Tower Hamlets 1 v 2 Enfield 1893

Saturday 11th November 2017
FA Vase Second Round
Mile End Stadium, London
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 77
Match Rating: 3

At the conclusion of my midday kick off at Redbridge, I had to part company with the Essex Senior League groundhop event, as there would be no chance I would be able to get to the nominated game at Waltham Forest (against Woodford Town) anywhere close to on time for the 2.30 kick off there. So instead I raced back to Barkingside tune station and hopped on a Central Line underground train to Mile End, for a match in the FA Vase. It was perhaps convenient in keeping the day exclusive to the Essex Senior League that both clubs ply their trade in that league.

The Mile End Stadium is about a ten minute walk from Mile End tube station, much of it through Mile End park. Spectators enter through the sports centre building, paying admission at a turnstile inside. Spectator facilities are extremely basic, with most people sitting in the stand, which offers a good elevated and mostly unobstructed view, although views of the game are distant thanks to the running track in between. Virtually everyone preferring to stand did so on the flat standing along this length, although it is possible to walk all the way around the outside of the running track. There are a few steps of uncovered terracing towards the corner from the main stand. A leisure centre wall opposite the main stand offers quite a colourful background, behind one end there are trees in the adjacent park, with colourful leaves today, whilst behind the others there is a train line as well as various skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. The 16 page programme was overpriced, but did cover the basic information and had some interesting reading material.

Tower Hamlets came into this game in eighth place in the Essex Senior League, following seven wins and three draws from their 14 league games. To reach this stage of the FA Vase, they had beaten Hackney Wick 2-1 at home, Little Oakley 10-1 at home, and most recently Halstead Town away on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Enfield were in 17th place, having won four and drawn one of their 14 league games. In previous rounds, they had dispatched Haverhill Borough 1-0 at home, Stowmarket Town 4-5 away, and most recently Coggeshall Town 1-0 at home.

On a bright afternoon, Tower Hamlets looked the more dangerous in the early stages, and took the lead on 14 minutes. The ball was played forward and Curtis Pond shrugged off a covering defender to run towards goal and strike the ball low past the keeper. Their lead was to last barely two minutes though, a ball over the defence finding Andrew Tiravanhu, who fired the ball into the net via a deflection off of the keeper. On 25 minutes, the visitors were awarded a penalty, a rather mysterious award apparently for a pull as the ball was being thrown in towards the box. However, the penalty was saved by the keeper, and for the remainder of the half, it was Tower Hamlets who looked the more likely to score. 1-1 was how it would remain at the break, though.

The game was rather scrappy either side of the interval, but slowly Enfield grew stronger and stronger, and after creating a couple of decent chances, they took the lead on 70 minutes. Following a corner, there were a couple of stabs at goal that were blocked, before Joe Clark drilled the ball home. Things then really started to go wrong for Tower Hamlets, as they they had two players sent off, on 76 and 78 minutes, both being shown second yellow cards and then reds. The game was pretty much up, but they did battle to try and get the ball forward, but deep in added on time, a mass brawl ended with a further two Tower Hamlets players being shown red cards, including the goalkeeper who needlessly sprinted from his area to get involved, as well as an Enfield player. Fortunately for me, bearing in mind my need for a quick getaway, and probably for both teams too, the final whistle blew shortly earlier, with the match finishing with 7 players against 10 left on the pitch.

So it was Enfield who progressed to the third round of the FA Vase, and perhaps the red card count was more a reflection on a very inconsistent and at times baffling performance by the referee, as the game was certainly not ill tempered, at least until added on time at the end of the match.

Redbridge 3 v 1 Burnham Ramblers

Saturday 11th November 2017
Essex Senior League
Oakside Stadium, Barkingside
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 106
Match Rating: 3

Today the Essex Senior League were holding their first ever groundhop event, organising three matches with staggered kick-off times to enable groundhopping to attend all three if they so desired. I was undecided as to whether to take on this groundhop, as I had already visited all possible grounds previously, and I recalled all of them being rather bleak venues. It was also a shame that the league organised such a tight schedule to make it extremely tight to get between the nominated venues in time for the respective kick-offs. However, as it had been at least ten years since I last visited the venue’s, I did want to support the League’s initiative, and it was a refreshing change that I could attend a groundhop event without having to drive hundreds of miles, and so I decided to head to East London for a bumper feast of football.

Oakside Stadium is located adjacent to Barkingside tube station, although it is necessary to walk around and over a flyover to reach the ground. Spectators enter via a brick turnstile block behind one of the goals, and immediately inside, there is a large, modern and recently renovated clubhouse. To the side is a tea bar window. The rest of the ground seems to have been barely touched since my last visit, indeed has decayed quite considerably, and it treads a fine line between having rustic charm and being something of a dump. Better this than a sterile, boring new build, it must be said. Behind the goal closest to the entrance, there are a couple of steps of terracing, with a flat area above, making for quite a good, elevated place to watch the game from. Along one length, there is a rather rudimentary stand with a scaffold roof, with rows of individual seating. Either side, there is further uncovered elevated standing. Along the other length, there is cover along most of the length, although some of it is looking rather precarious and a section has lost its cover. Behind the remaining goal, there is just uncovered standing. Unfortunately the place does look very messy in lots of places, with rubbish or work materials scattered around or piled up, and the walkways often uneven or with weeds prevalent. The 28 page programme was certainly on the steep side for a Step 5 club, but it was of good quality, in full colour, with some interesting reading material and the necessary stats and facts, attractively presented.

