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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 1, 2024 23:47:28 GMT
Didcot Town vs Evesham United - Southern League 1 South at Loop Meadow.
Reasonable ground with one decent stand on one side and 3 small cowsheds behind one goal but a pretty bobbly pitch. Entertaining game between 2 teams with almost identical records in the upper part of the table. Evesham played the better football throughout but just couldn’t convert all the good chances their nice approach play created. They took the lead after 20 mins when a corner was headed straight to their LW on the edge of the box and he was given the time and space to smash the ball into the roof of the net. They continued to knock the ball around nicely but without fashioning a clear sight on goal and the home side came closest to scoring when Evesham keeper fumbled a shot directly at him and home forward somehow manage to miss the target from a couple of yards out
Second half was not as entertaining and followed similar vein to the first where the clearest chances were made by Evesham but Didcot equalised with a shot from wide right outside the box which beat a static keeper in the foot or so between him and his near post as he stood rooted to the spot. Presumably he was both unsighted and wrong footed but it looked a poor piece of goalkeeping to me. Evesham came close to getting the winner their neat passing deserved when a shot from a few yards out was deflected off the belly of a Didcot defender and shaved the outside of the post.
1-1 at final whistle though which went to show that one goal is often not enough if you don’t convert your chances when on top. £12 entrance (concessions £8), £2 for hard copy programme, £4 for a reasonable cheeseburger and £2 each for a tea and a hot chocolate. Att a disappointing 137 and even though it was a filthy night, the stand kept us protected from the elements throughout
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 2, 2024 12:16:32 GMT
£12 for step 4 is a bit steep? Maybe I'm just a tight arse. Fair play for travelling out on a wet Tuesday night with European football on the box...
Round these parts:
Step 3 usually £12
Step 4 £10
Step 5 £8
Step 6 £5-£6
Step 7 free
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 2, 2024 17:29:06 GMT
It’s pretty much going rate for Southern league in my experience. Either £12 or £10. Many clubs offer concessions and these vary wildly too.
European footy involving our greedy big clubs isn’t for me so happy to be watching these games even on a wet and nasty evening. Puts a little back into community and grass roots clubs too
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 3, 2024 8:58:09 GMT
It’s pretty much going rate for Southern league in my experience. Either £12 or £10. Many clubs offer concessions and these vary wildly too. European footy involving our greedy big clubs isn’t for me so happy to be watching these games even on a wet and nasty evening. Puts a little back into community and grass roots clubs too Fair enough. I have Amazon Prime so watching Arsenal was a no-brainer. The missus is a Gooner, my son is a Gashead first and foremost, and a Gooner second. At £12 for step 4, feels a bit like you're helping pay the wage bill? Could be essential to keeping the Club going though. Depends which way you look at it. I know when Buckhurst Hill went from step 6 to step 5 that they considered paying players to stay competitive. Not sure if they ever did. Surely / ideally it should be fully amateur at this level (genuine expenses aside)? But then it would be impossible to police. Ambitious owners paying for players under the counter... Anyway - I'm sure we agree that the lower down the pyramid you go, generally the more 'honest' it is. And the more you are helping support a community asset. |
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 3, 2024 15:57:07 GMT
Even if I had Prime or some other way of watching these games I wouldn’t as the big clubs just don’t interest me. Not to say that I don’t appreciate the way the likes of Man City play the game or the skill that someone like DeBruyne has to so exquisitely weight and thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He’s the best at it that I’ve ever seen.
Can understand why you and your son would watch and no criticism from me for that, the same as I don’t criticise my West Ham supporting mate for enduring them every week. It’s simply not for me 🙂
Agree that entrance fee might be subsidising buying in success and also that the contest is generally more honest and less £££ influenced as you drop down the pyramid. Some clubs do try to buy success at the lower levels too. You see it when they rise suddenly and collapse suddenly when the paid players leave for better money. I’d also love a £ for the number of times a supporter of a particular club has said that certain of their competitors pay more than them.
