubs from the Sussex County League, instead they had a fixture against a fellow Isthmian League Division One South outfit, but one that have had a remarkably successful season to date. Burgess Hill are unbeaten in their opening 21 league fixtures, in second place and a point behind leaders Merstham, but with six games in hand, and have only lost once in all competitions this season, at the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, where they lost away at Conference National club Dartford. In the FA Trophy, they triumphed over recent Football League club Aldershot. Although this evening's line-up saw five changes from the team that played in the league on Saturday, they still featured Greg Luer up front, bound for a move to Premiership Hull City next month.

Before the season started, Hastings were expected to challenge strongly for promotion, however if anything, their more likely escape from the division would be downwards following a disastrous opening four months of their season, and are currently in 18th place in the 24 team division, with seven wins and seven draws from their 25 games. A season in mid table obscurity looks the most likely outcome for Hastings, which makes this evening's game the last realistic chance of playing for anything positive for the club.

On a blustery but relatively mild evening, and with a fairly healthy crowd for a Monday evening fixture in the county cup competition just before Christmas, this was hardly a Christmas cracker. Hastings probably would have been the happier with the first half, playing decent possession football although only very rarely showing any attacking intent, but they could be happy that Burgess Hill rarely threatened either. Hastings did have the ball in the back of the net just after the half hour mark, following some very good quick and incisive forward passing towards goal, Taser Hussan fired the ball across the keeper and into the net, but the linesman's flag went up for offside.

Whilst Hastings might have been happy enough with how things were going at the interval, Burgess Hill went on to dominate the second half, allowing the home side only a couple of glimpses at goal. What turned out to be the winner came on 73 minutes, and came from a Hastings corner. A quick counter-attack down the left ended with Rob O'Toole firing a shot which came back off the inside of the post, only to fall perfectly for the onrushing right back Lee Harding, who struck the ball powerfully into the net from the edge of the area. One felt that would probably be decisive and so it proved, as Hastings never really looked likely to get back on level terms to force extra time, and so it was Burgess Hill who progress to a quarter-final tie at the winners of the Third Round tie between Worthing and Steyning Town.

Coventry City 1 v 1 Fleetwood Town

Saturday 20th December 2014
Football League One
City of Coventry Stadium (Ricoh Arena), Coventry
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 10,254
Match Rating: 3

A discounted ticket offer, which saw the club sell all tickets in home sections for today's fixture at a flat rate of £10, and at a discount of £15 where I chose to sit, prompted me to head to the West Midlands to tick off another of the 92, for an otherwise very unremarkable fixture.

The Ricoh Arena, as it is currently known, is not an easy place to get to by public transport, located about four miles north of the city centre, and with no direct buses from the railway station - one must change at the city centre bus station, or walk the mile between the train and bus station. One can then choose either a special football bus service, at £5 return, or a regular scheduled bus service, at £3.10 using a plusbus ticket - with both options predictably being extremely busy after the match. The stadium certainly looks impressive from the outside, with an extended section to one side housing an exhibition hall, hotel, casino and other facilities giving the building an interesting look. Following Rugby Union club Wasps' purchase of the stadium, it is no surprise that the stadium has a lot of that club's branding displayed on it, with just a couple of logos of the football club. Once inside, it is pretty much everything that one would expect of a recently built stadium - very neat and tidy, easy on the eye, spacious - but lacking in charm or character, particularly on days like this when the stadium is not even a third full. The stadium has "wrap-around" seating, single-tiered with one length and behind both goals featuring continuous single-tiered seating around the corners. A steep incline in the seating rows ensures a good view. The remaining length is designed rather differently and adds a little bit of variety to the overall look of the stadium. There are two tiers, the bottom tier about two thirds of the height of the seating around the rest of the stadium, with only about half a dozen rows in the upper tier, located in front of hospitality boxes and hotel room windows, with a solid wall above to the roof. Some of the roof around the stadium features perspex panelling, to allow more light into the stadium. The 68 page programme was fairly standard fare for a Football League programme, attractive and with a hardened glossy cover, but it did have plenty to read, including ten pages introducing the visiting club.

Coming into this game, both sides were stuck firmly in mid table in League One which, based on the histories of the respective clubs, is as much a fabulous achievement for Fleetwood Town as it is a disappointing predicament for Coventry City. Having only entered the Football League in the 2012/13 season, Fleetwood were in eleventh place, with seven wins and five draws from their 20 league games, whilst Coventry City, who spent 34 consecutive seasons in the top flight up to season 2000/2001, were three places and two points worse off than Fleetwood, having won six and drawn six of their 20 games. The omens did not look good for Fleetwood today though, having lost eight of their last nine away games in all competitions. Unsurprisingly, this would be the first ever meeting between the two sides.

