Sholing 2 v 3 Folland Sports

Monday 21st April 2014
Wessex League Premier Division
VT Sports Ground, Sholing
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 248
Match Rating: 4

At the conclusion of my morning game at East Preston, I got back on the train and continued westwards to the outskirts of Southampton for another top of the table clash, this time in the Wessex League, at the home of the team I saw earn a trip to Wembley earlier in the month, conquering Eastbourne United in the FA Vase Semi-Final.

The VT Sports Ground is about a twenty minute walk from Sholing rail station, and is a ground that is difficult to like. Entering behind one other goal, there is a portakabin housing a hospitality area, tea bar and toilets, whilst by the corner flag is one of the dingiest clubhouse I have ever encountered. The rest of the ground has hard standing and uniform solid metal fencing all around, although colourful trees in the distance make the settings a little less sterile. Along one of the lengths are two modern stands, one all-seater and one covering a few terrace steps. The programme was a good effort, 44 pages which although may seem pricey at £2.00, is negated by the excellent admission price charged. Understandably, much attention is given to their FA Vase run.

Having voluntarily stepped down from the Southern League last season despite a top half finish and retaining most of their players, Sholing have been champions-elect all season. They've suffered a chronic fixture backlog in recent weeks, today being their ninth game in April, but quite impressively, they only lost the first game of that series, in the league cup. They went into this game in second place but almost certain to be crowned champions, just two points behind leaders Alresford but with four games in hand, and Sholing play their final three fixtures after Alresford's last game. Folland Sports went into this game in third place, which is as high as they can finish, and a win today would guarantee them third place. They have accumulated 82 points from 40 games. The two teams have already met twice this season, Sholing winning 2-1 both times in Hamble, once in the FA Vase second round.

On a very warm and sunny afternoon, Sholing put out a very young team today, mindful of avoiding injuries and suspensions for the FA Vase final in a couple of weeks time, and it showed in the first half, as the visitors dominated the first half. On ten minutes they opened the scoring with a quite brilliant goal. Dan Mason plucked the ball out of the air and, on the turn smashed a volley from the edge of the area into the net. They had chances to extend their lead further, which only happened right at the end of the half. An initial shot was blocked and rolled across the area, landing at the feet of Michael Turvey, who drilled the ball through a crowd of players and into the net.

0-2 was a fair scoreline at half time, but after making a couple of changes at half time, including their goalkeeper, Sholing were much more competitive in the second half. They pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when a galloping run down the right wing culminated with a peach of a cross which evaded the defenders and goalkeeper but not Alex Baldachino, who headed the ball into the net. Ten minutes later and it was 2-2. Some good trickery in the box ended with a low close range cross and Baldachino got the decisive touch to score. However, parity was to last just three minutes. Sholing's substitute goalkeeper brought down a forward in the box and Ryan Long hit the ball low to the right with the keeper going the other way to make the scoreline 2-3. That somewhat surprisingly killed the game, as neither side really threatened to score again. So this result meant  Folland Sports were assured of a third placed finish, whilst Sholing, for whom this was their first home defeat since November 2012, fell five points behind leaders Alresford, but still with four games in hand.

East Preston 3 v 2 Littlehampton Town

Monday 21st April 2014
Sussex County League Division One
The Lashmar, Angmering
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 96
Match Rating: 4

For today's Easter Monday groundhopping adventures, I headed for a south coast double header, kicking off with this very attractive looking game, a local derby between the top two teams in the Sussex County League.

The Lashmar is about a 15 minute walk from Angmering rail station and is a moderately attractive venue, lined on three sides by fir trees, giving the ground a nice compact feel to it. Facilities are somewhat limited here at present - hence they will be playing Sussex League football again next season. As one enters through ground, a covered walkway surrounds the corner flag, whilst to the other side of the entrance is a quite a long modern metallic all-seater stand. Along this length and behind both goals is hard standing, whilst the remaining length is marked "no entry" although a handful of people stood along the grass length anyway. A couple of new wooden sheds housing turnstiles are in place, as is a wooden hut presumably to sell programmes from, whilst several areas of excavation work indicates plenty of work is going on to get the Lashmar up to Isthmian League standard. The programme was rather disappointing, not as it was understandably a double issue with Easter Saturday's game but that it was very basic in its information, with 16 pages of sketchy and often outdated club information inside am advertising shell.

