Charlton Athletic 0 v 0 Middlesbrough

Saturday 27th September 2014
Football League Championship
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 16,110 (1,967 away)
Match Rating: 3

As I travelled to this match aboard the Valley Express, there was a feeling that today could be the day when Charlton's unbeaten record in the league could be broken, considering that today's visitors came into the match in good form, and their visits to south east London in recent seasons have provided rich pickings for them.

Following Charlton's 1-1 draw at Rotherham last Saturday, when they surrendered a lead but by the end, did well to get a point, they came into this game in eighth place, two points and three places behind today's visitors, Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough had won their previous three league games, two of them away, and in midweek took Liverpool to a penalty shoot-out at Anfield in the League Cup, eventually losing 13-14 after 30 penalty kicks. In the league, they had won five and lost three of their eight games so far. Recent history of this fixture certainly gave the visitors plenty of encouragement, winning on four of their last five visits to The Valley.

On a warm, overcast afternoon, this was very much a game of two halves. Middlesbrough dominated the first half with a good brand of passing, incisive football which Charlton struggled to cope with and it only looked a matter of time before the visitors would take the lead, coming close to opening the scoring on several occasions.

Into the second half and the home side got much more of a foothold in the game, although it wasn't until the last twenty minutes when the game really opened up. On 77 minutes, Rhoys Wiggins crossed from the right and Frédéric Bulot adjusted well to hit a volley on the turn, but the ball came back off the right hand post. The game was finally really coming to life now, with some full blooded challenges going in, and it came to the boil on 82 minutes when Albert Adomah was sent off for going into a challenge with Wiggins with a very high boot. It merited a red card, although the referee, who had a really poor game throughout, missing countless clear pushes and shirt pulls in a very erratic display, awarded a second yellow card to Adomah. Even here the referee initially pointed towards a free kick to Middlesbrough, causing much bemusement, until it transpired he simply pointed the wrong way. It summed his overall performance well. The sending off really gave the initiative to Charlton though, coming agonisingly close to snatching a winner in added on time at the end of the match. First, sub Lawrie Wilson drilled a powerful low shot that the keeper did very well to push aside at his near post for a corner, and then from the resulting corner, Wiggins saw his downward header cleared off the line. But both teams had to make do with a point apiece, which was probably fair overall, but in many ways the emotions after this game were the complete opposite to those after the Rotherham game. Then, Charlton seemed to be on course for a win but did well to hang on for a point - this week, it seemed only a matter of time before Charlton would fall behind and probably lose during the first half, yet by the end there was real disappointment that they couldn't quite snatch the three points. A point against very good quality opposition who will surely make or come very close to the play-offs was most welcome, and note should be made of a very impressive away following today, considering the long journey down from Teesside.

Video highlights of this match can be found here

Eastbourne Town 4 v 0 Shoreham

Tuesday 23rd September 2014

Sussex County League Division One

The Saffrons, Eastbourne

Admission: £6.00

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 115

Match Rating: 4

This evening I decided to make a return visit to The Saffrons. It has only been just over a year since my last visit, but it’s a nice place to watch football, with a friendly, relaxed environment in very pleasant surroundings.

There have been no changes to the ground since my last visit in August 2013, and the programme remains of good quality – very professionally produced, with all of the information one could want about the game, home and visiting clubs.

After a disastrous season, in which saw their seven year stay in the Isthmian League Division One South come to an end after finishing bottom, 16 points adrift of safety, Eastbourne Town are having a better season this time around at the step below. They went into this game in eighth place, winning four and drawing one of their seven games so far. Shoreham were in eleventh place, having won three and drawn two of their eight games so far, although they are unbeaten in their last five league games, having lost their first three.

On a dry evening with a slight chilly edge to it, Eastbourne would completely dominate this game from start to finish, displaying an impressive brand of energetic football, closing players down effectively, winning the ball through strength in challenges, and passing the ball at a high tempo. With seven minutes on the clock, they took the lead. An initial shot was parried out by the keeper, and Danny Ellis stroked the ball low just inside the post.  On 22 minutes, they were awarded a penalty for a trip towards the edge of the area, and Joe Dryer converted straight down the middle. They had plenty of chances to make their lead even more convincing, most notably on 32 minutes when a bullet header from a corner flew just over the bar. With Shoreham struggling to live with the home team and resorting to increasingly aggressive fouls, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when they had a player sent off, Craig Stevens for kicking out.

