Milton United 4 v 0 Abingdon United

Monday 30th August 2021, Kick-off 15.00

Hellenic League Division One

The Heights, Milton Heights

Admission including programme: £5.00

Attendance: 75

For my August Bank Holiday Monday action, I could find no way of making a double including at least one new ground, and so in the end I decided to tick off my final ground in the Combined Counties League Division One with a visit to Wallingford Town. Those plans were scuppered as my train approached Reading, when Wallingford tweeted that the game was off due to the visitors being unable to field a team. Fortunately, I had a back-up plan and plenty of time to spare to go a stop further on the train to pay a visit to Milton United instead, for their local derby fixture against opponents six miles down the road.

The Heights is about a three mile walk from Didcot Parkway train station, taking just under an hour. Not the most pleasant of walks it has to be said, alongside a busy road, but at least it is straight, direct and footpathed all of the way. Spectators enter the ground along one of the lengths, with all of the spectator facilities along this length. To the left of the entrance towards the corner flag is a covered standing area in front of some cabins housing facilities for the physio, ground staff  and laundry. To the right of the entrance is the players' entrance to the changing rooms, and connected to that is a covered stand, with the left third having four rows of individual seating, the right third four rows of wooden bench seating, whilst the middle third provides the entrance to the clubhouse, with a bar and tea bar inside. A few picnic tables have been scattered on grass to the side of the clubhouse, whilst the rest of this length and behind both ends there is hard standing. There is no hard standing along the remaining length. Behind this length further playing fields stretch out, whilst behind both ends, new housing has been recently built, and foundations for more building works have been laid behind the clubhouse length, with views of countryside in the distance. Pleasingly, a 16 page programme printed in full colour is produced by Milton United and is included in the admission price.

Early season form certainly pointed towards a home win today. Milton United had won three and drawn one of their opening five league games, with strangely all of their games so far being played at home. Scoring goals certainly hasn't been a problem for them, averaging four a game with 20 goals scored in five games. Abingdon United have had a difficult start to their season, losing all four of their games so far.

On an overcast afternoon with quite a chilly feel for late August, Milton United took the lead on 7 minutes. A low ball forward into the box saw the Milton player just get to the ball first and tap it around the keeper and although the ball kissed the right hand post, the ball eventually found its way to Brett Gardner, who drilled the ball home through several defenders. Although Milton had the majority of possession and attacking intent in the first half, it was Abingdon who had the standout chances to equalise, with a curled shot coming back off the bar on 19 minutes, whilst on 41 minutes, a header from a free kick forced the keeper to make a scrambled parry on to the bar. 

So at half time the game was very much in the balance, but on 57 minutes, Milton gave themselves some breathing room by scoring a second when a free kick was whipped into the near post, the keeper couldn't claim it and Ollie Nadin bundled the ball home. The game now started to slip away from the visitors, as a couple of minutes later, following a quick break, a shot went just over the bar, and then on 66 minutes the home side scored their third, Nadin drove with the ball from deep on the left, kept on running and evading defenders before striking the ball across the keeper and into the net. They almost scored a fortunate fourth, when a cross from the right wind floated over the keeper and onto the crossbar, but they did find the back of the net again on 70 minutes, when Nadin completed his hat-trick. With Milton's player running through the Abingdon defence at will throughout the second half, it was quite a surprise that they only scored four, but Abingdon did have their moments going forward, and really should have grabbed a consolation on 88 minutes, when an Abingdon player rounded the keeper but could only shoot into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.

Charlton Athletic 2 v 0 Crewe Alexandra

Saturday 28th August 2021, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3.00

Attendance: 13,167 (498 away)

Today it was back to The Valley for the second consecutive Saturday. Not that I was particularly looking forward to it, after last Saturday's desperate performance in losing at home to Wigan, continuing a very average start to the sesaon in which, whilst looking relatively solid, have offered close to nothing going forward. 

