Hamble Club 3 v 2 Cowes Sports

Saturday 27th January 2018
Wessex League Premier Division
The Abbey, Hamble-le-Rice
Admission: £5.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 54
Match Rating: 3

After a dry Friday and waking up to bright, albeit frosty conditions this morning, on the face if it, today promised to be a much more straightforward affair compared with last Saturday's very wet conditions wreaking havoc on fixture lists. This was the match I had always intended to head for anyway today, and the club’s positive tweet in the morning that it would be "game-on" was good enough for me to make my way there. However, the forecast was for rain to arrive on the south coast during the late morning, and so it duly arrived, threatening a very late call-off - as indeed would happen next door, when the match at Folland Sports was called off about an hour before kick-off.  Happily this game did survive, although that must been a rather borderline decision right up to kick-off arrived.

The Abbey is a short, five minute walk from Hamble train station, and after turning off the main road, one enters a complex of several playing fields and facilities for the local squash club and sea scouts. After passing to the side of a brick building, which houses the changing rooms, a small rather clinical bar area offering cans of alcohol, and some chairs, the entrance is to be found in one corner of the ground. After paying admission at a wooden hut, a small container type building is adjacent offering refreshments. Along the far length, there is quite an attractive low but long stand running for about two thirds of the length, painted in club colours of yellow and black and with three rows of wooden benches to sit on inside. There are supporting pillars along the front, but it makes a refreshing change to see a recently constructed stand that is “home-built” and has character. There is just hard standing behind both goals, while the remaining length is not really maintained and it is not possible to walk past the dugouts. Tall trees along the length behind the stand offer a pleasant backdrop, smaller trees line one end, the car park and clubhouse is visible behind the other length, whilst the expanse of playing fields behind the goal closest to the entrance, with see through fencing around the two open sides of the ground. Hamble Club are notoriously unreliable issuers of programmes, and one was not produced today, and even though completed team boards are almost always to be found at Wessex League games (always a really good and positive feature of this league), they were left blank here today.

Hamble Club, who have achieved back to back promotions from the Hampshire League, came into this match in tenth place, following nine wins and eight draws from their 27 league games, and quite impressively have reached the last 16 of the FA Vase, and play their Fifth Round match next Saturday. Cowes Sports were in 19th position in the 22 team division, following seven wins and four draws from their 25 league games, but are seven points ahead of the two teams below them.

Just 15 minutes ahead of kick-off, the match officials were still testing the run and bounce of the ball, and although the goalmouths contained puddles of water, the rest of the pitch was not too bad, and so the game kicked off, with all concerned hoping the misty heavy drizzle would not become more substantial and open up the possibility of an abandonment. Happily, that did not happen, and a decent game was produced considering the difficult conditions. The first half was even, although with barely a minute on the clock, the visitors almost took the lead with a freak goal, the Cowes keeper sending a long punt downfield with the home keeper misjudged, the ball bouncing over him but dropping just wide of the post. But it was Hamble who went ahead on 23 minutes with a terrific free kick fired into the top left corner by Brad Magookin, but Cowes equalised on 42 minutes after they were awarded a penalty for a trip to the outer corner of the area as the players heading out of the area, and John McKie rolled the ball into the bottom right of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Cowes started the second half in the ascendancy and came close to taking the lead on several occasions, but it as Hamble who went back in front on 66 minutes. A free kick just outside the area taken by Coby Wilson took a large deflection to wrong-foot the keeper and the ball rolled into the opposite side of the net. On 74 minutes, Cowes were awarded their second penalty of the game, but this one was weakly struck and was parried wide by the keeper low down to his right. That was to prove costly for the visitors, as Hamble opened up a two goal lead two minutes later. An excellent cross came in from the right wing, which Nick Watts met with a clean first-time finish to steer the ball into the net. Cowes did manage to pull a goal back, but not until the game just entered added on time. This time it was their turn to see a low shot by McKie take a large deflection to wrongfoot the keeper and the ball found its way inside the near post. There was not time for Cowes to grab an equaliser, which probably would have been a fairer reflection on the game.

Bexhill United 4 v 2 AFC Varndeanians

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
Southern Combination League Division One Cup 3rd Round
The Polegrove. Bexhill-on-Sea
Admission: £4.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 57
Match Rating: 4

I decided on a rare midweek game this evening. Midweek games do not seem to come along that often at The Polegrove, and for quite an interesting looking cup tie, I paid my first visit in almost three years.

