|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Feb 28, 2024 0:22:02 GMT
Newent Town vs Sporting Club Inkberrow Hellenic League 1 at Wildsmith Meadow. The Daffs vs the Eagles.
Scrappy and evenly contested game between 15th placed home side and 5th placed visitors who are chasing a play off berth. Game was not helped by a rutted pitch and poor decision making by both sides leading to many misplaced passes and a lack of clear cut chances.
Visitors took the lead after about 35 mins with a long ball to just outside the box, home defence and keeper were at sixes and sevens, and ball was dragged back to an onrushing player who finished well.
Second half home centre half controlled a high ball to him, turned well and his scuffed finish fortuitously had enough legs to creep into the right hand corner. Both sides had periods of dominance without ever really having a grip on the game. Inkberrow had a shot deflected onto the post, both keepers made a save or two and with the final action of the game an Inkberrow player planted a free header onto the bar from about 2 yards out. Just before the end of what had been a keenly contested but fair encounter boiled over into a free for all with ref showing leniency by booking one from each side. He kept game flowing and did well to keep a lid on tempers that were starting to rise.
The game ended 1-1 which was fair but Inkberrow will rue the missed chances and some especially woeful shots from good opportunities.
£5 to get in, no programme and £4 for cheese burger £2 for cone of chips and £1.50 for a mug of tea ( proper mug not paper cup).
Guessing attendance was about 30.
Newent are a friendly little club but I imagine will struggle to retain their league status. Inkberrow on the other hand seem like a club on the up. We plan to visit them too before the season finishes if fixtures fall right.
|
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612 
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 2, 2024 19:06:20 GMT
Coggleshall Town 0 Little Oakley 5 (Essex Senior League, tier 9). I was planning to go to Wingate & Finchley - match postponed, waterlogged pitch. Were the weather Gods trying to steer me towards Brisbane Road to watch Bristol Rover FC? Nah. Up the M11, east along the A120 to Coggleshall. Coggleshall Town (formed 1878, red and black stripes) are rooted at the bottom of the ESL and doomed to relegation. They were relegated from tier 8 last season. Locals said that the manager had health issues and the financial backer pulled out. The team was decimated at the back end of last season and are still in a tail spin. They were up against Little Oakley (formed 1947, yellow shorts and blue shorts) from Harwich, who are bottom third in the division, but safe. The crowd was bolstered by some Stockport County fans, pissed off that their game at Colchester United was called off. A small stand, a covered terrace behind the goal and a pleasant rural setting. Really good bar facilities, Carlsberg and San Miguel on tap. Early on it was easy to see why Coggleshall were struggling. Nervous on the ball and frequent long balls pumped more in hope than expectation to the forward line, who struggled. Little Oakley happy on the ball and knocking it around at leisure. Flash point when the Coggleshall No.5 looked like he kneed an Oakley player in the head. The Oakley bench got very animated. The referee showed a yellow card to both players?!? This was perplexing to all present. Pressure built and Coggleshall were being stretched down their left flank. Two goals in quick succession came from here just before half time. Both dispatched to the keepers left (he should have saved the 2nd). HT 0-2, quick coffee. Second half Cogglshall gave it a bit more effort and things were relatively even. Around 60 mins the game turned for good. A referee decision was hotly disputed by Coggleshall - just a little too much. Ref sent an outfield player to the sinbin (I initially thought he had been sent off). Next the dumb Coggleshall goal-keeper gobs off at the referee. He was warned, continued to gob off and... was also sent to the sinbin. Coggleshall had to make a substitution to cover the keeper and were down to 9 men for 10 minutes. Oakley scored from a corner and it was game over at 3-0. Coggellshall finally got back to having 11 players back on the pitch. Only to concede another couple of goals as they pushed forward in search of a consolation. A comprehensive 0-5 drubbing. A real shame as Coggleshall have a lovely set up, but their friendly supporters will have to make do with a season down in tier 10 next year. Entrance: £8. E-proramme (man on the turnstile apologised for no paper-based ones). Coffee £1.50. Attendance: 80. There seemed more. Attachments:
|
|
oldie
Joined: September 2021
Posts: 7,556
Member is Online
|
Post by oldie on Mar 9, 2024 13:18:27 GMT
At Raith Rovers
Vs Dunfermline. A bucket list trip for me. Sat in hospitality with my jock family, effing excellent. Raith were formed in the same year as us.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 9, 2024 16:00:26 GMT
At Raith Rovers Vs Dunfermline. A bucket list trip for me. Sat in hospitality with my jock family, effing excellent. Raith were formed in the same year as us. Nice one Oldie. My Scotland trip didn’t come off. Really want to do some games up there. Maybe back end of season or early next. Enjoy….. |
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 9, 2024 20:04:09 GMT
Oldland Abbotonians vs Brixham AFC today, Toolstation Western League Prem
Entertaining game not aided by a bobbly pitch which did not look in great condition - probably due to all the recent rain which has caused a number of games to be postponed.
