Salford City 1 v 3 Stockport County

Tuesday 10th October 2023, Kick-off 19.30

EFL Trophy Group Stage
Moor Lane, Salford
Admission: £10.00
Programme: None (free team sheet)
Attendance: 1,355 (653 away)

With this game and an opportunity to visit Wrexham tomorrow evening, thereby ticking off my grounds 87 and 88 of the 92, I planned a work trip up north for this week around these fixtures.

I had previously planned to visit Salford City back in March 2020, and had my advance rail tickets bought and ready, only for the Covid lockdown to force these plans to be cancelled. This time, soon after checking in and having dinner at the hotel I was staying the night, I soon made my way to the ground, about a 15 minute walk away. It has to be said I was rather underwhelmed by the stadium, which is probably a little unfair given that the ground has been completely rebuilt in 2016/17, into a stadium that suits their League status and level of support well. Signage is seriously lacking, with no indication which stand was which, not even which end was the away end. In what turned out to be the home end, there is a fan area behind a stand, which various food and drink options available from converted container units, although many of them were closed this evening. Inside, the ground has a very symmetrical and smart look to it, with six rows of seating along both lengths, and covered terracing behind both ends. There is an indoor bar to the rear of the seating. Salford usually issue printed programmes, but not for this evening's cup game, although free team sheets were offered at the turnstile.

A report on this match can be viewed on the Stockport County website here, also copied and pasted below.

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here

EFL Trophy Match Report: Salford City 1-3 County

A Paddy Madden hat-trick saw the Hatters make the most of a brief midweek break from League Two action, to win their second of three group-stage matches in the English Football League Trophy at Salford.

Having fallen behind just a couple of minutes in, a much-changed County team equalised courtesy of a mid-first-half penalty from the captain, and he then netted twice more after the break to secure victory.

The Hatters took to the field on a balmy evening, and showed 10 changes following their most recent league match, with only Akil Wright being retained from the League Two line-up that had started at Edgeley Park against Doncaster three days earlier. Six of the seven substitutes on that occasion – excluding Joel Cotterill, on international duty with the Welsh Under-21 squad – were, however, named among the starters, whilst Academy defender, Ellis Farrar, was handed his competitive senior debut as a Hatter.

The hosts, who themselves had made eight changes to their side following the weekend, not only created the night’s first chance but also took the lead with it. After only two minutes, they broke from just inside the County half – before Junior Luamba, on the right, crossed for Marcus Dackers to convert his inaugural Salford goal past Jordan Smith from close range.

Dackers tested Smith again half a dozen minutes later with a low shot from outside the box that the Hatters’ goalkeeper dived to smother – before Smith’s opposite number, Joe Wright, did well to parry beyond the far post a header by Aston Mee, who had connected with Josh Popoola’s delivery from the left.

Just on the 20-minute mark, the Hatters were back on level terms – after being awarded a penalty when Popoola was brought down by Tosin Olopade. Madden stepped up calmly to stroke the spot-kick home to (as it were) Wright’s left for his third goal of the campaign in all competitions – divided equally between League Two, the League Cup and now the EFL Trophy.

Wright was forced to save from the County skipper a couple of minutes later, after Madden had been played through on goal by Mee – and shortly ahead of the half-hour, Kyle Wootton’s header narrowly cleared the crossbar, following a Callum Camps corner from the right.

While the Hatters were now enjoying a greater share of possession and chances, the ‘Ammies’ looked well placed to get their noses back in front, when Kelly Nmai nodded on to Djavan Pedro – only for the latter to slice a volley wide of the left post.

Another set-piece delivered by Camps, 10 minutes before half-time, saw County go close, as the midfielder’s free-kick on the left found Madden, whose header, from beyond the far upright, was bundled behind by the Salford ‘keeper. And a couple of minutes later, Madden turned provider with a delightful assist that Jayden Richardson headed just over.

As an entertaining half neared its close, Pedro, from the edge of the area, struck a half-volley that flew a fraction too high and wide of the County goal – leaving the tie all-square at the break.

HALF-TIME: Salford 1 (Dackers, 2), County 1 (Madden (penalty), 20). 

Upon the resumption, County introduced a second debutant of the night to replace the first – as former Stoke youngster Taylor McMahon, from the Emerging Talent programme in SK3, was brought on for the injured Farrar on the left side of defence.

Stevie Mallan stung Smith’s hands with a well-struck free-kick from the edge of the ‘D’ shortly after the re-start – but five minutes later, Madden bagged his second to put the Hatters in front, after latching on to Mee’s excellent through-ball and slotting in from the right side of goal.

