Sunday 24 March 2024

Chepstow Town 1 v 0 Treowen Stars

Saturday 23rd March 2024, Kick-off 14.30
Ardal Southern League South East Division
Larkspur Drive, Chepstow
Admission including Programme: £6.00
Attendance: 70 (estimate)



With a 25% off voucher for National Express tickets, I decided to book a ticket to Bristol for today, knowing there is always a plethora of games to choose from in that region. In the end, I decided to pop just over the border into Wales, for this game in the third tier of the Welsh pyramid.





Having arrived at Bristol Bus Station at midday, I then quickly boarded a bus for about an hour's journey north eastwards to the charming town of Chepstow - although sadly, I did not have time to fully explore the town. The entrance to the ground is along one length, with admission paid at a wooden hut, with a programme included with admission. Pleasingly, the programme is available to download online as well. Facilities are fairly basic, with no floodlights present. A modern metallic all-seater stand straddles the half way line, with hard standing along the rest of this length and behind one end. The other length has only fairly uneven grass to stand on, although it was the best place to watch the action from today, with the sun behind, while the remaining length is out of bounds. A spacious and modern clubhouse is set back in one corner, with a range of seating options and draught beers available. The ground looks out over the distant hills on the English side of the border, with both Severn bridges are also visible. It is a tidy and well kept ground, with a very friendly welcome from all encountered.






This game would be between two clubs with work to do to remain in the division, particularly the visitors. Chepstow came into this game in tenth place, following seven wins and four draws from their 20 league games, seven points above the bottom three in the relegation zone. Treowen Stars were fourth bottom, only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, but have played a game less than both clubs above them.





A bright sunny afternoon gave way to a heavy hailstorm at the players came out to take the field of play, alhough mercifully that only lasted for a couple of minutes, before the fine conditions resumed and remained throughout the game.Chepstow came close to opening the scoring in the third minute, when a long range shot caught the keeper out of position and the ball came back off the top right angle of the woodwork. But for the rest of the half, the visitors slightly edged proceedings, doing most of the attacking and looking the more likely to score. But neither side did and the scoreline remained goalless at the break.






The second half continued in much the same fashion, although Chepstow thought they had taken the lead on 74 minutes, when a cross was headed into the ground and over the line, but the goal was ruled out for offise. But in the 82nd minute, the home side were awarded a penalty for a trip in the box, and Matty Board drove the spot kick down the middle. In added on time, the visitors saw a corner come back off the post, and they were consigned to another defeat, although they remained out of the relegation zone, with Abercarn United losting last night. As for Chepstow, it was not a great performance by them today, but the three points almost certainly ensures their survival for next season.







Friday 15 March 2024

Charlton Athletic 0 v 0 Portsmouth

Saturday 24th February 2024, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League One
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.50
Attendance: 16,732 (3,155 away)


A match report can be read by clicking here , also copied and pasted below




Brief video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 0-0 Portsmouth

Can the Addicks escape the drop from League One? A goalless draw with the league leaders offered grounds for optimism, reports KEVIN NOLAN.

Still without a win in sixteen games since Cheltenham Town were beaten 2-1 at The Valley nearly three months ago, Charlton are still in dire peril near the foot of League One. But this second successive show of defiance against another serious promotion candidate offered genuine hope of survival. 

After sharing the points with Bolton Wanderers in a six-goal thriller, they achieved a first clean sheet since they demolished Reading 4-0 as far back as October 21st.

Portsmouth arrived in SE7 comfortably top of the table and did their chances of automatic promotion little harm despite dropping two points against a side trailing them by a hardly believable 39 points. They were, however, no better their desperate hosts and left grateful they hadn’t lost. At times during this forgettable game, that seemed entirely possible.

On the basis of horses for courses, Portsmouth were far from unwelcome opposition at this stage of Charlton’s battle to stay in this dreadful division. To say the Addicks have had Pompey’s number for some time now is no exaggeration and it comes as a surprise that they trail 46-40 in clashes between these fine old football clubs. 

There have, of course, been many draws, the most recent of them a 2-2 standoff at Fratton Park earlier this season, thanks to Conor McGrandles’ added-time equaliser.

Describing this bang-average game as forgettable is admittedly misleading. There was too much at stake for both teams and nervous tension alone made it compelling. You couldn’t actually take your eyes off it, below standard though it was, and the explosion of local relief when referee Robert Madley’s whistle brought to an end seven added minutes told its own story. It had, by that time, become unthinkable to lose.

Hyperactive Charlton boss Nathan Jones, though still winless, has introduced an unmistakable core of steel into his new charges. Every one of them gave every inch and every ounce for the cause, the pick of them rock-solid centre-half Lloyd Jones and teenage midfielder Karoy Anderson. 

Jones won everything in the air, while snuffing out 15-goal top scorer Colby Bishop; up-and coming Karoy, as they say, covered every blade of his home grass to devastating effect. The kid’s looking like a hot property so keep it to yourself.


There was much to admire in a gutsy performance, which put into shameful perspective some of the spineless offerings which brought Charlton to the parlous position in which they find themselves. Most football fans will range behind a team, whatever their shortcomings, if they can see they’re giving their best. 

That was clearly not the case earlier in this dismal season. And if players improve like Jones, Anderson and Daniel Kanu, another 19-year-old with considerable potential, that support will be unshakeable.

It was Kanu who came closest to purloining all three points as early as the third minute. Set up by Anderson and the ever-industrious Alfie May, he beat Will Norris with a low drive but was dismayed to see the ball rebound off the far post and neatly into Norris’s hands. 

There were other half-chances in a defence-dominated game, the first of the visitors’ arriving a minute after Kanu’s near miss.

