Portland United 2 v 1 Fareham Town

Saturday 13th April 2019
Wessex League Premier Division
New Grove Corner, Portland
Admission: £6.00
Programme: 80p
Attendance: 126

Despite feeling somewhat under the weather today with a cold, I decided to have a long day out today to one of senior football's outposts, in order to tick off my last ground in the Wessex League Premier Division before the end of this season. It would certainly prove to be a case of saving one of the best till last.

To get to Portland by public transport, it is necessary to walk from Weymouth train station to the Esplanade, and then catch a bus, taking about half an hour with some spectacular views along the way on the approach to the "isle" along the Chesil Beach tombolo and then looking back from high up to the mainland, and New Grove Corner is about a five minute walk from the nearest bus stop. A fixture board, along with the club's name engraved onto a low stone wall, are located at the entrance to the complex from the main road, and after walking up a modest slope and through a car parking area, the entrance to the ground is located behind one of the goals. Once inside, the ground just oozes character, very neat and tidy, and very little in the way of bland modern identikit furniture. A really friendly and welcoming feel to the place started as I entered the ground, and continued throughout my visit. A tea bar window is located within the same small kiosk as the entrance window hatch, whilst a large sky blue building resembling a large residential house (at least in terms of its shape) is located towards the corner flag. A large bar area is located upstairs, offering an excellent vantage point of the action on inclement days - indeed, this ground is renowned for being not for the faint hearted on wintry days, with its elevated and exposed location. Behind the goal closest to the entrance is a stand containing varieties of bench seating inside. Stretching along the length closest to the clubhouse it is possible to stand on top of a steep grass bank, with four wooden benches also available to sit on. A glimpse of the sea is visible from this area, and along the bottom of the grass bank there is hard standing. On the opposite side, a stand straddles the half way line, with two rows of seating inside, and this length is lined with a stone wall - very apt in Portland - with a row of houses close behind. Behind the remaining end there is just hard standing. The programme was a real bargain, priced at just 80p and consisting of 32 pages, it is packed with interesting reading material and stats, has a rather eye catching, colourful layout, and a few jokes and quizzes to add some variety. An insert is even provided with the actual line-ups once they have been confirmed ahead of kick-off. Little wonder that the club has won awards for its programme in recent years.

Portland United have had some great times in recent seasons, winning the Dorset Premier League twice before being promoted to the Wessex League as runners-up in the 2014-15 season, and then immediately going on to win Division One and then the Premier Division in successive seasons. Last season proved a little more tricky, finishing in 15th place in the 22 team division, but they are back towards the top end of the table this season, coming into this game in fifth place, following 18 wins and three draws from their 34 league games. With a nine point deficit to third placed Bournemouth Poppies, albeit with two games in hand, a fourth placed finish is probably the best that Portland can aim for. Their recent form has been poor though, losing their last five league games, including a defeat to today's opponents 1-0 last month. Fareham Town came into this game in 17th place, following 11 wins and four draws from their 36 league games, but they are assured of survival. They were also not in the greatest of form though, losing their last three league games since that win against Portland.

Fortunately overcast conditions ahead of kick off gave way to bright sunshine throughout the game, albeit with a chilly breeze remaining. The opening goal came with barely two minutes on the clock, when Sam Buckler nodded home a corner to give the hosts the lead. That was not a sign of things to come really, as the first half was a competitive battle but with few chances being created by either side. On the stroke of half time though, a hopeful punt from deep on the wing swirled in the wind and the keeper had to be alert to tip the ball over the bar.

Into the second half and Portland did double their lead on 49 minutes, a perfectly judged low cross from the left allowed an unmarked Ryan McKechnie to tap the ball home. Fareham pulled a goal back on 58 minutes when a low diagonal ball forward found Lamin Jatta, who took a couple of touches before firing the ball low across the keeper and just inside the far post. Fareham were well back in the game now, although Portland had the clearer chances to score again. But deep into added on time, Fareham had a golden chance to grab a share of the points. Following time wasting by the corner flag by Portland, a long punt forward by the keeper ended in a shot on the turn flying just over the bar. And shortly after, the final whistle blew and Portland claimed the three points, which saw them rise into fourth place in the table.