The Polegrove, which is now sadly the only senior football ground in Bexhill after the sad demise of Sidley United's home ground at The Gullivers and Little Common starting a groundshare at Eastbourne United's home ground The Oval at the start of this season in order to preserve senior football, had remained unchanged in recent years. The beautiful large old fashioned stand still sits proudly straddling the half way line, which offers good protection against sea breezes, although not against swirly drizzle, as conditions were this evening, resulting in all the wooden steps being wet through. The clubhouse remains between the entrance behind a corner flag and the stand, a plastic pathway provides hard standing behind the goal closest to the entrance, with just grass behind the other goal and along the remaining length. The 28 page programme was very good considering the level, containing interesting articles and more than the necessary stats and facts, and an acceptable level of advertising.

Bexhill were in sixth place in the Southern Combination League Division One (second tier of the Sussex County League in old money), having won 12 and drawn four of their 23 league games, and a top three promotion spot is still to play for, of which they are currently six points adrift. AFC Varndeanians were in 15th place in the 18 team division, having won five and drawn three of their 23 league games. The two teams have already met home and away in the league this season, with Bexhill completing the double, 1-4 away in September and 2-1 at home in December.

On a mild evening with frequent showers of swirling drizzle, the pitch was in remarkably good condition considering how much rain had fallen in the last week, and Bexhill were the better team throughout this match, but this was entertaining game despite a soft pitch and the poor weather conditions, and the outcome remained in doubt virtually throughout. Bexhill took the lead in the 32nd minute, when a corner was headed at the back post back across goal, and Gordon Cuddington headed home. The visitors came close in the 37th minute, when Connor Martin just beat the keeper to a long low ball played into the area and poked the ball goalwards but a home defender got back in time to clear the ball. On 42 minutes, Bexhill were awarded a penalty after their striker Georges Gouet was pulled back, but Craig Ottley's penalty was saved by the keeper to his bottom right. But two minutes later and Bexhill did score their second with a very similar goal to the first. This time it was Cuddington with the far post header following a corner and Lewis McGuigan headed home. Things were looking comfortable for Bexhill, until the visitors were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time, when David Altendorff was fouled by the keeper as they both tried to get to a forward ball first, and Ryan Walton struck the ball into the bottom left corner.

So the game was very much in the balance at half time, and two minutes after the restart, AFC Varndeanians saw a far post header by Martin was blocked by the keeper. And within a minute, Bexhill reopened their two goal lead. Liam Foster raced from midfield into the area, and his shot was saved by the keeper, and the ball deflected across the goal into the path of Georges Gouet, who drilled the ball home. The game seemed to be meandering towards a fairly comfortable home victory, until the visitors pulled a goal back on 82 minutes, when a mis-hit shot was headed home by Elliott Wood. The game was suddenly right back in the balance until Bexhill scored their fourth on 88 minutes. The ball was lofted forward for Corey Wheeler to run onto, shrugging off a defender as he raced forward before passing the ball via a deflection to Wayne Giles, who tapped the ball home. The game was up for the visitors, but at the end of normal time, they saw a shot from the edge of the area tipped over, and four minutes into added on time, they saw a header from a corner headed off the line. And so it was Bexhill who deservedly progressed to the semi final.

London Lions 3 v 1 Buckingham Athletic

Saturday 20th January 2018
Spartan South Midlands League Division One
Rowley Lane, Arkley
Admission including Programme: £5.00
Attendance: 20
Match Rating: 3

Today was a classic winter’s morning when it was difficult to make plans, with heavy overnight rain followed by steady drizzle throughout the morning causing the vast majority of non-league games, particularly at Steps 5 and 6, to steadily have their games called off. I had originally shortlisted a visit to London Lions, and when I saw tweets that their game would most likely be on, that is where I headed. As rain fell quite heavily throughout my walk from the train station, with standing water all around, I did fear a late postponement. Although there was a back-up of a revisit to Boreham Wood against Dover Athletic, I did not really fancy paying £18.00 to get in and so it was a relief when I arrived at Rowley Lane to find players warming up and the pitch in relatively excellent condition.

