Up the 'Borough'

Todays match was at Coles Park where Haringey were playing St. Margaretsbury in the South Midlands Premier League.

Haringey is an amalgamation of Edmonton and Wood Green Football clubs who merged in 1973.

Coles Park is 80 years old and has a large solitary stand on the half way line with changing rooms and clubhouse behind.

The ground may soon be lost to housing. Perhaps a move

up the road to the White Hart Lane Community Stadium might be an option, but personally, 

I hope the club stays where it is.

Haringey were a goal up on 4 minutes courtesy of a penalty.

Against the run of play however, on 27 minutes Anstead equalised with a long range shot that went through the keepers arms.

4 minutes later Worrell made it 2 - 1 

Half time score 2-1

The second half was end to end stuff. McGuiness levelled the scores in the 80th minute. Three minutes later Worrell got his third.

Full time score 3-2

Haringey has now climbed to fifth in the South Midlands League after,

Richard Worrell scored a hat-trick in this 3-2 victory.

Attendance 47

Admittance to ground was £2.00 (programme included) Excellent value!!!

Food available in the Club House.

Galley Sunk

Hutton Versus Galleywood

This was quite an easy ground to find as the changing rooms are on the premises of the senior school on the main road through Shenfield and is called the Shenfield Match Day Centre. 

Like other Olympian grounds I have visited this season  it can accommodate cricket and additional football pitches.The actual pitch is across the lane from the school itself. 

Hutton are newcomers to the premier league having just been promoted Galleywood who finished second bottom last season were spared relegation. Ongar Town being relegated over some ground grading nonsense.

Hutton took the lead in the first minute and scored a second with the last kick of the first half. Half time 2-0

In the second half Hutton took total control  the 'Wood' making things harder for themselves when they were reduced to 10 players for a handling offence on the goal line. The resulting penalty duly converted.

Hutton 7 - Galleywood  1

Attendance 26

No programme

No food.

The Wembley Way

This was my first visit to Wembley since the rebuilding of the stadium in  2007, 

 

arriving unfortunately, with little time to look around the outside.

 

I was there to watch England versus Wales in the

 

European Championship Qualifying Match.

 

Seated in the upper tier with an excellent view of the playing area, however, the seats lacked the comfort of MK Dons, the Emirates and Brighton's stadia.

 

As a Channel Islander, I should have been taking  a neutral stance, but I decided to champion the underdog Wales.

 

Although according to FIFA ratings this should have been a landslide victory

for England, in reality there was little to separate the sides.

 

On 35 minutes England had a chance which they put away courtesy of

Ashley Young.

 

Wales had a chance on 76 minutes courtesy of Robert Earnshaw which they missed.

 

Full time score:

 

England 1 Wales 0

 

Attendance - 77,128

 

Food too expensive!!!!

 

Programme not applicable for me...I'm a groundhopper!

Goals Galore down on the Farm

Today I am back in the Olympian League to watch Hannakin Farm play
Harold Wood
Hannakin Farm were promoted to the premier league last season.    

They play at the Hannakin Farm Community Centre a vast sporting area incorporating several football pitches.

Their opponents Harold Wood finished  runners up last year but were champions the  previous  year.

The game kicked off in blistering heat and  by half time Harold Wood were

leading 3 - 0 and were in total control.

Early in the second half 'The Farm' pulled a goal back, which seemed to

revitalise them

However Harold Wood got a hotly contested penalty.

The outcome of which was that 4 players were booked and the penalty converted.

'The Farm' pulled a goal back to make it 4-2 but then 'Wood' slowly took control again.


Final Score:

Hannakin Farm 3 - Harold Wood 7
Attendance 15

No Programme.

Food  available  - None 

'Crows' on fire!!

 Todays visit was to Royston Town in the South Midlands league who

were playing St Margaretsbury.

Garden Walk, the home of Royston Town has quite an unusual

wooden enclosure close to the corner flag complete with wooden flooring.

The only other cover at the ground is a small stand on the other side of the pitch nestling on the half way line.

Behind the goal nearest the turnstile is the clubhouse changing rooms and the obligatory burger van.

Next to the small stand is a portakabin for directors and members.

Behind the far end goal  there is high fencing to stop the ball

going into neighbouring gardens.

Royston nicknamed 'The Crows' go into this match

with a 100% record from 4 games.

'The Crows' were 3-0 up in 18 minutes which for a

neutral supporter like myself was not good as I tend to think 'Game Over'.

'The Bury' (St Margaretsbury) however, started to improve on their

play after the third goal went in.

Halftime time score 3-0 to Royston.

In the second half 'The Crows' could  have doubled the score with more

accurate finishing.

Final score Royston Town 4 - St Margaretsbury 0

Dalton O'Brien scoring a hat-trick!

Attendance 156

Programme excellent

Food see above!!!

   

A Stroll in the Park

Today I  returned to the Essex Olympian Premier league
to watch Frenford Senior F.C.

I  decided to give the car a rest  and use the motorbike  as the weather was sunny with occasional showers forecast.

However, by the time I reached Harold Wood the rain took on monsoon proportions.

Fortunately it only lasted 15 minutes and the sun came back out.

Todays match was between Frenford Senior and White Ensign at the
Oakfields Sports ground, Barkingside.

Oakfield Sports ground in Forest Road  has a large sports complex which holds
several football and cricket pitches, along with 

an indoor sports centre, one of many in that vicinity .

Frenford is one of the oldest established of Essex amateur clubs, having been in existence since 1928.

Their opponents White Ensign hail from Southend.

Up until a minute before half time there was little between the sides.

Frenford were leading courtesy of an early penalty, however a sloppy pass 
by White Ensign  handed another goal to Frenford on the stroke of half time  which left the 'Ensigns'  2 goals down.

In the second half there was only one team in it as Frenford  put away another 3 goals.

They looked a  confident side who worked for one another and will  no doubt be challenging for honours at the end of this season.

Ensign who finished 3rd from bottom last season needed to switch on and not lose concentration, which happened a lot during the match.

As someone said as the third goal went in 'you've got to be in it to win it'!

Frenford Senior 5 - White Ensign 0

Attendance 25

Programme Fair.

Large clubhouse with good food and drink on offer.