Having not played in midweek, Charlton came into this game in the relegation zone, in 21st place following just a solitary point from their opening four league games. Crewe Alexandra had an almost identical record, also only picking up just a point from their opening four league games, with the same goal difference, but had both scored and conceded one less than Charlton. Crewe had not scored since their opening day 1-1 draw at home to Cheltenham. Last season, Crewe finished in 12th place following promotion from League Two. Before the start of the season, Charlton would have fancied theur chances of three points at home to Crewe, no disrespect intended, but with the dire form that Charlton are currently in, this game was probably considered more of a yardstick on how the Addicks will fare against mid-table opponents, where there are worrying signs that Charlton may well be confined to this season unless some decent squad strengthening continues by the end of this season. An interesting signing was made by Charlton in midweek in the form of Elliott Lee, son of Charlton legend Robert Lee, who hopefully will bring some more attacking intent from midfield in due course, and today's game would have an added dimension with Charlie Kirk lining up against his former club, having only signed for Charlton from Crewe a couple of weeks ago.

On a cloudy afternoon, Charlton showed much more attacking intent right from kick-off, looking much more of a threat in the opening stages than they had in their previous two home games, and with just two minutes on the clock Jayden Stockley sent in a inswinging cross to the far post, and Ryan Inniss saw his bullet header parried by the Crewe keeper. Crewe did weather the storm and came into the game more around the 20 minute mark onwards, but Charlton opened the scoring on 36 minutes, when Chris Gunter crossed a perfect ball from close to the left corner flag and Diallang Jaiyesimi forced his way in front of a defender to head the ball home. Within barely a minute, Crewe saw a powerful shot by Callum Ainsley parried away by MacGillivray at his near post, but Charlton doubled their lead on 41 minutes following a quick break. Chris Gunter won possession with a sliding challenge at the edge of his own penalty area, the ball fell to Jaiyesimi, who sent a diagonal ball forward to Connor Washington, who took a touch before playing a slide rule pass into the path of Stockley who had time his run perfectly, and he rounded the keeper before tapping into the empty net.

The second half was fairly comfortable for Charlton in their two goal lead, and had some chances to further increase thier lead, Chris Gunter sending a 25 yard shot just over the bar, and Washington and Stockley both forced smart saves from the keeper. 17 year old Deji Elewere was handed his home debut just after the hour, going on to look very calm and assured. Crewe did have some chances to at least pull a goal back - in the 72nd minute, Callum McFadzean fired in a shot from 25 yards which MacGillivray parried away at his near post, and in the 78th minute, a fierce goalbound header by Chris Porter from a corner was headed away by Albie Morgan. Charlton saw the remainder of the game out quite comfortably to seal their first three points of the season, as well as a clean sheet, which hopefully gives the Addicks something to build on as they attempt to climb the table.

Short video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Mile Oak 4 v 3 Wick

Friday 27th August 2021, Kick-off 19.30

Southern Combination League Division One

Mile Oak Recreational Grounds, Portslade

Admission: £6.00

Programme: £1.00

Attendance: 60 (approximate)

With my partner out with her work colleagues this evening, I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to take in some Friday night football this evening. Whilst a visit to Selhurst Park to watch Crystal Palace Under 23's was very tempting, I decided a Step 6 club needed and was deserving of my money far more, and so I chose to revisit a ground that I had not been to since 2008.

