Derby Deaf 0 v 1 Doncaster Trust Deaf

Saturday 24th May 2014
English Deaf Football Challenge Cup Final
James Whatman Way, Maidstone
Admission including Programme: £5.00
Attendance: 250 (estimate)
Match Rating: 4

A two and a half hour interval between this and the earlier game contained a prolonged torrential downpour leaving the 3G pitch with plenty of standing water on it, although happily - and expectedly - it drained away ahead of kick-off, with the rain staying away during the match, for what is considered to be the biggest game in deaf football.

To reach today's final, Derby Deaf beat Charlton Athletic Deaf 1-6 away, Colchester Deaf at home on penalties and Manchester United Deaf 3-1 at home, whilst Doncaster Deaf beat Bristol Deaf 5-3 at home, Birmingham Deaf 1-0 at home and St John's Deaf 1-2 away.

This match was played at a much faster tempo than this morning's, and it soon became clear this would be a much closer contest too. Both teams did plenty of attacking during the first half, Derby Deaf having the best goalscoring opportunities though. They had a goal disallowed for pushing following a corner, and from another corner on 29 minutes, a powerful header by Darrell Sykes came back off the bar. However, the goalless scoreline at the interval was a fair reflection of the first half.

Four minutes into the second half and Derby had another shot on goal, a free kick by Alistair Dalziel from at least 30 yards was tipped over the bar. Two minutes later and Doncaster saw a goal bound shot blocked, however they did take the lead on 57 minutes. A fast break down the left wing ended with the ball being played low across the six yard box, and the striker tapped into an empty net by Joe Norton. Derby created several more chances to get on the scoresheet during the next ten minutes, before they were awarded what looked a very soft penalty indeed for pulling in the area, on the advice of the linesman. After considerable protests, the penalty by Dalziel was comfortably saved by the keeper, John Atkinson's, to his right. However, the linesman waved his flag, signalling an infringement had taken place. Quite what for is anyone's guess, as the photo I had taken just as the penalty was saved showed there was no encroachment. Justice seemed to be done though when the penalty was slammed just wide of the left hand post, again by Dalziel after a change in takers was correctly refused by the referee. A couple of minutes from time, Derby had their final chance to force extra time when Gary Gordon missed a close range tap in after a free kick awas flicked on towards the far post, but in the end it was Doncaster who held on to lift the cup for the fifth time. Derby could probably consider themselves unfortunate, having created many more goalscoring chances, but in truth this was a very even game that could have gone either way and was a good advert for deaf football.

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Bristol Deaf 8 v 2 Black Country Deaf

Saturday 24th May 2014

English Deaf Football Challenge Plate Final

James Whatman Way, Maidstone

Admission including Programme: £5.00

Attendance: 100 (estimate)

Match Rating: 3

With prolonged heavy rain forecast for today, I decided not to take any chances of a waterlogged pitch at a recreation ground and instead headed for a third time this season to Maidstone United's home ground with its plastic pitch. It would also be my first ever taste of deaf football, with two national cup finals being played today.

There are no adaptations to the standard rules of football for the deaf variety, the only noticeable difference being the referee waving a flag when a free kick is awarded. A 12 page programme was produced, covering both of today's games and providing a welcome message, routes to the finals and final league standings. Reasonable, although a little more background to deaf football would have been a nice touch in promoting the game to those new to deaf football.

To reach today's final, Bristol Deaf, who won this competition in 2012, had beaten Cardiff City Deaf 10-0 at home in the quarter-final and then Charlton Athletic Deaf 1-4 in the semi-final. Black Country Deaf received a bye in the quarter-final before beating Barnet Deaf 3-2 after extra time. In their league campaigns, Bristol Deaf finished bottom of the six team southern division of the England Deaf Football League, losing all five games, whilst Black Country Deaf finished third in the four team northern division, winning two and drawing two of their six games.

On a mostly overcast but dry morning, with the game kicking off at 11, it very quickly became apparent that this would be a one sided contest, with Bristol having a shot cleared off the line with barely a minute on the clock. They laid siege to the Black Country goal after that, with numerous shots being saved, deflected wide or blocked, although in fairness, Black Country defended very well. Completely against the run of play, they opened the scoring with virtually their first attack of the game on 28 minutes. A ball was played low upfield and Godi Masiala outpaced the covering defender before slotting home low past the keeper. Their surprising lead was to only last for two minutes though, when a low cross in the six yard box was turned into his own net by a defender. Bristol then took the lead on 39 minutes with an interesting free kick routine. A queue of four players lined up behind the ball, the first three running over the ball before the fourth drilled the ball into the net from just outside the area. 2-1 was how it remained at half-time, a narrow lead that bore little reflection on the balance of play.

