Kent Kings 57 v 33 Isle of Wight Warriors

Monday 2nd May 2016
National League Speedway Knock Out Cup 1st Round 1st Leg
Central Park, Sittingbourne
Admission: £13.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 1000 (estimate)
Match Rating: 3

With no football matches sufficiently tempting today, I decided instead to visit a speedway race instead. It promised to be an interesting day out, to visit a venue that used to host football matches, but was one I never visited for football.

Central Park is situated to the north of Sittingbourne, in the middle of a large industrial estate. The entrance gates to the sports complex still adorn the words "Sittingbourne F.C.", even though the football club vacated Central Park in 2002, and then Bourne Park, their subsequent and much more modest home built next door, which they also vacated in 2013 for their even more modest current home the other side of town at Woodstock Park. These days, Central Park is used for greyhound racing as well as speedway, and it is a mighty impressive stadium that is virtually unchanged from when it hosted football. Spectators enter via turnstiles in the main stand, then passing by a bar and a cafe before entering the main stand. This offers excellent unobstructed and elevated views of the action. A further bar as well as corporate boxes are positioned above the seating along the top of the stand. Along the opposite length is a terrace with the framework of a stand which has lost its roofing. Behind both goals there are fairly small curved uncovered terrace around the bends. Around the rest of the track there is grass banking, with a path running around the top and bottom. The pits area is located behind one corner, and is not as accessible as other tracks I have been to. The programme was basic, 16 pages in all colour, but provided the basics.

After a fairly average 2015, Kent Kings have had a terrific start to 2016, having won all five of their fixtures so far, although only one of those fixtures was in the league. In their first season since being relaunched following a two year sabbatical, Isle of Wight have lost all three of their fixtures so far, although they have yet to start their league campaign.

On a sunny but windy afternoon, the first heat was a classic false dawn for the meeting, with Isle of Wight securing a 5-1 advantage, after the heat was awarded following a fall on the last lap - this was a pattern that would run through the meeting, which was a stop-start affair thanks to crashes. Kent Kings won the second heat 5-1 after two re-runs, and from there they never looked back. The two teams then swapped 4-2 heat wins to leave the overall scores tied after four heats. The fourth heat was to be the last that Isle of Wight would win though, as Kent Kings pulled away, securing 5-1 wins in heats six, eight and ten to open up a clear 16 point advantage after 10 heats.

It would be a case of damage limitation for Isle of Wight for the remainder of today's meeting, in order to keep the match alive for when they host the second leg next month. They didn't really manage that, as Kent finished the meeting with a 5-1 victory in the final heat, to secure a 24 point first leg advantage. It will take a monumental effort from the Isle of Wight to have any hope of progressing to the next round.

Luke Bowen (11) and Danny Ayres (13) were the stand out performers for Kent Kings this afternoon, whilst Isle of Wight's top scorer, James Cockle, was just the fourth top points scorer overall this afternoon with 8

Millwall Lionesses 0 v 4 Yeovil Town Ladies

Saturday 30th April 2016
FA Women’s Super League 2
The New Den, South Bermondsey
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 732
Match Rating: 3

At the conclusion of my afternoon game at Bedfont & Feltham, I decided to race across London to take in the 6.30pm match at The New Den, for what would be my first visit there since 1995. Time promised to be a bit tight, but with a following wind meeting connections en route, I made it with almost half an hour to spare in the end.

The New Den is about a 15 minute walk from South Bermondsey train station, and there was a rather strange feel to proceedings this evening. This match was part of a double header, after the men’s game in the afternoon. After purchasing a ticket for this game, spectators entered the stadium through a side door, and virtually all catering outlets were closed. Only the lower section the main stand was open for this game, as cleaners went around the other stands whilst the match was in progress, and the PA system was not used at all, nor were the floodlights turned on even when it became quite dark towards the end. But the stadium is a reasonable looking if bland modern all-seater stadium, with four similarly looking, two tiered stands. A full colour 22 page programme was produced for this game and was quite an interesting read.

Millwall Lionesses came into this game in sixth place in the division, with one win and two draws from their opening four games, whilst Yeovil Town Ladies were in fourth place, having won two and drawn 1 of their four league games.

