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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Jan 23, 2024 16:06:12 GMT
A real shame Epping. Think it is much more of an inner/outer London or perhaps big city problem. Clubs in the South West and Midlands don’t seem to be experiencing the same sorts of pressure and if anything appear able to put down or expand roots in their communities.
Off to Fairford tonight if weather doesn't intervene. Plan B Malmesbury Victoria. Plan C cuppa at home
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Jan 24, 2024 22:10:21 GMT
Fairford Town vs Hereford Pegasus Hellenic Prem at Cinder Lane last night.
One of the few local non league games to survive the weather last night. Car park at the ground was an absolute quagmire but pitch held up pretty well. Home side started really brightly and raced into a 3-0 lead with a mix of well worked goals, poor defending and the most ridiculous penalty decision I’ve ever seen. Home attacker bearing down on goal shoots, keeper makes an excellent save and pushes ball out to his right but his momentum combined with wet pitch carries him into attacker. Latter did get clattered but was never a penalty under any circumstance. Pegasus then scored the pick of the goals with a long ball over the top, cross from deep and firm header past home goalie. 3-1 then at the break.
Second half wind picked up and it became much more difficult to keep the ball on the deck and play any sort of flowing football. Game was much more even till about the hour mark when the floodlights failed. After a break of about 20 mins power was restored and the game played out to conclusion. Both sides had their chances - most notably when home no9 rounded the keeper but shot into the side netting. Final score 3-1 to Fairford which was just about right as they were the more threatening going forward. First half was entertaining second half less so even taking into account the floodlight interruption. Good value though for the £6 entrance fee plus £2 hard copy programme. Att 57. Not much cover at the ground but the bit we were sat in had some amazingly comfortable bench seats. A great way to watch a game
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Post by eppinggas on Jan 27, 2024 18:56:09 GMT
Bowers & Pitsea 1 Ipswich Wanderers 0. Isthmian League North (tier 8). Bowers & Pitsea (B&P) are based in Basildon. Bowers United was formed in 1946 when Basildon was being built as one of the post WWII new towns, squeezed in between the A127 and A13 in south Essex. Quite a tough town. Basildon United and Hashtag United (who they share with) are the local rivals. They merged with Pitsea in 2004, red & white striped shirts, red shorts. Stoke City. They managed to reach the 1st round proper of the FA Cup in 2001-02. Ipswich Wanderers were formed in 1980. They pipped Buckhurst Hill to the Eastern Counties League South (tier 10) title in 2021-22 and then were promoted again the next season. The play in Ipswich kit. B&P 3rd and Ipswich 16th in the table. Decent set up at B&P. Plenty of seats in the main stand and lots of cover around the ground. A couple of well run bars, plenty of food on offer and a good turnout from the locals. First half was a very even affair. Both teams kept it on the floor and the plastic pitch was one of the better ones I've seen. Couple of yellow cards to B&P after some fairly industrial challenges. HT 0-0. Ipswich just didn't come out for the 2nd half. B&P totally dominant and Ipswich couldn't get out of their own half. Around the our mark a bit of ping pong in the Ipswich box and a shot came back from the underside of the bar. Goal given. Some very unhappy Ipswich players. BUT f*ckwits - if the officials give a goal. It's a goal. A couple of yellow cards to stupid Ipswich players for arguing. This spurred Ipswich to at least get out of their own half, but rarely threatened the B&P goal. A deserved 3 points to B&P. Loads of kids, families there. Definitely part of the community and a surprisingly pleasant afternoon out. It was Basildon. Entrance: £10. Programme £2, for a well produced glossy 34 pages. Coffee £1.50 (dry Jan). Attendance: Someone mentioned 430. Will update when I find out. Edit. Official attendance 432. Attachments:
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Jan 27, 2024 21:41:28 GMT
Banbury United vs Scarborough Athletic, Vanarama National League North. Banbury is one of those towns in the middle of nowhere with no obvious direct route from Bristol and it feels like you are driving forever to get there and the SatNav is perpetually stuck on 53 miles despite dapping along at 50 or 60 on various A and B roads. To cap our journey I had brain in neutral at the Gloucester junction we were supposed to get off at so satnav routes us through Cheltenham which was gridlocked thanks to roadworks and races traffic. Add an hour on to a long journey then.
