Maidenhead United 3 v 4 Farnborough

Monday 9th April 2012
Conference South
York Road, Maidenhead
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 349
Match Rating: 4

For my second match of the day, at the conclusion of the Holyport v Flackwell Heath game, I walked back into Maidenhead to visit a ground with a rather surprising claim to fame, being the oldest continuously used senior football ground in the world by the same club, having opened in 1871.

York Road certainly enjoys a very convenient location, less than a five minute walk from both the town centre and the town's railway station and indeed is located adjacent to and beneath the London - Reading train line. The ground is somewhat of a hotchpotch of facilities, exuding plenty of character and individuality. Straddling the halfway line on the touchline closest to the railway line is an old fashioned all-seater stand, the only seating available in the ground, although views are not ideal, being set rather low and with plenty of obstructing pillars. About eight terrace steps stretch out to each corner and across both ends of the ground. Two stands cover the terracing behind one goal, whilst a more modern stand covers the middle third of the end behind the other goal. Along the remaining touchline, from one corner, is a tear bar building, a bank of uncovered terracing, a large building housing the changing rooms and clubhouse, and a very small covered area which actually provided a good view of the action, perched above the pitch. There is also a shell of a very large building, an abandoned ambitious attempt to construct a new clubhouse a couple of decades ago, but is now used for contract parking. The 40 page programme was what I would expect at this level of football these days, overpriced at £2.00, printed in black and white, with enough information to inform the reader of the background to the match, but more than half of the pages are purely advertising.

Coming into this game, there appeared to be much more at stake for the hosts, with a real struggle to stay in the division in prospect. They found themselves fourth from bottom, and only above the relegation places on goal difference, having picked up just two points from their last six games. Farnborough were in fourteenth place, apparently stuck firmly in mid table. However, if they lose an appeal against a five point deduction for financial irregularities, they would be just three points clear of the relegation zone. They too have been in poor recent form, picking up just one point from their last six games. Maidenhead certainly had the upper hand in previous encounters between the two clubs this season. Maidenhead won 3-0 at Cherrywood Road back in August, and were victorious again in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round in a replay.

With the weather remaining wet and windy, this proved to be very much a game of two halves. Farnborough should have opened the scoring in a move straight from the kick off, when Michael Charles fired wide 8 yards out when he really should have at least hit the target, and they had the better of the opening exchanges. However, it was Maidenhead who opened the scoring on 15 minutes, when Paul Semakula fired home at the far post. Three minutes later and Maidenhead doubled their advantage when Martel Powell fired home the rebound from a tight angle after the keeper had made a good save. Maidenhead seemed to be on their way to a vital three points already, and that feeling did not diminish throughout the rest of the first half, as they had all the chances and Farnborough already looked a beaten side.

In the early stages of the second half, Maidenhead continued to play on the front foot, although suddenly on 57 minutes, Farnborough were back in the game when Nic Ciardini fired in a low cross shot into the net. This proved to be the turning point, as suddenly it was Farnborough in the ascendancy, and it felt only a matter of time before they would get back on level terms. Maidenhead should have restored their lead though when a fast break ended with the ball being struck tamely at the keeper. On 67 minutes, Farnborough were back on level terms, when Phil Page fired in after an initial shot was blocked and fell at his feet. Disaster for the home side struck on 75 minutes, when a low shot across the goal was turned into his own net by Bobby Behzadi. Things got even worse for Maidenhead in the game they really needed to win seven minutes from time, when Page fired home a glorious free kick into the top left corner from 22 yards. As the game entered added on time, Maidenhead reduced the arrears to set up a grandstand finish, when Behzadi made up for his earlier own goal by slotting home a penalty low inside the right hand post just out of the reach of the keeper. In the little time that was left, they had a couple of chances to snatch a sensational equaliser, including having a goal bound shot blocked. The result meant that Maidenhead drop into the relegation zone for the first time this season and one fears that their chances of survival are slim with three games to come, including a visit from leaders Woking and a trip to play-off chasing Dover. As things stand, the result was probably neither here nor there for Farnborough apart from claiming local bragging rights, however if they are to lose their appeal against the points deduction, this could prove to be a very important three points.