East Preston have been a class apart in this division all season and are not only guaranteed to be this season's champions, but by at least ten points. They have gained 90 points from their 36 games, losing just two league games all season, both of those coming within the last month. Littlehampton went into this game in second place, with 74 points from 36 games and are guaranteed to finish at least third but are just a point above third placed East Grinstead Town, who they beat 3-0 on Saturday. Today's two teams have met twice already this season, both games in the last month. The reverse of today's league game finished goalless, whilst in the league Cup semi final, East Preston won 2-1 on neutral territory. Unfortunately, neither of today's sides will be promoted this season due to ground issues.

On a warm, humid morning, after a competitive opening, it was Littlehampton who opened the scoring on 7 minutes. A shot was deflected into the path of Ben Gray, who calmly slotted low past the keeper. East Preston got back on level terms on 22 minutes with a free kick drilled into the top left corner from 25 yards by Darren Boswell. They almost went ahead on 33 minutes, the Littlehampton keeper doing well to tip the ball over the bar. As the half wore on, Littlehampton good play faded for more agricultural challenges, and with that the impetus switched to East Preston, and they took the lead on the stroke of half time. The ball deflected into the path of Evan Archibald who lashed the ball inside the far post to give the hosts a half time lead.

Into the second half and chances were at a premium for the first half hour, but the game exploded back into life on 71 minutes when Jason Jarvis reacted badly to a foul and was shown a yellow card. He seemed to lose his cool as he mouthed off to anyone who would listen, before being sensibly substituted. However, as he smashed a ball against an advertising hoarding, the referee sent Jarvis off, although having been already substituted at that point, Littlehampton retained their full compliment of players. On 87 minutes came a rather bizarre incident as the East Preston keeper came out to catch a long ball forward. The Littlehampton striker went down in the challenge but seemingly with minimal contact having been made and the officials showed little interest in taking any action. Eventually the referee went over to his linesman and after a long discussion, a penalty was awarded, for the keeper kicking out at the striker as he caught the ball. Bizarrely, the referee showed a yellow card, although this was quite symbolic of a very erratic and inconsistent performance by the official all game. The penalty was smashed down the middle by Mitchell Hand to level the scores. Just as it seemed that Littlehampton would hold on for what might have been a priceless point in their fight for the runners-up spot, East Preston went back into the lead in the first minute of stoppage time. The ball was laid off in the penalty area, and Joe Shepley drilled the ball in off the post. They held on quite comfortably for the considerable remainder of stoppage time, and it was a victory they deserved for the way they stuck to playing good football throughout, even when Littlehampton made some crude and cynical challenges.

AFC Portchester 0 v 2 Alresford Town

Saturday 19th April 2014
Wessex League Premier Division
Wicor Recreation Ground, Portchester
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 112
Match Rating: 3

Having spent the last month or so confined to groundhopping in my local area, mostly at intermediate or junior level, today I decided to take on a more long distance trip into Hampshire for a top of the table clash in the Wessex League, at a club whose manager is the former Arsenal and England player Graham Rix.

The Wicor Recreation Ground is a brisk 20 minute walk south westwards from Portchester train station. It is part of a large expanse of playing fields, with the waterfront of the Solent very close by, from which Portsmouth is clearly visible. The copious neat signs outside the ground point to a club that is trying to create a professional image and once inside the ground it is clear that although it is very much 'work in progress', with some parts currently resembling a building site, there is obviously plenty of ambition to make this ground fit to host football above the Wessex League. As one enters in one corner, immediately ahead is a quirky signpost pointing people in the directions of the club's facilities - as well as Fratton Park and Lands End. Adjacent to the turnstile is a very smart tea bar - named 'The Cage', whilst stretching from there is a very long portakabin type building containing the clubhouse. Straddling the half way line is a small all-seater stand, followed by a hospitality area, consisting of a portakabin and decking patio with tables and chairs, whilst heading towards the corner flag the foundations and skeleton structure are in place for two new stands. Behind the goal where one enters there are two temporary style uncovered all-seater stands, one either side of the goal, whilst around the rest of the ground there is just hard standing. The ground's remote location, surrounded by fields and trees and with no through roads close by, makes this a pleasant venue, which certainly will be even nicer once the construction works are completed. The programme was one that promised much but delivered little. It certainly looks the part, as one might expect here, with a professional design, but only consists of 16 pages, 7 of which are purely advertising and the remaining pages are generally rather sparingly filled.