Rowley Lane is about a two mile, half hour walk from Elstree & Borehamwood train station, and the football ground is located amongst a complex of various grass and 3G pitches, with a very spacious and quite attractively decorated clubhouse located next to the car park, although it very much has more the feel of a function room. Spectators enter the football ground towards one corner behind one of the goals, through a pre-fab turnstile lock, to find a very neat and tidy ground, that was refurbished in 2015 to allow them to progress back into step 6 football this season, without having to groundshare as they had to during their last stint. There is a relatively large modern all-seater stand along one length, which offers excellent unobstructed views, and there is a small refreshment hut to one side, although that was not in use today. Along this length there is just hard standing, as there is behind both goals, although behind the goal opposite to the entrance, the path has quite a steep incline towards one of the corners. The remaining length is inaccessible to spectators. Perched above the rest of the complex, one can view the other pitches behind the stand, and trees line the opposite length and behind one goal. Although the ground is enclosed, this is only by see-through fencing. An 8 page, black and white programme was included with admission, half of which detailed the club's history, with only one page giving a recent report and the top half of the league table, and the predicted team line-ups on the back page.

London Lions are having a good first season back in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One after winning the Hertfordshire Senior League last season by 23 points, and came into this game in fifth place, following 13 wins and three draws from their 22 league games. Buckingham Athletic were in ninth place, having won nine and drawn five of their 19 league games.

On a grey afternoon with light rain continuing to fall during the first half, the saturated pitch had a big effect on the game, as players struggled to keep their footing and were deceived by inconsistent roll of the ball, particularly in and around the far goal mouth which London Lions were attacking in the first half. The home side took the lead on 4 minutes with a superb free kick from just outside the area into the top left corner by Austin Lipman, with the keeper rooted to his spot. The visitors had a good chance on 7 minutes, when a ball forward sent their striker through, but his eventual shot after checking back hit the keeper's legs. On 16 minutes, the ball was played forward into the penalty area for the London Lions forward to run onto and although the keeper looked favourite to get there first initially, the ball held up in the pitch, allowing the forward to get there first and the keeper brought him down. The ball spilled loose for another home player to strike the ball just high of the goal, but the referee awarded a penalty, a contentious decision following the subsquent shot on goal. After much arguing, Adam Bolle struck the ball low in off the left post, with the keeper hardly moving and who was subsequently booked. On 23 minutes, the hosts were again helped by the pitch holding up the ball as it otherwise would have gone out of play, allowing the ball to be crossed to a central position but it was struck over the bar. The visitors were looking rather forlorn in the poor conditions and feeling hard done by with some of the decisions of the officials, however on the stroke of half time, they were awarded a penalty when the ball was dinked forward into the box and the keeper brought down the striker as he ran onto the ball. Matt Cruse drilled the ball low to the left of the keeper, to get his team right back in the game.

The rain finally relented during the interval, and thankfully did not return, and the second half was an even affair, with both teams carving out the occasional decent chance, and on 83 minutes, Buckingham were awarded a penalty by the referee when the forward appeared to be brought down as he ran into the area and along the byline. But after the referee talked to his assistant, the decision was rescinded, finally deciding the defender made contact with the ball, and a drop-ball was given.  The visitors came close again on 87 minutes, when a deft back pass set up a strike on goal, which the keeper parried and the loose ball was struck against the outside of the near post. But London Lions sealed the three points with an even better free kick by Lipman than his first, struck from fully 30 yards as the ball weaved and swerved its way just inside the far post with the keeper again rooted to his spot.

London Lions certainly deserved the three points, although the conditions certainly helped them on their way, partly with some favourable runs of the ball on the saturated pitch, but also they adapted to the tricky conditions much better and more positively. Being wet and increasingly cold throughout following my rainy walk to the ground, it is fair to say I have had better groundhopping days, however hats off to London Lions for being the only club in both divisions of the Spartan South Midlands League to get a game on on grass today, and it was nice to visit a friendly club with relatively well-appointed facilities.

Grimsby Town 1 v 2 Newport County

Saturday 13th January 2018
EFL League Two
Blundell Park, Cleethorpes
Admission: £18.00 (in advance, match day price £20.00)
Programme: £2.00 (in advance, match day price £3.00
Attendance: 3,397
Match Rating: 3

 

Ticking off Blundell Park was always going to be something of a challenge, given that Cleethorpes is something of an outpost for someone based in the south-east corner of England and with cheap travel tickets hard to come by. However, a sale by Virgin East Coast offered affordable tickets, giving me a long awaited opportunity to visit an interesting, old-fashioned football stadium which, unsurprisingly, is living on borrowed time as the club look to relocate out of town in the next few years.