What was already a long day out for me would be extended still further when a "fatality on the line" at Havant meant that I was stranded at Southampton station for a couple of hours, eventually having to go via Fratton and arriving at Brighton far too late for the last connection home, thereby requiring a taxi journey required to complete my journey, finally getting home at about 1.30am. This did not detract too much from what was a thoroughly enjoyable day out at a highly recommended place to visit, both the island the club itself.

Burton Albion 3 v 1 Barnsley

Saturday 6th April 2019
Football League One
Pirelli Stadium, Burton-upon-Trent
Admission: £18.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 4,310

Today would be the first of a few "champagne jobs" I have planned before the end of the season, this one completing League One for me, with just a visit to Forest Green Rovers left in order to complete the Football League 72.

The Pirelli Stadium is about a half hour walk from Burton on Trent train station, along a busy main road parallel to the railway line. Opened in 2005, it is pleasing on the eye outside as well as inside, with a smart colour scheme of black, grey and yellow, is compact in nature and sensibly sized - albeit it was probably inadequate to host Championship football as it did for the previous two seasons. There is car parking around the outside of the stadium, with a small club shop and ticket windows next to the stadium's main entrance. When purchasing my ticket, I opted to stand on the covered terrace stretching along one length, with covered terraces also available behind both goals, one end being allocated to away supporters. All of the terrace stands are similarly designed, sized and shaped, and the remaining length offers covered single tiered seating, below hospitality suites along the top. A small section of the seating is also allocated to away fans. Indoor bars are located within the home terrace stands, and the terraces are accessed by climbing a flight of stairs and along a balcony along the top of the terrace. Along the balcony in the stand I was in, there were a couple of nice, colourful murals prepared by schoolchildren. The 72 page programme was a decent read, well designed as well as covering all of the essential stats and facts.

This match would be between two clubs relegated from the Championship last season, although realistically only Barnsley are in the mix to make an immediate return. With six games to go, they require just one point to be assured of a play-off spot, and they went into this game in the second promotion spot, three points ahead of third placed Sunderland but have played two games more. They have been in outstanding form recently, unbeaten in the league since early December, a run of 20 games that had included 12 wins. They have won 22 and drawn 13 of their 40 league games. Burton would need something of a miracle to achieve a play-off spot now, as they are ten points adrift with seven games left to play, having won 14 and drawn 11 of their 39 league games. The reverse fixture took place in February, ending in a 0-0 draw.

On a warm and sunny afternoon, the hosts started on the front foot, and were rewarded with the opening goal in the fifth minute. Scott Fraser ran onto the ball and fired a low shot across the keeper, who parried the ball, only for Jamie Allen to shoot the rebound home. Burton kept pushing forward, and were denied a penalty for an apparent handball, and in the same move, Liam Boyce was booked for simulation. The game then settled down as Barnsley controlled possession, but rarely looked threatening, and overall Burton quite comfortably made it to half time a goal in front.

But within a couple of minutes of the restart, the hosts should have doubled their lead, Boyce running clear of the defence for a one-on-one with the keeper, but in trying to lob the keeper, Boyce dinked the ball quite comfortably into his hands. The game then followed a similar pattern to the first half, Barnsley looking good in possession, without delivering any end product, and it was Burton who had the clearer chances. And indeed, they doubled their lead on 81 minutes, when Boyce was again sent clear through on goal, but this time he struck the ball powerfully to the side of the keeper. That seemed to be game over, certainly for some of the Barnsley fans who headed for the exits. But Barnsley were handed a lifeline by the referee, who did seem to favour the away team with his decisions all afternoon, and awarded the visitors a penalty for some reason that evaded all those present. But Cayley Woodrow slammed the penalty into the bottom left corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. One wondered if Barnsley would go on to salvage a point they would not really have deserved, but justice did prevail when Burton restored their two goal lead on 89 minutes. Boyce took possession by the outer corner of the penalty area, and spotted Markus Harness in space in a central position, and he stroked the ball home. That really did seal the three points, their third win in succession, all at home, and brought Barnsley's long 20 match unbeaten run to an end.  A bad afternoon became even worse for Barnsley as both Sunderland and Portsmouth won, both of whom can now overhaul Barnsley by winning their games in hand. Interestingly, Burton still have Sunderland (away, on Tuesday) and Portsmouth at home left to play.

