Newhaven Ladies 1 v 2 Herne Bay Women

Sunday 1st November 2020, Kick-off 14:00
London & South East Regional Women's League Division One South

Fort Road, Newhaven

Admission: Free

Programme: None

Attendance: 50 (estimate)

So, after the announcement yesterday evening that the UK would return to a lockdown sufficiently deep to prevent spectators being able to attend "non-elite" football from Thursday (and probably, by extension, pause the season at those levels), I decided to plan watching games every day up until then. For today, there would be no mens games within comfortable range, and what was available was at grounds I had already visited, and so my attention turned to the women's game for the second successive Sunday. My first choice was a Women's FA Cup game between Eastbourne Town and Leyton Orient, but that was called off early in the morning morning due to a waterlogged pitch. Then, wanting to stay local, I had a choice between Eastbourne United and Newhaven, and as I had already visited The Oval twice this season, I made my way to Fort Road, for my first visit in just over a year, and my first time watching a ladies' game there.

There have been a couple of minor changes to Fort Road since my last visit. A small section of uncovered seating has been relocated and straddles the half way line opposite the main stand, and a couple of container type units just inside the entrance have been painted and have some club signage on. A small rowing boat was located just inside the entrance last time, but has since been removed. However, one thing remains unchanged in that the view from the top tier of the main stand is superb and unobstructed.

This game would be in the sixth tier of the women's game, and promised to be a tall order for Newhaven, who had won one and lost the other four of their five league games so far, whereas Herne Bay were top of the table, winning three and drawing the other of their four league games so far.

On an afternoon that started off as heavily overcast but with thick misty rain closing in during the second half, the hosts had a nightmare start, when the visitors intercepted the ball, and Lauren Harris ran forward before slotting the ball past the keeper. And it really was all Herne Bay during the first half and they really should have increased their lead before half time - the stand out chances coming on 19 minutes, when an attempted defensive clearance by a Newhaven defender ricocheted to a Herne Bay player in front of goal, but her shot was well blocked by a covering defender, and on 41 minutes, a Newhaven defender just failed to intercept an aerial diagonal ball forward, but she managed to track back in time to block the eventual shot on goal.

The second half saw a much improved showing by Newhaven, who came out and really tried to take the game to the visitors, creating some decent attacking moves. On 50 minutes, a one-on-one ended with a shot quite comfortably caught by the keeper, and on 56 minutes, a corner was played in, rebounded up off the back of a Newhaven forward and a stretched shot looped up and came hit the post. But on 63 minutes, Herne Bay scored a second, after an initial shot came back off the bar, and the rebound was tapped home by Lauren Williams. And the visitors came close to sealing the three points when a low cross across the box just evaded a tap in. Then, Newhaven created some really good chances - on 72 minutes, a Newhaven player just won the race with the keeper to the ball wide of the penalty area, and the ball was crossed into the box, but a Herne Bay player got back just in time to clear the ball in front of an open goal. Four minutes later, the ball was drilled across goal and just evaded a far post tap in, and on 84 minutes, a poked shot forced a save at full stretch by the Herne Bay keeper. A terrific passage of skill by a Herne Bay forward almost scored a third for her team, showing real twinkle toes in the past to side step her way past defenders in the penalty area, but her eventual shot hit the outside of the post. In the first minute of added on time, Newhaven finally did get the goal they certainly deserved, after a Herne Bay goalkick was intercepted, played back into the box and the ball was struck past the keeper by Paige Ripley. That gave real hope to Newhaven that they could yet claim a point, but there just wasn't time in the end, and they will probably feel slightly unlucky to lose the game, doing well to come back from conceding in the first minute against the league leaders with a performance full of heart and desire.

Stotfold 7 v 0 London Tigers

Saturday 31st October 2020, Kick-off 15.00
Spartan South Midlands League Division One
New Roker Park, Stotfold
Admission: £6.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 102

With strong rumours emanating that the UK could go into a countrywide lockdown in the next few days, it felt like today might well be the last opportunity to take in some groundhopping on a Saturday for at least a month. Similar to last Saturday, heavy rain was forecast to sweep in from the west during the morning, so I wanted to play things fairly safe today and head for Arlesey station, from which I could make a late choice between Shefford Town & Campton or Stotfold, both grounds I recalled can withstand a fair amount of rain and are not too susceptible to waterlogging. Indeed, with neither clubs showing any signs of postponement by the time I arrived at Arlesey, I chose to head eastwards for Stotfold in the hope of a Hallowe'en treat, to visit their new ground, just over two years since visiting their previous ground.