Think we both enjoy very similar aspects of the groundhopping and can’t see myself ever returning to being more than an occasional visitor to Rovers away games in pursuit of the 92. Only Huddersfield left in L1 to have completed the Panini book there
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 4, 2024 8:32:51 GMT
Understood, I know where you're coming from. In terms of what really engages me with football these days it's German (travel, history, geography, beer, cracking atmosphere and cheap!), grass roots in Essex/Herts & NE/London, the occasional game on TV, and then it's Rovers. To be honest the only reason I would go to the Mem is to spend time with my son and meet up with old friends. I've done all the grounds in League 1 within 100 miles of where I live with Rovers, no intention of re-visits.
I'm up to 141 grounds. Lots of Clubs ground share round here - but I don't double count them if I visit the same ground twice. So now it's increasing the mileage to tick off further flung stadiums, or focusing on my 'favourites' - Clapton Community FC, Waltham Abbey and Buckhurst Hill.
Happy hopping.
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 4, 2024 11:16:59 GMT
Nice post Epping. Agree about Germany and wish I’d done more grounds when living there as I've done about 10 in total (some niche ones like Pipinsried and Tennis Borussia Berlin though). I was young then though and didn’t have the groundhopping bug so my time was spent exploring Germany and the rest of Europe. I’m starting to run out of local grounds at a reasonable level so now having to travel further afield hence evening games at the likes of Didcot and Hereford. At some point our circles are going to overlap, and if we are at the same ground would be happy to buy you a pint and say hello.
My WH mate and I are considering european groundhops using whatever cheapest flights we can find from Bristol but that is probably next year as he is committed to he club (he knows he should be….🙂) and spare sats is trying to close out his 92. Saturdays for me are likely to involve trips across the bridge as a lot of the grounds over there are very picturesque and the clubs are very friendly - even to us Sais. Drawback if you can call it that is that many of the grounds lack floodlights so it is earlier KOs and few night matches - but in a perverse way I like that. Llantwit Major for me on sat . Apparently there is a windmill overlooking the ground. Really recommend Wales if you’ve not done before and are down this way - standard of football is crap but can be entertaining
PS like that Clapton is one of your favourites. Feels like their ethos might be 180 degrees from you politically?🙂
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 5, 2024 7:52:39 GMT
We've both done the Mommsenstadion - though watching Tennis Borussia vs Unterhaching is a few notches above SC Charlottenburg vs Lichtenrader!
So at some stage we're bound to cross paths somewhere to the west of London... and more than happy to buy you a beer. There are quite a few very picturesque Welsh grounds, so your're lucky in that respect. Essex / NE London is generally a bit flat and topographically uninspiring.
As for politics - yes, fair to say I am on the right side of the debate (no pun intended). But I can't stand right wing Ultras. They are just thoroughly unpleasant. Whilst we don't have that culture over here (thank god) - there are some left leaning Clubs which are enjoyable and seem to be doing a great job engaging with the local community. So yes, whilst Clapton Community FC is not a 'natural' fit for me to go - I'm happy for them to have my money. They have built something from scratch. The Club has a brief, but very interesting history - and a very strong identity.
They are supporter owned and it's a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. And £4 entry.
I don't agree with some of their political views, but I don't engage with them on that level. Because I'm there for the football...
