Saturday 16th April 2016
WHITTLESEY ATHLETIC 5-0 LEVERINGTON SPORTS
Peterborough & District League Premier Division
@ Feldale Field, Drybread Road, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire
Admission: none
Programme: not issued
Attendance: around 50
Hot drinks: 50p
A first game in the Peterborough & District League in around a year, and myself and my dad saw promotion chasing Athletic have a comfortable victory over their opponents.
Athletic were formed a couple of years ago through the merger of Whittlesey United and Coates Athletic, and should they finish above Netherton United they will be playing in the United Counties League next season. The ground is set on the eastern edge of the town and is a work in progress - there is hard standing around three sides of the pitch and permanent dugouts on the far side.
The hosts won this game comfortably and in truth the final score should have been by a greater margin.
33 photos of the ground and the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p641546618
Monday 11th April 2016
CHEADLE S.M.U. 0-1 CHEADLE TOWN
Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division
@ Cheadle Sports Village, Thorley Drive, Cheadle, Staffordshire
Admission: none
Programme: not issued
Attendance: 65
An extra night off from work and after finishing some jobs in and around the house, I noticed some fixtures that I could get to. An easy run up the M1 and across the A50 and I was at my chosen destination. There are two pitches at this site and both of the clubs in action today use the main pitch nearest the changing rooms. The pitch is fully railed off and dugouts are on the near side. The only hard standing is in front of the afore mentioned building.
The rain came a few minutes before kick-off and thankfully I had my waterproof lens cover in my car. Good job as well as the rain did not relent at all during the game and by the finish it was pretty much dark.
The game saw a competitive local derby in which no quarter was asked or given. The only goal of the game came right at the start of the second half - unfortunately I cannot give any description of it as I was back at my car getting a drink.
match photos taken during the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p709582822
Saturday 9th April 2016
ASHBY IVANHOE DEVELOPMENT 1-3 BOTTESFORD
North Leicestershire League Division 1
@ Western Park, Avenue Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
Admission: none
Programme: not issued
Attendance: 6
Needed to stay local as I was watching the Leicester Riders basketball team in action that evening, and decided on a cheap afternoon. Ashby formed a development side at the start of the season and have been playing their home games at a venue not used by the clubs first and reserve teams. This was also a venue that I hadn't been used by open age football before.
As expected the venue is very basic with only a prefab building on site housing the changing rooms, though there is some on site car parking. This was the final game of the season for both teams and the visitors needed to win to be in with a chance of winning the divisional title ahead of Greenhill YC reserves. The game wasn't the best, but the visitors did what they needed to do.
some photos taken during the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p651873486
Monday 28th March 2016
MILDENHALL TOWN 2-1 SWAFFHAM TOWN
Eastern Counties League Premier Division
@ Recreation Way, Mildenhall, Suffolk
Admission: £6
Programme: £1.50
Pin Badge: £3
Like everyone else who planned a morning game in the Combined Counties League, it turned out my choices were all postponed. By 8am I decided that due to the weather it was not worth the risk of the drive south down the M1. Instead I did the food shop before waiting to see what was confirmed as on. A number of clubs confirmed that their respective game was on via twitter and it was then a case of choosing one. In the end I decided to head east for around 100 miles.
The A14 behaved itself and on the whole traffic was fairly light all the way. Mildenhall's ground is located in the town centre next to Sainsbury's and is a pleasant little ground. No parking on site, but was advised to park in the free council car park - this is accessed by going through the car park of the previously mentioned supermarket.
On the whole a scrappy game with the wind not helping proceedings. Hall took the lead inside two minutes and by the ten minute mark were two nil up. Inbetween Swaffham were awarded a penalty but a tame effort was put wide. The visitors did pull a goal back late on in the first half, and that was the final act of goal scoring. The second half saw plenty of huff and puff and a contender for miss of the season by the home #7.
Decent tick and only my 4th ground visited in Suffolk after Newmarket, Bury Town and AFC Sudbury.
ground and match photos can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p556861966
