WEST COUNTRY FOOTBALL

Tag: April

  • Tis The Season.

    Tis The Season.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Saturday 19th April 2025
    – 15:00 Kick Off
    – Attendance: ~80
    – Distance Travelled: 46 miles
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – Dorset League – Senior Division
    – Recreation Ground, Tisbury
    – Weather: Sunny, mild
    – Admission: Free
    – Programme: N/A

    Intro

    The race for the Dorset Senior League title looks like it will be a close-run thing. Leaders Mere Town have played 19 of their 20 matches, compared to with Cobham Sports Reserves in 2nd, and Tisbury United in 3rd who have played 17 and 18 respectively. Mere are 5 points better off than Cobham, who in turn are a point ahead of Tisbury. The top side’s last game is against today’s hosts a few days after today’s match. A win for either side today would make things very interesting; even a draw doesn’t exactly guarantee the title to Mere!

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  • Worlewind.

    Worlewind.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Saturday 27th April 2024
    – 14:00 Kick Off
    – Attendance: ~35
    – Distance Travelled: 102 miles
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – Somerset County League – Premier Division
    – Worle Recreation Ground, Worle
    – Weather: Overcast
    – Admission: Free
    – Programme: N/A

    Intro

    Worle FC have 5 games to save their season. Currently in 14th position out of 16 (the 3rd relegation spot), they have started to show signs of turning things around in recent weeks. Two away wins in the last two games; against already demoted Clutton, and then Somerton Town who themselves are in the relegation scrap, has put Worle within a point of Ilminster Town in 13th. Things got off to an auspicious start as the Weston-Super-Mare side earned 7 points from 9 in the opening 3 games. To say things dropped off after that would be an understatement, as they bagged a meagre 2 points from the next 11 games; not winning another league match in 2023.

    Nailsea United are mid-table – out of the running for promotion, and not yet mathematically safe from relegation; they will be looking for a win today to take another step towards securing Premier Division football for another season. Like today’s opponents United have also won both of their previous 2 matches – at home to Keynsham Town Reserves, and Chard Town. United haven’t met Worle yet in the league this season (they meet at the Grove Sports Club in a week’s time), however the Red Arrows came out on top in the league cup; winning 3-0 in Nailsea.

    Just 8 miles separate these two, and with plenty to play for today we are hopefully in for an exciting contest!

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  • Chill Out.

    Chill Out.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Saturday 20th April 2024
    – 13:00 Kick Off
    – Attendance: ~35
    – Distance Travelled: 29 miles
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – Mid-Somerset League – Division Two
    – Chilcompton Sports Ground, Chilcompton
    – Weather: Sunny, Cold
    – Admission: Free
    – Programme: N/A

    Intro

    Just 8 teams are competing in the Mid-Somerset League Division Two this season, but it seems like game time for these teams has been boosted by a number of cup competitions. Of those 8 teams, 6 are either a Reserve or A Team.

    3 sides have completed their league season already, while today represents the last league match of the season for Pensford. They are yet to lose a game in the league this season, and in fact have only failed to win on one occasion; that draw – a 2-2 tie – came at the end of September against now 2nd bottom Westfield FC A. There have been cup defeats along the way, including a potentially morale-destroying 7-1 home defeat to Shepton Mallet Reserves who are currently storming the next league up.

    Chilcompton Sports A have had a bit of a mixed season so far – recently having lost twice to bottom side and village rivals Chilcompton United (once in the league and once in the Wilmott Cup), but defeating 2nd place Coleford Athletic Reserves 6-1 in Coleford. They are yet to draw this season, so goals seem guaranteed today! In December Pensford and Chilcompton Sports A faced off at Pensford Recreation Ground; a game that finished 5-2 to the Viaducts.

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  • Victoria’s Secret.

    Victoria’s Secret.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Tuesday 16th April 2024
    – 19:45 Kick Off
    – Attendance: 286
    – Distance Travelled: 48 miles

    – Hellenic League – Division One Play-Off Semi Final
    – The Flying Monk Ground, Malmesbury
    – Weather: Sunny, becoming cold
    – Admission: £5
    – Programme: ?

    Intro

    A decent improvement on last season – when they finished in 8th position – has seen Malmesbury Victoria comfortably qualify for the play offs this time around. Despite finishing 9 points behind champions Hartpury University, Vics inflicted one of the Gloucestershire side’s 2 defeats back in August. Their run-in has been good, with only 2 league defeats this calendar year – against 2 sides who themselves narrowly missed out on play-off spots this season – FC Bristol and FC Stratford. The season got off to a great start as they won 8 of their 9 opening league matches, although they did lose in the opening round of the FA Vase to Tuffley Rovers from the league above.