On a sunny evening, Millwall had the better of most of the first half, doing much of the attacking without ever really threatening to score. Yeovil looked dangerous on the break and they went into the break in the lead thanks to a goal a minute before half-time. Sarah Wiltshire played a low diagonal ball upfield which a defender failed to cut out, and Helen Bleazard ran onto the ball, took it around the keeper before firing low into the net.

It was slightly harsh on Millwall to be behind at the break, but in the second half, Yeovil looked a much more dominant team, and on 70 minutes they doubled their lead when Ann-Marie Heatherson fired in a great strike from just outside the area into the top corner. They almost scored their third on 78 minutes when the Millwall keeper fumbled the ball but the loose ball was hooked onto the bar, and three minutes later, a glancing header went just wide, as Millwall were looking increasingly tired and resigned to their fate. Yeovil put the result beyond all doubt on 82 minutes. A header from a cross drew a great save from the Millwall keeper, only for Heatherson to stab the rebound home. Yeovil scored a fourth which was very harsh on the home side three minutes from time without another superb goal. Wiltshire ran onto a long ball before thumping a shot on the half-volley over the keeper and into the net.

Yeovil probably deserved the win as they looked the better team for all of Millwall's huff and puff, but the scoreline did reflect the more clinical nature of Yeovil's play.

Bedfont & Feltham 7 v 0 Sandhurst Town

Saturday 30th April 2016
Combined Counties League  Division One
The Orchard, Bedfont
Admission: Free
Programme: Free
Attendance: 56
Match Rating: 3

With choice of games narrowing down as league campaigns are drawing to a close, today I decided to take advantage of another free admission offer to tick off another ground in the Combined Counties League, which would also offer the opportunity of doubling up with an evening game afterwards.

The Orchard is less than a ten minute walk from Hatton Cross underground station and is located next door to Bedfont Sports. I last visited that ground almost six years ago, and I had a quick look around there first to see a ground that has improved considerably since then, now fully enclosed, a stand behind one goal and another along the length opposite the clubhouse. It’s a very neat and tidy venue these days. I then continued into The Orchard, and after passing some attractive signage roadside and then after a little confusion trying to find the way in through an obscure and unsignposted alleyway, I found myself at the turnstiles. Once inside, I found a ground that was quite pleasant, if a little frayed around the edges. Spectators enter through turnstiles in one corner, with a tea bar immediately inside. Behind the goal at this end is a small area of covered standing area, although one half of the area has no roof to the structure. Behind the other goal there are two stand covering flat standing areas, while fairly small all-seater stands straddle the half way line on either side. An otherwise neat and tidy ground is slightly let down by much of boards around the pitch is looking very tired, whilst quite a few wooden panels have been blown down around the perimeter. Situated virtually adjacent to Heathrow Airport, planes can be watch pass by low and very close overhead as they come into land. A nice surprise was that, not only was admission free today, so was the programme. And a decent programme it was too, 36 pages with an attractive cover, professionally produced inside with plenty of interesting and relevant reading material.

Bedfont and Feltham can finish no lower than the third place they currently occupy, and would be  favourites to finish second with a game in hand on second placed Abbey Rangers, who they trail by just a point with two games to play, and in fact winning the title isn’t out of the question, trailing leaders CB Hounslow by three points having played the same number of games. They have won 22 and drawn two of their 30 League games, and have won their last six league gamed. Sandhurst came into this game in twelfth place, having won eight and drawn eight of their 30 League games. When the two teams met in early March, Bedfont and Feltham won 0-3.

On a mainly sunny afternoon, with a couple of heavy showers, Bedfont had a goal disallowed on 3 minutes for offside, but although they showed more of the attacking intent, Sandhurst held their own early on, and occasionally threatened on the break. But Bedfont did take the lead on 23 minutes. After an initial effort on goal was missed, the ball was eventually driven low through a crowd of players and into the back of the net. They doubled their lead on 38 minutes thanks to a howler by the keeper. He fumbled a very tame, gentle shot, allowing the ball to spill away and Luke Craig tapped home from a couple of yards. Sandhurst forced a close range reflex save shortly before half time, but it was Bedfont who held a fairly comfortable half time lead.