The Hatters looked to extend their advantage, as Madden fired narrowly over, and Camps sent an overhead kick just beyond the right post – before Madden ran on to Richardson’s lofted ball to go successfully one-on-one with Wright and complete his treble for the night.

The scorers were not, in the event, to be troubled further – although Wright saved point-blank shots in quick succession from substitute Kingston Fligg, and from Madden, who saw a subsequent effort blocked by Ryan Watson. And Alfie Henderson, having connected with a cross from the left by fellow home substitute, Kyrell Malcolm, fired wide of the near post at the other end.

The Hatters, now with four points to their name in the competition, will host Bolton in mid-November for their remaining group game.

FULL-TIME: Salford 1 (Dackers, 2), County 3 (Madden, 20 (penalty), 51 and 67). 

Stockport County (3-5-2): Smith; A. Wright, Pond, Farrar (McMahon, 46); Richardson, Mee (Fligg, 64), C. Johnson, Camps, Popoola; Wootton (Partington, 64), Madden (Capt.).

Unused Subs: Jones, Kenny.

Booked: Pond.

Attendance: 1,355 (653 away).

Reporter: Gareth Evans.

Photographer: Mike Petch.

Charlton Athletic 2 v 2 Blackpool

Saturday 7th October 2023, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League One
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.50
Attendance: 13,120 (933 away)

Following my morning game at Rochester United, I then swiftly made my way along the Thames Estuary by train, arriving at Charlton about 20 minutes before kick off.

Following a comprehensive - in the end - midweek victory at home against Exeter City, the Addicks extended their unbeaten  run under new Charlton boss Michael Appleton to four games, but still found themselves in a relatively lowly 14th place, following four wins and two draws from their opening ten league games. They were one position and one point behind Blackpool, who had won four and drawn three of their ten league games.

A report of this match can be viewed by clicking here, also copied and pasted below.

Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 2-2 Blackpool

A rousing finale saw the Addicks claim a point against Blackpool after going 2-0 down. KEVIN NOLAN was at The Valley.

With only nine minutes remaining,  Charlton’s sequence of five unbeaten league games was under serious threat of being snapped by a streetwise Blackpool, whose solid but unremarkable record sent them to The Valley in 13th position, a single point behind their hosts. The Addicks were two down and growing more desperate as time became their most dangerous enemy.

Accustomed to falling behind, Charlton have almost made a virtue of adversity. But when Chuks Aneke was brought on as a substitute in the 64th minute, they called on a force of nature who has the ability, when goaded, to turn games of football on their heads.  He’s performed the trick on numerous occasions and was in no mood to be denied by a bunch of progressively-shopworn Tangerines.

Shaking off the close attentions of defender Matthew Pennington, Aneke’s physical strength was followed by a velvety touch which set up a close-range chance for Alfie May, who held off a bruising last-ditch challenge and volleyed crisply past Daniel Grimshaw. 

Charlton were back in the hunt for at least a point and just two minutes later, their hunger for equality was satisfied by what had seemed an unlikely equaliser. 

It hadn’t been a particularly rewarding afternoon for left-sided attacker Corey Blackett-Taylor. The Seasiders had clearly done their homework on Charlton’s jet-heeled speedster but they switched off fatally as he picked up an innocuous pass, moved inside and curled a superb right-footed drive beyond Grimshaw’s reach and neatly inside the right post.

An explosion of joy, seasoned liberally with relief, raised the stadium roof and made nonsense of the visiting cohort’s hackneyed taunt that The Valley was, in fact, a library. If it is, then several thousand raucous loudmouths will find themselves barred from the premises.

A quick revision of May’s statistics establishes that he has now scored 97 times in a little less than 300 appearances at lower-league level. His tally of seven goals in ten Charlton starts stands in stark relief to the inability of his former club Cheltenham, for whom he notched 22 goals last season, to manage their first goal of the season until their tenth attempt on Saturday. 

The waspish Alfie twice victimised his newest employers as Cheltenham earned four points from their league encounters with the Addicks last season.

Turning out for Neil Critchley’s Blackpool these days, meanwhile, is a goalscoring machine called Jordan Rhodes, who arrived with a peerless record of 234 goals in slightly less than 600 games. It’s reasonable to assume that Rhodes’s illustrious career is reaching its conclusion as he approaches his 34th birthday but he clearly intends to go out with more of a  bang than a whimper.  Having already scored five goals in six appearances this season, he duly added one more to a total which now boasts 13 goals in just 17 games against Charlton for various clubs.