The Mile Oak Recreation Ground is about two miles away from Portslade Station, with buses very regularly plying the route from there, or from central Brighton, which is about five miles away. I drove this evening, with ample parking available in the leisure centre/college car park across the road. Coming straight from work, I fancied a proper meal, and having been recommended to visit the Jolly Eaters Cafe, it certainly did not disappoint. About a ten minute walk from the ground, it serves a good selection of greasy spoon or Asian street food, and my Mauritian Chicken Chow Mein was absolutely superb, with the staff really friendly and attentive, and at just £6 for this and a can of coke, was excellent value. I would not hesitate to recommend a pre-match meal there to others! Back to the ground, and a path leads visitors from the main road past a playground an open space, into a narrow footpath, and after it bends round, the changing rooms are located to the left, whilst spectators go up a flight of steps to reach the ground behind one end (players and officials use a separate flight of steps). Admission is paid for at a hut just inside the gate, with another hut adjacent serves as a tea bar. An all-seater stand is situated behind the goal, and just beyond the goal, where the players come out onto the pitch, a memorial stone has been laid for Matthew Grimstone, their former goalkeeper who was tragically killed in 2015 at the age of just 23 when a Hawker Hunter jet participating in the 2015 Shoreham Air Show crashed onto the passing A27 dual carriageway, claiming the lives of Grimstone and team mate Jacob Schilt as they were making their way to play for their club at the time, Worthing United, along with nine other fatalities. A stand covering the three steps to stand on straddles the half way line, attractively decorated in club colours, and a ledge running along this length makes for convenient improvised seating. Hard standing is available along three sides, with the length opposite the stand not intended for spectators to access. The ground has a really pleasant setting, with a tall grass bank behind the length with the stand, and the rolling hills of the South Downs visible behind the other length. Mention should also be made of a really friendly and cheery welcome given by club officials around the ground, and there is a lot to like about a visit to Mile Oak. The only downside was the lack of a programme this evening, apparently due to the printers, a shame particularly in view of an increased attendance resulting from a Friday night game, but I understand the club does usually issue.

It has been a difficult start to the season for Mile Oak, who came into this game pointless, having lost all four league games they have played so far, as well as bowing out of the FA Cup in the Extra Preliminary Round. On the face of it, this is rather surprising, as they were in the top four in each of the last two abandoned seasons, and were always comfortably in the top half of the final standings in each of the previous eight seasons. Wick have had a better start, winning two and losing three of their opening five league games.

On a gloriously sunny evening, Mile Oak certainly started the stronger, creating a few decent chances, and they were awarded a penalty on 28 minutes when Harry Furnell was brought down in the box. Zak Haukham coverted, striking low inside the left hand post, just beyond the keeper's dive. But their lead was to last barely a couple of minutes, as Wick equalised in the 30th minute, Conor Bull showed good feet before slotting the ball across the keeper and into the net. Mile Oak were still in the ascendancy though, and they went back into the lead on 40 minutes when Jack Stenning drilled the ball from the edge of the area low inside the left hand post. But again Mile Oak couldn't hold onto their lead as the visitors were gifted an equaliser when Bull took advantage of a defender giving away possession just outside his own area, and with the keeper out of position, Bull had the simple task of firing into an unguarded net. 

So 2-2 at the break, and five minutes after the restart, Mile Oak went in front for a third time, when Chris Whittington's cross glanced off team mate's Alex Masters' head, landing at the feet of Furnell, who drilled the ball into the top left corner. The Wick keeper then received lengthy treatment, and did not look comfortable for the rest of the game as he hobbled around. Just like the previous two times Mile Oak scored, another goal soon followed, but this time it was Mile Oak who scored it, giving themselves a cushion with an excellent goal by Ross Smith, drilling the ball low first time from well outside the area inside the left hand post. Yet that certainly did not put the game to bed, as Wick pulled a goal back on 65 minutes when the ball was floated into the penalty area, and after the Mile Oak keeper unconvincingly patted the ball away towards the edge of his area, Ben Gray hooked the ball into an empty net. There was still plenty of time for further scoring, and they really should have equalised on 70 minutes when a Mile Oak defender misjudged the bounce of the ball and the ball fell to a Wick player, but with the goal at his mercy, the ball was struck wide. The game was then briefly halted when a cat decided it wanted to get in on the action, strolling across the pitch before being picked up by a player and escorted off the pitch. Mile Oak then had a great chance to equalise themselves on 83 minutes when a perfectly judged flick on sent Stenning through on goal, but he eventually sent his shot wide of the left hand post. Mile Oak were reduced to ten men when Haukham was shown a second yellow card and then a red, but there was not enough time for Wick to capatilise on the man advantage, as they held onto the three points which their play certainly deserved, as they finally got points on the board at the fifth time of asking.