This match would be between two teams still with plenty to play for as we reach the dying embers of the season. AFC Portchester went into the game in sixth place, with 70 points from 38 games, and with fourth place still within reach, currently occupied by Winchester who are  five points ahead having played two games more. Alresford currently top the division, with 88 points from 39 games and a very impressive 117 goals scored, although they are very unlikely to be crowned champions, given that Sholing are two points behind but with four games in hand. When today's teams met in the reverse fixture back in October, they drew 2-2.

On a warm, generally sunny afternoon, Portchester had slightly the better of the opening exchanges, indeed having the first real chance to open the scoring on 2 minutes when a close range shot was palmed over the bar. It was to prove a false dawn though, as Alresford went on to control the game, proving to be a class above their hosts throughout. They took the lead on 14 minutes after some defensive uncertainty saw the ball run weakly towards the goalkeeper, and Warren Bentley got to the ball first to tap it just inside the near post for his 53rd goal of the season. The rest of the half lacked real goalscoring chances, although in first half stoppage time, an Alresford header from a corner flew just over the bar.

Portchester rarely looked like scoring in the first half, so their task of getting something from this game became huge just three minutes after the break when the visitors doubled their lead. A free kick was sent to the left of the penalty area and Bentley eventually sent in a cross shot which the keeper got a hand to but the ball fell to Dan Strange at the far post, who thumped the ball home. Finally the home team did start to look more threatening in the final 20 minutes as they carved out some good chances, but in truth Alresford were always in firm control of this match and thoroughly deserved the three points to keep the pressure on Sholing to win their games in hand. The future may not be looking so bright after this season however, as news emerged that the Alresford management duo, Danny Robinson and Tim Cole, will be leaving the club at the end of the season to take the reigns at fellow Wessex League club Winchester City.

Northiam 75 0 v 2 Hawkhurst United

Wednesday 16th April 2014
Robertsbridge Junior Cup Semi Final
Recreation Ground, Northiam
Admission and Programme: None
Attendance: 39 (head count)
Match Rating:3

A return to the “silly season” for me this evening, with a trip into rural East Sussex to watch some junior level football at a club whose biggest claim to fame is probably being where Neil Ruddock finished his playing days

The Northiam Recreation Ground is located close to the centre of the village, and an interesting point to note as you enter the gates is a sign indicating that they were erected by the parishioners of Northiam to commemorate the visit of the British, Canadian, South African and South Rhodesian prime ministers in 1944. Once inside the ground, one walks through some a recreational area featuring a playground and outdoor fitness aids, until one reaches the football pitch itself at the far end of the ground. A wooden clubhouse is situated on one side straddling the halfway line, whilst around three sides of the ground are a combination of hedges, trees, and fairly attractive buildings in the distance, giving the ground a very pleasant rural feel to it.

This evening’s match would be an interesting cup semi-final, with the host team a division below the visitors in the East Sussex League. Northiam are in fourth place in Division Three, with a good chance of earning promotion. They have earned 31 points from their 17 games, seven points behind second placed Punnetts Town but with four games in hand. Hawkhurst United are in fifth place in Division Two, with 22 points from 13 games, and although they have games in hand on all of the teams above them, a position in the top two to earn promotion looks beyond them. To reach this stage of the cup, Northiam have beaten Division Four outfit West Hill United of Division Five 2-0 and Wittersham II 6-1, both games at home, whilst Hawkhurst United have beaten Bexhill AAC, of Division One, 3-1 at home and Peasmarsh, of Division Four, 0-4 away.

On a gloriously sunny and warm evening, with a decent crowd assembled, it was Northiam who had the first real chance of the game on three minutes, a powerful shot from close range forcing a very good save from the keeper. Apart from that, Hawkhurst dominated the half, hitting the post on 22 minutes with a header from a curling cross to the back post. A minute later though and the visitors did take the lead, a low through ball beat the offside trap and Daniel Mcgahan kept his cool to take his time before slotting the ball through the keeper and into the net. Hawkhurst had a header from a corner cleared off the line on 39 minutes, and they went into the interval with just a one goal lead when they really should have had a more convincing lead.

After looking extremely limited in all areas of the pitch in the first half, Northiam threatened much more after the break, and on 48 minutes saw a weak shot hit the post and on 60 minutes they had a shot following a corner cleared off the line. However, on 68 minutes, Hawkhurst scored their second to pretty much deal the cup final date. An initial shot was well saved by the keeper and after the ball wasn’t cleared, the ball was eventually fired into the net by Mcgahan for his second of the game. The result never looked in any doubt after this, although Northiam did have a couple of reasonable chances to reduce the arrears, and it was Hawkhurst who advance to the final.