Iden 3 v 2 Robertsbridge United

Saturday 2nd November 2013
East Sussex League Premier Division
Iden Recreation Ground, Iden
Admission and programme: Nil
Attendance: 28 (head count)
Match Rating: 4

Having planned to go to Battle Bonfire Night this evening, I decided to take in a local game at a venue I had not previously visited. And so - after some nervous checking of Twitter and the league website to ensure the game would take place following heavy rain during the week - I headed to the outskirts of Rye for a game in the intermediate level of the East Sussex League.

The Iden Recreation Ground is located just to the north of Iden village, which is a couple of miles north of Rye. As customary in the East Sussex League, facilities are very basic, although there are two improvised dugout shelters consisting of plastic sheeting, and a couple of advertising banners behind the shelters. There are no spectator facilities, however this is a scenic, very peaceful ground with a lovely feeling of quaint village football character. The undulating pitch is at the bottom of a slope from the car park and is part of a fairly large recreation ground incorporating a children's play area and cricket field. The pitch is closely lined by trees along three sides, giving it a very pleasant naturally enclosed feel. Behind the other length, the village church is visible above the slope of the recreation ground, with a cricket pavilion also used by the footballers situated to the right of the recreation ground a little way up the slope.

According to the current league table, this game would be between two of the stronger teams in the East Sussex League, with second placed Iden hosting third placed Robertsbridge United. Iden have won four and drawn two of their seven games, two points behind the perennial dominant force in the East Sussex League, Hollington United - quite an impressive performance after having to resign from the division last year due to ongoing struggles to put together a team. Robertsbridge are a point behind Iden, with four wins and a draw. Today's teams have already met in the league this season, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw.

On a very overcast and gusty afternoon, Iden made the early running and had several half chances to score, so it was against the run of play when Robertsbridge took the lead on 8 minutes. A low ball was played forward and a defender couldn't quite cut the ball out. Dominic Whittaker latched onto the ball and poked it goalwards past the onrushing keeper from just inside the area and despite the best efforts of a covering defender, trickled into the net. Within a minute, Iden almost equalised when a header from a corner was acrobatically saved. On 17 minutes, Iden did get a deserved equaliser. A free kick from a deep central position was flicked on and the ball fell to Rob Levett who tapped the ball home from a slight angle close range. On 21 minutes, Iden forced another point blank save, and the feature of play throughout the first half was of Iden playing the better football and posing a strong attacking threat, although Robertsbridge always looked dangerous with long balls pumped forward. 1-1 was how it remained at half time though.

Into the second half and conditions became very gloomy, giving way to a spell of heavy driving rain. On 61 minutes, Iden took the lead, Levett tapping home after the keeper fumbled a straightforward cross at a good height for him. Two minutes later and it was Robertsbridge's turn to profit from a poor fumble from the keeper, Guy Ballard tapping home from close range when the keeper dropped a cross that appeared simple enough to gather. The game remained entertaining for the remainder of the game, with both teams creating good chances to score, with by now Robertsbridge looking the more likely to score. However a couple of minutes from full-time, it was Iden who scored what turned out to be the winning goal, when a low shot from a slight angle took a deflection and the ball fell to Richard Weller who struck the ball home. In the end, the result was harsh on Robertsbridge, although a game that was well contested and frequently end to end was always likely to have a grandstand finish.

Crowborough Athletic 4 v 3 Arundel

Tuesday 29th October 2013
John O'Hara Cup Third Round
Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Crowborough
Admission including Programme: £6.00
Attendance: 66
Match Rating: 4

Just a week after my last visit to the Alderbrook, I set off this evening hoping it would be a case of third time lucky for Crowborough Athletic this evening. Tonight would the third consecutive Tuesday evening that Crowborough were at home in a cup competition, but had lost both previous games 0-3, firstly to Littlehampton Town in the Sussex RUR Cup, and then last week to Division Two outfit Little Common in the Sussex Senior Cup, when I witnessed a desperately poor performance by Crowborough.

