Crawley Down Gatwick 2 v 6 Hastings United

Tuesday 18th March 2014
Isthmian League Division One South
The Haven Sportsfield, Crawley Down
Admission: £8.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 106
Match Rating:4

After deciding a trip across the Dartford Crossing didn't sufficiently appeal this evening, instead I headed into West Sussex to visit a ground I've had only visited once before, almost a decade ago. It would also be an opportunity to watch a club I have a keen interest in, Hastings United, as they chase down a play-off berth.

Unsurprisingly, the Haven Sportsfield, which is situated several miles from the nearest train stations in East Grinstead and Three Bridges, is a very different arena from the one I visited when Crawley Down were playing in the Sussex County League Division Two - having never played higher previously. Then, the ground was open, had no floodlights, and one could view the action from the patio outside the clubhouse. Now, the ground has lost some of its charm to appease the ground graders. It is now not possible to enter the clubhouse once inside the ground - although one is allowed at half-time - and instead there is just a burger van present inside the ground. There is an all-seater stand straddling the half way line behind the entrance turnstiles, whilst there is a small covered area for standing behind one goal near to the corner. Around the rest of the ground is just hard standing, with the boundary fencing covered in green sheeting with some trees planted in front, which will presumably offer a more attractive surrounding in the coming years. Programmes sold this evening were for the original fixture in mid January, with a four page insert giving updated stats and welcome message. It was a little disappointing that the club didn't do what Tonbridge Angels did last week, and offer a discount on a publication two months out of date.

Crawley Down Gatwick's season has been somewhat bizarre. After winning their first four league games in their campaign, or winning five and drawing the other of their opening six games, their recent form has been woeful. They haven't won since November, have lost their last four league games, picked up just one point in their last eight games, and defeats have included a 0-11 thrashing away to Guernsey, 0-8 at Folkestone Invicta and perhaps more embarrassingly, 0-6 at Eastbourne Town, who are cut adrift at the foot of the table. Their destiny is still in their own hands though, a point clear of the relegation zone in 21st place in the 24 team division.After spending most of the season chasing the automatic promotion berth, Hastings have suffered a dip in form lately, which has meant that they went into this game 18 points adrift of leaders Peacehaven and Telscombe. However, in fifth place, they were four points clear of sixth placed
Faversham Town outside of the play-offs with two games in hand

On a chilly evening, this game very soon went the way one might have predicted, with Crawley Down looking extremely limited, casual in defence and conceded possession far too readily, whilst Hastings seemed to sense blood from the off, looking very lively moving forward, with going forward harassing the home players into mistakes and stealing possession. On 9 minutes, Hastings opened the scoring. The ball was sprayed to the right wing by Josh Jirbandy, and Taser Hassan put in a cross which fell to Frankie Sawyer, who volleyed the ball into the net. On 15 minutes, Hastings doubled their lead. Hassan stole possession in midfield and drove to the edge of the box before crossing for Trevor McCreadie to head into the net. After coming close on several occasions, the visitors did score their third on the half hour, once again Hassan claiming the assist, sending in the cross from the right and Sawyer headed past the keeper. On 41 minutes, McCreadie stole the ball from a defender, who eventually tripped McCreadie in the box for a clear penalty. Sawyer smashed the ball low into the bottom left corner despite the keeper getting a touch to claim his hat-trick and put the result beyond any doubt. It was a really impressive first half display from the visitors, and one really feared for the young home team who were being totally outclassed.