One felt that the result was beyond reasonable doubt at half time following the sending off combined with the two goal lead for Eastbourne, and it was all but confirmed within three minutes of the restart when Eastbourne scored their third. A cross was played in from the left, and Dominic Clarke glanced a well-judged header out of the keeper’s reach and into the net. Shoreham did have the odd chance on the break, their best chance of getting on the scoresheet coming on 51 minutes, when a backpass by an Eastbourne defender towards his goalkeeper was intercepted, but the Shoreham man couldn’t get sight of goal quickly enough before defenders blocked the ball away. On 62 minutes, Eastbourne scored their fourth, when the ball was laid back in the area and Liam Baitup drove the ball just inside the post. Quite how the scoreline remained at 4-0 until the final whistle is anyone’s guess, as Eastbourne rained in shots that were either well saved and went just wide or high of the goal. However, this was a performance that will surely give Eastbourne Town a lot of confidence which, if repeated more often than not throughout the season, will surely see them comfortably inside the top six. As for Shoreham, this was a poor performance that brought an abrupt end to their five match unbeaten run, although they were up against a team in very good form this evening.

Rotherham United 1 v 1 Charlton Athletic

Saturday 20th September 2014
Football League Championship
New York Stadium, Rotherham
Admission: £23.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 9,620 (1,106 away)
Match Rating: 3

Having missed Charlton's home midweek 1-1 draw with Wolves, today I ventured north to South Yorkshire to follow the Addicks away, to tick off my penultimate ground currently in the Football League Championship.

The New York Stadium is situated very close to Rotherham town centre and train station, and is unusual in that is not bland, soulless with a uniform appearance that one usually encounters these days with newly built stadia. This one has an attractive and varied design, which looks quite out of place in its industrial and decaying surroundings. All four stands, which are joined together with seating filling the corners, are single tiered, and are similar in appearance, with fairly steep banks of seating to a similar height throughout. The main stand is larger than the others, with executive boxes in the central third along the top of the seating. The stands behind both goal featuring 'steps' down to meet the lower height of the stand along the remaining length. This stand also features a couple of floodlight pylons, featuring a circle design. The ground is very sensibly designed with a 12,000 capacity, considering the relatively low fan base of the club, ensuring the ground should very rarely have large sparsely populated areas on matchday, and with the steep rows of seating close to the pitch, the stadium is very conducive to a good atmosphere. On arriving by coach attention ground, I noted Rotherham's former ground, Millmoor, still standing, with its floodlights still in place, on the opposite side of the road to the New York Stadium. I wanted to have a look around, but unfortunately several traffic jams along the M1 meant that my coach only pulled up at the stadium less than twenty minutes before kick-off, further delayed by some rather chaotic stewarding outside of the ground.

Charlton came into this game still unbeaten after seven games and in fifth place in the table. A still scarcely believable situation following the struggles of last season and considering the plentiful doom-mongers in the summer who reckoned that the club being part of Roland Duchatelet's network of European clubs, with players being swapped between them, was sure to end in tears. On paper, today's opponents were the weakest team Charlton have played this season with Rotherham, following back to back promotions, in 19th place in the 24 team division, after winning two, drawing one and losing the other four of their seven league games so far. Surprisingly, today would be first time the two teams have met for over 31 years, and Charlton haven't won in Rotherham since 1963.

On a very overcast afternoon, it was Rotherham who seized the early initiative, looking to attack in the opening minutes, although gradually Charlton got more and more into the game, which became rather end to end and with both teams having decent sights of goal. It was Charlton who broke the deadlock with a fantastic goal from Icelander Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Taking the ball from the right wing and jinking past a challenge, he drove goalwards and curled a lovely low shot into the far corner from about 25 yards. They perhaps should have extended their lead before half time, looking dangerous as they attacked, forcing several good saves, although Rotherham had the odd chance themselves. But as half time arrived, hopes were high that Charlton could claim their first away win of the season.

However, Rotherham would completely dominate the second half with a high tempo, attacking approach that Charlton really struggled to contain, and it appeared that their defence was breached on 59 minutes, but Jordan Bowery's far post header from a left wing cross that was flicked on was ruled out for offside. The hosts did equalise on 70 minutes though, with a poor goal to concede. Tal Ben Haim slipped in possession and the ball found its way to Ben Pringle on the left wing, who looped a cross high over the keeper Stephen Henderson, and Luciano Becchio headed home at the far post. Charlton really were on the ropes and one got the feeling that they would do well to escape with a point now, although finally in the last ten minutes or so, they showed more attacking intent and almost retook the lead on 86 minutes. Substitute Frédéric Bulot drove in from the left and his eventual shot squirmed past keeper Scott Loach and rolled goalwards but Loach pounced on the ball in time. Rotherham had the final chance to win it though, as Lee Frecklington saw his shot from well outside the area go just over the bar. Despite taking the lead, Charlton did well to take a point from this game, as Rotherham put in a very impressive performance in the second half, which Charlton struggled to cope with for long periods. Charlton fell to seventh in the table following this point, while Rotherham remain in nineteenth.

Video highlights of this match can be found here

West Ham United Ladies 0 v 1 Copsewood Coventry Ladies

Sunday 14th September 2014
Women's Premier League Southern Division
Mill Field, Aveley
Admission including Programme: £4.00
Attendance: 70 (estimate)
Match Rating: 3

It was very much a last minute decision to take in this game, only discovering the fixture whilst surfing the internet this morning, tempted by being able to tick off a new ground which, I had heard, has plenty of character, but is expected to be consigned to history by next season, with the club planning to move into a new ground in time for next season.  