After a very positive opening to their season, there have been worrying signs for Crowborough recently, which culminated in the shock parting of ways of manager Graeme Mintrim last week as he could not commit to continue managing the club if they were to be asked to move to the Southern Counties East League next season. A 1-3 win at bottom of the table Worthing United on Saturday was a positive step forward for the caretaker managers, and Crowborough were in sixth place in the twenty team league with 20 points from 11 games, just four points off second place. In the previous round of this competition, Crowborough beat Chichester City on penalties after a 3-3 draw at home. After a reasonable start to their season, Arundel have been in bad form. Before progressing in the Sussex Senior Cup at home against Hailsham Town, they had lost their previous six league and cup games, a run which included losing 3-0 to Crowborough at the Alderbrook at the end of last month in the league. In the previous round of this competition, Arundel beat Westfield 4-3 at home after being 1-3 down after 51 minutes.

On the first chilly evening of the season, Crowborough started the game full of intent, and were awarded a penalty on twelve minutes for handball - perhaps a generous award as it did seem ball to hand rather than hand to ball. Sam Carrington drove the ball down the middle to give the home side the lead. They kept applying pressure and were awarded a second penalty on the half hour when Carrington drove towards goal before being tripped as he entered the penalty area. Carrington himself again converted the penalty down the middle. Crowborough really made their superiority count on 33 minutes when Carrington completed his hat-trick, shooting on the turn from close range. Arundel certainly didn't throw in the towel at this stage, and on the stroke of half time pulled a goal back, Bradley Lewis curling a free kick into the top left corner.

That certainly seemed to inspire the visitors, with the second half a much more even affair. On 64 minutes, Arundel scored a second goal when Russell Bardwell got on the end of a flick-on from a goal kick and lobbed the onrushing keeper from a slight angle just outside the penalty area. The game really could have swung either way at this point, but it was Crowborough who restored their two goal lead on 66 minuted. Elliott Wood sprinted down the wing and to the byline, passed low across goal to Carrington, but he couldn't get a meaningful touch on the ball. Eventually the ball fell to Callum Ridley who fired home from a very tight angle. The comfort of a two goal lead only lasted a couple of minutes, when Scott Tipper showed a good touch to beat a couple of defenders in three box before firing home across the keeper. Both teams attached at will for the remainder of the game, but no further goals were scored and so it was Crowborough who progressed and will play Pagham away in the next round. Credit to both teams for producing a very entertaining game of football, particularly to Arundel who kept on going even after falling 0-3 behind, and they could easily have pulled off a remarkable comeback.

Charlton Athletic 0 v 0 Wigan Athletic

Sunday 27th October 2013
Football League Championship
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 23,600
Match Rating: 3

My first visit of the season to The Valley this season - after being a season ticket holder last season - was inspired by the club running their annual 'football for a fiver promotion for this game. Not only would I be able to watch my beloved Charlton for just a fiver, but such cheap tickets would also result in a near capacity crowd, an extremely rare event since the Premiership days, with the stadium barely over half full for most games this season.

I decided to sit in the third row of the upper tier of their (main) West Stand today, which offered excellent unobstructed views. An interesting innovation to the 'Football for a fiver this year was a compulsory £1 donation to a couple of charities. Whilst well-meant I'm sure, it seemed odd to make a charity donation compulsory, and only applied to people buying match tickets for today. This season's programme followed a very similar format to last season's with a different design but still interesting and informative.

Both clubs have made an indifferent start to their league campaigns. Charlton were down in 19th place in the 24 team division, with just ten points from their opening 11 games, although they were unbeaten in their last three games with two draws and then a win away at Blackburn last Saturday. Having been relegated from the Premiership despite winning the FA Cup last season - meaning they are having to contend with playing in the Europa League this season - Wigan were in 13th place, with 14 points from their ten games. They were unbeaten at home, but have lost four of their five away games so far this season.

On an overcast and increasingly gusty afternoon, Charlton certainly looked the brighter in the opening stages, without looking likely to score. Indeed, the first major chance arrived on 35 minutes when Bradley Pritchard skied the ball over the bar from a central position near the edge of the box after the ball was pulled back by Cameron Stewart. A couple of minutes before half time and Charlton came even closer to scoring when Richard Wood directed his header towards goal from a corner, but a combination of goalkeeper and defender scrambled through ball away on the goalline.