As can happen sometimes, Hastings seemed to take their foot off the gas in the second half with their convincing lead, but they did score a fifth on 58 minutes, Sam Cruttwell curling a low free-kick inside the keeper's near post. McCreadie then hit the post shortly afterwards, before both he and hat-trick man Sawyer were replaced. Hastings were reduced to ten men when the outstanding Hassan went off injured after Hastings had used all three substitutes. They still managed to score a sixth though two minutes from time, when substitute Josh Oyinsan latched onto a long punt forward by his goalkeeper, strode forward before slotting the ball under the keeper and into the net. Crawley Down had ventured forward more and more in the second half without any real conviction, however a minute from time they did score a consolation goal when Wilfred Grimaud hit a good shot on the turn across the keeper and into the net. Three minutes into added on time and the hosts scored another. Grimaud forced the keeper to come out to block his run, and the ball fell to Tom Frankland, who took his time before curling a shot from the right over the keeper and into the net. Hastings will no doubt be disappointed to have conceded two late goals which took the gloss of their victory somewhat, but were made to pay for coming out after the interval with less intensity. As for Crawley Down, although they still remain outside of the relegation zone, it looks like they will be relying on clubs below them picking up even less points than they will.

Sutton Athletic 0 v 1 Orpington

Saturday 15th March 2014
Kent Invicta League
Lower Road, Hextable
Admission and programme: £4.00
Attendance: 40 estimate
Match Rating: 3

Fancying a fairly local grass roots game today with the sun shining, I decided to visit a ground which would mean that I will have visited every Kent Invicta League ground, to watch a derby game between two clubs who do not play where their names suggest.

Lower Road is about a 2 mile, 40 minute walk northwards from Swanley station, some of it down a small country lane through pleasant countryside. Having moved from their home village Sutton-at-Hone last season, the ground is very much a work-in-progress. Facilities are currently sparse, although planning applications are in place to develop the ground with a seated stand and floodlights, both required to remain in the Kent Invicta League next season. Currently, the ground is railed off, with hard standing in the form of shale available down the length where one enters and behind the far goal. At the opposite end of the length to where the entrance is is the clubhouse, which is as charmless inside as it is outside. A grass bank runs along the opposite length, and the ground has a pleasant, rural setting with hillside farms visible around. Programmes were included with admission and the club produces a very impressive publication for their level, printed in colour and on glossy paper, containing ample stats, interesting articles to read, and even a number of colour photographs from recent matches.

As well as being a local derby, Orpington currently playing just three miles on the other side of Swanley, this would be a match between the third and fourth placed teams in the league. Sutton went into this game two points ahead of Orpington having played two games less, although they are nine points adrift of second placed Holland and Blair and eleven points adrift of leaders Lydd Town. Sutton have been in fabulous form, winning their last four league games, scoring 17 goals in the process, and were unbeaten in the league since early September. A goalless draw was thrown outcome when the two teams met back in October.

On a warm and sunny afternoon, playing passing football proved that be tricky on a hard, bobbly pitch. The game would turn out to be something of a smash and grab. Sutton Athletic were the dominant side throughout the first half - although Orpington did occasionally look dangerous on the counter-attack - but a combination of excellent saves and poor decision making in the final third ensured a goalless half-time scoreline.

Into the second half and Sutton Athletic were even more dominant, and they were made to pay for failing to convert their superiority into goals when Orpington took the lead on the hour. A fast break down the right wing by Robbie Haines resulted in a low cross into the box and Glenn Brewer tapped the ball first time into the net. That seemed to take the wind out of Sutton's sails who, although they continued to dominate possession, struggled to create further goalscoring chances until they forced a succession of corners in the closing minutes, but Orpington held on for a win they barely deserved to leapfrog Sutton into third place, although the result wasn't too surprising given that one always felt Orpington had a goal in them, looking dangerous on the break, whilst invariably teams that squander so many chances are often left to pay the price.

Crowborough Athletic 1 v 1 Lancing

Tuesday 11th March 2014
Sussex County League Division One
Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Crowborough
Admission and programme: £6.00
Attendance: 61
Match Rating: 3

For this week's midweek action, I returned to the Alderbrook for the first time in a couple of months, to watch a young team that has been going great guns in recent weeks and surpassing all expectations so far.