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 5, 2024 20:20:03 GMT
Llantwit Major vs Goytre United JD Cymru South at the grandiose sounding Megadrome (clearly named with tongue in cheek as this club have a great sense of humour and are very creative). The ground has two small seated stands on either side. One is fairly decent. The other is a bit of a chocolate teapot as it has almost no elevation so anyone sat in the front row will likely obscure the view of those sat behind. The star of the ground though is the windmill behind one corner (unfortunately minus sails)- hence the alternative name of Windmill Ground. It was a lovely sunny day but with a brisk wind blowing along the length of the pitch and this definitely had an effect on the game. Goytre created all the chances first half but only took one - a corner that was whipped into near post and from their Twitter feed appears to have gone in direct though I wondered if one of their players had nodded in from a yard out. They missed a hatful of good chances through profligate finishing rather than good keeping or defending. Second half was much more even with Major having the wind at their backs but Goytre still creating and missing chances on the break. Home side equalised also from a corner (can’t remember the last game where two goals were scored in such a fashion) to the back stick which was headed firmly home. I then put the mockers on the ref by saying what a good game he was having which clearly melted his brain. Two yellows for home no 9 in a 4 min period (second for simulation when it looked like he had been scythed down for a nailed on pen ) and a straight red for another Major player - presumably for dissent ruined the game somewhat and was really out of line with a game that both sides had played in exemplary fashion with barely a foul. To their credit, Major didn’t park the bus but saw out the last 20 with 10 and ten mins with 9 without any undue drama. 1-1 then at FT which Major will have been delighted with but Goytre will look back on with regret through the lens of all their missed chances. I’m guessing att was about 150 and had a good chat with a couple of locals who told me that the Goytre no 9 was the Goytre’s no 7’s uncle but only a year older than him. I couldn’t see well enough to count fingers and toes. Kits were interesting too. Llantwit play in Boco Junior kit and have a close link with the Argentinian club to the extent that they've sold plenty of shirts to Boco fans and they can be seen at their home games. Keepers shirt was a fish sat on a load of chips. Last year’s kit was Mr Blobby www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/2023-24-llantwit-major-gk-shirt3812-2943.htmlGoytre played in a rather tame by comparison Feyenoord look alike kit though the standard of football did not live up to the apparel. £5 entrance, no programme either hard copy or on line and I gave the queue in the small clubhouse a swerve for refreshments. Apparently they have a decent catering van but it broke down en route to the game. Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, and you have just got to love a club with their sense of humour and who describe themselves as misfits and scumbags. Will definitely be back for a return visit |
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 5, 2024 23:34:48 GMT
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 6, 2024 9:05:47 GMT
Colney Heath 0 Crawley Green 1 (Spartan South Midlands Prem, step 5). M25 was actually running OK, 4 junctions west and the St Albans turn off got me to Colney Heath in 40mins. A leafy village. Plenty of parking at the Football Club which shares it's Clubhouse with the village Social Club. A sunny autumnal afternoon, very little wind. Had a pleasant £4.75 San Miguel outside in the sun and it felt like a pub beer garden. As their web-site states - Colney Heath (formed 1907, black & white stripes) "punch above their weight", running 11 different teams. They've had a bit of a wobble recently and are currently mid-table. They faced Crawley Green from near Luton (formed 1992, all claret strip) who are bottom and haven't won a game all season. The pitch was in great condition, sloping south to north. One small covered stand attached to the big Clubhouse the other 3 sides uncovered with a pathing stone path around. Leafy backdrop. Crawley Green were playing down the slope and scored within 2 minutes. No defence down the CH left, ball into the box, knocked back and a simple tap in. Incredibly it proved to be the only goal of the game. CH did not panic. Solid at he back. Neat passing through the mid-field. The attack were dangerous, getting into great positions and surely only a question of time before they equalized. Must have been at least 80% possession. Nope. A combination of a poor final ball, poor free-kicks, and poor finishing saw Crawley Green astonishingly, still leading 0-1 at HT. Second half and CH had the slope and laid siege to the CG goal. Relentless. CG just couldn't get out of their own half. But it was a repeat of the 1st half. CH just could not score. Was speaking to the CG photographer who said they had a few players out injured and despite being bottom, this was the worst he'd seen them play all season. Last 10 minutes he went through the mill. More wasted CH chances. Free kicks continued to sail over the bar. Last ditch blocks. CG were going to hang on. One last chance. CH free-kick from just out-side the box. Well hit to the keepers top right - he got his finger tips to it and off the cross bar and away. FT. 0-1. A travesty of justice. An utter travesty. But fair play to Crawley Green for digging in and playing out 89 minutes with their backs to the wall! Sadly a bit of a melee at the final whistle as I think Colney Heath frustrations boiled over. Superb entertainment. I chuckled at the innumerable missed Colney Heath chances. Shared a feeling of injustice with the CH supporters. Shared the feeling of torture with the CG photographer as the clock ticked so very very slowly towards FT. Entry: £8. 2 pints of San Miguel £9.50 (kept a Colney Heath branded glass for £1). No paper programme, not one on the Club website that I could see. Attendance: 85 English 'elite' football can do one. A lovely Autumnal afternoon spent watching grass roots football. |
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Post by oldie on Oct 7, 2024 12:40:32 GMT
Gloucester City, Vs Wimborne Town FA Trophy 3RQ.