    Promoted from the Wiltshire County League last season, Devizes Town are looking to make it back-to-back promotions as they battle for a place in the Hellenic Premier Division. It would be no mean feat, but if they do manage it it would be in no small part thanks to the experience of player-manager Chris Allen. They snuck into the play-off places level on points with FC Bristol, but with a better goal difference. Some strong performances of late – including a 0-0 draw at home to the league winners – secured 5th place for Town. It looked at one point like they might have blown it, as they went down 0-1 at home to FC Bristol, but inconsistency from Bristol allowed Devizes to keep above them.

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  • Nil by Mouth.

    Nil by Mouth.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Tuesday 9th April 2024
    – 19:45 Kick Off
    – Attendance: 157
    – Distance Travelled: 10 miles

    – Southern League – Division One South
    – Meadow Lane, Westbury
    – Weather: Windy
    – Admission: Free (name on the gate)
    – Programme: £2

    Intro

    The postponement of United’s game at Larkhall Athletic on April Fool’s Day has left them with just the 6 games to play this month (Although presumably the rearranged Larkhall face-off will bump that number back up to 7). That means they play today after drawing away at Bemerton Heath Harlequins 3 days ago, and then travel to Bashley on Thursday, before hosting play-off hopefuls Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday. This is The White Horse Men’s second season in the Southern League, after finishing a reasonably comfortable 10th position last season. Things have been trickier this season and they find themselves hovering precariously above the sole relegation spot (made so by the resignation of Hamworthy United in October due to ground troubles). They are 6 points better off than Paulton Rovers, and have a couple of games in hand over the Somerset side, but will be extremely keen to take points off an Exmouth Town side who until recently looked doomed for relegation themselves.

    Town’s change in fortunes seemed to begin away at Evesham United just before Christmas when they secured an impressive 4-2 win. Since then they have racked up victories over the likes of Bashley, Larkhall and Willand Rovers. On Saturday they faced league leaders Frome Town and earned a very respectable nil-nil draw to frustrate The Robins. Exmouth’s run in is fewer in number, but those games – after tonight – come against 3rd place Cribbs, and the aforementioned Paulton Rovers. The reverse of this fixture, back in November, was a 1-1 draw; a repeat of which wouldn’t do either side a particular favour.

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  • Blue in the Face.

    Blue in the Face.

    BRITON FERRY LLANSAWEL LADIES 0 – 4 CARDIFF CITY WOMEN

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Sunday 23rd April 2023
    – 12:45 Kick Off
    – Attendance: 515
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – FAW Women’s Cup Final
    – Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil
    – Weather: Overcast, Rain, Sun
    – Admission: £7

    Intro

    I saved the show piece game till last this weekend. When I saw that the Final would coincide with my weekend in Wales, I kept an eye out for the announcement of where the game would take place. Imagine my delight when it was decided it would be barely 15 minutes drive from where I was staying! The final sees the meeting of the champions of the top two leagues in Wales. Cardiff City are the current best team in Wales after winning the Adran Premier, while Briton Ferry are reigning champions of the Adran South. The Bluebirds secured their place in the Final by beating City rivals Cardiff Met at this very stadium. Briton Ferry had a tougher semi final on paper; facing Adran Premier side Aberystwyth Town in Carmarthen. However they made light work of this task, beating the higher league side 3-0.

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  • Set The Bar High.

    Set The Bar High.

    AFC BARGOED 3 – 2 CHURCH VILLAGE FC

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Saturday 22nd April 2023
    – 14:00 Kick Off
    – Attendance: c.14
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League – Premier Division
    – Bargoed Park, Bargoed
    – Weather: Overcast, Cold
    – Admission: Free

    Intro

    The Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League Premier Division is at the 7th Tier of Welsh football. Promotion from this league would see teams, dependent presumably on geographical location, enter the South Wales Alliance League amongst others.

    The TERV Premier Division has 12 participants this season and AFC Bargoed are currently in 6th place. Their last game was actually against today’s opponents on Monday evening and ended in a 1-0 to Bargoed. Prior to that a decent draw against 4th place Cilfynydd was sandwiched between losses to top side Talbot Green and bottom side Rhydyfelin Non Pol.

    Church Village FC are a few places lower than AFC Bargoed, lying in 9th position currently. Three losses in a row is not ideal preparation for this match, however one of those was a 3-2 defeat at the hands of league leaders Talbot Green which suggests a strong showing from Church Village.

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  • Tred Carefully.

    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.

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  • Heyters Gonna Heyt.

    Heyters Gonna Heyt.

    FC DEVIZES UNITED 0 – 3 HEYTESBURY FC

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – 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.

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  • Wherever I Wander.

    Wherever I Wander.

    DILTON MARSH WANDERERS 2 – 3 BRADFORD TOWN A

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – 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.

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