Both sides had chances in the goalless first half and the game was crying out for one to be taken. That happened early second half and was a real beauty - strike from Brixham’s no11 from distance which rocketed past the home keeper before he had chance to move. He had flashed a couple of sighters wide in the first 45. Brixham doubled their lead almost immediately afterwards when a long throw was flicked on and fell to the feet of an unmarked player who tucked the ball away. They then put the game to bed with a route 1 kick from their keeper which cleared the home defence and fell nicely at the feet of their right winger who lobbed the ball over onrushing keeper. Oldland pulled one back when a long ball out right was crossed back into the box, controlled and finished well by their CF. Game ended 3-1 to Brixham who were the better side throughout, but boiled over a couple of times at the end. Home no 6 was sin binned for a really petulant show of dissent. Felt sorry for the ref who had tried to let the game flow but perhaps was a bit too lenient at times. Oldland were very niggly and moany and the no6 was one of the worst culprits so apt he was sin binned. It all looked like it was going to kick off after the game too with away keeper bearing the brunt of the abuse.
Too many Rovers connections with Oldland to mention but the one I didn't enjoy being reminded of was that David Hillier managed them for a bit from 2008/09. Presumably he didn’t think he was too good to manage at this level.
Oldland are another local club who generously offer free entry to forces personnel. £1 for a hard copy programme and the same for a cup of tea from the newly built pitchside food outlet. Castle Road is quite a neat and tidy ground and the club have plans to further improve it so I hope they can improve their act on the field to match these ambitions. Attendance exactly 100
|
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 9, 2024 22:42:33 GMT
Maldon & Tiptree 0 Bowers & Pitsea 3 (Isthmian League North, tier 8). An hour long trip, east along the A414 to Maldon via Chelmsford. A spring day. Nearly didn't bother with a coat. Very wisely took the winter coat. Maldon were formed in 1946, merging with Tiptree (formed in 1933) in 2010. Maldon are known as the 'Jammers' with reference to the Tiptree jam one finds in cornish cream teas and Travelodge breakfasts. Maldon claim to fame was making the FA Cup 1st round proper a couple of times. In 2019-20 they beat Orient and I seem to remember watching the highlights. The ground is not far from the sea (well estuary) front and an easterly breeze was definitely on the chilly side. 3 small stands, decent size Club house, grass pitch. Nice set up. Maldon in blue & red stripes vs Bowers in red & white stripes. An even first half with both sides attacking mostly down their right flanks. Maldon LB was having a bit of a mare against the Bowers No.7. For some reason the Bowers No.7 swapped wings, weird. Looking like goalless going into the break as I edged towards the Clubhouse. Kept an eye on the pitch because you never know. And in injury time a Bowers corner wasn't dealt with and the ball was smacked low to the keepers left. 1-0 Bowers at HT and off for a coffee. 2nd half Bowers had the wind behind them and looked comfortable. Spoke to an old Maldon supporter who was talking about their 'star' forward who had played for... bristolcity1982. Looked up the wiki entry - and there he was. A remarkably well traveled (for a 23 yr old) Bristolian, Louis Britton. I managed to contain myself and not shout 'sh1thead' at him every time he touched the ball. It's more civilised lower down the pyramid. Around 80 mins Maldon conceded a penalty, no disputes. Placed to the top right of the keeper (see photo), 2-0 and game over. Still time for incidents. For some reason a lot of pushing and shoving with about 5 minutes to go. No idea why. On 90 minutes a woeful Maldon backpass allowed a Bowers forward to nick it from the keeper, squaring it for a tap in. 3-0. Still time for Maldon to be awarded a penalty (looked a soft one). Which they missed. The breeze had picked up significantly by FT and it was more like Siberia than Essex. Bowers in the play-offs, Maldon destined for mid-table. Entry £10. No paper programme. Had a look at the e-programme. But it'a just not the same is it? Coffee £2.25. Attendance: 223. Decent afternoon out. Bowers had brought a few to add to the atmosphere. Game played in largely good spirit, well officiated. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 16, 2024 20:42:08 GMT