As a result we missed the first 5 minutes and the first real chance when home midfielder Lawson D’Ath hit the bar. Home side made all the running in the first half and took a deserved lead when 18yr old CB Charlie Waller brought the ball out from defence, advanced to edge of the area and slipped a clever ball out to the right winger, decent cross in and a smart side foot finish from D’Ath with the ball a bit behind him. Really well worked goal and Waller went on similar direct runs on 3 other occasions - once blazing wildly over in a rush of blood to the head, and twice creating half chances which the Banbury front line made nothing of. Waller is on loan from Frankenstein FC, was immaculate in defence, and was by far the beet player on the pitch belying his tender years. Definitely one we should track and reminded me lots of Connor Taylor albeit with a less imposing physique.
Second half was entirely different and Scarborough (a reincarnation of the old Scarborough FC) took complete hold of the game. Backs to the wall defending and a mixture of luck, poor decision making and rank bad finishing enabled the home side to grind out the victory they needed much more than the visitors (home side in relegation scrap, Scarborough in 3rd). Draw would have been a fairer result but you could make a case for Banbury based on their dogged defending. One Scarborough player in particular will be reliving a Scaly Thing esque moment for some time to come as he fired horribly over the bar when unmarked from about 2 yards out.
Banbury’s Spencer Stadium is ramshackle with a mix of terracing and small stands - annoyingly at either end of the sides and behind the goal rather than anything on the halfway line. £15 entrance, £4 for chicken and mushroom pie and £1.20 for a tea. Guessing attendance was between 4-500.
Reasonably entertaining day out apart from the horrendous journey there and back (an hour to clear car park and get to the outskirts of town then another groundhog day with satnav perpetually stuck on 53 miles. Glad we did it but not a place I am ever going to go to again.
Ref was excellent
Edit - crowd was an impressive 775
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 1, 2024 0:14:45 GMT
Highworth Town vs Tuffley Rovers tonight - Hellenic Prem
Dire bad tempered game between two sides with nothing to play for - home side in 9th and visitors in 14th. Neither side will seriously challenge the top of the table and both safe from relegation with Wantage Town miles adrift in the only trap door spot.
Home side created the better chances throughout but a combination of poor decision making and even worse finishing meant they were unable to convert any. Best of the bunch was a cross cum shot from about 25 yards out which skimmed off the top of the crossbar and a horrible second half miss from close in . Tuffley keeper also made a couple of decent saves. Tuffley were very disappointing and offered next to nothing going forward. Their only chance came with home side down to 10 after a pointless red card when their #9 decided to punch the ball into the net after he was already on a yellow. Rovers striker found himself clean through but tamely picked out the corner home goalie was covering giving him an easy save. Even after having a man advantage Tuffley showed zero ambition to try and win a game which was theirs for the taking
Game was not helped by gusty wind and rain and a poor referee who let too much of the niggly stuff go then clamped down hard on more innocuous fouls.[Lino on our side had clearly consumed an entire chemist shop’s worth of drugs with the decisions he was making. br] Both sides deserved to lose really - Tuffley for that lack of ambition and Highworth for the constant moaning and foul play.
Highworth’s Save on Tyres stadium (I hate it when stadia are renamed after sponsors) is very basic and surprisingly hosted Southern league football relatively recently. Reasonable club house with excellent Ginsters pasty for £2.50 and £1 for a tea. They also do pukka pies for £3 which I think is good value. £8 entrance and on-line programme (I didn’t bother). Good to have ticked it off but no desire to return in future. Guessing attendance was about 50. Never been so glad to hear full time whistle and was soaked through and chilled to my marrow despite being under cover of the small stands throughout the game
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 3, 2024 20:53:19 GMT
Cheddar FC vs Middlezoy Rovers Toolstation Western L1
Entertaining game even if there were more misplaced passes and poor decision making than some games I’ve watched recently.
Both sides carved out bags of really presentable chances in an even first half but home side took the lead when Rovers keeper had a moment that he will want to erase forever when he dallied on the ball, Cheddar striker nicked it off him and rolled it into an unguarded net.
