Game 7: Romsey Town 4.0 Bishops Waltham Dynamos (Friendly)

Game 7: Romsey Town 4.0 Bishops Waltham Dynamos (Friendly) 29.08.23

With other commitments this weekend I was looking for a local game and found that Wessex League Romsey Town were playing a friendly at Wide Lane, the Southampton University sports facility, against newly promoted Hampshire Premier side Bishops Waltham Dynamos.

The weather was sunny when I left home but it was windy and cloudy at Wide Lane and there were some small downpours during each half. The game was taking place on the main pitch which was surrounded by white fencing on three sides near the car park.

Romsey started well and had most of the play in the first half. They saw a shot cleared off the line and hit the woodwork twice from good positions before taking the lead after 25 minutes from a corner. The ball was hit high into the middle of the six yard box and as it dropped a Romsey boot guided it past the keeper. It was not a surprise when they added a second towards the end of the half. Bishops Waltham’s defence did well to block a shot but the rebound allowed the same Romsey player to drive forward and hit a powerful shot across goal. Moments later they had a goal disallowed for what looked to be an offside decision and in the final minute of play almost scored from a well worked free kick. The ball was passed quickly into the path of a Romsey player before Bishops Waltham could react. He ran forward and hit a great shot across the keeper only to see the ball bounce off the post.

The second half was a similar story. Romsey brought on four subs a few minutes after half time and despite their youth, their enthusiasm and pace caused Bishops Waltham plenty of problems. Three minutes after their introduction one of them intercepted a Bishops Waltham pass at the back and just had the keeper to beat. He curved his shot towards goal and it beat the keeper and a defender who was racing back to cover it. Five minutes later we saw the final goal of the game from a good Romsey move. The ball came down the right wing and the attacker took the ball round a defender before hitting a shot high into the corner of the goal. The referee seemed to take pity of Bishops Waltham after that, waiving away two Romsey penalty appeals. While one was a 50/50, the other saw a defender pulling at a Romsey player’s shorts to bring him down in the area and should have been spotted by the assistant on that side.

Game 6: Heanor Town 2.2 Clay Cross Town (Pen 4.5) (Friendly)

Game 6: Heanor Town 2.2 Clay Cross Town (Pen 4.5) (Friendly)

There were a few options for a second game after the Eastwood Community FC match and we decided to aim for the nearest of them at Heanor Town. It turned out that the match today was being played for the Stan Wilton Cup. Stan had a close affiliation with both sides and was a league and club official for many years in the area before he passed away earlier this year. By now the rain was really heavy so after a visit to the busy and well organised clubhouse (opened by Mr R Charlton, better known as Bobby in 1981), we wandered over to the covered terrace behind the dugouts to watch the game in the dry.

Both teams play in the same divisions as the clubs we had seen earlier in the day, Heanor Town in the United Counties Premier North while visitors Clay Cross Town are in the Northern Counties East League Division One. Clay Cross started well and took the lead after two minutes when a shot from the edge of the area crashed off a post and into the net. For the next twenty minutes the visitors were in control and came close to a second goal on a couple of occasions. Heanor Town were relying on long balls that the Clay Cross defence coped with well.

Just before the half hour Heanor won a free kick in a central position outside the area. The ball was flighted around the wall and it looked like the keeper was in a good position to make the save. However the ball bounced up higher than could be anticipated in front of the keeper and while he was able to push it out, an oncoming Heanor player had an easy chance to tap it in for the equaliser. Heanor then took the lead with ten minutes left to play following a mix up at the back. A Clay Cross player played the ball back towards goal but it was intercepted by a Heanor player who took the ball on and calmly put a powerful shot past the keeper.

Clay Cross equalised on the hour when a corner was hit high into the six yard box and headed in. They almost retook the lead a few minutes later with a spectacular lob from distance. The Heanor keeper had come out of the area and had to scramble back to get a touch on the ball to push it wide for a corner. They continued to dominate the chances but neither team was able to get a winner. The tannoy announcer advised that there would be a penalty shoot out to decide who would be taking the silverware home.

