Hanworth Villa 2 v 7 Eastbourne United Association (aet)

Saturday 25th January 2014
FA Vase Fourth Round
Rectory Meadow, Hanworth
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 210
Match Rating: 3

With heavy overnight rain falling on still waterlogged ground, this game, which was postponed last Saturday, was doubtful until a 9am pitch inspection declared the pitch playable. And so I made my way to south west London to see the last remaining club from East Sussex in this year's FA Vase competition.

Rectory Meadow is about a half hour walk southwards from Feltham train station, adjacent to a constantly busy and noisy dual carriageway. On approaching the ground, it was surprising to notice that the boundary fences around the ground are see-through, making it no problem to watch the game from the other side, and with plenty of gaps to be found to get in without paying. Rectory Meadow certainly doesn't fit the idyllic image that the name conjures up - it is a rather soulless place lacking in character or charm. Adjacent to the turnstiles is the clubhouse, which is something of an eyesore on the outside and rather claustrophobic on the inside.Straddling the half way line after entering is a modern metallic all-seater stand, and along side it is a similar metallic stand for standing. Along the opposite length and behind one goal is just hard standing, and behind the remaining goal is just a muddy footpath snaking through trees.

This fixture would seemingly be a tough encounter for the visitors, of the Sussex County League Division Two, a step below the Combined Counties League Premier Division where the hosts - who conquered last season’s FA Vase finalists Tunbridge Wells away in the last round - ply their trade. Eastbourne United are certainly in great form though, top of their division by four points having played two games less, winning fifteen and losing just one of their 19 league games this season. Hanworth Villa were in 13^th place in their 22 team division, but had not won in their previous six league games. To reach this stage of the FA Vase, Hanworth Villa defeated East Grinstead Town 3-1 at home and then Tunbridge Wells 0-1 away after entering at the second round stage, whereas Eastbourne United entered at the Second Qualifying Round stage, beating Arundel 3-0 and then Phoenix Sports 5-4, both games at home, before travelling to and beating Combined Counties Premier Division sides Chessington and Hook (2-3) and then South Park (1-2).

This match turned out to be one of the liveliest and most unpredictable games I have witnessed in a long time. There would be little sign of that in the first half, with mostly sunny conditions – although with occasional very strong gusts of wind - as Eastbourne United opened up a two goal lead. This might have been considered surprising before the match but was well deserved on the balance of play. On 20 minutes, a corner was floated close to the goal and Sean Ray, who managed Hastings United all the way to the FA Cup Third Round last year, managed to get the decisive header to the ball from a few yards out for the ball to drop over the line. Four minutes later and it was two to the visitors, Joe Dryer latching onto a knock-down and drove the ball across the keeper and into the net. They could have made it three on 33 minutes, when a shot came back off the bar and a follow up shot drew a fantastic save from the keeper.  0-2 to the supposed underdogs was how it remained at half-time, although really Eastbourne should have put the game to bed in the first half, so poor were Hanworth Villa.

Into the second half and finally the home side sprang into life. On 47 minutes, they saw a cross shot come back off the post, and on 55 minutes, a shot deflected off Ray’s leg just rolled wide of the goal with the keeper stranded. On 63 minutes, the home side pulled a goal back when Adam Turner drilled the ball across the keeper and into the net. The weather soon deteriorated, with increasingly heavy rain arriving, and on 75 minutes, Hanworth Villa completed a comeback to equalise when a slide rule pass through the defence found Ross Cheatham, who hit the ball past the onrushing keeper from just inside the area and into the net. All the momentum was suddenly with the home side who now looked the likely winners, but nature was to dampen down that momentum as a sudden storm arrived, with hail driving across the ground horizontally in the by now exceptionally strong wind, which was enough to lift the roof off of a marquee erected for today’s game. With visibility reduced to zero in the driving hail and the arrival of thunder and lightening, the referee led the players to the changing rooms with 13 minutes left to play, with spectators cramming into the clubhouse or toilets portakabin. About ten minutes later, conditions relented sufficiently for the game to restart, and Hanworth Villa continued their domination of the second half,  and they had a great chance to win the game in the final minute of normal time, when the Eastbourne keeper pulled off a fantastic save, to force extra time.

Two minutes into extra time and Hanworth Villa were reduced to ten men, as the scorer of their first goal, Turner, had to go off injured after they had used all three subs already. On 96 minutes, the visitors went back into the lead when a looping cross was stabbed in at the far post by Ryan McBride. On 103 minutes, the visitors restored their two goal cushion with a really fabulous goal. Scott Dartnall picked the ball up close to the half way line and went on a jinking run, evading countless defenders, before eventually shooting low past the keeper.

