Edgware Town 9 v 2 Brimsdown

Saturday 14th November 2015
Silver Jubilee Park, Kingsbury
Spartan South Midland League Division One
Admission: £4.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 87
Match Rating: 3

With steady rain arriving in south east England this morning, falling on already sodden soil, and with a poor forecast for the afternoon, I decided to take the safe option today and head for a plastic pitch.

Silver Jubilee Park is about a 25 minute walk from Hendon rail station. Spectators enter from above one corner, stretching out along the length from here are the changing rooms, an old fashioned but housing a hall and bar, whilst in front of this is covered seating. It offers a slightly elevated view of the action, but there are lots of pillars obstructing one’s view from here. The ground has quite a nice setting, with a hedge covering the perimeter fence, and the rest of Silver Jubilee Park stretching above the ground in the distance. A stand covering a few terrace steps is positioned above one of the goals and probably provides the best view of all. It's a basic ground currently, although there are plans to upgrade facilities as Isthmian League outfit Hendon move into the ground full time from next season. The programme was decent for the level of football, providing the essential stats and facts.

Edgware Town have had a great start to their second season since reforming in 2014. They top the table with 12 wins from their first 13 league, losing the other, although Crawley Green, in second place on goal difference, have an even better record, a 100% record having played one less game. So, surely a tough game for Brimsdown today, who themselves were formed recently, in 2013, after Brimsdown Rovers were swallowed up by Enfield 1893. They came into this game in ninth place, with five wins and seven defeats from their 12 games. They have been going through a difficult time recently though, having lost their manager and most of their players, and lost 8-0 at Crawley Green in their last league fixture ten days ago.

After a minute’s silence before kick-off ahead of the terrorist attacks in Paris yesterday evening, heavy drizzle continued to fall throughout the first half. Edgware took the lead on 5 minutes when Jay Molloy drilled the ball home. Fortune favoured them for their second when Molloy's initial shot was saved by the keeper but the ball rebounded back off Molloy and into the net. Indeed, Brimsdown could consider themselves a little unfortunate to be two goals down and looked more than capable of getting back into the game. However they were truly blown away after the half hour mark. First, on 31 minutes, Butt crossed low to the far post for Abdul Mansaray to tap home at the far post, and then three minutes later, Butt converted a penalty low to the right. Two minutes later and Mansaray scored Edgware's fifth, getting on the end of  a diagonal ball forward before shooting low across the keeper and into the far corner. On 38 minutes, Edgware made it six, Mansaray claiming his hat-trick with a powerful drive under the keeper, and within a minute, Jack Smith made it seven with a shot from wide with the keeper out of position. With the last kick of the half, Edgware scored their eighth when Molloy took the ball around the keeper before tapping into the net to claim his hat-trick.

One really feared for Brimsdown at this stage, as they looked odds on to beat the twelve goals they scored on the opening day of the season, all the more so as the second half was delayed by five minutes whilst Brimsdown's substitute corner got ready. But as the rain finally relented, Brimsdown deserve enormous credit for a vastly improved, battling performance despite already being on wrong the end of a thumping. After coming close a couple of times, they scored the goal of the game on 55 minutes with a fabulous angled shot from the edge of the area into the far top corner.  Gradually Edgware did wake up from their slumber midway through the second half and after coming very close to scoring three times, they finally did score their ninth goal on 76 minutes when Smith drove low into the far corner despite the keeper’s outstretched boot getting a faint touch on the ball. Despite a couple more good chances, Edgware couldn’t score one more goal to reach double figures, and instead Brimsdown scored another consolation when they scored from the penalty spot via the inside of the left hand post. And so Brimsdown actually won the second half 1-2, which they deserved to do with a much improved performance backed up by some very good goalkeeping as well. Indeed, they could even had reduced the arrears further.

For me personally, this has been an incredible run of games in the last week, watching 30 goals fly in in just three games. No doubt I will be reminiscing about these days when I no doubt go through a spell later in the season feeling fortunate to see even one goal in a game....

Hailsham Town 1 v 8 Lewes

Tuesday 10th November 2015
The Beaconsfield, Hailsham
Sussex Senior Cup Second Round
Admission: £6.00
Programme: 50p
Attendance: 186
Match Rating: 4

On an evening offering some tempting fixtures in the Sussex Senior Cup, I plumped for a return visit to the Beaconsfield despite my most recent visit being just a month ago, as it offered plenty of potential for a cup shock.

