Peterborough Northern Star 2 v 6 Northampton ON Chenecks

Saturday 6th October 2018
United Counties League Premier Division
Branch Bros Stadium, Peterborough
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 28
Match Rating: 3

At the conclusion of the FA Cup game at Peterborough Sports, I briskly walked the one and a half mile distance across northern Peterborough, to the Dogsthorpe area of the city, to take in my second game of the day. It promised to be an altogether more low-key affair, with no TV cameras or potential giantkilling to be seen.

To enter the Branch Bros Stadium, spectators pass through a surprisingly substantial and well decorated turnstile block, and then along a path to reach pitchside behind one of the goals. To the right, there is a covered standing area, and team line-ups are posted on a wall to one side. There is then a burger van close to the players' entrance and corner flag, beyond which there is  a further standing area, although this one has a much lower roof and was ideally suited to a damp and breezy day like today. The rest of this length is just hard standing, closely line by conifer trees, with the hard standing stretching behind the other goal. Along the remaining length there are two small modern metallic all-seater stands. A second football pitch is immediately behind the stands, giving the ground quite an open feel to it. It's quite a neat facility, enhanced by club signage, but it does not have much soul to it. The 28 programme was rather impressive, very attractively designed, easy on the eye, plenty to read and the important stats and facts. It was certainly worth the above average charge at this level.

Peterborough Northern Star came into this game in seventh place in the table, following four wins and two defeats from their opening six league games, although those two defeats came in their opening league fixtures, and so had won their last four league games, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one in the process. Northampton ON Checks were in 14th place in the 20 team Division, following their two wins and a draw from five league games.

With the wet and cold conditions continuing throughout this game, this was a surprisingly one-sided game, all the more surprising that it was the lower ranked team who dominated, and racked up an unassailable lead by half time. On 8 minutes, they opened the scoring with a far post header from a corner, and they doubled their lead within a minute when a player took a couple of touches to steady himself before drilling the ball low across the keeper and into the net. On 21 minutes, only a defender's block prevented a goalbound shot making it 0-3, but the reprieve lasted barely a minute, when a corner was headed back at the far post and then nodded in. Northern Star had a glimmer of hope on 26 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty for a clear handball. Sansby struck the ball low into the bottom right corner despite the keeper getting a faint touch. But Northampton restored their three goal lead on 40 minutes with another header from a corner, and in first half added on time, the visitors made it 1-5 when a low cross from the right was tapped across the keeper and into the net.

So a pretty shocking first half for the hosts, and it got even worse eight minutes after the break, when a long range shot was inexplicably punched out by the keeper, only for the ball to headed into the net. That was as good as it got for the visitors as substitutions seemed to break up their rhythm, and the game was pretty even and uneventful for the remainder of the match. The hosts created a couple of decent chances, before they finally did score a second on 86 minutes. An initial shot was saved, but the rebound was struck into the net via a desperate lunge by a covering a defender who could only divert the goalbound shot.

This was a really bad day at the office for the hosts, and indeed it was a pretty shocking day for Peterborough's senior football teams - not only did the teams I watched suffer convincing home defeats, but Peterborough United, in second place in League One, suffered a 0-4 defeat at home to Barnsley. Following a 2 mile walk back to the train station, I reflected on an enjoyable day out, although the walking, rain and wind made it rather tiring.

Peterborough Sports 0 v 3 Chorley

Saturday 6th October 2018
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Peterborough Sports & Leisure Club, Peterborough
Admission: £9.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 404
Match Rating: 3

I had originally kept this day free to take in the Western League Ground Hop, taking in four games in a day in the Bristol area. Much as I enjoyed my previous experience of the Western League groundhop, an over 400 mile round trip by car, and with rain forecast to fall most of the day, meant that I changed my mind in favour of a double in Peterborough, enabled by this game kicking off at 12.30 to allow for the BBC to show it live online and via the Red Button.

After filling up with a not particularly nice vegetarian breakfast at the College Arms Wetherspoons, I then embarked on the half hour, one and a half mile walk northwards to the ground - it is an almost identical distance from the train station. After walking down a short lane and then between the clubhouse and a beer garden, spectators then pay their admission at a small kiosk, before entering the ground by the half way line. To the right, towards the corner was a low and quite long all-seater stand, whilst to the left of the entrance there is a small wooden garden shed from where refreshments are sold, and on the back wall, not only was the team sheet displayed, but paper copies could also be taken. A disabled area and a toilet block filled the space up to the corner flag, beyond which there is a fairly new looking stand covering a few terrace steps, stretching almost to the goal. There is just hard standing around the rest of the ground. It is a neat and tidy ground, although it feels functional rather than having character. The 36 page programme had a water resistant cover, and was a good effort, full of interesting information and articles to read about the club's big day, and more than enough stats and facts.

