Hampshire Premier League Supplementary Cup, Group 8
Newman Collard Playing Fields, Liss
Admission & Programme: None
Attendance: 60 (rough head count)
After Tuesday's announcement from the DCMS, and subsequently eventually confirmed by the FA, that spectators would be allowed to attend games held on public land (eg recreation grounds), but not on private land, with immediate effect, it was something of a relief that I could plan to attend a game today without breaking any rules, and perhaps more importantly, safe in the knowledge that my presence would not cause any potential awkwardness for the host club. I decided on a drive just over the county border into Hampshire to take in this very local derby - the clubs separated by just five miles, at a venue that used to host Wessex League football between 2004 and 2008. It would also be a great location from which to go on a five and half mile walk ahead of the game, following a circular route through some very pleasant countryside and wooded areas, taking in the villages of Rake and Hill Brow, via sections of the Riverside Railway Walk and the Sussex Border Path.
Liss Athletic play their home games at the Newman Collard Playing Fields, a well maintained complex of recreational facilities including tennis courts, children’s play areas, and two full size football pitches, located alongside each other. A footpath runs between the two, and provides the only hard standing area available. Along this length, the senior pitch used by Liss Athletic is roped off, with permanent railing around the rest of the pitch. The ground has a very attractive setting, with the opposite length and one of the ends closely bordered by woodland, and looking out from that length, the South Downs can be seen in the distance. Behind the remaining goal, an elevated view can be had on top of a short, steep grass bank, alongside which, towards the corner flag, is the clubhouse building from which basic refreshments could be obtained from the door. Permanent and relatively spacious dugouts are installed, and although floodlights used to be present here, they were condemned and removed a few years ago.
After the Hampshire Premier League was curtailed, a supplementary cup competition was organised, with eight groups of four clubs each in a round robin format, before the competition turns to a knock-out format for four rounds up to the final. Other local sides Headley and AFC Petersfield, both of Division One, join Liss and Liphook in Group 8. Before the regular season was curtailed, Liss Athletic were in twelfth place in the 16 club Senior Division, following four wins and eight defeats from their 12 league games, whilst Liphook were in eleventh, following four wins and five defeats from their 9 league games.
On an overcast afternoon with a very chilly breeze, and after a minute’s silence was observed for the passing of Prince Philip yesterday, the game almost had an explosive start, with Liss seeing a shot clipped just over the bar from a central position. However, it was Liphook who opened the scoring on 11 minutes when, following a block tackle out wide, the ball rolled into the path of Patrick Olliffe, who took the ball forward a few paces before, spotting the keeper caught in no-mans-land, curled the ball over the keeper and into the net. The visitors went on to have the better of the remainder of the half, seeing a couple of shots go just over the bar, before they doubled their lead on 45 minutes. The ball was drilled in low from the right across the six yard box and after a defender missed the ball, Ryan Davis had an easy tap in from a couple of yards out at the far post, to give the visitors a fairly comfortable lead at half time.
Liss were much improved after the break, and they pulled a goal back on 52 minutes when a shot from the edge of the area by Andrew Maunder took a deflection to send the ball over the keeper and into the net, and after forcing an excellent save from the keeper five minutes later, they got back on level terms on the hour mark following a corner when a drilled shot from the edge of the area was diverted past the keeper from close range by Harry Hatherley. Liss were very much in the ascendancy up to scoring their second goal, but Liphook then managed to regain some control of the game, and they went back in front on 77 minutes when a free kick was played into the box, and Tom Bedford prodded the ball home. The result was very much in the balance for the remainder of the game, but despite some decent late pressure from the home side, and with their keeper coming up for a corner, they couldn't find another equaliser, and so it was Liphook who start their cup campaign with a decent away win, along with the local bragging rights.
No comments:
Post a Comment