The Mill Field is located just to the north of Aveley village, with the Dartford Crossing in view about five miles southwards and one passes Thurrock's Ship Lane ground between the two. The ground simply oozes history and character, harking back to how non league grounds used to be. One enters in one corner of the ground, and along the length is a large, open terrace, behind which, straddling the half way line is a large old fashioned imposing all-seater stand. Set quite high up, painted in club colours and with wooden fold up seats, it offers very good views of the action from its elevated position, although views are fairly distant, as the playing area is some distance from the bottom of the terrace. Behind the far goal from the entrance, there is a modern metallic stand covering a few terrace steps, whilst straddling the half way line on the other side is a rather precarious looking small area of cover. Hard standing is available around the rest of the ground. Whilst the ground does not contain the creature comforts of a modern or recently refurbished stadium, and it is a rather dilapidated, it made a wonderfully refreshing change to visit a ground with real character, and a visit before it gets bulldozed is highly recommended. A very basic 12 page programme was given away free with admission, and included a page that appeared to be intended for a previous match. That apart, it covered all the basics sufficiently.

Under the leadership of former West Ham and Liverpool legend Julian Dicks since the summer, apparently after offering his services for free, West Ham United Ladies have had a solid start to their season, winning two and losing the other of their three games so far, although they went out of the League Cup at the first hurdle. Newly promoted to this level, Copsewood Coventry Ladies have lost both of their opening games, and also exited the league cup in the first round.

On a dry afternoon that was warm when the sun was out but cool when it frequently clouded over, the visitors started the stronger, usually first to the ball and seeming to pose more of an attacking threat. Indeed, they deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes, when Nicola Foskett got on the end of a low ball forward through the defence, just tapping home before the onrushing keeper could get there. The rest of the half was quite even, although the visitors had the better chances to score again, Foskett coming closest of all when she drove in from the right before firing a low shot across the keeper which struck the inside of the post and rolled across the goal line. But they retained a deserved narrow lead at the interval.

Into the second half and West Ham looked a much improved team, keeping the ball much better and were stronger on the ball and in the tackle, whilst Copsewood barely had sight of goal in the second half. But although West Ham Ladies mounted plenty of attacks on Copsewood's goal, no real gilt edged chances were created and Copsewood held on fairly comfortably their first win in the third tier. 

Charlton Athletic 1 v 0 Watford

Saturday 13th September 2014
Football League Championship
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 17,268 (3,199 away)
Match Rating: 2

After three Saturdays, or almost a month, without a Charlton home game, it was with considerable excitement that I headed to the Valley today, given Charlton's excellent start to the season, with today's visitors relatively local, whose fans would fill up the away end, and who have also started the season strongly.

Since beating Derby at home on 19th August, Charlton drew their two subsequent away games, a goal three minutes into added on time securing a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield, and then a goal conceded three minutes to added on time meaning Charlton had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Brighton. In between these matches, Derby gained a measure of revenge for their league defeat by winning 1-1 at Pride Park in the League Cup. Charlton went into this game in sixth place, three points behind second placed Watford. They have won all three of their home games so far, and won one and lost the other of their away games. Somewhat surprisingly given their strong start to the season, they had a new manager in the dugout today, former Brighton manager Oscar Garcia taking over from Guiseppe Sannino.

On a muggy afternoon, this game had an electric start, with Charlton earning a penalty kick inside the first two minutes. August's player of the month, Igor Vetokele, ran onto a forward ball from Jordan Cousins and as he tried to take the ball around the former Spurs keeper, Heurelho Gomes, he was brought down, earning Gomes a yellow card. Yoni Buyens struck the ball low to the left, sending Gomes the other way. That was as good as it got for the home side, as Watford had some good chances during the rest of the half, the pick of which saw Troy Deeney curling a shot against the outside of the post, although Charlton looked fairly comfortable in possession.

Into the second half and both teams played good possession football, although as the half wore on, Watford looked increasingly threatening, although once again Charlton's defensive partnership of Tal Ben Haim and particularly Andre Bikey looked extremely solid, and even when Watford found a way through, Stephen Henderson pulled off some smart saves. On 77 minutes, Watford thought they had equalised, when Troy Deeney slotted into the net after Lloyd Dyer's deflected shot had hit the post, but the linesman had raised his flag for offside. With Watford pressing hard for an equaliser, Charlton had a couple of chances on the break, and as the game entered extra time, they tried to keep the ball close to the corner flags but all too easily surrendered possession, inviting Watford to pour forward. Charlton just about hung on for the win though, a win which they earned through their resolute defence, although Watford could certainly count themselves extremely unfortunate to have not gotten anything from this game. Charlton rose to fifth in the table following this result, whilst Watford dropped to fourth.

Video highlights of this game can be viewed here