It was a lovely day so I decided to drive the short distance up the A48 to Gloucester and Meadow Park. First time this season for me after their relegation from the National League South last season.
The first ten minutes were pretty awful as neither team had any pattern to their play. Then Wimborne won a corner and after a bit a series of miskicks and general farce Wimborne duly scored. This appeared to wake Gloucester up and suddenly they were cutting open the Wimborne defence at will. An injury and on comes the smallest player on the Gloucester bench. Ten minutes he flashes a really good header from a corner into the corner of the net. 1-1. For the rest of the half Gloucester were camped in Wimborne's half, but just couldn't make it happen. The right back for Gloucester then broke down the wing, left the full back for dust. I thought, Christ he is quick!. So I checked for his name....Daniel Leadbitter. Cue wry smile.
Text son in States, he reminded me of the game against Luton when The Beard scored in the last minute. My son was hugging Leadbitter whilst I searched for my phone which had jumped out of my pocket in all the excitement. Anyway, back to Gloucester and the 2nd half. It carried on in the same vein and Gloucester scored a very neat team goal with a wide player cutting from the right to despatch to the far corner.
The game then meandered to what I thought was the 85th minute, so I left. Whereupon Wimborne equalised and the game went to penalties. Fortunately Gloucester won those 8-7.
Gloucester were massively improved over last season and currently lie 2nd in Southern League Premier, South.
Play like that and they will be back in NLS next season.
£5 entry, concession. Full print programme was available, San Miguel £4.75
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Post by oldie on Oct 12, 2024 19:09:34 GMT
Gloucester City Vs Havant & Waterlooville, Premier League South.
Another lovely autumnal day in deepest Gloucester, was looking forward to the game given last week's game against Wimborne.
Havant started the brighter, they had a good shape and were over running Gloucester's midfield, being able to use the width of the pitch to get behind the defence. Then the Gloucester central defender scored a brilliant diving header. Trouble was it was his own net 0-1.
Not much else happened for the rest of the half.
Gloucester equalised on 48 minutes. Problem was I was still in the bar finishing my half time drink. 😜
For the rest of the game Gloucester were all over them, their goalie pulled off a string of brilliant saves and their defence were putting their bodies on the line blocking shot after shot.
It was no surprise that Gloucester scored the winner on 91 minutes. A corner, a scramble, and the ball ends up in the net.
Thoroughly enjoyable game.