Separated by two steps in the pyramid, both of this evening’s teams have difficult seasons so far.  Hailsham were third bottom in the Southern Combination League Premier Division, having won two and drawn one on their 13 games so far, although they have reached the second round of the FA Vase, and reached this round of the Sussex Senior Cup by beating St Francis Rangers 2-0 at home, a fixture I watched. Lewes were beaten finalists in this competition last season, but were second bottom of the Isthmian League Premier Division coming into this game, with just seven points from their 19 league games, winning just once, and have exited every Cup they have entered at the first hurdle so far this season.

On a dry evening with a chilly breeze, the game started surprisingly evenly given that Lewes were fielding pretty much their first team, Hailsham probably having the better of the first half whilst Lewes tended to rely on long balls forward. On 24 minutes, Hailsham took the lead, when a ball down the right wing sprung the offside trap, and Sam Divall ran towards goal with the ball before placing it under the keeper. Hailsham really should have doubled their lead when a great curling ball down the middle set Luke Snashall through on goal, and the keeper slipped as he raced out, but Snashall inexplicably rushed his shot at an unguarded goal and sent the ball just wide of the post. It was to prove a crucial miss. Two minutes before half time, Lewes scored an undeserved equaliser. After a defender slipped, the ball was played across the box and Richard Pacquette turned the ball into the net.

This turned out to be a game very much of two halves - Hailsham could feel unfortunate to not have taken a lead into the interval, but Lewes completely blew them away in the second half. Lewes went into the lead on 49 minutes, when Alex Malins nodded home from close range, and they opened up a two goal cushion within a minute when the keeper came racing well out of his area, but Pacquette got to the ball first and struck the ball into the unguarded net from about 40 yards. The goal that really killed the game off on 54 minutes was controversial in that the referee awarded a free kick to Hailsham when they were in possession and attacking. The ball was given away from the free kick, lumped forward and Laing shot across the keeper and into the net. On 76 minutes, Lewes scored their fifth. A free kick was played down the middle and although Pacquette seemed to foul a defender in getting to the ball, he placed his eventual shot past the keeper to claim his hat-trick. Hailsham really were a beaten team now, and conceded a sixth two minutes later. The ball was crossed low into the box and the defender made a complete hash of dealing with the ball  and as it squirmed to the far post, Pacquette tapped in from a yard or so for his fourth of the match. Lewes made it 1-7 on 83 minutes and following a good run to the byline, the ball was eventually struck home from a central position by Henry Muggeridge. With Lewes cutting through a dispirited Hailsham team at will by now, I was beginning to wonder if I would watch a team run up 10 goals for the second time in four days, but as it turned out, Lewes only scored one more, on 86 minutes, when Malin thumped the ball home following a corner.

So, Lewes did, as expected, progress to the next round and no doubt will taken some confidence from tonight. But their first half display would have been a worry, and if Hailsham had scored that second goal, the outcome could have been very different. 

Newhaven 10 v 0 East Preston

Saturday 7th November 2015
Fort Road, Newhaven
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 67
Match Rating: 4

A combination of heavy recent rain continuing into this morning causing the first serious lottery of postponements of this season, and my need to stay local to watch bonfire night celebrations in the evening, caused me to revisit a ground that I have visited three times previously, although not since 2006, when I watched just the floodlit second half, and my last full game there was way back in 1993.

Fort Road is about a 15 minute walk from Newhaven Town station and is an interesting ground, which could be summed up with big ideas having seemingly been thwarted by cash drying up. One enters the ground in one corner, behind an uncovered stand of seating inherited from when Brighton and Hove Albion played at the Withdean Stadium, and an almost identical structure behind the other goal, although that one was out of bounds today. Adjacent to the entrance, a portakabin offers a rather rudimentary clubhouse and refreshment outlet, and beyond there are a few terrace steps with a wooden stand covering the central area, all of which is now pretty much redundant now that the seating has been installed to block one’s view of the action. Straddling the half way line on one side is the stand out feature of the ground, a large stand which offers excellent elevated and unobstructed views of the game. More seating has been installed n the ground floor. The stand is otherwise unused, as it has been since it was constructed in the early 90’s – and in fact, the seating has only been installed recently, before that, the structure was deemed completely unusable. Along the remaining length is just hard standing. The background to the stadium is quite pleasing on the eye, with a tree covered hill close behind one goal – which would indeed offer good views of the action – whilst behind the length opposite the main stand, a cricket pitch and the town’s harbour is in view. The 24 page programme was excellent, attractively designed, in colour and with plenty of interesting articles to read as well as all of the essential stats and facts. It’s probably as good a programme as I can remember at this level.

There was no doubt that Newhaven were strong favourites going into this game. They topped the table on goal difference with 11 wins and a draw from their 13 league games. East Preston were second bottom, winless and with just two points from their opening 13 league games, and one of those points came in their last game.

