Barkingside 2 v 1 Wormley Rovers

Tuesday 30th December 2019

Eastern Senior League

Cricklefield Stadium, Ilford

Admission: £5.00
Programme : £1.00

Attendance: 175

This was very much a bonus fixture for me to see out my groundhopping for 2019, and indeed, the decade. Although no fixtures were originally scheduled for this evening or tomorrow evening in the south-east of England at least, this fixture was hastily rearranged after the originally scheduled fixture on 21st December was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

I had last visited Cricklefield Stadium back in 2010 - not an evening that evokes fond memories for me if truth be told, as I recall a freezing cold evening which I had not prepared for, travelling straight from work, and on my way home, I fell asleep on the train, missing my home stop, ending up stranded down the line with the last train back in the opposite direction having long since left. The Cricklefield Stadium is about a ten minute walk from Seven Kings rail station, with entrance gained through a metal turnstile block, with "Ilford Football Club" painted on it. Indeed, it is a bit of a shame in terms of establishing some identity in the stadium that all of the signage outside and inside the ground is for Ilford FC, the other club using the Cricklefield Stadium. Immediately the other side of the turnstile block is the large clubhouse building, with a bar on the first floor offering good elevated views of the field of play, with hot food available from a outward facing hatch at ground level. There is an uncovered terrace to the front of the clubhouse, which stretches to an all-seater stand straddling the half way line, with further uncovered terracing stretching to the far corner flag. There is a taller uncovered terrace curved around behind one of the goals, with just flat standing behind the other. Along the remaining length, which is closely lined by tall trees, there is further uncovered terracing, save for a section on the half way line covered by a stand. Although there is a running track around the football pitch, it actually does not impact too much on spectators' views, as the lanes are tight and the terrace steps give some elevation. The 12 page programme, which was the programme prepared for the original date, had a well designed and eye-catching cover, was printed on good quality paper, and had a good mix of reading material and statistics.

It is fair to say that recent years have not been kind on Barkingside, who moved out of the Station Road ground that had been their home for 56 years in 2014, and since then, were relegated from the Isthmian League Division One North after three seasons, and their subsequent three season stay in the Essex Senior League came to an end last season, finishing in 19th place, 13 points adrift of safety. They came into this game in ninth place, following eight wins and two draws from their opening 15 league games, but with the top four in line for promotion this season, are only five points adrift of the promotion places, and have games in hand on all but one team above them. After a solid first season in senior football, finishing in tenth place, Wormley Rovers came into this game in 14th place in the 18 club division, following seven wins and seven defeats from their opening 14 league games, but have games in hand on all teams above them, with an 8 point cushion on the club below them, and just 10 points adrift of the top four.

On a cool evening, this turned out to be a most entertaining game to watch, with players seeming to struggle on a tricky pitch, with defensive slips and mistakes not being punished. Barkingside did almost all of the attacking in the opening minutes, denied by a great last ditch recovery tackle following a defensive slip, then a defender threw his body in the way of a goal bound shot, and then after taking advantage of another defender slip, the ball was struck just wide. Then, it was the visitors' turn to create some good chances. A corner was drilled into the near post, with the keeper having to react quickly to divert the ball away, and then within a few minutes, the Barkingside keeper was forced into a couple of very smart saves from long range powerful shots. On 24 minutes, a combination of skill and lucky deflections sent Barkingside's Carl Mullings clear, but he drilled his shot just wide of the left hand post. On 33 minutes, the hosts came close again, when the ball was crossed in from the right, and Mullings just beat the keeper to the ball, but could only head it just wide. They had a couple more decent chances before half time, and they would surely be kicking themselves that they had not converted any of their decent chances, but with the visitors also looking a threat, the game was very much in the balance at the half way mark.

And indeed, on 48 minutes, Wormley Rovers took the lead with a very good goal, Bradley Empson firing the ball over the keeper and into the net from fully 30 yards. Their lead was to only last seven minutes though, Jones playing a one-two with Oates to run through and slot the ball past the keeper from a slight angle. The game was now very much back in the balance - on 58 minutes, the ball came back off the bar directly from a Wormley corner, with a subsequent desperate scramble in the box, from which Barkingside launched a quick counter attack which looked dangerous but petered out with a weak shot in the end. Both sides then had some good chances to go back in front, but it was Barkingside who would take the lead with a quite superb goal. A free kick just outside the outer corner of the penalty area was played short Jones, who dribbled to a more central position before rifling the ball into the far top corner of the net. That proved to be the winning goal as Wormley barely threatened in the remaining minutes. It was a win that Barkingside probably deserved, which sees them rise to sixth in the table, but they certainly came close to paying dearly for spurning several very good chances. Overall, this was a very enjoyable evening's entertainment to finish off the year, and indeed the decade, rewarding the bumper crowd of 175 in attendance, which included several from overseas.

Langford 1 v 0 Bedford

Saturday 28th December 2019

Spartan South Midlands League Division One
Forde Park, Langford
Admission including Programme: £6.00
Attendance: 49

 

I had long since planned to go to Totton & Eling today, to complete the Wessex League. But true to form for a club that is proving incredibly elusive to tick off, a pitch inspection for their game today was announced for 11am, far too late for me to take a chance with no other appealing games in the area as back up, and so instead I headed north to Bedfordshire for this game.

