Montpelier Villa 3 v 4 Mile Oak

Bank Holiday Tuesday 28th December 2021, Kick-off 11.00
Southern Combination League Division One
Culver Road, Lancing
Admission: £5.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 80 (approximate)

For my Bank Holiday action today, I had originally planned to take in three games, starting at Forest Row with a tenants v landlords clash at Tinsley Lane, followed by a revisit to East Grinstead, and ending up with an evening game at Steyning. However, the East Grinstead game succumbed to Covid amongst the intended visitors Ashford United, and with persistent rain yesterday and overnight, I presumed that the Forest Row clash would be postponed, and so I opted for the safety of the plastic pitch at Culver Road. The right decision as it turned out, as shortly after boarding my first train, Forest Row's game was indeed called off.

This would be my third visit to the home of the Sussex FA, and the third different home club, after I had previously watched long term residents Lancing, and very short term tenants Horsham, when their Hop Oast ground was being readied. The previous couple of times I watched Montpelier Villa at home, they were playing at Falmer Sports Complex, on the grounds of the University of Sussex. But their desire for promotion to Step 6 football necessitated a switch to a suitable ground, and they were duly elevated from the Southern Combination League Division Two in the summer. And they've made a steady start to life at step 6, coming into this game in eighth place, following nine wins and four draws from their 20 league games so far. Mile Oak are struggling at the wrong end of the table, down in 16th place in the 18 club division, following four wins and three draws from their opening 20 league games, and are just a point above bottom placed Storrington. 

Although Montpelier Villa usually produce an online programme for their home games, there did not seem to be one for this game, possibly due to the issues with Christmas.

On a very windy morning, mostly overcast with the occasional drizzle shower passing through, this turned out to be an extremely entertaining game to watch, that was the ultimate game of two halves. The hosts took the lead after 4 minutes when a corner was looped high over the keeper and Ryan Walton nodded home from very close range at the back post. They came close to doubling their lead on 6 minutes when a shot from the edge of the area forced an excellent flying save from the Mile Oak keeper, but they did on 11 minutes, when Michael Lloyd received the ball towards the edge of the penalty area, and showed good composure in taking a few touches, past a defender who slipped, before rifling a shot across the keeper and inside the far post. Certainly aided by a strong wind, Montpelier Villa created plenty of chances, including several from long range, but Mike Oak had their best chance of the half on 37 minutes, when the ball was crossed low from the left to an unmarked Jack Stenning in the penalty area, and after getting the ball under control, his shot beat the keeper but was cleared by a diving block by a defender. And within a minute, Montpelier Villa extended their lead to three following a lovely pass picking out Marcus Richmond at the edge of the box, and he fired the ball home emphatically into the top right corner. It seemed that the game was all but over, with Mike Oak looking rather ragged at times and the home side probably should have scored a couple more, but having the wind behind them in the second half would certainly have given the visitors some hope that all was not yet lost. 

And so that proved to be the case! Although the hosts started the second half on the front foot, Mile Oak gave themselves hope on 57 minutes, when sub Zak Kladis crossed the ball from the left, and Enzo Benn headed the ball to left of the keeper and into the net. Montpelier Villa came close to restoring their lead within a minute, when a lovely Cryuff turn in midfield opened up space to run forward and fire in a dipping shot from outside the area which hit the bar. That proved to be a crucial near miss, as Mile Oak went straight up the other end to reduce the deficit to just one, when the ball was passed for Kladis to guide first time inside the far post, beyond the keeper's dive. And sensationally, Mile Oak equalised on 65 minutes when Zach Kieran won the ball close to the half way line and kept on running and running, and then from a slight angle inside the area, smashed the ball past the keeper into the roof of the net. It was proving a real test of character for the home side now, and their cause was not helped when Lloyd received a second yellow card and then a red on 70 minutes after striking the ball at a Mile Oak player down on the ground after being fouled, which had also earned his team mate a yellow card. Both sides had chances to win it, as Villa responded positively to going a man down to still push forward, but in the end it was Mile Oak who grabbed the winner, in the 87th minute, with a fabulous goal by Kladis, receiving the ball 25 yards out, before curling a perfect shot into the top right corner. And so the comeback was complete, and the held on comfortably to seal the three points. No-one would have seen that coming at half time, so dominant were Montpelier Villa, but Mile Oak deserve enormous credit for rolling up their sleeves, with the knowledge that the wind behind them would assist them in the second half. This was the third time I have watched Mile Oak win 4-3 this season 

