Two games again at the weekend, with one on Friday evening and one on Saturday afternoon. In the slideshows below are ground and match photos from both games plus a few of the two villages in which the games took place.
Friday 26th April 2013
Duke of Rutland Reserves 3-6 Cross Keys
Hinckley Sunday League Division 1
Weavers Springs, Astley Road, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire
Saturday 27th April 2013
AFC Emley 1-2 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Northern Counties East League Division 1
The Welfare Ground, off Upper Lane, Emley, West Yorkshire
Monday, 29 April 2013
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Local bragging rights
LONG WHATTON 3-2 HATHERN THREE CROWNS
Sunday 21st April 2013
Charnwood Sunday League Division 1
Long Whatton Cricket Ground, Main Street, Long Whatton, Leicestershire
No report, but 35 photos of the game can be viewed in the slideshow below:
While in Long Whatton I also took a few photos of the village itself, and they can be viewed below:
Saturday, 20 April 2013
Not sport related photos...
The three slideshows of photos are of ones that for the most part have been taken over the past few weeks in Leicestershire.
Monday, 15 April 2013
CK v CK
CROXTON A.F.C. 2-2 C.K. DONS
(4-2 on penalty kicks)
Saturday 13th April 2013
Grantham & District League Junior Cup Final
Harrowby United FC, Dickens Road, Grantham
My final game of the weekend sees me make the drive across country to Grantham for a re-visit to Harrowby United Football Club. They are hosting the final of this year's Grantham & District League Junior Cup Final between two Croxton Kerrial sides, Croxton AFC and CK Dons.
I attended the final of the same competition two years ago which also involved the Dons, but they were on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline against Heckington Millers. This year I was invited to attend by the Dons secretary Jeremy Hill and would be rude not to accept. Also like two years ago my first game of the day involved Greenhill being the away side, but hopefully this time the Dons will be victors.
About the teams
Croxton A.F.C.
Croxton AFC were borne from a youth team in Wilsford and have been a long standing side in Croxton Kerrial for several years. They have gone through many years, good and bad, and have seen many players come and go, but some still remain from the "old days" of youth football". An evolving side and a new era is in development though, with a new logo and a new motto - Ad Finem (To The End), and this cup final comes in the second year of a plan to ensure Croxton AFC remains a team firmly involved and supportive of Saturday football in the Grantham area.
C.K. Dons
Based in Croxton Kerrial, the CK Dons were extablished in 2009 and have played their football in the Grantham & District League Division One (GDL) since their inception.
After two seasons of mid table finishes and a final appearance in the HITS Junior Cup the Dons decided to withdraw from competition for the 2011/2012 season to improve the structure of the club.
This season has seen a marked improvement, having represented the Grantham & District League well in the Leicestershire Saturday Trophy, narrowly being defeated in the quarter finals by Leicester & District League side Oadby Boys Club '93. The Dons are currently still in 4 cup competitions with promotion to the GDL Premier Division already secured.
Off the pitch the club has worked well to improve commercial aspects. ITA Taxis have joined our current sponsors Mandev and we look forward to representing them both in future competitions.
Route to the final
With only seven teams competing in this seasons competition, there have been only five matches leading up to today's final...
Round 1
AFC Skillington 0-4 CK Dons
Bottesford Reserves 5-1 Caythorpe
Rippingale & Folkingham 2-4 AFC Three Gables
Semi Finals
Bottesford Reserves 0-3 Croxton AFC
CK Dons 2-1 AFC Three Gables
The game
It was played for the most part in driving rain, that was as times almost horizontal, and a scrappy game ensued. No real clear cut chances for either side but it was the Dons that looked the most dangerous when going forward. After forty five minutes it was no real surprise that the score remained goalless.
The second half was a different matter altogether with the Dons scoring early on. In the space of a few minutes after their goal they should have put the game out of sight for their opponents, but a headed clearance off the line and a cracking save kept Croxton in the game. An equaliser came in spectacular fashion, when either a free kick or corner was not cleared it was volleyed home from the edge of the area via the underside of the bar. A superb strike worthy of any game. The game became scrappy again, and it wasn't until the last ten minutes that the Dons caused the Croxton defence problems. No real surprises then when they re-took the lead with around two minutes remaining, but like before they could not hold onto their advantage and see the game out. Within about sixty seconds Croxton equalised for a second time, and again with another world class strike. This time it was a sweetly struck shot from thirty odd yards from goal that flew past the CK keeper into the top corner of net. Very rarely do you see one goal of that caliber, let alone two.