Forde Park is about a half hour walk from Arlesey train station, taking a short cut along a footpath through Henlow Park, which is quite pleasant in daylight hours but is unlit and completely dark at night through a wooded section. The ground is located adjacent to the passing road, with its entrance signposted with a small board placed on the opposite side of the road, and a pair of fixture boards and portable flags either side of the entrance gate with "LFC" painted on. After passing around the clubhouse building, admission is paid for at a large wooden hut, in exchange for a complimentary programme. The clubhouse, located in one corner of the ground, is very spacious inside, and virtually full length windows along the front make it bright and airy, whilst also making it possible to watch the game from inside. A tea bar window, selling drinks, snacks and burgers, is located in the same wall as the bar. There are two small metallic stands either side of the dugouts along one length of the ground, one providing seating, the other four steps to stand on, with just hard standing around the rest of the pitch. A breeze block wall underneath the pitch side railings do little to enhance the aesthetics of the ground, but on a more positive note, there is plenty of green space around three sides of the ground, and tall fir trees naturally enclose the ground. Mention should also be made of the very friendly welcome received throughout my visit, from the gateman to the ladies in the tea bar. The 32 page programme was well presented with an attractive customer and offered decent background in presenting both clubs and relevant statistics, although 18 pages were devoted to advertising - not that that is a criticism of a complimentary programme.

Langford have had a difficult opening half to their league campaign, coming into this game in 17th place in the 19 club Division, following four wins and a draw from their 16 league games, and they had lost their last seven league games, and had won just once since late August - indeed, they picked up nine of their total of 13 points in August. Bedford were in 13th place, following six wins and a draw from their opening 16 league games.

On a very dreary, dank afternoon, this was not a game that will live long in the memory in all honesty, with a distinct lack of quality on show for the most part. Langford opened the scoring on 18 minutes after an initial shot was parried by the keeper, only for the rebound to be struck home despite brushing the keeper on its way through. On 31 minutes, Bedford came closest to levelling the scores when the ball was fizzed in from the left wing, and although surely more intended as a cross, the ball hit the top left corner of the woodwork and bounced clear.

Into the second half and Langford had a great chance to double their lead when the Langford forward managed to wriggle clear of the defence and run towards goal, and then lifting the ball over the advancing the keeper but also just over the bar too. On 52 minutes, a corner was played low to the near post and amid some confusion, the ball ricocheted gently just past the post for another corner. The visitors then managed to create a few half chances, before it was Langford's turn to hit the woodwork, on 86 minutes, when the Langford player had time to take a touch just outside the area before lashing the ball against the crossbar. Bedford applied plenty of pressure in and around Langford's penalty area in added on time, but without coming close to grabbing an equaliser, and indeed in the last meaningful action of the game, the ball was hoofed long downfield following a Bedford corner, which the Bedford keeper tried to deal with but was dispossessed on the wing close to the half way line, but a long range shot at the open goal went just wide, and very soon after the final whistle blew for what was a very welcome three points for Langford.

Langney Wanderers 2 v 2 Little Common

Friday 27th December 2019
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Priory Lane, Eastbourne
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 170

With the choice of visits to either Steyning Town or Langney Wanderers, a trip to the Shooting Field was in some ways more appealing, only because I had visited Priory Lane yet last Saturday, whereas my last visit to Steyning was two years ago to the very day. However, with a fairly long distance trip in store tomorrow, I chose this game instead.

This game would be more of a local derby than might first appear, as although Little Common village is seven miles away from Langney, Little Common Football Club have been playing their home fixtures in Eastbourne for the last couple of years, at Eastbourne United's ground The Oval. The league table hinted at a close encounter, separated by just two points in the table, having both played 18 league games. Langney Wanderers were in tenth place, having won seven and drawn five, but had lost their last three league games. There were two points ahead of Little Common, who had won seven and drawn three of their games.

Whilst I am loathe to criticise printed programmes in any way these days, tonight’s programme was somewhat overpriced at £2, but it had an attractive front cover, was printed in good quality paper, and covered the basics in presenting both clubs, and containing the league table and forthcoming fixtures.

On a cool evening with mist rolling in intermittently across the Pevensey Levels marshland, which became quite thick around the half time interval, this was a keenly contested game, entertaining for the very decent crowd in attendance and which got rather feisty at times and with the outcome seesawing right to the end. The visitors took the lead on 31 minutes, Sam Cruttwell drilling the ball low inside the keeper's near post from a free kick just outside the outer corner of the penalty area. Things got worse for the home side on 43 minutes, when a bad, late tackle provoked some pushing and shoving between the players, and Langney Wanderers' Harry Ducatel was shown a straight red card. Little Common held to their lead in the remaining minutes of the first half, which they just about deserved, showing more of the attacking intent.

However, Langney Wanderers certainly came out reinvigorated, and they got back in level terms on 52 minutes, when Gary Ingram struck the ball low through a crowd of players and past a possibly unsighted keeper following a corner. And three minutes later, Little Common had a player of their own sent off, Kian Mounted, for a late, high tackle, although the Langney players who surrounded the referee screaming for a red card probably had some influence on the decision. And on 62 minutes, Langney went into the lead, a ball down the right found the run of Ingram, and from an angle, he fired the ball low across the keeper and inside the far post. Both teams tested the other keeper with good fierce shots, but on 83 minutes, Little Common equalised, with a touch of good fortune. An initial shot from an angle was parried by the keeper, only for defender Daniel Blackmore to smash the ball high into his own net. Langney had a couple of chances to win the game in the closing minutes, but in the end the points were shared, which overall was probably a fair outcome of the match.

Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here.