WEST COUNTRY FOOTBALL

Tag: January

  • Chelt and Braces.

    Chelt and Braces.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Date: Sunday 4th January 2026
    – Kick Off: 12:00
    – Attendance: 3,211
    – Distance Travelled: 130 miles
    – Current Standings: 18th v 21st

    – Competition: League 2
    – Venue: Whaddon Road | GL52 5NA
    – Weather: Sunny, cold
    – Admission: £19 (terracing)
    – Previous Meeting: Crawley 2-0 Cheltenham
    – Programme: N/A

    The Intro

    These 2 teams find themselves at the wrong end of the League 2 table heading into the New Year.

    Cheltenham come into this fixture off the back of two defeats; most recently a resounding 4-1 defeat at Crewe Alexandra on New Year’s Day, and before that a home loss to Swindon Town. They have, however, been winning against fellow strugglers such as Shrewsbury Town on Boxing Day, and Barrow before that.

    Crawley haven’t won since late October – a 4-0 win over another relegation-threatened side Bristol Rovers. Since that victory they have yielded just 4 points and remaing just 2 points from the drop zone.

    (more…)
  • Eye of the Tigers

    Eye of the Tigers

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Date: Saturday 3rd January 2026
    – Kick Off: 15:00
    – Attendance: 1577
    – Distance Travelled: 110 miles

    – Competition: Southern League – Premier South
    – Venue: New Meadow Park | GL2 5HD
    – Weather: Cold, sunny
    – Admission: £10 (Online, Blue Light Card discount)
    – Programme: Didn’t buy

    The Intro

    Both of these teams ended 2025 with defeat. Gloucester went down to Taunton Town and lost 2-1 in a game full of talking points. In fact the Tigers finished the game with just 8 players on the pitch in front of a bumper crowd in Somerset’s County Town. Evesham lost 1-0 at home to fellow mid-table side Yate Town.

    City remain in 2nd place, albeit still 11 points behind Walton & Hersham, who look destined for promotion. They had been in good form before last weekend’s defeat to Taunton – a 6-1 victory over Hungerford Town came after a penalty shootout win against National League South side Worthing in the FA Trophy.

    12th place Evesham United were promoted via the play-offs at the end of the 2024/25 season, and presumably will be pleased to still be playing at this level come the end of this season. As you’d perhaps expect from a team in their position, form has been a bit hit and miss throughout the season so far. Wins have largely come against sides towards the wrong end of the table, but an away draw against Poole and a narrow 2-1 loss at the league leaders Walton & Hersham show that United are no pushovers.

    These 2 teams met back on August Bank Holiday Monday, and shared the points after a 1-1 draw in Worcestershire; an early goal from Sion Spence was cancelled out in the 2nd period by the hosts’ Andre Wright.

    (more…)
  • Better Yate Than Never.

    Better Yate Than Never.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Tuesday 30th January 2024
    – 19:45 Kick Off
    – Attendance: 227
    – Distance Travelled: 50 miles
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – Southern League – Division One South
    – Lodge Road, Yate
    – Weather: Cold
    – Admission: £12
    – Programme: £2

    Intro

    It wasn’t so long ago that Yate Town looked destined for a battle to remain in the Southern League. However the arrival of Joe Guest and Nick McCootie from troubled Taunton Town has jump-started their season and the Bluebells find themselves having won their last 4 matches. In fact they haven’t lost since Boxing Day – a narrow 1-0 loss at fellow strugglers Paulton Rovers. The aforementioned victories came against Larkhall Athletic, Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Mousehole, and – most recently – bottom side Exmouth Town.

    Tavistock make another trip north after visiting Bishops Cleeve on Saturday, and coming away with 3 points after a 4-3 win in Gloucestershire. The Lambs are a couple of places below their hosts today, albeit with a few games in hand. Other recent results have been rather varied – a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Exmouth was swiftly followed by a 6-2 romp over league leaders Frome Town.