Hanworth Villa really had a mountain to climb again now, but on 112 minutes, Eastbourne United made the game safe. Following a quick counter attack, Wes Tate ran towards goal with the ball, before laying it off to Dryer, who rolled the ball low inside the post. What followed was a shocking capitulation from the home side. Dryer ran with the ball down the left and with no team mates in support, he just kept on running towards goal before firing at the keeper, who couldn’t prevent the ball going into the net. A minute later and Eastbourne scored their seventh, when Richard Greenfield was pulled back as he ran into the area, resulting in a penalty and a red card for the defender Lee Morely. Tate drove the ball into the net to complete an emphatic away victory, and Eastbourne United’s reward for reaching the last 16 of the competition is a home tie against Northern League Morpeth Town in the next round. It was a deserved victory for the East Sussex club - even if the final scoreline was very flattering - however Hanworth Villa were unlucky that their momentum was thwarted by a freak weather storm and were reduced to ten men after using all three subs when the game was still 2-2. This was quite an amazing game of football which, despite the foul conditions experienced for quarter of an hour in the second half, more than made up for a venue that will not live long in the memory.

Derby County 1 v 0 Brighton and Hove Albion

Saturday 18th January 2014
Football League Championship
Pride Park, Derby
Admission: £14.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 25,392
Match Rating: 2

I had planned to tick off a visit to Pride Park later this season when my team Charlton will be the visitors in March. However, noticing tickets were available at a bargain price in one section of the ground for home supporters for this match - and less than half the price of what visiting fans would be charged - I decided to bring forward a visit to today, when my local team who I have a soft spot for were the visitors. Although it wouldn't be ideal being in the "wrong" end today, better that than against the team I support.

Pride Park is situated about a 20 minute walk eastwards from Derby train station, a further ten minutes from the city centre. One often fears for a dull experience at a modern, out of town stadium, as this one is. However, it is a really impressive stadium inside and out. It has an interesting and colourful exterior, with a classy rather than tacky feel to it, and a couple of nice touches honouring the club's history are located in one corner. The Lionel Pickering entrance, a brick archway which is an exact replica of the entrance to the club's former home, the Baseball Ground and built using materials from the Baseball Ground, constructed in honour of the man who masterminded the club's move to Pride Park and did so much for the club in the nineties. Further away from the stadium in this corner is a bronze statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor holding the Division One trophy in 1972. Inside the stadium is very easy on the eye too, with unobstructed views throughout, and all four stands are single tiered and joined together, although one stand is taller than the other three. A corner adjacent to this stand houses executive boxes. The 84 page programme had a smaller size than most programmes but is certainly one of the better ones with plenty of interesting articles to read.

Today's match would be between two teams occupying play-off positions, with Derby in fourth place, with 44 points from 25 games, two places and five points ahead of Brighton, having played the same number of games.  Derby went on a fabulous run towards the end of 2013, winning eight and drawing the other of their last nine league games, although 2014 brought an unwanted changed of fortunes, losing both league games played and going out of the FA Cup. Brighton have been in good form too, picking up 7 points from their last three league games and progressing in the FA Cup, and have lost only twice in their last 14 league games. Rather intriguingly, Derby went into this game as top scorers in the Championship, whilst Brighton had conceded the fewest goals away from home, just nine in twelve away games. When the two teams met in August, Derby won 1-2.

 On a surprisingly mild and occasionally sunny afternoon, the omens for an entertaining game were good when Brighton's Keith Andrews saw a long range shot go just wide of the post with barely a minute on the clock. It was to prove a false dawn though, as the first half was scrappy, with defences on top but far too many sloppy passes going astray further upfield. Brighton had the better chances to open the scoring, with the outstanding chance coming on 26 minutes, when Matthew Upson powered a header goalwards from a corner, but the Derby keeper Lee Grant pulled off an excellent reflex save. A goalless scoreline at half time was of little surprise though.

The second half continued in much the same vein, and there was an increasing feeling of inevitability that the game would end goalless. However, on 76 minutes, the deadlock was broken. Derby passed the ball forward and eventually Jamie Ward was fouled right outside the penalty area, but the ball fell to Patrick Bamford, on loan from Chelsea and who came on as substitute on the hour mark, and he curled a fantastic shot from the edge of the box into the corner of the net. It was a real touch of class, something that had been sorely lacking throughout the match. That gave the hosts some impetus and they might have added to their lead, and although Brighton tried to carve out some goalscoring chances in the final minutes, it never looked likely to happen for them as Derby cemented their play-off places with a crucial role in against a play-off rival, whilst Brighton slip out of the play-off places and are now two points adrift.