£9 ticket, concession
£3 glossy programme
£4.50 Thatchers
Attendance 960
Gloucester are top of the league
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 13, 2024 8:42:09 GMT
Benfleet 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 3 (Essex Senior League, step 5). 50 mins (mostly) along the A127 and took the Canvey Island turn off to Benfleet. Despite getting there at 2:30pm the car park right by the ground was full, but loads of over-flow parking available by the cricket club. £7 entry (inc. small programme) and served quickly in a large well stocked Clubhouse. 3 small covered stands as you enter the ground, two for standing, one with seats. Two ends behind the goals just concrete paths with the dug outs on the far side. Obviously a lot of work undergone at the Club and have to say it was picturesque (in Benfleet!) and surrounded by trees. Lots of (well behaved) kids and women (also well behaved!) there - always a good sign. Heavy rain forecast and first 'winter coat' day. Benfleet (light blue shirts, dark blue shorts, formed 1922) were promoted last season and are mid-table. Sawbridgeworth (red shirts with a splash of black) had previously not impressed me. They should have been relegated last season, but secured a sideways move to the ESL. They are currently bottom. Gobby management team. Gobby players a few years back. Probably my least favourite grass roots set up. Had they changed? Sawbo had the wind and slight slope with them in the 1st half. They opened the scoring after 9 mins from a poorly defended corner. Benfleet responded well and had the better of the rest of the half. They equalized in the 33rd min with a screamer from Odedoyin - a 30 yarder into the keepers top right. The rain came down. I reckon there was just about enough cover for the crowd to shelter from the elements. HT 1-1 and just about fair. Quick service again from the Clubhouse. The food outlet was doing a brisk trade. Second half surely Benfleet would push forward with the slope and breeze with them. They were probably the brighter for the fist 15 mins or so. But a bit of rare pressure from Sawbo them take the lead on 66. And before Benfleet could compose themselves - Sawbo scored their own screamer on 69 - Kiers rifling one into the keepers top left from distance. An immediate response from Benfleet as they cut through the Sawbo defence and a 1 on 1 cooly slotted home on 70 mins. 2-3 and game on. Fairly relentless pressure from Benfleet. The crowd were a bit frustrated, but nothing nasty or sweary. Pretty much target practice for the last 20 minutes. Benfleet left gaps at the back as they chased the equalizer. Sawbo broke, keeper took out the striker just outside of the box and red card given. Some discussion about 'was he the last man', referee and lino concluded 'yes' and perhaps the keeper a little unlucky. Ref played about 7-8 mins injury time (was this to 'balance up' the harsh red?)... but to no avail. Sawbo registered only their second win of the season. The management and players from both sides conducted themselves really well. Only one yellow card along with the slightly harsh red. Back to back promotions is probably beyond Benfleet, but wish them well - a really well run Club. And I now formally forgive Sawbridgeworth for their previous transgressions. Entrance: £7 inc. perfectly adequate 12 page programme. 2 pints of Cruzcampo £10. Attendance: est 200? Will update. A great advert for the Essex Senior League, and grass roots football in general. Edit Attendance: 225. That is very healthy at this level. |
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 15, 2024 23:17:27 GMT
Jewson Western league prem - Paulton Rovers vs Portishead Town on a very wet Tues evening at the Winterfield stadium - a decent ground for this level and even for the next two levels above with a nice small seated stand on one side, two excellent covered terraces behind one goal and along one side and a small covered area of seating just along from the main stand. The pitch has a fair slope from goal to goal and was in superb condition.
Feisty but very enjoyable game between a home side in poor form and only just above the drop zone and the newly promoted visitors who are chasing a play off place at minimum. Rovers took the lead on 20 mins with a goal that was hotly contested by both Portishead players and their dug out. Ball was crossed in from the right and was bundled in after keeper appeared to punch the ball straight to a Rovers player. Away protests that either a hand was involved or that a Rovers player was offside were waved away after the lino did not flag. One protest too many resulted in a sin bin for one of the visiting players and a yellow for one of their management team. We were too far away and at the wrong angle to see if their protests had any merit. Lead was extended on the half hour mark when a break down the left allowed number 8 Milo Murgatroyd who was decent throughout to cut inside and curl a beauty into the top corner. Posset fortuitously pulled one back just before the break when a cross from the left was comically headed straight into the ground and bounced feebly over the home keeper who had leapt to his left anticipating a proper header. The visitors evening then unravelled when a long ball over the top was clinically put away by dangerous right winger Calum English-Brown and Portishead star striker Ethan Feltham received his second yellow for the most blatant and obvious dive you’ll ever see outside a swimming pool. His first for a cynical and malevolent scything down of English-Brown a few minutes before really should have been a straight red. 3-1 then at HT to Paulton.