    Yate will be confident of continuing their winning streak, but if the right Tavistock show up it could be a close encounter.

    (more…)
  • The Cirens Calling.

    The Cirens Calling.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Sunday 7th January 2024
    – 14:00 Kick Off
    – Attendance: ~40
    – Distance Travelled: 74 miles
    – Full Photo Gallery

    – Gloucestershire County Women’s League – Division One
    – The Corinium Stadium, Cirencester
    – Weather: Cold, Sunny Spells
    – Admission: Free
    – Programme: n/a

    Intro

    Top of the table Cirencester Town start the new calendar year with a 100% record in the league. Despite having won every game, they are only 3 points ahead of Whitchurch Ladies thanks to having a couple of game in hand. They’ll hope to continue their impressive form into 2024 as they look to secure promotion to the South West Regional League.

    Cheltenham Civil Service should provide decent opposition today having only lost one game themselves so far this season. That loss came back on the first day of the season against Dursley Town. Since then the Civis have beaten 2nd place Whitchurch so are clearly no pushovers.

    (more…)
  • Win-canton.

    Win-canton.

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – Saturday 30th December 2023
    – 15:00 Kick Off
    – Attendance: ~80
    – Distance Travelled: 54 miles
    – Line Ups

    – Western League – Division One
    – Moor Lane, Wincanton
    – Weather: Rainy, windy
    – Admission: £6
    – Programme: £1

    Intro

    Wincanton Town start the day in 6th place and, thanks (I presume) to restrictions in how far up the pyramid Cribbs Reserves are allowed to progress, occupy the final play-off place in the division. 2 days before Christmas they managed a morale-boosting 2-1 away win over Shirehampton after something of a topsy-turvy run of results. That run included a heavy defeat at mid-table Middlezoy Rovers and an impressive 3-2 win over 2nd place Radstock Town. Last season the Wasps did make the play-offs, only to lose out in a marathon penalty shootout to Oldland Abbotonians, who were eventually promoted to the Premier Division.

    Wells City find themselves in 10th position, but with at least 2 games in hand over their close rivals in the league. This is thanks to their exploits in the FA Vase where they reached the 3rd Round proper. This game against Hamworthy Recreation of the Wessex League was supposed to take place on the 2nd of December but thanks to the weather didn’t happen until a fortnight later. A narrow 2-1 defeat put an end to the Somerset side’s impressive run which included wins over higher-placed opposition in the shape of Welton Rovers, Laverstock & Ford, and Portland United. In the league, Wells are in a pretty rich vein of form with recent wins over Middlezoy, Gillingham Town and Keynsham Town.

    (more…)
  • The Bees’ Knees.

    The Bees’ Knees.

    SHREWTON UNITED 1 – 5 TROWBRIDGE TOWN

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – 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.

    (more…)
  • A Long Story.

    A Long Story.

    CALNE TOWN 2 – 2 LONG CRENDON FC

    The Intro
    The Ground
    The Match
    The Photos

    – 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.

    (more…)
  • Marlborough’s Plight

    Marlborough’s Plight

    Trowbridge Town 3-1 Marlborough Town
    Wiltshire Senior League
    Saturday 22nd January 2022
    Woodmarsh, Trowbridge (view on map)

    Attendance: ~55
    Admission: £3
    Weather: Overcast, cold

    View the full photo gallery HERE

    The Season So Far:

    Trowbridge Town began this season with a new lease of light: now under the guidance of Westbury United legend Jamie Jordan and with a squad peppered with local players with good experience playing in the Western League, it was clear what the Bees’ intentions were for this season. If promotion is to be achieved it would be interesting to see where they would play their home games as Woodmarsh sadly lacks floodlights, which are needed for the next level up. The proposed new 3G pitch near Hilperton, by the rugby club, is still in early stages of development so if that was being targeted by the football club as a possible new home it wouldn’t be for a number of years. As it happens, promotion is still a possibility but far from guaranteed.