New Roker Park, which hosted its first game in February, is an easy 20 minute walk from Arlesey station, flat and along a footpath, along the same road as to the old ground. There is a decent sized car park in front of the ground, and entrance to the ground can be gained through one of two black metallic turnstile blocks, although only one was open today. As I arrived well over an hour ahead of kick-off (having allowed time for rerouting), I chose to go into the clubhouse first. After being invited to leave contact details via the NHS QR code or on a piece of paper, and use hand gel, table service was conducted efficiently and in a friendly and welcoming fashion by staff suitably dressed in Hallowe'en attire, and whilst the interior is a little on the clinical side, it is practical and serves its purpose well, being very spacious, with a range of table sizes and chairs, as well as some comfy sofas, and some big screens to watch live football on. The ground itself is very well appointed, neat and tidy, and has clearly been designed to not only be virtually ready to host Step 4 football as it is, but could very easily be upgraded further should the need arise. In one corner is the clubhouse building, with a couple of doors providing access to the clubhouse, picnic tables scattered on the asphalt outside, and hot food and drinks can be obtained from a hatch in one corner. A metallic all-seater stand, with quite steep rows of club coloured black and yellow seats, straddles the half way line on the same side, with a toilet block positioned behind. There is just hard standing behind both ends, with plenty of space back to the perimeter wooden fence, and this continues along the remaining length, with a metal stand with steps to stand on straddling the half way line, although this length was out of bounds, presumably due to Covid concerns as the dugout are on that side. And indeed, Covid precautions were certainly thorough here, including a couple of measures I had not encountered previously - gel dispensers placed regularly on the pitchside railing, and spectators told not to touch the matchball, and to leave it to the numerous stewards dotted along each side to return the ball to the field of play. The ground is rather exposed, with mostly flat farmland as far as the eye can see beyond the ground, and no trees to provide shelter. Unfortunately, no programmes were produced for today, neither printed nor online.

Stotfold have had a steady start to their season, winning three and drawing one of their eight league games so far, whilst London Tigers have had a very disappointing start to their season, losing all seven of their league games so far. Both sides lost their opening FA Vase fixture, and neither participated in the FA Cup.

After steady then heavy rain falling up to about 2pm, which made me very nervous as to whether this game would go ahead up until my arrival at the ground, bright sunshine behind one of the goals was surprisingly more of an issue during the game, together with very chilly conditions as the afternoon wore on. It was a little surprising that the officials were happy for both sides to play in very similar coloured kits - both wearing black shorts, and Stotfold wearing amber shirts while London Tigers wore orange shirts. I have certainly encountered referees having bigger issues with less of a clash! The tone for this game was set right from kick-off, as Stotfold attacked and forced two corners with barely a minute on the clock, and the second one brought about the opening goal, played low and found its way towards the back post for Max Ryan to tap the ball home. On 6 minutes, they had a powerful shot parried by the visiting keeper, with the loose ball only just evading a tap in, but within a minute, Stotfold did double their lead when Owen Robertson drilled the ball home. After threatening to run away with the game, the visitors did actually create a couple of chances, and on 19 minutes, after the Stotfold came wide out of his area to clear the ball, it went straight to a London Tigers player, and he had a strike at goal from a fairly tight angle with the keeper out of position, but the ball came back off the post. The game became rather scrappy, but on 31 minutes, Stotfold scored the crucial third goal. A shot from a slight angle by Kieran Barnes could only be fumbled by the keeper, and Kaan Fehmi tapped the ball home from close range, the ball faintly brushing the keeper on its way through. The rest of the half continued to be rather scrappy, and the referee certainly seemed to favour the visitors with his calls on perceived fouls, but Stotfold went into half time with a comfortable three goal lead.