Video highlights of this game can be found at http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/9124161/derby-1-0-brighton

Crowborough Athletic 2 v 1 Rye United

Tuesday 14th January 2014
Sussex League Division One
Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Crowborough
Admission including programme: £6.00
Attendance: 127
Match Rating: 3

My first visit to the Alderbrook in 2014 promised to be an interesting encounter between two free-scoring games – indeed, on Saturday I witnessed Rye come out on top from a rollercoaster match 5-4. This game, rearranged after the originally scheduled match on Boxing Day was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, would be a local derby, although the clubs are separated by over 30 miles. The two clubs are fighting a common cause though, having both been allocated to the Southern Counties East League last summer, before successfully appealing against the decision following bitter opposition to the enforced move. A similar battle surely faces both clubs this summer too though, and one that will probably be lost this time.

With games thin on the ground in the last month due to the exceptional rainfall, current form of the two teams is difficult to gauge. Both had excellent results at the weekend, Crowborough picking up an excellent point at unbeaten runaway leaders East Preston (who had previously dropped just four points from their 18 league games, whilst Rye won 5-4 at home to St Francis Rangers, coming from behind twice. Coming into this game, Crowborough were in seventh place, picking up 31 points from 20 games, and Rye were in 13^th place, picking up 23 points from 17 games.

Although heavy rain on saturated ground on Monday did put this game in a little doubt, Tuesday was completely dry, although drizzle did arrive during the second half. On a cold evening, the game was competitive but with no real goalscoring chances until the opening goal arrived on 39 minutes, when Crowborough were gifted the opening goal. The Rye keeper, Greg Nessling, took a swipe at a back pass but only the faintest of his studs made contact, allowing Michael Death to pounce and dribble towards goal before tapping into an empty net. Rye did have a great chance to level the scores on 42 minutes, but a one-on-one opportunity was screwed horribly wide.

Into the second half and Rye looked more threatening, although still the game was, for the most part, a midfield battle. On 48 minutes, Rye saw a shot blazed over the bar, and on the hour mark, Ade Olorunda – such a threat on Saturday but was barely in the game tonight – sidefooted wide from a good position following a low cross across the penalty area. Crowborough did have a rare good opportunity when Sam Carrington saw his powerful drive from a slight angle parried by the keeper. Just when it looked like Crowborough were to hold on for a narrow victory, Rye scored an equaliser, again a goalkeeper playing a large part, this time Nick Collick made a hash of cutting out a high cross  and the ball fell to Andy Hales, who drove the ball across the keeper and into the net. A draw would probably have been the right result on the balance of play, but in the sixth minute of added on time – much of it due to Crowborough’s Carrington needing to be stretchered off the pitch with a nasty looking ankle injury – Crowborough went back into the lead with a peach of a goal. After some scrappy play in the penalty area, Tom Boddy curled a delightful and perfectly judged shot from close to the edge of the penalty area over the keeper and just under the bar into the net. It was cruel on Rye, who could not fashion another chance in the remaining couple of minutes of added on time. And with that, Crowborough rose to fifth place whilst Rye stayed in thirteenth.

Rye United 5 v 4 St Francis Rangers

Saturday 11^th January 2014

Sussex County League Division One

The Salts, Rye

Admission: £5.00

Programme: £1.00

Attendance: 47

Match Rating: 5

Although I originally planned to travel down to Hampshire today to take in a new ground at Sholing or Portchester, still feeling the effects from an attack of gout earlier in the week, I decided to stay local With heavy rain finally abating during the last couple of days, there was more choice today than in recent weeks, although my favoured game in the East Sussex League at Ninfield United was still called off due to waterlogging. So I decided to revisit one of the more pleasant grounds in Sussex, with it being something of a surprise that The Salts, usually more susceptible to most to waterlogging. It certainly turned out to be the right decision as I was treated to one of the most entertaining and drama filled games I have watched this season.

