Little Common 2 v 1 Westfield

Tuesday 9th September 2014
Peter Bentley (Sussex League) Cup Second Round
Recreation Ground, Little Common
Admission including programme: £4.00
Attendance: 87
Match Rating: 4

For this evening's fare, I decided to take in what had the makings of an enjoyable and competitive game - a 1066 country derby, between two seemingly evenly matched teams in a cup game.

The Little Common Recreation Ground has not seen any ground improvements since last season, and so still green translucent sheeting has to be installed around half of the ground, which will continue to prevent the club from being able to be promoted even if the team earns the right on the pitch. It still remains a very pleasant place to watch football though, with the usual friendly and hospitable atmosphere here, as well as a fairly scenic background. The programme has had a facelift since last season, looking much more professional and its 24 pages, with plenty of colour used, covers all the basics sufficiently.

This evening's derby would be between two teams in the Sussex League Division Two. After finished fourth last season and third the season before, Little Common have made a disappointing start to this season, winning one and drawing one of their four league games so far. They did beat near neighbours Bexhill United 4-3 at home in the first round of this competition, and this evening's teams met in the league here a fortnight ago, with the match ending 1-1. Westfield have had a slightly better start, winning one and drawing two of their four league games. They received a bye in the first round of this competition, but they did have a fabulous result in another cup competition on Saturday, winning at Division One outfit Eastbourne United in the RUR Cup.

On a sunny evening, which became moonlit in the second half, it was the visitors who had the first big chance of the game on two minutes. A header over the defence beat the offside trap allowing David Pugh to run through on goal, but keeper Matt Crutwell tipped the eventual low shot wide. On 12 minutes, Little Common had a great chance to take the lead, when they were awarded a penalty, following player-manager Jethro Warren's foul tackle of Jared Lusted in the box. Little Common's player-manager Russell Eldridge, normally so accurate from dead-ball situations, saw his low shot shave the outside of the left hand post and go wide. From the resultant goal kick, Westfield had a great chance themselves to score, with the goal kick headed on into the path of Richard Saunders, but his shot went over the bar. Both teams traded good goalscoring chances, the highlight of which was a free kick which Pugh drove powerfully onto the crossbar. Indeed, Westfield could probably feel slightly aggrieved not to have taken a lead into the half-time interval, as they were the better team throughout the first half.

The game continued in a similar vein in the second half, with plenty of chances created and either wasted or forcing good saves, but it wasn't until the 66th minute when the deadlock was broken. Lusted played a low ball through to Lewis Hole, and from left of goal, hit a low shot into the opposite corner. The Westfield keeper Carl Morris had been in outstanding form, pulling off some terrific saves to keep his side in the game, but he might have been disappointed he couldn't get anything behind the shot. He certainly was extremely disappointed he failed to prevent Little Common's second goal on 73 minutes, Eldridge placed a beautiful low pass through the defence to Hole, who took a touch before firing home, going through Morris' hands and legs. That seemed to deflate Westfield for a while, but as the game entered added on time, they gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Matt Dadswell tapped in a cross from close range after a shot was parried by the keeper. Westfield almost forced extra time when Terry Payne played the ball low across goal at pace, which just evaded a couple of players in the box. But it was indeed Little Common who progress to the next round, their reward being yet another home time, this time again
Division One outfit Hailsham Town.

Gosport Borough 0 v 1 Boreham Wood

Saturday 6th September 2014

Conference South

Privett Park, Gosport

Admission: Free

Programme: £2.00 

Attendance: 643

Match Rating: 4

For this year's Non League Day, after trawling through the Internet during the preceding days to find the most attractive promotion or activity day at a club I had not previously visited, I chose a return to Hampshire for the second time in seven days, although this time to the east side of the Solent. Gosport Borough has been on my radar for a long time, and when the club announced that they would be offering all Football League season ticket holders free entry, instead of the usual £13.00, I set off along the south coast once more armed with my Charlton Athletic season ticket.

Privett Park is not the easiest of grounds to access by train, which is probably why I haven't visited before today. Portsmouth Harbour station is the closest, but requires a 5 minute ferry crossings and then a two mile walk or bus ride. Instead I opted to alight at Fareham station, five miles away from the ground but with a very regular bus service taking about 20 minutes. The football stadium is located on a recreation ground, and backs onto a cricket ground. Once inside, it's an interesting ground that has a few charming aspects to it, but overall is a rather forgettable place, although credit for a very neat, tidy and spacious facility, the result of some extensive ground improvement work over the summer. One enters behind a goal, where there is the clubhouse, which is as plain and soulless on the outside as it is on the inside. A covered step immediately to the front of the clubhouse is a popular vantage point, with hard standing available close to the pitch. Moving from the corner flag there are some low buildings housing the tea bar and clubhouse shop, whilst straddling the half way line is probably the highlight of the ground, a tall old fashioned blue stand. It has bench seating and has plenty of obscuring pillars, but it remains a welcome change from the modern stands - of which one is placed on the opposite length. Beyond the main stand is a double decker hospitality suite, newly installed and looking a little bit odd but no doubt a vital source of revenue for the club. Above this stand, one can see Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower from the Main Stand. Behind the remaining goal is just hard standing. The programme was excellent, an all too rare example of a programme being worth two pounds. Containing 56 pages, with a reasonable level of advertising, there was more than enough of interest to read about the club's various teams, today's opponents and the league in general. A slight blip was the front cover stating a 19.45 kick off for this match.