Second half Rovers had an almost total grip and spurned some gilt edged chances, the best of which was a 25 yard free kick that crashed back off the bar. They continued to press and equalised when another free kick wide on the left was headed back into the danger area and a Rovers player was allowed to run in unmarked and plant a header past home keeper. Pivotal moment came shortly after when home centre back tweaked his hamstring and was replaced by a big unit with a big pot belly. Good in the air but a liability when people were running at him. So it proved. On the 94th minute Rovers player takes ball around him enticing a wild lunge which missed the ball and took player out - as clear a pen as you will ever see despite home crowd protests and pen was duly despatched to give the visitors a 2-1 win. They were the better side overall but I felt for Cheddar who deserved something out of the game too. Ironic that the 3 goals were all incredibly scrappy or due to poor defending when good play created numerous spurned chances. The game could easily have ended up 6-6.
Both sides played in the right spirit - little moaning or bad fouls and it was refreshing to see a game with zero cards dished out by the excellent referee. Bowdens Park has a nice setting with hills and trees in the background a decent clubhouse and the marvellous Rachel’s Grill - a mobile bap factory (excellent bacon bap £3.50 and £1.20 for a tea). £6 entrance and free hard copy black and white programme. Guessing crowd was slightly south of 50. Middlezoy are comfortably mid table but Cheddar sadly look doomed to drop back into Somerset County league being adrift in the penultimate spot in the league. An enjoyable afternoon improved by news from down the M5
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 4, 2024 9:48:24 GMT
Basildon United 4 Witham Town 0 (Isthmian League North, tier 8). Back to Basildon for the second weekend in succession. The names Bond, Basildon Bond. Basildon Utd were formed in 1955 and play in yellow & black stripes, black shorts. Their current home is sort of central Basildon and a couple of miles west of Bowers & Pitsea. A record crowd of 5000 saw them play a friendly against West Ham in 1963. Good Clubhouse (draught beer, usually - but not on today). Ground capacity 2000, 400 seats and plenty of cover. It had quite a rural feel with big trees along length of the other side of the pitch. Witham have a history going back to 1876 with the Club folding and re-forming around both World Wars. White shirts, blue shorts. Met up with my nephew who is a Southend supporter and knew quite a few of the 'colourful characters' in the bar. An evenly contested first half played out on a grass pitch in pretty good condition. The deadlock was broken by a bizarre goal. Ball into the box, bounced off Basildon strikers head, who spun round in an effort to locate where the ball was. It then bounced off his head again and as he moved towards the goal it rolled down his back and into the goal. The goalkeeper appealed for... I have no idea what. Into injury time and the ball broke outside the Witham box and was smacked home. 2-0. HT and a can of Guinness for my nephew and a diet coke for me. Damn you extended dry January. Early in the 2nd half Basildon had a FK just outside the box. The No 9 hit a ball over the wall and into the keepers top right. Lovely strike, 3-0, game over. Witham pushed forward but the Basildon keeper was not tested. Another bouncing ball outside the Witham box and a copycat finish to the 2nd goal. 4-0. Witham No 7 was then carded for simulation, having been booked earlier. Off he went and not a happy chappy. Bit harsh I thought. But the resident turnstile operator/programme seller/bar steward and part time referee said with an assessor in the stand the referee had no choice. No leniency. Both sides are mid-table. Game played in good spirit. I thought officials had a good game. I think the sweary Witham away supporters congregated behind their goal, did not agree. Entrance: £10. £2 progamme, loads of detail in 20 pages. Can of diet coke £1.50. Attendance: 106 Attachments:
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 11, 2024 9:30:59 GMT
Tilbury FC 0 North Greenford United 0 (North Greenford win 5-3 0n pens). FA Vase 5th Round. A 45min trip round the M25 and along the A13 to Tibury, docks to the east of London. It is a tough town. Formed in 1889 by dockers they play in black & white hoops (who else plays in the kit? just Queens Park in Scotland?). 4,000 capacity stadium with two small stands (350 seated) and covered terrace along one side. Big and very busy bar. The set up looks more like tier 8, maybe even tier 7. Tilbury were relegated from Isthmian League North last season and currently sit top of the Essex Senior League (tier 9). North Greenford - west London. formed in 1922, play in blue, also tier 9. Programmes had sold out by 2:45pm, big queues for food and drink. Boggy pitch and well sanded. Tilbury playing (my) right to left and towards the Clubhouse. A full blooded first half. Tilbury the first to threaten with a header to the keepers left that he just kept out. The diminutive lady referee had a good game and kept things under control as the 50/50s and sliding tackles flew in. Greenford should have taken the lead just before HT, quick interplay down their left, ball cut back to the penalty spot and the ball slammed against the crossbar. Queue too large for a coffee. Second half the rain came down, making playing conditions even more testing. Full blooded it remained. At FT a few quizzical looks around as to what happens next... Straight to pens (towards the goal and the now quite rowdy Clubhouse end). Tilbury missed their 3rd. All other pens converted and at the winning goal a bit too much celebrating from Greenford prompted a bottle thrown. Not on chaps. It didn't dampen the celebrations as Greenford looked like they'd just won the FA Cup. Stand out player their No.7. Into the QF's though, and they just about deserved it. Entry: £10. Programmes sold out and queue for coffee too long. Attendance: 664. Bumper crowd, good atmosphere. Maybe 50-60 away support. A good afternoons entertainment. Attachments:
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 12, 2024 18:06:39 GMT
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Post by oldie on Feb 12, 2024 19:36:47 GMT
Love these reports...I thought you both had stopped now we have rid ourselves of the "idiot"
I have been going to Gloucester City, it's a bit depressing. Next Saturday, Bath City Vs St Albans. My first time back at Bath since our Terton days and a reunion with St Albans as I used to live close by.