Malvern Town vs Wimborne Town Southern League S div 1 at the appallingly named HDAnywhere Community Stadium. A game that was irrevocably changed after 8 mins when the ref decided what looked like minimal contact on a Wimborne player who was advancing towards the Malvern box was worthy of a red card. It looked a very harsh decision on a number of counts. Home side therefore with a very tough task against the league leaders but they stuck at it admirably - so well did they play that unless you counted shirts you would not have known they were a man down. They created two very presentable chances in the first half to the one missed by a Wimborne player who shot wide when unmarked in front of goal. Wimborne took the lead in the second half when an excellent long ball out to the wing was pulled back for a simple tap in. Scene was therefore set for them to use the extra man advantage, stretch play and score a few more to comfortably put the game to bed. Malvern however had not read the script and equalised after one shot was blocked and fell invitingly to the feet of their CF. They had the better of the remaining exchanges until a couple of minutes from the end the visitors left winger saw a shot hit the back of the net via the post. They were very fortunate to get all 3 points and Malvern deserved something for such a spirited display. Wimborne were both lucky and disappointing. Malvern have a really nice set up for this level - tidy ground, decent stand and nice clubhouse. Their pitch is artificial - probably essential given that the Severn is only a few feet away from it. Admittance £10 (£6 concessions) £2 for a decent hard copy programme£2.50 for a really nice sausage roll and £1.50 for a tea. In the car park is a milk vending machine that sells shakes and really delicious creamy milk only hours out of the cow. Enjoyed the afternoon here and would be easy to be a regular if I lived locally. Attendance 310 and the ref was dreadful for both teams.  |
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 18, 2024 18:17:49 GMT
FC Nuremburg 0 St Pauli 2 Bundesliga 2. March 16th. Stansted to Nuremberg £45 return... rude not to. A 1pm kick-off in the quite stunning City of Nuremberg. Nuremberg are the second most successful team in German football (a combination of 9 National Championships and Bundesliga titles). Due to their dominance back in the 1920's their nickname is simply "Der Club". Quite a few Rapid Vienna colours on display and also Schalke. The Max-Morlock-Stadion is a couple of miles south east of the city centre and sits on part of the old Nazi Rally grounds. Quick, clean, efficient transport links (it's Germany). A 5-10 minute walk from the SBahn station past the Zeppelinfeld on your right. Pop-up beer tents a-plenty. Cheap, good local lager 3.5 Euros. I'd managed to get re-sale tickets on the NordCurve which is where the Ultras stand. Usually the terraces are taken by season tickets holders, but definitely where you want to be. I paid a slight premium - 20 Euros. St Pauli are top of the Bundesliga 2 and had brought a fair few down from Hamburg. Quite a big police presence, but fans were mixing and drinking on the concourse without any problems. The ultras (both sets of fans) marched in carrying banners and all wearing black jackets and blue jeans to a man. A cracking atmosphere before kick off and the supporters in very good voice. Sunshine and showers the order of the day. St Pauli very much in control and easy to see why they are top of the division. Nuremberg were hanging on, but resistance was broken just before HT as Eggestein headed in from close range. HT - there must have been 5-6 beer stations, easy to get a beer and a lot of people took full advantage. Plenty of clean washroom facilities to cater for the previously mentioned beer sales. The supporters