The Salts is located about a ten minute walk east from Rye train station and just a couple of minutes from Landgate, the historic fortified entrance to the town. Entering the ground in one corner, one passes by a modern but attractively constructed pavilion housing the clubhouse and changing rooms, built in the same position to replace the previous pavilion that was burnt down in 2010. Along one length,  a small green tin stand has been relocated from its original position straddling the half way line and is now close to the corner flag, and in its original place is now a modern metallic Arena all-seater stand. It is not allowed to stand along the other length, as white sheeting is placed there on matchdays, more permanent fencing not being allowed as the facilities are shared with the cricket club. Behind the remaining goal is hard standing and a slight grass bank with trees. From this end, it is possible to watch the game for free from the public footpath, and so it surprising that this is allowed at a senior football venue. In fact, gaping holes in the fencing means that it is easy to walk into the ground without paying. The ground does have a very pleasant, rural setting, with plenty of trees around and the town of Rye closely visible perched above. The 52 page programme was very impressive indeed, the best I have encountered for a long time at this level, with plenty of interest to read, more than enough facts and stats to digest, some interesting quirky articles and not too much advertising – all in all, really excellent value for money.

Today’s game would be between two teams in the bottom half of the table separated by just one place and one point, with the visitors in 14^th place and one point better off having played a game more. Recent form wouldn’t necessarily be much of a guide to either team today, this being the first game both have played since 14^th December due to the wet weather. However, Rye had an excellent home win against high flying Littlehampton Town last time out, but before that had picked up just two points from their previous five league games. St Francis Rangers had lost their previous two league games, but before those had won their previous two league games. Today’s teams met on the opening day of the season, playing out a 2-2 draw, and they also met in Haywards Heath in early September in the John O’Hara Cup, with St Francis winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

On a beautiful day of bright sunshine and clear blue skies, but with the pitch very heavy and sticky, the visitors took the lead with four minutes on the clock, when Charlie Pitcher pounced on a suicidal backpass, took a touch before slotting low past the keeper. Rye were back on level terms on 13 minutes when a free kick from deep inside their own half was played high and long to the left of the penalty area, and some dreadful defending allowed Ade Olorunda all the time in the world to get the ball under control before firing across the keeper into the net despite a desperate scramble by a defender to clear the ball on the line. Rye took the lead on 17 minutes.  The keeper came to the edge of his area to foul Olorunda  as he was about to take his shot, and although he still got his shot in which went wide of the post, the referee awarded a penalty, which Ben Billings converted high to the left of the goal with the keeper diving the other way. Their lead was to last just five minutes though, Pitcher scoring again having latched onto a forward pass and fired powerfully into the net from an angle. Rye then went back into the lead on 25 minutes, another long high free kick was pumped into the box and this time a defender spectacularly hooked the ball into his own net. On 28 minutes, the sixth goal of the game was scored, when St Francis Rangers got back on level terms, Tom Barnes driving the ball high into the net after the ball was played low across the edge of the area. And on the stroke of half time, the visitors were awarded a penalty when one of their strikers was pulled back as he drove into the box. Aaron Walsh drove the ball powerfully down the middle to give a 3-4 scoreline at half-time.

Three minutes into the second half and the chances of such an open, free scoring half were diminished when the visitors were reduced to ten men just three minutes after the restart, Daniel O’Farrell being shown a straight red card for a late and high challenge from behind. It would be a backs-to-the-wall effort for the visitors to retain their lead, a man down on the heavy pitch, and although Rye tried to play expansive football, it looked more and more that they would not be able to get anything from this game, although on 65 minutes, a flicked header from Olorunda – despite being wrestled by the defenders – hit the crossbar. Finally, after countless occasions of Olorunda being grappled and hugged by the St Francis defenders in the area during the second half, the referee did award a penalty on 81 minutes when Olorunda was almost rugby tackled to the ground as he tried to run towards goal. Liam Upton hit the ball powerfully down the middle to make it 4-4. Two minutes later and Rye took the lead, a penetrating run in from the left ended with a powerful shot that was parried away by the keeper, and after several scrambled attempts to shoot, Liam Upton applied the finishing touch. St Francis almost got yet another equaliser four minutes from time when a lovely curling shot was saved at full stretch by the keeper, but in the end Rye held on for the three points. This was a thoroughly entertaining game of football, and credit to both teams for that on a tricky pitch.

Brighton and Hove Albion 1 v 0 Reading

Saturday 4th January 2014
FA Cup 3rd Round
Falmer Stadium, Falmer
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £2.50
Attendance: 20,696
Match Rating: 3

With daily torrential rain continuing in the south-east of England, it was obvious that few non-league grass pitches would survive today, and with that in mind, I decided yesterday on a revisit to the Amex, motivated by vastly reduced ticket prices for an FA Cup tie.

