10/03/2007 - Witham Town 1 Enfield 0

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The match I originally wanted to see today was Hayes V Braintree. That finished 2-3 to the Iron.

For reasons that will become apparent, I decided that it was too far away and so plumped for Thurrock V Dorchester Town. That finished 2-3 to the Magpies.

Hmmm, not doing so well so far in picking the right match to go to.

Unfortunately though, my destination from Braintree for any match didn't take place until 2.10pm and so I decided to revisit Witham's Spa Road (last seen in 1980) for a Ryman North clash with Enfield. That finished 1-0 to the homesters. Grrrrrr.

The reason for my late departure was the customary clash between solitary pursuits and family responsibility, Vanessa had made it clear that this was Spring Cleaning The Garden weekend and the list of jobs were plentiful.

So despite an 8.30am start on shovelling, wheelbarrowing, tip-visiting and general sprucing, the list was not completed until too late for both of the earmarked five-goal thrillers.

On the way to Witham, I passed Essex Olympian League White Notley and saw them in action for the first time since I have moved up this way, despite passing the ground on many occasions.

Notley really is a beautiful (lottery-funded) set-up and so much nicer than Witham's Spa Road, which looks like a corrugated-iron prison.

Although from the looks of the 'youths' hanging around the skate-park outside, I can understand why the maximum security. This is keeping people out rather than keeping people in.

Witham is fairly similar to Braintree in being a north Essex town which time has forgotten. But while Braintree is getting the spin-off of Stansted's expansion, Witham as a town is struggling, much like their team who are dwelling in the bottom reaches of the Ryman North.

Enfield - a team with plenty of heritage but no home pitch of their own - are also also-rans in the Ryman N this year although they aren't looking over their shoulder at relegation in the same way as Witham.

And this bottom-feeder edginess was probably the difference between the two teams. Witham had the best chance of the match in the last ten minutes of the first half and took it.

Striker Kevin Hawes found himself through on goal and calmly took it around the Enfield keeper before slotting into the open net.
It was one of the few chances of a first half that was dominated by Enfield, and the north London team kept on in the second half maintaining their superior position... But there was no end product.

The Enfield fans - rivalling Harlow in their profanity - were at a low ebb, saying: "How did we stuff Potters Bar and lose to this shite" on their way out, while during the match having countless shouts of "Language" hurled at them from the home fans.

The cheers at the end when the ref finally blew his whistle showed the relief that was running through the club after a number of defeats. The win leaves them seven points clear of the drop zone with nine games to go.

All very nice, but the match however brought back in to play the Stoneman Profanity Rating, as players, officials and spectators today raised the level to at least four out of five chili peppers.

Great programme too.

17/01/2007 - Maldon Town 4 Arlesey Town 1

TWO matches in two nights, perhaps a bit cheeky, but a prior deal had been struck for two passes and I felt obliged to hold my side of the bargain.

Originally I wanted to go to Potters Bar Town to see them play Harlow but this match fell victim to the heavy rain and so I revisited Maldon Town, although it's not strictly a revisit as when I went to Maldon Town back in 1981 it was at their old ground (Fambridge Road?).

I've been past the current stadium on a number of occasions but never been on the inside so it was a new experience although the temperature was a bit cold and I was feeling the effects of the extra time and penalties from the previous late night. Getting old. :o(

How can I describe Madon? Again the pitch sits inside a sort of bowl on one side with an incline behind the back straight which presumably leads down toward the river area. Couldn't see if it did or not though as it was too dark.

On the home straight there is the bar/clubhouse/changing rooms facility which is new and modern although the bar was going under a refurbishment.

A big blow at the start of the match though... No programmes! Something to do with a technical failure at the printers... Grrr.

There was a lot of rainwater in and around the stadium, but the pitch looked in good shape and indeed played well.

Arlesey took the lead in a close first half through a goal from Michael McKenzie although Maldon equalised just before half time when Dean Parratt scored direct from a free kick.

Then during the break there was an absolute downpour and the second half became something of an ordeal for me as the temperature dropped even further, with the stands as they were offering little shelter. The wind was pointing in such a direction that it just swept the rain straight in and up into the back straight grandstand.

Maldon emerged as the dominant side through two goals from Steve Wareham and one from Lee Perry. But I was just waiting for the ref to blow up so I could shoot back to the car and get the heater on...

Links:
Maldon Town
Arlesey Town

16/01/2007 Barkingside FC 2 Redbridge FC 2

I THOUGHT this was the fourth time that this fixture had been scheduled after a string of postponements due to a waterlogged pitch but the programme insert stated that this was actually the fifth time the match had been scheduled... it was worth the wait.

The trip was easy enough from South Woodford to Barkingside, fifteen minutes tops and I arrived at the Oakside Stadium about an hour before kick-off so went into the bar for a pint of Guinness and to read the programme.

After that, both teams were warming up so I went outside to watch them and to survey the ground.

The Oakside is what I would describe as a mature stadium with the signs of wear and tear beginning to show. You enter at one corner of the side which runs alongside the train line, indeed the sound of the underground trains rumbling past was a constant throughout the evening.

The changing rooms/bar and snack bar are all located on this corner, and the ground develops out from this focal point.
The main grandstand is a low, wooden affair along one side while opposite is a real concrete and wooden chicken run, all dark and tunnel-like.

A raised area at the end nearest the bar provided an excellent vantage point for the climax of the evening, but after the kick-off I walked around from the far end to the home straight and stood behind the away (Redbridge) dugout.