Heanor went first in the shoot out and the first five penalties were all scored. Clay Cross tried to chip the ball in for their third penalty but the ball came back off the cross bar and out. The next two penalties were scored, with Heanor having some luck when the ball hit a divot to take it well over the keeper’s dive. Heanor had the chance to win with their fifth but the Clay Cross keeper left plenty of space to his right and then got across to save the shot. Clay Cross converted their last regular penalty to take the shootout into sudden death. The Clay Cross keeper managed to save the Heanor attempt before a team mate scored to win the trophy.

Game 5: Eastwood Community 3.2 Retford United (Friendly)

Game 5: Eastwood Community FC 3.2 Retford United (Friendly) 22.07.23

After an early morning start from the hotel, we made good time up the M1 to arrive at Coronation Park, home of Eastwood Community FC who were formed in 2014 following the demise of Eastwood Town. The weather forecast wasn’t great with rain forecast throughout the day but the home team were confident the game would be on and when we arrived we realised why – they have installed a 4G pitch. Eastwood are in the United Counties Premier North while visitors Retford United are in the Northern Counties East Division 1, a step below.

After paying admission we went into the clubhouse and watched the end of the England Woman’s World Cup match while enjoying some refreshments. The ground had plenty of cover with both end terraces roofed over and a large seated stand on the near side. Alan noticed today’s game was a Badger derby with the Red Badgers taking on the Badgers. Looking at the seats in the stand, it was clear that Eastwood Town used to wear black and white stripes so the red element was down the the kit change.

Eastwood took the lead after eight minutes, intercepting a pass allowed a red shirted player to run into space and put his shot across the keeper and in by the far post. Retford equalised two minutes later when the Eastwood keeper saved a shot but couldn’t hang onto the ball. Retford recovered it and a quick cross to the back post found a grey shirted player who headed into the empty net. After fifteen minutes Eastwood took the lead again when the Retford keeper gave the ball away at the edge of the area. An Eastwood player hit a low shot towards goal and a Retford attempt to slide in and clear the ball only ensured it ended up in the goal. Retford equalised a few minutes before the end of the half with a fierce strike from a cross from the right wing.

The rain had held off during the first half but it reappeared during half time and continued throughout the second half. Eastwood had some good chances, hitting the post and putting a shot over from a good position close in on goal. Both teams made multiple substitutions and the game looked to be fizzling out to a draw when Retford made another defensive mistake. One of their players lost the ball to an Eastwood player who hit a curving shot low past the keeper and in for the winner. There was barely enough time to take a second touch after the restart before the referee blew the final whistle.

Game 4: Winslow United 3.4 Aylesbury United (Friendly)

Game 4: Winslow United 3.4 Aylesbury United (Friendly) 21.07.23

Alan and I started planning a football weekend trip on the way back from Middlezoy Rovers when we found this game was also being played on a Friday night. With a couple of possible early starts on Saturday, we could get three games in over the weekend so accommodation was booked and early work finishes organised.

Winslow’s ground was next to a small car park and we managed to find a space there rather than parking on the road. The entrance was at the side of the clubhouse and we paid £5 for admission. There was a large area of seating with a cricket pitch to the left and the football pitch to the right. In the far corner there was also a croquet lawn in a secure compound. It appears that anti-social behaviour is a problem for the club at the moment with two new dugouts being vandalised hours after arrival.

Winslow are in the Step 6 South Midlands League Division 1 while visitors Aylesbury United are in the Southern League Division 1 Central at Step 4 so we expected the visitors to have the upper hand. However they conceded a penalty after twelve minutes when a Winslow player beat the defence, stayed onside and took the ball around the keeper only to be brought down in the area. The keeper dived to the left only to see the ball go in to the right corner. Aylesbury equalised ten minutes later with a similar move, a long ball beating the defence and a low shot beating the keeper from close range.

Aylesbury then took the lead with another breakaway four minutes later, a near post shot going under the keeper and in. The lead didn’t last long as Winslow equalised a few minutes later. Another long ball found a Winslow player in space and he chested the ball down before hitting a shot past the keeper. The chances kept coming with an Aylesbury free kick hitting the bar and then the post before the keeper managed to grab the ball. In the last minute of the half Aylesbury retook the lead when the won the ball in the area and had plenty of time and space to slot the ball in.