Unsurprisingly, there have been no alterations to the stadium since my last visit in May. Congratulations to the club on offering very reasonable ticket prices today of £10 behind the goals or £15 along the length, which contrasted very pleasantly with some of the most expensive ticket prices in the Championship for league games. Unfortunately the club did retain some poor administration fees today, charging £1 for the courtesy of allowing the purchaser to use their own printer to print off a match ticket, just as absurd is charging £1.50 to purchase a ticket in person. Programmes were reduced in size from editions produced for league games for today's match, but still retained a very professional look and feel and consisted of 34 pages and had a nice balance of interesting stats and features.

This fixture certainly wasn't the most romantic drawn in the FA Cup, between two very evenly matched mid-table teams in the Championship. Brighton were in seventh place in the division, accumulating 36 points from 24 games, a point and two positions better off than Reading. However, current forms contrasts considerably between the two teams. Brighton have lost just twice in their last 13 league games whilst Reading have last four of their last six league games and had scored just five goals in their last eight games. When the two teams met in Reading in September, the score was goalless. Unsurprisingly these days, plenty of changes were made to the starting line-ups fir this game, Brighton making eight from their last league game, Reading making five. Today would be the first time the two clubs have ever met in the FA Cup.

The last time I saw Brighton play was at the start of pre-season at Whitehawk with temperatures nudging 30c under cloudless skies. A total contrast with today's cold, wet and dank conditions. This match was very much a game of two halves, with the hosts completely dominating the first half whilst the visitors had the better of the second half. Brighton struck the woodwork three times in the first half, first Keith Andrews after just six minutes, and then twice within seconds on 25 minutes when a long range shot from 19 year old Solly March struck the cross bar and the rebound fell to Ashley Barnes, but his close range header also hit the bar when he should really have done better. Brighton finally deservedly took the lead on 32 minutes when a ball to the edge of the box was chested down by Barnes, and Andrew Crofts struck the ball powerfully and into the net via a sizeable deflection off defender Alex Pearce. 1-0 was how it remained, and one wondered if Brighton might rue not converting more of their chances in an impressive and dominant first half.

Reading came out with much purpose in the second half and went on to suggest they could get back on level terms, without ever creating really clear cut chances and Brighton always looked fairly comfortable as they retained their narrow lead at full time to enter the fourth round draw. A very positive afternoon for Brighton, with the youngsters who got a rare outing today impressing, particularly Solly March.

Video highlights can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_GNFq6zw7Y

Old Vardeanians 2 v 4 East Grinstead United

First half only - Score 1-0
Saturday 4th January 2014
Mid Sussex League Premier Division
University of Brighton, Falmer
Admission and programme: Nil
Attendance: 5 (headcount)
Match Rating: N/A

In Falmer anyway for Brighton and Hove Albion FA Cup tie at 3pm, I decided to take in the first half of this match which kicked off an hour earlier, made possible by the close proximity of the pitch to the Amex and the 3G surface, meaning that the ongoing extremely wet weather would not put this game in any danger.

Old Vardeanians play on a caged 3G surface within the Falmer campus of the University of Brighton, and is located about a five minute walk downhill from the Amex, with the nearest train station, Falmer, a collection of minutes further. The pitch is floodlit - although this is hardly if ever made use of for Old Vardeanians games, and there are no spectator facilities here. It is actually a nice place to watch football though, with green playing fields behind one length, a hill with trees below behind one goal, and not unattractive housing lining the remaining sides. One can stand on top of a steep grass bank along one length outside of the cage, which offers excellent elevated views of the action, although floodlight pylons obstruct one's view slightly. No admission is taken nor programmes produced here.

This match would be between two struggling teams in the division, with third bottom East Grinstead United visiting fourth bottom Old Vardeanians. The hosts had gained 14 points from their 13 games, whilst the visitors had gained two fewer but had played four games less.

Although conditions started dry, it was always extremely dank and soon the rain with increasing intensity arrived.  The visitors looked the sharper for much of the first half I saw, spurning some glorious chances to take the lead, including fluffing at least three one-on-one chances. Old Vardeanians occasionally threatened too though, and on the half hour they were awarded a penalty. A good move down the left resulted in the ball being crossed into the box, and a defender pulled the striker back too blatantly as he tried to latch onto the ball. The penalty was quite comfortably caught by the keeper, but the referee ordered a retake for encroachment. A change of penalty taker resulted in the back of the net being found this time by Sam Robins, although it would have been interesting had this penalty been saved as well, as the keeper had advanced a long way off his line by the time the ball was struck.

1-0 was how it remained at half time as I then made way to the Amex Stadium, and after I had left, there was a relative goal-fest in the second half, with three visitors coming from behind to eventually win 2-4. Ciaran Steers, Simon Tadman and James Upton with two scoring for the visitors, Robins getting his second for the home side.