The Non - League thread

[Four Of Clubs]

Results from this PM's NL:


Sat Jan 7th

FA Vase
1 Shildon 1-4 Atherton Collieries
2 Billingham Town 1-2 Cleethorpes Town
3 AFC Mansfield 0-1 Sunderland RCA
4 South Shields A-A Morpeth Town Abandoned on 81’ floodlight failure with holders Morpeth leading 4-2
5 Gorleston 0-3 Coleshill Town
6 Sun Sports 0-4 Bromsgrove Sporting
7 Newport Pagnell Town 3-2 Peterborough Sports
8 Sporting Khalsa 1-0 Tring Athletic
9 Ely City 3-0 Shepshed Dynamo
10 Hinckley 5-0 Berkhamsted
11 Bradford Town 2-4 Southall aet – STEP06 Spartan leaguers spring another surprise, winning away at a higher ranked side for the fifth tie in succession. Were leading 3-2 going beyond the 120' mark- Bradford had all 11 in the visitors area at a corner but Southall broke and scored a 4th.
12 Bristol Manor Farm 1-1 Melksham Town
13 Chichester City 1-3 Buckland Athletic
14 Team Solent 3-0 Croydon
15 Exmouth 4-0 Corinthian
16 Crowborough Athletic {SIX} 6-0 Eastbourne Town

NAT
Aldershot Town 2-1 Southport
Wrexham 2-1 Woking
NATN
Brackley Town 0-1 Chorley
NATS
Bath City 1-1 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Chelmsford City 1-0 Whitehawk
Concord Rangers 1-3 Weston-Super-Mare
Dartford 6-1 East Thurrock United
Eastbourne Borough 0-0 Poole Town
Gosport Borough 1-4 Hungerford Town – strong performance from the Crusaders – fit again Stefan Brown grabbing the 4th
Hemel Hempstead Town 2-0 Welling United
Margate 0-3 Bishops Stortford
St Albans City 2-2 Maidenhead United– 2 from Barratt – StAlebuns levelled on 90’.
Truro City 3-2 Oxford City
Wealdstone 2-4 Ebbsfleet United

ISTHP
Kingstonian 3-2 Staines Town

SOUTHP
Chesham United 1-0 Dunstable Town
Dorchester Town 0-1 Banbury United
Kettering Town 2-1 Basingstoke Town
St Ives Town 2-0 Slough Town – Rebels drop to 3rd

SOUTH1C
AFC Dunstable 4-0 Chalfont St Peter
Ashford Town (Mx) 1-1 Bedford Town
Aylesbury United 2-1 Northwood
Barton Rovers 3-3 Aylesbury
Beaconsfield SYCOB 4-6 Royston Town – SYCOB’s great run of form (8 consecutive wins and plenty scored) ends with a home defeat to the leaders.
Fleet Town 6-1 Kidlington –Fleet run riot against a side who had been showing signs of settling at this level but have rather worryingly started to ship goals.

Marlow 1-2 Egham Town set-back for Blues against the Sarnies
Potters Bar Town 2-2 Farnborough – ‘boro led 2-0 early on 2’ pen and another goal from Coles but PBT scored early 2nd half and equalised on 94’ with a pen of their own

SOUTH1S&W
Didcot Town 3-3 Tiverton Town – Diddy led 2-0 (2 pens from Whitehead in a 5’ spell 1st half) then trailed 2-3 with 5’ left to 2nd place Tivvy – Sam Elkins saved a point on 91’

Salisbury 1-2 North Leigh – good result for Nor Lye in front of 738 at the Ray Mac – recovered from a goal down thanks to 2 goals from George Seacole

Winchester City 4-3 Shortwood United – hat-trick for Feeney
Yate Town 1-1 Wantage Town – faint signs of life for the beleaguered Freds – this point takes them off the bottom on goals scored, above Bridgwater who narrowly lost at Evesham. However both sides are 7 points adrift of Barnstable and AFC Totton

CCLP
Abbey Rangers 4-1 Bedfont & Feltham
Bedfont Sports 1-4 Hartley Wintney –‘ The Row’ now move 18 points clear at the top.
CB Hounslow United 3-2 Horley Town
Camberley Town 2-1 Walton & Hersham – good result for the home side at Krooner, who are showing signs of recovery after a very indifferent season to date. Up to 6th under the new management team.

Colliers Wood United 0-2 AFC Hayes
Epsom & Ewell 3-2 Spelthorne Sports
Farnham Town 1-0 North Greenford United
Hanworth Villa 0-2 Westfield – difficult place to go for Field but a win here puts them back above their rivals into 2nd place.
Knaphill 2-0 Badshot Lea
Raynes Park Vale 2-2 Guildford City
- Windsor, Chertsey and Baggy Lea not in action today
CCL1
Staines Lammas 1-4 Frimley Green
Ash United 2-3 AC London
Chessington & Hook United 3-2 Sheerwater
Cove 3-3 Bagshot – encouraging point for strugglers Cove against promotion contenders
Eversley & California {SIX} 6-2 South Park Reserves

HELLP
Ascot United 1-3 Royal Wootton Bassett
Binfield 0-3 Ardley United
Flackwell Heath 4-0 Burnham– Heathens leap back to the top with neither Bracknell nor Thame in action this PM – they have played three games more though.