Bexhill Rovers 2 v 3 Wadhurst United

Monday 1st April 2019
Hastings FA Junior Cup Final
The Pilot Field, Hastings
Admission including Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 150 (estimate)
Match Rating: 4

This evening I decided to attend another of the local cup finals being staged at the Pilot Field this season, this time the Hastings FA Junior Cup Final, between two clubs in the East Sussex League, but with two divisions between them

Based on league standings, Wadhurst United would certainly have been considered strong favourites to lift the trophy this evening. They are unbeaten in the league in the second tier of the East Sussex League, Division One, following nine wins and three draws from their 12 league games, are already assured of promotion in second place, and they have winning the division in their own hands, as they are ten points behind leaders Punnetts Town, who have completed their fixtures, but with four games left to play. Bexhill Robers have also had an excellent season, but two divisions below Wadhurst, in Division Three. With all fixtures having been completed in that division, they have been crowned champions, following 13 wins and three defeats from their 16 league games. To reach tonight's final, Wadhurst had beaten Pebsham Sibex 0-4 away, Crowhurst 6-3 at home and then Icklesham Casuals 2-3 in the semi-final, while Bexhill Rovers beat JC Tackleway 5-0 at home, St Leonards Social 2-4 away, and then Rock-a-Nore 2-3 away.

On a chilly but dry evening, a real shock looked on the cards as the lower ranked team were the better team throughout the first half as Wadhurst struggled to get into any rhythm. They did have the first clear chance on 9 minutes though, when a free kick was powerfully headed just over the bar, but on 19 minutes, Bexhill Rovers took the lead. The ball was played through the defence for Iain Stuart Powell to run onto, and he struck the ball low across the keeper and inside the far post. And they doubled their lead a couple of minutes later, the ball was played low to the near post, and Aaron Cochrane just got enough on the ball to divert the ball gently inside the near post. They were looking good value for their two goal lead, but on 35 minutes, Wadhurst pulled a goal back with a scruffy goal. Following a clash between the Bexhill keeper and a Wadhurst forward, the loose ball was tapped home from close range by James Mitchell. With no clear chances during the remainder of the first half, the underdogs held the advantage at the break.

On 53 minutes, Bexhill were given the opportunity to restore their two goal lead when there referee awarded a penalty on the advice of the linesman for a foul by the keeper. But the Wadhurst keeper saved the penalty to his left, and that was to prove the pivotal moment of the game. On 59 minutes, Bexhill saw a long range swerving shot tipped over by the keeper, and two minutes later, a Wadhurst free kick was parried by the keeper and the rebound bundled just wide. But Wadhurst did equalise on 68 minutes following a free kick from the left, a slight touch by David Jackson diverting the ball into the net. And on 74 minutes, Wadhurst went into the lead. A free kick was struck against the top corner of the woodwork, an attempted clearance from the six yard box looped up and hit the bar, and then the loose ball was tapped home by Kieran Tincombe. Bexhill kept on battling to get back on level terms but they did seem to tire, and their keeper looked in real difficulty towards the end after being on the receiving end of some robust challenges. They had one last chance to force extra time deep into added on time, when an inward curling cross was headed over the bar. It was not meant to be for them, but they can be really proud of their performance tonight. In front of a group of vociferous supporters, Wadhurst lifted the trophy on the pitch shortly after the final whistle, and they now go on to chase down the Division One title along with promotion back to intermediate level in the Premier Division.