GREAT WAKERING ROVERS (Burroughs Park)

Today I found myself in deepest, darkest Essex as my travels took me to the outskirts of Southend (pronounced Sarrrfend by the locals) or more specifically, the tiny village of Great Wakering. Today, once again, the weather was the winner today as fixture list was decimated but an early call to the secretary confirmed that the game was going ahead, subject to the referee's confirmation at around 2pm.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained and I went for it, knowing full well that if was called off i'd have nowhere else to go. Luckily, my gamble was rewarded and Mr Oldershaw deemed the pitch playable. GAME ON!!!

Today, like Boxing Day is "derby day" and Rovers were up against their nearest and dearest from Canvey Island, Concord Rangers (aka the Beach Boys). Great Wakering were on the wrong end of a 3-1 deafeat at Thames Road a week ago, so were naturally seeking revenge.

Both teams are going well this season, Rovers are currently sitting in the play-off zone of Divison One (North) but they have played more games than any of the teams around them. Concord Rangers, meanwhile, are continuing where they left off last season (they lost out in the play-off final on penalties). A win for Concord today would indeed lift them two points clear of Rovers and they would still have four games in hand.

It was Concord who made all the early running and should been ahead in the opening minutes when Danny Heale shot wide when it was probably easier to score. However after being outplayed for the first twenty minutes, Rovers began to claw their way back into the game when they had a Ben Hudson goal ruled out (correctly) for handball and then hit the post from an Adam Dennis free-kick (see below). However on the half hour a (quite frankly crap) Lyle Taylor corner somehow ping-ponged its way to the feet of Michael Begg who made no mistake from a few yards out. The game opened up a little and was end-to-end but the final ball from both teams left a lot to be desired. Right on half time, another (crap) Taylor corner found its way through to Begg who bagged his second, after 'keeper Louis Goodwin-Green saved his initial effort. Shocking defending, as a well known Scottish cheat may say.

Rovers did have a chance in the opening moments of the second half but Dan Trenkel fired across the face of the goal. The half ultimately belonged to Concord as they picked off Great Wakering on the break. On the hour a fantastic cross from left back Dave Collins was buried by Steve King to seal the victory. The only surprise was that the Beach Boys never added more goals to the tally, Goodwin-Green making some fine saves to keep the score down.

On a bitterly cold day both teams contributed to an entertaining game and I must again give the thumbs up to the referee for letting the game go ahead. The frozen strip in front of the stand that was causing concern seemed to thaw as the game went on and both sets of players never did anything stupid that was likely to cause any injury.

 

Saturday 2nd January 2010
Isthmian League Division One North
Great Wakering Rovers 0-3 Concord Rangers
Attendance: 184

STAINES TOWN (Wheatsheaf Park)

I travelled south more in hope than expectation as the arctic weather conditions once again played havoc with the fixture list. The original plan was to take in the Braintree Town v Bishop's Stortford game, but a call to check if the game was going ahead was met with a lukewarm response "we are hopeful, but there is a lot of water on the pitch after we cleared the snow away" Eek! This was not the bright and cheery response I wished for! Next on the list was Staines Town who were a lot more upbeat "no problems with the pitch, it has passed a morning inspection and its DEFINITELY on" Bingo!! So it was in the direction of Wheatsheaf Park I pointed the car.

Neither team are pulling up any trees, so far, in the league this season and both are languishing in the bottom half of the table. For Staines I suppose consolidation in the main aim this season after promotion in May, but they have also had the big distraction of an FA Cup run (they recently lost to Millwall in round 2 after a replay), as for Hampton they are clearly suffering a hangover from last season after missing out on not only the title (they ran Wimbledon all the way to the final weekend) but getting beat in the play offs by Hayes and Yeading.

Todays match was the return fixture from Boxing Day (non-league football sensibly play their "derbies" over the holiday period) in which Hampton were looking to avenge a 4-1 drubbing at The Beaveree.

It was a lively open game, with both teams playing on the counter attack. Hampton started the brightest and had two great chances to take the lead within the first 15 minutes, when Karl Beckford fired wide from six yards when it seemed easier to score and then Orlando Jeffrey headed wide when completely unmarked. They were soon made to pay for these misses. A cross from the right found its way through to Dean Thomas who fired home from the edge of the six yard box. Staines doubled their lead right on half time when a long kick upfield from 'keeper Louis Wells was allowed to bounce by the Hampton centre back and Ali Chaaban nipped in to fire past Matt Lovatt in The Beavers' goal. This was effectively game over.

The second was dominated by Staines, as Hampton offered little as an attacking force. In the 69th minute Jon Scarborough (who had a 'mare today) conceded a needless free kick right on the edge of the area and Ali Chaaban smashed it home and just five minutes later he completed his hat-trick when he latched onto an attempted Scarborough backpass to shoot past the helpless Lovatt. This sent the majority of th 871 crowd home very happy and as the t-shirts on sale in the shop say "Who needs Ali G when we've got Ali C"

            

Friday 1st January 2010
Conference South
Staines Town 4-0 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Attendance: 871



FOOTNOTE: The game at Cressing Road was ON and Braintree Town Won 2-0.