Both teams have made good starts to the season, particularly Gosport, who were one of only teams unbeaten so far this season, and had conceded just one goal. They have won two and drawn three of their five games so far. Boreham Wood have won three and drawn one of their games so far, but have also lost two, having played a game more than Gosport.

On a humid and only occasionally sunny afternoon, this match started extremely competitively and end to end, and both teams creating reasonable chances, although a pattern soon developed of Boreham Wood playing good football along the ground whilst Gosport tended to launch their attacks with a more direct approach, although the forward balls tended to lack accuracy. More clear cut chances started to develop around the half hour mark when Gosport had the chance of the half. A cross to the edge of the area was chested down by Steve Ramsey, who thumped a fabulous shot on the turn which came back off the bar. Three minutes later and the visitors had their best chance of the half, but Austin Lipman struck a powerful shot just wide of goal from the edge of the area. On the stroke of half time, the home side again came agonisingly close to taking the lead, but Ramsey's powerful goalbound low drive was cleared off the line by a defender. 

Boreham Wood started the second half very much in the ascendancy playing good possession football and carving out some good chances as Gosport struggled to make an impression. The visitors deservedly opened the scoring on 57 minutes. Following some good passing in and around the penalty area, a perfectly judged pass found Lee Angol to the left of the goal, and after advancing a few paces, thumped a low shot past the keeper and into the far corner. Although the home side came more into the game as the second half wore on, one had the feeling that Boreham Wood would hold out, until the last minute of normal time. Gosport would be denied by the woodwork for a second time, when Tom Dunford's curling shot came back off the bar, and within moments, Mike Carter struck a powerful shot past the keeper but the ball went just the wrong side of the far post. In the last of six minutes of additional time, Gosport's keeper came up for a corner and almost got his head to the ball, but after the ball was blocked, a further cross was intercepted and cleared upfield, although Boreham Wood players did not show enough urgency to have a shot on the unguarded net. They did force three desperate blocks in quick succession, but the referee then blew the full-time whistle. This was an entertaining game which, on the overall balance of play, Boreham Wood deserved to win, yet Gosport could count themselves extremely unfortunate to have gotten nothing from this game, having hit the woodwork twice and a shot cleared off the line.

Video highlights of this game can be found here

Sedlescombe Rangers 7 v 1 Crowhurst

Tuesday 2^nd September 2014

Pre-season Friendly

Oaklands Park, Sedlescombe

Admission and Programme: N/A

Attendance: 27 (head count)

Match Rating: 3

This match was another bonus midweek game which had little attractive about it apart from being on my way home, although it would allow me to complete the set of visiting current grounds in the East Sussex League Premier Division.

Oaklands Park is located close to the centre of the pretty and peaceful village of Sedlescombe, which is located about seven miles north of Hastings. As one enters the complex from the main road, and after passing the attractive wooden pavilion building housing the changing rooms and then the cricket square, one arrives at the football pitch, behind one of the goals. There are no spectator facilities, although the setting is pleasantly rural and peaceful. Colourful trees closely line one length, whilst along the other is a hedge, beyond which is a slope leading up to trees. Concealed along both lengths are streams, from which football regularly have to be hooked during the game. Behind the remaining goal opposite to the clubhouse one can see countryside far into the distance.

Having watched Crowhurst, of the East Sussex League Division Two, comfortably beat Robertsbridge United last Thursday with a surprisingly solid and attacking display, it would be interesting to see if they could repeat that level of performance against another team in the Premier Division, Sedlescombe Rangers. Sedlescombe were promoted from Division One as Champions last season, and can probably look forward to a comfortable season in mid table in the season ahead.

On a sunny evening, with the game kicking off slightly ahead of schedule, at 6.25pm, it soon became very apparent that there would be no repeat of Crowhurst’s impressive performance against Robertsbridge this evening. In fairness, it did look a very young and inexperienced team this evening. With four minutes on the clock, a Sedlescombe forward saw his header from a cross come back off the bar, but they did take the lead on seven minutes. A diagonal ball into the box evaded the defender, and the striker struck a low shot across the keeper and into the net. Two minutes later and Sedlescombe had a shot come back off the post and the follow-up shot was blocked. Surprisingly, Crowhurst managed to notch an equaliser on 19 minutes. The ball was launched forward, and whilst the Sedlescombe defence appealed for offside, the Crowhurst man found himself beyond them. He took an age to control the ball and advance forward, before hitting a shot into the bottom right hand corner from the edge of the area. On 27 minutes, Sedlescombe retook the lead, when a Sedlescombe player ran from virtually the halfway line, outpacing the covering defender, before smashing the ball past the keeper from close range. Three minutes later and the hosts made it 3-1. The ball was floated in from deep, and a glancing header guided the ball over the keeper and into the net. On 37 minutes, it was 4-1, with a good finish with the outside of the boot from the edge of the area after a good passing move. They almost scored a fifth on 41 minutes, when a cross from the left was met by an outstretched boot, which could only shoot the ball over the crossbar.

