Fleetlands 4 v 0 Hayling United

Saturday 17th October 2020, Kick-off 15.00
Hampshire Premier League Senior Division
Lederle Lane, Gosport
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Attendance: 70 (estimate)

Today's choice of destination for a new ground was quite restricted due to my not fancying journeys involving rail replacement buses nor a tube journey across London under the current, apparently worsening COVID-19 conditions, postponements caused by Covid, and fixtures generally not falling my way today. And so I settled on taking in a game in the Hampshire Premier League - no hardship, as it one of the better Step 7 leagues in many respects on and off the pitch. A visit to Sway was very tempting, but ultimately I chose what looked, on paper at least, to be the better game, and to visit a club that, from what I could make out, was an above average Step 7 set-up  . I was not to be disappointed.

Lederle Lane is about a 40 minute walk southwards from Fareham train station, passing Fareham Town's home ground Cams Alders on the way, and just beyond the boundary separating Fareham and Gosport. Some endearing old-fashioned signage welcomes visitors at the entrance gate in one corner of the ground, with a NHS Track and Trace QR code available for scanning, as well as pen and paper. The ground is certainly one of the better at this level within Hampshire, both in terms of facilities and its aesthetics. The pitch is railed on all four sides, with hard standing along one length, along which there are proper dugouts, and either side there are similar looking stands containing benches and chairs  inside, all brick constructions and painted in black and white. From this side, there are scenic views looking down to a creek, along with numerous numerous yachts, and with Portsdown Hill chalk ridge beyond. The length opposite the stands is mostly lined with a hedge, just beyond which is a helipad, on the site of what used to be DARA Fleetlands. Trees form the background behind one end, which is inaccessible to spectators, whilst set behind the other, closest to the entrance, is the white and black clubhouse building, from where refreshments and bottles of beer were available, and with the changing rooms housed in attached buildings behind. No programmes are currently produced by Fleetlands, and although the Hampshire League team line-ups whiteboard is attached to the exterior wall of the clubhouse, it was not updated today. Floodlights have fairly recently been installed, acquired from AFC Stoneham's former ground at Chestnut Avenue, and to the untrained eye, Lederle Lane does appear to be pretty close to being sufficient to host Step 6 football.

Both clubs have made solid if unspectacular starts to this  season. Fleetlands, who do have ambitions for promotion to the Wessex League in the near future, have won three and drawn three of their seven league games so far, whilst Hayling United have won four and drawn two of their nine league games. They were certainly bang in form in front of goal, scoring 21 goals in their last three league games, winning 5-1 at home to Liss Athletic, 2-9 away at Sway, and most recently 7-3 at home to Chamberlayne Athletic.

On a fairly mild and occasionally sunny afternoon, this game had an explosive opening, with Fleetlands taking the lead with barely a minute on the clock. The ball was headed across goal and although it looked like the best chance to score would have been a first time shot, instead the ball bounced up and an overhead kick sent the ball past the keeper despite the desperate attempt of a covering defender, who could only divert the ball into the roof of the net. On 10 minutes Fleetlands had a good chance to double their lead when the ball was worked across from right to left, and the eventual powerful shot hit the outside of the stanchion. But they did score a second on 14 minutes, when a low ball across the pitch between Hayling defenders was intercepted, and the Fleetlands player moved forward before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. Fleetlands went on to dominate the rest of the half, and it was surprising that Hayling were only two behind at the break, given that they did have a bad habit of giving the ball away in dangerous positions, but it meant they were still very much in the game.

After an eight minute half time break, with both teams staying out on the pitch for their team talks, clearly the next goal would be crucial, and just three minutes into the second half, it was Fleetlands who grabbed it to all but seal the three points. A Fleetlands striker ran onto a long ball pumped down the middle, just managing to get beyond the defender and run through on goal, eventually guiding the ball past the keeper. The home side had several great chances to further extend their lead, although Hayling also threatened to grab a consolation, but the margin stayed at four. I was certainly not expecting such a one sided scoreline, but it was a reasonable reflection of a very decent, dominant performance by the home side, helped on their way by some pretty average play at the back by the visitors.

Tunbridge Wells 2 v 0 K Sports

Wednesday 14th October 2020, Kick-off 19:45
Southern Counties East League Premier Division

Culverden Stadium, Tunbridge Wells

Admission: £8.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 300

I had intended for this to be my second game of this midweek, having pencilled in a visit to Peacehaven & Telscombe for the Tuesday evening. However, persistent rain falling as afternoon became evening, as well as decidedly chilly conditions, persuaded me to "save myself" for this fixture, for my first visit to the Culverden Stadium since August 2018.

Since my last visit, there have been some alterations and improvements, some inevitably as a result of Covid considerations. Entry to the ground was probably in the most Covid-safe fashion I have encountered. A path is led to the turnstile block, just before which one person provided the NHS Track and Trace QR code, another person took temperatures, and with plenty of hand sanitiser dispensers available around the entrance. The clubhouse, located next to the turnstile block, is currently being used the home dressing rooms, with refreshments and beer now available from a converted container unit, installed behind the uncovered terrace steps behind the goal closest to the entrance. The remainder of the ground remains the same as before, although certainly looking smart and tidy. Happily, Tunbridge Wells continue to produce paper programmes, and a decent one at that, 32 pages in colour and on glossy paper, and containing plenty of interesting articles and the necessary stats and facts.