With no extra time being played the game went straight to a penalty shoot out, and it was Croxton who held their nerve to win by four goals to two. On the drive home I did feel sorry for the Dons, but they still have other fish to fry this season, starting with a Culverthorpe Cup semi-final @ Bottesford this Saturday (20th April).
60 photos of Harrowby United FC and of the game can be viewed in the slideshow below:
For good measure I preceded this with a visit to East Leake Athletic FC in the North Leicestershire League Premier Division. Photos from their game against Greenhill Y.C. can also be viewed below:
With only seven teams competing in this seasons competition, there have been only five matches leading up to today's final...
Round 1
AFC Skillington 0-4 CK Dons
Bottesford Reserves 5-1 Caythorpe
Rippingale & Folkingham 2-4 AFC Three Gables
Semi Finals
Bottesford Reserves 0-3 Croxton AFC
CK Dons 2-1 AFC Three Gables
The game
It was played for the most part in driving rain, that was as times almost horizontal, and a scrappy game ensued. No real clear cut chances for either side but it was the Dons that looked the most dangerous when going forward. After forty five minutes it was no real surprise that the score remained goalless.
The second half was a different matter altogether with the Dons scoring early on. In the space of a few minutes after their goal they should have put the game out of sight for their opponents, but a headed clearance off the line and a cracking save kept Croxton in the game. An equaliser came in spectacular fashion, when either a free kick or corner was not cleared it was volleyed home from the edge of the area via the underside of the bar. A superb strike worthy of any game. The game became scrappy again, and it wasn't until the last ten minutes that the Dons caused the Croxton defence problems. No real surprises then when they re-took the lead with around two minutes remaining, but like before they could not hold onto their advantage and see the game out. Within about sixty seconds Croxton equalised for a second time, and again with another world class strike. This time it was a sweetly struck shot from thirty odd yards from goal that flew past the CK keeper into the top corner of net. Very rarely do you see one goal of that caliber, let alone two.
With no extra time being played the game went straight to a penalty shoot out, and it was Croxton who held their nerve to win by four goals to two. On the drive home I did feel sorry for the Dons, but they still have other fish to fry this season, starting with a Culverthorpe Cup semi-final @ Bottesford this Saturday (20th April).
60 photos of Harrowby United FC and of the game can be viewed in the slideshow below:
For good measure I preceded this with a visit to East Leake Athletic FC in the North Leicestershire League Premier Division. Photos from their game against Greenhill Y.C. can also be viewed below:
Sunday, 14 April 2013
2013 Arthur Moore Cup Final
THURMASTON W.M.P. 2009 0-2 ADVANCE COURIERS
Friday 12th April 2013
Alliance Football League Arthur Moore Cup Final
Leicestershire County FA Ground, Holmes Park, Dog & Gun Lane, Whetstone
A second visit to Holmes Park in the space of two weeks is start of another busy weekend football wise, with this being the first of three games, of which two are cup finals.
The Alliance Football League runs four cup competitions along side the eight division league competition. This one, the Arthur Moore Cup is competed for by Premier Division and Division One sides only. The format of the competition is a four group round-robin stage, of which the top two in each group qualify for the quarter finals. From then on it is played on a straight knock-out basis. Thurmaston WMP 2009 were placed in Group B along side Wigston Car Breakers, NRI, Leicester Foxes Old Boys and Niffy Rangers, while Advance Couriers were in Group D with Sparta Moshdock, Glenfield Town Sunday, GT and Frolesworth United.
TEAM
|
PL
|
WON
|
DRW
|
LST
|
FOR
|
AGA
|
PTS
|
|
1
|
Wigston Car Breakers
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
19
|
8
|
8
|
2
|
Thurmaston W.M.P. 2009
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
20
|
12
|
8 (-1)
|
3
|
N.R.I.