Redbridge FC were in the away dugout at their home pitch because for this Essex Thameside Trophy match they were playing away to their tenants Barkingside FC.

So it was Essex Senior League V Ryman Division One North and naturally the home team in red were the underdogs.

Imagine my delight (as a neutral) then when they went one-nil up following a Lee Forbes goal, converted from a free kick which bobbled around in the Redbridge box until the tall defender lashed it home.

The effing and blinding of Redbridge Manager Alan Fenn cranked up a notch after that and the match threatened to overboil as the superior skill and touch of the stung 'visitors' were discarded for a few open studs and sharp elbows.

I had stood behind the Redbridge dugout because I'd wanted to watch Fenn in action after a comical warm-up in which he had played the part of an amicable foul-mouthed bully to his players, picking on each in turn. He didn't disappoint, and at one point hurled some verbal into the ground at a couple of old boys who had voiced disapproval at his language.

Anyway, that aside, the visitors equalised just before half time through a similar sort of goal to that the home team had managed, goal-mouth bobble falling to the right person, in this case Gary Skerrit.

Half time was delayed by a five minute stoppage after an ambulance had to be called for one Barkingside player injured in I think a clash of heads.

Redbridge scored again shortly after the break through a well-worked shot from Mitch Hahn, who amusingly would have been subbed if there been a break in play prior to him getting the ball. You pick up great snippets standing by a dugout.

From that point on Redbridge took their foot off the pedal and while they never looked like conceding due to the difference in class between the teams, they certainly didn't break a sweat in trying to finish off their tenant hosts.

And naturally they paid for it.

Barkingside had brought on star striker Warren Bennett who has notched 15 already this season and scored 40 for Harold Wood Athletic last season, and was clearly the best talent that 'Side had on show.

His touch leading the front line allowed Barkingside to carve out a couple of touches and he produced a marvellous defence-splitter to let in the left winger who crossed for Brad Foley to convert the equaliser. Totally deserved.

Into extra time and Redbridge just weren't able to move up through the gears, limbs presumably getting weary and while the visitors had the possession, the home side had the better chances.

Penalties were the only option and the crowd decamped from the stands to the raised area behind the goal at the top of the pitch to watch the drama.

By that time I was totally on the side of the underdogs and thought that would be their kiss of death, but they delivered five exemplary spot kicks while Redbridge could only convert four of their five - Chris Sloane the villain and goalkeeper Chris Clark the hero.

Great entertainment and a double tick.

Links:
Barkingside FC
Redbridge FC

13/01/2007 - Arlesey Town 2 Potters Bar Town 1

I MADE the trip from Braintree to Arlesey Town's ground in Hitchin Road in about an hour going down the A120, on towards the A10, then on the A507 through Baldock to Arlesey. I chose Arlesey as I had no kids in the car so a longer journey wasn't a problem and it would give me a chance to nail the north western corner of the Ryman Division One North.

On the way I past through a town called Cottered which had a match playing in a park which after consulting my Non-League Newsdesk and Football Mitoo was likely to have been a Hertford FA Junior Cup match Cottered (2) V Inter (3)

The weather was overcast but there was no rain, however there was a strong wind in attendance travelling virtually straight down the pitch from right to left as you looked out from the main stand.

I took a picture of the turnstile and then when I went through, the turnstile man asked me if I had taken my photo for posterity. I resisted the temptation to tell him I was from Bedfordshire Health and Safety and said yes, before he relieved me of £6 entrance, £1.50 for a chunky-looking programme and 50p for a Golden Goal (74th minute).

Into the ground and I was greeted by a stadium which reminded me slightly of Harlow Town but without the upper deck on the main stand and without the sense of brand new-ness. Still very tidy and respectable.

Opposite the main stand is a long terrace with plenty of standing, while the main stand has three or four rows of seats in front of changing rooms, a well-equipped bar and a neat looking press box which is likely sponsored by the nearest PVC windows business.

At one end there was a nice terrace behind the goal, unfortunately the wind rendered that uninhabitable, and in fact the only place with any reasonable shelter was the main stand or a handicapped stand up behind the right-hand goal.

The snack bar looked good but remained untouched due to a ham and cheese toasty consumed before leaving Braintree.

The match started brightly if unskillfully with a lot of huff and puff from both sides. Arlesey had the first best chance as one of the strikers headed nicely toward goal, forcing a good tip over from the Potters Bar keeper.

Then Potters Bar went close with a header when they hit the bar, but the match was heading toward a nil-nil at half time until the 45th minute when Potters Bar gave up a loose free kick just to the left of the box which was crossed in invitingly for a well-placed header and one-nil.

The Scholars were unfortunate to go in one behind and after a nice pint of Guinness in the bar, they found themselves two behind when another good Arlesey attack ended with a header against the bar and a quick response from Craig Rydeheard to convert the knock down... I had the Guinness, not the Potters Bar defence mind.

Up to that point I had expected Potters Bar to win, as they were playing with the wind in the second half and they had played the better football, and indeed they pulled one back in the 75th minute, although I was up the wrong end to get a good look at Daniel Taylor's goal having taken shelter in the disabled area which I was advised by a local was the plum spot in the ground to avoid the wind.

He was correct and we enjoyed some banter for the next 15 minutes as Potters Bar desperately sought for an equaliser, a general lack of composure in front of goal their undoing and the Arlesey crowd went home happy, as did I after a very pleasant trip was enhanced by the news that Derby had struck a 94th minute winner at Pride Park.

Links:
Arlesey Town
Potters Bar Town