Henley Town 3-6 {SIX} Brimscombe & Thrupp
Highworth Town{SIX} 6-6 {SIX} Highmoor-Ibis - crazy scoring sequence went something like: 3-0 Highworth - H/I notched one just before the break. Highmoor then ran amok with four unanswered goals - building into a 5-3 lead - home side clawed themselves back level only to concede again late on then share the points with a last gasp penalty.
Longlevens AFC 1-3 Thatcham Town
Oxford City Nomads 4-4 Lydney Town
Tuffley Rovers 5-0 Brackley Town Saints
HELL1E
Chalfont Wasps 2-2 Sandhurst Town
Headington Amateurs 0-1 Holyport
Wokingham & Emmbrook P-P Didcot Town Res'
Woodley United A-A AFC Aldermaston – Abandoned floodlight failure on approx. 60’
– I was here. one pylon didn’t light up at all for the 2nd Half then all lights went out and were evidently taking too long to come back on for the officials liking. Had been a good even tussle up to that point - United rather hanging on 2-1 up.

HELL1W
Letcombe 2-1 Tytherington Rocks
Fairford Town 5-2 Abingdon United
Milton United 3-1 New College Swindon
Wycombe Senior Cup
Penn & Tylers Green 2-1 Chinnor

WESSP
Andover Town 3-3 Amesbury Town
Newport (IoW) 2-5 Alresford Town
Whitchurch United 0-1 Lymington Town
WESS1
Alton 2-1 Hythe & Dibden
Fleet Spurs 0-5 Baffins Milton Rovers
Pewsey Vale 2-5 Downton
Shaftesbury {SEVEN} 7-1 Andover New Street
Tadley Calleva 2-8 {EIGHT} Hamble Club

[mx]

Results from this PM's NL:

Winchester City 4-3 Shortwood United – hat-trick for Feeney

This was a really entertaining game, though I drank too much in the pub beforehand watching Reading to remember too much. Winch went one up within a minute - lovely lob from Feeney - then there was a crazy five minute spell when it went from 1-0 to 2-2. Winch went 3-2 up just before half time, then 4-2 up shortly afterwards. Shortwood pulled one back to make it a nervy finish.

Great game between 2 sides who both wanted to score goals.

Winch are third now in the form tables, but a long way back in the real table due to our poor start. Long way to go to make the playoffs, but there is talk of Warren Bentley returning, due to Gosport's problems.

[Four Of Clubs]

Not many midweek fixtures ‘locally’ but some Cup Ties were played :

In The B&B Senior Cup, Chesham were beaten 2-5 at Amy Lane by Hungerford who now await the winners of next Tuesday’s clash at York Rd where the Magpies host Sluff.

Bracknell reached the B&B Trophy Final with a 2-1 win at Flackwell Heath - they’ll meet the winner of the other S-F scheduled for Sat 11th Feb between Newport Pagnell and Binfield. If the Moles get there one would hope the County FA will find a decent venue for the pair - Slough's Arbour Park could be quite a plum choice especially if it's all been completed before the Final date.

The Oxon Senior Cup tie originally scheduled for Henley was switched very late to Thame from Mill Lane. Unsurprisingly Henley’s woeful downturn continued and Thame progressed 8-1.

I managed to get out to one of the few league games scheduled in SOUTH1C – saw Marlow edge past Ashford Town 1-0 with a big ex-Reading Town/Highmoor presence in the home squad. Goal scored on 2’ - 2nd half was real backs to the wall stuff as the Ashtees sought an equaliser and sensed more was possibly. Blues were resolute in defence and held on for a good three points.

In the Premier Slough’s game at Cinderford was off – waterlogged

On Wednesday evening in the same division Kidlington upset the league leaders Royston 2-1.
In the S&W division Winchester were beaten 3-1 @ Play Off hopefuls Evesham.

Here are tomorrow's NL fixtures - inlcuding the last 32 of the FA Trophy. There's a general view that there may be quite a few postponements - the SSML have allowed clubs to call off early on Sat AM without waiting for official inspections.

FA Trophy 2nd Rnd
1 Worthing v Sutton United
2 Tranmere Rovers v South Park
3 Bromley v Welling United
4 East Thurrock United v Braintree Town
5 Nuneaton Town v Guiseley AFC
6 Boreham Wood v Alfreton Town
7 Barrow AFC v Matlock Town
8 Southport v Wealdstone
9 Gateshead v Lincoln City
10 Dartford v Chelmsford City
11 Kidderminster Harriers v Ebbsfleet United
12 Harlow Town v York City
13 AFC Sudbury v Macclesfield Town
14 Whitehawk v Dulwich Hamlet
15 Chester v Forest Green Rovers
16 Stockport County v Brackley Town