The half time scoreline was a fair reflection of the first half, and if anything Crowhurst’s goal slightly flattered them. But they held out for 13 minutes before conceding again, this time a lovely pass was played around the defender, allowing the Sedlescombe player to cross the ball low from the right, and was tapped in from close range at the far post.  On 65 minutes, Sedlescombe scored their sixth, when a good passing move around the box ended with a player running onto the ball and stroking it inside the near post. On 79 minutes, Crowhurst were almost gifted their second, when a Sedlescombe defender was caught in possession, and the striker took a touch before seeing his powerful shot deflected just wide by the keeper. On 88 minutes, Sedlescombe made it 7-1 when a cross from right to left was drilled in across the keeper and into the net. They should have scored an eighth in added on time, but a lovely dribble and passing move into the box ended with a shot screwed wide of goal from a central position. But 7-1 was how it finished, which was a fair reflection on proceedings, and although this was a fairly entertaining game to watch, the gulf between the two teams was great and the flow of the match was not helped with mass rolling substitutions. Sedlescombe will certainly face far tougher games than this in the Premier Division, but their passing game of ball retention, with a solid looking defence, augers well, although despite scoring seven this evening, did not appear particularly creative. One presumes that Crowhurst fielded a weakened, experimental side this evening, and that they will take last Thursday’s performance levels into the Division Two campaign this season.

Bashley 0 v 2 Winchester City

Saturday 30th August 2014

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Bashley Road, Bashley

Admission: £6.00

Programme: £2.00 

Attendance: 160

Match Rating: 3

My desire to take in an FA Cup game at a new ground meant a long trip was in prospect for me today. I eventually decided to head along the South Coast and into the New Forest.

Bashley Road is about a 20 minute walk northwards from New Milton train station and is a rather disappointingly unremarkable rural ground. Walking down a short drive from the main road, one is confronted with a large yellow and black fence welcoming visitors to the ground, with a turnstile block to one side, although this was closed today. One enters behind one goal, noticing the ground is surrounded by trees, which gives it a pleasant, naturally enclosed feel, however in all honesty, that is where the charm ends. Adjacent to the entrance is the village hall, beyond which is a much shorter, flat roofed building containing the clubhouse and refreshments bar. Between the clubhouse and the pitch, there is hard standing. Stretching from a corner flag to the half way line is a press box and commercial office and then an all-seater stand, whilst beyond the half way line are two further stands covering terrace steps. Behind the remaining goal and along the other length is flat hard standing. The 40 page programme was somewhat old fashioned in that it was printed in black and white throughout, inside a colourful cover. But it proved a more interesting read than more colourful and glitzy programmes often produced these days at this level, with an acceptable level of advertising.

After their very existence looked in grave danger towards the end of last season, when it had to rely on the generosity of supporters to see the season out, Bashley have had a poor start to their campaign in the Southern League Division One South and West following relegation last season. They are second bottom, having picked up just one point from their opening six games. Winchester play a step below Bashley, in the Wessex League Premier Division, but are one of the favourites to gain promotion this season, having signed the management team and several players including prolific striker Warren Bentley from Alresford Town. They've had a solid if unspectacular opening to their season, in 14th place in the 22 team division, winning two and drawing one of their four games so far, although they have up to four games in hand on all other teams in the division. Unlike Bashley, Winchester entered the FA Cup in the Extra Preliminary Round, winning 2-5 at Lymington Town. Today's teams met in a pre-season friendly in mid July, with Winchester winning 0-4.

On an overcast afternoon, Winchester completely dominated the first half, to the extent that one would have thought the home side were the underdogs desperately trying to keep in the game. Winchester took the lead on seven minutes, when a throw in was helped on and couldn't be intercepted, until Bentley stroked the ball past the keeper. How they did not extend their lead by half time was anyone's guess, being camped in Bashley's half and creating and missing countless chances whilst also having a shot cleared off the line. Bashley were lucky to still be in the game at the interval, having had an absolute shocker of a half, with their players being too slow and too lightweight.

Things could only get better for Bashley, but they were a team transformed after the break, looking much more threatening and creating several good goalscoring opportunities. Winchester still looked threatening on the break though and the game really could have gone either way. In the end, with seven minutes remaining, Winchester scored a second to seal their passage into the next round. A surge into the box ended with the ball being played across the area, allowing Bentley the easy task of stroking the ball home. To their credit, Bashley still pushed for a goal, but it was Winchester who, in terms of league status, claimed a giantkilling scalp, but in reality they deservedly progressed to the First Qualifying Round, where they will play the winner of Bemerton Heath Harlequins and Bournemouth Poppies. Although the season is still very much in its infancy, based on today's evidence with results so far, the smart money would be on these two clubs swapping divisions at the end of this season.