Blundell Park is about a 20 minute walk from Cleethorpes train station, and going to the ground I decided to walk along the seafront, not the most charming of walks on a grey January afternoon, but it did allow me to approach the ground with the floodlights and the tallest stand towering above the surrounding houses. Around the outside, everything oozes charm and character, that is a world away from the usual modern bland facilities installed in the Football League these days. I collected my match ticket and programme from the club shop, which I had ordered online for respective £2 and £1 discounts, and then made my way into the lower tier of the Young’s stand, which has seven rows of seating and is the only area in the ground to offer unobstructed views. The upper tier apparently offers very good elevated views of not only the action but also of the North Sea in the near distance, but does have supporting pillars to obstruct views. Although the Young’s stand is by far the tallest and most imposing stand, what is called the Main Stand is opposite, much lower and is very old fashioned, indeed is one of the oldest structures in the Football League, part of it dating over 100 years, and it appears cosy and intimate inside, although with that comes some views with a low roof, supporting pillars and the dugouts in the way. The stand is continuous around a corner (which does not contain any seating) and behind the goal, and this area houses the away fans. Behind the remaining goal there is a separate all-seater stand, again with some supporting pillars along the front. It is a ground to really enjoy, with something for everyone's tastes, and it will be a sad day when the ground is consigned to history in a few years' time. The 68 page programme was really good and excellent value at £2 when ordered in advance.

Grimsby came into this game in quite poor form, having lost their last three league games without scoring, and had only picked up one point and scored one goal in their last six league games. They were in a comfortable position in the league, in 15th place having won nine and drawn seven of their 27 league games, 13 points clear of the relegation zone and nine points adrift of the play-offs. After two seasons finishing just one place above the relegation zones, things are going well for Newport County this time around. They were in 11th place, having won ten and drawn nine of their 26 league games and were four points adrift of the play-offs. They also beat Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend, and can look forward to hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the next round.

On a grey, chilly afternoon, Grimsby had slightly the better of the early exchanges, and came close to opening the scoring on 7 minutes when Scott Vernon broke clear of a defender but his shot hit the keeper's legs. But it was the visitors who took the lead on 19 minutes, Robbie Wilmott firing a powerful low shot from just outside the area, beating the keeper at his near post. Newport then went on to control the game for the rest of the half, and had two goalbound efforts cleared by defenders on 39 and 44 minutes.

A crucial moment of the match came on 55 minutes, when Vernon forced a very good save by the keeper, and within a minute, the visitors doubled their lead. Frank Nouble cut in from left wing  before firing in a low shot which would not have been that dangerous but it took a deflection off defender Karleigh Osbourne to wrong-foot the keeper and send the ball inside the near post. The visitors were looking very comfortable, until the hosts introduced two substitutes on 67 minutes, which suddenly gave their team more impetus. One of those subs, Jamille Matt, got Grimsby back in the game on 80 minutes, when he received a ball at his feet deep inside the area and although his initial shot was blocked by the keeper, the ball looped up and the keeper could only punch the ball into his own net under pressure from Matt, who was awarded the goal. That gave hope to the same players and fans that they could still get something from this game, but their task got harder when Matt was shown a straight red card for an apparent elbow as he contested a ball lumped forward. Grimsby were given some renewed hope when the fourth official indicated eight additional minutes, but in truth they never looked likely to grab an equaliser, and the visitors gained a deserved victory as the Grimsby fans voiced their frustration at a toothless performance, having voiced their desire to see their manager Russell Slade sacked.

After the match, with my train not leaving Cleethorpes until 6.25, I wanted to sample the famous Grimsby haddock and chips, and the Ocean Fish Bar certainly did not disappoint, some of the finest I have had, and afterwards I stopped off at the equally excellent Message in a Bottle, a bottled beer shop (as well as a bar), from which I picked up a couple of local ales by Axholme Brewing Company - the Cleethorpes Pale Ale and Mariners Winter Ale, brewed in honour of Grimsby Town Football Club.

Video highlights of the match can be found by clicking here.