FA Vase 4th Round Replay
Melksham Town v Bristol Manor Farm – currently 2nd in the Western League host 1st – at Melksham’s new Oakfield Stadium on the SE outskirts of the town. I think this is the first serious match to be played at the facility, which has been a long time in coming – the old Conigre ground in the Town Centre has had at least half-a-doz ‘final matches ever’ over the last couple of years as there have been so many delays before the opening. I’d anticipate a certain amount of chaos; as there could be a big crowd for the Western league contenders meeting in the Vase; as well as a probable glut of ‘anoraks’ keen to tick the inaugural match.
Somewhat inevitably, as with a lot of these new multi-sports facilities, there is ‘limited parking’ – situation exacerbated by the fact that the local Rugby Club host their first match there tomorrow PM too!
A shuttle bus service has been arranged – hope it goes well – but doubt I’ll try and join the throng tomorrow – too much potential ‘hassle’.
.
NAT
Torquay United v Woking

NATS
Bath City v Bishops Stortford
Concord Rangers v Oxford City
Eastbourne Borough v Hungerford Town
Hemel Hempstead Town v St Albans City
Margate v Poole Town

ISTHP
Needham Market v Staines Town

SOUTHP
Biggleswade Town v Slough Town
Cambridge City v Basingstoke Town
Cirencester Town v Chesham United
Hayes & Yeading United v Cinderford Town
SOUTH1C
Bedford Town v Marlow
Chalfont St Peter v Aylesbury United
Egham Town v AFC Dunstable
Farnborough v Barton Rovers
Kempston Rovers v Ashford Town (Mx)
Kidlington v Potters Bar Town
Northwood v Beaconsfield SYCOB
Royston Town v Fleet Town
Uxbridge v Histon
SOUTH1S&W
Hereford v Taunton Town
Larkhall Athletic v Winchester City
North Leigh v Yate Town
Wantage Town v Salisbury
Wimborne Town v Didcot Town

CCLP
Abbey Rangers v Camberley Town
AFC Hayes v Westfield
Chertsey Town v Bedfont Sports
Farnham Town v Raynes Park v ale
Guildford City v Knaphill
Hanworth Villa v Epsom & Ewell
Horley Town v Sutton Common Rovers
North Greenford United v Colliers Wood United
Spelthorne Sports v Hartley Wintney
Walton & Hersham v CB Hounslow United
Windsor v Badshot Lea
CCL1
Ash United v Chessington & Hook United
Bagshot v Staines Lammas
Balham v Worcester Park
Banstead Athletic v Cove
Dorking v Farleigh Rovers
Epsom Athletic v AC London
Redhill v Eversley & California
1400 Sheerwater v Cobham

HELLP
Ardley United v Highworth Town
Bracknell Town v Tuffley Rovers
Brimscombe & Thrupp v Brackley Town Saints
Burnham v Henley Town - battle of the basement
Highmoor-Ibis v Royal Wootton Bassett
Lydney Town v Thatcham Town
Oxford City Nomads v Longlevens AFC
Thame United v Binfield
HELL1E
AFC Aldermaston v Finchampstead
Chinnor v Bicester Town
Sandhurst Town v Headington Amateurs
HELL1W
14:15 Letcombe v Woodstock Town
Abingdon United v Cirencester Town Dev
Milton United v Purton

WESSP
Andover Town v Bashley
Whitchurch United v Horndean
WESS1
AFC Stoneham v Fleet Spurs
Alton v East Cowes Victoria
Downton v Tadley Calleva
United Services Portsmouth v Andover New Street

B&B Intermediate Cup Q-Fs
Diddy Reserves v Marlow Utd
Risborough Rangers v Penn & Tylers Green
Woodley Utd v Gt Horwood @ Bulmershe Pavilion (13:30 KO) Scours Lane being used by it’s landlords Highmoor

… remaining Q-F Wendover v Kintbury called off this PM

[Sutekh]

Bracknell reached the B&B Trophy Final with a 2-1 win at Flackwell Heath - they’ll meet the winner of the other S-F scheduled for Sat 11th Feb between Newport Pagnell and Binfield. If the Moles get there one would hope the County FA will find a decent venue for the pair - Slough's Arbour Park could be quite a plum choice especially if it's all been completed before the Final date.

Apparently the SF game with Flackwell got rather "tasty" with 2 sendings off (1 for each team) and a shed load of bookings. Believe neither side was particularly impressed with the choice of referee by the county FA whom they said was a bit too young and inexperienced.

So went to Bracknell 3-0 Tuffley Rovers yesterday.

Bracknell's no. 10 (TJ Bohane) scored twice and looked a class above anyone else on the pitch. Also Bracknell's no.11 (Alex Rodrigues?) is pretty useful. They were in charge of the game right from the kick off and ultimately limited Tuffley to just 2 half-chances in the whole game.

Tuffley (from just south of Gloucester) were the last side to beat Bracknell (back in early November) and are tuff [sic] and well organised defensively (they're just above halfway in the table) but yesterday lacked any punch going forward. Without parking the bus they made life fairly frustrating for the home team and it was only in the later stages of the second half Bracknell made the game safe.