In a strong looking division, Tunbridge Wells have made a good start to the season, unbeaten in their opening seven league games following five wins and two draws. K Sports have had a slower start to their season, winning one and drawing three of their seven league games. Tonight would be the second time the two clubs have met this season, with K Sports winning 2-1 at home. Indeed, that was their last win in four in all competitions, and their only league victory came on the opening day of the season.

On a dry evening, cooled down by a breeze with a chilly edge to it, this was an even match in the opening stages, with the early half chances falling to the visitors, but gradually Tunbridge Wells asserted their authority on the game, with their crisp passing and creativity down the wings causing the visitors increasing problems. And on 29 minutes, the home side took the lead. After a shot following a corner was saved by the keeper, and then the ball was floated into the box, for Cornwell to head home from close range and despite loud appeals for offside - the linesman did not seem completely sure himself - the goal was given. K Sports had a great chance to equalise within a couple of minutes, when Ben White headed beyond the far post from a great position. And on 38 minutes, the hosts doubled their lead, Jordan Wells receiving a throw in before dribbling along the byline, beating a defender before crossing low to Euan Sahadow, who drilled the ball low through a crowd of players and into the bottom right corner. Tunbridge Wells finished the half really strongly, and probably should have scored two or three more by half time, as the visitors were no doubt to get back in the changing rooms and regroup.

And indeed, they came out much improved after the break, showing a little more ambition following a change in formation. But they struggled to really threaten, and with Tunbridge Wells seeming to do just enough to see the game out, the second half was much less entertaining than the first, although a goal for K Sports may well have kicked the game back into life. The home side also had some half chances, but in the end their two first half goals were enough to seal the three points, and lift Tunbridge Wells up to second place in the table

Hastings United 2 v 1 VCD Athletic

Saturday 10th October 2020, Kick-off 15:00

Isthimian League South East Division

The Pilot Field, Hastings

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: None

Attendance: 400

Armed with a season ticket at Hastings United this season, this would only be the club's second home game of the season, after the delayed start to the season, which only finally commenced on 19th September, and the originally scheduled second home game for Hastings against Three Bridges was postponed due to the club's progress in the FA Cup.

After watching Hastings secure a goalless draw against Cray Valley PM on the opening game of the season, they followed that up with two further goalless draws - although one of those, in the FA Cup against Chesham United, was then won on penalties. Finally, after scoring just once but not conceding any in the club's opening four games, goals have started to flow. Last Saturday, they drew 2-2 away at National League South outfit Ebbsfleet United in the FA Cup, before losing on penalties, whilst in midweek, they had a thumping 1-5 win away at Haywards Heath Town in the league. So, they came into this game with five pints from three games, following a win and two draws. After opening their season with a 6-0 defeat to Cray Valley in the FA Cup, today's visitors VCD Athletic have had a perfect start to their league season, winning all four of their league games so far, scoring 14 goals in the process, and four in each of their last three games. With a four point lead in the table, they were guaranteed to remain top no matter the result today. 

Once again, this game was a sell-out, with only around 130 tickets available after the 270 season ticket holders account for the currently permitted capacity of 400. Infortunately programmes are still not being produced by Hastings, but at least there does seem to still be hopes that they will issue soon, as it seems that many people are still asking about them.

On an afternoon that was mild but mostly overcast except for the odd spell where bright sunshine shone through, VCD's approach to the game was rather surprising, given that they should have been high on confidence following their perfect start to the season, as they adopted a defensive approach, willing to allow Hastings to have the ball and soak up pressure. Perhaps this is a measure of how highly fancied Hastings are to do well this season. And so this was a game that Hastings mostly controlled, but one that they nearly paid the price for not putting to bed. The home side had the first clear chance on 15 minutes, Sam Adams seeing his shot saved, and as the ball spilt to the left of goal, Kenny Pogue drove the ball just high of the far post. But on 25 minutes, Hastings did take the lead, Oliver Black pulling the ball back low from the byline for Adams to strike the ball first time from the six yard box, and although the shot came back off the underside of the bar, he was first to tap the ball home virtually on the line. They were almost gifted a second, when a back pass to the keeper was intercepted by Ben Pope and run through on goal, but the keeper did well to grab the ball from his feet.

VCD did have a few sights at goal at the start of the second half. Three minutes after the break, a free kick was pumped into the box from deep, and their striker headed the ball home, but he fouled the keeper in doing so and the goal was ruled out. And three minutes later, following a corner, Paul Vines drilled a fierce shot that the Hastings keeper beat away. Hastings weathered those chances, and then reasserted their control of the game, and the seemingly inevitable second goal came on 70 minutes. After a blocked shot rebounded off a defender and only just went wide of the post, the resultant corner was floated towards the back post, and after Gary Elphick's header came back off the post,  Tom Chalmers tapped the ball into the roof of the net from very close range. They had good chances to put the game beyond doubt, but it was VCD who pulled a goal back on 84 minutes, after Vines headed the ball across the goal and Milli Hysi drilled it low into the bottom right corner. All of a sudden, the result was in doubt as VCD pushed hard for an equaliser, and on 89 minutes, after a ball was looped over the defence for Vines to run onto, but his shot from the edge of the area was parried by the keeper. But Hastings held on to claim the three points, with the outcome a lot closer than it really should have been.