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
15
|
12
|
6
|
4
|
Leicester Foxes Old Boys
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
15
|
18
|
3
|
5
|
Niffy Rangers
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
7
|
26
|
3
|
Group D
TEAM
|
PL
|
WON
|
DRW
|
LST
|
FOR
|
AGA
|
PTS
|
|
1
|
Advance Couriers
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
Sparta Moshdock
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
7
|
6
|
3
|
Glenfield Town, Sunday
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
3
|
4
|
G.T.
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
8
|
7
|
2 (1)
|
Frolesworth United
|
Removed from competition. Record expunged.
|
|||||||
Quarter Finals
Advance Couriers 9-0 Oscars
FC Azzurri 1-2 Thurmaston W.M.P. 2009
Semi Finals
Thurmaston W.M.P. 2009 3-2 Sparta Moshdock
Advance Couriers 2-1 Wigston Car Breakers
About the teams
Thurmaston WMP 2009 (taken from the programme)
Formally known as Syston RBL from the Leicester Sunday League (LSL), the club changed name in 2009 to the current title due to new sponsorship. In the first season under the new name they were finalists in the LSL Premier Cup competition, before transferring to the Alliance Football League for the start of the next season. At the start of this season the club merged with LSL side Syston Midland Railway under the Thurmaston WMP and formed a reserve side as a result.
Advance Couriers (taken from the Alliance League website)
The club were formed in 1984, but since 2001 have been the most successful club in the Alliance Football League. They have been crowned Premier Division champions seven times, victors in the Billy Walton Cup winners six times, the Arthur Moore Cup final eight times plus last but not least three times winners of the Leicestershire FA Sunday Premier Cup.
The game in brief
It was a tight, close game in which Advance settled quicker and they had an effort cleared off the line. Thurmaston though got into their stride and wingers Luke Winfield and Jamie Sharmon causing problems for the Advance back line, while at the other end Thurmaston captain Ash Harris was a rock at the back, giving the Advance forwards no change all evening. It was Jamie Sharmon who came close to opening the scoring when a pass split the Advance defence, only for Sharmon's shot past the keeper to strike the base of the post. The opening goal of the game came not long before the end of the half, when following a quick break down the right, a simple finish ensued. Harsh on Thurmaston.
The second half was a more even affair but Thurmaston still caused their higher ranked opponents problems with a header from a corner hiting the crossbar, while at the other end I believe Advance had a goal ruled out for offside. The killer second goal came in the latter stages when Stuart Spencer headed home a corner.
Advance showed why they have won so many trophies in the past ten years, while Thurmaston showed that despite being a division lower can compete with the best in the Alliance League. Man of the Match was righly awarded to Luke Winfield.
Match photos
38 match photos can be viewed in the slideshow below:
Sunday, 7 April 2013
End of season fixtures...
With the 2012/13 football season now heading into its latter stages, below are the fixtures that I have planned between now and the middle of May...
12th April
Thurmaston WMP 2009 v Advance Couriers
(Alliance Football League Arthur Moore Cup Final @ Holmes Park)
13th April
East Leake Athletic v Greenhill YC
(North Leicestershire League Premier Division)
Croxton AFC v CK Dons
(Grantham League Junior Cup Final @ Harrowby United FC)
20th April
Weedon v Grange Park Rangers
(Northants Combination Division 3)
27th April
Oadby Town v Thrapston Town
(United Counties League Division 1)
4th May
Olney Town v Oadby Town
(United Counties League Division 1)
11th May
Kettering Orchard Park v Medbourne
(Northants Combination Division 1)
18th May
Peterborough ICA Sports v Pinchbeck United
(Peterborough League Premier Division)
19th May
Oakthorpe Athletic v Hilton Old Talbot
(Burton & District Sunday League Division 2)
22nd May
Moira United v Edge Hill
(Burton & District Sunday League Premier Division)
12th April
Thurmaston WMP 2009 v Advance Couriers
(Alliance Football League Arthur Moore Cup Final @ Holmes Park)
13th April
East Leake Athletic v Greenhill YC
(North Leicestershire League Premier Division)
Croxton AFC v CK Dons
(Grantham League Junior Cup Final @ Harrowby United FC)
20th April
Weedon v Grange Park Rangers
(Northants Combination Division 3)
27th April
Oadby Town v Thrapston Town
(United Counties League Division 1)
4th May
Olney Town v Oadby Town
(United Counties League Division 1)
11th May
Kettering Orchard Park v Medbourne
(Northants Combination Division 1)
18th May
Peterborough ICA Sports v Pinchbeck United
(Peterborough League Premier Division)
19th May
Oakthorpe Athletic v Hilton Old Talbot
(Burton & District Sunday League Division 2)
22nd May
Moira United v Edge Hill
(Burton & District Sunday League Premier Division)
Buck-T
BUCKINGHAM TOWN 0-3 OADBY TOWN
Saturday 6th April 2013
United Counties League Division 1
The Irish Centre, Manor Fields, Bletchley, Milton Keynes
After a very busy Easter weekend in which in the space of four days, I watched seven games of football, a game of basketball plus viewing the new Danny Boyle film, Trance a sense of normality beckons today. Only one game of football and a choice of one in my eyes. This was one of three away days with Oadby Town that I had pencilled in before I the fixtures were released. It was originally due to be played back in November but had to be postponed due to heavy rain, and in the end that day I saw Corby Town beat Hayes & Yeading United in a thrilling FA Trophy tie.
