Whitecroft & Barton Sports 0 v 3 Shanklin

Saturday 26th November 2022, Kick-off 14.00
Isle of Wight League Division One
Sandy Lane, Newport
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Attendance: 100 (estimate)

Yet another rail strike restricted my options today, although fortunately for me, my most local rail company, Southern, were unaffected by the action taken by ASLEF train drivers today. I decided to head for the Isle of Wight, which always makes for a really pleasurable day out, for this top of the table clash between the two dominant clubs in the island league.

After a ten minute flight on the hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde Esplanade, I then caught a bus to Newport bus station, and then another bus southwards to Blackwater Junction, with this journey going past the derelict former home ground of Newport IOW, St George's Park, some four years since the ground was vacated. Somewhat surprisingly, all of the stands and the floodlights remain in place, as it awaits the green light for redevelopment.

Sandy Lane is certainly out in the sticks, with about a twenty minute walk along a narrow rural country single track road from a local bus stop, and then up a narrow access lane, which is more akin to entering a farm, before reaching the ground deep in the countryside. Facilities here are above average for the Isle of Wight Saturday League, with a large clubhouse building straddling the half way line, which has changing rooms in the rear half and plenty of lounge chairs to the front, a tea bar hatch offering hot and cold drinks and snacks, and with large windows all the way along the front offering a good, elevated and indoor view of the action, although the view is partly obscured by netting and the roof of a covered seating area below at ground level, with a row of about 30 individual seats inside. There is considerable undulation to the pitch, both lengths and one end are roped off, and the field extends some way behind one length in a triangle formation, which has enabled the grounds to host cricket but on football matchdays is used for parking. The grounds are naturally enclosed by trees, and there is really green, pleasantly rural and peaceful feel to the place, and the clock tower of the former Whitecroft Hospital behind one corner makes for an unusual and attractive sight.

This match would be between the two stand-out teams in the Isle Of Wight Saturday League, so much so that, even in November, today's game could well prove to be a title decider, with both clubs unlikely to drop many, if any, points against the other clubs in the league. And indeed, both clubs have had 100% records so far, apart from a goalless draw between them last month. Whitecroft and Barton lead the table, having won their fourteen games played so far, whereas Shanklin have played two games less. Shanklin are already ten points ahead of third placed Cowes Sports Reserves, having played a game less. Shanklin just pipped Whitecroft & Barton to the title by a point last season, having been victorious in the game between the two clubs in the final week of the season, which brought to an end a run of six consecutive title winning seasons for Whitecroft & Barton.

On an overcast and chilly afternoon, with rain arriving in the second half, this really was a game of two halves. The first half was dominated by the home side, and they would rue being unable to convert at least one of about half a dozen excellent chances to open the scoring. Shanklin really struggled to get a hold on the game, looked shaky at the back, and they were not helped when they were temporarily reduced to ten men after having a player sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes. That wasn't too much of a surprise, as the game certainly had an increasing edge to it, and became increasingly scrappy, which seemed to suit the visitors better.

The second half started off in a similarly scrappy fashion, and it was beginning to look like the two clubs would be playing out their second goalless stalemate. But Shanklin were looking much better in this half, and they took the lead on 64 minutes, when a corner was met with a glancing header y Macauley Watterspn to send the ball past the keeper and into the net. And they doubled their lead on 70 minutes, when the ball was whipped in from the corner flag, taking a deflection into the path of Ji Nash at the back post,  who tapped in from close range. And the visitors added some real gloss to the scoreline in the first minute of added on time when the ball was played forward for Finlay Lloyd to run onto clear of the defence, before calmly rounding the keeper, who had come out to the edge of his area, and passing the ball into the empty net. And with the three points sealed today, this really does make the title Shanklin's to lose, as Whitecroft & Barton will have to spend the remainder of the season chasing Shanklin, hoping for a slip up.

St Andrews 1 v 7 Hucknall Town

Saturday 19th November 2022, Kick-off 14.00
United Counties League Division One
Canal Street, Aylestone
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 104

I decided it was time to take advantage of a very cheap coach trip to the East Midlands today, thanks to converting some Tesco clubcard vouchers. The Megabus stop is conveniently located within comfortable walking distance of several grounds to the south west of Leicester, and I chose the closest one for my destination today.

