Damage in the Box!

MARLOW and THATCHAM TOWN

11.30am Monday 26th December 2011
Southern League Division One Central
Marlow 0-2 Burnham
Attendance: 196

The true meaning of Christmas...a Boxing day double header! The day started with a Buckinghamshire Derby clash between Marlow and Burnham at the Alfred Davis (who was club secretary from 1891 to 1924) Memorial Ground.

The stand at the ground was built in the 1930's and is one the oldest football stands that has been in continuous use. It is quite awesome! There was also a bonus of 2 Rebellion Ales in the clubhouse, Roasted Nuts was most delightful.

The game didn't quite live up to the quality of its surroundings as two average teams produced a less than average game. The visitors had the best of what few chances that were created and two second half goals from Lewis Driver (60) and Ryan Bird (84) sealed the points for Burnham. The game was very niggly and there were lots of stoppages, so the game never really got going.

The result leaves Marlow at the foot of the table, and nothing I seen today would make me think that's where they won't remain, and Burnham in the mid-table mix.

3pm Monday 26th December 2011

Southern League Division One South & West
Thatcham Town 0-1 North Leigh
Attendance: 117

Thanks to a snarl up on the M25, plan A of Tooting v Carshalton bit the dust and a suitable alternative had to be found.

After much discussion it was decided to head along the M4 to Thatcham for their clash with North Leigh (which is near Witney). Luckily there was a GBG pub en-route, The Castle in Cold Ash where there were six handpulls to choose from. The West Berkshire Brewery's Christmas Ale 'Holly Cutter' was an excellent choice.

The Waterside Park ground is quite rural and on the edge of town, with one large stand and an 'arena' terrace behind one goal. This has been Thatcham's home since season 1992/93.

Both sides were mid-table going into the game, but Thatcham hadn't lost at home all season. The game was ok, especially the first half which was played a quite a good tempo. The visitors scored what proved to be the winner after 38 minutes when Elliott Osborne-Ricketts fired home superbly from the edge of the box. The second half was largely a non-event as the visitors comfortably defended their one goal advantage.

The club doesn't appear to have a large support, as I overhead one supporter remark that today was a bumper crowd. A decent tick in the circumstances, but as ever fate had to rub ones nose in it...Tooting beat Carshalton 4-3, ho hum!

Arena Heaven!!!

The day was rounded off with a visit to the superb White Lion in Fewcott with their usual fine selection of guest ales. All that was left was to get home, re-charge the batteries and get ready for a 6am start and another holiday bonanza...

CRUSADERS LADIES FC

I normally wouldn't watch Women's football, if I'm completely honest, but seeing as (a) I was travelling nearby en-route home and (b) it was a chance to see a competitive game at a ground I'd previously missed, I thought why not today?

The Crusaders Ladies are Birmingham based and play the majority of their home games at Bournville Lane, the 'home' of Cadbury Athletic.

The landowners of the Cadbury ground would not allow the (mens) football club to erect floodlights necessary for them to obtain promotion, so they moved out to groundshare, firstly with Pilkington XXX and now, with Alvechurch, hence why I missed them!

Surely she's offside?

Therefore the first round proper of the Women's FA Cup was a good opportunity to get the ground 'ticked' off. Admission was free and there was a bonus of a 4 page programme, which was also free.

Crusaders play in the West Midlands Regional League Division One South, which is Step 5 of the Women's pyramid as do their opponents today, Coventry Sphinx. This is the first time either side had reached the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Coventry Sphinx were the higher placed team in league, but Crusaders had beaten them in the league 3-0 earlier in the season. It was therefore all to play for.

However, in the end the game went with form and Coventry Sphinx ran out pretty comfortable winners. The game was effectively over by half time as Coventry scored three times without reply. After 16 minutes Catherine Smith fired a screamer into the top corner from 20 yards before Chantelle Stanley doubled the advantage after 28 minutes when she curled home a free kick from the edge of the box.

Nikki Brazil had a great chance to bring the Crusaders back into the game as the ball ran loose, the Sphinx goalie was well out of position and the goal was open but she ran out of steam before she could tap home and a defender was able to clear.

That was as good as it got for the homesters as Kaya Zeen completed the scoring for Sphinx right on half time when she was left unmarked in the box to head home a corner kick.

The second half was pretty much a non-event as the game was over but Sphinx did have chances to extend their lead but it wasn't to be. They now go into the hat for the second round.

I went to this game with an open mind and overall I enjoyed the game,the pace was not as fast as the mens game but there were moments of quality and it was a well contested encounter. Would I go again? Well never say never....