did not stop chanting for the full duration, orchestrated by 3 or 4 ultras with mics and megaphones (but it did not seem forced). Banners waved for the full match, pyrotechnics are set off, you do not get to see all the action... St Pauli went 2-0 up and effectively put the game to bed around the hour mark. This just prompted more support and noise. Supporters were re-supplied with the amber nectar and the efficient design of the mugs meant you can carry four at a time. If Nuremberg had scored I was going to get drenched. Sadly not much danger of that - Nuremberg didn't give up, but didn't really test the St Pauli keeper. An honourable defeat. A cracking afternoon. Entry: Euros 20. Beers in the ground 5.50 Euros (with deposit), or 7.50 Euros if you kept a 1.FCN branded pint glass. I kept two. Attendance: 41,269 Only a couple of yellows. Minimal back chat to the referee, who had an excellent game. Minimal gamesmanship. No feigning injury. Attachments:
|
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 18, 2024 20:06:45 GMT
FC Nuremberg II 4 SV Viktoria Aschaffenburg 1 (Regionalliga Bayern, tier 4) Sunday 17th March. So the top 3 German divisions are full time professional and national. Tier 4 is semi-professional and regional. There are 5 leagues at this level but only 4 get promoted (they take it in rotation as to whether they get promoted automatically or go into the play-offs). So not really sure what to expect. Nuremberg II (effectively the Nuremberg U-23's) play about 1/2 a mile away from the Max Morlock Stadion. From the SBahn just head east rather than west. Due to public transport being a bit slack on a Sunday, made the decision to hike from the UBahn at Messe about a mile and a half away. A walk through quite lot of the old Rally Grounds with views toward Kongresshalle to the north, passing the main Nuremberg ground and finally to the Max Morlock Platz arena. Max Morlock is the legendary Nurenberg mid-fielder who played a key role in the 'Miracle of Bern' when West Germany won the 1954 World Cup against all the odds. There's a few pitches here and other sports facilities, alongside a hotel. 9 Euros entry and a slightly officious steward wanted a good look through my small backpack. Gasping by this stage I was happy to see a pop up beer tent. 4 Euros. Down in one. No stands and terracing around 3 sides of the pitch. Most people stood on the raised terrace the length of the pitch on the far side. Aschaffenburg bundled the ball home after a defensive mistake on 5 minutes and were delighted. It was not a goal of great quality. Nuremberg passed it around neatly and were finding plenty of space. The equalizer duly came along after 25 mins as Nuremberg took control. HT 1-1. More quality on the ball from Nuremberg in the second half saw them dominate possession and it looked only a question of time before more goals were scored. This they duly did, with further goals coming in the 69th and 83rd minutes. Aschaffenburg heads had dropped and to add insult to injury also conceded a late OG. A match played in good spirit with the players joking with the referee. No back chat. It did not really seem like a 4th tier game of football though. In front of a disappointing crowd of (est. 250-300) it had more of a feel of a pre-season friendly, or even an Essex Senior League fixture. Possibly a couple of the Nuremberg players had come off the bench the previous day against St Pauli? Anyway, for 9 Euros you can't complain. As this didn't really feel a 'full-bloodied' encounter, difficult to say whether the U-23's have enough quality to really push for a place in the first team. The marvellously named Wurzburger Kickers remain at the top of the division. Entry: 9 Euros. No sign of a programme (same as yesterday - maybe it isn't a 'thing' over here). Beer 4 Euros. Attendance est: 250-300. Edit. There is also the Club museum here, sadly shut on Sunday. Nice picture of Nuremberg's last Bundesliga triumph in 1968. |
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 20, 2024 0:20:40 GMT
Bridgwater United vs Helston Athletic Toolstation Prem at Fairfax Park. Entertaining top of the table clash (4th vs 1st) between two evenly matched sides.