During over half an hour of desultory opening exchanges which Michael Appleton’s men marginally edged, Rhodes had been an anonymous, practically invisible bystander. His lack of impact might have been a factor in the inattention paid to him by a posse of Charlton defenders as tricky customer Dominic Thompson crossed low and hard from the left.

Unmarked and disregarded, Rhodes whipped a left-footed drive past a helpless Ashley Maynard-Brewer and the Addicks had fallen behind again. They had also been taught a lesson, as had a whole host of victims, by a prolific, insatiable poacher still hungry for goals and capable of preying on defensive complacency. Fortunately for them, they had among their ranks, a striker of similar menace.

Before May and Blackett-Taylor launched their rescue mission, Charlton’s plight was complicated by a second Blackpool goal. It featured an all-too familiar error by experienced centre-back Michael Hector, who dawdled long enough on George Dobson’s admittedly difficult pass for an aggressive Karamoko Dembele to relieve him of possession. Moving goalside of the hapless defender, the 66th-minute substitute crashed Blackpool’s apparent clincher into the roof of the net.

The Valley faithful shifted uncomfortably but since the phlegmatic Appleton took charge, they know that, as fabled New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra advised, “it ain’t over till it’s over”. It wasn’t over even after Blackett-Taylor equalised as the visitors visibly wilted and the Addicks closed in for the kill. 

During a breathtaking finale, the less said about Aneke’s effort to convert Nathan Assiimwe’s neat cutback, the better. Suffice to say that life was endangered in the upper floor of the Covered End. There were other chances, the best of them set up for Blackett-Taylor by the rampant Aneke, but blasted wastefully wide.

It was a stirring recovery which speaks volumes about the never-say-die philosophy introduced by Appleton. It may have persuaded him that Asiimwe is a better bet than an out-of-form Tennai Watson and that Tyreece Campbell has more to offer than the hardworking Slobodan Tedic – “Teddy” as the boss calls him.

 In fact, he has an embarrassment of riches and a side clearly willing to go into the trenches for him. It’s a pleasure to be at The Valley nowadays.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Jones (Ness 64), Thomas, Hector, Tennai Watson (Asiimwe 54), Dobson, Blackett-Taylor, Louie Watson (Fraser 63), Leaburn (Aneke 64), Tedic (Tyreece Campbell 54). Not used: Molyneux, Chem Campbell.  Booked: Tedic, Tyreece Campbell.

Blackpool: Grimshaw, Husband, Pennington, Norburn, Carey (Morgan 77), Dougall, Rhodes (Kouassi 90+3), Lavery (Dembele 66), Casey, Hamilton, Thompson (Connolly 76).  Not used: O’Donnell, Weir, Ekpiteta.   Booked: Husband, Pennington, Thompson.

Referee: Andy Davies. 

Charlton Athletic 4 v 1 Exeter City

Saturday 3rd October 2023, Kick-off 15.00

EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.50
Attendance: 11,575 (741 away)

In honesty, I was slightly in two minds whether to head up for this game after work, feeling quite tired during the day, but in the end I decided to make the trek to south east London, I was glad I did.

A glance at the table suggested this would be a tricky game for Charlton, with Exeter coming into this game in eighth place, following five wins and a draw from their opening ten league games. But they had lost their last two league games, and had lost 0-9 at home to Reading in the EFL Cup. Since Charlton’s last home game, a 3-1 home win against Wycombe Wanderers, a 0-0 draw was played out at Shrewsbury Town

A match report can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

Video highlights of this game can be viewed by clicking here

Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 4-1 Exeter City

A welcome win under the lights had Addicks fans starting, warily, to look up the league table rather than down. KEVIN NOLAN reports from The Valley.

Forget the emphatic scoreline because this was far from a rout of weak, outgunned opposition. On the contrary, Exeter City were a well-drilled, confident side who, had they hung on to their first half lead until half-time, might have been a tougher nut to crack than they proved to be in a progressively lopsided second period.

Trailing to James Scott’s well taken 23rd minute goal, Charlton instead clawed themselves level a minute before the break and re-emerged with the wind well and truly in their sails. The Grecians were duly swept away by a display which had an appreciative Tuesday evening crowd singing their praises. 

Under The Valley floodlights, there’s nothing quite like watching an on-song aggregation of Addicks strutting their stuff in mutual understanding and camaraderie. The visitors fought gamely but were demolished by superior opponents who hardly needed the helpful strokes of luck that fell their way.