After a long walk around the pitch to find the toilets in the clubhouse, we grabbed a drink and made our way back out for the second half. Winslow managed to equalise early in the half, a firm cross along the six yard found a yellow shirted player who stretched out and diverted the ball into the goal. Winslow were unlucky not to take the lead late on when a header from a corner crashed off the bar. Moments later we saw the last goal of an exciting game as Aylesbury broke upfield, beat the offside trap and a good pass was met with a fierce shot that the keeper couldn’t reach.

Game 3: Bishops Cannings 3.1 Devizes Town Veterans

Game 3: Bishops Cannings 3.1 Devizes Town Veterans 17.07.23

An unexpected evening out in Devizes with Alan who called late afternoon to see if I wanted to visit the Wiltshire FA facility at Green Lane to watch a preseason friendly. The game kicked off at the unusual time of 8.15pm to fit around other bookings on the 3G pitch and it turned out to be a three periods of 30 minutes match rather than the usual 45 minute halves. We arrived in good time to find a spot in the large car park and for Alan to grab a coffee from the vending machine. The viewing area was limited to part of the near side but that was enough to accommodate the small crowd.

Bishops Cannings have moved up to the Wiltshire Senior League Division 1 this season and were mostly a young side with a few experienced players. While the Devizes veterans didn’t have the youthful energy, they had obviously played at a decent level in the past as they were good on the ball and used anticipation and body strength to counter the pace of the home side.

Most of the goals came in the first period of play. Bishops Cannings took the lead after 8 minutes when a cross into the area was met by a player sliding in to connect with the ball and knock it past the keeper. Devizes equalised shortly afterwards when a move down the left wasn’t cleared from the area. The ball bounced off a defender and fell nicely for a red shirted player to force the ball home. From kickoff, Bishops Cannings retook the lead with a good passing move taking the ball upfield and a calm finish for the goal. Devizes came close a couple of times near the end of the period, seeing a shot tipped wide, an attempt from a corner cleared off the line and another effort from a corner bouncing off the post and out.

After a short break the teams came back out for the second period. The main point of interest was what happened when a ball made contact with the nets wire that was over the half way line. The ball hit the wire twice in the half – once play was allowed to continue as it didn’t impact the outcome of the pass but the second time a drop ball was given to allow the ‘kicking’ team to have another go at moving the ball forward. Devizes had the best chance in this period, hitting the bar with a shot.

It was good to see the game would be played over 90 minutes when the teams came back on to the pitch for a third period. Alan was concerned that we might only see 60 minutes given the late kick off time. Devizes continued to press for an equaliser, seeing another shot cleared off the line and only a very well timed tackle prevented a clear run on goal. Midway through the period Bishops Cannings added a third goal from a set piece. The ball was hit into the middle of the area and headed out to a blue shirted player who curved a shot into the top corner.

Game 2: Middlezoy Rovers 2.0 Westland Sports (Friendly)

Game 2: Middlezoy Rovers 2.0 Westland Sports (Friendly) 14.07.23

I spotted an early opportunity to visit Western League newcomers Middlezoy Rovers with a Friday night game against Dorset Premier side Westland Sports. Despite the heavy rain during the day, Middlezoy confirmed that the game was on so Alan and I made our way over to Somerset for the match. The Aerodrome ground is on the edge on Westonzoyland and the access road is comes off the main road to Bridgewater. We could see both teams warming up on the outside pitch as we arrived. The carpark was full but there was plenty of space in the overflow car park field behind one of the goals.

There was no admission for tonight’s game but the bar and bar were both open so we had some food and drink before the game. This was the first time that I had seen Middlezoy so it was helpful that they had the team name on the back of their black and white shirts. There was a strong wind blowing across the pitch but luckily the rain held off and we even had some bright sunshine in the second half. The ground has floodlights, hard standing around the pitch and what looked to be space prepared for a covered seated area to go in next to the pavilion.

There was one goal in each half although Alan chose a bad time to look a bus timetable for his game tomorrow as he missed the first goal. That was scored after twenty minutes when a Middlezoy cross was diverted into the net by a Westland player who was sliding in to try and clear the ball. Westland almost equalised a few minutes later from a corner. The ball was curling towards goal and the Middlezoy keeper was relieved to see that his touch took the ball past the post for another corner.

