WEST COUNTRY FOOTBALL

Tred Carefully.

TREDEGAR TOWN 0 – 2 NEWPORT CITY

The Intro

The Ground

The Match

The Photos

– Friday 21st April 2023
– 19:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: c.80
– Full Photo Gallery

– Ardal Leagues – South East Division
– Tredegar Leisure Complex, Tredegar
– Weather: Cloudy, Cold
– Admission: £4

Intro

This is the first game I locked in when planning this weekend away; I had a look to see what Friday games were on and this was one that caught my eye. A match between two teams battling against relegation seemed like a good start to a weekend of football and so it was settled. Tredegar come into this game in a patchy run of form, most recently drawing at home to Brecon Corries on Tuesday night. On Saturday they secured what could be a vital win against bottom side and local rivals RTB Ebbw Vale. Currently in 13th position (out of 16), Tredegar have struggled for consistency all season; only stringing together consecutive victories on one occasion.

Newport City are a position and a point better off than their hosts today and lost their last game, against Chepstow Town a week ago. Before that was a resounding 7-1 away win over Monmouth Town, and this demonstrates a similar struggle for form to the home side. Having said that, their league performance has improved after they lost the opening 7 games of the league season, including a 2-0 loss to Ebbw Vale.

This could prove to be a close one to call, with the reverse fixture in February ending in a 1-1 draw.

Heyters Gonna Heyt.

FC DEVIZES UNITED 0 – 3 HEYTESBURY FC

– Tuesday 18th April 2023
– 19:30 Kick Off
– Attendance: c.200

– Trowbridge & District League – Knockout Cup Final
– Oakfield Stadium, Melksham
– Weather: Windy, Cold
– Admission: £3

Intro

FC Devizes United will have to do something that no other team has managed all season: stop Heytesbury FC from winning. The Stallions themselves are having a great first season one level below in the Trowbridge and District Football League Division 2; they’ve played 17 and won 16 of them, and with games in hand over 1st and 2nd place they are still very much in with a chance of promotion. That loss came way back in September; a heavy loss at home to top-of-the-table Park United. Since then, aside from a County Cup loss in January, United have been on a brilliant winning run. Their last match was a resounding 14 (fourteen)-1 win over bottom side Staverton Rangers – the perfect morale-booster for a cup final.

Heytesbury secured the title in February and are on course for a remarkable quadruple after having also won the Wiltshire Junior Cup in March. After tonight they face Westbury United Reserves in the final of the A&B Cup on the 25th April – a match that could see them win their fourth trophy of the season. While there is no doubt that Heytesbury won the league convincingly by winning every single match, it is perhaps surprising that thrashings were fairly uncommon. This might be the thread of hope that FC Devizes United can take and hold on to coming into tonight’s game.

Wherever I Wander.

DILTON MARSH WANDERERS 2 – 3 BRADFORD TOWN A

– Saturday 1st April 2023
– 15:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: ~10
– Full Photo Gallery

– Trowbridge & District League – Division Two
– Green Lane Playing Fields, Devizes
– Weather: Cold, Overcast
– Admission: Free

Intro

The recent rain has left Wanderers’ usual home pitch at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster unusable. Fortunately they were able to use the artificial pitch at the Wiltshire FA’s headquarters as an alternative.

The ‘hosts’ are currently 5th in the league of 13, but haven’t played since the 18th March. In fact that game was at this very same venue – a 3-2 away win against Bishops Cannings (the usual home side at Green Lane). A couple more away wins preceded that victory, meaning the Peacocks come into this fixture on a good run of form. Standout results so far this season include convincing wins against basement club Staverton Rangers – 12-1 at home and 8-1 away. These two sides have already met twice this season, and both enjoyed one 3-2 victory each. Dilton’s win came in the A&B Cup, while Bradford emerged victorious in the league back in February.

Top of the table Bradford Town A have only lost twice in the league this season; against 2nd place Park United and 4th place FC Devizes United. They have, however, won their last 4 league games – this mini-run of good form was punctuated by a Knockout Cup loss to FC Devizes; the Stallions proving to be something of a bogey team for the league leaders. They may well prove to be formidable opposition to Dilton as they look to continue their habit of winning, and winning by a number of goals. Unless I’m mistaken, Bradford are yet to fail to score this season in all competitions.

Tea and a Twix

TIMSBURY ATHLETIC 0 – 2 WELLS CITY RESERVES

– Saturday 18th March 2023
– 15:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: c70
– Full Photo Gallery

– Somerset County League – Premier Division
– The Conygre, Timsbury
– Weather: Sunny
– Admission: Free

Intro

These two sides have played the fewest games (16 and 15 respectively) of all the teams in the league, yet currently Timsbury are 5th and Wells City Reserves are 6th in the division.