After arriving at the Fosse Park coach stop, I then made my way on foot across countryside, the Aylestone Meadows Nature Reserve, and finally along a short stretch of the Grand Union Canal, before arriving at Canal Street, with the one and a quarter mile walk taking just under half an hour. The gates to the ground are painted in striped club colours of black and white, with St Andrews FC spelt across them. A club sign is posted just inside the entrance, including next fixture information - although that has not been updated since September. A gravel car park runs along one length of the perimeter fence of the ground, but the area beyond parallel to the half way line is gated off, reserved for players and officials. Admission to the ground is gained through a full height turnstile, located next to a fairly small stand containing three rows of plastic seats, and wooden bench top seating along the rear. The clubhouse building is located some way behind the stand, with a modern bar area and a tea bar offering a good range of hot food and cold snacks inside, and a several picnic tables are laid out on a grass area between the clubhouse and the pitch. Behind one end, there is a fairly long olive coloured stand covering a flat standing area, and a very similar stand is located along the length opposite the clubhouse. This stand is dual facing, with another covered area behind the rear wall facing towards the adjacent secondary junior pitch. There is just hard standing along the rest of this length and behind the end closest to the entrance. For Step 6, facilities here are very decent and smart, if lacking somewhat in character.

St Andrews have had a slow start to their season, having won only four and drawn three of their opening 17 league games, and came into this game down in 17th place in the 21 club division. A win at home last Saturday was certainly welcome, bringing to an end a run of four straight defeats in the league, discounting a home win against Blidworth Welfare, who subsequently resigned from the league and therefore the result that day has been expunged. So today’s game would be tough for St Andrews, against a club who were in the Conference North between 2004 and 2009, and have made a decent start to this season, up in fourth place following eleven wins and three draws from their 18 league games. The reverse fixture of today’s game was played back in early August, with Hucknall winning 4-0. 

When I arrived at the ground an hour ahead of kick off, the weather was very grey and gloomy with drizzle falling. But by the time I had enjoyed a pint, burger and chips in the clubhouse, I came out to a gloriously bright and sunny day. The visitors opened the scoring on 9 minutes when a St Andrews player was dispossessed towards the corner flag and the Hucknall player dribbled along the byline before passing low across the six yard box and although one player saw his prod at goal blocked, the ball spilled kindly for Joseph Ashurst to tap home from close range. The visitors had a goal ruled out for offside on 11 minutes, and barely a minute later, St Andrews really should have equalised, but after receiving the ball and one on one with the keeper, the forward screwed the ball horribly wide. And on 20 minutes, Hucknall doubled their lead after the ball was played forward for Craig Westcarr to run onto and strike low into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area. They opened up a three goal lead on 23 minutes when a cross cum shot dropped towards the back post for Aaron Short to head home. St Andrews certainly had their chances to get back in the game, but were denied by another horrible finish and then a double block by the Hucknall keeper and then a defender. But after the half hour mark, the visitors started creating good chances again, and put the goal beyond realistic doubt on 37 minutes when they scored their fourth following some quick passing inside the box ending with Ashurst firing low into the bottom left corner.

Hucknall started the second half on the front foot, creating plenty of chances to extend their lead, and it was a surprise when the next goal actually came from St Andrews, on 72 minutes, when an initial shot from an angle squirmed under the keeper, and the ball was tapped home virtually on the goal line, with the goal credited to Kaden Stokes. But Hucknall restored their four goal lead four minutes later when Joe Butler ran onto a through ball, rounded the keeper before slotting into the empty net. The visitors scored twice in stoppage time, both by Butler, who had come on as a substitute, to seal his hat-trick and complete an emphatic away win, although in truth, they really should have made double figures, but for several chances they missed, along with at times trying to be a bit too clever in laying the ball off instead of taking shots on goal. St Andrews certainly had their moments to score more themselves, but obviously, their defence looked a real weak point today, and they will certainly need to tighten up in that area if they are to avoid a survival scrap in the new year.