Whereas Charlton had the better of the first half, Wigan certainly had the better of the second and created several good opportunities to score, the outstanding one coming four minutes after the break when Wigan's Chris McCann saw his powerful header hit the crossbar. In the end, neither side could make the breakthrough asthenia game finished goalless, disappointingly for me as it was a year to the day since my last goalless draw. This was no boring stalemate though, with plenty of end to end passages of play. No doubt Charlton will be happier with the point in the end, claiming their third clean sheet on the trot.

Highlights of the game at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6aCrSGTZ3A

Barnet 3 v 0 Concord Rangers

Saturday 26th October 2013
FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
The Hive, Edgware
Admission: £8.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 1373
Match Rating: 2

Today's visit was primarily motivated by the opportunity of seeing a game at Barnet's new stadium at half price - I have no desire to pay their usual prices of £16 for standing and at least £21 for seating for non-league football - with the potential magic of the FA Cup on offer too.

The Hive, Barnet's new stadium developed in the last year on their existing training complex after finally admitting defeat in realistically ever being able to sufficiently modernise their previous stadium Underhill, is conveniently located just a ten minute walk from Canons Park underground station, walking mostly along a footpath through training pitches on the complex. The Hive is almost the complete opposite of Underhill, which is not entirely a good thing. Whereas Underhill oozed character and old-fashioned charm with its cobbled together basic facilities wedged between housing, The Hive is spacious, has good facilities and offers excellent viewing wherever one chooses to watch. Its appearance is quite unique but it's a stadium that is difficult to fall in love with. The largest stand is all seater and in club colours of orange and black - its too large for the local council, who have insisted that its height must be reduced - one would have thought that Barnet of all clubs would have known better than to chance things with the local council. Along the other length are about a dozen rows of seating with only the middle section covered, with the seating backing onto a building housing the clubhouse, changing rooms, club shop corporate area amongst others. Behind both goals are identical stands of terraces. The programme, a reduced edition of 32 pages today with a third off the usual price, was perfectly adequate and informative, although the quality of the paper wasn't the best if one was being highly critical.

Today's game would be an interesting one, between a club that was relegated from the Football League at the end of last season and managed by Dutch legend Edgar Davids, and a club newly promoted into the Conference South - so now a division below Barnet - with just six seasons having passed since they plied their trade in the Essex Senior League. Today would also break new ground for Concord Rangers, having never previously progressed this far in the FA Cup. It would also be the first time Barnet have had to qualify for the First Round proper in nine years. As for league form, Barnet were in eighth place interest Conference Premier with 25 points from 16 games, whilst Concord Rangers were in 14th place in the Conference South, with 13 points from 11 games.

On a very dank afternoon with frequent squally showers, the underdogs started very comfortably, playing some good football and probably looking the stronger of the two teams, and it was out of nothing when Barnet took the lead on 19 minutes. The ball was played low from the right wing, a defender couldn't cut out the cross and the ball fell to Keanu Marsh-Brown, who took a touch before placing the ball low inside the post. Barnet doubled their lead nine minutes later when a ball was chipped in from the left and was headed in at the near post by Daniel Lopez. It was a scoreline that slightly flattered Barnet, and one felt that the visitors were still very much in the game despite a two goal deficit at half-time if they could just pose more of a threat in the final third.

Into the second half and Barnet did a very good job of squeezing the life out of the game, playing a passing game which rarely allowed Concord Rangers to get up a head of steam to attack but which also made the game rather dull to watch. The game was put to bed on 73 minutes when an excellent passing move from their own half eventually saw a low cross come in from the left and Lopez steered the ball into the net from a central position for his second of the game. Barnet could have extended their lead further and Concord Rangers tried to mount attacks but the scoreline remained 3-0 at full time. No question Barnet deserved to go through, as Concord Rangers, for all their good approach play, never looked capable of scoring today. Goals today meant that I have now gone a complete year and 87 games since watching my last Goalless draw.

Crowborough Athletic 0 v 3 Little Common

Tuesday 22nd October 2013
Sussex Senior Cup First Round
Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Crowborough
Admission including programme : £6.00
Attendance: 80 (estimate)
Match Rating: 2

My first visit to the Alderbrook in six weeks was for some Sussex Senior Cup action, with an interesting looking game between two teams going well in the Sussex County League, but with a division separating the two teams.