Charlton’s uncommonly strong bench provided evidence that new gaffer Michael Appleton has at his disposal a squad of unusual depth and variety. And it’s clear that under his firm leadership, the medical staff won’t be quite as overworked as has been the case at Sparrows Lane in recent memory. 

It might be coincidence (and it might not) that since Appleton arrived, Chuks Aneke, Miles Leaburn and Scott Fraser are “out on the grass” again, all three contributing significantly to Tuesday’s triumph.

Appleton will have also relished the all-purpose performance of young Louie Watson, whose skill and urgency took the customary pressure off his captain George Dobson. The kid made a dynamic impression until he gave way to Fraser with the points all but guaranteed.  The fund of talent at his disposal, with Panutche Camara  to return, surely makes midfield the least of the manager’s concerns.

After Aneke, making a rare start, netted Watson’s perfect delivery only to be correctly ruled offside. It almost hurts to report that it was the youngster’s hesitancy which launched the lightning break leading to City’s goal. There was a yawning gap in Charlton’s defence as Scott led a devastating counter attack which bore down unopposed on Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Using Will Aimson’s decoy run to his right, Scott chose to trust himself and slotted calmly past the hopelessly exposed goalkeeper. 

To his credit, Watson was at pains to redeem himself and it was his imaginative short corner which set up Michael Hector to turn sharply in the penalty area before shooting narrowly wide of the far post. The tide was turning and one minute into added-on time, Charlton produced a perfectly-timed equaliser.

A feisty bundle of energy, Alfie May had chased and harried selflessly, dropping deep and popping up where he was least expected. Winning possession to the right of the visitors’ goal, he stood up an artfully-dinked cross, to which Aneke climbed high to head against Viljami Sinisalo’s crossbar. Seizing on the loose ball, Corey Blackett-Taylor ruthlessly smashed it past the Finnish keeper and very possibly adjusted Appleton’s half-time address.

During the opening exchanges of the second half, Gary Caldwell’s Westcountrymen were a composed, organised outfit until Yanic Wildschut, an early replacement for the impressive Vincent Harper, let them down with a panicky challenge on Tennai Watson, which made referee David Rock’s award of a spotkick a no-brainer. 

Surprisingly supplanted by Aneke as penalty-taker, May was predictably first to the rebound as Sinisalo turned Chuks’ effort on to a post and put Charlton ahead with the first of two poacher’s goals he converted from close range.

Three minutes later, May was again the centre of attention as Aimson took a leaf from Wildschut’s playbook and pointlessly chopped the diminutive striker down in the centre circle. Shown a straight red card by Rock, City’s headstrong captain slunk off and left his side one crucial Grecian light.

With the issue virtually settled, it fell to substitute Leaburn to apply what was effectively the coup-de-grace. The initial running was made by Tennai Watson, whose pass found his namesake Louie to the right of the visitors’ goal. An urgent tackle by Zak Jules robbed the busy midfielder but ricocheted conveniently to Leaburn, who, without ceremony, deposited Charlton’s third, clinching goal where it hurt City most. 

Insatiable and predatory, May took prompt advantage of a thoroughly beaten side by finishing what Blackett-Taylor started by rounding Sinisola before losing control. Waspish and predatory, Alfie took the gift horse and dispassionately herded it into a gaping net. 

The ideal postscript, you might say, to a nearly flawless performance which was crowned, for once, by the perfect result. There’s something stirring in SE7, the makings of a damned good side. Doesn’t do to get carried away, though. We’ve all been here before… 

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Jones, Thomas, Dobson (C Campbell 87), Hector, T.Watson (Asiimwe 80), L Watson (Fraser 80), Blackett-Taylor, May, Tedic (T Campbell 80),  Aneke (Leaburn 68). Not used: Molyneux, Ness.  Booked: Tedic.

Exeter: Sinisalo, Jules, Aimson, Hartridge, Carroll, Mitchell, Scott (Taylor 78), Cole, Kite (Aitchison 66), Fitzwater (Sweeney 72), Harper (Wildschut 58). Not used: Woods, Cox, Richards. Sent off: Aimson. 

Referee: David Rock. 

Rochester United 1 v 0 Faversham Strike Force

Saturday 7th October 2023, Kick-off 11.00
Southern Counties East League Division One
Rede Court Road, Strood
Admission: £7.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 279

This was a bonus extra game for me today, before my afternoon's action to come at The Valley, enabled by the GroundhopUK organised Southern Counties East League groundhop weekend taking place. While Strood is not really on my way to Charlton, it was an easy enough diversion. There was an evening game on the hop, at Whitatable Town, but unfortunately I would not have enough time to make that game.

