An evening at Roker Park

Stotfold versus Hadley  in the South Midlands Premier League.

Stotfold is a sprawling village on the Bedford/Hertfordshire  border and

the team play at Roker Park a compact little ground with a seated stand on the left hand side

Parking is behind the nearside goal as is the clubhouse and tea bar.

Tonight, the 'Eagles' as Stotfold are nicknamed  are entertaining Hadley who are languishing in  the bottom half of the league.

 The 'Eagles'  start off brightly but Hadley gradually get into the game.

 Midway through the first half Reynolds opens the scoring for the visitors after some fine build up play.

Half time  Stotfold 0 - Hadley 1

In the second half the 'Eagles' defence is all at sea as Gibbs increases Hadley's lead and minutes later Turner makes it 3 - o

To add to Stotfold's  woe Dance misses a penalty and to sum up Stotfolds night they hit the inside post only for the ball to bounce out near the end of the match.

After the match Gordon Bickerstaff the Stotfold Manager resigns.

Full time  Stotfold 0 - Hadley 3

Attendance 74

Programme insteresting

Tea Bar kept busy behind goal.

Down the Lane

Leytonstone United versus Great Bentley at the Ilford Wanderers Rugby Club in the Essex County League. 

My final visit to Forest Road, after going down the road to Oakfield Sports Ground to watch Frenford Senior, further down the road to Fairlop Oak to watch Westhammians through the hedge to the London Marathon Sports Ground to watch Mamford Way we are now finally down the lane at Ilford Rugby Club to watch Leytonstone versus Great Bentley.

The visitors ran up a 4-0 lead but to their credit Leytonstone pulled back two goals. I was grateful they didn't score any more just in case of extra time as the heat was oppressive.

Goodness knows what it must have been  like to have been playing.

There are two rugby pitches with a football pitch in between.

I borrowed a chair from the pavilion to watch the first half. The pitch has housing backing onto the far end of the ground and in the distance there is a railway on a wet day you could view the match from the pavilion.

Full time score:

Leytonstone United 2 - Great Bentley 4

Attendance 14

No Programme

No food.

So now I am finally finished with Forest Road, I can explore the rest
of the Olympian League, in mysterious places... with exotic sounding

names from Sungate to Runwell......sounds like a Groundhopper's name to mel!

A Trip to Second Meadow

Today I am at Biggleswade to see Biggleswade  United V Royston Town in the South Midlands  Premier league.
Second Meadow, the name of United's ground is close to the river Ibel. A fairly modern looking ground with two stands either side of the centre circle although the stand I was in would double up as terracing as their are no official seats in that one.

Once inside you discover the clubhouse and toilets are outside the ground. There is no cover  or terracing behind either goal. The two turnstile attendants were very friendly and mentioned overall the club was a lot friendlier than their rivals Biggleswade Town who play at the other end of town in a higher league (Southern).

On a balmy evening Royston were far more slicker than their rivals and ran up a 6-1 victory.

Murray scoring United's goal from a penalty.  The Crows (Royston) goals coming from a hat trick from Lockett a penalty converted by Mallins, and goals from Young and Fehmi.

Biggleswade United 1 - Royston town 6
Attendance 132

programmes free with admission and very good quality.

An assortment of food in the clubhouse.

Through the Hedge

 

Todays match was Mamford Way versus Canning Town in the Essex Olympian League..

 

Last Saturday I was at Fairlop. This week I am literally 'Through the Hedge' at the London Marathon Sports Ground.

 

The Sports Ground  building looks very jaded now, most  probably built in the 60's but the playing surface was excellent with fixed rails surrounding the playing area.

 

Canning Town had most of the play in this game but like last Wednesday night hardly any shots at goal.

 

Canning Town's  only goal coming from a dubious looking penalty from Sean Mooney  The Mamford Goals were an  excellent  first from  Keke st Hilaire and a Tom Dosser hat trick.

 

Final score Mamford Way 4 - Canning Town 1

 

Attendance 22

 

Programme not issued but I was given a couple of old ones - excellent quality and content for this level of football.

 

Weather was ideal.

 

Food in clubhouse.

When the Saints.......

Today I am at St. Ives versus AFC Kempston Rovers in the UCL Premier League.

Westwood Road the home of St. Ives (Cambridgeshire) is down a lane next to the sports centre .

On entering the turnstiles there is an amount of covered terracing to the left of the turnstile by the centre touch line.

 The clubhouse is at the top of the terracing.

There is no cover or terracing behind either goal, but a small stand on the opposite side of the pitch with plenty of leg room.

Saints dominated for most of this match particularly in the second half.

They have lost all their home league matches this season and this match highlighted the problems creating  chances but nobody capable of putting the ball into the net.

In the driving rain the match was heading for a stalemate, when Will Fordham found some space in the penalty area  in the 80th minute to drive home the deservedg goal for St Ives.

St Ives 1 AFC Kempston Rovers 0

Attendance 80

Programmes average to fair

Food available in the club house but I went home straight after the match as the weather was bad.

Hammers Hammer Opposition

I am at Fairlop Oak Playing Fields today to see
Westhammians versus Mamford Way, Essex Olympian League Premier division

and I am spoiled for choice as the number of football pitches goes into double figures.

There were at least 6 matches being played but I  chose the match on pitch
number one that has the luxury of a fixed rail surrounding the pitch.

Tom Dosser opened the scoring for Mamford and also scored the final goal.

In between, the 'Hammers' rattled in 6 courtesy of one own goal, a

brace from Danny Downer and goals from Mason, Siabi, and Harding.

Final score:

Westhammians -  6 Mamford Way -  2

Attendance 10  - lowest so far this season.

No Programme

Food probably in clubhouse but as I was soaked  through  from the heavy rain
I headed straight  for home  after the match.