Larges Lane really looks good now. First time I've been since the refit and the pitch actually looks green with lovely clear markings and identity "painted" into - an excellent advert for the quality of the latest hybrid 3g pitches. Particularly great now that it is going to take more than a jug of water tipped onto the pitch to get a game postponed. The players must really enjoy playing on that surface and it's not a surprise that Chelsea use Larges Lane for their Foundation set up.

Not sure what other work is planned at the ground over the coming year beyond the completion of the clubhouse, but there are a few other building works in progress. I presume that the lights and basic standard of what is there already would be up to Southern League Div 1 standard just in case they get that opportunity at the end of this season. Also reintroducing covered stand/seating areas, like there were before, would make it very similar to what's on offer at York Road in terms of general appearance.

Current Hellenic Premier standings...

1 Bracknell Town 23 - 56
2 Thame United 23 - 55
3 Flackwell Heath 25 - 54
4 Thatcham Town 25 - 51
5 Highworth Town 26 - 49
6 Ardley United 25 - 43
7 Tuffley Rovers 25 - 40
8 Binfield 27 - 39
9 Royal Wootton Bassett 25 - 38
10 Brimscombe & Thrupp 21 - 36
11 Lydney Town 23 - 33
12 Longlevens AFC 24 - 27
13 Ascot United 25 - 24
14 Highmoor-Ibis 22 - 22
15 Brackley Town Saints 23 - 17
16 Oxford City Nomads 24 - 15
17 Henley Town 25 - 12
18 Burnham 25 - 12

[Four Of Clubs]

Round-up of yesterday's NL results:-

FA Trophy 2nd Rnd
1 Worthing 2-2 Sutton United
2 Tranmere Rovers 4-1 South Park
3 Bromley 1-2 Welling United
4 East Thurrock United 2-5 Braintree Town
5 Nuneaton Town {SIX} 6-1 Guiseley AFC
6 Boreham Wood 2-1 Alfreton Town
7 Barrow AFC 3-2 Matlock Town
8 Southport 1-2 Wealdstone
9 Gateshead 1-3 Lincoln City
10 Dartford 0-1 Chelmsford City
11 Kidderminster Harriers 3-0 Ebbsfleet United
12 Harlow Town 1-2 York City
13 AFC Sudbury 1-3 Macclesfield Town
14 Whitehawk 1-4 Dulwich Hamlet
15 Chester 0-2 Forest Green Rovers
16 Stockport County 1-1 Brackley Town – County levelled on 94’

FA Vase 4th Round Replay
Melksham Town 3-5 Bristol Manor Farm - att 1215- visitors were 5-1 up at one point; general view of those 'hoppers' who reported back was that the ground was well-aspected with only a few minor teething troubles - struggled with certain niceties with such a large crowd for its inaugural fixture. You'd be uncharitable in the extreme, if you'd didn't allow for the fact, that this was a fairly exceptional 'opener' - with the visitors not only almost on your doorstep but the leaders of your division arriving for a tie in a National Cup competition.
Manor Farm now travel to Bromsgrove in the 5th Round which is no longer regionalised.
'Minnows' Southall finally got a home draw - though they currently lodge at Hanwell - against fellow STEP06 club Exmouth. This tie is scheduled for SUNDAY 29th Jan - the other 7 ties are the day before. Holders Morpeth had their 'replayed' tie with S.Shields back at their ground in midweek ... but somewhat surprisingly succumbed 0-4

NAT
Torquay United 1-2 Woking

NATS
Bath City 2-0 Bishops Stortford
Concord Rangers 3-3 Oxford City
Eastbourne Borough 2-2 Hungerford Town – Crusaders 1 up then trailing in the last 10’ levelled for a point through Manny Williams
Hemel Hempstead Town 2-2 St Albans City – visitors score through newly arrived Jamie Cureton
Margate 0-2 Poole Town

ISTHP
Needham Market 1-1 Staines Town

SOUTHP
Biggleswade Town P-P Slough Town - Rebels losing touch slightly with the leaders now - though they do have games in hand
Cambridge City 0-2 Basingstoke Town
Cirencester Town 1-2 Chesham United
Hayes & Yeading United P-P Cinderford Town
SOUTH1C
Bedford Town 3-0 Marlow
Chalfont St Peter 3-2 Aylesbury United
Egham Town 3-4 AFC Dunstable
Farnborough 4-0 Barton Rovers
Kempston Rovers P-P Ashford Town (Mx)
Kidlington 1-2 Potters Bar Town
Northwood 3-3 Beaconsfield SYCOB
Royston Town 2-0 Fleet Town
Uxbridge 2-3 Histon
SOUTH1S&W
Hereford 1-2 Taunton Town –att 2917 - 'Bulls' first defeat of the season but they still head the league by 15 points
Larkhall Athletic 1-2 Winchester City
North Leigh P-P Yate Town
Wantage Town 0-1 Salisbury – heart-breaking loss – Freds concede on 95’
Wimborne Town 1-1 Didcot Town – home side level on 90’