Today would be a revisit for me, with my only previous visit ten years ago. Following a short walk from the passing through, through an area containing car parking and junior pitches, entrance is gained by paying admission at quite a large booth in one corner. All of the grounds facilities are located along the length closest to the entrance, with a rather rustic and rickety all seater stand straddling the half way line, the clubhouse building behind it to the side, and a small covered area between the clubhouse and entrance. There is just hard standing along the opposite length and behind the goal closest to the entrance, while the remaining end is out of bounds to spectators. It is a pleasant, rural ground, despite a busy road passing close by behind a row of trees.

After just missing out on a play off spot by two points last season, Rochester United have made a decent start to this season, coming into this game in second place in the table, following seven wins and a defeat from their opening eight league games. Faversham Strike Force used to share Rede Court Road when they first came up to the Southern Counties East League, although they now play at Faversham Town's ground. They did reach the play-offs last season, finishing in fourth place, before losing in the semi finals to eventual winners Lydd Town, but this season has started fairly slowly for them, winning four and losing four of their eight league games so far, and were in ninth place in the 16 club division.

On a gloriously sunny and unseasonably very warm morning, and with a record crowd in attendance here today, this was an entertaining game to watch, always played in a competitive bordering on feisty spirit. Rochester saw a shot come back off the cross bar in the sixth minute, and after that, both sides created some decent chances, with Rochester always looking slightly the more likelier to break the deadlock, but the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

The second half continued in much the same vein, but despite plenty of attacking intent being shown, it looked increasingly inevitable that the game would end goalless, until the deadlock was finally broken in the 89th minute, greatly assisted by the Faversham number 7, who played the ball backwards, in between two defenders and with a Rochester player chasing the ball, the Faversham keeper elected to weakly kick the ball away, only for Harrison Hume to delicately chip the ball into the virtually unguarded net.

Match highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Guru Nanak 0 v 4 Greenways Aces

Saturday 30th September 2023, Kick-off 14.45

Kent County League Division One Central & East
Guru Nanak Sports Club, Gravesend
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Attendance: 30 (estimate)

With yet another rail strike taking place today, this time by the ASLEF train drivers, it was back to relying on buses or driving today. Having driven to the Lake District and back this week, I did not fancy a long drive today, and so I headed for a ground that has long intrigued me, even though the level of football would be low, equivalent to Step 8 in the football pyramid.

The Guru Nanak Sports Club is located just to the east of Gravesend town centre, and the entrance to the complex is unusual to say the least, walking through a large ornate arch, before passing by a massive temple and other decorations and memorials, before walking around to the playing fields. There are two pitches under the shadow of the temple, with a mostly two lane running track going around the outside, and this provides hard standing for the football pitches. The main pitch is the further one from the temple, and has railing around the pitch on three sides and is lined by tall trees along the furthest length from the temple. There are permanent dug outs in place, in club colours with signage, and the running track is located between the dugouts and the pitch. A small all-seater stand is perched on top of a small bank in one corner and provides a good vantage point to watch the action from. It certainly is a rather unique and very pleasant place to watch football.

Both clubs have had decent starts to their season, which suggested that today would be a close encounter. Greenways Aces had won four and last the other of their five league games so far, while Guru Nanak had won three and drawn of their opening five league games.

On a mostly bright and sunny afternoon, the visitors all but killed the game inside the opening twenty minutes, as they opened up a three goal lead, aided by some questionable defending by the home side. The visitors opened the scoring on four minutes, when a ball from the right caused some confusion amongst the Guru Nanak defenders, the keeper fumbled the ball and eventually the ball was bundled into the net. On 16 minutes, Greenways were awarded a penalty for a slight push as the Greenways player ran into the box, which was converted down the middle. And they were awarded another penalty just a minute later, for a trip as the Greenways player dribbled along the byline. This was also converted, low just to the right of centre. And it seemed that the visitors had scored a fourth when a cross from the left was tapped home despite the keeper getting fingertips to the ball, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

With the game all but decided by half time, the second half was unsurprisingly a fairly quiet affair, although Guru Nanak did carry more of a threat. And it was following one of their attacks that Greenways added a fourth goal. Guru Nanak saw a shot apparently come back off the post, and Greenways went straight up the other end, with a one on one opportunity opening up, and the Greenways player calmly sidestepped the keeper before tapping into an open goal. The visitors had a player sent off for a bad late tackle in the second minute of added on time, but Guru Nanak were unable to grab a consolation goal.