The club
The following information is taken from the Wikipedia page:
The club were established in 1883 and initially played in
local leagues. They won the Aylesbury & District League in 1902–03 and
1936–37 and the North
Bucks League in
1924–25, 1928–29, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1948–49 and 1949–50. They were founder members of the Hellenic
League in 1953, but left after only
four seasons. They then joined the South Midlands
League, in which they played until joining the United Counties
League in 1974. They were Premier Division champions and Knockout Cup winners
in 1983–84, and the following season they reached the first round of the FA
Cup for the first (and to date
only) time in their history, losing 2–0 at home to Orient. In 1985–86 they
won the Premier Division again and were promoted to the Midland Division of the Southern
League. They won the Southern Division in 1990–91, but were not
promoted as their ground failed to meet the standards required. They remained
members of the Southern League until finishing bottom of the Southern Division
in 1996–97
season, when they were relegated back to the Premier Division of
the UCL. They were relegated to Division One at the end of the 2006–07 season.
They were evicted from their traditional Ford
Meadow home at the end of the 2010/11 season and played at the Winslow Centre, Winslow in 2011/12.
This season they are again playing “home” games away from Buckingham, with the
Irish Centre in Bletchley their current base.
The ground
The Irish Centre is part of the larger Manor Fields sports complex that is also home to Bletchley Rugby Club and Bletchley Town Cricket Club. The football pitch is completely seperate from the rest of the complex and is a bit of a ramshackle affair. On the near side there is remnants of a large stand, while opposite there is a seated stand and the dugouts.
The day itself
It started by picking up fellow Oadby Town supporters Owen Jones and Teri-Leigh White near to Braunstone Police Station around 11.30am, before heading south on the M1 to Milton Keynes. Lunch and some liquid refreshment was had at one of the four JD Wetherspoon outlets in the city, which was simply called Wetherspoons. Two halves were had, firstly Brewer's Passion by the Caledonian Brewery and secondly Tasmanian Wolf from the Wolf Brewery in Norfolk before making the short walk to the nearby Secklow Hundred for another drink. It must be said that Brewer's Passion is one of the nicest beers I have had in a very long time - very drinkable on a nice sunny day.
From which we made the ten minute drive to the ground , arriving with about twenty minutes before kick-off. I was met at the ground by friend and Belper based groundhopper Neil Laughlin, who I had seen back in November 2009 for a Leicestershire Senior League game @ Melton Mowbray FC.
The game
It was a tale of two halves with Oadby dominating the proceedings in the opening forty five minutes and in truth be told should have been more than two goals up. New signing Levi Porter had a chance in the opening couple of minutes, but his header from an Ollie Brown-Hill cross was tame and the Buckingham keeper was able to make the save. The opening goal came from penalty spot which Jon Stevenson converted after Che Adams was brought down in the area. It was only a matter of time before Oadby increased their lead, and this came from Porter who slide the ball under the keeper. The second half was a completely different story with the home side belying their lowly position in the league table and looked like a side challenging for promotion. They caused Oadby all sorts of problems and created some excellent chances. The killer third goal came against the run of play late on in the game and was scored by Stevenson.