The second goal came near the hour mark. Middlezoy were having a lot of joy down the left side as their winger was able to outpace the left back to put crosses in to the box. On this occasion the ball was headed in at the near post to double the lead. After that both teams had good chances to score but a mixture of good goalkeeping, goal line clearances and some wayward finishes meant we didn’t see any further goals. Middlezoy’s players didn’t make the best decisions, taking the ball on and shooting on a couple of occasions when there were teammates running into the area who were in a better position to score. An enjoyable evening out.

Game 4: Andover New Street Swifts 2.2 Folland Sports Development (Friendly)

Game 4: Andover New Street Swifts 2.2 Folland Sports Development (Friendly) 09.07.22

I was looking for a local game at a new ground today and noticed Andover New Street Swifts had a pre-season friendly at the Gratton Recreation Ground in Sutton Scotney. The narrow ground entrance is opposite the local garage and I was surprised to find a large car park to the right, next to some dressing rooms and the pitch. It was a really hot sunny day so I was glad to find some benches in the shade on one side to watch the game from.

Swifts looked like the more experienced side and came close to taking the lead after ten minutes, only to see a shot bounce off the post and back into play. Five minutes later Folland lost the ball in the centre of the pitch and having pushed their defence up were caught on the break. A Swifts player ran in on goal and placed a shot past the keeper.

With the hot weather there was a drinks break in both halves and the assistants were swapped around. Swifts came close again to another goal, their tall striker connecting with a long ball to head over the keeper but a defender was able to get back and clear the ball off the line.

Moments later a Swifts player swore at the referee and was sent to the sin bin. He didn’t take it well, storming off the pitch and ranting about going home. In the end he sat on the far side away from the rest of his team mates. This took the momentum out of the game and although the 10 Swifts players created some chances before half time, they were unable to convert them. The sinbinned player didn’t go back on after ten minutes and continued to sit in the sun.

Folland seemed to grow in confidence in the second half and equalised from a retaken free kick just outside the area. The player had crossed the ball in the first time before the referee called it back for an infringement in the wall. For his second attempt he hit the ball high over the keeper and into the top corner. Swifts managed to retake the lead with a good pass into the area to one of their players who hit a shot across goal and past the keeper’s dive. There were further good chances but the shots from two well placed crosses were hit straight at the Folland keeper.

After the second water break it was relayed to the Swifts coaches that the sin binned player wasn’t prepared to run the line for the last period. He eventually came over and after a childish argument with an understandably angry manager, took the flag on. The Folland players thought they had equalised with a low shot but the sin binned player raised his flag early in the move for offside. While the player who won the ball wasn’t offside, his team mate was and after some arguments, the referee confirmed a free kick rather than a goal.

Shortly afterwards there was another incident involving this assistant that ended up with the referee speaking to both captains. He then requested a new assistant with their agreement to try and put an end to the situation. The Swifts manager took over and the sin binned player disappeared for a shower, only to be called back with a few minutes left to replace an injured player. The changes seemed to unsettle the Swifts defence and just before full time Folland equalised again. A long ball from a free kick went into the area and a Folland player got there first, placing a firm shot past the keeper and in. There was still time for Swifts to try and win the game but they put a header over from a good position.

Game 3: Rayners Lane 2.0 Hatfield Town (Friendly)

Game 3: Rayners Lane 2.0 Hatfield Town (Friendly) 02.07.22

The original plan was to take in a second game at Spelthorne Sports until we discovered the kick off was at 2pm which wouldn’t have given us time to travel from Bedfont. We found an alternative at Rayners Lane that kicked off at 3pm which turned out to be a good move as the late kick off at Bedfont meant that we didn’t leave there until 2pm. It took us about 40 minutes to get to Harrow through the Saturday traffic and we managed to find a parking space in the main car park at Tithe Farm.

The game was advertised as “Pay what you want” following on from an 11am game for ground sharers Broadfields United. A club official came around during the first half with a bucket for any spare change. After a quick visit to the tea hut we wandered around the ground to find a spot opposite the bar. Rayners Lane will be playing in the Combined Counties Division 1 next season while Hatfield Town play one level below in the Herts Country Premier League.