Timsbury have won their last 3 league matches, including a 12-0 win over a doomed-looking Stockwood Green who are currently on -1 points. Their last loss in the league was back in October against 2nd place Middlezoy Rovers, and in fact the week before that Timsbury lost 5-2 to today’s opposition. Athletic also find themselves in the semi-finals of the Somerset Senior Cup after a penalty shootout win over Yatton & Cleeve, but they’ll have to get past Premier Division leaders Chilcompton Sports to secure a place in the final.

Wells Reserves have only lost one league game all season; a record shared with the aforementioned Chilcompton Sports who current hold top spot in the division. That loss, somewhat surprisingly, came against mid-table Ilminster Town. Despite this blip they have managed some impressive wins so far; an away 3-0 win over Middlezoy, and a 2-1 victory at 3rd place Clevedon United particularly stand out. Last weekend Wells lost in the League Cup to Middlezoy; a potentially morale-damaging 5-2 loss at home to the south Somerset outfit.

Devon-sent.

LARKHALL ATHLETIC WOMEN 0 – 4 EXETER CITY WOMEN

– Sunday 5th March 2023
– 14:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: 60
– Full Photo Gallery

– Women’s National League – Division One South West
– Plain Ham, Bath
– Weather: Cold, cloudy
– Admission: £3

Intro

Going into the business end of the season, the Division One South West of the FA Women’s National League is looking to be a close-run thing. Exeter City are currently leading the way and are in a decent vein of form, barring a 2-1 loss to 3rd place AFC Bournemouth. Before that the last time they didn’t win was back in early December, away at MK Dons in the League Cup. The Grecians were up in this neck of the woods last weekend; beating Keynsham Town 3-0. The low point of the season was probably a 5-0 loss to promotion rivals Cardiff City way back in September.

Contrastingly, the Larks are fighting for dear life at the other end of the table. Currently occupying the penultimate relegation spot and having played a couple more games than most of those around them they need to find some results in the near future. Despite having lost all but 3 of their league games so far, Larkhall have rarely been on the end of a thrashing. Last weekend saw them gain a vital 3 points against local rivals Swindon Town. After today they have 5 games to save their season, two of which are against relegation rivals AFC St Austell, and Maidenhead United; these could well be season-defining matches.

Stoking The Fire.

SGS OLVESTON UNITED WOMEN 1 – 3 OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS LADIES

– Sunday 26th February 2023
– 14:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: ~45
– Full Photo Gallery

– South West Regional Women’s League – Northern Division
– Stoke Gifford Stadium, Bristol
– Weather: Cold, Sunny
– Admission: Free

Intro

Just 5 teams compete in the Northern Division of the South West Regional Women’s League this season after the dropping out of Weston Mendip. Olveston are currently in 4th position, however just 2 points separate them from top spot. Each of the 5 teams has played a different number of matches, which makes it difficult to call who might be favourites for the championship come the end of the season. Olveston’s last game was a friendly against Swindon Town’s Development which ended in a 2-0 win for the Wiltshire team. Prior to that was the reverse of today’s fixture and saw Olveston come from 1-2 down to win 3-2.

Oldland sit in 2nd position but have played the most of any team in the league, so they’ll be desperate for the win today to keep them ahead of their rivals. They’ll also be keen to avenge the result of these teams’ meeting a few weeks ago. Looking back at results so far this season it is clear that anyone can beat anyone in this division – particularly the top 4 teams – too close for me to call a winner in today’s match anyway!

Take Me To Church.

PUCKLECHURCH SPORTS LADIES 5 – 0 MIDDLEZOY ROVERS LADIES

– Sunday 5th February 2023
– 14:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: ~60
– Full Photo Gallery

– South West Regional Women’s League – Eastern Division
– The Recreation Ground, Pucklechurch
– Weather: Sunny, cold
– Admission: Free

Intro

These two sides met last week down in Somerset, with the Bristol team coming out convincing 9-0 winners. In fact Pucklechurch remain unbeaten in the league this season after having player 7 matches. This is all the more impressive when you realise that they were promoted from the Gloucestershire County League last year. In addition to their fantastic league form, Pucklechurch managed a good FA Cup run; making it to the 1st Round proper before losing to Bournemouth Sports from the league above.

Today’s visitors are 6th in this league of 8 teams. They have won 2 of the 9 games played so far – both victories coming over Weymouth in December and October. With it being such a small league, it is quite closely packed and so a couple of good results could see Middlezoy climb a few places. They’ll certainly be looking to improve on last week’s showing and begin that run of form.

The Bees’ Knees.