CCLP
Abbey Rangers 1-2 Camberley Town - Camberley recovering well from an uncharacteristically poor start - though they have lost a lot of last seasons' squad - up to 6th.
AFC Hayes 2-4 Westfield
Chertsey Town 2-1 Bedfont Sports
Farnham Town 2-1 Raynes Park v ale
Guildford City 1-3 Knaphill
Hanworth Villa 1-0 Epsom & Ewell
Horley Town 3-0 Sutton Common Rovers
North Greenford United P-P Colliers Wood United
Spelthorne Sports 1-4 Hartley Wintney
Walton & Hersham 1-1 CB Hounslow United
Windsor {SIX} 6-0 Badshot Lea
CCL1
Ash United 0-4 Chessington & Hook United
Bagshot 2-2 Staines Lammas
Balham 4-2 Worcester Park
Banstead Athletic P-P Cove
Dorking P-P Farleigh Rovers
Epsom Athletic P-P AC London
Redhill 3-1 Eversley & California
Sheerwater 0-4 Cobham

HELLP
Ardley United 0-4 Highworth Town
Bracknell Town 3-0 Tuffley Rovers
Brimscombe & Thrupp {SIX} 6-1 Brackley Town Saints
Burnham 2-1 Henley Town - Burnham draw level with Henley at the foot of the table - both clubs are three points behind a faltering Nomads who didn't play today - not sure why as they were due to host Longlevens -and neither had County Cup commitments? Brackley Saints complete the drop zone a further 2 points . As always the number of relegation places are dependent upon the lower division's grading issues and whether a club will be coming down from the STEP above - and it does rather look as if Wantage may be dropping back down, following a somewhat torrid couple of seasons in Southern League.

Highmoor-Ibis 0-2 Royal Wootton Bassett
Lydney Town 1-3 Thatcham Town
Thame United 3-0 Binfield
HELL1E
AFC Aldermaston 1-2 Finchampstead
Chinnor 3-6 {SIX} Bicester Town
Sandhurst Town 1-4 Headington Amateurs
HELL1W
Abingdon United 3-1 Cirencester Town Dev
Letcombe 1-1 Woodstock Town
Milton United 0-3 Purton

WESSP
Andover Town 2-0 Bashley
Whitchurch United 2-2 Horndean
WESS1
AFC Stoneham {SIX} 6-1 Fleet Spurs
Alton 2-2 East Cowes Victoria
Downton 0-0 Tadley Calleva
United Services Portsmouth 3-0 Andover New Street

B&B Intermediate Cup Q-Fs
Diddy Reserves 2-3 Marlow Utd
Risborough Rangers 0-0 Penn & Tylers Green H win pens 4-2
Woodley Utd 5-0 Gt Horwood


... went for a 'long-range new tick' way down west nr 'bloody Torenton'. Luckily the M4/M5 was having one of it's better/lighter days.
WESTERN Div One Bishops Lydeard 3-0 Almondsbury UWE - good contest visitors in last place gave a good account of themselves but to no avail. Hosts are at their first season at this level and the ground is pleasantly aspected, on a down slope of the Quantocks north of Taunton and it ticks all the right grading boxes. Very friendly locals too -though we never 'advertise' that we are 'hoppers' unless asked directly.
Is strictly 'Zoider' country down this way but there is a brewery in the village and bottles of the local Ale are available in the clubhouse - very pleasant too..

[Tony Le Mesmer]

With no game for Maiders, I took in Thame United 3 - 0 Binfied.

A nice set in a recently built community complex. Thame seem to have teams represented at all levels, including Veterans! They have a good team on the pitch at Senior Level and I would expect them to be playing at a higher level than this very soon.

One sour note. The level of abuse dished at to officials at this level is alarming to say the least. Admittedly the standard of the officiating seems to be very low indeed, but that does not justify the tirade of personal insults dished by the club coaches. The Binfield manager Ross Kerridge threatened to take his players off after 5 minutes due to a seemingly wrong free kick award in the midfield.

[LUX]

gr8 thread, big thanks to those that contribute.

Just learned that Reading Town ceased to be in 2016.

Apparently Highmoor Ibis were to take over the Scours Lane ground, but I do not think that that has occurred(?)

[Hoop Blah]

Bracknell's no. 10 (TJ Bohane) scored twice and looked a class above anyone else on the pitch. Also Bracknell's no.11 (Alex Rodrigues?) is pretty useful. They were in charge of the game right from the kick off and ultimately limited Tuffley to just 2 half-chances in the whole game.

Agreed, Bohane is a very good player at that level and has probably cost Bracknell a (relatively) decent wedge to get him there. Alex Rodrigues is a centre back so I'm guessing he wasn't the 11 who might well have been Seb Bowerman who's impressed me the few times I've seen him.

One sour note. The level of abuse dished at to officials at this level is alarming to say the least. Admittedly the standard of the officiating seems to be very low indeed, but that does not justify the tirade of personal insults dished by the club coaches. The Binfield manager Ross Kerridge threatened to take his players off after 5 minutes due to a seemingly wrong free kick award in the midfield.