The first half ended scoreless with Rayners Lane having two goals disallowed for offside in the last few minutes. For the second half we saw a change of kit for both sides to accommodate multiple substitutes. It looked like Rayners Lane changed their whole team as they moved from yellow to white shirts. Hatfield Town changed from purple&white shirts to red&white shirts although you could tell there were some players who stayed on as they had purple rather than red shorts on.

The changes worked for Rayners Lane as they took the lead a couple of minutes in from a goalmouth melee. After the Hatfield keeper dropped a catch the ball was flicked across goal to a Rayners Lane player. His shot came back off the bar but the second shot found the net. Both teams were hitting shots high into the trees behind each goal but Rayners Lane finally added a second in injury time. The ball was won on the edge of the area and a Rayners Lane player chipped the ball over the keeper and in.

Game 2: Bedfont Sports 2.2 Potters Bar Town (Friendly)

Game 2: Bedfont Sports 2.2 Potters Bar Town (Friendly) 02.07.22

With a planned 12 noon kick off, Bedfont Sports was our choice for the first game of a double. Although Alan has been there before, he was quite happy to spend an afternoon watching a game and the planes landing at nearby Heathrow Airport. We picked up Wij on the way and met Everton Paul and Toffee at the ground. There was no admission charge or programme.

Both teams will be playing in the Isthmian League next season, Bedfont in the South Central Division and Potters Bar a step higher in the Premier Division. The game was due to kick off at 12 but the Bedfont side had gone into the changing rooms and eventually kicked off ten minutes later.

Potters Bar dominated the early play and scored twice in the first twenty five minutes. The first goal came from a break down the left. As the Bedfont keeper came out to narrow the angle the ball was passed across to the penalty spot for a Potters Bar player to pass the ball into the net. The second goal came from a long ball down the left that found a Potters Bar player onside and in space. He took the ball forward and hit a shot high into the net past the keeper.

Bedfont managed to pull a goal back a few minutes later from a breakaway. One of their players took the ball up the middle and held off a determined challenge to angle a shot past the keeper and in. Potters Bar almost added a third just before half time when a shot went past the keeper but was cleared off the line by a covering defender.

The second half started after a number of substitutions from both sides. Bedfont scored an equaliser from a corner. The ball was hit high to the backpost where one of their players rose up above the defenders and headed the ball in. Both teams had a few long range shots and Potters Bar came close to a winner with a free kick that bounced off the bar and over.

Game 1: Chepstow Town 2.0 Portishead Town (Friendly)

Game 1: Chepstow Town 2.0 Portishead Town (Friendly) 25.06.22

While most pre-season games take place in England after 1 July, Alan spotted an opportunity for an early start to the season with a game in Wales at Chepstow Town. While we had to use the M4 Severn Bridge rather than the more convenient M48 bridge which was closed, it wasn’t a long diversion and we managed to find a space in the car park just after 2pm.

The ground could be accessed via the large social club or through the side gates as there was no admission charge today. Two sides of the ground had hard standing and the dugout side could be accessed as well although the grass was rather thick around here. Chepstow play in the South East Ardal League which is at the third step of Welsh football, offering promotion to the Cymru South. Portishead play in the Western League Division One so this was an international match of sorts. There were about 75 spectators in the ground, a mix of locals and groundhoppers keen to enjoy some live football.

The first half saw a few chances at each end but few clear cut opportunities. Portishead’s keeper had to be quick on his feet early on to come out and save a shot with his legs as a Chepstow player ran through. There was a water break midway through each half with the referee choosing to blow his whistle to start it following goal kicks. With a few minutes left in the half, Chepstow took the lead when the Portishead keeper missed the ball from a clearance, allowing a Chepstow player through to hit a shot into the unguarded net. Chepstow almost added a second with a fierce shot from the left side of the area which the Portishead keeper managed to get a hand too.

The second half was similar to the first with Chepstow making the most of play. They had a couple of shots on target that were saved and two penalty appeals that weren’t given, including one where the Portishead keeper pushed an opponent to the ground after catching the ball. As we approached the end of the game one of the Chepstow subs beat the offside trap and crossed the ball towards the middle. A Portishead player intercepted the ball but lost it following a tackle before he could clear it. A short pass was played back to the Chepstow sub and he curled a superb shot past the keeper and in to double the lead.