Crowborough came into this game unbeaten since the turn of the year, winning seven games in a row before drawing away at second placed Littlehampton on Saturday, and an away draw against runaway leaders East Preston immediately before the seven game winning streak. They went into this game in third place, although they have played more than games than all teams around them - two more than Littlehampton, who they trail by a point, and two more than fourth placed East Grinstead Town, who they lead by three points. Lancing have suddenly been plunged into a relegation battle within the last weeks, having been docked six points and so came into this game fourth bottom, just one place and two points clear of the relegation zone, although they have played four more games than third bottom Arundel and five more games than second bottom Hailsham, who they lead by four points. When the two teams met at Culver Road in late August, Crowborough came away with a comprehensive 1-6 win.

On a very chilly evening, this would very much be a game of two halves, probably dictated by the strong, gusty wind. Crowborough completely dominated the first half, and had a goal disallowed on 11 minutes when Wayne Clarke's jinking, tricky run ended with a low shot on goal, which was parried by the keeper and the rebound was tapped home by an offside Michael Death. However, Crowborough did take the lead on 23 minutes when Jason Barton headed a free kick into the path of Michael Ademiluyi, who lashed home a fabulous first time shot on the turn across the keeper and into the net. Three minutes later and the home side hit the bar, as they did again in first half stoppage time with a header. So the home side took a lead into the interval, but it really should have been a more commanding lead given their domination of the first half.

Within two minutes of the restart, it was Lancing's turn to hit the woodwork, this time a header hitting the inside of the post and bouncing into the keeper's hands. It was a sign of things to come, as they were the team who had most of the possession and looked through more dangerous now. On 64 minutes they scored an equaliser, when Dom Shepherd's corner floated over the keeper and into the net. Although Crowborough had the odd presentable chance interest second half, Lancing always looked the more likely to score, and in the end, the home side would surely be happy to take a point from this game in the end, but may rue their inability to not have converted their first half dominance into a more convincing half time scoreline.

KSC Lokeren 0 v 0 Waasland - Beveren

Saturday 8th March 2014
Belgian Pro League
Daknamstadion, Daknam
Admission: 19 euro
Team Sheet: Free
Attendance: 8,159
Match Rating: 3

Taking advantage of another £10 return coach ticket from London to Ghent, this time I decided to head to a stadium which promised similar to what I experience a fortnight ago at Kortrijk - a small town club probably punching above its weight with a compact stadium close to capacity with passionate fans. Further attractive features of this match would be that that it would be a local derby - the two clubs separated by just 15 miles - and also that back in July, I watched the club formed, AFC Wimbledon style, by supporters dismayed that their club Beveren merged with a relatively minor club.

Lokeren is about a 20 minute train north-east from Ghent, with the Daknamstadion about a 15 minute walk north from the town's train station. Having collected the ticket I purchased on the Internet next to the main entrance - no tickets were available on the day for this match - the entrance itself was colourful and attractive enough, however once inside, the atmosphere was rather downbeat. Whereas at Kortrijk there was a really buzzing feel, here there is just a club shop, sterile bar and refreshment vans available, and so it made sense to proceed straight to the stand. This stand, along one length, had terracing along the bottom and seating - where I was positioned - along the top, with good unobstructed views throughout. On the opposite side, there is a taller stand, although it only covers about a third of the length, with the remaining area out of bounds. Behind one of the goal is a stand with terracing along the bottom and seating along the top, with the visitors packed into one corner of the stand. Behind the remaining goal is just advertising hoardings. No programmes were produced, however a double sided team sheet was given out upon entering the stands.

There was not too much riding on this game, in the penultimate round of fixtures in the regular season. Lokeren were in fifth place and guaranteed a Championship play-off berth. They could still finish fourth however, trailing Zulte-Waregem by 2 points. Waasland-Beveren were in 14th place in the sixteen team league, five points clear of OH Leuven and a relegation play-off spot, but with a goal difference superior by ten, a point tonight would probably guarantee Waasland-Beveren Pro League football next season, even though their final game is against Standard Liege, already certain to finish top of the regular season league table. They came into this game in good form, losing just once in their last ten league games.