As recently as 2005, Redbridge were members of the Conference South, but this is their second season in the Essex Senior League, finishing 14th last season. They are in a reasonable position to challenge for promotion this season, coming into this game in 5th place, following 11 wins and a draw from their 15 league games, and were four points adrift of the leaders with a game in hand. Burnham Ramblers, in their third season back in the Essex Senior League following a brief two season stay in the Isthmian League, were in 17th place in the 21 team division, following four wins and a draw from their 14 league games. They came into this game in bad form though, losing their last five league and cup games.

On an overcast early afternoon, Redbridge made the early running, with a Vinny Murphy free-kick forcing a finger tip save from the keeper on four minutes. But on 9 minutes, they did take the lead. The ball was curled in deep from the right wing by Courtney Homans, and Brian Moses guided the ball with a faint header beyond the keeper's dive and inside the far post. Slowly the visitors came back into the game, looking tight and denying Redbridge time and space to play, and although Redbridge still managed to create a couple more good chances, it was the visitors who scored to equalise a minute before the break. Bradley Morgan curled in a great cross from just outside the outer corner of the penalty area, and Fraser Inns headed the ball across the keeper and into the net.

It was quite a surprise that the scores were level at the break, but Redbridge really upped a gear after the break, having a goal ruled out for offside within a minute of the restart and coming agonisingly close to scoring on several occasions, before they finally did retake the lead on 63 minutes, when Moses headed a corner home from close range. Burnham had a rare sight of goal on 71 minutes when a goalbound shot hit a defender's leg, but on 84 minutes, Redbridge finally made sure of the three points. Jacob Dingli challenged the keeper for the ball on the ground, the ball spilt away and Dingli just managed to poke the ball out to the feet of Tommie Turner, who struck the ball home. The visiting keeper then made a string of fabulous saves and blocks to keep the scoreline respectable, but Redbridge deservedly claimed the three points which saw them rise to third in the table, and now just a point behind leaders Basildon United, who lost at home today.

Aveley 5 v 1 Sporting Bengal United

Friday 10th November 2017
Friendly
Parkside, Aveley
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Attendance: 100 (estimate)
Match Rating: 3

I had originally planned to recomplete the Combined Counties League Premier Division this evening with a trip to Walton and Hersham's new home at the Elmbridge Sports Hub. However, on Wednesday I noticed that Aveley had arranged this fixture, as both clubs had exited the FA National competitions. Although it would only be a friendly match, it would provide the opportunity to explore a new ground that I had heard very good things about. I also felt reassured that there would be a reasonable crowd present, as the club publicised the fixture well, not only offering free entry, but also alcoholic drinks with £1 off until England scored in their friendly game against Germany. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that promotion lasted all night, as England played out a goalless draw at Wembley.

It was with considerable sadness that Aveley vacated their former ground at Mill Field at the end of last season, which just oozed character with its old fashioned stand and terracing, but the club's new home is most certainly impressive and is very easy on the eye. Situated just to the north east of Aveley, which itself is about five minutes' drive from the Dartford Crossing, the ground has AVELEY FC shining bright on the exterior of the stadium visible from the road, and there is a large tarmacked car park immediately outside the ground. On either side of the stand, there are separate attractive entrances for the players and to the hospitality facilities, with two sets of turnstiles either side of the stand. Once inside, the main stand is imaginatively designed, looks good and offers three rows of seating below a walkway, with a spacious modern bar area on the ground floor inside, and a viewing gallery on the first floor, which is apparently only open to invited guests. A refreshments window is located in the outer wall to one side of the stand. On the opposite side, there is an all-seater stand with good incline between rows, so offering excellent unobstructed views. Behind both goals there are identical small stands either side of the respective goals covering steps to stand on, and all of the stands are finished with the same blue and grey colour scheme, giving the ground a very smart, uniform look. There is also a spacious feel, with plenty of room along all of the walkways. As expected, no programmes were produced for this fixture, although credit to the announcer for providing the line-ups and goalscorers.

Unfortunately, their new impressive surroundings has coincided with a downturn  in fortunes for Aveley on the pitch. After finishing in seventh place last season, just three points adrift of the play-offs, they came into this game in 22nd place in the 24 team Isthmian League Division One North, having won three and drawn three of their 14 league games. Sporting Bengal United were in 13th place in the Essex Senior League, having won six and drawn one of their 18 league games so far.