Video highlights at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI6rhTkMqls

Ebbsfleet United 1 v 3 Chelmsford City

Friday 22nd April 2011
Blue Square South
Stonebridge Road, Northfleet
Admission: £11.00
Programme: £2.50
Attendance: 1368
Match Rating: 3

For my opening game of the Easter weekend, I headed to north Kent for a game between two teams right in contention for promotion from the Blue Square - Ebbsfleet United, who were relegated from the Blue Square Premier last season, and Chelmsford City, aspiring for promotion to Blue Square Premier level for the first time in their history.

The home of Ebbsfleet United (formerly, of course, Gravesend and Northfleet), is located about a five minute walk from Northfleet train station, or about double that distance from Ebbsfleet Internaltional train station, and it's a ground which, depending on your point of view, is full of character and a nostalgic reminder of how football grounds used to be, or is a rundown, delapidated ground that is in urgent need of modernising. Personally, as someone who is getting increasingly bored of characterless and soulless grounds even in non-league, I would tend towards the former point of view. Along one length of the pitch is terracing, with a very old fashioned stand covering the middle third. On the opposite side is a smaller, just as old fashioned but more attractive all-seater stand, with plenty of obstructiong pillars to get in the way of one's vision. Behind one of the goals is a bank of uncovered terracing. On my last visit to Stonebridge Road seven years ago, behind the other goal was a bank of covered terrace which generated a terrific atmosphere. Since then, the terrace was declared unsafe and so the club has placed a stand of seats on top about half of the terrace, but the very dated stand structure remains in place. Even down to the old-fashioned toilet blocks and clubhouse latched onto the condemned terrace/now seated stand, Stonebridge Road feels like a ground that has been frozen in time for 40 or 50 years which, for me, visiting it makes a refreshing change. The programme was a good read, glossy attractive to the eye, plenty of interesting articles to digest and all the necessary stats and facts.

Going into this game, Ebbsfleet United were virtually assured of a play-off berth, in third place in the league, eight points clear of the two teams immediately outside of the play-off positions with just three games left to play. It's fair to say that it is as unlikely as that they could overhaul Braintree Town, who were seven points better off, to claim the title and automatic promotion. But Ebbsfleet have been in excellent form, having won their last four games, scored 8 goals without conceding in their last three games, and are unbeaten in their last six games, and a win today would guarantee a play-off berth. One of those teams immediately outside of the play-offs was Chelmsford City, in seventh place, and with the play-offs well within sight, as they are just two points behind fifth placed Woking and three points behind fourth placed Welling United. Last time out, Chelmsford were beaten at home by second placed Farnborough, but won their previous two games. When the two teams met in Essex earlier in the season, Chelmsford threw away a two goal lead as Ebbsfleet won 3-2.

The weather was absolutely glorious, although with temperatures around 25c and with strong sunshine making watching a game of football seem rather tiring and inappropriate, one has to sympathise with the players tasked with running around for 90 minutes in the direct sun. So credit to both teams for producing a reasonably entertaining game of football. Chelmsford had more to play for, and it showed, as they forced the pace in the opening minutes, so it was something of a surprise when Ebbsfleet took the lead on 17 minutes, when a perfectly taken free-kick was headed powerfully home by Tom Phipp.. 11 minutes later and Chelmsford were back on level terms when the ball dropped kindly to Rob Edmans about 15 yards out, who took his time to pick his spot to blast the ball into the net. 1-1 was how it remained at half time, and in the second half, Ebbsfleet seemed rather lethargic and sloppy as Chelmsford dominated for long periods and deservedly claimed all three points when Mark Haines headed home a corner on 52 minutes, and then eight minutes from time, substitute Ali Chaaban superbly spun past a defender before dribbling his way into the box and cooly slotting home from just inside the box. Ebbsfleet did threaten to create a couple of chances, but never really looked like scoring and so a very valuable three points for Chelmsford, which gives them a great chance of making the play-offs now. The defeat does not really change much for Ebbsfleet, as even if they had won they now could not overhaul Braintree who won today, but victories for Dover as well as Chelmsford means that Ebbsfleet still require two points from their remaining two games to book their play-off place. Credit should go to the Chelmsford fans who, as has been the case every team I have seen their team in action, provided excellent vocal support.