Overall
An enjoyable day out in Buckinghamshire for what was only my seventh game in the county ever, and my first for around four and a half years. After the game my travelling companions and I had a drink in the nearby Chequers Inn in Fenny Stratford before heading north back to Leicester.
58 photos of the ground and game can be viewed in the slideshow below:
The ground
The Irish Centre is part of the larger Manor Fields sports complex that is also home to Bletchley Rugby Club and Bletchley Town Cricket Club. The football pitch is completely seperate from the rest of the complex and is a bit of a ramshackle affair. On the near side there is remnants of a large stand, while opposite there is a seated stand and the dugouts.
The day itself
It started by picking up fellow Oadby Town supporters Owen Jones and Teri-Leigh White near to Braunstone Police Station around 11.30am, before heading south on the M1 to Milton Keynes. Lunch and some liquid refreshment was had at one of the four JD Wetherspoon outlets in the city, which was simply called Wetherspoons. Two halves were had, firstly Brewer's Passion by the Caledonian Brewery and secondly Tasmanian Wolf from the Wolf Brewery in Norfolk before making the short walk to the nearby Secklow Hundred for another drink. It must be said that Brewer's Passion is one of the nicest beers I have had in a very long time - very drinkable on a nice sunny day. From which we made the ten minute drive to the ground , arriving with about twenty minutes before kick-off. I was met at the ground by friend and Belper based groundhopper Neil Laughlin, who I had seen back in November 2009 for a Leicestershire Senior League game @ Melton Mowbray FC.
The game
It was a tale of two halves with Oadby dominating the proceedings in the opening forty five minutes and in truth be told should have been more than two goals up. New signing Levi Porter had a chance in the opening couple of minutes, but his header from an Ollie Brown-Hill cross was tame and the Buckingham keeper was able to make the save. The opening goal came from penalty spot which Jon Stevenson converted after Che Adams was brought down in the area. It was only a matter of time before Oadby increased their lead, and this came from Porter who slide the ball under the keeper. The second half was a completely different story with the home side belying their lowly position in the league table and looked like a side challenging for promotion. They caused Oadby all sorts of problems and created some excellent chances. The killer third goal came against the run of play late on in the game and was scored by Stevenson.
Overall
An enjoyable day out in Buckinghamshire for what was only my seventh game in the county ever, and my first for around four and a half years. After the game my travelling companions and I had a drink in the nearby Chequers Inn in Fenny Stratford before heading north back to Leicester.
58 photos of the ground and game can be viewed in the slideshow below:
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Easter Monday treble
With the help of some staggered kick-offs I managed to get to three games yesterday (April 1st), two of which was new ticks and one re-visit. Photos for all three games can be found in the relevant slideshows below:
(1pm) Wollaton 1-2 Burton Joyce
Notts Senior League Senior Division
Wollaton Sports Association, Nottingham
Game 2
(3pm) Greenwood Meadows 3-1 Radford
East Midlands Counties League
Lenton Lane, Nottingham
Game 3
(6pm) Pastures 4-0 Derby Singh Brothers
Midlands Regional Alliance Division 1
Mickleover Country Park, Mickleover, Derby
Monday, 1 April 2013
more photos
Following on from the two games on Good Friday, two more games were watched - one on Easter Saturday (30th March) and one on Easter Sunday (31st March) itself. No reports for both games but, if I do say so myself some quality photographs were took. Since I got my new lens for my camera I have been so impressed by the quality of the photographs that I have taken. The saying that you get what you pay for certainly applies in this case.
Saturday 30th March 2013
Ashby Ivanhoe 4-1 Saffron Dynamo
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
NFU Sports Ground, Lower Packington Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch
a report on the game can be found on the Ashby Ivanhoe website here.
53 ground and match photos can be viewed in the slideshow below:
Sunday 31st March 2013
N.R.I. 3-3 Enderby Town 2012
Alliance Football League Division 1
Uplands Park, Uplands Road, Oadby, Leicestershire
61 match photos can be viewed below:
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