On a bright, sunny afternoon, this proved to be very much a game of two halves. Although Coventry certainly started the brighter, showing some slick passing in midfield, Fleetwood grew more and more into the game, and deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes, albeit with a slice of good fortune. Gareth Evans whipped in a right-footed cross from the left wing, which Coventry defender Andy Webster got his head to, deflecting the ball over his own keeper and into the far corner. They really should have extended their lead by half-time, spurning several good chances, as the home side looked surprisingly flat and lethargic.

However, Coventry were a side transformed when they came out in the second half, looking much more threatening without managing to create any real gilt edged goalscoring chances, until they got back on level terms ten minutes from time. Matthew Pennington swung in a cross from the right wing, Gary Medine headed the ball back across goal and Simeon Jackson managed to slide in to poke the ball home from very close range despite the attentions of a defender. The only question now was whether Coventry would go on to snatch a winner, but they did not and a point apiece was about right, and Fleetwood would no doubt be the happier. Although only 121 fans were counted in the away section, this may have been due to Coventry's rather bizarre and distasteful decision to not extend the £10 flat range ticket price to the away fans, instead charging them the usual £22.

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Charlton Athletic 2 v 2 Blackpool

Saturday 13th December 2014
The Valley, Charlton
Football League Championship
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 15,411 (501 away fans)
Match Rating: 3

Back to the Valley today, and for what was, on paper at least, the home banker of the season. Football doesn't always reflect what league tables indicate though, less still in the ultra competitive Championship, where notoriously every team can beat any other on any given day, and less still when Charlton Athletic are involved...

After the bitterly disappointing last home game, when Charlton lost to Ipswich after conceding a goal in the fifth minute of added on time at the end of the game, Charlton earned a valuable point away at Nottingham Forest, although again losing a lead. They went into this game in eleventh place, having only won once in their last seven games, but were still only three points adrift of the play-off positions. Blackpool had a really poor start to their season, having really struggled for players in the early stages, however the firing of Jose Riga, Charlton's interim manager during the second half of last season, subsequent appointment of Lee Clark and signing several players of decent quality, has seen an upturn in form, losing only once in their last five league games. But they were still adrift at the foot of the table going into this game, in last place, five points adrift of second bottom Wigan, and eight points adrift of safety.

Charlton were still being dogged by injury problems for this game, with captain Johnnie Jackson missing this game, Francis Coquelin being recalled from his loan spell by Arsenal on Friday, star right back Chris Solly being redeployed in midfield, youngster Joe Gomez taking his place at right back. Youngsters Morgan Fox, at left back, and Nick Pope, in goal, retained their places with regular occupants Rhoys Wiggins and Stephen Henderson still sidelined by injury.

On a beautifully sunny day, Charlton started this game in the ascendancy, showing an encouraging return to passing, patient football, although Blackpool came closest in the early stages, with Jacob Murphy forcing a very good save from Nick Pope low to his right from a free kick 25 yards out. But despite Charlton dominating possession, it was the visitors who took the lead on 25 minutes. Nick Pope could only get a faint touch when a high corner came in, and Nyron Nosworthy headed goalwards from the far post, and Chris Eagles touched the ball over the line. However, Charlton were given the chance to get back on level terms on 37 minutes, when Igor Vetokele was brought down in the area just as he was about to shoot. Yoni Buyens coolly slotted the ball low into the left hand side of the net, sending the keeper the other way for his fourth successful penalty conversion of the season. And so the scoreline remained level as half-time arrived, with hope that Charlton would go on and claim the three points if they could just pose more of an attacking threat.

And on 55 minutes, Charlton did take a deserved lead, with another fabulous goal from home-grown youngster Jordan Cousins. Picking the ball up outside the area, he picked his spot in curling a low shot past the keeper's dive and inside the far post. Charlton looked certain to at least hold on to their lead, as they looked much more threatening than in the first half, but again Vetokele didn't really look at the races again, with his flicks and deft touches not coming off today. But once again, Charlton were to be made to pay for not taking enough of their chances, when Blackpool equalised a minute from normal time. They were awarded a free kick after defender Tal Ben Haim clearly won the ball in a sliding tackle - yet another really poor decision by a really poor refereeing performance today, and after the ball was played into the danger area, keeper Nick Pope raced out and performed a rather aimless star jump in the general direction of the ball, allowing Steve Davies to head into an empty net. Charlton desperately tried to find a winner in injury time, and couldn't have asked for a better chance deep into injury time. Sub George Tucudean pulled the ball back to an unmarked Andre Bikey, in a central position 10 yards out, but he blazed the ball over the bar. And so Charlton had to settle for a draw, their twelfth on 21 league games, which lifted them one place to tenth, whilst Blackpool pulled themselves a point closer to Wigan - but remain eight points adrift of safety.