It was little wonder that the BBC chose this game to broadcast live, with both teams in great form, yet still it would be a major shock were the home team to win. Peterborough Sports, having only entered senior football in 2012, were promoted into the Northern League last season, before transferring into the Southern League Division One Central for this season, and are doing very well doing this season, in third place with four wins and a draw from their opening five league games. They have successfully negotiated three rounds to reach this stage - Stamford in a replay in the Preliminary Round, then Basildon United away, and Boston United away. Today would be a really tough assignment for them though, facing a team in Chorley that are two steps above them in the pyramid, in the National League North, which they are leading by seven points, having won nine and drawn two of their 11 league games. Indeed, they are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, having beaten Leek Town 3-0 at home in the last round of the FA Cup.

On a horrible day weatherwise - with drizzle, a gusty wind and a very chilly feel to the gloomy proceedings, Peterborough Sports did well to stay in the game during the first half, as they battled well, but it was very apparent from an early stage that there was a gulf in class between the two teams. After hitting the woodwork, seeing shots blocked, forcing some very good saves from the keeper, and having a couple of goalbound shots cleared off the line, it felt like it being only a matter of time until the visitors would take the lead, and they duly did on 33 minutes with a super individual goal, Adam Blakeman receiving the ball by the outer edge of the penalty area, taking a touch before floating the ball over the keeper and into the net, to send the decent contingent of Chorley fans who had made the long trip south west into celebrations. The game then had a bit of a quiet spell, and the home side had a great chance to equalise just before the interval, when the Angelino Viera's powerful close range shot forced a terrific save from the keeper with his legs. And indeed, despite Chorley's dominance for long periods in the first half, the home side were still very much in the game at the break.

The second half was a different story however, as Chorley doubled their lead on 48 minutes and went on to see the game out very comfortably. It was an unfortunate goal for the underdogs to concede - an inswinging corner by Blakeman went straight into the net - whether the keeper misjudged it, or he was impeded, or whether it was a little of both, was the debate. In a rare chance for the home side, Lewis Hilliard curled a free kick just over the corner of bar and post. A rather comical moment came midway through the half when a male streaker (only his top half was bare, though) ran across the pitch with a handbag, hugged a player, before climbing the perimeter fence - dropping his hand bag in the process, and needing somebody to pass it up to him in the process, before making his escape. The inevitable third arrived for Chorley on 74 minutes, when Marcus Carver ran onto a low throughball before slotting the ball under the keeper and into the net. Even though the game was dead by now in terms of the outcome, it continued to be entertaining as Peterborough did their best to grab a consolation goal.

So a convincing away win, which reflected the gulf in class between the two teams, but Peterborough Sports should be happy with how things went on their big day, with a club record attendance, a good performance from the team, and the organisation off the pitch could not be faulted - it was just a shame that the weather conditions were so poor.

Hailsham Town 4 v 1 Wick

Tuesday 2nd October 2018
Sussex Senior Cup Round One
The Beaconsfield, Hailsham
Admission: £5.00
Programme: 50p
Attendance: 53
Match Rating: 3

This evening I decided to make my second visit to The Beaconsfield this season, mainly as two people I know well would also be attending.

This would be quite an intriguing, between two apparently very even teams, with the prize this evening being put in the hat for a possible tie against one of the big boys in Sussex football in the next round. Just goal difference separated the two clubs in the Southern Combination League Division One, both having accumulated 15 points from their eight league games, Hailsham in fifth place, winning four and drawing three (their only defeat coming on Saturday), whereas Wick were a place below, winning five and losing the other three. Special mention should be made of the excellent programme produced for this fixture, an absolute bargain at just 50p with plenty to read, all of the important stats and facts - the new editor for this season really has settled into producing a quality publication.

On a fairly mild evening, this was very much a game of two halves. The visitors pinned the hosts back in the opening minutes, and they would have go on to have much the better of the first half, looking a threat going forward whilst Hailsham looked a bit disappointing at times. Wick took the lead on 20 minutes, after the Hailsham keeper chased the ball down to the side of the penalty area, the ball was crossed to the edge of the penalty area, and Kieran Playle-Howard headed the ball into the net, brushing the keeper's palm as he desperately tried to recover his position. There was a feeling that a second Wick goal might have decided the tie, so on top were the visitorv, and they came closest to getting it on the half hour mark when the keeper was pulled off a great finger tip save to keep out a well judged shot from the edge of the area by Playle-Howard. Hailsham came back into the game as half time approached, and with just a goal in it at the break, there was all to play for in the second half.