Bedfont simply blew Sandhurst away during a devastating spell in the first twenty minutes of the second half, as the visitors were unable to copy against a rampant attack. Bedfont scored their third on when Hicham Abdellah raced towards goal before striking the ball low past the keeper, and on 50 minutes, a suicidal ball from the left wing from a Sandhurst defender to his team mate in the middle was intercepted by Abdellah, who slotted the ball into the net. On 56 minutes, the home side made it five when a cross by Joe Moriarty took a deflection off the head of a defender and the ball floated into the net. Sandhurst should have pulled a goal back on 60 minutes when a defensive error saw the ball land at the feet of their forward in the area, but he eventually placed his shot just wide. But within a minute, Bedfont scored their sixth. The ball was dribbled across the area and although the player was fouled, the referee played advantage and the ball fell to Abdellah, who threaded the ball into the net to seal his hat-trick. They scored their seventh on 70 minutes, when the ball was threaded low through the middle and Rashid Obbadi fired towards goal and although the keeper got a touch, the ball found its way inside the post. Although double figures certainly looked on the cards, the game somewhat petered out as the game became very sloppy, by the hosts as much as by the beleaguered visitors, and although both sides had a couple of chances to score, there were no further goals.

So job done for Bedfont & Feltham, and a point from their final away game at Eversley & California will guarantee them second place. Credit to Sandhurst today for not letting their heads drop, still managing to look a threat on the break even by the time they were on the receiving end of a hiding. All in all, this was an enjoyable afternoon, watching a good game in a pleasant and friendly environment.

Bedfont Sports - Non Matchday visit

Before my game at Bedfont & Feltham today , I had time to have a look around inside the home of Bedfont Sports, who play adjacent to The Orchard, at the Bedfont Sports Club. My previous visit there was for a game in August 2010. Then, the club were in just their second season of senior football, and so facilities then were somewhat basic. These days, it has been transformed into a really neat and tidy facility, with seats now included in the front facing section of the clubhouse building, a stand on the opposite side neatly in line with the perimeter fencing around the ground, and a further all-seater stand is positioned behind one of the goals.

Langney Wanderers 2 v 0 Ringmer

Thursday 28th April 2016
Southern Combination League Division One
Priory Lane, Eastbourne
Admission: £5.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 70
Match Rating: 2

This evening I decided in to take in a midweek game in April that was not a cup final nor an early evening kick off, but still had some interesting elements to it. It would take place at the fourth different venue that Langney Wanderers have "hosted" home fixtures at this season, and this would also be the last senior game played on grass at Eastbourne Borough's home ground Priory Lane, with a 4G pitch being laid there during the summer.

Two  divisions separated this evening's teams last season, as Langney Wanderers have enjoyed their first season in senior football this season, whilst Ringmer were relegated from the top flight after their continuous stay there since 1989. No doubt that Langney Wanderers will be the happier with his their season has unfolded then, as they came into this game in ninth place, with an outside chance of climbing to seventh in they were to win both of their remaining games. They have won 13 and drawn four of their 30 league games. Ringmer  were in twelfth place, with nine wins and seven draws from their 30 league games. When the two teams met in the reverse fixture in December, the game finished 1-1.The programme was the original issue for the game scheduled to have taken place on Easter Monday, and so was completely out of date, so it was fair enough that it was handed out free of charge.

On a cool, breezy evening, Langney Wanderers had the better of the first half, yet it was Ringmer who came closest to opening the scoring on two occasions. On the half hour, they were awarded a penalty after the ball was lumped into the box and the defender fouled the forward as they both went up for the ball. The penalty was struck low down the middle and saved by the keeper, and the follow up shot was also tipped wide. Just before half time, a free kick 30 yards took a deflection off the defensive wall, and with the keeper rooted, the ball hit the crossbar and went over.

Langney Wanderers took the lead on 55 minutes thanks to a large slice of good fortune, when Paul Weatherby took a corner and the ball sailed through the defenders and goalkeeper to find its way into the net. There was plenty of niggle between the two teams, and on 62 minutes, Ringmer were reduced to ten men, when Matthew Burt was shown a second yellow card for dissent after much confusion - initially taking off his shirt and walking to the changing rooms, was beckoned back as it was thought he had escaped the caution, only to then be shown the card when he returned to talk to the referee. The result was pretty much put beyond doubt on 72 minutes when Trevor McCreadie received the ball at the edge of the area, swivelled before firing low across the keeper and into the far side of the net. Langney Wanderers had several chances to extend their lead, but they comfortably saw the game and although they remained in ninth place, they are now within two points of seventh place going into the final round of games on Saturday, whilst Ringmer are certain to finish in eleventh place.