On a gloomy afternoon with steady drizzle in a stiff breeze giving way to drier conditions in the second half, Newhaven were denied a clear penalty in the fifth minute, when a East Preston defender karate kicked the Newhaven striker. They did take the lead on 13 minutes when a excellent ball control during a goalward dribble forward by Lee Robinson ended with the ball being poked just inside the post. The visitors then had a great chance to get back on level terms on 16 minutes when their striker ran through on goal, but a fabulous last ditch sliding challenge by a defender poked the ball behind for a corner juat as the striker was about to get hit shot away. That was as good as it ever got for East Preston, as Newhaven doubled their lead on 17 minutes. The ball was passed low from the right wing to Robinson, he cut inside and curled a powerful shot into the far top corner despite a firm hand by the keeper. Four minutes later and Newhaven had a header cleared off the line, and on 25 minutes, they were awarded a penalty. A striker ran through on goal, but was pulled back once he was inside the area, earning the defender, Richard John, a straight red card. Ebou Jallow sent the keeper the wrong way and struck the ball low to the bottom right of the goal. Newhaven really slowed the game down now with possession football, before a sudden forward burst resulted in their fourth goal. Joe Dryer sprinted with the ball from deep to the edge of the area before driving the ball low into the far right corner.

So at half time the result was in no doubt whatsoever, and the onky question was how hungry would Newhaven be to score goals. Within a minute of the restart they added their fifth, when the keeper could only get a faint hand to a ball crossed above him, falling at the feet of a Newhaven player who passed across goal for Robinson to fire the ball home for his hat trick. On 48 minutes, Newhaven scored their sixth, when again the keeper could only get fingertips to a cross and Craig Bunch nodded home from close range. On 55 minutes, some fortunate bounces of the ball inside the area resulted in Dryer poking the ball home for Newhaven's seventh, and Dryer completed his hat trick on 64 minutes with a lovely jinking run from the deep left wing ended with the ball being fired home. On 73 minutes, Newhaven scored their ninth when Dryer scored his fourth when he placed a free kick into the top right corner from a central position. It seemed certain that Newhaven would go well beyond ten at this stage, but in the end they only just made it, scoring their tenth on 86 minutes when the ball was played back from the byline and Callum Connor stroked the ball home from six yards.

So a thoroughly decisive victory for the home side, the first time I have watched a team rack up double figures, although it could have been several more had Newhaven kept up their intensity throughout the match. Credit to East Preston for the way they kept going and never showed any frustration or cynicism in their play, but were completely outclassed. All quite a remarkable change of fortunes for a club that won this league just two seasons ago.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here

Great Wakering Rovers 3 v 2 Aveley

Tuesday 3rd November 2015
Burroughs Park, Great Wakering
Isthmian League Division One North
Admission: £8.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 100 (estimate)
Match Rating: 4

With no work the next morning to worry about this week, I was sufficiently tempted into a relatively long distance trip into south-east Essex, for my first midweek action in almost a month.

Burroughs Park is located just to the north of the village of Great Wakering, or just under three miles north from the nearest train station in Shoeburyness, or about five miles north east of Southend. In all honesty, I was not expecting too much of the ground, which was probably why I was happy to visit at night time. So it came as a very pleasant surprise indeed that I would find a ground that was attractive, very neat and tidy, with some really nice touches to give the place a really care for feel to it. One enters through a turnstile behind one of the goals, with the clubhouse immediately to the right, and refreshments offered from a window to the front. To the left of the turnstile are three steps of uncovered terrace. Beyond the clubhouse, the other side of the corner flag, is an attractive sign welcoming spectators to Burroughs Park placed on the outside wall of the toilets. Further along this length is a really eye catching feature, a cabin decorated in bright, club signage. Just beyond the half way line is an all-seater stand.Straddling the half way line on the other length is a stand covering a few steps of terracing. To one side of the stand there are a couple of tasteful memorials for club stalwarts placed on the perimeter fence. Behind the remaining goal are a few uncovered terrace steps. The perimeter wall is attractive dark brown wood, and trees behind one goal complete a very pleasant, quiet setting. There was also a really friendly and welcoming feel to the place. The 40 page programme was excellent to, in full colour, printed on good quality paper and with a really combination of stats, facts and interesting reading material.

It is looking like a season of midtable obscurity for both clubs. Great Wakering came into this game in 15th place in the 24 team division, with five wins and six draws from their 18 games, although after their previous manager resigned on the back of two successive 1-4 home defeats, the new manager Gary Ansell has steadied the ship with a win and two draws. Aveley were in 11th, with seven wins and three draws from their 16 games. In the reverse fixture last month, the match finished 1-1.