On a very mild evening, there was a passionate feel to proceedings, thanks to an almost full stadium with a noisy and colourful away following. Lokeren had the stand-out chances to open the scoring in the first half. With just four minutes on the clock, a Lokeren free-kick from just outside the penalty area was awkwardly saved by the keeper, a follow up header was blocked by a defender, before the keeper managed to palm the ball away. The, as half time approached, the ball fell to a Lokeren forward at the corner of the six yard box but off balance, he shanked his shot high and wide of the goal. The visitors had their chances too, and it was something of a surprise that the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

Into the second half and Lokeren assumed superiority, as Waasland-Beveren seemed more content now to be solid defensively. Lokeren had some wonderful chances to win the game - a shot from 25 yards out fizzed over the bar, a header from six yards following a corner was saved by the keeper, a header from a curling free kick came back off a post, and another free kick forced a fabulous save from the keeper as the ball headed for the top corner. But in truth, if they were a little more direct in the final third rather than pass the ball to death around the penalty area, Lokeren surely would have scored, and the visitors always seemed to have a goal in them, and they nearly got it in the closing moment when a header flashed just over the bar. Surely Waasland-Beveren would be delighted with a point which, despite Leuven surprisingly beating Anderlecht, all but guarantees survival, with Leuven having to make up a nine goal deficit in their final game, whilst Lokeren could still finish in fourth, as Zulte-Waregem also drew at home to Club Brugge.

Video highlights can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4VNCQqhjfo

Tonbridge Angels 2 v 4 Maidenhead United

Tuesday 4th March 2014
Conference South
Longmead Stadium, Tonbridge
Admission: £12.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 332
Match Rating: 4

For this evening's game, I decided to watch my second Conference South game in four days, again at the home of a team currently occupying a relegation position, but this time against a club also involved in a relegation scrap.

Longmead Stadium is a stadium I have visited many times in the past, most recently last April when neighbours Tunbridge Wells lifted the Kent Senior Trophy on neutral territory. As this evening's game was one of many that have been rearranged following postponements, the club sold the original programme produced for the game in December at the reduced price from £2.00 to £1.50, and with a four page black and white insert providing updated stats and welcome messages from the manager and chairman.

Although there is still a month and a half of the season remaining, this match had the feel of a six-pointer, with Tonbridge in 20th place out of 22 teams, a point adrift of safety and 19th place currently occupied by tonight's visitors Maidenhead United. Tonbridge do have two games in hand on Maidenhead, and games in hand against all teams immediately above them. Tonbridge were not in good form though, winning just one of their last six games, although that win came against promotion chasing Eastleigh. On Saturday, they suffered an embarassing 7-0 defeat at Boreham Wood, who going into the game were only one point ahead of Tonbridge. Maidenhead also haven't been in the best of form recently, winning once in their last five games. The two teams had not yet met this season in the league.

On a relatively mild evening, with the pitch predictably fairly heavy with sand in patches, Tonbridge made a flying start to the game. Nathaniel Pinney took control of the ball on the right and drove towards the byline, but with no team mate in the box, he just kept going and going, eventually driving powerfully across the keeper and into the net. However, it proved to be a rare highlight for the home side in the first half, as Maidenhead increasingly dominated the game and fashioned the best chances, as Tonbridge seemed to put up painfully little resistance in midfield and displayed some shambolic defending at times. On 7 minutes, a fast break by the visitors saw the ball crossed from the right wing to Harry Pritchard, completely on his own in the centre of goal, but the keeper saved the eventual shot. However, on 15 minutes, Maidenhead did get back on level terms. Tonbridge's defence was cut open by a Maidenhead attack, they couldn't clear the ball and the ball eventually fell to Danny Green 12 yards out, and he fired home across the keeper and into the net. On 34 minutes, the visitors went into the lead. Adrian Clifton drove the ball across the penalty area, finding a completely unmarked Green, who drove the ball into the net. The home side managed to create some reasonable chances before half time to get back on level terms, but in truth it was a poor performance in the first half by the home side.