The second half saw Bristol finally convert their superiority into goals to really put Black Country to the sword. They scored their third on 53 minutes, another inventive free kick routine eventually saw a powerful shot parried by the keeper, only for Harry Potter to lash the ball high into the net. On 68 minutes it was 4-1 to Bristol when Ben Martin lashed home after the defence failed to clear the ball, and a minute later Black Country's task pretty much became mission impossible when they had Steve Richardson sent off for a foul as the last man. Bristol went 5-1 up on 73 minutes when Ben Martin curled a shot through a mass of players when the ball broke to him following a free kick, and the scoreline became 6-1 three minutes later when Frankie Vaughan threaded a low shot just inside the post from the edge of the area. Black Country had a shot on goal on 80 minutes, albeit a fluke shot, with a block tackle close to the half way line cannoning towards the goal and the keeper only just managed to tip the ball over the bar. On 82 minutes, Bristol made it 7-1, Potter dribbling from deep towards goal before poking the ball past the keeper, and on 89 minutes, Bristol scored their eighth, when a free kick was floated goalwards and Russell Silsbury-Basey helped the ball on its way with a faint flicked header into the net. In the last minute, Black Country scored their second of the game, Harry Skinner shooting home from a very tight angle inside the near post following a corner. But it was a thoroughly emphatic and deserved victory for Bristol following a game that was rather slow paced but played in good spirits throughout, and credit to Black Country who battled gamely and showed good sportsmanship throughout.

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Tonbridge Angels Reserves 1 v 2 Sutton United Reserves

Tuesday 20th May 2014
Suburban League Challenge Shield Final
Gay Dawn Farm, Fawkham
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 150 (estimate)
Match Rating: 3

For what will most likely be my last midweek game of the season, this evening I headed to within a mile of Brands Hatch racing circuit, to watch a cup final at one of my favourite football venues in Kent.

There is much to like about Gay Dawn Farm, situated in the tiny village of Fawkham, a mile and a half south of Longfield train station. Situated within a sporting complex which includes a golf course and indoor and outdoor football pitches, one of which is 3G, the football ground is a wonderfully quirky countryside venue that oozes individuality with beautiful countryside surroundings. One enters behind one of the goals, and to the immediate right is a basic wooden stand covering a couple of rows of wooden benches. To the left, after a short, narrow walkway, there is a cottage type house building behind the corner flag, with the changing rooms inside and covered seating outside, whilst surrounding this cottage are various farm buildings. The length beyond this, a grass area with multi-coloured trees on top of a bank, is inaccessible to spectators, although two moveable dugouts are located there and the area is used for players warming up. Permanent dugouts are located on the opposite length, not in use this evening, whilst either side are two bus shelter type structures. Along the remainder of the length is hard standing, and behind this length are hillside trees, making  a very attractive green backdrop. Behind the remaining goal is just hard standing, closely lined by trees. An eight page programme was produced for this game, giving good detail on how both clubs got to the final and their seasons to date.

The Suburban League Challenge Shield is a competition which clubs in the league for reserve teams apply to enter. Sutton United and Tonbridge Angels were paired in the same group in the group stage, finishing first and second respectively in the four team group in the first round, with Sutton winning 0-4 at Tonbridge. Sutton were then awarded the victory against Hartley Wintney in the quarter final, before winning at Royston Town in the semi-final, whilst Tonbridge won 2-1 at Erith Town in the quarter final before beating Berkhamsted on penalties after a goalless draw in the semi-final. Sutton United Reserves were aiming for their fourth piece of silverware this evening, having already comfortably won the Premier Division of the Suburban League, the Challenge Cup and the Champions Cup. Tonbridge finished in sixth place in the Premier Division.

On a very overcast but humid evening,  the match started quite evenly, although Tonbridge soon assumed the ascendancy, having the first real chance of the game on 17 minutes when their striker dribbled the ball along the edge of the penalty area, seemingly losing his balance, but still managing to fire in a wonderful shot which came back off the underside of the bar. Tonbridge did take the lead on 24 minutes though, when Brett Milham's cross from the right wing was headed downwards by Dodgson with the ball bouncing up into the top left hand corner of the net. However, just eleven minutes later and Sutton were back on level terms, Jordan Oldershaw heading home at the far post from a corner. Tonbridge looked the better side for the remainder of the half, and may have been slightly disappointed to have gone into the interval on level terms.

The second half continued in a similar balanced vein as the first half, although this time it was Sutton who were carving out the better chances, but it was probably a fair reflection on the game that the scoreline remained all square at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes. Into extra time, and Sutton were completely dominant, with Tonbridge barely offering a threat as they seemed to have run out of gas. Sutton scored what turned out to be the winning goal on 107 minutes when Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick got on the end of a low long ball forward, before firing in a low cross-shot across the keeper and into the net. Sutton looked the more likely to score again, and in the end they deserved to lift the Shield to put the finishing touch on a glittering season for Sutton's reserve team.

Sheppey and Sheerness United 7 v 0 Erith 147 Sports

Saturday 17th May 2014
Kent County League Premier Division
Holm Park, Halfway (Isle of Sheppey)
Admission: £3.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 58
Match Rating: 3

With options by now extremely limited, with all senior league having completed their fixtures, I chose to head to the Isle of Sheppey today, somewhere that I had always wanted to visit out of curiosity, and to visit a club very much on the up after difficult times for football on the island during the last couple of decades.