5 mins after the break the visitors gave themselves a lifeline with an excellent burst through the middle and fine finish but hope was extinguished by two more excellent goals for Rovers - the first from an excellent cross by Murgatroyd which English-Brown headed powerfully into the right corner and the second a precise stretched finish off right hand post from another cross from Murgatroyd after nicking the ball off a Portishead defender. With game won Rovers rang the changes and played out the final 25 mins without incident. Final score a deserved 5-2 win for Paulton and the moany and cynical Portishead got exactly what they deserved - a thumping. Stand out players were English-Brown on his debut and Murgatroyd, and the the ref was excellent with only noticeable mistake not giving Feltham the straight red his horrible and violent challenge deserved.
Att a disappointing 133, £8 entrance, £1.90 for a cheese and bacon savoury and £1.50 for a tea. Decent club house at Winterfield Stadium too, though oddly entrance have to be purchased at the bar rather than the turnstile. Definitely a ground and club I'd return to.
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 16, 2024 9:54:55 GMT
To add to the above English-Brown was at Yate last year and scored 6 goals in 15 games with 8 assists. Yate wanted to keep him but he wanted to play at a higher level so signed for Taunton. Not sure why this hasn’t worked out for him and he was loaned out to Shaftesbury and made his debut for Paulton last night. I’d be surprised if he played more than a few games for them as he is a real livewire bag of tricks. One we should be keeping track of. Prior to Yate he played for Chicken Inn in Zimbabwe amongst other clubs over there.
First goal in this reel shows great vision and technique
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Post by oldie on Oct 20, 2024 10:01:20 GMT
Found myself unexpectedly free on Saturday afternoon I decided to get some footy in. With both my go to non league clubs, Cinderford Town & Gloucester City both away I tootled down the A466 from Monmouth alongside the river Wye, itself frighteningly risen to near road side after the recent rain. If you have never driven that road it is relatively quiet but is beautifully picturesque with wooded hills, local roadside pubs and of course the Wye as it meanders down to the Bristol Channel.
Anyway it was a glorious Autumnal day with clear blue sky's and warm, bright sunshine and I duly parked up to watch Chepstow Town Vs Abertillery Bluebirds, Ardel South East League (League of Wales).
My 2nd visit and the crowd was noticeably larger than my last visit. They don't announce the crowd but I would estimate around 120.
The game started brightly and Abertillery were getting behind the Chepstow defence but not creating any clear cut chances. At the other end the Chepstow forwards were linking up well and employing lots of long cross field balls to the wings. After 20 minutes Abertillery took the lead with an own goal. From a free kick the goalie was rooted to his line as a defender rose to a ball he was never going to get and the ball skidded off his head and into the net.
Cue unrelenting Chepstow pressure and the Abertillery goalie pulling off some great saves and the cross bar denying Chepstow. Ultimately the pressure told and from another attack from the wing the goalie could only block the shot which the striker followed and slotted home. Half Time.
Pint at the bar in the excellent club house and check the Rovers score. Went 1 down as I checked, bollox.
2nd Half
Chepstow (play in blue & white quarters btw) were totally dominant but were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net. Just when I thought this will be 1-1 the ref awards a penalty and Chepstow win 2-1.
Very friendly club with a very nice clubhouse. No floodlights, so all games kick off at 2:30, no idea what happens in the dead of winter.
So, with that I find out that Cinderford won 1-3 away at Cribs, a win they desperately needed and Gloucester drew away at Totton in a Southern League Premier South top of the table clash in front of 1,426 fans.
I like non league football, especially as supporting Rovers has become so depressing over the last few years.