Crowborough went into this game in sixth place in Division One although they have had a little wobble in recent times, losing two of their last three games and bowing out of the Sussex RUR Charity Cup 0-3 at home to Littlehampton Town last Tuesday, although they did win in the FA Vase on Saturday to set up a mouthwatering tie against local rivals and 2013 FA Vase Runners-Up Tunbridge Wells next month.

Little Common, who would be playing in Division One this season had their ground been suitable, are in fourth place in Division Two, just a point off the leaders and are top scorers in the division having scored 35 goals in 11 games, but were knocked out of both other cups they have entered so far this season, to Division One opposition. These two sides faced each other at the same stage in last year’s competition at Little Common, with Crowborough winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

After a day of heavy rain showers, it became dry for the match although the rain had certainly taken its toll on the pitch. With the match kicking off five minutes late due to the late arrival of some of the Little Common players after being delayed in traffic, the game started evenly, with little adventure being shown by either side, and one felt that strategy would certainly benefit the lower division team more. And indeed it was Little Common who took the lead on 24 minutes. A free-kick from near the half way line was taken short and dribbled towards goal and the eventual low shot seemed to slightly deceive the keeper who could only parry the ball wide to Jamie Crone, who fired the ball home from a slight angle. The rest of the half was fairly quiet and so it was the underdogs who claimed a narrow half time lead which was just about deserved.

The second half, surprisingly, was more of the same, as Crowborough struggled to get any fluidity to their play and their players grew increasingly frustrated with proceedings and each other. On 65 minutes, they gifted their visitors a more comfortable lead. A Crowborough defender got tangled up in trying to pass the ball back to his keeper, but Lewis Hole reached the ball first to stride forward before tapping into an empty net. On 78 minutes, Crowborough almost got back in the game when a curling cross to the far post evaded the keeper and defenders and Chris Ransome hit the ball powerfully across goal but his shot came back off the post. That miss was to prove costly as on 88 minutes, they conceded another sloppy goal. A poor free kick in from the wing was easily headed up field and into the path of Adam Smith, who strode forward with the ball unchallenged before eventually slotting the ball coolly past the keeper. So a surprisingly emphatic victory for the underdogs which they deserved as Crowborough just didn’t turn up tonight and deserved what they got. A disappointing aspect of the evening was the so-called “Crow Army”.  Encouraged by the club in the last couple of weeks to create some noise and atmosphere, this group of teenagers mindlessly screamed pointless, foul-mouthed and abusive chants frequently throughout the match, and it was very pleasing to note that following this game, the Crowborough chairman has announced that  this group of people will no longer be welcome at matches. A very wise move, before Crowborough’s reputation is besmirched.

RWDM Brussels 1 v 1 SC Eendracht Aalst

Saturday 19th October 2013
Belgian League Second Division
Stade Edmond Machtens, Brussels
Admission: €15.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 1500 (estimate)
Match Rating: 3

Whilst browsing through the Megabus website a month or so ago looking for any cheap tickets to visit a new ground far from home, I came across a return journey to Brussels for just £13.50, and with times to suit a day trip for this fixture, albeit extended into Sunday morning, I planned my second ever visit to a Belgian football ground.

Arriving next to Brussels central rail station just before 6 (having left London Victoria at 10.30), I soon headed for the Metro for an eight minute journey westwards to Beekant, from which the Stade Edmond Machtens is about a quarter hour walk. I bought my ticket from one of the kiosks outside the main entrance for a seat in a large single tier stand along one length. Despite looking dreary and in need of maintenance in the concourses, it is adequate enough with good unobstructed views. Although the seats were just shaped plastic bolted onto the concrete steps, I along with many others stood anyway. Below the seating are a few rows of terrace steps but these were out of bounds, and a large but very crowded bar is located on the ground floor of the stand. Along the other length is a similar sized stand, although it is two tiered with a row of corporate boxes between. Behind one goal there are uncovered terrace steps - not in use tonight - whilst behind the other goal there are just advertising hoardings and the area is inaccessible to spectators. No programmes or teamsheets seemed to be available here.

Both teams have had reasonable starts to their campaigns. Brussels were in sixth place after 11 games, winning six and drawing two, although last weekend they lost 1-4 at Royal Antwerp. Aalst were in tenth place in the 18 team division, winning three and drawing three of their eleven games. This evening's match would be something of a local derby, with the town of Aalst situated just 20 miles north west of Brussels.