Weston-Super-Mare 3 v 1 Bishop's Stortford

Saturday 19th February 2011
Blue Square South
Woodspring Stadium, Weston-super-Mare
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 191
Match Rating: 4

This was one of those days where, having booked a coach journey down to Bristol, I still hadn't made my mind up at the time of setting off about which game to go to from a selection of half a dozen games.Heavy overnight rain meant I could strike a line through the Bristol clubs in the Western League en route, with their games either postponed or too much at risk, and so I headed out on a 20 minute train journey to the North Somerset coast for the Blue Square South game between Weston-Super-Mare and Bishop's Stortford. Delays to both the coach and train journeys ensured I would come crashing through the entrance gates with the teams about to kick off.

Weston-Super-Mare is quite an intriguing club. First of all, they can boast the very impressive claim to fame of never having been relegated in their history, all the more impressive when one considers they were formed in the 19th century, although luck has played its part in maintaining this statistic in recent times, as in three out of four seasons between 2007 and 2010, they have occupied a relegation place but were reprieved on each occasion.

The Woodspring Stadium, which located about a 20 minute walk south-east of the town's train station, has surely some of the most basic facilities that one would find at this level, and being relatively newly built in 2004 and in an industrial part of town, is rather bland and not easy on the eye. To start with the positive, there is an excellent large stand of terracing behind one of the goals. Along one length of the pitch, where one enters the stadium, there is a shallow but long all-seater stand, whilst only hard, single level standing is available around the rest of the ground, albeit with a small covered area behind the other goal. The resources, facilities and support give the feel of a club that is probably a couple of divisions higher than would be its natural placing, but full credit to Weston-Super-Mare for apparently punching well above its weight in the Blue Square South. I am usually loathe to criticise matchday programmes at non-league level, understanding the thankless task that is taken on by volunteers in non-league football, but unfortunately Weston-Super-Mare's offering, considering the status of the club and the price of £2, is quite dismal, being comparable with many County League publications - indeed, I have seen many better offerings at that level. The 36 page programme has plenty of colour in it, but almost exclusively for the benefit of advertisers, of which the programme is heavy.The cover is printed with the same paper as the rest of the programme, and although the essential information about the teams, the league and season is contained, there is little justification for a £2 charge for it.

Coming into this game, both teams looked reasonably comfortable in mid-table, with Weston Super Mare in 12th place and Bishop's Stortford two places behind, but they have both played more games than all of the teams below them, as many as four, and recent form suggests they still have work to do to guarantee survival. The home side had picked up just three draws from their previous seven games, before beating FA Cup heroes Dover Athletic away last time out. Bishop's Stortford, who comfortably have conceded the most goals and have the worst goal difference in the division, are in terrible form, having picked up just two points in their last nine games since their last win on January 9th, including a 0-4 home defeat last time out to Woking. Last month, the two teams drew 1-1 in Hertfordshire.

The match started quite evenly, but the home side took the lead on 24 minutes when a free kick was headed powerfully across the keeper and into the net by Simon Gilbert. Just as it looked like Weston Super Mare would take a deserved slender lead into the interval, Bishops Stortford equalised a minute before the interval with a smart spin and shot from 12 yards out by Harlee Dean. However no sooner had Dean got the visitors back on level terms, he gave his side a mountain to climb as, within a minute of scoring, he got himself sent off for an elbow after the referee consulted with his linesman, forcing the visitors to play the whole second half with ten men.

