A Game of One Half.

– Date: Saturday 6th September 2025
– Kick Off: 15:00
– Attendance: 73
– Distance Travelled: 52 miles
– Full Photo Gallery

– Competition: Wessex League – Division One
– Venue: Bonnymead Park | SP4 7BB
– Weather: Sunny, windy
– Admission: £6
– Programme: £1

The Intro

Amesbury Town returned to the Wessex League last season, after a single campaign in the Wiltshire County League. They finished a respectable 9th and will look to improve on that this time around. A slow start saw The Blues draw 0-0 with Clanfield on opening day, before losses to unbeaten Whitchurch United, and Ringwood Town put them at risk of going into freefall. The next game ended in a hard-fought away win at Fleetlands, before an impressive 3-1 victory over Hamworthy United. A week later Town’s FA Vase journey began with a comprehensive win over league rivals Blackfield & Langley. Last Friday, under the lights at Fawley, they secured another 3 points with 3 second half goals, before losing in the League Cup on penalties at home to AFC Aldermaston on Tuesday.

Last season Alresford Town finished an impressive 3rd, but lost in the play-offs to East Cowes Victoria, who would earn promotion soon after. They began this season on the front foot with wins against Totton & Eling, and Blackfield & Langley, before a 1-1 draw with Cove and then a 3-0 home loss to Romsey Town. Sadly The Magpies are out of the FA Vase; losing a five goal thrilled to early league leaders Whitchurch United. Last weekend they travelled to Ash United where they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat. In the League Cup on Tuesday they hosted Ringwood Town, but lost 1-0 – not ideal preparation for today’s match, but they’ll be looking to bounce back with a win.

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The Ground

Amesbury is a small town north of Salisbury, perhaps most famous for being the closest town to Stonehenge (around 2 and a half miles as the crow flies). Bonnymead Park, home to Amesbury Town, is on the western fringes of town a stone’s throw from the River Avon. It sits in a lovely green area with a play area and field and boasts a good-sized car park.

There is a single turnstile for entry into the ground, from where I was able to purchase a printed programme, and a pin badge. The ground itself has a clubhouse and changing rooms raised above pitch level at one end of the pitch. This also provides a decent amount of covered viewing space should the heavens open. In terms of seating for spectators, there is a covered stand with bench seating along one touchline.

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The Match

The sun was shining – a welcome break from the recent inclement weather that we’d been experiencing. This gave little clue as to what was to follow in an afternoon that would likely live longer in the memory of these clubs than usual. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors from a good counter attack. Oscar McCulloch laid it back to Sean Brennan, but the ball seemed to bobble and the shot was well over. The breakthrough came in the 9th minute through another McCulloch cross – this time the ball was bundled home from close range by Lewis Brown. Yet another cross from McCulloch came 3 minutes later, but this time it was cleared for a corner by Amesbury’s Jack Higdon. A period of relatively few chances ensued, although a pattern of questionable free kicks was starting to emerge. On 27 minutes Rio Edgar swung in an inviting free kick for the hosts, but none of his team mates seemed willing to attack the ball – much to the chagrin of the coaching team on the sidelines. Shortly after, a header from a corner was well saved by Alresford keeper Kieran Connell. What happened next, despite the feisty nature of the match up to this point, was completely unprecedented. A foul by an Amesbury player led to a coming-together involving most of both teams. It was eventually seemingly sorted, and the referee appeared to show two home players red cards, and possibly a yellow card to a visiting player. The two dismissed players made their way to the changing rooms, soon followed by the rest of the Amesbury team. It was now that I assumed half-time been instigated by the officials.

HALF-TIME:
AMESBURY TOWN 0 – 1 ALRESFORD TOWN

However, I soon spotted the referee on the pitch deep in discussion with (I think) the Alresford manager and captain, while the rest of the away side remained on the pitch. After several minutes of confusion – for the spectators at least – the referee blew his whistle, and it soon became generally accepted that the game had been abandoned. As I made my way to the club house it soon became apparent that many of the Alresford fans had taken issue with what some of the Amesbury players had allegedly said and done. Having not heard anything myself I will remain completely on the fence!

I was a real shame as the game was a pretty entertaining one, and was being played on a rare (of late) sunny afternoon. I was invited to enjoy a coffee and cake by some of the home club officials, which I was very grateful for, and had a chat with club secretary Richard before heading home.