The visitors took the lead after about a minute when a quick break down the right flank was centred and controlled by captain Aaron Bentley who had plenty of time to lash a shot from about 20 yards out into top right corner. They doubled their lead on the half hour mark when a deep cross to the back stick found Bentley in space and he headed firmly into bottom right corner. Bridgwater pulled one back just before the break when a quick raid down the left flank ended with a Helston player turning the ball past his own keeper. It was a rwally poor goal from a defensive perspective. Helston faded during the second half and appeared to be trying to see out the game with their one goal advantage intact. They almost achieved this but with a few minutes left Bridgwater equalised with a headed goal from a corner. They probably deserved the point and both sides will probably be content though Helston will regret squandering a two goal advantage
Fairfax Park is a reasonable ground for this level. Two small stands on either side and covered terracing behind the goals. £8 entrance (£5 concessions and like other Toolstation clubs they offer Armed Forces personnel a discount). £5 for an excellent pasty and £2 for hard copy programme. Att 238.
One Rovers connection - ex-academy player Josiah McKayle came on as sub and made little impact. He has bounced around a number of different clubs since leaving us and looks like he struggles to settle. Not quite a Gas connection but ugly cheating s**thead and thieving postie Andy Llewelyn is Bridgwater’s manager and it looks like his son is their left back. When I found this out I naturally wanted them to get a good hammering just to ruin light fingered Llewelyn’s evening. Second only to gurning mullet headed twat Glynn Riley in my all time hate list of their players.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 24, 2024 0:21:30 GMT
Stourbridge FC vs AFC Sudbury Southern League Prem - Central Division Bottom of the table clash at Stourbridge's War Memorial Athletic Ground, which shares a boundary with Stourbridge Cricket Club. The ground is a favourite with non-league groundhoppers and is considered one of the most picturesque in the country. It is a 3 sided ground so the wind whistles in from across the cricket pitch. Several stands behind one goal and along the side, one of which is a quaint barrel roofed affair. First half was a pretty scrappy and even affair, with both sides missing a decent chance each. Sudbury cannoned a free kick from outside the box onto the crossbar and a home player wasted a free header when completely unmarked from a few yards out. Honours even then after 45 mins. Sudbury took the lead 10 mins into second half when a really good cross from the left found one of their players in acres of space and he steered his header into the bottom corner. Home side then huffed and puffed without creating anything of note until local favourite and club legend Luke Benbow was brought on. He was on the receiving end of a foul that didn't look too bad from the stand, but which the ref felt was worthy of a straight red which looked more than a tad harsh. Benbow is Stourbridge's equivalent of Akinfatty with the physique of a pygmy hippo, but he gave the Sudbury centre back pairing who had looked very comfortable throughout something to think about and he has scored lots of goals in his career. In added on time he got the ball on the left, and fired a shot across goal into the far right corner. Stourbridge just about deserved their point from a pretty low quality game. Ref did well apart from the red card, and in truth both teams made it easy for him with minimal moaning and cheating. £12 entrance, £3 for an excellent hard copy programme, £4 for chips with a superb curry sauce and £1.50 for a very welcome half time tea as it had started to get quite cold. Att 553. They had over 2000 there for the local derby with Halesowen, and manager and his assistant were both sacked after the match. Enjoyable afternoon out even if the football wasn't brilliant.    |
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 24, 2024 9:03:33 GMT
Heybridge Swifts 2 Grays Athletic 0 (Isthmian League North, tier 8). Just under an hours drive east along the A414 to Maldon. Head north for 5 minutes, get lost, check the map and arrive at Heybridge at 2:50pm. Both Clubs have good pedigree. Heybridge (formed 1880 thin black and white stripes) have reached the first round of the FA Cup four times. Grays (formed in 1890, in all blue) were back to back FA Trophy winners 20 years ago. They qualified for the Conference play-offs in 2005-6 and so were only 3 games away from the EFL. A few seasons later they finished bottom of the Conference and had financial problems. They actually asked to get relegated 2 steps. The FA decided to relegate then 4 steps for some quality banter, Grays appealed, and they ended up relegated 3 steps. Nice set up at Heybridge. Bid, clean Clubhouse. Two small stands along both lengths of the pitch and a covered terrace at one end. A very bright afternoon and a bitter wind blowing. Definitely still winter coat weather. Heybridge started the better and were passing it around nicely on the 3G pitch. Grays were wobbly at the back. The No.4 appeared to have learned his trade from Cian Harries, with a succession of sliced clearances that easily cleared the stand to the left. Their GK appeared to have Touretts "be f**king brave", "be f**king brave" and had a habit of punching instead of catching. 