There's certainly a lot of bitching and I think it's because these are generally players who think they should've made it and so think they deserve better. As ever, the officials usually make less mistakes than the players.

[Hoop Blah]

gr8 thread, big thanks to those that contribute.

Just learned that Reading Town ceased to be in 2016.

Apparently Highmoor Ibis were to take over the Scours Lane ground, but I do not think that that has occurred(?)

Yep, Reading Town was a bit mess and the owners folded it with not too many games left to play whilst the management and players wanted to see out the season. The owners were only really in it so they had access to the site for Festival week as they ran the bars and/or security for the weekend. I think they lost that contract and so the football club just became a nuisance to them.

Highmoor have taken over Scours Lane and still have Woodley there as tenants but I think the place was in need of a lot of work after the neglect over the last few years.

[Four Of Clubs]

... just a couple of points to follow on from above:

Binfield's Manager is Roger Herridge

Thame's new ground (ASM Stadium) is quite impressive and they have plenty of scope for development - is a bit akin to The Gore with nearly all the facilities over on on side but no houses to worry about should they wish to expand.
Aylesbury Utd are 'lodging' there and former OSL winners Oakley (who were actually based in Bucks) have rebadged themselves as Thame Rangers and play on the outside railed pitch at the ASM - they are allowed to use the main pitch midweek if neither senior team are using it. They are doing pretty well in the South Mids Div Two.
I also think OUFC train there and they host various youth/junior/County representative matches there too as well as having a thriving youth development set-up of their own with Soccer Schools etc.

The 'Moles' B&B Trophy Semi-Final vs NPT (Away) has been confirmed as Sat 11th Feb.
In the other S-F, won by Bracknell last midweek @ Flackwell, a player saw red from each side - one of them Carl Withers former Binfield stalwart - bit of a surprise as he's usually an even tempered kind of lad on the field and is experienced enough not to get in bother - but without the details of the incident it's hard to comment further.

Bracknell's win v Tuffley was (I think) their 14th straight win in the league and Seb Bowerman - also ex-Binfield - is the left winger (no 11).

Highmoor/IBIS have indeed taken up occupancy of Scours - re-labelled it 'Rivermoor' - they vacated Palmer Park Stadium at the end of 15-16 season. Ironically PP now has a spanking new set of high-intensity floodlights - seem to be on most Mondays/Tuesdays when I drive past should I be going that way on the way home from football.

They have inherited a bit of an old wreck but seem keen to make a go of it - not doing too well ON the pitch this term though - may have a lost a few of their better players to other larger clubs in the area recently - I know some are playing up at Marlow.

In other news Burnham are said to have parted company with Luther Blissett and appointed ex-Slough man Mark Betts - evidently some funding has been made available as they signed no less than FIFTEEN players on last Thursday!!

Similar upheaval at the Racecourse where Ascot have parted ways with their management team after 5 1/2 very succesful years. neil Richards is the new man in charge.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Binfield's Manager is Roger Herridge

[

Yeah that's the one

Anyway, the bloke is a total idiot. I've honestly never seen anything like it, apart from Neil Warnock maybe. Twice i've seen his team this season and his behaviour has been totally unacceptable on both occasions. Shows his club up in a very poor light.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Looking like a lot of local games will be lost to frost tomorrow.

Anyone know exactly how frost proof 3g pitches are? Might take in Slough or Bracknell Town if Maidenhead game is off.

[Four Of Clubs]

Looking like a lot of local games will be lost to frost tomorrow.

Anyone know exactly how frost proof 3g pitches are? Might take in Slough or Bracknell Town if Maidenhead game is off.

...certainly NOT frost-proof - I believe Merthyr's 3G pitch was deemed unfit this last week in below zero temps - often the Ol' Bill may intervene if larger crowds are a concern - what with access roads etc but that's not normally a concern with the vast majority of NL games.

Woking has already been a victim of the weather with the authorities and the clubs, worried about Tranmere fans travelling in numbers, to game that was in jeapordy.
Would have thought Westfield's CCLP game over the other side of the road may well be scrapped, if Kingfield is unplayable?

UPDATE well below our normal 'radar' but quite pertinent as it does involve a local ground - tomorrow's Surrey Intermediate County tie between Virginia Water and Smallfield (?) has been postponed Frozen pitch - Stag Meadow was the declared venue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fair number of games fell foul of the frost this midweek – in brief those that did go ahead -

Maidenhead bt Slough 4-2 in the B&B Senior S-F - crowd well over 1100 – some controversial refereeing decisions by some accounts. Rebels led 2-0 but lost Hollis to a Red card just after the 2nd goal. 'Magpies' now face Hungerford in the Final

In the Hants Senior Cup Basingstoke overcame AFC Stoneham from the Wessex league and Winchester edged out Sholing 1-0 at the Silverlake Arena.
In League action SLP - Chesham drew 1-1 with Stratford– leaders Leamington’s game at home to Kettering was abandoned due to a floodlight failure just before H/T – apparently the 2nd time in a month this has happened – home side were losing both games 0-1 at the time.
However there have been 3 games played to a finish in this period without any problems.
- in the Central section Chalfont shared 4 goals with Aylesbury, whilst Farnboro were humbled 5-0 at leaders Royston
- In the S&W Taunton, fresh from beating runaway leaders Hereford, put 10 (TEN) past Larkhall – they host the beleaguered 'Freds' (Wantage) tomorrow – weather permitting. The game at Alfredian Park was 9-0 a month or so back.