Holm Park is about a half hour walk from Sheerness-on-Sea railway station, via the town's high street and passing the ground of Sheerness East - the senior section of which merged with Sheppey United last summer to form Sheppey and Sheerness United - just before arriving at Holm Park. Walking from Queenborough train station - which I did on the way home - is about half the distance but a less interesting walk. Holm Park is currently very much a work in progress, with all the signs pointing to it becoming a very impressive facility in a few years time, as long as the obvious ambition off the pitch is matched with results on it. One enters the car park through painted wrought iron gates with the words “Sheppey United Football Club” across them, and a colourful sign attached to the top of the clubhouse adjacent to the entrance kiosk welcomes visitors to the ground. Once inside, there is a large two storey building formed of several portakabins, with the changing rooms and teabar on the ground floor with a spacious clubhouse on the upper floor, and the whole building was surprisingly airy and smart. Excellent views of the pitch can be had from the first floor clubhouse, which would no doubt be a very attractive vantage point on a winter's day. Along this length is gravel hard standing, with just grass around the rest of the pitch, which is fully railed and has a see-through perimeter fence. The ground has a very rural and peaceful location with an additional pitch visible from the clubhouse side whilst behind the goal to the right of the clubhouse, a power station and Sheerness port's cranes, factories and chimnies are visible in the distance. The installation of floodlights is fairly imminent here, as is a stand, to enable the club to progress up the pyramid. Sheppey and Sheerness produce programmes and whilst somewhat pricey at £1.50 for 16 pages, four of which are advertising and another four containing match photos, it is a very professional looking publication in full colour and credit to the club for producing programmes when they are not required to do so - and are rarely produced - in this league.

Unfortunately there was nothing riding on today's game for either side. Had Sheppey and Sheerness at least drawn at Metrogas last Saturday, a win today would have seen Sheppey win the title, however they lost 0-3, handing Metrogas the title, as they moved four points ahead in their last game of the season. Sheppey were all but guaranteed a second placed finish though, barring a 13 goal swing in favour of third placed APM Contrast, who were also playing their last game today, and with it promotion to the Kent Invicta League. Erith 147 Sports are virtually certain of finishing in seventh place unless they won by 15 goals today. When today's teams met in south-east London back in August, Erith 147 Sports won 3-1.

On a very warm and humid afternoon, an already tough assignment for the visitors became even tougher when they took to the field with just ten players and no substitutes, after four of their players had broken down en route to the ground. And with just four minutes on the clock, the home team took the lead, Dan Bradshaw hitting home from close range after some good passing in the box . A rare foray forward saw the visitors have their best chance in the game on 16 minutes, but a Danny Roots header from a free kick went wide. Sheppey were otherwise completely dominant - on 18 minutes, they had shot cleared off the line and a follow up shot from an angle was blocked, and a minute later, a well worked free kick ended with a shot coming back off the bar, although the linesman raised his flag for offside anyway. On 28 minutes, Bradshaw was through on goal, but the keeper managed to collect the ball as Bradshaw tried to take the ball around him. It was a rare piece of good goalkeeping by the Erith keeper who frequently dropped routine catches and often looked likely to drop a clanger, one of which was punished on 36 minutes. He cleared a backpass straight to Baff Addae, who dribbled towards goal before placing a low shot just inside the post. 2-0 was how it remained at half time, and presumably Erith would have been pleased to have kept it down to two, so dominant were the home side with their numerical advantage.

Into the second half and Sheppey continued their total domination, scoring their third on 55 minutes. Addae took possession outside of the area, had time to think about what to do, before firing a shot towards goal that took a deflection off of a defender to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. A couple of minutes later and it was four, a Sulimain Charm showing a great turn of pace down the right wing to beat his man, eventually cutting the ball back in from the byline to Addae, who teed up Bradshaw to fire home. Ten minutes later and Sheppey again hit the woodwork, with a follow up shot being deflected just wide. The reprieve was to be temporary though, as from the resultant corner, Grant Groom took possession of the ball just outside the area and curled a fabulous shot into the top right hand corner of the net. Erith's players were looking thoroughly dispirited by now, and they went down to nine men for the last quarter of an hour when Matt Arber went off injured. Sheppey's players didn't seem to have the appetite to really turn the screw though, probably due in part to the heat, and it wasn't until the 86th minute when they scored their sixth. Once again a good turn of pace down the right by Charm saw a cross come in, this time low across the box about 10 yards out, and Bradshaw scuffed a shot which went into the net for his hat trick and 37th goal of the season. A minute from time and the third of three clear fouls in quick succession in the penalty area finally resulted in a penalty kick being awarded, and Russell Jeffrey stepped up to stroke the ball home in the top left hand corner. The crowd and other players insisted on Jeffrey taking the free kick, who was playing despite the death of his wife last week. 7-0 was how it ended after what turned out to be a mismatch against weakened opposition, and the scoreline could easily have been double figures but for the woodwork and less than clinical finishing. Credit to Erith's players though who did battle gamely for most of the match in difficult and humid conditions.

Before this game, I stopped off at Sheerness Working Mens Club, home of Sheerness East FC, the senior section of which played there prior to merging with Sheppey United last summer. A few photos of this venue follow, with a junior game about to be played...