DIDCOT TOWN (Loop Meadow)

After an enforced weekend of no football due to the arctic conditions (the shakes have now subsided) it was back to normal service today. Well not quite, as traditionally Boxing Day means "double headers" but unfortunately my planned double of Barwell/Stamford bit the (snow) dust early doors. However, lots of games were dropping like flies due to the not so pleasant conditions today, so I should be thankful just to actually see a game.

There was no game in mind as I set off this morning, I was just going off the forecast that said the weather was "slightly better" down south, so it was down the M6 one headed. I stopped the car at that central point where the all the motorways meet just south of Birmingham and begin the arduous task of phoning around to see what had survived.

After around 25 minutes I eventually phoned Didcot Town, where to my delight they said there was no problems with the pitch and no inspection was planned as it was in great playable nick (that was spot on by the way). That was good enough for me. Ironically, just up the road both Banbury and Oxford United's games were called off, but this worked in Didcot's favour as it swelled the gate to over 500, double their average. Didcot Town now play at the (NPower) Loop Meadow, which celebrated being open a decade this year, having previously played at Station Road, near the railway, hence their nickname of The Railwaymen. They were playing Oxford City in a big local derby and what a treat they served up.

The game finished 4-4, aye 4-4!!

The game got of to a flying start with three goals in the first ten minutes. Jon Douglas headed Oxford City in front after two minutes. Didcot equalised from an Alex Stanley corner four minutes later as his kick was fired home by Mark Draycott (see below). After just ten minutes Phil John crossed the ball in from the right and Draycott was allowed a free header to put The Railway men 2-1 up. On 36 minutes Oxford won a free kick wide on the right which Steve Davis crossed in and went through the defence to the far post where Mark Janes finished from close range.

Mark Draycott then claimed his hat-trick on 75 minutes when he converted another Phil John cross. Five minutes later a long ball over the back four fell to Liam Malone who shrugged off a defender to force the ball home. All square again! However his joy was shortlived as three minutes later and he was sent off after the referee decided his tackle was worthy of a second yellow card. In the 89th minutes Lee Steele, looking suspiciously offside, chased a hopeful ball forward, reached it before onrushing 'Keeper Trott and rounded him to roll the ball into an empty net for what looked like the winner.

However deep into stoppage time the referee awarded Didcot a free kick on the edge of the area. The ball was fired hard into a packed goalmouth where it dropped to Phil John who took a touch and hit a low shot just inside the 'keepers right-hand post to claim a (deserved) share of the points. A real Christmas cracker indeed!

So this blog ends another (calendar) year of groundhopping. Merry Xmas and Here's to 2010, I sincerely hope it's a good one! :)

         

Mark Draycott fires home his first goal

Saturday 26th December 2009

Southern Premier League

Didcot Town 4-4 Oxford City

Attendance: 511

There was actually so much that went on in the game, i'm gonna post a link to a more in depth report so you can fill in the gaps so to speak http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oxfordcityfc/?primary=senior&secondary=matchreports&team_id=1289&report_id=45210

ATHERTON LABURNUM ROVERS (Crilly Park)

It was a trip on the choo-choo train to Atherton today and a visit to Crilly Park, cue lots of Father Ted related puns and even a Father Jack look-a-like checking the tickets on the train. Crilly Park is actually named after Jack Crilly, a former Chairman of Atherton Laburnum Rovers who was instrumental in the development of the club in its early days. Today they were playing bottom of the table Abbey Hey

It was a bitterly cold day but the game was given the go ahead, however the pitch did look very, very heavy. Atherton have had quite a few postponements due to the recent heavy rain. Combine this with a sloping pitch and today looked like it was going to be a tough slog of a game.

Actually, the game proved to be an absolute corker and a fantastic advert for the North West Counties league. Abbey Hey, belying their lowly position, dominated the first half. Playing down the slope they attacked with pace and found themselves two goals up by the break. After 23 minutes John Hardy side footed home a cross and then, 6 minutes later, Daniel Cocks picked himself up, after being tripped in the box, to convert a penalty. Atherton rarely troubled Jon-Paul Lewis in the Abbey Hey goal and the visitors thoroughly deserved their interval lead.

Whatever Atherton manager Dave Hughes said at Half Time it certainly did the trick. After 52 minutes Louis Edwards fired home from close range to halve the deficit and the game became a real blood and thunder battle, with the tackles flying in, just staying on the right side of the law! Wayne Welbeck, younger brother of United's Danny, nearly made it 3-1 to Abbey Hey but his lob over the stranded 'keeper was cleared by a defender just as it was about to cross the line.

On 77 minutes substitute Jon Stephenson surged through the Abbey Hey defence and toe poked home to level the game. The match then could have gone either way but, in the last minute, Ashford Blake was played through and he cooly slotted past the advancing 'keeper to grab the three points for Atherton.

Saturday 12th December 2009

North West Counties Premier League

Atherton LR 3-2 Abbey Hey

Attendance: 44