Report to follow
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 14, 2024 1:33:41 GMT
Nah the groundhopping is here to stay so will be a few more reports before the end of the season. Glad you like them and I enjoy Epping’s and the ones you write too. Always learn something new from them.
I had a bit of a break over Dec/Jan as was wiped out with flu and my friend that I usually go with had a fair few West Ham games to attend. I’m chasing grounds with Rovers now and don’t enjoy the home games at all so mostly doing away games with the gas. Tonight’s game leaves me just one to complete L1 - Leyton Orient which I hope to get tickets for. Hoping for a few new ones in L1 next season but likely only cup games will do that for me
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 14, 2024 7:46:24 GMT
Nah the groundhopping is here to stay so will be a few more reports before the end of the season. Glad you like them and I enjoy Epping’s and the ones you write too. Always learn something new from them. I had a bit of a break over Dec/Jan as was wiped out with flu and my friend that I usually go with had a fair few West Ham games to attend. I’m chasing grounds with Rovers now and don’t enjoy the home games at all so mostly doing away games with the gas. Tonight’s game leaves me just one to complete L1 - Leyton Orient which I hope to get tickets for. Hoping for a few new ones in L1 next season but likely only cup games will do that for me Yup. kind of where I am right now. Stevenage wasn't difficult to get to, but last night I just couldn't be bothered. I'm even in two minds about Orient away on March 2nd. Coggeshall Town, Great Wakering and Nuremberg - now you're talking...
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 14, 2024 8:30:54 GMT
On our list are Oxford city, ilfracombe, stourbridge and clearing Hellenic prem (3 trips to Hereford and two to Worcester) considering a long weekend in Scotland too
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 17, 2024 17:37:17 GMT
Stayed local today - Cadbury Heath vs Middlezoy Rovers Toolstation L1 at the McCarthy Marland stadium. Two middle of the table sides and a pretty poor quality game played in the right spirit.
Rovers had the lion’s share of the play but heath created the majority of the chances and took the lead early doors with a through ball from the middle out right and a decent finish. They doubled their lead on the 20 min mark with the best goal of the game over the top of the keeper from about 25 yards out. They should then have put the game to bed missing a number of presentable chances and a couple of good saves from Rovers keeper. Heath keeper then offered Rovers a lifeline with an awful flap at a ball into the box which ended up in the back of his net. Rovers continued to have the bulk of possession without creating many clear chances despite more comic keeping from home goalie. In final 5 mins a long ball out of defence was held up well by home CF. Fed into the feet of advancing sub who slotted home to make the game safe. 3-1 then to Heath and a fair result on balance of chances if not play.
Admittance £6, £1 for hard copy programme and £1 for a tea. Guessing attendance was about 30 and this felt like grass roots football in its purest sense. Ref was excellent but in truth both sets of players made it easy for him.
3rd time I’ve seen Middlezoy this season and not been impressed with them at all. Hoping I manage to avoid a 4th!