20 mins in and a Heybridge corner was subsequently punched (badly) to the edge of the box and was slammed home right in front of me. I actually flinched. Grays pushed forward and managed to miss a pretty much open goal around the half hour. That was there best chance gone. Second half more of the same. The Heybridge no.9 Ross Wall was causing Grays a lot of trouble. A nice bit of work down the Heybridge right saw a ball knocked into the box and Wall headed home unchallenged for his second. Grays kept going but were only really threatening with shots from distance. FT 2-0 and I don't think Grays could complain. Heybridge remain just outside the play-offs, Grays in the bottom third, but clear of relegation. Seemed to be quite a few Grays supporters in the crowd. Only one yellow card. The officials had a good game, not too much back chat to deal with. Entry: £10. 16 page good, glossy programme £2. Pint of Magners £4:50. Attendance: 316 |
|
|
|
Post by lostinspace on Mar 24, 2024 9:19:31 GMT
Heybridge Swifts 2 Grays Athletic 0 (Isthmian League North, tier 8). Just under an hours drive east along the A414 to Maldon. Head north for 5 minutes, get lost, check the map and arrive at Heybridge at 2:50pm. Both Clubs have good pedigree. Heybridge (formed 1880 thin black and white stripes) have reached the first round of the FA Cup four times. Grays (formed in 1890, in all blue) were back to back FA Trophy winners 20 years ago. They qualified for the Conference play-offs in 2005-6 and so were only 3 games away from the EFL. A few seasons later they finished bottom of the Conference and had financial problems. They actually asked to get relegated 2 steps. The FA decided to relegate then 4 steps for some quality banter, Grays appealed, and they ended up relegated 3 steps. Nice set up at Heybridge. Bid, clean Clubhouse. Two small stands along both lengths of the pitch and a covered terrace at one end. A very bright afternoon and a bitter wind blowing. Definitely still winter coat weather. Heybridge started the better and were passing it around nicely on the 3G pitch. Grays were wobbly at the back. The No.4 appeared to have learned his trade from Cian Harries, with a succession of sliced clearances that easily cleared the stand to the left. Their GK appeared to have Touretts "be f**king brave", "be f**king brave" and had a habit of punching instead of catching. 20 mins in and a Heybridge corner was subsequently punched (badly) to the edge of the box and was slammed home right in front of me. I actually flinched. Grays pushed forward and managed to miss a pretty much open goal around the half hour. That was there best chance gone. Second half more of the same. The Heybridge no.9 Ross Wall was causing Grays a lot of trouble. A nice bit of work down the Heybridge right saw a ball knocked into the box and Wall headed home unchallenged for his second. Grays kept going but were only really threatening with shots from distance. FT 2-0 and I don't think Grays could complain. Heybridge remain just outside the play-offs, Grays in the bottom third, but clear of relegation. Seemed to be quite a few Grays supporters in the crowd. Only one yellow card. The officials had a good game, not too much back chat to deal with. Entry: £10. 16 page good, glossy programme £2. Pint of Magners £4:50. Attendance: 316 All was going to be a good read.....then you mentioned Magners 🤬🤬. Dirty name around my home town as asset stripper types,and the cider is sh8te |
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 24, 2024 9:26:20 GMT
Heybridge Swifts 2 Grays Athletic 0 (Isthmian League North, tier 8). Just under an hours drive east along the A414 to Maldon. Head north for 5 minutes, get lost, check the map and arrive at Heybridge at 2:50pm. Both Clubs have good pedigree. Heybridge (formed 1880 thin black and white stripes) have reached the first round of the FA Cup four times. Grays (formed in 1890, in all blue) were back to back FA Trophy winners 20 years ago. They qualified for the Conference play-offs in 2005-6 and so were only 3 games away from the EFL. A few seasons later they finished bottom of the Conference and had financial problems. They actually asked to get relegated 2 steps. The FA decided to relegate then 4 steps for some quality banter, Grays appealed, and they ended up relegated 3 steps. Nice set up at Heybridge. Bid, clean Clubhouse. Two small stands along both lengths of the pitch and a covered terrace at one end. A very bright afternoon and a bitter wind blowing. Definitely still winter coat weather. Heybridge started the better and were passing it around nicely on the 3G pitch. Grays were wobbly at the back. The No.4 appeared to have learned his trade from Cian Harries, with a succession of sliced clearances that easily cleared the stand to the left. Their GK appeared to have Touretts "be f**king brave", "be f**king brave" and had a habit of punching instead of catching. 