Ramsgate 3 v 3 Hythe Town

Bank Holiday Monday 27th December 2021, Kick-off 15.00
Isthmian League South East Division
Southwood Stadium, Ramsgate
Admission: Free (usually £10.00)
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 622

I had originally planned to take in a double of revisits within Sussex today. But instead of Covid threatening to disrupt plans, it was the much more traditional threat of waterlogged pitches that would wreak havoc today. And with little surviving in Sussex, rain forecast to continue throughout the day and  my not wanting to take any chances of a blank game day with the distinct possibility that football behind closed doors may be ordered any day now, I headed to the east coast of Kent, with the safety of a plastic pitch, and the lure of free entry sealed the deal for my first visit to the Southwood Stadium since 2010.

The Southwood Stadium is about a 15 minute walk from Ramsgate train station, and entrance is gained at the end of a short lane, through some gates, past the clubhouse and changing rooms on either side, with the turnstile block located in one corner of the ground. With today being free admission, entry was gained through an open gate. The club have been hosting a Winter Wonderland since December 19th , until today, and a few funfair stalls for this were located just outside the ground in the car park, and plenty of Christmas trees decorated with lights were positioned around the entrance and inside the ground, adding some nice colour to the ground. It is pleasing to see that, apart from the plastic pitch and a new perimeter fence along one length, not much has changed around the ground, so it still has a lot of old school character about the place. Behind both ends, there are banks of terrace steps, set some way back from the pitchside railing, and with the top half of the terraces immediately behind the goals having cover. The back wall of the stand closest to the entrance has some nice club logos and posters on it, and between the terrace and the pitchside railing, an "ice" rink has been temporarily installed as part of the Winter Wonderland. Along one of the lengths, there is an old fashioned stand, dating from 1956 according to a plaque, with five rows of seating inside. Adjacent is a tea hut selling hot and cold food and drink, whilst beyond a small bank of open terracing, in the corner, there is a portakabin type building housing the bar, and with full windows along the front, presumably makes for an excellent indoor place to watch the game from. Ramsgate do issue a 44 page programme printed in colour, and is good value at £2, with plenty of interesting reading material to digest.

Ramsgate are having a decent season, coming into this game in fifth place, following ten wins and four draws from their 18 league games so far, just four points adrift of the top two. Hythe were down in 14th place in the table, following six wins and three draws from their 18 league games, but it is interesting to note that they have had much more success on the road so far this season, with five of their wins coming away from home, and six of their nine defeats coming at home. When the two clubs met in the reverse fixture in late August, Ramsgate won 0-3.

On a mild but very overcast afternoon, with occasional drizzle falling particularly in the first half, this was as entertaining as the final score would suggest. The visitors started well and on the front foot, but it was Ramsgate who took the lead, in the 21st minute, when Josh Ajayi turned well before threading the ball forward for Oliver Bate to run onto and eventually dinking the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net. But their lead was to only last four minutes, as a wonderful strike from outside the penalty area by Charlie Webster saw the ball fly past the outstretched dive by the keeper and into the net. Ramsgate went back in front on 34 minutes,  following a surging run down the left by Callum Peck, and he drilled the ball low across goal from the left, for Ajayi to tap home from close range. The Hythe keeper was then forced into a couple of very good blocks, before his side levelled the scores once more, on 42 minutes, when a cross from the left byline took a big deflection skywards, a defender could only half clear the ball, and Jordan Sarfo struck the ball home. 