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 21, 2024 9:00:32 GMT
October 19th. Avro 0 Wythenshawe 2 (Northern Premier League West, step 4). A rare trip up north. Avro (never heard of them) were formed in 1936 as the factory team of the aircraft manufacturer Avro in Failsworth, north east Manchester. They moved up the road to Hollingwood in 2017, sort of south Oldham. Having helped with preparations for a kids Halloween party, I was allowed out with a promise to be back by 5:15pm. I was. Driving into Hollingwood was a bit depressing. Let's just say that 'leveling up' still has some way to go. Avro are struggling at the moment, up against Wythenshawe who are up near the play-offs. Wythenshawe is in south Manchester and was once the biggest council estate in Europe. Wythenshawe FC were founded just after the war. Sort of a local derby and I had heard previous encounters had been a bit feisty. A pleasant Autumnal afternoon, sunny intervals, no need for a coat and surprisingly for Manchester, it did not rain. Covered terrace behind the goal as you enter. More covered terrace to the right. An elevated stand to the left above a 4-6ft brick wall running worryingly close to the pitch. The Clubhouse was 'sort of' behind the goal, clean and tidy with a patio overlooking the pitch. Avro in blue, Wythenshawe in yellow shirts, black shorts. Wythenshawe had brought a fair few along, maybe 50-60. 1st half Wythenshawe playing east to west on the artificial pitch. Quickly asserted authority and pinned Avro back. A lot of swearing. A lot of "effing hell ref" at every tackle, every decision disputed. Officials did really well as it turned into a niggly, foul strewn (tackles and language) game. These sides really do not like each other. Wythenshawe pressure finally paid off. 35mins and some neat work down their right saw the ball worked into the box and keeper had no chance as the ball was smacked home. Just before HT a rare Avro attack saw a last ditch block from Wythenshawe which certainly denied a goal. HT Wythenshawe deservedly 1-0 up and had a beer (no queue) in the Clubhouse. As I was up t'north, treated myself to a 'steak' pie (there was no steak) but was good value nevertheless. 2nd half much of the same. Avro strikers were very physical. 50-50 balls were all contested along with the obligatory "effing hell ref". Wythenshawe strikers were a bit cute, not averse to a bit of play acting and going to ground easily. But they were the better side and the Wythenshawe defence coped well with the Avro physicality. Nasty Avro foul (defender tried to totally wipe out the Wythenshawe No.11) earned a deserved yellow card. If he had made contact was definitely worthy of a red. The ensuing free kick was from a dangerous position to the right of the Avro box. Ball whipped into the far post and bundled in. 66mins 2-0, no complaints from Avro. Wythenshawe comfortably played out the last half hour or so, Avro didn't really threaten at all. A deserved 3 points for the visitors. Entry: £10. On-line programme. 2 pints of Cruzcampo £9.90. Kept a branded glass £2. 'Steak' pie £3. Attendance: 194 |
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Post by oldie on Oct 21, 2024 10:04:49 GMT
September 19th. Avro 0 Wythenshawe 2 (Northern Premier League West, step 4). A rare trip up north. Avro (never heard of them) were formed in 1936 as the factory team of the aircraft manufacturer Avro in Failsworth, north east Manchester. They moved up the road to Hollingwood in 2017, sort of south Oldham. Having helped with preparations for a kids Halloween party, I was allowed out with a promise to be back by 5:15pm. I was. Driving into Hollingwood was a bit depressing. Let's just say that 'leveling up' still has some way to go. Arvo are struggling at the moment, up against Wythenshawe who are up near the play-offs. Wythenshawe is in south Manchester and was once the biggest council estate in Europe. Wythenshawe FC were founded just after the war. Sort of a local derby and I had heard previous encounters had been a bit feisty. A pleasant Autumnal afternoon, sunny intervals, no need for a coat and surprisingly for Manchester, it did not rain. Covered terrace behind the goal as you enter. More covered terrace to the right. An elevated stand to the left above a 4-6ft brick wall running worryingly close to the pitch. The Clubhouse was 'sort of' behind the goal, clean and tidy with a patio overlooking the pitch. Arvo in blue, Wythenshawe in yellow shirts, black shorts. Wythenshawe had brought a fair few along, maybe 50-60. 