On a chilly but dry evening, with the kick off delayed by about ten minutes as the club tried to find someone to run the line, the first half was quite even, although Aveley always had that extra bit of quality. And they took the lead on 9 minutes when a good reverse ball forward sent Jack West through, and after holding off a defender as he ran forward, he slotted the ball low past the keeper and into the net. Both teams then came close to scoring, but it was Aveley who scored a second a minute before half time. The visiting keeper inexplicably picked up a back pass, with an indirect free kick awarded just outside the six yard box. The ball was touched to George Doyle, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net. There was still time for Sporting Bengal to pull a goal back. The ball was intercepted in midfield, and the player strode forward before shooting the ball low past the keeper.

After the break, Aveley looked far superior, as the visitors seemed to tire badly, and the substitutes they brought on were of not so good quality. However, it looked like Sporting Bengal had equalised on 48 minutes, when a ball through midfield found their forward and he placed the ball low across the keeper and into the net with a good finish, but the goal was ruled out for offside. On 51 minutes, Aveley scored their third, following an interception and some quick passing in the penalty area, Michael Osei struck a low gentle shot on the turn which should have been comfortably saved, but found its way past the keeper. Aveley then really should have scored a hatful, forcing good saves or failing to convert golden chances, but it wasn't until the 88th minute when they scored a fourth, Jeremiah Maja heading home a corner via the top of a defender's head. Then, with what turned out to be the last kick of the game, some good quick forward passing ended with the being dribbled to the byline and passed back low to Freddie Gard, who struck the ball home.

This was quite an entertaining game for a friendly, played at a good tempo with the feel of a competitive game. It was a good start to a weekend of groundhopping in this part of the world, as I intended to take in the Essex Senior League groundhop event, with three games to take in across East London tomorrow.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here

Tooting & Mitcham United 1 v 2 Burgess Hill Town

Tuesday 7th November 2017
Isthmian League Premier Division
Imperial Fields, Mitcham
Admission: £10.00
Programme: Sold Out
Attendance: 152
Match Rating: 3

After spending a really fascinating and enjoyable recording of Piers Morgan's Life Stories with Caitlyn Jenner at the London Studios, although I wanted to go straight to a football game in the evening, it was difficult to plan exactly where, not knowing for certain what time I would leave the studios. It turned out to be 6.30pm, and with no new grounds for me in reach, I chose to revisit a ground that I had last visited the furthest time ago, and one I knew would offer protection from the elements, with persistent heavy rain forecast in the evening. And so I took the Northern Line tube train from Waterloo to Morden.

Imperial Fields is about a 20 minute walk from Morden station, and the football ground is located between two plastic pitches. Spectators enter in one corner of the ground, via a turnstile block built into the exterior wall, and immediately inside is "The Shak", a snack bar with a Carribbean theme, and which seemed wholly inappropriate for a cold, wet evening in south London. A relatively modern stadium in 2002, this is a really nice ground, with excellent and varied facilities perfectly suited to the level of football it hosts, and none of the bland features frequently found in 21st century non league stadia. Along the length closest to the entrance, there is a large all-seater stand straddling the half way line offering excelling elevated and unobstructed. Hard standing is available either side of the stand, in front of the large building housing the complex's indoor facilities. Behind either goal there are identical steep terraces, mostly uncovered except for the middle section, although with no rear or side walls to the cover, it did not offer great protection against the swirling rain of this evening. Along the remaining length there is just hard uncovered standing, with a couple of steps to stand on along the middle third of the length. Arriving approximately 15 minutes ahead of kick off, the club had already sold out of matchday programmes.

Following promotion as champions of Division One South least season, having accumulated 105 points from 46 games although still only winning the division on goal difference, Tooting and Mitcham came into this game in 20th place in the 24 team division following four wins and four draws from their 16 league games. They had an awful start to their season, with just three draws from their opening ten league games, their first win not coming until early October, but their recent form has picked up, having won four of their last five league games. Burgess Hill Town were one place above Tooting, in 19th place following four wins and four draws from their 14 league games.

On a cold, wet night, the visitors certainly had the better of the first half, as they looked lively whilst the home side struggled to find any rhythm. Burgess Hill took the lead on 14 minutes, following some slick moving through the midfield culminating in a one-two, laying the ball for Lucas Rodriguez to strike the ball past the keeper and into the net. They almost doubled their lead on 26 minutes, when Aaron Smith-Jones' firm header from a corner drew a fine reaction save from the keeper. A rare chance for the home side came on 38 minutes, a shot from the edge of the area took a deflection to send it just wide of goal, and a header from a resulting corner was blocked on the line.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with the home side frustrating in their inability to retain possession, but on 63 minutes, they came close to equalising, when Mike Dixon struck a curling diagonal shot which the keeper tipped around the post at full stretch. However, a minute later and they were back on level terms. Dixon went on a good run towards the penalty area, before his eventual shot took a deflection off a defender to send the ball just inside the post beyond the keeper's dive. That really inspired Tooting, who spend the next few minutes attacking the Burgess Hill goal, but the visitors rode that storm out and the game settled down again, and it looked like the game was heading towards a share of the points. But just as three minutes of added on time was announced, Burgess Hill grabbed the winner, when James Richmond headed the ball powerfully into the net from a corner. The visitors saw out the remainder of the added on time comfortably enough, and claimed their first away win of the season, which they certainly deserved to on the night.