On a clear, moonlit evening, this would be a strange game, looking for all the world that it would be a goalless draw with both teams badly lacking a cutting edge, before an explosive final three minutes of the game. The first half was, for the most part, a midfield battle, the home team seeming to have a little bit more trickery to suggest they would be the likelier scorers. Aalst also managed tocreate some good chances, but both sides lacked conviction approaching goal.

Into the second half and there was a little more attacking intent on display, and both sides saw an effort come back off the post, but it was looking ever more certain that my run of 87 games without watching a goalless draw would come to an end this evening. However, on 87 minutes, a Brussels striker burst into the box before being hauled down by Pedrag Filipovic to concede a penalty and earn the inevitable red card. Geoffrey Cabeke stroked the ball home low into the bottom left corner despite the keeper diving the right way to send the home support into loud celebrations - indeed, they had been creating an excellent noisy atmosphere all game, even when the football played was rather dull. That seemed to be game won as Brussels continued to attack, all the more so when Aalst were reduced to nine men when their keeper Kevin Van den Noortgaete was sent off for tripping a Brussels player just wide of the penalty area, although contact did look minimal at best. An outfield player had to take over in goal. Three minutes into injury time and Brussels had a player sent off themselves for a rather ugly high tackle by Vincenzo Bellia, who had only come on as sub in the 83rd minute. That gave Aalst some encouragement as they mounted a couple of attacks, the final one paying off when a cross from deep found its way to Niels Martin at the far post who tapped in from very close range to send the Aalst fans into wild celebration, continuing well after the final whistle, which blew straight after the kick off after the goal. So an amazing, frenetic end to what had been pretty uninspiring game for 87 minutes. Any side that earns a point having gone down to nine men deserves considerable credit, although Brussels will surely feel this was two points dropped, having been unable to close the game out in the closing minutes with a two man advantage. As I headed back to the city centre after the final whistle to catch the coach back to London at half past midnight, arriving at 7am, I reflected on an enjoyable groundhopping experience that was worth the 14 hour round trip.

Video of the goals can be found here

Rottingdean Village 2 v 1 Broadbridge Heath Reserves

Saturday 12th October 2013
Sussex Intermediate Cup Round Two
Rottingdean Sports Park, Rottingdean
Admission and programme: Nil
Attendance: 32 (head count)
Match Rating: 3


Following my earlier game at Ovingdean, which kicked off at 1.30, I walked down to Rottingdean quickly with a view to catching a bus to Peacehaven time take in the second half at Peacehaven and Telscombe. However as I walked past Rottingdean Village's ground, I realized that their game was a 3pm kick off - not 1.30 as advertised on the Sussex League website - and so I stopped off in time for the closing minutes of the first half.

I had visited this ground as recently as May, but it was no hardship to revisit today, being extremely scenic and one of my favourite grounds at this level. Rottingdean have had an average start to their season, with two wins and a draw from their six league games and are in sixth place in the eleven team division. Broadbridge Heath Reserves have had an excellent start to their season,  with a 100% record from their four games so far in the Reserve Section West, the second tier, of the Sussex County League.

By the time I arrived Rottingdean Village were leading 1-0, Jamie Evans scoring on ten minutes. On the stroke of half time, they doubled their lead. A corner led to a flurry of blocked shots in quick succession, until Ross Curly hit the ball home from very close range. A slightly surprising two goal lead for the home team at half time, but well deserved by all accounts.

Into the second half and Rottingdean were looking very comfortable - perhaps too comfortable, as mid way through the second half they seemed to take their foot off the gas and showboat a little, and the visitors pulled a goal back on 61 minutes. A free kick was floated into the box and Chris Copestake got just about enough on his shot to bounce out of the reach of the keeper and into the far corner of the net. Very much game on now, although the game was really a midfield battle for the most part with few clear goalscoring chances being created, and the best of those fell to Rottingdean. Broadbridge Heath did apply a lot of pressure in the closing minutes, although the Rottingdean club linesman did his best to thwart their attacks by raising his flag every time Broadbridge Heath played the ball forward into a dangerous position, eventually the referee learning to ignore the flag. But in the end Rottingdean held on for a deserved victory that was a lot tighter than it needed to be.