So the game was level at the break, and after both side had decent chances to take the lead, Ramsgate were awarded a penalty on 75 minutes for a lunging, mistimed tackle. Ajayi struck the ball high into the net to give his side the lead for the third time in the match. Yet also for the third time, Hythe equalised, on 83 minutes, with a very good goal by Riley Ashford, lashing the ball across the keeper and inside the far post. There wasn't much threat of a winning goal in the remaining minutes, and while Ramsgate will feel disappointed at not winning a game they led on three occasions, Hythe played well, belying their lowly status in the table, and a draw was probably the right result overall.

Bromley 1 v 1 Southend United

Sunday 26th December 2021, Kick-off 17.20
National League
Hayes Lane, Bromley
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £2.50
Attendance: 3,759

Following the conclusion of my lunchtime game at Tonbridge, I made my way up the A21 to Bromley, to visit a ground that I had not been to since 2007, and never had I watched Bromley at home, with previous visits seeing Charlton Athletic Women and Cray Wanderers as the home clubs.

That this was an easy double to combine with Tonbridge was not the only appealing aspect of this game. Also, the admission fee was reduced to £5 to access all areas of the home areas, slashed from the usual £20. And with attractive opposition in former EFL club Southend United, and with Charlton's away game at AFC Wimbledon, along with nearby Dartford and Ebbsfleet, all succumbing to Covid issues, there promised to be a bumper attendance with no other games being played within or around South London.

There is a lot to like about Hayes Lane these days, which successfully combines tradition and character with modern facilities installed in recent years as the club has risen to the brink of the EFL. Three sides of the ground retain their old structures, with a large open terrace stretching along one length, a third of which is allocated to away supporters, a further terrace behind one of the goals with the rear section covered by an old fashioned structure. A 90's metallic all seater stand straddles the half way line on the other side, with an open bank of terracing to one side, and a tea bar and flat standing area to the other. By far the standout feature of the ground is the imposing single-tiered stand behind the remaining end, installed in 2019, which offers a great, unobstructed view of the action from behind the goal, and with a capacity of 1,450 seats. The stand has quite a high back wall, as club offices are located to the rear, but with no windows looking out over the pitch.

In their seventh season in the National League, Bromley are well placed, currently in fourth place, following eleven wins and five draws from 19 league games, and have won their last three games, two in the league and most recently, progressing in the FA Trophy at fellow National League outfit Dover. After 101 years, Southend United bade farewell to the Football League / EFL at the end of last season, and their ongoing financial issues has meant that they have continued to struggle in the National League, coming into this game in 19th place in the 23 club division, and only out of the three club relegation zone on goal difference, and have picked up just a win and a draw from their last five league games, although they did win last time out against Dorking Wanderers in the FA Trophy.

On a dry and mild evening, Bromley started strongly and came close to opening the scoring on 5 minutes, first forcing a good save from the visiting keeper, and from the resultant corner, Owar Sowunmi headed off the line before being hacked away. After Sowunmi then saw another header from a corner flash just wide of the post on 28 minutes, Southend started to settle and grow into the game, and the remainder of the half was an even affair, both sides creating chances, but the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

The deadlock was finally broken on 65 minutes by the home side, when Liam Trotter swung in the ball from the left wing, with Michael Cheek rising highest to divert the ball beyond the keeper's dive and inside the far post. But their lead was to only last a couple of minutes. Demetriou crossed the ball from the right, Dalby helped the ball into the feet of Matthew Dennis, and he bounced the ball over the keeper and into the net. It seemed that things were really turning into Southend's favour, when Bromley were reduced to ten men with 16 minutes left to play, when Trotter was forced to leave the pitch due to injury, after Bromley had already made their three permitted substitutions. And although they did most of the attacking in the closing minutes, they couldn't find a way through and in the end the points were shared.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here