However, Tonbridge showed much more urgency after the break, piling on the pressure and forcing five corners in quick succession, the final one resulting in an equalising goal on 55 minutes. A high looping corner by Nathan Green was headed goalwards and probably was over the line before a defender slice the ball high into his own net. The momentum was all with Tonbridge now, and they had a goal disallowed for offside on 59 minutes. They couldn't find the goal to give them the lead, and on 80 minutes, the visitors went back in front. Daniel Brown saw his shot deflect invitingly into the path of Green to nod the ball inside the keeper's near post to claim his hat-trick. Maidenhead sealed the three points a minute from time, when they were awarded a penalty for a push in the box. Green was the man again to find the back of the net, firing down the middle to score his fourth of the night. That was game over, and Maidenhead deserved the three points for a solid performance, whilst Tonbridge, apart from a very strong quarter of an hour at the start of the second half, just seemed too pedestrian in midfield and were opened up far too readily by an average team, and a desperate relegation struggle surely beckons for them until the end of the season.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here

Dorchester Town 1 v 1 Staines Town

Saturday 1st March 2014
Conference South
Avenue Stadium, Dorchester
Admission: £12.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 426
Match Rating: 3

After spending much of the week considering which game to take in in the Greater London area, I eventually decided that South West Trains' excellent Winter Sale offer of a day return anywhere on their network for £10 was an offer too good to turn down so instead I set off on a long distance journey to deepest Dorset to visit a ground reportedly far grander than one usually encounters in the Conference South.

The Avenue Stadium is about a 15 minute walk southwards from Dorchester South train station, and indeed the stadium does have a look of real quality and is extremely easy on the eye, unsurprising as it was designed by the Duchy of Cornwall's architects and with Prince Charles taking a keen interest in its construction, although it is showing signs of wear and tear in places. One can enter via the main entrance to the ground or via turnstiles on the opposite side. The main all-seater stand is impressive and imposing, offering excellent elevated views of the action, whilst along the other side, the turnstile block has covered terraces on either side. Behind both goals is terracing, one end covered, the other end uncovered. Triangles and pyramids play a major part of the design of the ground, most of the roofs incorporating triangles, and in each corner there are small towers with a pyramid roof, with similar structures either side of the turnstiles, and most of these small tower buildings house toilets, snack bars, or a club shop. All in all, the stadium has a nice balanced and consistent look throughout, but with enough variety to prevent it from looking bland. The programme consisted of 56 black and white pages inside a colour cover and was rather substance over style, not that that's a bad thing for a football programme. Team sheets were also handed out in the main stand.

Having looked doomed a few weeks ago, three wins from their last four games - including a 3-2 home win against runaway leaders Bromley - have now given Dorchester a real chance of staying up. They're still in the relegation zone, second bottom, but are only two points away from safety, although they have played more games than all other teams around them. They certainly could take plenty of encouragement in increasing their good run today, Staines having lost their last three games, all away, and have picked up just six points from their last seven games. They also have the worst away record in the division, winning one, drawing three and losing the other 11 of their away league games. An excellent home record, picking up 29 points from 36 available, means that Staines are mid table, in eleventh place, ten points from both the play-offs and relegation places. When the two teams met on the opening day of the season, Staines won 1-0.

On a mild, occasionally sunny afternoon, with a bobbly, cut up pitch following the recent weeks of wet weather, the first half saw plenty of intent from both sides but with precious few goalscoring chances being created. As the game entered first half stoppage time, Staines took the lead. A looping cross into the box was headed away, and after an initial shot towards goal was blocked, the ball fell to Louie Theophanous, who curled the ball from the edge of the box behind the keeper's dive and into the net.

Into the second half and Dorchester looked more meancing than they had in the first half, and on 78 minutes a high cross across goal by Nick Crittenden eluded the keeper and Staines defender Sanchez Ming pulled back Mark Jermyn and the referee awarded a penalty to Dorchester. After several minutes of arguing and gamesmanship, Crittenden powered the ball into the bottom left corner of the net despite the keeper diving the right way. Both sides had chances to win the game in the remaining quarter of an hour, the best falling to Staines in added on time, first blasting high and later wide when excellently placed. A point apiece was probably the fair result though and with both teams above them losing today, lifted Dorchester to within one point of safety.

Video match highlights can be viewed by clicking here