On many occasions, going down to ten men seems to galvanise a team, however that did not appear to happen here, as Bishops Stortford were barely a threat in the second half and it seemed only a matter of time before the home side would claim the three points, although they needed yet more help from the away team to secure them. I watched the Bishop's Stortford goalkeeper, Ross Kitteridge, way back in early July as he played a trial match for Charlton Athletic at AFC WImbledon. With an uncertain display on that day, it came as little surprise that Charlton did not sign him up, and he had a second half to forget today. On 58 minutes, his attempted clearance from a backpass was charged down, and as the ball rolled to the centre of the 18 yard line, he just beat a Weston's Duncan Lynvall to the ball but could only fumble the ball, allowing Gilbert to nick the ball and score his and his team's second of the game with an easy finish into an unguarded net. This seemed to make the points safe with the away team looking impotent going forward, but they made sure of the points when some good trickery inside the box allowed Justin Porter to beat Kitteridge at his near post from an extremely tight angle a minute from time. For most of the second half, Kitteridge suffered persistent good natured stick from the home fans - hopefully for him, it was just "one of those days".On the subject of the fans, it should be noted that whilst the level of support at Weston-Super-Mare is low for this level, averaging around 200, what support there is is passionate, vociferous but good natured and knowledgable, and indeed, the overall impression was of a club that is friendly, that makes the most of its limited resources.
 

Lewes 1 v 3 Welling United

Monday 3rd January 2011
Blue Square South
The Dripping Pan, Lewes
Admission: £10.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 766
Match Rating: 3

A last minute flash of inspiration this Bank Holiday morning took me to the wonderfully named Dripping Pan stadium, home of Lewes. The Dripping Pan certainly ranks highly in my favourite non-league stadia I have visited, although my last visit was nearly ten years ago - and there have been many developments since the club was in the lower reaches of the Ryman League. I recalled one of the nicest natural arenas for football, with the pitch set in a bowl, surrounded by large grass banks and with a quaint stone wall around the perimeter of the ground. With the club enjoying remarkable success since then - reaching the Blue Square Premier - a large amount of ground improvements were required in order for the club to play at the higher level.

The worry always is that improvement works will detract from the character of the ground.In Lewes' case, there was no need to worry, with all improvements carried out very tastefully and attractively carried out, whilst the ground still retains a beautiful rural charm. Behind on of the goals is now a large terraced stand with a roof not dissimilar in design to that found at Olympique Lyonnais. The tall traditional clubhouse still exists to its right. Along one length of the pitch is a modern all-seater stand which is one of the more pleasing on the eye. Behind the other goal is a small uncovered terrace, and along the remaining length of the pitch, hard standing is available on top of a large grass bank, which makes for an excellent elevated view of the pitch - despite floodlight pylons partially obstructing views. The chalky South Downs in the close background complete a thoroughly pleasant venue.

After remarkably (for a club of Lewes's size) reaching the Blue Square Premier, times have been harsh on Lewes, as they have spent the last couple of years battling for their very existence, so severe have their financial troubles been, as well as somehow managing to retain Blue Square football. Off the pitch, things are looking up, as Lewes have now become a member owned club. On the pitch though, this season is proving another struggle for them, sat just outside the relegation zone and have lost their last three games on the bounce. Today's match looked to be a daunting prospect for Lewes, with Welling in fourth place and would be joint top had they not been deducted five points for financial misconduct.

On a cold, dank day, the match pretty much went as predicted, with Welling impressing with their classy, cohesive brand of football and with Lewes guilty of sloppy play as a result of lack of confidence. It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead on 33 minutes when Andy Pugh worked some space and curled a lovely shot over the keeper from just inside the area.Things got worse for Lewes three minutes later, when an unmarked Lee Clarke hammered home a pull back. So superior were Welling, it was difficult not to believe this was already game over - so poor were Lewes, they made a double substitution on 40 minutes.However Lewes gave themselves home deep into first half injury time when Chris Godfrey bundled his way into the penatly area before hitting home past the keeper.

The second half began with Lewes much more into the game, although they had a lucky escape just a few minutes in when an ill judged backpass hit the woodwork and bounced clear. However, Welling restored their two goal advantage when Pugh scored his second, knocking home a nod down. Once again, this appeared to have won the game for Welling, but credit to Lewes, they continued to play good attacking football - whilst always looking rather limited compared to their classy opponents - and should have pulled a goal back when they had a shot cleared off the line and a powerful header was tipped onto the cross bar by the keeper.