The Non - League thread

[AthleticoSpizz]

Good luck Crusaders!

[Terminal Boardom]

Might head along to East Thurrock. Decent non-league ground but with one of the scariest and dingiest of all social clubs. On another note, at Windsor, Carl Dennison picked up Supporters Player of the Season as well as the Manager's award. Strangely, the players plumped for Jamie de Guiseppe as their choice. And after over 35 years' service to Windsor & Eton and Windsor, Steve Rowland steps down as Club Secretary. To consider that he did not want to do the gig five years ago... He will be missed.

[Four Of Clubs]

...sorry missed out the other two Southern Divisional Play-Off Finals in my preview but they involve clubs I don't usually feature...though one ## isn't all that far away and has a nice 'big' NL type 'stadium'.
(Watch out for flying water-bottles )

Southern One Central
St Ives v AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Southern One South & West
## Banbury Utd v Taunton Town

Waiting for youngest to emerge this AM and we're probably heading off to an 11:00 KO in the Surrey Elite League: - then I have to bring him home, as he's out later this PM, ringing bells somewhere - might then offer to take middle-one out with me to one of the local Cup Finals - she'll insist on decent grub so Hungerford or Windsor probably top of that list.

[tmesis]

Hungerford win 2-1, coming back from a goal down to score the winner with 6 minutes to go. Banbury and St Ives also up.

Over 1300 at Hungerford to see it.

[Four Of Clubs]

Hungerford win 2-1, coming back from a goal down to score the winner with 6 minutes to go. Banbury and St Ives also up.

Over 1300 at Hungerford to see it.

...and I was one of them too!!

Shame about the weather - I was at their last PO Final win three years back (vs Merthyr) and it was a gloriously sunny May Day. Ground was a bit cramped with that crowd in it but the bar + extra bar/counter + extra Food outlet + overflow parking & stewarding performed miracles to try and cope - and just about did - great effort by all at a very nice friendly club.

I even got there almost 30 mins early (unheard of for me ) and still had to park way up Priory Rd in John O Gaunt School.

On the pitch the 'Crusaders' really took a while to get to grips with the 'Brakes' up and at 'em style early on - but something 'clicked' around H/T - I'd like to think it was Bobby W's astute team talk. They came out 2nd half trailing 0-1 and really took the game to their visitors. Didn't notice a formation change - they just collectively upped their game and Leamington wilted. Special mention for the two forwards Jarvis and Brown who worked the Leamington back four to a standstill and after some initial problems with some big forwards to handle, the two CBs, Day in particular emerged with incredible credit - absolutely 'monstered' the 2nd half. Horgan at right back ran himself into the ground too.

All this without the mercurial (as they say) O'Brien flying up and down the wing - presumably injured.

Report from nonleaguefanzone:

https://nonleaguefanzone.com/2016/05/02 ... ford-town/

...elsewhere East Thurrock bt Dulwich Hamlet 3-1 in front of an attendance of 1661 to go up tot eh National South.

In the CCLP, Camberley's hopes of reaching STEP04 were dashed with a very late winner for Hartley Wintney - meaning Ashford Town are promoted.
In the same division Westfield finished their season with a 4-2 win over Farnham.

Flackwell Heath won the Hellenic League Cup aet at Thatcham beating Brackley Saints 2-1.

Aylesbury lifted the B&B Senior Cup at Stag Meadow with a narrow 1-0 win over Chesham Utd - crowd was 470.

[Royal Rother]

Chesham were really poor yesterday. Despite Aylesbury FC being from a lower league they coped brilliantly with everything Chesham tried.

Aylesbury's 1st choice keeper got injured in the warm up meaning their U18s keeper had to step up. He looked shaky but was so well protected by his excellent defence that he only actually made one save which was fairly routine.

Chesham had a good gathering of fans there and started off with some rousing songs and chants - although Aylesbury didn't score until the 2nd half they missed 2 absolutely open goals in the 1st and Chesham quickly shut up. Didn't hear a peep out of them from about the 20 minute mark which was quite amusing.

(Curtis Ujah was Chesham's captain.)

[Rea Ding]

Hungerford game was brilliant, totally deserved the promotion.
Jobi, Jem and Pearce were all there supporting Ledge and there was a decent crowd.
Decent number from leamington aswell

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ there's not much that cheers me or inspires faith in the game these days.....but that comes very close.........a great tale

[Sutekh]

^ there's not much that cheers me or inspires faith in the game these days.....but that comes very close.........a great tale

Now looking forward to a few trips to the "'pit" next season. Games with Maidenhead and Truro especially. Probably be better than watching that Reading lot massively underachieve again! Hope they'll be able to cut it at their new level.

[Hoop Blah]

Hungerford game was brilliant, totally deserved the promotion.
Jobi, Jem and Pearce were all there supporting Ledge and there was a decent crowd.
Decent number from leamington aswell

Ledge? Is that what Bobby is calling himself these days?

[double d]

Nice to see Braintree beating the "big boys" of Grimsby. Surely would be the smallest ever team in the FL...... Hope they do go up , although FGR probably will (and Mrs DD family wants them too as her Uncle is their Physio)

[Royalist]

Yeah I remember going to Braintree and they didn't feel especially big at that level which was either ryman prem or division one. Now they are 90 mins from a shot at football league

[Rea Ding]

Hungerford game was brilliant, totally deserved the promotion.
Jobi, Jem and Pearce were all there supporting Ledge and there was a decent crowd.
Decent number from leamington aswell

Ledge? Is that what Bobby is calling himself these days?

Bobby still doing a fine job
With the help of ledgerwood

[Hoop Blah]

I didn't realise Leigertwood was involved down there these days.

There's always been a good turn out of (ex)Reading players down there supporting Bobby so thought he'd picked up a new nickname.

In all seriousness though, he's done a great job there.

[Royal Rother]

Another Cup a Final at Stag Meadow today... This time it's the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup between Camberley and Farnham.

The Former are hot favourites having beaten their opposition 6-0 in the league a month ago.

However Camberley missed out on promotion on the last day of the season and could be feeling the effects.

I'm not a great fan of their style (HOOOOFFFFF!) so will be hoping Farnham can cause a surprise.

[Royal Rother]

And the surprise duly came to pass.

Farnham 3-1 Camberley (3-0 HT)

I really don't like watching Camberley so was delighted to see them stuffed today. Their only attacking threat comes from huge (and I mean HUGE) punts from their gobby keeper, and long (and I mean f-ing HUGE) throws into the box. No width to speak of, if the ball goes outside the lines of box to box from their play it's pretty much an accident.

Has to be said that generally they are effective but Farnham's defence were very solid today as was their keeper who caught almost everything cleanly.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Much of a crowd there today Roths?

[Royal Rother]

Not great - I'd guess at 240.

[Royal Rother]

Some superb photographs of the game (and Stag Meadow) yesterday.

The 2nd page has some particularly interesting views of the ground.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuarttre ... 7459019810

[AthleticoSpizz]

Thanx RR.........great pics too.....doesn't look much different to my last visit.....24 years ago!