20 mins in and a Heybridge corner was subsequently punched (badly) to the edge of the box and was slammed home right in front of me. I actually flinched. Grays pushed forward and managed to miss a pretty much open goal around the half hour. That was there best chance gone. Second half more of the same. The Heybridge no.9 Ross Wall was causing Grays a lot of trouble. A nice bit of work down the Heybridge right saw a ball knocked into the box and Wall headed home unchallenged for his second. Grays kept going but were only really threatening with shots from distance. FT 2-0 and I don't think Grays could complain. Heybridge remain just outside the play-offs, Grays in the bottom third, but clear of relegation. Seemed to be quite a few Grays supporters in the crowd. Only one yellow card. The officials had a good game, not too much back chat to deal with. Entry: £10. 16 page good, glossy programme £2. Pint of Magners £4:50. Attendance: 316 All was going to be a good read.....then you mentioned Magners 🤬🤬. Dirty name around my home town as asset stripper types,and the cider is sh8te I apologise. No interesting lagers, no draught beer. In a moment of madness I went for the Magners. Could have been worse... they had Magners dark fruits. |
|
|
|
Post by lostinspace on Mar 24, 2024 10:24:34 GMT
All was going to be a good read.....then you mentioned Magners 🤬🤬. Dirty name around my home town as asset stripper types,and the cider is sh8te I apologise. No interesting lagers, no draught beer. In a moment of madness I went for the Magners. Could have been worse... they had Magners dark fruits. 😯🤬😯🤬. Heaven forbid |
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 27, 2024 0:51:20 GMT
Wellington AFC vs Saltash United Toolstation Prem at the Playing Field
Reasonably entertaining game between two sides with nothing much to separate them and both battling to avoid the drop. Home side took the lead from a soft looking penalty after about 8 mins and Saltash equalised about 5 mins later when right winger Joe Preece got onto a lovely long ball outpaced the home defence and struck a shot into the corner across the keeper. Both sides had decent chances to take the lead but good saves by both keepers meant that the half ended up honours even. The visitors took the lead early in the second half when an excellent one on one save by home keeper fell invitingly to the feet of a Saltash player who made no mistake with the rebound. Home keeper made a couple more decent saves and the visitors were able to see out the game without any major drama. Saltash just about deserved the points as they created a few more chances than Wellington and had the best player on the park in Preece.
£6 entrance, £2.50 for a pasty, £1 for a ham roll and a welcome half time tea. Online programme only. The playing field is rather spartan with minimal covered seating but thankfully the rain held off tonight. Ref was good and both teams made it an easy night for him. Attendance about 70
|
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Mar 29, 2024 11:09:35 GMT
Wellington AFC vs Saltash United Toolstation Prem at the Playing Field Reasonably entertaining game between two sides with nothing much to separate them and both battling to avoid the drop. Home side took the lead from a soft looking penalty after about 8 mins and Saltash equalised about 5 mins later when right winger Joe Preece got onto a lovely long ball outpaced the home defence and struck a shot into the corner across the keeper. Both sides had decent chances to take the lead but good saves by both keepers meant that the half ended up honours even. The visitors took the lead early in the second half when an excellent one on one save by home keeper fell invitingly to the feet of a Saltash player who made no mistake with the rebound. Home keeper made a couple more decent saves and the visitors were able to see out the game without any major drama. Saltash just about deserved the points as they created a few more chances than Wellington and had the best player on the park in Preece. £6 entrance, £2.50 for a pasty, £1 for a ham roll and a welcome half time tea. Online programme only. The playing field is rather spartan with minimal covered seating but thankfully the rain held off tonight. Ref was good and both teams made it an easy night for him. Attendance about 70 £9.50 well spent! Hopefully down in Bath before the end of the season. I'm thinking either Melksham or Trowbridge, but not Horfield. Any other suggestions? |
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Mar 31, 2024 5:43:14 GMT
Melksham have a nice new set up. Devizes also supposed to be good but not been there myself so can’t vouch for it.