I made a short trip down to Farnham and saw a 1-1 with Walton & Hersham, in the CCL Premier– good game under tricky conditions – I was a bit concerned about it taking place, as games at nearby Ash, Fleet & Hartley were frozen off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…here’s Saturday’s NL games – check before travelling, as they say – I can see a lot of surfaces being unplayable; as the temps are not set to rise much and many pitches are already like concrete – indeed the Berks Youth Leagues called off all of their Saturday games early this PM, to save mucking about with inspections.

NAT
Gateshead v Aldershot Town
Woking PP Tranmere Rovers - already called off to save the visitors travelling
NATN
Nuneaton Town v Brackley Town
NATS
Bishops Stortford v Concord Rangers
East Thurrock United v Margate
Ebbsfleet United v Chelmsford City
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Gosport Borough
Hungerford Town v Truro City
UPDATE Maidenhead United PP Eastbourne Borough - failed inspection
Oxford City v Bath City
Poole Town v St Albans City
Welling United v Dartford
Weston-Super-Mare v Wealdstone
Whitehawk v Hemel Hempstead Town

SOUTHP
Banbury United v St Neots Town
Basingstoke Town v Dunstable Town
Chesham United v Frome Town
Dorchester Town v Hayes & Yeading United
Slough Town v Chippenham Town
SOUTH1C
Arlesey Town v Kidlington
Ashford Town (Mx) v Royston Town
Aylesbury United v Uxbridge
Beaconsfield SYCOB v Petersfield Town
UPDATE Fleet Town PP Bedford Town - failed inspection
Histon v Chalfont St Peter
Marlow v Kempston Rovers
Potters Bar Town v Egham Town
SOUTH1S&W
Didcot Town v Shortwood United
Evesham United v North Leigh
Swindon Supermarine v Mangotsfield United
Taunton Town v Wantage Town
Winchester City P-P Bideford - called OFF this PM (Friday) - Bideford would have to have left at 08:30 for this and as it's -6 at the Denplan this eve they've thought better of it.

CCLP
Badshot Lea v Hanworth Villa
Bedfont Sports Guildford City - switched to the Spectrum (Guildford) due to building works at Bedfont.
Camberley Town v Sutton Common Rovers
CB Hounslow United v Farnham Town
Colliers Wood United v Raynes Park Vale
Epsom & Ewell v Bedfont & Feltham
Hartley Wintney v Chertsey Town
Knaphill v Horley Town
North Greenford United v Abbey Rangers
Walton & Hersham v AFC Hayes
Westfield v Spelthorne Sports
CCL1
AC London v Sheerwater
Chessington & Hook United v Worcester Park
Cove v Epsom Athletic
Eversley & California v Dorking
14:00 Farleigh Rovers v Balham
Frimley Green v Ash United
Redhill v Bagshot
South Park Reserves v Banstead Athletic
14:00 Staines Lammas v Cobham

HELLP
Brackley Town Saints v Burnham
Bracknell Town v Lydney Town
Flackwell Heath v Oxford City Nomads
Henley Town v Thame United
Longlevens AFC v Ardley United
Thatcham Town v Binfield
Tuffley Rovers v Highmoor-Ibis
HELL1E
14:15 Headington Amateurs v Wokingham & Emmbrook
14:15 Penn & Tylers Green v Didcot Town Res
Chinnor v AFC Aldermaston
Rayners Lane v Sandhurst Town
Wantage Town Res' v Bicester Town
Woodley United v Finchampstead
HELL1W
Abingdon United v Purton
Clanfield 85' v Letcombe
Milton United v Fairford Town


WESSP
AFC Portchester v Whitchurch United
Alresford Town v Portland United
Hamworthy United v Andover Town
WESS1
Andover New Street v Baffins Milton Rovers
Fleet Spurs v Downton
Hamble Club v Pewsey Vale
Laverstock & Ford v Alton
Totton & Eling v Tadley Calleva

[double d]

I have just moved into Ruscombe near twyford and thinking of getting to some maidenhead games seeing as it is quite near. May even get a st next season. Mrs DDs uncle is first team fitness coach at forest green rovers and they are looking increasingly like bottling promotion AGAIN so may be playing them next year!

Random fun fact about her uncle... he played with linvoy primus and Alan pardew at Barnet when in his early footballing days.

[Sutekh]

Random fun fact about her uncle... he played with linvoy primus and Alan pardew at Barnet when in his early footballing days.

Physically or psychologically?

[parky]

Hungerford and Basingstoke also OFF now.

[double d]

Random fun fact about her uncle... he played with linvoy primus and Alan pardew at Barnet when in his early footballing days.