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 18, 2024 19:34:07 GMT
Stayed local today - Cadbury Heath vs Middlezoy Rovers Toolstation L1 at the McCarthy Marland stadium. Two middle of the table sides and a pretty poor quality game played in the right spirit. Rovers had the lion’s share of the play but heath created the majority of the chances and took the lead early doors with a through ball from the middle out right and a decent finish. They doubled their lead on the 20 min mark with the best goal of the game over the top of the keeper from about 25 yards out. They should then have put the game to bed missing a number of presentable chances and a couple of good saves from Rovers keeper. Heath keeper then offered Rovers a lifeline with an awful flap at a ball into the box which ended up in the back of his net. Rovers continued to have the bulk of possession without creating many clear chances despite more comic keeping from home goalie. In final 5 mins a long ball out of defence was held up well by home CF. Fed into the feet of advancing sub who slotted home to make the game safe. 3-1 then to Heath and a fair result on balance of chances if not play. Admittance £6, £1 for hard copy programme and £1 for a tea. Guessing attendance was about 30 and this felt like grass roots football in its purest sense. Ref was excellent but in truth both sets of players made it easy for him. 3rd time I’ve seen Middlezoy this season and not been impressed with them at all. Hoping I manage to avoid a 4th! I've been to Longwell Green - just down the road from Cadbury Heath. No game this weekend (family commitments). Interesting snippet here from Essex. Harlow Town are a big Club fallen on hard times. Unable to complete the previous season due to 3G pitch problems - they were demoted 2 divisions to the Thurlow Nunn Southern Division in tier 10. But it gets worse. Under the terms of the relegation penalty - they are not allowed to get promoted this season. Ouch. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68183543
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 18, 2024 21:24:32 GMT
That seems incredibly harsh especially when you consider how clubs right at the top of the pyramid are treated for financial indiscretions. You may have more insight than me on what’s gone on there but it looks like pitch issues which they have sorted. To deny them promotion after demotion seems really draconian to me. Not seen a mens game at Longwell Green but have seen my son play there in junior football for AEK Boco (another Toolstation club) albeit not on the main pitch
Cribbs vs Willand Tues and still waiting to hear if we are going to Scotland on Sat. Will be up and back in a day if we do rather than a whole weekend. Will be QOTS and a non league game beforehand - perhaps Abbey Vale vs Upper Annandale in the Tweedie cup
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 20, 2024 23:37:36 GMT
Cribbs FC vs Willand Rovers tonight, 3rd vs 14th Southern League South Division 1.
Full blooded and scrappy game with two defences dominant and neither side with enough creative ability to fashion more than a handful of half chances.
First half was a bore fest between two evenly matched teams who cancelled each other out. Second half improved and when home manager subbed one of his centre backs, a Willand midfielder burst into the space vacated and finished a bit fortuitously with home keeper almost keeping it out. Willand created the best of the half chances following this but failing to take any. With only 10 mins left, the visitors defence made their only mistake of the night, toe poking away a ball into the box instead of connecting with it cleanly and it landed at the feet of local non-league warhorse Aysa Corrick who equalised with a smart finish. Game ended 1-1 after about 15 mins of added time. Thiswas a fair result as neither side deserved to lose and there really wasn’t a Rizla paper between them.
Not the best game we’ve seen this season but also not the worst and the defensive skill of both sides had to be admired. £9 entrance and £1.50 for a hard copy programme. Attendance 105.
Home grown striker David Duru is scoring for fun for Cribbs but was anonymous and upstaged by Corrick on this showing.
Thought ref did well despite handing out more cards than a postie at Christmas. It was a tough game to officiate and I don’t remember thinking he got any significant decision wrong. This was to the annoyance of the home support who were moaning at every call he made. They should thank their lucky stars that they don’t ever get allocated Ross Joyce.
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 23, 2024 9:24:35 GMT
That seems incredibly harsh especially when you consider how clubs right at the top of the pyramid are treated for financial indiscretions. You may have more insight than me on what’s gone on there but it looks like pitch issues which they have sorted. To deny them promotion after demotion seems really draconian to me. Not seen a mens game at Longwell Green but have seen my son play there in junior football for AEK Boco (another Toolstation club) albeit not on the main pitch Cribbs vs Willand Tues and still waiting to hear if we are going to Scotland on Sat. Will be up and back in a day if we do rather than a whole weekend. Will be QOTS and a non league game beforehand - perhaps Abbey Vale vs Upper Annandale in the Tweedie cup No more insight than you... very strange to keep Harlow down in tier 10. They have a decent Stadium which would not be out of place in National League South. I'm sure the bigger crowds would be welcome in the Essex Senior Leaugue. I think something has happened behind closed doors, someone at the FA has been put out. It makes absolutely no sense. Fun fact/result. Harlow Town 1 Leicester City 0. FA Cup 3rd Round 1979/80. From wiki: "The club were then drawn away to Second Division leaders Leicester City. After a 1–1 draw at Filbert Street, Harlow famously won the replay at the Sportcentre 1–0, watched by a club-record attendance of 9,723. In the fourth round Harlow were drawn away to Watford, losing 4–3".