To look at the Charlton performances, and to start with the positives, Joe Gomez looked a really good prospect today - energetic, and as strong and creative going forward as he was defensively, and Tal Ben Haim was again a rock in defence, whilst using the ball well coming out of his area. On the flip side, Nick Pope was to blame for both goals, to add to a number of other costly mistakes this season, which is a shame as he does appear to have plenty of potential. Andre Bikey looked more shaky than usual today, as he had in the last home game, young Morgan Fox just does not look the part at this level who, whilst doing a job defensively, always seems slow to react to situation. Chris Solly put in a solid performance in midfield although clearly he is not used to his full potential in that position. The striking positions are increasingly looking a real concern though, with Callum Harriott surely not suited to playing up front, whilst Vetokele looks less of a threat and more disillusioned as each week passes by. It was extremely disappointing to hear Charlton fans deeply critical of keeper Nick Pope, and even speculate whether manager Bob Peeters is the right person at the helm, fans who would do well to remember that Charlton were one of the favourites to be relegated, only just avoiding that feat last season. But such is the fickleness of football fans across the country these days...

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Eastbourne Borough 5 v 1 Little Common

Tuesday 9th December 2014
Sussex Senior Cup Round Three
Priory Lane, Eastbourne
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 144
Match Rating: 3

Once the draw was made for Round Three of the Sussex Senior Cup, which rewarded Little Common's two previous wins in the competition against clubs from the same division with a plum tie at the home of a club four steps above them in the pyramid, this was a game I was never going to miss.

There has been little in the way of ground modifications at Priory Lane since my last visit in pre-season 2012, not that any were needed, with more than sufficient capacity for a club in the Conference South, cover available around most of the ground, plenty of seating in the main stand, with a rather quirky look to the area behind one of the goals. A much smaller programme than usual was produced for this fixture, consisting of 12 pages and printed in black and white apart from the colourful cover, although no complaints for a sensible price of £1, whilst still retaining a good quality look and feel to it.

Although Eastbourne Borough's league standing may not be an ideal indicator of the gap between the two clubs, given that they would not field their strongest team for this fixture, they are in eleventh place in the 21 team Conference South, with six wins and seven draws from their 18 games, whilst Little Common were in eighth place in the Sussex League Division Two, with seven wins and two draws from their 17 games. To reach this stage, Eastbourne Borough beat Sussex League Division One outfit Newhaven 5-1 at home after receiving a bye in the first round, whilst Little Common had beaten Seaford Town 0-7 away and then local rivals Bexhill United 2-0 at home.

On a really horrible evening weather-wise, with a strong wind and intermittent rain, the first half started surprisingly even, with the weather conditions perhaps acting something of a leveller, with the underdogs more than holding their own after the home side saw a shot by Darren Lok hit the woodwork inside the first two minutes. On 21 minutes, Eastbourne's Dean Sinclair went into a strong, but perfectly legal tackle with Little Common's Dan Hill, but it immediately became very apparent that Hill had come off worse, as he screamed in pain and lay motionless on the pitch. As the players left the pitch and an ambulance was called, news spread that Hill had broken his leg. After a delay of around half an hour, the match restarted, and followed a very similar pattern to that of the first half, with the Eastbourne players struggling to place passes and Little Common more than holding their own, and deservedly went into the much delayed half-time break on level terms, a fabulous achievement considering that Eastbourne Borough's line-up this evening saw just four changes from the team who played in the league on Saturday.