The second half started off quite evenly, before a 8 minute spell completely turned the game on its head. On 55 minutes, Scott Taylor fired home a powerful shot from outside the area into the far corner. Two minutes later Hailsham took the lead, Taylor smashing the ball home after the ball was laid into his path, and on 63 minutes, Hailsham made it 3-1, when Sam Divall ran into a through ball and then poked the ball past the keeper. Wick were a shadow of the team they were in the first half, seeming to lose composure and a couple of their players were booked for niggly fouls. On 72 minutes, Divall diverted the ball onto the far post, bouncing just the wrong side of the goal line, but he did score his second and Hailsham's fourth with virtually the last kick of the game, when he poked the ball home after a flicked on cross.

So in the end a convincing win for Hailsham, strangely after Wick were well on top in the first half, and if they had scored a second, they probably would have gone on to win. But it was Hailsham who were left eagerly waiting for the draw for the next round on Saturday, with a potentia draw against a Bostik League Club, Eastbourne Borough, Crawley Town, or the Brighton & Hove Albion development squad. News also followed that Wick's joint managers had been relieved of their duties ahead of this game.

Stotfold 0 v 0 Wembley

Saturday 29th September 2018
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Roker Park, Stotfold
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 48
Match Rating: 3

Having attended a wedding yesterday, ideally I would have wanted a fairly local groundhop closer to home today. Unfortunately, rail engineering works made a trip to Hampshire unappealing, and there were no grounds in Greater London that I had not previously visited, or had plastic pitches that I wanted to save as an option for the depths of winter. And so I headed to Bedfordshire, and a ground that is easier to visit, when relying on public transport, on a nice day before the clocks go back.

Roker Park is a brisk, just over half hour walk from Arlesey train station. It's a straightforward, flat walk, although regular buses do also ply the route. The ground is situated on the northern fringe of the village of Stotfold, down a short lane before paying the admission fee and obtaining a programme next to a wooden hut, before walking into a car parking area behind one of the goals. Beyond the car parking area, in the other corner behind the goal, the brick clubhouse is set a little way back, with picnic tables on a fenced off grassy area making a pleasant place to enjoy a drink on a warm and sunny day like today. Alongside the clubhouse, there is a wooden tea bar hut. Along the length from the clubhouse, there is a fairly long stand covering a flat standing area, and then, straddling the half way line is another quite long and smarter all-seater stand. Along the opposite length there is hard standing, slightly elevated, whilst behind the remaining goal there is just grass and is not really intended for spectators. Tall trees line this end, with lower trees also along the length behind the stands, to give the ground a nicely enclosed and fairly rural feel to it. The 28 page programme was very decent for Step 5, with a very smart and professional cover, nicely laid out inside, with all of the important stats and some interesting reading material, including welcome message and introduction to both clubs.

Having been reprieved from relegation last season, finishing bottom of the division last season, albeit only on goal difference with two other clubs, things are not going any better for Stotfold so far this season, bottom of the table although after losing their first five league games, they have steadied the ship somewhat with draws in their last two games. Wembley have not had a much better start to their season, immediately above Stotfold in the league table following one win (which came last Tuesday, away at Harpenden) and one draw from their opening eight league games.

On a gloriously warm and sunny afternoon, it probably wasn't too much of a surprise that, despite plenty of honest endeavour from both sides, quality was at a premium today, particularly in the final third. Both sides had sights of goals, without coming particularly close to opening the scoring, and perhaps the most entertaining action of the first half was when a cat sauntering along on the grass behind the goal burst into life when a wayward shot on goal bounced uncomfortably close to it.

The second half followed a similar pattern although became a little more end to end as the half wore on, and although Stotfold did more of the attacking, they never really convinced that they would score, and it was Wembley who came agonisingly close to grabbing a winner - first, when a free-kick from deep was pumped into the area and headed home, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside, and then, a quick break forward eventually ended with a shot which came back off the post. Although a winner from either side looked possible right up to the final whistle, it wasn't a great surprise that it never came for my first goalless game of the season, and both teams will probably be happy to have got another point on the board, and to have kept a clean sheet as they hope to build the foundations for a better run of form to climb the table as winter sets in.