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 24, 2024 18:20:11 GMT
Basingstoke Town vs Plymouth Parkway southern league prem south at the Winklebury Football complex, Hants FA HQ.
Really entertaining first half with home side creating plenty of chances which home CF Liam Ferdinand managed to squander missing the target entirely when he could easily have been going home with the matchball by HT. Parkway also fashioned some half chances too but good last ditch defending kept them at bay.
Second half was not as entertaining but Ferdinand continued his afternoon to remember by squandering another golden chance and then missing a more difficult one shortly after. Parkway then missed a sitter of their own when their number 11 burst clear and also planted his shot wide.
Just when it looked as if we were heading for a 0-0 a Parkway defender made a needless push on a home player in the box to give a penalty away. This was converted by left winger Brad Wilson who was arguably the best player on the park. Game finished 1-0 to Basingstoke which on balance of chances was fair but it could so easily have been 6-3.
£12 attendance £2.50 for hard copy programme, £1 each for a tea and a water. Fantastic catering wagon with excellent burgers and foot long hot dogs. Att an impressive 776 and ref was excellent. Both teams also deserve credit for making it a very easy game for him to officiate
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Post by eppinggas on Feb 25, 2024 8:55:36 GMT
Basildon Town 3 NE London 1 (Thurlow Nunn Southern Division 1 in tier 10). If you google search Basildon Town, it defaults to Basildon United. I think there may be a reason for that. A 50 minute drive to Corringham (just south of Basildon). So this is the final piece of the "Basildon trilogy", saving the errr worst til last. Basildon play at East Thurrock's old ground. East Thurrock played as high as tier 6 a decade ago, started this season in tier 8, played a couple of games, were bought by "colourful character" Alfie Best (look him up) and were immediately liquidated. The ground is situated in the older, nicer part of Corringham, and could well be the home of homes in the future. Romford FC (eh? Romford is nearer Epping than Corringham) are now the main tenants - continuing their nomadic existence, having previously played at Barking. It's hard to keep up with football in NE London and Essex sometimes. The ground has 3 small stands but sadly is showing signs of dilapidation. The pitch was rutted and in an awful state. NE London in purple and black vs Basildon in blue. NE London trying to play football in terrible conditions whilst Basildon preferred the 'swear a lot, kick people and hoof it long approach'. NE took the lead on 5 minutes as their striker was taken out by the last man (not even a yellow?) and the penalty dispatched. NW had another 3 clear shouts for a penalty, but the referee must have taken pity on Basildon. Basildon equalized around the 30 minute mark with a (rare) piece of decent football, a cross from their left that was headed in. HT 1-1 and a coffee (still dry Jan/Feb) served by a pleasant lady in a shed that was falling down. 2nd half - surely skill would beat hoof ball? NW well on top. Oops, a misplaced NW pass fell to a Basildon sub who, to be fair, produced a decent strike from distance, in off the post, to go 2-1 up. Maybe his team mates should also try kicking the ball rather than their opponents? NW pushed forward at the injustice of it all. Basildon counter attacked late on and scored a third. Bloody hell. I asked the NW keeper how the hell they were losing and he said "f*ck knows". Used the toilet facilities. There are probably cleaner toilets in the front-line in Ukraine. To be fair the sparse Basildon support seemed quite pleasant and chatty. The football team were just unpleasant. Swearing and contesting every decision. Every bloody throw in. Every NW throw treated with a chorus of "foul throw". Every bloody throw. The officials did well in very difficult conditions. Good luck to NW London. F*ck Basildon. Entrance £5. No programme, paper or otherwise. Coffee £1:50. Attendance: 33. Penalty dispatched to keepers left as he dives enthusiastically to his right.
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