However, parity was to last just over a minute into the second half, with the first of several wonderfully taken goals. Ryan Worrall created space for himself 30 yards out, before striking a powerful shot which went into the top corner. It was tough on the minnows to fall behind to such a wonderful strike, but they went further behind by arguably an even better goal on 59 minutes. After Little Common failed to clear a corner, the ball fell to Moses Ashikodi, who acrobatically volleyed the ball into the net, giving the keeper no chance. Three minutes later and it really was game over as a contest, as Kane Hayesman danced around some defenders before firing the ball low through the keeper and into the net for 3-0. The scoreline became rather unfortunate for Little Common on 65 minutes. It had seemed the chance had gone when Gavin McCallum delayed his shot when in a central position in front of goal, but after making space, he fired the ball low across the keeper. Although the game was up for Little Common by now, they did quickly grab a consolation goal when player-manager Russell Eldridge saw his corner swerve straight into the net. The game then died down until the very last minute, when Eastbourne Borough restored their four goal lead, Sinclair managing to deflect the ball goalwards from close range at the near post following Sam Beale's low cross into the box. The result was a little harsh on Little Common, who looked capable of causing a remarkable upset at half time, but they gave an excellent account of themselves, with everyone's best wishes reserved for a speedy recovery for Dan Hill.

Walton and Hersham 2 v 0 Corinthian-Casuals

Saturday 6th December 2014
Isthmian League Division One South
Stompond Lane, Walton-on-Thames
Admission: £9.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 120
Match Rating: 2

Coming into this season, I had just two more grounds to tick off - both in Walton-on-Thames, and having ticked off Walton Casuals' Waterside Stadium on the first day of the season, today I decided to return to the town to tick off the off ground in Walton-on-Thames. A good job that I did, as it has recently been announced that plans are being accelerated for both grounds to be consigned to history as the local Council looks to redevelop Stompond Lane for housing and build a new stadium for both of the town's football clubs close to Walton Casuals' existing home.

Stompond Lane is about a 15 minute walk from Walton on Thames railway station, and evoked some love-hate feelings inside me. Much of the ground exudes old-fashioned character, and hasn't really been upgraded / updated for decades, apart from the odd lick of paint. One enters the ground through a turnstile block, and then there is a programme hut, snack van and the clubhouse in an open area before one approaches the ground itself, and the imposing main stand, which offers excellent elevated views of the action - arguable the only place to gain such good views, as the pitch is surrounded by an athletic track. Never a popular feature at any football ground, at least the track is narrow and the perimeter fence closely borders the track, so views are not as distant from the lengths as they are at some grounds doubling up with its football and atheltics facilities. The stand has a mixture of bench seating and seat tops placed on the benches, and views are slightly obscured by pleasantly old fashioned floodlight pylons. Either side of the stand are grassed banks, with a small amount of grassed terracing to the side where the entrance is. Along the other length is a lovely, old-fashioned stand spanning the entire length - but it is now inaccessible to spectators, with green boarding along its entire front, as it has been condemned as unsafe, although one can watch from the now narrow path along this length. Behind one of the goals, some nice old fashioned covered terracing stretches around the crescent, although it is not a place to watch the action from, so distant would one be from the pitch and with athletics equipment in the way. Behind the other goal is just a walkway, so even less appropriate to watch the action from. Despite its athletics track, it is a ground that has some old-fashioned character, and so will be a miss when it is demolished in the not too distant future. The programme was fairly standard fare for this level of football, but adequately informative.

With less than seven miles separating the two clubs, this was very much a local derby between, on paper at least, two very average teams. Walton and Hersham went into this game in 14th place in the 24 team division, with nine wins and two draws from their 22 games, two points and four places behind today's visitors, who have played a game more. These two clubs have already played each other this season, with Corinthian-Casuals winning 2-0 back in mid August.

Ahead of kick-off, both teams assembled for a joint "Football Remembers" photo to mark the 100 year anniversary of the unofficial ceasefire on Christmas Day during World War One, when British and German soldiers played an impromptu football match against each other. Following the recent prolonged rain, beautiful clear skies appeared today, although with that brought very cold conditions, with the overnight frost still evident along the length of the condemned terrace stand. So the apparently slippery conditions, and a pitch that did not look in the best of conditions anyway, probably contributed to a game that was low on quality, littered with poor control and aimless passes. Walton and Hersham did look the more threatening of the two sides though, and took a deserved lead on 28 minutes when a high ball into the box was misjudged by a defender, and Andrew Mensah tucked the ball home low inside the near post. Corinthian Casuals occasionally looked threatening in rare forays forward, and just before half time they couldn't quite force the ball home after the home keeper failed to hold on to the ball coming in from a corner.

The second half was possibly a slight improvement on the first half's fare, and similarly just about deservedly, the home side doubled their advantage in the 68th minute. A ball over the defence sprang the offside trap, allowing Dylan Cascoe to run through on goal and after fleetingly toying with the keeper,  shot into the net from the edge of the area. Although the visitors had a couple of shots that went just wide of goal in the second half, Walton and Hersham held on fairly comfortable for the three points which lifts them above Corinthian Casuals, and into 12th place.