1st half Wythenshawe playing east to west on the artificial pitch. Quickly asserted authority and pinned Arvo back. A lot of swearing. A lot of "effing hell ref" at every tackle, every decision disputed. Officials did really well as it turned into a niggly, foul strewn (tackles and language) game. These sides really do not like each other. Wythenshawe pressure finally paid off. 35mins and some neat work down their right saw the ball worked into the box and keeper had no chance as the ball was smacked home. Just before HT a rare Arvo attack saw a last ditch block from Wythenshawe which certainly denied a goal. HT Wythenshawe deservedly 1-0 up and had a beer (no queue) in the Clubhouse. As I was up t'north, treated myself to a 'steak' pie (there was no steak) but was good value nevertheless. 2nd half much of the same. Arvo strikers were very physical. 50-50 balls were all contested along with the obligatory "effing hell ref". Wythenshawe strikers were a bit cute, not averse to a bit of play acting and going to ground easily. But they were the better side and the Wythenshawe defence coped well with the Arvo physicality. Nasty Arvo foul (defender tried to totally wipe out the Wythenshawe No.11) earned a deserved yellow card. If he had made contact was definitely worthy of a red. The ensuing free kick was from a dangerous position to the right of the Arvo box. Ball whipped into the far post and bundled in. 66mins 2-0, no complaints from Arvo. Wythenshawe comfortably played out the last half hour or so, Arvo didn't really threaten at all. A deserved 3 points for the visitors. Entry: £10. On-line programme. 2 pints of Cruzcampo £9.90. Kept a branded glass £2. 'Steak' pie £3. Attendance: 194 I need to learn to write reports as informative and entertaining as this. Nice one Epping |
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 23, 2024 0:10:49 GMT
Thatcham Town vs Evesham United - Southern League Div 1 South at the Mettal stadium aka Waterfield Park
After my plans to take in a grassroots game of football at the weekend were scuppered by the weather (Wakefield AFC’s FA Vase game was called off just as I arrived at the ground) it was nice to pick up the groundhopping again tonight. Sadly this was a really drab and goalmouth action free game. Thatcham (the Kingfishers) play in blue and Evesham appeared to be wearing a really awful grey kit that looked slug green under the lights. It was hard to tell the two teams apart especially when the fog came rolling in during the second half. First half was devoid of anything worthy of note apart from when an aimless long ball lumped forward led to an air kick by the grey team keeper and his blushes were spared by a covering defender who hacked the ball clear as it was bouncing into the unguarded net. Second half was as bad as the first, but the tedium was broken with about 10 to go when the grey team scored a really scrappy goal stabbed in from a yard out after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. It was a goal in keeping with the rest of the game and a fitting way to decide such a lacklustre contest. At this point the penny dropped with my friend and I as we realised the team in Slug green were actually Thatcham and Evesham were in the blue strip. The clues had been there to see but we had allowed ourselves to be deceived by knowing the Kingfishers home kit is blue and white. Why Evesham didn’t use their first choice red and white stripes which would have offered more of a contrast to the slug green I don’t know. The clincher was the 10 or so home Ultras celebrating the goal with all their might. Fair play to them as they sang and banged their sodding drum for the full 90 minutes. Final score Thatcham Slug Green 1 Evesham 0 and both sides would have been lucky to have got nil. In keeping with the game the ref was very mediocre too.
The ground is ok with one decent seated stand along one side but no other cover apart from the micro cowshed which the Ultras filled.
£12 to get in (£7 concessions) £2 for reasonable printed programme, £2.50 for a portion of chips and £1.50 for a tea. Att 107
Edit - Thatcham’s claim to fame is that they won the FA Vase in 2017
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