SHREWTON UNITED 1 – 5 TROWBRIDGE TOWN

– Saturday 28th January 2023
– 14:15 Kick Off
– Attendance: 52
– Full Photo Gallery

– Wiltshire Senior League – Premier Division
– The Recreation Ground, Shrewton
– Weather: Overcast, cold
– Admission: Free

Intro

Today sees the meeting of two teams who would like to return to the higher levels of the game that they used to enjoy. The home side were last in the Western League in the 2012/13 season, while Trowbridge Town dropped out of the Hellenic League the season before that. Having recently made public their intentions to be promoted back to Step 6 at the end of this season (should they finish in a promotion place), the visitors will look to continue the excellent form that they have been enjoying so far this campaign.

Trowbridge Town’s last competitive fixture was 2 weeks ago due to a postponement last week because of the frost. That game, played at the University of Bath, saw them come from behind to beat Salisbury FC Development in the League Cup. The Bees have won all but one of their league games this season, which they drew at home with Kintbury Rangers. There have been some high scoring wins along the way, including a 9-0 victory in the reverse of today’s fixture. Trowbridge lost their manager, Jamie Jordan, to Bradford Town halfway through the season so the spotlight will be on new boss Ryan Baggs as he looks to continue this promotion push.

Today’s hosts Shrewton are currently lingering just above the relegation zone with just 3 wins to their name. They will be buoyed by the fact that they have games in hand over most of those around them. Their game last week against Odd Down AFC Reserves also succumbed to the frost. Prior to that their form has been poor and you’d have to go back to October for their last win – a 9 goal thriller against Marlborough Town. In fact all 3 of The Shrews’ wins have been apparent thrillers – another 5-4 against Frome Collegians came immediately after a 4-3 win at Calne Town Reserves.

A Long Story.

CALNE TOWN 2 – 2 LONG CRENDON FC

– Saturday 7th January 2023
– 15:00 Kick Off
– Attendance: 65
– Full Photo Gallery

– Hellenic League – Division One
– Bremhill View, Calne
– Weather: Rain
– Admission: £5

Intro

Despite believing geography to be one of my stronger subjects I’ll admit I had to look up where exactly Long Crendon is. The village is located in west Buckinghamshire, while the club currently groundshare over the border at Oxford City as they work on getting their ground in Bucks compliant with Step 6 football. They travel westwards today 4 league places lower than their hosts. Their league form seems a tad patchy – losing their previous 3 games including a 4-1 loss at home to Stonehouse Town last time out. Conversely they got off to an impressive start to the season, winning all of 3 of their opening matches, beginning with a 5-2 away victory over Southam United and following that up with a 4-0 success over Littleton. Since then it’s been a bit inconsistent, although Long Crendon did beat Calne in Oxfordshire back in October.

Calne Town are currently in 8th position after being relegated from the Hellenic Premier Division last season. Of course they’ll be eager to return to that level, however it isn’t looking likely to happen this spring as The Lilywhites struggle to keep a positive run of form together. Having said that, good recent wins over higher-placed Abingdon United in the league, and over Worcester Raiders (of the Hellenic Premier) in the League Cup, show what Calne are capable of. The Wiltshire side’s first game of the year saw them lose narrowly to 2nd placed Milton United who are 12 points behind leaders Pershore Town but with 4 games in hand.

Poisoned Ivy.

IVYBRIDGE TOWN 0 – 1 ELBURTON VILLA

– Monday 26th December 2022
– 11:30 Kick Off
– Attendance: 105
– Full Photo Gallery

– Walter C Parsons Cup – Third Round
– Erme Valley Playing Fields, Ivybridge
– Weather: Sunny, Rain Showers, Mild
– Admission: £5

Intro

In what looks like the final season in its current guise, these two South West Peninsula League sides come into this League Cup game at opposite ends of the table. If all goes to plan, next season will see the debut of a league which should combine the SWPL and the Western League in an attempt to reduce journey times in the latter. Elburton Villa will need to improve if they are to be sure of being involved in this new setup as they find themselves 2nd from bottom with only 3 wins to their name so far. That being said, they are on something of a good run of results including an away win at Honiton Town and a decent draw with high-flying Brixham. They have also only recently seen their FA Vase run come to the end at the hands of Western League Premier promotion hopefuls Bridgwater United. Before that game their Vase campaign saw Villa enjoy wins over Ashton & Backwell United, Torrington and Dobwalls.

Today’s hosts, on the other hand, are riding high in 3rd spot and have scored 5 goals in both of their last two games. Their stand-out league result so far is probably the 3-0 away victory over current leaders Okehampton Argyle back in August. They followed that up with a 7-2 demolition of Torrington. An impressive away win over Western League Premier Millbrook in the Vase was not replicated in the next round as they found themselves losing on penalties to league rivals Bovey Tracey. Talking of the FA Vase, I saw Ivybridge win a 5-goal thriller against Longwell Green Sports back in 2017, though of course they’ll be hoping to wrap things up in normal time today.