I’d suggest Larkhall but you’ve been there so if you don’t mind a bit of a drive, one of my localish favourites is Brimscombe and Thrupp. Not sure if they have a home game though
|
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
|
Post by eppinggas on Apr 7, 2024 9:08:07 GMT
Concord Rangers 0 Wingate & Finchley 2 (Isthmian Premier League, tier 7). Benfleet FC was my destination. Their website showed me they play in Benfleet. Arrived at 2:45pm to see an empty car park. Oops. I remembered something about them playing at Canvey Island? No time to check - just head to Canvey. Saw a big banner just off of a roundabout advertising Concord Rangers vs Wingate. That'll do. Google directions and made kick off with 1 minute to spare. The ground is a bit bleak - bordered by caravan park on one side and large industrial units the other. 2 small stands, mostly uncovered terraces. Very windy. I had stupidly not taken into account the wind chill factor and was pretty much the only person not wearing coat. Wore a Schalke shirt and bumped into a Plymouth fan who bizzarerly had been to Gelsenkirchen a couple of weeks previously. Concord are rock bottom of the league and are known as 'the Beach Boys'. Yellow shirts, blue shorts, formed in 1967. They've spent 9 years in Conference south. Anyway, to the game. Wingate are in the play-off places and didn't take long to assert control. Could have gone 1-0 up after about a minute. Concord had lost their previous 10 games, things were not looking great. With the wind behind them Wingate missed 2 or 3 decent chances. Their best player (Reuben, No.8) finally broke the deadlock just before HT, rifling home an unstoppable shot from a tight angle. Decent, large, clean Clubhouse for a pint of Heineken. And to warm up a bit. 2nd half with the wind behind them Concord didn't really know what to do with it. The threats came largely from long throws. Concord were also notching up a lot of niggly fouls as Wingate passed the ball around them. Around the hour mark a good through ball to Reuben who calmly slotted it past the keeper. 2-0. Concord then managed to get a player sent off (second yellow, high boot, keeper made a bit of a meal of it). Concord never really looked like scoring. Deep into injury time one of the CBs needlessly took out a player, second yellow and off. No arguments. The 9 remaining Concord players were understandably a tad dejected at the final whistle. Officials had a good game. Entry £12. Good quality 32 page programme £2. £5 a pint of Heineken. Attendance: 105. Disappointing at this level. I'm a little bemused Concord spent 9 years at tier 6. Nice set up, nice people. But they are tier 8 next year and might struggle there. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Mrs V Smegma on Apr 11, 2024 17:18:42 GMT
Pakhtakor Tashkent boys yellow vs blues. Sadly not Pakhtakor, Olympic Tashkent or any of the other Uzbek super or pro league teams as the games fell on days where we had stuff planned rather than down time, but I had to get my fix from somewhere. No idea what the score was as it was a kick around between what looked like a bunch of mates. Free to get in. Crowd 5.
Football in Uzbekistan is quite popular but the people here only wanted to talk about the bigger European sides rather than a mediocre perenially under achieving third division outfit. Even our distinctive shirt and nickname didn’t provoke much discussion.
The Uzbek national team lost 3-2 on penalties to eventual winners Qatar in the quarter finals of the recent asian cup so they may be on the up and would love to see them qualify for a future world cup competition.
Fascinating country with gentle, kind and honest people. Don’t believe the rabid red top headlines about them being the most miserable people in the world. Murdoch’s arse wipe rags don’t know their arses from their elbows so cannot distinguish between being reserved, private and serious from being miserable. They are anything but.
|
|