Physically or psychologically?

I didn't understand your reply. He used to play actual football in the same team as them.

[Christof]

Looking like a lot of local games will be lost to frost tomorrow.

Anyone know exactly how frost proof 3g pitches are? Might take in Slough or Bracknell Town if Maidenhead game is off.

Only just seen this so obviously no use today but Slough's pitch is okay to play on down to temperatures of -5. The Merthyr pitch is older, and not as resilient apparently.
Saw quite a few non-regulars today, possibly Maidenhead and Chesham fans, and the attendance of 753 was quite a bit higher than would have been expected had other games been on (Chippenham brought a few dozen). Anyway, the bigger attendance didn't do Slough any favours and Chippenham won 1-0 with Slough really struggling for ideas after the first 20 minutes or so.
Next week it's away games to St Neots and Leamington so no doubt there are likely to be calls for the floodlights to stay on or be turned off, depending on the score...

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Took in Bracknell 3 - 0 Lydney Town. Game somewhat ruined by a penalty/red card call in the first half. Most seemed to share my opinion that it wasn't even a foul! Seen Bracknell and Thame twice each this season and it looks a straight fight between the two for the title. In all four games they have been easily the better team.

First visit to Larges Lane. The new pitch is obviously in good order and work is still going on. But a very cramped location and parking seems to be a problem with bigger crowds than before. But that will teach me for turning up at 2.59 ! Overall, didn't really do it for me as a venue i'm afraid.

[Four Of Clubs]

Results from those games that beat the widespread frost:

NAT
Gateshead 1-1 Aldershot Town
NATN
Nuneaton Town 2-2 Brackley Town
NATS
Bishops Stortford 1-0 Concord Rangers
Ebbsfleet United 2-0 Chelmsford City
- Hungerford are due to host Whitehawk tomorrow (Monday) evening if Bulpit thaws – temps forecast to level somewhere between 2-5 tomorrow, so outside chance unless parts of the ground are too heavily shaded. Should announce call off fairly early if necessary, as visitors have a fair way to travel – though not quite as far as Truro, who were due there yesterday,

SOUTHP
Banbury United 2-1 St Neots Town
Slough Town 0-1 Chippenham Town – covered above - Rebels recent slump in form continues
SOUTH1C
Hanwell 2-1 Aylesbury
SOUTH1S&W
Evesham United 1-1 North Leigh
Yate Town 0-2 Hereford

CCLP
CB Hounslow United 1-0 Farnham Town
Hartley Wintney 5-1 Chertsey Town - The Row stretch their lead to 21 points
CCL1
Cove A-A Epsom Athletic - battle of the bottom two sadly called off at the start of the 2nd half with Cove leading 3-1

HELLP
Brackley Town Saints 0-4 Burnham - huge influx of players reportedly from Slough Town’s 2nd string, is paying off with a 2nd win in a row for Blues who are now off the bottom spot now occupied by Henley. Helped to this big win by the dismissal of Saints’ Keeper.

Bracknell Town 3-0 Lydney Town 'Robins' take advantage of their ‘all-weather’ surface, playing with others frozen off - to leap 4 points clear

The last B&B Intermediate Q-F tie between Wendover from the Aylesbury & District & Kintbury Rangers from the North Berks League was frozen off – Marlow Utd from the TVL-P await in the semis due 11th Feb. The other semi-final will be between Risborough Rangers from the S.Mids Div One and Woodley Utd from Hellenic Div One East

WESSP
AFC Portchester 3-1 Whitchurch United
Hamworthy United 1-1 Andover Town


- I trekked down & across to - WESTERN Premier : Melksham 2-0 Cadbury Heath - to take a look at their ‘new build’ on the SE outskirts of the town. Roads clear from Hungerford down though Marlborough and Devizes. Ground is so new it doesn’t have a proper postcode of it’s own yet, that anyone is aware of. Actually an easier route would have been via Calne but they are digging the road up through the middle of that town – gives the SatNav real conniptions too! Came back that way. Incidentally Calne are due to move out to Beversbrook Sports on the N.outskirts soon themselves.
- Melksham have ambitions to reach SL and are well supported – got a massive crowd for their opener last w/e but that was a Vase game against their own league leaders so understandably inflated – got over 1200. Yesterday however ground comfortably coped with over 500 – and the home side won fairly easily. Doubt they’ll go up this year though as Brizzle Manor Farm are way ahead in the title race for the Western Premier.
- Stadium is surrounded by a vast number of practice football pitches and shares the site with the Rugby Club – stands are sited back to back, I think – didn’t look too closely.
- They also have a fully lit football pitch outside the main entrance which is used by their reserves, who play at STEP07 (Wilts League) They were also at home yesterday - 14:15 KO in spite of the lights – hosted former local ‘giants’ and near neighbours Trowbridge Town.
Early 80s saw them climb up as far as the Alliance Premier for 3 seasons. Fallen so far now that they slipped out of the main pyramid in 10-11 and play at little more than a park pitch on the southern edge of the town. Probably glancing very enviously at this facility