London Tigers did occasionally look a threat going forward in the first half, and the next goal could still have been crucial. But on 48 minutes, it was the hosts who scored it to really put the game to bed, Max Ryan firing in a low shot from the edge of the area that took a deflection en route to finding its way inside the post beyond the keeper's dive. The visitors had a great chance to pull a goal back on 50 minutes, with their forward running through one-on-one with the keeper, but his eventual rather tame effort was easily gathered by the keeper. That was as good as it got for the visitors, as Stotfold went on to dominate the rest of the match. On 54 minutes, a free kick from a central position by Barnes came back off the bar, and on 69 minutes, Stotfold scored thier fifth. Shortly after a threaded through ball found the run of Robertson, whose shot was blocked by the keeper's legs, Nico Coleman had all the time in the world at the edge of the area to pick his spot and drill the ball low into the corner. On 77 minutes, Stotfold had a goal ruled out for offside, and on 85 minutes, a drilled ball from a tight angle on the right brushed off the keeper and then the far post. But a minute later, and the home side did score their sixth, Robertson striking a low shot from the edge of the area inside the post, and they made it seven as the game entered added on time, Barnes striking a free kick from 25 yards that the keeper couldn't grasp, and Jack Bradshaw made sure the ball hit the back of the net from barely a yard out.

So, a very comprehensive win for Stotfold, who certainly deserved the win but were helped on their way to a large score by some pretty weak play at the back by the visitors, for whom it looks like being a long season indeed based on today's game. On my way home, a much delayed announcement by Boris Johnson confirmed that today would be my last Saturday watching football until at least early December, although that Hallowe'en "trick" was slightly tempered with the temporary "treat" that "non-elite" football would continue with spectators up to and including Wednesday evening. And so, I fully intend to make the most of being able to attend games in the remaining days and evenings before the enforced month long drought.

Hastings United 2 v 1 Whitehawk

Tuesday 28th October 2020, Kick-off 19.45

Isthmian League South East Division

Pilot Field, Hastings

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: None

Attendance: 400

For the second consecutive Tuesday, I had the welcome option of cheap (virtually free) evening out at the Pilot Field. This game had looked in some doubt though, with persistent rain falling all day, provoking a 4pm pitch inspection. Happily, that inspection was passed, and with the rain forecast to stop ahead of kick-off, I made my way for this very interesting looking Sussex derby.

Following last Tuesday's fairly comfortable 3-0 home win against Three Bridges, Hastings won 0-1 at Sevenoaks Town, to rise to the top of the table, following four wins and two draws from their opening six league games, to return to the place they sat in when last season was abandoned. Whitehawk were in fourth place in the table when last season was abandoned, eleven points inside the play-off positions, but they have had a slow start to this season, coming into this game in 16th place in the 19 club division, following a win and two draws from their opening five league games.

On a dry and fairly mild evening, this was a very even game which could have gone either way, with Whitehawk creating some decent chances and can probably count themselves as unfortunate to come out of the game pointless. Hastings were already missing defender Ollie Black as he started a three match suspension, and with just seven minutes gone, fellow defender Gary Elphick had to be substituted. And the visitors certainly seemed to try to take advantage, and on 17 minutes, Lucas Rodrigues turned quickly and struck a shot which was blocked, to send the ball up in the air and land on the bar. On 22 minutes, Rodrigues span past a defender by the half way line to run towards the penalty area before unleashing a powerful shot which went just past the far post. Then, it was Hastings to have a couple of decent chances. On 32 minutes, Sam Adams curled the ball just over the bar from the edge of the area, and from the resultant goalkick, which was struck weakly, Tom Chalmers gained possession to play the ball  to the right of the penalty area and Ben Pope just about won the race to the ball before the keeper, but Pope's attempted chip was just blocked by the keeper's hand. The remainder of the half saw Hastings try to gain control of the game with possession football, and the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

Whitehawk again came out on the front foot, and within a minute of the restart, Connor Tighe struck a shot from outside the area which bounced off the post, and shortly after, Rodrigues intercepted the ball but his pass across goal just evaded a tap in. But on 50 minutes, it was Hastings who broke the deadline. The Whitehawk keeper played the ball to his defender, but Hastings' Kenny Pogue won the ball with a good tackle by the left edge of the penalty area, before curling the ball into the net, despite brushing past the keeper on its way. Both sides then created some decent chances, and gradually Hastings seized more control of the game, and on 72 minutes, Goldsmith sent in an inviting cross from the right, and Tom Chalmers saw his first time shot hit the bar. But Hastings did double their lead on 78 minutes, following a lovely slide rule pass through the Whitehawk defence for Ben Pope to run onto and slot past the keeper. After an even, well contested game, it was looking like the home side were now easing to victory, but six minutes from time, Whitehawk pulled a goal back, sub Lloyd Cotton heading home a corner from close range. As expected, that really gave the impetus to the visitors, but it was Hastings who came closest to scoring again, two minutes into added on time, when following a Whitehawk corner, Ryan Worrall cleared the ball upfield to Aaron Capon on the halfway line, and he ran forward, rounded the keeper but his goalbound shot was blocked by a defender. And so a very entertaining game, with terrific vocal support from both sets of supporters throughout, ended in a narrow victory for Hastings, which sent them four points clear at the top. Whitehawk impressed considering their league position, and it surely will not be long before they climb the table.