    The Bees are in 5th position currently, with a game in hand over 4th place Corsham Town Development. The presence of several Reserve teams in the league may benefit Trowbridge as presumably the former would be restricted in how far they can be promoted. Last weekend saw Town go down 0-1 away at 2nd place Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, but prior to that they had a run of 3 comprehensive victories: 4-0 away at Corsham Development after an 11 (eleven) -0 drubbing of basement side Purton and a 9-0 pummeling of Frome Collegians.

    Today’s visitors from north east of here are down in 13th (of 17) and in danger of falling into the three team relegation zone. They started the season strongly enough, with a 0-0 away at Odd Down Reserves and then a 5-1 win over Stratton Juniors. 3 defeats – including a 0-5 and 0-7 – followed and results after that were inconsistent at best: the only wins coming against fellow strugglers Purton and Ludgershall Sports.

    (more…)
  • A Tuff Result to Take

    A Tuff Result to Take

    Bradford Town 7 – 1 Tuffley Rovers
    Hellenic League – Premier Division
    Saturday 15th January 2022
    Trowbridge Road, Bradford-On-Avon (view on map)

    Attendance: 116
    Admission: £6
    Weather: Cold and dry

    View the full photo gallery HERE

    The Season So Far:

    Today’s hosts are enjoying a fruitful first season in the Hellenic League after moving over from the Western League prior to this campaign. Currently in 2nd position, 9 points behind leaders Bishops Cleeve but with a game in hand over the Gloucestershire side. Only a few real blips in the last couple of months – losses to 5th place Brimscombe & Thrupp and the aforementioned Mitres, along with a midweek exit from the Wiltshire Premier Shield to local rivals Corsham Town – take the sheen off a strong run of games. There will be strong competition for 2nd position and potential promotion to the Southern League via the play-offs, with only 7 points separating 2nd and 10th place.

    At the other end of the table we find Tuffley Rovers. Currently in 17th place (out of 20), they are certainly in a relegation scrap. 20th place Hallen look destined for demotion with just 9 points – 8 from safety. Whoever finishes in 19th will be part of a somewhat convoluted system to work out who else goes down: the 4 second-from-bottom teams at Step 5 (out of 16 leagues) with the worst points per game record will be relegated. Rovers come into this match off the back of a rotten run of form. Other than a decent win over Shrivenham last weekend, you have to go back to late October to find their last 3 points. 11 straight losses in the league won’t fill them with confidence, not least against opponents gunning for promotion. One source of hope for Tuffley may well be their impressive 0-0 draw away to the league leaders Bishops Cleeve back in October, showing that they aren’t a lost cause.

    (more…)
  • The Cowes jumped over the Moon

    The Cowes jumped over the Moon

    Bemerton Heath Harlequins 5 – 1 East Cowes Victoria
    Wessex League – Division One
    Saturday 11th January 2020
    Moon Park, Bemerton
    Attendance: 54

    The Season So Far:

    My second Wessex League game of the season sees me travel south to Moon Park, just outside of Salisbury. Home of Bemerton Heath Harlequins who I saw defeat Warminster Town in preseason. Harlequins currently sit 6th in the table and, given that the top 4 teams will be promoted (according to Wikipedia – i’ll try to find some further evidence), are well set to make an assault on the promotion places. However they come into this game off the back of 2 league defeats – their last league win being an impressive 8-0 home win against bottom club Folland Sports.

    The away side, making the long trip up from the Isle of Wight, find themselves in 17th position. Despite this they should be reasonably confident of surviving given that, due to Pewsey Vale quitting the league, only one team will be relegated come the end of the season. A recent win against Folland, plus impressive draws against top half Downton, and Whitchurch United will give East Cowes reassurance that they certainly have a good chance of coming away from this tie with something.

    (more…)
Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started