Favoured by the run of the ball, Bishop took aim from close range but Isted rose to the occasion with an instinctive save. Having blown his opportunity, Bishop disappeared into Jones’s pocket and was no bother to anyone for the rest of a tense afternoon.

Before the game settled into stalemate, there were occasional moments at either end, none so pulse-quickening as the double chance which the visitors squandered  in the 16th minute. Joe Rafferty’s right-wing cross presented Callum Lang with a point-blank opening which was brilliantly parried by Harry Isted but instantly returned by Paddy Lane’s looping header. 

Isted was a helpless witness as the ball rebounded off his crossbar. 

Before the break, the lively Tennai Watson’s hard-driven cross was met at the near post but bundled wide by a May-Kanu partnership.

May had contributed a hardworking stint but currently needs a goal for validation. He was replaced on the hour by Chuks Aneke, who brought with him his customary combination of chaos and effectiveness. Soon after replacing May, Charlton’s big talisman helped an impressive Thierry Small fashion a fleeting chance, which Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Reg to his mates) scuffed awkwardly at Norris.

Pompey’s best prospects of breaking the deadlock, meanwhile, lay in converting one of the flurry of setpieces which raised the tension on and off the pitch. 

To that end, dead-ball specialist Jack Sparkes was introduced just past the hour and wasted no time in making an impression. His viciously swerving  corner was superbly touched to safety by Isted, who distinguished himself again when Sparkes stepped up to take a free kick, conceded by George Dobson’s clumsy foul on Marlon Pack. Another wicked curler from Sparkes was finger-tipped  over the bar by the defiant keeper.

The entire Valley held its breath two minutes from time when substitute Myles Peart-Harris broke away from the halfway line and closed on Isted’s goal, with Macaulay Gillesphey and Jones in frantic pursuit. 

As Pompey’s speed merchant shaped to shoot from near the 18-yard line, Gillesphey executed the cleanest of recovery tackles, which whisked the ball off Peart-Harris’ toes. It was a thing of considerable beauty and most of the ground rose to salute it. From a prone position underneath his press seat, your reporter gamely joined in.

Sooner or later, so we hope, Charlton will experience again the satisfaction of winning a league game. In the meantime, they are being kept alive by draws, of which this is the 13th. Only seven games have been won. 

It can’t go on. The fire down below is waiting to consume us. Somebody do something!

Charlton: Isted, Edmonds-Green, Jones, Terell Thomas, Small, Dobson, Tennai Watson (Gillesphey 77), Bakinson (Camara 77), Anderson (Edun 90), May (Aneke 60), Kanu (Tyreece Campbell 90). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Ladapo.  Booked: Bakinson, Jones.

Portsmouth: Norris, Ogilvie (Sparkes 61), Pack, Bishop, Rafferty, Raggett, Moxon, Kamara, Lane (Peart-Harris 73), Lang (Yengi 73), Shaughnessy.

Not used: Macey, Towler, Saydee, Martin.  Referee: Robert Madley

Monday 26 February 2024

Rushden & Higham United 3 v 3 Wellingborough Whitworth

Saturday 17th February 2024, Kick-off 15.00
Spartan South Midlands League Division One
Hayden Lane, Rushden
Admission: £6.00
Programme: Online only
Attendance: 100 (estimate)


I had originally planned a trip to the Dorset / Devon border today, with a visit to one of Bridport, Axminster Town or Honiton Town. However, those plans were altered with more rain falling overnight and into the morning onto already sodden ground, and so I decided to head northwards, where the forecast was a sot drier. It turned out to be a wise decision, as all three of my possible destinations out west were indeed postponed. 




After arriving at Bedford train station, I then made my way to Bedford Bus Station, stopping for a lunchtime curry at Wetherspoons, taking advantage of a special deal there today on Chicken Tikka Masala, before heading my way northwards by bus to Rushden, taking about 40 minutes, with Hayden Road about a 15 minute walk away from the nearest bus stop. Hayden Road is shared with AFC Rushden & Diamonds, and some of the facilities at the ground are closed on Rushden & Higham United matchdays, due to the smaller crowds in attendance.There are two metallic turnstile blocks, but neither were in use today, instead visitors are directed through a corridor and into the clubhouse, with entrance to the ground itself paid for at a table by a door. Facilities are certainly superior to what would usually be expected at Step 6 level, but benefits from the presence of AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who have played at Hayden Road as high as Step 3. A main stand is located just to one side of the half way line, but unfortunately this is inaccessible to spectators on health and safety grounds. There is just hard standing along this length, with a couple of sections of cover in front of the clubhouse building, and where several rows of old fashioned uncovered terrace steps stretch around the corner flag and then intermiittently around the rest of the ground. A further home made wooden stand is located close to the far corner flag, and along the opposute length, which rises a little above pitch level, there is a a fairly long all-seater metallic stand.. Behind the far ends are two modern stands, to one side of the goal is an all-seater stand, whilst to the other side is a metallic stand covering a few steps to stand on. It is an interesting ground with reasnable facilities, but is looking rather run down and could do with a little TLC, but is perhaps indicative of both home clubs falling on relatively hard times - with AFC Rushden & Diamonds looking destined to a return to Step 5 football next season.







A glance at the league table suggested that this should be a comfortable away win, with Rushden down in 18th place in the 20 club division, following four wins and five draws from their 21 league games so far. But they do have games in hand on most clubs above them, and are only behind Letchworth Garden City Eagles on goal difference but have played two games less, and four points behind Eaton Socon, with four games in hand.. Wellingboroigh were up in second place, following 16 wins and five draws from their 23 league games, ten points adrift of leaders Northampton ON Chenecks, but with three games in hand.









A match report from Rushden and Higham United's persepctive can be read below