Saltdean United Women 2 v 4 Chichester & Selsey Ladies

Sunday 26th October 2020, Kick-off 14:00

Sussex Women's Challenge Cup First Round

Hill Park, Saltdean

Admission: Free

Programme: Online

Attendance: 35 (estimate)

With my partner unusually having to work on a Sunday, the opportunity presented itself to take in another game today. After yesterday's wet and windswept adventures at Totton & Eling yesterday, I did not fancy travelling far, and with more rain forecast today, I decided to drive, to a ground I last visited in 2016, for an interesting looking women's county cup fixture.

Hill Park remains one of the more picturesque venues, with rolling hills all around and a superb panoramic view can be had from the top of a steep grass bank along one length. A stand with bench seating is set half way up the hill and straddling the half way line, whilst on the opposite side, additional seating has provided with a fairly long metallic metallic stand. Hard standing is available around three sides, and the area behind one of the goals is inaccessible. No admission was taken today, but the clubhouse bar and tea bar window were in full operation today, and the NHS Track and Trace QR Code was prominently available for scanning. A 20 page programme was produced and available for download online and was in full colour, nicely designed and included welcome message from the editor and manager, player profiles, a recent match report, club fixtures and results, news from the development squad, and plenty of action photos.

There was the potential of a major giantkilling this afternoon, with two steps between the clubs and the underdogs at home. Saltdean United play in the fifth tier of the women's game, in the London and South East Women's Regional Football League Premier Division, and they have had a great start to their season, winning both of their opening league games, and they had a great run in the Women's FA Cup, making it through four rounds before finally succumbing to Actonians, who play a step above Saltdean, 6-2 away. Chichester & Selsey play in the third tier, in the FA Women's National League Southern Division, and have had a steady start to their season, winning two and losing the other two of their four games played so far.

After heavy rain fell ahead of kick, happily it relented in time for the game, during most of which there was bright sunshine, although when cloud returned during the second half, conditions became decidely chilly. This game started evenly, and with nine minutes on the clock the visitors took the lead, when a ball down the left enticed the keeper to come out, but the Chichester forward got to the ball first to chip the ball over the stranded keeper and into the net. On 21 minutes, the Saltdean keeper found herself in no-mans-land, but this time a chip dropped just wide of the far post. On the half hour mark, Chichester doubled their advantage, and a real gift it was too. A goal kick was played short to a team mate inside the area, a Chichester player raced in to close the ball down, the ball was passed back to the keeper, and as she went to pass the ball back out, the ball rebounded off the striker's boot and rolled into the net. The remainder of the half passed by without much incident, with the favourites holding a comfortable half time lead, but Saltdean were far from out of it, having played well and an early goal for them in the second half could have made things very interesting.

But they struggled to build up a head of steam, and the visitors had the first real chance of the second half on 57 minutes, when a corner was met with a header, with the ball going just over the bar. And within a minute, it looked like game over when they scored their third, following a weak kick out by the Saltdean keeper, the ball was intercepted and passed forwards towards the penalty area, and the Chichester player curled the ball past the keeper. But within a minute, Saltdean pulled a goal back. The ball was played forward to the outer corner of the penalty area, the Saltdean forward showed good strength to gain possession of the ball, before crossing the ball low to an unmarked Tia Perry in front of goal, and she passed the ball into the net. Credit to Saltdean, they started to create some good attacking moves and had a few chances to pull another goal back, but the visitors scored their fourth to seal progression to the next round on 85 minutes, when a corner was whipped in above the keeper, and the ball was headed home amongst a crowd of players. There was still time for Saltdean to score another consolation four minutes into added on time with a lovely floated shot from outside the area by Millie Carter which went over the keeper and into the net. With regards to the goalscorers, Jane Yeates scored a hat-trick for Chichester, with Sophie Phelps scoring their other. 

So, as might have been expected, it was Chichester & Selsey who made it through to Quarter-Finals, where they face a home tie against Eastbourne United Association. They deserved their victory, but Saltdean deserve a lot of credit for putting in a very good performance today, for long periods there was little to choose between the two sides, but some crucial moments in the game went against them.

The electronic programme can be viewed by clicking here