On a dry, mild evening, after a lively opening to the game, Great Wakering took the lead on 9 minutes. After Jake Gordon strode forward unopposed, he passed the ball to Tom Ranger, and he stroked the ball into the net.  Their lead lasted less than two minutes though. Joe Pearman sent a lovely free kick to the back post, and Junior Baker headed into the net. The home side looked certain to retake the lead within a minute, but saw a shot well saved and a subsequent shot blocked by a defender, but they did score a minute after that. Jake Gordon took the ball forward, knocked the ball sideways to evade the goalkeeper before firing into the net. After an explosive few minutes, the game settled down, until Great Wakering extended their lead on the stroke of half time. Some good passing into the box ended with the ball being passed across goal and Jay Nash passed the ball into the net.

Great Wakering certainly deserved their two goal lead, who always looked threatening with their lively, inventive attacking play, while Aveley looked a little sloppy in their play. Aveley certainly upped their game in the second half. They forced a terrific point blank reflex save by the keeper from a powerful header on 58 minutes. But they did pull a goal back two minutes later, when Alex Teiniola saw his shot on the turn deflected into the top corner. A flashpoint occurred on 66 minutes when the ball was curled towards the Aveley goalkeeper, inviting the forward Nash to challenge, but his clattering of the goalkeeper, wiping him out, was over the top. He got a yellow card, but bizarrely the Aveley defender Ahmed Deen escaped even a talk to from the referee despite going head to head with Nash and repeatedly screaming vulgar obscenities at him. On 75 minutes, Aveley's Pearman curled a low shot just beyond the far post. But they did not manage to get enough shots on target to threaten an unlikely equaliser as Great Wakering came close on a couple of occasions. But they had still done enough to claim the deserved three points.

Lymington Town 2 v 0 Wells City

Saturday 31st October 2015
The Sports Ground, Lymington
FA Vase 1st Round Proper
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 70 (estimate)
Match Rating: 2

For my Hallowe'en entertainment, I headed down to Hampshire once again today, this time to the coast, in my quest to watch an FA Vase game at a new ground, with the added bonus of watching a team from the Western League, which I very rarely have the opportunity to do.

The Sports Ground is about a 15 minute walk from Lymington Town train station, via the town’s charming high Street, and the main entrance is in one corner of the ground. Whilst the ground is not particularly attractive and is certainly basic, it does have an old fashioned charm about it, back to an era when a town's facilities were shared between its sports clubs, with the cricket square located behind one of the goals and the tennis and bowls club behind one length. As a result, the ground is large in terms of space, but is neat and tidy with a pleasantly sleepy feel to the place. Due to the pitch being shared with cricket, there is only grass standing available behind one goal and half way up one side, but with hard standing around the rest of the pitch. On the opposite length there is a long stand covering bench seating in club colours of red. There are no other pitch side spectator facilities. The clubhouse is set next to the cricket pitch, the other side of the entrance, and is rather small and unremarkable, and today was certainly the wrong day to come to a game hungry, with confectionery and crisps/peanuts the limit of the club's food offerings for spectators. The programme was a very good effort, if a little stat heavy. Fair play as well to a very reasonable admission fee, which compared very favourably with what I am more used to in the south-east corner of England.

Lymington probably came into this game as favourites, in sixth place in the Wessex League Premier Division, having won six and drawn four of their 13 league games. Wells play a step below Lymington, in the Western League Division One, and were in fifth place, having won eight and drawn one of their 14 league games. To reach today’s fixture, Lymington had beaten Oldland Abbottonians, from the same division as Wells, 0-1 away and East Cowes Victoria Athletic 0-9 away, whereas Wells had beaten Keynsham Town 2-1 in a replay.

On a beautifully sunny and warm afternoon – the complete contrast from the miserable conditions I endured at Basingstoke last Saturday – this game started evenly, but it was Wells who had the first real chance, when a powerful header from a free kick went just over the bar. On 24 minutes Lymington came close, again a powerful header from a free kick going just over the bar. But the home side did take the lead on 36 minutes, when a shot by Harrison Weeks from the edge of the area took a deflection, guiding the ball into the back of the net. A minute before half time, Wells thought they had won a penalty when the referee blew his whistle, but instead he booked the forward for a dive. But the home side went into the half time break with a narrow lead, which they certainly deserved, although Wells were still very much in the game.

The second half was rather uneventful for the most part, as Lymington seemed to cruise towards the win and Wells looked unlikely to get back on level terms. And on 80 minutes, Lymington all but sealed their progress to the next round when Brad Strickland sent a perfect cross into the box and Darren Ritchie planted a firm header into the net. They came closest to scoring again a minute from time, when a free kick hit the top right corner of the woodwork. But Lymington still comfortably progressed to the next round, happily, as not only did they deserve to win, but the frequent moaning of the Wells players and coaching staff did rather grate.